Abstract: An image processing device includes a special light image acquisition section that acquires an image including an object image that includes information in a specific wavelength band as a special light image, an attention area detection section that detects an attention area based on a feature quantity of each pixel of the special light image, a disappearance determination section that determines whether or not the attention area has disappeared from a display target area based on a detection result for the attention area, the display target area being an area displayed on an output section, a guide information generation section that generates guide information about the attention area that has disappeared based on a determination result of the disappearance determination section, and an output control section that controls output of information including the guide information generated by the guide information generation section.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging section that images an object, an observation mode setting section that sets an observation mode when the imaging section images the object, and a control section that controls an image read mode in which an image is read from the imaging section and a in-focus object plane of the imaging section based on the observation mode set by the observation mode setting section.

Abstract: A capsule endoscope is disclosed that includes a capsule and a transparent cover having a central axis and that is located in front of an objective optical system within the capsule. The objective optical system has a depth of field, a field of view, and an image surface that has curvature of field, and is arranged on the central axis of the transparent cover and the capsule. The field of view of the objective optical system includes a spherical surface that is tangent to the transparent cover at a periphery of the field of view, and the near point of the depth of field on the optical axis of the objective optical system is positioned farther from the objective optical system than is the transparent cover. Various conditions are satisfied so as to provide high quality imaging.

Abstract: An endoscope includes an illuminator that includes a light emitting surface for illuminating the inside of a living body, an objective optical system for forming an image of a specified object on one side of the objective optical system and illuminated by the illuminator, and a transparent cover that encompasses the illuminator and the one side of the objective optical system. The transparent cover includes an outer surface, and light emitted from the light emitting surface that is reflected by the outer surface satisfies a certain condition that helps prevent rearward dispersed light caused by scratches on, or substances adhering to, the external surface of the transparent cover from entering the entrance pupil of the objective optical system. The endoscope may also include a member for partially shielding the light emitted from the light emitting surface so as to limit the direction in which light is directed from said light emitting surface to the transparent cover.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that performs image registration processing between a plurality of images through a motion vector calculation sets a plurality of motion vector measurement regions on an image, calculates a motion vector in each of the plurality of motion vector measurement regions, specifies a region of interest on the image, determines whether or not each of the plurality of motion vector measurement regions is included in the region of interest, calculates a contribution of each motion vector such that the contribution of the motion vector of a motion vector measurement region included in the region of interest is larger than the contribution of the motion vector of a motion vector measurement region not included in the region of interest, and determines an inter-image motion vector by integrating the motion vectors calculated respectively in the plurality of motion vector measurement regions in accordance with the calculated contribution.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for performing registration processing on a plurality of images by calculating a motion vector between the plurality of images includes a motion vector measurement region setting unit that sets a plurality of motion vector measurement regions for measuring the motion vector, a motion vector calculation unit that calculates motion vectors of the plurality of motion vector measurement regions, a motion vector reliability calculation unit that calculates a reliability of the motion vectors of the plurality of motion vector measurement regions on the basis of information relating to a local magnification of an optical system used to obtain the images, and a motion vector integration processing unit that determines an inter-image motion vector by integrating the motion vectors of the plurality of motion vector measurement regions in accordance with the reliability of the motion vectors.

Abstract: Provided is an imaging device that is equipped with an image acquisition element having color filters in prescribed arrays; a judgment unit that judges to which group individual pixels of a color image belong, the group being a group among a plurality of groups determined in accordance with the arrangement of color filters, and the color image being an image generated based on output signals from the image acquisition element; a storage unit in which the groups are stored in association with correction matrices; and a correction unit that obtains the correction matrices corresponding to groups to which each of the pixels belongs from the storage unit and that corrects the image signal values of individual pixels by using the obtained correction matrices.

Abstract: An image processing device captures a normal light image of an observed region via a plurality of color filters having different spectral characteristics, respectively, generates a uniform image having low contrast by extracting each picture signal corresponding to a picture signal in a wavelength band for which light absorption characteristic of a contrast region in the observed region becomes low, and corrects each picture signal of a fluorescence image of the observed region by using the uniform image.

Abstract: A capsule endoscope is disclosed that includes a capsule and a transparent cover having a central axis and that is located in front of an objective optical system within the capsule. The objective optical system has a depth of field, a field of view, and an image surface that has curvature of field, and is arranged on the central axis of the transparent cover and the capsule. The field of view of the objective optical system includes a spherical surface that is tangent to the transparent cover at a periphery of the field of view, and the near point of the depth of field on the optical axis of the objective optical system is positioned farther from the objective optical system than is the transparent cover. Various conditions are satisfied so as to provide high quality imaging.

Abstract: A capsule endoscope is disclosed that includes a capsule and a transparent cover having a central axis and that is located in front of an objective optical system within the capsule. The objective optical system has a depth of field, a field of view, and an image surface that has curvature of field, and is arranged on the central axis of the transparent cover and the capsule. The field of view of the objective optical system includes a spherical surface that is tangent to the transparent cover at a periphery of the field of view, and the near point of the depth of field on the optical axis of the objective optical system is positioned farther from the objective optical system than is the transparent cover. Various conditions are satisfied so as to provide high quality imaging.

Abstract: A refining method and apparatus for decarburization refining of chromium containing molten steel in a vessel having a first step of blowing oxygen while the inside of the vessel is at a pressure of between 400 Torr and atmospheric pressure, a second step of blowing oxygen while evacuation the inside of the vessel to 250 to 400 Torr and a third step of blowing gas while evacuating the vessel to not more than 250 Torr. Further, a refining method and apparatus for ultra-low carbon chrome melt by performing a first vacuum refining until the third step, then restoring the pressure in the vessel to at least 400 Torr, then performing second vacuum refining while making the bottom blowing gas blow rate at least 0.4 Nm3 per to steel.

Abstract: A refining method and refining apparatus, able to shorten the time required for refining and reduce the refining costs in decarburization refining of a chromium-contained molten steel, which refining method for chromium-contained molten steel etc. performing decarburization refining by blowing a gas containing oxygen gas into a chromium-contained molten steel under a vacuum or atmospheric pressure and vacuum, said refining method for a chromium-contained molten steel etc. characterized by having a first step for blowing oxygen gas while making the inside of the vessel a pressure of a range of 400 Torr (53 kPa) to atmospheric pressure, a second step for blowing oxygen gas while evacuating the inside of the vessel to 250 to 400 Torr (33 to 53 kPa), and third step for blowing gas while evacuating the inside of the vessel to not more than 250 Torr (33 kPa).

Abstract: An endoscope includes an illuminator that includes a light emitting surface for illuminating the inside of a living body, an objective optical system for forming an image of a specified object on one side of the objective optical system and illuminated by the illuminator, and a transparent cover that encompasses the illuminator and the one side of the objective optical system. The transparent cover includes an outer surface, and light emitted from the light emitting surface that is reflected by the outer surface satisfies a certain condition that helps prevent rearward dispersed light caused by scratches on, or substances adhering to, the external surface of the transparent cover from entering the entrance pupil of the objective optical system. The endoscope may also include a member for partially shielding the light emitted from the light emitting surface so as to limit the direction in which light is directed from said light emitting surface to the transparent cover.

Abstract: A capsule endoscope is disclosed that includes a capsule and a transparent cover having a central axis and that is located in front of an objective optical system within the capsule. The objective optical system has a depth of field, a field of view, and an image surface that has curvature of field, and is arranged on the central axis of the transparent cover and the capsule. The field of view of the objective optical system includes a spherical surface that is tangent to the transparent cover at a periphery of the field of view, and the near point of the depth of field on the optical axis of the objective optical system is positioned farther from the objective optical system than is the transparent cover. Various conditions are satisfied so as to provide high quality imaging.

Abstract: The present invention: solves the problems of hitherto disclosed technologies, such as insufficient suppression of the oxidation loss of [Cr] and the excessive erosion of refractories, in the decarburization-refining of chromium-contained molten steel under a normal or reduced pressure; and is characterized by: determining, in sequence; a molten steel temperature during the refining through actual measurement or computation from a molten steel temperature before the refining and refining conditions; [C] and [Cr] concentrations during the refining through actual measurement or computation from molten steel components before the refining and refining conditions; a CO partial pressure PCO in an atmosphere during the refining from the total pressure P of the atmosphere, an oxygen gas supply rate and an inert gas supply rate, a Hilty's equilibrium temperature TH from said [C] and [Cr] concentrations and PCO; the difference &Dgr;T between said molten steel temp

Abstract: A refining method and refining apparatus, able to shorten the time required for refining and reduce the refining costs in decarburization refining of a chromium-contained molten steel, which refining method for chromium-contained molten steel etc. performing decarburization refining by blowing a gas containing oxygen gas into a chromium-contained molten steel under a vacuum or atmospheric pressure and vacuum, said refining method for a chromium-contained molten steel etc. characterized by having a first step for blowing oxygen gas while making the inside of the vessel a pressure of a range of 400 Torr (53 kPa) to atmospheric pressure, a second step for blowing oxygen gas while evacuating the inside of the vessel to 250 to 400 Torr (33 to 53 kPa), and third step for blowing gas while evacuating the inside of the vessel to not more than 250 Torr (33 kPa).

Abstract: The present invention: solves the problems of hitherto disclosed technologies, such as insufficient suppression of the oxidation loss of [Cr] and the excessive erosion of refractories, in the decarburization-refining of chromium-contained molten steel under a normal or reduced pressure; and is characterized by: determining, in sequence; a molten steel temperature during the refining through actual measurement or computation from a molten steel temperature before the refining and refining conditions; [C] and [Cr] concentrations during the refining through actual measurement or computation from molten steel components before the refining and refining conditions; a CO partial pressure PCO in an atmosphere during the refining from the total pressure P of the atmosphere, an oxygen gas supply rate and an inert gas supply rate; a Hilty's equilibrium temperature TH from said [C] and [Cr] concentrations and PCO; the difference &Dgr;T between said molten steel temperatu

Abstract: Novel 4,5-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-(pyrrol-2-yl)-thiazoles of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is C.sub.1-4 alkyl, C.sub.2-4 alkenyl, C.sub.2-4 alkynyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, a group of the formula: --CH.sub.2 COOR.sup.2 R.sup.2 is C.sub.1-8 alkyl, C.sub.2-4 alkenyl, C.sub.2-4 alkynyl, or phenyl-C.sub.1-2 alkyl), or a group of the formula: --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --A--R.sup.3 (A is oxygen or sulfur, R.sup.3 is C.sub.1-4 alkyl or C.sub.2-4 alkenyl, and n is 1, 2 or 3), a process for the preparation of the compounds, and a pharmaceutical composition useful as a platelet aggregation inhibitor which comprises as an active ingredient the above 4,5-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-(pyrrol-2-yl)thiazole compound in admixture with a conventional pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

Abstract: An ethyl benzylphosphinate derivative represented by the general formula (I) ##STR1## wherein Y represents a hydrogen or fluorine atom, X represents a methylene group or an oxygen atom, and n is 2, 3 or 4.The said compounds can be produced by reacting a compound represented by the following formula (II) ##STR2## wherein Y is as defined above, with a compound represented by the following formula (III) ##STR3## wherein X and n are as defined, and M is an alkali metal atom, in an inert medium. These compounds are useful as a calcium antagonist.

Abstract: A phosphonic acid ester of the formula ##STR1## exhibits calcium-antagonistic, coronary vasodilating and hypotensive activities. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the same are useful for the prophylaxis and treatment of circulatory organ diseases such as angina pectoris, hypertension and the like.