Abstract: A pouch-type secondary battery including: an electrode assembly having a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate, and a separator disposed therebetween; and a pouch case including a first case part having a pouch to house the electrode assembly, a second case part disposed over an open end of the pouch, and sealing portions to seal the second case part to the first case part. The sealing portions include wing portions that are bent to cover opposing sides of the pouch, and bent portions that are bent from the wing portions, to cover a bottom surface of the pouch.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus are presented for enabling unlimited roaming service on a roaming partner switch. In one aspect, a method includes configuring a billing system corresponding to a home wireless service provider to authorize a subscriber device to receive unlimited roaming service on a roaming partner switch; receiving, by the home wireless service provider, a registration request from the roaming partner switch identifying the subscriber device; registering the subscriber device in the billing system as an unlimited roaming service subscriber device; and providing unlimited roaming service to the subscriber device. Further, a call request associated with the subscriber device can be received from the roaming partner switch and billing associated with the call request can be suspended.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vaccine adjuvant consisting of a combination of a surfactant i.e. dimethyldeoctadecylammonium-bromide/chloride (DDA) and a lipid extract from Mycobacterium bovis BCG. The total lipid extract contains both apolar lipids, polar lipids, and lipids of intermediate polarity of which the apolar lipids were found to induce the most powerful immune responses. The total lipids may be extracted with chloroform/methanol and re-dissolved in water before the addition of surfactant. This preparation may be used to induce prominent cell-mediated immune responses in a mammal in order to combat pathogens, or as a treatment for cancer.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for purifying one or more cells based on the level of one or more products secreted by the cells.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising a linearizer that has a plurality of switchable first gain characteristics, the linearizer switching to the first gain characteristic to generate an intermediate signal from an input signal by using the switched first gain characteristic, and outputting the intermediate signal to a circuit having a second gain characteristic, wherein the linearizer includes: a linearization unit that has at least one of first rectifier, and linearizes the input signal; and a linearization reducing unit that has a plurality of second rectifiers having polarity opposite to polarity of the first rectifier and a first switching unit selecting at least one of the second rectifiers based on a control signal, the linearization reducing unit being connected in parallel to the linearization unit and reducing linearization of the input signal by the linearization unit.

Abstract: A system and method processes a structure comprising embedded material. The system includes a laser adapted to generate light and to irradiate an interaction region of the structure. The system further includes an optical system adapted to receive light from the interaction region and to generate a detection signal indicative of the presence of embedded material in the interaction region. The system further includes a controller operatively coupled to the laser and the optical system. The controller is adapted to receive the detection signal and to be responsive to the detection signal by selectively adjusting the laser.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processor includes an optical disc drive, an acquiring module, a storage module, and a determination module. The acquiring module acquires identification information that uniquely identifies an optical disc loaded in the optical disc drive based on information read from the optical disc. The storage module obtains information related to failure analysis of the optical disc contained in state information indicating reading state or writing state upon reading from or writing to the optical disc, and stores the information related to failure analysis in association with the identification information. The determination module calculates values each indicating a level of failure of the optical disc based on pieces of information related to failure analysis of the optical disc stored until just recently in association with the identification information and, when the values satisfy a predetermined condition, determines that there is a risk of failure in the optical disc.

Abstract: A hydration system includes opposing flexible walls forming a bladder having a sealable compartment for containing a liquid. The system includes a drinking tube having a first end with a valve and a second end. A first port is configured to receive pressurizing gasses into the compartment. A baffle connects the opposing walls within the compartment. The baffle is configured to oppose expansion of the bladder as the pressurizing gasses are introduced into the compartment. A second port is configured to couple to the second end of the drinking tube to provide fluid communication between the compartment and the drinking tube. A third port allows the liquid to be supplied into the compartment. Activation of the valve unseals the compartment and allows the liquid to be expelled from the compartment via the second port and the drinking tube as a result of a pressurization of the compartment by the pressurizing gasses.

Abstract: A data carrier detector for a packet-switched communication network. The detector includes an envelope detector to provide peak-to-peak amplitude of an incoming waveform at any given time, a peak-to-peak amplitude monitor to monitor peak-to-peak amplitude, and to set a trigger when the peak-to-peak amplitude changes by a predetermined amount. The detector also includes a data packet searcher to start searching for a data packet when the peak-to-peak amplitude monitor issues the trigger. The detector further includes a data packet processor to process and extract information from the recovered data packet.

Abstract: A catheter includes a first plurality of expandable leads and a second plurality of expandable leads separate and longitudinally spaced-apart from the first plurality to deliver energy to a hollow anatomical structure, such as vein, fallopian tube, hemorrhoid, esophageal varix, to effectively ligate that structure. Each of the leads includes an electrode located at the distal end of the respective electrode lead. Polarizations of the leads may be selected to achieve the power distribution desired. Each electrode lead includes an outward bend such that when a movable sheath is moved out of contact with the leads, they expand outwardly into apposition with an inner wall of the structure to be ligated. High frequency energy can be applied from the leads to create a heating effect in the surrounding tissue of the anatomical structure.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are Efflux Pump Inhibitor (EPI) compounds that can be co-administered with antimicrobial agents for the treatment of infections caused by drug resistant pathogens. The EPI compounds are soft drugs which exhibit a reduced propensity for tissue accumulation. It is demonstrated that the EPIs can be used to increase the potency, decrease bacterial resistance and development of bacterial resistance, and increase killing effectivness of tigecycline. Also disclosed are methods of treatment and pharmaceutical compositions for co-administering tigecylcine with an EPI.

Abstract: Techniques for forming a nanostructure on a probe tip are provided.

Abstract: Nano-scale particles of materials can be produced by vaporizing material and allowing the material to flow in a non-violently turbulent manner into thermal communication with a cooling fluid, thereby forming small particles of the material that can be in the nano-scale size range. A raw material feeder can be configured to feed raw material toward a heater which vaporizes the raw material. The feeder can include a metering device for controlling the flow of raw material toward the heater. A gas source can also be used to cause gas to flow through a portion of the raw material feeder along with the raw material.

Abstract: The invention is generally related to the estimation of position and orientation of an object with respect to a local or a global coordinate system using reflected light sources. A typical application of the method and apparatus includes estimation and tracking of the position of a mobile autonomous robot. Other applications include estimation and tracking of an object for position-aware, ubiquitous devices. Additional applications include tracking of the positions of people or pets in an indoor environment. The methods and apparatus comprise one or more optical emitters, one or more optical sensors, signal processing circuitry, and signal processing methods to determine the position and orientation of at least one of the optical sensors based at least in part on the detection of the signal of one or more emitted light sources reflected from a surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for releasable attachment to a fishing rod, said apparatus including: a barrel having a first end and a releasably sealed first region; wherein the first region of the barrel includes a space within the barrel substantially bounded by a second end of the barrel and a protrusion disposed inside the barrel; and a means of selectably adjusting the volume of the first region including adjusting the position of the protrusion along a length of the barrel; and wherein when the protrusion is disposed inside the barrel, it extends radially-inwardly of the barrel in a substantially transverse orientation to an elongate axis of the barrel; and a means of controllably feeding a propellant into the releasably sealed first region; and a means of expanding the propellant whereby the said expansion of the propellant causes a projectile disposed within the barrel to be propelled outwardly of the barrel via the first end.

Abstract: A method of assessing a body part includes obtaining two or more types of data through a combination of two or more of the following four imaging modalities: (1) obtaining surface topography data of the body part, (2) obtaining thermographic data of the body part, (3) obtaining range of motion data for the body part, and (4) obtaining spectral data of light reflected from the body part. The two or more types of data are integrated to allow them to be interacted with simultaneously, and the body part is assessed based on the integrated data.

Abstract: One inventive aspect relates to a method of lithographic processing of a device). The method may be performed using a lithographic processing system and applying a reticle). Lithographic processing of a device typically is characterized by focus conditions, a set of selectable lithographic processing system parameter values and selectable reticle parameter values. The method of configuring the lithographic processing comprises receiving values for the lithographic processing system parameters and for the reticle parameters. The method further comprises receiving focus conditions for the lithographic processing, the focus conditions allowing separation of image performance effects due to lithographic processing system aberrations and image performance effects due to reticle shadowing effects. The method further comprises determining image performance effects due to lithographic processing system aberrations and the image performance due to reticle shadowing effects.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a gravure printing paper includes: providing a substance having an effect of inhibiting a binding between pulp fibers; preparing a mixture of pulp fibers and fillers; and adding the substance to the mixture; making a gravure printing paper using the substance-added mixture.

Abstract: A medical article securement device holds a medical article in position upon the body of a patient and can be used to inhibit lateral and longitudinal motion of the medical article. The securement device includes a retainer with a base and at least one post, and at least one cap. The cap is attached to the base of the retainer by a flexible connection, and can be placed into either a covered or uncovered configuration with respect to the post. The cap includes a recess which can receive a protrusion at the end of the post of the retainer. By placing the post through an appropriate opening in the medical article to be retained and then securing the medical article to the retainer by placing the cap into the covered position over the post, longitudinal and lateral motion of the medical article is inhibited.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery pack for portable electronic equipment is includes a battery coupled to a charge/discharge circuit and includes a a first substrate for mounting parts positioned on a high-current path and a second substrate for mounting peripheral circuits for controlling a charge/discharge of the battery. Accordingly, heat sensitive parts on low current paths may be thermally isolated from heat generating parts on high current paths.