Abstract: A liquid-crystal-lens type light-modulating apparatus and a liquid crystal display having the same are disclosed.

Abstract: A surgical training system and method. The system comprises means for recording reference data representing a reference manipulation of a computer generated model of an object by a master user; means for physically guiding a trainee user based on the recorded reference data during a training manipulation of the model of the object by the trainee user; and means for recording assessment data representing an assessment manipulation of the model of the object by the trainee user without guidance.

Abstract: Mechanisms for performing database queries are provided. With these mechanisms, in response to a query request, a query plan intended for minimum query response time and a query plan intended for minimum query total time for the query request are obtained execution of the minimum query response time query plan and the minimum query total time query plan is started. Before the execution of the minimum query total time query plan reaches a specified point, an initial query result obtained from the execution of the minimum query response time query plan is output. In response to the execution of the minimum query total time query plan reaching the specified point, continuing the execution of the minimum query total time query plan to output remaining query results.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a nail gun includes a side slot formed on a bottom side of a gun body and a nail supplying slot connected to a drive track of the nail gun. A stopper element is formed on a side of a slider element corresponding to the side slot. The gun also includes a magazine in which a nail pusher facing the nail supplying slot and a lockout element facing the side slot are formed. The nail pusher has an ear portion. The lockout element includes a pushing arm and a moveable guide slot capping with the ear portion to restrict the sliding movement of the lockout element on the nail pusher. As the pushing arm extends towards the corresponding end of the nail supplying slot, a nail is pushed into the drive track to shoot. The lockout element enters into the side slot to block the stopper element when the nail is exhausted, so as to enhance the shooting blocking effect of the nail gun.

Abstract: A method for detecting disc haemorrhages in a retinal fundus image. The method includes (a) identifying a ring-shaped region of interest in the retinal fundus image encompassing the optic disc boundary; (b) removing blood vessel regions in the identified region of interest; (c) detecting candidate disc haemorrhages from the removed blood vessels regions in the identified region of interest; and (d) screening the candidate disc haemorrhages. The detected disc haemorrhages may be used to aid in the detection of glaucoma.

Abstract: An index is created for a database by selecting at least one column of a database table as a basis to create the index, generating at least one index of a tree structure according to the at least one column, where a pointer stored in a leaf node of the at least one index is null. In an example embodiment, a value to a pointer is stored in a leaf node according to an intermediate result in response to the intermediate result being generated, where the pointer stored in the leaf node points to a data page storing the intermediate result. The created index can be reused and the intermediate result can be effectively used, such that the efficiency of database operation is improved.

Abstract: A rotatable module includes a first connecting member, a second connecting member, and a pivotal shaft. The first connecting member is rotatably sleeved on the pivotal shaft. The second connecting member is non-rotatably sleeved on the pivotal shaft. One of the second connecting member or the first connecting member forms a resisting portion, and the other one of the second connecting member or the first connecting member forms at least one limiting portion. Both the resisting portion and the at least one limiting portion are substantially V-shaped protrusions. An extending direction of the resisting portion is substantially parallel to an extending direction of the limiting portion. The resisting portion resists the limiting portion such that the first connecting member rotates within a predetermined angle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to human stanniocalcin (STC) polynucleotides, polypeptides, and other Stanniocalcin compositions and to novel methods based thereon. In a specific embodiment, the Stanniocalcin compositions of the invention are used to treat or protect neural cells. Moreover, the present invention relates to vectors, host cells, antibodies, and recombinant and synthetic methods for producing the Stanniocalcin compositions of the invention. Also provided are diagnostic methods for detecting or prognosing diseases, disorders, damage or injury, associated with alterations of the Stanniocalcin compositions of the invention, and to therapeutic methods for treating such diseases, disorders, damage or injury.

Abstract: The present invention relates to human stanniocalcin (STC) polynucleotides, polypeptides, and other Stanniocalcin compositions and to novel methods based thereon. In a specific embodiment, the Stanniocalcin compositions of the invention are used to treat or protect neural cells. Moreover, the present invention relates to vectors, host cells, antibodies, and recombinant and synthetic methods for producing the Stanniocalcin compositions of the invention. Also provided are diagnostic methods for detecting or prognosing diseases, disorders, damage or injury, associated with alterations of the Stanniocalcin compositions of the invention, and to therapeutic methods for treating such diseases, disorders, damage or injury.