Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and system for human-machine interaction. The method may include receiving input information. The input information may include scene information and a user input from a user. The method may also include determining an avatar based on the scene information, and determining user intention information based on the user input. The method may include determining output information based on the user intention information. The output information may include interaction information between the avatar and a user. The method may further include presenting the avatar based on the output information.

Abstract: An optical device comprising an optical hydrogel with select regions that have been irradiated with laser light having a pulse energy from 0.01 nJ to 50 nJ and a wavelength from 600 nm to 900 nm. The irradiated regions are characterized by a positive change in refractive index of from 0.01 to 0.06, and exhibit little or no scattering loss. The optical hydrogel is prepared with a hydrophilic monomer.

Abstract: Techniques for tuning the key space of an instance of a tree data structure are provided. In one embodiment, a computer system can receive a request to create the instance, where the request includes an expected key space value indicating an expected range of key values to be addressed by the instance. The computer system can further calculate a number of bits to allocate to each key of each node of the instance based on the expected key space value. The computer system can then, at a time of instantiating each node of the instance, allocate the keys for the node in accordance with the calculated number of bits.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of quantification of one or more ion species, in a sample of ions, using a mass spectrometer, the method including the steps of: obtaining a time domain data set corresponding to a signal induced by motion of the ions in the mass spectrometer; adjusting the data set by applying an asymmetric window function thereto; generating an absorption mode mass spectrum in the frequency domain including the step of applying a Fourier transform to the adjusted data set; determining peak ranges for one or more peaks in the mass spectrum associated with the one or more ion species; integrating, for each determined peak range, the spectral data within the respective peak range to generate a respective peak intensity value; and quantifying each of the one or more ion species on the basis of the respective peak intensity values.

Abstract: By adapting femtosecond micromachining approaches developed in hydrogels, we can perform Intra-tissue Refractive Index Shaping (IRIS) in biological tissues. We reduced femtosecond laser pulse energies below the optical breakdown thresholds to create grating patterns that are associated with a change in the refractive index of the tissue. To increase two-photon absorption, we used a two (or more)-photon-absorbing chromophore.

Abstract: A laser system for changing the index of refraction of cornea tissue in a living eye. The laser system comprises a laser that provides laser pulses with a wavelength from 400 nm to 900 nm and a pulse energy from 0.01 nJ to 10 nJ, and a control device for setting the operating parameters of the laser below an optical breakdown threshold of the tissue to avoid photo-disruption and tissue destruction of the tissue, and to direct the laser pulses at the cornea tissue resulting in a change in the index of refraction of the tissue within regions irradiated by the laser pulses.

Abstract: A method of processing an image charge/current signal representative of trapped ions undergoing oscillatory motion. The method includes: identifying a plurality of fundamental frequencies potentially present in the image charge/current signal based on an analysis of peaks in a frequency spectrum corresponding to the image charge/current signal in the frequency domain, wherein each candidate fundamental frequency falls in a frequency range of interest; deriving a basis signal for each candidate fundamental frequency using a calibration signal; and estimating relative abundances of ions corresponding to the candidate fundamental frequencies by mapping the basis signals to the image charge/current signal. At least one candidate fundamental frequency is calculated using a frequency associated with a peak that falls outside the frequency range of interest and that has been determined as representing a second or higher order harmonic of the candidate fundamental frequency.

Abstract: System and method for managing leaf nodes of a B-tree for a file system of a computer system utilize used slots in a directory section of a leaf node to index variable size key-value pair entries stored in a data section of the leaf node and free spaces slots in the directory section to index contiguous free spaces in the data section. Contents of the free space slots in the directory section are updated in response to changes in the contiguous free spaces in the data section to manage free space in the data section of the leaf node.

Abstract: The invention provides human secreted proteins (SECP) and polynucleotides which identify and encode SECP. The invention also provides expression vectors, host cells, antibodies, agonists, arid antagonists. The invention also provides methods for diagnosing, treating, or preventing disorders associated with aberrant expression of SECP.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of quantification of one or more ion species, in a sample of ions, using a mass spectrometer, the method including the steps of: obtaining a time domain data set corresponding to a signal induced by motion of the ions in the mass spectrometer; adjusting the data set by applying an asymmetric window function thereto; generating an absorption mode mass spectrum in the frequency domain including the step of applying a Fourier transform to the adjusted data set; determining peak ranges for one or more peaks in the mass spectrum associated with the one or more ion species; integrating, for each determined peak range, the spectral data within the respective peak range to generate a respective peak intensity value; and quantifying each of the one or more ion species on the basis of the respective peak intensity values.

Abstract: Disclosed is an emulsion type silicone pressure sensitive adhesive composition and a process for the production thereof. Also provided is an emulsion type silicone pressure sensitive adhesive composition, comprising: (A) 100 parts by weight of a silicone pressure sensitive adhesive; (B) 1-30 parts by weight of an emulsifier selected from the group consisting of a polyvinylalcohol and a polyether modified MQ resin wherein M is R 3SiO 1/2, and Q is SiO 4/2, wherein R represents C 1-20 alkyl; (C) water; and (D) catalyst.

Abstract: Techniques for dynamically allocating keys in an instance of a tree data structure are provided. In one embodiment, a computer system can, at a time of instantiating each non-root node in the instance, determine a key space to be addressed by the non-root node, where the key space is based on a key subinterval in a parent node of the non-root node that is associated with a pointer to the non-root node. The computer system can further calculate a number of bits to allocate to each key of the non-root node in view of the determined key space. The computer system can then allocate the keys of the non-root node in accordance with the calculated number of bits.

Abstract: A method for modifying the refractive index of an optical polymeric material. The method comprises continuously irradiating predetermined regions of an optical, polymeric material with femtosecond laser pulses to form a gradient index refractive structure within the material. The optical polymeric material can include a photosensitizer to increase the photoefficiency of the two-photo process resulting in the formation of the observed refractive structures. An optical device includes an optical, polymeric lens material having an anterior surface and posterior surface and an optical axis intersecting the surfaces and at least one laser-modified, GRIN layer disposed between the anterior surface and the posterior surface and arranged along a first axis 45° to 90° to the optical axis.

Abstract: A method for modifying the refractive index of an optical, polymeric material. The method comprises irradiating select regions of the optical, polymeric material with a focused, visible or near-IR laser having a pulse energy from 0.05 nJ to 1000 nJ. The irradiation results in the formation of refractive optical structures, which exhibit little or no scattering loss. The method can he used to modify the refractive index of an intraocular lens following the surgical implantation of the intraocular lens in a human eye. The invention is also directed to an optical device comprising refractive optical structures, which exhibit little or no scattering loss and are characterized by a positive change in refractive index.

Abstract: A method of preparing an oil-in-water emulsion comprises combining (A) an organopolysiloxane including at least two silicon-bonded hydrolysable or hydroxyl groups and (B) an organic oil to give a mixture. The method further comprises combining the mixture, (C) an aqueous medium and (D) a surfactant to form an initial emulsion. Finally, the method comprises contacting the organopolysiloxane (A) with (D1) an organic acid catalyst to polymerize the organopolysiloxane (A) to give (A1) a high molecular weight organopolysiloxane and the oil-in-water emulsion. A personal care composition comprising the oil-in-water emulsion and a personal care ingredient is also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical communications module is provided that has WDM capabilities for increased bandwidth and that is suitable for use with single mode optical fiber or multimode optical fiber. The module can be configured to have both WDM and BiDi functionality to further increase bandwidth and can have a single- or multi-channel configuration. The module has an integrally-formed body having an optical port and portions of an optical coupling system that are integrally formed in the body. The optical port is adapted to mate with an end of an optical fiber cable that holds one or more ends of one or more optical fibers, depending on whether the module is a single-channel or multi-channel module. The optical coupling system couples light between an end or ends of one or more optical fibers and one or more optoelectronic devices in a way that reduces back reflection and mode partition noise.

Abstract: An electrostatic ion trap for mass analysis includes a first array of electrodes and a second array of electrodes, spaced from the first array of electrode. The first and second arrays of electrodes may be planar arrays formed by parallel strip electrodes or by concentric, circular or part-circular electrically conductive rings. The electrodes of the arrays are supplied with substantially the same pattern of voltage whereby the distribution of electrical potential in the space between the arrays is such as to reflect ions isochronously in a flight direction causing them to undergo periodic, oscillatory motion in the space, focused substantially mid-way between the arrays. Amplifier circuitry is used to detect image current having frequency components related to the mass-to-charge ratio of ions undergoing the periodic, oscillatory motion.

Abstract: User data of different snapshots for the same virtual disk are stored in the same storage object. Similarly, metadata of different snapshots for the same virtual disk are stored in the same storage object, and log data of different snapshots for the same virtual disk are stored in the same storage object. As a result, the number of different storage objects that are managed for snapshots do not increase proportionally with the number of snapshots taken. In addition, any one of the multitude of persistent storage back-ends can be selected as the storage back-end for the storage objects according to user preference, system requirement, snapshot policy, or any other criteria. Another advantage is that the storage location of the read data can be obtained with a single read of the metadata storage object, instead of traversing metadata files of multiple snapshots.

Abstract: System and method for checking and characterizing metadata of snapshots utilize a snapshot metadata database to execute at least one of checking and characterizing operations on the metadata of snapshots. The snapshot metadata database includes information extracted from backing storage elements containing the metadata of snapshots.

Abstract: The present invention provides Photobacterium sp. JH-ISH-224 ?2-6-sialyltransferase Psp26ST variants and expression cassettes, vectors, and host cells for expressing the Psp26ST variants. Methods of synthesizing sialylated products are also described.