Abstract: A method for optimizing data rates for video services to a subscriber that includes receiving an indication of whether incoming video signals to a set-top box corresponding to the subscriber are being recorded, receiving an indication of whether video content corresponding to the video signals being recorded is being simultaneously viewed by the subscriber, and reducing a data rate for storing the video content that is not simultaneously being viewed by the subscriber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for browsing and viewing television programs while viewing a television program guide. In other words, a user is able to remain inside the program guide while viewing various television programs. In another aspect, a server system operator is provided an interface with flexible options for configuring user controls for viewing television programs while inside program guides in client devices.

Abstract: A method for optimizing data rates for video services to a subscriber that includes receiving an indication of whether incoming video signals to a set-top box corresponding to the subscriber are being recorded, receiving an indication of whether video content corresponding to the video signals being recorded is being simultaneously viewed by the subscriber, and reducing a data rate for storing the video content that is not simultaneously being viewed by the subscriber.

Abstract: The invention provides an internal control nucleic acid molecule including at least one forward primer binding site, at least one reverse primer binding site, and at least one amplifiable region, wherein the forward primer binding site, the reverse primer binding site, and the amplifiable region are all randomly generated. The invention also provides a kit that includes at least one internal control nucleic acid molecule of the invention, at least one forward primer, configured to be complementary to the forward primer binding site of the internal control nucleic acid molecule, and at least one reverse primer, configured to be complementary to the reverse primer binding site of the internal control nucleic acid molecule. The invention also provides methods of using the internal control nucleic acid molecules and kits of the invention.

Abstract: A plastic product is fabricated from plastic sheets by heat sealing the plastic sheets to form an enclosure member. In order to strengthen the heat-sealed joints of the plastic sheets, the plastic sheets are thickened at portions where the heat-sealed joints are to be formed. Preferably, the heat-sealed joints are formed in such a manner that the cross-section of the heat-sealed joints is smaller than that of the thickened portions of the plastic sheet, thereby preventing effectively the non-thickened portions of the plastic sheets from being affected adversely by the heat sealing process.

Abstract: A composition of matter comprises particles each having a substrate being an oxide or other suitable compound of a metal other than titanium or of certain non-metal elements, and a coating on said substrate being a layer of titanium dioxide. A method of forming particles of titania-coated substrate, includes contacting a bed of hydrated particles of an oxide or other suitable compound of a metal other than titanium or of certain non-metal elements with a fluid medium containing flowing titanium tetrachloride, under conditions in which a layer comprising one or more involatile oxychloride or oxide compounds is formed at and below the surface of each of a multiplicity of the particles of the oxide or other suitable compound which thereby provides a substrate for the layer. The oxychloride or oxide compound or compounds are treated to convert the layer to a Titania coating on the particles.

Abstract: An infant seat with armrests for motorcars has an inclinable backrest. The infant seat is slidingly fitted onto a base and has a locking mechanism being apt to lock it in different points of its shiftinig travel on the base. The armrests are each made up by an independent member being linked in a pin-jointed connection to the respective side of the seat and devices for stabilizing them in different height positions. The base is arranged on the seat of the motorcar at its back side leaning against the backrest of the seat. The infant seat is apt to be shifted forwards, and its backrest leans with different inclinations on the backrest of the motorcar's seat.

Abstract: A composition based on natural substances, intended for oral administration, useful in the maintenance of the correct skin hydration and in the prevention and/or the treatment of the effects of skin ageing, in particular wrinkles, is described. The composition comprises in combination: ceramides from rice, fish cartilage hydrolysate, and one or more amino acids selected from L-proline, L-lysine, L-valine and L-cysteine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mammary prosthesis made of polyacrylamide hydrogel. Said prosthesis include a shell which is made of medical high polymer elastic material, such as silicone, and said shell have a round curved surface. The shell is filled with polyacrylamide hydrogel, or with hydrogel powder, and the weight of the filled powder is matched with the volume of the circular shell, that is to say, each 100 ml volumes of the shell could be filled with about 2.5–5 g hydrogel powder.

Abstract: Through holes are preformed in a ceramic sheet to form recessed portions at corners or side ends of a package 2 used for a solid-state image device. The package is positioned by allowing projections 52, 53, and 54 of a positioning jig 51 to come into contact with end faces 5 and 6 in the recessed portions along their shapes. The accuracy in combining a solid-state image element and a lens block is improved by using a method of positioning a package in which burrs caused when the package is produced by dividing a ceramic baked product do not affect the accuracy.

Abstract: A motor with a lead screw is provided with a pre-load generating member for canceling backlash in the axial direction, and the lead screw formed with a feed screw groove portion serves as the output shaft of the motor. The pre-load generating mechanism is constituted by a blind hole, a biasing member, and a movable member. The blind hole is formed concentrically in one end of the lead screw. The biasing member is inserted in the blind hole and has a stroke sufficient to generate a biasing force. The movable member is inserted in the blind hole next to the biasing member to receive the biasing force, and is held to be movable in the axial direction in the blind hole. Hence, the motor with a lead screw can be made short in the axial direction. The biasing member is set to have a sufficiently long stroke so that the stability of the pre-load generating member is maintained high, thereby eliminating backlash in the axial direction.

Abstract: The locking device comprises resilient repulsion means (58) which react between a fixed body (16) and one or more rolling members (42) and which tend to urge these members in the direction of wedging between two wedging surfaces (34, 36) associated with the body (16) and with the rod (12) of the actuator (10), respectively. A control piston (48) is arranged so as to engage the rolling members (42) in order to urge them in the release direction under the effect of a thrust exerted on the piston in the opposite direction to the force exerted by the resilient means (54).

Abstract: A combination apparatus of distribution transformer and switch includes a distribution transformer with three-phase and five-column, wherein the arrangement of the low-voltage winding in WYEo-form, the high voltage winding of each phase is connected in series with a high voltage fuse to constitute respectively one of the three high voltage phase arms, and the arrangement in high voltage side is DELTA form which is formed with one high voltage phase arm as one unit. The apparatus can be used in the system in which the neutral is not connected to the ground, or the neutral is connected to the ground through extinguishing-arc coil or through small resistance, and in the system in which the neutral is connected to the ground directly as well. It is possible that the fault phase does not disturb the normal operation of the other phases.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device comprises a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising a semiconductor substrate; a photo-receiving portion formed in the semiconductor substrate; a detecting region formed in the semiconductor substrate; an insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate, a gate electrode formed on the insulating film above the region between the photo-receiving portion and the detecting region; and a read-out circuit, which is electrically connected to the detecting portion. A reflection reducing film is formed on the insulating film above the region including at least one part of the photo-receiving portion and excluding at least one part of the detecting portion in the semiconductor substrate. With this solid-state imaging device and with the method for manufacturing the same, a highly sensitive MOS solid-state imaging device and the method for manufacturing the same are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a spacer used in a flat panel display. At the first printing process, a printing mask produces a primary spacer on a substrate. After removing the printing mask, a supporting plate having a hole to excess the primary spacer is placed on the substrate and then the printing mask is rearranged on the supporting plate. A subsequent printing process is applied repeatedly to the printing mask with the supporting plate to extend the height of the primary spacer to the amount of the thickness of the supporting plate, thereby producing an elongated finished spacer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high pressure discharge lamp which is provided with a discharge tube containing a pair of electrodes therein and being filled with mercury, an inert gas and a halogen gas, the amount of the mercury filled being 0.12 to 0.35 mg/mm3, the halogen gas being at least one gas selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br and I and being present in an amount of 10?7 to 10?2 ?mol/mm3, and the electrodes being mainly composed of tungsten, and the tungsten as a material of the electrodes contains not more than 12 ppm of potassium oxide (K2O). In such a high pressure discharge lamp, blackening of the discharge tube due to the potassium oxide (K2O) contained in the tungsten, and decrease in illumination maintenance can be prevented, thus providing a high pressure discharge lamp with a long lifetime, a lighting optical apparatus using the high pressure discharge lamp as a light source, and an image display system using the lighting optical apparatus.