Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for non-linear colorization in imaging systems. More particularly, colorization of video outputs of thermal imagers (which are typically black and white gray scale imagers) are provided that enhance desired aspects of the displayed image. Specifically, the color in the video output has direct relationship to the measured temperatures of the scene under observation, and color is mapped to temperature through a non-linear relationship that may be changed dynamically depending upon scene content and that exists between temperature and video output.

Abstract: There is described a method for controlling a system, for example a Diesel engine, that is subject to transient changes of target outputs. The target outputs specify outputs required from the system. “Steady state” information is used to give optimum inputs for the system when the target outputs are substantially constant. A model of the system is used to predict the outputs of the system in response to candidate new values for the inputs of the system. The method combines the steady state information with the predicted response of the system to determine inputs to the system which will cause the system outputs to match the target outputs as closely as possible. For each candidate (in one embodiment), the method calculates the difference between the steady state inputs and a candidate, and the difference between the target outputs and the predicted outputs that would result from the adoption of that candidate, to determine an optimum candidate which is then used to update the inputs to the system.

Abstract: An automated receivables management system that provides a self-service collection environment using an electronic network, such as the Internet or a PCS, as a medium for communication and transaction execution. Comprehensive collections services are provided in a fully automated fashion, including account decisioning, treatment specification, communication channel specification, and communication to the customer and method for payment/response from the customer using the electronic channel. The electronic network operates as a fully-automated electronic receivables environment, providing a medium for notification, receiving funds and customer responses, while allowing the creation of a test and control environment for experimentation on a customer level. Using results from existing policies or strategies, the system matches account performance with account history in order to determine the optimal new strategy for interacting with the respective account(s).

Abstract: A dressing blade for finishing and reconditioning new and used abrasive grinding and cutting tools has a slab-shaped shank with an extension protruding longitudinally from the shank. Superabrasive grains are disposed on the surface of the extension and held in place by a brazed metal composition. This composition is formed by brazing a powdered mixture of brazing metal components and active metal components. Specific extension configurations are provided which allow aligning the superabrasive grains in single layer arrangement for precise dressing and simple fabrication of the tool. The novel dressing tool exhibits excellent wear characteristics.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head includes a first pole having multiple magnetic layers separated by multiple gap layers. The multiple magnetic layers make up a write pole which produces a first hard axis field and a first auxiliary pole that produces a first auxiliary field that opposes the first hard axis field resulting in a reduced net hard axis field. The write pole and the first auxiliary pole are separated by a first gap layer made of a material that is less magnetically conducting than the write pole and the first auxiliary pole. The write pole is located upstream from the first auxiliary pole relative to a perpendicular magnetic recording medium. A portion of the first auxiliary pole exists in a region between a surface of the perpendicular magnetic recording medium and five microns from a surface of the perpendicular magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: In a radio communications unit with several transceivers communicating in different frequency bands, a signal parameter of a selected channel is monitored in order to detect interference due to intermodulation products. The select channel is for example used by a long range radio communications link and the interfering channel on a short range radio link. Once the channel causing interference has been identified, transmissions on it are prevented.

Abstract: A radio receiver architecture is disclosed which has first and second front end circuits optimized for reception in two frequency bands. Each front end circuit includes a mixer for downconverting received signals to a respective intermediate frequency. Signals from the two front end circuits are passed to a single analog-to-digital converter. The sampling rate of the analog-to-digital converter and the intermediate frequencies are chosen such that the received signals appear at the same point in different teeth of the alias response of the analog-to-digital converter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of certain benzoic acid derivatives of formula (I), as disclosed in the specification, which act as peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) agonists, in particular states of insulin resistance including type 2 gamma receptors (PPAR), and so are useful therapeutically in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Novel pharmaceutical compositions and novel compounds are also defined, together with methods of their production.

Abstract: The use of compositions containing chitin derivatives to treat contact lenses is described. The compositions are particularly useful for removing protein deposits from contact lenses, but also serve to lubricate the surfaces of the lenses and enhance the comfort of the lenses when worn on the eyes. The chitin derivatives are preferably nonionic (e.g., ethylene glycol chitin), and facilitate the removal of protein deposits from contact lenses by functioning as a substrate for the lysozyme contained in those deposits.

Abstract: The use of compositions containing anionic chitosan derivatives to treat contact lenses is described. The compositions are particularly useful for removing protein deposits from contact lenses, but also serve to lubricate the surfaces of the lenses and enhance the comfort of the lenses when worn on the eyes.

Abstract: A process for damaging and maintaining damage to the nucleic acids of pathogens such as white blood cells, bacteria and viruses which may be contained in blood or blood components. This process comprises adding to the blood or blood component containing pathogens an effective amount of riboflavin, and exposing the fluid to light of an appropriate wavelength to damage the nucleic acid of the pathogen and to substantially maintain the damage to the pathogenic nucleic acids to allow for subsequent transfusion into a recipient.

Abstract: This invention provides methods and compositions for using nitric oxide in a photoradiation pathogen inactivation process for whole blood and blood components to improve pathogen kill and to improve preservation of the quality of the blood components. This invention provides methods for using nitric oxide in combination with oxygen, photosensitizers, quencher and/or glycolysis inhibitor, and compositions comprising blood components decontaminated by these methods. Nitric oxide is provided using nitric oxide gas, or nitric oxide generators such as L-arginine, and/or N-acetyl-cysteine. This invention also provides compositions suitable for photoradiation pathogen inactivation that include fluid comprising a blood component, a photosensitizer, and dissolved nitric oxide. This invention provides decontamination systems useful for performing the methods of this invention and methods for making the decontamination systems.

Abstract: This invention relates to the addition of platelet activation inhibitors to solutions used in the pathogen reduction and subsequent storage of platelets. More particularly, the invention relates to the addition of adenylate cyclase stimulators and phosphodiesterase inhibitors to a platelet pathogen reduction and storage solution.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head includes a first pole having multiple magnetic layers separated by multiple gap layers. The multiple magnetic layers make up a write pole which produces a first hard axis field and a first auxiliary pole that produces a first auxiliary field that opposes the first hard axis field resulting in a reduced net hard axis field. The write pole and the first auxiliary pole are separated by a first gap layer made of a material that is less magnetically conducting than the write pole and the first auxiliary pole. The write pole is located upstream from the first auxiliary pole relative to a perpendicular magnetic recording medium. A portion of the first auxiliary pole exists in a region between a surface of the perpendicular magnetic recording medium and five microns from a surface of the perpendicular magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: Detergent compositions containing low molecular weight organic diamines are provided. More particularly, detergent compositions for hand dishwashing which have improved grease removal performance and benefits in sudsing are provided. Further, such detergent compositions have improved low temperature stability properties and dissolution properties.

Abstract: Hand dishwashing compositions comprising a low molecular weight organic diamine having a pK1 and a pK2 value in the range of from 8 10 11.5, an anionic surfactant, an amine oxide, and magnesium ions, said magnesium being present at an equimolar or less than equimolar amount of said diamine.

Abstract: A method of preparing a porous film comprises electrodepositing material from a mixture onto a substrate, the mixture comprising: (I) a source of metal, inorganic oxide, non-oxide semiconductor/conductor or organic polymer, (II) a solvent such as water; and (III) a structure-directing agent such as octaethylene glycol monododecyl ether in an amount sufficient to form an homogeneous lyotropic liquid crystalline phase in the mixture. Electrodepositing the film from a lyotropic liquid phase in this manner provides a porous film having a substantially regular structure and substantially uniform pore size. Following deposition, the porous film may be treated to remove the structure-directing agent.

Abstract: Sodium percarbonate is traditionally made in a crystallization process from aqueous hydrogen peroxide and sodium carbonate with recycle of mother liquor in the presence of a substantial concentration of a salting out agent, conventionally sodium chloride. The invention provides a process intended to be conducted without addition of chloride salting-out agent in which the dissolution step is controlled to restrict the sodium carbonate concentration to below 95%, preferably 60 to 90% of its saturated concentration at a temperature preferably controlled to at most 35C. and the mole ratio of hydrogen peroxide:sodium carbonate in the reaction vessel is controlled to between 0.7 to 1.2:1, and preferably about 1:1.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an airlaid composite which is made of pulp fibers, at least about 2% by weight bicomponent fiber, and moisture. This airlaid composite is unique in that a uniformly even composite is made which upon calendering, becomes a thin structure which maintains significant absorbency when saturated. The bicomponent fibers of the present invention include a first polymer component and a second polymer component, and the first polymer component melts at a temperature lower than the melting temperature of the second polymer component. Mixing of the pulp fibers with the bicomponent fibers is done in such a way that the fibers are evenly dispersed in the airlaid composite. This airlaid composite is then heated such that at least a portion of the first polymer component of the bicomponent fiber is melted, which bond the bicomponent fibers to many of the pulp and bicomponent fibers when cooled.

Abstract: A tank-cleaning device, having a housing (1) insertable into an opening of a tank, which housing has a rotationally fixed housing part (2) communicating with an ink for the cleaning fluid and a nozzle holder (4) rotatable relative to the rotationally fixed housing part (2) about a first pivot axis (5), and having at least one nozzle assembly with four nozzles (8, 9, 10, 11) that is disposed on the nozzle holder (4) rotatably about a second pivot axis (7), while having a simple structure, enables thorough cleaning of tanks with narrow tank openings, if two nozzles at a time (8, 9; 10, 11) of the nozzle assembly (6) are disposed at an acute angle (12) to one another in the form of respective V-formations (13, 14), and the two V-formations (13, 14) have essentially opposed directions (15).