Abstract: Disclosed are methods of enhancing plant growth, comprising treating seed at least one month prior to planting with an effective amount of a plant signal molecule, wherein upon harvesting the plant exhibits at least one of increased plant yield measured in terms of bushels/acre, increased root number, increased root length, increased root mass, increased root volume and increased leaf area, compared to plants harvested from untreated seed, or compared to plants harvested from seed treated with the signal molecule just prior to or within a week or less of planting.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for enhancing plant growth and crop yield in legumes and non-legumes are described. The compositions include lipo-chitooligosaccharides in combination with chitins/chitosans or in combination with flavonoid compounds or in combination with a herbicide. The method includes applying the compositions to seeds and/or plants either concomitantly or sequentially.

Abstract: A container includes a base and a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the base. The pair of opposed side walls include a first side wall and a second side wall. The first side wall includes a lip at an upper portion thereof. A first lid is pivotably connected to the first side wall. The first lid can be selectively snap-fit connected to the lip of the first side wall to retain the first lid in an open position.

Abstract: A rain screen system for attaching an array of panels to the outside of a building, by means of a track system. The track system includes a series of horizontal mounting tracks that extend across the entire width of the panel array. Each horizontal mounting track has an upturned building-side leg that forms both a mounting flange, through a local shim, to the building, as well as the building side of a water tight, continuous, self draining gutter system. Each track also has an upturned panel-side leg that forms both a mounting flange for the lower edge of a panel and the panel side of the gutter system. Each track also forms a water seal at the top edge of the panel. The gutter system has a weep holes on the panel side of the gutter system, adapted so that drainage is fed to the top of the lower panel.

Abstract: A sensor module has first and second sensor arrays formed on a substrate, with the first and second sensor arrays adapted to share common readout circuitry and shared read out for a pair of sensors on a single array.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for enhancing plant growth and crop yield in legumes and non-legumes are described. The compositions include lipo-chitooligosaccharides in combination with chitins/chitosans or in combination with flavonoid compounds or in combination with a herbicide. The method includes applying the compositions to seeds and/or plants either concomitantly or sequentially.

Abstract: A digital camera for capturing and processing images of different resolutions and a corresponding method for down-scaling a digital image are provided. The method includes forming an image of a real scene on an image sensor that is made up of a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix. The method further includes addressing and reading pixels in the matrix to obtain analog quantities related to the pixels luminance values, converting the analog quantities from the pixels matrix into digital values, and processing the digital values to obtain a data file representing the image of the real scene. To reduce computation time and power consumption, the addressing and reading of the pixels includes selecting a group of pixels from the matrix, and storing the analog quantities related to the pixels of the selected group of pixels into an analog storing circuit. The stored analog quantities are averaged to obtain an analog quantity corresponding to an average pixel luminance value.

Abstract: A method and means for producing a combustible mixture of hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis of water using a pulsed application of water onto electrodes while applying an electrical potential between electrodes and where the electrodes are not immersed in the water which flows between the electrodes while undergoing electrolysis.

Abstract: A digital filter is provided that may replace a center pixel with the nearest-valued opposing average. The filter may reduce the amplitude of a defective pixel couplet by at least 50%, and may structure noise into linear artifacts.

Abstract: A method for image compression of a set of image data includes performing a quantization operation on the image data. The quantization operation may include controlling a compression factor by applying a scaled quantization level obtained by multiplying a first quantization level by a gain factor. The gain factor may be updated as a function of a bit per pixel value of a compressed image. The update operation may include an iterative procedure including at least one iteration step that provides for updating a current gain factor as a function of a previous gain used for performing a previous compression step and as a function of a ratio of the bit per pixel value of the compressed image at the previous compression step to a target bit per pixel value. The method may be used in Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) image processing and digital still cameras.

Abstract: Microparticles, obtainable by spray-drying a substantially pure solution of a therapeutic agent, consist essentially of the agent having its therapeutic activity when administered to the lung. In a preferred embodiment the agent is insulin.

Abstract: A full-body exercise machine. The exercise machine includes a first mechanism that enables a user to selectively apply positive resistance to a first leg and/or a second leg independently or simultaneously. The resistance is applied during pushing and/or pulling motions as the first leg and/or the second leg move in opposite or similar directions relative to the second leg and/or first leg, respectively. A second mechanism selectively applies positive resistance to a first arm and/or a second arm independently or simultaneously, in different or similar directions. The resistance is applied during pushing and/or pulling motions. A third mechanism facilitates abdominal crunches, leg tucks, and/or back hyperextensions while exercising the legs and the arms via the first and second mechanisms. In a specific embodiment, the third mechanism includes a seatback linked to the first and/or second mechanisms so that actuation of the first or second mechanisms causes actuation of the seatback.

Abstract: A method and means for producing a combustible mixture of hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis of water using a pulsed application of water onto electrodes while applying an electrical potential between electrodes and where the electrodes are not immersed in the water which flows between the electrodes while undergoing electrolysis

Abstract: A fluorescent identification and focusing target indicia and associated methods for use. The indicia is used to label a substrate, and may subsequently be used first as a target to focus the optical analysis and next as a specific identifier of the substrate and/or of reagents used with the substrate. The label may be a separate layer joined to the substrate by an adhesive. The indicia may include multiple dyes, a dye that produces fluorescence in a plurality of channels, a reflective component, a human interpretable component, a quantification means, a sizing standard, or other components.

Abstract: A digital camera for capturing and processing images of different resolutions and a corresponding method for down-scaling a digital image are provided. The method includes forming an image of a real scene on an image sensor that is made up of a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix. The method further includes addressing and reading pixels in the matrix to obtain analog quantities related to the pixels luminance values, converting the analog quantities from the pixels matrix into digital values, and processing the digital values to obtain a data file representing the image of the real scene. To reduce computation time and power consumption, the addressing and reading of the pixels includes selecting a group of pixels from the matrix, and storing the analog quantities related to the pixels of the selected group of pixels into an analog storing circuit. The stored analog quantities are averaged to obtain an analog quantity corresponding to an average pixel luminance value.

Abstract: A method of processing digital images in devices for acquiring both individual images and image sequences, comprising the step of acquiring images in color filter array (CFA) format and the step of reducing the resolution of the images acquired. In order to reduce computing time and energy consumption, the resolution-reduction step processes the images directly in CFA format.

Abstract: A control system architecture controlling one or more vehicle seats; providing the vehicle seats with a plurality of electronic devices including actuators, sensors and controllers; integrating the actuators, sensors and controllers into the vehicle seats; and interconnecting the actuators, sensors and controllers over a common serial bus through programmable connectors. Each of the programmable connectors associated with any given device provides a unique address for that device that allows the device to be specifically addressed and perform specific functions based on the electrical signals specifically targeted for the electronic device, whereby the plurality of the electrical signals are transmitted and received over the common serial bus simultaneously without interference.

Abstract: Microparticles, obtainable by spray-drying a substantially pure solution of a therapeutic agent, consist essentially of the agent having its therapeutic activity when administered to the lung. In a preferred embodiment the agent is insulin.

Abstract: STEW Encryption is a new method of securing computerized data that uses the output of dynamic wave functions or similar functions to alter numerical data, most notably computer byte values. STEW is a symmetrical form of encryption, meaning its encryption process is nearly the reverse of its decryption process. This new method, using dynamic wave functions, is much more difficult to crack than current symmetrical encryption methods. It improves security while keeping key lengths and processing requirements to a minimum. STEW can be easily combined with public key (asymmetric) encryption. This makes STEW ideal for quick tasks like sending secure credit card information from a costumer to a store on the Internet.

Abstract: Microparticles, obtainable by spray-drying a substantially pure solution of a therapeutic agent, consist essentially of the agent having its therapeutic activity when administered to the lung. In a preferred embodiment the agent is insulin.