Presented is a method and apparatus that permits a skier to control the speed at which he descends a ski slope. In terms of structure, the invention includes a pair of probes mounted on each ski that protrude below the running surface of the ski and thereby drag in the snow. The probes may be controlled as to the depth of penetration of the snow either before the skier starts his run, or during his descent. Having deployed the probes, added manueverability control is achieved merely by conventional body movements which affect the depth to which the probes penetrate the snow.

1. Field of the Invention.
This invention relates to skis and snow skiing, and more particularly to a method and apparatus that enables a skier to achieve enhanced maneuverability and improved speed control in the activity of downhill snow skiing.
2. Description of the Prior Art.
A review of the prior art has convinced me that the subject of the instant invention is the only method and apparatus which:
(a) provides a downhill skier with enhanced control over both axial drag and lateral maneuverability; and PA1 (b) provides both of the above enhancements by selective use of the skier's natural body movements.
A search of the prior art has revealed the existence of the following U.S. Pat. Nos.
______________________________________ 3,980,322 3,918,730 3,909,024 3,195,911 3,048,418 4,152,007 4,103,916 4,062,561 4,227,708 3,873,108 4,312,517 4,227,714 ______________________________________
At the outset, it is well to understand that the invention forming the subject matter of this specification does not concern the problem of stopping a loose ski that has become separated from a skier. Rather, this invention focuses on the problem of imposing additional controlling forces on the skis in a downhill skiing environment in such a way that the skier will feel more in control at the speed at which he is descending.
Referring to the patents listed above, all of the patents except U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,152,007 and 4,227,708 relate to the situation where a ski has been separated from a skier and is loose on the ski slope and apt to cause some damage or injury to skiers unless stopped. These "loose ski brake" devices do not operate during active skiing, and are clearly unrelated to the structure and function of the invention described herein.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,152,007 provides snow plows at the rear ends of the skis that are activated by hydraulic pressure controlled through the grips on the ski poles. Obviously, there must be some connection between the grips on the ski poles and the snow plows and this in itself is a disadvantage in that the skier is prevented from utilizing the ski poles as freely as he might for the purpose for which they are intended. This device provides active drag control, which is the only function it shares with my invention described herein. The characteristics of this device are in sharp contrast with the enhanced maneuverability provided by my invention. Because the plows in this device are at the rear ends of the skis and therefore far behind the skier's center of gravity, they actually tend to prevent the skier from turning while they are engaged. The hydraulic actuation is also significantly different than the normal skiing motions that are effective to control the maneuverability characteristics of my invention. Therefore, this device is clearly functionally and structurally different from my method and apparatus.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,227,708 relates to a ski brake that comprises a plate fixed on the upper surface of the ski. The plate is provided with a notch into which the lower end of the ski pole may be inserted to produce drag against the snow. While the primary purpose of this device is to provide traction in cross-country skiing, it purports to provide active braking for a cross-country skier moving downhill. Active braking is also one of the at least three important functions of my apparatus. However, this device does not provide either the enhanced maneuverability or control by natural body motions provided by my apparatus. Maneuverability is an essential difference between downhill skiing and cross-country skiing. The bindings of cross-country skis naturally limit maneuverability. Since this device applies drag only on the outside of the skis, downhill braking would tend to spread the tips of the skis, making the skis even more difficult to maneuver. Use of the ski poles as braking levers violates the natural motions of downhill skiing which requires upper body movement and free use of the poles. Therefore, this device, while obviously structurally different from my apparatus in all its embodiments, is also clearly incapable of performing two of at least three major functions performed by my apparatus.
For those that are experienced skiers, it will be obvious that skiing on a steep slope requires considerably more physical effort and skill than skiing on a gentle slope. Turning maneuvers to reduce speed require the skier to generate a force in opposition to the force tending to propel the skier downhill. This force, multiplied by the skier's velocity, equates with the power the skier must exert to maintain speed control on the slope. Steeper slopes require both a greater maximum force and a greater average power which together require greater strength and endurance from the skier. Expert skiers have several advantages over less advanced skiers. First, since they have a higher ability threshold, a greater fraction of the potential energy during the run is consumed in aerodynamic and ski drag. Second, since they are more skillful, they are able to make turns with less muscle strain. Although expert skiers still must exert the same force as less experienced skiers, they apply it more effectively in reducing speed.
As stated above, the primary purpose of my method and apparatus is to enhance the safe enjoyment of downhill skiing by significantly reducing the level of skill and physical strength required to participate in the sport.
The method and apparatus of my invention enables a skier to safely handle terrain that would otherwise be beyond his ability. It is believed that wide spread use of my method and apparatus will increase the number of individuals participating in downhill skiing and will reduce the number of injuries sustained by such participants when they are inadvertently caught in situations beyond their ability.
The sport of downhill skiing involves executing trained physical body motions that change the skier's spacial orientation and weight distribution as the skis slide across the snow. The maneuvers that result from such body motions enable the skier to control his direction and most importantly his speed.
In the sport of downhill skiing, the skier converts potential energy into mechanical work and ultimately into heat. By the conservation of energy, the rate of change of potential energy equals the rate of change of kinetic energy plus the rate of mechanical work performed by the skier. This mechanical work rate (or power) is the skier's velocity times the snow friction and air drag. Steeper slopes require a greater friction plus drag force to hold a given speed than more gentle slopes.
A skier's strength and skiing ability determine the steepness of the slope that he can comfortably and safely handle. Skiing skill determines how efficiently a skier can convert muscle force into useful drag. The snow-plow is a perfect example of an inefficient skiing maneuver. In the snow-plow the skier pushes outward on his skis and thereby creates an axial force equal to his lateral force times the sine of the angle of his skis. Since the "V" half angle of his skis is typically only about 15 degrees or less only one quarter of his lateral force is converted into useful drag. This situation is compounded by the awkward nature of the snow-plow maneuver.
Proficient skiers have several advantages over beginning skiers. First, they can ski at a higher average speed letting ski friction and aerodynamic drag (which are relatively non-fatiguing) generate mechanical work at a faster rate. Second, they can convert muscle force more efficiently into useful drag. A good parallel skier can seemingly effortlessly make small turns and efficiently use his leg muscles to react the drag force needed to keep his speed under control. Third, the proficient skier is often in better physical condition and has greater strength and endurance than beginning skiers.
Enjoyable skiing is a process of speed control. If a skier is not in excellent condition, and he is unable to efficiently convert his muscle forces into drag, he will either be limited to gentle and uninteresting terrain or, more typically, he will ski on terrain beyond his ability and risk injury to himself and others. Unfortunately, our modern society neither encourages physical fitness nor provides extended leisure time to learn new activities. This results in millions of people who would like to enjoy downhill skiing, but have not found the time to become advanced intermediate skiers where they can really begin to enjoy the sport. Accordingly, a method and apparatus such as described herein is needed to reduce the level of skill required to enjoy downhill skiing by permitting skiers to more efficiently convert muscle force into speed control and maneuverability while retaining the natural motions of skiing.
Another element enters into the method of speed control and has been alluded to somewhat above. That is the fact that conventionally speed control is effected by manipulating turns on the slope to introduce a force that is in opposition to the downhill acceleration force that is imposed by gravity and the steepness of the slope. Accordingly, if some method or means could be devised by which turns could be effected without the imposition of discomfort on the skier or the utilization of excessive muscle force, then the skier would be more likely to attempt a run on a steep slope that he would not otherwise feel comfortable with.
Accordingly, one of the important objects of the present invention is to provide a method and means by which a skier may selectively control maneuverability and therefore speed on a downhill ski slope.
The invention achieves selective maneuverability and speed control by adding fluid dynamic control surfaces on downhill skis to enhance both axial drag and maneuverability using a skier's natural motions. These additional control surfaces generate forces that augment the edge control forces on the skis. The control surfaces of my invention, referred to herein as "probes", are analogous to the spoiler/flap system on modern jet airplanes in terms of vehicle drag and stability characteristics. Since snow only produces loads below the running surface of the ski, another object of my invention is the provision of a method and apparatus for differentially varying probe depth on the inside and outside edges of the skis.
The following discussion illustrates how the probes of my invention enhance the speed and maneuverability control characteristics of snow skis. The detailed description of the structures (including the probes) that provide these characteristics is presented later in this disclosure. That description also presents features of the structures which facilitate the operation of the invention but which do not directly affect the speed and maneuverability control aspects discussed below.
Accordingly, a still further object of the invention is the provision of apparatus which in the engaged or operative position, extends two probes on each ski a precise distance below the running surface of the ski into the snow. These probes act as additional control surfaces that augment the forces acting on the other ski surfaces during downhill skiing.
A still further object of the invention is the provision of apparatus in conjunction with snow skis which when engaged and operative, has the effect of making a slope appear to be more gentle, and which includes probes which project below the running surface of the ski to provide additional drag which reduces the skier's acceleration and terminal velocity.
Still another object of the invention is the provision of apparatus for snow skis, including projecting probes, which can be adjusted either before or during a run so as to adjust the basic drag coefficient by adjusting the depth of the probe's extension below the running surface of the skis.
Although these steady drag effects are important, the primary additive drag effects occur as a result of skier controlled probe depth variation during the ski run. Tests have shown that the drag imposed on a ski by a probe projecting into the snow is a strong function of probe depth. Accordingly, a still further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus including pairs of probes attached to the skis in such a manner that rotating the ski about the longitudinal axis increases the penetration depth on one probe and decreases the penetration depth of the other probe on that ski. This differential probe depth causes a significant increase in the total drag, because of the large increase in drag on the deeper probe. This has two primary applications in downhill skiing speed control as will now be explained. The snow-plow maneuver becomes far more effective and less strenuous to execute. Simply rotating the knees together (with the skis pointed straight) produces a large drag increase due to the greater penetration of the inside probes. The differential torque created by the drag on the inside probes automatically draws the ski tips together, adding the normal snow-plow edge drag, but without the muscle strain normally required. Rotating the knees back to vertical returns the skis to normal parallel position and equalizes the forces on the skis, cancelling the differential torque.
Parallel turns are more effective in achieving speed reduction when the skis are equipped with my probe system. The edge drag is supplemented by probe drag. Effective speed control can be accomplished with very little edge drag which is quite helpful under poor snow conditions.
Turning ability, which is a major factor in maneuverability, is significantly enhanced because the probes enable turning by leaning. For example, leaning to the right increases the penetration depth and drag on the right probes on both skis and decreases the depth and drag on the left probes. This both increases the total drag and creates a rotational moment that turns the skis to the right. Similarly, leaning to the left turns the skier to the left. As discussed below, the skier can further enhance turning ability by leaning slightly backward as he leans to the left or right.
The method and apparatus of my invention provides "trim" adjustment to reduce muscle strain associated with holding the skis together. Most people walk with their feet slightly spread apart and their muscles are adjusted to that position. Therefore, parallel skiing requires a constant muscle strain to hold the tips of the skis together. With my method and apparatus, a skier can alleviate this condition by adjusting the depth of penetration of the inside probes to be slightly greater than the depth of penetration of the outside probes. This creates a toe-in moment on the skis which keeps the tips together without continuous muscle strain by the skier.
The following discussion relates to the features of my invention which, taken individually or in combination, account for the speed control and maneuverability enhancement characteristics discussed above.
1. Precise depth control. -- Since drag is a strong function of depth, the probes of my invention are designed to provide precise setting and control of their extension past the running surface of the skis.
2. Probe center of pressure location. -- Probe location near the center of pressure of the skis, which is also near the skier's center of gravity when sking downhill is necessary to provide the desired neutral lateral stability characteristics. Locating the probes aft of the skier's center of gravity (i.e., a positive stability margin as in the classic loose ski brake) would make turning more difficult because the probes would produce a restoring moment tending to keep the skis pointed in the direction of travel. Locating the probes forward of the center of gravity (i.e. negative stability margin) would make the skis rotationally unstable.
The foregoing will be better understood if it is considered that many skis are visually marked with a center of gravity indicia located about midway between the toe piece and the heel piece. However, this location of the indicia marks the center of gravity of the ski and skier when the skier is standing erect or vertically, or "at rest" on the skis. In a downhill run, the skier leans forward, his body mass also moves forward in relation to the skis, and so does the center of gravity, which is now located forwardly from the indicia and at the intersection of the vertical projection of the skier's body mass and the plane of the skis. This forward position of the center of gravity of the skier is correlated to the probe location associated with the center of pressure of the skis, which I have found to be closely associated with the toe piece.
Accordingly, my invention locates the probes about the middle of the toe piece of the ski boot attachment means which is the natural location of the center of pressure and the skier's center of gravity when the skier is leaning slightly forward in a downhill run. Obviously, the exact optimum location will vary somewhat depending on the skier and the terrain. The skier can control his center of gravity location in relation to probe location associated with the center of pressure and thereby control the stability characteristics of his skis. By leaning forward (and moving his center of gravity forward of the probes) the probes act to keep the skis pointed in the direction of travel and stabilize any lateral oscillations. By leaning backward during turning, the skier can enhance turning by moving the center of gravity slightly aft of the probes and making the skis deliberately unstable. The skier would obviously do this after he had started a turn and had both his skis clearly rotated in one direction.
3. Two pin characteristics.--Many of the desirable characteristics of my method and apparatus require two pins (one on each side of the ski). A single pin configuration as illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, locates the pin under the toe piece and provides a steady drag and facilitates turning by the center of gravity shift mechanism discussed above. However, the two pin design adds the ability to increase drag by leaning as in parallel turns or by rotating the knees together, as in a snow-plow maneuver. The turning by leaning feature requires a two pin arrangement; the turning by aft center of gravity shift only starts to work after the skis have rotated relative to the direction of travel.
4. Probe lift-drag characteristics.--The shape and orientation of the probes are important in establishing the operating characteristics of the method and apparatus of my invention. While I have illustrated and described herein probes which constitute cylindrical rods, it is apparent that other configurations may be utilized within the spirit and scope of the invention. As indicated above, the preferred probe configurations shown in the embodiment illustrated are all cylindrical. This axisymmetric shape is an advantage because it provides the facility to provide for the threaded depth adjustments used on several of the embodiments. However, the probes are not restricted to axisymmetric shapes. Shapes such as ellipsis, wedges, airfoils or other profiles offer potential advantages under certain conditions and are intended to be covered within the scope of this invention.
With respect to orientation of the pins, vertical pins produce no lift, and this is an advantage for the beginning skier. Rotating the skis to produce drag does not require any force to overcome lift. This is an advantage for the snow-plow maneuver, but less important for the turning by leaning maneuver. Vertical pins provide higher drag (and slower speeds) under poor snow conditions.
As illustrated in the drawings, and described hereinafter, a slightly backwards probe cant is the preferred orientation for the probes. The cant reduces the drag coefficient parallel to the skis without significantly changing the drag coefficient perpendicular to the skis. These characteristics mean less steady state drag with the same turning ability due to the high drag perpendicular to the skis. The lift produced on icy snow reduces the penetration depth and reduces the drag parallel to the skis without affecting turning ability. Again, the optimum cant angle depends on the skier, the terrain and snow conditions. Although the preferred embodiment incorporates canted probes, it will of course be obvious that the invention encompasses a full range of probe angles.
It appears that an unexpected benefit is derived by the use of my method and apparatus that relates to the condition of a ski slope. Conventionally, ski slopes are used during daylight hours and are "groomed" during the night time to prepare them for another full day of skiing the following day. I have found that because the control forces applied to the skis by the probes are relatively small and because packed snow is a viscous fluid, probe depth of only 1/4 to 1/2 inch appear to be adequate for most conditions. I have found that penetration of the snow by the probes creates a hardly perceptible groove in the snow. Tests have shown that the almost imperceptible grooves left by the probes are almost invisible and quickly disappear in normal pack-powder snow. I have also found that these tiny grooves appear to help groom the slopes under high packed or moderately icy snow conditions. When the snow becomes icy, edge control becomes difficult because the edge loading is insufficient to cause penetration of the snow by the ski edge. This is also true for the probes under severely icy conditions. However, under hard packed or moderately icy conditions, the probes easily penetrate the snow surface. This feature gives the skiers significantly improved control under these conditions while the probes help break up the hard ice surface. Accordingly, if enough skiers use the probe system of my invention, it is easy to see that their combined actions would help prevent hard or icy layers from forming on the slopes.
The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which with the foregoing will be apparent from the following description and the drawings. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated and described, since it may be embodied in various forms within the scope of the appended claims.

Method and apparatus for speed and maneuverability control for downhill skiing


A method and device for estimating a target chip index value in a code-division multiple access receiver. The receiver receives signals from a transmitter that uses a plurality of transmitted chips for data transmission through a plurality of multipath channels. As each channel is expressible as a channel impulse response at a given instant in time, the impulse response can be sampled and the samples indexed by a plurality of delay sample indices. The target chip index value can be determined based on the first moment of the delay sample indices over an impulse response.

A code-division multiple access (CDMA) system uses orthogonal spreading codes for simultaneous transmissions of data for multiple users over the same bandwidth. When the chip-rate increases, especially in the high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) extension of wideband code-division multiple access (WCDMA), the underlying multipath channels become frequency selective, destroying the code orthogonality and causing inter-chip interference. Inter-chip interference limits the system capacity and the availability of high data rate services.
To suppress the interference in the downlink, a linear equalization scheme has been proposed for partially restoring the orthogonality of the users' spreading codes. In particular, a linear filter of length N with certain taps is used to produce an equalized output, as shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, a sequence of transmitted chips, s, is used for data transmission through a plurality of multipath channels h. At the receiver, a signal r is received. After the received signal r is filtered by a chip-waveform matched filter, a sequence of samples, y, is observed. Taking noise, n, into account, the received sample sequence can be expressed asy=Hs+n  (1)where H is the Sylvester convolution matrix seen in the expanded matrix representation below:
                              [                                                                      y                  0                                                                                y                  1                                                                                y                  2                                                                                y                  3                                                                                y                  4                                                                                y                  5                                                              ]                =                                            [                                                                                h                      2                                                                                h                      0                                                                                h                      3                                                                                h                      1                                                                                h                      2                                                                                h                      0                                                                                h                      3                                                                                h                      1                                                                                h                      2                                                                                h                      0                                                                                h                      3                                                                                h                      1                                                                                ]                                                  [                                                                                s                      0                                                                                s                      1                                                                                s                      2                                                                                s                      3                                                                                ]                                +                      [                                                                                n                    0                                                                                n                    1                                                                                n                    2                                                                                n                    3                                                                                n                    4                                                                                n                    5                                                                        ]                                              (        2        )            In this matrix representation, h={h0, h1, h2, h3} and there are two samples per chip in to the equalizer. As h is the overall impulse response, it includes the effects of the transmit and receive filters.
For a target chip index D, it is possible to calculate the delay-dependent taps x(D) so as to produce an equalized chip ŜD, which is the minimum mean square error (MMSE) estimate of the Dth chip transmitted, sD, with an error variance PD. In the example above, for y={y0, . . . , y5}, the possible chips to estimate come from s={s0, s1, s2, s3} so that D is chosen from {0, 1, 2, 3}. The filter construction means that one chip is estimated at a time. The problem is to decide, given a sequence of yk values, with k being the sample index, which chip should be estimated. In other words, it is necessary to decide the value of target chip index D.
Al-Dhahir et al. ("Efficiently Computed Reduced-Parameter Input-Aided MMSE Equalizers for ML Detection: A Unified Approach", IEEE Transactions on Information Theory, Vol. 42, No. 3, May 1996) has shown that the effect of the delay parameter on output signal-to-noise ration (SNR) is significant. A non-optimized delay could result in an appreciable performance degradation. Thus, it is important to estimate the delay parameter.
Krauss et al. ("Simple MMSE Equalizers for CDMA Dowlink to Restore Chip Sequence: Comparison to Zero-forcing and Rake", ICASSP 2000) has shown a way to calculate the value of target chip index D by first solving for the error variance PD and then choosingD=arg min (PD)  (3)According to Krauss et al., the minimization of the MMSE gives the filter, x, as the solution of linear equations Ax=b, where A=σs2HH′+σn2I, b=σs2HδD, σn2 is the variance of the noise term n, and H′ is the Hermetian transpose of H. The x, which is the solution of the system of linear equations, represents the taps of the chip level equalizer. The evaluation of the MMSE as a function of D results inMMSE(D)=σs2 (1−x(D)hD),  (4)where hD is the channel impulse response shifted by D chip periods, and x(D) is the Hermetian transpose of x(D). By finding MMSE(D) for D=1, . . . , N, the value of the target chip index D to be estimated is the D that gives the smallest MMSE. This process for finding all the MMSE values is equivalent to computing the complete inverse of A in order to solve for x in a system of linear equations Ax=b.
While the value of target chip index, D, as determined in Krauss et al., can be used to reduce the output mean-square error (MSE), the computation is complex due to the process of solving A−1. This requires the computation of inverse of the matrix A thousands of times per second.
It is advantageous and desirable to provide a simple method and device for estimating the value of target chip index D.

Method of symbol index selection in code division multiple access


A hollow fiber membrane module that increases a ratio of a membrane area contributing to membrane separation effect. On an inner wall surface of a case 100, at least one flow-straightening projection 130 and at least one flow-disturbing projection 140 are provided. The flow-straightening projection 130 projects toward an outer circumferential surface of a hollow fiber membrane bundle 300 to secure a gap between the inner wall surface of the case 100 and the hollow fiber membrane bundle 300 and extends from one end side toward the other end side of the case 100 and straightens a flow of fluid. The flow-disturbing projection 140 extends along a circumferential direction of the case 100 and disturbs the flow of the fluid.

In a solid polymer fuel cell, a humidifying device including a hollow fiber membrane is provided in order to humidify an electrolyte membrane. A conventional hollow fiber membrane module will be explained with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic sectional view of a conventional hollow fiber membrane module. FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic sectional view of a case of the conventional hollow fiber membrane module. FIG. 8 illustrates the configuration of an inner wall surface of the case.
A hollow fiber membrane module 500 includes a tubular case 510. Heads 520 and 530 are respectively attached to both ends of the case 510. A hollow fiber membrane bundle 540 is housed in the case 510. Further, a pair of sealing and fixing sections 550 and 560 each sealing, on one end side and the other end side of the case 510, opening sections at both ends of the case 510 in a state in which the inside of hollows of hollow fiber membranes are opened and fixing the hollow fiber membrane bundle 540 to the case 510 is provided.
An intra-membrane channel that passes the inside of hollows of the hollow fiber membranes and an extra-membrane channel that passes outer wall surface sides of the hollow fiber membranes are formed in the hollow fiber membrane module 500. Specifically, the intra-membrane channel is a channel (indicated by an arrow Y) from the head 530 side to the head 520 side through the inside of hollows of the hollow fiber membranes in the hollow fiber membrane bundle 540. The extra-membrane channel is a channel (indicated by an arrow X) from an inlet 511 of the extra-membrane channel provided in the case 510 to an outlet 512 of the extra-membrane channel provided in the case 510 through the outer wall surface sides of the hollow fiber membranes in the hollow fiber membrane bundle 540.
The hollow fiber membrane module 500 with a hydrophilic material used as a material of the hollow fiber membranes can be used for a humidifying device. For example, moist air is allowed to flow in the arrow X direction through the extra-membrane channel and dry air is allowed to flow in the arrow Y direction through the intra-membrane channel. Then, moisture in the moist air is fed to the dry air by membrane separation effect of the hollow fiber membranes, to thereby humidify the dry air. Since the moisture is taken away from the moist air, the hollow fiber membrane module 500 may be used also as a dehumidifying device for drying the moist air.
In order to improve humidifying efficiency of the hollow fiber membrane module 500, it is important to increase a ratio of a membrane area contributing to the membrane separation effect with respect to a membrane area of the entire hollow fiber membranes to be housed in the case 510. When the outer circumferential surface of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 540 adheres to the entire inner wall surface of the case 510, a flow of fluid near the inlet 511 and near the outlet 512 tends to concentrate. To cope with this, the conventional hollow fiber membrane module 500 is provided with a flow-straightening projection 513 for straightening the flow of the fluid on the inner wall surface of the case 510. The flow-straightening projection 513 projects toward the outer circumferential surface of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 540 to secure a gap between the inner wall surface of the case 510 and the hollow fiber membrane bundle 540 and extends from one end side of the case 510 toward the other end side of the case 510. The flow-straightening projection 513 can prevent concentration of the flow of the fluid near the inlet 511 and near the outlet 512, to thereby increase the ratio of the membrane area contributing to the membrane separation effect.
However, in the conventional structure explained above, since a gap S is provided between the inner wall surface of the case 510 and the hollow fiber membrane bundle 540, the fluid (e.g., the moist air) entering from the inlet 511 tends to flow to the vicinity of the sealing and fixing section 560. Thus, a flow indicated by an arrow X0 in FIG. 7 tends to be a main flow and a flow rate of the fluid flowing in the bundle near the center of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 540 tends to decrease. Therefore, there is still room of improvement in order to increase the ratio of the membrane area contributing to the membrane separation effect.


The present invention provides 5′ modified nucleosides and oligomeric compounds prepared therefrom. More particularly, the present invention provides modified nucleosides having at least one 5′-substituent and an optional 2′ substituent, oligomeric compounds comprising at least one of these modified nucleosides and methods of using the oligomeric compounds. In some embodiments, the oligomeric compounds provided herein are expected to hybridize to a portion of a target RNA resulting in loss of normal function of the target RNA.

Targeting disease-causing gene sequences was first suggested more than thirty years ago (Belikova et al., Tet. Lett., 1967, 37, 3557-3562), and antisense activity was demonstrated in cell culture more than a decade later (Zamecnik et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 1978, 75, 280-284). One advantage of antisense technology in the treatment of a disease or condition that stems from a disease-causing gene is that it is a direct genetic approach that has the ability to modulate (increase or decrease) the expression of specific disease-causing genes. Another advantage is that validation of a therapeutic target using antisense compounds results in direct and immediate discovery of the drug candidate; the antisense compound is the potential therapeutic agent.
Generally, the principle behind antisense technology is that an antisense compound hybridizes to a target nucleic acid and modulates gene expression activities or function, such as transcription or translation. The modulation of gene expression can be achieved by, for example, target degradation or occupancy-based inhibition. An example of modulation of RNA target function by degradation is RNase H-based degradation of the target RNA upon hybridization with a DNA-like antisense compound. Another example of modulation of gene expression by target degradation is RNA interference (RNAi). RNAi generally refers to antisense-mediated gene silencing involving the introduction of dsRNA leading to the sequence-specific reduction of targeted endogenous mRNA levels. An additional example of modulation of RNA target function by an occupancy-based mechanism is modulation of microRNA function. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that regulate the expression of protein-coding RNAs. The binding of an antisense compound to a microRNA prevents that microRNA from binding to its messenger RNA targets, and thus interferes with the function of the microRNA. Regardless of the specific mechanism, this sequence-specificity makes antisense compounds extremely attractive as tools for target validation and gene functionalization, as well as therapeutics to selectively modulate the expression of genes involved in the pathogenesis of malignancies and other diseases.
Antisense technology is an effective means for reducing the expression of one or more specific gene products and can therefore prove to be uniquely useful in a number of therapeutic, diagnostic, and research applications. Chemically modified nucleosides are routinely used for incorporation into antisense compounds to enhance one or more properties, such as nuclease resistance, pharmacokinetics or affinity for a target RNA. In 1998, the antisense compound, Vitravene® (fomivirsen; developed by Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc., Carlsbad, Calif.) was the first antisense drug to achieve marketing clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and is currently a treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV)-induced retinitis in AIDS patients.
New chemical modifications have improved the potency and efficacy of antisense compounds, uncovering the potential for oral delivery as well as enhancing subcutaneous administration, decreasing potential for side effects, and leading to improvements in patient convenience. Chemical modifications increasing potency of antisense compounds allow administration of lower doses, which reduces the potential for toxicity, as well as decreasing overall cost of therapy. Modifications increasing the resistance to degradation result in slower clearance from the body, allowing for less frequent dosing. Different types of chemical modifications can be combined in one compound to further optimize the compound's efficacy.
The synthesis of 5′-substituted DNA and RNA derivatives and their incorporation into oligomeric compounds has been reported in the literature (Saha et al., J. Org. Chem., 1995, 60, 788-789; Wang et al., Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 1999, 9, 885-890; and Mikhailov et al., Nucleosides & Nucleotides, 1991, 10(1-3), 339-343; Leonid et al., 1995, 14(3-5), 901-905; and Eppacher et al., Helvetica Chimica Acta, 2004, 87, 3004-3020). The 5′-substituted monomers have also been made as the monophosphate with modified bases (Wang et al., Nucleosides Nucleotides & Nucleic Acids, 2004, 23 (1 & 2), 317-337).
A genus of modified nucleosides including optional modification at a plurality of positions including the 5′-position and the 2′-position of the sugar ring and oligomeric compounds incorporating these modified nucleosides therein has been reported (see International Application Number: PCT/US94/02993, Published on Oct. 13, 1994 as WO 94/22890).
The synthesis of 5′-CH2 substituted 2′-O-protected nucleosides and their incorporation into oligomers has been previously reported (see Wu et al., Helvetica Chimica Acta, 2000, 83, 1127-1143 and Wu et al. Bioconjugate Chem. 1999, 10, 921-924).
Amide linked nucleoside dimers have been prepared for incorporation into oligonucleotides wherein the 3′ linked nucleoside in the dimer (5′ to 3′) comprises a 2′-OCH3 and a 5′-(S)—CH3 (Mesmaeker et al., Synlett, 1997, 1287-1290).
A genus of 2′-substituted 5′-CH2 (or O) modified nucleosides and a discussion of incorporating them into oligonucleotides has been previously reported (see International Application Number: PCT/US92/01020, published on Feb. 7, 1992 as WO 92/13869).
The preparation of 5′ methylenephosphonate DNA and RNA monomers, dimers, oligomers comprising these dimers and Tm evaluations of these oligomers have been reported (see Böhringer et al., Tet. Lett., 1993, 34, 2723-2726; Collingwood et al., Synlett, 1995, 7, 703-705; and Huffer et al., Helvetica Chimica Acta, 2002, 85, 2777-2806).
The synthesis of modified 5′-phosphonate monomers having 2′-substitution and their use to make modified antiviral dimers has been previously reported (see U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/418,662, published on Apr. 6, 2006 as US 2006/0074035). Other modified 5′-phosphonate monomers and their use to make dimeric compounds for oligonucleotide synthesis have also been described (see published International Application WO 97/35869).
A genus of 5′-modified methylenephosphonate monomers and their use to make dimeric compounds for oligonucleotide synthesis have been described. Their Tm evaluations and biological activities have also been reported (see published EP Applications 614907 and 629633).
Various analogs of 5′ or 6′-phosphonate ribonucleosides comprising a hydroxyl group at the 5′ and or 6′ position have been prepared and reported in the literature (see Chen et al., Phosphorus, Sulfur and Silicon, 2002, 177, 1783-1786; Jung et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem., 2000, 8, 2501-2509, Gallier et al., Eur. J. Org. Chem., 2007, 925-933 and Hampton et al., J. Med. Chem., 1976, 19(8), 1029-1033).
The synthesis of 5′-phosphonate deoxyribonucleoside monomers and dimers having a 5′-phosphate group and their incorporation into oligomeric compounds have been described. Their physico-chemical properties including thermal stability as well as substrate activity toward certain nucleases have also been discussed (see Nawrot et al., Oligonucleotides, 2006, 16(1), 68-82).
Nucleosides having a 6′-phosphonate group have been reported wherein the 5′ or/and 6′-position is unsubstituted or substituted with a thio-tert-butyl group (SC(CH3)3) (and analogs thereof); a methyleneamino group (CH2NH2) (and analogs thereof) or a cyano group (CN) (and analogs thereof) (see Fairhurst et al., Synlett, 2001, 4, 467-472; Kappler et al., J. Med. Chem., 1986, 29, 1030-1038 and J. Med. Chem., 1982, 25, 1179-1184; Vrudhula et al., J. Med. Chem., 1987, 30, 888-894; Hampton et al., J. Med. Chem., 1976, 19, 1371-1377; Geze et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc, 1983, 105(26), 7638-7640 and Hampton et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1973, 95(13), 4404-4414).


A system for monitoring and controlling the electrical infrastructure of a building includes at least one sensor for sensing an operating characteristic in the building, and a processor for receiving information from the at least one sensor and predicting a future operating characteristic.

The present invention relates to building electrical system monitoring and control.
U.S. Patent Application Publication US 2007/0155349 (Nelson et al.) discloses a system for selectively controlling electrical outlets using power profiling. An electrical outlet includes a socket for receiving a plug, an outlet identification and a signal detector for detecting a signal from the plug, for sending the signal and outlet identification to a controller, and for receiving a command from the controller, such as to reduce or cut power to the device plugged into the outlet when the device's operation deviates from an operational profile for the device. The system may be used with motion sensors and other environmental components.
Blemel and Furse, "Applications of Microsystems and Signal Processing for Wiring Integrity Monitoring", 2001 IEEE Aerospace Symposium, 12 pages, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discuss detection and prevention of wiring related problems in aerospace vehicles. Blemel presents a system in which sensors in an aircraft interface with processors; the processors are networked together on an aircraft and are able to communicate with a central web server. The processors implement algorithms for fault detection, identification, location, prediction and messaging.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,991,327 (Kojori) discloses a controller that receives a plurality of sensor readings, including some extra readings for diagnostic protection, and processes the readings to predict and control voltages and currents in an electric arc furnace.
An arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) is a circuit breaker designed to prevent fires by detecting non-working electrical arcs and disconnect power before the arc starts a fire. Arc faults in a home are one of the leading causes for household fires. AFCIs resemble a GFCI/RCD (Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupt/Residual-Current Device) in that they both have a test button. GFCIs are designed to protect against electrical shock, while AFCIs are primarily designed to protect against fire.
Starting with the 1999 version of the National Electrical Code (NEC, also called NFPA 70) in the United States, AFCIs are required in all circuits that feed receptacles in bedrooms of dwelling units. This requirement is typically accomplished by using a kind of circuit-breaker (defined by UL 1699) in the breaker panel that provides combined arc-fault and overcurrent protection. Not all U.S.A. jurisdictions have adopted the AFCI requirements of the NEC as written. An AFCI detects sudden bursts of electrical current in milliseconds, long before a standard circuit breaker or fuse would trip.
In 2002, the NEC removed the word "receptacle" leaving "outlets", in effect adding lights within dwelling bedrooms to the requirement. The 2005 code made it more clear that all outlets must be protected. "Outlets" is defined in "Article 100 Definitions" of the NEC as "A point on the wiring system where current is taken to supply utilization equipment" and this includes receptacles, light fixtures, and smoke alarms, among other things.
Beginning January 2008, only "combination type" AFCIs will meet the NEC requirement. The 2008 NEC requires installation of combination-type AFCIs in all 15 and 20 amp residential circuits with the exception of laundries, kitchens, bathrooms, and garage, and unfinished basements.
Zigbee is a wireless technology that does not have the speed or bandwidth of Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, but is designed for wireless building controls. ZigBee is based on IEEE Standard 802.15.4 and creates a self-organizing wireless network where any ZigBee-compliant device introduced into the environment is automatically incorporated into the network as a node. A number of manufacturers are currently developing devices that incorporate this technology, including switches, thermostats and other common monitoring and control devices. ZigBee devices are battery powered, which means that they do not need any interconnecting wiring. These devices remain dormant until they are activated by an incoming signal, so their batteries can last for months or even years without replacement.
ZigBee devices have the ability to form a mesh network between nodes. Meshing is a type of daisy chaining from one device to another. This technique allows the short range of an individual node to be expanded and multiplied, covering a much larger area. One ZigBee network can contain more than 65,000 nodes (active devices). The network they form in cooperation with each other may take the shape of a star, a branching tree or a net (mesh). There are three categories of ZigBee devices: ZigBee Network Coordinator. Smart node that automatically initiates the formation of the network. ZigBee Router. Another smart node that links groups together and provides multi-hopping for messages. It associates with other routers and end-devices. ZigBee End Devices. Sensors, actuators, monitors, switches, dimmers and other controllers.
Z-Wave is an interoperable standard for residential and light commercial devices, providing reliable, confirmable, low bandwidth, half duplex two way control communications via wireless mesh neworking. The Z-Wave development platform is described at www.zen-sys.com. The Z-Wave Protocol is for communicating short control messages from a control unit to one or more slave units. Slave units can forward commands to other slave units. The ZM3102N Z-Wave Module contains the ZW0301 Z-Wave Single Chip, system crystal and RF front-end circuitry. The ZW0301 Single Chip includes an RF transceiver, 8051 MCU core, SRAM, Flash Memory for Z-Wave Protocol and OEM Application storage software, Triac Controller, and various hardware interfaces.
Motorola sells Home Monitoring and Control System Wireless Temperature Sensors, namely model HMTS1050 and model HMSM4150, that are intended to be placed in a room, and programmed with an upper and/or lower limit. When the limit is exceeded, the system sends a text alert to a cell phone or e-mail.
While there is concern about the electrical infrastructure of buildings, including residential and commercial, there is still room for improvement.

Electrical monitoring and control system


A self-retracting and damping device for a drawer element, having a first driver, which has a first driver fork for the engagement of an external activator and is guided in a displaceable manner in a first guide curve, and having a second driver, which is guided in a displaceable manner in a second guide curve. One of the drivers is coupled to a damping element and the other driver is coupled to an energy store. The two drivers are coupled to one another in part. The first driver is coupled to the energy store and the second driver is coupled to the damping element. In a first part of a retracting movement, the energy store and the damping element act on the external activator and, in a second part of the retracting movement, only the energy store acts on the external activator.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to a self-retracting and damping device for a drawer element having a first driver, which has a first driver fork for the engagement of an external activator and which is displaceably guided in a first guide curve, and having a second driver, which is displaceably guided in a second guide curve. In this case, one of the drivers is coupled to a damping element and the other of the drivers is coupled to an energy storage unit, wherein the two drivers are coupled together in part. Exemplary embodiments of the invention also relate to a piece of furniture or a domestic appliance with at least one drawer element.
Self-retracting and damping devices are used for a damped active retraction of a sliding element into a retracted or an extended end position. Suitable sliding elements are, for example, movable furniture components or movable elements of a domestic appliance such as a drawer, an appliance carrier or a food carrier. The sliding elements are usually mounted on a guide device, such as a pull-out guide, so that they can be pulled out of a furniture body or an interior space of the domestic appliance. Domestic appliances in this sense are in particular refrigeration appliances, for example refrigerators or freezers, but also cooking appliances such as ovens or steam cookers, and dishwashers. Sliding elements are also movable doors, furniture doors as well as living room doors or room dividers with folding doors, which are mounted on a guide rail via guide elements. Alternatively, the sliding elements can also be used in workshop trolleys, in the medical sector or in pharmacy cabinets.
For comfortable operation of the sliding elements, the self-retracting and damping devices mentioned above are provided, which dampen a movement of the sliding element into an end position and pull the sliding element into this end position. For this purpose, at least one external activator is mounted either on the moving sliding element and/or on the guide device guiding this element, which activator is connected to a driver of the self-retracting and damping device correspondingly on the moving sliding element or on the guide device guiding this element, so that accelerating and/or decelerating forces can be transmitted between the self-retracting and damping device and the sliding element. The self-retracting and damping device may be integrated into the guide device or mounted as a separate unit within the furniture body or the interior space of the domestic appliance to couple with the external activator.
The self-retracting and damping device may be associated with the fixed part of the furniture item, domestic appliance or guide, in which case the external activator is located on the movable drawer element or on the movable part of the guide. However, the arrangement may also be reversed in such a way that the self-retracting and damping device is located on the movable drawer element or on the movable part of the guide, while the external activator is associated with the fixed part of the furniture, domestic appliance or guide.
Self-retracting and damping devices are known that have a driver that is displaceably guided in a guide curve and which is coupled to both a damping element and an energy storage unit. In this case, damping forces and the self-retracting forces applied by the energy storage unit act over the same displacement path of the one driver, unless the damping element provides damping only for part of the displacement path due to its internal structure.
In addition, a self-retracting and damping device is known from the publication KR 2012 000 2183 A, in which two separate drivers are each guided in their own guide curve. A first driver is designed for coupling with the external activator. This driver is guided in a longer guide curve than the second driver, which is coupled to a self-retracting spring. In a first movement section, only the first driver moves with the activator and dampens the movement of the drawer element in this movement section. After this first movement section, an internal driver arranged on the first driver engages in a driver fork of the second driver so that the first and second drivers are coupled together, wherein the external activator still engages in the driver fork of the first driver. This is followed by a second movement section in which damping takes place together with a self-retracting mechanism until the drawer element has reached the retracted end position.
In some applications, in particular for drawer elements of cooling appliances or also for drawer elements which engage in a locking element in their fully retracted position, a movement sequence of a self-retracting and damping device is advantageous in which the greatest possible forces act at the end of the retraction path in order to achieve the safest possible retraction into the fully retracted end position of the drawer element. Self-retracting and damping devices cannot do this according to the prior art described. This also applies to the fully extended end position if, for example, a sliding element designed as a drawer, device carrier or food carrier is unloaded or loaded in this end position. Then it is advantageous that the sliding element remains safely in the fully extended end position. In order to achieve this goal, separate mechanisms with additional components are necessary in the prior art.
Exemplary embodiments are, therefore, directed to a self-retracting and damping device providing the greatest possible self-retracting forces when traveling into the fully retracted and/or extended position of the connected drawer element in order to ensure retraction into the end position of the drawer element. Exemplary embodiments are also directed to a piece of furniture or domestic appliance with such a self-retracting and damping device.
A self-retracting and damping device according to the invention is characterized in that the first driver is coupled to the energy storage unit and the second driver is coupled to the damping element, wherein in a first section of a retracting movement the energy storage unit and the damping element act on the external activator and in a second section of the retracting movement only the energy storage unit acts on the external activator.
As a result, a coupled drawer element experiences a damped self-retracting movement in the first section when it is pulled into the end position. At the end of the first section, the coupling between the first and second drivers is released and the remaining second section of the displacement path of the self-retracting and damping device occurs in a non-damped manner, so that only the self-retracting forces act. This second section, in which the self-retracting and damping device no longer acts in a damping manner, leads to a safer reaching of the end position for the coupled drawer element. At the end of the second section, the first driver and thus the external activator are retracted as far as possible into the self-retracting and damping device.
One reason for this lies in the friction losses switched off in the second section, which the damping element itself introduces into the motion sequence. Another reason is that the damping element keeps the retraction speed low, which is basically desired, but especially in the last section of the self-retraction there is a danger that the drawer element will move from a sliding or rolling friction in its pull-out guide into a static friction that interrupts the movement.
The slightly increased retraction speed, due to the decoupling of the damping element in the second section of the displacement path, prevents the stop of the drawer element by the commencement of static friction instead of rolling or sliding friction when guiding the drawer element. With the self-retracting and damping device according to the invention, the self-retracting function and the damping function are each assigned to one of the drivers. The coupling between the drivers can be clearly determined mechanically by design. In this way it is possible to specify the ratio of the length of the first or second section to the total travel distance.
The preferred length of the second section is between 20% and 40% and in particular between 30% and 35% of the total displacement of the first carrier. The total displacement path corresponds to the sum of the length of the first and second sections. In typical applications, the specified conditions represent a good compromise between sufficient damping and safe insertion into the end position.
In an advantageous embodiment of the self-retracting and damping device, the second driver has a second driver fork to interact with an internal activator arranged on the first driver to couple the two drivers together. In the first section of the retraction movement, the first driver with its internal activator preferably engages in the second driver fork of the second driver in order to couple the two drivers. At the end of the first section, the second driver is guided through the second guide curve in such a way that the coupling between the two drivers is eliminated in the second section of the displacement path. This can be implemented in a constructively simple and reliable manner in that the second guide curve has an angled end section in the transition area between the first and second sections, with the angled end section pointing away from the first guide curve. A retraction of the second driver (or part of the second driver) into the angled end section moves the driver fork at least on one side away from the internal activator, which is then released and can move further into the second section of the retraction movement.
In another advantageous embodiment of the self-retracting and damping device, a detent means is arranged in the area of the angled end section of the second guide curve, which fixes the second driver in the end section. This prevents the second driver from slipping back out of the angled end section, especially if the angled end section is pointing downwards due to gravity.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the self-retracting and damping device, the energy storage unit has at least one tension spring and/or at least one compression spring. The above springs can also be combined, for example by the energy storage unit having a tension spring and a compression spring which are connected to each other via a coupling carriage which is guided in a sliding manner on a housing of the self-retracting and damping device. This combination enables a long displacement path of the first driver with a short installation length of the energy storage unit.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the self-retracting and damping device, the damping element is a linear damper. In principle, other types of damping elements, e.g., a rotary damper, can also be used, but a linear damper is advantageous for a linear displacement movement of the second driver.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the self-retracting and damping device, the second guide curve has at least one evasion section running obliquely to the main guide direction to enable an evasive movement of the second driver in a direction transverse to the main guide direction. Due to transport or installation, a situation may occur in which the internal activator of the first driver is not positioned in the second driver fork, although the first driver is in the first section of the retraction movement. In order to be able to move the internal activator back into the second driver fork, the evasion sections are provided in the guide curve. Preferably, the second driver has a spring lance protruding into its travel, which exerts a restoring force on the second driver during the evasive movement. This results in a resilient evasive movement. When the two drivers are correctly positioned again due to the evasive movement, the second driver springs back and the second driver fork grips the internal activator positively again to establish a coupling of the two drivers.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the self-retracting and damping device, at least one edge of the second guide curve is designed to be flexible in sections in order to enable an evasive movement of the second driver in a direction transverse to the main guide direction. This alternative embodiment also allows an evasive movement of the second driver in order to correct an incorrect positioning of the two drivers. If the second guide curve is formed in a wall of a housing of the self-retracting and damping device, compliance can be advantageously achieved by one or more incisions formed adjacent and preferably parallel to the second guide curve in the wall.
A piece of furniture or domestic appliance according to the invention having at least one drawer element is characterized in that it has at least one of the self-retracting and damping devices described above acting on the drawer element. In this case, the self-retracting and damping device can be stationary relative to a body of the furniture or domestic appliance and interact with an external activator connected to the drawer element. Alternatively, the self-retracting and damping device may be located on the drawer element and interact with a stationary external activator. This results in the advantages mentioned in connection with the self-retracting and damping device.
The self-retracting and damping device according to the invention can be used for any end positions of the drawer element. The particularly advantageous application serves to retract the drawer element into a retracted closed position within the piece of furniture or domestic appliance. In the same way, it is also possible to use the self-retracting and damping device to retract the drawer element into an open position, in which the drawer element is brought into its extended end position outside the furniture body or domestic appliance. For example, two or more self-retracting and damping devices can be combined to retract and dampen a drawer element in both the closed and open positions.

Self-retracting and damping device for a drawer element, and piece of furniture or domestic appliance having at least one drawer element


A process for removing endotoxin from Gram-negative polysaccharides such as H. influenzae polyribosylribitol phosphate by mixing with a nonionic resin, a detergent and a chelating agent.

The invention is a process for removing bacterial endotoxin from gram negative polysaccharides without incurring substantial loss of polysaccharide.
Bacterial endotoxin is a potent pyrogen that can often produce fever reactions when administered to patients. Endotoxin is an integral component of the outer cell surface of Gram-negative bacteria. It exists in its natural state as a complex of lipid, carbohydrate and protein. When highly purified, endotoxin does not contain protein, and by its chemical composition is referred to as a lipopolysaccharide (see Weary and Pearson, Bio. Pharm. April (1988) pp. 22-29).
The outer-wall layer of Gram-negative bacteria serves as an outer barrier through which materials must penetrate if they are to reach the cell. It is selectively permeable. Generally, endotoxin is released in large amounts only when the cell wall is lysed.
Removal of contaminating endotoxin from Gram-negative polysaccharides is important when the polysaccharide is to be administered to humans. Endotoxins in large quantities can cause shock, severe diarrhea, fever and leukopenia followed by leukocytosis, and can elicit the Shwartzman and Sanarelli-Shwartzman phenomena.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,624 describes covalently-modified polyanionic bacterial polysaccharides, stable covalent conjugates of these polysaccharides with immunogenic proteins, and methods of preparing the polysaccharides and conjugates and of confirming covalency. The patent describes purification of the polysaccharide in Example 1, beginning in column 14. After fermentation, inactivation and cell removal, the resulting product undergoes a series of cold ethanol fractionations. Following phenol extractions are diafiltration, ethanol precipitation, ultracentrifugation in ethanol, and collection of the finished product.
Frequently, the amount of contaminating endotoxin remaining after the above-described procedure is higher than desired.
Sweadner, K. et al., Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol. 34, pp. 382-385 (1977) explains that lipopolysaccharide often exist in an aggregated state, and that dissociating the lipopolysaccharide with detergent or chelating agents can facilitate its removal from aqueous solutions by filtration. Shands, J. et al., J. Biological Chemistry, Vol. 255, pp. 1221-1226 (1980), show that lipopolysaccharide is associated with divalent cations, and that dispersion of Gram-negative lipopolysaccharides can be achieved using deoxycholate.
McIntire, et al, Biochemistry, Vol. 8, No. 10, pp. 4063-4066 (1969) describes reversible inactivation, by sodium deoxycholate, of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide. Ribi, et al., Journal of Bacteriology, Vol. 92, No. 5, pp. 1493-1509 (1966) described physical and biological properties of endotoxin treated with sodium deoxycholate.
Methods for removing endotoxin which are known in the art are described by Weary and Pearson (ibid): rinsing with nonpyrogenic solution (Feldstine et al., J. Parenter. Drug Assoc., 33, p. 125 (1979) and Berman et al., J. Parenter. Sci. Technol., 41, p. 158 (1987); distillation; ultrafiltration using membranes rated by molecular weight exclusion (Sweadner et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 34, p. 382 (1977) and Henderson et al., Kidney Int., 14, p. 522 (1978); reverse osmosis using thin cellulose acetate or polyamide materials (Nelson, Pharm. Technol., 2, p. 46 (1978); electrostatic attraction (Gerba et al., Pharm Technol., 4, p. 83 (1980) and Hou et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 40, p. 892 (1980); hydrophobic attraction using aliphatic Polymers (Robinson et al., in Depyrogenation (Parenteral Drug Association, Philadelphia (1985), pp. 54-69); adsorption using activated carbon (Berger et al., Adv. Chem. Ser., 16, p. 168 (1956), Gemmell et al., Pharm J., 154, p. 126 (1945), and Brindle et al., Pharm J., 157, p. 85 (1946); and affinity chromatography (Soter, Bio/Technology, 12, p. 1035 (1984).
Sawada, et al., Applied and Environmental Microbiology, April 1986, pp. 813-820, describe removal of endotoxin from water by microfiltration through a microporous polyethylene hollow-fiber membrane. Gerba et al., Applied and Environmental Microbiology, December 1985, pp. 1375-1377, describe endotoxin removal from various solution using charged nylon and cellulose-diatomaceous earth filters. Nolan et al., Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, Vol. 149, pp. 766-770 (1975), describe endotoxin binding by charged and uncharged resins.
It is a purpose of the present invention to provide an effective, accurate method for obtaining Gram-negative polysaccharide mixtures having low or negligable levels of endotoxin.
It is also a purpose of the present invention to remove high levels of endotoxin from Gram-negative polysaccharides without incurring substantial loss of polysaccharides.

Process for removing bacterial endotoxin from gram-negative polysaccharides


A method and structure for forming hybrid high mobility channel transistors. The method includes: providing a substrate, epitaxially growing a buffer layer over the substrate and a semiconductor layer over the buffer layer, forming a partial opening over the semiconductor layer, epitaxially growing a second semiconductor layer in the opening, forming a first plurality of fins from the first semiconductor layer and a second plurality of fins from the second semiconductor layer, where the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor material comprise different materials, oxidizing a portion of the second plurality of fins, and stripping the oxidized portion of the second plurality of fins, where after striping the oxidized portion of the second plurality of fins, the second plurality of fins have the same width as the first plurality of fins.

The present application relates to semiconductor technology, and more particularly to a method and structure for forming hybrid high mobility channel transistors.
For more than three decades, the continued miniaturization of metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) has driven the worldwide semiconductor industry. Various showstoppers to continued scaling have been predicated for decades, but a history of innovation has sustained Moore's Law in spite of many challenges. However, there are growing signs today that metal oxide semiconductor transistors are beginning to reach their traditional scaling limits. Since it has become increasingly difficult to improve MOSFETs and therefore complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) performance through continued scaling, further methods for improving performance in addition to scaling have become critical.
The use of non-planar semiconductor devices such as, for example, silicon fin field effect transistors (FinFETs) is the next step in the evolution of complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) devices. Silicon fin field effect transistors (FETs) can achieve higher drive currents with increasingly smaller dimensions as compared to conventional planar FETs. In order to extend these devices for multiple technology nodes such as, for example, 10 nm and beyond, there is a need to boost the performance with high-mobility channels.

Hybrid high mobility channel transistors

International Business Machines Corporation


A system, method and program product for updating first and second parameters of a recipient computer console from first and second donor computer consoles. The recipient console registers with the first donor console to receive notification when the first donor console has an update to the first parameter. The recipient console registers with the second donor console to receive notification when the second donor console has an update to the second parameter. After registering the recipient console with the first donor console, the recipient console receives the notification from the first donor console and updates the first parameter from the first donor console accordingly. After registering the recipient console with the second donor console, the recipient console receives notification from the second donor console and updates the second parameter from the second donor console accordingly. The parameters can be a help desk phone number, an identity of an authorized user or an authorization of a user.

The invention relates generally to computer systems, and deals more particularly with updating parameters for computer consoles and other computer devices.
Computer servers and clusters of computer servers are well known today. Typically, there is a console for each server or cluster of servers to control the servers. The console may comprise a computer workstation with server control software and a user interface to enter commands to control the servers. The control functions for the servers include power-on, power-off, IML, IPL, scheduled operations, change management to the server software, and configuration of the servers. There are also parameters associated with the server(s) or console: user IDs and passwords of the console operators, groupings of servers managed by the console, account information, default settings for the displays, a help desk telephone number for the console operator, a language designation for text on the screens, IP address of the console, IP address of each server managed by the console, etc. These parameters are stored in the console for operation or display as needed. It is often needed that some of the parameters, such as account information, server grouping information, help desk telephone number, user ID and passwords, user permissions, and default settings are maintained the same at different consoles.
In some environments, there are multiple clusters of servers at different geographic locations, with one or more control console for each cluster. The consoles may include the same server control software and may control similar types of servers. Therefore, the consoles may need the same software updates as they become available. However, not all the consoles will need the same parameters. For example, the operators of some consoles may use a different help desk telephone number and speak a different language than operators of other consoles. Likewise, some consoles may have different default settings and account information than other consoles. The parameters for each of the consoles and their respective servers can be entered manually by an operator one-by-one into the console. Alternately, an operator at one console could save the parameters to removable media, such as a diskette, and then deliver the disk to another console where it was loaded in. Some of the parameters occasionally change. While these techniques for entering the parameters are effective, they are labor intensive and prone to human error.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to improve the process of loading the proper parameters in each console.

Selective update of console parameters from other consoles


An email message delivery system is disclosed that enables the efficient processing and delivery of email messages by selectively sampling and scanning email messages prior to delivering the email messages to its intended recipients. The system selects an email message for processing and determines a group for the email message. The system determines a sampling probability for the group and based on the sampling probability determines whether the email message is selected for scanning. If the email message is selected for scanning, the system scans content of the email message and based on the scanning, determines whether the email message is to be filtered out. If the email message is not to be filtered out based on the scanning, the system relays the email message for delivery to the recipient.

Several cloud service providers offer cloud-based email delivery services that provide a fast and reliable solution for customers of these services to send high volumes of emails to their intended recipients. These emails may include marketing emails, transactional emails, alert emails, verification emails, and other types of emails. An example of such an email delivery service is the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) Email Delivery service provided by Oracle Corporation. The OCI Email Delivery service provides a platform that uses key deliverability metrics to ensure the best sending reputation possible for customer's emails.
Due to the increasing popularity of email delivery services, the volume of emails processed by these services continues to rise rapidly. In certain situations, the processing of large volumes of email messages may require the scanning of messages for their content prior to delivery to recipients. Content scanning can be an expensive, computationally intensive, and time consuming process. Existing architectures implementing these services need to be improved to make the services scalable, cost effective, and reliable.

Email filtering system for email, delivery systems


Novel N-acetyl-.beta.-D-glucosamine derivatives represented by the following formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or an acyl group; and X represents a nitrogen atom or an oxide of nitrogen, are disclosed. The glucosamine derivatives are useful for determination of N-acetyl-.beta.-D-glucosaminidase in body fluids as an index of renal diseases.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to novel N-acetyl-.beta.-D-glucosamine derivatives, a process for preparation thereof, a method for determining N-acetyl-.beta.-D-glucosaminidase activity and application to reagents for assaying N-acetyl-.beta.-D-glucosaminidase activity.
2. Description of the Prior Art
N-Acetyl-.beta.-D-glucosaminidase (hereinafter simply referred to as NAGase) is one of enzymes in lysosome distributed in the kidney tubular epithelium in large quantities and participates in decomposition of glycoprotein or mucopolysaccharide. It is recognized that urinary NAGase increases in various renal diseases such as acute renal deficiency, glomerulonephritis, etc. or in postoperative kidney. It is also recognized that NAGase increases in the case of diabetes not only in urine but in serum. As an aid of diagnosis and course observation of various renal diseases and also as an index of studies of a drug on renal toxicity, attention has been brought to assay for NAGase in clinical field and animal experiments.
As substrates for determining NAGase activity hitherto known, there are, for example, p-nitrophenyl-N-acetyl-.beta.-D-glucosaminide [Methods Enzymol., 28, 702 (1972)] and 4-methylumbelliferyl-N-acetyl-.beta.-D-glucosaminide [Clinica. Chemica. Acta., 24, 189 (1969)] and m-cresolsulfonephthaleinyl-N-acetyl-.beta.-D-glucosaminide [Clin. Chem., 29, 1713 (1983)].
In case that p-nitrophenyl-N-acetyl-.beta.-D-glucosaminide described above is used as substrate for determination of NAGase activity, however, the substrate encounters defects that it is affected by yellow substances in urine to increase blank data, since the formed p-nitrophenol is measured at a wavelength at about 400 nm and measurement accuracy is seriously reduced, etc. 4-Methylumbelliferyl-N-acetyl-.beta.-D-glucosaminide involves defects that it is also affected in blank data and requires special devices such as a fluorophotometer, etc. Furthermore, in the case of using p-nitrophenyl-N-acetyl-.beta.-D-glucosaminide and m-cresolsulfonephthaleinyl-N-acetyl-.beta.-D-glucosaminide, aglycone formed by the action of enzyme is colorimetrically determined in such a highly alkaline pH region of the reaction solution as approximately 10 to 11 so that the enzyme reaction must be discontinued; hence, the substrate is disadvantageous in that continuous determination of the enzyme activity is performed only with extreme difficulty.

Novel N-acetyl-.beta.-D-glucosamine derivatives and a process for production thereof as well as application to reagents for assaying N-acetyl-.beta.-D-glucosaminidase activity


A touch panel and a touch-sensitive display device capable of providing three-dimensional contact detection are provided. The touch panel includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and an insulating layer between the first and second conductive layers. The insulating layer includes a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) film.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to sensing technology, and more particularly, to a touch panel with a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) film and a touch-sensitive display device using the touch panel.
2. Description of Related Art
With developments in flat panel display (FPD) and sensing technologies, touch-sensitive display devices are used widely in electronic devices such as notebooks, personal digital assistants (PDAs), video cameras, and the like.
A frequently used touch-sensitive display device generally employs a so-called two-dimensional (2D) sensing technology. The touch-sensitive display device includes a touch panel driven by an external driving circuit. In operation, when contacted by a user's fingertip or stylus, the touch panel provides a corresponding contact signal to the driving circuit, such that the driving circuit can detect planar coordinates (i.e., 2D coordinates) consisting of an X-axis coordinate and a Y-axis coordinate of the contact point. Based on the 2D coordinates, the touch-sensitive display device can automatically identify a corresponding operation command, and respond accordingly with a designated display or operation.
Despite its convenience, it should be noted that the functionality of such a touch-sensitive display device is limited because it is restricted to planar (2D) display technology. With the development of three-dimensional (3D) display technology, the importance of the above-described frequently used touch-sensitive display device is predicted to wane.
What is needed, therefore, is a touch panel and a touch-sensitive display device, which can overcome the limitations of the above-described frequently used touch-sensitive display device.

Touch panel with PDLC film and touch-sensitive display device using same


Disclosed herein is a display apparatus including: a display block configured to have a plurality of picture elements; a switch arranged inside the display block and configured to be closed by an external pressure; a detection block configured to detect whether the switch is closed based on a comparison between a signal supplied from the switch and a reference signal; a precharge block configured to give a precharge potential to a wire conducting with one of electrodes of the switch before detection is executed in the detection block; and a detection block potential supply block configured to give a predetermined potential to a wire conducting with the other electrode of the switch before detection is executed in the detection block.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display apparatus having a switch providing a touch sensor on a display block of the display apparatus, a method of driving the display apparatus, and an electronic device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the past, the coordinate detection for detecting display positions on a display apparatus by the pressing of a stylus or a finger has been implemented by a position sensing device externally attached to the display block of the display apparatus. However, the recent requirements for the higher picture quality and the higher picture definition in the display monitors of mobile apparatuses have been prompting propositions of integrating a position sensing device and a display monitor into one unit (refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-75074 for example).

Display apparatus, display apparatus driving method, and electronic device


An electronically actuatable valve assembly including a valve member comprising a ferromagnetic member, and a magnetic circuit adapted to direct magnetic flux through the ferromagnetic member when the valve member is spaced apart from its valve seat, to hold the primary valve open.

Fluid working machines include fluid-driven and/or fluid-driving machines, such as pumps, motors, and machines which can function as either a pump or as a motor in different operating modes. Although the invention will be illustrated with reference to applications in which the fluid is a liquid, such as a generally incompressible hydraulic liquid, the fluid could alternatively be a gas.
When a fluid working machine operates as a pump, a low pressure manifold typically acts as a net source of fluid and a high pressure manifold typically acts as a net sink for fluid. When a fluid working machine operates as a motor, a high pressure manifold typically acts as a net source of fluid and a low pressure manifold typically acts as a net sink for fluid. Within this description and the appended claims, the terms "high pressure manifold" and "low pressure manifold" refer to manifolds with higher and lower pressures relative to each other. The pressure difference between the high and low pressure manifolds, and the absolute values of the pressure in the high and low pressure manifolds will depend on the application. For example, the pressure difference may be higher in the case of a pump which is optimised for a high power pumping application than in the case of a pump which is optimised to precisely determine the net displacement of fluid, for example, a pump for dispensing a metered amount of fluid (e.g. a liquid fuel), which may have only a minimal pressure difference between high and low pressure manifolds. A fluid working machine may have more than one low pressure manifold.
Fluid working machines are known which comprise a plurality of working chambers of cyclically varying volume, in which the displacement of fluid through the working chambers is regulated by electronically controllable valves, on a cycle by cycle basis and in phased relationship to cycles of working chamber volume, to determine the net throughput of fluid through the machine. For example, EP 0 361 927 disclosed a method of controlling the net throughput of fluid through a multi-chamber pump by opening and/or closing electronically controllable poppet valves, in phased relationship to cycles of working chamber volume, to regulate fluid communication between individual working chambers of the pump and a low pressure manifold. As a result, individual chambers are selectable by a controller, on a cycle by cycle basis, to either displace a predetermined fixed volume of fluid or to undergo an idle cycle with no net displacement of fluid, thereby enabling the net throughput of the pump to be matched dynamically to demand. EP 0 494 236 developed this principle and included electronically controllable poppet valves which regulate fluid communication between individual working chambers and a high pressure manifold, thereby facilitating the provision of a fluid working machine functioning as either a pump or a motor in alternative operating modes. EP 1 537 333 introduced the possibility of part cycles, allowing individual cycles of individual working chambers to displace any of a plurality of different volumes of fluid to better match demand.
Fluid working machines of this type require rapidly opening and closing electronically controllable valves capable of regulating the flow of fluid into and out of a working chamber from the low pressure manifold, and in some embodiments, the high pressure manifold. Some aspects of the invention aim to provide improved valve assemblies suitable for regulating the flow of fluid into and out of the working chamber of fluid working machines of this type. However, the valve assemblies of the present invention are applicable to other types of fluid working machine.
A technical problem which can arise with valve assemblies including electronically actuatable face seating valves (such as poppet valves), for regulating the supply of fluid into the working chamber of a fluid working machine, relates to the requirement to hold the face seating valve open whilst fluid is flowing through the valve. Bernoulli effects (kinetic energy related pressure drop) and surface friction arising from the flow of fluid past the face seating valve element (e.g. a poppet head) can exert a substantial force on the face seating valve element. Thus, it may be necessary to continue to supply a substantial amount of power to the electromagnet to keep the face seating valve open, or this effect may limit the maximum flow rate through the valve. Accordingly, the invention addresses the problem of holding open electronically actuatable face seating valves while fluid flows through the valves from a low or high pressure manifold to a working chamber of a fluid working machine, or in the reverse direction.
Some embodiments of the present invention also address the problem of opening a face seating valve, such as a poppet valve, against a pressure differential, to regulate the supply of fluid from a high-pressure manifold to a working chamber of a fluid working machine. This is technically difficult because, in a face seating valve, the fluid pressure acts over the seating area to create a large closing force. Accordingly, it is difficult to provide a face seating valve for regulating the supply of fluid from a high-pressure manifold to a working chamber of a fluid working machine which is capable of opening against a significant pressure differential and which also is also capable of opening quickly (ideally within a few milliseconds) whilst minimizing energy consumption.
GB 2,430,246 (Stein) discloses a valve assembly which is suitable for regulating the supply of fluid from a high-pressure manifold to a working chamber of a fluid working machine. The valve assembly comprises a primary valve, a secondary valve, an electromagnet and an armature (referred to as a moving pole). The primary valve comprising a face-seating primary valve member and a primary valve seat. The secondary valve is integral to the primary valve and includes a secondary valve member which is moveable between a sealing position and an open position in which a path is provided through the secondary valve for fluid to flow between opposite sides of the primary valve member to reduce the pressure difference across the primary valve member. Thus, the secondary valve, which has a much smaller surface area than the primary valve, can be opened even when there is a substantial pressure difference across the primary valve member. The working chamber is effectively a closed volume, and so fluid can flow through the secondary valve to equalise the pressure on either side of the primary valve member, thereby facilitating the opening of the primary valve.
In the valve assembly disclosed in GB 2,430,246, the face seating valve is held open by a spring. In practice it is extremely difficult for this spring to provide enough force to hold the valve open against the Bernoulli and surface friction forces. Thus, some embodiments of the present invention aim to provide a valve assembly which is not only capable of remaining open in the presence of significant Bernoulli and surface friction forces, but is also capable of opening quickly against a significant pressure differential, whilst minimizing energy consumption.


An ion beam irradiation method comprises calculating a scan voltage correction function with the maximum beam scan width depending on the measurement result of a beam current measurement device, calculating each of more than one scan voltage correction functions corresponding to each of scheduled beam scan widths depending on the calculated scan voltage correction functions while satisfying dose uniformity in the horizontal direction, measuring a mechanical Y-scan position during the ion implantation, changing the scan voltage correction function as a function of the measured mechanical Y-scan position so that the beam scan area becomes a D-shaped multistage beam scan area corresponding to an outer periphery of a half of the wafer to thereby reduce the beam scan width, and changing a mechanical Y-scan speed depending on the change of the measurement result of a side cup current measurement device to thereby keep the dose uniformity in the vertical direction.

This invention relates to an ion beam irradiation system and an ion beam irradiation method for use in a beam processing system using an ion beam or a charged particle beam.
An ion implanter is used in order to implant ions to a circular wafer for semi-conductor device. Generally, a beam generation source, an extraction electrode, a mass analysis magnet, a mass analysis slit, an acceleration/deceleration device, and a wafer treatment chamber are aligned to a beam line in an ion implanter.
Since a cross section of an ion beam is generally smaller than the size of the circular wafer, several methods have been proposed to irradiate such an ion beam to whole of the circular wafer.
As one of the examples for an ion beam irradiation method, it has been proposed that a wafer is scanned with an ion beam to one direction, for example, in a horizontal direction, by a beam deflection scanner for ion beam scan (hereinafter referred to as "fast scan", "beam scan", or "X scan") and a wafer is scanned (moved) to another direction which lies at right angles to the ion beam scan direction, i.e. a vertical direction, by a mechanical Y-scan device (hereinafter referred to as "slow scan" or "mechanical Y-scan"). A whole region of a wafer can be irradiated with the ion beam of a small cross-section size by such combinations of the beam scan and the mechanical Y-scan (see JP-A-2008-262756 (Patent Document 1)).
As shown in FIG. 8, in this type of irradiation method, the scanning width BSW (hereinafter referred to as "beam scan width") to the X-direction of the ion beam deflected by the deflection scanner is the same in any Y direction region. In other words, the beam scan width at both edges in the Y-direction of a wafer 58 is the same as that in a center region of the wafer 58.
In the irradiation method shown in FIG. 8, since useless ion beam irradiation to outside of the wafer 58 increases as the ion beam irradiation approaches both Y-direction edges of the wafer 58, the beam irradiation efficiency is restricted and hence the productivity of the wafer have some limitations.
As an example for reducing the useless ion beam irradiation to outside of the wafer, it has already been proposed to scan the ion beam with a serrate shape on a wafer (see Japanese Utility Model Registration No. JP-Y2-2548948 (Patent Document 2)).
It should be noted that uniform dose distribution in a whole region of the wafer (hereinafter referred to as "in-plane uniformity of dose amount") is always required in any ion beam irradiation method.
In the ion beam irradiation method disclosed in Patent Document 2, the wafer is two-dimensionally scanned with the ion beam so that whole irradiation region is reduced to increase beam irradiation efficiency. That is, the ion beam scan in one direction and the ion beam scan in an orthogonal direction are combined and carried out at the same time so that the irradiation region of the ion beam fits the shape of the wafer. In particular, it is configured so that a beam scan pitch of the beam scan becomes constant by configuring the beam scan width of each of the beam scans in one direction so that one direction beam scan, set like steps, is carried out with the same beam scan speed while changing scan period/frequency, while the beam scan speed of the beam scan in the orthogonal direction changes in synchronism with the change of the period of the one direction beam scan. In this irradiation method, although the beam irradiation efficiency can be improved, a target wafer is required to be fixedly set. Therefore, such an ion beam irradiation method can not be applied to an ion implanter which comprises reciprocating wafer moving function by a mechanical Y-scan device, as shown in Patent Document 1.
Further, in the ion beam irradiation method disclosed in Patent document 2, a small fluctuation of ion beam current during ion implantation to a wafer is ignored, which causes unexpected in-plane non-uniformity of the dose amount.

Ion beam irradiation system and ion beam irradiation method