Abstract: This invention is a gateway for testing mental function comprising a portable structure that houses one or more mental function testers and an access control device that allows the user to enter a defined area based upon the result of the mental function test. The access control device may either directly control an exit from the gateway or it may dispense a portable indicator of the test results. The gateway may comprise one or more mental function testers that give the same or different tests. The invention also comprises methods of using the gateway, including the steps of assessing a user's mental function and operating the access control device depending upon the assessment. The latter step may comprise permitting the user access to an at-risk activity.

Abstract: A printer system, a printer apparatus, a printing method, an ink ribbon and a printing medium that certainly and effectively prevent a quality of printed image from being degraded without causing trouble to a user. More concretely, the printing medium is provided with memory mechanisms and the memory mechanisms stores predetermined control data, the printer apparatus reads out the control data stored in the memory mechanisms by contactless communication and controls the photographic printing operation on the basis of the control data which is read out.

Abstract: A system and method for remote maintenance and service of one or more wireless modems in communication with a wireless hub is provided. The system and method include the capability of the wireless hub to instruct the wireless modem(s) to change any operational parameters in order for the wireless hub to diagnose any problems with or to improve operation of the wireless mode.

Abstract: A method of analyzing cell wall components based on a hot dilute acid extraction of plant cellulosic materials such as cotton fibers or wood pulp. The extracts are analyzed by high pH anion exchange chromatography to separate and characterize the carbohydrates. This method extracts a characteristic series of carbohydrate multimers containing galactose, mannose and glucose. The pattern of multimers is indicative of origin of the cellulosic material (e.g., the plant species the material comes from) as well as quality and processing state of the material. That is, in textiles lack of multimers is indicative of textile wear and can be used to determine which manufacturing treatment will improve fabric life. In addition the multimers are shown to contain a protein component. Chemical agents that cross-link the protein component alter the extractability of the multimers and can be used to alter favorably the resistance of fabric to washing induced wear.

Abstract: Derivatives of simple carboxylic acids, particularly trisodium citrate and other citrate salts are effective agents for enhancing the production of blood clotting factors. Addition of citrate to plasma, especially at concentrations between 2 and 10% by weight, does not appreciably denature labile proteins. However, citrate is effective in inactivating or inhibiting a variety of pathogenic microorganisms. Further, the added citrate potentiates or enhances the killing of microorganisms by heat treatment. The added citrate causes a dramatic increase in the weight of cryoprecipitate that can be produced from plasma by the usual procedures. The majority of significant clotting factors are greatly concentrated in the resulting cryoprecipitate. Increasing the amount of citrate in blood bags so that the final concentration will be at least 2% by weight results in plasma that provides improved platelet concentrates because added citrate helps eliminate contaminating microorganisms.

Abstract: Log entries in a system that produces status or other log data (ASIC verification system, for example) are saved in a circular buffer until a trigger event occurs. Typically, the system operates on a Device Under Test (DUT), but may apply to other systems that simply monitor or gather information. When the trigger occurs, a window of the saved log entries are saved to disk. A level of granularity of the reporting for the log entries is set at any point between low level (cycle based) reporting (recording every event) to high level functional descriptions of the processes or activities performed by the system, DUT, or other item being monitored. Log data from various modules of the system are grouped together to provide a logical view of the recorded log entries.

Abstract: A lighting device having a safe, long-life, and low-cost light source, is disclosed which has a composite element including a plurality of LEDs arranged in rows and columns.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for finding the best match from a target library of simple logic cells for a complex logic circuit conception. The inventive method is flexible and can be adapted to several cost functions or criteria. The inventive method finds the best children nodes for a match of simple gates (AND, OR, NAND, NOR). The method allows one to improve the overall area of the final design while respecting the time constrains. It also allows one to smartly speed up the tiler process as this process does not have to investigate exhaustive lists of possible children. Two preferred embodiments are disclosed. One such embodiment is designed to improve slack time and the other is designed to minimize required area.

Abstract: An image processing method and an image processing apparatus are provided to maintain image quality through simple processing while reducing the number of gradation levels of image data by error diffusion process. In an image processing apparatus, data outputted from a filter is subtracted from input image data x(i, j) at the subtracter. Data outputted from the subtracter is quantized at a quantizer. Data outputted from the quantizer is outputted as output image data y(i, j). Furthermore, the data outputted from the subtracter is subtracted from the data outputted from the quantizer at a second subtracter to produce quantization error e(i, j). At a filter section, filtering process is performed on the quantization error e(i, j). Data outputted from the filter section is inputted to the first subtracter.

Abstract: A decorative food formed of a plurality of kinds of fluid food materials and manufactured by using a mold is provided. The decorative food has an outside shape thereof conforming to an interior surface of the mold inclusive of an opening of said mold. The decorative food has a colored pattern divided into multiple divisions extending up to a central portion of the decorative food, in a direction to extrude the food materials into the mold, the colored pattern being formed such that the multiple divisions are arranged with substantially the same ratio at any of a cross sectional area intersecting the direction to extrude the food materials, and wherein the decorative food contains therein a foodstuff.

Abstract: An adaptive amplifier circuit with minimal excess noise and a linear charge-handling capacity exceeding 109 electrons to enable high-quality imaging at long wavelength infrared backgrounds and video frame rates with enhanced dynamic range is disclosed. An integration capacitor stores a charge produced from a photodetector. An adaptive skimming circuit skims off excess charge during integration of the charge on the integration capacitor. A switched-capacitor low pass filter provides enhanced dynamic range.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a supporting device for rotatably engaging a display device and a housing device and a disengaging device so that the display device may be easily and speedily attached to or detached from the housing device. A display apparatus includes supporting portions (30, 31) and supported portions (32, 33) serving as a supporting device for rotatably engaging a display device (10) and a housing device (20) and a disengaging device (40) for disengaging the engagement between the display device (10) and the housing device (20) and in which the disengaging device (40) disengages the engagement between the supporting portions (30, 31) and the supported portions (32, 33) to thereby disengage the engagement between the display device (10) and the housing device (20).

Abstract: A slide feeder, a slide system and a slide feeding method are disclosed. Conventional slide feeders are incapable of feeding the same slide mounts repeatedly to an external appliance with no help by a human hand, accordingly are unsuited to a scanning work at a high speed and incapable of separating slides stably at a feeding time. To overcome these problems, the present invention comprises feeding slide mounts stocked in a first slide stock section to an external appliance and stocking slide mounts discharged from the external appliance into a second slide stock section in a first operation mode, and feeding and stocking the slide mounts reversely in a second operation mode. Furthermore, the slide mounts are carried in a feeding direction with a rotating force of a roller. Moreover, the slide mounts are separated with a separating pad at a feeding time.

Abstract: Spatially diverse signals are simultaneously demodulated and error corrected providing statistically independent data. Statistics for the signals are prepared and available for system management and display to users.

Abstract: Resources such as VCs (Virtual Connections) are efficiently reserved. When an ASP (AMInet Setup Protocol) message is sent from a receiving terminal (RECEIVER) to a sending terminal (SENDER), virtual connections of a predetermined bandwidth individually specified by the ASP message are established in the direction from the receiving terminal to the sending terminal and in the direction from the sending terminal to the receiving terminal independently at an edge router, backbone routers, and an edge router in this order through which the ASP message passes.

Abstract: A computer is provided along with a method for testing users for alertness and mental fitness. The system and method are usable wherever there is a risk to persons, property, or the environment from individuals not fit to operate machinery or enter an work area safely, or for testing a user for dementia or other neurological impairment. The testing methods resemble computer games, but they actually measure mental fitness and alertness rather than aptitude, ability, or intelligence. The disclosed basic test is general, simple and non-intellectual, and compatible with worldwide, multilingual use. Other tests are more specifically designed to test for the ability to perform certain occupational duties or types of activities. Tests which measure neurological impairment do involve some intellectual functions such as memory. The basic test preferably comprises a plurality of yes or no questions based upon graphical data displayed to the user.

Abstract: A transparent-reflective display constructed to be alterable so that reflected images are viewed upon a transparent surface that can alter to a darkened surface, thereby changing contrast of the reflection. An assembly consisting of a beamsplitter and an electronically adjustable contrast layer is constructed as a thin sheet and positioned to reflect an image source. The electronically adjustable contrast layer consists of a shuttering capable material, such as liquid crystal shutters and suspended particle devices, that can be electronically engaged to be in a transparent state and also a darkened (opaque) state. The electronically adjustable contrast layer enables images to been seen in a mode that best suits its video content as to the degree of contrast selected among the transparent to darkened states. An embodiment of the present invention synchronizes events in video content to one of the states of transparent, darkened and the increments between.

Abstract: An edit list creating apparatus that can substantially improve the work efficiency in creating an edit list is disclosed. An edit list creating apparatus that can create an edit list and that is functional during the creation of the edit list for setting the list in such a way that desired video special-effect processing is executed by displaying a mark corresponding to the video special-effect processing at a desired position of a predetermined site of the edit list, includes a display controller for displaying the mark with the predetermined display color that differs for each type of the video special-effect processing.

Abstract: A composition for inclusion within a cigarette, cigar, pipe or smokeless tobacco. The composition can be included within the tobacco itself, a filter for filtering tobacco smoke once burned or even within the paper or wrapper surrounding the tobacco product. In the cigarette filter, be it internal or external filters, the antioxidant complex is capable of scavenging and neutralizing the free radicals emanating from the burning or heated tobacco and passing through the filter as the smoker inhales. The composition is also capable of reducing free radical damage to the oro-pharyngeal cavity, respiratory tract and lungs resulting from tobacco smoke. The composition includes glutathione and preferably L-glutathione and green tea and/or grape seed extract.

Abstract: The present method for improving the quality of injection molded optical components consists of proper cleaning of the injection molding apparatus between uses. Injection parts that are not subjected to pressurized polymer are cleaned by passage through a series of isopropyl alcohol baths. At each stage clean brushes are used to remove any contaminating polymer. Those injection parts that are subjected to pressurized polymer are best passivated by a succession of thermal cycles in isopropyl alcohol. Thermal cycling removes a contaminant or charge that promotes pre-curing of polymer during the injection process.