Abstract: The crude extract of Plectranthus Amboinicus (PA) has anti-inflammatory effects and can inhibit AP-1 binding in vitro. The incubation with PA crude extract resulted in significant inhibition of the LPS-induced expression of IL-6, IL-12, MCP-1, and RANTES in HUVEC cells. After the crude extract was further fractionated using preparative HPLC, fraction 8, 9, 10 and 11 were identified to inhibit the AP-1 binding activity. The active component of fraction 8 is Mena 987; fraction 9 is Mena 998; fraction 10 is Mena 9102; and fraction 11 is rosmarinic acid and the synthestic rosmarinic acid analogues. Other compounds showed inhibitory activities as well. These compounds have inhibitory effects on AP-1 activity and are useful as preventive or therapeutic agent for diseases in which excessive expression or activities of AP-1 are involved.

Abstract: Objects of the invention relate to a detachable breakaway power supply device that can be selectively coupled to an electrical appliance. A first coupling element is carried by the appliance and a second coupling element is carried by the detachable power supply device. The power supply device is carried by a conventional power supply cord. Attractive magnetic forces between the first and second coupling elements permit selective, removable attachment and electrical contact between the appliance and the power supply device. This arrangement provides a breakaway mechanism in which disturbance of the power supply cord, e.g., by tripping, results in the separation of the power supply device from the appliance to prevent overturning of the appliance and spilling of its contents.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of an optical wavelength division demultiplexer or multiplexer sub-assembly configured to receive or transmit optical signals conveyed thereto or therefrom by a fiber optic cable. Selected portions of external surfaces of the sub-assembly are coated with an electrically conductive paint, polymer or adhesive to provide an EMI, EMP or ESD shield. Typically, the sub-assembly comprises an integrally molded plastic optical block and a separate integrally molded coupling module with a ferrule and fiber optic cable receptacle. In one embodiment, selected external surfaces of the optical block and coupling module are coated with a coating having a predetermined electrical conductivity to provide a desired degree of EMI, EMP or ESD shielding.

Abstract: A method and apparatus having a modified Reed-Solomon decoder is used for finding a specific code group used by a base station and the frame timing synchronization with the base station. The modified Reed-Solomon decoder uses a standard Reed-Solomon decoder and some reliability measurements computed from the received code word symbols. If the reliability of a received symbol is too low, this symbol is considered as erasure. By selecting code word symbols with higher reliabilities and erasing code word symbols with lower reliabilities, the symbol error probability is reduced and the performance is improved. Several modified Reed-Solomon decoders and a few decoding strategies are introduced in order to decode the received code word sequences with a power- and memory-effective method.

Abstract: A method of path selection in a multi-path channel communications system that includes providing path information including at least path parameters and path statuses, setting a plurality of thresholds for the path parameters, comparing the path parameters to the thresholds corresponding to the path parameters, assigning a weighting to the path parameters depending upon comparison with the thresholds, updating the path statuses according to the assigned weighting to the parameters and selecting at least one candidate path according to the updated path statuses.

Abstract: An active device array substrate including a substrate, an active device array, pad sets, connecting lines, and switch devices is provided. The substrate has a display region and a peripheral circuit region, and the active device array is disposed on the display region. The pad sets are disposed on the peripheral circuit region and electrically connected to one other. Each pad set has a plurality of pads, and a portion of the pads is electrically connected to the active device array. The connecting lines are disposed on the peripheral circuit region, and the pad sets are electrically connected to each other by the connecting lines. The switch devices are disposed on the peripheral circuit region, and at least one of the switch devices is disposed between adjacent pads in each pad sets. Further, each switch device is electrically connected to the adjacent pads.

Abstract: A slurry dispensing system comprises a first supply station, a second supply station, a first loop, a second loop, a first valve and a second valve. The first loop is selectively connected to the first supply station and the second supply station. The second loop is also selectively connected to the first supply station and the second supply station. The first valve connects the first loop to points of use. The second valve connects the second loop to the points of use. When slurry is supplied to the first loop from the first slurry station, slurry is supplied to the second loop from the second slurry station. When the first valve is opened and the second valve is closed, slurry is supplied to the points of use from the first loop.

Abstract: A method of path selection in a multi-path channel communications system that includes providing path information including at least path parameters and path statuses, setting a plurality of thresholds for the path parameters, comparing the path parameters to the thresholds corresponding to the path parameters, assigning a weighting to the path parameters depending upon comparison with the thresholds, updating the path statuses according to the assigned weighting to the parameters and selecting at least one candidate path according to the updated path statuses.

Abstract: A safety control switch comprises a slide base movably mounted on the housing of a gas-fired ignition device, a push button positioned in a through hole of the slide base, a brake block fixed to the push button for inserting into a space between the slide base and the housing, and a locking piece movably mounted on the slide base and engaged with the through hole of the slide base, the locking piece being moved relative to the slide base between a first position to prevent the push button and the slide base from being operated by blocking the through hole and a second position to allow the push button and the slide base to be operated by removing the blockage of the through hole.

Abstract: A laminated variable resistor comprises a main body, internal electrodes extending along two side edges of the main body into the main body, terminal electrodes disposed on the two ends of the main body. The mole percentage of the oxide in overlapping active regions between opposite internal electrodes is reduced and the reduced portion is replaced by a metal selected from gold (Au), silver (Ag), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), rhodium (Rh), or the alloy of any two of such metals.

Abstract: A slurry dispensing system comprises a first supply station, a second supply station, a first loop, a second loop, a first valve and a second valve. The first loop is selectively connected to the first supply station and the second supply station. The second loop is also selectively connected to the first supply station and the second supply station. The first valve connects the first loop to points of use. The second valve connects the second loop to the points of use. When slurry is supplied to the first loop from the first slurry station, slurry is supplied to the second loop from the second slurry station. When the first valve is opened and the second valve is closed, slurry is supplied to the points of use from the first loop.

Abstract: A safety control switch comprises a slide base movably mounted on the housing of a gas-fired ignition device, a push button positioned in a through hole of the slide base, a brake block fixed to the push button for inserting into a space between the slide base and the housing, and a locking piece movably mounted on the slide base and engaged with the through hole of the slide base, the locking piece being moved relative to the slide base between a first position to prevent the push button and the slide base from being operated by blocking the through hole and a second position to allow the push button and the slide base to be operated by removing the blockage of the through hole.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an anti-theft device which is a transmission line mounted on an object to be protected against theft, such as a door or a window, wherein a safety system is connected to the elongated metal to supply power to the anti-theft circuit of the elongated metal and to detect and judge the signal of the anti-theft circuit of the elongated metal. When the window or the door is broken, the anti-theft device will be easily torn at the respective apertures. At this moment, the safety system cannot receive the signal from the anti-theft device, so it will identify the intrusion of theft and notify the security or guard. Thereby providing an anti-theft function.

Abstract: A battery chamber of button-cell batteries for consumer electronic devices is provided herein, which mainly contains a top member and a bottom member joined together to form a number of cell rooms for the accommodation of the button-cell batteries. A number of conduction plates covers the top and bottom of the cell rooms and electrically connects the button-cell batteries into a series connection. The thickness of the top and bottom members is roughly one half of a standard button-cell battery. The top and bottom members can be easily pried open for the installation and removal of the button-cell batteries.

Abstract: An apparatus provided with programmable scan chains includes a scan chain having a scan input port and a scan output port, a plurality of first I/O ports, an input port selector for selecting one of the plurality of first I/O ports to be coupled to the scan input port, a plurality of second I/O ports, an output port selector for selecting one of the plurality of second I/O ports to be coupled to said scan output port. Further, an apparatus provided with programmable scan chains includes N scan chains, each scan chain having a scan input port and scan output port, M first I/O ports, an input port selector for selecting N of the first I/O ports to be coupled to the N scan input ports, K second I/O ports, and an output port selector for selecting N of the second I/O ports to be coupled to the N scan output ports.

Abstract: A clinical thermometer is disclosed. The thermometer comprises a housing, circuit board, base seat, humming plate and spring characterized in that the base seat has a speaker box slot and a speaker cover plate with the humming plate mounted therein, circuit connection is formed between the humming plate and the circuit board by the spring, and the length of the base seat is shorter than the circuit board such that the electronic components which are required to be inspected are exposed outside the base seat, thereby minimizing the inspection time and replacement time of the components.

Abstract: A method of path selection in a multi-path channel communications system that includes providing path information including at least path parameters and path statuses, setting a plurality of thresholds for the path parameters, comparing the path parameters to the thresholds corresponding to the path parameters, assigning a weighting to the path parameters depending upon comparison with the thresholds, updating the path statuses according to the assigned weighting to the parameters and selecting at least one candidate path according to the updated path statuses.

Abstract: A method of path selection in a multi-path channel communications system that includes providing path information including at least path parameters and path statuses, setting a plurality of thresholds for the path parameters, comparing the path parameters to the thresholds corresponding to the path parameters, assigning a weighting to the path parameters depending upon comparison with the thresholds, updating the path statuses according to the assigned weighting to the parameters and selecting at least one candidate path according to the updated path statuses.

Abstract: A method of path detection in a multi-path communications system that includes selecting an object for configuring a search window, setting at least one sub-window, wherein the sub-window is smaller in size than the search window, providing a first counter for the object, setting a threshold, selecting a decision period for a duration of the object, and detecting a path in a selected region with the at least one sub-window in a plurality of modes corresponding to the threshold.

Abstract: A data processing method encodes data points obtained by sampling data having continuous physical quantity, stores the nth data of the mth data set into a first data frame, stores the (n+1)th data of the mth data set into a second data frame, stores an nth data point of an (m+1)th data set into the first data frame, and stores an (n+1)th data point of the (m+1)th data set into the second data frame. When an interference causes data loss or data error, reconstructed data points approximating the lost data points are generated from other correct data points at a receiver by using a predetermined algorithm.