Abstract: The invention provides novel means to inhibit the Mitogen Activated Protein Kinases (MAPKs) pathway activated by Ras/Raf complex using GILZ protein related compounds as inhibitors of Raf/Ras-mediated signal transduction. Pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds are also disclosed.

Abstract: Topically applicable skin depigmenting compositions, suited for treatment of such hyperpigmentary disorders as melasma and chloasma, contain a thus effective amount of at least one skin depigmenting active agent, for example hydroquinone or 4-hydroxyanisole, in admixture with a depigmentation-accelerating amount of adapalene (6-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-methoxyphenyl]-2-napthanoic acid), and optionally with at least one sunscreen, formulated into a topically applicable, physiologically acceptable medium therefor.

Abstract: A display device, suitable for e.g. a TV set or a monitor, comprises a housing (1) and a picture display unit, particularly a picture tube (3). The housing has a window (w) and the picture display unit, which is surrounded by the housing, has a front face (3b) which is oriented parallel to the window. In order to obtain a flush look the window is formed from a transparent wall portion (1a) of the housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a signal comprising a runlength limited (RLL) encoded binary d,k channel bitstream 3, wherein parameter d defines a minimum number and parameter k defines a maximum number of zeroes between any two ones of said bitstream 3 or vice versa, comprising a number of sections of respectively N successive RLL channel bits, called RLL rows 8-13, 45, each RLL row 8-13, 45 representing a parity-check code-word, called row parity-check code-word, in which a so-called row-based parity-check constraint for said RLL row 8-13. 45 has been realized, characterized in that K sections of respectively N successive channel bits, called column parity-check rows 21, 22, 43, 44, 46, are located at predetermined positions of a group of M RLL rows 8-13.

Abstract: A lithography system and method are used to increase throughput using multiple reticles to pattern multiple substrates that are positioned with respect to one another according to a predetermined sequence. For example, during a first exposure period a first reticle patterns a first set of substrates, during a second exposure period a second reticle patterns the first set of substrates and a second set of substrates, and during a third exposure period the first reticle patterns the second set of substrates, etc. This can continue with further pairs of substrates until all desired substrates are patterned. It is to be appreciated that after the first and second reticles are complete, third and fourth reticles can pattern the first and second, sets of substrates. As another example, other sequences can also be performed using four exposure periods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of post-processing pixels contained in a sequence of digital images. Said method comprises a step (200) of detecting pixels belonging to natural contours (20) inside an image. It also comprises a step (210) of detecting an investigation zone (21) corresponding to a coding block. It comprises a filtering decision step (220) such that a current pixel is filtered if it has not been detected as being a natural contour pixel (20) and if it belongs to an investigation zone (21) containing at least one natural contour pixel (20). Finally, the method comprises a pixel filtering step (230), of the median filtering type, for the pixels to be filtered.

Abstract: A terminal for a television broadcast system with multi-lingual closed captioning support comprises a television receiver and a decoder for decoding a closed-captioning information stream. The terminal is programmed to continuously form data elements from the embedded closed-captioning information stream, each data element being unique to a closed-caption string. The terminal is connected to a network (29) comprising a translation service server (30), and is programmed to send the data elements with a specification of a desired caption language to the translation service server, and to receive captions in the desired language.

Abstract: A computer memory arrangement comprises a first plurality of input port facilities (17-19) that are collectively coupled through a first router facility (32) to selectively feed a second plurality of memory modules (20-24). It furthermore comprises an output port facility that is fed collectively by the second plurality of memory modules (20-24). In particular, the computer memory arrangement comprises an access detection facility (36-40) for detecting simultaneous and conflicting accesses occurring through more than one of the first plurality of input port facilities (17-19) for a particular memory module, and for thereupon allowing only a single one among the simultaneous and conflicting accesses whilst generating a stall signal (65A) for signaling a mandatory stall signal (65A) to any request source pertaining to another request.

Abstract: A method of determining the relative position of a secondary station (SS) in a radio system including at least one master station (MS) and a plurality of secondary stations (SS), comprises the master station establishing a master log of the time stamp of signals transmitted by active stations and their identities and active secondary stations (SS) establishing a log of the time stamp of signals transmitted by other stations and their respective measured received quality. One of the active secondary stations forwards its log to the master station and the master station correlates the time stamps in the received log with the time stamps in the master log in order to determine the identities of the transmitters and utilises the measured signal quality indications in the received log to determine the relative position of the secondary station with respect to the locations of the transmitters identified.

Abstract: This apparatus comprises a high-frequency signal amplifier formed by a main power stage (30) which has an input for an incoming signal, an output for the amplified signal and a gain control (37). This amplifier also comprises a first comparator (49) for producing a signal that has a distortion level between the incoming signal and the amplified signal, and a differential element (45) for removing the distortion signal from the amplified signal. Moreover, for the distortion signal to be of the same level as the distortions caused by the main power stage, a secondary amplifier stage (53) is added which is inserted in a canceling loop so that the power of its output signal is constant. This loop is constituted by a measuring circuit for measuring the output power of said auxiliary amplifier stage by a comparing circuit for comparing this power to a reference value (61) and by a processing circuit (58) for influencing said gain control (37). Application: Amplifier for mobile radio telephones.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for recommending items of interest by fusing a plurality of recommendation scores from individual recommendation tools using one or more Radial Basis Function neural networks. The Radial Basis Function neural networks include N inputs and at least one output, interconnected by a plurality of hidden units in a hidden layer. A unique neural network can be used for each user, or a neural network can be shared by a plurality of users, such as a set of users having similar characteristics. A neural network training process initially trains each Radial Basis Function neural network using data from a training data set. A neural network cross-validation process selects the Radial Basis Function neural network that performs best on the cross-validation data set. A neural network program recommendation process uses the selected neural network(s) to recommend items of interest to a user.

Abstract: A steel cord for the reinforcement of thermoplastic elastomers, the steel cord including more than one strand, each strand including two or more steel filaments, at least some of said the steel filaments being provided with a zinc coating. The zinc coating has a thickness lower than two micrometer and an alloy layer zinc-steel is present between the zinc coating and the steel.

Abstract: A phase interpolation receiver for receiving angle modulated radio frequency signals. The receiver comprises mixers for down-converting the received angle modulated signal to lower frequency signals, limiters, interpolation filters, and a demodulator. The mixers down-convert the received RF signal to a low IF intermediate frequency signal. The low IF intermediate frequency signal is limited. After further down-conversion to zero IF, using quadrature mixers, the limited signal is phase interpolated. The intermediate frequency is chosen such that the limited signal comprises an unwanted signal at twice the intermediate frequency that acts as a noise spreading signal for spectrally spreading of quantization noise generated by the limiters, and the cut-off frequency of the interpolation filters is chosen such that the unwanted signal and the spread quantization noise are suppressed.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of localizing a deviant region in a turbid medium. The invention also relates to devices for carrying out such methods. Said methods can possibly be used in optical mammography where a breast of a female body is examined by means of light. Said methods produce images in which any deviations, for example tumors, can be clearly recognized. This is achieved inter alia by providing markers (10) in an image (9) of the turbid medium.

Abstract: A digital transmission system utilizing data coding at the transmitter and data decoding at the receiver, the decoding being iterative, reliability data about soft decisions being calculated for each iteration. The last iteration results in a hard decision. Soft decisions are transformed so as to normalize the mean value of the reliability data, using evolutive weighting of the soft decisions with the received data. The coding is preferably a product code concatenated with a block code such as, for example, a Reed Solomon code. Such coding is well suited to upstream transmission in an interactive satellite communication system.

Abstract: A transesophageal probe shaft has a cover which is formed by a plurality of separate layers joined by a pressure sensitive adhesive. In a preferred embodiment the cover forms the outer cover of an articulating section of the probe. The layers are chosen to be thin enough so that the stiffness of the cover does not significantly restrain the bending of the articulating section. The adhesive viscosity is chosen to enable the joined layers to be able to move relative to each other as the probe is bent, and to be able to flow to fill any small cut in the cover caused by biting through the cover.

Abstract: The invention proposes a mechanism for retransmitting packets which comprises a step for checking at the transmitter whether the retransmitted packet will be received by the receiver in time to be processed. To this end, the receiver sends in its retransmission request the processing time indication of the packet being processed at the receiver when the request is transmitted. At the transmitter end, this processing time indication is compared with the processing time indication of the packet to be retransmitted so as to authorize or block its retransmission.

Abstract: The electric lamp comprises a lamp vessel (1) having an end portion (3) which is surrounded by a shell portion (22) of a lamp cap (20) having screw thread. The end portion (3) has transversal indents (6). A plastic coupling member (30) having arms (33) bearing a cam (31) on their inner surface (34) and being undulated at their outer surface (35) is present in the lamp cap (20). The cams (31) are located in a respective indent (6). The shell portion (22) of the lamp cap (20) is screwed onto the coupling member (30). In the electric lamp, the lamp cap (20) is fitted to the lamp vessel (1) by assembling. The current conductors (7, 8) too may be connected to the contacts (21) of the lamp cap (20) by assembling, thus avoiding time and energy-consuming thermal processes.

Abstract: A flux for hot dip galvanization comprises from 60 to 80 wt % of zinc chloride (ZnCl2); 7 to 20 wt % of ammonium chloride (NH4Cl); 2 to 20 wt % of a fluidity modifying agent comprising at least one alkali or alkaline earth metal; 0.1 to 5 wt % of at least one of the following compounds: NiCl2, CoCl2, MnCl2 and 0.1 to 1.5 wt % of at least one of the following compounds: PbCl2, SnCl2, BiCl3 and SbCl3.

Abstract: A highly accurate technique for recognizing spoken digit strings is described. A spoken digit string is received and analyzed by a speech recognizer, which generates a list of hypothesized digit strings arranged in ranked order based on a likelihood of matching the spoken digit string. The individual hypothesized strings are then analyzed in order beginning with the hypothesized string having the greatest likelihood of matching the spoken string to determine whether they satisfy a given constraint. The first hypothesized string in the list satisfying the constraint is selected as the recognized string.