Abstract: A quantum key distribution method according to the present invention includes an error probability estimation step of estimating error probabilities of transmission data and the received data, an error correcting step of correcting errors in the received data based on error correcting information, a matching determination step of determining whether the transmission data and the received data after correcting errors match, and an information amount estimating step of estimating an amount of information leaked to an adversary through a quantum communication path, and further compresses data based on the amount of information made public in a process of processing via a public communication path and an estimated value of the amount of information leaked to the adversary through the quantum communication path to make the data after compression a cryptographic key shaped by devices.

Abstract: A system includes a containment vessel configured to prohibit a release of a coolant, and a reactor vessel mounted inside the containment vessel. An outer surface of the reactor vessel is exposed to below atmospheric pressure, wherein substantially all gases are evacuated from within the containment vessel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to stabilized silica colloidal crystals. In particular, the present invention relates to silica colloidal crystals having improved mechanical strength and durability. The present invention also relates to methods of making stabilized silica colloidal crystals by direct bonding between nanoparticles or between a polymer and nanoparticles through a siloxane bond.

Abstract: An optical device that includes 1) a gain section having a plurality of core regions including dopant species configured to absorb incident radiation at a first wavelength and emit radiation at a second wavelength, and 2) at least one passive section attached to the gain section. The gain section and the at least one passive section comprise an optical cavity which selectively promotes in-phase light emission from the optical cavity. An alternative optical device which includes a gain section having a plurality of core regions including dopant species configured to absorb incident radiation at a first wavelength and emit radiation at a second wavelength, and 2) two passive sections attached to the gain section at opposite ends.

Abstract: A spatio-temporal noise removal method using block classification that removes noise from a third field by using first, second, and third fields which are continuously inputted. The method includes generating first, second, and third motion-compensated fields; classifying blocks of the third field into a uniform region and a non-uniform region based on a variance value of a generated difference image; performing temporal filtering over every block of the third field; performing spatio-temporal filtering over every block of the first and third motion-compensated fields and the third field and performing the temporal filtering over the every block of the third field based on spatially-filtered value; and outputting a third noise-removed field by applying a weighted value to the temporal-filtered value and the spatio-temporal-filtered value.

Abstract: An intelligent foot of a humanoid robot, which enables the robot to safely walk in balance even on the irregular ground, is disclosed. The walking robot's foot includes a backpart unit with a leg which is rotatably installed at the center thereof, and a forepart unit which is rotatably connected to the front of the backpart unit by a foot part connector, wherein 6-axis force/moment sensors are installed on the bottom of the backpart unit and the bottom of the forepart unit, respectively. Further, walking robot's foot includes a backpart unit with a leg which is rotatably installed at the center thereof, and at least two toes which are rotatably connected to the front of the backpart unit by foot part connectors, wherein a 6-axis force/moment sensor is installed on the bottom of the backpart unit, and short shaft sensors are installed on the bottom of the toes.

Abstract: To transfer signal charges generated by a semiconductor photoelectric conversion element in opposite directions, the center line of a first transfer gate electrode and that of a second transfer gate electrodes are arranged on the same straight line, and a U-shaped first exhausting gate electrode and a second exhausting gate electrode are arranged to oppose to each other. The first exhausting gate electrode exhausts background charges generated by a background light in the charge generation region, and the second exhausting gate electrode exhausts background charges generated by the background light in the charge generation region. The background charges exhausted by the first exhausting gate electrode are received by a first exhausting drain region and the background charges exhausted by the second exhausting gate electrode are received by a first exhausting drain region.

Abstract: A biosensor system includes a functionalized interdigitated electrode, functionalized nanoparticles, a current/voltage signal generator, and a circuit analyzer. The interdigitated electrode can be functionalized by coating an exposed surface with first biomolecular probes. The nanoparticles are functionalized by coating an outer surface with second biomolecular probes. A signal generator provides a signal (e.g., an alternating current or voltage) having a selected range of frequencies. A circuit analyzer analyzes electrical parameters of the circuit as the signal is applied. Sensitivity is increased by the presence of functionalized nanoparticles in the system. An analytic method includes measuring changes in electrical parameters of the circuit over the range of frequencies. Using these measurements, the biosensor system can determine whether a target biomolecule is bound.

Abstract: A semiconductor range-finding element and a solid-state imaging device, which can provide a smaller dark current and a removal of reset noise. With n-type buried charge-generation region, buried charge-transfer regions, buried charge read-out regions buried in a surface of p-type semiconductor layer, an insulating film covering these regions, transfer gate electrodes arranged on the insulating film for transferring the signal charges to the buried charge-transfer regions, read-out gate electrodes arranged on the insulating film for transferring the signal charges to the buried charge read-out regions, after receiving a light pulse by the buried charge-generation region, in the semiconductor layer just under the buried charge-generation region, an optical signal is converted into signal charges, and a distance from a target sample is determined by a distribution ratio of the signal charges accumulated in the buried charge-transfer regions.

Abstract: A flame retardant resin treated article that excels in flame retardancy and is free from bleedout. A resin composition comprising a flame retarder of metal phosphinate represented by the general formula: (I) (in the formula, each of R1 and R2 is a C1-C6 alkyl or an aryl group having 12 or less carbon atoms; M is calcium, aluminum or zinc; and when M=aluminum, m=3, and otherwise m=2), a reactive organophosphorus flame retarder having an unsaturated group at its terminal and a resin wherein the total content of metal phosphinate and reactive organophosphorus flame retarder is in the range of 5 to 30 mass % is provided in molded form or coating form.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method for tuning nano-scale analog-circuit designs in order to reduce random-device mismatches and optimize said design, where nano-scale devices potentially have large-scale process variations. The method includes providing a tunable circuit topology, wherein each nano-scale device comprises a single component or comprises multiple parallel components. Each component is decomposed into multiple discrete sub-components, wherein each said sub-component either operates in parallel with other like components to effectively operate like one bigger component. The sub-components are subjected to a dynamic-programming process to adaptively select the sub-components to be kept operational, while configuring the nonselected sub-components to be nonoperational, based on the measurement of at least one operational parameter.

Abstract: A method for growing a nitride thin film on a sapphire substrate, in which using no resists, miniaturization can be accomplished while relieving vexatious complication of the process; and a relevant device using nitride thin film. There is provided a method for growing a nitride thin film on a sapphire substrate, comprising irradiating a sapphire substrate having undergone high temperature hydrogen treatment with electron beams and depositing a nitride thin film on the substrate having undergone the electron beam irradiation by using the metal-organic chemical vapor deposition technique to thereby accomplish patterning of nitride thin film.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nucleotide sequence detection system in which a reporter enzyme is split into two halves each half of which is associated with at least one zinc finger domain. Upon DNA binding to the specific sequence defined by the zinc finger domains associated with the respective halves, the split-protein reassembles to reconstitute a functional enzyme. As such, the present invention provides methods of using the nucleotide sequence detection system for various diagnostic and identification purposes.

Abstract: An operation assist apparatus including: an assist controller that assists a driver of a vehicle in operating the vehicle before a stop point; and a watching action detector that detects a watching action of the driver for watching the stop point. The assist controller changes an assist manner in which to assist the vehicle operation by the driver in accordance with whether the watching action is detected by the watching action detector during deceleration of the vehicle. Thus configured, the operation assist apparatus can accurately determine whether the driver will stop the vehicle at the stop point and thus can perform the vehicle operation assist appropriately.

Abstract: A polymer coated nanoparticle containing a metallic core and a polymer shell encapsulating said metallic core is useful, for example, in magnetic tapes and supercapacitors.

Abstract: A gamma-ray or X-ray detection device including a scintillator configured to convert gamma rays or X-rays into optical radiation, an optical image intensifier configured to intensify the optical radiation to generate intensified optical radiation, an optical coupling system configured to guide the intensified optical radiation, and a solid state detector configured to detect the intensified optical radiation to generate an interaction image representing a gamma-ray or X-ray energy emission.

Abstract: Disclosed is a flame-retardant resin processed article having excellent flame retardance while being free from bleed-out. Specifically, a resin composition containing a cyclic phosphorus compound flame retardant, a hydrophilic silica powder having an average particle diameter of not more than 15 m, and a resin with the total content of the cyclic phosphorus compound and the hydrophilic silica powder being 10-45% by mass is molded into a certain shape or formed into a coating film. The hydrophilic silica powder is preferably composed of porous structures having a pore volume of not more than 1.8 ml/g and a pH of 4-7. More preferably, the hydrophilic silica powder has an oil absorption of not less than 50 ml/100 g in accordance with JIS K5101.

Abstract: There is provided a low-vision aid device, including a scene-display imager producing a signal pattern composed of an array of pixels, a near IR illuminator for illuminating the retina of the eye with radiation for eye tracking, to be reflected from the retina of the eye, an eye-retina tracking imager, and an image transceiver device capable of providing both functions of eye imaging as well as image display by selectively rotating the polarization of individual pixels of the array of pixels of the signal pattern, to allow the transference of selected portions of the signal pattern to reach the retina of the eye.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of inhibiting cadherins between Schlemm's canal cells, to a patient suffering from glaucoma as well as screening for substances that inhibit cadherins between the Schlemm's canal cells.

Abstract: The invention is based on the recognition that known antimicrobial compounds, such as nisin or other lantibiotics, can be made to form a long lasting antimicrobial surface coating by linking the peptide with a block polymer, such as PLURONIC® F108 or an end group activated polymer (EGAP) in a manner to form a flexible tether and/or entrap the peptide. The entrapped peptide provides antimicrobial action by early release from entrapment while the tethered peptide provides longer lasting antimicrobial protection. Antimicrobial gels and foams may be prepared using the antimicrobial peptide containing block copolymers.