Abstract: A system and method of displaying a suggested luminance adjustment for an image are disclosed. The method comprises applying a contrast adjustment to a first region of the image, the contrast adjustment defining a preference for the contrast adjusted image and determining a second region of the contrast adjusted image based on a salience map associated with the contrast adjusted image and the preference for the contrast adjusted image. The method further comprises displaying a visual indication of the suggested luminance adjustment for the second region in association with the contrast adjusted image, wherein the suggested luminance adjustment is determined based on a preference of the contrast adjusted image with the suggested luminance adjustment applied.

Abstract: An aqueous composition includes polyvinyl alcohol, an acid having a pKa of at most 4.0, and a dispersion of a polymer in which vinyl acetate units constitute at least 60 wt % of the polymer. The polymer does not contain units of any N-methylol-containing monomer, and at least a portion of the polyvinyl alcohol is present in the form of an emulsion stabilizer for the polymer. The wet strength of a fibrous nonwoven substrate can be increased by applying one or more aqueous compositions that together include polyvinyl alcohol, an acid having a pKa of at most 4.0, and a dispersion of a polymer as described above, followed by a final drying step. A fibrous nonwoven article can be prepared in this way.

Abstract: Methods and devices for treating tinnitus in a human subject wherein the subject is caused to perceive a tinnitus suppressing sound which fully or partially suppresses the subject's tinnitus. The tinnitus suppressing sound can be set to a pitch offset from a matched pitch for the human subject. The offset can be one or more half octaves or octaves lower or higher than the matched pitch. The offset can also be set as a function of the human subject's hearing loss and as a function of limitations in the sound producing device so that the optimal sound for the human subject when wearing the sound producing device is the sound that is used in that situation. The produced sounds may also be modulated with a sinusoid for improved suppression. Other methods and devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for preparing a surface for mechanically securing a spray coating to a surface. A first series of grooves formed in the surface are intersected with a second series of grooves formed in the surface. A plurality of barbs are formed at the intersections. The spray coating is mechanically secured to the barbs that overhang the first series of grooves. The surface includes the first series of grooves and the second series of groves that intersect the first series of groves. The second series of groves form an undercut portion, or barb, at the intersections of the grooves that mechanically anchor the spray coating.

Abstract: Methods and systems for using encapsulated microbubbles to process biological samples are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method for using encapsulated microbubbles to process a biological sample includes creating a mixture comprising encapsulated microbubbles mixed with a biological sample and adding activation energy to the mixture to cause at least some of the microbubbles to oscillate or burst and thereby process the sample, including effecting cell lysis, shearing DNA, and/or performing tissue dispersion.

Abstract: A heat transfer element includes curved mounting surfaces configured to mate with an outer surface of a pipe for attachment thereto; and a channel configured to receive a tracer therein. The heat transfer element is configured to effect conductive heat transfer from the tracer to the pipe, or to process flowing through the pipe, when attached with heat transfer cement (HTC) to both the pipe and the tracer. A system includes a pipe and a tracer; HTC; and a heat transfer element having curved mounting surfaces configured to mate with an outer surface of the pipe and attached thereto via the HTC, and a channel in which the tracer is received and secured via HTC. The heat transfer element is configured to effect conductive heat transfer from the tracer to the pipe, or to process flowing through the pipe, when attached with HTC to both the pipe and the tracer.

Abstract: An apparatus having a computer-implemented database controller module, a computer-implemented database module, and a computer-implemented database query module. Software and/or firmware that is/are included in computer-implemented database controller module is/are configured to enter baseline data into the computer-implemented database module and to enter changes into the computer-implemented database module using an extensible multidimensional effectivity method of recording only an indicated change with its effectivity parameters. The computer-implemented database query module is configured to retrieve answers to queries relating to the baseline data and the changes and to return the answers in response to the queries.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for predicting preferences of an observer for two images, the method comprising the steps of: receiving the first image and an associated salience map indicating regions of the first image that are likely to be scrutinized by the observer; receiving a content masking map indicating differences between the first image and the second image that the observer is likely to be able to perceive; determining a number of preference measures; and processing the salience map and the content masking map to determine a distribution of a set of values of the preference measures predicting the preferences of the observer for the first image and the second image, the set of values of the preference measures having a number of degrees of freedom.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a synthetic solid bar cleanser formulated to clean human skin. More particularly, the present invention relates to synthetic solid cleanser formulations which have pH of about 5.5, the same as human skin, and yet which perform similarly, or superior, to traditional soap.

Abstract: A solid synthetic bar cleanser for cleaning a person's skin has an acidic pH of about 5.5. The syndet from which the solid bar cleanser is formed comprises as a natural foaming agent quillaja bark extract in an amount of 0.01% to about 1%. The syndet further comprises from 0.5% to about 2% of bergaptene-free essential lemon oil, from 0.0001% to about 1% thymol, and 0.01% to about 1% of lavender oil for odor and antimicrobial purposes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of inhibiting a deubiquitinase (DUB), methods of treating pathogenic infections (e.g., viral, bacterial, and/or parasitic), methods of inhibiting cell proliferation, methods of treating a neurodegenerative disease, methods of treating one or more symptoms of a neurodegenerative disease or a genetic disorder, and compounds.

Abstract: A heat transfer element includes curved mounting surfaces configured to mate with an outer surface of a pipe for attachment thereto; and a channel configured to receive a tracer therein. The heat transfer element is configured to effect conductive heat transfer from the tracer to the pipe, or to process flowing through the pipe, when attached with heat transfer cement (HTC) to both the pipe and the tracer. A system includes a pipe and a tracer; HTC; and a heat transfer element having curved mounting surfaces configured to mate with an outer surface of the pipe and attached thereto via the HTC, and a channel in which the tracer is received and secured via HTC. The heat transfer element is configured to effect conductive heat transfer from the tracer to the pipe, or to process flowing through the pipe, when attached with HTC to both the pipe and the tracer.

Abstract: A tool lubrication delivery monitoring system and a method of control. An accelerometer is provided to detect a position of a valve and fluid flow through the valve. Accelerometer data may be compared to a baseline profile to determine whether fluid flow or valve operation is within established parameters.

Abstract: A heat transfer element includes curved mounting surfaces configured to mate with an outer surface of a pipe for attachment thereto; and a channel configured to receive a tracer therein. The heat transfer element is configured to effect conductive heat transfer from the tracer to the pipe, or to process flowing through the pipe, when attached with heat transfer cement (HTC) to both the pipe and the tracer. A system includes a pipe and a tracer; HTC; and a heat transfer element having curved mounting surfaces configured to mate with an outer surface of the pipe and attached thereto via the HTC, and a channel in which the tracer is received and secured via HTC. The heat transfer element is configured to effect conductive heat transfer from the tracer to the pipe, or to process flowing through the pipe, when attached with HTC to both the pipe and the tracer.

Abstract: A heat transfer element includes curved mounting surfaces configured to mate with an outer surface of a pipe for attachment thereto; and a channel configured to receive a tracer therein. The heat transfer element is configured to effect conductive heat transfer from the tracer to the pipe, or to process flowing through the pipe, when attached with heat transfer cement (HTC) to both the pipe and the tracer. A system includes a pipe and a tracer; HTC; and a heat transfer element having curved mounting surfaces configured to mate with an outer surface of the pipe and attached thereto via the HTC, and a channel in which the tracer is received and secured via HTC. The heat transfer element is configured to effect conductive heat transfer from the tracer to the pipe, or to process flowing through the pipe, when attached with HTC to both the pipe and the tracer.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for preparing a surface for mechanically securing a spray coating to a surface. A first series of grooves formed in the surface are intersected with a second series of grooves formed in the surface. A plurality of barbs are formed at the intersections. The spray coating is mechanically secured to the barbs that overhang the first series of grooves. The surface includes the first series of grooves and the second series of groves that intersect the first series of groves. The second series of groves form an undercut portion, or barb, at the intersections of the grooves that mechanically anchor the spray coating.

Abstract: A computer-readable medium embodies a computer program for obtaining information for a payment transaction. The computer program comprises computer-readable program code for: generating a first message including an identifier and a request for the information, sending the first message via a first communication path, receiving a second message including the information and the identifier via a second path different from the first communication path, and processing the payment transaction using the information obtained in the second message.

Abstract: A computer-readable medium embodies a computer program for registering a mobile device. The computer program comprises computer-readable program code for: generating a first message including a first code in response to receiving a request to register the mobile device for use with a future session with an entity, sending the first message including the first code, receiving a second message including the first code and at least a portion encrypted using a private key associated with the mobile device, and registering the mobile device for use with the future session based on at least the portion of the second message being encrypted using the private key associated with the mobile device.

Abstract: A computer-readable medium embodies a computer program for authenticating a user. The computer program comprises computer-readable program code for: generating a first message including an identifier for a session, sending the first message through an interface associated with the session, receiving a response message including the identifier for the session, a user identifier, and at least a portion encrypted using a private key associated with a mobile device associated with the user, and authenticating the user in response to identifying that the response message includes at least the portion encrypted using the private key associated with the mobile device.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for preparing a surface for mechanically securing a spray coating to a surface. A first series of grooves formed in the surface are intersected with a second series of grooves formed in the surface. A plurality of barbs are formed at the intersections. The spray coating is mechanically secured to the barbs that overhang the first series of grooves. The surface includes the first series of grooves and the second series of groves that intersect the first series of groves. The second series of groves form an undercut portion, or barb, at the intersections of the grooves that mechanically anchor the spray coating.