Burst-switching nodes using a common-memory or a time shared space switch and employing flow-rate control are disclosed. The laser-scanning directions are defined by the crystallization face orientations. The bulb shade may be directly connected to individual bulb base included in a light string to protect the bulbs thereof, or be attached to and extended into an inflatable toy of other type of decorative articles to isolate a decorative bulb in the bulb shade from the toy or the article. Additional novel features include both a threshold setting initialization method and a regression method for the determination of the start points and end points of events. The aluminum nitride sintered body has a very small pore density despite of its relatively small crystal grain size, features excellent strength and mirror machinability, and is particularly useful as a material for circuit substrates on which fine wiring patterns are formed. The elastically collapsible valve is mounted on the stent as the commissural points of the valve are secured to the projecting apices.