Abstract: Cells i corresponding to pixels are initialized into a non-excitation state, to calculate coupling weights Wik between the eight cells k adjacent to the cells i, thereby determining leader cells pi=1 based on calculation results. Next, one leader cell yet to be excited is selected as a self-excitable cell. The selected cell is put into the excitation state, the excitable cells are selected based on the coupling weights between the adjacent cells, and the selected cells are put into the excitation state. These operations are repeated until no excitable cell is detected any more and, if there no excitable cell is detected any more, inhibition processing is performed, thereby completing image segmentation of one region. These operations are repeated until there is no non-excited and non-inhibited leader cell any more, thereby pinpointing regions belonging to the same category from an input image and identifying them as an image segmentation regions.

Abstract: A plurality of reference words based on a second distance index that allows coding of a first distance index are registered in an associative memory core in advance. In a first pipeline stage, a retrieved word having a predetermined number of bits is extracted from input data in a predetermined clock cycle, and the retrieved word is coded with the second distance index and output to the core. In a second pipeline stage, the core searches for a reference word inhabiting the largest similarity with respect to the retrieved word (winner) obtained in the previous clock cycle. In a third pipeline stage, the core output result in the previous clock cycle is analyzed, one winner is determined on the basis of a specific priority, and an address indicating the location of the winner and the distance between the input data and the winner are coded and output.

Abstract: The present invention provides an agent containing RGD-CAP for of suppressing mineralization of the periodontal ligament and preventing the adhesion of teeth. The present invention provides the method of suppressing mineralization in the periodontal ligament and preventing the adhesion of teeth.

Abstract: A self-adjusting winner lineup amplifier comprising signal control sections which level-control comparison signals (Ci) from word weighted comparators of a memory area, a self-adjusting distance amplifying section corresponding to the respective rows in the memory area which outputs the level-controlled comparison signals (Ci) as distance amplified signals (LAi), a feedback generating section which inputs a self-adjusting voltage (Fa) common to the distance amplifying sections, and a voltage follower which converts its input voltage (min{Ci}; a minimum value of Ci) into a feedback voltage (F) to supply the feedback voltage (F) in parallel and with strong driving current to the signal control sections, wherein amplification characteristics of the distance amplifying section are self-adjusted by a comparison signal (Cwin) of a winner row, and the signal control sections lead the comparison signal (Cwin) into the range of a maximum gain area of the distance amplifying section.

Abstract: The conventional multi-port cache memory, which is formed by using multi-port cells, is excellent in its operating speed. However, the integration area of the constituent multi-port cells is increased in proportion to the square of the number of ports. Thus, if it is intended to decrease the cache miss probability by increasing the storage capacity, the chip size is increased correspondingly, which increases the manufacturing cost. On the other hand, the multi-port cache memory of the present invention is formed by using, as constituents, one-port cell blocks adapted for a large storage capacity, making it possible to easily provide a multi-port cache memory of a large storage capacity and reduced integration area, which has a large random access bandwidth, is capable of parallel access from a plurality of ports, and is adapted for use in advanced microprocessors having a small cache miss probability.

Abstract: (1) Transgenic medaka fish into which a polynucleotide having the nucleotide sequence from 211 to 1935 position represented by Sequence ID No: 1 is introduced, (2) A method of producing medaka fish having one or more thrombi, comprising the step of raising the transgenic medaka fish described in (1) in the presence of estrogen, (3) Medaka fish having one or more thrombi produced by the method described in (2), and (4) A method of testing an estrogen-like acting substance, comprising the steps of raising the transgenic medaka fish described in (1) in test water, and observing whether or not one or more thrombi are formed in the medaka fish after the raising step.

Abstract: An associative memory composed of plural chips or a single chip which is preferably used in the fields of bandwidth compression for video images in mobile communication terminals and artificial intelligence systems. The associative memory is a small-area associative memory formed using CMOS technology with a fast parallel minimum-distance-search capability. The transistor number of the provided search circuit is only linear proportional to the number of rows of the associative memory. Therefore, the increase in the number of required circuits is small even if the unit number of the input data or the unit number of the reference data is large. With the associative memory, it is possible to realize the functions of video signal compression and object recognition necessary for artificial intelligence systems, data bank systems and mobile network terminals with a single chip or plural chips.

Abstract: A pulse modulation operation circuit includes a current bus, a plurality of switch current sources connected parallel to each other and commonly connected to the current bus for generating current pulses corresponding to external input signals, charge conversion element connected to the current bus for integrating the current pulses and converting them into a charge, and an output for converting the charge into a binary digital signal and outputting the binary digital signal. Each pulse width modulation signal is input to a corresponding one of the switch current sources, which in turn generates a constant current for a period corresponding to the width of each pulse of the signal, to convert each signal pulse into a current pulse. The thus-obtained current pulses are added on the common current bus, thereby obtaining, by capacitive integration, a total charge Q.sub.total proportional to the sum of the widths of the current pulses.

Abstract: A two-dimensional information processing apparatus comprises a plurality of unit cell circuits arranged in a tow-dimensional matrix and each including a detector for detecting information as predetermined part of two-dimensional information, a storage circuit for storing the information detected by the detector, and a signal processing circuit for generating a pulse width modulation signal which has a pulse width corresponding to the information detected or stored, a plurality of address lines extending in a direction of columns of the matrix, and each connected to those unit cell circuits which are included in a corresponding one of the columns, a plurality of bus lines extending in a direction of rows of the matrix, and each connected to those unit cell circuits which are included in a corresponding one of the rows, means for selecting at least one of the address lines and supplying, through the selected address line, a control signal for generating a pulse width modulation signal to those unit cell circuit

Abstract: A soil sampling apparatus includes a sampling box for penetrating the ground first, and a shutter plate for subsequently penetrating the ground while engaging with the sampling box, thereby sampling soil layers located in a space surrounded by the sampling box and the shutter plate.

Abstract: When both the IABP and the PCPS are used, they exhibit an excellent circulation assisting effect. In this case, however, sequela such as hypoxic encephalopathy may well occur after the heart failure is remedied. The invention provides an intraaortic balloon catheter capable of preventing such sequela. The balloon catheter of the invention includes a catheter main body part which is to be inserted into an aorta, and a balloon section formed on an outer peripheral portion of the catheter main body, to be inserted into the aorta together with the main body, and to be expandable and contractible in the aorta under the control of the IABP. An end portion of the catheter main body functions as an introductory portion of the catheter, and has a blood feed hole formed therein for introducing, into an artery such as the aortic arch, arterial blood of high oxygen concentration fed from a circulation assisting unit such as the PCPS.

Abstract: The invention provides a pulse width modulation operation circuit for processing an m-bit pulse width modulation signal which is represented by a number n of sub pulse width modulation signals, where n is a divisor of m, characterized by comprising at least two equivalent pulse modulation operation circuits for individually processing the number n of sub pulse width modulation signals and outputting the processing results in the form of binary digital signals, and means for adding the binary digital signals from the pulse modulation operation circuits. The pulse modulation operation circuits include current pulse generating means for generating current pulses corresponding to the sub pulse width modulation signals, a current bus for transmitting the generated current pulses, and means for integrating the current pulses and converting the integrated current pulses into charges, and means for digitizing the sum of the charges to obtain digitized data.

Abstract: A cardiopulmonary function assisting device includes a gas guide tube of which peripheral wall does not transmit gas or liquid such as blood and has a suitable rigidity and a suitable flexibility. A header is coaxially attached to an opening at the distal end of the gas guide tube. A plurality of balloons are attached to the distal end of the header. The balloons are formed of a gas permeable film and left in a blood vessel. Oxygen is supplied to the balloons through the gas guide tube, thereby expanding the balloons; oxygen is discharged from the balloons, thereby contracting the balloons. The expanding and contracting operations are repeated. As a result, when the balloons are expanded, oxygen is transmitted through the balloons and added to blood on the periphery of the balloons and the expanded balloons remove the blood away from the periphery. When the balloons are contracted, the periphery of the balloons is filled with blood.