A biosafety cabinet device includes one or more walls forming a housing, a work area contained within the housing, a filter in fluid communication with the work area for filtering fluid passing through and exiting the work area. The filter includes a primary filtration surface through which a majority of fluid being filtered by the filter passes. A filter removal device is configured to couple to the filter. The filter removal device includes a rigid barrier layer and one or more handling mechanisms adjoined with the rigid barrier layer and extending distal to the rigid barrier layer. When the filter removal device is securely coupled to the filter, the rigid barrier layer extends substantially across a non-peripheral portion of the primary filtration surface of the filter and allows passage of fluid from the work area through the primary filtration surface of the filter.

Biosafety cabinets utilize filtration systems for filtering substances from an air flow through a work area thereof. The air flow is generated to maintain a negative pressure relative to the environment external to the biosafety cabinet, which prevents contaminants contained within the work area from being released or exposed to a user during operation. Oftentimes, contaminants that are captured on the surface of the filters of a biosafety cabinet filtration system are extremely hazardous and must be safely secured to ensure personnel and environmental protection. The working filtration surface (e.g., the filter face) of a filter contains the highest amount of such hazardous material, and thus creates the highest risk to the user or maintenance worker.
Filters in a biosafety cabinet must be periodically changed. The frequency of the change will vary by type of biosafety cabinet, the type of contaminants being filtered, the frequency of use, and the environment within the biosafety cabinet, among other factors. In order to protect the maintenance worker and the external environment, the filters must be sealed prior to being removed from the cabinet. This is commonly achieved by turning off the biosafety cabinet, placing the filter in one or more plastic bags, sealing the bags, and transporting for final destruction and/or disposal. More specifically, this replacement methodology requires shutdown of the biosafety cabinet supply fan to avoid issues with pressurization or depressurization of the plastic hag while being placed over the filter. In general, the external cabinet exhaust system must remain on, since shutting down both the supply fan and external cabinet exhaust system can compromise the ability to contain harmful chemical substances within the biosafety cabinet.
However, such known replacement systems are associated with numerous drawbacks. As just one example, they often require large, pre-installed equipment that holds both the filter and the bag in place. This adds to the overall costs and manufacturing expenses of the biosafety cabinet.
Still other known systems attempt to achieve safe removal by placing the filters at positions away from the work area, which often cannot be reached by a user or maintenance worker without use of a ladder. Such systems only offer limited visibility and mobility to the user or maintenance worker, who must perform the removal process on a ladder in full safety gear. Accordingly, such known systems may endanger the user or maintenance worker and create additional risks to the external environment. Dropping a contaminated filter from ladder height can allow the contaminant to spread (e.g., by diffusion) not only over an entire floor but also throughout an entire building, depending on the particular substance.
Accordingly, known systems demonstrate multiple shortcomings to the provision of a safe, convenient, and cost-effective way to remove and replace filters in a biosafety cabinet.

Biosafety cabinet filter removal devices, systems, and methods


What is shown is a projection device having at least one light source and an array of optical channels. Each channel includes a first refractive optical free-form surface and a second refractive optical free-form surface and projection optics. The first and second refractive optical free-form surfaces are arranged between the light source and the projection optics and cause Köhler illumination of the projection optics by an object light pattern, resulting in the image to be projected on an image surface of the projection optics, wherein images of the array of optical channels superimpose one another.

The beam shaper/projection unit may be employed when generating any structured illumination in many fields of application, like background and accentuating illumination in general illumination, generating defined radiation profiles for automobile applications, generating light patterns on objects for measuring purposes, for example. Information can be visualized optically, wherein this may be done both by illuminating a real target and by generating virtual images visible to the eye.
In order to be able to objectively perform a comparison between different solution approaches, some relevant characterizing quantities of such beam shapers/projection units will be summarized below briefly. The following characterizing quantities are relevant for most applications in illumination and projection tasks:
(A) ensuring a sufficiently large light flux/optical power
(B) compact, miniaturized optics, wherein the main emphasis is placed on the optics thickness
(C) high power transmission through the optics/power efficiency
(D) way of generating most different light distributions:
                coarse, smooth, weakly varying distributions        fine, highly patterned light distribution with high a resolution, like in writings, for example, high-resolution images        range from little contrast up to very high contrasts (like target regions within the illumination range with no light)        any edge geometries        most different requirements in combination(E) homogenization effect relative to spatial source inhomogeneity, in particular way of color mixing, sufficient tolerances, particularly relative to source location and source arrangement
(i) Patterned illumination and projection of light distributions having single-channel macroscopic projectors are well-known [Malacara]. Any desired light distributions (D) on targets can be generated. However, light is faded out by absorptive slides or dynamics imagers, for example, which may result in a considerable loss in power efficiency (C). Usually, the Köhler illumination principle will be applied, which means transforming the source spatial domain to the target ray domain (E), but further light mixing has to be introduced specifically, like by using honeycomb condensers [Pan]. When miniaturizing (B), i.e. reducing optics height, of single-channel projectors [Pan, US 2006/0285078 A1], the optics area or surface has to be reduced at the same time, which entails a reduction in the transmissible light flux (A).
(ii) For generating any desired patterned illumination pattern of very high power efficiency (C), refractive or reflective illumination free-forms can be used [Ries, Oliker]. This kind of free-form illumination is based on a refractive or reflective light redistribution and principally does not need any absorptive or fading structures. Usually, the source light is transferred to the target with no additional projection unit. Generating strip patterns for measuring purposes is to be mentioned as an example of application [DE 102011014779 A1]. However, applying this type of free-form redistribution exhibits considerable deficiencies. In light redistribution, the light distribution impinging on the free-form/free-forms (i.e. the source distribution or the source distribution modified by primary optics) has to be well-known and may not be subjected to changes, which means that the system is relatively intolerant (E). Homogenization and light mixing effects and Köhler illumination etc. are not present in this case. In analogy to the macroprojector as described above, the miniaturization and light flux problem applies here, too (A, B). However, the by large greatest deficiency is the limited resolution in light distribution generation for realistic source distributions [Zwick]. Very fine light distribution patterns on the target can only be generated if the source distribution can be described approximately as a wave front, i.e. with very well collimated source radiation or very small a source area, for example. Otherwise, the result will be relatively strong blurring or smearing effects which have to be taken into consideration in optical design on the one hand [Wu] and prevent fine target patterns on the other hand. For this reason, the most frequent practical application of redistribution free-forms is generating very smooth or homogenous illumination [Luo, Wu, Zhao].
(iii) When connecting projection and free-form optics, two trends can be observed basically. On the one hand, redistribution free-forms as described above are used for good homogenous illumination of slides or imagers or light mixers [Zhao, Minano]. On the other hand, imaging free-forms, i.e. free-form elements in the optical illumination path of the projector, may result in more compact optics of higher imaging quality [Rico, U.S. Pat. No. 8,717,671 B2, U.S. Pat. No. 8,616,711, US 2015/0205099 A1]. However, the deficiencies as described in (i) are not decreased by this.
(iv) The deficiency of low a light flux as described under (i), i.e. the low brightness on the target, when reducing the optics height, has been eliminated by so-called array projectors [DE 102009024894 A1, DE 102011076083 A1, Sieler]. By using a plurality of optical channels having at least one condenser lenslet, an object pattern to be imaged and at least one projection lenslet per optical channel, the optics height is reduced and high a light flux is ensured as well. Homogenization and light mixture effect, the Köhler illumination principle and tolerances relative to source distributions can be found here. However, the problem of a potentially low power efficiency or system transmission is still present. By absorbing or fading light as a consequence of object patterns to be imaged, considerable transmission losses may arise. Considerable losses result, for example, when generating grey scale profiles having strong irradiation intensity maximums, when forming narrow light pattern features on a less bright or even lacking background illumination or when generating non-trivial boundaries of the real or virtual region to be illuminated.
Well-known single-channel projectors or illumination configurations consequently exhibit the disadvantages that a miniaturization of the projectors/illumination configurations entails a reduction of the light flux transmissible. In addition, current illumination configurations having free-form light redistribution with real input light distributions exhibit considerable deficiencies and can be used exclusively with nearly collimated input light or small source areas for generating spatially high-frequency illumination patterns. Otherwise, the result may be relatively strong smearing or blurring effects so that no fine patterns can be generated in a projected image. In addition, such systems are optically intolerant. Furthermore, apertures in projectors may considerably reduce an input light flux of the projector, the result being strongly reduced power transmission.

Projection device and method for projection comprising optical free-form surfaces

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.


The present invention relates to a method for inputting a password into an electronic terminal, wherein the method comprises: a step of saving a password character string inputted by the user through an input unit in a storage unit; a step of randomly placing adjacent characters from within the password character string into adjacent input buttons—defined as any two input buttons connected in a straight line without passing another input button—which are arranged in a two-dimensional field by a control unit, wherein the total number of input buttons is greater than the number of characters included in the password character string; a step in which the control unit places a character not included in the password character string into an input button in which a character included in the password character string has not been placed; a step in which a display unit displays each input button displaying a placed character; a step in which an input unit receives the input character string from the user; and a step in which the control unit completes the user authentication procedure when the password character string and the input character string are the same.

Recently, various types of personal electronic terminals have been popularized. Such personal electronic terminals are provided with functions of performing the transmission and reception of a user's e-mails and other messages, schedule and address directory management and the storage and management of various files that require security in terms of business. Furthermore, personal electronic terminals have excellent portability, and thus it is essential to identify genuine users and to allow the use thereof only to authenticated users.
A password input-type authentication method that is provided by personal electronic terminals in order to perform authentication is problematic in that a probability of exposing a password to another person located adjacent to a user is very strong. In particular, although there is the case where characters that a user inputs are directly exposed to another person, the case in which another person easily infers a password from the locations and input pattern of individual characters frequently occurs. Furthermore, since a password input method that is intended to overcome the above problems should maximize security and take into consideration the convenience of user input, an appropriate alternative has not been proposed for a long period of time.

Method for inputting a password into an electronic terminal


The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure including a nanoribbon-containing layer of alternating graphene nanoribbons separated by alternating insulating ribbons. The alternating graphene nanoribbons are parallel to a surface of an underlying substrate and, in some embodiments, might be oriented along crystallographic directions of the substrate. The alternating insulating ribbons may comprise hydrogenated graphene, i.e., graphane, fluorinated graphene, or fluorographene. The semiconductor structure mentioned above can be formed by selectively converting portions of an initial graphene layer into alternating insulating ribbons, while the non-converted portions of the initial graphene form the alternating graphene nanoribbons. Semiconductor devices such as, for example, field effect transistors, can be formed atop the semiconductor structure provided in the present disclosure.

The present application relates to a semiconductor structure, a semiconductor device including said semiconductor structure and methods of fabricating the same. More particularly, the present application relates to a semiconductor structure including a nanoribbon-containing layer of alternating graphene nanoribbons separated by alternating insulating ribbons located atop a substrate and a method of fabricating such a structure. The present application also relates to a semiconductor device, such as a field effect transistor, that includes the semiconductor structure described above.
Several trends presently exist in the semiconductor and electronics industry including, for example, devices are being fabricated that are smaller, faster and require less power than the previous generations of devices. One reason for these trends is that personal devices such as, for example, cellular phones and personal computing devices, are being fabricated that are smaller and more portable. In addition to being smaller and more portable, personal devices also require increased memory, more computational power and speed. In view of these ongoing trends, there is an increased demand in the industry for smaller and faster transistors used to provide the core functionality of the integrated circuits used in these devices.
Accordingly, in the semiconductor industry there is a continuing trend toward fabricating integrated circuits (ICs) with higher densities. To achieve higher densities, there has been, and continues to be, efforts toward down scaling the dimensions of the devices on semiconductor wafers generally produced from bulk silicon. These trends are pushing the current technology to its limits. In order to accomplish these trends, high densities, smaller feature sizes, smaller separations between features, and more precise feature shapes are required in integrated circuits (ICs).
Significant resources go into down scaling the dimensions of devices and increasing packing densities. For example, significant time may be required to design such down scaled transistors. Moreover, the equipment necessary to produce such devices may be expensive and/or processes related to producing such devices may have to be tightly controlled and/or be operated under specific conditions. Accordingly, there are significant costs associated with exercising quality control over semiconductor fabrication.
In view of the above, the semiconductor industry is pursuing graphene to achieve some of the aforementioned goals. Graphene, which is essentially a flat sheet of carbon atoms, is a promising material for radio frequency (RF) transistors and other electronic transistors. Typical RF transistors are made from silicon or more expensive semiconductors such as, for example, indium phosphide (InP). The measured mobility of electrons in graphene was found to be as high as 200,000 cm2V−1s−1, while it is only about 5400 cm2V−1s−1 for InP and about 1400 cm2V−1s−1 for silicon.
With all its excellent electronic properties, graphene is missing a bandgap, making it unsuitable for fabrication of digital devices. Transistors fabricated using graphene in the channel would have Ion/Ioff ratios of the order of 10 or less, with many more orders of magnitude still required for proper function of such devices. It has been shown that bandgaps can be created in graphene if fabricated in the form of nanoribbons. The size of the bandgap increases with decreasing width of the nanoribbon and for potential practical application the width of the graphene nanoribbons (GNR) has to be less than 10 nm, preferably less than 5 nm.
Fabrication of GNR has been demonstrated before on exfoliated graphene nanoflakes. The prior art for fabrication of GNR is based on patterning and etching, usually by RIE, of the graphene layer. Such techniques form nanoribbons with non-uniform and potentially damaged edges, forming line edge roughness, LER, which deteriorates the electrical quality of the GNR.

Graphene nanoribbons, method of fabrication and their use in electronic devices

International Business Machines Corporation


In general, in one aspect, streaming content is received from a server. A condition indicative of a cycle of switching versions of the streaming content during playback of the streaming content is determined at a client-side application, the versions having different resolutions requiring different network and processing resources. In response to the determined condition, up-switching to a stream version having a bit rate that meets or exceeds a locked out bit rate is prevented. The prevented up-switching is allowed after expiration of a predetermined condition.

The present disclosure relates generally to delivering and presenting multimedia content.
Streaming is a technique for delivering multimedia content to end-users. Streaming involves continuously displaying media content to a user while the content is being delivered to the user. Streaming can be used to deliver various types of digital media to end-users. Streaming media can include, for example, recorded (e.g., recorded video) and/or live media content (e.g., video from a user's webcam).
Publishers can create content for streaming by encoding content (e.g., audio and video) with one or more codecs. A streaming media server can then receive and transmit created streams over a network (e.g., the Internet) to a client device. The client device can include a client-side player that decompresses and displays streams for an end-user.
Streaming media environments can use virtual machines to present streaming content to end-users. A virtual machine is a self-contained operating environment that allows programs to be run within the virtual machine itself as though the virtual machine were a stand-alone computer. Virtual machines can be programs themselves, embedded within an operating system or other software application, or otherwise installed on a computer. One example of a virtual machine is the ADOBE® FLASH® Player runtime (available from Adobe Systems Incorporated of San Jose, Calif.), which can be used to run FLASH® files including ACTIONSCRIPT® and SWF files (e.g., files formatted according to the SWF File Format Specification (Version 10) as published by Adobe Systems Incorporated of San Jose, Calif. (http://www.adobe.com/devnet/swf/pdf/swf_file_format_spec_v10.pdf)).
Customized image viewers and video players can run on virtual machines and present streaming media to end-users. These customized applications can be used to facilitate web applications in providing interactive rich media content, Applications configured to execute on the ADOBE® FLASH® platform can be included in SWF files, which can be processed by client-side SWF player software. The media content itself can be kept separate from the SWF file and can be loaded into a SWF for playback at runtime.
Playlists can be used during streaming. A playlist can include a list of streams queued up for playback. The streams in the playlist can be streamed to the user and played from a source (e.g., the streaming media server) one after the other in the order they are queued. Streams from a playlist can be presented to end-users through customized image viewers, video players and audio players, which can be associated with various other applications.


Buffering is made more efficient by resizing a jitter buffer based, for example, on a user's location within a TUI. To illustrate how this might be implemented in a TUI-based system, assume that two jitter buffer sizes are available: a larger one for voice and a smaller one for DTMF. Assume that the ability to select the buffer size is software-controllable. By virtue of the TUI structure, the initial state for a communication session could be a buffer size appropriate for DTMF. Since the messaging system may provide an audible beep whenever it's appropriate for a user to speak, the same sub-routine within the TUI code that triggers the beep could also command the buffer management mechanism instructing it to size the buffer for voice. Any subsequent DTMF entry or other event indicating that voice input has been terminated could cause the buffer to resize appropriately for DTMF.

Voicemail is a centralized system managing telephone messages for a user, and is commonly seen in enterprise-type environments where a voicemail system provides telephone message management for a large number of people. A typical voicemail system can allow the answering and recording of multiple voicemail messages in parallel. Additional functionality often associated with voicemail systems is the ability to store incoming voice messages in personalized mailboxes associated with a particular user's phone number or extension. Users are capable of forwarding messages to another mailbox, and sending messages to one or more voicemail users. In conjunction with both of these functions, a user can add a voice introduction to a forwarded message and store a voice message for future delivery to one or more other users.
Other functionality associated with voicemail systems is the ability to make calls to a telephone or paging service to notify a user a message has arrived in their mailbox, as well as the ability to provide messaging notification by SMS, a special dial tone, one or more lights, or using caller ID signaling. Furthermore, a user can be alerted to the existence of a new voicemail message through integration and communication between the voice message server and a mail client. For example, a voicemail server can forward a .wav file that includes the left message to an email server that then displays the voicemail message as a playable file in a user's mailbox.
There are also automated voicemail systems for processing incoming speech based on messages. For example, a voicemail processor includes a transcription component for transcribing one or more voicemail messages into text, a text retrieval component for indexing the one or more transcribed voicemail messages, an information extraction component for identifying selected information within the one or more indexed voicemail messages, and a user interface for displaying the identified selected information from the one or more indexed voicemail messages.
Interactive Voice Response (IVR) is an interactive technology that allows a system to detect a voice and keypads input, and also provide information and/or queries to a user. IVR technology is used extensively in telecommunications, such as in call centers, and is being introduced into other environments. A typical IVR system is based around a menu structure that provides various voice prompts to a user. Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) signals, entered via the telephone keypad and natural language speech recognition interpret the caller's responses to various voice prompts. IVR systems can be embodied as equipment installed at a customer's premise, equipment installed at the PSTN, provided by an application service provider, and/or a virtually hosted IVR.
An Automatic Call Distribution system (ACD) is often a first point of contact when many large businesses are contacted by a customer. An ACD typically uses digital storage devices to play greetings or announcements, and typically routes a caller without prompting for input. An IVR can play announcements and request an input from the caller. This information can be used to profile a caller and route the call to an agent with a particular skill set. In addition, Interactive Voice Response (IVR) can be used as a front-end to a call center operation by identifying the needs of the caller. Information can be obtained from the caller such as account numbers, name, calling from number, and the like. Answers to simple questions such as account balances or pre-recorded information can be provided without operator intervention. Account numbers from the IVR can be compared to caller ID data for security reasons and additional IVR responses can optionally be required if the caller ID data does not match the account record.
IVR call flow can be created and managed in a multitude of ways. A traditional IVR was typically dependant on proprietary programming or scripting languages, whereas more modern IVR applications can be structured similar to www pages using voice xml, SALT, or t-xml languages. The ability to use xml developed applications allows a web server to act as an application server, freeing the developer to focus on a call flow as opposed to the actual coding.
Many tools are available to further simplify the application development process. A call flow diagram can be drawn with a GUI tool and the application code (voice xml or SALT) can be automatically generated. Additionally, many tools provide natural extensions to assist with software integration, such as http interfacing to websites and java interfaces for connecting databases.
An Auto Attendant system, also known as an Automated Attendant, allows callers to be automatically transferred to an extension without the intervention of an operator. An Automated Attendant also offers a simple menu system (e.g., for billing press 1, for service press 2, for technical support press 3, etc.). Many Auto Attendants also allow a caller's access to an operator by dialing a number, such as "0."
While IVR systems and Auto Attendants do share some commonality in terms of functionality, Automated Attendants are traditionally directed toward replacing a live operator to assist with call routing. In contrast, an IVR can be far more sophisticated and perform numerous types of functions to assist with telephone-based banking, accounting inquiries, and the like.
An IVR system interacts with a caller according to a call-flow diagram. A call-flow diagram can by constructed by a number of elements with each element prompting the caller to provide a response. These responses can be one or more of a voice response, a DTMF response, and a TTY response. For example, the IVR systems menu can be based on the following elements: a prompt element, a menu element, a speech element, a digit element, a recording element, a call transfer element, and a go-to element. The prompt element plays one or more audio or multimedia prompts. These prompts can include pre-recorded audio or multimedia files, or automatically generated audio using, for example, text-to-speech. The menu element tells the IVR system to expect a touch-tone key response. The speech element tells the IVR system to expect a speech response from the caller. The digit element tells the IVR system to expect a series of touch tone keys that, for example, are concluded with the pound key. For example, this element can be used to collect an account number or SSN. The recording element tells the IVR system to expect the caller to record a voice message. The caller can hang up the phone or press the pound key when finished to complete a recording. The call transfer element transfers the call to another phone number optionally with use of a screen pop. The go-to element allows the IVR system go-to another element in IVR system's call flow.
Jitter is the time variation of a characteristic of periodic signal in electronics and telecommunications, often in relation to a reference clock source. Jitter may be observed in characteristics such as the frequency of successive pulses, the signal amplitude or phase of periodic signals, or the like. Jitter is a significant and usually undesirable factor in the design of almost all communications links. A jitter buffer, also known as a de-jitter buffer, counters jitter introduced by queuing in packet switched networks so that a continuous play-out of audio, video, or multimedia transmitted over the network can be insured. The maximum jitter that can be removed by a jitter buffer is equal to the buffering delay introduced before starting the play-out of the media stream. Some systems use algorithm-based delay-optimal jitter buffers that are capable of adapting the buffering delay to changing network jitter characteristics. These adaptive jitter buffers and the adaption logic are typically based on the jitter estimates computed from the arrival characteristics of the media packets. Adaptive jitter buffering involves introducing discontinuities in a media play-out, which may appear offensive to the listener or the viewer. Adaptive jitter buffering is usually carried out for audio play-outs that feature voice activity detection or discontinuous transmission encoded audio, that allows the links of the silence periods to be adjusted, thus minimizing the perceptual impact of the adaptation.
Another aspect of jitter buffers is important to consider. Specifically, what are commonly referred to as "lost packets" or "missing packets" in VoIP systems are often actually delayed packets. They will arrive at their destination eventually. A VoIP device that is able to wait longer for the packets to arrive—i.e., a system that has a larger jitter buffer—may be expected to provide better audio quality when used in networks in which some packets are delayed, but at the expense of greater latency between the time of transmission and the time of delivery by the buffer to the downstream resource.

State-based management of messaging system jitter buffers


A switching system capable of reducing the noise of the output signal is provided. The switching system includes a first switch and a second switch, wherein the first switch conducts a first signal according to a first control signal; the second switch conducts a second signal according to a second control signal. And the voltages of the first control signal and the second control signal are restricted within a voltage interval to reduce the noise produced during the switching of the switches.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a switching system, and more particularly, to a switching system capable of reducing the noise of output signal.
2. Description of Related Art
Clock feedthrough interference is commonly occurring noise interference in a circuit when a signal switched by a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor. The clock feedthrough would cause glitches which leads to a wrong judgment of the related circuit or the downward stability of the signal. For a high-frequency digital signal, due to more frequent switching operations, the negative impact of the glitch interference on a signal becomes more significant.
In particular, in a current mode digital to analog converter (current mode DAC), a number of switches are employed to switch current paths. When numerous switches are used to simultaneously switch various signals, a clock feedthrough and a glitch interference would greatly affect the output of the current mode DAC. If such a current mode DAC is used in a driving circuit of a LCD apparatus, the quality of an output frame would be degraded.

Switching system capable of reducing noise of output signal


A system and method for resource recovery in a distributed system uses a resource audit service to monitor the status of a client that receives a resource from a service that allocates the resource. The allocating service registers a callback with the resource audit service identifying the client. The resource audit service subsequently monitors the status of the client. When the resource audit service determines that the client has failed, the resource audit service performs the callback to the allocating service indicating the failure of the client. Upon receiving the callback, the allocating service is able to recover the resource from the client.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to distributed systems, and more specifically, to recovering allocated resources when a service using those resources fails.
2. Related Art
In a distributed system, such as an interactive television system, a distributed object combines the features of remote procedure calls and object-oriented programming. Interaction between components in the distributed system is implemented via one or more distributed objects. The distributed object (xe2x80x9cobjectxe2x80x9d) typically represents a service that is provided by a component in the distributed system. The object is defined by an interface which allows access to the service. The object hides the representation of its state and the methods used to implement its operations. The operations that are available on a particular object are defined in a specification for the particular object.
For example, a service might be a file located on a hard drive in a computer in the distributed system. An object representing the service has an interface that includes the operations of read and write. In order to access the service, a requestor of the service need not know the physical address of the file nor even the computer where it exists in the distributed system.
A requestor of a service is referred to as a client of the object providing the service. The object providing the service is referred to as a server of the requester. Typically, an object has both client and server relationships with other objects.
A server that provides a service makes the service available to a client by first creating an object reference that denotes a particular object representing an instance of the service. The object reference identifies the same object each time the object reference is used. A server accomplishes this by binding the object reference into a name service.
The name service makes the service available to a client when the client requests the service. The name service may do this using replicated contexts. Replicated contexts are discussed in greater detail in the above referenced copending application entitled xe2x80x9cSystem and Method for Transparently Exporting Replicated Services.xe2x80x9d
When a client desires to gain access to a particular service, the client requests that the name service provide the client with a specific object reference. This process is referred to as resolving a reference. The client requests a particular service and the name service provides the client with an object reference representing an instance of that service.
The client requests aspects of the service by invoking operations on the object reference obtained from the name service or some other service. Object references may be passed as parameters to operations and returned as the result of operations.
Object references are only valid as long as the implementor of the object reference (i.e., the particular component in the distributed system on which the server is running) is alive. If the implementor crashes or halts, the object reference becomes invalid. The client will detect this on the next attempt to use the object reference. The client will then be able to obtain another object reference to another object providing the same service.
Services normally represent resources (e.g. network connections) that are allocated to clients as objects. When a service allocates a resource to a client, the service creates an object that represents the resource and provides the object to the client. Under normal circumstances, when the client finishes using the resource, the client releases the object reference. This allows other clients to subsequently use the same resource. However, if the client fails (i.e., halts, crashes, etc.), the object reference remains valid and the resource remains tied to the failed client. Thus, the resource is not being utilized, and yet, remains unavailable to other clients desiring the resource. This is referred to as resource leakage.
Conventional systems use timeouts to recover resources allocated to failed clients. One type of conventional system sets a timeout as the expected length of time the resource would be utilized by the client. When this length of time has expired, the server reclaims the resource. In most cases, this length of time is set conservatively so that the resource is not reclaimed while the client is still utilizing it. In systems where client failure is frequent, this system is inadequate to stop resource leakage.
Another type of conventional system sets the timeout for a short period of time. In this system, the client must periodically reallocate the resource. In this type of system, reallocation requests may unnecessarily consume a large amount of network bandwidth. This approach is inadequate in a large distributed network having thousands of clients each utilizing multiple resources.
A third type of conventional system does not use a timeout. In this type of system, the server that allocates resources tracks the clients to which it has allocated resources. When the client exits or fails, the server recovers the resources. This particular approach, referred to as distributed garbage collection, also requires a significant amount of network bandwidth as each server must periodically check the status of the clients to which it has allocated resources. Thus, this approach is also inadequate in a large distributed network.
What is needed is a system and method for recovering resources in a distributed network that reduces resource leakage without requiring significant amounts of network bandwidth.
The present invention is a system and method for recovering resources in a distributed network. The present invention uses a resource audit service that establishes and maintains a status of one or more clients that have received resources from one or more services that allocate those resources. The allocating service is able to determine the status of the client through the resource audit service rather than by monitoring the client itself.
The resource audit service, together with a service controller, implements a callback operation associated with the client. When the allocating service allocates a resource to the client, the allocating service registers a callback with the resource audit service identifying the client as a recipient of the resource. The resource audit service subsequently monitors the client. Upon failure of the client, the resource audit service performs the callback to the allocating service notifying it of the failure of the client. After receiving the callback, the allocating service can recover the resource from the client.
One of the features of the present invention is that the allocating service does not have to directly monitor the status of each client to which it has allocated resources. The resource audit service provides a central location from which the status of each client can be determined.
Another feature of the present invention is that an allocating service is not required to poll or ping the client. For clients that otherwise may have long response times to polling or pinging, the resource audit service eliminates false determinations that the client has failed.
A further feature of the present invention is that the allocating service is released immediately after initiating a status check of the client with the resource audit service. After the status check is initiated, the resource audit service determines the status and notifies the allocating service regarding the failure of the client via a callback.
Yet another feature of the present invention is that the allocating service is able to determine the status of a non-local client through the resource audit service. In this case, the resource audit service polls a local instance of the resource audit service local to the non-local client. The local instance of the resource audit service returns the status of the non-local client to the local instance of the resource audit service. Thus, only the various instances of the resource audit service utilize network bandwidth to determine the status of various clients operating in the system. Ultimately, this reduces the overall flow of messages occurring in the network devoted to determining client status.
Still another feature of the present invention is the simple start up and recovery mechanism used by the resource audit service. This mechanism allows the resource audit service to start up and recover without remembering or being aware of the state of any clients or callbacks associated with the clients. This reduces the overall complexity of the entire distributed system.
Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

System and method for resource recovery in a distributed system


A method is presented for controlling thrust generated by aircraft engines. Engine thrust is controlled based on aircraft groundspeed and airspeed during the initial part of takeoff. Limiting thrust at low groundspeed during the initial phase of takeoff has significant benefits that reduce engine stress during this brief but critical phase leading to flight. Logical elements combine both groundspeed and airspeed in such a way that the operator perceives a smooth progressive thrust increase consistent with normal engine operation.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to aircraft and in particular to a method and apparatus for controlling the flight of an aircraft. Still more particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method, apparatus, and computer program product for controlling thrust generated by the engine of an aircraft.
2. Background
Takeoff is a phase of flight when an aircraft transitions from moving along the ground to flying in the air. An aircraft may make this transition when a takeoff speed is reached. The takeoff speed for an aircraft may vary based on a number of factors. These factors include, for example, air density, aircraft gross weight, aircraft configuration, and other suitable factors.
The speed needed for a takeoff is relative to the motion of the air. For example, headwind reduces the amount of groundspeed at the point of takeoff. In contrast, a tailwind increases the groundspeed at the point of takeoff.
The amount of thrust generated by an engine may affect the maintenance schedule required for an engine. For example, when crosswinds are present, the air into an inlet for an engine may separate. This separation of air may provide poor aerodynamics with respect to fan blades within the engine. If the engine is providing a high-level thrust, poor aerodynamics may cause vibrations on the fan blades.
These vibrations may result in requiring more frequent replacement or maintenance of the blades. This type of increased maintenance increases cost and makes the aircraft unavailable more often. One solution is to restrict engine power to a selected level until the forward speed is such that adverse aerodynamics at an inlet of an engine no longer occurs.

Progressive takeoff thrust ramp for an aircraft


A hydraulic pressure supply unit has a storage chamber which stores hydraulic fluid, a hydraulic pump which is arranged within the storage chamber and dips at least partially into the stored hydraulic fluid, and an electric motor which drives the hydraulic pump. The electric motor is arranged below the hydraulic pump in a separate motor chamber which is situated below the storage chamber, is dry, and is not connected fluidically to the storage chamber. The electric motor is coupled in a thermally transmitting manner to a separating floor, the upper side of which delimits the storage chamber and is wetted continuously with stored hydraulic fluid.

Hydraulic pressure supply units of the above-mentioned type are known in various designs and are used in hydraulic systems of various types. Only by way of example, reference should be made to GB 1329395 A, U.S. Pat. No. 6,524,084 B2, U.S. Pat. No. 6,592,336 B1, U.S. Pat. No. 6,132,184 A, EP 857871 A1, DE 19513286 B4 and DE 29609701 U1.
Depending on the individual application-specific requirements, the hydraulic pressure supply units differ in concept and/or construction. For example, according to U.S. Pat. No. 6,132,184 A, the hydraulic pressure supply unit has a horizontal axis, i.e. the electric motor is located alongside to the hydraulic pump driven by it. The motor shaft passes through a base body on which a space is formed which is bounded by an annular wall and which accommodates the pump arrangement. A motor housing is attached to the base body on one side and a pump housing is attached to the base body on the other side, wherein the pump housing together with the base body also defines and limits a tank volume. The control of the pressure supply unit is accommodated in a space arranged at the top of the pump housing, which is delimited by a saucer-type section of the pump housing and a cover placed on top of it.
EP 857871 A1 also discloses a hydraulic pressure supply unit with a horizontal axis. The electric motor, which is mounted directly on a base body opposite a pump support, is surrounded by a tubular motor housing that is connected to the base body in a sealed manner. This forms the inner wall of a tank which surrounds the electric motor in a ring shape and is externally limited by a tubular shell which is in turn attached to the base body in a sealing manner.
In the hydraulic pressure supply unit according to GB 1329395 A, a housing is divided by a partition wall into an upper and a lower section. The lower section houses a hydraulic unit with a tank, a hydraulic pump located in it and surrounded by the hydraulic fluid and an electric motor mounted on top of the tank. To attach the electric motor and the hydraulic pump to the upper tank wall, a motor support is mounted on top of the upper tank wall and a pump support is attached to the bottom of the upper tank wall. The vertically oriented motor shaft passes through the motor support, the upper tank wall and the pump support. The tank is smaller than the lower section of the housing, so that cooling air can circulate around the tank under the influence of a fan located in the upper section of the housing through openings provided in the partition wall.
Another hydraulic pressure supply unit with vertical axis, namely with an electric motor arranged above the pump, is known from EP 2241753 A1. A tubular base housing closed at the top and bottom by a cover is divided into an upper and a lower section by a heat transfer ring molded to the inside of the base housing and a support plate mounted to the heat transfer ring. The electric motor is accommodated in the upper section, namely it is inserted into a stator insertion seat constructed on the heat transfer ring. The lower section comprises an oil reservoir, which also houses the hydraulic pump mounted on the bottom of the support plate.
The individual application-specific requirements already mentioned above, which influence the concept and/or construction of the hydraulic pressure supply unit, include, for example, the power requirement, the available space and the installation situation in general including accessibility for maintenance purposes and possibilities for heat dissipation, the typical usage profile with regard to continuous or intermittent operation. Additional practical aspects are energy efficiency, reliability, manufacturing costs, etc.


A car navigation device displays a map by using display colors included in a first color pallet when the speed of a vehicle traveling is lower than a predetermined value and displays the map by using display colors included in a second color pallet having a group of display colors of contrasts higher than those of the group of display colors of the first color pallet when the speed of the vehicle traveling is greater than the predetermined value.

Conventionally, a display map in a car navigation device uses a color pallet for assigning display colors to constituent elements of the map display such as a road, a landmark and a name of a wide area. The color pallet is data for coloring so that the constituent elements correspond to displayed colors of the constituent elements.
For example, JP-A-3-7638 discloses a car navigation device which includes two kinds of color pallets, and switches between them depending upon the vehicle speed.
According to the above car navigation device, a large amount of map data is displayed for easily confirming the present position when the vehicle is traveling at a low speed, and important data only is displayed for maintaining safety when the vehicle is traveling at a high speed. Specifically, according to the above technology, small roads are displayed in the same color as the background color when traveling at high speeds, so that the small roads cannot be substantially seen by a user.
According to this technology, however, the data which cannot be substantially seen may, in practice, be what the user actually desires to confirm. Therefore, it is not desirable for the display data to be substantially erased even when the two color pallets are switched in displaying the map.

Map display device and method for operating thereof


A computer-implemented method for providing backup interfaces may include (1) identifying a backup policy configured to back up a source system according to a backup configuration, (2) identifying a request to display the backup policy within a graphical user interface, and in response to the request, (3) portraying the backup policy within the graphical user interface as a flow diagram, the flow diagram including (i) a first box representing the source system, the first box displaying an identifier of the source system, (ii) a second box representing a backup stage of the backup policy, the second box displaying an identifier of the backup stage, and (iii) a directed edge connecting the first box and the second box, the directed edge indicating a sequence beginning with the first box and progressing to the second box. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

In the digital age, organizations increasingly rely on digitally-stored data. To protect against data loss, an organization may use one or more backup systems to back up important data.
Due to increasingly complex information technology infrastructures, an organization may create backups from a variety of sources, using a variety of methods, and according to a variety of different schedules. In some cases, an organization may create a backup as a part of a larger multi-stage backup process, where the backup may in turn be duplicated, virtualized, archived, etc. Furthermore, one or more of these backup stages may occur in parallel with other backup stages.
Unfortunately, managing complex multi-stage backups using traditional backup systems may be difficult and time-consuming for an administrator. For example, the administrator may have to navigate back and forth through various windows, tabs, and/or menus of a graphical interface to configure each stage of the larger scheme. Furthermore, the administrator may have to ensure various configuration parameters of consecutive stages match and/or are compatible. Even after the time and effort spent by an administrator, the confusion and discontinuities caused by using a traditional backup system to configure a complex multi-stage backup operation may result in human error. Accordingly, the instant disclosure identifies and addresses a need for additional and improved systems and methods for providing backup interfaces.

Systems and methods for providing backup interfaces


A method of implanting at least a stem member of a femoral insert into an intramedullary canal of a femur. The method includes making an anterior incision for accessing the intramedullary canal, and inserting a stem member of the femoral insert into the intramedullary canal through the incision along an arcuate path defined by an arcuate profile of the stem member.

A natural hip joint may undergo degenerative changes due to a variety of etiologies. When these degenerative changes become so far advanced and irreversible, it may ultimately become necessary to replace a natural hip joint with a prosthetic hip. When implantation of such a hip joint prosthesis becomes necessary, the head of the natural femur is first resected and a cavity is created (e.g., by reaming and/or broaching) within the intramedullary canal of the host femur for accepting the hip prosthesis, typically referred to as a femoral insert. The femoral insert may be inserted and supported within the host femur by cementing the femoral insert within the host femur. Alternatively, the femoral insert may be impacted into the host femur so that it is snugly fit and supported by the host femur.
Due to any number of reasons, however, a small portion of patients that undergo such orthopedic surgical procedures may require subsequent revision surgery to replace the hip prosthesis with a new prosthetic device generally referred to as a revision prosthesis. Because conventional hip replacement procedures typically removes a relatively significant amount of bone tissue from the area surrounding the proximal intramedullary canal, there is less bone and are significant problems associated with securing the revision prosthesis to the remaining femoral structure.
In an effort to overcome this problem, the use of short-stemmed femoral inserts is being described here. By shortening the length of the stem of the femoral insert and placing the prosthesis more proximal to standard primary femoral inserts, the need to remove surrounding bone tissue from the femoral neck and the intramedullary canal is substantially lessened. As a result, significant amounts of bone tissue are available for any subsequent revision procedures and therefore the ability to insert a traditional primary prosthesis as a revision to the short-stemmed femoral insert. This is especially beneficial for younger patients that will most likely require one or more revision prostheses during their lifetime.
Although these short-stemmed femoral inserts have aided somewhat in the preservation of femoral bone tissue, the issues of ease of insertion, prosthesis rotation, loosening, stress shielding, subsidence, and loading remain to be more fully and satisfactorily addressed.
Therefore, there remains a need for a method and apparatus for providing a short-stemmed femoral insert that is easily inserted into the femur, prevents prosthesis rotation, eliminates or lessons the probability of wear debris migration distally, eliminates or at least lessens the probability of stress shielding and subsidence, and provides surface loading as opposed to point loading.

Method and apparatus for providing a short-stemmed hip prosthesis


A server system includes at least one motherboard, a control board, and a power module. The control board is connected electronically to each motherboard. The control board includes an I/O module for connecting at least one external device and a switching module for switching each motherboard to connect electronically to the at least one external device. The power module is connected electronically to the control board. The power module may supply power to each motherboard through the control board, and the power supplied to each motherboard is switched by the switching module.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a server system and, more particularly, to a server system which can be reduced the use of connecting lines and managed each server unit easily.
2. Description of the Related Art
A server can provide faster data calculating ability for storing or processing a lot of data. When a user has a request to use a plurality of typical servers, he or she must spare enough space to dispose the servers and other related devices because the typical server usually has bigger physical volume. It is difficult to furnish the servers regularly because different server may have different size of case. Therefore, a rack mount server with a standardized size of the case is manufactured. The physical volume of the rack mount server can be reduced, and the user can furnish regularly the plurality of rack mount servers with the same size.
However, for a small size server, such as a rack mount server with 1U standard (1U represents that the height of the server case is 4.45 cm), only one or two computer unit can be disposed in the case due to the inner space limitations of the server. When the user wants to increase number of the computer unit to must dispose new rack mount server with 1U standard or replace bigger server with other standard to cause additional costs in the server. Furthermore, each element in the server is usually connected to another element by a bus or a connecting line for transmitting signals or power. When the number of the computer unit disposed in the same server is increases, more buses or connecting lines may be used. The complicated disposition of the buses or the connecting lines may occupy inner space of the server and reduce cooling effect in the server. If one element of the computer unit is breakdown, it is difficult to replace the element due to the buses or the connecting lines.


A vibration attenuation system for attenuating a transmission of an input signal is disclosed. The system includes a helical spring, a first terminal, and a first damping element. The helical spring includes a plurality of helical coils, a first end, and a second end. The plurality of helical coils define an inner volume of the helical spring intermediate the first and second ends. The first terminal includes a first inner member. The first terminal is coupled to the first end of the helical spring. The first inner member extends into the inner volume of the helical spring. The first damping element is positioned on the first inner member. The first damping element is within the inner volume of the helical spring. When the input signal is provided to the helical spring, the first damping element engages the helical coils and attenuates the transmission the input signal.

Springs provide a restoring force when mechanical work elastically deforms the shape of the spring. The restoring force is directed along a direction that would tend to restore the spring to its relaxed or non-deformed shape or state. Accordingly, springs are often employed in applications that require biasing or restoring the position of an element or structure to a position that corresponds to the spring's relaxed state.
The restoring force is a result of the spring's elastic properties. Namely, when elastically deformed, the spring stores at least a portion of the energy associated with the deforming mechanical work. This mechanical potential provides the restoring force. Springs release the stored potential energy in the form of mechanical work via the restoring force, often resulting in oscillatory motion. Some springs store energy by an elastic elongation/stretching and/or shortening/compression along a longitudinal axis of the spring, such as the case with helical or coil springs.
Within a range of displacement or deformation away from the relaxed state, the magnitude of the restoring force of many springs is approximately linearly proportional with the displacement. Furthermore, the restoring force is directed in the opposite direction of the displacement. Within the linear range of displacement, the restoring force may be modeled by employing Hooke's law. At least to first order, the kinematics of such springs are adequately approximated as harmonic or sinusoidal motion.
When coupled to other structures or elements, harmonic oscillators, such as springs, transmit at least a portion of the vibrational or oscillatory energy to the other structures. Harmonic oscillators and systems comprised of harmonic oscillators resonate at defined resonant frequencies that depend upon properties of the oscillators and the systems. Thus, when a spring is driven at or near a resonant frequency, the transmitted energy may be amplified, causing damage and/or catastrophic failure of the oscillator or the other structures that are receiving the transmitted vibrational energy.
For an oscillating system driven by an energy-carrying signal, the transmissibility of the system is defined as the ratio of the input energy to the transmitted output energy. Because the frequency of the input signal may vary, the transmissibility is often a function of the signal's frequency. Energy-dissipating elements, such as dampers, are often coupled to oscillators to dissipate vibrational energy and decrease the transmissibility of the system. When a damper is coupled to a spring, at least a portion of the energy stored in the spring is transmitted to the damper and dissipated over a time scale much longer than the period of the frequency of the system. Accordingly, the oscillatory motion is at least partially attenuated and/or damped.
However, design requirements of systems and assemblies often constrain the physical placement and types of damping elements that may be employed in various applications. Furthermore, coupling the damping or damper element to the spring may present further engineering challenges. When systems that include a plurality of oscillators require damping, the complexity of the engineering challenges is multiplied. It is for these and other considerations that the following disclosure is provided.

Spring and damper systems for attenuating the transmission of energy


The hair dryer includes a housing body that includes an air intake opening and an air outlet opening. The air outlet opening includes a non-ionized air outlet opening and an ionized air outlet opening. A fan is disposed within the housing body for introducing air into the housing body through the air intake opening and directing the air to the air outlet opening. An ionized air passage mechanism is formed within the housing body and is connected to the ionized air outlet opening. An air ionizing device is disposed within the ionized air passage mechanism for generating ionized air. Under this configuration, ionized air generated by the air ionizing device is discharged from the ionized air outlet opening and non-ionized air is discharged through the non-ionized air outlet opening such that both ionized air and non-ionized air are blown together from the air outlet openings of the hairdryer against hair.

A hairdryer equipped with a negatively ionized air generator has been used as a hairdryer having the capability of not only expelling heated air for drying and setting hair but also carrying out hair treatment.
FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing of a conventional hairdryer of the above kind. An air passage (102) is formed in the interior of an attachment portion (300) of this hairdryer. The attachment portion (300) is attached to a substantially cylindrical main body portion (100). An air passage (111) is formed in the interior of the main body portion (100). An inlet opening (not shown) is formed through the main body portion (100) for intake of outside air. A plurality of air outlet openings (104) are formed through the attachment portion (300).
A fan (112), a motor (113), a heater, and an air ionizing device (106) for generation of negatively ionized air are disposed within the air passage (111) of the main body portion (100). The main body portion (100) itself forms a handle. A power supply switch is disposed at the exterior surface of the main body portion (100).
When the power switch of this hairdryer is operated, electric current flows to the motor (113), the heater, and the air ionizing device (106). Air taken in from the intake opening is blown by the fan (112) toward the attachment portion (300) through the air passage (111). Air which is taken in through the intake opening is heated by the heater. Then negatively ionized air generated by the air ionizing device (106) is intermixed with this heated air, and the resultant intermixed air containing negatively ionized air passes through the air passage (102) of the attachment portion (300) and is expelled from air outlet openings (104). Thus in addition to drying and setting of the hair, a negative ion treatment effect can also be imparted to the hair since heated air containing air which has been negatively charged in this manner is blown against the hair.
However, negative ions generated by the air ionizing device (106) within the main body portion (100) impart a negative charge in the passage up until expulsion from the air outlet openings (104) (i.e., walls of the air passage (111) of the main body portion (100) and the air passage (102) of the attachment portion (300), and components disposed within this passage) by attachment to wall surfaces, etc. or by attachment in the vicinity of the multiple air outlet openings formed in the attachment portion (300). Thus, this conventional hairdryer is deficient in that negative ions undergo an electrical repulsive force that makes it difficult for the negative ions to arrive at the air outlet openings (104). This greatly decreases the number of negative ions output from the air outlet openings (104).
In general, in one aspect, the present invention relates to a hairdryer that comprises a housing body which includes an air intake opening and an air outlet opening. The air outlet opening comprises a non-ionized air outlet opening and an ionized air outlet opening. The hairdryer includes a fan disposed within the housing body for introducing air into the housing body through the air intake opening and directing the air to the air outlet opening. An ionized air passage mechanism is formed within the housing body and is connected to the ionized air outlet opening. An air ionizing device is disposed within the ionized air passage mechanism for generating ionized air. The ionized air generated by the ionizing device is discharged from the ionized air opening and non-ionized air is discharged from the non-ionized air outlet opening such that both ionized air and non-ionized air are blown together from the air outlet opening of the hairdryer.
In general, in one aspect, the present invention also relates to a method for drying and treating hair. The method includes introducing air into a hairdryer, directing the air introduced into the hairdryer toward an ionized air passage mechanism formed in the hairdryer wherein an air ionizing device is disposed. The method further includes ionizing the air introduced into the ionized air passage mechanism by the air ionizing device, and expelling the air ionized by the air ionizing device through an ionized air opening of the hairdryer. The method further includes expelling the air not introduced into the ionized air passage mechanism through a non-ionized air opening of the hairdryer such that ionized air and non-ionized air are blown together to hair simultaneously.


The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical formulation which provides for extended release of an active pharmaceutical ingredient selected from N-[2-hydroxy-3-(1-piperidinyl)-propoxy]-pyridine-1-oxide-3-carboximidoyl chloride, its stereoisomers and the acid addition salts thereof.

Arimoclomol is a heat shock protein amplifier currently under evaluation in the treatment of paediatric lysosomal storage disorders and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
The physical properties of arimoclomol make the drug somewhat difficult to handle. The drug substance is white in appearance, light and fluffy. Arimoclomol is hygroscopic i.e. it absorbs moisture (water molecules) from its surroundings. Arimoclomol has a relatively short plasma half-life (2-4 hours) and multiple daily dosing is currently required.
Arimoclomol is to date administered as powder-filled, coated gelatine capsules (arimoclomol capsules). The arimoclomol capsules are of immediate-release (IR) type.
Arimoclomol has been tested in healthy human volunteers and no maximum tolerated dose has been reached. A total of 261 subjects have been exposed to oral single ascending or repeated doses of arimoclomol ranging from 50 to 800 mg in seven concluded Phase I trials and two concluded Phase II trials, and is found to be safe and well-tolerated.
In the single- and multiple-dose Phase I studies, slight and reversible increases in serum creatinine levels were observed in a number of volunteers but these were not considered to be clinically significant (see e.g. Cudkowicz et al., Muscle & Nerve, July 2008, p. 837-844).


A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell; a reformer to generate a hydrogen-containing gas; an electric power generation raw material supply unit; a reforming material supply unit configured to supply at least one of reforming water and reforming air, to the reformer; an oxidizing gas supply unit to supply an oxidizing gas to a cathode of the fuel cell; a combustor to ignite an exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell; and a controller. In an operation stop process of the fuel cell system, the controller causes the oxidizing gas supply unit to supply the oxidizing gas, causes the electric power generation raw material supply unit and the reforming material supply unit to intermittently supply the electric power generation raw material and at least one of the water and the air to the reformer, and causes the ignitor to perform an ignition operation.

Generally, a solid-oxide fuel cell system is a system that generates electric power in such a manner that: a hydrogen-containing gas and air are supplied to a fuel cell that is a main body of an electric power generating portion; and chemical energy generated by an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in the air is taken out as electric energy. During a steady operation of the solid-oxide fuel cell system, a solid-oxide fuel cell operates at a high temperature of 500 to 900° C.
The solid-oxide fuel cell system includes a hydrogen generator configured to generate the hydrogen-containing gas (reformed gas). As a raw material (electric power generation raw material) for generating the hydrogen-containing gas, the hydrogen generator uses a fossil material, such as a city gas or LPG which contains a natural gas as a major component. The hydrogen generator includes a reformer, and the reformer generates the hydrogen-containing gas by a reaction (reforming reaction) between the electric power generation raw material and steam at a high temperature around 600° C. by using, for example, a Ru catalyst or a Ni catalyst. During the steady operation of the solid-oxide fuel cell system, the reformer is maintained at a high temperature of 400 to 700° C. and is continuously supplied with the electric power generation raw material and water or the like to generate the hydrogen-containing gas by the reforming reaction using the catalyst.
The solid-oxide fuel cell system includes an evaporator that generates steam from water supplied from outside, the steam being necessary in the reforming reaction in the reformer. During the steady operation of the solid-oxide fuel cell system, the evaporator is maintained at a high temperature of 100 to 300° C.
In an operation stop process executed when stopping the operation of the solid-oxide fuel cell system, the fuel cell, the reformer, the evaporator, and the like which are operating at high temperatures need to be cooled to predetermined temperatures, and the hydrogen-containing gas remaining in the reformer, the fuel cell, and channels through which the hydrogen-containing gas flows needs to be purged. The reasons for this are as below. The remaining hydrogen-containing gas contains steam. Therefore, when the temperature of the hydrogen-containing gas becomes a dew point or lower in a cooling process, the steam condenses into water. At this time, air intrudes from outside by pressure decrease. Therefore, an anode material is oxidized by the air. On this account, by repeating start-up and stop, the oxidation and reduction of the anode material are repeated. This becomes a cause of significantly deteriorating durability of the anode material. Further, the condensed water becomes a cause of significantly deteriorating durability of the catalyst filled in the reformer or a desulfurizer in addition to the anode. It should be noted that a process which is executed when stopping the operation of the solid-oxide fuel cell system and includes a plurality of processing steps such as the purge is referred to as the operation stop process. The operation stop process is a process from when an electric power generation stop instruction is received until when the supply of the hydrogen-containing gas and the supply of an oxidizing gas are stopped. The supply stop of the hydrogen-containing gas and the supply stop of the oxidizing gas may be performed when, for example, the temperature of a stack of the solid-oxide fuel cell or the temperature of the reformer reaches a predetermined temperature (100° C., for example).
Conventionally known is a solid-oxide fuel cell system in which in the operation stop process, the purge of the hydrogen-containing gas is performed by forming a reduction atmosphere using an inactive gas such as nitrogen. However, when the purge is performed using the inactive gas, channels dedicated for the purge need to be provided, and this causes a problem in which the solid-oxide fuel cell system increases in size. Therefore, proposed is a fuel cell system in which the purge of the hydrogen-containing gas is performed by using a raw material gas (PTL 1, for example).


There is disclosed a board and a board composition using clay and crushed vegetational materials, which is environment friendly and recirculative and can be also used as a natural basic material for articles of furniture or architectural interior/exterior materials, thereby being used as compost when being scrapped, and a manufacturing method thereof. The board is fabricated by forming a composition fabricated by mixing vegetational material, clay, a seaweed adhesive and a functional adhesive, and an auxiliary material at a ratio of 40xcx9c65:40xcx9c10:10xcx9c20:10xcx9c5 weight percent, and then throwing the composition into a hopper; withdrawing the composition received in the hopper so as to be passed between a pair of rollers and then molding the composition in a desired size; passing the composition between the rollers heated at a temperature of 100xcx9c300xc2x0 C. and disposing paper or woven fabrics at upper and lower surface of the composition and then pressing the composition along with the paper or woven fabrics; and cutting the pressed composition in a desired size.

Priority is claimed to Patent Application No. 39881/2001 filed in Rep. of Korea on Jul. 4, 2001, herein incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a board and a board composition and a manufacturing method thereof using clay and crushed vegetational materials made of grasses, trees, leaves, rice straw, barley straw and wheat straw, etc., and more particularly, to a board and a board composition using clay and crushed vegetational materials, which is environment friendly and recirculative and can be also used as a natural basic material for articles of furniture or architectural interior/exterior materials, thereby being used as good quality of compost when being scrapped, and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
As various conventional boards, there had been used various boards such as a board in which wood powder and chips are mixed with a chemical adhesive and then compressed, a gypsum board in which a paper board is attached to both sides of a gypsum plate having a desired thickness, a gypsum tex, and a board fabricated by molding synthetic resin materials, etc.
In the case of the gypsum board, firstly, calcined gypsum obtained by treating natural phosphogypsum at a desired temperature is mixed with an adhesive composition, a surfactant, a foaming agent, other addition agents and water to obtain sludge. The sludge is injected between two paper boards and then dried to form the gypsum board having thermal insulation and fire proof functions. However, since chemicals are used during its fabricating process, it is noxious to a human body. Particularly, glass fiber, rock wool, etc., partially contained in the gypsum tex are noxious to the human body and also contaminates nature when being scrapped.
Further, in the case of the board formed of the wood chips and the synthetic resin board, since they have a good strength and workability, they are used in various applications such as an interior material and a material for furniture, etc. however, they have poor fireproof, mothproof, damp-proof and thermal insulation functions. Particularly, in case they are scrapped, the composition and chemical adhesive component, etc., contained therein causes the contamination of the soil and water when being resolved. Further, since the materials are combustible, there is another problem that many casualties and lots of damage in property are generated when a fire is occurred. Moreover, since noxious components are usually discharged from the board to nature, there is yet another problem that indoor air is contaminated.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a board, a board composition and a fabricating method thereof using natural materials such as clay, crushed vegetational materials made of rice straw, barley straw, wheat straw, grasses, trees, leaves, etc., and a functional adhesive and an adhesive made from seaweeds, which can solve the conventional problems and also can be resolved in nature without the contamination of nature.
To achieve one of the aforementioned objects of the present invention, there is provided a method of fabricating a board using vegetational material and clay, comprising steps of: forming a composition fabricated by mixing vegetational material, clay, a seaweed adhesive and a functional adhesive, and an auxiliary material at a ratio of 40xcx9c65:40xcx9c10:10xcx9c20:10xcx9c5 weight percent, and then throwing the composition into a hopper; withdrawing the composition received in the hopper so as to be passed between a pair of rollers and then molding the composition in a desired size; passing the composition between the rollers heated at a temperature of 100xcx9c300xc2x0 C. and disposing paper or woven fabrics at upper and lower surface of the composition and then pressing the composition along with the paper or woven fabrics; and cutting the pressed composition in a desired size.
That is, the crushed vegetational material comprised of thin films and chips is mixed with the clay of 100xcx9c200 mesh (it is not limited to the size) at a ratio of 50xcx9c80:50xcx9c20 weight percent, wherein the clay is mixed with water at a ratio of 50xcx9c50 weight percent, and the mixed composition is homogenized to form a flexible composition. Alternatively, the crushed vegetational material comprised of thin films and chips is mixed with the clay of 100xcx9c200 mesh at a ratio of 40xcx9c65:40xcx9c10 weight percent, wherein the clay is mixed with water at a ratio of 60xcx9c40 weight percent, and the mixed composition mixed with an adhesive of 10xcx9c20 weight percent and an additional material of 10xcx9c5 weight percent and then homogenized to form a hard composition, wherein the adhesive is fabricated by boiling seaweed and water mixed at a ratio of 40:60 weight percent. The flexible or hard composition is thrown into a hopper, and withdrawn so as to pass between a pair of rollers along with paper or woven fabrics disposed at both upper and lower surfaces thereof. Then, the composition is press-molded by passing between the rollers heated at a temperature of 100xcx9c300xc2x0 C. and cut in a desired size.

Board and board composition and manufacturing method thereof using crushed vegetational material and clay


A seat for a watercraft provides a separately adjustable thigh support and back support. The seat includes a pelvis support and a separately positionable thigh support pivotally mounted on the pelvis support. An adjustable back support includes a post pivotally mounted to the pelvis support and a backrest that moves vertically on the post. Means are provided for adjusting and setting the thigh support and back support at desired positions for optimal support and comfort. Preferably, a person can adjust the seat while fully seated in the seat.

The present invention relates generally to an adjustable seat for watercraft such as kayaks or canoes and the like. The invention is particularly adapted for use in either closed or open cockpit kayaks.
Conventional seats for kayaks include a substantially horizontal support for the buttocks with an integral, substantially vertical back support. Other known seats have a tiltable back support which can be separately inclined relative to the horizontal support. Such seats are often constructed of molded plastic and are contoured to conform to the general shape of a person""s buttocks and lower back. These seats may include padding for added comfort. A conventional kayak seat is fixed to an inside surface of a kayak hull so that a person""s buttocks are at the same general elevation as the person""s feet, which extend forward of the seat. Adjustable foot pegs are often included along the inner gunwales of the kayak to provide longitudinal support for a person""s feet in the kayak. Normally, a person will position the foot pegs relative to the seat so that the person""s legs are bent, with the person""s knees elevated above the bottom of the cockpit. This arrangement provides firm support for a person paddling in the kayak and enables a person to use his or her legs and body to assist in controlling the kayak""s attitude and movement in the water.
However, conventional kayak seats are generally designed for those paddlers who desire the lowest possible leg position and/or for paddlers having large thighs. As a result, the majority of kayak seats do not provide adequate support for most paddlers. Because the preferred bent-knee position causes a paddler""s thighs to be elevated above the forward portions of the pelvic support in such seats, a paddler""s upper thighs are substantially unsupported. This lack of thigh support can accelerate the fatigue experienced in a paddler""s legs and can contribute to excessive pressure on a paddler""s sciatic nerve at the point where the nerve exits the hip. Irritation of the sciatic nerve is one of the more common ailments affecting paddlers. Excessive pressure on a paddler""s sciatic nerve can cause numbness or discomfort in a paddler""s lower leg or foot, pain in a paddler""s calf, and/or pain down the back of a paddler""s legs.
In addition, the back support in such seats is typically fixed at a set height with respect to the pelvis support. For a paddler, a properly fitted back support should be positioned so that it provides the optimal comfort for an individual paddler. While inclining a backrest helps, vertical height adjustment of the backrest is necessary to accommodate the natural variation in spinal curvatures between various individuals. The spinal areas for support are the lumbar area and the thoracic area of the spine. The lumbar area is concave and the thoracic area is convex. A properly fitted back support will support a portion of the lumbar area and a portion of the thoracic area. Specifically, it should support a portion of the concave lumbar area and a portion of spine that is between the concave lumbar area and convex thoracic area of the spine.
Existing seats for small watercraft include tilt but not height adjustability for providing optimal variable back support for persons having differing body shapes and sizes or having varying preferences for paddling positions. The lack of optimal back support can contribute to fatigue and decrease a person""s enjoyment of the boating activity.
Others have attempted to address these shortcomings in various ways. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,693 to Addison discloses a kayak seat with means for adjusting the height of a seat relative to the water line in a kayak. This patent describes a rigid seat which may be elevated using blocks or a linkage beneath the seat, and an adjustment means for raising the front of the seat more or less than the back of the seat to accommodate differences in paddler build. However, the disclosed adjustment means requires lifting and/or tilting the entire rigid seat, and does not provide for independent adjustments for improved thigh support and optimal back support. In addition, incremental adjustment of the seat for various paddlers is difficult and cannot be readily accomplished while a paddler is seated in the seat.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,970,903 to McDonough et al. discloses a kinesthetic kayak cockpit seat which includes a body-fitting molded seat with a removable back support. However, this patent does not provide an adjustable thigh support or back support which can be independently adapted to a particular person""s body size and shape.
Wilderness Systems Inc. of Trinity, N.C. produces and sells a kayak seat back extension (Product No. 1595-0100) for extending the total height of a seat back on a kayak seat. The extension includes a support pad with a pocket that slips over the top of a standard seatback. While this extension provides higher or greater back support and comfort for paddlers, it provides only two discrete seatback heights that may not be optimal for some persons.
Thus, there remains a need for a new and improved seat for small watercraft which can be quickly and easily adjusted to comfortably support the thighs of persons of varying sizes and shapes and to accommodate persons having varying preferences for paddling positions in a watercraft. There is a similar need for a backrest which is adjustable in height.
The present invention fulfills this need in the art by providing a seat for watercraft that provides adjustable support for key areas of a person""s body while seated in the seat. Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention is to provide a seat for a watercraft comprising a pelvis support and a thigh support, wherein the thigh support is independently and separately positionable with respect to the pelvis support. Preferably, the thigh support is pivotally connected to the pelvis support. A means for fixing the thigh support in a desired position with respect to the pelvis support is provided. The fixing means may include one or more straps suspending the thigh support from one or more fixed portions of a watercraft containing the seat. Alternatively, one or more straps may suspend the thigh support from a back support on the seat. In either embodiment, a strap adjustment means is provided for shortening or lengthening the strap or straps for suspending the thigh support at a desired position relative to the pelvis support. Because the strap adjustment means is forward of the back support, adjustment of the straps can be accomplished while a person is fully seated in the seat.
The invention also includes other means for fixing the position of the thigh support. An inflatable bladder under the thigh support can be inflated or deflated to alter the position of the thigh support relative to the pelvis support. A manual pump may be included for inflating the bladder, and a valve provided for deflating the bladder. Optionally, one or more wedges or blocks may be placed under the thigh support, or a ratcheting support may be provided to fix the thigh support in a desired position.
To maximize the comfort of the seat, the pelvis support and thigh support are preferably shaped so that the connected pelvis support and the thigh support combine to form a composite seating surface that approximates the contour of a seated person""s buttocks and thighs over a range of thigh support positions relative to the pelvis support.
Preferably, the pelvis support and thigh support are molded plastic.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a seat for a watercraft having a pelvis support and a vertically adjustable back support which is incrementally adjustable between a lowest backrest position and a highest backrest position. The back support may adjust in angular orientation with respect to the pelvis support. For example, a post may be pivotally mounted to the pelvis support, and one or more adjustable belts attached to the back support and adapted for connection to a fixed portion of a watercraft containing the seat for adjusting and fixing an inclination of the back support relative to the pelvis support.
In addition, the back support includes a backrest that adjusts in height with respect to the pelvis support. A post may be connected to the pelvis support and have a backrest movably engaged on the post. The post may be pivotally connected to the pelvis support. Preferably, a backrest adjustment means is provided for elevating or lowering the backrest on the post. Such adjustment means may be remotely operable by a forward-facing person seated in the seat. One or more resilient members may be provided to bias the backrest downwardly on the post.
In a preferred arrangement, the backrest adjustment means includes an upper pulley or guide on the post near its top end, a lower pulley or guide on the post near its lower end, a rope having a fixed end and a free end, and a cleat beneath a forward portion of the pelvis support. The fixed end of the rope is attached to the backrest and the rope extends over the upper pulley or guide, under the lower pulley or guide, and under the pelvis support. The free end of the rope extends through the cleat forward of the pelvis support. The elevation of the backrest can be adjusted upwardly or downwardly by a person fully seated in the seat by pulling or feeding the free end of the rope through the cleat and engaging the rope in the cleat when the backrest is at a desired elevation.
Alternatively, the backrest adjustment may include a clamping means for clamping the backrest to the post at a desired elevation. The clamping means may include a backrest clamping surface on the backrest, a threaded rod extending outward from the backrest clamping surface, a post clamping surface having a slot for receiving the threaded rod, and a knob having a threaded hole for engagement on the threaded rod. The threaded rod on the backrest passes through the slot in the post and moves in the slot as the backrest is vertically positioned on the post. The backrest is clamped to the post by screwing the knob onto the threaded rod, thereby pressing the two clamping surfaces together. This arrangement may further include sawtooth ridges on the backrest clamping surface and mating saw tooth ridges on the post clamping surface, wherein the saw tooth ridges on the two surfaces positively engage one another when the backrest is clamped to the post.
Still another aspect of the present invention is to provide a seat having both an adjustable thigh support and an adjustable back support as described above. The invention also includes a canoe, kayak, or sit-on-top kayak equipped with a seat having an adjustable thigh support and/or adjustable back support as summarized above.
The invention further includes a method of boating comprising sitting in a seat having a thigh support located in a watercraft and adjusting the thigh support to a desired position while seated in the seat. The invention also includes a method of boating comprising sitting in a seat in a watercraft having a buttocks support and a back support pad that is vertically adjustable to multiple locations above the buttocks support, and adjusting the back support pad to a desired position while seated in the seat. Also, the invention includes a method of boating including sitting in a seat in a watercraft having a separately adjustable thigh support and back support, and adjusting the thigh support and back support to desired positions while fully seated in the seat. The above methods further include making the adjustment or adjustments as the watercraft moves on a body of water.
These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the following description of the preferred embodiments when considered with the drawings.


An electro-optical modulator system obtained by linking a modulator incorporating a Y-junction coupler having a length Ll(101-108) to a passive coupler (104,105) whose length L2 in relation to the coupling length LC2 is determined so as to cancel substantially the third order distortions of the modulator. The resulting modulator has all of its even distortions cancelled and its uneven distortion is substantially zero. Furthermore, the rate of decay can potentially be zero.

1. Field of the Invention
This application is a 371 of PCT/FR91/00994, filed Dec. 10, 1991.
The present invention relates to devices allowing modulation of an optical signal from an electric signal. Devices of this kind are most frequently incorporated into the surface of a substrate made from a material whose optical properties are changed under the effect of an electric field applied to it. These devices make it possible, in particular, to modulate a light signal in order to be able to transmit analog signals, e.g., television signals, over an optical fiber.
2. Discussion of Background
To modulate an optical signal using an analog signal, use must be made of a modulator whose electro-optical response is the most linear possible, in order to avoid excessive distortion of the signal to be transmitted. Linearity tolerances may be greater of lesser, depending on the signals to be transmitted; however, they are especially reduced in the very important instance of a set of television channels transmitted under amplitude modulation with reduced sideband (AMRS).
Various modulator structures are known, some of which make it possible to cancel out even non-linearities using the symmetry of the electro-optical response. On this subject, IEEE Transactions: Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 28, No. 5, May 1990, article of Halemane and Korotky, p. 673, may be consulted.
In an article published in IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, Vol. 22, No. 12, December 1986, pp. 2191-2194, Kwang Tsai Koai et al. suggested a modulator structure based on a directional coupler allowing good linearity. This structure improves in their entirety the properties of the directional coupler, but does not make it possible to cancel out the even-numbered or third-order terms.

Integrated electro-optical modulation device