Abstract: A modular orthopedic bracing system is provided. The orthopedic bracing system includes a walking boot configured to cover at least the plantar aspect of the user's foot, a support detachably connectable to the walking boot and configured to suspend the weight of the user and an ankle-foot orthosis (“AFO”) detachably connectable to the walking boot. Also disclosed is a method for supporting an injured lower extremity, which includes the steps of attaching a first support member to the patient's leg, providing a second support member for an area at or beneath the foot and posterior portion of the lower leg, providing a first upward force on the patient's leg with the first support member, providing a second upward force on the foot with the second support member. By adjusting the amounts of the first upward force and the second upward force, the foot and lower leg, supported by the AFO, may be fully suspended, partially suspended or rest completely on the foot bed of the walking boot.

Abstract: An image processing method includes detecting, for image positions in an input image, the presence of a predetermined key colour; generating an image texture, the generating step comprising: setting a texture background of the image texture to a predetermined background colour; generating transparency values at image positions of the image texture, the transparency value at an image position being dependent upon a detected property of the predetermined key colour in the input image, the transparency values; and providing a texture foreground of the image texture; and applying the image texture to the input image at image positions at which the predetermined key colour is present.

Abstract: A video processing method includes detecting, as a reference pose, a pose of an individual at a reference time point in an input video sequence; at a second, different, time point in the input video sequence, detecting a second pose of the individual; generating from one or more source images of the individual, a transitional video sequence representing a transition of the individual from the second pose to the reference pose; and associating the transitional video sequence with the input video sequence to generate an output video sequence including at least the transitional video sequence to implement a non-linear replay branch from the second time point to the reference time point.

Abstract: An image processing method includes detecting, for image positions in an input image, the presence of a predetermined key colour; generating an image texture, the generating step comprising: setting a texture background of the image texture to a predetermined background colour; generating transparency values at image positions of the image texture, the transparency value at an image position being dependent upon a detected property of the predetermined key colour in the input image, the transparency values; and providing a texture foreground of the image texture; and applying the image texture to the input image at image positions at which the predetermined key colour is present.

Abstract: A video processing method includes detecting, as a reference pose, a pose of an individual at a reference time point in an input video sequence; at a second, different, time point in the input video sequence, detecting a second pose of the individual; generating from one or more source images of the individual, a transitional video sequence representing a transition of the individual from the second pose to the reference pose; and associating the transitional video sequence with the input video sequence to generate an output video sequence including at least the transitional video sequence to implement a non-linear replay branch from the second time point to the reference time point.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the invention relates to a device (1, 2, 3) for laser nanomachining a sample made of a material having a given transparency band, the device comprising: a focusing module (203, 703) allowing a nondiffracting beam (210, 710) to be generated, along a focusing line generally oriented along the optical axis of the focusing module, from a given incident beam; first means (202, 702) for emitting a first light pulse (I1) of spectral band comprised in the transparency band of said material, able to generate in said material, after focusing by said focusing module, a plasma of free charges along said focusing line via multi-photon absorption, thus forming a “plasma channel”; and second means (202, 702) for emitting at least one second electromagnetic wave (I2) of spectral band comprised in the transparency band of said material, which wave(s) is/are intended to be spatially superposed on said plasma channel in order to heat said material via absorption by the free charges of the plasma.

Abstract: Composite particulates, topical composition containing composite particulates, methods for improving the appearance of skin depth, dimensionality or undertones; a method for improving the ashy, chalky or mask-like appearance of color cosmetic compositions on the skin; and a method for reducing the number of shades in a color cosmetic shade range by formulating the cosmetic with composite particulates.

Abstract: A method for making a composite particulate comprised of a colorant portion and a clear thermoplastic portion and cosmetic compositions containing the composite particulate.

Abstract: A method for improving the appearance of skin depth, dimensionality or undertones by topically applying a composition containing composite particulates made by (a) solvating a clear or translucent thermoplastic material with solvent in an amount sufficient to swell the material; (b) combining the solvated mixture of (a) with one or more colorants; (c) removing the solvent to form a composite particulate, (d) formulating the composite particulate into a topical cosmetic composition for application to skin.

Abstract: A method for making a composite particulate comprised of a colorant portion and a clear thermoplastic portion and cosmetic compositions containing the composite particulate.

Abstract: A method for improving the appearance of skin depth, dimensionality or undertones by topically applying a composition containing composite particulates made by (a) solvating a clear or translucent thermoplastic material with solvent in an amount sufficient to swell the material; (b) combining the solvated mixture of (a) with one or more colorants; (c) removing the solvent to form a composite particulate, (d) formulating the composite particulate into a topical cosmetic composition for application to skin.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the invention relates to a device (1, 2, 3) for laser nanomachining a sample made of a material having a given transparency band, the device comprising: a focusing module (203, 703) allowing a nondiffracting beam (210, 710) to be generated, along a focusing line generally oriented along the optical axis of the focusing module, from a given incident beam; first means (202, 702) for emitting a first light pulse (I1) of spectral band comprised in the transparency band of said material, able to generate in said material, after focusing by said focusing module, a plasma of free charges along said focusing line via multiphoton absorption, thus forming a “plasma channel”; and second means (202, 702) for emitting at least one second electromagnetic wave (I2) of spectral band comprised in the transparency band of said material, which wave(s) is/are intended to be spatially superposed on said plasma channel in order to heat said material via absorption by the free charges of the plasma.

Abstract: Composite particulates, topical composition containing composite particulates, methods for improving the appearance of skin depth, dimensionality or undertones; a method for improving the ashy, chalky or mask-like appearance of color cosmetic compositions on the skin; and a method for reducing the number of shades in a color cosmetic shade range by formulating the cosmetic with composite particulates.

Abstract: Topical compositions containing pigment particles entrapped in microspheres are provided. Each of the microspheres contains a collapsed polymeric shell that has entrapped therein one or more pigment particles. The microsphere-entrapped pigment particles are characterized by enhanced color intensity, improved stability, and better dispersibility, which can readily be used either alone or in combination with other skin active ingredients to form better colored cosmetics.

Abstract: A transaction product for use as a cake topper includes a body portion, an auxiliary portion and a machine readable account identifier. The body portion defines a support member and a flange extending from the support member. The flange is configured for placement into a frosting layer on a cake. The body portion defines a first part of a character. The auxiliary portion is formed separately from the body portion and defines a second part of the character. The auxiliary portion defines a lip configured for placement into the frosting layer on the cake. The account identifier is coupled to at least one of the body portion and the auxiliary portion and links the transaction product to an account or record for tracking a value associated with the transaction product. Other cards, products, assemblies and methods of encouraging use of such cards, products and assemblies are also disclosed.

Abstract: A transaction product for use as a cake topper includes a body portion, an auxiliary portion and a machine readable account identifier. The body portion defines a support member and a flange extending from the support member. The flange is configured for placement into a frosting layer on a cake. The body portion defines a first part of a character. The auxiliary portion is formed separately from the body portion and defines a second part of the character. The auxiliary portion defines a lip configured for placement into the frosting layer on the cake. The account identifier is coupled to at least one of the body portion and the auxiliary portion and links the transaction product to an account or record for tracking a value associated with the transaction product. Other cards, products, assemblies and methods of encouraging use of such cards, products and assemblies are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition and methods for coating keratinous fibers, whereby the composition comprises more than 50% of at least one perfluoro compound.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to administering and automating operations in a component based application and provide a method, system and computer program product for the pattern based administration of operations in a component based computing solution. In one embodiment of the invention, a composite application data processing system enabled for pattern based administration of an operation can include a dependency matrix model, a set of artifacts, each artifact associated with a particular action for a particular computing platform, and a pattern generated operation task control enabled to process an instance of the dependency matrix model through an invocation of selected ones of the artifacts.

Abstract: According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated XB58G05. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety XB58G05, to the plants of soybean XB58G05 to plant parts of soybean variety XB58G05 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety XB58G05 with another soybean plant, using XB58G05 as either the male or the female parent.

Abstract: According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated XB57T05. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety XB57T05, to the plants of soybean XB57T05 to plant parts of soybean variety XB57T05 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety XB57T05 with another soybean plant, using XB57T05 as either the male or the female parent.