Abstract: Messages are received at a server and processed to generate data that may include a call back number, envelope information or contact information. Generated data is transmitted to a device that displays a visual notification that includes some of the generated data. The notification may be displayed on the device even if the device is unable to retrieve the message over a data channel. The notification alerts the user that a message is waiting for the user. If the device is subsequently within a data network, the device automatically retrieves the message over a data channel. The device can also establish a voice call with a message server to retrieve the message and can record the message. The device can establish the voice call with the server at a call back number and/or issue a DTMF message request to directly access the message without requiring menu navigation.

Abstract: The invention provides a finger-type peristaltic pump (2) having a body (4) and a housing (6). The body contains two or more finger-type valves (16) and a processor (22) configured to operate the valves according to a predetermined temporo-spatial pattern. The housing has a passageway (18) configured to receive a conduit. The housing has a first position in which a conduit in the passageway is positioned adjacent to the valve fingers, and a second position in which a conduit in the passageway is not adjacent to the valve fingers. The invention also provides a housing for use in the pump of the invention.

Abstract: The resistance band exercise station disclosed here is a modular hooking system used to perform a myriad of exercises with various exercise tools that require anchoring such as standard resistance bands, suspension straps and stretch straps. The resistance band exercise station includes multiple components: one or more lower units each having column(s) of vertically spaced safety hooks for exercises performed at various heights, from the ankle to eye level, and an upper unit having one or more safety hooks used for exercises performed above the head. The multiple lower and upper units are wall mounted in varying heights. The safety hooks are used to anchor resistance bands, suspension straps and stretch straps from one or multiple points. The safety hooks are open-loop hooks having a barrier member such as a T-bar at the tip to prevent the straps from slipping out.

Abstract: A throwing device includes an approximately straight and elongate shaft extending distally from a proximal end thereof to a distal portion of the device. The distal portion includes projectile retainer and a projectile track extending distally from the retainer to a distal tip of the device. The projectile retainer, when in a closed position, holds a projectile in a fixed position with respect to the device. When the shaft is gripped and swung through an arc, and the retainer opens to release the projectile, the projectile is propelled along the projectile track, by the swinging motion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reattaching the opposed ends of a member, such as a tendon, ligament or bone, during preparing and healing of the member using a surgical repair device that can be securely attached to the member and then safely guided through tortuous anatomy for reattachment and repair. The repair device further includes structural means so as to secure opposed ends of the member against separation during healing. Devices for aiding in the positioning of the surgical repair device are provided.

Abstract: A method for producing an aluminum composite material having a great content of a ceramics with ease. The method (a) mixes an aluminum powder and ceramic particles, to prepare a mixed material, (b) subjects the mixed material to electric pressure sintering together with a metal sheet material, to form a clad material including a sintered product covered with the metal sheet material, and (c) subjects the clad material to a plastic working to prepare an aluminum composite material. In the (b) subjecting, the mixed material is sandwiched between a pair of metal sheets or a powder of the mixed material is held in a metal container, the mixed material is placed in a forming die in a state in which the metal sheet material is pressurized by a punch, and the mixed material is compressed together with the metal sheet material. The metal sheet material is made of aluminum or stainless steel.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises an object area extracting unit for extracting an object area including an object pixel and pixels adjacent to the object pixel from a bayer pattern image; a fault pixel judging unit for determining if the object pixel is a fault pixel based on levels of the adjacent pixels and a fault pixel judgment standard range that varies according to a level of the object pixel; and a fault pixel correcting unit for correcting the level of the object pixel determined to be a fault pixel based on a level average value of the adjacent pixels and a fault pixel correction standard range that varies according to the level average value of the adjacent pixels. Therefore, the present invention can remove a hot pixel and noise effectively.

Abstract: A method of correcting image distortion and an apparatus for processing an image using the method are provided, where the method can overcome the disadvantages of the conventional methods of correcting lens distortion and can minimize image quality degradation at outer portions,. The method includes: receiving an image from a wide-angle lens; extracting a distortion coefficient of the distortion in the image caused by the wide-angle lens; correcting the distortion of the image by using the extracted distortion coefficient; and displaying a corrected image. The apparatus includes: a wide-angle lens for receiving an image; an image processing unit comprising a distortion coefficient extracting unit for extracting a distortion coefficient of distortion in the image caused by the wide-angle lens and a distortion correcting unit for correcting the distortion of the image using the extracted distortion coefficient; and a display unit for displaying a corrected image.

Abstract: An exercise garment includes front and rear panels with height adjusting straps that extend over the wearer's shoulders. The front panel includes an outer compression fabric and an inner cup assembly, which is essentially non-compressive. The cup assembly includes individual cups for each breast, which can each include an under support. An elastic band extends around the bottom portion of the garment. Tensioning structures, such as side flaps extending from the back to the front, can be provided to adjust the circumferential size of the garment. The garment can include releasable connectors on the side of the garment to at least partially release the compressive tension to aid in putting on and taking off the garment.

Abstract: Provided is a preservation solution for preserving biological material at low temperature including one or more polyphenols and a method for preservation of biological material, the method includes adding the preservation solution to biological material, cooling the biological material and storing it under appropriate storing conditions. The present method may be used for hypothermic preservation or for cryopreservation, including freezing and lyophilization, and may be used with any biological material, including cells selected from RBC, WBC, MNC, UCB MNC and bacteria. In the case of RBC, also disclosed is a method for its freezing such that upon thawing, the material has less than 2% free hemoglobin.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for forming an underground passageway and simultaneously laying therein a conduit or other elongate components comprises a rotary drill member coupled to a rotary and axially movable drill stem. The coupling is one which virtually automatically enables the drill stem to be coupled to and uncoupled from the drill member and comprises interlocking driving lugs carried by the drill stem and the drill member. The driving lugs are sandwiched between telescoped portions of the drill member and the drill stem and thereby are reinforced by such portions of the drill stem and the drill member in such manner as to preclude movement of the driving lugs in both radially inward and radially outward directions.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump includes a conduit having a first end for receiving a fluid from a reservoir and a second end for delivering the fluid. A plurality of fingers are disposed at respective locations along a segment of the conduit and are configured to alternately compress and release the conduit at the locations. A cyclical pump mechanism is coupled to move the fingers between respective compressed and released positions in a spatio-temporal pattern so as to drive a predetermined quantity of the fluid through the segment of the conduit in each pump cycle. A motor is coupled to drive the pump mechanism. A controller is coupled to activate and deactivate the motor in alternation during each pump cycle with a duty cycle that varies within the pump cycle.

Abstract: A technique and a light emitting device that can smoothly read out data while tracking a position of the light emitting device (an object). The light emitting device expresses data with “a change in the change of a color (switching of changes)”. The light emitting device specifies an object and the position thereof with a first primary change and thereafter expresses data with, so to speak, a secondary change (switching of the primary change). The primary change means that G and B alternately turn on (indicated by G*B) and so on. The secondary change means a change from the condition (G*B), in which G and B alternately turn on, to the condition (B*R) in which B and R alternately turn on. Thus, since data is expressed by the change of color condition changes, it is easier to freely express data while the position of an object is specified.

Abstract: Fluid delivery apparatus includes a peristaltic pump having an upstream end for receiving a fluid from a fluid source and a downstream end for delivering the fluid to a fluid target. A single pressure sensor is configured to measure, in alternation, an input pressure of the pump at the upstream end and an output pressure of the pump at the downstream end.

Abstract: An automated implantation system assists the implantation of low dose radioisotope seeds in a patient as part of a brachytherapy procedure. A Z-axis automated motion control system and an X-Y axis automated motion control system control a needle assembly. The X-Y axis automated motion control system positions an insertion axis of the needle assembly relative to the patient. The Z-axis automated motion control system selectively moves the needle assembly along the insertion axis to implant at least one radioisotope seed. This process is repeated for a plurality of locations on a base plane perpendicular to the insertion axis. Preferably, the radioisotope seeds are contained in a replaceable cartridge and the needle assembly is also replaceable.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for adaptively determining compression modes to compress images are provided. When compressing a current frame in image data, the invention inquires a motion class corresponding to a reference frame of the current frame, in which the motion class is determined according to motion information of the reference frame. Next, a threshold set corresponding to the motion class is obtained and used to determine a compression mode for compressing each of a plurality of macroblocks in the current frame. Finally, the determined compression modes are used to compress corresponding macroblocks in the current frame.

Abstract: A content addressable memory (CAM) is provided that can perform wide word searches. At least one CAM memory core having a plurality of bit pattern entry rows is included in the CAM. In addition, search logic is included that, is capable searching particular rows during each cycle. The search logic is also capable of allowing match line results of unsearched rows to remain unchanged during a cycle. The CAM further includes a serial AND array in communication with the bit pattern entry rows, wherein the serial AND array is capable of computing a match result for wide word entries that span multiple bit pattern entry rows. In one aspect, a match line enable signal is provided to the serial AND array, which facilitates computation of the match result.