Abstract: An optical system including, in order from an object: a first lens group having positive refractive power; a second lens group having negative refractive power; a third lens group having positive refractive power; and a fourth lens group having negative refractive power. The second lens group has, in order from the object, a front group having negative refractive power and a rear group. In various embodiments, the following conditional expressions are satisfied, 0.4<f2F/f2<1.6 and ?3.0<q2<?0.3 where f2 denotes a focal length of the second lens group, f2F denotes a focal length of the front group, and q2 denotes a form factor of a negative lens disposed closest to the object of the front group.

Abstract: An encoding apparatus and an encoding method, a decoding apparatus and a decoding method, a recording medium, and a program suitable for encoding image signals with a higher compression ratio for transmission or accumulation. In an arithmetic coding section, from among the syntax elements of input image compression information, the frame/field flag is first encoded by a frame/field flag context model. When the macroblock to be processed is subjected to frame-based encoding, a frame-based context model, specified in the current H.26L standard, is applied. On the other hand, when the macroblock to be processed is subjected to field-based encoding, a field-based context model is applied for the syntax elements described below. The present invention is applied to an encoder for encoding image information and a decoder for decoding image information.

Abstract: An audio system for a vehicle having a plurality of seat positions includes, at each seat position, first and second directional loudspeaker arrays. Each array is driven by audio signals to radiate greater acoustic energy corresponding to the audio signals to the expected position of the head of a listener at a first seat position than to an expected position of the head of the listener at a second seat position. The first and second directional loudspeaker arrays comprise different numbers of acoustic drivers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for detecting and categorizing subsurface hydrocarbon reservoirs. Air samples are collected and analyzed by counting hydrocarbon ions, such as methane ions and counting at least one higher order hydrocarbon ions, such as propane, pentane or hexane. The methane ions and at least one higher order hydrocarbon ions are associated with location co-ordinates to form a first raw data set and second raw data set. The first and second raw data sets are analyzed and processed to produce hydrocarbon footprints. The hydrocarbon footprints are superpositioned with other available geological information and subsurface formations of interest are identified.

Abstract: The invention discloses an apparatus (40) comprising: a setting section (1) surrounded by a first sleeve (2), said first sleeve being expandable and impermeable to a material; an inflating means (1a, 3a) for inflating said first sleeve, said inflating means ensuring that the first sleeve can be in contact with a first zone (60a) of a tube (10) which is permeable to said material, so that said first zone of said tube becomes impermeable to said material; and further comprising a second sleeve portion (4) partially permeable to said material on a second zone (60A?) and attached to said first sleeve so that: a path (2a) is provided between said first sleeve and said second sleeve portion and so that, when the first sleeve is inflated the second zone can be in contact with said tube allowing the material to flow in the path and through the second zone. Also, the invention discloses the associated method for treatment of a near zone and/or a far zone of a well with the disclosed apparatus.

Abstract: An intravascular ultrasound catheter system is provided and enables a simplified, economical technique for ultrasound visualization of a blood vessel. The catheter may include a park ablation system for crossing chronic total occlusions and severe stenoses. The catheter is advanceable and is oriented entirely under manual control of the clinician and the application of radiofrequency energy for spark erosion of the stenosis also is controlled manually by the clinician. The system enables the clinician to observe an ultrasound image sufficiently to determine where to orient the ablation electrode so as to reduce the risk of dissection or perforation of the blood vessel. The ultrasound image is generated in response to manual rotation of the catheter and the ablation spark is generated only when the physician is satisfied as to the orientation of the electrode within the vessel.

Abstract: A method, information processing system, and computer program storage product link information associated with a virtual world with information associated with a social collaboration platform. A virtual world user identifier and a social collaboration platform user identifier are stored. The virtual world identifier is associated with a set of virtual world contacts for the respective user. The social collaboration platform user identifier is associated with a set of social collaboration contacts for the user. The virtual world user identifier is linked to the social collaboration platform user identifier. An association is determined between at least one of the set of social collaboration contacts and the virtual world identifier set of virtual world contacts and the social collaboration platform user identifier, respectively, for the respective user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polycarbonate resin composition (X) which includes a polycarbonate resin (A) and an aromatic polycarbonate resin (B), the polycarbonate resin (A) including a constitutional unit derived from a dihydroxy compound (a) having, as part of the structure thereof, a site represented by the following formula (1) and a constitutional unit derived from a dihydroxy compound (b) of an aliphatic hydrocarbon, wherein the proportion of the constitutional unit derived from the dihydroxy compound (b) of an aliphatic hydrocarbon based on all constitutional units each derived from a dihydroxy compound in the polycarbonate resin (A) is 45% by mole or more. (The case where the site represented by the formula (1) is part of —CH2—O—H is omitted.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for achieving context-sensitive confidentiality within a federated environment for which content is aggregated in a distributed Web portal (or similar aggregation framework), ensuring that message portions that should be confidential are confidential to all entities in the federated environment except those entities to which the message portions may properly be divulged. The federation may comprise an arbitrary number of autonomous security domains, and these security domains may have independent trust models and authentication services. Using the disclosed techniques, messages can be routed securely within a cross-domain federation (irrespective of routing paths), thereby ensuring that confidential information is not exposed to unintended third parties and that critical information is not tampered with while in transit between security domains. Preferred embodiments leverage Web services techniques and a number of industry standards.

Abstract: Useful information is acquired from a community of individuals by way of a game that rewards participants with social information about other participants. Points can be awarded to participants simply for participation and/or as a function of game performance. Such points can subsequently be exchanged to reveal information about game partners or other community members. Among other things, such a reward system can motivate individuals to perform tasks that might not otherwise be compelling and/or enjoyable.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor is provided which comprises a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer formed thereover, wherein the photosensitive layer contains at least a polyarylate resin having a repeating structure represented by the following formula [1] and a compound represented by the following formula [6]. This photoreceptor has excellent abrasion resistance under practical load, has high mechanical strength, and further has highly excellent electrical properties.

Abstract: The invention relates to the identification and selection of novel biomarkers and the identification and selection of novel biomarker combinations which are differentially expressed in individuals with mild osteoarthritis as compared with individuals without osteoarthritis. Polynucleotides and proteins which specifically and/or selectively hybridize to the products of the biomarkers of the invention are also encompassed within the scope of the invention as are kits containing said polynucleotides and proteins for use in diagnosing mild osteoarthritis. Further encompassed by the invention is the use of the polynucleotides and proteins which specifically and/or selectively hybridize to the product of the biomarkers of the invention to monitor disease regression in an individual and to monitor the efficacy of therapeutic regimens. The invention also provides for methods of using the products of the biomarkers of the invention in the identification of novel therapeutic targets for osteoarthritis.

Abstract: A fluidized bed gasification system is provided in which bed material and raw material are passed throughout a fluidized bed gasification furnace so that raw material is gasified with higher gasification efficiency to improve gasification productivity. A heat-resistant partition 32 for regulation of bed material flow is arranged between positions I and II of a downcomer 12 of a separator 8 and of a supply flow passage 25 in plane of a fluidized bed gasification furnace 2. As a result, the bed material introduced via the downcomer 12 is directed to a supply flow passage 25 through a circuitous flow passage 33 throughout the fluidized bed gasification furnace 2 defined by the heat-resistant partition 32.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte includes: a nonaqueous solvent; an electrolyte salt; a hydrocarbon compound having a nitrile group; and at least one of a heteropolyacid and a heteropolyacid compound.

Abstract: A first device may receive a signal from a sensor coupled to the first device, determine whether the first device is tapped one or more times against a second device, send a message to the second device when it is determined that the first device has been tapped one or more times against the second device, determine if the one or more taps are valid user input based on a response from the second device, and perform an application specific action when the one or more taps are valid user input.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a new audio coding system that can code both general audio and speech signals well at low bit rates. A proposed audio coding system comprises linear prediction unit for filtering an input signal based on an adaptive filter; a transformation unit for transforming a frame of the filtered input signal into a transform domain; and a quantization unit for quantizing the transform domain signal. The quantization unit decides, based on input signal characteristics, to encode the transform domain signal with a model-based quantizer or a non-model-based quantizer. Preferably, the decision is based on the frame size applied by the transformation unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a personal care product includes a housing, a first panel disposed inside the housing and including a plurality of receptacles, and a first key that is sized to be interchangeably received in each of the receptacles. The apparatus further includes a container sized and shaped to be secured in a particular orientation within the housing, and having a surface that faces the panel when the container is secured in the particular orientation within the housing. A first depression is formed in the container surface to complement with specificity the first key's exterior shape and positioned to pair with the key when the container is secured in the particular orientation within the housing and the key is received in one of the receptacles.