Abstract: An injection apparatus for injecting and/or removing substances from subjects, such as avian eggs, includes an injection needle having a body portion and a tapered portion that terminates at a tip. A tube is attached to and extends around the injection needle in substantially concentric relationship therewith. The tube has an end portion positioned a predetermined distance from the needle tip. The tube end portion acts as a stop to limit the distance the needle tip can be inserted into a subject, such as an egg, through a membrane of the subject. A detector may be utilized to measure force exerted on a membrane of an egg by a stop attached to a needle. Force exerted on a membrane by a needle and/or by a needle and a stop attached to the needle may also be measured.

Abstract: A new reduced reference (RR) video calibration and quality monitoring system utilizes less than 10 kilobits/second of reference information from the source video stream. This new video calibration and quality monitoring system utilizes feature extraction techniques similar to those found in the NTIA General Video Quality Model (VQM) recently standardized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Objective to subjective correlation results are presented for 18 subjectively rated data sets that include more than 2500 video clips from a wide range of video scenes and systems. The method is being implemented in a new end-to-end video-quality monitoring tool that utilizes the Internet to communicate the low bandwidth features between the source and destination ends.

Abstract: A flame barrier product for use in mattresses, foundations, and upholstered furniture with one or more layers of fibers. A first component scavenges oxygen from a burn site. A second component burns to form an insulating char. The first component may comprise at least one category 2 fiber, which may comprise modacrylic. In one embodiment, the second component is a batting comprising at least one category 4 fiber, which may be cotton. The first component may be treated with a flame-retardant coating. Flame barrier products of the present invention may comprise highloft batting or densified batting. Where cotton is used, it may be treated with flame retardant chemicals, such as boric acid. A method of constructing the invention also is disclosed.

Abstract: A diverter system includes a conveying surface with a conveying direction for conveying an article at a conveying speed, a first diverter assembly at a first side of the conveying surface, and a second diverter assembly at the second side of the conveying surface. In addition, each of the diverter assemblies includes an arm mounted for pivotal movement between a non-diverting position and a diverting position. When actuated the arm of the actuated diverter assembly is pivoted across at least a portion of the conveying surface. The system further includes a first driver for selectively moving the arm of the first diverter assembly between its diverting position and its non-diverting position and a second driver for selectively moving the arm of the second diverter assembly between its diverting position and its non-diverting position.

Abstract: An optical sensor that includes a light source and a detector is located within a cavity in a polishing pad so as to face the surface that is being polished. Light from the light source is reflected from the surface being polished and the detector detects the reflected light. The electrical signal produced by the detector is conducted to a hub located at the central aperture of the polishing pad. The disposable polishing pad is removably connected, both mechanically and electrically to the hub. The hub contains electronic circuitry that is concerned with supplying power to the optical sensor and with transmitting the electrical signal to a non-rotating station. Several techniques are described for accomplishing these tasks. The system permits continuous monitoring of an optical characteristic of a surface that is being polished, even while the polishing machine is in operation, and permits the end point of the polishing process to be determined.

Abstract: An extendable multi-stage trailer loader or unloader apparatus includes a frame assembly having first and second frame members that are interconnected. The second frame member is selectively extendable from the first frame member. A first conveying surface is supported by the first frame member and defines a first conveyor. The first conveying surface is operable to convey articles between an upstream end of the first conveyor and a downstream end of the first conveyor. A second conveying surface is supported by the second conveying member. The second conveying surface is defined by a second conveyor. The second conveying surface is operable for conveying articles between the downstream end of the first conveyor and a downstream end of the second conveyor. The second conveyor includes a flexible support supporting the second conveying surface.

Abstract: An optical sensor that includes a light source and a detector is located within a cavity in a polishing pad so as to face the surface that is being polished. Light from the light source is reflected from the surface being polished and the detector detects the reflected light. The electrical signal produced by the detector is conducted to a hub located at the central aperture of the polishing pad. The disposable polishing pad is removably connected, both mechanically and electrically to the hub. The hub contains electronic circuitry that is concerned with supplying power to the optical sensor and with transmitting the electrical signal to a non-rotating station. Several techniques are described for accomplishing these tasks. The system permits continuous monitoring of an optical characteristic of a surface that is being polished, even while the polishing machine is in operation, and permits the end point of the polishing process to be determined.

Abstract: Methods an apparatus for accurately and reliably positioning a device within an egg are provided. An opening is formed within a portion of the shell of an egg and a device is extended through the opening. The device includes a needle having a lumen containing a fluid under pressure. Fluid pressure is monitored and, in response to detecting a change in pressure of the fluid, movement of the device is stopped. Alternatively, fluid flow is monitored and, in response to detecting fluid flow from the needle, movement of the device is stopped. The device may be a substance delivery device that is configured to deliver a substance into the subgerminal cavity of the egg. The device may be a substance removal device that is configured remove a substance from an egg.

Abstract: An injection apparatus for injecting and/or removing substances from subjects, such as avian eggs, includes an injection needle having a body portion and a tapered portion that terminates at a tip. A tube is attached to and extends around the injection needle in substantially concentric relationship therewith. The tube has an end portion positioned a predetermined distance from the needle tip. The tube end portion acts as a stop to limit the distance the needle tip can be inserted into a subject, such as an egg, through a membrane of the subject. A detector may be utilized to measure force exerted on a membrane of an egg by a stop attached to a needle. Force exerted on a membrane by a needle and/or by a needle and a stop attached to the needle may also be measured.

Abstract: A test video sequence for testing quality loss in processed video. When video clips are transmitted, compressed/decompressed, or otherwise processed, measuring the loss of quality that occurs during processing can be improved by inserting specific types of overhead video data into the test video sequence before processing. When the processed test video sequence is compared to the pre-processed test video sequence, the overhead video data enables improvements in the comparison operation. In one embodiment, padded areas such as uniform-color frames are inserted at specified points to absorb some of the quality loss and/or to enable identification of starting and/or ending points of the video clips. In another embodiment, a special color bar is inserted before processing and used after processing to detect changes that should be corrected before comparing the video clips.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for segmenting sets of distinct entities into groups with associated boundaries, wherein the associated boundaries have an associated logic are disclosed. The interaction of an object, a set of objects, another group, or combinations thereof with a group's associated boundary is accounted for by the logic of the invention such that the group and its associated boundary are modified with respect to the interaction.

Abstract: An egg is accelerated such that the inner and outer shell membranes separate and allow the air cell to move within the egg when the egg is repositioned. By separating the outer and inner shell membranes of an egg, the air cell will reposition itself at the upper portion of the egg shell. An egg may be accelerated in various ways according to embodiments of the present invention including, but not limited to, agitation, “flicking” by hand, spinning, rotating, centrifuging, etc.

Abstract: An optical sensor that includes a light source and a detector is located within a cavity in a polishing pad so as to face the surface that is being polished. Light from the light source is reflected from the surface being polished and the detector detects the reflected light. The electrical signal produced by the detector is conducted to a hub located at the central aperture of the polishing pad. The disposable polishing pad is removably connected, both mechanically and electrically to the hub. The hub contains electronic circuitry that is concerned with supplying power to the optical sensor and with transmitting the electrical signal to a non-rotating station. Several techniques are described for accomplishing these tasks. The system permits continuous monitoring of an optical characteristic of a surface that is being polished, even while the polishing machine is in operation, and permits the end point of the polishing process to be determined.

Abstract: This invention pertains to an ink set for inkjet printing, in particular to an ink set comprising at least one ink containing a self-dispersing pigment colorant and a fixer fluid containing copper salt. The invention also pertains to a method of inkjet printing with this ink set.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved methods of injecting an avian egg containing an embryo, preferably an early embryo (e.g., a blastoderm). The methods of the invention may be used to deliver a substance to an egg, remove a sample from an egg, and/or to insert a detector device into an egg to collect information therefrom. In preferred embodiments, the invention is used to deliver a substance to the embryo in ovo. In other preferred embodiments, the invention is used to produce chimeric or transgenic avian embryos in ovo.

Abstract: A test video sequence for testing quality loss in processed video. When video clips are transmitted, compressed/decompressed, or otherwise processed, measuring the loss of quality that occurs during processing can be improved by inserting specific types of overhead video data into the test video sequence before processing. When the processed test video sequence is compared to the pre-processed test video sequence, the overhead video data enables improvements in the comparison operation. In one embodiment, padded areas such as uniform-color frames are inserted at specified points to absorb some of the quality loss and/or to enable identification of starting and/or ending points of the video clips. In another embodiment, a special color bar is inserted before processing and used after processing to detect changes that should be corrected before comparing the video clips.

Abstract: Bioabsorbable medical devices are prepared by oxidizing derivatives of cellulose, including methyl cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, and cellulose acetate. The resulting material is formed into films, sponges and, in the case of oxidized methyl cellulose, gels, due to its unique property of being water soluble. The resulting devices are particularly useful in limiting surgical adhesions, and for hemostasis. Other uses include wound dressings and as a replacement for more expensive bioabsorbable gels such as hyaluronic acid.

Abstract: An improved adhesion-preventative physical barrier, wound dressing and drug delivery system comprising an oxidized cellulose film made up of multiple layers of a cellulose fabric or like material and a cellulose film. A method for forming an improved oxidized cellulose film and for using the same to prevent the formation of postsurgical adhesions and/or to dress a wound and/or to deliver one or more drugs.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the quality of a video transmission or storage system when the input and output of the system may be spatially separated, when the apparatus might not have a priori knowledge of the input video, and when there exists an ancillary data channel that can be used by the apparatus. The apparatus makes continuous quality measurements by extracting features from sequences of processed input and output video frames, communicating the extracted features between the input and the output ends using an ancillary data channel of arbitrary and possible variable bandwidth, computing individual video quality parameters from the communicated features that are indicative of the various perceptual dimensions of video quality (e.g., spatial, temporal, color), and finally calculating a composite video quality score by combining the individual video quality parameters.

Abstract: A method for objectively and non-intrusively measuring the audio-visual quality of a destination audio-video signal that generates measurement parameters that are indicative of human image quality perceptions. Subjective human test panel results are generated for a variety of audio-video test samples and objective test results are also generated by the apparatus of the invention for the variety of audio-video test samples. Accordingly, when the apparatus extracts test frames from the actual source and destination audio-video signals and compares them, audio-visual quality parameters are output by the apparatus that are indicative of the audio-visual quality of the destination audio-visual signal based upon the source audio-visual signal.