An attachment for use with a fertilizer distributor apparatus (22). The attachment includes a plurality of plungers (82) comprising an assembly for cleaning entry ports (46) to distributor conduits (48) and for governing which ports (46) fertilizer will be channelled into. A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises two gangs of plungers (82), one gang for entry into ports (46) leading to distributor conduits (48) extending to a boom (62) on one side of a distribution vehicle (20). The other gang of plungers (82) controls entry of fertilizer into and through entry ports (46) opening into distributor conduits (48) leading to the boom (62) on the other side of the vehicle (20).

As agriculture has developed over the centuries, means and methods employed in the agricultural industry have grown in sophistication as technology has advanced. Various chemical preparations have been developed for application to a crop to maximize crop yield. The attention of numerous chemical companies has focused upon the development of fertilization techniques and fertilizer preparations. Similarly, significantly improved products have been developed in the area of pesticides.
Certainly, various types of fertilizers are available. One need only watch television in an agricultural area during the appropriate season, and he will observe a plethora of advertisements for products of numerous companies. Typically, however, fertilizer products tend to be in the nature of either a powdered or granular form. On the other hand, pesticides tend to be liquid in form.
While different application techniques can be employed, it is, without a doubt, more economical, in terms of both cost and time savings, to apply both a fertilizer and either a pesticide concurrently. The current state-of-the-art is such that the powdered or granular fertilizer is mixed together with the liquid pesticide so that concurrent application can be effected.
"In field impregnation" techniques while accomplishing significant time and cost savings, have resulted in the plugging of distributor heads on various fertilizer applicators. Many applicators known in the art employ a distribution head which includes a manifold, typically circular in construction, which has a plurality of peripherally-disposed, circumferentially-spaced ports formed in the floor thereof. The ports afford entry of a centrifugally-fed paste comprising a mixture of the fertilizer and pesticide into distributor conduits which lead to locations spaced along laterally-extending booms on either side of a vehicle using the applicator of which the distribution head is a part. The vehicle has a reservoir which carries the products which are to be applied to the crop. The product paste is conveyed from the reservoir by appropriate means such as an auger system.
In many applicators known in the art, a generally vertically-extending auger conveys the pasty mixture upward into the distributor head. A rotor having a plurality of paddles is disposed in the distributor head for rotation about a generally vertically-extending axis. The products to be applied are conveyed upwardly into the head manifold to enter the manifold chamber generally centrally therewithin. The rotor paddles engage the product and, in view of the rotor rotation, impel the paste radially outwardly.
A number of attachments known in the prior art include vanes or baffles associated with each entry port. These vanes or baffles are positioned so that centrifugally-impelled product will be directed into the entry ports.
The structure of applicators as defined herein, is efficient to direct a fertilizer/pesticide mix into entry ports to distributor conduits for subsequent feed along the conduits to locations along the laterally-extending booms at which application occurs. The structure, however, has presented problems of another nature. Plugging of distributor heads on various fertilizer applicators has resulted. Such plugging increases down-time and, thereby, expense.
Additionally, plugging increases the likelihood that employees will become exposed to pesticides which otherwise might not be necessary. As can be seen then, there can be consequent health risks.
An additional problem with dual-boom applicators is the potential of crop damage which might result from repeating application to a portion of the field during the last pass proximate the edge. State-of-the-art fertilizer applicators, through their application booms, typically have a 60-foot wide swath. If the last pass need cover anything less than 60 feet, distribution along the full lengths of both booms will result in some overlap. Such overlap can result in crop damage, increased carry-over of pesticides, and potential groundwater contamination.
It is to these problems and dictates of the prior art that the present invention is directed. It is an improved device for effecting "in field impregnation" of fertilizers and pesticides. It affords features not only wherein entry ports to distributor conduits can be cleaned without undue exposure of employees to fertilizers and pesticides, but also wherein distribution of the pasty mixture can be limited to only certain distributor conduits.


The present application relates to an apparatus and method of authenticating and verifying a message frame on a multi-master access bus with message broadcasting. Logic bus identifier, LID, are associated with each one of a several logical groups of nodes out of a plurality of nodes connected to the multi-master access bus. A key is assigned to each logical group. The keys assigned to different logical groups differ from each other. For message authentication, a logic bus identifier, LID is provided and a key associated with the logic bus identifier, LID, is retrieved. A cryptographic hash value, MAC, is generated using the retrieved key and based on at least the logic bus identifier, LID. A message frame is composed, which comprises the logic bus identifier, LID, and the cryptographic hash value, MAC. For message verification, a message frame is received, which comprises at least a logic bus identifier, LID, and a cryptographic hash value, MAC. A key is retrieved, which is associated with the logic bus identifier, LID, extracted from the frame. A cryptographic verification hash value, VAC, is generated using the retrieved key and based on at least the logic bus identifier, LID. The cryptographic verification hash value, VAC, and the cryptographic hash value, MAC, extracted from the frame are compared. The received message frame is forward for further processing as a legitimate message frame.

Modern vehicles are equipped with a large number of electronic control units, ECUs, which vary in processing capability, functionality and complexity. The electronic control units, ECUs, are used to monitor and control functional and safety critical components such as engine, transmission (powertrain) and safety components (e.g. airbags, seatbelt tensioners etc.), and non-critical components such as navigation, entertainment components and telematics. The electronic control units, ECUs, are interconnected via several in-vehicle networks including in particular Controller Area Network, CAN, which has become the de facto standard due to its widespread deployment. Other standards include the Local Interconnect Network (LIN), which was designed for simpler vehicle components, such as roof, power seats or windows, and FlexRay, which provides more capabilities but at the costs of complexity and expanse in comparison with CAN.
Controller Area Network, CAN, was originally designed without security in mind, and its design choices were greatly dominated by such strict constraints as low cost and low network latency in isolated/closed environments. Therefore, controller Area Network, CAN, protocol lacks data authentication or privacy, thus becoming susceptible to various attacks.
Vehicle manufacturers are now departing from this closed operation of in-vehicle networks by allowing external entities to send commands from a remote site to in-vehicle components for diagnosis and anti-theft purposes. Moreover, vehicle manufacturers also face the situation that electronic control units, ECUs, with interfaces exposing the communication on the in-vehicle networks to external entities are available to third parties. Connecting/exposing a vehicle's internal subsystems and communication between them to external entities create serious security and safety risks. The security architecture of CAN is too weak to deal with this type of exposure.
Improving security of the in-vehicle networks such as Controller Area Network, CAN, has to take into consideration that ECUs are typically very resource-constrained for cost and size reasons, which means that requiring them to perform more than a simple computation can degrade/compromise their intended functionality and/or required performance.
To address these and other weaknesses of existing CAN protocols, this disclosure proposes an efficient security protocol, which does not require modifications of current, cost-conscious in-vehicle networks. In particular, the disclosure proposes an efficient security protocol, which does not require modifications of the physical layer implementation of in-vehicle network enables electronic control units, ECUs.

Network message authentication and verification


An electrical power distribution network is disclosed, the network can include:                a plurality of electrical power control apparatuses, each of the electrical power control apparatuses including:                    one or more signal conversion components receiving electrical power in the form of a corresponding first signal having a corresponding first fundamental frequency and a corresponding first characteristic voltage, and generating a corresponding second signal having a corresponding second fundamental frequency and a corresponding second characteristic voltage; and            a controller that controls operation of the signal conversion components to determine an output voltage and an output frequency of an output signal of the electrical power control apparatus;                        electrical power generation components acting as sources of electrical power to at least some of the electrical power control apparatuses; and        electrical power consumption components acting as sinks of electrical power from at least some of the electrical power control apparatuses.

The Global Energy Problem
The ability to harness the stored energy of fossil fuels in the form of electricity has enabled humans to make amazing advances toward our wellbeing. However, as the global demand for electricity continues to increase, it is widely anticipated that the resulting impact on the environment will ultimately reach a point where it becomes a threat to our survival. Therefore, resolving the constraints to universal access to electricity without unsustainable environmental consequence is a social and economic priority of the highest order.
To meet the legitimate aspirations of the world's population and impact poverty, the US Energy Information Administration estimates an increase of over 50% in global energy requirements by 2040 (Reference: International Energy Outlook 2016). At the same time, a significant decrease in environmental impact and cost of energy is required. Our traditional power generation methods use fossil fuels that are all constrained resources. At present, our only proven clean generation options are hydro, geothermal, biomass, solar and wind. Of these, solar and wind present the best opportunity to meet our future needs, as the others have very specific geographic inputs and requirements.
The global consensus of policymakers is that we need to dramatically increase our clean energy generation, as evidenced by the recent Paris Climate or COP21 agreement. However, with our current and forecast advances in clean generation technology, the design of our electricity networks is incapable of allowing us to achieve the mandated goals. In particular, integration is a well-known and unsolved issue.
Electricity System Overview
The entire electricity supply chain can be generally grouped into three areas: generation, distribution, and consumption. In order to maintain a reliable power supply, energy generation is controlled to meet consumption through an end-to-end network.
Electricity distribution networks are the largest manmade objects ever created. To date, they have all been conceived and constructed for very specific operating conditions under a single design schematic. The design schematic is relatively simple: generation in the past was easily and adequately equilibrated with consumption. A small number of dispatchable generation sources supplied a series of tranched or grouped consumers. The topology of electrical networks tends to be a mixture of radial (a single large generator with consumers progressively tranched in a tree structure around it), and more complex and redundant path network topologies such as mesh and ring topologies. These topologies are designed to provide a good balance of reliability and cost based on the network demands of a few large stable and dispatchable generators and many consumers.
At present, the vast majority of electricity generation is directly controllable as it is produced from fossil fuels. The table below outlines the current makeup of electricity generation for the US and UK.
TABLE 1Percentage of Total Electricity Generation by Source (2015)US33%33%20%8%5%UK23%30%21%11%14%
As the level of variable renewable energy generation increases, our ability to control the supply of electricity to match demand becomes increasingly difficult. If this balance of supply and demand is not maintained, the stability and availability of electricity is threatened.
As the makeup of generation is changing toward more renewable energy, the characteristics of the electricity supply are changing, both the physical architecture of the network and our ability to control generation levels. This causes increasing issues of stability and efficiency, with the threshold capability of current electricity network architecture falling far short of required levels to meet our climate change targets. Attempting to resolve the situation through control of generation and/or consumption alone has intolerable social, economic and environmental effects. The configuration of the electricity distribution network needs to adapt if our electricity supply chain is to remain viable and deliver on our social and economic intentions.
Electricity System Balancing Requirement
Maintaining a reliable electricity supply requires the voltage and frequency of the grid to be maintained within a narrow band of about +/−1%. Other than the limited storage options currently available, electricity must be consumed when it is generated, and consequently supply and demand must be balanced to maintain the required target voltage and frequency. Until now, this has been accomplished by monitoring the grid at a coarse high level, and then adjusting the output of controllable generation sources that are largely fossil fuel, nuclear or hydro-electric.
Balancing of the grid can be categorised into three response times:                Long Term (days to weeks)        Medium Term (hours)        Short Term (milliseconds to minutes)
The UN report 'Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2016' states there are currently four potential balancing options, with an unacceptable fifth currently also being utilised globally.
In the case where demand exceeds supply:                i. Increasing the amount of faster responding conventional generation i.e. gas, coal or diesel;        ii. Interconnectors to transport electricity from one grid to another; and        iii. Demand response by paying larger industrial and commercial consumers to reduce usage when supply is falling short of demand.
In the case where supply exceeds demand:                iv. Energy storage to store excess electricity when it is available and release it back into the grid when required; and        v. Curtailment of renewable energy generation to directly reduce supply
A combination of these solutions in parallel would be plausible to attempt to manage the long and medium term balancing of grids. Currently, each option either has prohibitive costs, unacceptable consequences, or both.
For the short term response (milliseconds to minutes) of balancing of our grids, none of these options will successfully allow the increased penetration and consumption of renewable generation whilst maintaining a reliable power supply, for at least the reasons discussed below.
Short Term Grid Balancing Issues
The following outlines the issues that must be overcome in relation to renewable energy integration into the grid.
System Frequency
All generators inject power into our grid as alternating current (AC), and are synchronised to operate at the same frequency and phase. The amount of power injected by each generator is balanced through the ratio of its power output rating compared to all other generators injecting power into the system in order to evenly distribute the load. This occurs naturally unless modified by operator control.
Traditional fossil fuels, nuclear and even hydro power are all synchronous generators which introduce inertia to help maintain this frequency, and are controllable, providing frequency response and stability. They remain synchronised due to the self-regulating properties of their interconnection. If one generator deviates from its synchronous speed, power is transferred from the other generators in the system in such a way as to reduce the speed deviation. The stored inertial energy of the generators provides a short-term counteraction to frequency change, with governors taking over after a few seconds.
In contrast, wind and Solar Generation use significantly different technologies, producing DC power and injecting it into the AC grid through converters. This means that they are decoupled from the grid frequency, and results in asynchronous operation with no inertial energy to contribute. It is possible for converters equipped with governor-like controls to respond to frequency drops, however this cannot occur fast enough to adequately compensate and maintain grid stability. It can also only occur when the generation source is operating in a curtailed condition.
Grid Architecture
Our electricity grids have been specifically designed to deliver a reliable electricity supply from power sources through a transmission network over a long distance to load centres on a distribution network. The entire ontology of our grids is changing due to the local and dispersed nature of renewable energy generation. Our current grid hardware is incapable of adequately distributing these new power sources bi-directionally and both vertically and horizontally through the network, causing a myriad of power engineering problems, including a reduction in the capacity of the network.
Current methods for addressing these issues primarily involve additional hardware and software systems to mitigate undesired effects. These technologies are generally accepted as increasing network fragility and cost without addressing the root cause.
Control
Renewable energies such as wind and solar are not dispatchable like traditional fossil fuels, nuclear or hydro power. As we do not have control over the energy input (i.e. the wind or the sun), we are unable to ramp up or down as required to balance the system, or maintain a steady state of output. We can only actively manage the output to maintain the required power level through storage solutions or by curtailing the generation. However, curtailment is pure waste.
Variability
The rate at which the power output of renewable energies such as wind and solar can change is much faster than traditional generation technology. This occurs in two major forms:                Intermittence—renewable energy sources have long periods of unavailability due to input requirements outside of direct control (i.e. sunlight and wind).        Volatility—at all times constant variation in the output from renewable energy generation is occurring. The two main constituents of this are the rapid rate of change of output generation, and the noise inherent to the output signal.
The law of averages helps in part to mitigate the instantaneous effects of volatility with the vast number of solar and wind generation sources. However, maintaining voltage and frequency in the short term (milliseconds to seconds) remains a significant unresolved challenge. Currently available responsive dispatchable generation technology is still significantly slower to react than the rate of change introduced by volatile renewable generation. There is no current solution to this issue.
Efficiency
Electricity grids are designed to work at a specific operating point, with a narrow band of operation due to consumption requirements. When the voltage or frequency deviates from the optimal point, the efficiency of the grid and its devices decreases, resulting in greater energy losses. Energy losses in developed grids are 5%-10%, with up to half of this loss due to non-fixed inefficiency losses. When the voltage or frequency goes outside the set operating boundaries, system protection actions are automatically undertaken which leads to both brown outs and black outs for hardware protection and safety.
Network Hardware
Electric power networks around the world use predominantly AC (alternating current) transmission and distribution. DC (direct current) is typically only used for high capacity and long distance interconnectors between separate networks (e.g. undersea cable connections). Network voltages (and sometimes frequency) must be altered at different locations to minimise transmission and distribution losses, and deliver power to consumers at manageable levels. These voltages and the resulting power flows are managed with the following devices which are designed to operate most efficiently at a fixed maximum capacity with minimum variations in demand or supply:
Circuit Breakers
Allows substations to be disconnected from the transmission network or for distribution lines to be disconnected.
Transformers
These are used for most voltage conversion duties in AC electrical power networks. Transformers are passive devices; they operate using simple electromagnetic circuit principles without any active modulation or switching schemes. Simple tap-changers are used on some transformers to regulate network voltage in discrete steps within relatively narrow ranges according to varying demand. Transformers can also transfer power bi-directionally depending upon the balance of generation and load on each side of the device.
Rectifiers
These perform direct conversion from AC to DC electrical power using semiconductor diodes or similar devices. These are also passive systems in the sense that there is no inherent switching or control capability built into their design. Large scale rectifiers are used for HV DC transmission.
Frequency Converters
These are more sophisticated devices which use active high-speed electronic switching of the mains supply to deliver frequency conversion between two different parts of the network. They range in size from small domestic network-connected solar panel inverters up to long distance HV DC to AC converters.
Power Correction Devices
There are a number of devices with the sole purpose of undertaking corrective actions on the power in the system to maintain a steady and clean power supply for use. This group of devices include but are not limited to filters, capacitors, and inductors.
Network Limitation
Increasing penetration of variable and non-dispatchable electricity generation sources (i.e. renewable energy sources such as wind and solar) are changing both the physical architecture of the network and our ability to control generation levels. This causes increasing issues of stability and efficiency, with the threshold capability of current electricity network architecture falling far short of required levels.
A New Approach to Existing Electricity Networks
It is unanimously agreed that our current electricity transmission and distribution networks are unable to provide a usable power supply above a certain threshold penetration of clean energy from wind and solar. This threshold point varies for each network based on physical architecture, generation and load profiles, as well as a myriad of other factors.
The design architecture and technology that our electricity networks use has significantly improved in cost and efficiency over the last 120 years. Yet it still utilises the same fundamental technology and design architecture that were established in the 19th Century.
One of the fundamental underpinnings of the entire electricity system, the transformer, is a passive device that is unable to effectively deal with the variability that is being imposed on its operations. For example, a transformer is exceedingly efficient at its designed operating point, but its efficiency deteriorates rapidly away from this point. A device with the capability to accept a much wider range of operating conditions with efficiency is required. The added ability to actively control operations and affect power flow through the system allows further stability and security to be delivered. This requirement is further exacerbated by the geographic distribution of new variable renewable generation being added to the existing rigid system.
All currently proposed options to upgrade our networks rely on existing operating methodologies, technologies and systems. In the case of energy storage, the technology to make this economically feasible has not yet been invented. All these options add significant cost, complexity and fragility into the network and reduce its efficiency.
It is desired to alleviate one or more difficulties of the prior art, or to at least provide a useful alternative.

Electrical power distribution network and process


The present invention relates to a pistol grip fishing pole stand. The pistol grip fishing pole stand includes a frame means which is designed to be inserted into the ground and provide support for the pistol grip fishing pole stand. The stand also includes a receptacle therewith which is adapted to receive and engage the pistol grip shaped handle of a fishing pole. The pistol grip fishing pole stand permits a fisherman to fish without having to hold a fishing pole.

The present invention relates to a pistol grip fishing pole stand. In the prior art, fishing rod supports as well as pistol grip fishing poles are known. U.S. Pat. No. 1,520,543 to Meachen discloses a fishing rod support which is designed to support a fishing rod while the support member is attached to a vessel. U.S. Pat. No. 2,965,995 to Lasky discloses a fishing pole having a pistol grip handle.
Applicant is unaware of any prior art, including the two patents cited above, that teach or fairly suggest a fishing pole stand which includes a receptacle which is designed to support and retain a pistol grip fishing rod handle during fishing.


The invention relates to mRNA therapy for the treatment of fibrosis and/or cardiovascular disease. mRNAs for use in the invention, when administered in vivo, encode human relaxin, isoforms thereof, functional fragments thereof, and fusion proteins comprising relaxin. mRNAs of the invention are preferably encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to effect efficient delivery to cells and/or tissues in subjects, when administered thereto. mRNA therapies of the invention increase and/or restore deficient levels of relaxin expression and/or activity in subjects. mRNA therapies of the invention further decrease levels of toxic metabolites associated with deficient relaxin activity in subjects.

Acute heart failure (AHF) is a sudden decline, resulting when the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the cardiac demands of the body. Signs and symptoms can include dyspnea, edema, and fatigue, which can lead to acute respiratory distress and death. AHF, as well as other cardiovascular diseases, can be caused by deficiency in circulating relaxin.
Relaxin is a 6000 Da heterodimeric polypeptide endocrine and autocrine/paracrine hormone, belonging to the insulin gene superfamily. Relaxin facilitates angiogenesis and contributes to the repair of vascular endothelium. It exerts its effects on the musculoskeletal and other systems through binding its receptor in different tissues, a process mediated by different signaling pathways. There are seven known relaxin family peptides, including relaxin (RLN)1, RLN2, RLN3, and insulin-like peptide (INSL)3, INSL4, INSL5, INSL6. RLN1 and RLN2 are involved in collagen regulation and metabolism in fibroblasts, while RLN3 is specific to the brain. RLN1 and RLN2 are also involved in the hemodynamic changes that occur during pregnancy, including cardiac output, renal blood flow, and arterial compliance. Further, RLN2 mediates vasodilation through increased production of nitric oxide through a phosphorylation cascade. Relaxin is also a cardiac stimulant, and it can cause vasodilation through the inhibition of angiotensin II and endothelin, two potent vasoconstrictors. The hormone has also been shown to increase calcium sensitivity of cardiac myofilaments and increase phosphorylation of the myofilaments by protein kinase C. The force generated by the myofilaments increases while the energy consumption of the cardiac myocytes does not. In the kidneys, relaxin increases creatinine clearance and increases renal blood flow.
Relaxin, a vasoactive peptide, protects the vascular system from overwork, increases renal function, promotes cell growth and survival, and maintains good vessel structure. The administration of relaxin to a subject has therapeutic benefits such as treating and preventing fibrosis e.g., renal fibrosis, cardiac fibrosis or pulmonary fibrosis and cardiovascular disease e.g., acute heart failure, coronary artery disease, microvascular disease, acute coronary syndrome with cardiac dysfunction, or ischemia reperfusion.
The standard of care therapy for many of the disorders associated with relaxin deficiency include beta blockers, hydralazine/isorbide dinitrate, digitalis, diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARB), digoxin, anticoagulants, aldosterone antagonists, and medications to control co-morbidies, including, but not limited to, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, and diabetes. Lifestyle modifications, including diet and exercise, are also typically recommended.
Although relaxin provides significant therapeutic benefits, recombinant wild type relaxin has a short half-life which makes the achievement of therapeutic levels in the body a challenge. A recombinant form of relaxin referred to as Serelaxin and marketed by Novartis, has been demonstrated to have low toxicity, however, the efficacy has been questionable because it is degraded so quickly in the bloodstream. Serelaxin has a half-life of about 15 minutes in serum and 7-8 hours during continuous 48 hour infusion.


A semiconductor light-emitting element includes a first semiconductor layer having a first conduction type, a second semiconductor layer having a second conduction type, an active layer provided between the first and second semiconductor layers, a polarity inversion layer provided on the second semiconductor layer, and a third semiconductor layer having the second conduction type provided on the polarity inversion layer. Crystal orientations of the first through third semiconductor layers are inverted, with the polarity inversion layer serving as a boundary. The first and third semiconductor layers have uppermost surfaces made from polar faces having common constitutional elements. Hexagonal conical protrusions arising from a crystal structure are formed at outermost surfaces of the first and third semiconductor layers. The first through third semiconductor layers are made from a wurtzite-structure group III nitride semiconductor, and are layered along a C-axis direction of the crystal structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor light-emitting element and to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor light-emitting element, and in particular relates to technology to improve the efficiency of light extraction of a light-emitting diode (LED).
2. Description of the Related Art
Light-emitting diodes (hereafter abbreviated "LEDs") are mainly used in the taillights of automobiles, in various display devices, and in the backlights of portable telephones and other mobile equipment. There is anticipated a considerable expansion of demand for its use in the headlights of automobiles, the backlights of liquid crystal displays, and in general lighting fixtures. The light emission efficiency of current LEDs is approximately 50 lm/W. For use in backlights, lighting fixtures and similar, a light emission efficiency of 100 lm/W or higher is necessary. The light emission efficiency of an LED is determined by the product of the internal quantum efficiency when emitting light in the light emission layer and the light extract efficiency for extracting light to the outside The internal quantum efficiency has by now been improved to 80% or higher, but there remains room for improvement of the light extraction efficiency.
One known technology for improving the light extraction efficiency is the provision of roughness in the light emission face of the semiconductor light-emitting element. By making roughness modification in the light emission face, light which is incident at the critical angle or greater at the interface between the semiconductor light-emitting element and the sealing resin and which undergoes total reflection can be reduced. This improves the light extraction efficiency.
This rough shape can be formed by performing appropriate treatment on each light emission face of the semiconductor light-emitting element (p layer surface, growth substrate surface/rear face, and n layer surface after growth substrate separation). For example, Japanese Patent Application Kokai (Laid-open) No. 2006-147787 discloses a semiconductor light-emitting element that has, in order on a sapphire substrate, a low-temperature buffer layer, a first cladding layer, active layer, and second cladding layer. By using the second cladding layer in which growth pits have occurred naturally as a light extraction face, the light extraction efficiency is improved. Alternatively, by performing wet etching or dry etching on the first cladding layer exposed upon separating of the sapphire substrate, bits are formed and therefore the light extraction efficiency is improved.

Semiconductor light-emitting element and method of manufacturing same


Embodiments include but are not limited to apparatuses and systems including a first active device located on a signal path between an antenna terminal and a transmit and/or receive (T/R) terminal, and a self-biasing shunt device coupled to the first active device and including a second active device having a DC-blocked source terminal and a non-DC-blocked drain terminal. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

High-power field-effect transistor (FET) switches are commonly used in radio-frequency/microwave circuits in wireless communications and radar systems. For high-power switching, FET switches are often either biased or include shunt devices for providing isolation of signal paths. Although these shunt devices provide isolation, the shunt devices also tend to increase circuit complexity, die-area consumption, and cost.
Refer, for example, to the switch 100 and a self-biasing shunt device 102 illustrated in FIG. 1. The shunt device 102 includes an active device 104 having a DC-blocked source terminal 106 and a DC-blocked drain terminal 108. The DC blocking is provided by a first capacitor 110 and a second capacitor 112, respectively. The drain terminal 108 of the active device 104 is coupled to the source of the last active device 126 of the series-stacked FETs on the signal path 114 between the antenna terminal 116 and the transmit/receive terminal 118. The drain terminal 108 of the active device 104 is also coupled by way of a resistor 120 to a control line 122 coupled to the control terminal 124.
In this configuration, two capacitors are required for DC-blocking the active device 104 of the shunt device 102. Not only do capacitors tend to be relatively large (compared to other passive devices, for example), but capacitors can also tend to be sensitive to electrostatic discharge.


Adhering systems for magnetizable laminates to assist preventing delamination of magnetizable laminates exposed to direct sunlight; and, relating to preventing fouling of cutting blades during cutting of magnetizable laminates.

This invention relates to adhering systems. More particularly, this invention relates to using such adhering systems in connecting materials.
In the past, manufacturers and users of flexible magnetizable sheets have experienced problems relating to delamination when exposed to heat (like in direct sunlight); yet it is often desirable to utilize flexible magnetized laminate sheets in areas exposed to direct sunlight.
Additionally, manufacturers and users of flexible magnetizable sheets have experienced problems relating to adhesive buildup on blades used to cut flexible magnetizable sheets. Often the cutting blades become warm during the cutting process and the adhesive begins to foul the cutting blades. Once the blades are fouled, the cutting process must be stopped and the blades cleaned; or the adhesive residue will begin to hinder cutting and transfer to the surface of the flexible magnetic sheets.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A diagram having initial visual design elements can be displayed on a computer display. For example, the diagram may be a computer software architectural diagram. Changes can be made to the diagram to produce modified visual design elements. The changes can be tracked as they are made, to produce change tracking information. The change tracking information can be processed to automatically highlight at least a portion of the modified visual design elements in a display of the diagram. Processing the change tracking information can include filtering the change tracking information to provide different highlighting treatment to some of the modified visual design elements corresponding to information that is filtered out.

The creation of computer diagrams (diagrams in computer systems that can be displayed, such as by displaying on a computer display or displaying by printing) is a common practice. Many different types of computer diagrams can be created and changed (building floor plans, business process flow diagrams, etc.). One example is software architectural diagrams (diagrams that represent aspects of the organizational structure and/or function of software, and may also represent aspects of associated hardware), which are commonly used in software development systems, such as Microsoft's Visual Studio® software development system. Software architectural diagrams may include various different diagrams, such as unified modeling language diagrams or other diagrams (e.g., class diagrams, component diagrams, composite structure diagrams, deployment diagrams, object diagrams, package diagrams, profile diagrams, activity diagrams, state machine diagrams, use case diagrams, communication diagrams, interaction overview diagrams, sequence diagrams, timing diagrams, layer diagrams, etc.).
Software architectural diagrams can be created in various ways, such as manual creation or drawing, generation from source code, and/or generation from tracing a running application. Some such diagrams may be created within a software development system, and others may be imported from other diagramming tools, such as Microsoft's Visio® diagramming software.
It is also common to change diagrams after they are created. For example, software architecture diagrams may be changed to outline software design changes. Often, these changes are subsequently reflected in the source code of the application. This may happen automatically or in response to detailed user input.

Highlighting changes on computer diagrams


An aerodynamic circular foundation (i.e., disc or annulus) having a perimeter supporting two or more evenly spaced handgrips. The handgrips improve throwing and catching without appreciably altering aerodynamics.

The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions.
In amusement systems and novelties, one feature that is important to many users is variety in design and playability. For many users, something that is "different" will be determined to be better than other preexisting systems. When differences improve and/or enhance one or more playability factors of existing systems, the user understands the product to be superior in at least some aspects.
Toys such as aerodynamic flying discs and annuli have become common place. They are most often optimized for aerodynamics and improved flight dynamics. For example, a distance that the user may throw the toy, or a time-aloft metric, or flight stability/predictability, are often measurements of the desirability of such toys.
What is needed is a system and method for enhancing a playability feature of an aerodynamic flying disc or flying annulus.

Flying aerodynamic toy with peripheral grip


An image forming system includes a conveyance processing portion, a setting processing portion, an insertion processing portion, and an operation control portion. The conveyance processing portion executes a conveyance process to convey a plurality of sheets placed on a sheet placing portion, sequentially to a sheet stack portion. When the insertion timing to insert the insertion sheet comes during an execution of the conveyance process, the insertion processing portion executes an insertion process to convey a sheet from the sheet supply source of the insertion sheet to the sheet stack portion. The operation control portion is configured to control operations of an image forming apparatus during execution of a sheet bundle output process based on the sheet type of the insertion sheet conveyed in the insertion process that is included in the sheet bundle output process, the sheet bundle output process including the conveyance process and the insertion process.

The present disclosure relates to an image forming system and a method for controlling operation of an image forming apparatus.
In an image forming apparatus, such as a printer, a conveyance process may be executed to convey a plurality of sheets placed on sheet placing portions such as sheet supply cassettes, sequentially to a sheet stack portion such as a stack tray. In addition, there is known, as a related technology, an image forming apparatus configured to set an insertion timing and a sheet supply source for each of insertion sheets to be inserted in a sheet bundle that is stacked on the sheet stack portion by the conveyance process.

Image forming system that outputs sheet bundle, method for controlling operation of image forming apparatus


Self-driving and autonomous vehicles are very popular these days for scientific, technological, social, and economical reasons. In one aspect of this technology, path prediction and target classifications are main pillars and enablers for safety and mobility applications. Accurate Estimation of the lane assignment of the remote vehicle with respect to the host vehicle lane results in the accurate threat assessment. V2X and C-V2X are emerging technology for safety applications, and they cover relatively long range. Long range means more room for error in path prediction/target classification. Therefore, here, we offer an efficient path prediction and target classification algorithm to enable these technologies performing safety and mobility applications. The method fuses target vehicles data and host vehicle data in an efficient algorithm to perform this task. Other variations are also presented here.

Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication, collectively referred as Vehicle-to-everything (V2X), is a wireless technology for increasing road safety and improving traffic management, with intelligent transport system. It can also include V2P (Vehicle-to-Pedestrian), V2D (Vehicle-to-device), and V2G (Vehicle-to-grid) communications.
The autonomous cars or vehicles are subject of intense research today. The safety is one of the most important issues in this technology. We believe that pedestrians are one of the main actors in this environment. Thus, the pedestrians safety is one of the main issues in our research and development. At Savari, our technology incorporates a platform for pedestrians' safety. The more we guard the pedestrians against the accidents, the less risk is imposed on public, and the more public acceptance for autonomous cars or vehicles is generated.
In one aspect of this technology, path prediction and target classifications are main pillars and enablers for safety and mobility applications. Accurate Estimation of the lane assignment of the remote vehicle with respect to the host vehicle lane results in the accurate threat assessment. V2X and C-V2X are emerging technology for Safety applications, and they cover relatively long range. Long range means more room for error in path prediction/target classification. Therefore, an efficient path prediction and target classification algorithm is required to enable these technologies performing safety and mobility applications. The method fuses target vehicles data and host vehicle data in an efficient algorithm to perform this task.
There is no prior art or product in the industry that teaches the following features in our disclosure here.

Vehicle path prediction and target classification for autonomous vehicle operation

Harman International Industries, Incorporated


A vehicle battery cooling structure is provided with a vehicle body, a battery unit and a cooling jacket. The vehicle body includes a floor panel and a vehicle body frame member. The battery unit is attached to the vehicle body frame member. The battery unit is arranged below the floor panel. The battery unit includes a battery case and a battery. The cooling jacket is attached to an upper surface of the battery case that houses the battery.

Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a vehicle battery unit cooling structure for cooling a battery unit. More specifically, the present invention relates to a vehicle battery unit cooling structure that cools an upper surface of a battery unit.
Background Information
Electric vehicles often include a battery unit. The battery unit can be formed of a plurality of batteries. The battery unit is sometimes arranged under a floor of the vehicle. One example of such an electric vehicle is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-138956.


A fiber optic distribution cable includes a central inner jacket formed from one of a polyvinyl chloride or a low smoke zero halogen material, a plurality of optical fibers disposed within the inner jacket, and a plurality of first strength members disposed within the inner jacket. The fiber optic distribution cable further includes an outer jacket surrounding the central inner jacket, the outer jacket formed from the one of the polyvinyl chloride or the low smoke zero halogen material, and a plurality of second strength members disposed between the outer jacket and the central inner jacket. A fiber density of the cable is greater than 0.65 fibers per square millimeter.

Optical fiber distribution cables are utilized in building/campus local area networks, central offices, data centers and other premises where high bandwidth data transfer is required. These cables can be deployed in both overhead and raised floor cable pathways, along with terminations into data cabinets. As data transfer requirements have increased, the number of fibers to support these demands has driven the development of high fiber density products. High density micro-cabling along with multi-fiber connectivity have been instrumental in supporting the increasing demands for high bandwidth data transfer.
Known distribution cables are typically sub-unitized and include a central strength member. However, while many such distribution cables are useful and provide the desired performance characteristics, improvements in distribution cable design are desired. For example, increased flexibility and fiber density are desired to provide improved installation and optical transmission capabilities. However, the ruggedness and relatively small overall size of the cables must desirable be maintained.
Accordingly, improved fiber optic distribution cables are desired in the art.

Reduced diameter ruggedized fiber optic distribution cables


A water absorbent latex polymer foam produced by the process of combining a foamed latex polymer product with a water absorbent polymer and drying that blend to form a foamable latex polymer containing a water absorbent polymer is disclosed in this invention. The latex foams produced by this process are of great use, for example, within diapers, sanitary napkins, packaging materials, and the like. In particular, the use of water absorbent polymers with particle size less than about 30 microns has been shown to produce particularly effective absorbent latex foams.

1. Field of Invention
This invention concerns water absorbent polymer articles and a process for their production. More particularly, the invention discloses a starch or cellulose-based water absorbent polymer combined with a foamable latex polymer to form a latex foam polymer containing a water absorbent polymer within its structure.
2. Prior Art
Recently there has been interest in producing absorbent materials particularly for use in products such as sanitary napkins, diapers, disposable dust cloths, etc. Some of the prior art materials used to form these products have been non-woven fabrics, papers, pulps, spongy urethane resins, natural sponges and the like. However, these materials exhibit relatively low water absorbency, thus failing to satisfy the need for a low volume, highly water absorbent material.
Substitutes for these materials such as cross-linked polyethylene oxides, cross-linked polyvinyl alcohols and hydrolyzed products of starch-polyacrylonitrile-grafted polymers have recently appeared on the market. While these products do show increased water absorbency, they also suffer from significant disadvantages in that their water absorbency is still not sufficiently high to justify their costs and difficulties of production. In addition, some of these materials create disposal problems because they are not biologically degradable.
Japanese Patent Application Kokai, No. 57-92,032 (1982) discloses a polyurethane foam that contains a useful water absorbent polymer wherein the size of the water absorbent resin is in the range from about 200 to 400 microns. This Kokai fails to disclose the combination of a water absorbent polymer with a latex foam.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,428 discloses a process for making a crosslinked, super absorbent polyurethane foam which contains a plurality of polycarbonyl moieties convalently attached to the polyurethane through at least one urethane, thiourethane or urea linkage. See also U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,629. However, neither of these patents discloses the combination of a water absorbent polymer with a latex foam.
A biodegradable, highly water absorbent polymer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,663. While the resins of this patent do show increased water absorbency, their use has been limited to mixing them with sanitary napkins, diapers and other such products wherein the resins are used in their particulate or powder form. Thus, this process fails to disclose the use of this water absorbent resin within a confined structure or for use with other polymers within a latex foamed structure.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,454,268, 4,337,181 and 4,133,784 disclose various types of films partially comprised of water absorbent polymers. While these patents disclose starch-based, water absorbent polymers prepared from a combination of starch and ethylene acrylic acid copolymers, they fail to disclose the water absorbent polymer disclosed herein or the mixture of a water absorbent polymer with a conventional latex foamable polymer to form a latex foam which exhibits high water absorbency.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,669,103 discloses water swellable, water insoluble polymeric sorbents for the absorption of aqueous fluids wherein said polymeric sorbents are lightly cross-linked polymers. This patent discloses the use of a polyurethane foam as a support for the polymeric absorbent. However, it fails to disclose the use of a water absorbent polymer in general, the water absorbent polymer disclosed herein, or a latex foam support.
Latex materials, particularly latex foams have been well known for many years. The largest single use of latex today is in foam rubber. Latex foams are frequently used in mattresses, pillows, seat cushions, carpet backing and textile foam laminates. Latex foams also find use in providing cushioning in many types of fabrics such as athletic clothing.
There are numerous processes for the production of latex foams, because of their wide range of utility. See for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,650,995, 4,205,103, and 4,174,415. While numerous latex foam patents exist, none discloses the use of a latex foam containing within its structure a cellulose based water absorbent polymer or a process for production of such a material.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to prepare latex foams containing within their structure water absorbent polymers.
It is a further object of this invention to disclose water absorbent latex foams which contain water absorbent polymers within their structure which are useful for the absorbance of fluids while retaining their shape.
It is a still further object of this invention to disclose a process for preparing latex foams containing water absorbent polymers which are secured to a backing to form a water absorbent latex foam laminate.
These and other objects, as well as the scope, nature, and utilization of this invention, will be apparent from the following detail description.


A supporting bracket for a monitor device includes a stand and a controlling structure. The stand comprises a shank. The controlling structure comprising an installation member, a blocking member, a clamping member, a resilient member and a controlling member. The installation member comprises an installation portion in which an installation hole is defined. The blocking member is engaged in the installation hole. The clamping member is installed on the blocking member and against the shank. The resilient member is sandwiched between the installation portion and the clamping member. The controlling member installed in the installation member. The controlling member is rotatable relative to the installation member to modulate a friction between the shank and the clamping member.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to supporting brackets, and particularly to a supporting bracket for a computer monitor device.
2. Description of Related Art
In a computer system, a monitor device is configured to be secured to a supporting bracket. The monitor device can be conveniently adjusted up or down. However, users may need to adjust the monitor in a right direction or a left direction, the supporting bracket has to adjust synchronistically with the monitor device.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

Supporting bracket for computer monitor device


There are provided systems and methods for determining processing weights of rule variables for rule processing optimization. A service provider, such as an electronic transaction processor for digital transactions, may utilize different decision services that implement rules for decision-making of data including real-time data in production computing environments. Rules may correspond to coded statements that perform an automated decision-making service for the computing services and platforms of the service provider. When writing rules, different variables for data objects may be utilized, where each variable may perform a different operation and/or utilize a different operation for fetching and retrieving data used during rule processing. Each variable may therefore have a different data processing weights based on processing requirements of the data. Thus, optimization of rule authoring may be performed by mapping variables to other similar variables and showing a processing weight of each variable.

Users may utilize computing devices to access online domains and platforms to perform various computing operations and view available data. Generally, these operations are provided by different service providers, which may provide services for account establishment and access, messaging and communications, electronic transaction processing, and other types of available services. During use of these computing services, the processing platforms and services, the service provider may utilize one or more decision services that implement and utilize rules for decision-making in real-time data processing, such as within a production computing environment. For example, a data processing rule may correspond to an expression or argument written in computing code and executable processes that allow for processing data and determining a decision, which may be constructed by one or more users or other rule authoring entities. These rules may be written in a specific vocabulary and grammar for data objects within the rule, utilized for different operations for fetching and retrieving data, as well as used to enter data into the rule for data processing. However, different operations may be used to retrieve and/or process the same data, which may have different processing loads and times with the system. Thus, rules may not use optimized vocabulary and grammar during rule construction by the rule authoring entities and the rule may unnecessarily consume processing resources and time.
Embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages are best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures, wherein showings therein are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the present disclosure and not for purposes of limiting the same.

Determining processing weights of rule variables for rule processing optimization


A protective glove, for use alone or as a liner for a second type of glove, comprises flexible finger pads adhesively secured within a flexible outer glove, optionally comprising an additional inner thin flexible glove adhesively secured within the finger pads. The gloves provide added protection for the fingertips and nails from penetration of the gloves by foreign objects.

The present invention relates to protective gloves or glove liners with flexible rubber finger pads designed to provide additional protection to the distal ends of the fingers and fingernails without sacrificing flexibility in the remainder of the glove.
Fingernails and fingertips get jammed against furniture, appliances and all manner of obstacles while hands are in use. When gardening, sharp small stones or wood slivers penetrate burlap or canvas gloves. Thorns from bushes often lodge under the fingernails. Chipping and breaking of nails is a common occurrence during this type of handwork. Use of conventional gloves only provides minimal protection to hands and nails.
Similarly, the vinyl gloves used by, for example, workers in the medical and clinical laboratory professions are often subject to failure, especially at the fingertip area. This is due to the combination of thinness of the gloves required to allow fine control, sensitivity of touch and dexterity in the manipulations their hands must be able to do, and the sharp instruments, e.g., scalpels, scissors and needles, with which they must work. The consequences of nicks and needle sticks, which are very common occurrences in these fields, has become in recent years more than a mere annoyance. In an effort to avoid these injuries and, therefore, avoid exposure to various diseases, especially AIDS, it is of great concern that hand protection be available which combines improved safety with the required flexibility.


A tempo detecting device 100 includes an envelope detecting means 1 that detects an envelope of musical composition data, a frequency-component detecting means 2 that performs a discrete Fast Fourier Transform processing on the detected envelope to thereby detect a frequency spectrum, and a tempo detecting means 3 that detects, based on a characteristic of the detected frequency spectrum, a tempo of the musical composition data.

Recently, a method of retrieving desired musical composition data from many items of musical composition data stored in a high-capacity storage means, such as a hard disk, and playing back the music has been popular. Such retrieving of musical composition data can use bibliographic data, such as the artist names, the song titles, and the like, as retrieval data, and, in addition to the bibliographic data, the emotions of musical compositions, such as up-tempo songs and slow-tempo songs. This detects the features of musical compositions from musical composition data, and retrieves musical composition data by matching the detected features with the emotions of musical compositions.
Tempos are one of the features that can be matched with the emotions of musical compositions. Because the tempo is an important parameter of a musical composition, various detecting methods have been proposed.
For example, a first patent document discloses a technology that measures a peak interval between the amplitudes, each of which has with a predetermined frequency component, in a music signal to thereby detect the tempo.
In addition, for example, a second patent document obtains correlations among level changes in a music signal at preset intervals, and seeks the time interval with the highest correlation function to thereby detect the tempo.
In addition to the methods for detecting the tempo by analyzing a music signal in the time domain, methods for detecting the tempo by analyzing a music signal in the frequency domain are disclosed.
For example, a third patent document discloses a technology that performs a Fast Fourier transform on a music signal in a micro section to obtain average power, and performs a Fast Fourier transform on time-series data of the average power to calculate a power spectrum. Then, the technology detects the tempo based on the difference between the calculated power spectrum and an approximate line of the power spectrum.
First patent document: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H8-201542
Second patent document Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H5-27751
Third patent document Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-194953

Tempo detecting device and tempo detecting program


There is provided a building management system and a method for associating a portable sensor device with a stationary control device in such a system. Upon detection of a movement of the portable sensor device, the portable sensor device starts to transmit signals more frequently to the stationary control devices. It is determined that the movement of the portable sensor device has stopped if the signal strength of the transmitted signals received at the stationary control devices is essentially constant during a time window. In response to such a determination, the portable sensor device is associated with the stationary control device having the highest received signal strength and the portable sensor device returns to an energy-saving mode.

Building management systems may for example be used to supervise and control the indoor climate of a building. Such systems may comprise several control devices which are connected in a network. The control devices may receive measurement data from sensors. Further, a user may input reference values (i.e., set point values) to the control devices, for example in the form of a desired temperature.
Such systems may also comprise portable sensor devices which measure parameters, such as temperature. The portable sensor devices are preferably worn by or placed in the vicinity of an occupant of the building and hence measure parameters in the vicinity of the occupant. Further, the occupant may input and store personal settings, such as desired climate parameters in the portable sensor devices.
A general problem with portable sensor devices is that their energy storage is limited since they typically are self-powered or driven by batteries.
US2010/0163633 discloses a control system for a heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. The disclosed system comprises controllers in the form of distributed nodes connected in a wireless network. The system further comprises a portable remote control unit by which a user, via a display and a keyboard, may instruct the control system to change a parameter such as a desired temperature in the region where the user is located. The remote control unit may also be docketed with a thermostat. If so, the remote control unit may receive power from the thermostat circuit and communicate with the nodes at a regular two-minute time interval. If not docked, these time intervals are much further spaced in time in order for the remote control unit to conserve power and extend battery life of the remote control unit. A user may bring the portable remote control unit along inside of a building and set a desired temperature as he/she enters a room by pointing the portable remote control unit to one of the controllers of the temperature. Further, in order to indicate that the room is occupied he/she may press a button on the remote control unit.
A drawback with this approach is that the user manually has to perform an action when he/she enters a new room in order to, for example, set a desired temperature value or to indicate that he/she has entered the room. There is thus a need for improvements.

Association of a portable sensor device in a building management system


A switch that provides a stable contact and a superior feeling of operation despite the small profile. Its movable contact point 15 comprises a round dome section 15A, a flat section 15C formed by cutting a side alley 17B for a certain specific length and a connection section 15B provided at the outer circumference of the round dome section 15A for connecting the two items 15A and 15C together. On an insulating substrate 11, a first fixed contact point 12 is provided in an area underneath the round dome section 15A, while a second fixed contact point 13 is provided under the flat section 15C always keeping contact therewith.

There are two major categories in the structure of conventional switches used in operation panels.
The structure shown in FIG. 12, a cross sectional view, and FIG. 13, an exploded perspective view, belongs to category one. On an insulating substrate 1 of the switch, a pattern of fixed contact points 2 is formed, which consists of an outer contact point 2A of ring shape and an inner contact point 2B disposed in the center of the ring shape. The inner contact point 2B is provided with a lead portion 2C, which runs through a cut 2D formed in the outer contact point 2A. An insulation layer 3 is provided on the lead portion 2C and the cut 2D, and a movable contact point 4 of round dome shape made of an elastic thin metal sheet is placed on the outer contact point 2A. A flexible insulating film 5 having an adhesive agent 5A on the bottom surface is provided over the above described structure, and the movable contact point 4 and the insulating substrate 1 are fixed together thereby.
The structure of a category two switch is shown in FIG. 14, a cross sectional view, and FIG. 15, an exploded perspective view. The switch comprises an insulating substrate 6, on which a pattern of fixed contact points 7 is formed. The pattern consists of an outer contact point 7A of ring shape and an inner contact point 7B disposed in the center of the ring shape. The inner contact point 7B is provided with a through hole 7C. The inner contact point 7B is connected to the reverse surface of the insulating substrate 6 via the through hole 7C provided at the center. A movable contact point 4 of round dome shape made of an elastic thin metal plate is placed on the outer contact point 7A. A flexible insulating film 5 having an adhesive agent 5A on the bottom surface is provided over the above described structure, and the movable contact point 4 and insulating substrate 6 are fixed together thereby.
In the switches of either category, a press given to the movable contact point 4 of round dome shape at the center causes an elastic inversion with the movable contact point 4, which brings the bottom center into making contact with the inner contact point 2B (or 7B). The outer contact point 2A and the inner contact point 2B (or the outer contact point 7A and the inner contact point 7B) are thus short-circuited to generate an ON state in the switch.
Recently, along with the general trend of down-sizing among the electronic apparatus, it has been requested for the operation panels as well as the switches incorporated therein to have smaller dimensions. In order to down-size the switches of above described conventional structure, basically the dimensions have to be reduced with respect to each of the constituent parts and components. However, the range of dimensional dispersion that arises during processing of the constituent parts and components remains unchanged. Therefore, the size of inner contact point 2B, or 7B, on which the movable contact point 4 of round dome shape comes to make contact as a result of the elastic inversion, can not be reduced for a substantial extent; among those elements of fixed contact point 2, or 7, pattern-formed on the insulating substrate 1, or 6. This makes it difficult to form the outer contact point 2A, or 7A, around the inner contact point preserving a certain specific insulation gap in dimensions that can insure a stable contact. This is a limitation posed to the down-sizing effort.
Furthermore, the second category switches are costly because they need connection by wiring in the bottom surface of insulating substrate 6. In addition, a subtle difference may arise with the category two switches in the quantity of switching stroke and the feeling of operation, depending on whether the center bottom of the inverted movable contact point 4 makes contact with the small-diameter fixed contact point 7 at a point precisely coincidental to the through hole 7C, or not.
The present invention aims to offer a switch that provides a stable contact performance and a superior feeling of operation even in a down-sized configuration.

Switch having improved contact performance

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The invention relates to prophylaxis and therapy of cancer. In particular there is provided a protein Tryptophan2,3-di-oxygenase (TDO) or peptide fragments here of that are capable of eliciting anti-cancer immune responses. Specifically, the invention relates to the use of TDO or peptides derived thereof or TDO specific T-cells for treatment of cancer. The invention thus relates to an anti-cancer vaccine which optionally may be used in combination with other immunotherapies and to TDO specific T-cells adoptively transferred or induced in vivo by vaccination as a treatment of cancer. It is an aspect of the invention that the medicaments herein provided may be used in combination with cancer chemotherapy treatment. A further aspect relates to the prophylaxis and therapy of infections by the same means as described above.

The immune system is tightly controlled to avoid the occurrence of autoimmunity when responding to various pathogens. This enantiostasis, allowing at the same time destruction of infected or transformed cells and self-tolerance, is guarded by several feedback mechanisms. Unfortunately, some of the mechanisms preventing auto-immunity are hijacked by cancers to attain immune escape. This evasion of immune destruction is based on several mechanisms including depletion of essential nutrients as well as accumulation of immunosuppressive metabolites. Thus, metabolic changes within the tumor microenvironment help to evade antigenic specific immune responses. In this respect, aberrations of the metabolism of the essential amino acid L-tryptophan have been described in various cancers. Notably, controlling the level of tryptophan is an important part of the host defense against invading pathogens as microbes need high concentrations of available tryptophan for optimal growth.
The degradation of L-(and D-) tryptophan to N-formylkynurenine is catalyzed by the heme dioxygenases tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). TDO and IDO do not share sequence homology. Although by distinct mechanisms, both TDO and IDO catalyze the first and rate-limiting step of tryptophan oxidation yielding kynurenine. Moreover, as IDO is upregulated by inflammatory cytokines such as type I and II interferon's, it is thought to be an important counter-regulatory enzyme, which controls disproportionate immune responses.
The impact of tryptophan metabolism on immune responses is well established. T cells sense low levels of tryptophan via the serine/threonine-protein kinase GCN2, which is then triggering proliferative arrest. Moreover, the tryptophan degradation product kynurenine binds the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR); activation of AHR signaling induces formation of regulatory T cells.
Little is known about the function of TDO in cancer. Under physiologic conditions TDO is almost exclusively expressed at high amounts in the liver and—in lower levels—in the brain. Recently, it was described that tumors of different origin express TDO, especially melanoma, bladder cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma and glioblastoma (Pilotte et al., 2012). In a series of 104 human tumor cell lines of various histological types, 20 tumors expressed only TDO, 17 only IDO and 16 both enzymes (Pilotte et al., 2012). Moreover, in a preclinical model, TDO expression by tumors prevented their rejection by immunized mice (Pilotte et al., 2012).

Vaccine compositions comprising tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase or fragments thereof


The present invention is primarily directed to rail car communication system and in particular communication system used to transfer data and voice communications from one car to another. The present invention has particular applicability for use in subway cars. A communication system using an E1 protocol is provided with an interface device which translates data received from a hardware device having, inter alia, a microprocessor and a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART) used for serial communications such as COM 1-4. The asynchronous UART data is interfaced with the E1 channel. UART data transfers are usually done on a byte (8 bits) by byte basis but the present invention uses E1 timing and bit by bit communications. Additionally, data is normally sent at the data rate of the E1 channel not some other unrelated speed such as those used by a UART during serial communications. Also, the data is usually sent synchronously, like the E1 channel, not asynchronously, as with a UART.

The present invention relates to improvements in communications between communication devices using different protocols and in particular rail car data communications.
Data communications in the field of communications, including data communications between rail cars are generally transmitted in a bit serial communication format through a network. Typically data is transmitted in a network between two data endpoints and the data is packaged according to specific data communications protocols so as to facilitate transmission of the data across the particular network. The particular packaging may include network management and other information such as headers and trailers to the information transmitted to facilitate transmission of the data based on the requirements of the particular protocol that is being used. Framing is a term that is used to describe the packaging of data by a protocol for transmission.
There are a number of different protocols available for data transmission. Some of these protocols may include data transmission using time division multiplexing (TDM) approaches using standards such as T1 and E1 which are well known in the art. Another example standard may include high level data link control (HDLC) or asynchronous transfer mode (ATM). Each of these protocols are used in their own types of applications and have goals in terms of history, performance, error immunity, flexibility and other factors that creates preferences for one over another protocol. As a result, each of these protocols employ framing procedures by which data is packaged for transmission across the various networks in which they are employed. For the most part these protocols are generally incompatible and require that there be a translation or conversion to transmit data in a transmission link that employs two or more protocols in two or more segments of the communication path.
Operating systems in rail cars are becoming increasingly sophisticated. In many instances microprocessors are commonly used to control various operational functions. In addition, communication systems in these rail cars have also become relatively advanced, particularly in the area of car to car and passenger communication systems that permit telephone communications between the moving rail car and wireless base stations or land lines.
The communications systems in rail cars typically employ a E1/T1 transmission system. A problem arises when additions are made to the communications system that do not employ the E1/T1 protocol for communicating. For example, a user may attempt to add an off the shelf hardware such as a computer, modem or other device that does not use the E1/T1 protocol. Many of these off the shelf hardware device use serial channels (Com ports) that employ asynchronous TTY type formats, i.e., a start bit, 5 through 8 data bits, one or two stop bits and some parity bit options. When hardware that is not compatible with the E1/T1 protocol is added there can be significant downtime to equipment before it is realized by the installer that there is an incompatibility and in attempting to correct the incompatibility between the added hardware and the system currently in use. One reason why off the shelf hardware is attractive to the transit system running the rail cars is the cost savings that arises from the ability to use an item that is off the shelf as opposed to one that is not. When the savings are multiplied across a fleet of rail cars the savings to the transit authority can be significant. Another advantage to off the shelf hardware is the availability of replacements in the event of a failure of a part. The off the shelf items are usually available from a variety of convention sources thus reducing a car""s down time waiting for parts delivery.
It is an object of the invention to permit a synchronous communication system to communicate with an asynchronous communication system.
It is an object of the invention to provide an interface device to permit a synchronous communication system to communicate with an asynchronous communication system.
It is another object of the invention to permit a communication system using an E1/T1 protocol to communicate with a communication system using a non E1/T1 protocol.
It is an object of the invention to permit an E1/T1 based communications system to communicate with non E1/T1 based hardware having a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter.
It is a still further object of the invention to permit a rail car having a communication system using an E1/T1 protocol to communicate with a communication system using a non E1/T1 protocol.
The present invention is primarily directed to rail car communication system and in particular communication system used to transfer data and voice communications from one car to another. The present invention has particular applicability for use in subway cars. However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the teachings of the present invention are pertinent to other types of communication systems besides those used in rail cars.
According to the present invention a communication system using an E1/T1 protocol is provided with an interface device, which translates data received from hardware device having, inter alia, a microprocessor and a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART) used for serial communications such as COM 1-4. The transmitter can be a typical UART that is commonly found on conventional personal computers (PC""s). The asynchronous UART data is interfaced with the E1/T1 channel. E1/T1 communications is usually done on a byte (8 bits) by byte basis but the present invention uses bit by bit communications instead of the byte by byte transmission. Additionally, data is normally sent at the data rate of the E1/T1 channel not some other unrelated speed such as those used by a UART during serial communications. Also, the data is usually sent synchronously, like the E1 channel, not asynchronously, as with a UART.

E1/T1 to asynchronous communications interface


Provided are non-aggregating immunostimulatory oligonucleotides. The present invention also provides a delivery agent for an immunostimulatory-oligonucleotide nucleic acid medicine, said delivery agent including a nucleic acid that contains a phosphorothioated nucleotide. According to another aspect, the present invention further provides an oligonucleotide including a bioactive core, and a nucleic acid that contains a phosphorothioated nucleotide. The present invention yet further provides an immunostimulator including the bioactive core of a type A/D, type B/K, or type C immunostimulatory oligonucleotide.

Immunostimulatory oligonucleotides have expectations as vaccine adjuvants that elicit an innate immune response in a Toll-like receptor (TLR) 9 dependent manner and enhance the immunological effect of a vaccine by co-administration thereof with a vaccine antigen, or as a immunoregulatory agent using self-elicited innate immune responses. Immunostimulatory oligonucleotides are roughly categorized into two types, of which the K type is known to be soluble in saline and to mainly induce interleukin (IL)-6 production. Adaption thereof into clinical use is already ongoing as a promising nucleic acid medicament. The other type, i.e., D type, is known to be insoluble in saline and to mainly induce IFN-α production, thus having biological activity that differs from that of K type. However, adaption thereof into clinical use has not advanced due to it being insoluble in saline.
The present invention has developed a D type immunostimulatory oligonucleotide that is soluble in saline. This is expected to promote clinical application of D type immunostimulatory oligonucleotides.
Immunostimulatory CpG oligonucleotides (ODN) has been developed and utilized as TLR9 dependent innate immune-activating agents and vaccine adjuvants for over 10 years [Non Patent Literature 1]. Immunostimulatory ODNs can be classified into four different types (or classes) based on the backbone and sequence characteristics thereof: A/D. B/K, C, and P type ODNs [Non Patent Literature 2; Non Patent Literature 3]. A/D type ODNs (mostly phosphodiester backbone with a poly-G tail at the 3′ end) mainly stimulate the production of interferon (IFN)-α from plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC). B/K type ODNs (all phosphorothioate backbone) activates IL-6 and B cell production. Although C type ODNs can stimulate the production of both IFN-α and IL-6, IFN-α is induced by C type ODN at a lower extent than by A/D type ODN. Another ODN, i.e., P type ODN, has been discovered recently [Non Patent Literature 4]. P type ODNs (all phosphorothioate backbone) comprise two palindromic sequences with a cytokine profile that is similar to C type ODNs, but induce higher IFN-α production than C type ODNs [Non Patent Literature 4].
While many different immunostimulatory ODNs have been developed, the most characteristic difference among such ODNs is the INF-α induction profile thereof. In terms of the above, A/D type (high IFN-α profile) and B/K type (low IFN-α high IL-6 profile) ODNs are considered as two distinct typical prototypes of immunostimulatory ODNs [Non Patent Literature 5]. Recent microarray studies have also confirmed overlapping but different gene signatures between A/D type ODNs and B/K type ODNs [Non Patent Literature 6]. A/D type ODNs were primarily characterized by sustained induction of type I IFN, while B/K type ODNs induced many genes that were significantly associated with resistance to bacterial infections such as IL-1β and IL-6 [Non Patent Literature 6]. Such differences in vitro profiles may reflect the differences observed in vivo when these ODNs are used as a vaccine adjuvant or as a single agent immunotherapeutic agent. For malaria vaccines, K3 (B/K type ODN) exhibited better adjuvanticity than D35 (A/D type ODN) with respect to antibody production when added to SE36/AHG immunization of a cynomolgus monkey [Non Patent Literature 7]. However, A/D type ODNs induced a better protective immune response than B/K type ODNs, with a heat-sterilized Leishmania/AHG vaccine in rhesus monkey [Non Patent Literature 8]. Similarly, A/D type ODNs also exhibited a better potential than B/K type ODNs in both healthy rhesus monkey and SIV-infected rhesus monkey models as a single therapeutic agent for leishmaniasis [Non Patent Literature 9]. Interestingly, administration of B/K type ODNs exacerbated the pathological condition of skin leishmaniasis in this model [Non Patent Literature 9].
Potent INF-α induction by A/D type ODNs is closely related to the higher order structure of this type of ODNs. A poly-G tail of A/D type ODNs form a G-quadruplex DNA structure in a salt solution, resulting in nanoparticles/aggregate formation [Non Patent literature 10; Non Patent literature 11; Non Patent literature 12; and Non Patent literature 13]. Similarly, INF-α inducing P type ODNs formed a dimeric structure or an aggregate [Non Patent Literature 14]. Aggregate formation has been reported frequently as essential for high INF-α production by A/D type ODNs [Non Patent literature 12; and Non Patent literature 13]. This is because voluntary ODN multimerization leads to uncontrolled aggregation and precipitation, resulting in large product-by-product differences or difficulty in administration. To overcome such a problem, an attempt has been made to introduce a thermolytic protecting group to A/D type ODNs [Non Patent literature 15 and Non Patent literature 16]. Although aggregate formation in saline prior to administration is prevented by such a modification, temperature dependent cleavage of a protecting group allows G-quadruplex formation after in vivo administration [Non Patent Literatures 15 and 16]. Such thermolytic pro-D type ODN strategy is a promising method for clinically applicable A/D type ODNs, but it is necessary to evaluate the feasibility of the clinical application thereof. Currently, a clinical trial in humans has not been reported.

National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition


A fuel tank for a recreational vehicle such as a snowmobile is described. The fuel tank includes a fuel tank main body, side wings, and an upper steering post mount. The side wings provide support for mounting components of a vehicle thereto. The side wings extend outward from the fuel tank main body and are in fluid communication with the fuel tank reservoir of the main body. Additionally, the side wings extend downward creating a fuel pick-up recess area and a reserve. The fuel pick-up recess area and reserve independently create a toe hold or a footrest on an outer surface of the side wings. A snowmobile including a fuel tank having side wings is also described.

This invention relates to a fuel tank for use with a snowmobile vehicle and; more particularly, the invention relates to a fuel tank for use with a snowmobile having surfaces and side wings capable of mounting components of a vehicle thereto and that are in fluid communication with the fuel reservoir.
Snowmobiles are a widely used means of transportation in snowy regions. They are especially popular for recreational purposes such as trail riding or racing. In general, a snowmobile includes a chassis (frame), an engine, a drive track, a seat, a hood, a belly pan, and a fuel tank.
Fuel tanks for snowmobiles are well known. A typical fuel tank for a snowmobile includes a fuel reservoir, an inlet port, a fuel line going from the tank to the engine, and a fuel gauge telling the rider how much fuel remains in the tank. FIGS. 7 and 8 show examples of two prior art fuel tanks. Generally, the fuel tank and other vehicle components are separately mounted to the vehicle. Individually mounting each and every component to the vehicle is time consuming and costly from a manufacturing standpoint.
The invention provides a fuel tank having surfaces and side wings capable of mounting vehicle components thereto and that are in fluid communication with the fuel reservoir.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a fuel tank for a straddle-mounted vehicle includes, but is not limited to, a fuel tank main body, side wings, and an upper steering post mount. The fuel tank main body holds the fuel tank reservoir and has at least one front seat mount. The side wings provide support for mounting components of a vehicle thereto. The side wings are hollow and are in fluid communication with the fuel tank reservoir of the main body.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the side wings extend downward from the fuel tank main body, creating a fuel pick-up recess area and reserve.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the fuel pick-up recess area and the reserve form a toe hold or a foot rest in the side wings of the fuel tank.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a snowmobile includes, but is not limited to, a frame, an engine, a drive track, a seat, a hood, a belly pan, and a fuel tank having side wings. The side wings provide support for mounting components of a vehicle thereto and are in fluid communication with the fuel reservoir. The fuel tank also includes an upper steering post mount and a belly pan mount.
A variety of additional advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and others will be apparent from the description. It is to be understood that both the foregoing material and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.

Fuel tank for a straddle-mounted vehicle


A low cost and lightweight interchangeable lens system is provided. The lens system includes two aspheric elements that is usable both for page-based and bit-based data storage systems. The lens system has a large field of view up to ±50 degrees and a high numerical aperture up to 0.8. The invention reduces cost and weight of the objective lenses and is usable with the servoing technology. The invention provides a long working distance of 20% of the focal length and provides sufficient physical space to accommodate media and aberration corrections, which enable a media interchangeable and compatible system among the both optical recording formats.

Objective lenses for pixel-based optical recording consist of three or more elements per one set of a lens-set pair. Thus the lens system is heavy and costly. A low cost and lightweight objective lens system is highly desired because it enables employing servoing technologies for addressing data, which substantially reduces cost of optical data storage setup.
In general, the objective lenses are not compatible with the bit-based recording scheme such as CD, DVD and Blu-ray. Backward compatibility with such existing systems is also highly desired.
For commercial use of optical data storages, the recording medium must be interchangeable among many recording and retrieve configurations to render the data storage system usable for archive and distribution purposes. The lens systems currently found in the art do not effectively address interchangeability.
For page-based systems, optical design criteria relating to the required number of elements and allowable aberrations are not clear. Therefore minimum lens configurations of such compatible designs have not been identified.
Both page-based and bit-based recording requires high NA objective lenses. Usually, such a high NA lens for page-based system requires three or more spherical lens elements, which are not compatible with bit based recordings.
Designs using aspheric elements having NA of 0.74 are reported, however the working distance is very small (<0.1 mm) which prevents the lens from using thick recording medium required for high-density page-based recordings. To date media interchangeability has not been considered. Specifically, these systems are not compatible with bit-based recordings because aberration correction requirements are not completely satisfied. The small working distance prevents the design from being used with thick recording material for high-density recording applications.
Designs having a moderate NA of 0.5 using one, two and three elements have been reported, however media interchangeability is not a consideration. Specifically, addition to moderate NA, compatibility with bit-based recordings is not taken into account.
The objective lens for page-based optical data recording and retrieval generally consists of many lens elements (usually three or more) to accommodate high NA (equivalently a large field of view), thus the objective lens is costly and heavy.
What is needed is a low-cost and light weight lens design of a high NA objective lens with a reduced number of elements for optical data storage and retrieval for page-based systems having a capacity for interchangeable medium, for example that are also usable for bit-based optical recording and retrieval like CD, DVD and Blu-ray systems, where aberration correction is considered. What is also needed is an medium-interchangeable lens system that allows for a sufficient working distance to accommodate thick recording medium required for high-density recording to avoid crashing the objective lens to the media.

Focusing and imaging compatible objective lenses for pixel-based and/or bit-based optical data recording and retrieval

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University


Quantitative Secondary Electron Detection (QSED) using the array of solid state devices (SSD) based electron-counters enable critical dimension metrology measurements in materials such as semiconductors, nanomaterials, and biological samples (FIG. 3). Methods and devices effect a quantitative detection of secondary electrons with the array of solid state detectors comprising a number of solid state detectors. An array senses the number of secondary electrons with a plurality of solid state detectors, counting the number of secondary electrons with a time to digital converter circuit in counter mode.

The field of the disclosure relates to arrays of solid state detectors that work together to determine a quantity of particles or photons emitted by the sample. Other aspects of the disclosure include a detector and methods for counting secondary electrons with an array of solid state devices and a method for reducing the noise from the data derived from the array of solid state devices.
The scanning electron microscope (SEM) is a basic tool in materials science, electronics, energy, medical science and other disciplines, vital to the national and public well-being. Secondary electron (SE) topographic imaging is the most common mode of operation in the SEM. Its current limitations, however, prevent advances that otherwise could be accomplished in SE imaging.
SE imaging is most commonly performed using a scintillator-photomultiplier based Everhart-Thornley (E-T) detector, or some variation thereof. An E-T detector images all sides of features with the contrast originating from SE collection differences due to subtended angle with detector, tilt, edge effect, and shadowing. FIG. 1 depicts the operational features of a traditional Evanhart-Thornley (E-T) scintillator-photomultiplier to form an image from SEs escaped from the sample surface layers. As the electron beam rasters the sample pixel by pixel, the E-T detector collects the low-energy (5-50 eV) SEs. Furthermore, the Faraday Cage is an integral part of an E-T detector. The detector surface maintained at +10 kV further accelerates the SEs. The scintillator layer emits photons upon being impinged upon by the SEs. The photons travel down the light pipe, hit the photocathode, convert into electrical signal, and is amplified. Analog to digital converters (ADC) converts the signal to digital pixels.
The numbers of components in the detector, and the signal processing are subject to sources of noise, distortion, and non-linearity. Hence, measurement using E-T signals has reduced quantitative utility [Reimer, 1985] at high resolution. In FIG. 2 a SEM trace was performed using an electron beam to scan across an array of identical structures [Joy, 2012], recorded from an E-T detector. As the beam reaches the left edge of the first feature, the signal rises sharply. As a result the analog feedback loop starts to reduce the system gain and DC-offset. As the beam keeps scanning on the other side of the feature, the signal level falls but decays even faster because the feedback loop is still driving the signal down. As a result, the signal is highly distorted by the feedback and exhibits increased DC-offset, suppressed dynamic range (see FIG. 2), varying "dark" level from pixel to pixel, poor signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) and non-linear relation between contrast and SE collection [Joy, 2012; Merli, 1995; Kazemian, 2007; Postek, 2012; Bogner, 2007; Oho, 2007; Joy, 1992; Isaacson, 1977; ITRS, 2011: Metrology Challenges]. The DoE Electron Scattering Workshop [DOE_BES, 2007] has identified broad research needs in electron microscopy. Similarly, the Semiconductor Industry has identified metrology challenges [ITRS, 2011].

Quantitative secondary electron detection