In an aspect, the invention relates to compositions, method, and kits for inducing apoptosis. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Drug free macromolecular therapeutic platforms possess great potential for treatment of several diseases and disorders. For example, the cross-linking of CD20 followed by the induction of apoptosis as described herein can be used to treat several diseases and disorders including B cell malignancies, inflammatory disorders, and auto-immune diseases with B cell involvement.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is a prevalent cancer worldwide with a high mortality rate. In 2012, in the United States alone, there were 70,130 new cases of NHL and 18,940 deaths attributed to NHL. About 85% of NHLs are malignancies originating from B-cells while the remaining malignancies are of T cell origin. B-cell NHLs include Burkitt's, diffuse large B-cell, follicular, immunoblastic large cell, precursor B-lymphoblastic, and mantle cell lymphomas. These cancers are generally classified as either indolent or aggressive, and more than 95% of B-cell lymphomas bear the cell surface antigen CD20. Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), mainly rituximab, are commonly used immunotherapies for NHL patients. However, the immunotherapy has a low overall response rate (<50% for relapsed/refractory NHL) and can produce rare but lethal side effects (e.g., progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy). Many researchers have attributed the clinical non-responsiveness and the adverse effects of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies to the Fc-induced cellular events.
There is still a scarcity of compositions and methods that are effective in the treatment of B cell malignancies, inflammatory disorders, and auto-immune diseases with B cell involvement. These needs and other needs are satisfied by the present invention.

Compositions and methods for inducing apoptosis


A motor control apparatus comprises a fundamental current control device that controls a fundamental current in a 3-phase AC motor in an orthogonal coordinate system constituted of a d-axis and a q-axis rotating in synchronization with the rotation of the 3-phase AC motor, a higher harmonic current control device that controls a higher harmonic current in the motor in an orthogonal coordinate system constituted of a dh-axis and a qh-axis rotating at a frequency that is an integral multiple of the frequency of the fundamental component of the current flowing to the motor, an estimating device that estimates the level of the harmonic speed electromotive force in the motor in the dhqh-axis coordinate system and a compensating device that compensates the harmonic speed electromotive force estimated by the estimating device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a motor control apparatus and motor control method, and more specifically, it relates to an apparatus of and method for controlling a motor to reduce the higher harmonic current flowing to a 3-phase AC motor.
2. Description of the Related Art
The applicant of the present invention has proposed a motor control apparatus that reduces the higher harmonic current flowing to a 3-phase AC motor (Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-356117). This motor control apparatus includes a fundamental current control system that controls a fundamental current in a dq-axis orthogonal coordinate system rotating in synchronization with the rotation of the 3-phase AC motor and a higher harmonic current control system that controls a higher harmonic current in a dhqh-axis orthogonal coordinate system (a higher harmonic coordinate system) rotating at a frequency that is an integral multiple of the frequency of the fundamental component of the motor current.
In a steady state, the fundamental current is a direct current and the higher harmonic current is an alternating current in the dq-axis coordinate system in this motor control apparatus. Accordingly, the higher harmonic current manifesting as the alternating current quantity is extracted from the current in the dq-axis coordinate system by using a high pass filter and the extracted current is converted to a higher harmonic current in the dhqh-axis higher harmonic coordinate system so as to handle the higher harmonic current as the quantity of direct current. In addition, a PI control circuit is employed in the higher harmonic current control system to realize higher harmonic current control with minimum control deviation.
However, since the harmonic speed electromotive force in the dhqh-axis higher harmonic coordinate system poses a disturbance to the higher harmonic current control system, the higher harmonic current control system cannot achieve quick response simply by providing the PI control circuit in the higher harmonic current control system and, consequently, there is a problem in that the higher harmonic current cannot be reduced to a sufficient degree.
An object of the present invention is to reduce the higher harmonic current flowing to a 3-phase AC motor.
The motor control apparatus according to the present invention comprises a fundamental current control device that controls a fundamental current in a 3-phase AC motor in an orthogonal coordinate system constituted of a d-axis and a q-axis (hereafter referred to as a dq-axis coordinate system) rotating in synchronization with the rotation of the 3-phase AC motor, a higher harmonic current control device that controls a higher harmonic current in the motor in an orthogonal coordinate system constituted of a dh axis and a qh axis (hereafter referred to as a dhqh-axis coordinate system) rotating at a frequency that is an integral multiple of the frequency of the fundamental component of the current flowing to the motor, an estimating device that estimates the level of the harmonic speed electromotive force in the motor in the dhqh-axis coordinate system and a compensating device that compensates the harmonic speed electromotive force estimated by the estimating device.
In the motor control method adopted in a motor control apparatus having a fundamental current control device that controls a fundamental current in a 3-phase AC motor in an orthogonal coordinate system constituted of a d-axis and a q-axis rotating in synchronization with the rotation of the 3-phase AC motor and a higher harmonic current control device that controls a higher harmonic current in the motor in an orthogonal coordinate system constituted of a dh-axis and a qh-axis rotating at a frequency that is an integral multiple of the frequency of a fundamental component of the current flowing to the motor, a harmonic speed electromotive force in the motor in the dhqh-axis coordinate system is estimated and the estimated harmonic speed electromotive force is compensated.

Motor control apparatus and motor control method


A semiconductor device according to an embodiment has: a semiconductor substrate; an acoustic resonator formed on the semiconductor substrate, having a semiconductor layer including impurity electrically isolated from the substrate by depletion layer and configured to resonate at a predetermined resonance frequency based on acoustic standing wave excited in the semiconductor layer; a temperature detector formed on the semiconductor substrate and configured to detect temperature of the semiconductor substrate; a calculating unit formed on the semiconductor substrate and configured to perform calculation of temperature compensation based on the temperature detected by the temperature detector, kind of the impurity and concentration of the impurity; and a controller formed on the semiconductor substrate and configured to control the resonance frequency based on a result of the calculation by the calculating unit.

For generation of a reference frequency, a crystal oscillator is used in many cases. Although the crystal oscillator has a high Q factor and a high level of temperature stability of a resonance frequency, it is hard to integrate the crystal oscillator with a semiconductor integrated circuit. Meanwhile, a method for achieving high frequency accuracy comparable to that of the crystal oscillator without using the crystal oscillator is actively proposed.
For example, an oscillator using an electrostatic-type MEMS or a piezoelectric-type MEMS is proposed. Such the oscillator utilizes mechanical resonance or acoustic resonance, which is similar to the crystal oscillator in terms of operation principle. Moreover, such the oscillator is inherently more likely to achieve a high Q factor as compared with an LC resonator.
Even though integration of such a mechanical resonator or an acoustic resonator on a semiconductor substrate is possible in principle, it requires special material, structure, manufacturing process, implementation method and the like. Moreover, it is necessary to perform frequency tuning one by one due to variations in an oscillation frequency caused by manufacturing process variability. In this manner, there are many problems remained to be solved.
It is therefore desired to achieve a semiconductor device provided with an oscillator that is easy to be formed on a semiconductor substrate and has high frequency accuracy.

Semiconductor device with a resonator using acoustic standing wave excited in semiconductor crystal


A method for tagging entities in a building automation system (BAS), the method including identifying, by a processing circuit, a first entity of one or more entities in a system library in response to receiving an indication to add the one or more entities to the BAS, wherein the system library includes a number of relationships between a number of tags and a number of entities. The method further including determining, by the processing circuit, one or more tags associated with the first entity based on the system library, determining, by the processing circuit, a tag type for each of the one or more tags based on a tag dictionary, and adding, by the processing circuit, the one or more tags to the first entity based on the tag type of each of the one or more tags.

The present disclosure relates generally to a building management system (BMS) and more particularly to classifying entities within a BMS using metadata tagging.
A building management system (BMS) is, in general, a system of devices configured to control, monitor, and manage equipment in or around a building or building area. A BMS can include a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, a security system, a lighting system, a fire alerting system, another system that is capable of managing building functions or devices, or any combination thereof. BMS devices can be installed in any environment (e.g., an indoor area or an outdoor area) and the environment can include any number of buildings, spaces, zones, rooms, or areas. A BMS can include a variety of devices (e.g., HVAC devices, controllers, chillers, fans, sensors, etc.) configured to facilitate monitoring and controlling the building space. Throughout this disclosure, such devices are referred to as BMS devices or building equipment.
Advanced building management system applications sometimes rely on the classification and identification of points, devices, and entities. For example, tagging may be a valuable mechanism for associating metadata with BMS entities in a station. Herein, the term "station" refers to an instance of relevant software, which can run on a variety of hardware platforms. Some tagging applications allow a tag to be associated with an entity, either manually ("direct tags") or automatically ("implied tags").
The process of using direct tags generally requires several steps. For example, for each entity, a menu item is selected. Then a tag dictionary is selected, and from there the user selects the appropriate direct tag or tag group. The tag is added at any time after the entity is added to the station. This process can be tedious and time-consuming.
Implementing implied tags generally involves the use of a tag dictionary, which contains rules that add implied tags depending on the evaluation of that rule. This evaluation generally occurs when the entity is added to the station. This method requires sophisticated construction of the tag dictionary, and the user may lack control over which tags are added to an entity.

Building automation systems with automatic metadata tagging


The provided software application includes a module that determines a machine fingerprint of a client device at an appropriate time, such as during initial software load on the client. The fingerprint may comprise various machine-determinable measures of system configuration for the client. Each application copy may be associated with a serial number. A license host may collect serial number, fingerprint and/or IP address information from clients on which the application is installed. The host may generate a map of application installations, including geographic locations of installations and number of unique serial numbers per client in specified regions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed toward systems for auditing software licenses, and more particularly, to a system that interfaces with a user's device to measure the device hardware configuration and thereby generate a device identifier used to audit software on the device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Currently, there are limited ways to audit software licenses. At the same time, software piracy continues to grow at an alarming rate, particularly in emerging economies. In response, software companies have focused primarily on making it more difficult for would-be pirates to install a given software application illegally, such as a single copy of the application on multiple machines. Still, software pirates have found ways to bypass such security measures and install unauthorized software copies on multiple machines. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an auditing service for reliable software license authentication and to provide software owners with a measure of how many copies of their software have been legitimately registered and/or how many copies are pirated versions.

License auditing for distributed applications


An object is to provide a food dough extending apparatus capable of adjusting a vertical position of an extending roller unit in an obliquely vertical direction in accordance with a thickness of food dough. A food dough apparatus includes an inclined transporting unit 7 inclined and configured to transport to-be-extended food dough 9 upward, a horizontal direction transporting unit 11 configured to transport the food dough 9 transported from the inclined transporting unit 7 in a horizontal direction, and an extending roller unit 13 provided above over an area from an upper end of the inclined transporting unit 7 to the horizontal direction transporting unit 11 and configured to extend the food dough 9. The extending roller unit 13 is vertically adjustable in a direction intersecting an inclination direction of the inclined transporting unit 7 and being upwardly inclined toward the inclined transporting unit 7. The extending roller unit 13 includes dust sealing mechanisms provided between ends of the extending rollers 79 and a pair of endless members 75, the dust sealing mechanism inhibiting circulation of air between rotation regions of extending rollers 79 and traveling regions of the pair of endless members 75.

When food dough such as cake dough or bread dough is extended into thin strip-shaped (sheet-shaped) food dough, thick food dough transported continuously by a transporting unit such as a belt conveyor is compressed between the transporting unit and an extending roller provided above the transporting unit to extend the food dough into thin food dough. To adjust the thickness of the food dough, the extending roller is simply moved in the vertical direction (see Patent Literature 1)


A utility computing portal supports public and private modules for application development in a cloud computing environment. The public nodules support downloads, customer support and access to a development community. The private modules are accessible to users with valid login credentials or those authenticated via a related entity, such as a Live ID. The private modules may include modules for testing, analysis, and billing. The utility computing portal also supports access to application configuration, for example, allowing a manager to change the number of front end and backend physical/virtual machines available to various application roles.

A mesh computing environment allows a user to connect multiple devices, other users, storage together in a universally accessible framework. Applications and services may also be accessed via this mesh computing environment.
However, developing the applications and services accessible to such users can be problematic because the cloud computing environment in which such services are operated is not easily created or simulated. Because of this, developers can be at a disadvantage when attempting to develop or port applications, gadgets, services, etc. to a cloud computing environment.


This application provides nanoparticles and methods of making nanoparticles using pre-functionalized poly(ethylene glycol)(also referred to as PEG) as a macroinitiator for the synthesis of diblock copolymers. Ring opening polymerization yields the desired poly(ester)-poly (ethylene glycol)-targeting agent polymer that is used to impart targeting capability to therapeutic nanoparticles. This “polymerization from” approach typically employs precursors of the targeting agent wherein the reactivity of functional groups of the targeting agent is masked using protecting groups. Also described is a “coupling to” that utilized the poly(ethylene glycol)-targeting agent conjugate where the targeting agent remains in its native un-protected form. This method uses “orthogonal” chemistry that exhibit no cross reactivity towards functional groups typically found within targeting agents of interest.

The delivery of a drug to a patient with controlled-release of the active ingredient has been an active area of research for decades and has been fueled by the many recent developments in polymer science. In addition, controlled release polymer systems can be designed to provide a drug level in the optimum range over a longer period of time than other drug delivery methods, thus increasing the efficacy of the drug and minimizing problems with patient compliance.
Biodegradable particles have been developed as sustained release vehicles used in the administration of small molecule drugs, proteins and peptide drugs, and nucleic acids. The drugs are typically encapsulated in a polymer matrix which is biodegradable and biocompatible. As the polymer is degraded and/or as the drug diffuses out of the polymer, the drug is released into the body.
Targeting controlled release polymer systems (e.g., targeted to a particular tissue or cell type or targeted to a specific diseased tissue but not normal tissue) is desirable because it reduces the amount of a drug present in tissues of the body that are not targeted. This is particularly important when treating a condition such as cancer where it is desirable that a cytotoxic dose of the drug is delivered to target cells without killing the surrounding tissue. Accordingly, a need exists to develop delivery systems which can deliver therapeutic levels of drug to treat diseases such as cancer, while also reducing patient side effects.

Methods for the preparation of targeting agent functionalized diblock copolymers for use in fabrication of therapeutic targeted nanoparticles


In a ceramic electronic component, a section of a first extraction section located closer to a first end surface defines a first thick section. The first thick section is at least about 1.5 times as thick as a first central section of a first opposed section in a direction. The length of the first thick section is within the range of about ¼ to about ¾ of a distance from a tip of a second opposed section closer to the first end surface, to the first end surface in the direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ceramic electronic component.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, ceramic electronic components, such as ceramic capacitors, have been used for various applications. For example, JP 2006-332601 A discloses, as an example, a laminated ceramic capacitor in which an internal electrode is thicker in an electrode extraction section than in a capacitance generation section. In the laminated ceramic capacitor disclosed in JP 2006-332601 A, the relatively thick electrode extraction section is partially overlapped with a relatively thin capacitance generation section in the length direction.
In recent years, there is has been a demand to further improve the performance of ceramic electronic components.

Ceramic electronic component including internal electrode with thick section


A rating interface system and method are provided that allow human users to continuously rate the impact they or other human users and/or their avatars are having on themselves or others during interpersonal interactions, such as conversations or group discussions. The system and method provide time stamping of users' ratings data and audio and video data of an interaction, and correlate the ratings data with the audio and video data at selected time intervals for subsequent analysis.

Simulation systems exist for enabling remote interactions between people, including with the use of one or more avatars. Such systems use video and audio connections and, when avatars are used, controlling algorithms for the avatars. Pre-recorded models and machine learning algorithms are used to recognize emotions in humans in simulations. However, such models and algorithms are often not accurate and lack contextual information about the interpersonal interactions.

Rating interface for behavioral impact assessment during interpersonal interactions


This invention generally relates to minimal invasive surgery. More specifically the current invention relates to an apparatus especially adapted to fold prosthetic patches and to insert said patches into a body cavity through a cannula or an incision.

An object of the present invention is to provide apparatus and a method for performing corrective surgery on internal wounds such as hernia where invasion of the patient's body tissues is minimized and resultant trauma is reduced.
A hernia is a protrusion of a tissue, structure, or part of an organ through the muscular tissue or the membrane by which it is normally contained. In other words a hernia is a defect in the abdominal wall through which a portion of the intra-abdominal contents can protrude. This often causes discomfort and an unsightly, visible bulge in the abdomen. When such a hernia defect occurs in the abdominal region, conventional corrective surgery has required opening the abdominal cavity by surgical incision through the major abdominal muscles. While this technique provides for effective corrective surgery of the hernia defect, it has the disadvantage of requiring a hospital stay of as much as a week, during which pain is frequently intense, and it requires an extended period of recuperation. After the conventional surgery patients frequently cannot return to a full range of activity and work schedule for a month or more. Accordingly, medical science has sought alternative techniques that are less traumatic to the patient and provide for more rapid recovery.
Laparoscopy is the science of introducing a viewing instrument through a port into a patient's body, typically the abdominal cavity, to view its contents. This technique has been used for diagnostic purposes for more than 75 years. Operative laparoscopy is performed through tiny openings in the abdominal wall called ports. In most surgical techniques several ports, frequently three to six, are used. Through one port is inserted the viewing device, which conventionally comprises a fiber optic rod or bundle having a video camera affixed to the outer end to receive and display images from inside the body. The various surgical instruments are inserted through other ports to do the surgery that normally would be performed through an open incision through the abdominal wall. Because the laparoscopic surgical techniques require only very small holes through the abdominal wall or other portions of the body, a patient undergoing such surgery may frequently leave the hospital within one day after the surgery and resume a full range of normal activities within a few days thereafter.
In repairing hernia the physician needs to first roll the patch in order to insert the same into the abdominal cavity.
Such rolling of the patch can be a time consuming process and sometimes even a highly difficult procedure. In addition, insufficient rolling of said patch may damage the patch during its insertion and may require operation of large forces during said insertion; such forces may lead to patient injuries and/or damage to the insertion tool.
Thus, there is still a long felt need for a device that will enable an easy rolling of the patch prior to the insertion of the same to the abdominal cavity.

Device and method for rolling and inserting a prosthetic patch into a body cavity


A successive approximation analog-to-digital converter is used for converting an analog input signal into a corresponding digital output signal. The successive approximation analog-to-digital converter has a successive approximation register for storing a first digital bit stream and a second digital bit stream that are related to the analog input signal, and a digital-to-analog converter for generating a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage according to the first and second digital bit streams. The digital-to-analog converter has a first voltage divider and a second voltage divider. The first voltage divider drives the first reference voltage approaching the analog input signal to establish the first digital bit stream, and the second voltage divider drives the second reference voltage approaching the analog input signal to establish the second digital bit stream. Finally, the first and second digital bit streams are averaged to generate the digital output signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of signal transformation for successive approximation for an analog-to-digital converter, and more specifically, to a method with increased resolution.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, thanks to developments in computers, the world is entering the digital era. Videotapes, audiotapes and other analog data storage media are being gradually replaced by digital storage media, such as optical disks. Digital data can be processed by a computer system directly, so the application is more convenient. Generally speaking, analog signals require an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to be transformed into digital signals. The most common ADC construction includes flash ADC, pipeline ADC and successive approximation ADC. Although flash ADC and pipeline ADC are faster than successive approximation ADC, their electricity consumption is also larger, and are not suitable for many systems with limited power supply.
Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a prior art successive approximation ADC 10. The successive approximation ADC 10 comprises a comparator 12, a control logic circuit 13, a successive approximation register (SAR) 14, and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 16. The successive approximation register 14 comprises a digital bit stream 18 having a plurality of bits, such as a most significant bit (MSB) 20 and a least significant bit (LSB) 22. The successive approximation register 14 referencing the digital value 18 will output a digital signal 24 to the DAC 16, and then the DAC 16 will transform the digital signal 24 into an analog reference signal 26. The comparator 12 will compare the analog reference signal 26 and an analog input signal 28 to form a comparison result 30. For instance, if the analog reference signal 26 is larger than the analog input signal 28, the comparison result 30 will be binary value xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d. On the contrary, if the analog reference signal 26 is smaller than the analog input signal 28, the comparison result 30 will be binary value xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d. The control logic circuit 13 based on the comparison result 30 adjusts the digital value 18 stored in the successive approximation register 14 accordingly. As the digital value 18 changes, the digital signal 24 will also change and further influence the magnitude of the output analog reference signal 26 from the DAC 16. This process will continue until the analog reference signal 26 approximates the analog input signal 28 and the least significant bit 22 of digital value 18 is set.
Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the DAC 16 shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 3 is a voltage level diagram of the analog reference signal 26 shown in FIG. 1 The DAC 16 comprises a plurality of switches 34a-d, a plurality of first resistors 36 and a plurality of second resistors 38. The resistance value (2R) of each first resistor 36 is twice the resistance value (R) of each second resistor 38, and the method of electronic connection for the first resistor 36 and the second resistor 38 is a ladder-like architecture used as a voltage divider. Each switch 34 is used to select the voltage input for each first resistor 36, such as a ground (GND) or an operational voltage (Vdd). In addition, every switch 34 maps to a corresponding bit of the digital value 18, and if a bit has a binary value xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d in it, the corresponding switch 34 selects operational voltage Vdd. However, if a bit has a binary value xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d in it, the corresponding switch 34 selects ground GND. Please note, for easier illustration, FIG. 3 only shows four switches 34a-d, and it is assumed that the bit length of digital value 18 is 4. Among them, switch 34a maps to most significant bit 20, while switch 34d maps to the least significant bit 22. A voltage level of output terminal A from the DAC 16 changes according to the voltage (Vdd or GND) at every switch 34. If the digital value 18 is xe2x80x9c1000xe2x80x9d, switch 34a will connect to Vdd, while switches 34b, 34c, and 34d will all connect to GND. From the voltage divider circuit formed by resistors 36 and 38, we know the voltage level of output terminal A is xc2xd*Vdd. Similarly, if the digital value 18 is xe2x80x9c0100xe2x80x9d, the voltage level of the output terminal A is xc2xc*Vdd. If the digital value 18 is xe2x80x9c0001xe2x80x9d, the voltage level of output terminal A is xe2x85x9*Vdd. If digital value 18 is xe2x80x9c0000xe2x80x9d, the voltage level of output terminal A is {fraction (1/16)}*Vdd. So if D3, D2, D1 and D0 represent digital values 18 from the most significant bit to the least significant bit respectively, by the superposition principle, we can conclude the following relationship between the voltage level Va of output terminal A and the digital value 18:
Va=(xc2xd*D3+xc2xc*D2+xe2x85x9*D1+{fraction (1/16)}*D0)*(Vddxe2x88x92GND)
By changing the bit value of digital value 18, one can further adjust voltage level Va (the reference signal 26 shown in FIG. 1) at output terminal A of the DAC 16. When the successive approximation ADC 10 starts operation, the successive approximation register 14 will set the most significant bit D3 of the digital value 18 to be xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d, and the other bits D2xcx9cD0 to be xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d.That is, the initial value of the digital value 18 is xe2x80x9c1000xe2x80x9d. So during a first pulse 40a, the voltage level of the analog reference signal 26 is xc2xd*Vdd, as shown in FIG. 3. The voltage level of the analog input signal 28 is greater than the analog reference signal 26, so comparator 12 will transfer the result of comparison 30 into the successive approximation register 14. Because the voltage level of analog reference signal 26 is smaller than analog input signal 28, the successive approximation register 14 keeps the xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d in the most significant bit D3, and sets the next bit D2 to xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d. Now the digital value 18 is xe2x80x9c1100xe2x80x9d. So during a second pulse 40b, the voltage level of the analog reference signal 26 is (xc2xd+xc2xc)*Vdd. But, the voltage level of the analog input signal 28 is smaller than the analog reference signal 26, so the comparator 12 will transfer the results of comparison 30 into the successive approximation register 14. The successive approximation register 14 will reset bit D2 to xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d, and set the next bit D1 to xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d, now the digital value 18 is xe2x80x9c1010xe2x80x9d. During a third pulse 40c, the voltage level of the analog reference signal 26 is (xc2xd+xe2x85x9)*Vdd, and the voltage level of the analog input signal 28 is greater than the analog reference signal 26, so the comparator 12 will transfer the result of comparison 30 into the successive approximation register 14. As described, the successive approximation register 14 keeps the xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d in bit D1, and sets the next bit to xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d, and the digital value 18 becomes xe2x80x9c1011xe2x80x9d. Finally, during the fourth pulse 40c, the voltage level of the analog reference signal 26 is (xc2xd+xe2x85x9+{fraction (1/16)})*Vdd, and the voltage level of the analog input signal 28 is greater than the analog reference signal 26, so the comparator 12 transfers the result of comparison 30 into the successive approximation register 14. As described, the successive approximation register 14 keeps the xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d in bit D0. Since bit D0 is the least significant bit, the successive approximation ADC 10 is finished one signal transformation process, that is, the analog input signal 28 is finally transformed into digital output signal 32 shown in FIG. 1 (xe2x80x9c1011xe2x80x9d).
As described above, the successive approximation ADC 10 use the prior art binary search algorithm to detect voltage levels of the analog input signal 28 to produce the digital output signal 32. For a successive approximation ADC 10 to transform an analog input signal 28 into a 4-bit digital output signal 32, the smallest output quantity value that the DAC 16 can produce is {fraction (1/16)}*Vdd, this being the resolution of the successive approximation ADC 10. If the successive approximation register 14 uses more bits (e.g. 10 bits) for the digital value 18, this relatively improves the resolution of the successive approximation ADC 10 (e.g. 1/1024*Vdd) allowing measurement of the analog input signal 28 with better accuracy producing a more accurate output signal 32. In general, the successive approximation ADC 10 is an integrated circuit (IC), produced by semiconductor processes. Normally, it will incorporate one conductor layer or impurity doped layer to form a resistor component, such resistor component being influenced by the process and having an error between the actual resistance and ideal value. That is, there cannot be a completely accurate predefined ratio (2:1) of the resistances of resistors 36 and 38. Because the DAC 16 uses voltage divider architecture formed by resistors 36 and 38 to produce matching voltage levels by the binary search method, the error of each resistance further influences the least quantified value of the DAC 16, i.e. the resolution. Thus, when the DAC 16 uses the binary search to compare the voltage level of the input signal 28 to the analog reference signal 26, the inaccurate analog reference signal 26 causes errors from the ideal value in the actual digital output signal 32.
It is the primary objective of the claimed invention to provide a signal transformation method for a successive approximation ADC to improve resolution to solve the problems described above.
Briefly summarized, the claimed invention provides a method of signal transformation in an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The ADC is used to transform an analog input signal to a digital output signal. The ADC comprises a successive approximation register (SAR) to store a digital value with a predetermined bit length, and one digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The ADC further comprises a first voltage divider unit with an input terminal electrically connected to a first predetermined voltage, a second voltage divider unit with an input terminal electrically connected to the first predetermined voltage, and a third voltage divider unit. The first voltage divider unit comprises a first resistor that is used to approach a first resistance, and a first switch that Is electrically connected to the first resistor for controlling whether the output terminal of the first voltage divider unit is electrically connected to the input terminal. The second voltage divider unit comprises a second resistor that is used to approach the first resistance, and a second switch that is electrically connected to the second resistor for controlling whether the output terminal of the second voltage divider unit is electrically connected to the input terminal. The third voltage divider unit comprises a plurality of third resistors, each having a resistance approaching the first resistance value; a plurality of fourth resistors connected in series between the output end of the first voltage divider unit and the output end of the second voltage divider unit, each fourth resistor having a resistance approaching a second resistance value and both ends of each fourth resistor connected to two adjacent third resistors; and a plurality of control switches. Each control switch comprisesa third switch connected between a third resistor and the first predetermined voltage and a fourth switch connected between a third resistor and a second predetermined voltage. The signal converting method comprises controlling the first switch and the second switch to electrically connect the first voltage divider unit to the first predetermined voltage and to disconnect the second voltage divider unit from the first predetermined voltage, controlling the plurality of control switches for the output end of the second divider unit generating a first voltage approaching the analog input signal, and controlling the successive approximation register generating a first digital bit stream according to the first voltage. The method further comprises controlling the first switch and the second switch to disconnect the first voltage divider unit from the first predetermined voltage and to electrically connect the second voltage divider unit to the first predetermined voltage, controlling the plurality of control switches for the output end of the first divider unit generating a second voltage approaching the analog input signal, and controlling the successive approximation register generating a second digital bit stream according to the second voltage. The method finally comprises computing an average of the first digital bit stream and the second digital bit stream to generate the digital output signal.
These and other objectives of the claimed invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.

Method for improving successive approximation analog-to-digital converter


An inkjet printer includes at least one print cartridge mounted in a scanning carriage having an ink interconnect coupled, via a flexible tube, to an ink output of a stationary pressure regulator. An ink input of the pressure regulator is connected, via a tube, to a stationary ink supply having replaceable ink cartridges. The print cartridge contains one or more printheads and one or more ink interconnects, one interconnect for each color ink which is printable by the print cartridge. To avoid ink pressure spikes due to the momentum of the ink in the flexible ink tube as the carriage scans across the medium, a flexible diaphragm is incorporated in the ink chamber of the print cartridge. The print cartridge is inserted in the scanning carriage so as to create a fluid coupling between the printhead and the flexible tube leading to the scanning carriage.

Inkjet printers are well-known. In these types of printers, droplets of ink are ejected from orifices in a printhead as the printhead scans across a medium. In certain types of inkjet printers, disposable print cartridges, each containing a printhead and a supply of ink, are installed in a scanning carriage. When the supply of ink is depleted, the print cartridge is disposed of. This results in a fairly expensive cost per sheet of printing.
Another type of inkjet printer allows the user to replace the ink supply in the scanning carriage without disposing of the printhead itself. In both of the cases described above, the scanning carriage supports the ink supply for the printhead. Since the capacity of the ink container must be fairly large to avoid changing ink supplies frequently, the carriage must be fairly large. This large carriage places a limit on reducing the size of the inkjet printer.
To overcome the disadvantages of the "on-axis" ink supplies, printers with off-axis ink supplies have been developed which use an ink supply not carried on the scanning carriage. A flexible tube connects the off-axis ink supply to the scanning printhead. One problem with these off-axis ink delivery systems is that the height difference between the printhead and the ink supply is directly related to the ink pressure to the printhead. Therefore, there is a high likelihood that ink will drool out of the printhead nozzles if the printer is tilted or tipped over. Further, the momentum of the ink in the flexible tube as the carriage scans causes fluctuations in the pressure of the ink applied to the printhead.
What is needed is an ink delivery system for an inkjet printer which does not suffer from the various drawbacks of the existing inkjet printers described above.

Printer having multi-chamber print cartridges and off-carriage regulator


A method of determining a defibrillation threshold for an implantable cardiac defibrillator, based upon determining the 50% probability of reaching the upper limit of vulnerability. The 50% probability of reaching the upper limit of vulnerability at the mid-upslope of the T-wave is found to closely approximate the 50% probability of successful defibrillation used to set the shock energy level of the defibrillator. A delayed up-down algorithm is used to determine the shock strength associated with 50% probability of reaching the upper limit of vulnerability.

In the field of cardiac defibrillation, it is well known that the energy required to effectively defibrillate a human heart, varies with internal lead configuration and electrode placement, as well as with the responsiveness of a particular patient's heart. It is necessary to determine, with the highest degree of accuracy, the minimal energy level necessary to defibrillate a patient's heart using implanted defibrillation leads.(the defibrillation threshold).
One known method of determining the defibrillation threshold energy of an implantable system is to induce fibrillation of a patient's heart. Once fibrillation occurs, the heart is defibrillated through the implanted defibrillation leads. Initially, defibrillation is attempted at a relatively high energy level (high energy being used to ensure rapid defibrillation and hence minimize patient risk). If this energy level defibrillates the heart, the heart is placed in fibrillation again, and a defibrillation pulse of a lower energy level is applied to the heart. If the lower energy level defibrillates the heart, the process is repeated with even lower defibrillation pulse energy levels until the heart is not defibrillated. The defibrillation energy level for the permanently implanted device is then set, according to the physician's discretion, above that energy level which reliably defibrillates the heart.
A disadvantage of the aforementioned method is the need to repeatedly induce fibrillation in a patient's heart, and to repeatedly defibrillate the heart to determine the system thresholds.
Another method of determining defibrillation thresholds is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,809, issued on Apr. 21, 1992. The method described in this patent begins by applying an initial electrical shock to the heart during a period of vulnerability, usually occurring contemporaneously with the T-wave of a conventional ECG. The energy level of the initial shock is sufficient high so as not to cause fibrillation. Assuming the initial shock fails to induce fibrillation, a second electrical shock is applied during a subsequent period of vulnerability, the second shock having a magnitude less than the initial shock. Subsequent shocks are then applied, each with a magnitude smaller than the preceding shock, until fibrillation is induced. When fibrillation finally occurs, the energy of the preceding shock (the last to not cause fibrillation), is deemed to be the energy level required to defibrillate via that particular lead configuration.
However, because the period of vulnerability differs from patient to patient (thus is not precisely known), and is not necessarily contemporaneous with the appearance of a T-wave, for best results the aforementioned procedure must be performed several times, each time corresponding to a different possible time interval of vulnerability. That is, the procedure is performed numerous times over distinct time intervals to insure that the shocks used to determine the defibrillation threshold were applied during a true period of vulnerability. This results in the patient being subjected to numerous shocks and several fibrillation episodes (though fewer than prior techniques) in an attempt to determine the defibrillation threshold.

Method for establishing defibrillation threshold for a cardiac defibrillator


The present invention relates to an audio waveform reproduction apparatus for reproducing a recorded audio waveform at a reproduction tempo that can be specified as desired, and its object is to achieve that the reproduction does not deviate from the tempo when performed at a tempo that is different from the tempo at the time of recording of the audio waveform. The audio waveform reproduction apparatus includes a storage means for storing waveform data of the audio waveform, an input means for inputting reproduction tempo information, a first information production means for producing first information (TP) that is a time function based on the reproduction tempo information, a second information production means for producing second information (PP) that is a time function based on time axis compression/expansion information (TR), a compression/expansion information production means for comparing the first information and the second information and calculating the time axis compression/expansion information (TR) towards matching the temporal change of the second information with the temporal change of the first information, and a time axis compression/expansion processing means for performing time axis compression/expansion processing based on the time axis compression/expansion information (TR) to produce a reproduction audio waveform, wherein the first information (TP) and the second information (PP) represent positions on a common axis.

Embodiments of the present invention claim priority from Japanese Patent Application Ser. No. H11-295247, filed Oct. 18, 1999, and Japanese Patent Application Ser. No. 2000-150040, filed May 22, 2000. The content of these applications are incorporated by reference herein.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an audio waveform reproduction apparatus for storing an audio waveform having its own tempo, for example, by sampling, and reproducing the audio waveform, changing the tempo to a reproduction tempo that can be specified as desired at the time of reproduction. The reproduction tempo can be tempo information that is input externally (for example, the timing clock, which is a system real-time message represented by F8 in the case of a MIDI signal) or internal tempo information specified inside the apparatus, and the apparatus can reproduce the waveform at a reproduction speed that corresponds to this tempo information.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, to reproduce sampled audio waveforms, several time axis compression/expansion techniques are known that change the reproduction speed without changing the pitch, and these time axis compression/expansion techniques are used to change the original tempo of the audio waveform (that is, the tempo at the time of the recording) to a desired tempo when reproducing the sampled audio waveform.
For example, in the invention disclosed in Publication of Unexamined Japanese Patent Application (Tokkai) H7-295589, to reproduce the sampled audio waveform with time axis compression/expansion so as to change the tempo at the time of recording to a desired reproduction tempo, the ratio of the original tempo of the audio waveform (that is, the tempo at the time of recording) and the tempo for reproduction is determined, and taking this ratio as the time axis compression/expansion amount, the audio waveform is compressed/expanded on the time axis, and the original audio waveform is reproduced at the reproduction speed of the reproduction tempo.
However, to reproduce the audio waveform with this method, first of all, the amount for the time axis compression/expansion processing is determined and set beforehand, and this amount for the time axis compression/expansion processing is sustained for the duration of the waveform reproduction. On the other hand, the tempo of music usually changes somewhat over the passage of time. Therefore, with the proceeding reproduction of the audio waveform, a discrepancy to the set tempo ratio occurs, which builds up, thus deviating from the tempo, so that it was difficult to reproduce an audio waveform that follows a change of the tempo over time. Neither was it possible to reproduce audio waveforms following a reproduction tempo when the reproduction speed was changed during the reproduction (for example, by changes due to speed indicators such as xe2x80x9critardandoxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9caccelerandoxe2x80x9d).
With the foregoing in mind and in light of these problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for reproducing recorded audio waveforms that does not deviate from the tempo when the reproduction is performed at a desired tempo that is different from the tempo at the time of recording.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for reproducing recorded audio waveforms that precisely follows temporal changes of the tempo, and, in particular, one that can precisely follow temporal changes of the tempo information in a realtime process.
In order to attain these objects, an audio waveform reproduction apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes (1) a storage means for storing waveform data representing an audio waveform, (2) a reproduction tempo information input means for inputting reproduction tempo information expressing a tempo for a time when the audio waveform is reproduced, (3) a first time function production means for producing first information (TP) that is a time function based on the reproduction tempo information, (4) a second time function production means for producing second information (PP) that is a time function based on time axis compression/expansion information (TR), (5) a time axis compression/expansion information production means for comparing the first information and the second information and calculating the time axis compression/expansion information (TR) towards matching the temporal change of the second information with the temporal change of the first information, and (6) a time axis compression/expansion processing means for subjecting the audio waveform to time axis compression/expansion processing based on the time axis compression/expansion information (TR) to produce a reproduction audio waveform. The first information (TP) and the second information (PP) represent positions on a common axis.
An audio waveform reproduction apparatus with this basic configuration produces time axis compression/expansion information precisely following temporal changes of the reproduction tempo at which the recorded audio waveform is reproduced, and subjects the recorded audio waveform to time axis compression/expansion processing in accordance with this time axis compression/expansion information, so that the audio waveform can be reproduced, precisely following temporal changes of the reproduction tempo information.
That is to say, waveform data representing the audio waveform and original tempo information, which is the tempo at the time of recording of the audio waveform, are stored beforehand in a memory means. Reproduction tempo information, which represents the tempo at the time of reproduction of the audio waveform, is input with a reproduction tempo information input means.
The first time function production means produces first information (TP) that is a time function of the reproduction tempo information, and the second time function production means produces second information (PP) that is a time function of time axis compression/expansion information (TR).
The time axis compression/expansion information production means compares the first information and the second information and calculates the time axis compression/expansion information (TR) towards matching the temporal change of the second information with the temporal change of the first information. By successively calculating the time axis compression/expansion information (TR) in this manner, the time axis compression/expansion processing means subjects the audio waveform to time axis compression/expansion processing based on the time axis compression/expansion information (TR) to reproduce the recorded audio waveform, precisely following the temporal changes of the reproduction tempo information.
It is preferable that in the audio waveform reproduction apparatus with this basic configuration, the waveform data of the storage means is PCM data, which is a time series of sampled amplitude data of the audio waveform, and that the time axis compression/expansion processing means subjects the PCM data to time axis compression/expansion processing based on the time axis compression/expansion information (TR) to produce the reproduction audio waveform.
In this configuration, it is preferable that the common axis represents positions of the PCM data in terms of addresses.
In this configuration of the audio waveform reproduction apparatus, it is preferable that the storage means also stores original tempo information, which is the tempo of the audio waveform at the time of recording, that the reproduction tempo information is period information of a period corresponding to the reproduction tempo, that the first time function production means calculates the amount of change of addresses per predetermined number of periods of reproduction tempo information, based on the original tempo information, and produces the first information, which is a time function representing positions of the PCM data, based on the amount of change of addresses and the reproduction tempo information.
In this configuration of the audio waveform reproduction apparatus, it is preferable that the first time function production means calculates the amount of change of addresses per one period of the reproduction tempo information and produces the first information (TP), which is a time function representing positions of the PCM data, which advance successively by the amount of change every time the reproduction tempo information is input, that the second time function production means produces the second information (PP), which is a time function representing positions of the PCM data, which advance successively by the time axis compression/expansion information (TR) for each reproduction sampling period, and that the time axis compression/expansion information production means compares the first information (TP) and the second information (PP) for each reproduction tempo information to calculate the time axis compression/expansion information (TR), which is the advance amount towards matching the first information with the second information.
In the aforementioned basic configuration of the audio waveform reproduction apparatus, it is preferable that the waveform data of the storage means is analysis data for analyzing and representing the audio waveform and that the time axis compression/expansion processing means subjects the analysis data to time axis compression/expansion processing based on the time axis compression/expansion information (TR) to produce the reproduction audio waveform.
In this configuration, it is preferable that the common axis represents positions in terms of virtual addresses representing the time axis of the audio waveform.
In this configuration of the audio waveform reproduction apparatus, it is preferable that the storage means also stores original tempo information, which is the tempo of the audio waveform at the time of recording, that wherein the reproduction tempo information is period information of periods corresponding to the reproduction tempo, and that the first time function production means calculates the amount of change of addresses per predetermined number of periods of reproduction tempo information, based on the original tempo information, and produces the first information, which is a time function representing positions in terms of the virtual addresses, based on the amount of change of addresses and the reproduction tempo information.
In this configuration of the audio waveform reproduction apparatus, it is preferable that the first time function production means calculates the amount of change of addresses per one period of the reproduction tempo information and produces the first information (TP), which is a time function representing positions in terms of the virtual addresses, which advance successively by the amount of change every time the reproduction tempo information is input, that the second time function production means produces the second information (PP), which is a time function representing positions in terms of the virtual addresses, which advance successively by the time axis compression/expansion information (TR) for each reproduction sampling period, and that the time axis compression/expansion information production means compares the first information (TP) and the second information (PP) for each reproduction tempo information to calculate the time axis compression/expansion information (TR), which is the advance amount towards matching the first information with the second information.
In this configuration of the audio waveform reproduction apparatus, it is preferable that the production of the audio waveform with the time axis compression/expansion processing means is repeated from the start position of the audio waveform, at a predetermined repetition period that is based on the reproduction tempo.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, when read with the drawings and appended claims.


A process for producing silicon wafers which have a storage-stable surface and which can be thermally oxidized directly, that is to say, without a prior HF immersion bath, and without the addition of halogen-containing gases, it being possible to achieve an equal or better oxidation result than that achieved by including these measures.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for producing storage-stable polished silicon wafer surfaces having advantageous oxidation properties by hydrophilizing treatment of the polished wafer surfaces and a subsequent exposure to an organosilicon reagent.
2. The Prior Art
The requirements relating to the quality of silicon wafers for producing electronic components and, in particular, highly integrated memory chips are increasing in parallel with the continuous increase in integration density. This applies especially to the quality of polished silicon wafer surfaces into which the electronic structures are etched in numerous process steps. These surfaces are required to have a specified, unaltering chemical composition over the period from production to further processing. A reproducible quality standard can only be achieved with the proviso that the initial requirements are the same. No part must be played by environmental effects during the transportation and the storage of wafers until they are processed further to produce electronic components.
According to U.S. Pat. No. 4,270,316, an adequate storage stability is achieved, for example, if the wafer surface acquires a protective layer of trialkylsilyl radicals through treatment with a reagent capable of trialkylsilylation. This avoids the occurrence of aging effects, which can be attributed primarily to the surface adsorption of water, and manifest themselves in a little-valued clouding of the polished surface, the so-called "haze."
Since virtually every component production process in modern silicon technology starts with the thermal oxidation of the wafer surface, attention has to be paid in the preparation of the wafers not only to their storage stability, but particularly to the requirement that the pretreatment of the wafer surfaces does not in any way impede the oxidation process. As a result of the thermal oxidation, the trialkylsilyl radicals mentioned are burnt to form carbon dioxide and water and are able to escape. However, because of the high proportion of carbon in the trialkylsilyl group, the pyrolysis is incomplete, with the result that carbon contaminates the wafer surface.
In addition, it is known that, following a treatment with hydrogen fluoride in an immersion bath (HF immersion bath), the oxidation rates of oxide-free surfaces are particularly high (J. M. Delarios et al., Appl. Surf. Sci. 30, 17-24, 1987). For this reason, and because of the cleaning action of the HF immersion bath, this measure is preferably carried out prior to the thermal oxidation. The oxide growth is also accelerated by the addition of fluorine-containing gases during the thermal oxidation (Kim et al., J. Electrochem. Soc., 139(7) , 2291-2296, 1990) .
It is furthermore known (K. Taniguchi, Y. Shibata, C. Hamaguchi, J. Appl. Phys., 65 (7), 2723-2727, 1989) that, during the thermal oxidation, silicon interstitial atoms are produced to an increased extent in the interface region between atomic and oxidic silicon and these are responsible not only for accelerated oxidation kinetics, but also for the appearance of dislocations in the crystal ("oxidation-induced stacking faults" (OSF)).
Finally, it is known (R. E. Proano, D. G. Ast., J. Appl. Phys. , 66 (5), 2189-2199, 1989) that the silicon interstitial atoms and, along with them, the OSFs, can be reduced by adding halogen-containing gases such as, for example, hydrogen chloride, trichloroethane or freon, during the oxidation step. In addition, halogen-containing gases also remove metallic impurities, in particular transition metals, as a further source of undesirable OSFs (T. Okino, Jap. J. of Appl. Phys., 30 (5A), L857-859, 1991).
However, if hydrogen chloride is added during the thermal oxidation, inhomogeneities, which are also known to the person skilled in the art by the term "bull's eye pattern" (C. M. Osborn et al., J. Electrochem. Soc., 138 (1), 268-277, 1991), are observed in the thickness distribution of the oxide layer produced.
Nevertheless, in the interest of a rapid oxidation and an optimized oxidation result in the form of a thin and integral silicon oxide layer while preserving a dislocation-free silicon substrate, an HF immersion bath prior to the thermal oxidation has hitherto been deemed advisable and the adding of halogen-containing gases in the course of the thermal oxidation has been deemed indispensable.

Process for producing storage-stable silicon wafer surfaces having advantageous oxidation properties and silicon wafer fored thereby

Wacker-Chemitronic Gesellschaft fur Elektronik-Grundstoffe mbH


Oligonucleic acid molecules comprising a SNP site at a position corresponding to position 7480 of the bovine signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT5A) coding sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1). Also disclosed are an array or a kit comprising the same, a method for detecting the SNPs, a method for progeny testing of mammals, a method for increasing human and non-human mammal pregnancy rate in natural and artificial reproduction processes. Further provided are cattle breeding methods for improved milk production traits.

It is highly desirable in many contexts that reproductive performance in mammals be improved or enhanced. For example, in farm animals, increased pregnancy rate and/or increased numbers of live offspring often would increase profitability. In meat-producing animals, increased litter size and birth or hatching rates improve the overall efficiency and profitability of a farm operation. Embryonic survival is directly relevant in avian species to improved hatching rates and for aquatic species to improved survival rate per spawn. Swine litter size would be positively influenced by the elimination of conditions that are lethal for developing embryos. Improved survival spreads the hatchery or piggery cost over a larger number of offspring, for example day-old chicks, post larvae shrimp, or piglets, and thus reduces the unit cost of production.
In milk producing animals, aside from the inherent value of young animals, periodic pregnancy and the resultant early lactation period are necessary or desirable for the animal to have steady and high milk yield. Tremendous efforts, such as systematic animal breeding programs and artificial insemination, have been and continue to be invested in ensuring that the animals have high and sustained productivity, and that the milk produced is of high quality or has desired composition.
While modern cattle breeding technologies have increased consistency of herd quality or performance and generally achieved increased milk yield, many studies have reported a decrease in fertility in dairy cows. Cows with the highest milk production have the lowest fertility performance. For example, it is well known that infertility is the major reason for culling cows, and it is estimated that in the UK alone, over 17,000 cows are culled every year due to infertility or reproductive failure (Genus Breeding, UK). Epidemiological studies suggest that, in addition to milk production, other factors such as increasing levels of inbreeding are probably decreasing reproductive efficiency in the dairy herd. The first-service conception rate declined approximately from 65% in 1951 to 40% in 1996 (Lucy, 2001, Reproductive loss in high-producing dairy cattle: where will it end? J Dairy Sci. 84:1277-93.). A large number of "normal embryos" in dairy cattle are found to undergo early embryonic death, but there is currently no explanation for such early embryo death. Reducing embryonic loss and achieving high rates of conception in dairy cattle would change the way we manage the lactation cycle (Lucy, 2001, supra).
The conception rate for cattle in the U.S. at first artificial insemination (AI) has also been decreasing for many years, and according to one report it decreased by 0.45% per year over a 20-year period (Butler and Smith, 1989, J. Dairy Sci. 72:767-83.). There was an increase in the number of AIs required for conception from 1.75 to more than 3 over a period of 20 years (Lucy, 2001, supra). Conception rates in large commercial herds stand at only 35-40% for mature cows. A similar need for improved reproductive performance exists with regard to many other farm animals such as swine, equine, sheep and goat.
In humans, infertility or low fertility plagues a significant portion of the population. It has been reported that in Western countries, about 10-15% of couples experience some difficulty with fertility (Evers, 2002, Female sub-fertility. Lancet 2:151-159.) Many couples suffering from impaired reproductive ability go to great effort and expense to successfully give birth to a child. The economic and emotional costs of embryonic mortality are significant, and a better understanding of its causes and improved methods for managing it are needed.
Infertility or low reproductive performance in animals, however, is presently poorly understood although it is known that there are many contributing factors, both genetic and environmental. It is nevertheless readily recognized that a genetic factor that causes the death of the embryo will be a major factor.
Lethal genes have been suggested as a cause of embryonic death and, if present, could cause failures in recurrent inseminations. However, lethal genetic factors or lethality genes if dominant, cannot survive in a population. Consequently, little is known about these lethal genetic factors. Identification and characterization of lethality genes would allow animal breeders, farmers and doctors to better understand low fertility, selectively improve the chances of success in animal breeding, develop strategic plans for improved fertility based on the genetics of parents and help eliminate these lethal factors from the population and improve overall reproductive performance in mammals.
As natural selection favors survival and reproduction of the more advantageous variants and elimination of the less advantageous variants, and an allele that confers lethality, even though recessive, generally decreases reproductive fitness of the individual carrying the lethality alleles. These recessive lethal alleles will eventually disappear from the population, unless it is otherwise selected for. Unnatural prevalence of a lethal allele, that is, at a frequency higher than predicted, indicates that it is favored by the condition under which the population is selected or propagated. Thus, if an allele is recessively lethal (reproductively disadvantaged), yet confers certain desirable production traits (for example, in the case of dairy cattle, milk yield or milk quality), this allele may be favored by breeding programs and persist in incidences higher than expected under natural selection conditions, even though its identity or phenotypic characteristics are not known. Insight about the exact nature of the phenotypic characteristics of recessive lethal alleles will be invaluable in assisting animal breeders in balancing reproductive performance with the animal's productive traits, and in achieving optimal economic outcome.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Detection of lethality gene for improved fertility in mammals


A system and method for analyzing data (the “system”) is disclosed. The system can automatically identify patterns of template data points encapsulated in the form of one or more “events.” Calculations and analysis relating to those identified events can be automatically performed at the identified locations of the events. Events are user-defined, and can be defined in reference to multiple channels of data. The system can perform various correlation calculations in comparing events with data points. Upon identifying the location of various events in the various data files, markers can be placed at those file locations. Analysis calculations can then be performed related to the marked data. The system can incorporate the automated time-scaling of patterns, marker sorting heuristics, the adjustment of fit sensitivity based on the size of the pattern, target value weighing, and the calculation of various confidence values relating to the processing of the system.

The invention relates generally to systems and methods for analyzing data. More specifically, the invention relates to a systems and methods (collectively "the system") for automatically identifying an "event" in a data file.
Advances in information storage technology provide individuals, businesses, universities, think tanks, government agencies, research institutions, hospitals, and other types of organizations and entities with entirely new sets of challenges and opportunities. As the cost of data storage decreases, the amount of data being stored increases. However, the ability to effectively and efficiently analyze data has not kept up with the technology of capturing and storing data. It would be desirable for analysis tools to possess user-friendly interfaces that are easy to use, and yet are also computationally robust and comprehensive. It would be desirable for an analysis tool to be both highly automated and highly configurable.
The voluminous abundance of data provides a yet untapped opportunity to look for patterns, and perform various statistical analysis relating to those patterns. The undiscovered patterns in existing data could be the source of future insights in engineering, economics, medicine, computer science, business and other fields. The ability to identify and explore statistical correlations and other data relationships can be the key to effective problem solving and optimization. One significant barrier to such a harvesting of analysis is the inability to find the data you want when you want it. It would be desirable for a data analysis system to include some type of search tool to better facilitate access to meaningful data. It would be desirable for such a search tool to include the ability to perform statistical correlations in identifying particular events or patterns.
Pursuing data analysis from the ground up is a difficult task. The persons with the subject matter expertise often do not have the educational background in statistics, and the person with the background in statistics will often not have sufficient knowledge of the relevant subject matter. It would be desirable if a data analysis system could encapsulate patterns of data in the form of events. Persons with subject matter expertise, could then define the events that are of interest from a subject matter perspective, and apply automated statistical tools to those events (e.g. patterns of data). The ability to place "markers" in data files to mark the occurrence of various events, and perform automated processing based on those markers would also be desirable.
The inability of an analysis system to search data files for user-defined events in an automated way impedes the ability to conduct data analysis in a timely and efficient manner. There are many obstacles to such an automated system. The prior art does not appear to provide an analysis tool that provides comprehensive correlation and other statistical tools in a way that promote both meaningful flexibility and significant automation. When dealing with data in the time domain, data is typically stored at various different scales, so it would be desirable to adjust the scaling of data so that an "apples to apples" comparison can be made. Similarly, statistical fitting heuristics will possess different sensitivities given different sample sizes. Thus, it would be desirable for an analysis system to make corresponding adjustments in an automated fashion. The ultimate use of statistical analysis requires some sense of how strong the end results are. It would be desirable for an automated analysis system to provide some measure of a confidence value in the output of the system.
The prior art does not appear to disclose or even suggest that an analysis system can be both highly configurable and substantially automated. The goals are in direct conflict with each other, with an apparent zero-sum game being the end result. Those well rooted in data analysis typically sacrifice automation and ease of use to facilitate comprehensive functionality. Those focused on the subject matter at hand typically sacrifice flexibility and comprehensiveness to obtain the goals of ease of use and automation. Persons focused on the subject matter often fail to realize the analytical tools that at least theoretically exist. The possibility of a tool that is easy to use, highly configurable, and computationally comprehensive is not suggested in the art.


A device for enlarging a cargo area, having sides, of a truck having a tailgate. The device being adapted for mounting on the tailgate of the cargo area, and including a central panel with side edges and ends, one of the side edges being attachable to the tailgate. Attached to the central panel is a pair of end panels that can attach to the central panel and to the sides of the cargo area, so that the cargo area may be enlarged by positioning the tailgate in a substantially horizontal position, positioning the central panel in a substantially vertical orientation relative to the tailgate while the end panels attach to the sides of the cargo area and extend from the sides of the cargo area to the central panel. The structure also allows the end panels to fold under the central panel and between the central panel and the tailgate when not in use. Additionally, the structure allows the central panel to further unfold from the tailgate to form a work surface.

(a) Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a device for extending the useful space of the bed of a truck and for creating an enlarged work surface from the bed of the truck. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a folding workbench and truck bed extension which attaches to the tailgate of a truck, and cooperates with the tailgate to extend the side walls of the bed of the truck and unfolds to provide a large flat work area extending from the tailgate of the truck.
(b) Discussion of Known Art
Pickup trucks, as well as small trailers and the like, which include a cargo area with a tailgate for unloading have long been favored for their versatility in carrying small loads of materials and tools. Many times, however, the pickup bed, or trailer cargo area, need to be temporarily enlarged. Additionally, it is often necessary to provide a work surface at the job site. Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a device that allows enlargement of the cargo area of a pickup truck, trailer or the like, while also providing a device that can be used as a work surface at the job site.
There have been many approaches at providing devices that allow enlargement of the cargo or area of a truck or the like. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,852,303 to Hopson teaches the use of a sliding box which mounts on tracks that attaches to the bed of the truck. While the Hopson device provides a means for enlarging the cargo area by extending the box from the bed of the truck, it requires extensive modifications to provide for the track mechanism. Additionally, it is disadvantaged in that it really does not provide for means for providing a work surface once the truck bed has been unloaded.
A known device which the is directed at the need to provide the work surface at a job site is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,840 to Hanley. The Hanley device attaches over the tail gate of the pickup truck and provides an anchoring mechanism that slips under the trailing edge of the bed of the truck to hold the device over the tail gate. While the Hanley device provides a simple mechanism for attaching an enlarged work surface over the tail gate, it does little for enhancing the cargo carrying capabilities of the truck.
Still another device for providing a work surface at a job site is taught and U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,335 to Russell. The Russell device suffers from the same limitations as the Hanley device in that it does not provide for enhancement of the cargo area. Additionally, like the Hanley device, the Russell device is not safe for use while the vehicle is moving or transporting materials.
Other devices which provide work surfaces but do not enhance the cargo carrying capabilities of the truck are taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,333,771 to Taylor et al., 5,575,521 to Speis, and 5,649,731 to Tognetti.
Thus, there remains a need for a device which can be used to enlarge or enhance the use of the cargo area of pickup trucks, trailers or the like, while also serving to provide a work surface once at the work site.
There remains a need for a device which can enlarge or enhance the use of the cargo area of a pickup truck, trailer or the like, without requiring the use of rollers, tracks, or other attachments to the bed of the truck or trailer itself.
There remains a need for a device that can be attached to the cargo area of a truck and used for carrying materials from one place to another.
Still further, there remains a need for a simple device which can enhance the cargo carrying capabilities of the truck or trailer or the like which will not take up a great deal of space within the truck itself and will not require great modifications of the cargo area.


A cold rolled and annealed steel sheet includes by weight: 0.6<C<1.3%,15.0<Mn<35%, 6.0<Al<15%, Si<2.40%, S<0.015%, P<0.1%, N<0.1%, iron and inevitable impurities, optionally one or more of Ni, Cr and Cu in an individual amount of up to 3% and optionally one or more of B, Ta, Zr, Nb, V, Ti, Mo, and W in a cumulated amount of up to 2.0%, a microstructure of the sheet comprising at least 0.1% of intragranular kappa carbides, at least 80% of the kappa carbides have an average size below 30 nm, the remainder being made of austenite, an average grain size of the austenite being below 6 μm, an average aspect ratio of the austenite being between 1.5 and 6, an average grain size of the ferrite, when present being below 5 μm, and an average aspect ratio of the ferrite, when present, being below 3.0.

Environmental restrictions are forcing automakers to continuously reduce the CO2 emissions of their vehicles. To do that, automakers have several options, whereby their principal options are to reduce the weight of the vehicles or to improve the efficiency of their engine systems. Advances are frequently achieved by a combination of the two approaches. This invention relates to the first option, namely the reduction of the weight of the motor vehicles. In this very specific field, there is a two-track alternative:
The first track consists of reducing the thicknesses of the steels while increasing their levels of mechanical strength. Unfortunately, this solution has its limits on account of a prohibitive decrease in the rigidity of certain automotive parts and the appearance of acoustical problems that create uncomfortable conditions for the passenger, not to mention the unavoidable loss of ductility associated with the increase in mechanical strength.
The second track consists of reducing the density of the steels by alloying them with other, lighter metals. Among these alloys, the low-density ones have attractive mechanical and physical properties while making it possible to significantly reduce the weight.
In particular, US 2003/0145911 discloses a Fe—Al—Mn—Si light steel having good formability and high strength. However, the ultimate tensile strength of such steels does not go beyond 800 MPa which does not allow taking full advantage of their low density for parts of all kinds of geometry.

Cold rolled and annealed steel sheet, method of production thereof and use of such steel to produce vehicle parts


Methods for determining the genetic predisposition of a human subject to developing renal disease, such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) or end-stage kidney disease are provided herein. These methods include methods for detecting renal disease, or determining the risk of developing renal disease in a human subject, such as a subject of African ancestry. The methods utilize the detection of one or more haplotype blocks comprising at least two tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a non-coding region of a MYH9 gene or detecting the presence of at least one tag SNP in a non-coding region of a MYH9 gene. An array for detecting a genetic predisposition to renal disease using probes complementary to the tag SNPs in the non-coding region of the MYH9 gene are also disclosed.

The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the United States is now estimated at 13%, and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality (Coresh et al., Am J Kidney Dis 2003; 41(1):1-12). In particular, approximately 100,000 Americans develop end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) each year. The cumulative life-time risk for ESKD varies by race, and is approximately 7.5% for African-Americans and 2.1% for European Americans (Kiberd et al., J Am Soc Nephrol 2002; 13(6):1635-44). In particular, African-Americans have a disproportionate risk for several forms of CKD, among them diabetic nephropathy (Cowie et al., N Engl J Med 1989; 321(16):1074-9), hypertensive nephrosclerosis (Toto, Kidney Int Suppl 2004(92):5102-4), lupus nephritis (Fernandez et al., Arthritis Rheum 2007; 57(4):576-84), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (Kitiyakara et al., Am J Kidney Dis 2004; 44(5):815-25) (FSGS), and HIV-associated nephropathy (a distinct form of FSGS, also termed collapsing glomerulopathy).
FSGS is a clinical syndrome involving podocyte injury and glomerular scarring, and includes genetic forms with Mendelian inheritance, reactive forms associated with other illnesses (including HIV-1 disease) or medications, and an idiopathic form, which accounts for the majority of cases (Barisoni et al., Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2007; 2(3):529-42). African-Americans have a 4-fold increased risk for sporadic FSGS (Kitiyakara et al., Semin Nephrol 2003; 23(2):172-82) and an 18-fold to 50-fold increased risk for HIV-1-associated FSGS (Kopp et al., Kidney Int Suppl 2003(83):543-9; Eggers et al., J Am Soc Nephrol 2004; 15(9):2477-85). Individuals of African ancestry also have increased risk for FSGS in other geographic regions, suggesting that genetic factors contribute to these disparities (Kitiyakara et al., Semin Nephrol 2003; 23(2):172-82).
A need remains for methods for identifying subjects that are at risk for renal disease, including methods that use genetic means of identification.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with renal disease

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services


A hatch arrangement with at least one slidable hatch for closing an opening in a floor of a wind turbine including a first guiding device fixedly mountable to the floor and a second guiding device pivotably mountable to the floor, a first coupling means to guide the slidable hatch along a first guidance path in the first guiding device and a second coupling means to couple the slidable hatch at least pivotably to the second guiding device, wherein the slidable hatch is coupled to the first guiding device at a first position and to the second guiding device at a second position, wherein a movement of the slidable hatch from a closed position along the first guidance path results in a pivoting movement of the second guiding device and in a movement of the slidable hatch to an open position and vice versa is provided.

Hatch arrangements of wind turbines are typically provided for openings in the floor of a nacelle or on platforms within a tower of the wind turbine. Respective openings are typically used to crane or hoist loads or components through the opening. In addition, such openings are often used as parts of access routes, e.g. leading from the entrance on the base of the wind turbine via working platforms into the nacelle.
Typically, such hatch arrangements comprise a hinged hatch to open and to close the respective opening, wherein the hatch can be pivoted around a horizontal pivot axis. In such systems, the opening has to be secured to prevent people or objects from falling down if the hinged hatch is in an open position. For this purpose, in many cases guardrails are used. The guardrail can be either fixedly or removably mounted on the floor aside the opening. The guardrail should be mounted before the hinged hatch is opened.
Assuming that the load to be lowered through the opening is initially lying on the floor, the load may be attached to hook or a wire of the crane. After the guardrail has been mounted and the hinged hatch has been opened, the load has to be hoisted over the guardrail by the crane. Next, the load can be lowered through the opening. The same procedure but vice versa is executed if the load is desired to be hoisted from a lower level through the opening.
Since the load has to be hoisted over the guardrail, there is the problem that the respective crane has to be higher or larger compared to the case that hoisting the load over the guardrail is not required. As a consequence, more space of the wind turbine is required for the respective crane.
Another problem is that, for time saving reasons, a user may just open the hatch without having mounted the guardrail and, hence, without securing the opening before. However, this misuse potentially leads to dangerous situations where the hatch is open and the respective opening is not secured. As already mentioned, another aspect is that, in many cases, the opening serves as a part of an access route. In this case, the guardrail is not an option at all or at least not practical, since the user wants to get access to the opening.

Hatch arrangement for closing an opening in a floor of a wind turbine and a wind turbine


According to one embodiment, an information terminal includes a storing unit configured to store image pickup data picked up in time series by an image pickup apparatus that picks up images of a sales floor and sales data obtained by recording sales of a commodity displayed in the sales floor and date and time of registration of the sales; a list display unit configured to list-display videos of a predetermined sales floor in time series at every predetermined time interval on the basis of the image pickup data; a totalizing unit configured to totalize, at the every time interval, list-displayed sales of the commodity of the sales floor on the basis of the sales data; and a sales display unit configured to display the totalized sales of the commodity at the every time interval.

In the past, in a store such as a supermarket or a convenience store, a store clerk supplies commodities to display shelves on the basis of data of a point of sale (POS) system. In the POS system, a POS terminal generates sales data of settlement target commodities. An information processing apparatus such as a store computer subjects the sales data to registration processing. The display shelves, the POS terminal, and the store computer are provided in areas apart from one another in the store.
A user operates the store computer, checks the transition of sales of commodities and determines necessity of supply of the commodities to the display shelves and timing for the supply. The user predicts future sales of the commodities from the transition of the sales of the commodities. However, since the user does not grasp, for example, actual states of the display shelves, the user cannot supply commodities according to an actual situation of a sales floor.
Therefore, there is a system that picks up images of the same sales floor with cameras set in the sales floor at a time interval and detects time-series differences among the images as degrees of decrease in commodities (see JP-A-2002-24514). However, in this system, a user cannot check the transition of sales of commodities that decrease in the sales floor. It is not easy for the store clerk to check an actual situation of the sales floor in each hour such as the number of commodities displayed on displays shelves in the sales floor. To accurately predict future sales of commodities, the user needs to grasp, for example, flows of customers moving around the store holding commodities without making a payment. However, an actual situation of the sales floor in each hour and the transition of sales from sales data cannot be compared. Therefore, it is not easy to grasp, for example, the flows of customers.

Information terminal and control method that stores image time series data related to sales of commodities along with sales totals


A cable manager provides horizontal cable management of adjacent patch panels or network equipment on network distribution racks. The cable manager includes a central section and a front cable routing section and is mountable on a network rack, such as an EIA rack. The central section has a longitudinal width sized to fit within the network rack, a front side, a rear side, and rack mounting holes provided on opposite longitudinal ends of the central section. The front cable routing section extends from the front side of the central section and includes a plurality of spaced fingers having an arcuate surface that provides bend radius control. A slit provides flexibility to the fingers. Ears extend laterally from the fingers. The cable manager can also include a rear cable routing section that includes a second plurality of spaced fingers. One or more passthrough openings can be provided in the central section to allow routing of cabling from the front section to the rear section. Either or both of the front and rear sections can include a removable cover. The cover may be hingedly connected.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to cable management devices for patch panel or network equipment racks, and more particularly to a cable manager for use with adjacent patch panels or network equipment on distribution racks or within cabinets, with an improved finger and cover design.
2. Description of Related Art
Cabling, such as UTP, ScTP, coax and fiber optic cabling, is being increasingly used in the telecommunications industry to provide data, voice, video, or audio information. Patch panel or network equipment enclosure and rack systems are well-known in the industry and provided to manage and organize such cables to or from equipment or cross-connect systems. These systems usually include a standard EIA 19xe2x80x3, 23xe2x80x3 or other distribution frame rack on which one or more patch panels, network equipment, fiber optic enclosures and the like are mounted. Enclosures within the rack serve various functions, including operation as slack trays, splice trays, cable organizers and patch panels. These racks also serve as inter-connect or cross-connect enclosures when interfacing with equipment, or may serve as a telecommunications closet, allowing the cables to be terminated, spliced, patched or stored at places along their length.
The rack usually is formed of a frame having mounting apertures located along vertical legs or walls of the rack. Patching equipment, such as a patch panel, is mounted on the rack so as to define generally a patching side where patch cords coming from an active device or another patch panel can be cross-connected and interconnected, and a distribution side where cables from network equipment or a work station area are terminated. Generally some form of cable management is also provided on both sides of the rack to support and route the cables. While preventing detrimental bending is always important even for copper cabling, with the increasing use of fiber optic connectors as applied to connector rack systems, proper cable management and bend radius control has become increasingly important. Many known systems are unable to provide complete bend radius control, are inefficient in use, difficult to manufacture, or have other drawbacks and thus, improvement in the cable management of network rack systems is desired.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved cable management device.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cable manager for a network rack with an improved finger design that provides more effective bend radius control.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a single cable manager device that provides improved cable management to each side of a network rack.
It is still further an object of the present invention to provide an improved readily installable molded cable manager with a hinged cover for a network rack system.
Various ones of the above and other features and objects of the invention are provided by a cable manager mountable to a network rack. The cable manager includes a central section and a front cable routing section. The central section has a longitudinal width sized to fit within the network rack, a front side, a rear side, and rack mounting holes provided on opposite longitudinal ends of the central section. The front cable routing section extends from the front side of the central section and includes a plurality of spaced fingers extending transversely from the front side of the central section. Each of the plurality of spaced fingers has an arcuate surface that provides bend radius control. A slit is medially disposed along the arcuate surface and extends from a distal end of the finger towards a proximal end of the finger. At least one ear laterally extends from the distal end in a receiving space between adjacent fingers.
Various ones of the above and other features and objects of the invention are also provided by a cable manager mountable to a network rack, comprising a central section, a front cable routing section and a rear cable routing section. The central section has a longitudinal width sized to fit within the network rack, a front side, a rear side, and rack mounting holes provided on opposite longitudinal ends of the central section. The front cable routing section extends from the front side of the central section and includes a first plurality of spaced fingers extending transversely from the front side of the central section and retaining flanges extending from distal ends of multiple ones of the first plurality of spaced fingers. The rear cable routing section extends from the rear side of the central section, the rear cable routing section including a second plurality of spaced fingers extending transversely from the rear side of the central section and retaining flanges extending from distal ends of multiple ones of the second plurality of spaced fingers.
Various ones of the above and other features and objects of the invention are also provided by a network rack containing the above cable manager.