An X-ray image processing device using dual energy projection radiography method, wherein the low energy image and the high energy image are subjected to a subtraction processing to output a first image such as bone X-ray image, and the first image and the low energy image are subjected to another subtraction to output a second image such as a soft tissue X-ray image without deterioration of the X-ray image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an x-ray image processing device for diagnostic use and industrial use.
2. Description of the Prior Arts
An X-ray image or X-ray picture of an object can be obtained by the difference of the X ray amounts passed every part of the object or as the contrast of the X ray amounts of the every part of the object, wherein the difference of the X-ray amounts are caused by the difference of the thickness and/or difference of the composition of the object. For example, in human tissues. The composition of bone is mainly calcium, and since the X-ray absorption amount of the bone is greater than other tissue, there can be displayed an image having contrast between the bone and other tissue.
In order to obtain an X-ray image of only bone or only other soft tissue, there has been known an energy subtraction method or a dual energy projection radiography wherein two X-rays of different energy such as 80 KV (kilo volts) and 120 KV of the X-ray excitation voltage are independently radiated to the object and the respective X-ray amounts of the X-ray images of the different energies are subjected to logarithmic conversion and differentiation or subtraction between the logarithmically converted values.
A conventional energy subtraction method will be explained hereinafter with reference to FIG. 1. A low energy X-ray image 1 and a high energy X-ray image 2 are applied to subtraction processing units 3 and 4 respectively. The low energy X-ray image 1 is a logarithmic conversion signal of a X-ray image information taken by using a low energy X-ray obtained a X-ray tube excited by such as 80 KV and the high energy X-ray image 2 is a logarithmic conversion signal of a X-ray image information taken by using a high energy X-ray obtained by a X-ray tube excited by such as 120 KV. Both of the X-ray images 1 and 2 are subjected to the subtraction processing in the subtraction processing 3 and 4 so as to obtain the processed image 5 and the processed image 6. The equations used in the respective subtraction processing 3 and 4 are EQU image 5=k1.times.image 1-k2.times.image 2 (1) EQU image 6=k3.times.image 1-k4.times.image 2 (2)
In general, the picture quality of the image obtained by using the above equations is much deteriorated.
Assuming that the noise components of the images 1 and 2 are N1 and N2, the noise components of the processed images 5 and 6 are shown by EQU (noise of image 5).sup.2 =(K1.times.N1).sup.2 +(K2.times.N2).sup.2( 3) EQU (noise of image 6).sup.2 =(K3.times.N1).sup.2 +(K4.times.N2).sup.2( 4).
As shown by the equations (3) and (4), the noise component of the obtained image is the sum of the square values of the noise of the original images. Particularly, in case of taking out a picture component from the images of which contrast difference is small or in case of taking out a image component of which a space frequency is high, the picture quality is much deteriorated. In addition, since, in the high energy X-ray, the difference of the absorption due to the difference of the composition is small compared to the low energy X-ray, the X-ray image of the high energy X-ray has a low contrast difference, the signal to the noise ratio is bad and therefore, the signal to noise ratio is much deteriorated.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The present invention prevents erroneous control performed on the basis of volumes storing old data in cases where trouble occurs in remote copying. The storage system is constructed by connecting a first site 1A and second site 1B with networks CN1 and CN2. Reference designating parts 5 are disposed in respective host computers 3A1, 3B1 and the like. In cases where trouble occurs in remote copying, the reference designating parts 5 specify and manage the site (volume) in which the most recent data is stored. As a result, failover or the like can be performed within a site that can utilize the most recent data following the occurrence of trouble in remote copying.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a storage system and storage system control method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Storage systems are known in which respective storage devices are installed in a plurality of geographically separated sites, and the respective sites are connected to each other via a communications network (U.S. Pat. No. 5,742,792). In such storage systems, the memory contents of the storage devices installed at the respective sites are matched by a technique called remote copying. Accordingly, even in cases where some site becomes unusable, the business service [of this site] can be continuously provide by utilizing the remaining normal sites.
Remote copying refers to a technique for matching the memory contents(data) of a plurality of physically separated storage devices without interposing a host computer or server as a higher device. In cases where remote copying imaging signal processing circuit performed, a logical volume constituting the copying source is prepared inside the storage device of one site, and a logical volume that constitutes the copying destination is prepared in the storage device of another site. These two logical volumes form a copying pair. In cases where data is updated on the logical volume of the copying source, this updating is reflected in the logical volume of the copying destination.
Furthermore, a cluster system is also known in which a single aggregate is formed by loosely coupling a plurality of servers so as to form a single server in apparent terms, and a service is provided to the client machines.
In cases where data contents are synchronized among a plurality of physically separated sites, and a storage service is provided to respective separate servers at each of the respective sites, the data cannot be synchronized among the respective sites if trouble occurs in remote copying function. Accordingly, differences are generated in the data contents among the respective sites. If a storage service is provided in such a state, there is a possibility that erroneous operation will be performed using old data groups in which updated data is not reflected in the site that has the copying destination logical volume.
It is also conceivable that a cluster system might be used in addition to a remote copying technique in order to improve the resistance to trouble. However, in a cluster system, a shared logical volume is simply used exclusively by a failover source server and a failover destination server. In the case of a cluster system, the shared logical volume is merely recognized as a single volume; no consideration is given to the question of whether or not data is synchronized among different logical volumes installed in separate sites. Accordingly, an effective disaster recovery system cannot be constructed merely by combining a cluster system and a remote copying system.

Storage system and storage system control method


A simulator assembly (600) for simulating the tactile response of an item is disclosed. The simulator assembly includes a playback module (602) having sensory modulation subunits (636) operable to exert a force in response to an input signal. A tactile playback assembly (800) for translating input signals into tactile sensations upon a user is also provided. The tactile playback assembly includes a playback garment (806) having sensory modulation subunits adapted to generate a force upon a user in response to an input signal. An imaging exam assembly (900) for palpating a body and obtaining images of the body is also disclosed. An ultrasonic imaging system is further disclosed. A device for remotely conducting a direct manual examination of a patient is disclosed. A method of imparting tactile sensations to a body of a user is disclosed. A method of recording tactile data is disclosed.

This invention relates generally to devices that process and/or obtain tactile information, and more particularly to devices that transmit, record, playback, and reproduce tactile information obtained from a remote location or time to an individual.
During the 1980s, in an effort to overcome physician shortages in rural communities, the idea of using communications and computer systems for exchanging medical information between specialist physicians and patients separated by great distances prompted the development of xe2x80x9ctelemedicine.xe2x80x9d With the advent of the internet and inexpensive audio and video communications systems, the scope of telemedicine continues to evolve. Many physicians currently use e-mail to correspond with patients while many patients use the internet to seek out general medical information. Telemedicine systems, in their current form however, are limited by their inability to allow for the adequate performance of a physical examination.
The fundamental process of the physical exam requires a doctor to gather specific information about the patient""s condition from a variety of sources (history, direct physical examination, laboratory tests, and imaging studies) then analyze that data and affect treatment. The most critical source of information comes from the actual physical examination of the patient. An expertly performed physical examination alone can be used to establish a correct diagnosis with over 90% accuracy. While some medical information can be transmitted via phone, FAX, or the internet, that derived from the actual physical contact between the doctor and patient during the manual examination process cannot, and represents the key limiting step in the entire telemedicine examination process. The inability to acquire physical data remotely, and transfer this information reliably to a physician in a non-contiguous location, limits the reliability of telemedicine for most serious medical problems.
Thus, there exists a need for a computer hardware and software system which allows for the direct manual examination of a patient in a non-contiguous location, wherein a physician may perform a manual examination of a patient""s body without any actual direct physical contact between the patient and the physician. Moreover, there exists a need for a system that allows tactile and xe2x80x9cphysical contactxe2x80x9d data to be gathered and transmitted via conventional global communications systems. Such a system would provide a means for any physician in the world to examine any patient in any location including rural or remote areas, xe2x80x9cin the fieldxe2x80x9d during an emergency or battle, or any hostile environment. There also exists a need for the transformation of applied and/or received tactile forces into digital data, which can then be transmitted over the internet, or any other type of communications platform able to transmit and receive such signals, and ultimately transmitted to a device on the other end which translates the digital signal into the appropriate output (applied) tactile force. Further, there exists a need for the recording of this digital tactile examination data, wherein the digital tactile examination data can be played back for recreation or modeling of the underlying physical characteristics of the person or object that was originally examined (interrogated) by the system.
Further still, there exists a need for an imaging exam assembly that can obtain tactile examination data simultaneously with 2-D or 3-D internal body imaging data. The inclusion of internal body imaging would allow the physician user to obtain enhanced regional anatomic information associated with the location and internal characteristics of the underlying tissues and organs being manipulated during the exam. Currently, obtaining diagnostic 2-D or 3-D body imaging requires a patient to have an additional testing component or step in the diagnostic process. Non-invasive imaging systems currently available include ultrasound, Computed Tomography (CT) scans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Nuclear scans, and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans. CT scans, PET scans, and MRIs require patients to be physically placed in a large enclosure in order to generate the study data. Ultrasound systems however are very portable and safe systems that use sound waves to generate acoustical information that can be translated into 2-D or 3-D body images. Currently ultrasound systems require either a technologist or a physician, knowledgeable in the use of ultrasound equipment, to manually place an ultrasound probe on the patient""s body over the area of interest. The probe is physically connected to the ultrasound machine which provides the power and image processing systems.
The ultrasound unit emits pulses of ultrasound energy at specific frequencies that are transmitted to the body tissues. Echoes are returned from the tissues and collected by the transducer. Echoes returning from stationary tissue are detected and presented in gray scale as an image. Depth and brightness can be determined from the arrival time and signal strength characteristics of the returning echoes. Frequency changes from the returning echoes denote underlying motion of the structures below. This information is then processed by the imaging system software in order to generate an internal image of the structure being evaluated. The visual and spectral data can then be used by the physician to make diagnostic and treatment decisions. Many aspects of the ultrasound examination also require the technologist or physician user to press on the body surface with the transducer scan head in order to detect additional characteristics of the underlying structures being evaluated.
Thus there exists a need for a system operable to detect and transmit real time tactile information, as well as 2-D and 3-D ultrasound information between two individuals in non-contiguous locations. Moreover, a device that can simultaneously transmit, receive, and exchange real time tactile information data between two individuals in a non-contiguous location, as well as imaging data, to provide the user with simultaneous real time 2-D or 3-D internal or external body imaging is needed. Further, there exists a need for an enhanced medical diagnostic instrument operable to permit an end user to feel or manipulate the tissue or body structure in question as well as have the ability to view the internal impact of the applied tactile forces.
In accordance with the present invention, a simulator assembly for simulating the tactile response of an item is provided. The simulator assembly includes a playback module formed generally in the shape of at least a portion of the simulated item, the playback module body including an outer skin. The simulator assembly further includes a plurality of cavities disposed in the playback module body and beneath the outer skin. The simulator assembly also includes a plurality of sensory modulation subunits, wherein each sensory modulation subunit is disposed at least partially within one of the plurality of cavities. Also, each sensory modulation subunit is adapted to exert a force against the outer skin in response to an input signal.
The simulator assembly may include a pressure transducer adapted to generate an output signal in response to an applied force. The simulator assembly may include a computer system functionally connected to the sensory modulation subunits, wherein the computer system transmits the input signals to dynamically control the forces exerted by the sensory modulation subunits. The computer system may receive the output signals generated by the sensory modulation subunits, wherein the received output signals are used to determine the sensory modulation subunits input signals. The computer system may include a memory module containing data defining the firmness of the simulated item, wherein the data is used to determine the sensory modulation subunit input signals.
In accordance with the present invention, a tactile playback assembly for translating input signals received from a player into tactile sensations upon a user is provided. The tactile playback assembly includes an interactive pressure playback garment, the garment removably attachable to a user. The tactile playback assembly further includes a plurality of cells disposed in the garment, and a plurality of sensory modulation subunits, each sensory modulation subunit disposed within one of the cells. The sensory modulation subunits are adapted to generate a force upon the user in response to an input signal.
The tactile playback assembly may include sensory modulation subunits having a variable pressure producing device operable to generate the force upon the body of the user in response to the input signal received from the player, wherein the magnitude of the force is variable and determined by the input signal received from the player. The tactile playback assembly may include a playing device operatively linked to the sensory modulation subunits for supplying the sensory modulation subunits with the input signals. The tactile playback assembly may include a playing device that generates a video output signal, wherein the sensory modulation subunit signals are correlated with the video output signal.
In accordance with the present invention, a tactile data recording assembly is provided. The tactile data recording assembly includes an interactive pressure recording garment, the garment removably attachable to at least a portion of a user. The tactile data recording assembly also includes a plurality of cells disposed in the garment. The tactile data recording assembly also includes a plurality of sensory modulation subunits, each sensory modulation subunit housed at least partially within one of the cells, the sensory modulation subunits adapted to generate an output signal corresponding to a tactile force applied to the sensory modulation subunits. The tactile data recording assembly further includes an output signal recording device, wherein the output signal recording device is operatively linked to the plurality of sensory modulation subunits for recording the output signals generated by the sensory modulation subunits.
The sensory modulation subunits may be capable of generating an output signal of a variable magnitude such that the magnitude of the output signal is correlated to the magnitude of the tactile force applied to the sensory modulation subunits. The tactile data recording assembly may include sensory modulation subunits that include a slab of elastic material having a pressure transducer embedded therein, the pressure transducer adapted to generate a signal that is directly related to the tactile force applied to the sensory modulation subunit.
In accordance with the present invention, an imaging exam assembly for palpating a body and obtaining images of the body is disclosed. The imaging exam assembly includes a housing and an imaging device disposed at least partially within the housing, the imaging device operable to obtain images of the body. The imaging exam assembly also includes a sensory modulation subunit disposed at least partially within the housing and comprising a variable pressure-producing device, the variable pressure-producing device operable to generate a palpation pressure upon the body. The sensory modulation subunit further includes a pressure transducer, the pressure transducer adapted to generate a signal that is directly related to an interface pressure between the sensory modulation subunit and the body.
The variable pressure-producing device may further comprise an expansion chamber, wherein a pressurized fluid may be selectively directed into the expansion chamber to expand the expansion chamber to produce a desired palpation force on the body. The imaging exam assembly may further include a valve, the valve located between the expansion chamber and a pressurized fluid media reservoir, the valve operable to control the flow of the fluid media into and out of the expansion chamber. The imaging exam assembly may further include an ultrasonic transducer disposed in the housing, the transducer adapted to transmit ultrasound waves into the body. The ultrasonic transducer may also be adapted to detect ultrasound waves. The imaging exam assembly may further include a second ultrasonic transducer disposed in the housing, the second ultrasonic transducer adapted to detect ultrasound waves. The imaging exam assembly may be operable to obtain internal images of the body.
In accordance with the present invention, an ultrasonic imaging system is provided. The ultrasonic imaging system includes an ultrasound pulser and an ultrasound image display system disposed at a first location. The ultrasonic imaging system also includes an ultrasound transducer assembly that emits and detects ultrasound waves, the ultrasound transducer assembly disposed at a second location. The ultrasound transducer assembly is coupled to the ultrasound pulser and ultrasound image display system through a computer network.
In accordance with the present invention, a device for remotely conducting a direct manual examination of a patient is provided. The device includes a hand control unit having at least one first sensory modulation subunit that detects a force applied to the first sensory modulation subunit and generates a first signal in response to the detected force, and exerts a force in response to a received second signal. The device also includes a patient examination module, the patient examination module having a plurality of second sensory modulation subunits that are selectively connectable to the first sensory modulation subunit. The second sensory modulation subunit is operable to receive the first signal and exert a force in response to the received first signal. The second sensory modulation subunit is also operable to detect a force resisting the exerted force and generate the second signal based on the detected resisting force, the second signal being received by the first sensory modulation subunit. The device further includes a recording device in signal communication with the first and second sensory modulation subunits that records the first and second signals.
The device may be configured such that the first sensory modulation subunit is coupled in signal communication with a first computer and the second sensory modulation subunit is coupled in signal communication with a second computer. A communication network operatively connects the first computer with the second computer. The device may also be configured such that the hand control unit and the patient examination module are in non-contiguous locations.
In accordance with the present invention, a method of imparting tactile sensations to a body of a user is provided. The method includes wrapping a portion of a body of a user in a interactive pressure playback garment, the interactive pressure playback garment having an array of linear actuators capable of generating a tactile force upon the body of the user in response to an input signal. The method also includes connecting the interactive pressure playback garment in signal communication with a data output device capable of generating a series of input signals for transmission to the array of linear activators to selectively impart tactile forces upon the body of the user.
In accordance with the present invention, a method of recording tactile data is disclosed. The method includes wrapping a portion of a body of a user in a force detecting pad, the force detecting pad having a plurality of sensory cells capable of generating an output signal in response to a tactile force received upon the force detecting pad. The method also includes connecting the force detecting pad in signal communication with an output signal recording device. The method further includes exposing the force detecting pad to at least one force and recording the output signals generated by the tactile force receiving pad with the output signal recording device.

Direct manual examination of remote patient with virtual examination functionality


A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, an operation controller and an air-conditioning mechanism. In response to a heating request for the air-conditioning mechanism during ordinary operation where the fuel cell is operated at an operating point on a current-voltage characteristic curve of the fuel cell, the operation controller compares a heat value-based required current value with an output-based required current value. When the output-based required current value is equal to or greater than the heat value-based required current value, the operation controller causes the fuel cell to be operated at an operating point on the current-voltage characteristic curve. When the output-based required current value is smaller than the heat value-based required current value, the operation controller controls the operating point of the fuel cell to an operating point of lower power generation efficiency than that of the operating point on the current-voltage characteristic curve.

One proposed technique to ensure the operation stability of a fuel cell at a low-temperature start performs operation for power generation of the fuel cell at a lower efficiency (hereinafter referred to as "low-efficiency operation") than that during ordinary operation to increase the heat loss (exhaust heat) of the fuel cell and raise the temperature of the fuel cell by the exhaust heat.


A safety housing based implant/medicament injecting system. System includes a needle assembly prefilled implant/medicament for injection and an injecting needle/cannula, a housing for accommodating the needle assembly under usual bias inside said housing, a plunger means having a plunger rod configured for stage wise forward motion including an initial injecting plunger forward motion with the needle assembly within the housing to first engage the needle assembly with the housing and subsequent continuing injecting plunger forward motion independent of the needle assembly for injecting of the implant/medicament, and post injecting return of the needle assembly secured inside said housing blocking any subsequent use thereof.

A conventional medicament/implant injecting system includes an injecting syringe, which is filled with a selected dosage of the medicament/implant for distribution to the end user, and includes a sharp-pointed element or injecting needle at front for piercing into the body/tissue and delivering the medicament of the injecting syringe.
The sharp-pointed element or the injecting needle of the injecting system for piercing into the body/tissue also causes needle stick injuries to the user who is using the injecting system to inject the medicament.
The needle stick injuries are common to the healthcare professionals and, in some cases, the needle stick injuries expose the healthcare professionals to contamination from infected patients being injected.
In recent times, different safety shields for injecting systems have been reported in the art to avoid the needle stick injuries. These safety shields are adapted to move in axial direction with respect to the injecting syringe to expose the needle 'for use' only during injection of the medicament/implant. E.g.
EP 0966983 A1 discloses a shield system and a syringe which is coupled to the shield system. The shield system includes an outer syringe holder and an inner shield. The syringe is inserted within the enclosure defined by the outer holder and inner shield. When sufficient pressure is exerted on the holder by the syringe barrel, the shield is released and urged in a distal direction by a spring located between the barrel and shield, putting the shield in an extended position and covering the needle.
The device of EP 0966983 is prone to accidental triggering of the shield mechanism, as sufficient force (e.g. caused by accidental dropping) exerted on the syringe barrel will also exert sufficient force on the outer holder to trigger the shield mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,029,458 B2 discloses a device for the injection of a solid or semi-solid implant comprising of a main hollow body having a hollow needle fixed thereto, into which the implant is introduced; a secondary body which is disposed coaxially inside the main body and which surrounds the needle and a plunger rod which can slide coaxially inside the hollow needle. The injection device is arranged in such a manner that: (i) when it is pressed against the tissues, the main body slides along the length of the secondary body from a proximal position to a distal position such that the needle can penetrate the tissues, whereby the movement of the main body is accompanied by the concomitant movement of the plunger rod; and (ii) the plunger rod remains fixed and maintains the implant at the required depth in the tissues until the needle is removed therefrom when the main body is returned from the distal position to the proximal position.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,552 B2 discloses an automatically operable safety shield system for syringes which includes an inner holder into which the syringe may be inserted, an outer shield mounted outwards from the inner holder being biased with a spring and axially movable relative to the inner holder between retracted and extended positions wherein in the retracted position of the outer shield the syringe needle is exposed for use. The inner holder comprises at least one first opening and the outer shield comprises at least one first stop member, the first stop member being engageable with the first opening when the outer shield is in the retracted position, the inner holder having distal to the first opening at least one first indentation, the first stop member being engageable with the first indentation when the outer shield is in the extended position. A trigger is positioned within the inner holder and axially movable relative to said inner holder such that it can contact the first stop member when it is engaged with the first opening and disengage the first stop member from the first opening, allowing the spring to move the outer shield to the extended position.
Safety shield systems or the safety housings for injecting system, as mentioned in the U.S. Pat. No. 8,029,458 B2 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,552 B2 include an inner housing to enclose the injecting syringes and an outer housing to accommodate the inner housing, wherein the outer housing moves to expose the injecting syringes and goes back to its original position post injection. Now, this two part housing structures based covering and selective exposure of the injecting syringe with the assistance of a trigger mechanism makes the whole arrangement is complex and difficult to use, as the outer housing needs to be moved separately before injecting and thus exposes the user to accidental contact with the injecting needle in pre or post injecting stage.
Thus, there has been a need for developing a new safety shield system or the safety housing for injecting system which would be simple in construction, easy to operate and adapted to enable covering and selective exposure of the injecting syringe without requiring independent removal of the housing and assistance of any trigger mechanism.

Safety housing based implant/ medicament injecting system


The present invention, provides a method of data analysis in which data subscriptions are defined and data for that subscription be collected for analytical purposes. Supplemental queries based on new information received can be generated automatically and old queries can be eliminated automatically on the basis that they are rendered obsolete in. terms of not providing novel information in comparison to other queries and their results not being used.

The present invention relates to a method of data analysis and in particular to a method of analysing a selected sub-set of data.
The expansion of the internet and the development of it as a mass consumer resource has caused it to evolve from a distributed data system to a distributed information store—information here meaning data which can be can used to answer questions—in which information is created and processed by millions of humans using the internet every day.
Information mediation and distribution services such as Twitter, Facebook and RSS feed aggregators like Google Reader enable users to construct subscriptions to particular topics or sites of interest. The result of these information feeds can then be searched or browsed by a user. This approach provides the advantage that the collected content was of interest to the user at the time that the information was obtained. However, the users search preference may have changed between the time that the information feed was established and the time that the information is reviewed or analysed and only the information that was searched for is retained.
An alternative approach is to attempt to gather all information and store it, or index it, in a massive index such as a search engine like Google. This allows a user to establish subscriptions as queries over the main index, which can be widened at any time to cover any other information that has been stored in the index. Clearly, such an approach is infeasible for all but the most powerful enterprises. Potentially Google could provide sophisticated query capability on its centralized hardware, however the Google infrastructure (previously Map-Reduce, now Caffeine) is specialised in terms of providing a particular style of query capability in a massively scalable but cost effective way (see for example, M Stonebraker "SQL databases v. NoSQL databases", Communications of the ACM, Volume 53 Issue 4 Apr. 2010).
This means that queries that intensively cross reference the results of previous queries (such as recursively constraining and expanding result sets based on the information held in the previous result set) are unlikely to be scalable using such an indexing infrastructure, in particular unless a query writer is aware of the physical distribution of data and results queries cannot be constructed in a way that enables them to most efficiently process and move data and results during the query answering process. Such problems are likely to be more significant if results need to be cross-referenced with proprietary information that must be loaded to the infrastructure (in some cases it may not be possible to upload such data, for example in order to comply with data protection regulation, reasons of privacy or national security, etc.). In addition multiple sources of data may exist that are not licensed for public consumption and may be held privately on other infrastructures. Subscriptions to these information sources are made by humans via various interfaces, for example Twitter RSS feeds or tools such as Co-Tweet. These subscriptions bring data from the large scale internet stores and communities into a local data processing unit where it may be efficiently processed.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a system comprising: a first data store, a communications interface to one or more further data stores, a resource allocation manager, a plurality of data subscriptions; and one or more user terminals; the system being configured, in use, such that; the resource allocation manager selects one or more data subscriptions from the plurality of data subscriptions; the selected one or more data subscriptions cause data to be selected from the one or more further data stores and transferred to the first data store.
The system may further comprise a plurality of user agents, each user agent being associated with one or more of the plurality of data subscriptions, the user agents being configured to, in use, transmit a bid for system resources for the one or more associated data subscriptions to the resource allocation manager. The system resources may comprise data storage capacity and/or processing means capacity. The system may further comprise one or more user terminals for analysing the data associated with the selected one or more data subscriptions and transferred to the first data store.
The system may be configured, in use, to periodically update the data associated with the selected one or more data subscriptions and transferred to the first data store.
The one or more data subscriptions may be constructed from data relating to a social media network entity. The data relating to a social media network entity may comprise one or more further social media entities. The one or more data subscriptions may further comprise one or more keywords.
The present invention addresses the issue of maintaining the subscriptions of users to large scale data resources in the face of the change of relevance and interest in these subscription over time and the opportunities for retrieval of items that may be of interest to the human user of the system in the future but are unknown to the user at the time when the item is retrieved. Whereas a complete mirror of all large scale resources would achieve this, the resource available to the user are constrained and the present invention balances the acquisition of information with the cost of gathering it from, for example, the internet, storing it and answering queries from it.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of analysing data, the method comprising the steps of: i) defining a plurality of data subscriptions; ii) a resource allocation manager selecting one or more of the plurality of data subscriptions; iii) selecting data associated with the selected one or more data subscriptions; and iv) transferring the data selected in step iii) to a first data store.
According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a tangible data carrier for use in a computing device, the data carrier comprising computer executable code which, in use, performs a method as described above.

BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS public limited company


A slot nozzle assembly for extruding a foamable melted material in a wide band including a plurality of foamable melted material passages, lateral distribution flow routes communicating with the plurality of foamable melted material passages, a restriction member disposed inside the lateral distribution flow routes, a slot for discharging foamable melted material, and a converging portion which communicates with the lateral distribution flow routes and the slot, and whose cross-section area gradually becomes smaller toward the slot.

In the past, in the field of adhesives and sealing materials, foam melt applicators for coating a foamable melted material have been known. See Japanese Document No. JP S59-182825A. A foam melt applicator is a device which mechanically mixes an inert gas into melted hot melt and discharges a bubbly hot melt. Coating a foamable melted material can reduce running costs and lengthen open time before clamping. Other effects include shortening the setting time after clamping, making it easier to thinly spread an adhesive layer after clamping, increased adhesion strength with porous materials, increased filling efficiency on a bonded item that has a rough surface, formation of a coating film with elasticity, etc. Therefore foamable melted materials are widely used.
For example, there is a device and method which manufacture an insulated plate by spreading foaming-type hot melt from a slot nozzle onto a long narrow band of material that is continuously transported, and gluing another long narrow band of material thereon. See Japanese Document No. JP S57-11440A.
Also, in order to prevent premature foaming of a foamable melted material inside a slot nozzle, there is a slot nozzle which can keep a foamable melted material at a pressure higher than the critical pressure at which the foamable melted material does not foam until the foamable melted material reaches the outlet part of the slot. See Japanese Document No. JP H7-308618A. This slot nozzle is provided with a converging slot part in which the thickness of the slot is gradually reduced from the wide slot part, where the slot is thick, to the outlet slot part, where the slot is thin.
To coat a foamable melted material in a wide band one must use a slotted discharge device. When one attempts to discharge foamable melted material with a slotted discharge device, many intrinsic problems occur.

Slot nozzle assembly, slot coating gun, shim plate, and method of extruding a foamable melted material in a wide band


An information processing apparatus includes a communication unit, a storage unit, and a controller. The communication unit communicates with a service on a network in which a plurality of users are capable of participating and devices of the plurality of the users. The storage unit stores user information on the plurality of users and device information on the devices of the plurality of users in relation to each other. A controller controls the communication unit so that the communication obtains, from the service, social graph information, generates group information on a group consisting of a plurality of users, generates a partial network including devices of users in the group based on the generated group information, the stored user information, and the stored device information, and controls communication between the devices in the generated partial network.

The SNS (Social Networking System) is a system in which communication can be performed with each other based on a relationship with a friend of a user, a friend of a friend, or the like. Recently, information on a relationship between users on the SNS can be obtained via a Web API (Application Programming Interface).
For example, the following Patent Document 1 describes that a network image that shows a network structure representing a relationship between users in time series is displayed based on information representing an attribution of a user who is registered in the SNS or registration time and information representing a relationship between the users on the SNS or time when the relationship is established.

Controlling communication based on relationship between a plurality of devices


A receiver circuit includes an estimation unit configured to estimate a noise power of a transmission channel, a calculation unit configured to calculate a decision variable based on the noise power, and a decision unit configured to make a ternary decision based on the decision variable.

During an operation of a receiver circuit, data has to be detected. The related detection processes may be based on a decision variable.
Receivers constantly have to be improved, for example with regard to their performance and their reception quality. In particular, the improvement of detection processes in a receiver circuit is desirable. For these and further reasons there is a need for the present invention.


A pixel circuit includes a data writing sub-circuit, a light-emitting control sub-circuit and a driving sub-circuit. The data writing sub-circuit is connected to the driving sub-circuit, and is configured to write a data voltage signal into the driving sub-circuit and compensate it, in response to a first gate signal and a second gate signal. The light-emitting control sub-circuit is connected to the driving sub-circuit, and is configured to close a line between a first power supply voltage terminal and a second power supply voltage terminal, in response to a first enable signal and a second enable signal. The driving sub-circuit is configured to provide a driving current to a light-emitting device through the closed line according to the written data voltage signal. Phases of the first enable signal and the first gate signal are opposite, and phases of the second enable signal and the second gate signal are opposite.

At present, OLED (Organic Light-emitting Diode) display apparatuses are increasingly widely used due to their advantages of self-luminescence, wide viewing angle, high response speed, low power consumption and the like.
An OLED display apparatus includes a plurality of sub-pixels, and each sub-pixel includes a pixel circuit. With the development of display technologies, there are more and more requirements for functions of the pixel circuit, such as functions of compensating a threshold voltage, compensating the mobility of carriers, reducing an afterimage, and alleviating aging of a device.

Pixel circuit having a plurality of enable signals and gate signals in opposite phase and driving method thereof

Beijing BOE Technology Development Co., Ltd.


A method and an apparatus of maintaining data for online analytical processing in a database system. The method includes: tracking a changed page in a main process; and synchronizing the changed page to a child process for online analytical processing. In the method and apparatus of maintaining data for online analytical processing, the changed pages are tracked and then the child process is synchronized with the changed pages. Therefore, periodic forking is avoided, fork overhead due to periodic forking in the prior art is removed, the synchronization is faster since only the changed pages are synchronized, and the performance of online data processing is enhanced.

Online transaction processing (OLTP) and online analytical processing (OLAP) are two types of database systems. OLTP system is used to manage and process transactions. Typical examples of such transaction processing systems are sales order entry or banking transaction processing system. OLAP system is used to analyze data to generate reports for business analysts. Typical reports include aggregated sales statistics grouped by geographical regions, or by product categories, or by customer classifications, etc.
Initial attempts to execute OLAP queries on the operational OLTP database were dismissed as the OLAP query processing led to resource contentions and severely hurt the mission-critical transaction processing. Therefore, the data staging architecture was devised where the transaction processing is carried out on a dedicated OLTP database system. In addition, a separate data warehouse system is installed for OLAP query processing. Periodically, e.g., during the night, the OLTP database changes are extracted, transformed to the layout of the data warehouse schema, and loaded into the data warehouse. This data staging and its associated ETL (Extract-Transform-Load) obviously incurs the problem of data staleness as the ETL process can only be executed periodically.
Real-time/operational business intelligence demands to execute OLAP queries on the current, up-to-date state of the transactional OLTP data. As a solution, an existing hybrid system having a main-memory database is proposed to handle both OLTP and OLAP simultaneously by using hardware-assisted replication mechanisms to maintain consistent snapshots of the transactional data. The system executes OLAP query sessions on the same, arbitrarily current and consistent snapshot. These snapshots are created by forking the OLTP process and thereby creating a consistent virtual memory snapshot. The system allows for arbitrarily current snapshots by periodically forking a new snapshot and thus starting a new OLAP query session process.
Even though the existing hybrid system look promising, they too may have technical problems. Forking of a large process typically consumes time in the order of milli-seconds. This is because of a large number of page table entries (PTEs) should be replicated. As per one reference 384M of data contains about 100K pages. So the periodic forking will impact the performance of online data processing. In addition, forking does a big bang copy of the PETs and does not optimize the copy to the small delta that could have changed.

Method and apparatus of maintaining data for online analytical processing in a database system


Techniques for representing a native function using an executable reference are disclosed. The system receives an instruction to create an executable reference for a native function, including a method type comprising a method signature corresponding to the executable reference, and a function description including (a) a memory layout corresponding to data returned by the function and (b) memory layouts corresponding to parameters required by the function. The system selects an application binary interface (ABI). The system generates code that, for each parameter, of the one or more parameters required by the function, converts the parameter from a value formatted for use by a Java Virtual machine to a value formatted for use in the native function, based on the selected ABI. Responsive to invocation of the executable reference, the generated code and the native function may be executed.

While Java is a powerful programming language, there may be times when a user desires to write code in different languages. For example, if the user wishes to utilize a platform specific feature that is not supported in the standard Java class library, or if the user wishes to utilize a function that has already been written in another programming language.
The Java Native Interface (JNI) is a foreign function interface programming framework that enables Java code running in a Java virtual machine (JVM) to call and be called by native applications (programs specific to a hardware and operating system platform) and libraries written in C, C++, or assembly. In the JNI framework, native functions are implemented in separate files. When the JVM invokes a native function, it passes any Java arguments declared by the Java method.
However, JNI requires that the source code include a static declaration of the native function. Accordingly, each native function must be separately declared statically and compiled to create a header file associated with the native function. Finally, a separate native file is needed for converting the java arguments to arguments usable by the native function. Accordingly, using JNI requires that the user have knowledge of the native language in order to implement the native function call. Further, JNI only works well with native data types (e.g., an integer, long, char, string, and the like). In particular, JNI does not work well with struct or pointer arguments.
The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.

Modeling foreign functions using executable references


The present invention relates to a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof. Various substituents in the formula (I) are as defined in the specification. The present invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound of formula (I), the preparation method of compound of formula (I), and the use of the compound for the preparation of a medicament for treating and/or preventing human peroxisome proliferators activated receptor δ (hPPARδ)-associated diseases and risk factors.

Peroxisome proliferation factor activated receptor (PPAR) and glucocorticoid receptor, tretinoin receptor and thyroxine receptor belong to ligand dependent transcription factor of nuclear receptor superfamily. Up to now, it has been found that PPARs have three subtypes: α, γ and δ (also called as β), which are encoded by different genes. Moreover, due to the difference of promoter and jointing manner, PPARγ is also divided into two isoforms: γ1 and γ2, both are different only in the sequence of N end (Visal-Puig, J. Clin. Invest., 97: 2553-2561, 1996). When activated by specific small molecules, PPARs can interact with PPARs reaction elements (PPRE) in promoter region of target gene to modulate the expression of the gene. PPARs is an important transcription modulation factor of metabolism of glucose, lipids and cholesterols in vivo.
PPARα is primarily expressed in the tissue exhibiting rather high decomposition and metabolism activity, such as brown fat tissue and liver, and secondly expressed in kidney, heart and skeletal muscle (Endocnnology, 1995, 137, 354). It can positively or negatively control the expression of genes related to fatty acid metabolism and intra-cellular conveying (e.g. acetyl CoA synthase, fatty acid binding protein and lipoprotein lipase) and apoprotein (AI, AII, CIII) genes related to the metabolism of cholesterol and neutral lipids. PPARγ is mainly present in fat tissue and also present in small quantity in skeletal muscle, liver, colon, retina, immune system. Recently study results show that it is highly expressed in macrophages, including foam cells of atherosclerosis. PPARγ2 is mainly exclusively expressed in fat tissue, while PPARγ1 has been found in various tissues, in which the expression in kidney, intestines and heart is the highest. PPARγ mainly modulates the expression of genes related to fatty cells differentiation and insulin sensitivity (J. Lipid. Res., 1996, 37, 907). PPARδ is distributed widely and expressed in many tissues, wherein the expression in intestines, kidney, heart is the highest. The activation of PPARδ has shown the increase of HDL level and reduction of LDL and VLDL level.
Thiazolinediones drugs, such as, rosiglitazone, show in clinic the enhancement of insulin of diabetes type II patients, reduction of serum glucose. It has been reported thiazolinediones are effective and selective activators of PPARγ and directly bind to PPRRγ (J. M. Lehmann, et al. J. Biol. Chem. 12953-12956, 270 (1995)).
Fibrates drugs have been widely used as therapeutic agents of hyperlipidemia. They can reduce serum triglyceride (20-50%), LDLc (10-15%), and increase HDLc (10-15%). Experiments have shown that the action of fibrates to serum lipids is mediated by activation of PPARα, see, e.g. B. Staels, et al. Curr. Pharm. Des., 1-14, 3(1), (1997). The activation of PPARα leads to the transcription of enzymes that increase the decomposition and metabolism of fatty acids and decrease the resynthesis of fatty acids in liver (causing the reduction of the synthesis of triglyceride and production/secretion of VLDL). Besides, PPARα activation reduces the production of apoC-III. The reduction of the production of apoC-III (an inhibitor of LPL activity) increases the clearance of VLDL (J. Auwerx, et al, Atherosclerosis, J59-S37, 124 (Suppl), (1996)).
PPAR is related to many biological courses and diseases conditions, including hypercholesterolemia, dyslipidemia and diabetes. However, the action of present drugs is not ideal due to toxic and side-effect. Therefore, a safe and effective PPAR agonist drug is needed, which can selectively activate one subtype, or activate multiple subtypes simultaneously.

Aryl pyrimidine derivatives, preparation methods and pharmaceutical uses thereof

Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology Academy of Military Medical Sciences P.L.A.


A system and a method for sharing online storage services among multiple users are provided. The system includes a user communication interface, a file processing module, and an online storage communication interface. The user communication interface is configured to connect to a client end corresponding to a first user. When the user communication interface receives a file upload request and a corresponding upload file from the client end, the file processing module searches for a personal online storage of the first user and a shared online storage of at least one related user of the first user and determines to upload the upload file to a partial online storage of the personal online storage and the shared online storage. The online storage communication interface transfers the upload file to the partial online storage determined by the file processing module.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to a system and a method for sharing an online storage space among multiple users, and more particularly, to a system and a method that allow a plurality of users to share a plurality of online storage services.
2. Description of Related Art
Cloud computing has been increasingly adopted along with the rapid development of computer technologies and the Internet. Cloud computing is a technology that coordinates the operations of different computer systems through a network or allows a computer system to receive services from remote hosts through network connections. A cloud storage service allows a user to store data into the space provided by a remote host through a network, so that the limitation on local hardware storage is broken through and file portability is increased.
To be specific, presently, a user can access online storages provided by different online storage service providers by signing up for free or paid accounts. However, because these online storages provided by different service providers are not connected or shared with each other, the user has to manage these online storages individually. When the user needs to move a file between different online storages, the user has to download the file to a local device first and then upload it to the other online storage.
In addition, because the user has to pass the network authentication to use a online storage, the user has to give his or her account number and password away in order to share the online storage with others. As a result, file security is greatly reduced, and data stored in the online storage could be misappropriated.

System and method for sharing online storage services among multiple users


An axial retention system for an interstage seal located in a gas turbine engine of a type having a turbine section including a first stage disk and a second stage disk. The interstage seal includes a web portion having an aft arm extending from said web, the aft arm having a peripheral rim adjacent the second stage disk. The axial retention system comprising a split ring having two overlapping ends and a plurality of radially outwardly extending tabs for engaging a plurality of inwardly extending tabs located on the second stage disk adjacent the peripheral rim, in a bayonet connection. The retaining ring is located within a slot formed in the peripheral rim and the outwardly extending tabs are positioned in a passageway formed by the disk tabs.

The present invention relates to gas turbine engines and, more particularly, to aircraft-type high bypass ratio turbine engines having multi-stage compressor and turbine sections.
A typical modern gas turbine aircraft engine, particularly of the high bypass ratio type, includes multi-stage high pressure compressor and turbine sections interconnected by a central compressor shaft or, in some models, a forward shaft. In the latter instance, the forward shaft extends between the webs of the last stage high pressure compressor disk and the first stage high pressure turbine disk. The high pressure turbine section typically includes first and second stage disks in which the second stage disk is attached to the first stage disk by a bolted connection. The interstage volume between the first and second stage turbine disks is enclosed by a seal extending between the outer peripheries of the disks. The seal is generally cylindrical in shape and its wall is outwardly convex in shape.
The first and second stage disks are isolated by a forward face plate, attached to the forward face of the first stage disk, and an aft seal attached to the rearward face of the second stage disk web. Typically, cooling air ducted externally from the compressor section is circulated within the volumes adjacent to the face plate and aft seal, as well as the interstage volume, in order to cool the disks and blades they support. The cooling air is conveyed radially outwardly from the turbine section through channels formed in the turbine blades.
In such engines, virtually all of the connections between components are accomplished through bolting. That is, the forward face plate is connected to the stage one disk by a circular pattern of bolts, extending about the face plate and disk. The inner periphery of the face plate is bolted to a disk positioned forwardly of the first stage disk. Similarly, the interstage thermal seal is connected to the turbine disks through bolts in a circular pattern, typically clamping angular blade retaining rims to the opposite faces of the turbine disks as well. In addition, the second stage disk includes a rearwardly-extending cone which is bolted to the aft seal.
A disadvantage of such bolted connections is that they require holes to be formed in the disks which create stress concentrations and limit the useful lives of the seals and disks. Furthermore, additional disk weight is required to sustain the stresses imposed by the bolt and bolt hole engagements. Accordingly, recent turbine engines have been designed incorporating bayonet connections between the forward faceplate, interstage seal, aft seal and the first and second stage disks. The interstage seal for example includes a forward arm extending towards the first stage disk and an aft arm extending towards the second stage disk. The arms include a reverse catenary contour and include bayonet connection means for attachment with the first and second stage disks.
A disadvantage with such bayonet connections is that alignment of the first and second stage disks and seals is difficult to maintain during operation, which may result in excessive vibrations during operation.
Attempts have been made to prevent axial movement of the interstage seal with respect to the second stage disk by inserting a standard split retaining ring between a slot formed in the interstage seal aft arm and a corresponding slot formed in the second stage disk post. The split ring is an axisymmetric ring which is first inserted in the disk post slot at assembly and then is pushed down to engage the aft seal arm slot for axial retention. During operation of the engine the lower surface of a turbine blade restrains the radial motion of the split ring under centrifugal load. A disadvantage with the use of a split ring is that the slot in the disk post, which extends around the entire circumference of the engine, introduces a life-limiting characteristic to the assembly because of the large stress concentrations present in the slot area. Consequently the disk post is weakened and frequent replacement becomes necessary.
Accordingly, there is a need for mounting the first and second stage disks and interstage seal which minimizes alignment problems and further, there is a need for a design which eliminates axial movement of the interstage seal in connection with the first and second stage disks.

Turbine disk interstage seal axial retaining ring


The invention relates to novel compounds denominated halocombstatins. The halocombstatins are derivatives of combretastatin A-3, and include compounds that exhibit cancer growth cell inhibition against a panel of human cancer cell lines and the murine P388 leukemia, as well as activity as inhibitors of tubulin polymerization and inhibitors of the binding of colchicine to tubulin.

Pharmaceutical agents to treat cancer and/or tumors are widely sought. Antiangiogenesis agents are being pursued as a promising antitumor therapeutic agents. Combretastatin A-4 is one such antiangiogenesis agent. Studies have demonstrated that combretastatin A-4 disrupts the microtubules of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in culture. It has also been shown that the tubulin-binding properties shown in cell-free systems are retained when the compound enters cells, and that tubulin binding is a significant component of biological activity.
The African Bush Willow Combretum caffrum has proved to be a very important source of cancer cell growth inhibitory constituents named combretastatins. The most potent of these constituents is combretastatin A-4 (1a, "CA-4"), and its sodium phosphate derivative (1b, "CA-4P") was advanced to Phase I human cancer clinical trials in 1998. (Remick, S. C., et al., (1999) Phase I Pharmacokinetics Study of Single Dose Intravenous (IV) Combretastatin A-4 Prodrug (CA4P) in Patients (pts) with Advanced Cancer, Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics Discovery Discovery, Development, and Clinical Validation, Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Congress, Washington, D.C., #16, p. 4.) Overall results continue to be promising, and human cancer Phase II and combination Ib trials are currently underway.
Antivascular, antiangiogenesis and general antimetastatic activities of CA4P as well as its synergistic utility in combination with other anticancer drugs, radioimmunotherapy and hyperthermia are all areas of active research interest. (see Griggs, J., et al., Combretastatin A-4 Disrupts Neovascular Development in Non-Neoplastic Tissue, British J. of Cancer 2001, 84, 832-835; Folkman, J., Angiogenesis-Dependent Diseases, Seminars in Oncology 2001, 28, 536-542; Kruger, E. A. et al., Approaches to Preclinical Screening of Antiangiogenic Agents, Seminars in Oncology 2001, 28, 570-576; Jin, X., et al., Evaluation of Endostatin Antiangiogenesis Gene Therapy in vitro and in vivo, Cancer Gene Therapy 2001, 8, 982-989; Vacca, A., et al., Bone Marrow Angiogenesis in Patients with Active Multiple Myeloma, Seminars in Oncology 2001, 28, 543-550; Rajkumar, S. V., et al., Angiogenesis in Multiple Myeloma, Seminars in Oncology 2001, 28, 560-564, Griggs, J., et al., Potent Anti-metastatic Activity of Combretastatin A-4, Int. J. Oncol. 2001, 821-825; Pedley, R. B. et al., Eradication of Colorectal Xenografts by Combined Radioimmunotherapy and Combretastatin A-4 3—O-Phosphate, Cancer Research 2001, 61, 4716-4722; Eikesdal, H. P., et al., Tumor Vasculature is Targeted by the Combination of Combretastatin A-4 and Hyperthermia, Radiotherapy and Oncology 2001, 61, 313-320.)
Several of the compounds of the present invention are particularly concerned with treatment of thyroid gland cancer. By 2002, some 20,000 people in the United States were diagnosed with carcinoma of the thyroid gland; of these the distribution was about 80% papillary and 14% follicular differentiated carcinomas derived from follicular epithelial cells producing thyroid hormone. Of the remaining thyroid malignancies, about 4% were medullary carcinoma (neuroendocrine) and 2% of the exceptionally aggressive anaplastic carcinoma (median survival 4-5 months and a near 100% lethal outcome). Significantly, the incidence of both follicular and anaplastic carcinomas are elevated in geographic areas of iodine deficiency. Radiation exposure represents the most general risk factor for thyroid cancer. In addition, excess production of the pituitary hormone thyroid-stimulating hormone (THS), which is very important in regulating thyroid gland growth and function, may be important in the etiology of thyroid cancer. Previously used clinical treatments for thyroid cancer include surgery, suppression of THS, 131I-radiotherapy, and anticancer drugs. But in 2002, another 1,300 victims of thyroid cancer in the U.S. died, emphasizing the great need for more routinely effective anticancer drugs.

Halocombstatins and methods of synthesis thereof

Arizona Board of Regents, a state corporate of the State of Arizona, acting for and on behalf of Arizona State University


A sprinkler system and sprinkler system module having a blowout subsystem for automatically clearing a sprinkler feed pipe of water, and also without first needing to bleed off system pressure.

Generally, sprinkler systems are used in a wide variety of applications, both indoor and outdoor. The installation and use of sprinkler systems outdoors presents a difficulty in environments in which the ambient temperature reaches below the freezing point. In those circumstances, the plumbing of the sprinkler systems must be cleared, or "blown out," in order to prevent damage to the pipes, fittings and other elements of the system due to the expansion and contraction of water/ice. Typically, a sprinkler system blowout occurs in two steps. First, the water in and around the plumbing near the system's water inlet is drained as the system pressure is bled. Next, a source of pressurized air is coupled to the sprinkler system plumbing and actuated, forcing the remaining water throughout the plumbing through the sprinkler system outlets at the various sprinkler head locations, thereby draining the system in preparation of freezing temperatures.
Where sprinkler use during cold seasons is not needed, the sprinkler systems are often blown out once before cold weather sets in. However, there are presently many uses for sprinkler systems that require consistent, repeated sprinkler system use, even during cold weather. For example, in several industries involving the care, sale, showing, competition and service of livestock, the groundcover utilized in both indoor and outdoor spaces often consists of mixtures of sand, soil, sawdust and other particulate that can become dry and powdery. When these substances are in such a dry state they can easily get stirred up by livestock movement, thereby becoming airborne.
The need to keep groundcover damp is especially strong in the horse showing and competition industry. While any type of livestock or other "show" animals—including cattle, sheep, dogs and the like—that exist or experience similar conditions will benefit from the present invention, many indoor and outdoor arenas now exist in which horses are ridden for recreation, performance or competitive purposes. Horse performance or practice arenas will be used to illustrate the many benefits and advantages of the present invention, but applications thereof need not be limited to that. Practicing or performing on horseback in an indoor or outdoor arena occurs on a daily basis throughout the country. In order to keep the dust down and prevent it from becoming airborne, arena owners first began to periodically spray a light mist of water from a garden hose attached to a water source. Such methods, however, proved to be time consuming and burdensome, as someone was forced to drag a hose around the arena. It was also inefficient because of the uneven application of water, and sometimes even ineffective.
To overcome these problems, many arenas began installing overhead sprinkler systems, similar to those installed for fire prevention inside commercial buildings, or in the lawns and gardens of residential homes. Some systems are programmed to cycle on and off periodically to keep the groundcover at a particular level of dampness. Many systems now typically utilize controllers—for example those produced under the popular Hunter brand—to set the sprinkler systems to actuate automatically at preprogrammed time intervals. However, for outdoor and unheated indoor arenas in cold climates, the sprinkler systems continue to be at risk of freezing. Because many arenas operate year round, the sprinkler systems must be utilized often during winter months. Thus, to avoid damage caused by freezing, the sprinkler systems must be blown out after nearly every use—a significantly arduous task. Furthermore, a failure to blowout a system between uses can easily create significant costs for the arena owners.
Furthermore, the cost of even a seasonal service call to have a sprinkler system blown out in preparation for nonuse during winter months can be significant. However, no prior art systems are available that allow for efficient, automatic blowout of a sprinkler system without the need to prepare the plumbing, attach additional equipment and conduct the blowout.


A speech recognition method, performed by a computer, with an improved recognition accuracy is disclosed. The method includes: performing speech recognition of an input speech to acquire a plurality of recognition candidates through a plurality of speech recognition processes different from each other for a section having a reliability lower than a predetermined value; verifying similarities between each of the acquired plurality of recognition candidates and meta-information corresponding to the input speech; and determining, based on the verified similarities, a recognition result of the low-reliability section from among the acquired plurality of recognition candidates.

As a technology to transcribe the words of someone's speech into characters, there has heretofore been speech recognition process to convert an inputted speech into a text. As for this speech recognition process, when words in the text include one having low reliability, a conventional technology has been known to correct the text by predictive transform based on a character string including one or more words with high reliability included in the text.
Related techniques are disclosed in, for example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication Nos. 2012-78650 and 8-166966 and Japanese National Publication of International Patent Application No. 2007-524949. However, in the above conventional technology, there is a case where the text correction by the predictive transform is not appropriate in terms of context or text as a whole. As a result, there is a problem of a poor recognition rate.
According to one aspect, it is an object of the disclosure to provide a speech recognition apparatus, a speech recognition program, and a speech recognition method, which are capable of improving speech recognition accuracy.

Speech recognition apparatus, speech recognition program, and speech recognition method


A new and distinct cultivar of Buddleja plant named ‘Butterfly Heaven’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely flowering habit; large, fragrant and light lavender-colored flowers with golden orange-colored centers; and good garden performance.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Buddleja, botanically known as Buddleja davidii and hereinafter referred to by the name 'Butterfly Heaven'.
The new Buddleja is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Bressingham, United Kingdom. The objective of the breeding program was to create new Buddlejas with attractive flower coloration.
The new Buddleja originated from an open-pollination in 2000 in Bressingham, United Kingdom, of Buddleja davidii 'Pink Delight', not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Buddleja davidii as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Buddleja was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bressingham, United Kingdom in 2000.
Asexual reproduction of the new Buddleja by cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bressingham, United Kingdom since May, 2001, has shown that the unique features of this new Buddleja are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


A rotor blade (5) of a wind turbine, which has a profile (1-4) having an upper side (suction side) (7) and an underside (pressure side) (8). The profile (1-4) includes a camber line (21, 25) and a chord (18) between a leading edge (10) and a trailing edge (11) of the profile (1-4). The profile (1-4) has a relative profile thickness of more than 45%. At least one vortex generator (50, 50′, 50″, 50′″) is disposed, in the region of the profile (1-4), on the suction side (7) of the rotor blade (5). The profile (1-4) is provided with a blunt trailing edge. And, The thickness of the trailing edge is between 15% and 70% of the chord length.

Field of Invention
The invention relates to a rotor blade of a wind turbine, having a profile that has a suction side and a pressure side, wherein the profile comprises a camber line and a chord between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the profile, wherein the camber line extends at least portionally beneath the chord, in the direction of the pressure side, and wherein the profile has a relative profile thickness of more than 45%.
Brief Description of Related Art
Known from DE 10 2008 003 411 A1 are a rotor blade of a wind turbine and a corresponding family, or a plurality, of profiles. The airfoil profiles, or profiles, disclosed in this document have a blunt trailing edge, a substantially oval suction side and a substantially S-shaped pressure side.
Other profiles are also known. In particular, there are known low-speed profiles, which are used in proximity to the rotor-blade root, or in proximity to the hub of the wind turbine.
A profile of large relative thickness, known from Dieter Althaus "Niedriggeschwindigkeitsprofile", Friedr. Vieweg & Sohn Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Braunschweig/Wiesbaden, 1996, is produced in that a profile of small relative thickness, known per se, is brought to the required relative thickness values that are needed in the proximity of the blade root by truncating the trailing edge, or by scaling-up the thickness. An example that may be cited in connection with this is that of FX 77-W-500, which is disclosed on pages 162 to 163 of the book mentioned. This profile, in the clean state, in the case of a Reynolds number of 2.75 million, achieves a maximum lift coefficient of cl=1.6 with an angle of attack of 10°, and in the dirty, i.e. turbulent, state, achieves a maximum cl of 0.8 with an angle of attack of 4°. The FX 77-W-500 has a relative profile thickness of 50%.
In the context of the invention, an angle of attack, or angle of incident flow, is an angle of the incident apparent wind in relation to the chord of the profile. For any definitions, reference is to be made, in particular to the textbook: Erich Hau, "Windkraftanlagen", Fourth Edition, 2008, in particular page 126 ff.
Although known profiles having a large relative profile thickness, such as, for example, the FX 77-W-500, do have an acceptable lift coefficient cl in the clean state, nevertheless in the case of turbulent circumfluent flow, i.e. in the dirty state, the maximum lift coefficient collapses significantly. In addition, the aerodynamic angle of attack at which the maximum lift coefficient is attained in the dirty state changes significantly in comparison with the angle of attack at which the maximum lift coefficient is attained in the clean state. This behavior, namely, the small amount of lift in the dirty state with a large change in the angle of attack for the maximum lift coefficient, is highly unfavorable for wind turbines. If, because the blade depths are to be kept small, the angle at which the clean profile has the maximum appropriate lift coefficient, or a lesser angle, is selected as the design angle of attack, i.e. the angle of attack that is used, in the design of the rotor blade, for calculating the respective profile, the lift coefficient in the dirty state then diminishes to a fraction of the clean value. Owing to the thick trailing edge, the profile of the FX 83-W-500 has only moderate aerodynamic properties even in the case of laminar circumfluent flow. In the case of turbulent circumfluent flow, it still has high lift coefficients, but then has relatively poor lift/drag ratios. Moreover, the maximum thickness of this profile is approximately 80% of the profile length, or chord length, which structurally does little to provide the rotor blade with a good body contour. Consequently, in the case of a blade having the profile of the FX 83-W-500, only a relatively small spacing of the main girders can be established, and this results in corresponding curtailments in respect of the constructability and blade weight of a rotor blade.
EP 1 944 505 B1 discloses a wind-turbine rotor blade having a profile that has a suction side and a pressure side, wherein the profile comprises an inner profile portion and an outer profile portion, wherein the inner profile portion is comparatively thicker than the outer profile portion, wherein the thickness of the inner profile portion is between 30% and 80% of the chord length of the inner profile portion, and the inner profile portion is provided with eddy generators, wherein the eddy generators are disposed, on the suction side of the inner profile portion, at between 8% and 12% of the chord length, as measured out from the leading edge of the profile portion. This is intended to achieve an adequate aerodynamic capability with, at the same time, a high structural stability.
The applicant's document DE 10 2008 052 858 A1 discloses particular profiles of a rotor blade, and a corresponding rotor blade of a wind turbine, in which the profiles provide very good aerodynamic properties. In particular, the profiles are relatively thick, and have a high lift coefficient. In order to achieve even higher lift coefficients for rotor blades of wind turbines, it might be possible to implement a measure used in the case of airfoils of aircraft. Thus, for example, the publication "Fluid-dynamic lift", Information on Lift and its Derivatives, in Air and in Water, presented by Dr.-Ing. S. F. Hoerner 1985, pages 5-12 and 5-13, and also 6-2 and 6-3, Hoerner Fluid Dynamics, Bakersfield, Calif. 93390, disclose very high lift coefficients. In this case, high lift coefficients, of up to over 3.0, are achieved by the provision of flaps, in particular slotted flaps, adjoining the airfoil, and of flaps, in particular slotted flaps, projecting from the airfoil, which in each case are spaced apart from the actual airfoil.
It is the object of the present invention to specify a rotor blade of a wind turbine that has a very large lift, while having good aerodynamic properties.


Assist force that assists an operation of a steering system of a vehicle is applied to a rack shaft by transmitting driving force of a motor to the rack shaft via a motor shaft and a ball screw nut. A step is formed on the outer periphery of the ball screw nut. An end portion of a third housing is arranged to face a bearing such that the distance that the ball screw nut is able to move relative to the motor shaft in axial direction and the relative movable length is longer than a predetermined length.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an electric power steering system that assists an operation of a steering system of a vehicle by applying assist force to a rack shaft of the vehicle.
2. Discussion of Background
A conventional electric power steering system of this type is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-51387 (JP 2011-51387 A). FIG. 9 shows the structure of the electric power steering system described in JP 2011-51387 A. In a vehicle in which the electric power steering system is mounted, a rack shaft 90 in FIG. 9 makes a reciprocal motion in its axial direction (direction indicated by arrows a1, a2) in accordance with a driver's operation of a steering wheel and, as a result, the steered angle of steered wheels of the vehicle, that is, the travelling direction of the vehicle, is changed.
As shown in FIG. 9 as related art, the electric power steering system described in JP 2011-51387 A includes a cylindrical motor shaft 100 and a ball screw nut 110. The rack shaft 90 is passed through the motor shaft 100, and the motor shaft 100 is rotated about an axis m as a motor (not shown) is driven. The ball screw nut 110 is screwed to a thread groove 91 formed in the outer periphery of the rack shaft 90. An engaging portion 111 is provided at the right end portion of the ball screw nut 110. The engaging portion 111 is inserted into the motor shaft 100. An external thread portion formed on the outer periphery of the engaging portion 111 is screwed to an internal thread portion formed in the inner periphery of the motor shaft 100. With this configuration, the ball screw nut 110 is engaged with and coupled to the motor shaft 100. In the electric power steering system, the rotational motion of the motor shaft 100, which is generated as a the motor is driven, is converted to an axial linear motion of the rack shaft 90 via the ball screw nut 110. As a result, assist force is applied to the rack shaft 90.
In the thus structured electric power steering system, for example, if an excessive impact load acts on the rack shaft 90 when one of the steered wheels of the vehicle collides with a curb, the impact load is transmitted from the rack shaft 90 to the ball screw nut 110, and loosening may occur at a portion at which the engaging portion 111 of the ball screw nut 110 is fastened to the motor shaft 100. If it becomes impossible to transmit the driving force of the motor to the rack shaft 90 due to the loosening in the fastening structure, it may be not possible to apply assist force to the rack shaft 90.
Therefore, in the electric power steering system described in JP 2011-51387 A, a thin plate portion 121 of a flange member 120 that is fixedly fastened to an outer peripheral portion of the motor shaft 100 is folded and clinched to the flange portion 112 of the ball screw nut 110. In this way, the relative rotation of the ball screw nut 110 with respect to the motor shaft 100 is restricted. Thus, even if an impact load acts on the rack shaft 90, the connection between the motor shaft 100 and the ball screw nut 110 is maintained.
In order to manufacture the electric power steering system that has the above-described structure, a process of clinching the thin plate portion 121 of the flange member 120 to the flange portion 112 of the ball screw nut 110 is required. This leads to an increase in man-hours required to manufacture the electric power steering system, and consequently causes an increase in production cost.


In one embodiment, a scheduled collaboration session in a social network is detected, the scheduled collaboration session to occur at a time in the future and at that time provide real-time communication among participants. A plurality of participants expected to attend the scheduled collaboration session are detected. A subject matter of the scheduled collaboration session is detected. One or more key words are derived from the detected subject matter of the scheduled collaboration session. Profiles maintained in the social network for the plurality of participants expected to attend the scheduled collaboration session are updated based on the one or more key words, the updating to include refining an area of expertise indicated in the profiles.

There has been an increased use in collaboration sessions that are Internet or web-based to communicate with employees, vendors, and clients. During these collaboration sessions, information is typically exchanged between multiple participants. This exchanged information may include audio, graphical, and/or textual information.
There has also been an increased use of social networks such as Friendster, Linkedln, and Spooke to facilitate connections between the respective community members.

System and method for attribute detection in user profile creation and update


For mechanically coupling a pin connector (10) with a socket connector (11) in a predetermined direction in accordance with a predetermined operation, a connector comprises a recessed portion (22) on the socket connector, a flexible arm (16) connected to the pin connector, an engaging projection (16a) connected to the flexible arm, and a movable member (20) movably mounted on the socket connector. The engaging projection is for making a predetermined engagement with the recessed portion in the predetermined direction and is disengaged from the recessed portion only with bending of the flexible arm. The movable member automatically inhibits the flexible arm from bending thereof after the predetermined engagement is obtained. It is preferable that the pin connector is automatically disconnected from the socket connector when the predetermined engagement is not obtained in spite of the predetermined operation.

This invention relates to a connector which is for use in an electric system and the like and which includes connection members adapted to be connected to each other and, in particular, to a connector of the type described wherein the connection members are mechanically coupled after a predetermined connection is obtained between the connection members.
A conventional connector of the type described generally comprises a mechanical coupling arrangement for stably maintaining a predetermined connection between first and second connection members. As will later be described with reference to the drawings, the mechanical coupling arrangement includes an engaging portion and a locking member. The engaging member is fixedly attached to the first connection member. The looking member is movably attached to the second connection member. After the predetermined connection is made between the first and the second connection members, the looking member is manually operated to be engaged with the engaging portion. Thus, a mechanical coupling is obtained between the first and the second connection members.
With the mechanical coupling arrangement of the conventional connector, however, it is necessary to manually operate the locking member in a connecting operation which completes the mechanical coupling. This results in a reduced efficiency in the connecting operation.
In addition, the mechanical coupling arrangement is disadvantageous in that it is difficult to judge whether or not the first and the second connection members are completely connected. In a case where the predetermined connection is incomplete, an automobile might suffer an interruption in an electric system due to an unanticipated disconnection between the first and the second connection members.

Connector capable of automatically and reliably inhibiting disengagement of mehanical coupling between connection members

Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Ltd.


A flexing crop lifter apparatus includes a finger recess portion configured to receive a forward end of a guard finger, and a securing portion is adapted for attachment to the cutting header. A ski mounting plate extends rearward and downward from the finger recess portion under an attached guard finger. A ski member is attached at a rear end thereof to a rear end of the ski mounting plate and extends forward under the ski mounting plate and curves upward at a front end thereof. A lifting arm extends rearward from the front end of the ski member back and over a knife of the cutting header when the apparatus is attached to the guard finger. The ski member and the ski mounting plate are configured to flex.

Growing crops such as grains, beans, hay, and the like are cut at harvest using a cutting header. Typically the knife on a cutting header comprises a knife bar extending along the front lower edge of the header, with triangular knife sections extending forward from the bar. The exposed side edges of the knife sections are sharpened and move laterally back and forth, cooperating with guards attached to the front lower edge of the header to slice the crop stems.
The guards comprise pointed guard fingers extending forward, and the knife moves back and forth along the edge of the header in a slot cut laterally through the guard fingers. In addition to cooperating with the knife to cut the crop, the guards serve to protect the knife sections from breakage when contacting stones and like obstructions.
Crops sometimes are lying close to the ground making them difficult to cut. Some plants are inherently short, while others may fall down when they reach maturity, or be pushed down by heavy rain or hail.
The knife of a conventional cutting header is a few inches above the ground when the header is in its lowest position, such that very short or downed crop material will pass under the knife and be lost. Crop lifters of various kinds have been developed that are attached to the header and provide a ski member that extends forward from the knife and rides along the ground ahead of the knife, following the ground and moving up and down relative to the knife as the orientation of the header with respect to the ground varies with field contours. A lifting arm extends rearward at a shallow angle from the front of the ski member back and over the knife. The front end of the ski member slides under the crop stems and lifts them up and they then slide rearward along the top of the lifting arm and over the knife to be cut and fall onto the header.
In one type of crop lifter the ski member that rides on the ground is pivotally attached to the header so as to be able to move up and down to follow the ground. In another common type of crop lifter the ski member is fixed to the header instead of pivoting, but is made of spring steel so that same may flex to move up and down to follow the ground. The crop lifters are attached to the header, often via the guard fingers, by a wide variety of mechanisms, many of which provide a "quick attach" feature that allows the lifter to be removed and replaced quickly.
The pivoting crop lifters are somewhat more complicated and expensive, since they include parts that pivot with respect to each other. The flexing lifters are simple, comprising one of the variety of mechanisms for attaching them to the header, and then a springy ski member extending forward along the ground, and a lifting arm extending rearward and upward from the front end of the ski member.
Flexing spring steel crop lifters are disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,742,690 and 4,120,138 to Schumacher II et al., and 6,655,120 to Schumacher et al. As can be seen, the ski member is attached to the point of the guard finger and the flexing portion extends forward from the point of the guard finger. Thus the ski member must extend far enough forward to provide a sufficient length from the point of the guard to the front end of the ski member to allow the ski member to flex through the required range of movement. Consequently the prior art flexing crop lifters extend a significant distance forward of the guard fingers. Thus the lifters are subject to damage when passing through dips or ditches in the field, and during turns they move laterally through the crop, such that crop stems can be pushed over and away from the knife, and thus be lost.


An electronic device comprises an outer case, a wireless card reader and a signal processing device. The outer case comprises a door and a metal wall. The metal wall is disposed on a lateral side of the outer case and has an opening. The door is disposed on the metal wall and capable of covering the opening. The wireless card reader is inside the door and capable of transmitting wireless signals. The signal processing device has a case, a data storage device and a safety mechanism. The signal processing device is inside the outer case and is electrically connected to the wireless card reader. The signal processing device is capable of processing the data of wireless signals from the wireless card reader. When the case is dissembled, the safety mechanism destroys at least part of the data stored in the data storage device.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an electronic device and more particularly to an electronic device for reading identity cards.
2. Related Art
In the recent years, the government of China began to issue the second generation resident identity card (2nd generation ID card for short) to its citizens. Each of 2nd generation ID card has an embedded chip storing encrypted personal data. The encrypted personal data is read via a wireless card reader. For example, a laptop with a built-in wireless card reader is available in the market. The laptop includes an antenna of the wireless card reader. The antenna is disposed between a display panel and a keyboard of the laptop. In order to read the 2nd generation ID card by the antenna of the wireless card reader, a user has to open the laptop for exposing the antenna of the wireless card reader. However, it is inconvenient for users to open the laptop first before reading the 2nd generation ID card.