Abstract: A lift mechanism self-locking push rod is provided, which comprises a drive component, a transmission component, and a lift component, and a self-locking device is disposed between the drive component and the transmission component; a power input shaft of the transmission component is sleeved into a one-way bearing; a first locking piece and a second locking piece are disposed around the one-way bearing; the first locking piece is fixedly connected with the one-way bearing, and the second locking piece rotatably cooperates with the one-way bearing; the first locking piece is abutted against the second locking piece; a resistance is generated between abutting surfaces of the first locking piece and the second locking piece for the purpose of locking. The resistance between the abutting surfaces helps to achieve the locking effect while the entire structure not be rotated and the length of the lift component not be changed.

Abstract: Techniques for segmentation include determining an edge of voxels in a range associated with a target object. A center voxel is determined. Target size is determined based on the center voxel. In some embodiments, edges near the center are suppressed, markers are determined based on the center, and an initial boundary is determined using a watershed transform. Some embodiments include determining multiple rays originating at the center in 3D, and determining adjacent rays for each. In some embodiments, a 2D field of amplitudes is determined on a first dimension for distance along a ray and a second dimension for successive rays in order. An initial boundary is determined based on a path of minimum cost to connect each ray. In some embodiments, active contouring is performed using a novel term to refine the initial boundary. In some embodiments, boundaries of part-solid target objects are refined using Markov models.

Abstract: Techniques for segmentation include determining an edge of voxels in a range associated with a target object. A center voxel is determined. Target size is determined based on the center voxel. In some embodiments, edges near the center are suppressed, markers are determined based on the center, and an initial boundary is determined using a watershed transform. Some embodiments include determining multiple rays originating at the center in 3D, and determining adjacent rays for each. In some embodiments, a 2D field of amplitudes is determined on a first dimension for distance along a ray and a second dimension for successive rays in order. An initial boundary is determined based on a path of minimum cost to connect each ray. In some embodiments, active contouring is performed using a novel term to refine the initial boundary. In some embodiments, boundaries of part-solid target objects are refined using Markov models.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for decapping single wall carbon nanotubes and purifying the decapped single wall carbon nanotubes. The disclosed methods include the steps of oxidizing the single wall carbon nanotubes to remove the terminal end cap and subsequently acid washing the single wall carbon nanotubes to remove the catalyst particles. The resulting carbon nanotubes have improved BET surface area and pore volume.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst precursor and a catalyst suitable for preparing multi-wall carbon nanotubes. The resulting multi-wall carbon nanotubes have a narrow distribution as to the number of walls forming the tubes and a narrow distribution in the range of diameters for the tubes. Additionally, the present invention provides methods for producing multi-wall carbon nanotubes having narrow distributions in the number of walls and diameters. Further, the present invention provides a composition of spent catalyst carrying multi-wall nanotubes having narrow distribution ranges of walls and diameters.

Abstract: A method of verifying compliance of a cross sectional imaging scan of a subject is provided, which includes determining one or more body volumes covered by the cross sectional imaging scan, and for each of the determined one or more body volumes, locating a presence of at least a portion of one or more internal organs of the subject encompassed in a corresponding determined volume, thereby verifying whether the cross sectional imaging scan is compliant with predetermined criteria. The predetermined criteria can be body coverage criteria for a scan of one or more body regions of the subject. Additionally, a method for verifying whether an image series of a cross sectional imaging scan is performed with contrast is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst precursor and a catalyst suitable for preparing multi-wall carbon nanotubes. The resulting multi-wall carbon nanotubes have a narrow distribution as to the number of walls forming the tubes and a narrow distribution in the range of diameters for the tubes. Additionally, the present invention provides methods for producing multi-wall carbon nanotubes having narrow distributions in the number of walls and diameters. Further, the present invention provides a composition of spent catalyst carrying multi-wall nanotubes having narrow distribution ranges of walls and diameters.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst precursor and a catalyst suitable for preparing multi-wall carbon nanotubes. The resulting multi-wall carbon nanotubes have a narrow distribution as to the number of walls forming the tubes and a narrow distribution in the range of diameters for the tubes. Additionally, the present invention provides methods for producing multi-wall carbon nanotubes having narrow distributions in the number of walls and diameters. Further, the present invention provides a composition of spent catalyst carrying multi-wall nanotubes having narrow distribution ranges of walls and diameters.

Abstract: Techniques for segmentation include determining an edge of voxels in a range associated with a target object. A center voxel is determined. Target size is determined based on the center voxel. In some embodiments, edges near the center are suppressed, markers are determined based on the center, and an initial boundary is determined using a watershed transform. Some embodiments include determining multiple rays originating at the center in 3D, and determining adjacent rays for each. In some embodiments, a 2D field of amplitudes is determined on a first dimension for distance along a ray and a second dimension for successive rays in order. An initial boundary is determined based on a path of minimum cost to connect each ray. In some embodiments, active contouring is performed using a novel term to refine the initial boundary. In some embodiments, boundaries of part-solid target objects are refined using Markov models.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for decapping single wall carbon nanotubes and purifying the decapped single wall carbon nanotubes. The disclosed methods include the steps of oxidizing the single wall carbon nanotubes to remove the terminal end cap and subsequently acid washing the single wall carbon nanotubes to remove the catalyst particles. The resulting carbon nanotubes have improved BET surface area and pore volume.

Abstract: A method of verifying compliance of a cross sectional imaging scan of a subject is provided, which includes determining one or more body volumes covered by the cross sectional imaging scan, and for each of the determined one or more body volumes, locating a presence of at least a portion of one or more internal organs of the subject encompassed in a corresponding determined volume, thereby verifying whether the cross sectional imaging scan is compliant with predetermined criteria. The predetermined criteria can be body coverage criteria for a scan of one or more body regions of the subject. Additionally, a method for verifying whether an image series of a cross sectional imaging scan is performed with contrast is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst precursor and a catalyst suitable for preparing multi-wall carbon nanotubes. The resulting multi-wall carbon nanotubes have a narrow distribution as to the number of walls forming the tubes and a narrow distribution in the range of diameters for the tubes. Additionally, the present invention provides methods for producing multi-wall carbon nanotubes having narrow distributions in the number of walls and diameters. Further, the present invention provides a composition of spent catalyst carrying multi-wall nanotubes having narrow distribution ranges of walls and diameters.

Abstract: The present invention has disclosed a method and apparatus for lung nodule segmentation in a chest radiograph. The method comprises preprocessing the chest radiograph and propagating the segmentation in the image based on the fast marching method. The method further includes design of velocity function. With the present invention, a fast and robust segmentation can be achieved.

Abstract: Methods for producing microstructured catalytic substrates and microstructured catalytic substrates produced by the methods, and methods for growing single-walled carbon nanotubes on the microstructured catalytic substrates wherein the single-walled carbon nanotubes are preferably of a highly specific chirality.