Abstract: Phase correlation is an established method for computing motion which relies on the ability to find peaks in a computed phase correlation surface. Two methods to improve the ability to detect peaks in the phase correlation surface are described herein. The first method applies a theoretically-derived and spatially-varying gain to the phase correlation surface. The gain compensates for peaks whose amplitudes have been decreased due to windowing effects; such effects are unavoidable in phase correlation. The second method uses concepts from matched filters to improve detection of peaks whose amplitudes are diminished due to a spreading of the peak energy into surrounding positions in the phase correlation surface. Peak detection filters allow such low-amplitude peaks to be properly detected. It is possible to use only the first method, or only the second method or both methods combined.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compressing Z-stack microscopy images comprising compressing an all-focus image and depth map representation of an original Z-stack of images, computing a prediction residual as a difference between a simulated Z-stack, generated from the all-focus image and the depth-map, and the original Z-stack and concatenating the prediction residual to the compressed all-focus image and the depth map to produce a final compressed file.

Abstract: A method of improving accuracy and reliability of motion estimation is described herein. In one aspect, a 2D neighborhood of phase correlation peak is approximated with an outer-product of two 1D vectors to eliminate the sub-pixel error. In another aspect, estimation of reliability is improved. In yet another aspect, two-pass phase correlation is implemented to eliminate sub-pel motion bias.

Abstract: A stain separation system of digital pathology images that performs transforming a digital image from a first color domain to an optical domain to form an optical domain image (ODI), identifying a plane containing two or more basis vector which contain the pixels of the ODI, determining a plurality of orthogonal vector within the identified plane, forming a histogram of the digital image represented by the orthogonal vectors and determining one or more final stain vectors by searching for candidate vectors in the plane that minimize a cost function of the histogram.

Abstract: A method for improving depth for field (DOF) in microscopic imaging, the method comprising combining a sequence of images captured from different focal distances to form an all-focus image, comprising computing a focus measure at every pixel, finding the largest peaks at each position in the focus measure as multiple candidate values and blending the multiple candidates values according to the focus measure to determine the all-focus image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compressing Z-stack microscopy images comprising compressing an all-focus image and depth map representation of an original Z-stack of images, computing a prediction residual as a difference between a simulated Z-stack, generated from the all-focus image and the depth-map, and the original Z-stack and concatenating the prediction residual to the compressed all-focus image and the depth map to produce a final compressed file.

Abstract: A method or apparatus for stain separation comprising transforming a digital image from a first color domain to an optical domain to form an optical domain image (ODI), identifying a plane containing two or more basis vector which contain the pixels of the ODI, determining a plurality of orthogonal vector within the identified plane, forming a histogram of the digital image represented by the orthogonal vectors and determining one or more final stain vectors by searching for candidate vectors in the plane that minimize a cost function of the histogram.

Abstract: A method for navigating images in microscopic imaging, the method comprising reducing dimensionality of an original sequence of images of a specimen for navigation using an all-focus image and providing a user interface to a user for navigating the original sequence of images and the all-focus image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simulating depth of field (DOF) in microscopic imaging, the method comprising computing a blur quantity for each pixel of an all-focus image, performing point spread function operations on one or more regions of the all-focus image, computing intermediate and normalized integral images on the regions and determining an output pixel for the each pixel based on the intermediate and normalized integral images.

Abstract: A smart stream delivery server, a system, and methods are described herein for assembling a mix of services (e.g., linear channels, video on demand, broadcast television, and recordings) which are to be delivered over one or more networks to a premises (e.g., home, business) of a subscriber. In one embodiment, the system includes a smart stream delivery server that assembles the mix of services which are to be delivered over the at least one network to the home of the subscriber based at least on a subscriber policy which is provided by the subscriber. The subscriber policy includes equipment priorities for a list of devices which consume the services, and service priorities for a plurality of services which are available for consumption by the devices.

Abstract: A steering system for a riding lawn mower includes a wheel frame pivotally coupled to a vehicle frame about a roll axis. The wheel frame has spaced apart upper and lower wheel frame members. Steering knuckles are pivotally coupled to opposing sides of the wheel frame for rotatably supporting wheels. Each steering knuckle is straddle mounted between the upper and lower wheel frame members. A rack and pinion steering mechanism for pivoting the steering knuckles is coupled to a steering wheel via a steering column. The steering column includes a shaft portion extending along a shaft axis and has at least one socketed connection. The socketed connection transmits rotational movement about the shaft axis between the shaft portion and another rotatable component. The socketed connection also permits axial movement of the shaft portion along the shaft axis in response to the wheel frame rolling relative to the vehicle frame.

Abstract: A method to estimate segmented motion uses phase correlation to identify local motion candidates and a region-growing algorithm to group small picture units into few distinct regions, each of which has its own motion according to optimal matching and grouping criteria. Phase correlation and region growing are combined which allows sharing of information. Using phase correlation to identify a small number of motion candidates allows the space of possible motions to be narrowed. The region growing uses efficient management of lists of matching criteria to avoid repetitively evaluating matching criteria.

Abstract: A process and system for removing tars from synthesis gas uses glycerol produced as a byproduct of biodiesel manufacture. The biodiesel may be made from various oil feedstocks such as canola, rapeseed, or soybean oils. Associated with the harvesting of these crops may be the ready availability of byproduct biomass useful as feedstock for gasification. In addition, methanol may be sourced from the gasification of biomass to exploit a potential synergy between biodiesel manufacture and biomass gasification. The present invention develops those synergies further by making use of a byproduct stream from the manufacture of biodiesel to remove tars from the gasifier synthesis gas and to provide a useful end use for the byproduct.

Abstract: Firefighting bucket (11) suspended from an aircraft by lines (15), has open top (12A) and a valve at base (13). The valve is attachable to the aircraft by remotely actuatable line (16) and independent movement of lines (15-16) may utilize the weight of the water to facilitate opening and closing of the valve. Dynamic sensing of a bucket attribute, e.g. weight, enables bucket (11) to be filled or discharged by a pre-determined volume by the pilot. Chemical fire retardant may be added by entraining it with water discharging from the valve.

Abstract: Efficient representation of color digital pathology images (DPI) is described herein, which is accomplished by exploiting properties unique to such images. The method decomposes the data into constituent parts whose relative importance is able to be specified, allowing the data to be accurately represented with less bit precision, less spatial resolution or less spectral resolution. Two specific areas where the method is able to be utilized include: (1) more-efficient image compression; and (2) more efficient processing of the data. Efficient image compression is accomplished by assigning fewer bits to less-important colors. Efficient data processing is accomplished by processing only those colors, or combinations of colors, that are deemed important.

Abstract: Described are systems, methods, computer programs, and user interfaces for image location, acquisition, analysis, and data correlation that uses human-in-the-loop processing, Human Intelligence Tasks (HIT), and/or or automated image processing. Results obtained using image analysis are correlated to non-spatial information useful for commerce and trade. For example, images of regions of interest of the earth are used to count items (e.g., cars in a store parking lot to predict store revenues), detect events (e.g., unloading of a container ship, or evaluating the completion of a construction project), or quantify items (e.g., the water level in a reservoir, the area of a farming plot).

Abstract: Described are systems, methods, computer programs, and user interfaces for image location, acquisition, analysis, and data correlation that uses human-in-the-loop processing, Human Intelligence Tasks (HIT), and/or or automated image processing. Results obtained using image analysis are correlated to non-spatial information useful for commerce and trade. For example, images of regions of interest of the earth are used to count items (e.g., cars in a store parking lot to predict store revenues), detect events (e.g., unloading of a container ship, or evaluating the completion of a construction project), or quantify items (e.g., the water level in a reservoir, the area of a farming plot).

Abstract: Described are systems, methods, computer programs, and user interfaces for image location, acquisition, analysis, and data correlation that uses human-in-the-loop processing, Human Intelligence Tasks (HIT), and/or or automated image processing. Results obtained using image analysis are correlated to non-spatial information useful for commerce and trade. For example, images of regions of interest of the earth are used to count items (e.g., cars in a store parking lot to predict store revenues), detect events (e.g., unloading of a container ship, or evaluating the completion of a construction project), or quantify items (e.g., the water level in a reservoir, the area of a farming plot).

Abstract: Described are systems, methods, computer programs, and user interfaces for image location, acquisition, analysis, and data correlation that uses human-in-the-loop processing, Human Intelligence Tasks (HIT), and/or or automated image processing. Results obtained using image analysis are correlated to non-spatial information useful for commerce and trade. For example, images of regions of interest of the earth are used to count items (e.g., cars in a store parking lot to predict store revenues), detect events (e.g., unloading of a container ship, or evaluating the completion of a construction project), or quantify items (e.g., the water level in a reservoir, the area of a farming plot).

Abstract: A system configured for the production of at least one product selected from the group consisting of syngas, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products, power, and chemicals, the system comprising a dual fluidized bed gasification apparatus and at least one apparatus selected from power production apparatus configured to produce power from the gasification product gas, partial oxidation reactors configured for oxidation of at least a portion of the product gas, tar removal apparatus configured to reduce the amount of tar in the product gas, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis apparatus configured to produce Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products from at least a portion of the product gas, chemical production apparatus configured for the production of at least one non-Fischer-Tropsch product from at least a portion of the product gas, and dual fluidized bed gasification units configured to alter the composition of the product gas. Methods of operating the system are also provided.