Abstract: To provide an interface apparatus capable of achieving noncontact and unrestricted arm pointing actions of multiple users in an indoor space, and facilitating the recognition of all typical arm pointing actions in standing, sitting, and lying postures and the operation of indoor units in the indoor space by the arm pointing actions. The interface apparatus includes: image processing means for picking up images of the interior of an indoor space 5 with a plurality of stereo cameras 1-1 to 1-n, and producing a distance image based on the picked-up images within the visual field on a camera-by-camera basis and the coordinate system of the indoor space 5; means for extracting the posture and arm pointing of a user 4 from the distance information from the stereo cameras 1-1 to 1-n; and means for determining, when the arm pointing has been identified, whether the arm pointing is an intended signal, from the direction pointed by the arm and the motion of the arm.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and method for integrity monitoring of tubular components and, in particular, pipe walls. The apparatus comprises a configuration of permanent magnets arranged to rotate circumferentially within the pipe, whereby uniform low-frequency currents are generated within the pipe wall which, in turn, generate fields detectable with, for example, conventional Hall Effect sensors. The method comprises steps to rotate the apparatus within the pipeline and sense disruptions caused by anomalies in the pipe wall.

Abstract: Disclosed are a zinc oxide resistor structure, and methods of forming a glass layer and a resistor, which are required for producing the resistor structure. The zinc oxide resistor comprises zinc oxide grains and an oxide glass layer which contains bismuth and boron and intervenes between the zinc oxide grains. The oxide glass layer residing between the zinc oxide grains changes the electric properties between the grains to achieve a higher resistance and a non-ohmic characteristic of a voltage-dependent resistance value in the resistor. This non-ohmic characteristic can be applied, particularly, to a non-ohmic device to be compatible with a low-voltage operation. Differently from conventional resistors, the oxide glass layer intervening between the zinc oxide grains can achieve an enhanced mechanical strength of a junction in the device.

Abstract: The invention provides BTK inhibitors, methods for their identification and use, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising BTK inhibitors, including allergy treatments.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods for modulating the differentiation and/or proliferation of mammary cells, especially of mammary epithelial cells, or for modulating the differentiation and/or proliferation of the lobuloalveolar system, or for modulating mammopoiesis and/or lactogenesis, or for modulating tumorigenesis in a cell which is associated with the reproductive system of a mammal by modulating the expression of a gene or the level and/or functional activity of an expression product of the gene, wherein the gene is selected from SOCS-1 or a gene belonging to the same regulatory or biosynthetic pathway as SOCS-1.

Abstract: A microorganism of the genus Rhodococcus is provided which has a higher sensitivity to lysozyme at a low concentration than a wild-type strain, which can easily cause cell lysis, and from which a recombinant protein expressed therein is easily recovered. More specifically, a mutant microorganism of the genus Rhodococcus having a higher sensitivity to lysozyme than a wild-type microorganism of the genus Rhodococcus.

Abstract: A reconfigurable haptic interface includes at least one pod adapted to be removeably mounted on one or more portions of a moveable object. The at least one pod includes at least one actuator adapted to communicate with the one or more portions of the moveable object. The system further includes a plurality of transmitter/receiver units, which are in a communication relationship with the at least one pod. The plurality of transmitter/receiver units detect and communicate relative position information of the at least one pod to a host computer. The host computer processes the relative position information of the at least one pod to control actuation of the at least one actuator located on the at least one pod.

Abstract: A system for remotely monitoring the status of one or more fire extinguishers includes means for sensing at least one parameter of each of the fire extinguishers; means for selectively transmitting the sensed parameters along with information identifying the fire extinguishers from which the parameters were sensed; and means for receiving the sensed parameters and identifying information for the fire extinguisher or extinguishers at a common location. Other systems and methods for remotely monitoring the status of multiple fire extinguishers are also provided.

Abstract: A gas separation apparatus which uses electrostatic precipitators and a DC power supply is controlled to optimally remove moderate to high resistivity ash. The DC power supply is pulse width modulated to maximize the product of the peak electric field and the average electric field. The method used to optimize operation includes selecting initial on and off times for the power supply, operating the power supply using the initial off and on times, and progressively decreasing the off time. A determination is made whether the off time may be further decreased. Ultimately, the on and off time intervals that produce the highest peak and average voltage are determined, and the system is operated using these parameters. A procedure may be periodically repeated to monitor the process and detect if there has been a change in the system that would require new time intervals.

Abstract: The RecQ4 helicase gene, belonging to the RecQ helicase gene family, is revealed herein to be the causative gene of Rothmund-Thomson syndrome. The present inventors found out that it is possible to diagnose Rothmund-Thomson syndrome by detecting mutation of this gene. Further, they uncovered that it is possible to treat patients of Rothmund-Thomson syndrome by utilizing normal RecQ4 helicase gene or proteins thereof.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes one or more microchannels providing a passageway for transmitting an electrolyte fluid. A field source provides a defined field in the one or more microchannels, wherein at least one conductor element that is placed in at least one specific location in the device. Interactions between the defined field and the at least one conductor element produce electro-osmotic flows so that the electrolyte fluid is driven across the one or more microchannels.

Abstract: A process for closing hollow-core defects, called micropipes, during growth by CVD of a SiC crystal on a SiC single crystal substrate having hollow-core defects, and a crystal obtained according to the process, by contacting the SiC crystal with a source gas adjusted to a C/Si atom ratio range in which the crystal growth rate is determined by the carbon atom supply limitation, then epitaxially growing and laminating a plurality of SiC crystal layers, wherein hollow-core defects in the SiC single crystal substrate dissociate into a plurality of dislocations given by small Burghers vector in order not to propagate to the crystal surface. In addition, the present invention provides a fabrication process of a SiC crystal, wherein a first SiC crystal is made as a buffer layer, and a further SiC crystal is layered thereon using a source gas adjusted to be higher than that of the C/Si ratio when forming the buffer layer, whereby a desired film property is conferred.

Abstract: A process for fabricating passive plastic displays, comprising the steps of: adopting a roll-to-roll coating machine for fabricating a bottom substrate having a fist patterned conducting line, fabricating a top substrate having a second patterned conducting line and an active area of polymeric liquid crystal on the surface of the top substrate by means of a roll-to-roll coating machine, and sealing the top and the bottom substrates by means of a roll-to-roll coating machine to form a plurality of display panels. Due to the continuous fabrication of the present invention with the low-cost apparatuses, applications of the plastic displays in the low-end products can be accelerated.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a system and method for treatment of oxygen rich exhaust and more specifically to a method and system that combines non-thermal plasma with a metal doped ?-alumina catalyst. Current catalyst systems for the treatment of oxygen rich exhaust are capable of achieving only approximately 7 to 12% NOx reduction as a passive system and only 25–40% reduction when a supplemental hydrocarbon reductant is injected into the exhaust stream. It has been found that treatment of an oxygen rich exhaust initially with a non-thermal plasma and followed by subsequent treatment with a metal doped ?-alumina prepared by the sol gel method is capable of increasing the NOx reduction to a level of approximately 90% in the absence of SO2 and 80% in the presence of 20 ppm of SO2. Especially useful metals have been found to be indium, gallium, and tin.

Abstract: The invention involves isolation of nucleic acid molecules, the expression of which are upregulated by interleukin-9. The amino acid sequences of the proteins which correspond to the nucleic acid molecules show some structural features of cytokines. In addition to the nucleic acid molecules and the proteins, various uses of the molecules are disclosed. The molecules are referred to as T cell inducible factors.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure including a semiconductor substrate, at least one first crystalline epitaxial layer on the substrate, the first layer having a surface which is planarized, and at least one second crystalline epitaxial layer on the at least one first layer. In another embodiment of the invention there is provided a semiconductor structure including a silicon substrate, and a GeSi graded region grown on the silicon substrate, compressive strain being incorporated in the graded region to offset the tensile strain that is incorporated during thermal processing. In yet another embodiment of the invention there is provided a semiconductor structure including a semiconductor substrate, a first layer having a graded region grown on the substrate, compressive strain being incorporated in the graded region to offset the tensile strain that is incorporated during thermal processing, the first layer having a surface which is planarized, and a second layer provided on the first layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates a time-sharing multiplexing driving method and framework for image signals. By means of a plurality of wiring paths, the turned-on orders of the signal switches of the pixel units in a liquid crystal panel (LCD) are sequentially controlled so that the pixel units of two adjacent phases in the panel can have the same turned-on order. This not only can avoid the situation where the switch control signal serial connecting path in the panel is so long that the control signal of the end switch will be seriously distorted for the excessively great load, but also make the variation amounts of the adjacent pixel data voltages the same. Therefore, the objective of the invention can be achieved. Namely, no joint space is generated during the image signal time-sharing multiplexing driving.

Abstract: Disclosed are a micromirror device made in a simple structure using interdigitated cantilevers and having two stable rotational states, and applications thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a purified or isolated polynucleotide encoding human CIDE B protein, the regulatory nucleic acids contained therein, polymorphic markers thereof, and the resulting encoded protein, as well as to methods and kits for detecting this polynucleotide and this protein. The present invention also pertains to a polynucleotide carrying the natural regulatory regions of the CIDE B gene which is useful, for example, to express a heterologous nucleic acid in host cells or host organisms as well as functionally active regulatory polynucleotides derived from said regulatory regions.

Abstract: The present optically modulated scatterer comprises a substrate, an antenna positioned on the substrate, an optical switch connected to the antenna, and an optical waveguide connected to the optical switch. The antenna includes a first conductive line and a second conductive line, the optical switch electrically connects the first conductive line and the second conductive line, and the optical waveguide can transmit an optical modulating signal to the optical switch. In addition, the antenna can be a loop-shaped antenna with two free ends, and the optical switch electrically connects the two free ends. The optically modulated scatter array of the present invention comprises a first substrate and a plurality of optically modulated scatterers positioned on the surface of the first substrate in a one-dimensional or a two-dimensional array manner.