Abstract: A method for preparing biochar and hydrogen by utilizing anaerobic fermentation byproducts, the method including: (1) mixing a first straw, seeding sludge and distilled water, and then carrying out anaerobic fermentation to obtain a mixed product after fermentation; (2) performing separation on the mixed product to obtain a second straw and biogas slurry; and (3) carbonizing the second straw to obtain biochar, and collecting gas after a pressurized catalytic reaction on the biogas slurry to obtain hydrogen.

Abstract: New 2-deoxy-2,3-dehydro-sialic acids and 2,7-anhydro-sialic acids, which are useful as sialidase inhibitors, and enzymatic methods for preparing them are disclosed. The methods include forming a reaction mixture comprising a glycoside acceptor, a sialic acid donor, and a sialyltransferase; maintaining the reaction mixture under conditions sufficient to form a sialoside; and contacting the sialoside with a Streptococcus pneumoniae sialidase to form the sialic acid product. Methods for the inhibition and sialidases and the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides N-acetyl derivatives of sialic acids, including N-acetyl derivatives of Neu5Ac and Neu5Gc. Methods for preparing related precursors and a variety of sialosides are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for preparing biochar and hydrogen by utilizing anaerobic fermentation byproducts, the method including: (1) mixing a first straw, seeding sludge and distilled water, and then carrying out anaerobic fermentation to obtain a mixed product after fermentation; (2) performing separation on the mixed product to obtain a second straw and biogas slurry; and (3) carbonizing the second straw to obtain biochar, and collecting gas after a pressurized catalytic reaction on the biogas slurry to obtain hydrogen.

Abstract: The present invention provides N-acetyl derivatives of sialic acids, including N-acetyl derivatives of Neu5Ac and Neu5Gc. Methods for preparing related precursors and a variety of sialosides are also disclosed.

Abstract: New 2-deoxy-2,3-dehydro-sialic acids and 2,7-anhydro-sialic acids, which are useful as sialidase inhibitors, and enzymatic methods for preparing them are disclosed. The methods include forming a reaction mixture comprising a glycoside acceptor, a sialic acid donor, and a sialyltransferase; maintaining the reaction mixture under conditions sufficient to form a sialoside; and contacting the sialoside with a Streptococcus pneumoniae sialidase to form the sialic acid product. Methods for the inhibition and sialidases and the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides N-acetyl derivatives of sialic acids, including N-acetyl derivatives of Neu5Ac and Neu5Gc. Methods for preparing related precursors and a variety of sialosides are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system that facilitates automatically determining an action of an animate object is described herein. The system includes a receiver component that receives video data that includes images of an animate object. The system additionally includes a determiner component that accesses a data store that includes an action graph and automatically determines an action undertaken by the animate object in the received video data based at least in part upon the action graph. The action graph comprises a plurality of nodes that are representative of multiple possible postures of the animate object. At least one node in the action graph is shared amongst multiple actions represented in the action graph.

Abstract: A system that facilitates automatically determining an action of an animate object is described herein. The system includes a receiver component that receives video data that includes images of an animate object. The system additionally includes a determiner component that accesses a data store that includes an action graph and automatically determines an action undertaken by the animate object in the received video data based at least in part upon the action graph. The action graph comprises a plurality of nodes that are representative of multiple possible postures of the animate object. At least one node in the action graph is shared amongst multiple actions represented in the action graph.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for searching metadata based on user preferences is useful for improving the efficiency of searches. According to the method, a search in a database for a set of one or more search parameters is performed, where the database includes a set of metadata attributes (step 305). Ranked search results are then obtained from the search for the set of one or more search parameters based on an aggregated user preference variable derived from the set of metadata attributes (step 325). Performing the search may include generating a plurality of search queries based on the set of one or more search parameters (step 310). Based on the aggregated user preference variable, each query in the plurality of search queries may be ranked (step 315). Finally, at least one query in the plurality of search queries is executed according to rank (step 320).

Abstract: In a wide band light sensing pixel array (100) comprising pixel groups (105), a ratio of a visible exposure period to a near infrared exposure period is controlled by a control circuit (108) to be essentially equivalent to a ratio of a second nominal sensitivity to a first nominal sensitivity. The visible exposure period is an exposure period of a set of visible light pixels having the first nominal sensitivity. The near infrared exposure period is an exposure period of a near infrared light pixel having the second nominal sensitivity. A subset of the set of visible light pixels and the near infrared light pixel in each pixel group (105) and circuit components associated only with the subset can be turned off during a reduced color mode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stereoscopic panoramic video generation includes novel techniques for panorama projection, stitching and calibration for various depth planes. The apparatus includes a polygonal camera head (40) having multiple sides (42) and a circular projection center (44) located within the polygon. Each side of the polygon has a pair of cameras (46a, 46b) for capturing image scenes. The cameras (46a, 46b) are arranged such that image projection lines (48) extending from the cameras are perpendicular to the side upon which the camera is located and tangent to one side of the circle of the projection center. Projection surfaces (50) are warped such that the image projection lines are also perpendicular to the projection surfaces. Stereoscopic panoramic video is generated with no occlusion of the scene by the capturing apparatus and no visible perspective errors or image mosaic artifacts.

Abstract: A method of image segmentation is disclosed. The method partitions at least part of an input image (9, 29) into a plurality of partitioned units (10). The method next determines segments (13,14,15,16) for each of the plurality of partitioned units (10) based on at least one pixel attribute of the input image (9, 29). Subsequently, the method selectively combines (18) the segments of the partitioned units (10) to provide a segmented version of the input image (9, 29). A system (1) for image segmentation having an image partition module (2), a block segmentation module (4) coupled to the image partition module (2) and a segment combination module (5) coupled to the block segmentation module (4) is also disclosed for performing the above method.