A system for setting expressions at an agent including a processor configured to receive a SNMP message from a management station specifying objects for notifications supported by the agent and expressions based on the objects, set expressions for the notification, evaluate expressions when the notification containing the expression is generated, and send the notification to the management station.

The present invention relates generally to network management, and more particularly, to setting expressions in network management notifications.
It is desirable to manage and control nodes of a network such as a TCP/IP network from one or more network management stations connected to the network. The network management stations monitor and control other nodes in the network including hosts, routers, etc. A protocol known as the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is used to communicate management information between network management stations (NMS) and SNMP agent software operating on other network nodes, or the same node as the network management station. SNMP is described in Case, RFC 1157, "A Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)," (Internet Engineering Task Force May 1990), the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. Using SNMP in a TCP/IP network, a network management station may monitor traffic at a remote node and modify network operation parameters at the remote node.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary network utilizing SNMP. The network includes at least one management station 10 which controls a plurality of nodes such as workstation 11, bridge 12, router 14, printer 15, or other peripheral devices (e.g., personal computers, hubs, repeaters). The management station 10 includes a SNMP manager 16 (command generator and notification receiver). In order for an SNMP management station 10 to manage a node, the node must be able to run an SNMP agent 17 (command responder and notification originator), which is an SNMP management process typically encoded in software (some nodes may use a hardware implementation).
To facilitate SNMP operation, nodes of the network including the network management stations 10 maintain network management information databases known as MIBs (management information bases) 18. MIBs are described in McCloghrie, et al., RFC 1213, "Management Information Base for Network Management of TCP/IP Based Internets: MIB-II" (Internet Engineering Task Force March 1991), the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
The MIB 18 at each node consists of many individual objects, each having one or more instance. Each instance has a single value. For example, a particular node may include within its MIB an object whose value specifies the total number of IP datagrams received at that node, including those received in error. Each MIB 18 includes a large number of such objects. The object instances and their corresponding values are carried in packets called protocol data units (PDUs) and contain operating parameters, statistics, and control information for the element and its components.
Each MIB object is uniquely identified by a series of integers called an Object Identifier (OID). For example, the object ifinOctets is represented by the OID 126.96.36.199.184.108.40.206. The can be many instances of an object in existence on an agent. For example, there is one instance (and value) of ifInOctects for every physical interface known to the agent. Each instance is identified by appending one or more additional integers to the OID (e.g., 188.8.131.52.18.104.22.168.1.10.x, where x is an integer greater than zero). The first element of this specific OID identifies an overall object identifier domain allocated to the ISO. The second element has the value 3 which is defined as indicating allocation toward an organization under the auspices of the ISO. The third element identifies the US Department of Defense (DOD) as the responsible organization. The fourth element has the value of 1 and identifies the Internet. The fifth element indicates that the identifier is used for management. The remaining elements identify the particular object types with greater specificity.
The organization of objects within an MIB may be illustrated as a tree structure. An example of a portion of such a tree structure is illustrated in FIG. 2. The leaves of the tree instances of individual objects. FIG. 2 shows the MIB tree from its root, "ISO", to some of its lower branches. A first branch 21 of primary interest includes the standard MIB objects defined by RFC 1213. A second branch 23 includes MIB objects defined for use by Cisco Systems. The illustration of FIG. 2 does not extend down to individual leaves but rather indicates the prefix of elements in OIDs for various classes of objects. For example, OIDs from MIB objects pertaining to TCP would begin with 184.108.40.206.2.1.6.
The management station communicates with the agents over the network using the SNMP protocol, which allows the management station to query the state of the agent's local objects and modify them if necessary. SNMP is a request-response protocol by which the variables of an agent's MIB may be inspected or altered. The protocol is described in RFC 1905, "Protocol Operations for Version 2 of the Simple Network Management Protocol", Case, McCloghrie, Rose & Waldbusser, January 1996, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
A typical SNMP operation involves management station sending an SNMP message to agent requesting a particular local parameter. The agent then recovers this parameter by accessing a particular object in the MIB and responds to the request with a reply to the management station including the parameter value. SNMP operations are defined on a list of MIB variable instances called a variable binding (varbind) list. Each element of a varbind list describes a specific MIB variable instance. A varbind element specifies three MB instance attributes: its object identifier, data type, and value.
The management protocol provides for the exchange of messages which convey management information between the agents and management stations. For example, the management station may send a request to an agent asking it for information or commanding it to update its state in a certain way. The agent typically replies with the requested information or confirms that it has updated its state as requested. Conventional message types include Get, GetNext, GetBulk, Set, Trap, and Inform. The Get operation is used by the system to retrieve the value of one or more object instances from an agent. The GetNext operation is used by the system to retrieve the value of the next object instance in a table or list within an agent. The GetBulk operation is used by the system to efficiently retrieve large blocks of data, such as large tables. The Set operation is used by the network management station to set the values of object instances within an agent. The Trap operation is used by agents to asynchronously inform the network management station of an event of interest to one or more network management stations. Notification originators can generate informs, which are notifications that should be acknowledged by notification receivers. In an acknowledgement is not received within a configurable time-window, the notification originator attempts to resend the inform up to a maximum of N returns, where N is a configurable integer. The Trap and Inform operations may be used to send notifications to the manager.
Notifications are unsolicited messages sent from an agent to the SNMP manager to apprise the manager of network events. SNMP notifications allow the agent to initiate communication with management applications when an event of interest to one or more network management stations takes place. These events include cold start, warm start, link down, link up, authentication failure, neighbor loss, and enterprise. SNMP notifications contain a sequence of SNMP objects that typically provide context information on why each notification was generated.
As shown in FIG. 3, the agent 17 may contain an expression MIB 19 along with its other MIBs 18. An expression MIB 19 is a special type of MIB that contains variables which are evaluated expressions of variables contained in another MIB on that agent 17. It is sometimes advantageous for a management station 10 to evaluate expressions of the variables contained in the MIBs 18 of each agent 17. This is generally done to reduce network bandwidth, to conserve CUP utilization that goes into packaging data into SNMP PDUs, or to monitor the behavior of a router in a scalable manner by off-loading simple computations to the managed agent itself. For example, a MIB 18 may contain variables A and B. In order to test for a certain property, it may be necessary to check whether A+B exceeds a certain predefined value. These expressions are evaluated on the agent either on demand (in response to a Get/GetNext request for the results of an expression) or at regular time intervals. Expressions are currently used only in synchronous operations. Since the objects within the notification cannot easily be determined or reconfigured, expressions are not set based on objects contained in an SNMP notification.
There is, therefore, a need for a method and system that provides for evaluation of an expression upon generation of a notification.

Method and system for setting expressions in network management notifications


The invention concerns a device for storing electric power and method for assembling the device. The device includes an electrode layer and a collector layer associated with the electrode layer, a barrier layer made of metal nitride, the barrier layer being interposed between the electrode layer and the collector layer. The barrier layer is adapted to prevent diffusion of ions contained in an electrolyte up to the collector layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates the field of electrochemical devices for storing electrical power.
In particular, it relates the batteries and the supercapacitors.
2. Description of Related Art
These devices are formed by the assembly of a plurality of electrochemical layers.
These devices generally include a multilayer unitary assembly that includes electrode layers (cathode and anode) and separation layers inserted between the electrodes. The device can also include one or more collector layers, each collector layer being in contact with certain electrode layers.
In the case of a liquid electrolyte device, the separation layer (separator) is formed from a porous material, and the different layers are impregnated with a liquid electrolyte solution.
In the case of a solid electrolyte device, the separation layer is composed of a solid electrolyte layer.
The function of the separation layer is to hold the electrode layers at a distance from each other so as to avoid a short-circuit of the electrochemical device while still allowing the establishment of an ion current between the electrode layers, through the electrolyte.
The function of each collector layer is to collect and conduct the current coming from an electrode that is associated with it.
In a storage device of the lithium-polymer battery type for example, the cathode layer(s) is (are) formed from a composition that includes a mixture of polymers and active charges. The polymer mixture typically contains a fluoridated polymer, such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The active charges are composed of active charcoals or intercalation compounds of lithium for example.
The device includes one or more collector layer(s) associated with one or more cathode layer(s). The collector layer or layers are formed from metal, such as aluminium or copper.
In a supercapacitor type storage device, the electrode layer or layers are formed from a composition that includes a mixture of polymers and active charges. The polymer mixture typically contains a fluoridated polymer, such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) or the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The active charges are composed of active charcoals for example.
The device includes one or more collector layer(s) associated with one or more electrode layer(s). The collector layer or layers are formed from metal, such as aluminium or copper.
The metal collector layer or layers naturally have a tendency to former a superficial oxide film at their surface. Thus an aluminium collector layer forms a film of alumina (Al2O3) on the surface.
During the mechanical assembly of a collector layer on a cathode layer, the oxide film located at the interface between the collector layer and the cathode layer is broken.
During the operation of the electrochemical device, the ions of the electrolyte diffuse through the cathode up to the collector. The ions of the electrolyte react with the metal of the collector to form a passivation layer. Thus, the oxide film is progressively replaced or added to by the passivation layer obtained from reactions between ions contained in the electrolyte and the metal of the collector.
In the case of an aluminium collector, in the presence of fluoride (F) ions, the passivation layer typically contains aluminium fluoride (AlF3) or aluminium hydroxide (Al(OH)3).
In the presence of lithium ions (Li+), we observe the formation of a layer of lithium oxide (Li2O) or of lithium hydroxide (LiOH) as a replacement for the original oxide film.
Once formed, the passivation layer constitutes a barrier layer that prevents the diffusion of certain ions of the electrolyte up to the collector layer and thus protects the collector.
However, the formation of the passivation layer leads to consumption of the ions contained in the electrolyte and an attack on the collector layer.
In addition, in the case of a charged electrode, in the event of local rupture of the passivation layer (due to a shock or impact, a scratch or a chemical dissolution for example), the presence of graphitic charges within the electrode induces electrochemical reactions that dissolve the metal so as to bare the collector layer. These reactions can also produce potentially dangerous gas (dihydrogen in particular) by electrochemical battery-cell effect.
Finally, in the case of an aluminium collector layer and a polymer electrode layer, the presence of alumina at the surface of the collector layer leads to poor adhesion of the electrode layer onto the collector layer.
All of these phenomena can lead to complete consumption of the collector layer during the life of the power storage device and seriously damage the characteristics of the device in operation.
One aim of the invention is to preserve the collector layer during the lifetime of the electrochemical power storage device.

Device for storing electric power comprising a protective barrier layer for the collector


A post cold heavy oil production with sand (“CHOPS”) microbial enhanced oil recovery method comprises selecting a well having at least one wormhole and that has completed primary CHOPS production. When the reservoir does not contain enough of a gas producing indigenous microbe, an injectant is prepared comprising a gas-producing microbe, a nutrient suitable for the microbe, and a fluid base. The injectant is injected through the well and into the at least one wormhole in the reservoir; the well is shut in until pressure in the well reaches the target pressure; and then the well is produced.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to a process wherein nutrients and/or microbial organisms are injected into underground formations for microbial processes, and in particular to a microbial enhanced oil recovery ("MEOR") process for heavy oil accumulations.
2. Description of the Related Art
Production of heavy oil from unconsolidated reservoirs, like the ones around Lloydminster which straddles the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada, continued for decades while trying to prevent sand production with screens or gravel packs. The oil and gas industry realized in the 1980s that if sand production was encouraged, that oil production also increased. A non-thermal process was developed known as Cold Heavy Oil Production with Sand (CHOPS) in which sand and oil were produced simultaneously under primary conditions. Progressive cavity pumps were typically deployed in a CHOPS process and allowed sand production and higher levels of oil production to be reached over prior approaches.
As a result of producing sand from these reservoirs, pathways of extremely high permeability are generated in oil producing formations. These high permeability pathways are known as "wormholes". As the sand production is continued, wormholes grow larger and extend deeper into the reservoir. The presence of wormholes has been proposed in light of the observations in these oil fields and from investigations through laboratory experiments (Tremblay, B., Sedgwick, G. and Vu, D., "CT Imaging of Wormhole Growth Under Solution-Gas Drive", SPE Reservoir Evaluation & Engineering, Vol. 2, No. 1, February 1999, 35-47). Numerous tracer surveys were conducted where rapid communication was observed between wells confirming the existence of wormhole structures. Pressure-buildup analyses conducted throughout the Lloydminster area showed in-situ permeability values on the order of tens of darcies, which was much higher than anything measured in the laboratory (Smith, G. E., "Fluid Flow and Sand Production in Heavy Oil Reservoirs Under Solution Gas Drive", SPE Production Engineering, May 1988, 169-180). Such values are theorized to be due to the flow through the high permeability channels or wormholes. The test results also indicated that wells have very large "wellbore storage," even for the wells that were shut in downhole. Furthermore, laboratory experiments showed that a stable wormhole can develop in unconsolidated heavy oil sands and that the wormholes most likely develop in a higher porosity region with lower cohesive strength (Tremblay et al., supra). Tracer tests conducted by injecting in one well and detecting the arrival times in the surrounding wells sometimes indicated travel times in the order of hours, lent further credence to the existence of wormholes in the reservoir. It is thought that near the wellbore a denser network/dilated region is formed and a few of these wormholes grow up to 50 to 200 m in length in time (Smith, supra). FIG. 1 (PRIOR ART) shows a schematic of aerial view of a CHOPS well 1 with associated wormhole network 2.
Solution gas drive in these reservoirs involves simultaneous mixture flow of gas as very tiny bubbles entrained in viscous heavy oil, also called foamy oil flow. Foamy oil flow is a result of nonequilibrium thermodynamics. Therefore, two significant mechanisms which are theorized to affect the flow of heavy oil and its recovery in these reservoirs are the foamy oil flow and wormhole formation (Sawatzky, R., Lillico, D. A., London, M., Tremblay, B. R., and Coates, R. M., "Tracking Cold Production Footprints"; paper 2002-086, presented at the Canadian International Petroleum Conference, Calgary, AB, Jun. 11-13, 2002). The primary CHOPS production wells come to the end of their lives either due to pressure depletion or due to excessive water influx. In general, the primary recovery in heavy oil reservoirs ranges between 3 to 10% with average of around 5% recovery (Smith, supra). Although a few enhanced oil recovery ("EOR") techniques have been tried, currently there are no widely applicable commercial EOR techniques to increase the recovery of cold heavy oil beyond the primary levels.
Water flooding of heavy oil is inefficient. Water will bypass the oil and breakthrough at the producers early in the life of the flood because of viscous instabilities resulting from the adverse mobility contrast between water and heavy oil. Many of these reservoirs are relatively small or thin, and possibly have existing primary production wormholes. Consequently, these reservoirs are not prime candidates for expensive thermal or miscible hydrocarbon solvent EOR technologies. Wormholes negatively affect water flood performance as well (Bryan, J., Mai, A., and Kantzas, A, "Processes Responsible for Heavy Oil recovery by Alkali/Surfactant Flooding", JPT, January 2009, 52-54). Considerable water is produced sometimes in these reservoirs during primary operations. As long as water production is low, quite high sand cuts can be tolerated by the production system. If wormholes reach a water source, water will short circuit through them and the well will be suspended. Many sudden failures in injection schemes (firefloods, water floods, and steam floods) and in drilling and workover operations are also blamed on wormholes.

Microbial enhanced oil recovery process for heavy oil accumulations


An infusion device with a disposable administration set which is inexpensive to manufacture. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the disposable administration set has a plurality of elongated cam followers connected to a plate assembly, wherein the cam followers are displaced in a predetermined sequence and forced against a delivery tube by cam means driven by rotary drive means. The disposable administration set is injection molded as a single integral piece. The disposable administration set includes adjustment spacers disposed between the plate assembly and the cam followers which adjust the distance between them to keep the device accurate. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the cam means are configured to provide fluid delivery at a consistent and uniform rate.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a medication infusion device for administering fluid to patients and more particularly to an improved, ambulatory infusion device with a disposable administration set which is inexpensive to manufacture, convenient to operate and which ensures fluid delivery at a consistent and uniform rate.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As a result of the ongoing need for improved health care, there is a continuous effort with regard to administering intravenous fluid to patients. As is well known, medication dispensers and infusion devices are used for infusion of predetermined amounts of medication into the body of a patient. Various types of medication dispensers employing different techniques for a variety of applications are known to exist. Some existing infusion devices utilize a series of diaphragms which roll up and down inside cylinders in response to pistons located within the cylinders. Such devices, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,236,880, 4,277,226, 4,391,600 and 4,410,322 are characterized by relatively complicated operational procedures and numerous manufacturing and maintenance adjustments to ensure proper operation of the loading and valving functions.
Other existing infusion devices employ a finger type pump unit having fingers which are moved in predetermined sequence to squeeze a feeding tube to infuse predetermined amounts of medication continuously and cyclically into a patient. Such a prior art device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,797.
In many cases it is of critical importance to provide precisely controlled and consistent flow rates of intravenous fluid to patients. This need for more controlled IV flow rates is only partially fulfilled by the above-mentioned displacement pumps. The finger type displacement pump unit as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,797 includes a plurality of elongate fingers which are depressed by an equal number of associated cams rotating about a shaft which is driven by a motor. A feeding tube, when placed between the fingers, is squeezed by the fingers to infuse liquid medication into a human body. The elongate fingers comprise a central finger and two side fingers arranged on either side. In such a device the side fingers completely squeeze or collapse the feeding tube at the designated point of contact on either side, and the central finger is shaped for squeezing the feeding tube and pumping medication over the length of tube between the two points, providing a pulsatile flow of fluid. During the time that the downstream side finger completely squeezes the feeding tube, while the pumping portion of the tube is filling from an upstream supply, the flow of fluid to the patient is completely obstructed.
Completely obstructing the flow of medication for periods of time and providing pulsatile flow is often a clinically unsatisfactory and undesirable condition since a patient is deprived of medication for periods of time. Additionally, fluid is delivered at non-uniform rates. Sometimes, the possibility exists at low flow rates for a catheter to develop a blood clot due to lack of flow. This may also result in an occluded tubing, so that the patient may be deprived of needed medication for several hours. This condition is especially likely in a home environment which seldom has around-the-clock clinical staffing for monitoring patients. Thus, it is desirable to have an infusion device which delivers fluid to a patient at a constant and uniform rate.
Some prior art devices, in an attempt to provide non pulsatile flow of fluid, incorporate additional pulsation correction cams and cam followers. The correction cams are designed to even out overall flow from the pump through simultaneous pumping actions of multiple cams. This solution is undesirable in view of the numerous parts involved. Infusion devices utilizing piston valves and cylinders are also known to provide uniform flow; however, they do so at the expense of crude valving techniques and complex mechanisms. Thus it is desirable to have an infusion device utilizing a relatively simple technique of providing non-pulsatile flow.
As is well known, disposable equipment for medical applications is desirable so as to maintain a germ-free environment to prevent the transfer of infection especially where cost prohibits cleaning and sterilization after each use. Prior art devices employing a series of diaphragms rolling within cylinders have utilized disposable diaphragms. The disposable diaphragms, however, are flimsy and thus require a very complex loading mechanism. Prior art devices having finger type pump units, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,658,445, have only a disposable tube assembly. This has limited advantages, since the cam followers, which are not a part of the disposable assembly, are not renewed with each replacement. U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,797 discloses other disposable elements. Since the cam followers are repeatedly flexed and fatigued as a result of being depressed by the rotating cams, it is desirable to have them renewed with every new installation to ensure proper functioning.
Thus, it is desirable to have a disposable administration set, including the pumping tube itself, a base plate against which the tube is depressed, and the cam followers. With such an arrangement, the system operates reliably and accurately over a longer period of time because its major pumping components are replaced with each use. Another important consideration for disposable elements is cost, since clinical application of disposable administration sets requires that the administration sets be regularly replaced. Typically, such sets are replaced every 24 to 48 hours, and seldom remain in use longer than one week. This frequent replacement interval should ideally be fulfilled by an inexpensively molded, disposable, mechanism which would normally not last the years of service life expected from the pump itself.
Furthermore, it is desireable to have a disposable administration set which is easy to load and unload to minimize operator errors. These factors can be very important in a clinical situation when a few extra seconds may be critical to a patient""s life. Typically, prior art devices require several steps to accomplish the task of loading and unloading. Additionally, it is beneficial to pinch off the delivery tube and obstruct fluid flow prior to loading or unloading the administration set.
It is also desireable to have an efficient but inexpensive occlusion detection system. Some prior art devices incorporate a pressure transducer and diaphragm assembly to monitor fluid pressure as an indication of occlusion. Such an occlusion detection technique is undesirable in view of the complexities and cost involved. Prior art devices utilizing pistons and cylinders detect occlusion by utilizing a switch mounted within the cylinder. When the pressure reaches a certain value the rotating diaphragm causes the switch to be depressed. The switch may also be mounted against the tubing such that the switch is activated when the tubing expands as a result of increased pressure due to an occlusion.
Briefly stated, the present invention is an improved, ambulatory infusion device having a disposable administration set which is inexpensive to manufacture and a pumping mechanism which provides a consistent and uniform fluid flow.
The infusion device comprises an administration set having a plurality of cam followers which are depressed in a predetermined sequence by a plurality of associated rotating cams. The cam followers squeeze a delivery tube to dispense fluid which is intravenously infused into a patient""s body. The rotating cams are mounted to an axle shaft driven by a motor. The disposable administration set further comprises a plate assembly to which the cam followers are attached. The cam followers force the delivery tube against the plate assembly to pinch off the delivery tube or force fluid to flow through it. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the administration set is advantageously disposable and inexpensive to manufacture. In accordance with one feature of the present invention the cam followers are all molded together as one piece. Alternatively, the cam followers may also be molded as one piece with the plate assembly, provided that a hinge is molded to connect the cam followers with the plate assembly. This provides a cost effective assembling technique which allows the cam followers and plate to be replaced regularly at minimal cost.
Since the cam followers are instrumental in controlling the amount of fluid dispensed, the thickness of the cam followers is a critical dimension which directly affects the degree of tube compression, and thus the cross sectional area of the delivery tube. Because some variations in thickness can be expected from one molded part to the next due to normal molding process variations, the invention utilizes gap correction spacers which counteract these thickness variations. The gap correction spacers fit between the plate and the support for the rotating cam, and thus adjust the distance between the cam and the plate. If the cam follower assembly varies in thickness, for example due to change in the pressure of an injection molding machine, both the cam followers and the gap correction spacers vary by the same amount, because they are molded as a single unit. Since an increase in thickness of the gap correction spacers results in an increase in the delivery tube gap, while an increase in the thickness of the cam followers results in a decrease in the delivery tube gap, the net effect is no change in the delivery tube gap. It is this correction technique that allows the followers to be injection molded without sacrificing the accuracy of the fluid delivery.
An additional feature of the invention allows the use of a low cost molded pressure plate assembly. Springs are used to force the face of the tubing retainer plate against the gap correction spacers. These springs, of course, must be stiff enough to be unyielding as the cams squeeze the delivery tube. By floating the plate on such springs, changes in thickness from plate to plate due to molding variations do not change the tubing gap from part to part. This is another important part of the invention which allows an easily loaded and inexpensive disposable administration set to be used without sacrificing performance or accuracy.
The plate referencing system and the gap correction spacers described above are adapted to increase the accuracy of the delivery system. In cooperation with the gap correction spacers, a channel in the pumping system receives the retainer plate and the spacers. The springs mentioned above are mounted in this channel and force the disposable assembly against a reference shoulder within the channel. This shoulder allows an easily manufactured dimensional precision to accurately define the tubing gap. The critical dimensions are the cam radius itself and the distance between the cam axis and the plate referencing shoulder. These two dimensions can be precisely controlled in the manufacturing process and they will not change significantly with time or usage.
Another feature of the present invention exists in the ability to deliver fluid at a consistent and uniform rate. The pumping mechanism includes an axle shaft and a plurality of cams mounted thereto. As the axle shaft rotates, the cams force the cam followers to squeeze the tubing and thereby displace a certain volume of fluid which is then forced out of the pump. The cams are structurally adapted such the each incremental angle of revolution displaces the same amount of fluid. This is facilitated by a non-linear cam design which provides a non-linear change in the delivery tube gap. The change in cross sectional area of the delivery tube caused by a given change in the gap depends on the tube gap at the start of the change. The cam non-linearity is designed to correlate with this change.
The present invention utilizes two pumping cams and two pumping cam followers, which function such that, at any point in time, one of the two pumping cams is always pumping. The two pumping cams comprise a primary pumping cam associated with an upstream segment of the delivery tube and a secondary pumping cam associated with a downstream segment of the delivery tube. The primary pumping cam is wider than the secondary pumping cam, so that it can displace sufficient fluid during its pumping stroke to deliver fluid external to the pump and at the same time deliver fluid to the section of the tubing beneath the secondary pumping cam to allow it to fill. The secondary pumping cam is narrower, since it only needs to deliver fluid external to the pump. The present invention additionally utilizes pinching cams and pinching cam followers, which open and close the delivery tube to allow the pumping action to function properly. The pinching cams comprise an inlet pinching cam associated with the upstream segment of the tube and an outlet pinching cam associated with the downstream segment of the tube. Thus the pumping cam followers, acted upon by the pumping cams, control the rate of fluid flow, while the pinching cam followers acted upon by the pinching cams, operate as valves for the pump. Such a configuration allows one segment of the delivery tube to fill with fluid while another segment of the delivery tube is pumping, thus providing a continuous and uniform fluid flow.
In still another feature of the present invention the disposable administration set of the infusion device is less prone to operator loading errors. This is accomplished through a reduced number of required operations and a reduction in the complexity of the operations. This is facilitated by providing channels extending along the length of the walls of a housing structure of the infusion device. These channels slidingly receive the disposable administration set in a simple, single insertion step. Additionally, since the disposable administration set includes the delivery tube retainer plate and cam followers, the position of the delivery tube relative to the tubing retainer plate and cam followers is established in a manufacturing operation which can be closely controlled. Assemblers are not under the stress of a clinical situation and they specialize in the proper assembly of the disposable administration set. Good manufacturing procedures provide additional checking systems to insure that the tubing is properly loaded and that the administration set properly assembled. These practices are not possible in a clinical environment.
The pump of the infusion device is non-functional when loaded with an alien disposable administration set. Alien administration sets may have characteristics which are not suitable for safe operation of the fluid delivery system, and may operate outside of specified tolerance limits. The pump will not operate with a standard piece of delivery tube, because it requires an administration set with cam followers and a pressure plate.
Another feature of the present invention is a provision for detecting an occlusion in the downstream fluid path. The cams which squeeze the tubing are rotated by a DC motor having a predictable torque-to-current transfer function. By monitoring the current to the motor, the amount of torque required to maintain a desired camshaft velocity can be measured. With knowledge of the motor torque required to advance the cam at each position along its rotation, against a normal fluid back-pressure, and comparing this torque with the actual measured torque, higher-than-normal pressure in the delivery tube can be sensed. If desired, a calculation can be made to determine the torque normally required to rotate the cam. This torque calculation takes into account the pressure exerted by the tube against the cam face, the effective radius of the cam-follower contact point, and the coefficient of friction of the cam-to-follower contact for each cam rotational position. This calculation is undertaken for each cam, to yield a total accumulated torque value. This total torque profile is stored in a memory device to be read out and compared with the actual torque for monitoring abnormally high pumping pressures.
Alternatively, the memory may be loaded with actual D.C. current data read during a previous operation of the pump with normal pressure. This profile is unique to the particular mechanism and instrument in which it is installed. The profile is a current waveform sampled at specific angles of revolution of the pumping system. The waveform is sampled and stored during the actual operation of the pump under controlled conditions, i.e. specific output pressure, specific temperature, etc. During later operation of the pump, these stored values are periodically compared to the actual operating current and an alarm is signalled if the difference between these two values exceeds a specified tolerance.
The control system also has access to the current operating temperature which may be used to adjust the allowable tolerance for changes in the operating temperature. The control system may also have access to data stored on the disposable administration set which indicates particular information related to manufacturing variances, such as coefficient of friction, stroke volume, tubing gap, tubing wall thickness and diameter, etc. This information may also be used to determine the appropriate alarm point. The information may be stored on the disposable administration set so that it may be read by the instrument during the sliding operation of loading the set.
The present invention uses a minimal number of parts and dissipates a minimal amount of energy. The disposable concept which includes the cam followers and the pressure plate allows for a high precision pump without complicated assembly or loading mechanisms. The set loading and retaining channels allow precise positioning of the tubing, followers, and pressure plate without any adjustments or complicated, bulky, or expensive mechanisms. The disposable administration set results in an overall fluid delivery system which is small, lightweight, and ambulatory.
The design of the disposable administration set in combination with the plate referencing channels allows a sliding operation in order to load the set. This sliding operation allows for the transfer of information from the disposable administration set to the instrument from fixed sensors. These sensors may be optical, magnetic, or some other technology. The preferred embodiment uses optical sensors to read optically coded information from a label on the administration set. This capability permits the instrument to be programmed from the information included on the label. The instrument operator is thus free from programming tasks, which would be difficult in a clinical environment. Programming information can be added to the administration set during the preparation or prescription of the medication to be delivered. The unique sliding operation makes this programming simple and cost effective in the present invention.

Infusion device with disposable elements


A patient transport apparatus comprising a support frame, a base, a bracket coupled to the support frame and comprising a channel being non-linear, a frame assembly coupled between the support frame and the base and comprising a slidable member disposed in the channel, the slidable member being moveable between a plurality of different positions in the channel to place the support frame in a plurality of different poses relative to the base. The patient transport apparatus also comprises a sensor configured to detect the slidable member in the channel and produce a reading, as well as a controller coupled to the sensor and configured to receive the reading from the sensor, determine the position of the slidable member in the channel based on the reading, and determine the pose of the support frame relative to the base based on the determined position of the slidable member.

Patient transport apparatuses, such as hospital beds, stretchers, cots, tables, wheelchairs, and chairs facilitate care and transportation of patients. Conventional patient transport apparatuses includes a base, a frame assembly, and a support frame coupled to a patient support surface upon which the patient is supported. The frame assembly is coupled between the base and the support frame and helps to place the patient transport apparatus in various poses (e.g., heights/tilts) to allow for care and transportation of the patient.
To aid in placing the patient transport apparatus in a pose, one prior configuration, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,398,571, teaches a housing secured to the support frame. The housing has a linear channel and position sensors (e.g., transducers or Hall effect sensors) at each end of the housing. A magnet is mounted to a sliding member that moves within the housing. The position sensors detect a magnetic field of the magnet and generate signals indicative of the height position of the patient transport apparatus.
With this prior configuration, the true or absolute position of the slidable member in the linear channel is determined using low-resolution, and is therefore, generalized or approximated to a few discrete positions. In turn, the pose of the patient transport apparatus can only be identified using coarse approximations (i.e., high or low). The sensors do not account for the true or absolute pose of the patient transport apparatus. Hence, any downstream actions/controls/notifications relying on the pose of the patient transport apparatus necessarily are limited to the coarse approximations of the pose.
As such, there remains a need to improve techniques for sensing and determining the position of the slidable member in the channel. Additionally, there remains a need in the art to further improve a design of the channel, allowing the frame assembly to more efficiently place the support frame in the plurality of different poses.

Techniques for determining a pose of a patient transport apparatus


A tape mounting system 1 mounts a product X to a strip tape T, and includes a tape holding mechanism, a mounting mechanism and a control unit 70. The tape holding mechanism has a payout roller 61 and a carry-out conveyor 64, and holds the strip tape T in a horizontal state. The mounting mechanism has a clamp 62 and a heater block 63, and mounts the product X to the strip tape T by attaching a portion X2 to the strip tape T. The control unit 70 controls the tape holding mechanism and mounting mechanism such that the portion X2 of the products X vertically overlaps the strip tape T. The tape mounting system that reduces positional deviation of the portion X2 and the strip tape T during the mounting of product X to the tape T caused by positional deviation of the tape T.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a tape mounting system that mounts products to a tape.
2. Background Information
A bag manufacturing and packaging machine is an example of an apparatus that manufactures bags and packages articles by manufacturing a bag while filling the inside of the bag with articles to be packaged, such as snacks and candies. For example, in a bag manufacturing and packaging machine called a longitudinal pillow-type packaging machine, a former forms packaging material, which is a sheet-shaped film, into a tubular shape, and a longitudinal sealing mechanism heat seals (thermally welds) the overlapping longitudinal edges of the tubularly shaped packaging material, thus forming a tubular packaging material. Further, once the tubular packaging material, which will ultimately form a bag, is filled with articles to be packaged, a transverse sealing mechanism below the tube heat seals the upper end part of the bag, which is also the lower end part of the successive bag, and a cutter subsequently horizontally cuts the center of that heat sealed part (the transverse seal part).
U.S. Pat. No. 3,864,895 discloses an apparatus in which a tape mounting mechanism is provided on the side of such a bag manufacturing and packaging machine, products (bags) manufactured by the bag manufacturing and packaging machine are transported to this tape mounting mechanism, and are successively mounted to a strip tape that descends vertically.
The apparatus in the abovementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,864,895 mounts products to a strip tape by suspending the strip tape from a roller, spraying a hot melt (adhesive) onto the strip tape in a substantially vertical state, and pressing the strip tape against the upper end part of the product.
However, in the case of mounting products to a strip tape in a vertical state, there is a relatively strong potential for the strip tape to undesirably move in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) of the strip tape. As a result, there is a risk of failures in product mounting, deviations in the product mounting position, and the like.
In addition, the products must be pressed against the strip tape for at least a prescribed period of time when mounting the products to the strip tape using an adhesive of the abovementioned type. Furthermore, the products must also be pressed against the strip tape for at least a prescribed period of time when mounting the products to the strip tape by thermal welding. Accordingly, in the apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 3,864,895, wherein products are mounted to the strip tape in a vertical state, there is a risk that the weight of each product itself will act upon the adhering part of the strip tape, causing the product to fall off the strip tape before the product sufficiently adheres to the strip tape.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved tape mounting mechanism that overcomes the above-described problem. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.


A foldable motorized vehicle includes a frame connecting mechanism and a frame locking mechanism. The frame connecting mechanism comprises: a pair of first slide rails, a pair of second slide rails, a pair of first connecting members, and a pair of second connecting members. The front end portions of the first slide rails are fixedly connected to a front frame, the rear end portion of the second slide rails are fixedly connected to a rear frame. The front end portions of the second slide rails are supported on the rear end portions of the first slide rails, creating a slidable connection between the first slide rails and the second slide rails with the first connecting members and the second connecting members. The frame locking mechanism comprises a handle, a cable tube, a cable, a mounting base, a compression spring, and a stopper.

With the improvement of living standards, the life philosophy of being distinctive, fashionable, healthy, and environmentally friendly becomes popular, and fashionable and environmentally friendly articles for daily use and motorized vehicles are favored by more and more people. The Motorized Vehicles evolve from being only a means of transport to being a symbol of a fashionable and healthy lifestyle, and are a means for practicing environmental protection. Foldable Motorized Vehicle saves storage room and is easy to carry. The actual size of a folded motorized vehicle is dramatically reduced, making it possible to carry it up and down stairs, into and out of an elevator, into a bus or metro train. Furthermore, the Foldable Motorized Vehicle has a good appearance, and shows exquisite workmanship, thereby making it top choice of fashionable people.
However, in a conventional foldable vehicle, building a foldable frame is the key to making a functional foldable motorized vehicle. The foldable frame has a complex structure. making both folding and unfolding complicated and slow. The foldable frame should be designed so that after the frame is folded, the motorized vehicle is compact, small in size, light in weight, and strong enough to sustain folding and unfolding actions. Therefore, a novel foldable frame structure that is convenient to fold and unfold, of a more compact structure after being folded, small in size, light in weight, and convenient to carry becomes a new direction of research.
Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the art to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

Foldable motorized vehicle with frame connecting and frame locking mechanisms


A corrective lens system for use with a video display screen adapted to correct visual deficiency for a particular user has a mounting frame and a transparent lens centrally located in a mounting frame aperture. A lens front surface and a lens rear surface are shaped to correct visual deficiency for a particular user. The system is positioned at a first specific distance from the video display screen to correct visual deficiency. The user is positioned a second specific distance from the video display screen to correct visual deficiency. The system corrects visual deficiency for the user in a similar manner as a pair of prescription glasses.

The use of a lens for vision correction has been common for many years most commonly appearing in a form commonly known as glasses. The wearing of glasses, however, can at times be wearisome or cumbersome for the user. Magnifying glasses have also been used for a number of years as an aid for seeing a specific object more clearly, however, the lens of the magnifying glass is not tailored to the specific vision needs of the user. Magnification screens commonly used on computer displays and televisions offer similar features and advantages when compared to a magnifying glass, however, for convenience, a magnification screen typically can be stationarily placed in front of the display screen. The present invention teaches a corrective lens system for use with a video display screen to correct visual deficiency for a particular user when viewing the video display screen.


To prevent an output of an intermediate potential by suppressing sneaking of a current from a signal line to a power line at the time of disconnection of a power supply. A control circuit which receives a power supply voltage from a power line L11 and outputs an output signal to a signal line L12 includes: a load R11 which is provided between the power line and the signal line; a first transistor P11 which is provided between the load and the signal line; a second transistor P12 which is provided between a well of the first transistor and the power line; and a gate control circuit 15 which connects a gate terminal of the first transistor and a gate terminal of the second transistor to the signal line and turns off the first transistor and the second transistor, at the time of disconnection of a power supply.

Conventionally, as a control circuit that operates by receiving a power supply voltage, a control circuit that protects a circuit from reverse connection of a power supply has been known (see, for example, PTL 1). In the control circuit described in PTL 1, a first transistor (P-channel metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) transistor) is provided between a power line and a signal line, and a second transistor (PMOS transistor) for well control is provided between the power line and a well (body) of the first transistor. Gate terminals of the first and second transistors are connected to a ground. When the power supply is reversely connected, the first and second transistors are turned off to prevent a current from the ground to the power line.


A charge release circuit, a display substrate, a display device and a charge release method thereof are provided. The charge release circuit including: a controller, a charge release sub-circuit and a first conductor, wherein the charge release sub-circuit is respectively connected with the controller, the first conductor and a second conductor in an active area of an array substrate, and the charge release sub-circuit is configured to conduct the first conductor and the second conductor under a control of the controller, so as to allow charges on the second conductor to move to the first conductor. The charge release circuit can solve the problem that the display panel in the black-screen state displays bright spots so as to reduce the number of bright spots on the display panel in the black-screen state.

A liquid crystal display (LCD) includes a color filter (CF) substrate, an array substrate, and liquid crystals disposed between the CF substrate and the array substrate, the color filter (CF) substrate and the array substrate are oppositely arranged.
For instance, a common electrode is formed on a base substrate of the CF substrate, a plurality of transversely arranged gate lines and a plurality of longitudinally arranged data lines are formed on a base substrate of the array substrate, the gate lines and the data lines are intersected with each other to form a plurality of pixel regions, and a thin-film transistor (TFT) and a pixel electrode are formed in each of the plurality of pixel regions. For instance, the TFT includes a gate electrode connected with the gate line, a source electrode connected with the data line, and a drain electrode connected with the pixel electrode. When a display panel is controlled to display an image, the TFT can be switched on by applying a voltage to the gate electrode through the gate line, a pixel voltage is applied to the pixel electrode through the data line, the source electrode and the drain electrode, and a common voltage is applied to the common electrode. The liquid crystals are rotated under an action of the pixel voltage and the common voltage, so that the display panel can display the image. When the display panel is not required to be controlled to display the image, the liquid crystals are not rotated by stopping applying voltages to the pixel electrode and the common electrode, so that the display panel can be in a black-screen state.

Charge release circuit, display substrate, display device and charge release method thereof


A personal, portable water filtering device is provided for use in filtering water taken from public drinking fountains, public wash basins or other public water sources. The preferred device includes a flexible attachment means for engaging the outlet of a water fountain, a tube connecting the attachment piece to a pump disposed between two check valves, a filter disposed between or within the pump and a tube connecting the filter to a mouthpiece. The user inserts the attachment means into the outlet of a water fountain or standing water supply which allows water to proceed up the first tube and into the hand-pump. The user then squeezes the hand-pump which forces water through the filter and the filtered water exits through the mouthpiece into the user's mouth. The device is lightweight and collapsible and will fit into the back pocket of athletic wear worn by joggers or other athletes.

The concept of a personal water filtration device is known. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,737 to Iana discloses such a device. However, the Iana device is in the form of a straw and therefore must be used with a glass or a cup of water (i.e., source of standing water). The tube of the Iana device is inserted into the standing water and the user sucks or draws water upward through the filter. Straw-like filtration devices cannot be used effectively with the most common source of public water, i.e., a water fountain because no standing water is provided, only a stream of running water. What is needed is a personal filtration device that can be used in connection with public water fountains as well as with wash basin faucets.
In today's climate, public water supplies have become increasingly contaminated with man-made chemicals and other contaminants such as bacteria and other microorganisms whose presence in the water supply is directly attributable to manmade causes. Bottled water or boiling of water may solve this problem temporarily, in the case of public water system failures. However, people often need access to water when they are out in the public. Specifically, runners and other people seeking exercise often require the intake of water while they are exercising in public parks. However, these people, who have a healthy attitude and a desire for exercise, are increasingly skeptical of the public water supply. Thus, there is a demand by runners and people seeking exercise in public places for a personal water filtration device that is portable, compact and easy to use. The present invention satisfies these criteria.


Dysphagia of a subject (12) is treated. The treatment of dysphagia may include providing cues to the subject (12) that prompt the subject to swallow, and monitoring the response of the subject (12) to the cues. The swallowing function of the subject (12) may be analyzed over a single therapy session and/or over time to evaluate the general progress of the subject (12). A pressurized flow of breathable gas may be provided to the airway of the subject (12) during the therapy. The pressurized flow of breathable gas may remove certain discomfort associated with the dysphagia of the subject (12), such as shortness of breath, and also provides a therapy to improve the coordination of breathing and swallowing in the subject (12).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the treatment of dysphagia by prompting a subject to swallow at a point in time that is coordinated with breathing cycle, and then monitoring the response of the subject to swallowing.
2. Description of the Related Art
Dysphagia is swallowing dysfunction. Dysphagia is commonly present in subjects with neurological, structural, and/or cognitive disorders. The impact to quality of life for dysphagia patients may be substantial. For example, subjects suffering from dysphagia may be affected by chronic malnutrition, dehydration, failure to thrive, aspiration pneumonia, and exacerbation of chronic lung disease.
Generally, conventional therapies for dysphagia include dietary modification, compensatory techniques like postural alterations, indirect therapy like strengthening exercises for swallowing muscles, and direct therapy like exercises during swallowing.

System and method for treating dysphagia


A traveling reactor power monitoring system includes a drive control unit configured to drive a motor and move a traveling probe in a guide tube by driving the motor, a torque sensor configured to measure a drive torque of the motor, and a drive torque monitoring unit that generates an alarm when the measured drive torque exceeds a predefined upper threshold, and that bypasses generating the alarm for a predefined bypass time, the predefined bypass time starting at a time of starting driving the motor.

At a Boiled Water Reactor (BWR) power plant, to measure neutron flux in a nuclear reactor, Local Power Range Monitors (LPRMs) are provided in the reactor. Fissile material provided at an electrode in the LPRMs fissions and releases ionized atoms as a result of being irradiated with neutrons. Neutron flux is obtained by measuring the ionized atoms.
However, the LPRMs are placed in the reactor constantly and are difficult to replace, and the sensitivity of the LPRMs declines with time because of consumption of the fissile material. Therefore, the sensitivity of the LPRMs needs to be calibrated at different times to measure neutron flux in the reactor precisely.
At a Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) power plant, to measure neutron flux in a nuclear reactor, fixed neutron sensors are provided at the outer periphery of the reactor. But the sensitivity of these fixed neutron sensors also declines with time and needs to be calibrated at different times.
To calibrate the sensitivity of the LPRMs of the BWR and fixed neutron sensors of the PWR, a traveling reactor power monitoring system is provided in the nuclear power plant. Generally, the traveling reactor power monitoring system in the BWR is referred to as a Traversing In-core Probe (TIP) monitoring system.
This TIP monitoring system moves a traveling probe, referred to as a TIP, in guide tubes provided in the reactor, and the TIP measures neutron flux in the proximity of the LPRMs while moving. By using measured neutron flux, the sensitivity of the LPRMs is calibrated.
At a PWR power plant, the traveling reactor power monitoring system referred to as a Flux Mapping System moves a traveling probe (TIP) in the reactor, and the sensitivity of the fixed neutron sensors is calibrated by using measured neutron flux or gamma rays measured by the traveling probe.
The traveling probe is attached to an edge of a probe cable, and the traveling probe moves in the guide tubes by feeding the probe cable from a storage reel and spooling the probe cable onto the storage reel by rotating a motor. This traveling probe measures radioactivity such as neutrons and gamma rays as the reactor power during moving in the reactor core.
At this point, to reduce friction while the traveling probe and the probe cable move in the guide tube, the inside of the guide tubes can be coated with a lubricant.
When the drive torque that is a torque necessary for moving the traveling probe and the probe cable exceeds an appropriate value, there is a possibility of damaging the guide tube, the traveling probe, and the probe cable by excessive friction. Therefore, the friction inside of the guide tubes can be monitored by measuring the drive torque.
Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2002-71483 discloses a traveling reactor power monitoring system having a torque sensor attached to the motor shaft. That torque sensor measures the drive torque automatically.
The above mentioned traveling reactor power monitoring system compares the drive torque and a predefined upper threshold during the neutron measuring operation, and generates an alarm when the drive torque exceeds the upper threshold.
However, due to an inrush current or static frictional force, the drive torque at a time of starting driving the motor may be larger than the drive torque at driving the motor. As a result, despite an acceptable friction condition, the existing traveling reactor power monitoring system may generate an alarm when the drive torque at a time of starting driving the motor exceeds the upper threshold.

Traveling reactor power monitoring system and method for monitoring driving torque


The electronic realty transaction system (ERTS) automates real estate processes and provides web-based accessibility to residential, commercial, and land markets. The system will provide a “one-stop-shop” for all real estate related transactions and will include a detailed tracking and history of customer transactions for the realtors. The system will provide the ability to charge, collect, and track payments for real estate related transactions. ERTS includes an electronic contract generator (ECG) that pulls information from multiple sources and automatically identifies end-user requests for services and ultimately enables a property request (i.e. contract) to be developed using auto populating techniques.

Real estate listings are presently handled by a Multiple Listing Service (MLS) Regional information system. This MLS system is designed for the use of Real Estate Professionals who currently retrieve real estate information from this system to service their customers. The MLS system is a Multiple Listing Database that includes residential, multifamily, commercial, and land real estate listings for the purpose of buying, selling or leasing those properties through a central database.
However, at the present time, even though consumers are increasingly depending on the Internet to locate and purchase property, a system is not available or capable to process automated real estate transactions for the public. Furthermore, the current MLS Regional information system is only meeting minimal needs for real estate professionals.
Therefore, a web-based real estate system and methods are needed to provide buyers, sellers, and agents with the tools and services necessary to facilitate a real estate business transaction.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Electronic realty and transaction system and method therein


A learning computer system may include a data processing system and a hardware processor and may estimate parameters and states of a stochastic or uncertain system. The system may receive data from a user or other source. Parameters and states of the stochastic or uncertain system are estimated using the received data, numerical perturbations, and previous parameters and states of the stochastic or uncertain system. It is determined whether the generated numerical perturbations satisfy a condition. If the numerical perturbations satisfy the condition, the numerical perturbations are injected into the estimated parameters or states, the received data, the processed data, the masked or filtered data, or the processing units.

Technical Field
This disclosure relates to convolution neural networks for image and signal processing.
Description of Related Art
Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are a practical way to learn and recognize images because training CNNs with backpropagation scales with training data. Backpropagation training may have only linear time complexity in the number of training samples. A CNN may convolve the input data with a set of filters. This may be roughly analogous to the use of receptive fields in the retina as in the Neocognitron network. Consider the CNN in FIG. 1 with one hidden layer for simplicity. The notation extends directly to allow "deep" or multiple hidden layers. Let X denote the input 2-dimensional data of size MX×NX where MX and NX are positive integers. Consider 2D filters W1, . . . , WJ each of size MW×NW. The convolution of X with the filter Wj givesCj=XWj  (1)where denotes 2D convolution. The 2D data matrix Cj has size (MX+MW−1)×(NX+NY−1) with (m,n)-th entry
                                          C            j                                          (                          m              ,              n                        )                          =                              ∑                          a              =              1                                      M              W                                                                                ∑                                  b                  =                  1                                                            N                W                                                                                X                                                  (                                                            a                      -                      m                                        ,                                          b                      -                      n                                                        )                                                                                W                    j                                                                          (                                          a                      ,                      b                                        )                                                  .                                                                        (        2        )
Pad X with zeros to define it at all points in the above double sum. Then pass the J matrices C1, . . . , CJ element-wise through logistic sigmoid function s to give the hidden-neuron activations Zj:
                                          Z            j                                          (                          m              ,              n                        )                          =                  s                                (                                          C                j                                                          (                                  m                  ,                  n                                )                                      )                                              (        3        )                                                                            =                                    1                              1                +                                  exp                                                        (                                          -                                                                        C                          j                                                                                (                                                      m                            ,                            n                                                    )                                                                                )                                                                        .                                              (        4        )
Suppose the network has K output neurons. A (MX+MW−1)×(NX+NY−1) weight matrix Ujk multiplies the j-th hidden neuron matrix Zj element-wise. The soft-max or Gibbs activation of the k-th output neuron is
                              a          k          t                =                              exp                                      (                                                ∑                                      j                    =                    1                                    j                                                                                e                    T                                                                                Z                      j                                        ⊙                                          U                      j                      k                                                                          e                                            )                                                          ∑                                                k                  1                                =                1                            K                                                  exp                                            (                                                      ∑                                          j                      =                      1                                        J                                                                                e                      T                                                                                Z                        j                                            ⊙                                              U                        j                                                  k                          1                                                                                e                                                  )                                                                        (        5        )            where ⊙ denotes the element-wise Hadamard product between two matrices. e is a vector of all 1s of length (MX+MW−1)(NX+NW−1). The JK matrices Ujk (j=1, . . . , J and k=1, . . . , K) are the weights of the connections between the hidden and output neurons. The next section presents the back-propagation training algorithm for a CNN.Back-Propagation for CNN Training
The BP algorithm performs maximum likelihood (ML) estimation of the J convolution matrices W1, . . . , WJ and the JK hidden-output weight matrices Ujk. Let y denote the 1-in-K encoding vector of the target label for a given input image X. This means yk=1 when k corresponds to the correct class and 0 otherwise. BP computes the cross entropy between the soft-max activations of the output neurons and the target vector y:
                              E                                (            Θ            )                          =                  -                                    ∑                                                k                  1                                =                1                            K                                                                  y                                  k                  1                                                                          log                                                  (                                      a                                          k                      1                                        t                                    )                                                                                (        6        )            where Θ denotes all the parameters of the CNN—the J convolution matrices W1, . . . , Wj and the weight matrix U. Minimizing this cross entropy is the same as minimizing the Kullback-Leibler divergence between the output soft-max activations and the target vector because the Kullback-Liebler divergence expands as
                                                                        KL                                                  (                                      y                    ||                                          a                      t                                                        )                                            =                                                                            ∑                                                            k                      1                                        =                    1                                    K                                                                                y                                          k                      1                                                                                log                                                              (                                                                        y                                                      k                            1                                                                                a                                                      k                            1                                                    t                                                                    )                                                                                =                                                                                ∑                                                                  k                        1                                            =                      1                                        K                                                                                y                                              k                                                  1                                                                                log                                                                                y                                              k                        1                                                                                -                                                      ∑                                                                  k                        1                                            =                      1                                        K                                                                                y                                              k                        1                                                                                log                                                                                a                                              k                        1                                            t                                                                                =                                                                            -                                      H                                                              (                      y                      )                                                                      +                                  E                                                        (                    Θ                    )                                                                                (        7        )            where E(Θ) is the cross entropy in (7) and H(y) is the entropy of the target y. The entropy of the target does not depend on the CNN parameters Θ. So minimizing the Kullback-Liebler divergence or the cross-entropy gives the same estimate Θ* of the CNN parameters.
Note that −E(Θ) is the log-likelihoodL(Θ)=log(akt)=−E(Θ)  (8)of the correct class label k for the given input image. So the ML estimate of Θ isΘ*=argmaxΘL(Θ).  (9)
BP performs gradient ascent on the log-likelihood surface L(Θ) to iteratively find the ML estimate of Θ. This also holds when minimizing squared-error because BP is equivalent to ML estimation with a conditional Gaussian distribution bishop2006pattern; audhkhasi2013noise. The estimate of Θ at the (n+1)-th iteration isΘ(n+1)=Θ(n)−η∇ΛE(Λ)|Θ=Θ(n)  (10)where η is a positive learning rate. A forward pass in BP computes the activations of all hidden and output neurons in the CNN. Back-propagating the output neuron activation errors through the network gives the gradient of the data log-likelihood function with respect to the CNN parameters. Then gradient ascent in updates these parameters.
The hidden neuron activations in a CNN are "latent" or unseen variables for the purposes of the EM algorithm. BP here performs ML estimation of a CNN's parameters.
The EM algorithm itself is a popular iterative method for such ML estimation. The EM algorithm uses the lower-bound Q of the log-likelihood function L(Θ):Q(Θ|Θ(n))=Ep(Z1, . . . , Zj|X,y,Θ(n)){log p(Z1, . . . , ZJ,y|X,Θ)}  (11)
The J matrices Z1, . . . ZJ are the latent variables in the algorithm's expectation (E) step. Then the Maximization (M) step maximizes the Q-function to find the next parameter estimateΘ(n+1)=argmaxΘQ(Θ|Θ(n)).  (12)
The generalized EM (GEM) algorithm performs this optimization by stochastic gradient ascent. Theorem 1 below states that BP is a special case of the GEM algorithm. This key theorem and its proof is restated for completeness.
Theorem 1 Backpropagation is a Special Case of the GEM Algorithm
The backpropagation update equation for a differentiable likelihood function p(y|x,Θ) at epoch nΘ(n+1)=Θ(n)+η∇Θ log p(y|x,Θ)|Θ=Θ(n)  (13)equals the GEM update equation at epoch nΘ(n+1)=Θ(n)+η∇ΘQ(Θ|Θ(n))|Θ=Θ(n)  (14)where GEM uses the differentiable Q-function Q(Θ|Θ(n)) in (11).
This BP-EM equivalency theorem lets the noisy EM algorithm be used to speed up the BP training of a CNN. The next section details the noisy EM algorithm. A fundamental computational problem of BP training is that it can be slow. Processing images may only exacerbate this computational burden. There have been a few ad hoc attempts to improve BP training, but no fundamental methods for speeding up BP training.

Noise-enhanced convolutional neural networks


A support shirt is provided with round sleeve holes located on a front portion of the shirt body and a notched sleeve design which spreads the stress on the fabric during lifting along the length of the sleeves as opposed to prior art shirt designs in which stress occurs in the very narrow chest plate of the shirt and at the point where the sleeves are attached to the shirt body. The notched sleeve design also results in the sleeves tilting downwardly and curving inwardly to provide additional support during lifting. As a result of the notched sleeve design, the support shirt is more durable and aids in reducing erratic bar movement during lifting, thrusting, or pushing.

The subject matter described herein relates to a shirt or garment which covers the upper torso of a wearer. Specifically, embodiments are directed to a support shirt providing support along the chest and shoulder regions of the wearer. The support shirt can be used for sporting activities where support of the chest and shoulders is desired. One such application of the support shirt is a bench press shirt for support in weightlifting activities.
Bench press shirts provide an increase in the amount of weight a bench presser can lift as well as increased safety to the bench presser. Typically, bench press shirts are made of high strength materials, such as double knit polyester, canvas or denim which are designed to fit the wearer tightly. Such bench press shirts have portions covering the upper arms and chest which typically provide a taut fit during lifting. Bench press shirts can also be made of spandex type fabric and be effective for support. As distinguished from ordinary shirts or t-shirts, bench press shirts have at least one area of increased support/strength, designed to augment movement of a body part by increased strength of material and/or compression.
In a bench pressing exercise, a weightlifter lies substantially flat on his back, with arms upraised. The weightlifter lowers a weight to the chest, and then pushes it vertically upward until the arms are straight. The tautness in a typical bench press shirt provides assistance and increased support for the underlying muscles, thereby allowing the weightlifter to lift more weight.
Bench press shirts rely on the tautness of the fabric across the chest of a user for support during lifting. It is desirable for a bench press shirt to have forward tilted sleeves, corresponding with the position of the arms during lifting. In some bench press shirts, the patterns for the front and back of the shirt, when sewn together, form arm holes. Other bench press shirts utilize a round hole sleeve pattern in the front of the shirt. In such a pattern, the shirt has two straight sleeves sewn into round holes in the front of the shirt body. Such round hole shirts may result in erratic bar movement during lifting because a great amount of stress occurs in the fabric along the very narrow chest plate between the sleeves and at the seams where the sleeves are attached to the shirt body. The entire forward sleeve tilt in round hole shirts depends on a very narrow chest plate in the design of the shirt. Therefore, a need exists in this art for a bench press shirt which spreads the stress on the fabric over a larger area while still utilizing a round hole shirt design.


An information processing system includes a memory and processors. The memory stores flow information and flow-identification information for each process sequence performed by using electronic data. The flow information defines program-identification information identifying programs for executing the process sequence, and an execution order of the programs. The processors execute computer-executable instructions stored in the memory to execute a process including accepting a request including information relating to the electronic data and the flow-identification information, from a device coupled to the system; acquiring the flow information associated with the flow-identification information included in the request, from the memory; and executing the process sequence using the electronic data based on the information relating to the electronic data, by executing the programs identified by the program-identification information defined in the acquired flow information, in the execution order. When the process sequence includes branching, the processes are branched according to a branch condition.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing method.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, various kinds of external services have been provided by cloud computing, etc. For example, there is known an external service for storing electronic data specified by a user, in an external storage, etc.
Furthermore, there is known a technology of generating an office work flow for controlling a component for executing various processes, based on an office work flow model defined in advance (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such a technology, components are combined by the generated office work flow, and a sequence of processes for implementing an office work process is executed.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 5112085

Information processing system, information processing apparatus, and information processing method


A free standing antenna for use in associations with high-stress environments subjecting the antenna to extremes of flexing stress and temperature stress and chemical stress, the antenna having a mounting base portion which can be secured to a base adjacent to the high-stress environment, the base member being formed of glass fibre reinforced resin materials containing fibres extending in a longitudinal direction, along the axis of the base, and further fibres running in a generally annular fashion in planes generally transverse to the axis, and the base member further defining a fastening flange, a plurality of fastening holes formed in the flange, a generally tapering neck portion extending upwardly from the fastening flange, and a generally cylindrical junction head extending upwardly from the neck, the head and the neck being located along a common central axis, and an antenna column secured to the cylindrical head, the column being formed of hollow tubular metal defining outer and inner wall surfaces, and progressively tapering from a larger end to a smaller end, and a cylindrical junction portion at the wide end which makes a snug fit over the generally cylindrical head portion of the base, at least three electrical connections secured to the column portion adjacent the base, at spaced apart points therealong, to which electrical connections may be made by radio equipment, a generally dome shaped cap secured to the smaller end of the column portion, and, a damping weight secured within the interior of the column spaced below the cap.

In the radio transmission art, it is well known that the effective length of the antenna must be "matched" to the transmission wave length. This is understood to mean that for a given wave length of radio transmission, the antenna must have an optimum length. Thus, in some transmission systems, it is the practice to vary the length of the antenna in order to match it to the transmission.
However, in the great majority of radio transmission systems, this is not practical. What is in effect done is that an antenna of a predetermined average length is provided, and an electronic matching circuit is provided between the transmitter and the antenna, so that, the apparent length of the antenna can be matched to the wave length actually being transmitted. Again, this is relatively well known.
For the purposes of this explanation the term "radio transmission system" is deemed to include either the radio transmitter, or receiver, or both. Matched antennas are often required for both for transmitting and receiving.
In the marine radio transmission art, one of the complicating factors is that it is highly desirable to provide what are known as "whip" antennas. A whip antenna is defined as an antenna which is fastened only at its base, and is essentially free-standing, without the intervention of any supports such as guy wires or the like.
In order to withstand the motion of a marine vessel at sea, particularly during high winds and rough weather, such whip antennas must have a certain degree of flexibility, so as to permit them to withstand the extreme motion of the vessel itself.
Some particularly effective forms of whip antenna design are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,725,944, 4,300,140, and 4,500,888, all of which have been assigned to Valcom Ltd.
These whip antennas are constructed of fibreglass, and the longer versions of such antennas are constructed in sections which can be put together, somewhat in the manner of a fishing rod. Conductors are located within the body of the antenna carrying the radio signal up or down the length of the antenna.
Such whip antennas, made in accordance with these patents and have proved to be highly effective in use, and are widely used for marine purposes, particularly by military and naval vessels in various countries of the world.
However, due to the increasing crowding of the air waves by an increasing volume of radio signals, and also to a certain extent due to the requirements of security, it is desirable to provide for a radio transmission system on a marine vessel which will operate over a relatively wide band width. Desirably, such a radio transmission system may be capable of operating over band widths of from two megahertz to thirty megahertz. At present, it is not possible in this wide frequency range to provide a single antenna which can be matched to all of the transmissions over this wide band width. In the past, when somewhat narrower band widths may have been satisfactory, it was the practice to provide two pairs of whip antennas on a vessel. One pair would be mounted towards the bow, and the other pair of antennas mounted towards the stern of the vessel, in a typical case. By a suitable selection of the lengths of the antennas in the two pairs, it was possible to provide a reasonable degree of matching over the then acceptable band width for transmission and/or reception.
Alternatively one pair might be used for transmitting, and the other pair for receiving.
However, increasingly greater band widths are now required for transmissions, and greater and greater demands are made on the transmission systems, both for greater range and also for clarity of transmission, and for security.
It is also desirable to be able to switch bands relatively quickly, and this band switching may take place even within the space of a single message transmission.
When two pairs of antennas were regarded as satisfactory, it was the practice to provide one pair of shorter antennas and one pair of longer antennas. The antennas in their respective pairs acted as dipoles, so that they could be matched to handle a reasonable range of band widths of transmission or reception, within the limitations of their own lengths.
However, as mentioned above, due to the increasingly strict demands being made upon such radio transmission systems, it is no longer adequate to provide simply two pairs of whip antennas for any one radio system.
Requirements now call for the provision of three separate pairs of whip antennas. Each pair of antennas must be securely and substantially permanently attached at its location, i.e. to the vessel, and, bearing in mind the complexity and amount of other equipment which is also carried on such vessels, it has become increasingly difficult to find suitable locations for positioning the three pairs of antennas, particularly on smaller vessels. While there is relatively little problem in locating one pair of antennas near the bow, and another pair towards the stern, it is generally necessary to mount the third pair of antennas more or less amidships to the vessel.
The antennas must be mounted so that the two antennas in any one pair are no more than about ten feet apart from one another, in order to achieve the desired dipole effect.
While this does not present any serious problems, with the antennas mounted towards the bow and towards the stern, it does present problems with regard to the pair of antennas which are now required to be mounted amidships. Usually, the vessel will have one or more smoke stacks, emitting fumes or exhaust from the engines, and usually the smoke stack will also be located amidships. The fumes or exhaust as they leave the smoke stack may well be at a temperature in the region of six hundred or more degrees Fahrenheit and contain harmful chemicals. If antennas made of glass fibre reinforced resin materials are placed in close juxtaposition to the smoke stack, they will be unable to withstand these high temperatures and chemical emissions and the resin material will soon be degraded.
An additional, although not so serious a problem, was presented by the degree of flexibility incorporated in antennas made of glass fibre reinforced resins. Antennas made of such material were capable of relatively extreme degrees of deflection in high winds or during violent motion of the vessel in rough water. Depending upon where the antennas were placed, and how close to the smoke stack the antennas were located, it was conceivable that during extreme weather the antennas might contact the smoke stack and be damaged.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide antennas which are both resistant to chemical emissions and to much higher temperature gases than are antennas made of glass fibre reinforced material, and which are also possessed of a higher degree of stiffness, making them more resistant to bending during extreme weather conditions. Antennas having such improved physical properties can then be mounted immediately alongside the smoke stack of a vessel, without fear of damage due to chemicals or to high temperature gases, and without fear that they will interfere with the smoke stack during extreme weather.