All The Claims

1. A method for cone beam computed tomography, the method comprising:
moving a digital radiation detector along at least a portion of a detector path, the at least a portion of the detector path extending so that the digital radiation detector is configured to move at least partially around a first extremity of a patient, the detector path having a distance D1 that is sufficiently long to allow the first extremity to be positioned within the detector path;
moving a radiation source along at least a portion of a source path outside the detector path, the source path having a distance D2 greater than the distance D1, the distance D2 being sufficiently long to allow adequate radiation exposure of the first extremity for an image capture by the digital radiation detector;
moving the radiation source at a source position along the source path in correspondence to a detector position for the detector along the detector path during the image capture; and
providing a first gap in the detector path.
2. The method according to claim 1, where the detector path, the detector, the source path and the radiation source are within a housing.
3. The method according to claim 1, comprising providing a second gap in the source path sized to allow a second, adjacent extremity to be positioned in the second gap during the image capture, the first gap having a circumferential length sufficient to allow the first extremity to pass through the first gap.
4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a foot support that is adjustable for foot placement at an angular position that is horizontal, vertical, or at some angle that lies between horizontal and vertical, where the foot support is positioned operatively adjacent to the detector path.
5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising moving the source and detector along the first extremity or rotating the detector path and source path to a vertical or other angular orientation.
6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising revolving the source path and independently revolving the detector path, where the detector path can revolve to align the first gap with a second gap in the source path.
7. The method according to claim 6, where the first and second gaps each extend approximately 180 degrees plus the fan angle determined by radiation source and detector geometry and distance.
8. The method according to claim 1, where detector path and the source path are rigidly connected or movably connected.
9. An apparatus for cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), the apparatus comprising:
a digital radiation detector;
a first device to move the detector along at least a portion of a detector path, the at least a portion of the detector path extending so that the detector is configured to move at least partially around an imaging position of the CBCT apparatus, the detector path having a distance D1 that is sufficiently long to allow the imaging position of the CBCT apparatus to be positioned within the detector path;
a radiation source;
a second device to move the source along at least a portion of a source path outside the detector path, the source path having a distance D2 greater than the distance D1, the distance D2 being sufficiently long to allow adequate radiation exposure of the imaging position of the CBCT apparatus for an image capture by the detector; and
a first gap in the detector path.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9, where the detector path and the detector are within a first housing, and where the source path and the radiation source are within a second housing.
11. The apparatus according to claim 9, comprising a second gap in the source path sized to allow a second, adjacent extremity to be positioned in the second gap during the image capture, the first gap having a circumferential length sufficient to allow a first extremity of the patient to pass through the first gap into the imaging position of the CBCT apparatus.
12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first and second devices maintain the radiation source at a source position along the source path in correspondence to a detector position for the detector along the detector path during the image capture.
13. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a foot support that is adjustable for foot placement at an angular position that is horizontal, vertical, or at some angle between horizontal and vertical, where the foot support is operatively adjacent the detector path.
14. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a third device configured to move the source and detector along the first extremity and configured to rotate the detector path and source path to a vertical or other angular orientation.
15. The apparatus according to claim 9, where the first device is revolvable, where the second device is revolvable, and when the second device is revolved to one position a second gap in the source path is configured to align with the first gap.
16. The apparatus according to claim 15, where the first and second gaps each extend approximately 180 degrees plus the fan angle determined by radiation source and detector geometry and distance.
17. The apparatus according to claim 9, where the first device and the second device are the same device or the first device and the second device are movably connected.
18. The apparatus according to claim 9, comprising a second gap in the source path sized to allow a first extremity of the patient to pass through the second gap and a housing for the source path to correspond to the second gap, where the first gap has a circumferential length sufficient to allow the first extremity to pass through the first gap.
19. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a third device configured to adjust the source and detector along the first extremity or to adjust the detector path and source path to a vertical or other angular orientation.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An intra-prediction module for use in a video encoder that encodes a video signal including picture data, the intra-prediction module comprising:
an intra-prediction preprocessor configured to process a plurality of pixels of blocks of the picture data to determine edge strength data and edge angle range data corresponding to the plurality of pixels of the blocks, and further to generate intra-prediction candidate data, wherein the intra-prediction candidate data indicates a first subset selected from a plurality of intra-prediction partitions and a second subset selected from a plurality of intra-prediction modes generated from the edge strength data and the edge angle range data; and
a final intra-prediction processor, coupled to the intra-prediction preprocessor, that determines final intra-prediction data, based on rate distortion based costs of the intra-prediction candidate data.
2. The intra-prediction module of claim 1 wherein the intra-prediction preprocessor selects the first subset based on an accumulation of edge strength data for each pixel having a common one of a plurality of possible edge angle range values.
3. The intra-prediction module of claim 2 wherein the intra-prediction preprocessor evaluates a plurality of prediction block sizes.
4. The intra-prediction module of claim 3 wherein the intra-prediction preprocessor determines, for a selected one of the plurality of prediction block sizes, an edge angle range value of the plurality of possible edge angle range values having a second highest accumulation of edge strength data, compares the second highest accumulation of edge strength data to a threshold and excludes a partitioning of the selected one of the plurality of prediction block sizes from the first subset when the second highest accumulation of edge strength data compares favorably to the threshold.
5. The intra-prediction module of claim 3 wherein the intra-prediction preprocessor determines, for a selected one of the plurality of prediction block sizes and for each partitioned subblock of the selected one of the plurality of prediction block sizes, an edge angle range value of the plurality of possible edge angle range values having a highest accumulation of edge strength data, compares the highest accumulation of edge strength data for the selected one of the plurality of prediction block sizes to a sum of the highest accumulation of edge strength data for each partitioned subblock and includes a partitioning of the selected one of the plurality of prediction block sizes in the first subset when the highest accumulation of edge strength data for the selected one of the plurality of prediction block sizes compares unfavorably to the sum of the highest accumulation of edge strength data for each partitioned subblock.
6. The intra-prediction module of claim 1 wherein the intra-prediction preprocessor selects the second subset based on an accumulation of edge strength data for each pixel having a common one of a plurality of possible edge angle range values.
7. The intra-prediction module of claim 6 wherein the intra-prediction preprocessor, for a selected one of a plurality of block sizes, includes in the second subset one of the plurality of intra-prediction modes corresponding to a particular edge angle range value when the accumulation of edge strength data for the particular edge angle range value compares favorably to a threshold.
8. The intra-prediction module of claim 6 wherein the intra-prediction preprocessor, for the selected one of the plurality of block sizes, excludes one of the plurality of intra-prediction modes corresponding to a particular edge angle range value from the second subset when the accumulation of edge strength data for the particular edge angle range value compares unfavorably to a highest accumulation of edge strength data.
9. The intra-prediction module of claim 1 wherein the intra-prediction preprocessor selectively enables and disables a most probable mode indicator.
10. The intra-prediction module of claim 1 wherein the edge strength data and the edge angle range data indicate a picture gradient for each of the plurality of pixels.
11. A method for use in a video encoder that encodes a video signal including picture data, the method comprising:
processing a plurality of pixels of blocks of the picture data to determine edge strength data and edge angle range data corresponding to the plurality of pixels of the blocks;
generating intra-prediction candidate data, wherein the intra-prediction candidate data indicates a first subset selected from a plurality of intra-prediction partitions and a second subset selected from a plurality of intra-prediction modes generated from the edge strength data and the edge angle range data; and
determining final intra-prediction data, based on rate distortion based costs of the intra-prediction candidate data.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein generating the intra-prediction candidate data includes selecting the first subset based on an accumulation of edge strength data for each pixel having a common one of a plurality of possible edge angle range values.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein generating the intra-prediction candidate data includes:
determining, for a selected one of a plurality of prediction block sizes, an edge angle range value of the plurality of possible edge angle range values having a second highest accumulation of edge strength data;
comparing the second highest accumulation of edge strength data to a threshold; and
excluding a partitioning of the selected one of the plurality of prediction block sizes from the first subset when the second highest accumulation of edge strength data compares favorably to the threshold.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein generating the intra-prediction candidate data includes:
determining, for a selected one of a plurality of prediction block sizes and for each partitioned subblock of the selected one of the plurality of prediction block sizes, an edge angle range value of the plurality of possible edge angle range values having a highest accumulation of edge strength data;
comparing the highest accumulation of edge strength data for the selected one of the plurality of prediction block sizes to a sum of the highest accumulation of edge strength data for each partitioned subblock; and
includes a partitioning of the selected one of the plurality of prediction block sizes in the first subset when the highest accumulation of edge strength data for the selected one of the plurality of prediction block sizes compares unfavorably to the sum of the highest accumulation of edge strength data for each partitioned subblock.
15. The method of claim 11 wherein generating the intra-prediction candidate data includes selecting the second subset based on an accumulation of edge strength data for each pixel having a common one of a plurality of possible edge angle range values.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein generating the intra-prediction candidate data includes:
including one of the plurality of intra-prediction modes corresponding to a particular edge angle range value in the second subset when the accumulation of edge strength data for the particular edge angle range value compares favorably to a threshold.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein generating the intra-prediction candidate data includes:
excluding one of the plurality of intra-prediction modes corresponding to a particular edge angle range value from the second subset when the accumulation of edge strength data for the particular edge angle range value compares unfavorably to a highest accumulation of edge strength data.

1. A compound selected from the group consisting of:
(a) a peptide the amino acid sequence of which is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 6 or SEQ ID NO: 7;
(b) a salt of the peptide of (a);
(c) a peptide the amino acid sequence of which is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 6 or SEQ ID NO: 7 and the carboxyl group at the C-terminus of which is amidated;
(d) a salt of the peptide of (c);
(e) a peptide consisting of amino acids whose sequence is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 6 covalently linked directly to amino acids whose sequence is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7;
(f) a peptide comprising two peptides the amino acid sequence of each of which is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 6, covalently linked by peptide bond to one another either directly or through a short linking chain;
(g) a peptide comprising two peptides the amino acid sequence of each of which is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7, covalently linked by peptide bond to one another either directly or through a short linking chain;
(h) a salt of the peptide of (e), (f) or (g); and
(i) a peptide of (a), (c), (e), (f) or (g), or a salt of (b), (d) or (h), attached to a macromolecular carrier.
2. The compound according to claim 1, selected from the group consisting of:
(a) a peptide the amino acid sequence of which is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 6;
(b) a salt of the peptide of (a);
(c) a peptide the amino acid sequence of which is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 6 and the carboxyl group at the C-terminus of which is amidated;
(d) a salt of the peptide of (c);
(e) a peptide comprising two peptides of (a), covalently linked by peptide bond to one another either directly or through a short linking chain;
(f) a salt of the peptide of (e); and
(g) a peptide of (a), (c) or (e), or a salt of (b), (d) or (f), attached to a macromolecular carrier.
3. The compound according to claim 2, which is the peptide the amino acid sequence of which is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 6.
4. A compound selected from the group consisting of:
(a) a peptide the amino acid sequence of which is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 6;
(b) a salt of the peptide of (a);
(c) a peptide the amino acid sequence of which is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 6 and the carboxyl group at the C-terminus of which is amidated; and
(d) a salt of the peptide of (c).
5. The compound according to claim 1, selected from the group consisting of:
(a) a peptide the amino acid sequence of which is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7;
(b) a salt of the peptide of (a);
(c) a peptide the amino acid sequence of which is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7 and the carboxyl group at the C-terminus of which is amidated;
(d) a salt of the peptide of (c);
(e) a peptide comprising two peptides of (a), covalently linked by peptide bond to one another either directly or through a short linking chain;
(f) a salt of the peptide of (e); and
(g) a peptide of (a), (c) or (e), or a salt of (b), (d) or (f), attached to a macromolecular carrier.
6. The compound according to claim 5, which is the peptide the amino acid sequence of which is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7.
7. A compound selected from the group consisting of:
(a) a peptide the amino acid sequence of which is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7;
(b) a salt of the peptide of (a);
(c) a peptide the amino acid sequence of which is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7 and the carboxyl group at the C-terminus of which is amidated; and
(d) a salt of the peptide of (c).
8. The compound according to claim 1, which is the peptide consisting of consecutive amino acids, the sequence of which is set forth in SEQ ID NO:6, covalently linked directly to consecutive amino acids, the sequence of which is set forth in SEQ ID NO:7.
9. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and the compound according to claim 1.
10. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 9, wherein the compound is a peptide selected from the group consisting of:
(a) a peptide the amino acid sequence of which is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 6 or SEQ ID NO: 7;
(b) a salt of the peptide of (a);
(c) a peptide the amino acid sequence of which is set forth in SEQ ID NO: 6 or SEQ ID NO: 7 and the carboxyl group at the C-terminus of which is amidated; and
(d) a salt of the peptide of (c).
11. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 10, for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus.
12. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 11, adapted for oral, intravenous, subcutaneous, intraarticular, intramuscular, inhalation, intranasal, intrathecal, intraperitoneal, intradermal, transdermal or enteral administration.
13. A method of treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) comprising administering to a SLE patient an effective amount of the compound according to claim 1.
14. The method according to claim 13, which comprises administering to the SLE patient an effective amount of the peptide of the SEQ ID NO: 6.
15. The method according to claim 13, which comprises administering to the SLE patient an effective amount of the peptide of the SEQ ID NO: 7.
16. A method for immunomodulation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-associated responses in a SLE patient, which comprises administering to said SLE patient an effective amount of the compound according to claim 1.
17. The method according to claim 16, which comprises down-regulating the levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3 andor MMP-9 activities in the SLE patient.
18. The method according to claim 16, which comprises immunomodulating the level of a cytokine activity in the SLE patient.
19. The method according to claim 18, which comprises down-regulating the level of IL-2 andor IFN-\u03b3 activity in the SLE patient.
20. The method according to claim 18, which comprises up-regulating the level of TGF-\u03b2 activity in the SLE patient.
21. The method according to claim 16, which comprises administering to the SLE patient an effective amount of the peptide of the SEQ ID NO: 6.
22. The method according to claim 16, which comprises administering to the SLE patient an effective amount of the peptide of the SEQ ID NO: 7.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A baseball swing training device operable to teach a desired swing plane for hitting a baseball comprising:
a base member, said base member having an upper surface and a lower surface, said base member being generally planar, said base member having a front edge and a rear edge;
a support pole, said support pole being secured to said upper surface of said base member and extending upward therefrom and being perpendicular thereto, said support pole further including a plurality of telescoping segments, said support pole being adjustable in length;
a mounting assembly, said mounting assembly being superposed said support pole opposite said base member, said mounting assembly further including a housing, said housing having a vertical wall forming a cylindrical shape, said housing having an upper end and a lower end, said housing having a first opening proximate said upper end, said housing having a second opening at said lower end, said mounting assembly having an interior volume, said mounting assembly having a ball member movably mounted within said interior volume of said housing, said ball member being operably coupled to said upper frame assembly;
an upper frame assembly, said upper frame assembly being operably coupled to said mounting assembly, said upper frame assembly configured to releasably secure a baseball;
a connection assembly, said connection assembly further including a connection plate, said connection plate being planar in manner having a first end and a second end, said connection plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, said connection assembly further including a support rod, said support rod having a first end and a second end, said support rod being secured to said lower surface of said connection plate proximate said second end, said second end of said support rod being secured to said ball member, said support rod extending upward through said first opening of said housing, said support rod being angularly secured to said connection plate;
wherein said upper frame assembly is tiltably adjustable in a first axial direction and a second axial direction so as to place a baseball secured therein in a position for teaching a desired hitting swing plane.
2. The baseball swing training device as recited in claim 1, and further including an angle guide positioning member, said angle guide positioning member being superposed said housing of said mounting assembly, said angle guide positioning member having a plurality of conjoined adjacent holes therein, said plurality of conjoined adjacent holes having a first side wall and a second side wall being oppositely located, said first side wall and said second sidewall being angular in manner, said first side wall and said second side wall being manufactured to have an angle between zero and thirty degrees.
3. The baseball swing training device as recited in claim 2, wherein said upper frame assembly further includes a support arm, said support arm having a first end and a second end, said support arm being generally u-shaped, said support arm being operably coupled to said connection plate.
4. The baseball swing training device as recited in claim 3, and further including an upper bat guide member and a lower bat guide member, said upper bat guide member being secured to said first end of said support arm, said lower bat guide member being secured to said second end of said support arm, said upper bat guide member and said lower bat guide member being parallel in configuration having a space intermediate thereto.
5. The baseball swing training device as recited in claim 4, wherein in said first axial direction said upper frame assembly is tilted away from a user and in said second axial direction said upper frame assembly is tilted towards said rear edge of said base member.
6. A baseball swing training device that is operable to teach a desired swing plane for effectively hitting a baseball comprising:
a base member, said base member having an upper surface and a lower surface, said base member being generally planar, said base plate having a front edge and a rear edge;
a support pole, said support pole being secured to said upper surface of said base member and extending upward therefrom and being perpendicular thereto, said support pole further including a plurality of telescoping segments, said support pole being adjustable in length;
a mounting assembly, said mounting assembly being superposed said support pole opposite said base member, said mounting assembly further including a housing, said housing having an interior volume, said housing having a vertical wall forming a cylindrical shape, said housing having an upper end and a lower end, said housing having a first opening proximate said upper end, said housing having a second opening at said lower end, said mounting assembly having a ball member movably mounted within said interior volume of said housing;
a connection assembly, said connection assembly further including a connection plate, said connection plate being planar in manner having a first end and a second end, said connection plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, said connection assembly further including a support rod, said support rod having a first end and a second end, said support rod being secured to said lower surface of said connection plate proximate said second end, said second end of said support rod being secured to said ball member, said support rod extending upward through said first opening of said housing, said support rod being angularly secured to said connection plate
an upper frame assembly, said upper frame assembly being operably coupled to said connection plate of said mounting assembly, said upper frame assembly further including a support arm, said support arm having a first end and a second end, said support arm being u-shaped, said support arm being oriented wherein said first end and said second end are in vertical alignment, said upper frame assembly further including an upper bat guide member and a lower bat guide member, said upper bat guide member being secured proximate said first end of said support arm and being perpendicular thereto, said lower bat guide member being secured to said support arm proximate said second end and being perpendicular thereto, said lower bat guide member and said upper bat guide member being parallel having a space intermediate thereto;
an angle guide positioning member, said angle guide positioning member being annular in shape having an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper surface and said lower surface being concave in shape, said angle guide positioning member being superposed said housing of said mounting assembly, said angle guide positioning member having a plurality of conjoined adjacent holes therein, said connection rod extending upward through said plurality of conjoined adjacent holes, said angle guide member operable to assist in the tiltable positioning of the upper frame assembly; and
wherein said upper frame assembly is tiltably adjustable in a first axial direction and a second axial direction, wherein said upper frame assembly is tilted away from a user in said first axial direction and wherein said upper frame assembly is tilted in said second axial direction such that the second axial direction is perpendicular to said first axial direction.
7. The baseball swing training device as recited in claim 6, wherein said connection rod is secured to said connection plate at an angle of approximately twenty degrees.
8. The baseball swing training device as recited in claim 7, and further including a first ball grip member and a second ball grip member, said first ball grip member being secured to said lower bat guide member and extending upward therefrom, said second ball grip member being secured to said upper bat guide member and extending downward therefrom, said first ball grip member and said second ball grip member being in general axial alignment, said first ball grip member and said second ball grip member operable to releasably secure a ball intermediate thereto, wherein said first ball grip member and said second ball grip member are secured within said lower bat guide member and said upper bat guide member with spring assemblies so as to promote a biased force against a ball mounted intermediate said first ball grip member and said second ball grip member.
9. The baseball swing training device as recited in claim 8, and further including a speed sensor, said speed sensor being disposed in said upper frame assembly, said speed sensor operable to detect speed of a bat passing in between said lower bat guide member and said upper bat guide member and further being operable to detect the speed of a ball being released from said upper frame assembly.
10. The baseball swing training device as recited in claim 9, wherein said plurality of conjoined adjacent holes of said angle guide positioning member have a first side wall and a second side wall being oppositely located, said first side wall and said second sidewall being angular in manner, said first side wall and said second side wall being manufactured to have an angle between zero and thirty degrees.