Frequency of an oscillating signal is temporarily adjusted to adjust frequency and/or phase of an output signal. For example, the frequency of the oscillating signal may be adjusted for a very short period of time to adjust the phase of the output signal. In addition, the frequency of the oscillating signal may be temporarily adjusted in a repeated manner to adjust the effective frequency of the output signal. In some aspects the frequency of the oscillating signal is adjusted by reconfiguration of reactive circuits associated with an oscillator circuit.

1. Field
This application relates generally to data communication and more specifically, but not exclusively, to generating a signal such as a clock signal with adjustable phase and/or frequency, and to generating a signal that tracks another signal.
2. Background
In some applications, a communication system may generate signals where the frequency and the phase of the signals are adjustable to some degree. For example, a typical receiver may use a clock signal to recover data from a received signal. In this case, the frequency and phase of the clock signal may be synchronized to the frequency and phase of the received signal to improve the accuracy with which the data is recovered from the received signal. In addition, some systems may employ multiphase clocks where the different phases may be used at different times and/or for different circuits.
In practice, undesirable trade-offs relating to, for example, complexity, power consumption, and cost may need to be made to provide signals having the desired frequency and phase qualities. As an example, an ultra-wideband communication system may employ very narrow pulses and a high level of duty cycling to reduce the power requirements of associated transceiver components. Here, the effectiveness with which received data is recovered depends, in part, on appropriate tracking of the timing of the received pulses. Due to the use of relatively narrow pulse widths, however, a synchronization and tracking structure that provides a sufficient level of tracking performance may be undesirably complex. For example, in some implementations a synchronization and tracking circuit may comprise a phase lock loop or some form of a voltage controlled oscillator circuit to generate signals with appropriate frequency and/or phase (e.g., different clock phases in a multiphase system). In addition, in some implementations a synchronization and tracking circuit may comprise a high-frequency oscillator and a high-frequency phase locked loop ("PLL") or delay locked loop ("DLL"). In this case, the operating frequency of the PLL/DLL may be selected so that the PLL/DLL provides sufficient resolution for a tracking and acquisition control signal.
In practice, the above techniques may be relatively complicated and may consume a relatively large amount of power. Consequently, these techniques may be inappropriate for many applications.

Signal generator with adjustable frequency


A joined article includes a first component having a laser-treated surface portion and a second component having a laser-treated surface portion. An adhesive joins the first component to the second component at the treated surface portion. A method of making a joined article form components and a system for making joined articles are also disclosed.

The increasing use of Carbon Fiber Polymer Composite (CFPC) as a lightweight material in automotive and aerospace industries requires more effective and reliable joining techniques. The surface treatment is a critical step governing the quality of adhesive bonded joints. Traditional surface preparation methods of composite surfaces leave a resin-rich surface layer on the composite, which is susceptible to the nucleation of cracks that may limit its structural integrity. The CFPC surface also contains chemicals, such as mold releases and contaminants, which often require removal prior to adhesive bonding. Current state-of-the art surface preparation for composites is typically accomplished through multiple mechanical/chemical processes, which lack the speed and repeatability needed for high-throughput manufacturing. They also involve chemicals that often require special handling. Many adhesive suppliers formulate adhesives to accommodate less than ideal surfaces, at the expense of structural performance.
Aluminum (Al) surfaces contain oxides and lubricant oils that are detrimental to the adhesive joining. Surface treatments aim at modifying the Al surface to attain contaminant removal, wettability with either primer or adhesive, and highly roughened surfaces. Traditional surface preparation techniques for Al used in the industry for bonding aluminum include grit blasting, solvent wiping followed by abrading (with a ScotchBrite® pad), or anodization. The first two are more common, whereas anodization is more commonly seen in aerospace applications where this more expensive and rigorous preparation is necessary to meet stringent specifications. Due to the inherent variability in grit blasting or abrasion techniques, a more controlled process would be desired.
Surface preparation is one of the main challenges for bonding CFPC with Al, both in consistent quality and productivity. The major roadblocks in joining CFPC and Al is related to the inherent poor mechanical strength of the resin, as the adhesive does not directly contact the CFPC but the resin rich layer on the CFPC surface. Moreover, the Al surface may be too smooth to allow an excellent mechanical bonding with the adhesive. Additionally, the surfaces of both materials as noted contain contaminates, which are residual from their forming/molding operations. Aluminum surfaces contain oxides and lubricant oils. Composites contain mold releases. Traditional preparation of CFPC surfaces often include chemical removal of mold releases and other handling aids but, even under the most ideal scenarios, still leaves a resin rich surface layer on the composite which is susceptible to Mode I fracture sensitivity.
To date, joining CFPCs and metal components, made of aluminum 5000, 6000, or 7000 series, titanium, magnesium, and steels is made by simply overwrapping the CFPC composite over the aluminum or using specially formulated adhesives coupled with extensive surface preparation techniques. These processes are empirical, employing several steps, such as labor-intensive surface preparation methods that are incompatible with the degree of automation required in automotive applications. In addition to the cost and floor space requirements, manual surface preparation introduces a significant variability in the overall joint integrity. The technique is not limited only to aluminum but to any metal, although Al and CFPC materials are common in the automotive and aerospace industries.
The use of one-beam laser for serial structuring, which can produce one geometrical feature per laser spot or line raster, has been used in last two decades for CFPC. Niino et al. [H. Niino, M. Nakano, S. Nagano, H. Nitta, K. Yano, A. Yabe, Excimer Laser Ablation of Polymers and Carbon Fiber Composites, Journal of Photo polymer Science and Technology, Vol. 3 (1990), pp. 53-56.] used a 308 nm XeCl excimer laser to induce surface micromodifications onto polymers and carbon fiber composites. The use of an excimer laser treatment, selective removal of the organic matrix without any degradation of fiber reinforcements, was investigated by Galantucci et al. [Galantucci, LM; Gravina, A; Chita, G; Cinquepalmi, M, Surface treatment for adhesive-bonded joints by excimer laser, Composites Part A-Appl. Sci. and Manuf., Vol. 27, pp. 1041-1049, 1996.] and Benard et al. [Benard, Q., Foisa, M., Grisel, M., Laurens, P., Surface treatment of carbon/epoxy and glass/epoxy composites with an excimer laser beam, Int. J. of Adhesion and Adhesives, Vol. 26, pp. 543-549, 2006] [Benard, Q.; Fois, M.; Grisel, M.; Laurens, P.; Joubert, F., Influence of the Polymer Surface Layer on the Adhesion of Polymer Matrix Composites, J. of Thermoplastic Comp. Mat., Vol. 22, Pages: 51-61, 2009]. Warren et al. [Warren, C. D., Paulauskas, F. L., and Bowman, R. G., "Laser Ablation Assisted Adhesive Bonding of Automotive Structural Composites," ORNL/CP-102637, ICCM-12, Paris France, Jul. 3-9 (1999)] also used a KrF excimer laser to process glass fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites. Significant glass fiber damage was found due to the ablation process, as the glass fibers acted as a lens focusing the laser energy to the backside of the fibers and thus produced microgrooving of the fiber along the side of the fiber farthest away from the incident direction. Lima et al. [Lima, M. S. F.; Sakamoto, J. M. S.; Simoes, J. G. A.; Riva, R., Laser processing of carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite for optical fiber guidelines, Lasers In Manufacturing (LIM 2013), Physics Procedia, Ed. by Emmelmann C; Zaeh M F; Graf T; Schmidt M, Vol. 41, pp. 565-573, 2013] used a 20 W of a Nd:YAG pulsed laser to producing fiber optical guidelines in carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites using laser texturing and machining. The size of laser-created surface patterns is identical to the laser spot size. Detrimental microcracks can be propagated into the subsurface level.

Laser nanostructured surface preparation for joining materials


A linear electromagnetic driving device composed of multiple linear electromagnetic driving modules. A linear electromagnetic driving module has a base, an electromagnetic driving assembly, a crankshaft assembly and a bumper assembly. The electromagnetic driving assembly has a housing with coil and a linear magnetic shaft capable of moving linearly in the housing. The crankshaft assembly is mounted on the base, is connected to the linear magnetic shaft through crank arm and has two crank disks with pivot output shafts mounted rotatably on the base. The electromagnetic induced power output of each driving module is controlled and coordinated electronically through a sensor assembly on the driving device to maximize the energy efficiency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a driving device, particularly to a linear electromagnetic driving device composed of multiple linear electromagnetic driving modules structured to mimic the conventional combustion engine. The electromagnetic induced power (torque) output of each driving module is controlled and coordinated electronically by a specially designed circuitry to maximize the energy efficiency.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional electric motor comprises a casing, a stator and a rotor in an annular structure. The power output of a conventional electric motor is proportional to the size of the rotor and corresponding stator structure. Such structure requires high starting current to overcome the heavy rotor inertia and must attain a predetermined rotational speed to provide power out put to prevent stalling. To bear the high starting current, the motor needs a costly Y-A current-limiting starting apparatus to be integrated in the motor. The current-limiting starting apparatus usually consists of thick cable, large activator and voltage-dropping resistor, adding more weight and taking up considerable space that drives up the cost for assemble and maintenance. Hence, Electric or Hybrid automobiles using these conventional electromagnetic motors to replace or in addition to the combustion engine suffer the high starting current and bulky space that contributes to low energy efficiency and high cost of assembly and maintenance.
To overcome these shortcomings, the present invention provides a linear electromagnetic driving device to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

Linear electromagnetic driving module and linear electromagnetic driving device


The present invention relates to treatment of neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and Alzheimer's disease, using an estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) ligand.

This invention relates generally to a novel treatment to prevent neurodegeneration in the central nervous system due to diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, stroke, etc. More specifically, some embodiments of the present invention relates to a treatment comprising a combination of an estrogen receptor ligand with a secondary agent, such as an immunotherapeutic compound.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Estrogen receptor ligand treatment for neurodegenerative diseases

The Regents of the University of California


Apparatus for processing the image seen by a television camera viewing the surroundings of an aircraft has a store of topographical mapping information and object data stores which contain information about the appearance, location and size of objects in the area to be viewed. The apparatus derives information as to the location of an object in the field of view and determines where the line of sight of the object from the camera intercepts the stored topographical mapping. The range of the object is determined trigonometrically from its location relative to a corresponding part of the stored topographical mapping and the position of the aircraft. New objects are indicated when they are not present in the object data stores. The angle subtended by an identified object is compared with the known size of the object to provide another indication of range. An indication of the size of the object can be provided from knowledge of its range and the angle subtended.

This invention relates to image processing apparatus and methods.
The invention is more particularly concerned with image processing apparatus and methods for use in determining the range and or alternatively the size of an object.
Conventional techniques of measuring the range of an object involve the use of a laser or radar rangefinder. While these can be accurate, they have the disadvantage that they must be precisely aimed and can make the presence of the observer apparent. It is common practice for tanks and military aircraft or vessels to be equipped with laser and radar detectors so that an alarm is given when they are under observation by laser or radar radiation. The detector can be used to direct counter-measures at the laser or radar source which is used to provide a homing beacon for a missile or the like.
It would, therefore, be a considerably advantage to be able to measure the range and size of an object remotely in a passive way without increasing the risk of detection.

Image processing utilizing an object data store to determine information about a viewed object

Smiths Industries Public Limited Company


A method is provided for building an information network via an antenna terminal or an antenna cable disposed in a house for receiving television broadcasting or radio broadcasting. The method comprises step (a) of selecting at least one frequency not used by television broadcasting or radio broadcasting in an area where the house is located; step (b) of modulating a carrier wave having the frequency selected in step (a) by using transmission data transmitted from a first information terminal and transmitting the modulated carrier wave via the antenna terminal or the antenna cable; and step (c) of receiving the carrier wave transmitted in step (b) and demodulating the carrier wave to produce reception data received by a second information terminal.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information network building method for building an information network in a house and to a network connection circuit used for connecting an information terminal to such an information network.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to build an information network in a house, it has been necessary to lay down dedicated lines for information networks at the time of building the house or after the completion of the house. These dedicated lines ensure high-speed data transfer between terminals in the house, but unfortunately they are very costly.
Alternatively, radio transceivers may be connected to the terminals in the house to establish wireless communication. This approach provides a flexible layout of the terminals in the house. Wireless communication, however, may not be stable in a reinforced-concrete house, which readily attenuates electromagnetic waves.
Still another alternative solution may be to use a power line in the house for terminal-to-terminal communication. This approach also provides a flexible layout of the terminals in the house. The power line, however, carries a high voltage and requires a high-voltage proof combiner/distributor, which is difficult to design. Furthermore, noise generated by an apparatus connected to the power line being turned ON adversely affects communication signals, compromising high-speed data transfer.
In order to overcome these problems, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-278551 (page 2, FIG. 1) described below discloses a communication control unit for home networking that ensures high-speed communication by using existing facilities. This home networking system utilizes a network of TV coaxial cables connected to a TV signal distributor which receives a TV signal sent from an antenna. Such a TV signal distributor is now provided in a typical regular house and group housing such as a condominium. A data signal is transferred from a communication terminal in one room to a communication terminal in another room via the TV coaxial cables. To achieve this, a transceiver that modulates the data signal into a transfer signal having a different frequency from the frequency band of the TV signal sent from the antenna is connected to a wall terminal for TV signal reception provided at the end of the TV coaxial cable in each room.
This communication control unit includes a frequency converter which is connected between the antenna and the TV signal distributor. This converter converts a transmission data signal sent from a TV coaxial cable via the TV signal distributor to a reception data signal having a frequency different from that of the transmission data signal and the frequency band of the TV signal, and then transmits the reception signal to other TV coaxial cables via the TV signal distributor.
Unfortunately, this home networking system requires labor and cost of connecting the communication control unit between the antenna and the TV signal distributor. Furthermore, it may degrade the TV signal quality.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an information network building method for constructing an information network that ensures high-speed data transfer in a house while still saving labor and cost of introducing new facilities. Another object of the present invention is to provide a network connection circuit for connecting an information terminal to such an information network.

Information network building method and network connection circuit for communication between terminals of a physical premises


Disclosed is a process whereby diverse classes of materials can be 3D printed and fully integrated into device components with active properties. An exemplary embodiment shows the seamless interweaving of five different materials, including (1) emissive semiconducting inorganic nanoparticles, (2) an elastomeric matrix, (3) organic polymers as charge transport layers, (4) solid and liquid metal leads, and (5) a UV-adhesive transparent substrate layer, demonstrating the integrated functionality of these materials. Further disclosed is a device for printing these fully integrated 3D devices.

Three-dimensional ("3D") printing is a technique that is starting to gain significant attention and commercial interest. However, to date, 3D printing has been limited to components such as plastic parts and metal lines, as well as to specific plastics, passive conductors, and a few biological materials. A significant advance would be the ability to 3D print functional active electronic materials and devices in a variety of geometries, beyond the two dimensional ("2D") constraints of traditional microfabrication semiconductor processing. Developing the ability to 3D print various classes of materials possessing distinct properties could enable the freeform generation of active electronics in unique functional, interwoven architectures. Achieving seamless integration of diverse materials with 3D printing is a significant challenge that requires overcoming discrepancies in material properties in addition to ensuring that all the materials are compatible with the 3D printing process.
The freeform generation of active electronics in unique architectures which transcend the planarity inherent to conventional microfabrication techniques has been an area of increasing scientific interest. Three-dimensional large-scale integration (3D-LSI) can reduce the overall footprint and power consumption of electronics, and is usually accomplished via stacks of two dimensional semiconductor wafers, in which interconnects between layers are achieved using wire-bonding or through-silicon vias. Overcoming this "2D barrier" has significant potential applications beyond improving the scalability in semiconductor integration technologies. For instance, the ability to seamlessly incorporate electronics into three-dimensional constructs could impart functionalities to biological and mechanical systems, such as advanced optical, computation or sensing capabilities. For example, integration of electronics on otherwise passive structural medical instruments such as catheters, gloves, and contact lenses are critical for next generation applications such as real-time monitoring of physiological conditions. Such integration has been previously demonstrated via meticulous transfer printing of pre-fabricated electronics and/or interfacing materials via dissolvable media such as silk on nonplanar surface topologies. An alternative approach is to attempt to interweave electronics in three dimensions from the bottom up. Yet, attaining seamless interweaving of electronics is challenging due to the inherent material incompatibilities and geometrical constraints of traditional micro-fabrication processing techniques.

3D printed active electronic materials and devices


A power supply control apparatus communicates with a power control apparatus which controls use of electric power of an electronic apparatus. A receiver unit receives a change request to change a power supply-distribution capacity supplied to one electronic apparatus from the power control apparatus controlling use of electric power of the one electronic apparatus. A calculation unit calculates a sum of the power supply-distribution capacity supplied to the one electronic apparatus in response to the received change request and power supply-distribution capacities supplied to the other electronic apparatuses except the one electronic apparatus. A comparison unit compares the maximum power supply-distribution capacity to the sum of the calculated power supply-distribution capacities. A determination unit determines whether or not a change in the power supply-distribution capacity supplied to the one electronic apparatus is allowable based on a result of the comparison.

In response to an increase in size, sophistication, and complication of data centers in recent years, a wide variety of electronic apparatuses (for example, servers, routers, storages or the like) are located therein. Furthermore, a majority of such electronic apparatuses located in the data center have a wide range of variation in power consumption. Due to the reasons discussed above, it has been very difficult to accurately estimate a power supply-distribution capacity necessary for the data center.
Moreover, if an excessive use of electric power (overload) that exceeds the power supply-distribution capacity in the data center occurs, this results in a voltage drop or an interruption of electric power, and as a result, a serious accident, such as the loss of data stored in the electronic apparatuses, may be caused. Thus, high reliability, for example, the supply of electric power to the data center without interruption, is necessary for the power supply and distribution.
However, as discussed above, it is very difficult to accurately estimate the power supply-distribution capacity necessary for the data center under current circumstances. In consequence, there is a problem that it is inevitable to make an investment in equipment to achieve a power supply-distribution capacity greater than what is actually necessary for the data center.
There is a conventional technique which makes supply of electric power within a range of an operating environment and/or of a power supply capacity possible by adequately controlling consumption of electric power over an entire circuit, so that the conventional technique achieves a reduction in power consumption of electronic devices (for example, a large scale integration, that is to say, an LSI).
However, the conventional technique disclosed above has a problem that it is very difficult to apply the conventional technique to such a facility, for example, a data center which contains electronic apparatuses owned by customers. This is because, in typical cases, the customers control the electronic apparatuses in the data center, and it is very difficult for the data center managers to control the operations of individual electronic apparatuses.
For the reason discussed above, to achieve highly reliable power supply/distribution, such as, the supply of electric power without interruption, it is still inevitable to make an unnecessarily large investment in the equipment in the data center. This may result in a problem of increasing costs for the data center.
According to one aspect of the present application, use of electric power that exceeds a maximum power supply-distribution capacity in a facility, such as a data center, a server room or the like, is effectively suppressed by accurately estimating a power supply-distribution capacity necessary for the facility, so that the problems in the conventional technique may be solved. According to an aspect of the present application, an unnecessarily large investment made in equipment for supplying and distributing the electric power in the facility may be reduced, if not prevented.

Apparatus for controlling supply of electric power and apparatus for controlling electric power


The invention relates to a method for determining an analyte by means of binding reactions, which method comprises: i) applying the sample to an application zone for sample (ASZ) on a flow matrix in which transport of components present in the sample can take place (transport flow), the flow matrix further exhibiting: a) optionally an application zone (AR*Z) for a binding reactant (Reactant*=R*) which is analytically detectable; b) a detection zone (DZ), which is located downstream of ASZ and exhibits an additional binding reactant (Capturer) firmly anchored to the matrix, and in which a complex (signal complex) containing the Capturer and the analyte and/or Reactant* is formed during the reaction, and ii) detecting the signal complex in the detection zone, the measured signal being used for determining the analyte. According to the invention, the flow matrix comprises at least one separation zone (SZ) between ASZ and DZ, which zone exhibits a structure (ligand) having binding capability for a component that is transported in the matrix and which would affect the measurable signal if the component is transported into DZ. The invention also relates to a test kit comprising the flow matrix.

The invention relates to a method for determining an analyte in a sample and to a kit for use in the method.
Starting from the prior art, the method of the invention comprises the steps:
i. The sample is applied in a sample application zone (ASZ) on a flow matrix in which transport of components present in the sample may take place (transport flow). The flow matrix further comprises:
a) optionally an application zone (AR*Z) for a binding reactant (Reactant*=R*) which is analytically detectable,
b) a detection zone (DZ) which is located downstream of ASZ and exhibits another binding reactant (Capturer) firmly anchored to the matrix and in which a complex (signal complex) containing the Capturer and the analyte and/or the Reactant* is formed in the method.
ii. The flow is allowed to effect the transport of sample components.
iii. The signal complex is detected in the detection zone and the measured signal is used for the determination of the analyte.
The invention is primarily directed to the flow matrix which may be of the same type as those previously used in, for example, immunochromatography, see below.
Suitable binding reactants are those which participate in so-called affinity reactions, especially biospecific affinity reactions, and covalent binding reactions, especially exchange reactions between free thiol and reactive disulphide and other reactions between soft electrophiles and soft nucleophiles. Common biospecific affinity reactions are immunochemical, i.e. between antibody and antigen or hapten. Other types of bioaffine reactions are hybridization between complementary nucleic acids (including oligonucleotides), reaction between lectin and carbohydrate structure, between Ig(Fc)-structure and Ig(Fc)-binding protein, such as protein A or protein G, etc. The bioaffine reactions include the reaction between a biomolecule and a synthetically prepared ligand/capturer.
For the type of method in question, one talks about non-competitive methods, for example sandwich technique, and competitive methods. Sandwich technique usually means that an analytically detectable complex is formed in which the analyte binds to two bioaffine counterparts, one of which is analytically detectable and the other is Capturer. In common competitive variants, the analyte and an analytically detectable analyte analogue will compete for a limiting amount of bioaffine counterpart. As examples of two competitive variants may be mentioned those that use: a) competition between analyte and analyte analogue, which is labelled, for a limiting amount of ligand in the form of a firmly anchored Capturer, and b) competition between analyte and analyte analogue in the form of firmly anchored Capturer for a limiting amount of soluble and analytically detectable bioaffine counterpart.
For further information on previously used methodology within the technical field of the invention it is referred to U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,711 (Behringwerke), WO 88/08534 (Unilever). U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,120,643 and 4,740,468 (Abbott), EP-A-284,232 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,240 (Becton Dickinson) and WO 96/22532 (Pharmacia AB).
Heteroforms
Compounds which can compete for the binding to a counterpart via one of the above mentioned binding reactions. Heteroforms may be isoforms of proteins, e.g. isoenzymes etc. Within the term heteroforms are included inter alia different forms of bioaffine complexes which xe2x80x9cresemblexe2x80x9d each other by meeting the above definition. Examples are immunocomplexes where the antigen is the same but the antibody is of different class/subclass. See further under the title xe2x80x9cAnalytexe2x80x9d below.
Determination of whether two compounds are heteroforms to each other may be made in so-called inhibition tests.
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
The components of a sample that may affect or influence the signal that is to be detected in DZ can be divided into two main groups: a) the analyte and b) components which directly or indirectly disturb the detection. Directly disturbing components are those which interfere with the signal as such, for example fluorescent components in serum in case the complex is to be detected by fluorescence. Examples of indirectly disturbing components are heteroforms with regard to Capturer and/or an added bioaffine reactant R (for example R*). Other indirectly disturbing components, for example heterophilic antibodies, may be present in the original sample and interfere with the formation of the signal complex in DZ. In certain embodiments of the invention, ligands that are released from the separation zone of the invention may act disturbingly (see Example 1).
Problems with disturbing components in samples have often meant that for analytes that are present in low concentrations, the separation of disturbing components and the detection have been performed in different systems.
An example where after ion-exchange separation, analysis has been carried out either by immunological systems or by on-line measurement of an absorbing group (460 nm), is in the measurement of carbohydrate deficient transferrins (CDT=CD-transferrin=asialo-, monosialo- and disialo-transferrin). When CDT is present at a relatively high concentration (10xe2x88x929 M), both detection alternatives have been possible, but at lower concentrations of analyte, immunological measurement is required. The ion-exchange chromatography separation is controlled from an advanced and costly equipment, which requires specially educated personnel. Also the traditional immunological tests are expensive and require well-educated personnel.
The technique for immunological on-line measurement after a chromatographic separation step has been described by Afeyan et al. (Nature 358 (1992) 603-604) and Irth et al. (Anal. Chem. 14 (1995) 355-361). Its difficulties have been summarized by Krull et al. (LC-GC 15(7) (1997) 620-629).
Transport of whole cells into DZ may interfere with the signal from the detection complex. It is previously known to use flow matrices where the cells are captured mechanically (through filtration) in a denser pre-zone (Oudheusden et al., Ann. Clin. Biochem. 28 (1991) 55-59).
EP-A-696,735 discloses a chromatographic immunoanalytical system where, in order to extend the measuring range for the analyte, a predetermined amount of analyte-binding antibody has been immobilized in the sample application zone so that a certain amount of analyte is retained therein.
EP-A-702,233 discloses a chromatographic immunoanalytical system where, in a similar manner to that described in EP-A-696,735, a dilution effect of the sample is achieved by capturing a certain amount of analyte before it reacts with labelled reactant which is then detected in the detection zone.
WO 97/35205 discloses a chromatographic membrane for immunoanalysis having (i) a zone for the detection of labelled analyte-binding reactant which has not bound to the analyte, and (ii) a zone for the detection of the complex between analyte-binding reactant and the analyte. The relative amounts of unbound analyte-binding reactant and analyte: reactant complex gives a measure of the amount of analyte in the sample.
WO 94/06012 discloses an analytical test apparatus having a negative control zone placed before the analyte detection zone. The negative control zone has the function to indicate the presence in the sample of components that affect the analyte detection so that it becomes unreliable.
A first main object of the invention is to create a simple and rapid method that facilitates the determination of an analyte in the presence of disturbing components. A particular object is to avoid problems with disturbing components that are soluble or suspendable in liquid media of interest.
A second main object of the invention is more rapid and simpler determinations of individual heteroforms or combinations thereof, especially heteroforms, that exhibit peptide, carbohydrate or lipid structures, including various types of biologically active compounds. Among lipids are included steroids and other fat-soluble substances.
A third main object of the invention is to facilitate the measurement of analytes in the concentration range  less than 10xe2x88x927 M, particularly  less than 10xe2x88x929 M, especially for samples containing disturbing heteroforms of the analyte.
A fourth main object of the invention is to simplify the determination of individual heteroforms or combinations thereof in samples originating from biological materials.
A fifth main object of the invention is to provide more rapid and simpler evaluations of libraries of compounds, for example chemical libraries, such as combinatorial libraries.
A subobject of the above mentioned four main objects is to improve the possibilities of making determinations in field environment (usually semi-quantitatively) as well as in advanced laboratories (with the possibility of accurate quantification).
The Invention
The above mentioned objects may be achieved with the method mentioned in the introductory part herein, if the flow matrix contains one or more separation zones (SZ) between ASZ and DZ, which should permit at least one component, capable of influencing the signal from the signal complex in DZ, to be retarded/separated. This should take place in SZ by means of the ligand interactions mentioned below, which can be reversible or irreversible. The component may be either a disturbing component or the analyte. If the component is not an analyte, the retardation means that the component (or components) migrates more slowly than the analyte through SZ or is bound irreversibly to SZ and thereby is prevented from reaching DZ such that the detection of analyte in DZ essentially will not be disturbed by the component (or components) in question. Usually, this means that there should be a sufficient amount of ligand for substantially all of the disturbing component or components in the sample to be affected. xe2x80x9cSubstantially allxe2x80x9d depends on the relative concentrations of the component(s), but usually means that at least 90%, preferably at least about 95%, and more preferably at least 99% of the disturbing component(s) are retarded or captured in the separation zone. The component may be the analyte if it is desired to study the capability of one or more ligands to bind the analyte. In this case such a ligand is immobilized in the separation zone.
The choice of retarding structure/ligand in the separation zone is determined by the components that are retarded. The retardation may be based on various more or less specific interactions between the ligand structure and the component(s) to be retarded; see below under the title xe2x80x9cSeparation zonexe2x80x9d. After the passage of SZ, the analyte will migrate with the transport flow to the detection zone (DZ), in which a complex containing the Capturer and the analyte and/or R* are formed.
In those cases where it is intended to retard one or more disturbing components, the formation of signal complexes will take place in the absence thereof. The detection of signal complexes in DZ may be taken as a qualitative or quantitative measure of the analyte.
In those cases where it is intended to retard the analyte, the point of time for the formation of a signal complex will be changed, or, if the analyte-ligand binding in SZ is irreversible, the formation of a signal complex may be completely inhibited. The formation of a signal complex in DZ will be a measure of the capability of the analyte to bind to the ligand in SZ.

Ligand binding assay and kit with a separation zone for disturbing analytes


A method and appartus for diversity reception in a communication system wherein at least a dual branch receiver is provided with a stored replica of expected reference information that is correlated with the received time-dispersed signals to obtain an estimate of the transmission channel's impulse response as seen by each branch, and determine, among other things, phase error between the branch local oscillators and the time-dispersed signals. Matched filters are constructed which then coherently align the time-dispersed signals from each branch with that branch's local oscillator, also constituting the first part of the equalization. The diversity processing stage may perform bit by bit selection on the re-aligned signals, maximal ratio combining of the re-aligned signals, or equal gain combining of the re-aligned signals, following each by a sequence estimation which uses similarly selected or combined channel distortion compensation parameters to complete the equalization process on the new signal. In digital modulated carrier systems, providing expected reference information eliminates the neeed for carrier recovery feedback for each branch while performing part of the equalization process.

Enhanced signal detection in a time-dispersive medium generally requires a receiver to perform some type of echo signal equalization on the received time-dispersed signals to produce an output which has a better output than would result from allowing the echoes to interfere with one another. One such equalization technique used in a digital radio Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) system is described in instant assignee's U.S. Pat. No. 4,829,543 entitled "Phase-Coherent TDMA Quadrature Receiver for Multipath Fading Channels" filed on behalf of Borth et al.
The Borth et al. invention describes a phase coherent method for demodulating a Quadrature Phase Shift Keyed (QPSK) radio signal that is subjected to multipath fading. Equalization is facilitated by correlating a stored training sequence, known to the receiver, against the incoming signal, and using the resulting correlation to remove the phase difference between the incoming signal and the receiver's local oscillator, effecting coherent detection. Equalization can then proceed.
Other techniques have been proposed for dealing with the intersymbol interference which can be generated in a transmitted signal by a time-dispersive transmission channel. Such receivers are described in "Adaptive Maximum Likelihood Receiver for Carrier-Modulated Data-Transmission Systems", authored by G. Ungerboeck, IEEE Transactions on Communications, Vol. COM-22, No. 5, May 1974, pp. 624-636, and "Maximum Likelihood Sequence Estimation of Digital Sequences in the Presence of Intersymbol Interference", authored by G. D. Forney, IEEE Transactions on Information Theory, Vol IT-18, No. 3, May, 1972, pp. 363-377.
However, in high data rate systems where transmission is through a severely delay-spread radio channel, single branch-single receiver equalization may fail to provide adequate time-dispersed distortion (multi-ray fading) correction. For example, practical implementations of equalizing receivers may have imperfect estimates of the critical error signal in the case of decision feedback equalization, or imperfect estimates of the transmission channel's impulse response in some other equalization schemes.
Therefore, diversity reception (the same signal received on multiple branches--which may be on different antennas, or on a single antenna at different times, or made in other ways, as is well known in the art) is typically necessary to sufficiently reduce the effect of multi-ray fading. One such receiver is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,271,525 entitled, "Adaptive Diversity Receiver For Digital Communications". This patent describes an adaptive diversity receiver using an adaptive transversal filter for each receiver branch, followed by a decision feedback equalizer. The tap gains of the transversal filters are updated via feedback from the output of the equalizer, and other points in the receiver.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,731,801 entitled "Method For The Reception And Detection Of Digital Signals" discloses an improvement over U.S. Pat. No. 4,271,525 and other prior art by improving reception in highly dispersive transmission paths using coherent demodulation. This invention uses a technique wherein the output of the bit decision circuitry becomes a basis for calculating a correction signal. A reference carrier, resulting from summing the quadrature baseband signals and the in-phase baseband signals, is fed back to the local oscillator of quadrature demodulators which in turn compensates the phase difference between the received signals and the receiver's local oscillator to facilitate coherent demodulation.
However, inventions such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,271,525 require a set of adaptive transversal filters, one for each receiver branch, in addition to the equalization circuitry. Inventions such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,731,801 require complex circuitry to phase shift the signal in each diversity branch, and, more importantly, cannot arrive at the correct phase adjustments quickly enough to be useful in, for example, TDMA systems characterized by information which is received, and must be corrected, in short bursts separated by relatively long periods of time. During these long periods, signal phases in multi-ray fading channels can change radically relative to the receiver's local oscillator.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a reduced complexity receiver that performs diversity reception on continuous, or non-continuous, high speed digital signals and is capable of substantially reducing effects of both flat fading and multi-ray, dispersive fading due to time-dispersive transmission mediums.

Method and apparatus for diversity reception of time-dispersed signals


An apparatus is fabricated with a plurality of semiconductor-device substrates and/or MEMS substrates with micromachined sensors, circuits, transducers, and/or MEMS devices fabricated on the plurality of substrates. A plurality of flexible hinges couple the plurality of substrates into a substantially flat two dimensional foldable assembly. Electrical interconnects coupled to the sensors, circuits, transducers, and/or MEMS devices extend other ones of the plurality of substrates. The foldable assembly of substrates is assembled or folded into a three dimensional polyhedral structure with the plurality of substrates configured in three dimensions to form defined relative orientations in space with respect to each other. The invention includes a wafer scale method of fabricating the apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
a. The invention relates to the field of an apparatus and fabrication of MEMS, inertial measurement unit (IMU), three dimensional packaging, micromachined inertial sensor and its microfabrication.
2. Background
As the demand grows for miniaturization of sophisticated equipment, technological advances in microfabrication are constantly being developed. For instance, integrated circuits have enabled millions of transistors to be built on a single die capable of processing billions of instructions per second. More currently, MEMS and nanotechnology have given birth to a new era of fabrication. Due to the fast growth of both fields, interest for miniaturization is being expressed by an increasing number of applications. A large portion of current research is focused on development of transducers. Multiple sensors measuring different phenomena are generally desired to be very compact, simplifying integration. Moreover, many applications such as inertial measurement, ultrasonic devices, and optical sensing benefit from measurement along multiple axes. To address the needs of current and future applications, a novel approach of creating a chip-level system of micro machined sensors (or transducers) capable of detection (or transduction) along three independent axes has been developed.
One application for such a device is inertial measurement. Fields such as defense, space exploration, navigation, and personal entertainment are showing a rising interest for a complete inertial measurement unit (IMU) capable of measuring rotation and acceleration along three independent axes. Another application is multi-axis pressure sensing. A miniature three dimensional microphone could be used to monitor audio signals with the ability to precisely detect the source location of individual sounds, or to detect all sound in three dimensions. Ultrasonic devices could be built to transmit and receive sonar signals for underwater exploration or communication. Video surveillance purposes could benefit from a three dimensional camera that minimizes the number of cameras needed to fully observe the surroundings. For applications requiring very low-power consumption such as space exploration or remote navigation, a lightweight multi-axis energy scavenging device can be built to efficiently store energy induced from inertial motion. Though this is only a short list of possible applications for a compact three dimensional system of transducers and sensors, this manuscript will focus specifically on the example of a chip-level Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU).
Current methods to create a compact IMU typically fall into three general regimes. The most common approach is to use off-the-shelf sensors mounted onto PCBs and assembled into a three dimensional configuration. A conceptual version of this is shown in FIG. 1 where a three dimensional structure can measure rotation rate and accelerometer if provided with a sensor PCB module on each sidewall of a cubic sensor structure. With this method, separately packaged, single-axis sensors are typically used which are optimized for performance and rejection of cross-axis inputs.
Therefore the overall IMU benefits from better performance compared to using multi-axis sensors. Also, current technology supports this approach as PCB manufacturing and assembly is a very mature and well-known process. However, major drawbacks do exist. First, significant PCB-level assembly of individual components is necessary. For this reason, alignment errors will vary for each device, requiring extensive calibration of each individual unit before use. Additionally, the device is inherently not very compact. While units developed currently are small (on the order of 1-2 in3), there is no clear path for further miniaturization and reduction of power consumption.
An alternative method used to create a chip-level IMU, shown in FIG. 2, is to fabricate all sensors onto a single die. This allows the footprint of the system as a whole to be small enough for chip-level packaging. Lithographic alignment also reduces the difficulty of post-fabrication calibration because the sensors are all nearly orthogonal to each other. Despite these advantages, there are significant drawbacks to this IMU architecture. First, creating sensors for in-plane and out-of-plane detection requires very different design parameters. For both to coexist on the same substrate, a compromise in fabrication complexity and sensor performance must be made to accommodate multiple axes on the same substrates. It is often that the in-plane and out-of-plane sensors are created with mixed technologies, such as a combination of bulk and surface micromachining, sacrificing performance in some axes.
Another emerging method for creating micro IMUs involves chip-stacking as shown in FIG. 3. Each sensor is fabricated independently and then known-good dies are stacked together onto a single chip. In comparison to the PCB and common substrate approaches, the overall size of the IMU is reduced to a footprint equal to that of one sensor. Also, because each die is fabricated independently of the stack, signal detection electronics can also be included in the stack to create a self-contained chip-scale system of sensors. However, there are drawbacks to this approach as well. In most cases, both in-plane and out-of-plane sensors are included because of the stack geometry. Because the sensors are created with different processes, they are not identical in design and suffer from mismatched sensitivities between the in-plane and out-of-plane devices. Another challenge with this method is minimizing electrical crosstalk. Due to the large number of interconnects that are required to pass through the bottom chip, significant parasitic capacitance exists which induces noise and degrades IMU performance.

Three dimensional folded MEMS technology for multi-axis sensor systems


A washing machine is provided for washing laundry therein. The washing machine includes a hinge member including a door coupling portion and at least one coupling section having at least one hinge coupling hole corresponding to a cabinet coupling hole. The washing machine further includes a front cabinet cover and a rear cabinet cover, having at least one cabinet coupling hole in which at least one coupling member is tightend. The hinge member is directly couple to the rear cabinet cover.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a washing machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, washing machines include a drum in which laundries such as garments, linens, and fabrics (hereinafter, referred to collectively as fabrics) are washed by water and detergent (hereinafter, referred to as wash water) fed into a tub in washing mode. Then, the garments are rinsed and excess water is extracted from the garments in rinsing and spinning modes.
During use or transportation of the washing machine, a cabinet cover of the washing machine can be scratched or deformed, causing degradation in appearance. Further, users may be surfeited with the frontal appearance of the washing machine after long use of the washing machine. In addition, since the cabinet cover is coated with a coating material, the manufacturing process of the cabinet is complicated and manufacturing costs increases.
To eliminate such disadvantages, the cabinet cover can be constructed using a non-coated rear cabinet cover and an exchangeable plastic front cabinet cover attached to a front side of the rear cabinet cover. In this case, the frontal appearance of the washing machine can be improved and the manufacturing costs can be reduced. However, hot/cold durability test results show that the plastic front cabinet cover can be partially deformed. In detail, when a hinge member is attached to the front cabinet cover using a coupling member, a gap can develop between the hinge member and the front cabinet cover due to the deformation of the front cabinet cover, which increases vibration and noise during the operation of the washing machine.


An exercise device in the form of a yoga bag having two ends that hang down over the sides of the chest of a user and provide resistance to the lung cavities during while breathing exercises are performed is set forth. Each end of the bag is provided with compartments for selectively receiving flowable weighted substances. The center of the bag is contoured to fit around the neck.

Traditional yoga poses, such as forward and backward bends, can be engaged in to encourage use of full lung capacity and expansion of the lungs. There are many other positions and movements engaged in during the performance of yoga that do not achieve the same opening of the lungs as the aforementioned poses.


A wind turbine including a nacelle and a rotor hub is disclosed. The nacelle may extend between a hub end and an aft end and may define a nacelle shaft opening and a nacelle access port at the hub end. The rotor hub may extend between a first end and a second end, with the second end being disposed adjacent to the hub end of the nacelle. The rotor hub may also define a hub shaft opening at the second end and a hub access port generally adjacent to the hub shaft opening. In addition, the wind turbine may include an access bridge configured to extend between the nacelle and the rotor hub so as to provide access between the nacelle access port and the hub access port.

Wind power is considered one of the cleanest, most environmentally friendly energy sources presently available, and wind turbines have gained increased attention in this regard. A modern wind turbine typically includes a tower, generator, gearbox, nacelle, rotor hub and one or more rotor blades. The rotor blades capture kinetic energy of the wind using known airfoil principles. The rotor blades transmit the kinetic energy in the form of rotational energy so as to turn a shaft coupling the rotor blades to a gearbox, or if a gearbox is not used, directly to the generator. The generator then converts the mechanical energy to electrical energy that may be deployed to a utility grid.
In order to perform certain types of maintenance on the rotor hub, the rotor blades and/or various other components of the wind turbine, a service worker must gain internal access to the rotor hub. Typically, such access is gained through an access port located at the front end of the rotor hub (i.e., the end of the rotor hub furthest away from the nacelle). Thus, to reach the access port, a service worker must typically climb onto the top of the nacelle, move over to the top of the rotor hub and repel down the front of the rotor hub. Unfortunately, since the service worker must climb outside the wind turbine, significant safety risks are associated with gaining access to the interior of the rotor hub. As a result, service workers are not able to gain internal access to the rotor hub when adverse weather conditions exist, such as high winds, rain, snow, hail, etc.
Accordingly, a wind turbine having access features that permit a service worker to safely and efficiently gain access to the interior of a rotor hub, including when adverse weather conditions exist, would be welcomed in the technology.

Wind turbine with access features for gaining access to the interior of a rotor hub


Some embodiments provide a data intelligence extraction system for extracting intelligence from different events that are generated by separate and independently operating event generating sources within a business, wherein each event generating source records some set of business activities and the data associated with those activities. The intelligence that the system extracts includes a cradle-to-grave accounting for the engagement that different entities have with a business over the entirety of the entity-to-business relationship. This cradle-to-grave accounting is formed by the system linking events that are related causally, temporally, or on the basis of an entity to which they relate. The system then constructs data assets to capture the data from the linked events, and in so doing, provide the business with assets that compile the data the business has obtained on the different entities over the cradle-to-grave engagement with those entities.

Businesses amass large quantities of data based on customer relationship management (CRM) events that transpire during daily operations. CRM events can include any recordable act or action. Events can record high level actions such as the completion of a sale. Events can also record low level actions such as a mouse click performed by a sales representative in order to add to or modify some data record.
The data that is associated with an event defines that event. For example, an event may capture a sales representative placing an outbound call to a potential customer. The data defining such an event can include information identifying the sales representative, information identifying the potential customer, the telephone contact number of the potential customer, a time the outbound call is initiated, a time the outbound call is terminated, and a disposition of the call as some examples.
For any enterprise or large scale business, the challenge is how to extract meaningful intelligence from the collection of CRM events and their associated data. The CRM events often reside in multiple repositories. For example, the finance department of a particular business may have its own repository storing billing related events, while the sales department of the particular business has its own independent repository storing sales related events. The fact that one billing event may be derived from one sales event is hidden by virtue of the separation and independent operation of the different business units.
Accordingly, there is a need to extract intelligence from seemingly unrelated and independent events. Stated differently, there is need to link events in a manner that identifies the temporal or causal effects that bring about the events. There is then a need to leverage the linkage in order to extract the cradle-to-grave life cycle that occurs across the related set of events as well as to build and retain data about different entities.

Building intelligence from customer relationship management events


An apparatus for manufacturing composite stringers from a composite laminate comprising a male mold, a main caul plate, two fixed female mold halves, two secondary movable caul plates and a retention device. The main caul plate is located below the male mold, the female mold halves are located at both sides of the main caul plate and the secondary movable caul plates, each of them located respectively over each one of the two female mold halves. The male mold, the main caul plate, the two female mold halves and the two secondary caul plates are non-developable surfaces. The retention device keeps each secondary movable caul plate at a predetermined distance of its respective female mold half.

Aeronautic structures are designed in an optimal way to minimize weight and maximize strength. This way usually involves the use of a skin reinforced by some stiffening elements. Therefore, in the case of a fuselage, it is very common to have the skin stiffened by frames and stringers. The use of composite materials in the manufacturing of these elements is increasing, because of their better mechanical properties and their lower weight. Nevertheless, the manufacturing of complex elements, such as stringers that may change their size and thickness, their curvature and/or orientation, entail several drawbacks, as these changes are not easily followed by the traditional mould-and-plate machines.
The state of the art comprises several methods of manufacturing straight stringers, such as those described in US Pub. No. 2006/0231981A and WO 2012/062828A, but they are not suitable to manufacture non-straight stringers, because of the steps of the methods and the features of the machines implementing such methods. It would also be impossible to adapt said methods to non-straight stringers, as in such complex manufacturing process, wrinkles may appear, causing the non-validity of the final piece.
In addition, other objects, desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent summary and detailed description, and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.

Device and method of manufacturing omega stringers


A controller for a DC to DC converter with reference voltage loop disturbance compensation. The controller may include an error amplifier configured to receive a first signal representative of an actual output voltage of the DC to DC converter and a reference signal representative of a desired output voltage of the DC to DC converter and to provide an error signal representative of a difference between the first signal and the reference signal. The controller may also include a PWM modulator with reference voltage compensation circuitry configured to receive the error signal and compensate for a change in the reference signal in order to control overshoot and undershoot of the actual output voltage from a desired voltage due to the change of the reference signal. An electronic device and method are also provided.

A DC to DC converter converts an input DC voltage to an output DC voltage for one or more particular loads. The DC to DC converter may have differing characteristics depending on many factors including the type of load. Many loads require a fixed output DC voltage level. However, other loads, e.g., a processor of a personal computer, may require differing output voltage levels in response to various conditions. To serve such loads, some DC to DC converters require precise startup voltage ramp rates, settling times, and perform "on-the-fly" output voltage changes. For instance, the DC to DC converter may provide a first DC output voltage to the processor during one time interval and then may provide a second DC output voltage to the processor during another time interval.
In order to effect such a change in output voltage of the DC to DC converter, a reference signal, Vp, provided to an error amplifier in a feedback path of a controller for the DC to DC converter may be changed. The error amplifier may compare the reference signal to a voltage level representative of the actual output voltage level, Vout, of the DC to DC converter in order to regulate a conductive state of at least one switch of the DC to DC converter to maintain the output voltage at a desired level despite changes in load condition.
However, in a conventional arrangement as the reference signal is changed, an excessive overshoot and undershoot of the output voltage from the desired output voltage may occur. For example, in one simulation for where the reference signal changed from 0.8 to 1.2 volts, an excessive overshoot of 74 millivolts occurred before the actual output voltage leveled off to the desired 1.2 volts.
Accordingly, there is a need to compensate for such changes in the reference voltage level to lessen the excessive overshoot and undershoot of the actual output voltage from the desired output voltage.
Although the following Detailed Description will proceed with reference being made to illustrative embodiments, many alternatives, modifications, and variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the claimed subject matter be viewed broadly.


A high-frequency safety fuse has a fusible conductor having a cross-sectional area capable of carrying a high-frequency current, and two electrical terminals respectively connected to opposite ends of the fusible conductor. The cross-sectional area has a dimension in at least one direction which is approximately twice the penetration depth of the high-frequency current in the conductor. A fuse is thereby obtained having a low high-frequency equivalent resistance but also having a low cut-off current.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a high-frequency safety fuse of the type having a fusible conductor with a cross-sectional area capable of carrying a high-frequency current, and having two electrical terminals respectively connected to opposite ends of the fusible conductor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A safety fuse of the type described above is disclosed in European Application 0 270 954. This known safety fuse is basically suited for protecting high-frequency circuits. A disadvantage in the use of the fuse for protecting such circuits, however, is that a fuse of this type has a relatively high high-frequency equivalent resistance as a consequence of the fuse having a low cut-off current. If a fuse having a low equivalent resistance is required in addition to the requirement of a lower cut-off current, a fusing characteristic which is slow to react must be accepted as a compromise.
Safety fuses used in the megahertz range are used, for example, in the circuit for local coils in a nuclear magnetic resonance tomography apparatus. Local coils are normally employed only for the reception of nuclear magnetic resonance signals. The nuclear spins are excited by means of a transmission pulse transmitted from another antenna, for example a whole-body antenna. The local coil or coils must be decoupled for the duration of the excitation pulse, i.e., the high-frequency magnetic field of the transmission pulse cannot induce any currents in the local coil or coils. This decoupling is usually achieved by an electronic switch having PIN diodes. If this switch malfunctions, extremely high currents, having an effective value up to 10 A, can be induced in the local coil in the extreme case, so that a risk to the patient exists. The cut-off current of the safety fuse used in the local coil circuit must be small enough to preclude risk to the patient.
When safety fuses are used in high-frequency measurement circuits, they must have a low high-frequency equivalent resistance in addition to having a low cut-off current with an effective value on the order of magnitude of a few hundred mA, so that the signal-to-noise ratio is not degraded. In order to meet both demands, fuses which are slow to react must usually be utilized given applications in the megahertz range. Such fuses, however, have a long fusing time of approximately two minutes, given a cut-off current which amounts to twice the nominal current of the fuse.


This invention is directed to an adjuvant composition in the form of an emulsion which is comprised of an emulsion-forming amount of a non-toxic tetra-polyol or of a POP-POE block polymer and an immunopotentiating amount of a muramyldipeptide of the formula: ##STR1## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, where R and R.sub.1 are each independently H or acyl of 1 to 22 carbon atoms, R.sub.2 is optionally substituted alkyl or optionally substituted aryl, R.sub.3 is H, alkyl, or aryl, R.sub.4 is H or lower alkyl, X is L-alanyl, L-.alpha.-aminobutyryl, L-arginyl, L-asparginyl, L-aspartyl, L-cysteinyl, L-glutaminyl, L-glutamyl, glycyl, L-histidyl, L-hydroxyprolyl, L-isoleucyl, L-leucyl, L-lysyl, L-methionyl, L-ornithinyl, L-phenylalanyl, L-prolyl, L-seryl, L-threonyl, L-tyrosyl, L-tryptophanyl, or L-valyl, and Y is D-glutamine, D-isoglutamine or D-isoasparagine. This invention is also directed to a vaccine containing an antigen and an adjuvant composition of the invention. This invention is also directed to a process of preparing an adjuvant composition and a vaccine of the invention. This invention is also directed to a kit for extemporaneous preparation of an adjuvant composition and a vaccine of the invention.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to improved vaccine adjuvant compositions, improved processes for preparing said adjuvant compositions, and methods of using the improved compositions.
2. Related Disclosures
Adjuvants are useful for improving the immune response obtained with any particular antigen in a vaccine. Although some antigens are administered in vaccines without an adjuvant, there are many antigens that lack sufficient immunogenicity to stimulate an useful immune response in the absence of an effective adjuvant. Adjuvants also improve the immune response obtained from "self-sufficient" antigens, in that the immune response obtained may be increased or the amount of antigen administered may be reduced.
The standard adjuvant for use in laboratory animals is Freund's adjuvant. Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) is an emulsion containing mineral oil and killed mycobacteria in saline. Freund's incomplete adjuvant (FIA) omits the mycobacteria. Both FIA and FCA induce exceptional humoral (antibody) immunity, and FCA additionally induces high levels of cell-mediated immunity. However, neither FIA nor FCA are acceptable for use outside the laboratory due to the adjuvants' side effects. Mineral oil is known to cause abscesses and granulomas, while Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the agent responsible for tuberculosis.
A number of naturally occurring compounds such as the lipid-A portion of gram negative bacteria endotoxin and trehalose dimycolate of mycobacteria have been tried as substitutes for FCA and FIA. Also, the phosholipid lysolecithin has been shown to have adjuvant activity (B. Arnold et al., Eur. J. Immunol., 9:363-366 (1979)). In addition, several synthetic surfactants, for example, dimethyldioctadecyl ammonium bromide (DDA) and certain linear polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene (POP-POE) block polymers (available commercially under the trademark Pluronic.RTM.) have been reported as having adjuvant activity (H. Snippe et al, Int. Archs. Allergy Appl. Immun., 65, 390-398 (1981)). R. Hunter et al. have reported in J. Immunol., 127, 1244-1250 (1981) that POP-POE block polymers increase antibody formation to bovine serum albumin (BSA) in mice when used as the surfactant component of an mineral oil/water emulsion adjuvant formulation. While these natural and synthetic surfactants demonstrate-some degree of adjuvanticity, they for the most part fail to achieve the degree of immunopotentiation obtained using FCA or FIA.
Taking another approach, it has been determined that the adjuvant effect from mycobacteria is due to a muramyl-peptide in the cell wall. The smallest fragment of this molecule that retains adjuvant activity is N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine, commonly known as muramyl dipeptide or "MDP" (Ellouz et al, Biochem. & Biophys. Res. Comm., Vol 59, 4, 1317 (1974)). Numerous derivatives of MDP have been prepared, and are also referred to as "MDPs." See for example Audibert et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,158,052; Audibert et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,220,637; Audibert et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,559; Baschang et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,560; Baschang et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,209; Baschang et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,423,038; Derrien et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,089; Hartmann et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,406,889; Jones et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,735; Jones et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,736; Le Francier et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,659; Le Francier et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,761; Yamamura et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,314,998; Yamamura et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,536; and Yamamura et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,178, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. While these compounds are weakly effective at stimulating the immune system when administered in aqueous solution, the results generally fall short of the specific immune response obtained with FIA or FCA.
A particularly effective adjuvant composition comprising a glycopeptide, a non-toxic POP-POE block polymer, a glycol ether-based surfactant, a metabolizable oil, and buffered saline was recently described by Allison et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,606,918, 4,770,874, and 4,772,466, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. The adjuvant composition described by Allison et al. is capable of inducing strong humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, equivalent or superior to the results achieved in laboratory animals using FCA. However, the composition is prone to instability and separation (e.g., creaming) upon standing. We have discovered that upon refrigeration it loses its ability to potentiate the primary response to antigens. Also, it has been found difficult to prepare a stable, homogenous emulsion with retention of full adjuvant activity on a commercial scale.
We have now discovered that an immunopotentiating glycopeptide can be formulated with a non-toxic N,N,N',N'-tetra(polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene)-1,2-diaminoethane block polymer ("tetra-polyol"), resulting in an adjuvant composition that overcomes certain problems of the prior art, for example, toxicity and failure to stimulate cell-mediated immunity. This new adjuvant composition has activity equal or greater than the activity of FCA and Allison's composition. The composition of the present invention is easily manufactured with full retention of activity, and displays greater pH stability than Allison's composition. Because the tetra-polyol is non-toxic, this adjuvant composition may be safely used as a vehicle for enhancing the immunogenicity of antigens administered to birds and mammals.
We have also invented a particularly advantageous method for preparing an emulsion of an adjuvant composition, using either POP-POE block polymers or tetra-polyols, which maintains the composition's efficacy, enhances its physical stability, and reduces its sensitivity to refrigeration. Remarkably, such an emulsion may even be frozen and still retain efficacy.


A code label printer is provided for producing code labels reliable to use in the market, the label printer checking a code such as a barcode printed on a label which is affixed on a product. In a code label printer 2, print barcode data D1 transmitted from a host computer 3 is received by a microcomputer board 7, a print engine 8 prints a barcode on a label in accordance with the received print barcode data D1, and a label affixing apparatus 9 affixes the barcode-printed label to a product on a conveying apparatus 6. Thereafter, a barcode reader 10 reads out barcode data D2 from the code printed on the label affixed to the product 5 on the conveying apparatus 6, and the readout barcode data D2 and the print barcode data D1 are collated, for attaining a result whether the barcode is correctly read out or not, in the microcomputer board 7.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a code label printer for printing a code such as a barcode on a label, its control method and readout printed-code verifying system.
2. Description of the Related Art
A prior code label printer is disclosed in JP Patent No. 2,633,726. In the case of the code label printer in JP Patent No. 2,633,726, a barcode is printed on a label (3), which is attached on a release liner (2), by a thermal printing head (6), and the barcode printed on the label (3) is read out by a scanner (21), which is set downstream from the thermal printing head (6) and the platen (4), for verifying whether the printed barcode is correctly printed or not. A code label (3) having correct-verified code is peeled off from the release liner (2) and used as a good product, and a code label (3) having incorrect-verified code is not peeled off, being sent to a release liner winder together with the release liner (2) (Refer to lines 31 to 41 at the left column on page 3 and FIG. 1 of JP Patent No. 2,633,726. The reference numerals in parentheses are corresponded to those in JP Patent No. 2,633,726. The same is applied hereafter.)
However, according to the above conventional code label printer, a barcode printed on the label (3) is verified while the label (3) is still attached on the release liner (2) before the label (3) is peeled off from the release liner and affixed to a product. If any quality trouble such as wrinkles and bubbles would occur on the good code label (3) having correct-verified code during affixing operation to a product, after peeled off from the release liner (2), the label will change to failure to be read out correct code. It is impossible previously to check the quality trouble and eliminate it in the conventional code label printer. Thus, there is a problem that products with barcodes having some quality trouble may be circulated through markets and markets may be disarranged.
The present invention is made to solve the above problem. An object of the present invention is to provide a code label printer capable of checking whether a code such as a barcode is correctly printed on a code label and is the code label correctly affixed on a product. Another object of the present invention is to provide a code label printer capable of circulation of the products having accurate-readable code through markets. Another object of the present invention is to provide a control method for the code label printer. Another object of the present invention is to provide readout printed-code verifying system available for the code label printer.

Code label printer, method thereof and readouted printed-code verifying system


An intraocular lens to be implanted into the capsular bag after ablation of the crystalline lens includes a central optical portion and a haptic portion including haptic members arranged on the periphery of the optical part and for positioning the intraocular lens in the capsular bag. On the one hand, the posterior surface of the optical portion includes a sharp ridge at the peripheral edge and, on the other hand, the posterior surface of the haptic members includes a proximal area in the vicinity of the peripheral edge of the optical portion, each proximal area including at least one tooth extending substantially along the entire width of each haptic member, the tooth or teeth having a sharp edge that becomes serrated in the posterior capsule in order to limit the migration of the epithelial cells of the haptic members towards the optical portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to intraocular lenses or implants designed to be implanted in the capsular sac after the ablation of the crystalline lens suffering from cataract.
2. Description of the Related Art
The ablation of the crystalline lens is most frequently carried out by capsulotomy of the leaf or anterior capsule followed by a phacoemulsification of the crystalline lens and the cleaning of the site and notably the capsular sac in order to eliminate the epithelial cells. However, Elschnig pearls that form from the germinative cells subsist on the equator of the capsular sac after the surgical operation. These cells migrate along the posterior capsule and cause the opacification of the posterior capsule. Because of the opacification of the posterior capsule, also called second cataract, in the three years following the ablation of the crystalline lens and the implantation of an intraocular lens, approximately thirty per cent of patients need a new operation, namely a capsulotomy of the posterior capsule by Nd:YAG laser, with the disadvantage of the creation of communication between the anterior and posterior segments of the eye. Moreover, the opacification of the posterior capsule (PCO) forms the most common complication in cataract surgery.
In general, the intraocular lens comprises an optic portion which provides the optic and notably refractive correction and a haptic portion comprising at least one haptic element and in practice at least two haptic elements which rest in the equatorial zone of the capsular sac, and even the ciliary sulcus, and ensure the positioning of the optic axis of the optic portion substantially coinciding with the optic axis of the eye and of the pupil. When the haptic elements are angled anteriorly, the optic portion is in contact with the posterior capsule.
In a study by Nagata et al. "Optic sharp edge or convexity: comparison of effect on posterior capsular opacification", Jpn J Opthalmol., Vol. 40; 397-402, 1996, they found that a rounded edge of the posterior face of the optic allows the invasion of the epithelial cells behind the optic while a sharp edge, also called "square" edge, is effective in reducing the opacification of the posterior capsule. In the article "Posterior capsule opacification" by Nishi, J Cataract Refract Surg—Vol. 25, January 1999, the author confirmed that the sharp or square edge of an optic produces a "discontinuity or a sharp bend" in the posterior capsule which is associated with a reduced incidence of opacification of the posterior capsule.
Square-edged intraocular lenses, also called anti-PCO intraocular lenses, currently exist in two types. On the one hand, there are three-part intraocular lenses comprising an optic portion, for example made of flexible material such as an acrylic polymer, and two haptic elements made of polypropylene or another rigid material anchored in the periphery of the optic portion, and, on the other hand, there are intraocular lenses made in one piece and of flexible material or a combination of rigid and flexible material.
In an article entitled "Evaluation of lens epithelial cell migration in vivo at the haptic-optic junction of a one-piece hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lens", Nixon and Apple report the much higher frequency of opacification of the posterior capsule requiring a capsulotomy with the intraocular lenses in one part made of acrylic compared with those with intraocular lenses in three parts comprising an optic made of acrylic and fitted haptic elements made of polypropylene. One of the problems with one-piece intraocular lenses reported by these authors is the absence of an effective square or sharp edge at the junction of the posterior face of the optic with the posterior face of the haptic elements. The authors recommend a sharp or square edge of 360° on the posterior face of the optic.
It has also been found that the migration of the epithelial cells is preferably carried out by means of the haptic elements. Specifically, during the capsular symphysis, that is to say in the weeks and months following the implantation of the intraocular lens, the leaves of the sac come together at the haptics and the periphery of the optic, trapping the epithelial cells in zones located essentially at the haptic elements of the implant. These cells then migrate toward the centre of the optic following an axial offset between the optic and the haptic elements.
Also known is document WO 01/03610 which describes an intraocular lens made in one piece of rigid material such as PMMA, or of a hydrophobic or hydrophilic flexible material and notably silicone, the acrylic polymers, and even polyHEMA, the haptic portion of which makes an angle of between 5° and 12° directed toward the anterior face, a zone of connection between the optic portion and the haptic elements, a radial extension of the connection zone of which the posterior face is placed on the spherical cap of the posterior face of the optic portion and a step made by an axial offset between the posterior face of the optic portion and the connection zone of the optic element.
But, with such a geometry, the posterior face of the haptic elements cannot be in the continuity of the posterior face of the optic but is necessarily axially offset toward the front.
Also known is document WO 03/039409 which describes an intraocular lens in one piece or several pieces made of a flexible or rigid material in which the periphery of the optic portion comprises two or three steps from the periphery of the posterior face of the optic portion, in which each of these steps forms a sharp or square edge designed to prevent the migration of the epithelial cells behind the optic portion.
Such a geometry does not provide a solution to the problem of migration at the junction between the haptic elements and the optic portion when the lens is made in a single piece. Similarly, the formation of the plurality of steps in the cylindrical periphery of the optic portion cannot provide a good contact with the posterior capsule in order to form an effective barrier against the progression of the epithelial cells between the posterior face of the optic portion and the posterior capsule.
Finally, document WO 2005/055875 is known in which is described an intraocular lens for implantation into the capsular sac, comprising an optic portion and a haptic portion, the posterior face of the optic portion having a sharp ridge on the peripheral edge and the posterior face of the haptic elements comprising at least one tooth. However, the sharp ridge on the peripheral edge is interrupted at the junction of the haptic and optic elements.


Techniques for multiple object tracking in video are described in which the outputs of neural networks are combined within a Bayesian framework. A motion model is applied to a probability distribution representing the estimated current state of a target object being tracked to predict the state of the target object in the next frame. A state of an object can include one or more features, such as the location of the object in the frame, a velocity and/or acceleration of the object across frames, a classification of the object, etc. The prediction of the state of the target object in the next frame is adjusted by a score based on the combined outputs of neural networks that process the next frame.

Many of the recent advances in computer vision are in the field of machine learning. For example, in the deep learning space, neural networks that can detect and classify objects have been developed that, in some cases, can outperform a human's ability to perform the same task. Advances in tracking objects in motion video using machine learning, however, have lagged behind applications of neural networks to still image problems such as detection and classification. One reason for that lag is the difficulty associated with object tracking dramatically complicates the use of neural networks that have been developed for still images in video applications. Generalized single-object trackers often rely on an input in the form of a bounding box of an object in a frame which is used to track the object in subsequent frames. Meanwhile, most multiple-object trackers specialize in tracking people and are tailored to that specific domain by relying on facial recognition, skeletal modeling, etc., and are thus unsuitable for use as a generalized multiple-object tracker. Further, most multiple-object trackers operate offline on recorded video of a predefined duration and determine tracking paths of the objects within the video using references to both future and past frames.

Multiple object tracking in video by combining neural networks within a bayesian framework


To provide a protective layer thermal transfer film which can form a protective layer that is superior in the water based ink fixing property, solvent-resistant property and, in particular, water-resistant property and also has a superior peeling property.

Conventionally, images such as tone images and mono-tone images including characters and symbols have been formed on a substrate through a thermal transfer system. With respect to the thermal transfer system, a heat-sensitive sublimation transfer system and a heat-sensitive melt transfer system have been widely used.
Of these systems, in the heat-sensitive sublimation transfer system, a thermal transfer film formed by supporting a dye layer made by melting or dispersing a sublimable dye serving as a colorant in a binder resin on a substrate is used, and with this thermal transfer film being superposed on an image-receiving film, energy is applied to a heating device such as a thermal head in accordance with image information so that the sublimable dye contained in the dye layer on the thermal transfer film is transferred to the image-receiving film to form an image thereon.
This heat-sensitive sublimation transfer system makes it possible to control the amount of dye transfer on a dot basis in response to the quantity of energy to be applied to the thermal transfer film; therefore, this system has the advantages of forming a superior tone image and of easily forming characters, symbols and the like.
In the image formed by the heat-sensitive sublimation transfer system, since the transferred dye is present on the surface of the image-receiving member, various techniques have been proposed to protect the image and to form a protective layer on the image from the viewpoints of image protection such as light resistance and abrasion resistance (for example, see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).
However, among the printed articles sublimation-transferred, some of the printed articles call for a proper stamping property for use in water based type stamps (for example, printed articles used for certificate photographs such as passports). In other words, a proper fixing property for water based ink is required.
From the viewpoint of fixing property for water based ink, for example, in the field of ink-jet receiving layers, an ink-jet receiving layer in which the outermost surface layer is made of a water-absorbing resin such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) containing a large amount of particles such as silica has been known. However, the ink-jet receiving layer of this type is applied with a considerable amount of coating material (normally, 10 g/m2 or more) so as to maintain a sufficient water based ink fixing property. Consequently, even in an attempt to utilize such a receiving layer as a protective layer for a printed article formed through the thermal transfer system, problems arise in which: the foil-separating property is poor and the transparency of the film becomes insufficient. With respect to the protective layer for a printed image formed through the thermal transfer system, a proper fixing property for water based stamp is required in addition to the thin-film and transparent properties; therefore, the techniques for the ink-jet receiving layer are hardly applied to the protective layer for a protective layer thermal transfer film.
Moreover, with respect to the protective layer of a printed article formed through the thermal transfer system such as a sublimation transfer system, a property that is contradictory to the water based ink fixing property, that is, a water-resistant property (by which no problem is raised even when wiped after having been moistened with water), is also required.
Furthermore, since the protective layer thermal transfer film is prepared with a water-absorbing resin layer serving as a peeling interface, the film or sheet has a change in adhesion on the peeling interface before and after preservation under high-temperature and high-humidity environment, resulting in the problem of an insufficient peeling property.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-80844    Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-71626

Protective layer thermal transfer film and printed article

Abstract: The present invention relates to:                a protective layer thermal transfer film, comprising:        a thermally transferable protective layer on or over at least one part of one surface of a substrate film,        wherein the protective layer is formed on or over the substrate by laminating at least a peeling layer serving as an outermost surface layer after transfer; and        the peeling layer containing at least polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and        a printed article with the protective layer transferred onto an image on the printed article.


A boiler for a solar receiver includes a first wall of substantially coplanar side by side boiler panels. A plurality of contiguous panels of the first wall each have an inlet header thereof at a common first wall header elevation. A second wall includes substantially coplanar side by side boiler panels. A plurality of contiguous panels of the second wall each have an inlet header thereof at a common second wall header elevation. The second wall is adjacent to and angled with respect to the first wall so that one end panel of the first wall is adjacent to one end panel of the second wall to form a boiler wall corner. The inlet headers of the two end panels of the boiler wall corner are at different elevations relative to one another.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to solar power production, and more particularly, to solar receiver panels for use in solar boilers.
2. Description of Related Art
Solar power generation has been considered a viable source to help provide for energy needs in a time of increasing consciousness of the environmental aspects of power production. Solar energy production relies mainly on the ability to collect and convert energy freely available from the sun and can be produced with very little impact on the environment. Solar power can be utilized without creating nuclear waste as in nuclear power production, and without producing pollutant emissions including greenhouse gases as in fossil fuel power production. Solar power production is independent of fluctuating fuel costs and does not consume non-renewable resources.
Solar power generators generally employ fields of controlled mirrors, called heliostats, to gather and concentrate sunlight on a receiver to provide a heat source for power production. A solar receiver typically takes the form of a panel of tubes conveying a working fluid therethrough. Previous solar generators have used working fluids such as molten salt because it has the ability to store energy, allowing power generation when there is no solar radiation. The heated working fluids are typically conveyed to a heat exchanger where they release heat into a second working fluid such as air, water, or steam. Power is generated by driving heated air or steam through a turbine that drives an electrical generator.
More recently, it has been determined that solar power production can be increased and simplified by using water/steam as the only working fluid in a receiver that is a boiler. This can eliminate the need for an inefficient heat exchanger between two different working fluids. This development has lead to new challenges in handling the intense solar heat without damage to the system. One such challenge involves the fact that in order to maximize power output, heliostat fields are typically arranged to surround a central receiver tower so the boiler on the tower can receive solar energy from all around.
Typical boilers include two or more sections at different temperatures and pressures, such as a section of steam generator panels, a section of superheater panels, and a section of reheater panels, for example. Each section typically includes multiple receiver panels each having a series of tubes running from a common inlet header to a common outlet header. In high capacity solar boilers, there is typically a field of heliostats surrounding the boiler on all sides. Typical solar boilers are built to be generally circular so as to be able to collect sunlight from heliostats on all sides. Due to the round configuration, the headers of the panels constructed in the conventional manner tend to limit the proximity possible from panel to panel. This causes vertical gaps between the individual panels due to the slight angle between adjacent panels needed for the round configuration.
One approach to this problem is to stager the individual panels at different heights around the boiler so the headers do not interfere with each other. This allows the panels to be arranged more tightly together, without significant vertical gaps therebetween. However, if multiple boiler sections, e.g., a steam generator and a superheater, were arranged vertically in a stack, the staggered approach would increase the horizontal gap between the sections because of the extra space needed to stagger the headers. Still another approach is to bevel the headers of individual panels to reduce vertical gaps between the panels, but even this approach would leave a horizontal gap between stacked boiler sections where the headers are located. Gaps in the receiver area of a boiler constitute area where available sunlight from the heliostats is not captured. In typical solar boilers with horizontal gaps between vertically stacked sections, the gaps must be covered with a shielding panel which blocks concentrated sunlight from the heliostats. The blocked concentrated sunlight is thus not made available for power production.
While the known systems of solar power production have generally been considered satisfactory for their intended purposes, there has remained a need in the art for solar receivers that can improve the overall efficiency and capture more of the solar power made available by heliostats by reducing or eliminating gaps between receiver sections. There also has remained a need in the art for such solar receivers that are easy to make and use. The present invention provides a solution to these problems.

Corner structure for walls of panels in solar boilers