A target image is deformed in such a manner that a subject in a reference image and a subject in the target image will coincide. A reference image and a target image are each divided into regions that conform to amounts of optical distortion. A region which is in the target image and which is common to the reference image and to the target image is subdivided into regions S35 to S37, S38 to S40, S42 to S44 in each of which amounts of optical distortion of both the reference image and target image are obtained. By using the amounts of optical distortion of the reference image and amounts of optical distortion of the target image 11 obtained from the subdivided regions S35 to S37, S38 to S40, S42 to S44, the target image is deformed in such a manner that a subject in the common region will coincide with the reference image.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an image deformation apparatus and to a method of controlling the operation of this apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In cases where a target image is combined with (superimposed upon) a reference image, there is a possibility that multiplexing or a decline in resolution will be brought about after combining the images if the alignment accuracy of the reference image and target image is low. In order to improve alignment accuracy, it is necessary to deal not only with a positional shift of the entire image but also with a positional shift of each individual subject that does not correspond to the shift of the entire image. Lens distortion is known as a cause of such shifting of individual images. Since lens distortion tends to become more pronounced the greater the distance from the optical center of the lens, the amount of distortion differs, even within the same image, depending upon position in the image. Further, if the angle of view changes, the position of a subject in the image changes as well and, hence, the amount of distortion of a subject shared by both the reference image and the target image will also differ.
FIG. 1 is an example of a reference image 1. The reference image 1 includes the sun 2 as a subject at the upper left and a house 3 as a subject at the center. Since the house 3 is at the center, there is little distortion ascribable to lens distortion. However, since the sun 2 is at the upper left, there is a great amount of distortion caused by lens distortion.
FIG. 3 is an example of a target image 11. The target image 11 includes the sun 12 as a subject that is slightly off-center and a house 13 as a subject at the lower right. Since the sun 12 is slightly off-center, there is little distortion ascribable to lens distortion. However, since the house 13 is at the lower right, there is a great amount of distortion caused by lens distortion.
There is a technique for suppressing a decline in resolution due to lens distortion or a difference in lens fuselage at the time of image compositing, thereby producing a panorama image that is free of a sense of incongruity (Patent Document 1), a technique for detecting video distortion, subjecting the distortion to a function approximation region by region and compensating for distortion in each region using a calculated function (Patent Document 2), and a technique for generating a blended motion-compensated image from a global motion-compensated image and a local motion-compensated image and combining a reference image with the blended motion-compensated image to thereby obtain a high noise-reduction effect (Patent Document 3).
Furthermore, there is a technique for reducing amount of calculation while taking into consideration the distortion aberration of an optical system (Patent Document 4) and a technique which, when an imaging device performs split photography of a subject, sets the shooting direction appropriately in such a manner that the size of a superimposed region will be satisfactory at the time the individual captured images are joined (Patent Document 5).                Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-161520        Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-49733        Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-147985        Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-13430        Patent Document 5: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-139368
FIG. 33 is an example of an image obtained by combining the reference image 1 and the target image 11 in such a manner that the sun 2 and house 3 in the reference image 1 will coincide with the sun 12 and house 13, respectively, of the target image 11. Since the amount of distortion of the sun 2 and the amount of distortion of the sun 12 differ as do the amount of distortion of the house 3 and the amount of distortion of the house 13, the sun images are misaligned and so are the house images. Thus, a composite image in which the subjects are not misaligned cannot be obtained merely by combining the reference image 1 and the target image 11 in such a manner that identical subjects simply overlap each other.
Patent Document 1 does not describe a concrete method for dealing with locations where alignment is difficult owing to distortion caused by lens distortion. A composite image in which subjects are not misaligned cannot be obtained. Further, distortion is merely corrected for in Patent Document 2, and Patent Document 3 does not describe a region dividing method for dealing with such causes of distortion as lens distortion. A composite image in which the subjects are not misaligned cannot be obtained with the techniques taught in Patent Documents 4 or 5.

Image deformation apparatus and method of controlling operation of same


A touch panel for an electronic apparatus is provided. The touch panel comprises a thin film transistor substrate, a plurality of conductive islets, a supporting pattern layer and an elastic conductive film. The plurality of conductive islets is formed on the thin film transistor substrate. The supporting pattern layer is formed above the thin film transistor substrate. The supporting pattern layer has a plurality of apertures. Each of the plurality of apertures for exposing at least part of each of the plurality of conductive islets. The elastic conductive film is formed on the supporting pattern layer.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a touch panel, and more particularly, relates to a supporting structure of the touch panel.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
With the development of science and technology, there is a tendency toward diversification among the input devices of electronic product. Besides the typical input devices such as keyboard or mouse, a touch panel, one of the input devices, becomes much more popular than before. A touch panel with fingerprint identification function can be applied to a user identification system of electronic products, such as notebook computer, PDA and cell phone, or be applied to a door control system, especially for some research institution, hi-tech company, or military unit. In last years, the touch panel is integrated with the display (or monitor) of a tablet computer. Therefore, an user can operate the tablet computer by touching or writing on its monitor.
Referring to FIG. 1 is show a typical resistive touch panel 10. This kind of touch panel 10, which is applied to an electronic apparatus as its input device, has no fingerprint identification function. The touch panel 10 comprises a conductive sheet 12, an elastic conductive film 16, a plurality of ball spacers 14. The plurality of ball spacers 14 are formed between the conductive sheet 12 and the elastic conductive film 16 formed above the conductive sheet 12, to make the conductive sheet 12 separate from the elastic conductive film 16.
Two opposite sides 12a, 12b of the conductive sheet 12 electrically connect to two different voltage levels, resulting in a voltage gradient on the conductive sheet 12. The voltage gradient is perpendicular to y-axis shown in FIG. 1. Two opposite sides 16a, 16b of the elastic conductive film 16 have two different voltage levels, resulting in a voltage gradient on the elastic conductive film 16. The voltage gradient is perpendicular to x-axis shown in FIG. 1. While a user exerts pressure on the elastic conductive film 16 to make the elastic conductive film 16 touch the conductive sheet 12, the different voltage levels on the conductive sheet 12 and on the elastic conductive film 16 will be changed. A touched position of a finger can be detected by voltage level values of four corner of the elastic conductive film 16.
Fingerprint is a pattern that would touch a plurality of positions, therefore, fingerprint identification function cannot be applied to the touch panel 10. In other words, the touch panel 10 can only detect one touched position at a time
Referring to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B. FIG. 2A is a top view of a typical touch panel 20 with fingerprint identification function. FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of touch panel 20 shown in FIG. 2A along cross-sectional line a-a. The touch panel 20 comprises a thin film transistor substrate 21, a plurality of conductive islets 27, an elastic conductive film 28, and a sealant layer 29.
The thin film transistor substrate 21 comprises a base 25, an array of thin film transistors 22, a plurality of data lines 24, a plurality of scan lines 26, and an protective layer 23. The plurality of data lines 24 are vertical arranged on the base 25, the plurality of scan lines 26 are horizontal arranged on the base 25 and across the plurality of data lines 24 to divide into a plurality of sections (no shown). Each of the thin film transistors 22 is respectively located on each of the sections, wherein each drain of the thin film transistors 22 connects adjacent to each data line 24, and each source of the thin film transistors 22 connects adjacent to each data line 24. The protective layer 23 is formed on the base 25 for protecting the array of thin film transistors 22, the plurality of scan lines 26, the plurality of data lines 24.
A plurality of conductive islets 27 are formed on the thin film transistor substrate 21. Each of conductive islets 27 is electrically and respectively connects to each source of the thin film transistors 22 through each of through holes (no shown) formed in protective layer 23. The sealant layer 29 is formed between the plurality of conductive islets 27 and the elastic conductive layer 28 formed above the plurality of conductive islets 27. The sealant layer 29 is formed on the thin film transistor substrate 21, and is located in a periphery area of the thin film transistor substrate 21. In other words, the sealant layer 29 is surrounding the edge of the thin film transistor substrate 21.
While a touch pen, for example, exerts pressure on the touch panel 20 to make a portion of the elastic conductive film 28 touch in corresponding to a portion of the conductive islets 27, at least a signal is generated from the portion of the conductive islets 27, and further is transmitted in corresponding to at least one source of the thin film transistors 22. Furthermore, the thin film transistor substrate 21 can scan signals by the plurality of scan lines 26 so as to detect positions of the signals by the plurality of data lines 24 to determine the touched positions.
Compared the touch panel 10 of FIG. 1 with the touch panel 20 of FIG. 2, the touch panel 20 can detect multi-touched positions at a time; however, the touch panel 10 can only detect a touch position at a time. The thin film transistor substrate 21 scans signals, and further determines the touched positions in a short time. For example, a scan of all signals, from all of the thin film transistors 22, only need 16 milliseconds, at a scanning frequency of 60 Hz. Therefore, the touch panel 20 is able to detect a plurality of touched positions. Utilizing integrated circuit fabrication techniques to fabricate the plurality of thin film transistors 22, the touch panel 20 is capable of detecting extremely small features or patterns, ex. application of fingerprint identification.
However, in the prior arts, the elastic conductive film 28 is only supported by the sealant layer 29 to be located above the conductive islets 27. The sealant layer 29 is formed on a periphery area of the thin film transistor substrate 21, so an interior portion of the elastic conductive film 28 is supported by nothing. The elastic conductive film 28 is generally made of a flexible material, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), or like as. Therefore, the surface flatness of the elastic conductive film 28 is not easy to be controlled while fabricating the touch panel 20.
After the touch panel 20 is used for a long period, the strength of the elastic conductive film 28 usually drops because of continuous pressings. The flatness of the elastic conductive film 28 is also destruct because of fatigue. While the strength of the elastic conductive film 28 usually drops to a level that the elastic conductive film 28 is not able to be separated from the conductive islets 27, the signals will be constantly generated without exerting any pressure. Then, the touch panel 20 is totally broken.
The touch panel 20 can also be made of transparent material so as to be applied to a surface of a display panel, a monitor, or a tablet computer. Light from the display panel and finally reaching the user's eyes has to be transmitted through the touch panel 20. So the flatness of the elastic conductive film 28 becomes an important condition to displaying quality.
In the prior arts, an initial solution to the above mentioned problems is using ball spacers 14, which are formed on the thin film transistor substrate 21 by spin coating. Then further utilizes a baking process to make ball spacers 14 solidified to support the interior area of the elastic conductive film 28. But there are still two problems: First, the thin film transistor substrate 21 will be contaminated or corroded by the solution of the initial materials of the ball spacers 14. This would lower the detecting sensitivity. Second, because the spin coating method, the ball spacers 14 are generally and disorderly distributed on the thin film transistor substrate 21. Size of the ball spacers is also not of even, so the flatness of the thin film transistor substrate 21 is therefore defeated. An even worse situation is that some positions lose its detecting ability because of the location-disordered and size-unequal ball spacers 14. Therefore, this prior solution cannot effectively solve the above-mentioned problems.
Therefore, improving the remaining drawbacks of the prior arts and further enhancing quality, stability, and product life time of the touch panel is an important issue to the related technique field.

Touch panel and method for manufacturing the same


A robotic tattoo application and tattoo removal methods and systems are described. This technology involves the use of a robotic system guided by control of a graphics capable computer in order to perform various types, including artistic, recreational, cosmetic, or therapeutic tattooing, or tattoo removal.

A tattoo is a design created on the skin, or sometimes other tissue, by the injection of pigment into the dermal layer, so it is visible through the surface. The most common type of tattooing device is a vibrating needle controlled by the operator as a hand-held tool that vibrates rapidly, ordinarily between 50-3,000 times per minute, to inject non-water soluble pigment in the desired pattern. If the injection is too deep, it may not be easily visible through the surface or may look blurred. If it is too superficial, it may not be held in proper position and may migrate to produce a blurred image or be gradually removed to produce a faded image as the dermis is recycled. Usually, the pattern is first outlined free-hand with a stencil in dark colored ink, and then the colors are filled in. Ordinarily the tattooing needle injects a single color at a time, and repeated applications are necessary to produce a multi-colored pattern. Tattoo designs may be small and localized, or may be any size up to covering most or the entire skin surface.
In some cultures and in more primitive times, the pigment is placed on the skin and pushed in by needles or other relatively sharp objects held by hand, or pulled into the skin on thread that is passed into and out of the surface on a curved needle.
Some attempts have been made to automate placing of temporary decorations or tattoos on a body surface. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,831 to Weber et al. discloses a skin decoration apparatus and method for placing temporary multi-colored designs using Wirejet™ technology. The decoration is produced by a print head comprising Wirejet™ nozzles, which spray biocompatible inks or dyes onto the skin and last for at least several weeks. The Wirejet™ may be connected to a scanning mechanism to scan in one, two, or three directions. The decorations can be applied to contoured skin surfaces following flattening against a screen of intersecting wires, by robotic arm, or using z-axis technology. A computer stores the desired design and controls the firing of the Wirejet™ to produce the desired decoration.
Placing of permanent conventional tattoos generally involves using a needle that is controlled by the tattoo artist, it is inexact, tedious, time consuming, laborious, and consequently expensive. Similarly, despite certain advancements in a laser tattoo removal technology, conventional tattoo removal is done manually by a person, requires multiple sessions and suffers from many shortcomings.

Methods and devices for tattoo application and removal


One example of the present subject matter includes a first elongate section having a first flexible conductor enveloped by a first jacket; a second elongate section having a second flexible conductor enveloped by a second jacket; and an sensor section having an elongate flexible tubular shape, the sensor section housing a resistance temperature detector element which is at least partially coiled and which is resistance welded to the first flexible conductor at a first weld and to the second flexible conductor at a second weld; wherein the sensor section at least partially envelops and overlaps the first elongate section and the second elongate section, with a first band crimping the sensor section to the first elongate section, and a second band crimping the sensor section to the second elongate section, and with the first and second welds disposed between the first and second bands.

Electronic sensors are known. Various sensors have become adapted for use in varying conditions. However, as technology evolves, there is an ever-present need for new configurations which are usable in new applications and new environments. In particular, the art presents a need for flexible sensors which can be applied in a robust manner. Some applications require a sensor which can sustain multiples flexes and high heat. Sensors which address these concerns should be configured for efficient and robust assembly.

Method and apparatus for flexible temperature sensor having coiled element


A camera apparatus has an image sensing part arranged to successively output for every field or frame a first image signal obtained for a predetermined exposure period of time and a second image signal obtained for a very short exposure period of time, a noise extracting circuit arranged to extract a fixed pattern noise from the second image signal, and a subtraction circuit arranged to subtract, under a predetermined weighting condition, the fixed pattern noise extracted by the noise extracting circuit first image signal. Another camera apparatus has an image sensing part capable of adjusting an exposure period of time, a control circuit arranged to change the exposure period of time of the image sensing part to a high shutter-speed photography at intervals of a predetermined number of taken pictures, an interpolation circuit arranged to interpolate an image signal obtained by the high shutter-speed photography by using an image signal obtained for a predetermined exposure period of time, a noise extracting circuit arranged to extract a fixed pattern noise from the image signal obtained by the high shutter-speed photography, and a subtraction circuit arranged to subtract, under a predetermined weighting condition, the fixed pattern noise extracted by the noise extracting circuit from the image signal obtained for the predetermined exposure period of time by the image sensing part or from an interpolated image signal obtained by the interpolation circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a camera apparatus such as a video camera which produces an image signal and more particularly to a camera apparatus which produces an image signal from which a fixed pattern noise has been removed.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is considered important for a video camera, particularly a high-sensitivity camera of the kind to be used under a low degree of illumination, to remove from the image signal an intrinsic noise of the image sensing part of the camera (hereinafter referred to as a fixed pattern noise) as much as possible. An apparatus developed to meet this requirement has been disclosed in an article entitled "High-Sensitivity Camera and Image Processing Technique" which appeared in "NHK Technical Research Monthly Report," Oct., 1986, Vol. 29, p 375-378. The arrangement of this known apparatus is as described below with reference to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings:
Referring to FIG. 1, the light of an object to be photographed comes through an optical system 10 to fall on the imaging plane of an image sensing part 12 and is photo-electric converted there. The photo-electric conversion output of the image sensing part 12 is supplied to a camera signal processing circuit 14. The circuit 14 performs a known signal processing operation to convert it into a known image signal form of NTSC,
or the like. The output of the camera signal processing circuit 14 is supplied to one of the input terminals of a subtracter 16 and also to an image memory 20 via a normally open switch 18. The switch 18 operates in association with a shield plate 22 disposed in front of the optical system 10. While the incidence of the light of a photographing field on the optical system 10 is blocked by the shield plate 22, the switch 14 is closed to allow the output of the camera signal processing circuit 14 to be stored in the image memory 20. This allows the image memory 20 to store a fixed pattern noise including the intrinsic noises of the image sensing part 12 and the ensuing circuit system. This fixed pattern noise is taken into the image memory 20 either at the start of a photographing operation or during a pause thereof.
The image memory 20 is arranged to output the stored signal in synchronism with the image signal outputting action of the camera signal processing circuit 14. A multiplier 24 is arranged to multiply the output of the image memory 20 by a suitable constant k. The output of the multiplier 24 is supplied to the other input terminal of the subtracter 16. The subtracter 16 subtracts the output (a fixed pattern noise component) of the multiplier 24 from the output of the camera signal processing circuit 14. This arrangement gives an image signal with the fixed pattern noise reduced to a sufficiently low level.
In the case of a solid-state image sensor, the fixed pattern noise is considered to result mainly from the following causes: (i) uneven sensitivity due to uneven light receiving areas of picture elements; (ii) a thermal noise dependent upon the ambient temperature; and (iii) uneven amplification rates of amplifiers in a case where different amplifiers are provided for different picture elements. While the noise resulting from the causes (i) and (ii) remains unchanged from its initial state, the thermal noise (iii) changes any time during the process of a photographing operation.
The thermal noise greatly affects visual sensation. Therefore, with a fixed pattern noise initially taken in by the image memory 20 at the beginning of photographing, if the above-stated subtracting operation is carried on by using the initial noise value over a long period of time, the noise component of the output image signal would gradually increase.
To avoid this, the noise value stored in the image memory 20 must be renewed taking the fixed pattern noise again into the memory 20 by giving pause to the photographing operation before completion thereof. The renewal work is not only troublesome but also makes a long photographing operation impossible. Besides, the method of doing the renewal work is hardly a fundamental solution of the problem because the noise component of the output image signal gradually increases before the renewal work.


Machine and method for dispensing fluid coloring products, each having a different color, to form a finished product having a desired color tone corresponding to a determinate formula, wherein an electronic control circuit comprises a central process unit and two electronic actuation circuits, each configured to be selectively associated to each motorized pumping member of the delivery circuits, so as to selectively cause the simultaneous drive of two motorized pumping members. The central process unit is programmed so as to reduce to a minimum the overall delivery time, by selectively coupling each of the two electronic actuation circuits to one of the motorized pumping members, as a function of the formula corresponding to the desired color tone.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a machine and a method for dispensing fluid coloring products, or more simply colorants, for example liquids, into a base product for paints, varnishes, enamels, inks or suchlike, contained in a closed container, to obtain a finished product with a particular color tone. The latter is defined by a determinate formula, understood here as a sequence of delivery circuits to be activated and the corresponding delivery times, associated to the different colorants and in proportion with a particular volume of the base product. In particular, the machine and the method according to the present invention are able to optimize, in a programmed and automated manner, the overall delivery time (Tce) of the colorants as a function of the corresponding formula, using at the same time at most two delivery nozzles.
2. Description of Related Art
It is known that, in order to obtain a particular coloring product, such as for example a paint, we start from a base product, normally a neutral color or white, contained in a suitable closed container or tin, into which, after holing the lid, colored pigments are introduced, in relatively small quantities (usually not more than 10% in volume) by means of one or many nozzles, and according to a determinate dosage, so as to obtain the desired color tone.
From the European patent application EP-A-1439000 a machine is known for dispensing fluid coloring products each having a different color, to form a finished product with the desired color tone.
Currently, with the most advanced known machines, for example the one known as Corobox® produced and marketed by Applicant, it is possible to obtain more than 37,000 different color tones, combining a limited number of colored pigments, for example from 1 to 9, according to determinate formulas.
The above machine Corobox® is described in the international patent application WO-A-2011/161532 in the name of the Applicant, the content of which is incorporated here in its entirety.
Known machines for dispensing fluid coloring products, as defined above, normally comprise a number of tanks, in the range of ten and even more (for example 16), in each of which a determinate fluid coloring product or pigment or colorant is contained, with a determinate color, such as for example white, blue, red, cyan, yellow, magenta and black. Each tank or group of tanks containing a colorant of the same color is connected to a delivery circuit comprising a delivery nozzle and a motorized pumping member to selectively dose the coloring pigments in the desired quantity and to convey them toward the delivery nozzles.
The known technological solutions provide, as alternatives, either a so-called simultaneous dosage, in which all the delivery circuits associated with the coloring products to be delivered and calculated with the corresponding formula are activated simultaneously, or a so-called sequential dosage, in which only one delivery circuit is activated at a time. In this second case the different delivery circuits and the respective tanks are normally mounted on a rotatable support that is selectively made to rotate so as to take, on each occasion, a determinate delivery nozzle in correspondence with the container, which remains stationary in a determinate position.
In machines where the dosage is carried out simultaneously, each delivery circuit is controlled autonomously and independently by a corresponding electronic actuation circuit, so that the number of the latter is the same as that of the delivery circuits. This first type of machine, with simultaneous delivery, manages to obtain maximum productivity, and hence short overall delivery times, even if it has the disadvantage that it is complex and costly because it uses a number of electronic actuation circuits identical to the number of delivery circuits. In particular, in this first type of machine, the overall delivery time (Tce) is equal to the delivery time of the preponderant colorant (Tep).
In machines where the dosage is carried out sequentially, there is a single electronic actuation circuit, which activates the delivery circuit selected on each occasion. This second type of machine is simpler, but has the disadvantage that it has a rather low productivity, and hence rather high overall delivery times (Tce). In fact, in this second type of machine, the overall delivery time (Tce) is equal to the sum of the individual delivery times (Te1, Te2, . . . Ten) of all the fluid coloring products delivered, present in the corresponding formula.
Normally the formulas consist of three colorants, but they can reach a maximum of 16. There are also formulas with 1 or 2 colorants. For example, to obtain a determinate light red color, the typical formula is as follows: red colorant=40 ml; yellow colorant=15 ml; magenta colorant=4 ml, so that all in all 59 ml are delivered.
If we hypothesize that the pumping power of each pump associated with a tank is for example 10 ml/second, then the overall delivery time (Tce) in a simultaneous delivery machine is 4 seconds, while the overall delivery time of a sequential delivery machine is 5.9 seconds, given by the sum of 4 seconds to deliver the red color, plus 1.5 seconds to deliver the yellow, plus 0.4 seconds to deliver the magenta.


The present invention provides a neural stem cell having increased passage ability and a method for manufacturing a neural stem cell having increased passage ability. A neural stem cell in which the N-type calcium channel gene is knocked out or the influx of Ca2+ via the N-type calcium channel is substantially absent can be passaged for at least 4 generations and maintains the differentiation potential into a nerve cell even after passage for 4 generations.

It has been conventionally thought that regeneration of the central nervous system does not occur. However, the repent discovery of endogenous neural stem cells in adult brain has pointed out a possibility that nerve regeneration occurs even in a matured brain. For example, constitutive neurogenesis by neural stem cells has been previously shown in the subventricular/olfactory nervous system and the hippocampal dentate gyrus of an adult rat brain. Moreover, it is known that along with brain lesion, neural stem cells appear and proliferate at other sites such as the cerebral neocortex or the striatum, and therapeutic application of these neural stem cells that appeared and proliferated to cerebrospinal damage or neurodegenerative disease etc. is greatly expected (Non-Patent Literatures 1 and 2).
Animal neural stem cells are known to differentiate into nerve cells and glial cells (astrocytes and oligodendrocytes) (multipotency). Moreover, animal neural stem cells can reproduce cells hang the same multipotency by division (self-renewal ability).
Animal neural stem cells can be employed for regenerative medicine (such as transplantation therapy), and can also be employed as an assay tool (such as an assay tool for exploring differentiation control system). Accordingly, animal neural stem cells have gathered a great deal of attention, and various analyses are being performed on animal neural stem cells.
Animal neural stem cells can be cultured by adding a proliferative factor (EGF, FGF) (Non-Patent Literatures 3 and 4). When animal neural stem cells are employed for regenerative medicine or employed as an assay tool, (1) maintenance of the ability to be able to proliferate ("self-propagation ability" or simply "proliferation ability") or (2) maintenance of the ability to be able to produce nerve cells by differentiation induction ("differentiation potential into a nerve cell") and the like are essential.
However, neural stem cells are generally known with repeated passaging to (1) have reduced self-propagation ability, as well as (2) lose its differentiation potential into a nerve cell and become more prone to being differentiated into glial cells (Non-Patent Literature 5). Accordingly, a technology for continued passage of neural stem cells for a longer generation while maintaining both "self-propagation ability" and "differentiation potential into a nerve cell" is essential.
A non-human genetically modified animal having the N-type calcium channel gene knocked out is known. It is also known that said animal is employed for screening agents involved in the control of blood pressure, transmission of pain, control of blood glucose level, and the like (Patent Literatures 1 and 2). Inhibition of the function or expression of the N-type calcium channel in neural stem cells with an inhibitor to verify the inhibition state of neural activity is also known (Non-Patent Literature 6).

Neural stem cell having increased passage ability, method for manufacturing neural stem cell having said increased passage abiility, and method for culturing neural stem cells for increasing passage ability of neural stem cells


A dental tool device includes a rod, a pair of stops disposed in the rod, two protrusions formed on each of the stops, a tool having a stub engaged in the rod, and a block fixed to the stub of the tool, two cusps formed on the block, the cusps of the block are engaged between the protrusions of the stops when the block passes the stops and is rotated relative to the stops, the tool is disposable when it is disengaged from the rod.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tool, and more particularly to a dental tool assembly.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical dental tools, as shown in FIG. 5, comprise at least two tools 90, 92 having a pin element 91 and a mirror 93 provided on one end thereof respectively, the pin element 91 and the mirror 93 are each solidly fixed on a rod and can not be disengaged from the rod such that the pin element 91 and the mirror 93 can not be changed.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional dental tools.


The application provides a high voltage interlock circuit and a detection method thereof, the high voltage interlock circuit comprises: a signal isolation conversion module, and a fault detection module. The high voltage interlock device and the detection method thereof provided by the embodiments of the application can avoid the damage to the fault detection module caused by large external voltage, and improve the safety of the high voltage interlock device.

With the rapid development of new energy vehicles, people pay more and more attention to the safety of the new energy vehicles. The biggest difference between new energy vehicles and traditional vehicles is that new energy vehicles rely on high voltage and large current to provide power for vehicles, thus the high voltage safety problem cannot be ignored in the design of new energy vehicles. A common safety monitoring system for high voltage circuit is high voltage interlock device, which is mainly used to monitor on-off situation of various high voltage components (including high voltage connector, manual service disconnect (Manual Service Disconnect, MSD), or high voltage power supply equipment, etc.) in electric vehicles. Based to the detection situation, a vehicle controller can determine whether to disconnect the high voltage circuit, so that the vehicle is in a safe state.
In the existing detection scheme, the signals collected at both ends of high voltage components are directly input to a fault detection device. When there is a large external voltage, the fault detection device may be directly damaged, which is unable to guarantee the safety of the high voltage interlock device.

High voltage interlock device and detection method thereof

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited


A towing hitch assembly adapted to be connected to a towing unit and a towed unit is disclosed. In general, the towing hitch assembly comprises a support connector releasably attachable to a towing hitch of a towing vehicle and pivotally connected to at least two arms, a support structure adapted to be connected to the unit to be towed and pivotally connected to the arms, and at least two arms pivotally connected on one end to the support connector and pivotally connected on the other end to the support structure. The towing hitch assembly reduces jarring and other undesirable movement between the towing unit and the towed unit during operation.

There are a variety of mechanisms available to connect a towing unit such as a car, truck, or tractor-trailer with a unit desired to be towed, such as campers, boats, other small trailers, livestock trailers, and larger over-the-road trailers. Ball hitches, fifth wheel hitches, and tractor-trailer hitches are some examples of such existing mechanisms.
Regardless of the particular connection between the towing unit and the towed unit, the forces involving in towing frequently result in undesirable motion between the towing unit and the towed unit, including a back-to-back or jarring motion. For example, during acceleration or deceleration, the towing unit and the towed unit may get out of synchronization. That is, one unit may be accelerating at a greater rate than the other, or one unit may be decelerating at a greater rate than the other. This can create a jarring, back and forth motion between the towing unit and the towed unit. Rough roads, turns, and other variables during operation may also cause or increase the frequency, duration and/or extent of such motion.
Prior attempts to reduce, or smooth out, these undesirable forces in towing have not satisfactorily solved these issues. For example, air-ride truck-tractors, trailers with air-ride, and even air-ride cabs have been employed. Although these air-ride type of units may reduce a certain amount of undesirable vertical movement, they do not address the issue of back and forth jarring, which is a predominantly horizontal motion.
One proposed solution suspends a ball hitch of the towing vehicle on a swinging plate movably connected with swinging arms to a plate mounted to the rear of the towing vehicle. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,851,021. In that device, the swinging plate, and therefore the ball hitch itself, move forward and upward relative to the towing vehicle during acceleration, and move rearward and upward relative to the towing vehicle during deceleration. Although the swinging arms also are intended to move upward whether swinging fore or aft, the swinging plate and the ball hitch are intended to remain in constant angular orientation relative to the plate mounted to the rear of the towing vehicle. This device provides some reduction of the undesirable horizontal motion between a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle, but is overly active and lacks sufficient dampening under acceleration and deceleration.
Therefore, a need exists to reduce the amount of jarring between a towing unit and towed unit during operation, and particularly reduce the amount of non-vertical jarring during acceleration and deceleration.


The present disclosure provides reliable systems and methods for network notifications, i.e. Simple Network Management Protocol version 2 Protocol Data Unit (SNMPv2-Trap-PDU) messages, asynchronous notifications, InformRequest-PDU messages, and the like, between network elements, element managers, and other element managers. In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention includes a network management system and method with a plurality of network elements operating a management agent communicatively coupled to an element manager which in turn is communicatively coupled to another element manager, a network management system (NMS), an operations support system (OSS), or the like. The present invention may utilize SNMPv2 and/or v3, and includes various techniques and processes ensuring reliable notifications between any of the network elements, element managers, or the like in the network management system.

Data communication networks such as, for example, Ethernet networks include a plurality of interconnected network elements that are communicatively coupled to one or more element management systems (EMS) or network management systems (NMS). These data communication networks are evolving to support carrier-grade services. For example, such networks are being integrated within service provider's operations support systems (OSS) and the like. As such, network management of data communication networks is evolving towards carrier-grade capabilities. EMS/NMS systems associated with data communication networks may provide a variety of functions related to operations, administration, maintenance, and provisioning (OAM&P) such as receiving and managing alarms, configuring network elements, upgrading software or firmware, and the like. As described herein, reference is made to traps (e.g., Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) traps), and traps generally include a notification from one element in a network to another related to various events in the network. Conventionally, notifications between network elements and EMS/NMS systems are limited with respect to detection and re-alignment of the network traps/notifications. Further, similar problems exist with respect to traps/notifications between Network Managers. As the requirements evolve for data communication networks, there exists a need for reliable notification systems and methods over an unreliable transport layer (e.g., User Datagram Protocol (UDP)) ensuring receipt and correct alignment of all network management notifications, traps, and the like.

Reliable systems and methods for network notifications


An image processing apparatus for changing the size of image data of an original image, includes: a comparison part comparing an image information value which indicates predetermined image information of the original image, with a corresponding predetermined reference value which is previously set for each of the predetermined image information; and a sharing-ratio determining part which, based on a comparison result of the comparison part, determines a sharing ratio in processing for changing the size of the image data between a first processing way and a second processing way different from the first processing way.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a program by which an image processing, such as an image size-change processing or so can be performed on digital image data of an original image efficiently.
2. Description of the Related Art
Usually, with an image processing apparatus, such as a copying machine or a printer, an image is output or printed out after being changed in its size in many cases. For example, when printing out a photographic image taken with a digital camera via a printer, generally a change in size into an image suitable for the size of a printing paper may be performed.
A case where magnification processing (or enlargement processing) in which the number of pixels of an original image is increased will now be discussed, for example. For example, as shown in FIG. 1A, an original image which has an outline containing an edge portion of a 45-degree oblique line will now be discussed. In this case, it is assumed that this original image is increased twice in each dimension. That is, each pixel is multiplied into 4 pixels with the pixel value unchanged, for example. In this case, a black pixel 'a' of this figure turns into black pixels a1, a2, a3, and a4 as shown in FIG. 1B. In this case, a so-called jaggy phenomenon well-known occurs in a conspicuous manner as shown in FIG. 1B in which the edge part includes a shape like 'stair steps'.
In order to solve this problem, a so-called jaggy processing may be applied. By this jaggy processing, a jaggy phenomenon such as that mentioned above becomes less conspicuous. FIG. 2 shows a flow chart according to this scheme.
As shown, after inputting an image before a magnification process in this case (Step S1), predetermined image processing is performed (Step S2). In this case, without applying the scheme of simply multiplying each pixel into 4 pixels as mentioned above, a certain operation is performed by using pixel values of pixels surrounding the relevant pixel. Thereby, for example, from the original pixel 'a' shown in FIG. 1A, four pixels a1, a2, a3 and a4 are produced as shown in FIG. 1C. As shown, in this scheme, the pixel 'a' is not simply multiplied into four pixels each being a black pixel, but the thus-produced pixels a1, a2, a3 and a4 are those of one white pixel and other three black pixels. As can be seen clearly from FIGS. 1B and 1C, the jaggy phenomenon becomes less conspicuous accordingly. Thus, the edge part of 45-degree slant becomes smoother as shown in FIG. 1C (i.e., the above-mentioned 'stair steps' are made finer).
Such a jaggy processing which enables the above-mentioned operation is disclosed, for example, by Japanese laid-open patent application No. 2001-188900 filed by the present applicant.
Thus, it is possible by performing jaggy processing, to improve the quality of image of after the magnification. That is, originally the relevant 45-degree slant part is a smooth straight line of in a smooth photographic subject with a 45-degree slant, and, as a result of being taken by a digital camera, such a stair-like jaggy phenomenon occurs due to a quantization error in the digital camera according to a resolution performance thereof. Therefore, it can be said that, when the relevant image is expanded or magnified, the state shown in FIG. 1C is more similar to the original subject image than the state shown in FIG. 1B.
However, in case such a jaggy processing is performed as mentioned above, a certain operation or calculation should be performed for each pixel with reference to peripheral pixels as mentioned above. Accordingly, an extra processing time is needed for processing each pixel. Thereby, a considerable time is needed for processing the entire image consequently.
For a user, it is preferable that an image which expresses a photographic subject more precisely through such jaggy processing. However, in many case, a user also needs a reduction in the processing time taken. That is, in some case, for a user, no jaggy processing should be performed in case a very long processing time is needed therefor even when a resulting printed matter shows a somewhat serious jaggy phenomenon. Especially in a case where the size of original image data is very large, i.e., the data amount thereof is very large, a very long time may be required for the jaggy processing throughout the given image data accordingly. Such a condition may not be necessarily preferable for a user.
In order to solve this problem, a scheme disclosed by Japanese laid-open patent application No. 5-233789 may be applied. According to this scheme, as shown in FIG. 3, a magnification way is selected from among a way of Step S13 or a way of Step S15 for an original image according to a result of comparison of the data amount of the original image with a predetermined reference value (Step S11). However, according to this art, there is a possibility that a difference arises remarkably depending on which of the ways is thus selected from the above-mentioned comparison with respect to a required data processing time, an image quality of the thus-processed image, or so. When the data amount of the original image is in accident very near the above-mentioned reference value, the way to be selected differs according to a very small difference in the data amount, and, then, the required data processing time and/or the image quality of the thus-processed image may differ remarkably.
Such a tendency may become more remarkable with a recent increase in the resolution performance of the image input device or increase in the required image quality. That is, since thereby it becomes possible to input an original image with a large image data size at a high resolution, the data amount to be processed in size-change processing, such as a magnification, a size-reduction, etc. increases accordingly. For this reason, the time required to process the data concerned increases accordingly. When the time needed for the image data processing as a result becomes much larger, a situation which does not necessarily match a requirement of a user may occur with respect to a time which the user can permit.
Similar problem may occur not only in a case of image size magnification but also in a case of image size reduction for digitized image data. In a case of image size reduction, in terms of required data processing time, a way of image size reduction employing, so-called, a simple thinning-out processing may be advantageous. In this scheme, the number of pixels is simply reduced. However, in such a scheme, in which no special concern is made as to a color of each pixel, as to what a relation relating pixels have, or so, essential drawing information such as a thin line drawing may be lost in some case.
Such a problematic situation will now be described in a specific example. For example, a case where an original image of 8×8 pixel configuration shown in FIG. 4A is reduced to a half in size, or a ¼ in area, will now be discussed. In this case, a predetermined one is selected from among each unit of 4 pixels of 2×2, for example, such as those enclosed by broken lines in FIG. 4A, while the other three pixels are ignored. In order to simplify the description, it is assumed that, in an original image shown in FIG. 4A, pixels of halftone dots represent black pixels while pixels of blank squares represent white pixels. That is, as shown, the original image has a horizontal stripe pattern.
In this case, it is also assumed that a law or an algorithm is provided by which the top-left pixel is selected from among the four pixels of each 2×2 pixel unit in size-reduction process. As a result, the thus-size-reduced image is that shown in FIG. 4B. As shown, the image resulting becomes completely different from that before being thus processed shown in FIG. 4A. That is, the horizontal stripe pattern is lost and an entirely black painted image occurs.
FIGS. 5A and 5B shows another example in which the above-mentioned same law/algorithm of size reduction is applied to an original image which is almost the same as that in the example of FIG. 4A. In this case, as shown, on the contrary, the resulting image is of an entirely white painted image. Thus, in case the simple thinning-out-type size reduction is performed, the image resulting becomes completely different in impression only due to a difference in position of image pattern of the original image.
When reducing an image, unlike a case of magnification, the information amount of pixels is reduced absolutely, and, thereby, basically it is not possible to secure 100% of the original data. Accordingly, it is necessary to devise a certain special idea by which the outline of an original image is maintained for the purpose of substantially improving the image quality even through size reduction processing.
FIGS. 6A through 6C illustrate another example of a case the above-mentioned simple thinning-out-type size reduction scheme is applied, and a way of maintaining the outline of an original image. When the size reduction processing according to the simple thinning-out scheme is applied to an original image shown in FIG. 6A, a size-reduced image shown in FIG. 6B is obtained, for example, in which the outline of the original image is clearly damaged. In contrast thereto, a special idea may be applied in which each pixel after reduction is determined with reference to surrounding pixels of a target pixel before reduction. Thereby, a reduced image shown in FIG. 6C is obtained. In FIG. 6C, by utilizing intermediate image tone levels in addition to completely black and white pixels, the outline of the original image is maintained to a certain amount even in the reduced image, as shown.
Thus, by employing a technique of determining a pixel value after reduction processing using information of surrounding pixels, it is possible to maintain the impression of an original image to a some extent even after the reduction processing. However, when such a certain type of advanced image processing is performed and thus a loss of the original image data is substantially avoided as much as possible, the amount of processing required increases also in the reduction processing, and the processing speed will be degraded as in the case of above-mentioned magnification processing as a result.
The above-described art of the Japanese laid-open patent application No. 5-233789 may also be used as a way of solving of the above-mentioned problem, in which, the data amount/size of the original image is compared with a predetermined reference value, and according to the comparison result, a way of image size change applied is selected. However, also in the case of size reduction, with this technology, a remarkable difference may occur in a resulting image quality due to a difference in the way of processing currently selected, as mentioned with reference to FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C. Also, the same problem as that in a case of image magnification may occur such that the data processing time required and/or data quality obtained differs remarkably due to a small difference in the original data amount in case the data amount is very close to the predetermined reference value.

Image processing apparatus, image processing method and program


The slide support base 62 protrudes from the supporting wall 56 of the support recess 52 in the casing main body 14 and the tube-shaped support part 122 on the side of the toilet lid 100 is supported by and capable of sliding over its cylindrical surface 65a. The rotational pin 70 of the viscous resistance mechanism 80 protrudes from slide support base 62 and the rotational pin 70 fits in the fitting recess 132 on the side of the toilet lid 100. That is, the toilet lid 100 is pivotably supported to the casing main body 14 by two support structures. To remove the toilet lid 100 from the casing main body 14, the toilet lid is raised to the upright position and then applied with upward force to be pulled out. Since the opening 124 and the opening 136 are formed in the tube-shaped support part 122 and the fitting recess 132, the toilet lid 100 is removed from the casing main body through them.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a support structure for a toilet cover unit, by which the toilet cover unit that comprises a toilet seat and/or a toilet lid is supported while being raised or lowered freely against the toilet bowl main body.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the conventional support structure for toilet seats and/or toilet lids of this type, a device for cleaning facilitation by removal of the toilet seat or toilet lid from the toilet bowl has been proposed previously; an example of the known art is in the Japanese Patent Laying-open Gazette 61-49041 (1986). FIG. 23 is a perspective view drawing showing a western-style toilet bowl with some part of it cut away, and FIG. 24 is a lateral side drawing of and around a pivotable attachment part of the toilet seat and the toilet lid. In these figures, a western-style toilet bowl 500 is equipped with a sanitary washing unit 504 which has a wash water nozzle 502 to spray washing water. A toilet seat 508 is attached to the inside recesses of the main body 506 of the sanitary washing unit 504 by a pivotable shaft 512 so as to pivot freely. A toilet lid 520 is pivotably attached to the lateral surfaces of both ends of the pivotable shaft 512 by an elastically deformable attachment part 522. The attachment part 522 has a slide hole 526 which supports the pivotable shaft 512 so that it slides freely, and an opening 528 which is a cutaway matching the slide hole 526; the opening 528 is pressed open wider through elastic deformation to allow the pivotable shaft 512 to support the slide hole 526. The toilet lid 520 is thus pivotably attached to the main body 506 and detachable from the pivotable shaft 512 through the opening 528.
The attachment structure of the toilet lid 520, however, adopts the construction where the attachment part 522 is opened wider by the elastic deformation of the opening 528; therefore, the pivotable shaft 512 is difficult to be pressure-inserted into the opening 528 if the attachment part 522 is made excessively stiff for support whereas the strength of the attachment part 522 is degraded if the detachability of the toilet lid 520 is facilitated. Therefore, the construction of the attachment part 522 cannot simultaneously solve the problems of compatibility between a solid support and the facilitated attaching-detaching operations. Such problems as above also arise if the detachable structure of the toilet lid 520 is applied to the toilet seat 508.
A rotational-force resistance mechanism, where a resistant force is applied to the toilet seat, or the toilet lid, during pivotal movement in the lowering direction so as to descend slowly, has been known. This rotational-force resistance mechanism can improve the operational facility because the toilet seat or the toilet lid descends slowly when it is lowered.
However, no western-style toilet bowl which has both such a rotational-force resistance mechanism and a structure where the toilet seat or the toilet lid is easily attached and detached has been known.
The rotational-force resistance mechanism has a structure where the resistant force is generated through transmitting an applied energy of a spring or viscous resistance to the pivotable shaft; therefore, there has been a problem that trouble tends to be caused by the deformation of the parts such as the pivotable shaft if a large external force is applied to the toilet seat or the toilet lid and then transmitted to the pivotable shaft at the time of conveyance.

Support structure for a toilet cover unit


A method and apparatus for processing message is described. In one embodiment, an application programming interface is configured for receiving and sending messages. A multiplexer receives messages from different servers. A service name is coupled to each message with the corresponding destination service. A single shared channel is formed. The messages are processed over the single shared channel.

Group communication protocol designed for multicast communication may be used to communicate messages between endpoints forming a group. Communication endpoints can be processes or objects, or any entity that can send and receive messages to/from a group.
However, messages from different senders are conventionally processed in a First In First Out (FIFO) order in a single queue for incoming messages by one thread. The messages are processed sequentially in the order they are received. A bottleneck may thus be formed since every message has to wait for its turn to be processed accordingly.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Methods for increasing the amount of resveratrol in a peanut material are provided, comprising the steps of providing a peanut kernel, size-reducing the peanut kernel, abiotically stressing the size-reduced peanut kernel, and incubating the abiotically stressed size-reduced peanut kernel under conditions capable of increasing the amount of resveratrol in the size-reduced peanut kernel. Resveratrol-enhanced peanut compositions prepared according to these methods are also provided.

The present invention is directed to increasing resveratrol concentrations in peanuts and peanut products.
The antioxidative activity (AOA) provided by phenolic compounds has been shown to inhibit the oxidation of low density proteins (2), thereby decreasing heart disease risks (3). Phenolic compounds have also been shown to have anti-inflammatory (4) and anti-carcinogic activity (5).
Resveratrol (trans-3,5,4′-trihydroxystilbene), a stilbene phytoalexin, is a phenolic compound possessing antioxidant activity. Resveratrol has been shown to provide health-promoting activities such as lowering the incidence of coronary heat disease (6), provides cancer chemopreventive activity (7) and is a phytoestrogen exhibiting variable degrees of estrogen receptor agonism (8).
Resveratrol can be found in two isomeric forms trans- and cis-resveratrol. Trans-resveratrol is the isomer most abundantly found in nature. However trans-resveratrol is transformed into the cis-isomer after exposure to UV light. Production of resveratrol in plants occurs as a defense response to exterior stress.
Various biotic and abiotic treatments have been shown to increase AOA, total phenolic compounds, and resveratrol concentration in plant material. Biotic factors such as cultivar type (9-11), maturity level (9-11) and microbial exposure have been tested for their elicitation effect on peanuts. In addition abiotic factors such as wounding by slicing in peanut (11, 17, 18), ultraviolet (UV) light exposure on grape and peanut leaves (15, 16, 19-21), ultrasound (22) exposure applied to Panax ginseng cells, and processing methods, such as roasting of peanuts (23), have also been studied as elicitors. Among these methods only the effect of slicing on resveratrol synthesis was studied on peanut kernels.
In one study, the AOA of methanolic extracts of peanut hulls was found to be 94.8 to 93.9% in peanuts harvested at 74 to 144 d after planting (9). In a later study (10), the AOA of methanolic extracts of peanut hulls from Spanish, Valencia, and Runner, and Virginia cultivars were found to be 96.1, 96.8, 96.1 and 96.6%, respectively. These studies show that neither maturity level (9) nor cultivar (10) significantly affects the AOA of methanolic extracts of peanut hulls.
In another study, UV light held at a distance of 110 mm from the surface of methanolic extracts of peanut hull powder for 0, 3, and 6 days resulted in an AOA of 99.7, 96.5, and 96.5%, respectively (24). The findings indicated that UV light had no significant effect on AOA (24). In yet another study, Hwang et al. (23) showed that peanuts roasted at 180° C. for up to 60 min provided remarkable AOA for linoleic acid in emulsion and their antioxidative effect relatively increased with roasting time from 10 to 60 min.
The total phenolic compound concentration of peanut kernels has not been reported in the literature. However, the total phenolic compound concentration has been determined in peanut hulls (9, 10) and defatted peanut flour (25). Yen and Duh (10) concluded that the difference in the amount of total phenolic compounds due to cultivar type was negligible, and that the difference was due to maturity, with more mature peanuts having higher concentrations of total phenolics. Duh and Yen (24) determined the effect of UV light exposure on extracts of peanut hull powder. They found that UV light exposure significantly decreased (p<0.05) the amount of total phenolic compounds to 7.80, 7.53 and 7.05 mg/g after exposure to UV light for 0, 3, and 6 d, respectively (24).
Red wine is one of the most common food sources of resveratrol, at an amount of 0.99-5.01 mg/L (26). Trans-resveratrol has also been identified in peanut kernels and processed peanut products. Roasted peanuts contain the lowest content of resveratrol, 0.055±0.023 μg/g, peanut butter contains a significantly higher amount, 0.324±0.129 μg/g, and boiled peanuts have the highest concentration, 5.138±2.849 μg/g (27).
Peanut kernels inoculated with microorganisms are usually sliced (12, 13) or ground (14) prior to treatment. Ingham (12) found that after slicing the ends of peanut kernels, inoculating with Helminthosporium carbonum increased resveratrol from 0 to 38-55 μg/ml after incubation for 24 h at 22° C. Aguamah et al. (13) reported that three phytoalexins increased in peanut kernels soaked in water overnight, sliced, exposed to their natural microflora and incubated. Sobolev et al. (14) later found that fully-imbibed peanut kernels ground into 3-5 mm pieces and inculcated with Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, contained 30 μg/g of resveratrol after incubation.
Microbial exposure has been shown to be an effective elicitor for resveratrol in peanut kernels (12-14). However, such treatment can leave the final product unsafe and inedible. To eliminate microbial influence on the synthesis of resveratrol in peanuts stressed by size-reduction, kernels were surface sterilized with 20% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (18) and 5% sodium hypochlorite (11) prior to stress application. Cooksey et al. (17) found surface sterilized (20% H2O2) fully-imbibed peanuts sliced 2 mm thick increased resveratrol concentration. These findings indicate that the occurrence of phytoalexins in peanuts is of potential significance as a defense response against mycotoxigenic fungi of the Aspergillus flavus group (17). Arora and Strange (11) also found that sterilized (5% sodium hypochlorite) fully-imbibed, sliced (1-2 mm) peanut kernels increased resveratrol concentration after incubation for 48 h at 20° C.
Exposure to UV light increased synthesis of resveratrol in grape leaves from 0 to 50-100 μg/g after incubation (16). Grapes exposed to UV light contained 50-233.38 and 150.03-400.08 μg/g, respectively (19). Cantos et al. (20) found that mature grapes exposed for 30 min to UV light at a wavelength of 254 nm and incubated for 10 d at 0° C., followed by 5 additional days at 5° C. synthesize higher resveratrol concentrations of 100 μg/g compared to peanuts exposed to UV light at 340 nm resulting in 65 μg/g of resveratrol.
In a more recent study, Cantos et al. (21) developed and characterized an induction modeling method for resveratrol synthesis using UV irradiation pulses on Napoleon table grapes with industrial applicability. The authors found that grapes exposed to UV light at a distance of 40 cm produced higher resveratrol concentrations than at 20 cm, indicating that the UV signal was too strong at the lower distance and the resveratrol "biosynthetic system" was damaged (21). At a distance of 60 cm the induction of resveratrol was delayed compared to that at 40 cm, making the method less feasible for industrial application. Results also showed that the time to achieve the maximum resveratrol level exponentially decreased versus irradiation power. Final selection of optimum conditions was based on economic criteria and included a wavelength of 254 nm (510 W) for 30 s at a distance of 40 cm, which increased resveratrol from 10 μg/g to 115 μg/g (21).
Ultrasound has not been applied specifically as a resveratrol elicitor; however ultrasound has been successfully used in Panax ginseng cells (power density below 82 mW/cm3, 1-4 min) to stimulate the biosynthesis of a secondary metabolite, ginsenoside saponins (22). Cells exposed to ultrasound at a power density of 3.4, 13.7, 34.1, 61.4 and 81.8 mW/cm3 increased saponin concentration from 0.0436 g/L in control cells to a maximum of 0.747, 0.783, 0.775, 0.830 and 0.640 g/L, respectively, after 14 d at 25° C. (22). This study showed that the total ultrasound emitted (i.e., the product of ultrasound power and exposure time) showed a significant correlation with secondary metabolite production.

Method for enhancing resveratrol content of peanut compositions

University of Georgia Research Foundation Inc.


A system comprising a voltage controlled oscillator is disclosed. The voltage controlled oscillator includes a single input, a power input, and an oscillation input. The oscillation input is coupled to a amplitude detection device, which in turn provides an indication of an amplitude of the output of the VCO to a threshold detect module. Based upon the threshold detected at the threshold detect module, a threshold indicator is provided to a voltage supply module. The voltage supply powering the voltage controlled oscillator is varied, based upon a value of the threshold indicator.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure is generally related to semiconductor devices and more particularly to signal-controlled oscillators.
2. Description of the Related Art
Radio communication devices, such as cellular telephones, usually include a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) as part of their circuitry. To produce the highest quality output signal, noise in the output signal of the VCO should be minimized. However, the reduction of current drain, for example, to extend battery life of a device, generally counteracts efforts to reduce noise at the output of a VCO. In addition, the desirable VCO qualities of guaranteed start-up and wide tuning bandwidth also create design trade-off problems with noise minimization. One method of reducing current drain is for the supply voltage to the VCO to be just large enough to support a specific application. However this practice can prevent the VCO from starting up properly when power is initially applied. A large supply voltage ensures that the oscillator will start in a predictable manner, while too small of a supply voltage may not provide enough energy to cause oscillation to begin. However, large supply voltages consume more power, which requires larger on-chip devices that increase parasitic capacitance and current drain, while reducing the Q and adversely affecting the tuned bandwidth of a system.
Another method of controlling output amplitude, and therefore current drain and noise, of a VCO is to provide a feedback signal that controls and limits the gain of the oscillator. This feedback signal however, is itself a source of additional noise and can require significant overhead to support applications with different output requirements. For example, a transmit VCO for GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) technology would have a different operating requirement than that for WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access).
Therefore, a system and/or method which limits these problems would be advantageous.
The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items.


The apparatus which predicts the onset of thunderstorm and the occurrence of close thunderbolts, includes a composite sensor with several metal pipes radially installed with equal separation on a hemispherical electrode. A plurality of corona needles are provided on the insulator at the end of each metal pipes, and the needles are electrically connected together within the composite sensor. The hemispherical electrode is connected to a circuit that counts the number of electric field-changes for certain time intervals. In case the receiving frequency exceeds the pre-determined level, it issues a first alarm. The groups of corona needles are connected to the circuit that measures the corona current, and issues a second alarm, in case the current a pre-determined level. In addition, the circuit includes circuitry that picks up the large amplitude corona current changes that the polarity change and issues the thunderbolt warning.. The apparatus thus has the ability to issue three different types of alarms to indicate, first that thunderclouds are approaching from a distance, second that thunderclouds are coming closer or are developing overhead, and finally that thunderbolts are approaching very close.

This invention relates to a thunder alarm developed for the purposes of minimizing the occurrence of lightning accidents, such as death and injury, within a limited area which accommodates a large number of visitors, audiences, players, etc., and reducing lightning troubles in a place where numerous computers and electronic gadgets are used, by means of forecasting the approach of thundercloud in proper leading time and informing their lightning activities correctly.
In recent years, automation in factories, research laboratories, and offices has developed remarkably and the number of computers and sophisticated electric gadgets has also increased. Therefore, the prevention of computer troubles caused by lightning, has become a important task.
Factories and offices using many computers urgently need proper thunder alarms that can foretell the outbreak and the approach of thunderstorms and issue an adequate warning in good time, so that operators in such factories and offices can take effective counter-measures beforehand, such as switching the computers' power line to an installed power generator or saving data into floppy disks to protect handling memories.
Therefore, reliable thunder alarms are in contemporary demand.
As to conventional methods of lightning forecast, there are a radar method, a radio wave reception method, an electric field measurement method, etc.


One or a plurality of branch paths (3) having opening end portions (2) formed in the vicinity of an inner wall surface of a main path (1) through which a fluid flows so as to point the upstream or downstream side of the main path, and causing part of the fluid running in the vicinity of the inner wall surface of the main path to flow therethrough via the opening end portions, to thereby detect flow rates of the fluids running through the branch paths by using a thermal flow sensor (4). Preferably, a plurality of opening end portions (2a) pointed toward the upstream side or a plurality of opening end portions (2b) pointed toward the downstream side are arranged at regular intervals along the path cross section of the main path around the axis of the main path, to thereby measure a fluid flow with high accuracy.

In recent years, low-NOx high-efficiency combustion, such as fully-premixed combustion, has been promoted, and it is required to accurately control the supply amount of fuel gas and air (hereinafter referred to as gas) to be supplied to, for example, a gas burner or a gas engine. To achieve such control, it is important to detect the flow rate of the gas (that means fuel gas or combustion air) supplied to a gas burner and the like with high accuracy.
For a flow detector for detecting the flow rate of gas (fluid), for example, Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 4-230808 discloses one in which a pair of temperature sensors arranged with/without a heater therebetween in the gas-flowing direction are provided onto the inner wall of a main path to be exposed. This thermal flowmeter detects temperature distribution that is changed by the flow velocity of the gas by a temperature difference detected by the temperature sensors, to thereby measure the mass flow rate of the gas according to the temperature difference. In the thermal flowmeter, however, a heater and the temperature sensors are brought into direct contact with the gas running through the main path. Therefore, the thermal flowmeter is not suitable for the flow rate measurement of the gas having a high temperature of, for example about 300 degrees centigrade, in respect of heat resistance. Moreover, in the thermal flowmeter, a detection output with respect to an increase in gas flow shows a curved alteration characteristic, so that an area in which the flow and the detection output are considered to be in a proportional relation is narrow. For this reason, if the flow is to be detected in a relatively wide area, calculation for converting the detection output showing the curved alteration characteristic with respect to the flow into a linear alteration characteristic is required.
Disclosed in, for example, Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 10-307047 is an orifice-type flowmeter in which an orifice (throttle) is disposed in a path, to thereby detect a gas flow rate by pressure (differential pressure) detected through the orifice. This orifice-type flowmeter is so constructed as to shunt part of the fluid flowing through the main path into a branch path. Therefore, even a high-temperature gas can be detected after being refrigerated in the branch path. On the other hand, in the orifice-type flowmeter, a throttle ratio of the gas path which is obtained by the orifice needs to fall in the range of from about 0.1 to 0.8, which is surely accompanied by pressure loss.
Furthermore, it is necessary that an inflow-side opening end portion of the branch path be disposed on the upper stream side of the orifice, and an outflow-side opening end portion be disposed on the lower stream side separately. As a result, it is certain that the inflow-side opening end portion and the outflow-side opening end portion are positioned apart from each other at some distance in the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, in case that there generates oscillation in the gas flow in the main path due to combustion or the like, the oscillation occasionally cannot be detected by the orifice-type flowmeter. In other words, the orifice-type flowmeter has the disadvantage that oscillation at a specific frequency corresponding to the distance between the inflow-side opening end portion and the outflow-side opening end portion cannot be detected. This phenomenon is attributable to the fact that the pressure of the inflow-side opening end portion and that of the outflow-side opening end portion are equalized, so that there generates no flow in the branch path.


Techniques and mechanisms for a memory device to concurrently receive and process signals each based on a different respective reference voltage level. In an embodiment, an input/output (I/O) interface of a memory device includes receiver circuits each to process a respective signal received via a corresponding signal line of a bus. In response to one or more configuration commands, a first receiver circuit is configured to process a first signal based on a first reference voltage level and a second receiver circuit is configured to process a second signal based on a second reference voltage level. In another embodiment, a memory controller sends the one or more configuration commands to such a memory device based on an evaluation of voltage swing characteristics each corresponding to a different respective signal line of a bus.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the invention are generally related to memory systems, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to the configuring of reference voltages for a memory device.
2. Background Art
Integrated circuit technologies continue to evolve. Computing and communications designs are incorporating more functionality, higher processing and transmission speeds, smaller feature sizes, more memory, etc., into smaller and more robust architectures. Semiconductor memories in particular are evolving at a rapid pace. Memory devices have reduced power requirements, increased capacities, increased operating frequencies, reduced latencies, etc., all while ramping with the exponential density increases according to Moore's Law.
To reduce power or otherwise scale performance, double-data-rate (LPDDR 4), cross point memory, phase change memory (PCM) and other memory technologies are incorporating various features such as alternative termination schemes. Such schemes, which can include VDDQ or VSSQ termination, typically provide for relatively simple memory management for power efficiency under various usage models. However, these termination schemes tend to come at the expense of other performance considerations such as receive-side management of I/O signal errors. One cause of this is the susceptibility of such termination to the effects of variation in integrated circuit fabrication processing which, in turn, can reduce signaling performance. This is one reason for the growing need to provide improved techniques and mechanisms for memory systems to account for signal variation.

Apparatus, method and system for determining reference voltages for a memory


A sintered aluminum nitride contains rare earth elements (RE) in amounts of from 3 to 10% by weight in terms of RE.sub.2 O.sub.3, alkaline earth elements (R) in amounts of from 0.3 to 3.0% by weight in terms of RO, and silicon atoms in an amount of from 0.3 to 1.0% by weight in terms of SiO.sub.2, the grain boundaries of AlN crystals being chiefly a YAG type crystalline phase. The sintered product is obtained by firing at a temperature as low as 1700.degree. C. or lower, has a thermal conductivity of not smaller than 60 W/m.cndot.K, loses weight in an amount of not more than 10 mg/cm.sup.2 when it is left to stand in a 4N NaOH aqueous solution maintained at 70.degree. C. for one hour, and exhibits excellent resistance against the alkalis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sintered aluminum nitride used as insulated boards of circuit boards or semiconductor packages. More particularly, the invention relates to a sintered aluminum nitride which can be fired at a low temperature and exhibits excellent resistance against chemicals and favorable thermal conductivity.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, known semiconductor devices are generating more heat accompanying a trend toward highly densely integrating the semiconductor elements. In order to eliminate malfunction of such semiconductor devices, it has become necessary to use a board which radiates heat out of these devices. However, an alumina material that has heretofore been used for the boards has a thermal conductivity which is as small as about 20 W/m.cndot.K. Attention, therefore, has been given to aluminum nitride having a high thermal conductivity. In its single crystalline form, the aluminum nitride has a theoretical thermal conductivity of as large as 320 W/m.cndot.K. In recent years, a sintered aluminum nitride has been developed having a thermal conductivity of not smaller than 200 W/m.cndot.K.
Such a sintered aluminum nitride is prepared by firing at a temperature of not lower than 1800.degree. C. by adding, as a sintering assistant, a rare earth element compound (Japanese Patent Publication No. 46032/1988) or an alkaline earth element compound (Japanese Patent Publication No. 49510/1983, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10071/1986).
According to this method, however, the cost of production increases due to wear of jigs used for the firing, structure of the firing furnace and running costs. In order to decrease the cost of production, therefore, a firing method has been proposed at a temperature of as low as 1600.degree. to 1700.degree. C. by simultaneously adding a rare earth element compound and an alkaline earth element compound as sintering assistants (Japanese Patent Publications Nos. 49613/1994 and 17454/1995).
In producing the products such as packages by using a sintered product obtained by simultaneously adding a rare earth element compound and an alkaline earth element compound thereto, however, the sintered product is deteriorated in the step of plating due to chemicals such as acids and alkalis permitting its surfaces to be coarsened or discolored. In particular, the aluminum nitride itself dissolves in an alkaline chemical and is deteriorated to a conspicuous degree. Due to the firing at a low temperature, furthermore, the color tone on the surface of the sintered products tends to be whitened.


Application setting virtualization for a user. Application settings from a source computer are copied to a user-specific location on a destination computer and layered under corresponding application settings associated with one or more applications installed on the destination computer. In response to receiving a request from an application for an application setting, the requested application setting is retrieved from the layered application settings such that the layers are searched in order for the requested application setting and the first application setting found is retrieved and returned to the requesting application.

Computer users often change the computers because of hardware failures, upgrades to newer hardware, and the like. In such situations, a user usually wishes to transfer custom changes made on one computer to the next to reduce loss of productivity. These changes, collectively referred to as user state, include the user's documents and the changes he or she has made to operating system and application settings.
Computer administrators are normally charged with the task of gathering the user state for future restoration on a replacement computer or upgraded computer. Generally, script driven migration tools are available but require an administrator to identify the location of files and registry keys that make up the user state. Once the administrator provides the required location information to the migration tool, the tool gathers the files and registry keys for the administrator.
However, it can be difficult for an administrator to identify the location of application settings because there is no standard location for storing them. In other words, each application determines the storage location of its settings. The typical storage locations of application settings include a central database of the operating system (e.g., the registry) or a file system of the computer. Also, there is no easy way to distinguish the settings of an application from other information, so even exhaustive searches of the central database or the file system will not necessarily yield the required information. Typically, because of all the uncertainty, the migration of application settings is a difficult and time consuming process.
One approach to migrating application settings requires the administrator to author a separate migration script for each application to be migrated. Given that authoring migration scripts is not easy (as discussed in the previous paragraph) and that typical enterprises have hundreds if not thousands of distinct applications whose settings are to be migrated, this approach is clearly not scalable. As a compromise, most administrators usually end up migrating the settings of applications supported out of the box by the migration tool and author extra scripts for the most important subset of their enterprise applications. Unfortunately, the rest of the application settings are simply not migrated.
Another approach is to copy all setting from the central database and the file system directories associated with the applications. However, in addition to migrating the required settings, this approach will migrate the settings of applications that should not be migrated as well (e.g., applications that have been previously removed from the source computer or applications that will not be installed on the new computer). Also, machine specific information such as settings of operating system components would also be migrated causing the destination computer to be improperly configured. For example, suppose the database contains the user's file type-to-application mapping (e.g., the information that .wav files should be opened with a particular audio player). If this setting is migrated and the particular audio player is not installed on the destination computer, opening a .wav file on the destination computer would produce undesirable results.

Application settings migration using virtualization


When a computer determines that an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal are simultaneously stepped based on the signals from the accelerator position sensor and a brake switch, the first switch is turned off so that the accelerator sensor signal which will be transmitted into the computer is compulsorily made zero. A throttle-position command value which will be transmitted from the computer into a throttle actuator is reduced to a value corresponding to the idling state. If an engine output is not reduced, the computer turns off a second switch so that a throttle actuator is de-energized. A throttle valve is compulsorily brought into a position corresponding to an idling state by a biasing force of a throttle return spring.

For example, JP-2005-291030A describes a vehicle control system in which an engine is compulsorily brought into idling state when an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal are simultaneously stepped over a specified amount.
However, it is not specifically described how to bring the engine into idling state when an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal are simultaneously stepped. Generally, regarding a gasoline engine equipped with an electronic throttle system, following techniques can be conceivable as an output-reducing control by which the engine is brought into idling state.
(1) An accelerator signal input is set to zero so that a throttle-valve command value, which is transmitted to a throttle actuator, is decreased to a value corresponding to idling state.
(2) A throttle-valve command value transmitted to a throttle actuator is compulsorily decreased to a value corresponding to idling state.
(3) A throttle actuator is deenergized so that a throttle valve is compulsorily closed by a biasing force of a throttle return spring.
(4) A fuel injection is not intermittently performed to reduce an engine output.
(5) An ignition is not intermittently performed to reduce an engine output.
However, in the above output-reducing controls (4) and (5), it is likely that exhaust gas becomes rich or lean so that emission is increased and a catalyst is deteriorated.
Also, in the above output-reducing controls (2) and (3), other controls, such as traction control, electronic stability control, and cruise control are canceled by the output-reducing control. Thus, the throttle valve is compulsorily closed, whereby drivability may be deteriorated.
In the above output-reducing control (1), since the accelerator signal input is compulsorily changed, it is likely that the engine output can not be sufficiently decreased due to other inputs.


A method and system for diagnostic preservation of the state of resources in a computer system after a failure is disclosed. An aspect of the invention is directed to the real-time diagnostic analysis of a computer system after a failure, in which the state of resources needed for the diagnostic analysis are preserved from the time of the failure. The computer system is then accessed by using other resources on the computer system, and the preserved resources are analyzed to debug the failure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to computer systems. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a method and system for diagnostic preservation of the state of a computer system after a failure.
2. Background
Computer systems employ a variety of error handling procedures to address the occurrence of a system or application failure. Often, the error handling procedures perform actions that are designed to aid in the later "debugging" or diagnostic analysis of the failure.
One common approach taken by error handling procedures to assist in debugging a failure is to perform a "core dump" operation after the occurrence of a system or application failure. A core dump operation generates a core dump file, which is an image of the system memory at the time of the core dump. The system memory information in the core dump file contains data relating to the identity and state of pending application processes on the system. The core dump operation is normally performed at the moment the failure is detected, so that the state of the system memory at the time of the failure is preserved for future analysis. Analysis of the core dump file can be performed to assist in debugging the underlying programming or system errors that caused the failure.
One significant drawback to debugging using core dump analysis is that under certain circumstances, the core dump file may not contain enough information about the state of the system to sufficiently debug a failure. For example, since the core dump file only contains an image of the system memory, the state of other resources on the system, such as network and I/O resources, are not preserved in the core dump file. Successful debugging operations using core dump analysis may be rendered impractical or impossible if the state of these other resources are needed to fully perform an analysis of the failure.
In addition, core dump files are typically very large files that are notoriously difficult to analyze. Even with advanced core dump analysis tools, debugging a failure by analyzing a core dump file remains a very involved and complex process. Moreover, since the computer system's main memory can be quite large, generating one or more core dump files can consume a costly amount of disk space. A significant amount of time may need to be consumed to generate the core dump file, which can delay recovery and error handling operations on the system. Under certain circumstances, an application that is completely frozen may not be able to execute error handling procedures to generate a core dump file, thereby leaving no record of the state of the system at the time of failure for future diagnosis purposes.
To address these issues, an aspect of the present invention is directed to a method for diagnosing failures on a computer system without the need to generate and analyze core dump files. Failures can be diagnosed by performing real-time debug operations onto a live computer system, to directly analyze and examine the system resources of the failed system. In this manner, failures can be analyzed without the use of core dump files.
To effectively perform real-time debugging on a live computer system after a failure, the states of system/application resources must be properly preserved from the moment of a failure. A significant problem in implementing this aspect of the invention on conventional computer systems is that resources on the computer system may be modified or reallocated subsequent to a failure. For example, error handling procedures on conventional computers systems commonly change the state of resources on computer systems after a failure, often in an attempt to maintain the continued availability of the system to users.
One approach to achieving continued availability of a computer application after a failure is to utilize "fail-over" procedures. With fail-over procedures, each primary computer is associated with one or more redundant computers on a network. If a failure occurs on a primary computer, the network address and other identification settings for that primary computer are moved over to a backup computer. All further requests to that system will thereafter be directed to the backup computer, which effectively becomes the new primary computer.
Conventional fail-over techniques are optimized around application availability, with the goal to regain access for users as quickly as possible on a redundant computer, and to repair the failed computer so that it can act as a standby should a new failure occur to the redundant computer (which is the new primary). However, such techniques often involve changes to the state of system resources on the failed computer, causing modification or reallocation of resources that may be needed to debug/diagnose the cause of the failure. Moreover, the diagnostic analysis operations themselves will require the use of system resources, thereby potentially causing changes or modifications to resources that must be examined to diagnose the failure. Conventional systems do not provide a method or mechanism to prevent the change or destruction of the state of resources that need to be analyzed in real-time during the debug operations.
Based upon the foregoing, it is desirable to provide a mechanism and method for handling a failure on a computer system that preserves the state of resources on the system for diagnostic purposes.

Method and system for diagnostic preservation of the state of a computer system


A step apparatus for a vehicle having a door and a rocker panel includes a step disposed at and in operable communication with the door, wherein the step has a retracted position in response to the door being closed and a deployed position in response to the door being at least partially open. The vehicle has a first ground clearance in response to the door being closed and the step retracted and a second ground clearance in response to the door being open and the step deployed. The first ground clearance, which is defined by the vehicle and is independent of the step apparatus, is equal to or greater than the second ground clearance.

The present disclosure relates generally to a step apparatus for a vehicle and method of operation thereof, and particularly to a step apparatus in operable communication with a door of the vehicle.
Vehicles having high road clearance, such as trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUV's) for example, and especially high-road-clearance vehicles suitable for non-off-road use, may be provided with permanent or retractable steps at one or more doorways for assisting a passenger who is embarking or disembarking the vehicle. While permanent or retractable steps may be suitable for their intended purpose, either type of step may result in some loss of ground clearance that may not be desirable. A permanent step may have a limited tread width as defined by the overall vehicle width, and a retractable step may have limited horizontal and vertical displacement between retracted and deployed positions. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a step apparatus for a vehicle that overcomes these drawbacks.

Vehicle step apparatus and method of operation thereof