Abstract: A capsule-based beverage production machine comprises a module (2) designed for producing a beverage on the basis of ingredients (5) which are contained in a capsule (1). The module (2) comprises: —means (3, 4) for retaining the capsule (1) in a fixed position, and—means (6) for perforation the capsule (1), wherein the perforation means (6) are controlled to perforate the capsule (1) after the capsule (1) is retained in the fixed position by the retaining means (3, 4).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for treatment, such as skin rejuvenation treatment, use non-uniform laser radiation. A high-intensity portion of the laser radiation causes collagen destruction and shrinkage within select portions of the treatment area, while a lower-intensity portion of the radiation causes fibroblast stimulation leading to collagen production across other portions of the treatment area. An output beam from a laser source, such as an Nd:YAG laser, is coupled into an optical system that modifies the beam to provide a large-diameter beam having a nonuniform energy profile, comprised of a plurality of high-intensity zones surrounded by lower-intensity zones within the treatment beam. The higher-intensity zones heat select portions of the target tissue to temperatures sufficient for a first treatment (e.g. collagen shrinkage), while the lower-intensity zones provide sufficient energy for a second treatment (e.g. stimulated collagen production).

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the field of weight management and obesity. In particular the present invention relates to the use of probiotics in combination with prebiotics to treat or prevent obesity. One embodiment of the present invention relates to the use of Lactobacillus rhamnosus NCC 4007 in combination with a specific probiotic mixture for the preparation of a composition to support weight management, promote weight loss and/or to treat obesity.

Abstract: A liquid-crystal display apparatus includes: display pixels each located at an intersection of a scan line and a data line and each provided with a display-pixel switching device, a display pixel electrode, and a liquid-crystal layer; vision-angle control pixels each located at an intersection of the scan line and a vision-angle control line and each provided with a vision-angle control pixel switching device, a vision-angle control pixel electrode, and a transmittance exhibited for a vision angle to serve as a transmittance with a characteristic different from that of the transmittance of the display pixel or a reflectance exhibited for a vision angle to serve as a reflectance with a characteristic different from that of the reflectance of the display pixel; a scan-line driving circuit; and a vision-angle control circuit.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, there is an ultrasound processing system that communicates images over a single asynchronous serial channel according to a scheme that does not require an isochronous serial channel and that switches among ultrasound imaging modes robustly. For example, the system is configured to packetize ultrasound image data of at least one ultrasound imaging mode into a stream of data frames and to convey the stream of data frames via the asynchronous channel. Each data frame includes indication of the ultrasound imaging mode and includes ultrasound-imaging-mode-specific imaging parameters. Other embodiments exist.

Abstract: An electrochemical energy generation device includes an electrochemical device such as a fuel cell having an electrolyte film arranged between an anode and a cathode and a reference electrode maintained at an oxidation-reduction potential between an metal and a metal ion and arranged in contact with the electrolyte film. The electrochemical energy generation device is operated by measuring a potential of the anode and the cathode based on the reference electrode, deciding the operation condition such as a fuel supply amount to the electrochemical device according to the result of the potential measurement of the anode and the cathode, and selling the operation condition such as the fuel supply amount according to the decision, by an operation condition setting unit. An operation method of the device and an electrochemical device constituting the device are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to anti-high molecular weight melanoma associated antigen (HMW-MAA) antibodies which bind to human HMW-MAA. Such antibodies may be used to treat diseases or disorders characterized by expression of HMW-MAA including cancer, for example, melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, ALL or AML.

Abstract: An information processing device includes: a receiving unit that receives a first random number from another information processing device; a generating unit that generates a second random number; a time-variant-key generating unit that generates a time variant key for encryption according to the second random number; an encrypting unit that encrypts the first random number with the time variant key; and a transmitting unit that transmits the first random number encrypted by the time variant key and the second random number to the other information processing device.

Abstract: A positive electrode having a positive-electrode active material and used for a nonaqueous electrolyte cell is provided. The positive electrode includes a coating, wherein the coating contains at least one first compound for which a binding-energy peak in a phosphorus 2p spectrum obtained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is in the range of 132 to 135 eV.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a terminal apparatus and an image forming apparatus executing a process in response to a request from the terminal apparatus. The terminal apparatus sends user identification information to the image forming apparatus, receives from the image forming apparatus a token issued to a user logging into the image forming apparatus, and sends a service request associated with the token to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a network processing unit that communicates data using a predetermined protocol with the terminal apparatus; a login processing unit that permits the user to log in when the user identification information is valid and sends the token to the terminal apparatus; a determination unit that determines whether the token is valid upon receipt of the service request; and a service providing unit that executes a process designated by the service request when the token is valid.

Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods that provide an efficient technique for performing a large class of permutations on data vectors of length 2n, n>1, implemented with streaming width 2k (where 1?k?n?1). The technique applies to any permutation Q on 2n datawords that can be specified as a linear transform, i.e., as an n×n bit matrix (a matrix containing only 1s and 0s) P on the bit level. The relationship between Q and P is as follows: If Q maps (dataword) i to (dataword) j, then the bit representation of j is the bit-matrix-vector product of P with the bit representation of i. Given such a permutation specified by the matrix P and given the streaming width (k), an architectural framework (or datapath) is calculated to implement the permutation.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention provides methods of treating and/or preventing cardiovascular-related disease and, in particular, a method of blood lipid therapy comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a pharmaceutical composition comprising eicosapentaenoic acid or a derivative thereof.

Abstract: A sample liquid supply container is disclosed. The sample liquid supply container includes a first region which is depressurized therein and is hermetically sealed, a second region which is able to receive a liquid therein, a first penetration portion, in which an interior of the first region is punctured by a hollow needle from outside, and a second penetration portion, in which an interior of the second region is punctured by the hollow needle inserted into the first penetration portion and reaches inside the first region.

Abstract: Disclosed are drug delivery systems for the delivery of small molecule and macromolecular drugs. More particularly, disclosed are substituted analogs of 3,6-di(alkyl-4 aminobutyl)-2,5-diketopiperazine (which may also be referred to DKP), their use in the formulation of both small molecule and macromolecular drugs including therapeutic, prophylactic and diagnostic agents, stabilizing agents and systems for their delivery.

Abstract: An austenitic stainless steel having low nickel and molybdenum and exhibiting comparable corrosion resistance and formability properties to higher nickel and molybdenum alloys comprises, in weight %, up to 0.20 C, 2.0-9.0 Mn, up to 2.0 Si, 16.0-23.0 Cr, 1.0-5.0 Ni, up to 3.0 Mo, up to 3.0 Cu, 0.1-0.35 N, up to 4.0 W, up to 0.01 B, up to 1.0 Co, iron and impurities, the steel having a ferrite number of less than 10 and a MD30 value of less than 20° C.

Abstract: The invention provides, as an aspect thereof, a transflective liquid crystal display panel that includes: a first substrate that has a plurality of pixel areas, each of the plurality of pixel areas having a transmissive area and a reflective area; and a second substrate that is provided opposite to the first substrate with a liquid crystal layer being sandwiched therebetween.

Abstract: Systems and methods for increasing the efficiency of data storage processes for high performance, high core number computing systems. In one embodiment, the systems of the present invention perform sequential I/O whenever possible. To achieve a high degree of sequentiality, the block allocation scheme is determined by the next available block on the next available disk. This simple, non-deterministic data placement method is extremely effective for providing sequential data streams to the spindle by minimizing costly seeks. The sequentiality of the allocation scheme is not affected by the number of clients, the degree of randomization within the incoming data streams, the logical byte addresses of incoming request's file extents, or the RAID attributes (i.e., parity position) of the block.

Abstract: A modular fixed cutter earth-boring bit body includes a blade support piece and at least one blade piece fastened to the blade support piece. A modular fixed cutter earth-boring bit and methods of making modular fixed cutter earth-boring bit bodies and bits also are disclosed.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis system includes an automated peritoneal dialysis (“APD”) machine including a logic implementer and a wireless interface receiver. The system also includes at least one of a scale or a blood pressure monitor including a wireless interface transmitter. The scale or blood pressure monitor is operable to send at least one of patient blood pressure data and patient weight data wirelessly, respectively, to the wireless interface receiver. The logic implementer is configured to store the patient blood pressure data or patient weight data. A server computer is configured to communicate with the logic implementer to receive the stored at least one patient blood pressure data and patient weight data.

Abstract: A thermal mechanical treatment method includes hot working a precipitation hardening martensitic stainless steel, quenching the stainless steel, and aging the stainless steel. According to certain embodiments, the thermal mechanical treatment does not include solution heat treating the stainless steel prior to aging or cryogenically cooling the stainless steel. An article includes a precipitation hardening martensitic stainless steel having a process history that includes hot working the stainless steel, quenching the stainless steel, and aging the stainless steel. According to certain embodiments, the process history does not include solution heat treating the stainless steel prior to aging or cryogenically cooling the stainless steel.