Abstract: A shoe sole particularly for athletic footwear for supporting the foot of an intended wearer having multiple rounded portions formed by midsole component as viewed in a frontal plane of the sole when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition. The rounded portions approximate the structure of and support provided by features of the human foot. The rounded portions are located proximate to important structural support areas of an intended wearer's foot on either or both sides of the shoe sole or the middle portion of the shoe sole, or at various combinations of these locations. The midsole component also includes an indentation in the sole midtarsal portion, as viewed in a sagittal plane, and midsole component extends into a sidemost section of the sole and above a lowermost point of the midsole component, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition.

Abstract: The current method and system generates an animation sequence for a live character during communication. In response to a performer's voice and other inputs, the animation sequence of the character is generated on a real-time basis and approximates human speech. The animated character is capable of expressing certain predetermined states of mind such as happy, angry and surprised. In addition, the animated character is also capable of approximating natural movements associated with speech.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a fine particle-removing device connected to an exhaust path for a combustion exhaust gas, for removing fine particles contained in the exhaust gas. The apparatus has filter units, a fuel injection nozzle and an ignition device. The filter units are made of porous ceramic partitions that form a plurality of narrow paths extending in the flowing direction of the exhaust gas. The porous ceramic partitions capture the fine particles contained in the exhaust gas when the exhaust gas is introduced into one side and exhausted from the other side of each path. The fuel injection nozzle injects a fuel into exhaust gas intake portions of the filter units to burn the fine particles captured on the porous ceramic partitions.