Nutritionally improved cultured dairy products, such as milk beverages and yogurt products, include a fine powdered calcium phosphate salt of reduced particle size having a mean diameter xe2x89xa66xcexcm in amounts sufficient to provide a total calcium content of 0.25% to 0.75%. A method for producing the calcium fortified products is also provided wherein an fine powdered insoluble calcium salt is admixed with a milk blend prior to fermentation. A yogurt can then be prepared by conventional fermentation. Both stirred style and cup set style yogurt products can be prepared.

This invention relates to food products, especially refrigerated fermented dairy products such as yogurt that are calcium fortified and to their methods of manufacture, and more specifically to yogurt fortified with calcium.
The present invention provides improvements to those calcium fortified yogurt products and methods of preparation that are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,903 entitled xe2x80x9cCalcium Fortified Yogurt and Methods of Preparationxe2x80x9d (issued Oct. 13, 1998 to Fluery et al.) and which is incorporated herein by reference. The ""903 patent describes the post fermentation addition of a calcium phosphate having a particle size of less than 150 microns to produce a calcium fortified stirred style yogurt. In important part, the present improvement resides in selecting and adding a more fine powder form of calcium phosphate having a particle size of less than six microns to a milk base prior to fermentation. By utilizing the more fine powder, it has been surprisingly found that pre-fermentation addition can be practiced. As a result, methods have now been found to produce either a stirred style yogurt product or a cup set fermented yogurt product from the same or similar calcium fortified milk base. Moreover, the process can be simplified relative to the post fermentation addition to eliminate the need for preparing a sterilized, pH adjusted calcium phosphate slurry for post fermentation addition.
Recent medical studies have indicated that a diet containing the U.S. recommended daily allowance (xe2x80x9cRDAxe2x80x9d) of calcium can be effective in preventing or mitigating osteoporosis, and also possibly high blood pressure and colon cancer. There is therefore great public interest in the consumption of food products that will supply the recommended daily allowance of calcium.
Nutritionists and consumers alike recognize dairy products as good sources of calcium. Consumers who may be most in need of an adequate calcium intake (e.g., dieters, the pregnant or middle aged women, and children) are target consumers for yogurt products.
An unfortified six ounce (170 g) serving of fruit-flavored low fat yogurt provides only approximately 200 to 250 mg of calcium (i.e., about 0.12% to about 0.15% calcium). The current RDA is 1000 mg. Thus, the natural calcium content of yogurt must be supplemented by fortification with added calcium in order for a single serving of yogurt to provide 100% or even 50% of the current RDA for calcium. This problem is even more severe for yogurt products containing up to about 20% fruit sauce since such fruit materials are low in native calcium content.
Serious practical difficulties have been encountered in incorporating supplemental calcium into dairy products because most calcium salts have very low solubility in milk. Indeed, in milk itself, up to 60 to 70% of the calcium exists as insoluble colloidal calcium phosphate associated with the casein micelles. Added calcium salts, being generally insoluble and not suspended by casein, therefore tend to settle out, frustrating attempts to maintain uniform dispersions during manufacture.
This problem of suspending insoluble calcium salts is compounded by the fact that generally the yogurt base should not be agitated during the incubation period, i.e., the yogurt should be quiescently fermented. Thus, in the manufacture of yogurt using vat incubation, the required lack of agitation during incubation can cause a substantial portion of an insoluble calcium salt to settle to the bottom of the vat. The salt then must be laboriously scraped off the bottom of the vat and blended into the yogurt. In light of these cleaning difficulties, this process is not only impractical using conventional yogurt manufacturing equipment, but also is likely to adversely affect the texture of the product. In the production of cup set or in cup fermented yogurt products, the fermentation step should also be quiescently fermented. Settling can result in a product unacceptable to the consumer.
The prior art, however, includes a variety of efforts to overcome the substantial problems of calcium fortification of yogurt. One approach to the calcium fortification of yogurt is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,523 (issued on Sep. 12, 1995 to Hansen) entitled xe2x80x9cProcess For The Manufacture Of A Calcium Fortified Yogurt With Improved Heat Stability.xe2x80x9d In this method, an expensive soluble source of calcium is employed. Adding to the cost of the ""523 patent is that the calcium content of the already expensive material is less than a third of the preferred salt, tricalcium phosphate, used herein. Moreover, the methods employed in the ""523 patent require the addition of chelating agents to avoid undesirable milk protein precipitation. Usage of such required chelating, however, can adversely affect the flavor of the product. The chelating source(s) contribute an undesirable flavor to the yogurt at the high levels necessary to fortify to 1000 mg calcium. More importantly, however, the cost of the calcium source is prohibitive for a commercially practical product.
Similarly, the art includes numerous teachings directed towards forming a highly soluble complex of citric acid, malic acid and calcium. (See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,965 entitled xe2x80x9cCalcium Citrate Malate Compositionxe2x80x9d). While useful, such formulations require addition of expensive special ingredients or extensive processing to form the materials in situ.
Still another approach is to try to employ inexpensive insoluble calcium materials (see particularly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,871 entitled xe2x80x9cMethod For Producing Calcium Fortified Yogurt,xe2x80x9d issued Nov. 15, 1988 to Peter H. Park). The ""871 patent teaches admixing an acid soluble salt optionally with sugar with an essential acidic fruit blend. The acidic fruit blend is allowed to dissolve a portion of the calcium salt. About 5 to 45% of the product of the fortified fruit blend with the partially dissolved calcium is then admixed with a fermented yogurt base to prepare a calcium fortified fruit containing yogurt product. Sugar is added to the fruit to assist in the avoidance of lumping of the calcium phosphate salt. Thus, the invention relies upon the fruit to solvate a portion and to suspend the balance of the insoluble calcium within the yogurt product.
While useful, not all yogurt flavors popular today contain fruit. Thus, it would be desirable to be able to provide a calcium-fortified yogurt that did not require the presence of a fruit ingredient. Moreover, it would be desirable to provide a reduced calorie yogurt fortified with calcium that did not require sucrose. Thus, the present invention can be viewed as an improvement upon the product and methods of the ""871 patent.
Also, it is desirable to have methods of calcium fortification that can be practiced by yogurt producers that can be used to provide both stirred style as well as cup set style yogurts using, to the extent possible, common techniques and equipment.
In view of the state of the art, there is a continuing need for new and improved yogurt products, particularly those providing enhanced nutritional benefits.
Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide new nutritionally improved yogurt products and their methods of preparation. A further objective is to provide new and effective methods for calcium fortification of fermented dairy products such as yogurt.
Another objective is to provide methods for preparing calcium fortified yogurts that minimize milk protein precipitation.
Still another objective is to provide methods for calcium fortification that do not require usage of expensive calcium materials.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide new methods for preparing calcium supplemented yogurts fortified with inexpensive calcium materials.
Another objective is to provide improved calcium fortified yogurt products that exhibit both good taste and good texture.
Still another objective is to provide calcium fortified beverages, especially milk based beverages.
Still another objective is to provide calcium fortified milk whether refrigerated or ultra high treated milk.
Still another objective is to provide calcium fortified food products such as milk based beverages and milk based wet foods such as yogurt that are fortified with calcium from their native levels by addition of insoluble calcium.
Surprisingly, the above objectives can be obtained and improved calcium fortified yogurt products can be provided. The present invention resides, in part, in the discovery that by providing insoluble calcium salts, of a particular particle size, that improved organoleptically acceptable calcium fortified products can be obtained that do not require a fruit ingredient.
In its preferred process aspect, the present invention resides in methods of preparing a fermented dairy product fortified with calcium that is visually undetectable in the final product and of acceptable organoleptic attributes in terms of grittiness and chalkiness. The process involves the pre fermentation addition of calcium phosphate in the form of a fine powder essentially characterized by a mean diameter of xe2x89xa66xcexc. The methods comprise the steps of A) providing a warm pasteurized milk base having a native calcium content fortified with sufficient amounts of calcium phosphate of the requisite particle size to provide a total calcium content ranging from 110% to 500% of the native level and, B) inoculating the warm pasteurized calcium phosphate fortified heat treated milk base with a starter culture; and C) fermenting the inoculated milk base to provide a yogurt; and D) cooling the yogurt to arrest the fermentation to provide a chilled yogurt having a viscosity of at least 1500 centipoise (at 5xc2x0 C.). The fermentation step is preferably practiced in bulk fermentation tanks to provide stirred style yogurt products although in-cup fermentation can be just as easily practiced to provide set style yogurt products.
In one product aspect, the present invention resides in products prepared by practicing the present methods.
In another product aspect of one and the same invention, the present invention is directed towards high moisture food products fortified with fine calcium phosphate powder such as milk based foods or dairy products and especially fermented dairy products such as yogurt comprising a fermented dairy product base having a viscosity of at least 1500 cps (at 5xc2x0 C.) and a calcium phosphate salt in a quantity sufficient to bring increase the calcium content of the composition from about 250 to 1300 mg per 170 g serving (0.15% to 0.75% by weight, wet basis).
The calcium amounts include both the native level supplied by the milk source as well as the supplemental added calcium.
The calcium salt is selected from the group consisting of tricalcium phosphate, dicalcium phosphate, and their hydrates, and mixtures thereof.
The fine calcium phosphate powder comprises particles having a mean diameter 6 microns or less. (xe2x80x9cMean Diameter xe2x89xa66xcexcxe2x80x9d).

Calcium fortified products and methods of preparation


A convenient process for the regioselective synthesis of 1,5-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles and 1,4,5-trisubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles from organic azides and alkynes employs catalytic ruthenium.

Huisgen's dipolar cycloaddition of organic azides and alkynes is the most direct route to 1,2,3-triazoles (Huisgen, R. In 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition Chemistry; Padwa, A. Ed.; Wiley: New York, 1984). However, because of the high activation energy (ca 24-26 kcal/mol), these cycloadditions are very slow even at elevated temperature and prolonged heating (80-120° C. for 12-24 hours), forming mixtures of regioisomers. The discovery that Cu(I) efficiently and regiospecifically catalyzes cycloadditions of terminal alkynes and azides, providing 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles under mild conditions, was a welcome advance (Rostovtsev, V. V.; et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2002, 41, 2596; Tornoe, C. W.; et al. J. Org. Chem. 2002, 67, 3057). The Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), perhaps the most powerful click reaction (Kolb, H. C.; Sharpless, K. B. Drug Discovery Today, 2003, 8, 1128) to date, has quickly found many applications in chemistry, biology and materials science (Home, W. S.; et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 15366; Manetsch, R.; et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 12809; Link, A. J.; et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 10598; Zhou, Z.; Fahrni, C. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 8862; Lewis, W. G.; et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 9152; Wu, P.; Feldman, A. K.; et al. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2004, 43, 3928; Meng, J. C.; et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2004, 43, 1255; Opsteen, J. A.; van Hest, J. C. M. Chem. Commun. 2005, 57; Punna, S.; et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2005, 44, 2215).
CuAAC does not afford selective access to the complimentary regioisomers of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles. Although 1,5-disubstituted triazoles and 1,4,5-trisubstituted triazoles can be synthesized by the reaction of bromomagnesium acetylides with organic azides (Krasinski, A.; Fokin, V. V.; Sharpless, K. B. Org. Lett. 2004, 6, 1237), this method lacks the scope and convenience of the CuAAC process. What is needed is a process for synthesizing 1,5-disubstituted triazoles and 1,4,5-trisubstituted triazoles by a ruthenium-catalyzed "fusion" of organic azides with alkynes.
Catalytic transformations of alkynes mediated by ruthenium complexes are well known, and evidence for the intermediacy of ruthenium (II) acetylide, vinylidene and ruthenametallacyclic complexes has been provided (Naota, T.; et al. Chem. Rev. 1998, 98, 2599; Bruneau, C.; Dixneuf, P. H. Acc. Chem. Res. 1999, 32, 311; Trost, B. M.; et al. Chem. Rev. 2001, 101, 2067). What is needed is ruthenium complexes employable in azide-alkyne cycloaddition reactions.

Ruthenium-catalyzed cycloaddition of alkynes and organic azides

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology


Microplasma generators and associated arrays and methods are described herein. Certain embodiments relate to a microplasma generator in which an elongated semiconductor structure can control electronic current supplied to a microplasma cavity. In certain cases, the microplasma generator can be configured to generate a microplasma when a voltage is applied across the elongated semiconductor structure. Some embodiments include particular spatial arrangements between the electrode(s), the elongated semiconductor structure, and/or the microplasma cavity.

Plasmas can be created by supplying energy to a neutral gas so that free electrons and ions are created. In a thermal plasma, electrons, ions, and neutral atoms and/or molecules (referred to as "neutrals") are in thermal equilibrium. However, in a non-thermal plasma, the electron temperature may be much higher than the temperature of ions and neutrals, and the energy distribution of the electrons may be highly non-Maxwellian (i.e., not following a Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution). In some cases, non-thermal plasmas could exist at high pressures. In such high-pressure plasmas, collision and radiative processes may be dominated by step-wise processes and three-body collisions that create excimers. These processes may be of importance to a wide range of applications, including high-power lasers, synthesis of nanomaterials, electromagnetic absorbers and reflectors, control of the boundary layer in airfoils, and biological decontamination. Unfortunately, previous systems have been unable to generate non-thermal, high-pressure plasmas in large volumes due to instabilities, which limits their practical utility. Systems and methods that could be used to generate stable, high-pressure plasmas in large volumes would therefore be desirable.

Microplasma generation devices and associated systems and methods


An exercise chair with a base frame with upright sides that support a pivoting backrest with a pivoting left arm and a pivoting right arm and a seat therein, with pivotally coupled leg members all that function sitting up or lying down. Each arm member has a reciprocating handle and each leg member has foot pegs. Resistance is provided to each member by being pivotally coupled to bidirectional resistance hydraulic cylinders. The rear side of the backrest has pivotally attached, laterally, telescoping arms, each supporting a floating pulley with a cable looped through it with one end of the cable connected to a system of pulleys with spring resistance, and the other end of the cable, having a handle that can be pulled by the users hands or extended to the feet.

A reclining chair with exercise components so as to allow the user to sit or lay down comfortably and perform a multitude of exercises for their arms, legs, chest, back and abdominal region, yet minmizes impact to critical joints. An adjustable base frame supports a pivoting seat and pivoting backrest beams. The pivoting seat beams support pivoting leg beams that serve as a footrest when user chooses to relax and serve as leg exercise members when one is exercising by placing their ankles in between the front and rear mounted pegs located within the footrest mechanism and raising and lowering one or both leg members which are connected to a means of adjustable *bidirectional resistance, thus exercising the front and rear of the thigh muscles or allowing leg members to rest in a horizontal position on the footrest support levers located at the top rear of each leg beam when the user chooses to relax. Attached to the backrest beams are pivoting arm members that are connected to a means of adjustable bidirectional resistance so that the user can move arm members up and down to provide exercise for the biceps and triceps of the arm. The arm members also provide reciprocating handles connected to linkage and a means of adjustable bidirectional resistance that allow handles to be moved forward and backward, providing exercise for the chest and back muscles. The handles can also be moved forward and down, back and up, or in the other direction, back and down, forward and up, thus creating a circular motion like when one is swimming. Also attached to the backrest beams are handles that can be pulled out from behind the backrest so that they can swing out laterally from the top area of the backrest, down to each side of the chair, and are connected to cables threaded through a system of pulleys and are recoiled therein, thus allowing user to pull handles in a multitude of directions including forward and down for exercising the triceps, chest, and abdominals, as well as pulling the handles from the side, crossing over the chest, exercising the chest and biceps. Hold down hooks are provided, to secure the handle supports at the side position, allowing the handles to be pressed upward in a multitude of directions, providing exercises for the deltoids, trapezius, and triceps muscles. Each handle can be extended to reach the users foot, allowing a multitude of leg exercises, such as scissor kicks, stair stepping, and lateral thigh splits, thus providing exercises for various parts of the thigh and buttocks as well as toe raises for exercising the calves. Spinal rollers can be inserted between each backrest beam in a vertical slot in the lower middle section of the backrest cushion in which the spinal rollers roll up and down the users spinal region when the backrest is raised and lowered. After exercising, the lateral handles can be replaced behind the backrest, out of sight. *note: bidirectional resistance=a hydraulic cylanders
FIG. 1 is a perspective view taken from the users left side of a reclining chair constructed in accordance with the invention. Square tubing is used for all major components of the construction including a frame, seat, backrest, arms, legs, and, lateral segments.
The frame consists of a left base beam 10a., a right base beam 10b., a rear base beam 10c., a middle base beam 10d., a left front verticle beam 10e., right front vertical beam 10f., a left frame arm 10g., a right frame arm 10h., left rear diagonal strut 10i., right rear diagonal strut 10j. The entire structure is supported by four casters (swiveling wheels) located on the bottom of each corner of the frame.
A set of two backrest beams 34l.&r. are held up by a backrest pivot/support rod 58 that connects through adjustment holes in both rear diagonal struts 10i. and 10j. that can slide forward and back, and through the adjustment holes in the backrest beams 34l.&r. A lower backrest seat support rod 30 passes through the bottom of the backrest beams 34l.& r. and has several adjustable wire rope cables 32 hanging down connecting to a rear seat pivot/support rod 28 that connects to and supports the rear of seat beams 20l.& r. Seat beam roller support 26 l.& r., that is supported by vertical beams 10e. and 10f., supports the front of the seat beams 20l.& r.
A forward seat pivot/support rod 24 is positioned through the front of the seat beams 20l.& r. which acts as a pivot for leg beams 40l.& r. At the bottom front of the leg beams 40l.& r., is a front ankle roller peg 46l.& r. At the bottom rear of each leg beam 40l.& r. is a rear ankle roller peg 47l.& r. Rear ankle roller peg 47l.& r. is slightly higher than front ankle roller peg 46l.& r. Inside of leg beam 40l.& r. is a leg press spring 45l.& r. One end of the leg press spring 45l.& r. is connecting to the forward seat pivot/support rod 24 and the other end of the leg press spring 45l.& r. is connecting to the leg press shaft pedal 44l.& r. which is inside the leg press spring 45l.& r. A leg beam flange 42l.& r. with adjustment holes is attached to the back of the leg beam 40l.&r. One end of a shock absorber 33a.& b. is connected to any of the adjustment holes in the leg beam flange 42l.& r. and the other end of shock absorber 33a.& b. is connected to any of the holes in seat beam flange 22l.& r. that is attached to the bottom of seat beam 20l.& r. Connected to the upper part of leg beam flange 42l.& r. is a leg beam support lever 48l.&r.
A pivoting arm beam support rod 57 is inserted through both backrest beams 34l.& r. to provide a pivoting support for arm beam 50l.& r. which contains a push/pull shaft 52l.& r. which is sandwiched in between upper and lower roller/stabilizers 53a and 53b., located at the front end of arm beam 50l.& r.
At the front end of push/pull shaft 52l.& r., is a swivel handle 54l.& r. Just before the front end of push/pull shaft 52l.& r., is a connecting rod 55l.& r. The front end of the connecting rod 55l.& r., is at the front of push/pull shaft 52l.& r. The rear of connecting rod 55l.& r. is connected to the bottom end of adjustment lever 56l.&r. One end of shock absorber 33c.& d. is connected to any adjustment holes in the adjustment lever 56l.&r. The other end of shock absorber 33c.& d., is connected to any holes toward the rear of arm beam flange 51l.& r. that is attached to the bottom rear of arm beam 50l.& r. One end of another shock absorber 33e.& f. is connected to any desired adjustment hole toward the front of same arm beam flange 51l.& r. The other end of same shock absorber 33e.& f., is connected to the rear seat pivot/support rod 28.
FIG. 4 is a back view of same invention displaying a lateral lever 60l.& r. that is connected to the back of each backrest beam 34l.& r., just slightly higher than pivoting arm beam support rod 57. Connecting to same pivoting support rod 57 is a hold down hook 61l.& r. At the outer end of the lateral lever 60l.& r. is a universal joint 63l.& r., in part with a connecting link 64l.& r., that is holding a multi-directional pulley 62l.&r. Same multi-directional pulley 62l.& r., has a wire rope cable 32l.& r. passed through multidirectional pulley 62l.& r. with a loop handle 69l.& r. at the outer end of wire rope cable 32l.& r., and the other end of same wire rope cable 32l.& r. passes through a pivoting cable guide 64a. and then to a larger wheel of a step pulley 65l.& r. A small wheel of same step pulley 65l.& r. has a wire rope cable 32a. connected to same small wheel of same step pulley 65l.& r. that connects to the top of a lateral lever mainspring 66l.& r. The bottom of same lateral lever mainspring 66l.& r. is connected at the bottom of each backrest beam 34l.& r. At the top of each backrest beam 34l.& r., on the inner side of each backrest beam 34l.& r. is a connection for a lateral lever return counterspring 67l.& r. and an adjustable turnbuckle 68l.& r. Both backrest beams 34l.& r. support a backrest cushion 39 on the front of each backrest beam 34l.& r. On top of each seat beam 20l.& r. is a seat cushion 38.
Operation
In operation one uses a reclining exercise chair in the same manner as with any reclining furniture, i.e., home leisure, or office work etc. In addition to the usual relaxation benefits of such a chair, exercises for arms, legs, and torso may be performed while sitting or lying in the above described invention.
Starting with leg beam(s) 40l.& r., user may, whilst sitting as one would in any chair, slip their ankles in between both front and rear foam roller covered ankle roller pegs 46l.& r. and 47l.& r. Then by performing a forward movement of either or both feet, with legs pivoting at the knees, either or both leg beams 40l.& r may be raised until legs are extended to a straight out position. This action pulls out and extends shock absorber 33a.& b. which is connected to the leg beam flange 42l.& r. and the seat beam flange 22l.& r. Shock absorber 33a.& b. provides resistance in both directions so as to provide exercise for front thigh muscles (vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis), when leg beam 40l.& r. is pivoting forward, and provides exercise for the rear thigh muscles (biceps femoris) when pivoting in the return direction. While leg beam 40l.& r. is in forward or up position, a leg beam support lever 48l.& r. may be swung back to hold up leg beam 40l.& r. so as to employ leg press feature by placing users foot on leg press shaft/pedal(s) 44l.& r. and pushing out forward, extending the leg(s) thus engaging the leg press spring 45l.&r., providing exercise for additional front thigh muscles (quadriceps femoris), as well as buttocks muscles (gluteus maximus), or by pivoting ankles against leg press shaft/pedal(s) 44l.& r., the calf muscles (gastrocnemius) may be exercised. Placing users feet on the front ankle roller peg 46l.& r., of extended leg beam 40l.& r., allows leg beam 40l.& r. to be used as a footrest.
Arm beams 50l.&r. may provide exercise for both front upper arm muscles (biceps) and for rear upper arm muscles (triceps). By grasping swivel handle 54l.&r., user may press down or pull up arm beam(s) 50l.&r. simultaneously or alternating each arm up and down. When pressing down on the swivel handle 54l&r., the pivoting arm beam support rod 57 acts as a fulcrum so that the rear of arm beam 50l.&r. pivots up. Resistance is created by shock absorber 33e.&f. that is connected to any of the forward adjustment holes in arm beam flange 51l.& r. at one end of shock absorber 33e.& f., while other end of shock absorber 33e.& f. is connected to rear seat pivot support rod 28l.& r. when same shock absorber 33e.& f. is pulled out. This pressing down movement provides exercise for the rear upper arm muscles (triceps). When swivel handle 54l.& r. is pulled upward, same pivoting arm beam support rod 57, again acts as a fulcrum so that the rear of arm beam 50l.& r. pivots down. When this action occurs, shock absorber 33e.& f. is pushed in, again creating resistance. This upward movement provides exercise for the front upper arm muscles (biceps). Resistance may be increased or decreased by either connecting shock absorber 33e.& f. to another adjustment hole in the arm beam flange 51l.& r., or by using swivel handle 54l.& r. to move push/pull shaft 52l.& r. in or out to change the leverage, (when rocking arm beam 50l.& r. up or down) so as to increase or decrease resistance when pressing down or pulling up on the swivel handle 54l.& r. accordingly.
By pressing forward on swivel handle 54l.& r., push/pull shaft travels forward coming outside of arm beam 50l.& r. The push/pull shaft 52l.& r. is guided in the proper position by the upper and lower roller/stabilizers 53a.& b. located at the front of arm beam 50l.& r. As push/pull shaft 52l.& r. travels forward, it pulls connecting rod 55l.& r. forward which pulls adjustment lever 56l.& r. forward. Adjustment lever 56l.& r. pulls out and extends shock absorber 33c.& d. This pressing out movement provides exercise for the chest muscles (pectoralis major, and pectoralis minor) as well as triceps.
When swivel handle 54l.& r. is pulled back toward user, push/pull shaft 52l.& r. travels inside arm beam 50l.& r. Connecting rod 55l.& r. is pushed backward thus pushing adjustment lever 56l.& r. backward. Adjustment lever 56l.& r. then pushes end of shock absorber 33c.& d. inward. Resistance can be increased or decreased by connecting front of shock absorber 33c.& d. to another adjustment hole in adjustment lever 56l.& r. This rowing motion provides exercise for the users back muscles (latissimus dorsi), as well as biceps and can be performed with arm beam 50l.& r. in any of the up or down positions.
Arm beam 50l.& r. can be rocked up and down while simultaneously pulling inward or pushing outward, on the swivel handle 54l.& r. to create a circular or semi-circular motion, as if swimming.
Lateral lever 60l.& r. has a pivot slightly above the half way point measuring upward from the bottom on the back of each backrest beam 34l.& r. This pivot allows lateral lever 60l.& r. to travel from top of backrest beam 34l.& r. to a horizontal position on the side that it is mounted. The user may pull loop handles 69l.& r. from either position or pull loop handles 69l.& r. while lateral lever 60l.& r. is in motion. When loop handles 69l.& r. are pulled from either starting position, a wire rope cable 32l.& r. that is traveling through a multi-directional pulley 62l.& r. and through a pivoting cable glide 64a., unwinds from around a large wheel of a step pulley 65l.& r. which rotates a small wheel of same step pulley 65l.& r. causing another wire rope cable 32a. l.& r. to wind around same small wheel of same step pulley 65l.& r., creating resistance by pulling lateral lever mainspring 66l.& r. When loop handles 69l.& r. are returned toward starting positions, lateral lever counterspring 67l.& r. prevents lateral lever 60l.& r. from an abrupt return.
Pulling loop handles 69l.& r. forward from top position by bending arms at elbow and pressing forearms in a forward direction, provides exercise for the triceps muscles and/or pulling loop handles 69l.& r. forward and down in an arc motion, will provide exercise for the back muscles (latissimus dorsi) and lower region of the pectoral muscles.
By holding loop handles 69l.& r. at the shoulders while user bends torso forward in a bowing action (curling the spine) with shoulders lowering toward users thighs, pulling loop handles 69l.& r. in this manner, provides exercise for abdominal muscles and intercostals.
By placing lateral lever 60l.& r. in a horizontal position and swinging up and engaging hold down hook 61l.& r., the lateral lever 60l.& r. may be held in a stationary position to perform exercises by pulling forward for chest, up for shoulders (deltoids), down or across users torso, providing exercises for pectoral muscles and triceps in any variety of angles by pulling loop handles 69l.& r. in any direction that the user chooses.
An additional exercise can be performed with lateral lever 60l.& r. in the horizontal position by holding loop handles 69l.& r. near hips and rotating torso (with loop handles 69l.& r. traveling along with torso) in a clockwise direction, then alternating to a counterclockwise direction etc., this action provides exercise for the external obliques.


A hearing aid includes a magnetically sensitive transducer for conversion of a varying magnetic field into an audio signal, a processor configured to generate a hearing loss compensated output signal based on the audio signal, an output transducer for providing an auditory output signal based on the hearing loss compensated output signal, an RF transceiver for wireless communication, and a communication controller that is configured to turn the RF transceiver on and off, wherein the processor is further configured to generate the hearing loss compensated output signal based on an estimate of the audio signal within a time period comprising an event that the RF transceiver changes state between on and off, and wherein the estimate is based at least on a part of the audio signal input to the processor outside the time period.

The present application relates to a hearing aid with a telecoil, or another magnetically sensitive transducer, and an RF transceiver for wireless communication, e.g. via a wireless network, such as for wireless interconnection of two hearing aids in a binaural hearing aid system, and wireless interconnection of hearing aids with other devices, such as a remote control for a hearing aid, a fitting instrument, a mobile phone, a headset, a door bell, an alarm system, a broadcast system, etc, etc.

Hearing aid with improved magnetic reception during wireless communication


A system and a method for providing normalized voice feedback from an individual patient in an automated collection and analysis patient care system are described. A set of device measures from a medical device adapted to be implanted is collected. The collected device measures set includes individual device measures which each relate to patient information recorded by the implantable medical device for the individual patient. The collected measures set from the implantable medical device are periodically received over a communications link which is interfaced to a network server and stored into a patient care record within a database server. The database server is organized to store one or more patient care records which each include a plurality of the collected measures sets. Voice feedback is spoken by the individual patient into a remote client substantially contemporaneous to the collection of an identifiable measures set. The voice feedback is processed into a set of quality of life (QOL) measures which each relate to patient self-assessment indicators. The identified collected measures set and the QOL measures set are received over the communications link respectively from the implantable medical device and the remote client and stored into the patient care record. The identified collected measures set, the QOL measures set, and one or more of the collected measures sets in the patient care record for the individual patient are analyzed relative to one or more other collected measures sets stored in the database server to determine a patient status indicator.

Implantable pulse generators (IPGs) are medical devices commonly used to treat irregular heartbeats, known as arrhythmias. There are three basic types. Cardiac pacemakers are used to manage bradycardia, an abnormally slow or irregular heartbeat. Bradycardia can cause symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, and fainting. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDS) are used to treat tachycardia, heart rhythms that are abnormally fast and life threatening. Tachycardia can result in sudden cardiac death (SCD). Implantable cardiovascular monitors and therapeutic devices are used to monitor and treat structural problems of the heart, such as congestive heart failure, as well as rhythm problems.
Pacemakers and ICDs are equipped with an on-board, volatile memory in which telemetered signals can be stored for later retrieval and analysis. In addition, a growing class of cardiac medical devices, including implantable heart failure monitors, implantable event monitors, cardiovascular monitors, and therapy devices, are being used to provide similar stored device information. These devices are able to store more than thirty minutes of per heartbeat data. Typically, the telemetered signals can provide patient device information recorded on a per heartbeat, binned average basis, or derived basis from, for example, atrial electrical activity, ventricular electrical activity, minute ventilation, patient activity score, cardiac output score, mixed venous oxygen score, cardiovascular pressure measures, time of day, and any interventions and the relative success of such interventions. Telemetered signals are also stored in a broader class of monitors and therapeutic devices for other areas of medicine, including metabolism, endocrinology, hematology, neurology, muscular disorders, gastroenterology, urology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, orthopedics, and similar medical subspecialties.
Presently, stored device information is retrieved using a proprietary interrogator or programmer, often during a clinic visit or following a device event. The volume of data retrieved from a single device interrogation "snapshot" can be large and proper interpretation and analysis can require significant physician time and detailed subspecialty knowledge, particularly by cardiologists and cardiac electrophysiologists. The sequential logging and analysis of regularly scheduled interrogations can create an opportunity for recognizing subtle and incremental changes in patient condition otherwise undetectable by inspection of a single "snapshot." However, present approaches to data interpretation and understanding and practical limitations on time and physician availability make such analysis impracticable.
Similarly, the determination and analysis of the quality of life issues which typically accompany the onset of a chronic yet stable diseases, such as coronary-artery disease, is a crucial adjunct to assessing patient wellness and progress. However, unlike in a traditional clinical setting, physicians participating in providing remote patient care are not able to interact with their patients in person. Consequently, quality of life measures, such as how the patient subjectively looks and feels, whether the patient has shortness of breath, can work, can sleep, is depressed, is sexually active, can perform activities of daily life, and so on, cannot be implicitly gathered and evaluated.
A prior art system for collecting and analyzing pacemaker and ICD telemetered signals in a clinical or office setting is the Model 9790 Programmer, manufactured by Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn. This programmer can be used to retrieve data, such as patient electrocardiogram and any measured physiological conditions, collected by the IPG for recordation, display and printing. The retrieved data is displayed in chronological order and analyzed by a physician. Comparable prior art systems are available from other IPG manufacturers, such as the Model 2901 Programmer Recorder Monitor, manufactured by Guidant Corporation, Indianapolis, Ind., which includes a removable floppy diskette mechanism for patient data storage. These prior art systems lack remote communications facilities and must be operated with the patient present. These systems present a limited analysis of the collected data based on a single device interrogation and lack the capability to recognize trends in the data spanning multiple episodes over time or relative to a disease specific peer group.
A prior art system for locating and communicating with a remote medical device implanted in an ambulatory patient is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,976 ('976). The implanted device includes a telemetry transceiver for communicating data and operating instructions between the implanted device and an external patient communications device. The communications device includes a communication link to a remote medical support network, a global positioning satellite receiver, and a patient activated link for permitting patient initiated communication with the medical support network. Patient voice communications through the patient link include both actual patient voice and manually actuated signaling which may convey an emergency situation. The patient voice is converted to an audio signal, digitized, encoded, and transmitted by data bus to a system controller.
Related prior art systems for remotely communicating with and receiving telemetered signals from a medical device are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,113,869 ('869) and 5,336,245 ('245). In the '869 patent, an implanted AECG monitor can be automatically interrogated at preset times of day to telemeter out accumulated data to a telephonic communicator or a full disclosure recorder. The communicator can be automatically triggered to establish a telephonic communication link and transmit the accumulated data to an office or clinic through a modem. In the '245 patent, telemetered data is downloaded to a larger capacity, external data recorder and is forwarded to a clinic using an auto-dialer and fax modem operating in a personal computer-based programmer/interrogator. However, the '976 telemetry transceiver, '869 communicator, and '245 programmer/interrogator are limited to facilitating communication and transferal of downloaded patient data and do not include an ability to automatically track, recognize, and analyze trends in the data itself. Moreover, the '976 telemetry transceiver facilitates patient voice communications through transmission of a digitized audio signal and does not perform voice recognition or other processing to the patient's voice.
Thus, there is a need for a system and method for providing continuous retrieval, transferal, and automated analysis of retrieved implantable medical device information, such as telemetered signals, retrieved in general from a broad class of implantable medical devices and, in particular, from IPGs and cardiovascular monitors. Preferably, the automated analysis would include recognizing a trend and determining whether medical intervention is necessary.
There is a further need for a system and method that would allow consideration of sets of collected measures, both actual and derived, from multiple device interrogations. These collected measures sets could then be compared and analyzed against short and long term periods of observation.
There is a further need for a system and method that would enable the measures sets for an individual patient to be self-referenced and cross-referenced to similar or dissimilar patients and to the general patient population. Preferably, the historical collected measures sets of an individual patient could be compared and analyzed against those of other patients in general or of a disease specific peer group in particular.
There is a further need for a system and method for accepting and normalizing live voice feedback spoken by an individual patient while an identifiable set of telemetered signals is collected by a implantable medical device. Preferably, the normalized voice feedback a semi-quantitative self-assessment of an individual patient's physical and emotional well being at a time substantially contemporaneous to the collection of the telemetered signals.

System and method for providing normalized voice feedback from an individual patient in an automated collection and analysis patient care system


A semiconductor memory device having flash write mode and initialized mode functions includes a flash write signal generation circuit for generating flash write signals FW and /FW, and a plurality of switching circuits 30 each provided corresponding to one row in a memory cell arrays MA. The switching circuit 30 applies fixed data "0" or "1" to a memory cell connected to one row selected by a row decoder 10, in response to the flash write signal FW or /FW. Because it is not necessary to activate a column decoder when the flash write or the initialized mode operation is conducted, writing speed can be increased while power consumption can be reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to semiconductor memory devices and manufacturing methods thereof, and more specifically, to a semiconductor memory device allowing writing of data at a time to a plurality of memory cells connected to one word line and a operating method thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, there is known a method of writing same data to all of memory cells connected to one word line at a time for achieving high speed accessing to a semiconductor memory device (hereinafter the method will be referred to as flash write).
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a conventional dynamic semiconductor memory device. Referring to FIG. 7, the semiconductor memory device includes memory cells 1 arranged in a matrix, word lines 2 provided correspondingly to the rows of the matrix, and bit lines 3A on the side of BL and bit lines 3B on the side of /BL provided alternately and correspondingly to the columns of the matrix. The bit lines 3A and 3B are provided adjacent to each other in pairs. The memory cells 1 are each provided at a crossing point of a word line 2 and one of the bit lines 3A on the BL side and the bit lines 3B on the /BL side which are alternately arranged.
The semiconductor memory device includes external terminals 6A to 6G. Row and column address signals for a memory cell 1 to and from which data is input and output are input at the external terminal 6A. The external terminals 6B and 6C are provided with a /RAS (Row Address Strobe) signal and a /CAS (Column Address Strobe) signal, respectively which are clock signals for internally in taking the row and column address signals. The external terminals 6D and 6E each output and input a data signal. A /WE signal which is a clock signal for intaking an externally applied data signal inside is input at the external terminal 6F. The external terminal 6G is provided with a signal DSF (Data-in Special Flag) for designating a flash write mode.
The semiconductor memory device shown in FIG. 7 further includes, as a peripheral circuit for the memory cell array, an address buffer 7, an RAS buffer 8, a CAS buffer 9, a row decoder 10, a column decoder 11, a data input/output line 12, an input/output gate 13, a sense amplifier 14, a preamplifier 15, a main amplifier 16, an input data buffer 17, a WE buffer 18, a DSF buffer 21, and a flash write signal generation circuit 22. The address buffer 7 changes the level of a signal input to the external terminal 6A. The RAS buffer 8 changes the level of the /RAS signal applied to the external terminal 6B. The CAS buffer 9 changes the level of the /CAS signal applied to the external terminal 6C. The row decoder 10 is provided between the address buffer 7 and the word lines 2 and selects a designated word line 2 in response to a row address signal from the address buffer 7. The column decoder 11 is provided between the address buffer 7 and the bit lines 3A, 3B and selects a designated bit line pair 3A, 3B in response to a column address signal from the address buffer 7. The data input/output line 12 input/outputs data to/from a memory cell 1. The input/output gate 13 is provided between the bit lines 3A, 3B and the input/output line 12 and has its one source/drain electrode connected to a bit line, its the other source/drain electrode connected to the input/output line 12, and its gate electrode connected to the column decoder 11. The sense amplifier 14 amplifies the potential difference between the bit lines 3A and 3B. The preamplifier 15 amplifies a data signal with a small potential difference appearing on the input/output line. The main amplifier 16 amplifies a data signal from the preamplifier 15 for output. The input/output data buffer 17 changes the level of data input to the external terminal 6E. The WE buffer 18 changes the level of an external write signal /WE applied to the external terminal 6F. The DSF buffer 21 changes the level of a flash write mode designation signal DSF applied to the external terminal 6G. The flash write signal generation circuit 22 generates a flash write signal FW in response to a signal output from the DSF buffer 21 and a row address strobe signal output from the RAS buffer 8.
FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing a flash write signal generation circuit 22 shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a timing chart for use in illustration of the operation of the flash write signal generation circuit 22 shown in FIG. 8.
Referring to FIG. 8, the flash write signal generation circuit 22 includes a logic gate 22a, a clocked inverter 22b, and inverters 22c-22f. The logic gate 22a is an OR gate in positive logic. The clocked inverter 22b inverts the output of logic gate 22a in response to a /RAS signal and an output signal from the inverter 22c. The inverters 22d and 22e constitute a latch circuit and hold the output level of the clocked inverter 22b. The inverter 22f inverts the output level of inverter 22d, and the resultant inverted output signal is output to a column decoder 11 as a flash write signal FW.
Now, referring to FIG. 9, the operation of the flash write signal generation circuit 22 shown in FIG. 8 will be described. At the time of usual operation, the DSF signal is at an L level, and the flash write signal FW is maintained at the level since the clocked inverter 22b does not invert an output signal if the /RAS signal rises.
Meanwhile, in a flash writing operation, the DSF signal is temporarily pulled to an H level, and the clocked inverter 22 detects the DSF signal (H level) in the falling timing of the /RAS signal and applies the H level to the inverters 22d and 22e. The inverters 22d and 22e latch the output of clocked inverter 22b (H level). The output of inverter 22d is inverted at the inverter 22f, and thus inverted signal is applied to the column decoder 11 as the flash write signal FW.
FIG. 10 is a flow chart for use in illustration of a usual operation of a semiconductor memory device as shown in FIG. 7, and FIG. 11 is a timing chart in a usual operation. FIG. 12 is a flow chart for use in illustration of a flash writing operation, and FIG. 13 is a timing chart in a flash writing operation.
A description of an operation of the semiconductor memory device shown in FIG. 7 follows. When a usual reading operation is conducted as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, (1) a row address signal is input to the external terminal 6A. (2) The /RAS signal from the external terminal 6B activates the row decoder 10, and the row address signal is decoded. Thus, a designated row is selected. If the memory cell 1 is divided into a plurality of blocks, one word line 2 in a unit block is selected. (3) The sense amplifier 14 is operated to amplify the potential difference between the bit line 3A and 3B. (4) A column address signal is taken in by activating the column decoder 11 by the /CAS signal, a pair of bit lines 3A and 3B corresponding to the taken in column address signal is selected, thereby turning on the input/output gate 13, and the potential difference between the bit lines 3A and 3B is transmitted on the input/output line 12. (5) The above-stated potential difference is amplified by the preamplifier 15, and the amplified potential difference is transferred to the main amplifier 16 and output as a data signal to the external terminal 6D.
When a usual writing operation is conducted, a word line corresponding to a row address signal and a bit line corresponding to a column address signal are selected as in the same manner as the above-stated reading operation, and the sense amplifier 14 is activated. A write data signal from the external terminal 6E is taken inside by the /WE signal from the external terminal 6F and transmitted on the input/output line 12 from the input data buffer 17. Thus, the potential difference between the bit line 3A and 3B amplified by the sense amplifier 14 are forced to be the potential difference transmitted on the input/output line 12, and the potential is stored in a selected memory cell.
Other than the usual reading and writing operations, the semiconductor memory device shown in FIG. 7 conducts special operations such as a flash write operation by which the contents of all the memory cells 1 connected to one word line 2 are replaced with the same data in one cycle as shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13. In operation at the time of flash write, (1) a row address signal is input to the external terminal 6A, while the DSF signal is input to the external terminal 6G. (2) The row decoder 10 is activated by the /RAS signal from the external terminal 6A, and the row address signal is decoded by the row decoder 10. Thus, one of the word lines 2 in the unit block is selected. (3) The flash write signal generation circuit 22 generates the flash write signal FW in response to the /RAS signal and the DSF signal and provides the generated flash write signal FW to the column decoder 11. This activates the column decoder 11, and all the bit lines 3A and 3B in the unit block are connected en bloc to the input/output line 12. (4) A data signal registered in an internal register which is not shown, or a data signal input from the external terminal 6E to the input data buffer 17 is transmitted on the input/output line 12. (5) The sense amplifier 14 is operated to amplify the potential difference between the bit lines 3A and 3B, and the amplified potential difference is written into all the memory cells 1 connected to the above-stated one word line 2 as data.
As stated above, the flash write operation is very much different from the usual mode in its logical operation procedure. Especially when a data signal is written in bit lines 3A and 3B from the input/output line 12, only the pair of bit lines 3A and 3B are connected to the output line 12 in the usual mode, but all of the bit lines 3A and 3B in a unit block are connected at the time of the flash write operation, thus increasing load capacity. This is a reason for low operating speed and large power consumption.
As illustrated in FIG. 13, since the sense amplifier 14 attains an active state (100 nsec) and a precharge state (40 nsec) in the same cycle as the /RAS signal, 140 nsec is necessary for flash writing operation for one row.
In order to solve the problem of large power consumption, the use of a memory cell for flash write for each of the memory cells as shown in FIG. 14 has been considered (see Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2-189790). The memory cell shown in FIG. 14 includes a second word line 19 provided in parallel to each word line 2, a second bit line 20 provided in parallel to each bit line 3A, a switching transistor 21 provided at the crossing point of the second word line 19 and the second bit line 20, and a switch circuit 22 for applying fixed data (power supply potential or ground potential) to the second bit line 20.
In the memory cell shown in FIG. 14, the second word line 19 activates the switching transistor 21, and fixed data is applied to the second bit line 20. Thus, the flash write and the initialize mode can be executed without utilizing a column decoder.
In the memory cell shown in FIG. 14, however, the area of the memory cell array is increased by the provision of a second word line 19, a second bit line 20 and a switching transistor 21 for each memory cell. This is therefore a room for improvements.

Semiconductor memory device capable of flash writing and method of flash writing


Pixel sensor cells with an opaque mask layer and methods of manufacturing are provided. The method includes forming a transparent layer over at least one active pixel and at least one dark pixel of a pixel sensor cell. The method further includes forming an opaque region in the transparent layer over the at least one dark pixel.

Pixel sensor cells (e.g., CMOS imagers) can suffer from background noise due to thermal carrier generation, i.e., stray light. To compensate for such unwanted noise, i.e., stray light, conventional pixel sensor cells require "dark pixels". The dark pixels are formed by an aluminum light shield over the dark pixels, and surrounding the peripheral of the active devices, e.g., photo cell collector regions. In conventional structures, the aluminum light shield is formed on an upper wiring layer, e.g., third or fourth wiring level, over the dark pixels. In theory, the aluminum shield blocks light from hitting the transistor structures, i.e., dark pixels, rendering the dark pixels insensitive to photons. This, in turn, allows these dark pixels to generate an accurate reference signal. The reference signal can then be subtracted from the total charge signal to allow a sensor to measure the dark level offset used in downstream signal processing to perform auto black level calibration, for example.
Under normal circumstances, the dark pixels do not respond to light; however, the dark pixels are in close proximity to the active pixels, i.e., photo cell collector regions, or the outer bounds of the chip (including the first two lines out) such that they can scavenge signals depending on light intensity and wavelength. More specifically, due to the location of the aluminum shield in the upper wiring layer, it is common for incident stray light to strike the dark pixels. This is mainly due to the location and size of the light shield and angle of attack of the incident light, which can enter beneath the light shield. The dark signals therefore will not represent the true dark signal. Also, it is known that the aluminum shield adds material complexities to the fabrication process, in addition to using valuable real estate on the chip, that can otherwise be used for other wiring and/or device fabrication.
Another approach to block light from striking the dark pixels is to use a black resist. However, a black resist is extremely hard to process. For example, the dark resist covers alignment marks on the wafer. That is, a dark resist interferes with alignment and overlay measurements during processing. Also, the black resist is difficult to image through, and is very expensive from a material standpoint. Accordingly, it is not practical to use a black resist.
Accordingly, there exists a need in the art to overcome the deficiencies and limitations described hereinabove.

Pixel sensor cells and methods of manufacturing

International Business Machines Corporation


A method and a system for the analysis of co-localizations of dyes present in a specimen. The fluorescence spectra of the dyes present in the specimen are determined. A tolerance region around each of the fluorescence spectra is selected. The spectra of the specimen, in which at least two dyes are present, are then acquired pixel by pixel. Those spectra that lie within the tolerance region around the fluorescence spectra are then calculated. A lambda vector is calculated for each pixel and assigned to a spectrum. Images can be displayed in accordance with the assignment to the spectra.

German Patent Application DE 100 06 800.6 discloses an apparatus for the selection and detection of at least one spectral region of a spectrally spread light beam (SP module). Selection means that are embodied as sliders are provided in the spread-out light coming from the specimen to be examined, so as thereby to direct portions of the spread-out light beam onto various detectors. The signals of the detectors are then used for image generation. DE 100 06 800.6 does not disclose actuation of the sliders in such a way that rapid and reliable detection of a specific spectrum is possible.
German Patent Application DE 102 27 111.9 discloses a spectral microscope and a method for data acquisition using a spectral microscope. Methods and systems for sensing maximum information from a fluorescing microscopic specimen are encompassed, but fault-tolerant and adaptive data acquisition is not possible with this method.
When a structure reacts to more than one dye simultaneously, this is referred to as "co-localization." The analysis of co-localizations enables the user, for example, to analyze biological structures in which two (or more) stained proteins interact, or in which two structural features coincide in a very small area. When viewing a multi-dimensional histogram in which intensity frequencies from different bands are counted, each pure dye is perceived as a widened straight line ("cigar"). In the event of co-localization, the number of straight lines to be observed in the intensity frequency space is greater than the number of dyes. This state of affairs is often made apparent by sophisticated visualization upon analysis. The cytofluorogram technique introduced by Demandolx and Davoust visualizes an ensemble of two-dimensional intensities {{right arrow over (I)}i} (in microscopy, the pixels of an image, voxels of a volume, or a chronologically successive series thereof; in cytofluorimetry, the measurements of several samples) as a two-dimensional scatter plot that substantially represents a two-dimensional frequency distribution. An estimate of the composite probability function of the intensities {right arrow over (I)} is obtained on this basis, a method that is existing art in mathematical data analysis and whose quality depends only on the size of the ensemble. With suitable color coding and graphical representation, an image of the intensity distribution is obtained in which the straight lines can be localized by the user's eye as widened tracks. The widening exists as a result of all forms of noise and any chemical influences acting in the background. The visualization technique can be performed, however, only for a maximum of three dyes, since visualization of higher-dimensional data sets is difficult and as a rule creates more cognitive problems than benefits for the user.

Method and system for the analysis of co-localizations


There is disclosed a structure for supporting the growth of plants, comprising a flexible tubular element in the wall of which slits are provided. Closure means define with the tubular element an elongated enclosed area that is filled with a fluid and root permeable material for supporting the roots of plants. A fluid nutrient is supplied by a pump to the material. The tubular element may be suspended from one of its ends and supplied at the upper end with the fluid nutrient to support plant growth through the perforations from the particulate material. The construction is cheaply and easily manufactured, and easily used by a lay person.

Such structures are known in the art, and typical prior art patents are the following:
Can Pat. No. 176,450, Apr. 17, 1917 - James Swartz
Can Pat. No. 823,874, Sept. 30, 1969 - Hugh A. Johnson, Sr.
Can Pat. No. 971,363, July 22, 1975 - Richard A. Carlyon, Jr.
Can Pat. No. 1,017,146, Sept. 13,1977 - Tatemoto Hitoshi, et al
Can Pat. No. 1,107,069, Aug. 18, 1981 - Maria Schmidt
U.S. Pat. No. 3,063,196, Nov. 13, 1962 - Edward E. Pauer
U.S. Pat. No. 4,059,922, Nov. 29, 1977 - Joseph A. DiGiscinto
U.S. Pat. No. 4,218,847, Aug. 26, 1980 - Frank W. Leroux
U.S. Pat. No. 4,250,666, Feb. 17, 1981 - Roy R. Rakestraw
U.S. Pat. No. 4,268,994, May 26, 1981 -Urai Muneharu
U.S. Pat. No. 4,295,296, Oct. 20, 1981 - Michael H. Kinghorn
U.S. Pat. No. 4,419,843, Dec. 13, 1983 - High A. Johnson, Sr.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,684, June 19, 1984 - Louis R. O'Hare
While the above patents disclose constructions in which plants are grown in a tiered or upright support, many of the disclosed constructions are not suitable for home use. Further, they do not lend themselves to easy transportation and due to their particular features of construction, are expensive to construct.
There is a requirement for a cheap, economical planter that can grow plants, especially indoor plants, in a vertical orientation so that an attractive and practical construction results that is affordable and easy for a lay person to use.
There further is a requirement for a construction that can be sold as a kit and assembled by the ultimate user. It is therefore the purpose of the present invention to provide an apparatus for hydroponic cultivation that can be cheaply manufactured from readily available materials, easily assembled and effectively used in the home or in a commercial environment.


A method for pretreating lignocellulosic biomass having a lignin component, a hemicellulose component, and a cellulose component, for conversion to sugar is disclosed. Also disclosed is the pretreated lignocellulosic biomass resulting from the method.

Lignocellulosic biomass, also referred to as biomass, includes waste materials such as corn stover, sawdust, straws, bagasse, municipal solid waste (paper and cardboard), and dedicated lignocellulose crops such as poplar, miscanthus, and switchgrass. These agricultural and waste materials are being developed as alternate domestic sources for production of carbon-based products such as fuels, chemicals, and the like. Lignocellulosic biomass is an attractive feedstock because it is an abundant, domestic, renewable source that can be converted to carbon-based chemicals or liquid transportation fuels.
Terrestrial biomass (lignocellulosic material) is composed of three major components: cellulose (30-50%), a highly crystalline polymer of cellobiose (a glucose dimer); hemicellulose (15-30%), a complex amorphous polymer of five-(pentose) and six-(hexose) carbon sugars; and lignin (5-30%), a highly cross-linked amorphous polymer of phenolic compounds. Lignin is a polyphenyl propanoid macromolecular assembly that is covalently cross-linked to hemicellulose. These components of biomass can serve as a source of carbon-based feedstock for fuel and chemical production in much the same way that crude oil serves as the carbon feedstock in petrochemical refineries. Cellulose and hemicellulose are the major polysaccharide components which, when hydrolyzed into their sugars, can be converted into ethanol or butanol fuel, polymer precursors such as 1,3-propanediol, lactic acid, or other products through various fermentation methods. These sugars also form the feedstock for production of a variety of chemicals and polymers through chemical conversion or fermentation. However, the complex and compact structure of lignocellulosic biomass renders this feedstock largely impenetrable to water, catalysts, or enzymes used to hydrolyze its constituent polysaccharides to monomeric sugars (saccharification).
In its natural state, cellulose is highly crystalline in structure with individual cellulose polymer chains held together by a strong hydrogen bonding network and van der Waals forces. The individual cellulose chains are linear condensation polymer molecules of anhydroglucose units covalently linked by β-1,4 glycosidic bonds with degrees of polymerization (dp) ranging from, typically, 1,000 to 15,000 units. The high crystallinity of cellulose, while imparting structural integrity and mechanical strength to the material, renders it recalcitrant towards hydrolysis aimed at producing glucose (which is a feedstock for producing fuels and chemicals) from this polysaccharide.
In lignocellulosic biomass, crystalline cellulose fibrils are embedded in a less well-organized hemicellulose matrix which, in turn, is linked to lignin. Hydrolysis of cellulose and hemicellulose polysaccharides into their monomeric sugars, glucose, xylose, and other sugars, provides the basic precursors useful for producing fuels (i.e., ethanol or butanol) and chemicals from biomass via the sugar platform. However, biomass is not easily penetrated by water or enzymes and must be pretreated to realize high yields of sugars during enzymatic hydrolysis of the polysaccharides. Enzyme hydrolysis is often favored over mineral acid-catalyzed hydrolysis since mineral acids produce sugar degradation products such as hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF), furfural, levulinic acid, and formic acid. These sugar degradation products are inhibitory to downstream fermentation steps.
Due to the structural complexity of lignocellulosic biomass and the inaccessibility of biomass polysaccharides to water and catalysts, hydrolysis rates to the monomeric sugars that form the sugar platform are extremely slow. Proper pretreatment of the biomass is therefore required to enable efficient saccharification of the cellulose and hemicellulose components to their constituent sugars. The pretreatment generally required for biomass is more severe than that required for starch-based (i.e. corn grain) ethanol production. The hydrolysis of biomass polysaccharides (cellulose and hemicellulose) also requires a complex mixture of enzymes (cellulases and hemicellulases) due to the heterogeneity of hemicellulose and the crystalline nature of cellulose in contrast to the less complex amorphous structure of starch-based feedstocks (amylose). Effective pretreatment and hydrolysis (saccharification) of biomass present key challenges in the development of sustainable processes for chemical and fuel production from biomass. Current pretreatment approaches suffer from slow reaction rates of cellulose and hemicellulose hydrolysis (using cellulases and hemicellulases), low sugar yields, and degradation of biomass or pretreatment chemicals due to the severity of the current pretreatment processes.
Furthermore, enzymatic access to cellulose, for hydrolysis, is restricted by hemicellulose and lignin. Neither the water molecules nor the catalysts for hydrolysis (saccharification) are able to easily penetrate the crystalline matrix of cellulose. As a remedy, slow reaction rates have been increased by pretreatment involving an ionic liquid incubation of the biomass, which is capable of partially dissolving the cellulosic and hemicellulosic portion at various temperatures ranging between about 120° C. and about 160° C., and resulting in higher digestibility yields. However, the high temperature incubation is not favorable from an energy input standpoint. High temperatures can also lead to degradation of the feedstock and ionic liquid, as well as the promotion of unwanted side reactions. Thus, there remains a need for efficient methods of enhancing saccharification of cellulose and hemicellulose from biomass for fuel and chemical production that do not require high temperatures.

Enhancement of lignocellulose saccharification via a low temperature ionic liquid pre-treatment scheme


This invention is concerned with a golf club swinging apparatus for testing performance of golf clubs, for example. The golf club swinging apparatus is capable of swinging a golf club from an addressing position through take-back, back swing top, down swing, impact and follow-through positions to a follow-through end position, which results in substantially the same club swinging locus as by a golfer. The club swinging apparatus therefore enables flight distance and various other tests to be conducted reliably.

Conventionally, newly manufactured golf clubs are swung by professional golfers or other testers to check ball flight and various other aspects of the club performance. Such tests have the disadvantage that accurate performance data cannot be obtained because of the differences among the testers.
In order to eliminate this disadvantage, a golf club swinging apparatus as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,444,729 has been developed.
This apparatus comprises a sector-shaped pivot plate fixed to a shaft, and a gripper connected to the pivot plate through an arm for attaching a golf club to the forward end of the gripper. The shaft is meshed with a driven gear operatively connected to an electric motor through a drive gear, a chain and a sprocket, whereby the golf club is swung by the motor.
This prior apparatus includes a braking device for braking the driven gear when necessary. However, in the absence of means for controlling the rotational rate of the electric motor, the golf club is swung at an approximately constant speed throughout. The club swing effected by this swinging apparatus does not involve acceleration or deceleration similar to those occurring with a swing by a model player. It is thus difficult to carry out reliable ball flight and other desired tests with this apparatus.
Further, the prior apparatus does not include mechanical means for positively driving the gripper. This apparatus does not, therefore, assure a club swinging locus corresponding to that produced by a golfer in a normal playing situation.


The disclosure provides for a method for generating an ultrasound image that includes transmitting, by a plurality of transmitters in a transducer, at least two transmit beams at different angles, where at least parts of the transmit beams cover an overlapping region, and receiving, by a plurality of sensors of the transducer, reflected signals of the transmit beams. The method further comprises calculating channel coherence for the received signals to produce one or more channel coherence images, and calculating transmit coherence for the received signals to produce one or more transmit coherence images. The information from at least one of the channel coherence images and at least one of the transmit coherence images are combined to identify moving objects. The received signals from different transmits in overlapping regions are then processed to produce a final image that is compensated for the moving objects.

Ultrasound imaging is a medical imaging technique for imaging organs and soft tissues in a human body. Ultrasound imaging uses real time, non-invasive high frequency sound waves to produce a series of two-dimensional (2D) and/or three-dimensional (3D) images.
During ultrasound-based imaging of a patient, there may be times when an image of the patient is degraded. Accordingly, there are many efforts to provide an accurate and clear image.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the present disclosure as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

Method and system for coherent compounding motion detection using channel coherency and transmit coherency


The present invention relates to a method for producing an animal model of preterm birth and an animal model of preterm birth produced by the method. The animal model of the present invention can be effectively applied to investigate the causes and symptoms of preterm birth induced by cervical injury. The mortality rate of the animal model according to the present invention is low until preterm birth despite its induced preterm birth. In addition, the animal model of the present invention is produced in a higher yield than any other existing model. Furthermore, the preterm birth of the animal model according to the present invention is induced at a desired time point. Due to these advantages, the animal model of the present invention can be effectively applied to investigate the causes and mechanisms of preterm birth. The mortality rate of premature neonates born from the animal model of the present invention is considerably low and the premature neonates are immature. Therefore, the animal model of the present invention can be effectively applied to studies on complications of premature neonates.

Preterm birth refers to the birth of a baby between 20 weeks and 37 weeks of pregnancy. Preterm birth accounts for approximately 12% of all pregnancies and is the most common cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality around the world. According to a US report, the socioeconomic cost of preterm birth was estimated to be $2.6 trillion in 2005.
Preterm birth is caused by various factors. Infection is currently known as the most important mechanism of preterm birth but such an inflammatory response is not always involved in the mechanism of inducing preterm birth. This fact makes it difficult to develop clear preventive and therapeutic approaches for preterm birth. Whatever its causes, preterm birth involves cervical maturation and dilatation. The clinical probability of preterm birth increases markedly in women who have undergone cervical conization or miscarriage and as a result whose cervix has been removed or injured.
As such, the role of the cervix in association with preterm birth is very important. Since damage to the cervical structure or tissue increases the risk of preterm birth, there is a need for a trial to thoroughly elucidate the relationship between preterm birth and the cervix to lower the probability of preterm birth. Despite this trial, studies remain in the early stages.
The cervix is anatomically located at the entrance of the uterus and is connected to the vagina. The cervix is a rigid structure that remains closed before changes associated with parturition occur. The cervix is a fibrous, connective tissue consisting of an extracellular matrix composed of type I and II collagens, elastin, and proteoglycans, smooth muscles, and blood vessels. There is a need to scrutinize the structure or tissue of the cervix and elucidate the relationship between the cervix and preterm birth in order to provide animal models for the purpose of further lowering the probability of preterm birth.
On the other hand, rodent models of preterm birth are known whose preterm birth is induced by injecting lipopolysaccharide between two gestational sacs near the cervix at day 15-17 of gestation. However, these animal models cannot be effectively utilized because the injection of lipopolysaccharide leads to a decrease in preterm birth yield and an excessive increase in mortality.
In this connection, experimental rabbit models whose preterm birth is induced by intrauterine infection after injection of bacteria into the uteri of pregnant rabbits through a hysteroscope are disclosed in Obstetrics & Gynecology Science, Vol. 38, No. 10 (1995), pp. 1819-1828 ("Non-Patent Document 1")). However, the experimental procedure is complicated, the animal models are expensive to purchase and require high management costs, and it takes a very long time for symptoms to be reproduced. For these reasons, studies on the mechanism of preterm birth and the development of therapies for preterm birth using the animal models are limited.

Method for producing animal model of preterm birth and animal model of preterm birth produced by the method

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