Abstract: The present invention discloses a surgical guiding and positioning system, comprising: a global information device, a local information device, and a computing device. The global information device is capable of collecting an overall information of a surgical site before a surgical procedure begins. The local information device can comprise a surgical device including at least one sensor and provide a real-time information of a section of the surgical site. The computing device is capable of calculating a position data of the surgical device in the surgical site by comparing the overall information and the real-time information. Therefore, the present invention is capable of providing the real-time guidance and monitoring during a surgical procedure so that the surgeon can acquire precise real-time information of the surgical site and perform the surgery efficiently.

Abstract: A motorized vehicle for a rider standing with one foot in front of the other, having at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel. Load sensing means for sensing the amount of weight on each of the rider's feet are attached to or incorporated into the surfaces upon which the rider stands. An electronic control system detects when the distribution of weight between the rider's front and rear feet deviates from a certain ratio, and directs the motor to accelerate or decelerate in order to correct the change and restore the desired weight ratio. In this way the rider can control the speed of the vehicle by shifting her weight forward or backward. The front wheel is steerable by the rider's front foot. Leg contact surfaces facilitate stability as well as precision and control. Another control method is also described.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel use of prenylflavanone compounds for control of blood glucose and treatment or prevention of diabetes.

Abstract: An approach is provided for an apparatus for a blind is disclosed that comprises a rolling module and a control module. The rolling module is located above multiple tapes vertically spaced by a ladder cord. The control module is extended downwardly from the rolling module, and comprises an Epicyclic Gearing (EG) assembly, a spiral wand, a universal joint, a tilter and a control assembly. The EG assembly is configured for connecting the rolling module. The tilter is mounted at bottom of the spiral wand and is configured for controlling the flipping of the tapes. The control assembly is penetrated through the spiral wand, is supported by the tilter, and selectively moves up and down for rotating the spiral wand. The rolling module raises and/or lowers the tapes by the lifting cord according to the rotation of the spiral wand.

Abstract: A surface deformation sensor that includes a resonance circuit is described herein. The resonance circuit includes a sensing capacitor and inductive coil. The resonance circuit receives an external signal, which causes the resonance circuit to resonate at a resonance frequency. A surface deformation of an object can be determined based on the resonance frequency.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptidomimetic compounds useful as protease inhibitors, particularly as serine protease inhibitors and more particularly as hepatitis C NS3 protease inhibitors; intermediates thereto; their preparation including novel steroselective processes to intermediates. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions and to methods for using the compounds for inhibiting HCV protease or treating a patient suffering from an HCV infection or physiological condition related to the infection. Also provided are pharmaceutical combinations comprising, in addition to one or more HCV serine protease inhibitors, one or more interferons exhibiting anti-HCV activity and/or one or more compounds having anti HCV activity and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and methods for treating or preventing a HCV infection in a patient using the compositions. The present invention is also directed to a kit or pharmaceutical pack for treating or preventing HCV infection in a patient.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a first voltage module, a second voltage module, a key circuit, and a processor. The key circuit controls the first voltage module to provide different voltages to the processor based on different operations of user. The processor determines whether the voltage provided by the first module is changed by one pressed key from the key circuit. When the voltage provided by the first module is changed by two pressed keys from the key circuit, the processor does not compares the voltage provided by the first module to standard voltages and does not execute any function.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, in certain embodiments, are computer-based language immersion teaching systems, products, programs, and methods for learners aged about 3 to about 10 years comprising a digital processing device and a computer program that creates a language immersion teaching environment, wherein said environment comprises a plurality of learning activities associated with a target language, and wherein said plurality of activities comprises: at least one learning activity based on a taxonomy of phonemes; at least one learning activity selected from: songs, chants, books, poems, puzzles, games, art activities, and printable activities; voiceover audio in said target language; and a software module for recording said learner's pronunciation and comparing it to one or more model pronunciations.

Abstract: Systems and methods to deliver goods to a buyer that is dynamically located are described. The system communicates a user interface to a device that is identified as being located at a first location and associated with a customer. The user interface includes items that are identified as being located within a predetermined distance from the device. The system receives an order from the device that authorizes the purchase of an item and delivery of the item to the customer. The system automatically selects a courier from a plurality of couriers that are identified as being located at different locations. The system communicates a user interface to a courier mobile device that includes instructions to enable the courier to retrieve the item from a second location and deliver the item to the first location.

Abstract: An apparatus for decoding an image includes an entropy decoder that performs entropy decoding to generate quantized transformation coefficients of a transformation unit in a coding unit and an inverse transformer that inverse quantizes the quantized transformation coefficients to generate transformation coefficients of the transformation unit and inverse transforms the transformation coefficients to generate residual components of the transformation unit.

Abstract: A high-voltage heavy-current drive circuit applied in a power factor corrector, comprising a current mirroring circuit (1), a level shift circuit (3), a high-voltage pre-modulation circuit (2), a dead time control circuit (4) and a heavy-current output stage (5); the heavy-current output stage adopts a Darlington output stage structure to increase the maximum operating frequency of the drive circuit. The stabilized breakdown voltage characteristic of a voltage stabilizing diode is utilized to ensure the drive circuit operating within a safe voltage range. Adding dead time control into the level shift circuit not only prevents the momentary heavy-current from a power supply to the ground during the level conversion process, but also reduces the static power consumption of the drive circuit.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for sample processing. A device may be provided, capable of receiving the sample, and performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing multiple assays. The device may comprise one or more modules that may be capable of performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing the steps using a small volume of sample.

Abstract: This invention discloses an AC-type vertical light emitting element and fabrication method thereof, which achieves polarity reversal of two LEDs via regional laser stripping and die bonding. The two LEDs are placed on a conductive substrate (e.g. Si substrate); therefore, the bonding pads of the two LEDs are on the back of the conductive substrate and the light emitting surfaces of the two LEDs, thus overcoming such problems of low light emitting efficiency and high thermal resistance of the traditional lateral structure.

Abstract: A charging device, a method for controlling a charging device, and a method for detecting a peripheral device are provided. The charging device comprises: a charging gun; a power module; and a controlling module coupled with the charging gun and the power module, wherein the controlling module is configured to determine whether the charging gun is connected with a peripheral device to be charged, and if yes, to control the power module to convert AC electricity to DC electricity to charge the peripheral device. A method for controlling a charging device is also provided. The method comprises: determining whether the charging gun is connected with a peripheral device; and if yes, controlling the power module to convert AC electricity to DC electricity to charge the peripheral device if the charging gun is determined to be connected to the peripheral device.

Abstract: A transformer device is disclosed in which a transformer module includes a first transformer unit disposed on a PCB and having a plurality of first pins and a plurality of second pins, and a second transformer unit disposed on the PCB and adjacent to the first transformer unit. The second transformer has a plurality of third pins and a plurality of fourth pins. First to fourth conductive lines are disposed on the PCB, and configured to electrically connect to the plurality of first to fourth pins, respectively. The plurality of first and third pins are located on a first side of the transformer module, the plurality of second and fourth pins are located on a second side opposite to the first side, and the plurality of first pins are adjacent to the plurality of third pins.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the leaching of a laterite ore or concentrate for the recovery of value metals, at least one value metal being nickel. The laterite ore or concentrate is subjected to a leaching step with a lixiviant comprising hydrochloric acid to leach nickel from the laterite ore. Nickel is extracted with an oxime at a lower pH than other processes for extraction of nickel from solution, especially after separation of iron and cobalt values.

Abstract: Example apparatus and methods provide improved spatial and temporal resolution over conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the liver. Example apparatus and methods reconstruct under-sampled three-dimensional (3D) data associated with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals acquired from a liver. The data is reconstructed using a 3D through-time non-Cartesian generalized auto-calibrating partially parallel acquisitions (GRAPPA) approach. Example apparatus and methods produce a quantized value for a contrast agent concentration in the liver from a signal intensity in the data based, at least in part, on a compartment model of the liver. The quantized value describes a perfusion parameter for the liver. Greater precision is achieved for estimates of the perfusion parameter as a result of the quantization performed on data acquired with greater spatial resolution and temporal resolution.

Abstract: A method for completing message-playback on an electronic device involves: detection of an unplayed message storage, determining the facial images of the message recipients associated with the unplayed message, capturing facial images of members in front of the electronic device, comparing the facial images associated with the unplayed message with the captured facial image, determining whether there is at least one member who has not received this message who is in front of the electronic device according to the comparison, and if so playing the message.

Abstract: A low-density parity-check decoder utilizes information about hard errors in a storage medium to identify bit locations to flip log-likelihood ratios while attempting to decode codewords. The decoder iteratively flips and saturates log-likelihood ratios for bits at hard error locations and re-decodes until a valid codeword is produced. The decoder also identifies variable nodes associated with trapping sets for iterative log-likelihood ratio bit flipping.

Abstract: An unlocked-state retention device is adapted for use in a seat assembly. The seat assembly includes a base frame and a seat body, which is mounted removably on the base frame through a locking unit to lock or unlock the seat body relative to the base frame such that the seat body is placed in a locked state or an unlocked state. The unlocked-state retention device includes a pusher adapted to be disposed movably in one of the base frame and the seat body, and includes a push member to retract ably project from the one of the base frame and the seat body and to push the other one of the base frame and the seat body when the seat body is unlocked relative to the base frame.