Abstract: A cooking apparatus in a form of a container includes an outer shell and an inner shell wherein a cavity is provided by coupling the edges of the outer and inner shells. The cavity is partially filled with a heat conductive medium, such as silicon oil. The cooking apparatus further includes an electric heating element installed under the container between the outer and inner shells. When energized, the heating element produces heat which in turn heats the silicon oil. The hot silicon oil heats the inner shell and thus cooks the food in the container. The outer shell of the container also has a pressure controlling member that is opened when a cavity pressure exceeds a predetermined value. The pressure controlling member comprises a spring housing securely affixed to the outer shell and defining a first through hole. The spring housing has a valve biased to open when a cavity pressure exceeds a predetermind value.

Abstract: A method of determining the physiological reactivity of an individual with respect to images, comprising: measuring at least one physiological parameter of an individual during a baseline calm period of time; measuring the said at least one physiological parameter of said individual during a stress period of time and a succeeding rest period of time; dividing said measured data for each of said periods of time into a plurality of predetermined time segments; computing a histogram or Fourier analysis as appropriate on said predetermined time segments for each said period of time; standardizing said computed data; conducting a principal component analysis, a canonical discriminant analysis, or a neural network, on said data to establish a baseline calm or rest period set of scores and a stress period set of scores; measuring the said at least one physiological parameter of said individual during an image presentation period of time; repeating said time segmenting, said histogram or Fourier analysis, and said st

Abstract: A method of managing a physiological or psychological state of an individual using images comprising: determining an individual's direction or preference for a state management session; based on the determination, deciding whether a current set of images selected through a personal image profile session, will achieve the desired management effect; if the current set are deemed satisfactory, presenting the set of images to the individual to achieve management of the individual's state.

Abstract: A method of generating a personal image profile based on an individual's physiological and cognitive state compromising: presenting a master set of images to an individual wherein each image in the master set is characterized by a set of scene and image related classifiers that are relevant to producing an effect on an individual; measuring and recording one or more of said individual's physiological parameters while viewing a presented image; measuring the individual's cognitive state from cognitive responses to each presented image; and generating a personal image profile of the individual based on combining the physiological and cognitive measures from said measuring steps, said personal image profile including image classifiers for identifying activating or deactivating images for said individuals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooking utensil having a double-layered structure which preserves heat efficiently as well as provides even heat distribution and to a method of fabricating such cooking utensil. The cooking utensil has a heat conduction medium charged between outer and inner shells forming a double-layered structure which is sealed by a curling machine without the use of a built-in safety valve in the wall of the cooking utensil.

Abstract: A scatterometer orbiting around the earth globe comprises a single fanbeam radar antenna which is rotated around a vertical axis, at a slow rotation rate. The antenna foot-print sweeps a circular disc. The slow conical sweep combined with the motion of the satellite on which the scatterometer is mounted results in highly overlapping successive sweeps such that an image pixel is revisited many times during an overpass. The pixels in the radial direction are resolved by range-gating the radar echo. The radar operates in the C-band. The scatterometer is intended, in particular, to determine wind speed and direction over the ocean.

Abstract: In a shapable catheter and method for positioning a shapable catheter within a body cavity, a core wire is provided which includes a pre-shaped region bent into a predetermined shape. A catheter is provided which includes a lumen proportioned to slidably receive the core wire. The catheter includes a rigid proximal section and a flexible distal section. A pull wire may additionally be provided to allow the user to cause deflection at a distal portion of the catheter.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a stent within a body lumen. According to the method, a distal catheter body is advanced within a body lumen to a section of a body lumen at which a stent is to be formed. One or more expandable members attached to the distal catheter body are expanded such that sections of the body lumen proximal and distal to the stent formation section of the body lumen are occluded, the distal catheter body in combination with the body lumen defining a mold space. A fluent pre-stent composition is delivered to the mold space from outside the body lumen which is continuously in fluent state during pre-stent composition delivery from outside the body lumen to the mold space. The fluent pre-stent composition is then transformed within the mold space to a non-fluent stent composition to form a stent within the mold space.

Abstract: In a shapable catheter and method for positioning a shapable catheter within a body cavity, a core wire is provided which includes a pre-shaped region bent into a predetermined shape. A catheter is provided which includes a lumen proportioned to slidably receive the core wire. The catheter includes a rigid proximal section and a flexible distal section. During use, the distal end of the catheter is inserted through a patient's vasculature and is passed into a body cavity. The pre-shaped region of the core wire is passed into the lumen and is straightened by the rigid proximal section of the catheter. The pre-shaped region is passed further into the catheter until it reaches the flexible distal region, in which the pre-shaped section re-assumes its predetermined shape and causes the core wire to form the distal section of the catheter into the predetermined shape.