Abstract: A method and an apparatus for processing images are disclosed. The method includes: generating an image histogram of an image to be processed; judging whether the image to be processed requires backlight compensation according to the image histogram; if the image to be processed requires backlight compensation, determining a first luminance boundary value A used for deciding whether to perform backlight compensation and a second luminance boundary value C used for deciding whether to perform positive or negative backlight compensation; and performing backlight compensation for the image to be processed according to the first luminance boundary value A and the second luminance boundary value C. The method is simple and universally applicable. After backlight compensation, the contrast of the image is high, and the image is free from background overexposure and image layering. The image photographed in a backlight environment is processed properly.

Abstract: The invention relates to communications technologies and discloses a rotation axis, a digital device and a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device. The rotation axis includes a sleeve, an elastic body, an indented washer, and a movable support. The sleeve includes a lip and a cylinder. The elastic body, the indented washer, and the movable support are configured sequentially around the cylinder with the lip adjacent to the elastic body along the axial direction of the cylinder beginning with the lip. A number of concave indents are configured on one end-surface of the indented washer and distributed on a circle. The end-surface of the indented washer where the concave indents are configured contacts one end-surface of the movable support. A number of protrusions are configured on the end-surface of the movable support to mate the concave indents. In the invention, a rotation axis is constituted by a few parts including a sleeve, an elastic body, an indented washer, and a movable part.

Abstract: A substrate includes; a fiducial mark disposed on the substrate, an area on the substrate on which a probe material is configured to be immobilized, the area being separated from the fiducial mark, and a probe immobilization compound disposed on the area on the substrate on which the probe material is configured to be immobilized, wherein the fiducial mark has a structure which reflects irradiated light at a greater intensity than an intensity of reflected irradiated light form the area on the substrate not corresponding to the fiducial mark.

Abstract: According to the invention, a blocking oscillator type converter circuit functions with a transformator that only comprises a primary winding and a secondary winding. Said transformator does not comprise a return coupling winding for the blocking oscillator. The control voltage of the oscillator is derived from the primary voltage of the transformator during the free-wheeling phase. The invention also relates to a voltage monitoring circuit that works independently from the oscillator, the output voltage of the oscillator being repressed when the voltage on the output of the blocking oscillator is too high. A flow monitoring circuit functions independently from the oscillator and the voltage monitoring circuit and suppresses the impulses for the power transistor when the power on the output side exceeds a predetermined measurement.

Abstract: A laundry dryer with a blower and an air duct configured to convey a flow of air toward the blower. The air duct includes one or more flow chambers with curved sections. The curved sections are configured to deflect the flow of air toward the blower. The laundry dryer also includes a displacement member disposed in the flow chamber in front of the blower and configured to produce an irrotational flow onto a wheel of the blower so as to reduce a formation of vortices.

Abstract: Described herein is a novel 3-D optical imaging system based on active stereo vision and motion tracking for to tracking the motion of patient and for registering the time-sequenced images of suspicious lesions recorded during endoscopic or colposcopic examinations. The system quantifies the acetic acid induced optical signals associated with early cancer development. The system includes at least one illuminating light source for generating light illuminating a portion of an object, at least one structured light source for projecting a structured light pattern on the portion of the object, at least one camera for imaging the portion of the object and the structured light pattern, and means for generating a quantitative measurement of an acetic acid-induced change of the portion of the object.

Abstract: A method and a system for Internet Protocol (IP) session keepalive monitoring, a home gateway and a network device are provided. The method includes: receiving, by a User Equipment (UE) or an IP edge node, a Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD) message sent by a Home Gateway (HGW), in which a first discriminator field value included in the BFD message is a difference between an IP address prefix of the UE and an IP address prefix of the HGW; and monitoring, by the UE or the IP edge node, whether an IP session between the IP edge node and the UE is keepalive according to the first discriminator field value in the BFD message. “Multihop BFD” is used as a keepalive monitoring mechanism of a “Multihop IPv6 Session”, thereby realizing keepalive monitoring of the “Multiple hop IPv6 Session”.

Abstract: A port and closure device for a vessel that is configured for use with a glove bag. The port comprising includes a first annular flange with an opening, a second annular flange disposed a predetermined distance from the first flange and also having an opening, and a seal ring disposed adjacent the first annular flange and having an additional opening. At least a portion of the openings are aligned so that a path is provided through the flanges and the seal ring. A slideable door is included in the port between the seal ring and the second annular flange. The slideable door has a first position that obstructs the path and a second position that is outside of the path. Springs are disposed between the first flange and the seal ring that urge the seal ring toward the slideable door. To reduce contamination sites, the springs may be sealed within an annular interface between the first annular flange and the seal ring.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for communicating data via a shared wifeless channel. The method comprises the steps of preparing a data packet for transmission via the shared wireless channel (10); detecting any signal presence in the channel (20); and transmitting the data packet if no signal has been detected in the detecting step C60). Further, the method comprises the step of transmitting the data packet if transmission requirements related to the data packet are met, irrespective of any signal detection in the detecting step (30,26).

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood chamber for an optical blood monitoring system has a mixing area and viewing area that are offset from the axis of the blood flow path into and out of the blood chamber. A flow guide structure redirects an entirety of the flow of blood in a direction substantially orthogonal to the axis and into the viewing area.

Abstract: A heat-shrinkable polyester film is provided which exhibits a high shrinkability in a high-temperature range with a main shrinking direction oriented in a longitudinal direction thereof, though not shrinking in the longitudinal direction in a low-temperature range, possesses an extremely high mechanical strength in a transverse direction orthogonal to the main shrinking direction, and, in particular, can be utilized suitably as a film for forming a jacket label of a battery or in similar applications.

Abstract: A method for preparing metal-matrix composites including cold-process isostatic compaction of previously mixed powders and hot-process uniaxial pressing of the resulting compact is disclosed. The method enables metal-matrix composites with improved properties to be obtained. A device for implementing isostatic compaction comprising a latex sheath into which the mixture of powders is poured, a perforated cylindrical container in which the latex sheath is arranged, and means for sealed insulation of the mixture of powders contained in the sheath is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for failure notification are provided. The method includes: sending, when it is detected that a failure occurs in a multicast label switch path, failure information to a downstream node of a multicast tree where a failed point locates, where the multicast label switch path is established based on a multicast label distribution protocol; and forwarding the failure information through the downstream node, where the failure information arrives at a leaf node of the multicast tree where the failed point locates. According to the method and the apparatus for failure notification of the present invention, finally, the failure information is transmitted to a leaf node. After the failure information is obtained, the leaf node may take appropriate measure to ensure the normal service and improve the reliability of the network.

Abstract: The present invention provides an IMS-based streaming media network system comprising: a streaming media service enabler configured to provide streaming media service description information to a user terminal; an application server configured to send a media resource request after the user terminal selects a streaming media service based on the service description information provided by the streaming media service enabler and after receiving a streaming media service request sent from the user terminal, and to provide the user terminal with information on a media resource delivery processing function entity storing streaming media contents after acquiring the information on the media resource delivery processing function entity; and, a media server configured to provide the application server with the information on the media resource delivery processing function entity storing the streaming media contents, based on the media resource request sent from the application server.

Abstract: A cementitious article and a method of making a cementitious article are disclosed. The cementitious article comprises a cementitious component that comprises a polyvinyl acetate type polymer, a monobasic phosphate, and optionally boric acid. Cementitious articles, such as board, are prepared such that the polyvinyl acetate type polymer, the monobasic phosphate, and optionally boric acid can be present in the cementitious core, and/or in dense layers if present. The concentration of the polyvinyl acetate type polymer, monobasic phosphate, and optionally boric acid in the cementitious article can increase from a central region A to peripheral regions B and C, respectively. In some embodiments, the polyvinyl acetate type polymer is a polyvinyl alcohol and the monobasic phosphate is monoammonium phosphate.

Abstract: A storage media and method for transacting cargo insurance business in a network environment includes the on-line automation of quoting, billing, certificate issuance, underwriting, and claims processing. Moreover, the method also includes customer qualification and support services, in addition to data collection and analysis, for management report generation.

Abstract: A dustpan (1) is provided that includes a base body (2) that has an essentially triangular base area (3). One edge of the base body is constructed as the sweeping edge (4) and the two other edges each have a side wall (5, 6). A stem (7) that projects essentially at a right angle from the base area (3) for proper use can be attached to the base body (2). At least one side wall (5) is constructed as a standing surface.

Abstract: A semiconductor light-detecting element includes: a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type having a band gap energy, a first principal surface, and a second principal surface opposed to the first principal surface; a first semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type on the first principal surface and having a band gap energy smaller than the band gap energy of the semiconductor substrate; a second semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type on the first semiconductor layer; an area of a second conductivity type on a part of the second semiconductor layer; a first electrode connected to the second semiconductor layer; a second electrode connected to the area; and a low-reflection film on the second principal surface. The second principal surface is a light-detecting surface detecting incident light, and no substance or structure having a higher reflection factor, with respect to the incident light, than the low-reflection film, is located on the second principal surface.

Abstract: A method for fracturing a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore comprises formulating a fracturing fluid useful in hydrocarbon drilling having the properties of both a dispersing fracture solution and an aggregating fracture solution. In particular, the dispersing properties of the stabilizing fracture solution are able to act as a dispersing fracture fluid in the clay and earthen materials discharged from the pay zone in the flow-back fluids during hydraulic fracturing. At the same time, aggregating properties of the stabilizing solution stabilize the pay zone. This stabilization property allows the flow of hydrocarbon through the fractures for a significantly longer time than with prior art fluids.