Abstract: After resetting the potential VPD of the photodiode (11) to the predetermined potential VRST, light is incident onto the photodiode (11) for a predetermined period to decrease the VPD corresponding to the amount of the incident light. After that, a declivous ramp voltage VRAMP is applied to the source terminal of the first MOS transistor (12) which is a common-source amplifier for reading out the VPD. When the voltage difference between the gate and source of the MOS transistor (12) exceeds a threshold voltage, the MOS transistor is turned on and the output suddenly decreases. If a signal having a pulse width from the starting point of the sweep of the ramp voltage to the sudden lowering point of the output is generated, the pulse width depends on the amount of the incident light. With the signal readout of this PWM method, it is possible to lower the power consumption while a wide dynamic range is maintained, and to downsize the picture cells to achieve a higher number of picture cells.

Abstract: The core metal of a protein such as ferritin is used as a nucleus for crystallizing a silicone thin film and then the thus crystallized film is employed in the channel part of a thin-film transistor. By aligning the protein on the surface of amorphous silicone and heating, the crystallinity is controlled. In the case of ferritin, the core diameter of the protein is 7 mm. That is, this protein is highly even in size (i.e., the metal content). Thus, the amount of the protein to be deposited on the amorphous silicone surface can be accurately controlled by controlling the protein core density. Furthermore, the type of the core metal can be altered by chemical reactions and the above method is applicable not only to amorphous silicone but also to amorphous films of various types such as germanium. Thus, the amount of nickel required in crystallization is controlled by using a protein. Moreover, the distribution density of the nickel core is controlled to thereby conduct crystallization at a desired crystal size.

Abstract: Providing a remote control technique capable of realizing the achievement of constraints and the certain following of a target value even with a network in which delay, loss, distortion, or the like may occur. In a remote control system, an area setting unit of a client-side control unit sets at least two areas representative of a group of states of an target object, which changes over time by feedback control. A state-evaluation information sending unit sends, to the host-side control unit, state evaluation information obtained by evaluating the state of the target object based on the area set by the area setting unit. A target value setting unit of the host-side control unit sets a target value such that the state of the target object changes in the area set by the area setting units. Moreover, a target value updating unit updates the target value based on the state evaluation information received from the client-side control unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photolabile protecting group that can be removed by light irradiation under mild conditions. More specifically, the present invention provides a method comprising protecting a reactive functional group (e.g., a hydroxyl group, amino group, carboxyl group, carbonyl group, phosphodiester group, etc.) by the photolabile protecting group, and then removing the photolabile protecting group simply by light irradiation under neutral conditions. The present invention relates to a compound represented by Formula (3): wherein Ar1 is an optionally substituted aromatic or heteroaromatic ring, Ar2 is an optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl group, X is a leaving group, and n is an integer of 1 or 2; and a method of protecting and deprotecting an amino group etc. using the compound.

Abstract: Provided are a signal separating apparatus and a signal separating method capable of solving the permutation problem and separating user speech to be extracted. The signal separating apparatus separates a specific speech signal and a noise signal from a received sound signal. First, a joint probability density distribution estimation unit of a permutation solving unit calculates joint probability density distributions of the respective separated signals. Then, a classifying determination unit of the permutation solving unit determines classifying based on shapes of the calculated joint probability density distributions.

Abstract: The present invention has been created to provide a near infrared high emission rare-earth complex having an excellent light-emitting property in the near infrared region. The near infrared high emission rare-earth complex of the present invention is characterized in that its structure is expressed by the following general formula (1): where Ln(III) represents a trivalent rare-earth ion; n is an integer equal to or greater than three; Xs represent either the same member or different members selected from a hydrogen atom, a deuterium atom, halogen atoms, C1-C20 groups, hydroxyl groups, nitro groups, amino groups, sulfonyl groups, cyano groups, silyl groups, phosphonic groups, diazo groups and mercapto groups; and Z represents a bidentate ligand.

Abstract: A In a noise suppression apparatus, an extractor extracts a noise component from an audio signal. A stationary noise estimator estimates stationary noise included in the noise component. A first noise suppressor removes a spectrum of the stationary noise from a spectrum of the audio signal to an extent determined by a subtraction factor. A non-stationary noise estimator estimates a spectrum of non-stationary noise by subtracting the spectrum of the stationary noise from the spectrum of the noise component. A factor setter generates a filtering factor for emphasizing a target sound component contained in the audio signal from the spectrum of the non-stationary noise. A second noise suppressor performs a filtering process using the filtering factor on the audio signal after processing of the first noise suppressor.

Abstract: A solution containing a C70 cyclodextrin complex and a solution containing a lipid that is capable of forming a liposome are mixed together at a temperature in a range of 10° C. to 45° C. This produces a C70-incorporated liposome which keeps a physical property that the C70 fullerene originally has, and is stably solubilized in a polar solvent. Hence, the present invention provides a C70-incorporated liposome which keeps a physical property that the C70 fullerene originally has, and which is stably solubilized in a polar solvent, a production method of the same, and a use of the same.

Abstract: Singar is identified as a novel molecule, whose expression is varied before and after the polarization of a nerve cell, and occurs in the tip of an elongating axon, called a growth cone, which is important for the formation or elongation of an axon. Singar is expressed specifically in the brain and the amount of Singar expression is largely increased in an individual during periods where the formation of axons is increased. It is observed that Singar is highly enriched in the growth cone at the tip of an axon. When the expression of Singar is inhibited in nerve cells in culture, the formation of multiple axons is induced. Thus, the inhibition of Singar can induce axon formation. Therefore, by inhibiting the expression or activity of Singar, it becomes possible to induce or promote the formation or elongation of an axon in a nerve cell.

Abstract: An estimation device estimates a hidden state of an estimation subject from an observable state in a manner of a time series. The observable state is observed from the hidden state of the estimation subject under a procedure that has a hierarchical structure, which includes the hidden state of the estimation subject, the observable state, and an intermediate hidden state therebetween. The estimation device includes an estimation subject hidden state predicting means, an intermediate hidden state predicting means based on the state transition structure of the hidden state of the estimation subject, an intermediate hidden state likelihood observing means, an intermediate hidden state estimating means, an estimation subject hidden state likelihood observing means, estimation subject hidden state estimating means, an intermediate hidden state predicting means based on the state transition structure of the intermediate hidden state, and the mixing means.

Abstract: The transmitter of one embodiment of the present invention includes: a S/P section for converting original serial data to parallel data which will correspond to a plurality of subcarriers; and a second IFFT section for converting the parallel data from the frequency domain to the time domain. The transmitter includes, between the S/P section and the second IFFT section, a first IFFT section for modulating the plurality of subcarriers using elements of a matrix derived from an expression for Inverse Discrete Fourier Transform involving time domain signal levels and frequency domain signal levels. The configuration enables CI and PO-CI to be implemented on transmitters and receivers with a simple configuration.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, an information identification device, an information identification method, and an information identification system each of which can maintain a high security level and which can be used for a long time without any restrictions on use conditions are realized. An ID identification system includes: an ID identifying medium containing a rare-earth complex; and an ID identification device for identifying identification information corresponding to the rare-earth complex.

Abstract: A microphone is installed on a surface of the skin immediately below the mastoid of a human to implement a sound sampling method including sampling at least one of a non-audible murmur, a whisper, or an audible sound. The microphone includes a condenser microphone portion having a pair of diaphragm electrodes and a contact portion which has an acoustic impedance close to the acoustic impedance of soft tissues in a body of a speaker, which is stuck tightly to the condenser microphone portion with no intervening air space, and which conducts an input speech from a skin surface of the speaker to the condenser microphone.

Abstract: Disclosed is a protein selected from: (1) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 in the Sequence Listing; (2) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 in the Sequence Listing with the deletion, addition, insertion and/or substitution of one or more amino acid residues, and having an alkane polyol dehydrogenase activity; or (3) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence having 80% or more identity with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 in the Sequence Listing, and having an alkane polyol dehydrogenase activity. Also disclosed is a process for producing an alcohol, a ketone, an optically-active alcohol, dihydroxyacetone or a derivative thereof, using the protein.

Abstract: A porphyrin/phthalocyanine dimer represented by the following Formula (A-1) and a tetramer represented by the following Formula (A-2) (where R1, R2 and R3 may be the same or different, and each represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl or alkyloxy group; M1 and M2 may be the same or different, and each represents two protons or a bivalent or trivalent metal ion; X1 represents a single bond or an alkylene group; X represents —O—, —S—, >NR101 (where R101 represents H or alkyl group), CH2, or a single bond; Y represents 2H, ?O or ?S; m is an integer of 0 to 4; Z represents a five- or six-membered nitrogen-containing coordinating heteroaromatic ring group; provided that the multiple substituent groups represented by the same character may be the same or different.

Abstract: It is an objection of the present invention to provide a fluorescence reading apparatus in view of the influence of fluorescence derived from a fluorescence substance that is not involved with an interaction between a probe substance and a target substance.

Abstract: Each pixel cell (12) of an image sensor (10) is made of a 4-Tr structure, in which only one Tr for resetting a column (X) is so added to an ordinary 3-Tr APS as to reset only an arbitrary pixel selectively, thereby to confine the pixel size. When a pixel signal is to be read, the period, for which the pixel signals composing an ordinary image of one frame are read, is finely divided so that the pixel signals of the pixels receiving an ID light for the period are read out bit by bit and repeatedly. At this time, for only the column being read, an electric current is fed to a read amplifier in the pixel cell (12) or a variable gain amplifier in an output unit (14), thereby to suppress the power consumption. As a result, a lower power consumption and a higher pixel formation can be attained in an image pickup device for picking up an image and for acquiring the ID information of a light beacon existing in the image pickup range.

Abstract: In a system for data communication between an information terminal to be operated by a user and remote communication nodes, the present invention intends to suppress the power consumption of the information terminal. For that purpose, communication nodes 2, 3 and 4 each emit diffuse light carrying a pilot signal blinking at a low frequency to notify the presence of the communication node and an ID signal belonging to a higher frequency range, the ID signal containing inherent address etc. for identifying each communication node. A mobile phone 1 as the information terminal captures an image and processes the image data to detect the pilot signal of each communication node. Then, determining the position of each node and setting a limited range for reading the pixels around that position, the mobile phone 1 reads the detection signals of the pixels within the limited range at high speed and obtains identification information.

Abstract: A mesh (M) having an ellipsoid shape or a shape close to the ellipsoid shape is attached to an electrode (EL1) among electrodes (EL1 to ELn). Voltages of the later-stage electrodes (EL2 to ELn) are appropriately set. With this arrangement, a local negative spherical aberration generated by the mesh (M) is cancelled out with a positive spherical aberration. This optimizes an electric field distribution. As a result, this realizes an electrostatic lens whose acceptance angle is extended to about ±60°.

Abstract: After resetting the potential VPD of the photodiode (11) to the predetermined potential VRST, light is incident onto the photodiode (11) for a predetermined period to decrease the VPD corresponding to the amount of the incident light. After that, a declivous ramp voltage VRAMP is applied to the source terminal of the first MOS transistor (12) which is a common-source amplifier for reading out the VPD. When the voltage difference between the gate and source of the MOS transistor (12) exceeds a threshold voltage, the MOS transistor is turned on and the output suddenly decreases. If a signal having a pulse width from the starting point of the sweep of the ramp voltage to the sudden lowering point of the output is generated, the pulse width depends on the amount of the incident light. With the signal readout of this PWM method, it is possible to lower the power consumption while a wide dynamic range is maintained, and to downsize the picture cells to achieve a higher number of picture cells.