The present invention provides methods for making, delivering and using formulations that combine a therapeutically active agent(s) (such as for example a Rho antagonist(s)) and a flowable carrier component capable of forming a therapeutically acceptable matrix in vivo (such as for example tissue adhesives), to injured nerves to promote repair and regeneration and regrowth of injured (mammalian) neuronal cells, e.g. for facilitating axon growth at a desired lesion site. Preferred active agents are known Rho antagonists such as for example C3, chimeric C3 proteins, etc. or substances selected from among known trans-4-amino(alkyl)-1-pyridylcarbamoylcyclohexane compounds or Rho kinase inhibitors. The system for example may deliver an antagonist(s) in a tissue adhesive such as, for example, a fibrin glue or a collagen gel to create a delivery matrix in situ. A kit and methods of stimulating neuronal regeneration are also included.

Traumatic injury of the spinal cord results in permanent functional impairment. Most of the deficits associated with spinal cord injury result from the loss of axons that are damaged in the central nervous system (CNS). Similarly, other diseases of the CNS are associated with axonal loss and retraction, such as stroke, HIV dementia, prion diseases, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis and glaucoma. Common to all of these diseases is the loss of axonal connections with their targets, and the ability to stimulate growth of axons from the affected or diseased neuronal population would improve recovery of lost neurological functions. For example, following a white matter stroke, axons are damaged and lost, even though the neuronal cell bodies are alive. Treatments that are effective in eliciting sprouting from injured axons are equally effective in treating some types of stroke (Boston life sciences, Sep. 6, 2000 Press release). Similarly, although the following discussion will generally relate to delivery of Rho antagonists, etc. to a traumatically damaged nervous system, this invention also pertains to damage from unknown causes, such as during multiple sclerosis, HIV dementia, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, prion diseases or other diseases of the CNS were axons are damaged in the CNS environment.
It has been proposed to use various agents to stimulate regeneration of cut axons, i.e. nerve lesions. Please see for example Canadian patent application Nos. 2,304,981 (McKerracher et al) and 2,300,878 (Strittmatter). These document propose the use of known Rho antagonists such as for example C3, chimeric C3 proteins, etc. (see blow) as well as substances selected from among known trans-4-amino(alkyl)-1-pyridylcarbamoylcyclohexane compounds (also see below) or Rho kinase inhibitors for use in the regeneration of axons.
Several major advances in our understanding of axon regeneration have led to the ability to stimulate some axon regeneration and functional repair in animal models of spinal cord injury. In the 1980's experiments by Aguayo and colleagues to use peripheral nerve grafts that were inserted into the brain or spinal cord showed that CNS neurons have the capacity to regrow, and these studies highlighted that diverse classes of CNS neurons have the potential to regenerate when given a permissive growth environment (Aguayo, et al. (1981) J Exp Biol. 95:231-40). However, this technique cannot be used to rewire the complex circuitry of the CNS. Another major advance in our understanding of axon regeneration in the central nervous system was the discovery by Schwab and colleagues that the CNS environment did not simply lack growth promoting molecules, but that growth inhibitory molecules existed to block axon growth (Schwab, et al. (1993) Annu. Rev. Neurosci. 16:565-595). Long distance regeneration in the CNS by blocking growth inhibitory molecules with antibodies was first achieved in juvenile rats by neutralization of inhibitory protein activity with the IN-1 antibody in spinal cord (Schnell and Schwab (1990) Nature. 343:269-272) and optic nerve (Weibel, et al. (1994) Brain Res. 642:259-266). However, this technique suffers from the problem that only a single growth inhibitory protein is targeted, and delivery by the application of hybridoma cells or by infusing antibodies with pumps. There have been investigations on the use of growth factors to promote regeneration in the CNS, some with notable success (Ramer, et al. (2000) Nature. 403:312-316, Liu, et al. (1999) J Neurosci. 19:4370-87, Blesch, et al. (1999) J Neurosci. 19:3556-66). Typically infusion pumps or gene therapy techniques are used to deliver growth factors to injured neurons. In general, trophic factors do not stimulate long distance regeneration, but stimulate more of a local sprouting response (Schnell, et al. (1994) Nature. 367:170-173, Mansour-Robaey, et al. (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 91:1632-1636).
A more recent advance is the demonstration that increasing the intrinsic growth capacity of neurons is sufficient to allow axon regeneration in the CNS, and that neurons primed for regeneration with neurotrophins, a conditioning lesion, or treatment with Rho antagonists have a better chance to grow on inhibitory substrates (Neumann (1999) Neuron. 23:83-91, Cai, et al. (1999) Neuron. 22:89-101, Lehmann, et al. (1999) J. Neurosci. 19:7537-7547). Targeting intracellular signalling mechanisms is likely to be the most efficient way to promote axon regeneration, and it has been found that Rho antagonists are able to stimulate regeneration in the optic nerve of adult rats (Lehmann et al (1999) IBID). However, preliminary experiments to apply Rho antagonists to the injured spinal cord were not successful. It is believed that the infused protein was not sufficiently retained at the injury site, either by syringe application or the use of Gelfoam. This suggested that the delivery of compounds that act with low affinity (compared to high affinity neurotrophins) posed unique problems in delivery. As shall be discussed in greater detail below the present invention relates to a tissue-adhesive delivery system whereby the Rho antagonist is added to the adhesive solution before application of the solution with a syringe, and polymerization of the adhesive within the lesion cavity in the CNS.
While neurons in the peripheral nervous system regenerate naturally, there are many techniques used to enhance and help the repair process. Most of these techniques are not aimed at stimulating the rate of axonal regeneration, but in helping to guide axons back towards their target regions. For example, severed nerve are sewn or glued together with a fibrin glue enhance the repair process. While the following discussion will generally relate or be directed at repair in the CNS, the techniques described herein may be extended to use in PNS repair. Treatment with Rho antagonists in the adhesive delivery system could be used to enhance the rate of axon growth in the PNS. This is first use of Rho antagonists in the PNS.
Growth inhibitory proteins cause growth cone collapse (Li, et al. (1996) J. Neurosci. Res. 46:404-414, Fan, et al. (1993) J. Cell Biol. 121:867-878) and it has become clear that GTPases of the Rho family that comprise Rho, Rac and Cdc42 are intracellular regulators of growth cone collapse (Lehmann, et al. (1999) J. Neurosci. 19:7537-7547, Tigyi, et al. (1996) Journal of Neurochemistry. 66:537-548, Kuhn, et al. (1999) J. Neurosci. 19:1965-1975, Jin and Strittmatter (1997) J. Neurosci. 17:6256-6263). These small GTPases exist in inactive (GDP) and active (GTP) forms, and the cycling between active GTP-bound and inactive GDP-bound states is tightly regulated. The guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) accelerate the release of GDP, thereby facilitating GTP binding. The GTPase activating proteins (GAPs) catalyze GTP hydrolysis and conversion of the inactive form. The GDP dissociation inhibitors (GDIs) act to maintain Rho in a GDP-bound form. GEFs for Rho all have a domain homologous with the Db1 oncoprotein, and more than 20 such proteins have been identified, including Tiam-1 which is highly expressed in brain (Zheng and Li (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 272:4671-4679, van Leeuwen, et al. (1997) J. Cell Biol. 139:797-807). Once in the active form, Rho GTPases typically stimulate ser/thr kinases, such as ROK (Rho kinase), PAK (p21-activated kinase) and downstream effectors that act on the cytoskeleton.
The Rho family members that regulate the cytoskeleton and motility include Rho, Rac and Cdc42 (Nobes and Hall (1995) Cell 1995 81:53-62). Rho is an important link between signaling through integrins and signaling cascades of trophic factors (Laudanna, et al. (1996) Science. 271:981-983, Hannigan, et al. (1996) Nature. 379:91-96, Kuhn, et al. (1998)J. Neurobiol. 37:524-540). Cdc42 is important for the regulation of filopodia (Nobes and Hall (1995) Cell 1995.81:53-62). Both Rac and Rho regulate growth cone motility and axon growth. In non-neuronal cells a hierarchy of signaling between Rho, Rac and Cdc42 exists (Hall (1996) Ann. Rev. Cell Biol. 10:31-54). In neurons Rac and Rho may have opposite effects (van Leeuwen, et al. (1997) J. Cell Biol. 139:797-807, Kozma, et al. (1997) Molec. Cell. Biol. 17:1201-1211). Activation of Rac stimulates outgrowth of neurites from NIE-115 neuroblastoma neurons whereas activation of Rho causes neurite retraction (van Leeuwen, et al. (1997) J. Cell Biol. 139:797-807, Albertinazzi, et al. (1998) J. Cell Biol. 142:815-825). In PC12 cells, dominant negative Rac disrupts neurite outgrowth in response to NGF (Hutchens, et al. (1997) Molec. Biol. Cell. 8:481-500, Daniels, et al. (1998) EMBO Journal. 17:754-764) whereas treatment of PC12 cells with lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a mitogenic phospholipid that activates Rho, causes neurite retraction (Tigyi, et al. (1996) Journal of Neurochemistry. 66:537-548). The p21-activated kinase(PAK) is activated by Rac, and PAK can also induce PC12 cell neurite outgrowth (Daniels, et al. (1998) EMBO Journal. 17:754-764). It has been shown that inactivation of Rho is sufficient to promote PC12 cell neurite outgrowth on growth inhibitory substrates (Lehrnann, et al. (1999)J. Neurosci. 19:7537-7547). A recent study of activating and null mutations of Rho expressed in PC12 cells suggests that the differentiation state is an important parameter for the effect of Rho on neurite outgrowth, and that priming PC12 cells with NGF can alter the responsiveness to activating and null mutations (Sebok, et al. (1999) J. Neurochem. 73:949-960). This result is in agreement with the finding that priming neurons increases intracellular cAMP (Cai, et al. (1999) Neuron. 22:89-101), which can in turn influence the activation of Rho (Lang, et al. (1996) EMBO J. 15:510-519, Dong, et al. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273:22554-22562).
In primary neurons Rac and Rho regulate both dendrite and axon growth and cone morphology and collapse. By immunocytochemistry it has been demonstrated that Rho is concentrated in growth cones, and some colocalizes at sites of point contact (Renaudin, et al. (1998) J. Neurosci. Res. 55:458-471). Experiments with activating and dominant negative mutations have demonstrated that activation of Rac is important in maintaining a spread morphology after challenge with growth cone collapsing factors (Kuhn, et al. (1999) J. Neurosci. 19:1965-1975, Jin and Strittmatter (1997) J. Neurosci. 17:6256-6263). The activation of Rho induces growth cone collapse, and collapse can be prevented by treatment with Clostridium botulinum C3 exotransferase (hereinafter simply referred to as C3) (Tigyi, et al. (1996) Journal of Neurochemistry. 66:537-548, Jin and Strittmatter (1997) J. Neurosci. 17:6256-6263). C3 inactivates Rho by ADP-ribosylation and is fairly non-toxic to cells (Dillon and Feig (1995) Methods in Enzymology: Small GTPases and their regulators Part. B. 256:174-184).
An important downstream target of activated Rho is p160ROK, a Rho kinase (Kimura and Schubert (1992) Journal of Cell Biology. 116:777-783, Keino-Masu, et al. (1996) Cell. 87:175-185, Matsui, et al. (1996) EMBO J. 15:2208-2216, Matsui et al. (1998) J. Cell Biol. 140:647-657, Ishizaki (1997) FEBS Lett. 404:118-124). Among other effects, ROK phosphorylates myosin phosphatase to regulate actin-myosin based motility (Matsui, et al. (1996) EMBO J. 15:2208-2216) and regulates proteins of the ezrin family (Vaheri, et al. (1997) Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 9:659-666), which are concentrated in neuronal growth cones (Goslin, et al. (1989) J. Cell Biol. 109:1621-1631). Activation of ROK also induces growth cone collapse, which can be prevented by the addition of the ROK inhibitor Y-27632 (Hirose, et al. (1998) J. Cell Biol. 141:1625-1636).
The above studies showed that Rho antagonists can stimulate regeneration in the CNS. It has been demonstrated that Rho kinase is an important downstream target of Rho signaling (Matsui, et al. (1996) EMBO J. 15:2208-2216, Bito (2000) Neuron. 26:431-441). Among other effects, inactivation of Rho kinase stimulates neurite outgrowth in tissue culture (Bito (2000) Neuron. 26:431-441) as does inactivation of Rho (Lehmann, et al. (1999) J. Neurosci. 19:7537-7547). Therefore, inactivation of Rho kinase should induce the same biological effects in vivo as inactivation of Rho.
The Rho kinase inhibitory Y-27632 compound is a trans-4-amino(alkyl)-1-pyridylcarbamoylcyclohexane compound; this compound is for example described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,834 the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference; this patent refers for example to compounds which may be selected from the group consisting of trans-4-aminomethyl-1-(4-pyridylcarbomoyl)cyclohexane, trans-4-aminomethyl-trans-1-methyl-1-(4-pyridylcarbamoyl)cyclohexane, trans-4-aminomethyl-cis-2-methyl-1-(4-pyridylcarbamoyl)cyclohexane, trans-4-aminomethyl-1-(2-pyridylcarbamoyl)cyclohexane, trans-4-aminomethyl-1-(3-pyridylcarbamoyl)cyclohexane, trans-4-aminomethyl-1[(3-hydroxy-2-pyridylcarbamoyl)]cyclohexane, trans-4-aminomethyl-1-(3-methyl-4pyridylcarbamoyl)cyclohexane, 4-(trans-4-aminomethylcyclohexylcarboxamido)-2,6-dimethyl-pyridine-N-oxide, trans-4-aminomethyl-1-(2-methyl-4-pyridylcarbamoyl)cyclohexane, trans-4-(2-aminoethyl)-1-(4-pyridylcarbamoyl)cyclohexane, trans-4-(1-amino-1-methylethyl)-1-(4-pyridylcarbamoyl)cyclohexane, trans-4-(1-aminopropyl)-1-(4-pyridylcarbamoyl)cyclohexane, and pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof.
Please also see also Ishizali et al. 2000. Molecular Pharmacology 57:976-983 3 which refers to Y-27632 in the dihydrochloride form as well as to a related compound Y-30141, namely (R)-trans-4-(1-aminoethyl)-N-(1H-pyrrolo[2,3]pyridin-4-yl) cyclohexanecarboamide dihydrochloride. A patent application A Medicines comprising Rho kinase inhibitor has been submitted-(EPO 956 865 A1). This inhibitor has not been tested for efficacy in CNS injury, nor has the company who patented this compound discovered how it might to applied to a region of CNS injury in a kit form. Such a kit is provided in our invention. Please see also European Patent application no. 97934756.4; PCT/JP97/02793; International publication # WO 98/06433 (19.02.1998/07).
The compound Y-27632 has the following structure

The above structure is used herein in a pharmaceutically acceptable salt form (e.g. dihydrochloride salt).
The above mentioned related compound Y-30141 which may be exploited in accordance with the present invention has the following structure:

Again the above structure may also be used herein in a pharmaceutically acceptable salt form (e.g. dihydrochloride salt).
The compound (R)-(+)-trans-N-(4-pyridyl)-4-(1-aminoethyl)-cyclohexanecarboamide (Y-27632) inhibits Rho kinase at sub-micromolar concentrations (Uehata, et al. (1997) Nature. 389:990-994). Y-27632, made by a Yoshitoma, affects calcium sensitization of smooth muscles to affect hypertension. It was reported that the cellular target of Y-27632 is Rho-associated protein kinase, p160ROCK (Uehata, et al. (1997) Nature. 389:990-994, Somlyo (1997) Nature. 389:908-911).
Different methods have been used for local delivery of drugs in the CNS, however none of these methods have been developed as a kit with biological component that have proven effective in the promotion of the regeneration of injured axons. IN-1 is an antibody that promotes regeneration in the CNS. One method of delivery is the implantation of cells that secrete the active antibody (Schnell et al (1994) Nature 367:170). The use of fibrin adhesive for the delivery of IN-1 antibody was not found to be effective (Guest (1997) J. Neurosci. Res. 50:888-905). Another method is the use of pumps to infuse and deliver continuously over time compounds that stimulate regeneration. (Ramer, et al. 2000, Nature. 403:312-316, Verge, et al. 1995. Journal of Neuroscience. 15:2081-2096).
Fibrin adhesives per se have been used in studies of CNS regeneration. It has been used in replacement of sutures to graft peripheral nerves into the damaged CNS (Cheng, et al. (1996) Science. 273:510-513). A fibrin glue has also been used for the delivery of fibroplast growth factor (FGF) to damaged corticospinal neurons (Guest (1997) J. Neurosci. Res. 50:888-905). The use of fibrin glue plus FGF did not promote long distance regeneration.
Collagen per se has been tested for its ability to promote regeneration after injury (Joosten (1995) J. Neurosci. Res. 41:481-490). Collagen has also been used for the delivery of neurotrophins to injured corticospinal axons (Houweling (1998) Expt. Neurol. 153:49-59). Neither of the conditions was able to support long distance regeneration. In tissue culture, collagen gels can maintain gradients of small molecules important in axon guidance (Kennedy, et al. (1994) Cell. 78:425-435). Moreover, it had been reported that collagen gels by themselves could foster some axon regeneration after spinal cord injury (Joosten (1995) J. Neurosci. Res. 41:481-490).
Many different protein-based tissue adhesives exist Examples include collagen gels, fibrin tissue adhesives, matrigel, laminin networks, and adhesives based on a composition of basement membrane proteins that contain collagen: Perhaps the most popular are the fibrin adhesives.
Fibrin sealant has three basic components: fibrinogen concentrate, calcium chloride and thrombin. Other components can be added to affect the properties of the gel formation. Added components are used to modulate time it takes for the fibrin gel to form from the soluble components, the size of the protein network that is formed, the strength of the gel, and protease inhibitors slow down the removal of the gel after it is place in the body. Several different commercial preparations are available as kits. These include Tissucol/Tisseel, (Immuno AG, Vienna, now marketed by Baxter), Beriplast P, (Hoechst, West Germany), and Hemaseel (Hemacure Inc. Kirkland, Quebec).
To make a fibrin gel soluble thrombin and fibrinogen are mixed in the presence of calcium chloride. When the components mix, a fibrin adhesive gels is formed because the fibrinogen molecule is cleaved by thrombin to form fibrin monomers. The fibrin monomers spontaneously will polymerize to form a three-dimensional network of fibrin, a reaction that mimics the final common pathway of the clotting cascade, i.e. the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin sealant. The key to the preparation of commercial preparations is to keep the fibrinogen and thrombin components separate until use, so that the polymerization can be controlled with the desired timing before or after application to the body.
Today such use of fibrin as a biological adhesive has been widely accepted and found application in many fields of surgery. HEMASEELJ or Tisseel VH are used as an adjunct to hemostasis in surgeries involving cardiopulmonary bypass and treatment of splenic injuries due to blunt or penetrating trauma to the abdomen, when control of bleeding by conventional surgical techniques, including suture, ligature and cautery is ineffective or impractical. The action of these fibrin gels is also used to stop bleeding in surgical procedures involving cardiopulmonary bypass and repair of the spleen. Tisseel VH has also been shown to be an effective sealant as an adjunct in the closure of colostomies.
Collagen gels have been used in tissue culture studies to main gradients of diffusible molecules. The use of collagen gels has permitted the identification and testing of neuronal guidance factors such as netrins (Kennedy, et al. (1994) Cell. 78:425-435). When collagen polymerized it forms a dense protein network. Therefore, like fibrin, it has the potential to act as a tissue adhesive. Moreover, collagen is easy to purify in large quantities.
There are many different types of collagens, and it is a major component of basement membranes in many different body tissues. The form of collagen often used for experimental studies in rodents is type IV collagen because it is easily purified from rat tails.
Not only is collagen a component of the basement membrane in the peripheral nervous system, but it is known that neurons express receptors for collagen. Receptors for collagens are receptors of the integrin class of proteins. One important collagen receptor expressed by neurons is the alpha1 beta1 receptor (McKerracher, et al. 1996. Molec. Neurobiol. 12:95-116); this receptor is involved in the promotion of neurite outgrowth. When PC12 cells, a neuronal cell line, are plated on collagen substrates in tissue culture, collagen helps promote neurite growth in an integrin-dependent fashion. The addition of anti-integrin antibodies block neurite outgrowth. Therefore, the ability of collagen, by itself, has been tested for its ability to promote axon regeneration after spinal cord injury. It was reported that collagen gels by themselves could foster some axon regeneration after spinal cord injury (Joosten (1995) J. Neurosci. Res. 41:481-490). However, the observed growth was more of a sprouting response with out any long distance regeneration past the glial scar and site of the lesion. In addition, collagen has been tested for its ability to promote regeneration after injury in conjunction with the delivery of neurotrophins to injured corticospinal axons (Houweling (1998) Expt. Neurol. 153:49-59). This treatment was not able to support long distance regeneration, although the treated animals had a better sprouting response than the controls.
It would be advantageous to have a means for the direct delivery to and maintenance at a lesion site of an agent able to facilitate axon growth at the lesion site.

Methods for making and delivering Rho-antagonist tissue adhesive formulations to the injured mammalian central and peripheral nervous systems and uses thereof


A recycling trash box for holding different types of trash in separate compartments which comprises a box having a bottom wall, four side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall, and a top wall positioned above the side walls, the box having an upright center dividing wall attached to and extending between two opposite side walls to form two compartments in the box, and the top wall having openings formed therein to permit trash to be inserted into each of the two compartments.. A plastic disc is rotatably mounted to the top wall for opening and closing the box, and it has an opening near its rim. The box is opened by rotating the disc until the disc opening is aligned with an opening in the top wall of the box, and the box is closed by rotating the disc until the disc opening is not alinged with an opening in the top wall.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to recycling trash and to boxes for containing the trash which is to be recycled, and more particularly concerns a recycling trash box for holding different types of trash in separate compartments.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many people feel that the world is rapidly approaching a trash crisis, because the world is producing far larger quantities of trash then can be properly disposed of.
In response to the trash crisis, many communities have adopted laws requiring the recycling of certain items, such as glass, plastic, and paper products. These laws require that the trash be sorted out according to type before it is placed outside at the curb for collection. Several containers or trash bags must be used; for example, one container for glass, one for plastic, one for paper, and another for other trash.
Using several containers requires more room and is more difficult than using one. It is also expensive because the user must purchase several different containers. Also, it is more time-consuming to take off and replace the lids of two trash barrels than it is to do that for one barrel.
In recent years, attempts have been made to provide multiple-compartment containers for recycling trash, but these containers are made of plastic or metal, and therefore are relatively expensive.


A measurement device is provided for measuring the degree of mandibular movement during therapy following maxillofacial surgery or to otherwise accomplish measurement of jaw movement. The measurement device is in the form of a flat object having a rounded end and defining a reference depression for receiving the incisal edge of the teeth of either the mandibular or maxillary arches. The measurement device includes a curved end and a slightly curved top which are provided with indicia to indicate the degree of jaw opening by comparing the location of an incisal edge with respect to the indicia. The measurement device along a straight end is provided with measurement indicia to enable effective measurement of lateral jaw movement and to accomplish measurement of movement relative to the occlusal plane of the patient's dentition.

Exercise of jaw muscles is an important part of treatment and rehabilitation for many jaw injuries and disorders. For example, the common practice of wiring jaws closed as a splinting approach to fractures and bone surgical procedures leads to a shortening of the muscles that close the jaw and a weakening of the muscles that open it. As a result, patients may find it impossible to open their mouths after the wiring has been removed. Physicians and surgeons resort to expedients which include prying with tongue depressors and the use of screw operated wedge devices to stretch the muscles and thereby accomplish opening of the mouth. Once the jaws are opened, it is necessary for patients to undertake exercises to stretch the muscles in order to regain full freedom of motion. Though to date jaw exercise devices have considered only opening and closing movement of the jaw, it may be desirable to impart lateral as well as pivotal movement to the mandible during its normal opening and closing movement as therapeutic movement of the temporo-mandibular joint as well as the muscle system for mandibular control. Passive elastic devices have been suggested for accomplishing jaw exercising. Also, expensive spring operated instruments have been developed for this purpose.
A typical defect of most commercially available jaw exercising devices is that they either cause pain and injury through exertion of excessive force or they may apply pressure to the molar region in a vertical manner thus displacing the condyles downward and disrupting the temporo-mandibular joint. None of these devices moves the lower jaw in a fashion which takes into account the structural features of the jaw hinge established by the temporo-mandibular joint, namely that the pivotal area of the jaw hinge is above and to the rear of the mouth opening by virtue of the curvature of the jaw at its upper rear portion and that the temporo-mandibular joint does not establish a single precise, pivot point about which the mandible rotates. Rather, the temporo-mandibular joint forms a movable pivot which causes compound movement of the mandible throughout its rotation.
During the healing period following maxillofacial surgery, as mentioned above, the mandible is typically immobilized by wires or other suitable retainers to stabilize the bone structure during its healing. After an appropriate period of healing has been accomplished the mandible is released from its stabilized relation with respect to the maxillary arch and a period of therapy begins. During therapy, as the jaw muscles return from their typically atrophied condition and as the temporomandibular joint recovers from its lack of vertical and lateral movement, it is desirable to measure the degree of jaw opening and lateral jaw movement that can occur as the patient's therapy progresses. It is desirable therefore to provide a measurement device having the capability of measuring vertical jaw movement from a particular reference and also having the capability of measuring lateral jaw movement in relation to a particular reference.
Because a jaw movement measuring device may come into contact with oral fluid it is particularly desirable to provide a measurement device that can be autoclaved or otherwise rendered sterile or which can be disposed of in order to prevent any cross contamination that might otherwise occur between patients or between the medical personnel and a patient. It is thus desirable to provide a jaw opening and lateral movement measuring device which is effective for selective measurement of both jaw movement and lateral jaw movement and which can also be sterilized or disposed of as desired by the user to prevent the possibility of bacterial or viral cross contamination.


An electric connector with a double locking mechanism for connecting the electrical conductors of electric circuits on a vehicle. The electric connector with a double locking mechanism comprises a male connector provided with a locking arm having a locking projection, a female connector housing provided with a slot for receiving the locking projection of the locking arm for primary locking when the male connector housing and the female connector housing are joined perfectly together, a locking slider mounted on the female connector housing for sliding movement toward and away from the male connector housing between a first position and a second position, and a spring basing the locking slider to the releasing position. When the male and female connector housings are joined perfectly together, the locking projection is received in the slot of the female connector housing and engages the female connector housing for primary locking. The locking slider is able to engage the first or second connector housing for secondary locking only when the male and female connector housings are joined perfectly together. Thus, the male and female connector housings are locked double when perfectly joined together. When the male and female connector housings are joined imperfectly, the locking slider is unable to stay at the second position and is returned automatically to the first position by the spring.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric connector with a double locking mechanism for connecting electrical conductors on a vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The electric connector has a pair of connector housings, which are mated together to join the male and female contactors electrically and mechanically, and is provided, in general, with a locking mechanism to secure the electrical connection of the male and female contactors.
Referring to FIG. 5 showing a conventional electric connector with a locking mechanism, a locking arm b provided with a locking projection c is fixed at one end to the upper wall of a male connector housing a in a cantilever fashion for elastic bending in a vertical plane, and a locking hole f is formed in the hood e of a female connector housing d. When the male connector housing a and the female connector housing d are joined properly, the locking projection c of the locking arm b engages the locking hole f of the female connector housing d to lock the electric connector. The male connector housing a is provided with an arm guard g to prevent the bending of the locking arm b by an external force.
The locking force of the locking arm b may be enhanced when the same is supported at its opposite ends. However, it is difficult to support the locking arm b at its opposite ends without entailing difficulty in joining and separating the male and female connector housings. It is possible that the electric connector is unlocked if an external force acts perpendicularly to the locking arm b.
The possibility of faulty joining of the contactors is inevitable in joining the male and female connector housings by hand, and it is difficult to find faulty connection of the contactors by visual inspection because there are so many electric connectors to be inspected. Such an faulty connection of the contactors of an electric connector for joining the electric conductors of a circuit relating to a safety device of an automobile, such as an air bag device, is fatal to the driver in case of a motor vehicle accident. Accordingly, a further reliable locking mechanism has been desired.

Electric connector with a double locking mechanism


Techniques for reducing bus traffic during texture decoding of a video bitstream are provided. In one configuration, a wireless communication device (e.g., cellular phone, etc.) comprises a processor configured to execute instructions operative to decode and separate in a bitstream macroblock (MB) information and residual packet data. The residual packet data is used to generate codec-independent non-zero MB-packets having a universal order that is codec independent. The codec-independent non-zero MB-packets and MB information are then used for reconstructing pixels of a respective frame of the video bitstream.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to the field of video processing and, more specifically, to techniques for reducing bus traffic of a texture decoding module in a video decoder.
2. Background
The amounts of digital information contained in video data are massive and tend to increase along with advances in performance of video cameras. Processing of the video data places large demands on memory, computational, bandwidth, and power resources of video-enabled devices and, in particular, battery-powered wireless communication devices such as cellular phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptop computers, and the like.
In video processing systems compliant with Motion Picture Expert Group (MPEG-4)/VC-1/H.264 standards, the coefficients of each macroblock of a bitstream are described using 384 16-bit words. In a video decoder, a video bitstream is inputted to an ARM or DSP processor to perform syntax element parsing, and the decoded residual data is un-zigzagged to define, in a raster-scan order, 384 quantized coefficients for each macroblock of the bitstream. The quantized coefficients are then inputted to a Texture Decoding hardware (HW) module in a Pixel Processor accelerator of a video processor.
A texture decoding process includes procedures such as de-quantization, inverse transform to form residual macroblocks, and adding motion compensated macroblocks to generate reconstructed macroblocks. For a display rate of WVGA at 30 frames per second, 384 coefficients per macroblock inputted to the Texture Decoding module generate 104 MBps data traffic. Specifically, when the ARM or DSP writes the quantized coefficient data to external memory, the Texture Decoding HW module fetches the data back, and write cache-miss produces a doubled amount of the bus traffic. Although video compression significantly reduces redundancy of compressed video data, such processing techniques may decrease overall performance and consumer-critical characteristics (for example, battery life, talk time, etc.) of the wireless communication devices.
There is therefore a need in improved techniques for reducing bus traffic during texture decoding in macroblocks of video bitstreams.

Method and apparatus for reducing bus traffic of a texture decoding module in a video decoder


A screwing apparatus includes a motor for rotating a bit for rotating a screw, a torque detecting device for detecting torque of the bit, and a control device. The control device increases magnitude of fastening torque by applying slight vibration to a torque instruction to be transmitted to the motor after the screw which is to be fastened at a value of target fastening torque is seated on a workpiece, and turns off electric current to be supplied to the motor via the torque instruction when the torque of the bit feedback from the torque detecting device to the control device has attained to the value of the target fastening torque.

The present invention relates to a screwing apparatus for screwing parts to each other by means of screws in an assembling process.
There are demands for the development of a screwing apparatus, installed on robots or provided in assembling processes, which can be automatically operated by a rigid quality control procedure. In particular, in torque control in screwing operation, standard fastening torque is provided by the industrial standard, depending on the diameter of a screw and the material of parts to be fastened. In assembling process, it is necessary to examine whether or not parts have been screw-fastened at appropriate fastening torque. But the number of portions to be screw-fastened is so great that it is difficult to inspect all of them. Therefore, sampling inspections are performed to check whether it is possible to tighten screws by means of a torque wrench or a torque driver. In fastening parts with screws at appropriate torque, voltage-driving type drivers or current-driving type drivers are utilized to control the rotational force of a bit installed on a motor so as to fasten parts with screws at appropriate torque.
Referring to FIG. 5, the construction of a conventional screwing apparatus is described below. The screwing apparatus incorporating a brushless motor is provided with a speed reducer 2 at the bottom thereof. The rotational speed of the brushless motor is reduced by the reducer 2 and the reduced speed thereof is transmitted to a bit 3 so as to rotate a screw 10 installed at the lower end of the bit 3. The brushless motor is connected with a current-driving type driver 6 connected with a central processing unit (CPU) 4 via a D/A converter 5. Based on torque set by the CPU 4, the current-driving type driver 6 drives the brushless motor by controlling the intensity of electric current.
The operation of the screwing apparatus having the above-described construction is described below with reference to FIG. 6. The screwing process comprises a screwing region (a) between the start in screwing operation and a seating state (A) in which a seating surface 7a of a screw head 7 is brought into contact with a workpiece 8; and a fastening region (b) between the seating state (A) and the state in which the screw 10 is fastened at target fastening torque (B). In screw-sucking operation to be performed in the screwing region (a), the CPU 4 issues an instruction of a screw-sucking torque value PW1 which means a torque limit set in a low-speed rotation of the brushless motor between the state in which the screw 10 is set on a catcher 9 at a predetermined position thereof and the state in which the screw 10 is sucked by a sucking pipe 11 moved downward to cover the screw head 7 set on the catcher 9. Normally, the screw-sucking torque value PW1 is set to about 2 Kgfcm. A screwing torque value PW2 means a torque limit set in a high-speed rotation of the brushless motor in screwing operation. The screwing torque value PW2 is set to be greater than the target fastening torque (B) in view of the kind of the screw 10 and the workpiece 8 and screwing state so as to prevent the generation of a motor locking error in the screwing operation. A seating torque value PW3 is used between the state in which the screw 10 is positioned at a predetermined height 1 mm above the surface of the workpiece 8 and the state in which the screw 10 is seated on the workpiece 8. That is, the seating torque value PW3 means a torque limit at the time when the seating of the screw 34 on the workpiece 32 is detected. Normally, the seating torque value PW3 is set to be equal to torque, predetermined in the CPU 4, for deciding whether or not the screw 10 has been seated on the workpiece 8. The seating state of the screw 10 is considered in setting the seating torque value PW3. Finally, at a reversing torque value PW4, a reversing brake is operated to seat the screw 10 on the workpiece 8.
At the start in fastening the screw 10 in the fastening region (b), a fastening-start torque value PW5 is used as torque to smoothly fasten the screw 10 seated on the workpiece 8. Normally, the fastening-start torque value PW5 is set to about half as small as the seating torque value PW3. The rate (Kgfcm) of increase in torque from the fastening-start torque value PW5 until the target fastening torque (B) is set per second. For example, supposing that the increase rate of torque is set to 10, torque increases 10 Kgfcm per second. The greater the increase rate of torque is, the shorter fastening period of time is. If the increase rate of torque is too great, fastening torque overshoots, thus exceeding the target fastening torque (B).
In the above construction, during the increase in torque from the screw-sucking torque toward the target fastening torque (B), actual torque does not rise smoothly but rise rapidly due to a change in frictional force (change in dynamic frictional force, static frictional force, and slide) between the screw 10 and the workpiece 8 or a lost motion of a mechanical transmission system comprising the shaft of the motor and the speed reducer 2, even though the CPU 4 issues an instruction so that the torque of the bit 3 increases smoothly. Thus, it is difficult to fasten the screw at the target fastening torque (B). If the torque rises steeply in the vicinity of the target fastening torque (B), the fastening torque may exceed the target fastening torque (B).

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A vessel having an elongated shape, and being moored to the sea bed in a substantially fixed orientation. The vessel includes at least along its longitudinal sides, near keel level, two transverse skirts having such a width that the natural roll period of the vessel is above a predetermined period, the natural roll period of the vessel without the skirts being below the predetermined period.

The invention relates to a vessel having an elongated shape, and being moored to the seabed in a substantially fixed orientation.
It is known that elongated vessels, in particular vessels having a length-to-width ratio of 1.5 or less, may be subject to roll instability or Mathieu instability. This roll instability, or parametric resonance causes roll due to heave-induced modulation of the roll hydrostatic stiffness of the system. In particular, the most severe condition would occur when the heave natural period is half the roll natural period.


An inflight headset includes a headband, a pair of shanks coupled to the ends of the headband, and a pair of earpieces adapted to be disposed over the ears of a user. A stub is provided on a lower end of each shank. A casing with an open end is formed on a housing which is adapted for receiving the earpiece. A cap is provided for enclosing the open end of the casing. The stub is rotatably and frictionally coupled to the casing when the cap encloses the open end of the casing so that the earpieces can be easily adjusted to different rotational directions.

The present invention relates to a headset, and more particularly to an inflight headset for civil aircraft.
Various kinds of headsets had been developed. Three examples of the headsets are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,447,160 to Teder; U.S. Pat. No. 3,908,200 to Lundin; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,189,788 to Schenke et al. Generally, the headsets are adjustable to different lengths only, the direction of the earpieces of the headsets are fixed and are not adjustable. This is inconvenient.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional headsets.

Ta Hwa Village, Niao Sung Hsiang, Kaohsiung Hsein


An oscillation motor is adapted to press an oscillator toward a driven body in a stable state and increasing a drive efficiency. A lens driving mechanism is adapted to move a lens with excellent efficiency by using the oscillation motor. An oscillation motor generates motive power by pressure contact with a driven body to transmit vibration of the oscillator to the driven body. The oscillation motor includes the oscillator having a convex output portion on a side surface at one end side. The output portion of the oscillator is arranged to contact with the driven body. A press mechanism is also provided on a side surface at the other end side of the oscillator. The press mechanism includes a pressure correction device rotatably equipped at a position where the pressure correction device contacts with the oscillator, and the pressure correction device applies a pressure to the oscillator in a predetermined direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an oscillation motor which generates a motive power by making an oscillator oscillate and the oscillation is transmitted to a driven body in pressure contact with the oscillator, and a lens driving mechanism that makes the lens move along an optical axis direction by using the oscillation motor.
2. Background Art
An oscillation motor is one of driving device for various equipments provided with a movable mechanism. In the oscillation motor, an oscillator including an output portion is made oscillate at the output portion to generate a rotating motion, such as an elliptic motion, and the output portion pressure contact with a driven body transmits power to the driven body by a frictional force between the output portion and the driven body. Among the oscillation motors, an ultrasonic motor can achieve high torque in low rotation and has features, excellent silence and suitability for miniaturization and weight reduction. For example, the ultrasonic motor is used as a motive power device for a movable mechanism that requires precise positioning in the equipment, such as an auto-focusing function of a camera or a scanning electron microscope or the like.
Japanese Patent No. 4182588 discloses an oscillation motor for use in an optical system driving equipments. The present applicant has proposed an oscillation motor unit disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-206907 in which area for installing an oscillation motor is reduced to contribute miniaturization. As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 4182588 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-206907, it is necessary to equip an oscillation motor and a motive power transmitting mechanism in a limited space when the oscillation motor is used for an optical system driving device, such as a camera. Thus, an oscillation motor excellent in miniaturization and driving efficiency has been investigated.
FIG. 5 illustrates a relation between an oscillator and a driven body in an oscillation motor. As demonstrated in FIG. 5, to transmit a rotational motion generated at an output portion 101 included in an oscillator 100 to a driven body 200, it is necessary to make the output portion 101 pressure contact with the driven body 200 in the oscillation motor. Then, the oscillation motor includes a press mechanism for pressing the oscillator 100 to the driven body 200. The press mechanism presses the oscillator 100 from a side surface 103 opposite to a side surface 102 where the output portion 101 of the oscillator 100 is equipped to make the oscillator 100 pressure contact to the driven body 200. To achieve stable transmission of a rotational motion to the driven body 200, it is preferable that a pressing force is provided from a direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5 on the same line as a connecting portion between the driven body 200 and the output portion 101.
However, when the oscillation motor is used as a lens driving mechanism, the installation space is limited to make it difficult to equip the press mechanism on the same line as the connecting portion between the driven body 200 and the output portion 101 in series. Thus, in the pressing member disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 4182588, a press force transmitting member which is bent substantially along the outer edge of an opening formed in a base member is used. Further, in the press mechanism disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-206907, a mechanism in which an oscillator is arranged on a first surface of a base member and the press mechanism is arranged on a second surface of the base member is employed to transmit a press force from the press mechanism through a press guide.
Since the oscillator is made oscillate in the oscillation motor, a contact state between a press portion for pressing the oscillator by the press mechanism and the oscillator tends to fluctuate due to the operation. In particular, in a lens driving mechanism or the like, when the limitations of the installation space make it difficult to equip the press mechanism on the same line as the connecting portion between the driven body 200 and the output portion 101 in series, the pressing force from the press mechanism tends to be unstable.
Next, in the ultrasonic motor, a piezoelectric element used as an oscillator has a hysteresis between an applied voltage and a transition amount. Thus, an intended positional relation between the press mechanism and the oscillator in operation may be slightly deviated from that in a static condition. As a result, a pressure on the oscillator from the press mechanism is dispersed and it makes optimum pressing hard and it results deterioration in drive efficiency. Thus, a further improvement has been demanded.
Therefore, an object of the present invention was set to provide an oscillation motor capable of pressing an oscillator toward a driven body in a stable state to increase drive efficiency, and a lens driving mechanism capable to move a lens with excellent efficiency by using the oscillation motor.

Oscillation motor and lens driving mechanism


One aspect of the invention provides a method of continuously scanning with a localization microscope. The method includes: modifying a position of a sample relative to a field of view (FOV) of the localization microscope to capture a plurality of image frames of the sample, each captured image frame having a limited FOV; acquiring image frames with the localization microscope during at least one position modification; determining a set of localization position coordinates for at least one localizable object in the sample within at least one image frame of the plurality of image frames; determining one or more field of view (FOV) position coordinates for the at least one image frame; and modifying the set of localization position coordinates based on the one or more FOV position coordinates to produce a collection of coordinates covering a larger spatial region than the at least one image frame.

Field of view (FOV) for fluorescence or localization microscopy images is commonly limited by camera size, camera bandwidth, illumination intensity, and/or illumination uniformity. In order to create a microscopy image having a larger FOV than the maximum FOV obtainable by the microscope, conventional techniques repeatedly image the sample then shift the FOV of the microscope in discrete steps. Then, during post-processing, the individual, neighboring image frames are stitched together to generate an image. This conventional technique generates artifacts that can degrade image quality. Correcting these artifacts computationally can decrease memory storage and processing capabilities for a microscopy imaging system, if accurate post-processing correction is possible.

Continuous scanning for localization microscopy


Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for acoustic nerve stimulation. In one aspect, a system for acoustic nerve stimulation is disclosed. The system comprises an ultrasonic phased array chip device deployable into a living organism, the ultrasonic phased array chip device including a substrate and an acoustic signaling module on the substrate that includes an array of acoustic transducer elements operable to generate ultrasonic beams based on electronic control signals, capable to propagate the ultrasonic beams through biological nervous tissue to affect nervous signal firing; and a transmitter device wearable on an exterior of the living organism, wirelessly couplable with the ultrasonic phased array chip device to transmit the electronic control signals.

Semiconductor fabrication and nanotechnology provide techniques or processes for fabricating structures, devices, and systems with features at a micro- or nano-scale, e.g., structures in a range of one to hundreds of nanometers in some applications. Integrated circuits and microprocessors are examples of such structures, devices and systems.
Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology is used in integrated circuits for a wide variety of devices. For example, CMOS design can include complementary and symmetrical pairs of p-type and n-type metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) for logic functions. CMOS technology is used for digital circuit devices including microprocessors, microcontrollers, memory, and other digital logic circuits. CMOS technology is also used for analog circuits including image sensors, data converters, and highly integrated transceivers, among others. CMOS technology allows for a high density of logic functions on a chip. CMOS devices can exhibit desirable performance properties including, for example, high noise immunity and low static power consumption.

Electro-ultrasonic devices for nerve stimulation and treatment


A system to provide reliable and secure communication between a work machine and one or more remote entities using a communication network may include a work machine controller configured to control at least one operation of a work machine. The system may also include a gateway device operably connected to the work machine controller and a communication network, the gateway device being configured to receive data from the work machine controller. The gateway device may also be configured to add quality of service information to the received data. The gateway device may also be configured to transmit, based on the added quality of service information, the received data with the added quality of service information to the communication network.

A machine operating at a work site may need the ability to communicate with remote entities, such as, for example, other machines, remote devices, and remote stations. This may be due to various reasons. One reason may be that a number of machines may operate in tandem at a work site. The machines may operate in such a manner because a task performed by one machine may be related to the task performed by another. Therefore, an operator of one machine at a work site may need to be aware of the operations of another machine. For example, a machine that operates as a loader at a work site may only begin its operation of loading the excavated material at a work site after another machine that operates as an excavator has completed its task of excavating the material from the work site. It would be advantageous for the loader and the excavator to be in communication with each other in order to ensure the efficacy of operations at a work site. In addition, machines operating at different work sites or even the same work site may need to communicate other information to each other such as position information, loading information, etc.
It may also be advantageous for machines operating at work sites to exchange information with remote stations, such as, for example, base stations, monitoring stations, etc. This information may include, for example, operating instructions, software upgrades for machine components, status of machine components, etc. In some instances, the remote station may be located at the work site of a machine. Alternatively, the remote station may be located away from the work site of the machine. Thus, there exists a need for communication between machines at the same or different work sites and also between machines and remote stations.
Due to the number of machines operating at work sites and also due to the large distances that may exist between machines and remote stations, it may not be feasible to connect each machine to the other and/or to the remote stations (i.e., in a mesh formation) by using a separate physical connection between each machine and a remote station. Instead, it may be desirable to connect the machines and remote stations to each other using a communication network. In some instances, the users and manufacturers of machines operating at a work site may not own a communication network of their own. In such instances, there may be a need to leverage a third-party communication network, i.e., a communication network owned and operated by an entity other than the user and manufacturer of the machines and remote stations.
To remedy the problem of providing communications between a machine and remote entities, many solutions have been proposed that involve the use of communication networks. One related system and method is described in U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0207514 by Lesesky et al. ("the '514 application") that published on Oct. 21, 2004. The '514 application discloses a system for data communications with a vehicle. Specifically, the '514 application discloses a vehicle data communications protocol converter that may be used to convert a first data communications protocol associated with the data generated from components in the vehicle to a second data communications protocol associated with an infrared communications protocol, a radio frequency ("RF") data communications protocol, an Internet data network protocol, and other such protocols. The system also includes a transceiver that connects to the vehicle data communications protocol converter to transmit the data communications protocol from the vehicle to a remote data communications terminal and receive the data communications protocol from the remote data communications terminal.
While the system of the '514 publication may provide for communication between a vehicle and a remote terminal using a communication network, it has several shortcomings. For example, the system of the '514 publication does not allow for adding transmission information that may help prioritize the transmission of time-sensitive information over information sent with lower priority. The system of the '514 publication also does not provide for the use of transmission information to exchange information over the communication network as per quality of service criteria. For example, the nature of some information may require the delivery of information by reliable means using delivery mechanisms that may include, for example, acknowledgements, for messages delivered. The system of the '514 publication does not ensure the reliable delivery of such information.
Additionally, the system of the '514 publication does not provide for the encryption of information exchanged between a machine and remote entities. The system of the '514 publication also does not include a firewall for components on board the machine from certain data, such as, corrupt data, unwanted data, viruses, etc., that may traverse through the communication network.
The present disclosure is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems of the prior art vehicle data communication system.

QOS-based communications on a work machine


Rolling tools are rotatably mounted in rotatably driven rolling heads such that they revolve in a planetary-like fashion while the rolling heads rotate. The rolling tools thus roll with blows or impacts upon the outer surface of the rotating workpiece which is advanced along its lengthwise axis. A diameter reduction of the workpiece occurs and the workpiece material is predominantly displaced in lengthwise direction. The workpiece is moved along its axis in the feed direction at an axial feed velocity of at least 3 millimeters for each workpiece revolution, and in the case of hollow workpieces preferably at least at 5 millimeters per workpiece revolution. Difficulties which otherwise arise for certain materials can thus be avoided, and also the production speed and quality can be increased. For hollow workpieces, undergoing internal profiling upon a mandrel, the workpiece which is advanced at high axial feed is preferably also cold rolled during its return feed or motion. The return feed should be at most equal to the magnitude of the forward feed but may be also around such order of magnitude.

The present invention relates to a new and improved method for the calibrational cross-sectional reduction of a workpiece which is in rotation during performance of the method.
Generally speaking, the method concerns the reduction of the cross-sectional area and the calibration of the outer diameter of a solid or hollow workpiece by cold forming or cold rolling, during which time the workpiece is axially advanced or fed along its workpiece axis or lengthwise axis and rotated about its workpiece axis, while the outer surface of the workpiece is machined by rolling tools at least at two locations which are situated opposite one another with respect to the workpiece axis. The rolling tools are rotatably mounted in two respective rolling heads each rotatably driven to rotate about a rolling head axis which is disposed transverse to the workpiece axis. The rolling heads move the rolling tools in a planetary-like revolving path of motion or travel. The rolling tools, by exerting a rapid sequence of blows or impacts, cold form or cold roll the outer surface of the workpiece such that the cold rolling operations which occur in succession at least predominately in the direction of the workpiece axis overlap in the workpiece-axial direction and in the workpiece circumferential direction and bring about a displacement of material which predominately occurs in the workpiece axial direction.
It is here mentioned that, for instance, for so-called torsion bars or rods which are used for very many different technical fields of application, such as for instance as resilient or spring rods, drive shafts and the like, apart from thicker portions also require thinner portions. Furthermore, for well known reasons there cannot be present any steps or step portions, rather there are required gradual transitions at the location of changes in diameter.
As a general rule, such torsion bars or rods are machined on a lathe such that they do not exhibit any imbalance or their properties otherwise do not exhibit any unfavorably influencing irregularities which could arise during their previous fabrication, for instance during forging. The machine lathing of such slim long parts is well known to be problematic, and the tool service life and working speeds are rather modest with the required hard materials. The cutting or removal of the material automatically leads to losses in material. There are required relatively large workpiece diameters. Also relatively great hardening distortions become problematic.
These drawbacks are avoided with the method disclosed in the commonly assigned Swiss Patent No. 658,006, granted Oct. 15, 1986 and which has been briefly set forth at the introduction of this disclosure. The reduction in the cross-sectional area is precisely accomplished by cold forming or cold rolling, that is to say by carrying out a cold impact rolling operation during which there cannot only be realized exceedingly high working speeds, but there can be complied with the purposes of the invention. The tool service life is very high without impairing the precision. High operating speeds allow for a material flow with at least in many cases permanent, i.e. through-going plastification, resulting in a much more extensive or deep reaching material strength. If a subsequent hardening operation is needed then there is only to be expected a modest hardening distortion. This constitutes a further advantage in contrast to machine turned or lathed parts. Since as a practical manner there are only machined rotating and uniformly driven parts the mass forces can be held within acceptable limits. Furthermore, there can be also easily avoided the oscillations or vibrations which are problematic during machine lathing.
If solid or hollow workpieces, for instance torsion rods or bars, were fabricated according to the method disclosed in the aforementioned Swiss Patent No. 658,006, there sometimes arose unexpected difficulties even when working with materials which were satisfactory for the intended purpose.
As to such difficulties, it is pointed out that in certain instances there could arise an insufficient plastification or plasticizing, whereas in other instances there was discerned a too pronounced increase in strength. In both cases the material flow was unsatisfactory and, in fact, there arose the danger of fracture.
Moreover, in the case of hollow, in other words tubular-like workpieces it sometimes was found that there existed an insufficient radial material flow. This possibly could lead to a poor forming or shaping of the internal profile. In order to improve the formation of the internal profile experience found it to be appropriate for the rolling heads to be more markedly advanced or infed. When there was finally attained a sufficient forming or shaping of the inner or internal profile, it was found that in certain instances the wall thickness was too thin.
In those instances no improvement could be attained by increasing the machining operation, in other words by increasing the density of the cold rolling operations.

Method for the calibrated cross-section reduction of a workpiece rotating during such method.


The present invention relates to a method of modulating a release of biomolecules having heparin-binding affinity, and more specifically, to a method of modulating a release of biomolecules having heparin-binding affinity, using thiolated heparin adsorbed on metal surface. According to the present invention, it is possible to modulate various biomolecules having heparin-binding affinity such as growth factors spatiotemporally by external electrical stimulations, without causing cytotoxicity and having deteriorating effects on cell activity. Thus, the present invention can be applied for various biomedical and biotechnical fields including drug delivery, biosensor, and cell culture.

The present invention relates to a method of modulating a release of biomolecules having heparin-binding affinity, and more specifically, to a method of modulating a release of biomolecules having heparin-binding affinity, using thiolated heparin adsorbed on metal surface.
A controlled release in response to external stimuli has been actively studied for the delivery of biomolecules such as proteins, DNA, peptides, and drugs. As external stimuli, pH change, temperature change, magnetic modulation, and electrical stimulation have been applied. Particularly, the advantage of electrical stimulation among external stimulations is that it can be applied locally within a designated region, with a precisely controlled time profile, thus spatiotemporal modulation is possible. In addition, electrical stimulation does not harm biological functions of biomolecules, cells, and organs in some limited ranges, so it is regarded as a relatively biocompatible means for in vivo application.
There have been many reports of electrochemically controlled release of charged molecules such as proteins and drugs based on polymers with two distinctive redox states, where one state is suitable for binding of target molecules and the other state accelerates the release of them. Electrodes serve to switch the redox states and the magnitude of applied current can control the release amount of molecules. For example, neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) incorporated into polypyrrole redox layer were released by the control of applied current. NT-3 and BDNF released from the polymer redox layer enhanced the survival of neuron and the elongation of neurites (Burgmayer P, Royce W. M. An ion gate membrane: electrochemical control of ion permeability through a membrane with an embedded electrode, Journal of the American Chemical Society 1982, 104, 6139-6140; Thompson. B. C, Richardson, R. T., Moulton, S. E., Evans, A. J, O'Leary, S, Clark, G. M., Wallace, G. G. Conducting polymers, dual neurotrophins and pulsed electrical stimulation-Dramatic effects on neurite outgrowth, Journal of Controlled Release 2010, 141, 161-167). Multilayer by layer-by-layer assembly was also employed to contain negatively charged Prussian blue nanoparticles as electroactive component and positively charged drugs via electrostatic interaction. Then, upon the application of electrical stimulation, multilayers were dissolved by a charge shift due to the oxidation of Prussian blue nanoparticles and the incorporated drugs were released accordingly (Daniel J. Schmidt, Joshua S. Moskowitz, Paula T. Hammond. Electrically Triggered Release of a Small Molecule Drug from a Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Coating, Chemical of Materials, 2010, 22, 6416-6425). These approaches have an advantage of incorporating a variety of molecules regardless of size, shape or chemical composition.
As an another approach of electrochemically controlled release of molecules, a reaction between gold and sulfur compounds has been used using the strong affinity of sulfur compounds to a transition metal surface. Examples of these surface active sulfur compounds include di-n-alkyl sulfide, thiophenols, mercaptopyridines, alkanethiolates, and cysteines. Among them, thiolates (RS—) have been studied extensively in recent years. They can be chemisorbed on gold surface by the oxidization of S—H group, which makes a quite strong binding (the absorption energy of Au—S bond is ≈44 kcal/mol.) (Dubois, L. H, Nuzzo, R. G. Synthesis, structure, and properties of model organic surfaces, Annual Review of Physical Chemistry, 1992, 43, 437-463). Especially, alkanethiols can easily form a uniform self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on gold surface, thus have been applied for molecular detections and recognitions, which can be detected by electrochemical measurement (Orozco, J, Medlin, L. K. Electrochemical performance of a DNA-based sensor device for detecting toxic algae, Sensors and Actuators B: Chemica 2011, 153, 71-77; Kim. G. I, Kim. K. W, Oh. M. K, Sung. Y M. Electrochemical detection of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) using VEGF antibody fragments modified Au NPs/ITO electrode, Biosensors and bioelectronics 2010, 25, 1717-1722; Miao. P, Liu. L, Nie. Y, Li. G. An electrochemical sensing strategy for ultrasensitive detection of glutathione by using two gold electrodes and two complementary oligonucleotides, Biosensors and bioelectronics, 2009, 24, 3347-3351).
More importantly, chemisorbed thiolates (RS—) can be electrochemically desorbed from gold surface by the reduction of sulfur when negative potentials are applied (Noshir S. Pesika, Kathleen J. Stebe, Peter C. Kinetics of Desorption of Alkanethiolates on Gold, Langmuir 2006, 22, 3474-3476; Ulman. A; Formation and Structure of Self-Assembled Monolayers, Chemical Review, 1996, 96, 1533-1554).RS—Au+e−RS−+Au
Thus, the electrochemical desorption of thiols has been applied as a means of controlled release of immobilized materials (e.g., biomolecules, channel compounds, DNAs, and subcellular release) by electrical stimulation. However, only burst release of immobilized molecules is possible by this method, and since alkanethiols are not perfectly biocompatible, the remaining alkanethiols along with the released molecules may cause problems in further use.
Heparin, a natural polysaccharide, has been used as an antithrombotic drug, but also has strong binding affinity for a variety of growth factors (e.g., endothelial growth factors (EGFs), fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), and hepatocyte growth factors (HGFs)) via specific heparin-binding domains in these molecules. Based on this specific binding with growth factors, heparin immobilization on various surfaces has been employed for controlled release of growth factors while maintaining their bioactivities (Hong S., Xixue H., Fei Y., Jianzhong B., Shenguo W. Cell affinity for bFGF immobilized heparin-containing poly(lactide-co-glycolide) scaffolds, Biomaterials, 2011, 32, 3404-3412; Cionne N. M, H. Mike K, Shelly S. E, Leesa M. G, Necat H, Stavros T. Sustained delivery of transforming growth factor beta three enhances tendon-to-bone healing in a rat model, wiley online library, 2011, 29,1099-1105). A method of releasing growth factors slowly using a heparin-based hydrogel was also disclosed as a conventional art, in which heparin is thiolated by modifying carboxylic acid group of heparin with cysteamine to prepare thiolated heparin, and then the thiolated heparin is cross-linked to form the heparin-based hydrogel (Tae, G, Kim, Y. J, Choi, W. I, Kim, M, Stayton, P. S, Hoffman, A. S. Formation of a novel heparin-based hydrogel in the presence of heparin-binding biomolecules, Biomacromolecules 2007, 8, 1979-1986). Here, thiolation of heparin reduces the anticoagulant activity of heparin, but the binding affinity with growth factors is not much affected by the thiolation. Whereas simple immobilization of heparin to surface of gold particles, etc. or the use of the heparin-based hydrogel can allow a temporary release or continuous sustained release of growth factors bound on heparin, these cannot modulate a release rate in accordance with time. Therefore, there are needs for methods for modulating the release rate of growth factors by an external signal, such as electrical stimulation, at a desired time.

Method of modulating release of biomolecules having heparin-binding affinity

Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology


Anhydrous oral care compositions and methods for preventing phase separation in the anhydrous oral care composition are disclosed. The oral care composition may include an orally acceptable vehicle, a thickening system, and a whitening agent. The orally acceptable vehicle may include propylene glycol, and the thickening system may include a polymeric thickener. The polymeric thickener may be or include a copolymer of 2-acrylamidomethylpropanesulphonic acid or a salt thereof.

Conventional oral care products or compositions thereof (e.g., toothpastes, gels, etc.) including whitening agents are often utilized to whiten teeth. For example, conventional toothpastes including peroxides (e.g., hydrogen peroxide) are often utilized to oxidize chromophores bound to surfaces of teeth to thereby whiten the teeth. The peroxides, however, are often unstable and subject to degradation. As such, the peroxides are often incorporated into non-aqueous oral care products and/or compositions to aid in stabilizing the peroxides. While non-aqueous oral care compositions, such as non-aqueous toothpastes, have proven to be effective for stabilizing the peroxides, gelling agents and/or thickeners that are compatible with propylene glycol are limited.
In view of the foregoing, non-aqueous oral care compositions incorporating hydrogen peroxide often utilize a limited selection of conventional thickeners to facilitate the thickening and/or gelling of the oral care compositions. For example, the non-aqueous oral care compositions often incorporate fumed silica and/or cross-linked polymers (e.g., cross-linked PVP) to thicken and/or gel the oral care compositions. The conventional thickeners, however, are not able to form networks with one another. As such, solids contained in the oral care compositions may often settle, thereby resulting in phase separation within the oral care corn positions.
What is needed, then, are improved non-aqueous oral care compositions incorporating a whitening agent and methods for preventing phase separation therein.

Oral care compositions and methods for increasing stability of the same


The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of rucaparib; the invention also refers to novel intermediates of synthesis as well as their use in the preparation of i.a. rucaparib.

Rucaparib is the International Non-proprietary Name (INN) of 8-fluoro-2-{4-[(methylamino)methyl]phenyl}-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6H-pyrrolo[4,3,2-ef][2]benzazepin-6-one (as reported in WHO Drug Information Vol 26, No. 1, 2012), herein after referred to only as rucaparib, and has the following formula (I)
Rucaparib is a drug which was recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of ovarian cancer in patients with a deleterious BRCA-mutation and is still under clinical trials for investigating its potential activity for the treatment of other cancer diseases.
Some synthesis of rucaparib are known in the literature, as described for instance in WO2000/042040, in WO2006/033003 and in Organic Process Research & Development 2012, 16(1897). However, the routes of synthesis disclosed in the above documents involve 10 to 13 reaction steps, which is not valuable in industrial scale production.
There is therefore a need to provide alternative routes of synthesis for the preparation of rucaparib, which comprise less reaction steps and possibly afford better yields.

Process for the preparation of rucaparib and novel synthesis intermediates


A laundry device is provided in which a control panel may be mounted/dismounted conveniently according to an arrangement of the laundry device. The laundry device may include a body case which forms an exterior of the laundry device, a panel frame mounted to an upper end or a lower end of a front of the body case, a control panel selectively mounted to a front of the panel frame, and a falling off preventive portion for preventing the control panel from being inadvertently separated from the panel frame.

In general, in the laundry device, there are washing machines for washing laundry, washing and drying machines for washing and drying the laundry, and clothes laundry device for drying laundry or the like only.
The laundry device is also sorted as a top loading type and a front loading type depending on a direction of introduction of the laundry (or a type of drum mounting).
In the top loading type laundry device, the laundry is introduced into/taken out of the laundry device through a top thereof, and the drum is upright.
In the front loading type laundry device, the laundry is introduced into/taken out of the laundry device through a front thereof, and the drum is laid down in a horizontal direction.
The front loading type laundry device is advantageous in that more than two of them can be stacked as the case demand to minimize an installation space.
For an example, referring to FIG. 1, the clothes laundry device 2 is stacked on the drum type washing machine or the washing and drying machine 1. Of course, though not shown, two drum type washing machines, or two clothes laundry devices may be stacked.
However, when the two laundry devices are used in such a stacked state, an overlying laundry device is inconvenient to control since the overlying laundry device has a control panel positioned relatively high compared to a height of a user.


A method for photographically recording an information pattern on a photographic film is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of (1) writing an information pattern at an area outside the picture taking area of a silver halide color photographic film with a red-light having an intensity peak at a wavelength of 620 nm or more emitted from a photoemission diode, (2) processing the color photographic film, and (3) optically reading an image of the pattern formed on the color photographic film with red-light having a intensity peak a wavelength of 620 nm or above. In the method, a red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer of the color photographic film contains a coupler represented by the following Formula CU; ##STR1## wherein X is a substituent capable of splitting-off upon reaction with the oxidation product of an aromatic primary amine color developing agent; R.sup.1 is an aryl group or a heterocyclic group; R.sup.2 is a an aliphatic group or an aryl group; and the above groups represented by R.sup.1 or R.sup.2 each may have a substituent.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,196 and International Patent Publication No. 90/04254 disclose a photographic camera having a roll film and a magnetic head, the former having a magnetic layer containing magnetic particles that enable reading on the back of the photographic film. According to high improvement technique, information used to distinguish the types or manufacturers of light-sensitive materials, information relating to conditions under which photographs are taken, information. relating to customers, information relating to printing conditions, information relating to reorder printing and other information can be magnetically inputted in and outputted from the magnetic layer on the film, so that it becomes possible to improve printing quality, make printing operation efficient and make photofinisher's office work efficient.
However, when information is inputted in a photographic film from a camera, the above magnetic recording system requires providing a magnetic head in the camera, and also requires a mechanism for holding the magnetic head, bringing about the disadvantage that the camera not only must be made large-sized but also can be expensive.
In the meantime, as measures against such magnetic recording, a method of optically recording information is known, which is a method comprising recording information on a photographic film by the use of a light source, followed by photographic processing to set the information stationary. Japanese Patent Publications Open to Public Inspection [hereinafter referred to as Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication(s)] No. 96635/1991 and No. 116137/1991 disclose a method of recording-image-trimming information on a film by using an LCD as a light source; Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 161727, a method of optically recording information regarding the position of photographed images on film in the form of bar codes; Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 135535/1991, a method of optically recording information concerning photographing conditions on a film in the form of dot codes; and Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 125543/1992, a method in which information of districts where photographs are taken is optically recorded on a film in the form of numbers or letters.
These are so designed that the information is optically recorded mainly on non-image areas of a film and can be effectively recorded in smaller areas.
As light sources are made small-sized in recent years, compact and inexpensive cameras can be made available even if the light sources are provided in cameras as optical recording units.
Since, however, the proposals hitherto made are still in the stage of application of a fundamental principle of optical recording, no sufficient discussion has been made in order to provide an optimum combination of a writing light source, properties of a light-sensitive material, a reading light source and so forth that are important in the optical recording. Accordingly, nothing has been accomplished more than the recording of dates of photographing in pictures, and no wide practical use as information processing has been made. Moreover, since the optically recorded information, which is recorded as colored dye images in photographic films (light-sensitive silver halide color photographic materials), may undergo variations in color-forming density because of influence by non-uniform degrees of activity and exhaustion of processing solutions in photofinishing laboratories, and hence there is a disadvantage that read errors may occur. Thus, it is sought to immediately solve the above problems.

Photographic information recording method


A bevel gear 1 has a radius of curvature R of a fillet curve provided between a tooth flank A and a bottom land B gradually increasing from a small-diameter end D1 to a large-diameter end D2.

This invention relates to a bevel gear for use in power transmission devices in a variety of machinery, and more particularly, to a bevel gear suited for use in automotive differential gearing.
Straight bevel gears and spiral bevel gears are generally manufactured by preparing a gear material 100 as shown in FIG. 1A by forging or machining, and then forming a tooth 101 in the material 100 by cutting as shown in FIG. 1B, resulting in a bevel gear 102 as shown in FIG. 1C. These bevel gears can also be produced by electric discharge machining (not shown) as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. HEI-9-323219. The tooth 101 of the bevel gear 102 is shaped to gradually increase in dimensions from a small-diameter end to a large-diameter end. However, a fillet curve between a tooth flank A of the tooth 101 and a bottom land B has a radius of curvature R being identical from the small-diameter end to the large-diameter end (See cross-sectional views of FIG. 1D and FIG. 1E, illustrating the small-diameter end and the large-diameter end, respectively). A radius of curvature R of the fillet curve depends on a radius of curvature R at the small-diameter end for providing good meshing with a mating gear.
This kind of related bevel gear faces, however, a problem described below when used in automotive differential gearing. That is, the bevel gear used in automotive differential gearing is adjusted to contact at its teeth a mating gear at a position close to the large-diameter end with a larger tooth width, so as to deal with the power transmission load. This causes the gear to be likely to break at the dedendum of the large-diameter end because of the small radius of curvature of the fillet curve depending on that of the small-diameter end. To prevent such breakage, it is necessary to disadvantageously use a large-sized bevel gear for obtaining required strength. This has been a problem to be solved.
This invention was made with the above problem in mind, and has an object of providing a bevel gear having sufficient strength from a small-diameter end to a large-diameter end.
In order to achieve the above object, a bevel gear according to this invention has a radius of curvature of a fillet curve between a tooth flank and a bottom land at a large-diameter end made greater than that at a small-diameter end.
According to this invention, a radius of curvature at a large-diameter end is made greater than that at a small-diameter end, increasing the strength of the large-diameter end which is otherwise likely to be broken, and thereby achieving sufficient, even strength from the small-diameter end to the large-diameter end. This enables reduction in size of the bevel gear and thus the reduction in size of a transmission device including the bevel gear, leading to reduction in cost thereof.


Data path processing information is included in the pseudowire layer of pseudowire packets in order to provide information for use in the data path processing of data (e.g., a packet), typically, but not always, included in the payload of the pseudowire packet itself. The pseudowire packet typically includes in corresponding fields: a pseudowire label for identifying a pseudowire type; a pseudowire control word; and payload data. The pseudowire type identifies the structure of the pseudowire control word field and the payload field, including the location of data path meta data, such as in the pseudowire control word field or payload field. This data path meta data identifies one or more attributes for use in processing the payload data.

The communications industry is rapidly changing to adjust to emerging technologies and ever increasing customer demand. This customer demand for new applications and increased performance of existing applications is driving communications network and system providers to employ networks and systems having greater speed and capacity (e.g., greater bandwidth). In trying to achieve these goals, a common approach taken by many communications providers is to use packet switching technology.
Layer-4 to layer-7 services are often applied to packets being sent through a packet switching device. Service Insertion Architecture teaches one approach to providing network services outside the packet switching device. Additionally, pseudowires are used in a network to emulate a layer 2 point-to-point connection-oriented service in a packet switching network.

Data path processing information included in the pseudowire layer of packets


Aspects of the subject technology allow an output driver to be implemented using one or more transistors having an oxide-breakdown voltage below the output voltage swing of the output driver. The output driver can include one or more source followers, where a source follower provides voltage-level shifting of a voltage before the voltage is supplied to a gate of a transistor to prevent a source-to-gate voltage or a gate-to-source voltage of the transistor from exceeding the oxide-breakdown voltage of the transistor.

An output driver may be used to drive a load with an output signal based on an input signal. The output driver may be implemented using integrated circuits including transistors. To properly drive the load (e.g., in accordance with an input/output (I/O) standard), the output driver may be required to have a minimum voltage swing at its output.

Output driver using low voltage transistors


Methods and systems described herein generate content that quickly cycles between different-colored frames at a rapid rate that may be imperceptible to human viewers. The human eye tends to blend nearby frames together, so that a human viewer will see a full color spectrum even though only a single color is displayed at any given time. The video display may repeatedly cycle between individual color frames, thus providing video content that appears normal to a human viewer. However, a video recording device may capture only some of the color frames. Therefore, the video recorded by video recording devices may include undesirable color flicker or other color artifacts, which may deter unauthorized copying.

Video content rights holders commonly use digital rights management software, secure devices, and other strategies to prevent unauthorized copying and distribution of video content. However, unauthorized copies of video content can still be made by using video recording devices to capture content being output by video displays. There remains an ever-present need for protecting the rights of content holders, and for countering the efforts of those would seek to make unauthorized copies of video content.

Anti-piracy video transmission and display


A vehicle control system includes a terminal, a control device, and an external environment sensor. The control device includes an action plan unit, an external environment recognizing unit, and a traveling control unit. The terminal includes a position detection unit and an input unit. In a case where a prescribed condition is satisfied, the action plan unit computes or maintains a traveling route that is not restricted by a person to be present in a moving side area located on one lateral side for which a vehicle should be headed. In a case where the prescribed condition is not satisfied, the action plan unit computes the traveling route such that the vehicle reaches a parking position after moving straight for a prescribed distance or more. The prescribed condition is satisfied in a case where a position of the terminal is present in the moving side area.

In conventional remote autonomous parking processing of a vehicle, a traveling route from an initial position to a parking position is computed so as to avoid an obstacle. For example, JP2017-7399A discloses a parking assist device that computes a traveling route so as to avoid an obstacle. This parking assist device determines whether the obstacle is the user who is performing a remote operation and computes the traveling route without regarding the user as the obstacle. In this parking assist device, an efficient traveling route may be computed by not regarding the user in the traveling route as the obstacle on the assumption that the user can escape from the traveling route.
In remote autonomous parking processing, the vehicle needs to be moved to a parking position as soon as possible. However, the above parking assist device computes the traveling route so as to avoid any obstacles other than the user. That is, the above parking assist device computes the traveling route so as to avoid the obstacle even when an object regarded as the obstacle is expected to escape from the traveling route. Therefore, the traveling route becomes unnecessarily long.


A method of processing moving picture and an apparatus thereof are disclosed. A method of processing a moving picture comprising: calculating a color distribution vector for each of plural sub-frames which are generated by dividing a frame of the moving picture; generating a first order differential of the color distribution vector based on the color distribution vector; generating a second order differential of the color distribution vector based on the first order differential of the color distribution vector; and generating a feature vector of the frame based on the color distribution vector, the first order differential of the color distribution vector and the second order differential of the color distribution vector, is provided. The moving picture processing method can provide an efficient mean to determine commonality between moving pictures by extracting a feature from a frame of the moving pictures.

According to progress of internet technology and popularization of moving picture shooting devices including digital cameras, UCC (user created contents) became a familiar terminology. A cheaper storage and a faster broadband communication network make people to share information with a moving picture rather than still image. Moreover services like YouTube can provide an environment in which moving pictures can be shared easily.
But, despite of drastically increasing numbers of moving pictures shared on internet, progress in moving picture search technology are relatively slow. In general, moving picture search result provides a simple list of moving pictures which are related to a keyword inputted by a user (for an example, title of a moving picture includes the keyword).
In this case, a list which shows a same moving picture repetitively may be provided frequently. It is required to consider commonality or similarity between moving pictures to improve the search result. Considering commonality and similarity between moving pictures can be helpful to detect an infringement of copyright by illegal distribution of contents.
However, for determining commonality or similarity of moving pictures, a direct comparison for moving pictures in binaries requires excessive calculating power. Thus, a relatively small size comparison criterion (comparison data) which represents information of a moving picture is required.
A more efficient method of comparing moving pictures is required because it is a time-consuming work to compare large-size moving pictures even by a relatively small size comparison criterion.
As one solution for a list which shows identical moving pictures or extremely similar moving pictures repetitively in a moving picture search result by a search engine, a clustering method of plural moving pictures by considering commonality (or similarity) is required.

Method of processing moving picture and apparatus thereof