Abstract: A capsule type medical device, including: a capsule shaped casing which can be ingested to within the living body; an electrical stimulation device which comprises a plurality of electrodes which are used for applying electrical stimuli to living body tissue; an electrode selection device which selects an electrode from among the plurality of electrodes, to apply an electrical stimulus; a contact detection device which electrically detects the electrode which is in contact with the living body tissue; and a control section which controls the various devices.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system of providing user context-based services over computer networks, using mechanisms for collecting and specifying one or more user context elements, each element representing a context associated with the current buyer state and having context attributes and attribute values associated therewith, mechanisms for collecting affective (emotive) data to inform the user context, and also an interactive graphical view to gain insight into available services for assisting in understanding available service information and making decisions on purchasing.

Abstract: Disclosed are a wing deployment apparatus and an apparatus for launching a flying object having the same, the wing deployment apparatus including wings configured to be in a folded state and a deployed state, a driving unit connected to the wings, and configured to drive the wings to be switched from the folded state to the deployed state or vice versa, and a damper cooperative with the operation of the driving unit, and configured to damp a driving force of the driving unit from the start of the wings being moved to the completion of the movement of the wings.

Abstract: A connection inspecting method is provided to inspect the electrical connection between bumps and lands of a printer provided with an ink-jet head, FPC having the lands electrically connected to the bumps formed for the ink-jet head, and a driver IC. The connection inspecting method includes supplying a connection inspecting signal from the driver IC to the ink-jet head; detecting whether or not the ink liquid droplets are discharged from a certain nozzle; and judging whether or not the connection between the bump and the land corresponding to the certain nozzle is the normal connection. The connection inspecting signal is set so that ink liquid droplets are discharged from nozzles only when the connection between the bumps and the lands is the normal connection.

Abstract: A method of decoding a bit stream having an embedded clock, where the clock reference data is recovered from the bit stream. The clock reference data is used to create an adjusting value to control a local clock frequency. The adjustment is calculated such that the local clock frequency and the local clock value match the frequency and values in the clock reference data. The adjustment value is input to pulse generator to form a pulse train, which is used to generate the input to an adjustable oscillator.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image acquiring unit that acquires image data about a plurality of subject images of a subject picked up under a plurality of exposure conditions different from each other; a pixel value acquiring unit that acquires, as a pixel value of a pixel position to which a spectral characteristic is to be estimated, a pixel value of the image data about any one of the subject images; an estimation operator calculator that calculates an estimation operator corresponding to the exposure condition of the subject image corresponding to the image data with the pixel value acquired by the pixel value acquiring unit; and a spectral characteristic estimating unit that estimates the spectral characteristic of the subject corresponding to the pixel position to which the spectral characteristic is to be estimated using the estimation operator calculated by the estimation operator calculator.

Abstract: A computer program for outputting a user interface to a computer. The computer outputs a voice message and the user interface consecutively informs a progress of a process executed by the computer. The program determines whether or not the user interface consecutively informs the progress of another process with a voice message. A first user interface consecutively informs the progress of the specific process with a first voice message that includes start, ongoing, and end messages, if the first determining step determines that the user interface does not consecutively inform the progress of the another process with the voice message. A second user interface informs the progress of the specific process with a second voice message that includes start and end messages while omitting the ongoing message, if the first determining step determines that the user interface consecutively informs the progress of the another process with the voice message.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for introducing a physiologically active substance such as a gene into a cell, which introduces a physiologically active substance such as any given gene into any given cell in a view under a microscope, while significantly reducing invasiveness to the cell, and a device used for the above method. The present invention provides a method for introducing a physiologically active substance into a cell, which comprises: allowing a physiologically active substance to attach around a needle having a diameter of 500 nm or less, provided that it is able to be inserted into a cell; and inserting the above-described needle into the cell; and a microinjection device for carrying out the aforementioned method.

Abstract: A hexahedron prism in which a first optical surface and a second optical surface opposed to each other are approximately parallel, the inner angles ? between the first optical surface and each of a third optical surface and a fourth optical surface opposed to each other are equal, a fifth optical surface and a sixth optical surface opposed to each other are configured inclining toward each other and the distance therebetween becomes narrow from the third optical surface to the fourth optical surface, and further, a light beam from a image display element enters through a first partial optical surface into the hexahedron prism, reflects inside the prism and is emitted through a second partial optical surface to an eye pupil of a user.

Abstract: A slip-on hook, having a hook portion and a body portion connected to the hook portion, is provided. The slip-on hook releasably retains an elongated material of an article. The hook portion of the slip-on hook engages a supporting bar for hanging the article for illustration purposes. The body portion of the slip-on hook engages the elongated material of the article. The body portion has an upper flange, an opposite lower flange, and a connecting web partially connecting the upper flange and the lower flange in the middle of the flanges. Spaces are provided between the upper flange and the lower flange at either side of the connecting web for receiving the elongated material of the article.

Abstract: An optical encoder includes a linear power transmission member which moves longitudinally, a reflector which is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the linear power transmission member and which is longitudinally movable integrally with the linear power transmission member, the reflector including two kinds of reflecting portions different in reflectance are longitudinally arranged, and a light source which radiates light. Further, the optical encoder includes a linear light transmitter which guides the light from the light source to the reflector and to which reflection light reflected from the reflector is guided, and a calculation mechanism configured to calculate a longitudinal displacement of the reflector on the basis of an intensity of the reflection light from the reflector which is guided via the linear light transmitter.

Abstract: An endoscope 2 includes an insertion body 3 equipped with a potentiometer 26 for detecting a bending state of a bending portion 3B which is allowed to be bent and inserted into a subject and an electric connector 18c for outputting an electric signal as a detection result of the potentiometer 26, and a motor unit 4 detachable with respect to the insertion body 3 via an attachment/detachment portion 14, which is equipped with an electric motor 23 for bending the bending portion 3B.

Abstract: A coaxial cable includes an electric conductor, an insulating layer formed on a periphery of the electric conductor, wherein the insulating layer includes an insulating material including a fluorine-containing polymer obtained by grafting at least one compound selected from unsaturated carboxylic acids and esters of the unsaturated carboxylic acids to a tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkylvinylether copolymer, a conductive layer formed on a periphery of the insulating layer, wherein the conductive layer includes a sintered product from a metallic nanoparticle paste, and an outer insulating layer formed on a periphery of the conductive layer.

Abstract: Holding element for a dental implant including: an engagement section adapted for engagement with a manipulating tool; a retention section joined to the engagement section and adapted for engagement with a package, in particular an ampule; and a clamping section joined to the retention section and adapted for connecting the holding element to the dental implant, the clamping section including a force transmission element, wherein the clamping section further includes a clamping element provided with an elastic means extending in a non-compressed position thereof at and beyond the outer perimeter defined by the force transmission element.

Abstract: The rear end side of treatment equipment-side duct which enables treatment equipment provided within an insertion unit to be inserted, and which also serves as a suction duct, is disposed generally in parallel with the tip side of a suction-side duct extending forward from a universal cable side so as to be an opening end, and both opening ends are detachably attached with a filter unit in which a forceps plug portion serving as a suction duct opening, and a filter portion for retrieving (storing) tissue by suction are provided, and a suction switchover valve for performing a suction switchover operation is provided at the backward side thereof, thereby enabling retrieval of tissue without influence of the periphery of the suction switchover valve. Thus, defects due to a long duct can be eliminated, and tissue can be retrieved without influence of the periphery of the suction switchover valve.

Abstract: A first trocar as an medical apparatus includes an insertion hole having a projection opening for leading out a biopsy forceps into a body of a subject, a lid body for blocking the projection opening of the insertion hole, and a cooling sheet for cryogenically cooling a biopsy portion arranged in the vicinity of the lid body in a state where the biopsy forceps is stored in the insertion hole, and is capable of easily harvesting a living tissue while retaining morphological change of tissues in a living body under various hemodynamics.

Abstract: A pressure limiting valve comprises a valve closing body (7) which comprises a valve closing surface (8) which together with a first valve seat (9) opposing the valve closing surface (8) forms a first seal seat and a valve closing body orifice (11), which is surrounded by a second valve seat (12) which together with a closing head (14) configured on an axially displaceable valve bolt (13) forms a second seal seat and with a spring plate (15) which is connected to the valve bolt (13) and axially displaceable therewith, and a first return spring (10) clamped between the spring plate (15) and the valve closing body (7), which pretensions the valve bolt (13) against the second valve seat (12) configured on the valve closing body (7) and a second return spring (35) which pretensions a valve unit (7, 13, 15, 10) against the first valve seat (9). In the valve bolt (13) a longitudinal bore (53) is provided extending over the entire axial length of the valve bolt (13).

Abstract: Equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) scaled high k/metal gate stacks are provided in which the capacitance bottleneck of the interfacial layer is substantially eliminated, with minimal compromise on the mobility of carriers in the channel of the device. In one embodiment, the aforementioned EOT scaled high k/metal gate stacks are achieved by increasing the dielectric constant of the interfacial layer to a value that is greater than the originally formed interfacial layer, i.e., the interfacial layer prior to diffusion of a high k material dopant element therein. In another embodiment, the aforementioned scaled high k/metal gate stacks are achieved by eliminating the interfacial layer from the structure. In yet another embodiment, the aforementioned high k/metal gate stacks are achieved by both increasing the dielectric constant of the interfacial layer and reducing/eliminating the interfacial layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides non-toxic Gram-negative bacteria. In particular, the present invention provides viable Gram-negative bacteria (e.g., E. coli) substantially lacking lipopolysaccharide (LPS, endotoxin) within the outer membrane. The present invention further provides methods of generating viable non-toxic Gram-negative bacteria and uses thereof. The present invention also provides compositions and methods for inducing immune responses and for researching and developing therapeutic agents.

Abstract: A method and system for recognizing a character affected by a noise or an obstruction is disclosed. After receiving an image with characters, a character being affected by a noise or an obstruction is determined. Then, areas in the character where the noise or obstruction affected are precisely located. Templates representing every possible character in the image are updated by removing equivalent areas to the areas in the character being affected by the noise or obstruction. Then, the character is classified in a template among the updated templates by finding the template having the highest number of matching pixels with the character.