Abstract: A compressive imaging system for optimizing dynamic range during the acquisition of compressed images. A light modulator modulates incident light with spatial patterns to produced modulated light. A light sensing device generates an electrical signal representing intensity of the modulated light over time. The system amplifies a difference between the electrical signal and an adjustable baseline voltage and captures samples of the amplified signal. The adjustable baseline voltage is set to be approximately equal to the average value of the electrical signal. A compressive imaging system for identifying and correcting hot spot(s) in the incident light field. Search patterns are sent to the light modulator and the corresponding samples of the electrical signal are analyzed. Once the hot spot is located, the light modulating elements corresponding to the hot spot may be turned off or their duty cycle may be reduced.

Abstract: A process for converting a gaseous hydrocarbon feed comprising methane to an aromatic hydrocarbon is integrated with liquefied natural gas (LNG) and/or pipeline gas production. In the integrated process, the gaseous hydrocarbon feed is supplied to a conversion zone comprising at least one dehydroaromatization catalyst and is contacted with the catalyst under conversion conditions to produce a gaseous effluent stream comprising at least one aromatic compound, unreacted methane and H2. The gaseous effluent stream is then separated into a first product stream comprising said at least one aromatic compound and a second product stream comprising unreacted methane and H2. The second product stream is further separated into a methane-rich stream and a hydrogen-rich stream and at least part of the methane-rich stream is passed to LNG and/or pipeline gas production.

Abstract: A photograph repository system includes data storage for storing photographs in the form of digital data files and a search feature that provides for searching for photographs by location and optionally by other search criteria. In one embodiment, a photograph repository service is accessible to users over a common data network, such as the Internet. In the photograph repository service, each stored photograph is associated with a location, i.e., where the photograph was taken and/or the location of an object in the photograph. Users can search for and obtain copies of their own photographs that they had stored previously with the photograph repository service. In addition, users can search for and obtain copies of photographs that had been taken by other users and stored with the photograph repository service. The photograph repository system can also be implemented as a standalone system, a hybrid system, or a peer-to-peer system.

Abstract: A general computer-implement method and apparatus to optimize problem layout on a massively parallel supercomputer is described. The method takes as input the communication matrix of an arbitrary problem in the form of an array whose entries C(i, j) are the amount to data communicated from domain i to domain j. Given C(i, j), first implement a heuristic map is implemented which attempts sequentially to map a domain and its communications neighbors either to the same supercomputer node or to near-neighbor nodes on the supercomputer torus while keeping the number of domains mapped to a supercomputer node constant (as much as possible). Next a Markov Chain of maps is generated from the initial map using Monte Carlo simulation with Free Energy (cost function) F=?i,jC(i,j)H(i,j)? where H(i,j) is the smallest number of hops on the supercomputer torus between domain i and domain j.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a defibrillating system is disclosed that monitors the patient during treatment and then uses the information it gathers to adjust treatment protocols during treatment based on the patient's response. The protocols may include adaptive rhythm analysis intervals, adaptive CPR intervals, and adaptive shock stacks. A method of operating a defibrillator may include the steps of: obtaining a data set on at least one physiological parameter of a patient in a first data gathering interval; performing an analysis of the data set; and determining a time interval between the analysis of the first data set and a second data set, or the duration of a CPR interval, or the number of shocks in a shock stack, based on the result of the analysis of the data set.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, program product, and/or system allocate human resources to a cohort. At least one attribute held by each member of a group of human resources is identified. A request is received, from a planned cohort, for multiple human resources that collectively possess a set of predefined attributes, wherein no single human resource possesses all of the predefined attributes. The set of human resources that satisfies the request is identified and assigned to the planned cohort.

Abstract: A logistics system manages the shipments of goods supplied from a plurality of different shippers by a plurality of carriers. It has a variety of modules integrated with each other to perform various functionalities. For example, it may have a purchasing module evaluating proposals by shippers for respective shipments of goods and awarding contracts for the shipments to the plurality of carriers. It may have an optimization module analyzing the proposals and informing the purchasing module if an opportunity exists for at least some of the shipments to be consolidated, in which case at least one contract awarded by the purchasing module is for a consolidated group of the shipments. It may have a contract administration module maintaining information relating to the status of proposals received and contracts awarded by the purchasing module. It may have a scheduling module scheduling shipments according to the awarded contracts.

Abstract: A large diameter optical waveguide, grating, and laser includes a waveguide having at least one core surrounded by a cladding, the core propagating light in substantially a few transverse spatial modes; and having an outer waveguide dimension of said waveguide being greater than about 0.3 mm. At least one Bragg grating may be impressed in the waveguide. The waveguide may be axially compressed which causes the length of the waveguide to decrease without buckling. The waveguide may be used for any application where a waveguide needs to be compression tuned. Also, the waveguide exhibits lower mode coupling from the core to the cladding and allows for higher optical power to be used when writing gratings without damaging the waveguide. The waveguide may resemble a short “block” or a longer “cane” type, depending on the application and dimensions used.

Abstract: A folding stock assembly for firearms such as rifles and shotguns. The stock is made of metal rod that has been bent to form laterally spaced left and right elongated arm members that have rear ends connected to the top end of a U-shaped shoulder rest portion. The front end of the respective elongated arm members are pivotally connected to the rear end of a neck portion extending rearwardly from the upper end of the handgrip. There is structure in the interior of the end cap for locking the elongated arm members in either its static storage position or its rearward functional deployed position.

Abstract: An apparatus for accessing a bodily passageway includes: an endoscope including an insertion portion configured to inserted into the bodily passageway; a drive tube including a lumen configured to receive the endoscope; a helically-wound thread disposed on an outer wall of the drive tube and configured such that rotation of the drive tube causes the drive tube with the endoscope to move along the passageway; a flexible drive shaft configured to transfer rotary motion generated by a power supply; and a rotatable drive collar disposed on the endoscope and configured to rotate the drive tube relative to the endoscope, the rotatable drive collar including a stator, a rotor rotatable over the stator and detachably coupled to the drive tube, a rotary gear configured to transfer the rotary motion from the flexible drive shaft to the rotor to rotate the drive tube, and a watertight seal disposed between the stator and the rotor.

Abstract: A calibration device for calibrating a dynamic pressure sensor includes a power/control box and a portable calibration head disposed in electrical communication with the power/control box. The portable calibration head may include a calibration head housing having a housing opening and a speaker provided in the calibration head housing and communicating with the housing opening. The power/control box may be configured to induce emission of an acoustic calibration signal from the speaker of the calibration head.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator is disclosed. The generator includes a microprocessor configured to generate a target impedance trajectory having at least one slope. The target impedance trajectory includes a plurality of target impedance values. The microprocessor is configured to drive tissue impedance along the target impedance trajectory by adjusting the output level to substantially match tissue impedance to a corresponding target impedance value. The microprocessor is further configured to compare tissue impedance to a threshold impedance value and adjust output of the electrosurgical generator when the tissue impedance is equal to or greater than the threshold impedance.

Abstract: Earth-boring tools include wear-resistant materials disposed in at least one recess formed in an exterior surface of a body thereof. Exposed surfaces of the wear-resistant material are substantially level with exterior surfaces of the body adjacent the wear-resistant material. In some embodiments, recesses may be formed in formation-engaging surfaces of blades of earth-boring rotary tools, adjacent one or more inserts secured to bodies of earth-boring tools, or adjacent one or more cutting elements secured to bodies of earth-boring tools. Methods of forming earth-boring tools include filling one or more recesses formed in an exterior surface of a body with wear-resistant material and causing exposed surfaces of the wear-resistant material to be substantially level with the exterior surface of the body.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) wherein variables are as defined herein and their pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use are disclosed as useful for treating dyslipidemia and related diseases.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, articles of manufacture and methods are provided for establishing (e.g., online) a buyer price for a first plurality of products. In one embodiment, the buyer price is lower than a retail price of the first plurality of products. A second plurality of products that the buyer has actually received during the subsequent transaction is determined. A penalty may be assessed if the first plurality of products does not correspond to the second plurality of products.

Abstract: A document scanner (10) includes an input tray (20) for holding documents (11); an input image capture device (30) for capturing images of documents in the input tray; an image processor for determining characteristics of documents; and the documents are processed based on the characteristics.

Abstract: A method of determining document characteristics prior to processing the document in a document scanner (10) includes capturing an input image of documents in an input tray (20); transmitting the images to a processor (65); determining characteristics of the documents; and processing the document based on the characteristics.

Abstract: A pattern implementation technique in which a pattern is defined as a software artifact that comprises a pattern signature representing one or more parameters of the pattern and a pattern implementation model representing one or more methods for expanding the pattern in a selected software context by assigning one or more arguments to the one or more parameters.

Abstract: The methods described herein generally relate to preparing and delivering a fluid mixture to a confined volume, specifically an annular volume located between two concentrically oriented casing strings within a hydrocarbon fluid producing well. The fluid mixtures disclosed herein are useful in controlling pressure in localized volumes. The fluid mixtures comprise at least one polymerizable monomer and at least one inhibitor. The processes and methods disclosed herein allow the fluid mixture to be stored, shipped and/or injected into localized volumes, for example, an annular volume defined by concentric well casing strings.

Abstract: An interbody device for the fixation and support of adjacent bone bodies includes a body for implantation at a location between the two vertebrae and one or more protrusions extending from the body. The protrusion(s) are configured for engagement with one of the vertebrae upon implantation and for progressive penetration into the vertebra over a period of time subsequent to the implantation.