Abstract: The invention relates to a composition comprising at least two protective proteins against Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae) or functionally active variant thereof; a protective peptide against S. agalactiae; one or more nucleic acid(s) encoding the at least two proteins and/or the protective peptide; a method of producing the composition; a pharmaceutical composition, especially a vaccine, comprising the composition and/or at least one protective peptide; methods for producing antibodies; a mixture of antibodies against the at least two proteins of the composition; the use of the composition and/or at least one protective peptide and/or one or more nucleic acid(s) for the manufacture of a medicament for the immunization or treatment of a subject; methods of diagnosing a S.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a speech processing solution that utilizes an original speech recognition grammar in a speech recognition system to perform speech recognition operations for multiple recognition instances. Instance data associated with the recognition operations can be stored. A replacement grammar can be automatically generated from the stored instance data, where the replacement grammar is a statistical language model grammar. The original speech recognition grammar, which can be a grammar-based language model grammar or a statistical language model grammar, can be selectively replaced with the replacement grammar. For example when tested performance for the replacement grammar is better than that for the original grammar, the replacement grammar can replace the original grammar.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus includes a light separator configured to separate a light beam emitted from a light source into a main beam and a sub-beam, an objective lens configured to, when the light beam is condensed and irradiated to an optical disc having a uniform recording layer in which a track is formed by record marks, irradiate at least part of the sub-beam to an area where the main beam is not irradiated in a radial direction which is defined as a direction of radius of the optical disc, and a signal generating unit configured to generate a mark layer distance signal, representing a distance between a focus of the light beam and a mark layer to which the track belongs, based on a return light beam resulting from at least one of the main beam and the sub-beam, which has been irradiated to the track.

Abstract: In a content viewing apparatus, an acquisition unit acquires a content set including one or more contents, and a conversion unit converts each content in the content set acquired by the acquisition unit into a predetermined format. An arrangement unit arranges indication information of each content subjected to the conversion performed by the conversion unit such that the indication information of each content is displayed on a display device in such a manner that indication information of each content is arranged along a time axis according to date/time information associated with each content thereby making it possible to use each content via the corresponding indication information. In accordance with an operation command input by a user, a display control unit controls displaying of the indication information of all contents as a whole, displayed on the display device by the arrangement unit, along the time axis.

Abstract: A breath-controlled inhalation therapy device includes an obturation mechanism, obturating a nozzle opening through which a pressurised gas, preferably pressurised air, is issued when the device is in operation. An actuation mechanism actuates the obturation mechanism only in the exhalation phases of the respiration cycle of a patient. The fluid to be atomised is therefore substantially atomised only in the inhalation phases.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for non-intrusive power monitoring and current measurement in a circuit breaker without modification of the breaker panel or the circuit breaker itself. In one example, an inductive pickup sensor senses current from the breaker face, an inductive link transmits power through a steel breaker panel door, and a passive balanced JFET modulator circuit modulates a carrier signal on the inductive link with information regarding the sensed current. A demodulated breaker current signal is available outside of the breaker panel door. The JFET modulator circuit does not require DC power to modulate the carrier signal with the information regarding the sensed current from the breaker. Such methods and apparatus may be interfaced with a spectral envelope load detection system that can monitor multiple loads from a central location.

Abstract: An integrated circuit including a substrate of a semiconductor material and first metal portions of a first metallization level or of a first via level defining pixels of an image. The pixels are distributed in first pixels, for each of which the first metal portion is connected to the substrate, and in second pixels, for each of which the first metal portion is separated from the substrate by at least one insulating portion.

Abstract: A sealed self-piercing capsule for storing and delivering a substance, such as a medicine, comprises one or more barrier layers forming a sealed chamber for containing the substance. An internal puncturing mechanism is disposed within the capsule chamber for puncturing a barrier layer to release the substance from the chamber. The internal puncturing mechanism may comprise a sharpened edge located on a movable tube, which moves relative to a barrier layer forming the sealed chamber to puncture the barrier layer.

Abstract: A tolerance-compensating current distribution board, in particular for motor vehicles, is provided, which comprises a stamped laminate with a contact region with contact lugs and a fastening region, which rests on a side of the stamped laminate which is opposite the contact region, wherein the fastening region lies at one end of a tongue, which is substantially parallel to the contact region and whose other end is connected to the contact region.

Abstract: A measurement apparatus includes a moving average calculation section and a convergence judgment section. The moving average calculation section calculates a moving average by inputting a phase error between a phase of an input signal and a target phase, that is detected by a phase-locked loop circuit. The convergence judgment section judges that the phase-locked loop circuit is not converged when an absolute value of the moving average is equal to or larger than a first threshold value and judges that the phase-locked loop circuit is converged when the absolute value of the moving average is smaller than the first threshold value.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a configuration management (CM) system, method, and product adapted to carry out workflow management tasks, which integrates status of software projects and issues, such that software projects may be more easily and reliably tracked and management of software projects may be streamlined. In some embodiments of the invention, a CM system is adapted to maintain records of software projects and/or issues managed by the CM system, the records comprising an indicator of a workflow progress stage for the project/issue. The CM system may be further adapted to update concurrently and automatically, according to an input from a user, both (1) a workflow progress stage value for the project/issue and (2) a record for software code associated with a project/issue, the record for the software code indicating a version and the project/issue in which the version is included.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for uniform growth of nanostructures such as nanotubes (e.g., carbon nanotubes) on the surface of a substrate, wherein the long axes of the nanostructures may be substantially aligned. The nanostructures may be further processed for use in various applications, such as composite materials. For example, a set of aligned nanostructures may be formed and transferred, either in bulk or to another surface, to another material to enhance the properties of the material. In some cases, the nanostructures may enhance the mechanical properties of a material, for example, providing mechanical reinforcement at an interface between two materials or plies. In some cases, the nanostructures may enhance thermal and/or electronic properties of a material. The present invention also provides systems and methods for growth of nanostructures, including batch processes and continuous processes.

Abstract: A distributed ethernet system including a plurality of switches, which switches are connected in sequence to form a ring, where after being synchronized in clock, each of the switches sequentially performs loop detection and protocol machine detection periodically according to a predetermined configuration, and sends a fault alarming message when a loop fault or a protocol machine fault occurs. A fault detecting method based on the system is further provided.

Abstract: A computer peripheral that operates either as a computer mouse or as a scanner. The peripheral includes navigation sensors that generate information on motion of the device and an image array that captures successive image frames of an object being scanned. In a mouse mode, the peripheral periodically transfers readings from the navigation sensors to a computing device so that the computing device can track a position of the device. In a scanner mode, in addition to obtaining navigation information from the navigation sensors, the peripheral also captures image frames as it is moved across the object. Operation of the navigation sensors and image array may be synchronized such that an association between the image data and the navigation information may be generated and maintained as image frames are transferred to the computing device, even if some of the frames are dropped in transmission between the scanner-mouse and a computer.

Abstract: A method of controlling an electronic charge retention circuit for time measurement, including at least a first capacitive element, the dielectric of which has a leakage, and at least a second capacitive element, the dielectric of which has a higher capacitance than the first, the two elements having a common electrode defining a floating node that can be connected to an element for measuring its residual charge, in which a charge retention period is programmed or initialized by injecting or extracting charges via the first element.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to performing a search for content via the Internet, wherein user input specifying a search query is supplied to a mobile communications device, such as, for example, a smartphone. The mobile communications device separately issues the search query to a plurality of search engines and can receive the results from each search engine and display the results to the user. Thus, the user does not have to separately issue the query to each of the plurality of search engines.

Abstract: An optical disc manufacturing method includes: an injection step of injecting a liquid material into a circular plate-shaped injection space having a center hole portion at a center from an injection hole connected to an inner edge portion in the injection space; a discharge step of discharging air and the liquid material from a discharge hole formed on a straight line passing through the injection hole and a center of the center hole portion in a plane direction of the circular plate and at a position opposite to the injection hole; a curing step of curing the liquid material injected into the injection space; and a takeout step of taking out the cured liquid material from the injection space.

Abstract: A voltage-controlled vertical bi-directional monolithic switch, referenced with respect to the rear surface of the switch, formed from a lightly-doped N-type semiconductor substrate, in which the control structure includes, on the front surface side, a first P-type well in which is formed an N-type region, and a second P-type well in which is formed a MOS transistor, the first P-type well and the gate of the MOS transistor being connected to a control terminal, said N-type region being connected to a main terminal of the MOS transistor, and the second main terminal of the MOS transistor being connected to the rear surface voltage of the switch.

Abstract: The invention relates to chondroitinase ABC I and uses thereof. In particular, the invention relates to recombinant and modified chondroitinase ABC I, their production and their uses. The chondroitinase ABC I enzymes of the invention are useful for a variety of purposes, including degrading and analyzing polysaccharides such as glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). These GAGs can include chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, unsulfated chondroitin and hyaluronan. The chondroitinase ABC I enzymes can also be used in therapeutic methods such as promoting nerve regeneration, promoting stroke recovery, treating spinal cord injury, treating epithelial disease, treating infections and treating cancer.