Abstract: An audio system for reduction and/or elimination of distortion provides a microphone or instrument sound pick up for the various musical instruments and singers within the performance venue. The sound provided by the microphone or audio pick up is coupled to an amplifier, the output of which is coupled to a speaker system. In accordance with the present invention, a microphone is positioned within the output range of the speaker system and is coupled to one input of a comparator circuit. The remaining input of the comparator circuit is coupled to the microphones or pick ups of the musical instruments and singers. An additive device receives the output signal of the comparator and the originating signal from the microphones or pick ups to form a correcting audio signal which is applied to the amplifier. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, an adaptive preamplifier is interposed between the originating microphones and audio pick ups and the amplifier.

Abstract: The invention discloses a personal care composition comprising a natural film-forming biopolymer and a water-containing solvent wherein said composition further comprises a compound containing an amine moietyora compound containing a quaternary ammonium moiety. Optionally the solvent is an alcohol/water mixture. Particularly, the invention relates to a personal care composition for application to a keratinous substrate such as human hair. Methods of making and applying the composition are also disclosed.

Abstract: A dental apparatus is provided. The dental apparatus includes a handle including a power button configured to place the dental apparatus in on/off configurations. A controller is housed within the handle and includes a mouth detection module and a tooth anomaly module. Electrical circuitry is in operable communication with the mouth detection module and tooth anomaly module and is configured to emit a low intensity excitation light having a first frequency and a high intensity excitation light which may have a second frequency. The low intensity excitation light is utilized to detect the presence of tooth material and the high intensity excitation light is utilized to detect the presence of a tooth anomaly or to treat a dental condition.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) that are capable of acting as purine receptor antagonists, pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds, and methods of making the compounds, are. disclosed. The compounds and compositions can be used in treating or preventing disorders related to purine receptor hyperfunctioning.

Abstract: A mobile radiography apparatus has a moveable (e.g., wheeled) transport frame and an adjustable column mounted at the frame. A boom apparatus supported by the adjustable column can support an x-ray source assembly. Certain exemplary methods and/or apparatus embodiments can provide mobile radiography carts a capability to direct x-ray radiation towards a subject from one or a plurality of different source positions, and reconstruct two-dimensional or three-dimensional tomosynthesis images where an imaging geometry of x-ray source positions to a radiographic detection array is not known for a plurality of x-ray tomosynthesis projection images. In one embodiment, an imaging geometry and tomosynthesis reconstruction(s) can be simultaneously determined by iteratively determining a current imaging geometry while iteratively monitoring a metric (e.g., stopping criterion) that approaches a prescribed or desired value associated with the tomosynthesis reconstruction.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatus are disclosed for obtaining differential phase contrast imaging system and methods for same. Method and apparatus embodiments can provide regularized phase contrast retrieval that can address noise reduction and/or edge enhancement. Certain exemplary embodiments can suppress stripe artifacts occurring in the process of integration of noisy differential phase data. Further, certain exemplary embodiments can use transmission images and/or dark-field images to improve or restore phase contrast images affected by noise edges.

Abstract: A method for rib suppression in a volume chest x-ray image, executed at least in part by a computer captures a first set of unsegmented projection images, each at a corresponding angle, and forms a second set of segmented projection images by detecting rib features in a first projection image to form a first segmented projection image and generating a base model according to the detected rib features for the first projection image. Each of one or more additional projection images from the first set is processed to add members to the second set by a repeated sequence of generating a predictive model; detecting rib features using the predictive model; adjusting the base model according to detected rib features; and correcting rib detection in one or more members of the second set. The volume chest x-ray image is reconstructed according to the segmented projection images and is displayed.

Abstract: A method includes retrieving a first data set from a switch within a network, the first data set including a set of switch records. Among the switch records included in the first data set is a first switch record associated with and including a field identifying a first trunk group from a set of trunk groups included within the switch. A second data set is retrieved from a configuration management system configured to facilitate an operation associated with the network. The second data set includes a plurality of configuration records, which includes a first configuration record associated with and including a field identifying the first trunk group. When the field included in the first configuration record differs from the field included in the first switch record a report is produced.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) that are capable of acting as purine receptor antagonists, pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds, and methods of making the compounds, are disclosed. The compounds and compositions can be used in treating or preventing disorders related to purine receptor hyperfunctioning.

Abstract: A percussive shaker instrument with improved control in producing rhythmic sound and capable of producing different percussive sounds in a single shaker is disclosed. The shaker comprises one or more channels filled with a striker material. The channel isolates the striker material from the striker material in other channels and from any other part of the shaker. The striker material is freely movable within the channel such that it may collide with a striking surface when the shaker is moved.

Abstract: A method for registering a first imaging detector to a surface projects a sequence of k images toward the surface, wherein k?4, wherein each of the k images has a pattern of lines that extend in a direction that is orthogonal to a movement direction. The pattern encodes an ordered sequence of labels, each label having k binary elements, such that, in the movement direction, any portion of the pattern that is k equal increments long encodes one label of the ordered sequence. The method obtains, for at least a first pixel in the first imaging detector, along at least one line that is parallel to the movement direction, a first sequence of k signal values indicative of the k binary elements of a first label from the ordered sequence of labels and correlates the at least the first pixel in the first imaging detector to the surface.

Abstract: A portable imaging apparatus for obtaining stereoscopic radiography images has a transport frame that has a support structure and an x-ray source array that is coupled to the support structure and that has three or more x-ray sources, each x-ray source separately energizable to emit radiation toward a subject. There is at least one x-ray detector adapted to acquire digital image data according to radiation received from the x-ray sources of the x-ray source array. An image processor is in signal communication with the at least one x-ray detector and adapted to generate, from the acquired digital image data, a right-eye digital image and a left-eye digital image of the subject. A display apparatus is in signal communication with the image processor and is adapted to display the right-eye and left-eye digital images of the subject to a viewer.

Abstract: A system and methods for automatically commissioning electrical fixtures using sound are disclosed. Electrical fixtures (140-149) detect sounds produced by a sound generator moved along a path (300) through installed fixtures according to a building plan (100). Each electrical fixture may be associated with a mapped fixture location in the building plan by correlating the detected sound with the location of the sound generator along the path.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tuning system for tuning a hand percussion instrument having a head and a shell. The tuning system comprises a rim, the rim secured to the head of the instrument, the rim comprising at least one receptacle, the receptacle positioned at outer periphery of the rim such that the receptacle body is below the plane of the rim, a side plate assembly, the side plate assembly secured to the shell of the instrument, a tuning rod, the tuning rod having a first end secured to the receptacle for varying the tension on the head, and the tuning rod having a second end secured to the side plate assembly.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for providing teeth with a white appearance. For example, methods and materials for contacting teeth with one or more fluorescence emitting polypeptides (e.g., a blue fluorescent protein (BFP)) to provide the teeth with a whiter appearance are provided.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for providing teeth with a white appearance. For example, methods and materials are provided for contacting teeth with one or more fluorescence emitting polypeptides (e.g., a blue fluorescent protein (BFP)) and adhesive molecules (e.g., mussel adhesive polypeptides) to provide the teeth with a whiter appearance.

Abstract: A link generator generates links to servable data to allow the servable content of a network server to be accessed using the links. Encoded links in a form suitable for an indexing agent are generated and used to access dynamically generated data in a database of the network server and to analyze same to determine query data for retrieving servable data from the database. A proxy server receives a request generated in response to selecting one of the encoded links, translates the request, and forwards it to the network server to access corresponding dynamically generated data.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for providing teeth with a white appearance. For example, methods and materials for contacting teeth with one or more fluorescence emitting polypeptides (e.g., a blue fluorescent protein (BFP)) to provide the teeth with a whiter appearance are provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods and apparatus for locating luminaires within a lighting system where multiple luminaires are located on a grid of DC power rails. The AC signal generator connects to each DC power rail and transmits an AC signal along each DC power rail in turn to luminaires that each compute their distance from the generator based upon the AC signal. The AC signal generator may similarly transmit and receive data communications with luminaires across DC power rails.

Abstract: A method for controlling a boiler includes firing a boiler, and monitoring a temperature deviation between a boiler temperature and a heating temperature profile over time. If the temperature deviation exceeds an allowable deviation, the boiler is shut off.