Abstract: A monitoring system is provided for monitoring the growing conditions of plants in the vicinity of the roots. In addition, it is provided a system that applies real-time analysis of the growing process parameters and takes into consideration components such as plant, soil, climate, fertilizer and water. A management system based on the real-time analysis is designed that computes the amount of water and fertilizer needed every day to the plants.

Abstract: A cosmetic brush having a bristle section having a main body and bristles that project out from the main body and with which a cosmetic product can be applied. A portion of the bristles forms first bristles that are integrally connected to the main body, wherein the first bristles consist of the same first plastic material as the main body. Another portion of the bristles forms second bristles, softer than the first bristles that are connected to the main body differently than the first bristles. The second bristles are integrally connected to each other by means of a connecting member disposed on the side of the main body wall facing away from the second bristles, and extend through through holes provided in a main body wall, wherein the main body and the connecting member are immediately adjacent to each other and adhesively connected to each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of at least one oxime derivative of 3,5-seco-4-norcholestane as antioxidants in the cosmetics and food fields, and as antioxidant preservatives that can be used, in particular, in cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical products.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing nanoparticles of at least one oxide of a transition metal selected from Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb and Ta, which are coated with amorphous carbon, wherein said method includes the following successive steps: (i) a liquid mixture containing as precursors at least one alkoxyde of the transition metal, an alcohol, and an acetic acid relative to the transition metal is prepared and diluted in water in order to form an aqueous solution, the precursors being present in the solution according to a molar ratio such that it prevents or sufficiently limits the formation of a sol so that the aqueous solution can be freeze-dried, and such that the transition metal, the carbon and the oxygen are present in a stoichiometric ratio according to which they are included in the nanoparticles; (ii) the aqueous solution is freeze-dried; (ii) the freeze-dried product obtained during the preceding step is submitted to pyrolysis under vacuum or in an inert atmosphere in order to obtain the nano

Abstract: The present invention relates to irrigation systems for irrigating a growing medium. The irrigation systems of the invention comprise a helical tubular hydrophilic membrane or a corrugated tubular hydrophilic membrane. The invention also relates to methods of irrigating a growing medium, and helical tubular hydrophilic membranes for use in an irrigation system.

Abstract: The respective jobs of copying, printing, scanning, and faxing processed by an integrated application are unitarily divided into four job steps. A package of function modules selectively used in the respective jobs is classified into four groups of input, create, edit, and output function modules according to the division. A data format is unified into bitmap by a create function module, and the bitmap data is processed by an edit function module for pagination or aggregation, etc. In response to receiving setting information and a job code, a job controlling module creates job step control blocks and writes the information therein to create a job. Each of job step controlling (JSC) modules to starts a function module for each page, and after the completion thereof, creates a thread control block for the next downstream side JSC module.

Abstract: A tool for the connection of tubes (T) by means of connection sleeves (C), comprising two jaws (2, 3) which are mutually movable between an open rest position, and a closed work position wherein they define an annular reception seat (7) of the connection sleeve (C), and wherein they turn a circumferential series of radial punches (6) towards the sleeve (C); said jaws (2, 3) each comprising at least one punch (6) sliding towards the center of said reception seat (7), and being mutually connected by means of a kinematic system which permits them, when they are found in said open rest position, to confer a generally open-ring shape to said reception seat (7), through whose lateral opening (8) the connection sleeve (C) can be inserted and extracted by lateral movement.

Abstract: According to the invention, the test system uses a digital photography device (4) that can be remotely controlled from a computer system including a processor (20) coupled to a man/machine interface (21) and to the presentation device to be tested by a remote transmission means. A means is further provided for centering the photographic apparatus (4) opposite the presentation device (5) to be tested. The processor (20) is programmed so as to carry out a self-positioning phase of the photographic apparatus, an automatic focalization phase of the lens, and a test phase of the information presentation device.

Abstract: The present invention provides mobile terminals with various types of services such as electronic commerce service, music delivery service, and position information service. User applications required for the electronic commerce service, music delivery service, and position information service are respectively configured as service objects each having a server facility, and further a local gateway is provided, whereby various types of services can be used through a browser.

Abstract: Inhibition of eIF-2? phosphorylation can be used to improve cognitive function and/or to treat dementia, including Alzheimer's Disease. In particular, this can be achieved by inhibiting the kinase activity of PKR in a non-toxic manner.

Abstract: A latch assembly 5 includes a base plate 10 having a striker groove 11, a latch 12 provided in the base plate 10 and having a striker engaging groove 16, and a ratchet 20 for regulating rotation of the latch 12 in unlatch direction. A looseness eliminating lever 30 is attached to the latch 12 by means of a pin 31 moving around a latch shaft 13, one end of the looseness eliminating lever 30 is provided with a latch holding face 34 and an unlatch face 33 to contact with a post 32 provided at a specified position, the other end of the lever 30 is provided with a spring 14 for biasing the guide face 34 or the sliding face 33 to be always in contact with the post 32, and an apex 35 as a dead center is formed between the guide face 34 and the sliding face 33. The guide face 34 is formed in an arc-shaped inclined surface so as to be remoter from the pin 31 from a start end to a terminal end.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of an IL-6R/IL-6 chimera, a mutein, isoform, fused protein, functional derivative, active fraction or circularly permutated derivative or a salt thereof, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment and/or prevention of Huntington's disease.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of NF-?B inducing kinase (NIK) and related molecules for the modulation of signal activities controlled by cytokines, and some new such molecules.

Abstract: The invention relates to a direct-current high-voltage generator that comprises: current unidirectional switches (74, 76); a driver unit (130) capable of controlling the switching operation from an on-state to an off-state of a switch (74) only when a switch connected in parallel is in the on-state.

Abstract: A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for creating a binary mask image from an a inputted digital image of a scanned document, comprising the steps of creating a binarized image by binarizing the inputted digital image, detecting first text regions representing light text on a dark background, and inverting the first text regions, such that the inverted first text regions are interpretable in the same way as dark text on a light background. A second aspect of the invention relates to a method for comparing in a binary image a first pixel blob with a second pixel blob to determine whether they represent matching symbols, comprising the steps of detecting a line in one blob not present in the other and/or determining if one of the blobs represents an italicized symbol where the other does not.

Abstract: An effective agent for treating ischemic disease, the agent containing human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (human G-CSF) as an active ingredient is disclosed. By administering this therapeutic agent, an effective therapy particularly for obstructive arteriosclerosis is provided which can eliminate drawbacks with conventional therapies, such as kinesitherapy, pharmacotherapy, and revascularization, and recently proposed therapies, such as gene therapy and intramuscular transplantation of bone marrow cells. Furthermore, the therapeutic agent can be used as an agent for treating ischemic disease, such as ischemic cerebrovascular disorder or ischemic heart disease.

Abstract: In the method of the invention, information is selected in a processing unit. The end result to be achieved is final feature information to be used for performing a task. In the method, input information to the processing unit is treated with the intention to find useful information from the input information in view of the task. Feature information representing characteristics of the input information is formed from the input data, the values of the feature information being further processed on the basis of their utility. The method is mainly characterized in that a preliminary prediction is formed from a first context of a sot of input information by means of first parameters and in that the first primary input of the set of input data is preprocessed by forming calculation results by means of second parameters.

Abstract: A process and a device for retaining polarizable target-particles from a fluid suspension of polarizable target-particles comprising the steps of pumping that suspension into a vertical or inclined channel and applying an alternating electric field inducing a negative dielectrophoretic force on the target-particles, the force being sufficient to push them a distance of at least or about 25 m from the surface of an electrode-bearing wall, thereby creating an upward-moving clarified fluid zone in the vicinity of that wall and a downward-moving target-particle containing fluid zone at a distance from that wall.

Abstract: A method of message communication via a messaging system between one or more originating communication devices assigned to a sender and one or more destination communication devices assigned to a receiver, a messaging system, a service center and a client thereof.