Abstract: A transgenic animal model for evaluating growth, survival and/or metastasis of xenotransplanted normal or tumor cells or tissue is disclosed, in which a human growth factor, hHGF stimulates growth in vivo of human cells or tissue. A strain of Tg mice on the C3H background that is immunocompromised as a result of a homozygous scid gene has been bred which express a nucleic acid encoding hHGF/SE The ectopically expressed hHGF/SF ligand significantly enhances growth of human tumor cell lines and explanted tumor cells or tissue that express the Met receptor for hHGF. Such animals also have an enlarged normal livers and greater than normal liver regenerative capacity. Any Met-expressing hHGF-dependent human cells, including hepatocytes and various stem cells can survive and grow in such animals.

Abstract: A keyboard-video-mouse (KVM) switch system capable of invoking an on-screen display menu or a hotkey menu with one keystroke rather than a sequence of keystrokes. The KVM switch system includes a KVM processor and at least one menu key. The menu key generates at least one trigger signal based on the keystroke and at least one command is issued to the KVM processor. The KVM processor controls an OSD module and an OSD output control circuit according to the received command to invoke the menu. The OSD module generates the video signals constituting the menu (either OSD menu or hotkey menu). The OSD output control circuit enables the video signals of the menu to be displayed on the monitor of the console.

Abstract: A hearing device having a multiple-level loop antenna is provided. The hearing device includes a housing structure and a communication system for receiving wireless signals. The antenna is configured to make more than one revolution around a center point and to be on multiple levels. A first part of the antenna is on a first level and one or more parts of the antenna are on one or more levels above the first part. The loop antenna may be affixed to a flexible dielectric substrate, along with at least a portion of a matching network for coupling the loop antenna to the communication system.

Abstract: Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF), acting through the Met receptor, plays an important role in most human solid tumors and inappropriate expression of this ligand-receptor pair is often associated with poor prognosis. The molecular basis for the malignant activity imparted by signaling of HGF/SF-Met in cancer cells has been attributed to its mitogenic and invasive properties. However, HGF/SF also induces angiogenesis, but the signaling mechanism has not been understood, nor has this activity been directly associated with HGF/SF-Met mediated tumorigenesis. HGF/SF induces expression in vitro of VEGF, a key agonist of tumor angiogenesis. By contrast, thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is a negative regulator of angiogenesis. This application discloses that, in the very same tumor cells, in addition to inducing VEGF expression, HGF/SF dramatically down regulates TSP-1 expression.

Abstract: An electrical connector comprising: a base having a front port and a rear end; a number of contacts received in the base and exposed to the front port; a number of cable wires each connected through the rear portion to a corresponding contact; a latching element being integrally formed with the base and extending rearwardly; and a block disposed rearwardly of the latching element on the rear end of the base. Additionally, the block can assist in conveniently connecting/disconnecting the connector to/from a mating connector.

Abstract: A cooling fan includes a motor (30) for generating an airflow, and a housing (10) defining a space (40) for receiving the motor therein. The housing defines an air inlet (57) through which the airflow flows into the housing. The motor has a plurality of fan blades (31) extending radially outwards from a periphery thereof. The motor is mounted under the air inlet. The air inlet is so configured or positioned that the fan blades are unevenly exposed to an ambient air through the air inlet. The housing further has an air outlet (56) through which the airflow flows out of the fan. The air outlet is oriented perpendicular to the air inlet.

Abstract: A method of TEM sample preparation from a circuit layer structure, the method comprising electron-beam assisted deposition of a first protective layer over a site of interest of the circuit layer structure; ion-beam assisted deposition of a second protective layer over the first protective layer; and ion-beam milling at the site of interest through the first and second protective layers.

Abstract: An electrical connector comprising: a base having a front port and a rear end; a number of contacts received in the base and exposed to the front port; a number of cable wires each connected through the rear portion to a corresponding contact; a latching element being integrally formed with the base and extending rearwardly; and a block disposed rearwardly of the latching element on the rear end of the base. Additionally, the block can assist in conveniently connecting/disconnecting the connector to/from a mating connector.

Abstract: A method of preparing a planar view TEM sample of a planar portion of a circuit layer structure, the method comprising polishing the circuit layer structure until a cross-sectional polishing face of the circuit structure has substantially reached a first side face of the planar portion; forming a trench structure in the cross-sectional polishing face such that top and bottom faces of the planar portion are exposed; and performing a cut along the top and bottom faces of the planar region to free the planar view TEM sample.

Abstract: The techniques and mechanisms described herein are directed at transmitting elementary streams in a broadcast environment. The mechanisms provide a buffer controller and packet scheduler that allow a media format to be transmitted through the broadcasting environment in a manner resulting in a low channel switch delay. A buffer-fullness indicator allows the operation with various types of decoders. A lower bound and an upper bound are calculated for each frame within the elementary stream. The lower bound corresponds to an earliest time for sending the frame without causing an overflow condition within a decoder buffer. The upper bound corresponds to a latest time for sending the frame without causing an underflow condition within the decoder buffer. A send time is then scheduled based on the lower bound and the upper bound that determines when a packet associated with the frame is transmitted over a channel in a broadcast environment.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for a hearing instrument having a wireless base unit. The base unit may include one or more microphones for generating an audio signal and communications circuitry for wirelessly transmitting the audio signal to the hearing instrument. The hearing instrument may include communications circuitry for receiving the audio signal from the base unit, and may further include a processing device operable to process the audio signal to compensate for a hearing impairment of a hearing instrument user and a speaker for transmitting the processed audio signal into an ear canal of the hearing instrument user. The base unit may be positioned to receive audio signals at a distance from the hearing instrument user.

Abstract: A wireless communication system having a loop antenna is provided. The wireless communication system may be a wireless hearing aid having a housing structure and a communication system for receiving wireless signals. The loop antenna may be affixed to a flexible dielectric substrate, along with at least a portion of a matching network for coupling the loop antenna to the communication system.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a method for inputting different characters by multi-directionally pressing one single key of a portable electronic device more than one time, the key having a plurality of protuberances on an underside and a circuit board having a plurality of pads being equal in number to the protuberances and disposed correspondingly thereto, the method comprises determining the conduction periods of time by a control circuit, while one key being multi-directionally pressed a plurality of times to cause the protuberances to contact the corresponding pads at different conduction periods of time; reading a corresponding character sequentially from a built-in character database based on a longer one of the conduction periods of time; and displaying the read character. By utilizing this method, it is possible of effecting a fast input on the keypad.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a method for inputting different characters by multi-directionally pressing one single key of a portable electronic device more than one time, the key having a plurality of protuberances on an underside and a circuit board having a plurality of pads being equal in number to the protuberances and disposed correspondingly thereto, the method comprises determining the conduction periods of time by a control circuit, while one key being multi-directionally pressed a plurality of times to cause the protuberances to contact the corresponding pads at different conduction periods of time; reading a corresponding character sequentially from a built-in character database based on a longer one of the conduction periods of time; and displaying the read character. By utilizing this method, it is possible of effecting a fast input on the keypad.