Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing spiral polymers controlled in the direction of spiral winding easily from inexpensive general-purpose polymers; and spiral polymers controlled in the direction of spiral winding. The invention relates to a process for the production of syndiotactic polymethacrylate- or polyacrylate-type spiral polymers controlled in the direction of spiral winding which comprises dissolving a syndiotactic polymethacrylate- or polyacrylate-type polymer and a chiral compound in a solvent preferably under heating, subjecting the obtained solution to cooling or concentration to form a solid matter, and separating the solid matter; and so on.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protein composition which upon ingestion by a healthy person with a normal fasting insulin level between 3.0-8.0 ?U/L increases the insulin level to at most 20.0 ?U/L. The invention may be in the shape of a powder, capsules, pellets, tablets, effervescent tablets or food products comprising said protein composition.

Abstract: The invention provides fluidic devices having incorporated electrodes, systems for using such devices, and methods for manufacturing such devices. The invention also provides fluidic devices configured to absorb joule heating within the device.

Abstract: We disclose a particle comprising a matrix coated thereon and having a positive charge, the particle being of a size to allow aggregation of primate or human stem cells attached thereto. The particle may comprise a substantially elongate, cylindrical or rod shaped particle having a longest dimension of between 50 ?m and 400 ?m, such as about 200 ?m. It may have a cross sectional dimension of between 20 ?m and 30 ?m. The particle may comprise a substantially compact or spherical shaped particle having a size of between about 20 ?m and about 120 ?m, for example about 65 ?m. We also disclose a method of propagating primate or human stem cells, the method comprising: providing first and second primate or human stem cells attached to first and second respective particles, allowing the first primate or human stem cell to contact the second primate or human stem cell to form an aggregate of cells and culturing the aggregate to propagate the primate or human stem cells for at least one passage.

Abstract: Disclosed are an austenitic stainless steel, and a hydrogenation method thereof, in which occurrence of fatigue cracks and growth of fatigue cracks are suppressed by charging the austenitic stainless steel with hydrogen. In particular, focusing on the amount of diffusible hydrogen and non-diffusible hydrogen, which cause hydrogen embrittlement in austenitic stainless steel, the fatigue strength characteristics of austenitic stainless steel are improved by bringing the amount of diffusible hydrogen and non-diffusible hydrogen contained in the austenitic stainless steel to 0.0030 wt % (30 wt ppm) or higher. The austenitic stainless steel is subjected to a thermal treatment at a heating temperature of 200 to 500° C. for up to 460 hours in a hydrogen environment. The hydrogen (H) contained in the austenitic stainless steel is brought thereby to 0.0030 wt % (30 wt ppm) or higher.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method and apparatus for improving video quality. The present invention provides a unified loop filter including: a pixel determining unit which determines the type of a pixel based on boundary strength; a similarity transforming unit which transforms a nonlinear filter into a nonlinear similarity-ordered statistics filter; and an integrating unit which integrates the nonlinear similarity-ordered statistics filter with a linear image filtering portion. The unified loop filter is applicable to filter reconstructed frames when an encoder or a decoder is processing a video signal.

Abstract: A film sheet for area-focusing of sunlight and a greenhouse provided with the same are provided. A film sheet includes i) a film having a rectangular shape, and ii) a plurality of prism assemblies formed on one surface of the film to extend in one direction. At least one prism assembly of the plurality of prism assemblies includes i) at least one first prism unit including a plurality of first prisms with slanted angles that are substantially the same as each other, and ii) at least one second prism unit neighboring the first prism unit and including a plurality of second prisms with slanted angles that are substantially the same as each other. The width of the first prism unit is substantially the same as the width of the second prism unit and a slanted angle of one first prism among the plurality of first prisms is different from a slanted angle of one second prism among the plurality of second prisms, and light entering the prism assembly is configured to be area-focused.

Abstract: The invention provides nematode-resistant transgenic plants and seed comprising polynucleotides encoding Medicago truncatula cysteine cluster proteins which comprise no more than four cysteine residues in the respective mature peptides. The invention also provides methods of producing transgenic plants with increased resistance to soybean cyst nematode and expression vectors for use in such methods.

Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for determining illumination information in an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of identifying depth information in the image, identifying spatio-spectral information for the image, as a function of the depth information and utilizing the spatio-spectral information to identify illumination flux in the image.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for fabrication of a patterned micro-architectural array by directional photo-fluidization of a polymer, which includes a process for formation of a micro-architectural array, the method comprising preparing a micro-fluidic device by bonding a rubber mold having a micro-pattern to a substrate, introducing a polymer solution to the micro-fluidic device, drying the polymer to form a polymer line array corresponding to a pattern of a micro-fluidic tube, inducing directional photo-fluidization by light radiation to control shape and size of the micro-architectural array, and applying metal to the polymer array having controlled structure by directional photo-fluidization then selectively removing the polymer, in order to transfer the shape of the polymer onto the micro-architectural array.

Abstract: An autofocus and motion control apparatus is provided. According to one embodiment, the autofocus and motion control apparatus comprises a lens control apparatus having an imaging lens unit and a lens holder and a plurality of actuators configured to move the lens holder in predetermined directions within the lens control apparatus. Embodiments of the lens control apparatus include a casing; an imaging lens unit and lens holder movable within the casing along an optical axis, the imaging lens unit and lens holder further pivotable within the casing, an autofocus actuator is configured to move the imaging lens unit and lens holder within the casing along the optical axis; a first lateral actuator is configured to provide a force to pivot the lens holder in a first direction; and a second lateral actuator is configured to provide a force to pivot the lens holder in a second direction.

Abstract: The present invention discloses novel compounds of the Formula (1), containing thiophene moieties and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, methods for preparing these compounds, the use of these compounds in prevention and treatment of fungal infections, and pharmaceutical preparations containing these novel compounds.

Abstract: An optical transmission and reception control apparatus is provided. The present invention relates to an optical transmission and reception control apparatus for enabling smooth optical transmission and reception when a photo diode and/or a laser diode fail. The apparatus includes a plurality of laser diodes, a laser driver, a first switching unit, a plurality of photo diodes, an optical power amplifier, a second switching unit, an optical power detection module, and a control module.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a multi-dimensional histogram method using a minimal data-skew cover in a space-partitioning tree, which is used to estimate the selectivity of queries, that is, the sizes of query results, and a recording medium storing a program for executing the multi-dimensional histogram method. In the multi-dimensional histogram method, a Database (DB) system receives information required to generate a histogram from an outside of the DB system, and then constructs a space-partitioning tree based on the information required to generate a histogram. The DB system constructs a multi-dimensional histogram based on a minimal data-skew cover in the space-partitioning tree. When the DB system receives a query from the outside, the DB system calculates the estimate of the selectivity for the query by using the multi-dimensional histogram. Further, the present disclosure includes a recording medium storing a program for executing the multi-dimensional histogram method.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and concerns a method for enhancing various economically important yield-related traits in plants. More specifically, the present invention concerns a method for enhancing yield-related traits in plants by modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a bHLH9 (basic-Helix-Loop-Helix group 9) polypeptide. The present invention also concerns plants having modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding a bHLH9 polypeptide, which plants have enhanced yield-related traits relative to control plants. The invention also provides hither-to unknown BHLH9-encoding nucleic acids and constructs comprising the same, useful in performing the methods of the invention. Furthermore, the present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and concerns a method for improving various plant growth characteristics by modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding an IMB1 (Imbibition-inducible 1) polypeptide.

Abstract: The invention is related to salts of anti-viral compounds, compositions containing such salts, and therapeutic methods that include the administration of such salts, as well as to processes and intermediates useful for preparing such salts.

Abstract: Provided are a method of manufacturing a cathode active material for a lithium battery, and a cathode active material obtained by the method. The method includes forming a precursor of a one-dimensional nanocluster manganese dioxide with a chestnut-type morphology, inserting lithium into the formed precursor and synthesizing a one-dimensional nanocluster cathode active material particle with a chestnut morphology, coating a water-soluble polymer on a surface of the cathode active material particle, adsorbing a metal ion to the surface of the cathode active material particle coated with the water-soluble polymer, and sintering the cathode active material particle to obtain the one-dimensional nanocluster cathode active material with a chestnut morphology.

Abstract: 3,4-diarylpyrazole derivatives of formula (I) as defined in the specification, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, process for their preparation and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them are disclosed; the compounds of the invention may be useful, in therapy, in the treatment of diseases associated with a disregulated protein kinase activity, like cancer.

Abstract: Prophylactic treatment methods are provided for protection of individuals and/or populations against infection from airborne pathogens. In particular, prophylactic treatment methods are provided comprising administering a sodium channel blocker or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof to one or more members of a population at risk of exposure to or already exposed to one or more airborne pathogens, either from natural sources or from intentional release of pathogens into the environment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for applying a crack resistant coating on a surface, where the crack resistant coating increases resistance to high vertical and horizontal movements and high shear stresses on the surface. The method comprises the steps of applying a binding material to the surface and applying an aggregate mixture within 15 seconds of applying the binding material to the surface, where the aggregate mixture comprises aggregate particles and an asphalt solution and where the aggregate mixture has a plurality of air voids, and where the binding material fills at least 15% of the air voids in the aggregate mixture (AVFA).