Abstract: A variable length coding method is comprised of: a coefficient value scanning step in which an RL sequence generation unit, a reordering unit, and a binarization unit scan coefficient values within a block in a predetermined scanning order starting at a higher-frequency component toward a lower-frequency component; and an arithmetic coding step in which an arithmetic coding unit and a table storage unit perform arithmetic coding on the absolute values of the coefficient values according to the scanning order used in the coefficient value scanning step, by switching between probability tables for use, wherein, in the arithmetic coding step, a probability table to be used is switched to another probability table in one direction, when the arithmetic-coded absolute values of the coefficient values include an absolute value exceeding a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition including a modified factor Xa (GDXa), said modified GDXa being nonthrombogenic, able to bind to TFPI but not able to bind to phospholipids, for preventing or treating a hemorrhagic accident in a patient with hemophilia A or B with or without inhibitor.

Abstract: Chalcogenide glass-ceramic having, for example, the following composition GeSe2—Sb2Se3—CuI, this glass-ceramic comprising at least one crystalline phase, characterised in that the crystallisation rate and the dimensions of the crystals in the crystalline phase are such that the crystals are substantially in contact with each other in such a way that this crystalline phase has an electrical conductivity greater than or equal to 10?4 s·cm?1 which increases under lighting due to the creation of charge carriers within the crystalline phase.

Abstract: A system for collecting an anaesthetic agent, having at least one anaesthetic gas scavenging system (AGSS) for receiving exhaust gas from a plurality of sources, the exhaust gas including the anaesthetic agent to be collected, each AGSS comprising at least one power source for providing suction of the exhaust gas from the plurality of sources under negative pressure, and a central collection system for receiving the exhaust gas. The central collection system comprises a disinfection module for disinfecting the exhaust gases and outputting a disinfected exhaust gas and at least one collector for receiving the disinfected exhaust gas, wherein the at least one collector is configured to adsorb the anaesthetic agent from the exhaust gas. The central collection system may be configured to received the exhaust gases from the at least one AGSS, with the central collection system being located downstream of the at least one AGSS.

Abstract: A receiver includes a first finger that receives a non-interference-cancelled signal and output first demodulated data, a first phase estimate, and a first PN code. The receiver also includes a second finger that selectively receives the non-interference-cancelled signal and a first interference-cancelled signal generated from the non-interference-cancelled signal based on the first phase estimate and the first PN code. The second finger also outputs second demodulated data.

Abstract: A device for converting transverse spatial profile of intensity of a light beam, using a microstructured optical fiber. Transverse dimensions of the fiber vary longitudinally and both its ends have opto-geometrical parameters such that at the wavelength of the beam the fiber has a fundamental mode having two different profile shapes at its two ends. Thus by introducing the beam with one of the profiles through one of the two ends, the beam emerges through the other end with the other profile, whose shape is different from that of the profile of the introduced beam.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer readable medium are presented for providing a response to a request. A request (e.g., a java request) is received by a computer-based system for providing a response to a request. The availability of the backend system (e.g., java dispatching system) request is analyzed in response to receiving the request. In response to a determination that the backend system is unavailable to process the request, an unavailable response is transmitted. In response to a determination that the backend system is available to process the request, the request is transmitted to a backend system to process the request.

Abstract: A trim tab assembly including a hinge assembly and a trim tab. The trim tab includes a wedge-shaped body with a curved surface and a side. The curved surface, while in a deployed state, adjusts pitch, roll or yaw motion of a marine vessel. The curved surface is pivoted about a portion of the hinge assembly when transitioned between retracted and deployed states. A first portion of the curved surface extends below the marine vessel while in the deployed state and deflects oncoming water when a portion of the curved surface is extended below the marine vessel. A second portion of the curved surface is not below the marine vessel while in the deployed state. The hinge assembly is configured to attach to a support structure of the marine vessel rearward of the curved surface. The side extends between the curved surface and the hinge assembly.

Abstract: A process management system uses a radio frequency identification (RFID) detection system in the form of, for example, a phased array antenna based RFID detection system to track and manage material storage and flow in a manufacturing process or plant. The process management system operates in conjunction with the various machines that implement manufacturing stages or steps of the manufacturing process to assure that the correct materials and processing procedures are used at or on the various production machines of the process to produce a particular product as defined by a job number or job order. The process management system is thereby able to increase the efficiencies of the plant and to increase the quality of the plant production by reducing or eliminating waste, manufacturing errors and shipping errors in the production facility.

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging device (E) comprising: at least one generator (1) of structured light; an emission first image guide (5, 5?) for uplinking the structured light from the generator (1) to an object to be observed; and a return second image guide (5?, 5) for downlinking the light reflected by said object to be observed to a system (2) for capturing said reflected light. Each of the two image guides (5, 5?) is able to uplink the structured light and downlink the reflected light, and the imaging device comprises an optical switch (3) configurable into three different operating modes.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a glow-discharge lamp including: an elongate casing transparent to illuminating radiation and containing a plasma gas; a device for applying an electric field for maintaining a plasma in the so-called positive column region of the casing, the device including two electrodes forming an anode and a cathode located in the casing at each end thereof; and a radio-frequency or microwave cathode plasma source arranged in the casing in relation to the cathode-forming electrode, such as to generate a high-frequency discharge located on the surface of the electrode in order to generate the plasma. The disclosure also includes a lighting method of such a glow-discharge lamp.

Abstract: A picture coding apparatus includes a motion vector estimation unit and a motion compensation unit. The motion vector estimation unit selects one method for deriving a motion vector of a block to be motion-compensated, depending on a motion vector of a block located in a corner of a decoded macroblock from among a group of blocks that compose the decoded macroblock corresponding to the current macroblock to be coded and determines the motion vector derived by the selected method for derivation to be a candidate of the motion vector of the current macroblock to be coded. The motion compensation unit generates a predictive image of the block to be motion-compensated based on the estimated motion vector.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the fields of reproductive medicine. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method determining the developmental stage of human cumulus cells issues from MII oocyte.

Abstract: A coordination server of a contactless payment system may receive a total bill of purchases for a customer from a merchant point-of-sale terminal, associate the total bill of purchases with a unique identifier of an RFID tag of a check presenter, and receive notification that payment of the total bill of purchases is authorized. The coordination server may receive the unique identifier and payment information from a contactless-enabled device, and transmit the payment information and the total bill to the merchant point-of-sale terminal for transmittal to a merchant acquirer for completion of the transaction under business as usual standards. In one embodiment, the coordination server transmits the payment information and the total bill to a merchant acquirer, which then routes the payment request to an appropriate payment network. In another embodiment, the coordination server transmits the payment information and the total bill directly to the appropriate payment network.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of enabling the use of long dsRNA for gene silencing in mammalian cells through bacteria, preferably non-pathogenic or therapeutic strains of bacteria. DNA that encodes long double-strand RNAs are transformed into bacteria and processed in the bacterial cells into a mixture of smaller RNA duplexes and then released into the cytoplasm of the target cells, resulting in modulation of gene expression in the target cells. The methods overcome the incompatibility between long strong dsRNA and mammalian cells by eliminating, or mitigating, the non-specific innate immune response. The eukaryotic cells can be mammalian cells or avian cells. The gene of interest can be a mammalian, avian, bacterial, eukaryotic, or viral gene.

Abstract: A video encoder (70) for coding moving pictures comprising a buffer (16c) with a plurality of memory areas capable of storing frames composed of top fields and bottom fields, a motion estimation unit (19) operable to code, field by field, inputted pictures performing moving estimation and moving compensation by referring, field by field, to the picture data stored in a memory area, a motion compensation unit (16d), a subtractor (11), a transformation unit (13) and a quantization unit (14), a memory management unit (71) operable to manage, frame by frame, a plurality of memory areas, an inverse quantization unit (16a) and inverse discrete cosine transform unit (16b) operable to decode picture data in coded fields and store the picture data in the decoded field in any of the plurality of memory areas under the management by the memory management unit (71).

Abstract: The invention substantially relates to an imaging system for the chemical, biological or biochemical analysis of a sample (10), comprising a device (40) for holding the sample (10), a device (20) for optical detection, a lighting device (30), liable to emit a monochromatic light beam, and a wide aperture objective (f1), It is substantially characterized in that the objective (f1) is configured for, downstream of the sample (10): focusing the excitation light beam reflected at a point (C) located in the focal plane (FF) of said objective (f1), and transforming the retransmitted or scattered light beam into a quasi-parallel beam, and in that the system further comprises a device (70) for selectively blocking the collected light beam by said objective (f1).

Abstract: An OFDM signal transmission apparatus is provided, which includes a mapping unit configured to map first signals into N subcarriers and second signals into M subcarrier(s) to form an OFDM signal, wherein N is larger than M. The first signals are each indicating a same bit of retransmission information and the second signals are each indicating a same bit of information other than retransmission information. The OFDM signal transmission apparatus further includes a transmitting unit configured to transmit the formed OFDM signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant vector for expressing and secreting, by a Propionibacterium, at least one eukaryotic peptide or protein of interest, comprising at least: under the control of at least one suitable promoter, at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a propionibacterial signal peptide and, at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding said eukaryotic peptide or protein of interest; wherein said at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a propionibacterial signal peptide is translationally fused to said at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding said eukaryotic peptide or protein of interest. The invention further relates to the uses of such a vector in the pharmaceutical field or for the large-scale production of peptides or proteins of interest.

Abstract: A moving picture coding apparatus includes a motion estimation unit (101) for performing motion estimation by fixing the one of two reference pictures as a reference picture indicated by an inputted default reference picture number DefRefNo and a variable length coding unit (107) for performing variable length coding on coded residual data ERes, a prediction type PredType, a reference picture number RefNo2 and motion vectors MV1, MV2 on a block-by-block basis, and outputting them as coded moving picture data Str.