A method for managing identification in a data communications network includes receiving a user-controlled secure storage device and enrolling the user with an authority network site. The enrolling includes providing information requested by the authority network site. The method also includes receiving user data in response to the enrolling, storing the user data in the user-controlled secure storage device, enabling the user-controlled secure storage device to release the user data and using the user data at a service provider network site to obtain a service.

The advent of the World Wide Web (WWW) has made much more information available for use by anyone with a computer having an Internet connection. Unfortunately, current methods make it relatively easy to identify a particular user with specific data about the user, thus raising privacy concerns.
One problem with identification and privacy on the Web concerns how Web browsers obtain user data. Typically, Web browsers obtain user data from one or more cookies stored on a local hard disk. The cookies may contain sensitive user information. FIG. 1A is a flow diagram that illustrates a typical method for obtaining user information from a cookie. At 100, a Web browser accesses a Web site that uses a cookie. At 105, a determination is made regarding whether a cookie is present on the user computer's local disk. If a cookie is not present, at 110 the browser generates a cookie with the Web server Universal Resource Locator (URL) and Web server-provided user data. If a cookie is present, at 115 the browser uses the cookie on the user computer's local disk.
FIG. 1B is a block diagram that illustrates a cookie. A cookie 120 includes a server identifier and user data. The user data contains information about a user, such as the user's name and address.
Unfortunately, the privacy afforded by this approach is low because it is relatively easy to determine the identity of the user associated with the user data merely by examining the cookie contents.
Another problem with identification and privacy on the Web concerns user authentication. User authentication on the Web is typically accomplished using a username and password. FIG. 2 is a flow diagram that illustrates a typical method for performing user authentication using a username and a password. At 200, a user visits a service provider Web site. At 205, the service provider Web site authenticates the user based on a static username and password. This form of user authentication typically includes filling out a form for data that is deemed relevant for the services being rendered on the Web. At 210, a determination is made regarding whether the user authentication was successful. If the user authentication was unsuccessful, service is refused at 215. If the user authentication was successful, service is provided at 220. The privacy protection and security afforded by this approach are low.
Furthermore, the accuracy and appropriateness of the data gathered on the forms is not guaranteed. For example, if the service provider form completed by the user prompts for a drivers license number, the service provider typically does not determine whether the number entered by the user is appropriate for the service request (e.g. entering a fishing license number when prompted for a drivers license is inappropriate). And the service provider typically does not determine whether the entered drivers license actually belongs to the person who entered the number.
FIG. 3 illustrates how such user authentication problems are addressed using a "bricks and mortar" approach. FIG. 3 is a flow diagram that illustrates a typical method for paying for goods and services in person. At 300, a purchaser writes a check to pay for goods or services. At 305, a vendor requires credentials that will be appropriate for the method of user authentication needed to accept payment. Examples of such credentials include a driver's license and an ATM card. The user authentication provides a level of trust regarding the identity of the purchaser. Different levels of user authentication are afforded different types of transactions. For example, if the purchaser attempts to buy a relatively inexpensive item, the vendor might accept a check for payment without user authentication. If the purchaser attempts to buy a moderately priced item, the vendor might require one form of identification such as a driver's license. If the purchaser attempts to buy a relatively expensive item, the vendor might require additional forms of identification. Once the purchaser provides the required forms of user authentication (310), the vendor uses the required forms of user authentication to verify the truthfulness, accuracy and completeness of the credentials (315). If the vendor cannot satisfactorily verify the credentials, the transaction is rejected at 325. If the credentials are satisfactorily verified, the sale is completed at 330.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram that illustrates maintaining user-specific information on the World Wide Web. Each Internet user 400-425 accesses Web sites of service providers via a service provider Web server (435-460). Each Web server 435-460 authenticates the user by prompting for a username and a password. Each Web server 435-460 also maintains a separate set of user data for each (username, password) combination. The user data contains information about each user. For example, one Web site may store the zip code associated with the username so that the current weather at that zip code is presented whenever the user logs in to the Web site. Another Web site might maintain a list of items purchased at the Web site, so that information about similar products can be displayed when the user visits the site again.
Maintaining separate user authentication schemes for each Web site means that users must remember their username and password for each site. Oftentimes, an individual will use the same username and password for each Web site. Thus, once the users' username and password for one web site are known, the same username and password can be used to access information for the same user at another Web site. Moreover, individuals often base their username and password on personal information such as social security number or birthday. This makes passwords vulnerable to attack by hackers.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram that illustrates a centralized user authentication system. At 540 a user accesses a server access portal 505. At 545, the service access portal 505 collects user authentication data. If the user has already enrolled, the user is prompted for a username and password and ticket generator 520 interfaces with a user authentication database 524 to authenticate the user based on the username and password. Ticket generator 520 may be a Kerberos™ ticket generator. Ticket generator 520 interfaces with the user authentication database 525 to perform user authentication and to generate a user authentication token at 565. If the user has not yet enrolled, the user is prompted for user data and a chosen password at 545 and this information is sent to a user data generator 530. User data generator 530 interfaces with a user database 535 to store the user data. User data generator 530 also interfaces with the user authentication database 525 to provide user authentication information for the user. At 560, user data generator 530 interfaces with ticket generator 520 to generate a user authentication token. At 565 the user authentication token is returned to the service provider 505.
At 570, the user authentication token is returned to the user 500. The service provider 505 uses the user authentication token as a cookie or session identifier in subsequent communications (575, 580) between the user and the service provider. These communications may include requests 585 for user data stored in user database 535. Such requests 585 are received by user data retriever 515. Data retriever 515 retrieves the user data from user database 535 and returns the user data at 590.
Unfortunately, the service provider using this mechanism is a single point of control. A user has no control over where and when user data is obtained and where and when the service provider uses the user data. All user data is in the open once the user has identified himself.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram that illustrates a mechanism that provides a single logon for access to multiple Web sites. Global authenticator 305 authenticates a user 600-625 by prompting for a (username, password) combination. Once the user 600-625 is authenticated, the user can access each member Web site 635-660 without having to sign on to each particular Web site 635-660. Global authenticator 630 also maintains a profile for each username in global customer database 665.
As shown in FIG. 6, a user may visit multiple member Web sites once logged in via global authenticator 630. Thus, global customer database 665 must include information for a user that is relevant to all sites visited. For example, if a user visits a financial Web site and a medical plan Web site, global customer database 665 will include medical information as well as financial information. Moreover, global authenticator 630 may be configured to monitor or track an individual's Web activity such as the Web sites visited. Commingling potentially inappropriate data and the ability to monitor Web activity raise privacy concerns.
An additional problem with the using the World Wide Web is the lack of ways to create a trail of what a service provider accepts as valid user authentication. A user either logs in using a username and password that any person or program could have entered and is granted access to multiple services indefinitely, or the user enters the wrong username and password and gets nothing.
Accordingly, what is needed is a solution that protects privacy in a system where information about a user is required to deliver services. A further need exists for such a solution that enables service providers to exchange information about a person without revealing inappropriate or unnecessary information. A further need exists for such a solution that manages user transactions on an open network such as the Internet while maintaining privacy. A further need exists for such a solution that manages trust in user data and creates a trail of assessments of the trust and the process of how the assessments were made. A further need exists for such a solution that protects user data stored in cookies.

Privacy and identification in a data communications network


This invention deals with the spirononacyclic indoloquinoline alkaloid known as cryptospirolepine and its use as an anti-malarial.

The most debilitating and fatal form of malaria is caused by the complex protozoan parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Resistance to available drugs for the treatment of malaria was first recognized in the United States during the Vietnam conflict and has since been shown to be increasing in geographical range, severity, and prevalence. Laboratory and epidemiological evidence now suggest that Plasmodium falciparum has acquired multiple drug resistance that is largely independent of the chemical class of drugs to which the parasites are exposed. With multiple drug resistance in falciparum malaria coupled with an increase in worldwide tourism, the prevention and treatment of malaria is rapidly emerging as a major health issue in the United States. Consequently, it is of critical importance to develop new drugs for the treatment of falciparum malaria.
Cryptolepis sanguinolenta, a shrub indigenous to West Africa, has been used by Ghanaian traditional healers for many years for the treatment of fevers, including malaria. (Boye, G L and Ampofo, O., Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Cryptolepine, Univ. of Sci. and Tech, Kumasi, Ghana (1983)). A root decoction of Cryptolepis has been used clinically by Oku Ampofo at the Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine since 1974 for the treatment of malarial fever, as well as for the treatment of bacterial infections (Boye, G L and Ampofo, O. Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Cryptolepine, Univ. of Sci. and Tech, Kumasi, Ghana (1983)).
There is sufficient evidence to suggest that the root extracts of Cryptolepis have antipyretic, antibacterial and antimalarial activity. However, the antimalarial component or components of the Cryptolepis extract are unknown.
In 1978, Dwuma-Badu, et al. isolated two alkaloids, cryptolepine and quindoline, from the roots of the West African plant Cryptolepis sanguinolenta. This began a series of investigations into the constituents of C. sanguinolenta (Dwuma-Badu, et al. (1978) J. Pharm. Sci. 67: 433-434). Cryptolepine had previously been synthesized (Fichter, F. and Boehringer, F. (1906) Ber. Dtsch. Chem. Ges. 39: 3932-3942) and chemically analyzed. Biological evaluation of cryptolepine has demonstrated that the alkaloid possesses antimicrobial, antipyretic, antiinflammatory, and hypotensive properties (Boakye-Yiadom, K. and Heman-Ackah, S. M. (1979), J. Pharm. Sci. 68: 1510-1514; Bamgbose, S.O.A. and Noamesi, B. K. (1981) Planta Med. 41: 392-396; Raymond Hamet (1937) C.R. Soc. Biol., 126: 768-770; Noamesi, B. K. and Bamgbose, S.O.A. (1980) Planta Med., 39: 51-56). A report by Peters in 1981 indicated that cryptolepine had positive activity against rickettsia-like organisms but failed to support the clinical evidence of the anti-malarial activity of the Cryptolepis extract (quoted in Boye, G L and Oku Ampofo (1983) on page 37.
Use of the crude extract for the treatment of malaria is inefficient, unreliable, and cumbersome. It also has the significant disadvantage of involving the culture and manipulation of a West African plant, rather than the utilization of an isolated pure, active component.

Compound and method of treatment for falciparum malaria

Center for Scientific Research Into Plant Medicine


A health monitoring system provided with an aircraft includes a temperature sensor assembly and a control system. The temperature sensor assembly is disposed within a housing and is positioned to monitor at least one of a temperature and a temperature rise of a gear of an actuator that is positioned within the housing. The control system is in communication with the temperature sensor. The control system is configured to output for display an indicator responsive to at least one of the temperature and the temperature rise of the gear being greater than a threshold.

Exemplary embodiments pertain to the art of prognostic health monitoring systems for gear sets.
Some machines, such as aircraft, employ drive systems that transmit or impart rotational or linear movement to a device such as a control surface. The drive systems may employ a gearbox having a gear set that may experience efficiency losses that shed energy in the form of heat. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a prognostic health monitoring system of the gear sets to more quickly and accurately detect efficiency losses.


A feed line to a pyrolysis furnace and a liquid injection apparatus for introducing a liquid coke inhibitor in the feed line are disclosed. The injection apparatus includes a central passageway for supplying the liquid coke inhibitor, an annular passageway for delivering an atomizing gas and a mixing reservoir for mixing the liquid and gas wherein the mixed fluid is atomized by passage through an orifice in a nozzle. A cooling jacket surrounding the annular passageway prevents decomposition of the coke inhibiting agent which products can plug the nozzle. The injection apparatus is typically installed in a bend of a process feedstock conduit with a discharge end aligned to an axis of the flow. A hot injection point close to the inlet of the pyrolysis furnace is preferred for best results. To help ensure complete evaporation of a carrier liquid prior to the furnace, the injection apparatus can include an evaporation shroud. For a modularized injection system, the evaporation shroud can include a larger diameter bonnet exterior to the conduit having the injection apparatus attached thereto. For a retractable injection system, the injection apparatus is received within an isolation valve having an outlet end stuffing box.

A common problem associated with high temperature hydrocarbon reactions is coke formation in the furnace. Coke deposits can prevent proper heat transfer in process tubes and increase the pressure drop through the furnace. Coke build-up necessitates periodic process shutdowns for removal of the deposits. Therefore, it is very desirable to inhibit coke deposits by use of an additive which can inhibit coke formation.
The coke inhibitor can be applied as coatings to metal tube surfaces prone to deposit formation. Alternatively, the coke inhibitor can be added to the hydrocarbon feedstock. In the latter instance, the coke inhibitor is generally either dissolved or suspended in a cold inlet stream.
Recent developments have produced relatively effective coke inhibiting additives which are ordinarily solids, inorganic-based and insoluble in the feedstock. Thus, an effective apparatus is needed for dispersing these agents in the feedstock. Several problems are evident, especially for hot point addition in the feed. Solid additives must generally be introduced as a solution or suspension in a liquid carrier. Solvent evaporation due to heat from the feed can result in deposits and plugging in the injection apparatus. Liquid impingement of the liquid carrier on hot metal surfaces can promote metal fatigue in the lines. Consequently, the liquid additive must be cool at the addition point yet the solvent must be completely evaporated before hot surfaces are encountered.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,367 to Urban et al. discloses metallic phthalocyanine anti-fouling agents for prevention of coke deposits in high temperature petroleum reactors.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,034,726 to Peras describes a device for atomizing a liquid using a pressurized gas. The device includes an inner tube for the liquid terminating in a nozzle and an annular chamber for the gas at the nozzle. The device also includes a heating means for vaporizing the atomized liquid.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,611 to Jones, Jr. describes a distributor pipe for injecting fluids into a vessel wherein the distributor includes a complete cooling jacket for the portion of the tube exposed to the interior of the vessel.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,408,007 to Raichle et al. describes an apparatus for atomizing highly viscous materials such as a molten polymer with a gas. The apparatus includes a heated nozzle with a conical discharge end for the liquid. Exterior to the discharge end is a passage for the gas with a narrow frustoconical aperture.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,652,372 to O'Brien describes an atomizer comprising two overlapping tubular members forming an annular channel for liquid and an inner passage for air or gas under pressure. The atomizer terminates in a conical mixing chamber having a nozzle outlet.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,527,832 to Pamphilis et al. describes a special baffled collection manifold which is used on steam cracker furnace outlet tubes to lessen the tendency of steam cracker effluents to coke downstream from the furnace.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,391 to Reid et al. discloses boron containing compounds and dihydroxybenzenes to reduce coking in coker furnaces.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,843,744 to Kramer et al. describes a method for controlling and diminishing the formation of coke on the walls of reactors in the pyrolysis of hydrocarbons to acetylene which comprises injection of steam and/or inert gas at one or more critically located points downstream from the feed injection.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,836 to Forester discloses molybdenum and boron compounds for inhibiting coke formation in pyrolytic furnaces.

High temperature liquid injection apparatus


Process for carrying out non-adiabatic reactions comprising the steps of:

The present invention relates to a process and reactor system for carrying out non-adiabatic reactions proceeding in a process gas in presence of a catalyst exothermically or endothermically in indirect heat exchange with an appropriate heat exchange medium.
A general object of this invention is thus to provide a process for carrying out non-adiabatic reactions comprising the steps of:
introducing in parallel a first stream of reactants into a first reaction space and a second stream of reactants into a second reaction space,
at reaction conditions contacting the first reactant stream with a catalyst in the first reaction space in indirect heat exchange with a heat exchanging medium and contacting the second reactant stream with a catalyst in the second reaction space in indirect heat exchange with the heat exchanging medium, the catalyst in the first reaction space being arranged within a tubular reactor in indirect heat exchanging relationship with the heat exchanging medium by introducing the medium into tubular heat exchange space concentrically surrounding the tubular reactor with the first reaction space, the catalyst in the second reaction space being arranged on shell side of a heat exchange space in indirect heat exchanging relationship with the heat exchanging medium.
The invention is in particular useful in carrying out steam reforming reactions in a hydrocarbon feed stock by heat supplied from hot effluent gas from an autothermal steam reforming reactor and steam reformed product gas from the process.

Process for carrying out non-adiabatic catalytic reactions

Abstract: introducing in parallel a first stream of reactants into a first reaction space and a second stream of reactants into a second reaction space;

Abstract: at reaction conditions contacting the first reactant stream with a catalyst in the first reaction space in indirect heat exchange with a heat exchanging medium and contacting the second reactant stream with a catalyst in the second reaction space in indirect heat exchange with a heat exchanging medium, and withdrawing a first and second steam reformed product gas; and


A rotating laser beam projector includes a power controller having a micro controller coupled to a laser power circuit which determines whether the laser beam emitted by the projector is rotating or stationary. When the laser beam is rotating, the laser power circuit delivers a first level of continuance power to the laser. When the laser beam is stationary, the laser power circuit delivers a second level of continuance power to the laser which is less than the first level of power. The micro controller communicates messages from the laser beam projector to a remotely positioned sensor assembly by rotating the laser beam at a first speed when no message is to be communicated and rotating the laser beam at a second speed, different from the first speed, when a message is to be communicated. The laser beam projector includes a bridge for delivering electrical power to a pendulum-supported device from a stationary source. A first conductor is affixed to the stationary source and a second conductor is electrically coupled to the pendulum-supporting device. At least one wire is bonded, such as by ball-and-stitch bonding, from the conductor to the second conductor across a gap.

This invention relates generally to laser beam projectors, and more particularly to a method and device for controlling and delivering power to a laser and communicating information from said laser to a remotely positioned sensor assembly. The invention has particular application for making measurements as well as machine control, such as with earth moving and construction equipment
A common use of laser beam projectors in the construction industry is for ensuring that a trench or surface is of the proper and constant depth. The laser beam projector is placed at a fixed, known height, and an array of sensors senses the impingement of the laser beam. Depending on which sensors are impinged, the height of the receiver equipment relative to the laser beam projector can be determined.
While laser beam projectors come in a variety of different forms, this invention relates primarily to laser beam projectors which are capable of rotating. When the projector is in a rotation mode, the sensors in the sensor assembly do not continuously detect the laser beam, but rather only detect the laser beam for a brief instant when the rotating laser beam sweeps past the sensors. Rotating the laser beam, instead of keeping it constantly pointed in one direction, enables the sensors to move laterally with respect to the projector without the need for realignment of the laser beam projector with respect to the sensors. Because the rotating laser beam only impinges the sensors for a brief instant, the power of the signal detected by the sensors is much less than if the beam were not rotating, but instead continuously pointed at the sensors. The reduction in power of the detected signals makes it more difficult for the sensors to detect the signal and to filter the signal out from other radiation sources detected by the sensors, such as ambient sunlight. The distance from the projector which the sensor can effectively operate is therefore reduced when the laser beam is rotated.
In certain applications, the distance between the laser beam projector and the sensor may be quite large, which may lead to additional difficulties besides the relative weakness of the signal detected by the sensor. One difficulty relates to the requirement of keeping the laser beam level. If the laser beam is not level, the sensor will yield a height measurement that has an error component which increases with increasing distance from the laser. The height error may not be acceptable for various applications. One mechanism for eliminating the condition of a non-level laser beam projector is to mount the laser on a gimbal which allows the laser to generally swing freely so that the laser beam assumes a true vertical orientation. Providing power to the gimbaled laser, however, often hinders its free movement. In the past, to overcome the hindrance of the power feed mechanism to the free movement of the laser has typically required complex and expensive designs of the power feed mechanism.
Large distances between the laser beam projector and the sensor assembly may also make it difficult for people working near the sensor to know the status of the laser beam projector. For example, if the projector is bumped or otherwise knocked from its level position, this fact may not be readily apparent to people in the vicinity of the sensor if the projector is far away. An off level projector leads to the problems discussed above. Other conditions of the projector may also be important to know for those working away from the projector.
In light of the foregoing, a need can be seen for a laser which overcomes the difficulties associated with a laser beam projector stationed a large distance from the sensor unit.

Laser beam projector power and communication system


A lightwave receiver, suitable for CATV applications, includes an input photodiode that is capacitively coupled to the differential inputs of a balanced amplifier. Biasing of the photodiode may be achieved by connecting the photodiode in series between a pair of resistors, with the differential inputs being taken from either side of the photodiode. This arrangement avoids the use of a transformer, which exhibits considerable high frequency loss, thereby avoiding the bandwidth limitation inherent with a transformer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a receiver suitable for lightwave applications.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Optical transmission systems are finding use in a wide variety of applications that once relied on metallic conductors or radio links. For example, closed-area television (CATV) systems are now being implemented with optical fibers instead of coaxial cables. To allow for the transmission of a large number of channels with minimum bandwidth and at low cost, amplitude modulation (AM) or other analog techniques may be used for modulating the optical signal. When receiving the AM signal, low distortion amplifiers are required. These typically use a balanced amplifier configuration to cancel second-order non-linearities. For example, the amplifier circuit of a typical trunk amplifier used in analog CATV lightwave systems is shown in FIG.3. A p-i-n photodiode can be connected to the amplifier input transformer, as shown, to form an optical receiver. However, a disadvantage of this input connection using a transformer is that the transformer has considerable loss, which may limit the noise figure of the receiver. Furthermore, the loss increases at very high and very low frequencies, thereby limiting the bandwidth.

Lightwave receiver having differential input


A system includes an implant configured to be inserted subcutaneously into an individual, a transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly with the implant, and a database provided with at least one of the transceiver, a user device, and a remote storage device. The implant includes a sensor module configured to measure data relating to a health of the individual. The transceiver is configured to provide a first signal to the implant that conveys energy to power the implant and a second signal to the transceiver that contains the data. The database is operatively coupled to the transceiver and configured to store the data. The at least one of the transceiver, the user device, and the remote storage device include a processing circuit configured to access the database and provide the data to a user.

The present application relates generally to the field of implantable devices. In particular, the present application relates to implantable devices configured to measure information relating to a health of an individual. Individuals, both human and animal, sometimes have difficulty knowing that they are sick or expressing that they are sick to their caretakers. By way of a first example, domestic companion animals, such as dogs or cats, may lack an ability to adequately express the condition of their health to their owners. In such a situation, the owners' only indication of a problem with the animal may be a change in the animal's behavior, which may also be influenced by other factors, potentially leading to an inaccurate diagnosis. By way of another example, certain species of animals are known to hide sickness from others to prevent showing weakness in their social structures. Conventionally, this may prevent a keeper from detecting sickness within a population of animals. By way of yet another example, in certain situations (e.g., during space travel) the health conditions of a human individual are monitored on a regular basis to detect signs of illness and/or another condition. Conventional health measurement techniques (e.g., external thermometers and blood pressure cuffs, etc.) are time consuming and cumbersome, preventing the individual from performing other activities.


An implantable device that includes a plurality of conduits, a plurality of chambers, and a control unit. The blood through the plurality of conduits and the chambers collect the ingredient information of the blood according to the blood through the conduits. The chambers transfer the ingredient information of the blood to the control unit to analysis. The chamber includes two electrodes, the chamber exploits a reverse theorem to force the glucose of the blood generates a plurality of charges flowing between the electrodes and further to generate a current in the chamber. Thus, the implantable device can achieve the goal of the self-electricity-generation.

The conventional pacemaker is bulky and requires an invasive surgery to implant into the patient's chest or abdominal position. Currently, the lifetime of the lithium battery of the pacemaker is around 5 years. In other words, patients have to require a hospitalization for every five years to replace the new battery of the pacemaker in order to ensure the normal work of the pacemaker work normally. Therefore, patients must repeatedly tolerate the discomfort of the surgery and bear the high risk of the invasive surgery.
The conventional implantable pacemaker is packaged implanted into the body with the control circuit. In order to function correctly, the control circuit is connected to the organ which need to be triggered (such as, from head vein to the heart muscle) via plurality of wires. And, in order to elaborate the function of the pacemaker and to provide an appropriate current to execute the defibrillation function when the frequency in occurrence of ventricular pulse or fibrillation are occurred, even some pacemakers require 3 or more wires to connect the control unit with the organ.
Features of the wire number and the wire length of the control unit in conjunction with the pacemaker could easily cause a larger burden on the patient's body. Moreover, due to the distance between the conventional pacemaker and the organ is too far and the conventional pacemaker only has single function, so that the conventional pacemaker can not record the life information (such as blood amount and oxygen content, etc) of the organ and send the related information to the internal system or external medical instrument immediately and thus can not take the proper action in real time. When the dysfunction of the organ (such as, heart) is occurred or the original function varied over a certain range and make the organ function damaged, the patient need an emergency with the outside support (such as, electric shock) but sometimes the outside support causing patients more harm.

Glucose powered implantable device to collect blood ingredients


Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to transmission of multiple protocol data elements via an interface utilizing a data tunnel over a control channel. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a transmitter or receiver for the transmission or reception of data; a processing element for handling the data of the apparatus; and a connector for the transfer of the data, the connector to connect to a data channel and to connect to a control channel. The processing element is to provide for transfer of data of a first protocol in the control channel, the transfer of data via the control channel including the use of one or more generic commands of the first protocol for the transfer of data of a second protocol. Data of the second protocol is optimized before the data of the second protocol is sent over the first protocol, and the data transfer in the data channel and data transfer in the control channel are simultaneous at least in part.

In certain devices, a connector or other physical interface may be utilized to transport more than one kind of data. For example, the MHL™ (Mobile High-definition Link) specification allows for a connector to be utilized for transmission of both MHL data and USB™ (Universal Serial Bus) data, where USB data may be transmitted when the connector is not being utilized for the transmission of MHL data.
However, such use may be limited to only one of such protocols at any time. For example, if the protocols both utilize all or most of the bandwidth of the connector or other physical interface, then there is not sufficient bandwidth to accommodate the data for both of the protocols simultaneously.

Transmission of multiple protocol data elements via an interface utilizing a data tunnel


The present invention relates to an enzyme-porous carbon composite, and more specifically, to an enzyme-porous material composite capable of realizing a much higher enzyme adsorption amount than porous silica and maintaining high stability of an immobilized enzyme.

Enzymes are biocatalysts that promote various chemical reactions and can be used in various industries because the enzymes have high selectivity, precision, and efficiency and promote chemical reactions at very high rates even at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. However, in an industrial reaction environment, the three-dimensional structure of the enzymes is easily denatured due to external environments such as heat, pH, shear stress, and the like, and thus, the enzymes rapidly lose their activity. Therefore, various studies have been conducted to improve the stability of enzymes.
Among techniques of improving the stability of an enzyme, the technique of immobilizing an enzyme on a solid support not only improves the stability of the enzyme but also allows the immobilized enzyme to be easily separated from a reaction solution as a heterogeneous catalyst. In particular, porous materials are being researched as optimal materials for immobilization of an enzyme because it is possible to variously adjust the size and shape of pores of the porous materials in response to the size of enzyme. In addition, when the enzyme is immobilized in the porous material, the stability of the enzyme can be significantly improved due to a crowding effect in which the enzyme is present at a high concentration of several hundred milligrams per unit milliliter in the pores of the porous material. Also, since the porous material can protect the enzyme immobilized therein from physical impact such as external shear stress and the like, an enzymatic reaction can be achieved even in harsh environments.
However, the enzyme loaded in a general porous material may easily leak to the outside, and the leaked enzyme may not be recovered but discarded, or the enzyme structure may be denatured by the external environment, resulting in a decrease in activity of the immobilized enzyme.
To solve these problems, a technique of preventing enzyme leakage by covalently bonding an enzyme to the inside of a porous material was studied. This technique is for preventing the leakage of the enzyme loaded in the porous material by functionalizing the porous material using a physicochemical method and then forming a crosslink between a functional group of the porous material and a functional group of an enzyme side chain using a crosslinking agent.
However, in order to apply the covalent bonding technique, an additional functionalization process needs to be introduced in the process of synthesizing the porous material. In addition, when two or more covalent bonds are induced between a functional group on the inner surface of the pore of the porous material and a functional group on the enzyme surface, the enzyme may be structurally denatured and thus deactivated.
Meanwhile, a nanoscale enzyme reactor technique that applies the covalent bonding technique was studied to prevent the leakage of an enzyme. The nanoscale enzyme reactor technique is a technique of preventing the leakage of the enzyme loaded in a porous material by loading the enzyme in a porous material and forming a crosslink between loaded enzyme molecules before the enzyme leaks to increase the size of crosslinked enzyme molecules compared to the inlet diameter of the pore of the porous material.
However, in the case of the conventional nanoscale enzyme reactor technique, two or more crosslinks may be induced on the enzyme surface by a crosslinking agent, and it is difficult for this technique to stabilize unstable enzymes such as formate dehydrogenase, formaldehyde dehydrogenase, alcohol dehydrogenase, and the like, which are easily denatured and thus deactivated.
In addition, when the enzymes are stabilized using a crosslinking agent, there may be a problem of biocompatibility of the crosslinking agent such as glutardialdehyde or the like, and therefore, it is difficult to utilize this technique in the medical field.

Korea Universitv Research and Business Foundation


Electrically tunable semiconductor laser with ridge waveguide. A semiconductor laser with MCRW structure has an intermediate layer grown on an active layer, a stripe-shaped tuning layer that is flanked by a first lateral region having a first tuning contact and by a second lateral region having a second tuning contact, a cover layer and a contact layer. The supply of power occurs via a substrate contact and via a ridge contact and the laser is tunable with currents injected into the tuning layer via the tuning contacts.

Lasers whose wavelength of emitted radiation is tunable within a certain range are utilized in various semiconductor laser applications such as, for example, in optical communications technology for heterodyne reception or wavelength multiplex. The aim is to realize the tunability not via slow thermal effects, but with fast electro-optical effects. One method of wavelength tuning is to shift the refractive index in a part of the light-conducting semiconductor material resulting from charge carriers.
Presently, electrically tunable lasers exist in configurations wherein opto-electron active stripe-shaped semiconductor regions are arranged in succession in the direction of the guided light. At least one region is fashioned as a semiconductor laser. The refractive index in at least one additional region is modified, for example, by injecting charge carriers into the light-guiding strips, thus producing a change in the emitted wavelength. Instead of being arranged in succession, the laser and tuning region can also be arranged on top of one another. No arrangement is known wherein this principle of a laser zone and a tuning zone arranged on top of one another is used in a laser structure having a ridge waveguide.
European reference EP No. 0 173 269 A2 discloses a semiconductor laser structure wherein an active region is present in a longitudinal arrangement between a first control region and a second control region each of which is provided with electrodes for control. The tuning of this semiconductor occurs by a continuous variation of the current intensities supplied to these tuning electrodes.
An article by N. K. Dutta et al, "Continuously Tunable Distributed Feedback Laser Diode", Appl. Phys. Lett. 47, 981-983, 1985, discloses a tunable semiconductor laser wherein a substrate of InP acts as a thermoelectric element whose components are formed by upper and lower contacts on the substrate. A temperature difference between these two components can be produced by the Peltier effect when a current is applied to both of these contacts. The functioning of the tuning in this structure is thus composed of a combination of resistance heating and Peltier cooling.
European reference EP No. 0 297 654 A1 discloses a semiconductor laser whose layer structure allows the injection of high-energy electrons into the active layer. A shorter wavelength of light emitted by this laser is thus achieved.
European reference EP No. 0 296 066 A2 discloses a semiconductor laser that has a MQW-layer arranged transversely relative to the actual active layer. During operation of the laser, a blocking voltage with which the electrical field in this MQW-layer is controlled is applied to one MQW-layer via a separate contact and the wavelength can be varied in this fashion.


An inclined type injection molding machine, comprising an injection part with a glue injection spray nozzle, an injection platform seat and a rack. The rack comprises a die closing and locking mechanism configured to install a die having a die pouring gate on the top center of the die. The injection platform seat has a horizontal base and an inclined surface, and the injection part is erected on the inclined surface with the injection platform seat horizontally erected at the part of the rack. The central line of the injection part is inclined to the central line of the die closing and locking mechanism, and the die closing and locking mechanism drives the die to perform a die opening and die closing motion in which the glue injection spray nozzle is able to keep contact with or be separated from the die pouring gate.

Horizontal injection molding machines are widely used in the field of plastic product manufacturing technology for manufacturing plastic products.
The axis of a screw of the horizontal injection molding machine and a motion axis of a die closing device thereof are arranged in a horizontal line. This device has the advantages of low machine body and easy operation and maintenance; the machine is stable because of lower gravity center; and the formed product can automatically drop down due to the weight, therefore full automatic operation is easy to realize. In addition, in combination with laminated die technology, cavities are distributed on two or more layers and are arranged in an overlapping manner, which is equivalent to laminating a plurality of dies together, therefore the yield of the machine of the same tonnage is doubled, and thus compared with the ordinary injection die, the production efficiency and the equipment utilization rate can be greatly improved. However, this device has a large floor space, a pouring runner system is complex, it is difficult to solve the problem of pressure balance of the cavities, a pouring runner needs to penetrate through a parting surface, the pouring runner is difficult to seal after the die is opened, resulting in the defects that the injection molding process is instable, the rejection rate of products is high, the difference of quality of the products of the cavities is large, the quality of the products is reduced, and that the use economical efficiency of the equipment is reduced, etc.

GUANGDONG WEIDA INTELLIGENT EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.


Methods and systems monitor and assess brain bioimpedance through the use of an ocular window that assesses dynamic changes in cerebral blood volume (CBV). That ocular window is implemented through an ocular bioimpedance device that, in a non-invasive manner, measures numerous different brain health indicators using the bioimpedance measurements collected through the regions around the eyes. The ocular bioimpedance device may be goggles with localized measurement electrodes that include cathodes and anodes.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) plays a major role in approximately 30% of injury related deaths in the United States and is often referred to as the "silent epidemic" due to associated complications that go undiagnosed and unnoticed, but that may have a lasting effect on health. Management strategies in the treatment of severe-TBI are usually aimed at preventing secondary brain injury, which mainly manifests itself as inflammation and brain ischemia. Monitoring of intracranial pressure (ICP) and optimization of cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) to a target level have been proposed in the past as primary methods to prevent secondary injury and are the backbones of current practice. However, recent trials did not demonstrate clear benefits of ICP monitoring or targeted CPP to guide management.
Recent management approaches have attempted to utilize a more dynamic, and individualized precision optimization of CPP based on cerebrovascular autoregulation (CAR) using methods such as pressure reactivity index (PRx). Autoregulation is the ability of vessels to modulate their tone in response to changes in CPP and in so doing, maintain constant levels of cerebral blood flow (CBF) to match cerebral metabolic demand. CAR can be considered one of the most important central nervous system auto-protective mechanisms against secondary brain injury. It is often impaired after severe-TBI and has been shown to be a predictor of outcome in patients with severe-TBI as well as various acute neurological diseases and ischemic injuries such as stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, brain tumors, cardiac arrest, hypertensive crises, and others.
However, current assessment methods of CAR lack the ability to directly monitor and track relative changes in cerebral blood volume. In addition, they cannot be utilized in settings outside the hospital. For example, current techniques using PRx require invasive monitoring.
There is a need for a technique that can be used to monitor dynamic changes in cerebral blood volume (CBV) as a reflection of CAR. There is a need for a portable, non-invasive sensor for measuring CBV changes in casualties with traumatic head injury and other cerebrovascular emergencies, suitable for use in varied environments (e.g., in civilian and military prehospital settings, emergency department trauma centers, intensive care units, etc.). This will allow early precision monitoring and treatment to prevent secondary brain damage.

Ocular impedance-based system for brain health monitoring

THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN


An ionizing radiation detector includes a first common semiconductor substrate and a first plurality of single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) microcell structures disposed at a top face of the first common semiconductor substrate. Each SPAD microcell structure includes a first semiconductor junction that is reverse-biased beyond a first breakdown threshold. The ionizing radiation detector may also include common anode and cathode connections to each of the SPAD microcell structures that operate as an output. The ionizing radiation detector may also include control circuitry connected to the SPAD microcell structures. The control circuitry may be configured to control biasing of the SPAD microcell structures and measure electrical characteristics of a signal provided on the output. Charge drift within the first common semiconductor substrate need not be inhibited from exciting more than one of the SPAD microcell structures of the first plurality of SPAD microcell structures by isolation barriers.

The ability to detect ionizing radiation has proven to be a valuable in a number of different applications. For example, the detection of ionizing radiation or the presence of high energy particles has applications in nuclear physics research, and in industrial and medical procedures to name a few. Further, the detection of ionizing radiation emissions has also proven to be useful in national security contexts to identify the presence of, for example, nuclear weapons and dirty bombs that may emit such radiation.
Ionizing radiation, such as in the form of gamma rays, is the propagation of energy in the form of high energy photons or other sub-atomic particles. However, relative to visible light photons, photons of a gamma ray have significantly more energy. To detect gamma rays or the energy of the photons of a gamma ray, an ionizing radiation detector may be used. Examples of gamma ray detectors include spectrometers and imagers. Many conventional detectors measure how the gamma ray, and its photons, affect matter. A gamma ray photon passing through matter may collide with an electron and scatter in a different direction. Additionally, the collision with the electron or the formation of an ion may transfer energy, causing an electron to move or jump into a higher energy level within the atom. Such movement of the electron in this manner may be referred to a photoelectric ionization. Additionally, in some instances, the energy transfer that occurs may form a new electron or other particle. The formation of the new electron or other particle may be referred to as a pair production process. Regardless, the movement of the electron as a result of the ionization generates an electric current. This electric current may be amplified and measured. The measurement of the electric current can be used as a factor to estimate the energy in the photons of the received gamma ray.
Spectrometers and imagers rely upon the principals involved in ionization via, for example, photon-electron collision to perform detections. In optical astronomy applications, a photometer may be used for gamma ray detection. The photometer, like a spectrometer, operates as a light or photon collector. The photometer is directed and focused on an astronomical body to collect the photons originating from the body. The gamma ray photons may be transformed by the photometer using a scintillator to generate electrical signal that may be measured and recorded. Conventional imagers that are also referred to generally as detectors may more closely rely on the gamma ray interaction process associated with photon-electron collisions. In this regard, aspects related to the photon scattering and the pair production process may be measured.
Both of these approaches of ionizing radiation detection have certain complexities and drawbacks that, in some instances, make them difficult to construct and implement. As such, new approaches and improvements to the technologies leveraged for detection and measuring of gamma rays and other ionizing radiation are desired.


A method of operating a sterilization system having a vacuum chamber for sterilizing instruments, the chamber connected to a reservoir of sterilant by a valve in a closed state, is disclosed. The method comprises placing the instruments in a non-sterile state in a sterilization pack, opening the chamber, placing the pack into the chamber, closing the chamber, withdrawing a first volume of air from the chamber, changing a volume of liquid water into vapor, opening the valve, introducing the sterilant into the chamber, withdrawing the sterilant from the chamber, introducing a second volume of air into the chamber, opening the chamber, removing the pack from the chamber, and removing the instruments in a sterile-state from the pack. The method may also include taking a baseline humidity measurement while the pressure within the chamber is a first pressure, lowering the pressure within the chamber to a conditioning pressure, maintaining the conditioning pressure for a dwell time, increasing the pressure within the chamber, acquiring a second humidity measurement from within the chamber, and comparing the baseline humidity measurement to the second humidity measurement.

Medical devices may be sterilized before use in order to minimize the likelihood that a device contaminated by, e.g., microorganisms might be used on a subject, which could cause an infection in the subject. Various sterilization techniques may be employed, using sterilants including one or a combination of steam, ethylene oxide, chlorine dioxide, ozone, peracetic acid, and hydrogen peroxide. Often the chemical sterilants are employed in a gaseous and/or a plasma form. For these techniques, sterilization is typically conducted within a sterilization chamber of a sterilization system. For certain chemical sterilization techniques, such as those using hydrogen peroxide, the sterilization chamber typically includes a vacuum chamber that is not only capable of achieving low pressures therein, but of also introducing sterilants therein and withdrawing sterilants therefrom. Some chemical sterilization processes, such as those that use ethylene oxide, require water vapor within the vacuum chamber to be effective. However, for other chemical sterilization processes, such as those that use hydrogen peroxide, water in vapor, liquid, or solid form within the vacuum chamber may decrease effectiveness or cause the process to cancel.
A typical chemical vapor sterilization process for medical devices begins with medical-facility personnel preparing the devices for sterilization by washing the instruments with water and/or a washing solution to remove solids and liquids from the instrument. The personnel then dries the instruments, (e.g., using heat, medical-grade compressed air, and/or towels) and perhaps wraps them in a wrap suitable for sterilization, which acts as a barrier to microorganisms but that permits passage of a sterilant therethrough. Instruments wrapped in a wrap are sometimes referred to as a sterilization pack or load. The load is then placed into the vacuum chamber of the sterilization system and the chamber is closed (sealed), typically by closing the chamber's door. The chamber may be heated, which may help vaporize water that may be within the chamber. Next, the atmosphere in the chamber, which may include water vapor, is evacuated. In some sterilization procedures, air within the vacuum chamber may be excited to form an air plasma, which may further aid in vaporizing water for removal from the chamber. After achieving a low pressure, sometimes referred to as a vacuum or a rough vacuum, a sterilant is introduced into the chamber, either in gaseous or vapor form or as a mist that vaporizes in the low pressure environment of the chamber. The added gas in the chamber slightly raises the pressure in the chamber. The sterilant spreads throughout the chamber, entering small or confined spaces, such as cracks, crevices, and lumens in the medical devices contained therein. The sterilant bathes the medical devices, which kills bacteria, viruses, and spores disposed upon and within the devices that it contacts. In some sterilization procedures, particularly low-temperature procedures that utilize hydrogen peroxide, the hydrogen peroxide gas may be excited via an electric field to change the gas into a plasma. Finally, the sterilant is evacuated from the chamber and the chamber is returned to the ambient pressure. After the sterilization process has ended, the instruments may be removed from the chamber.
Typically, healthcare personnel check whether the sterilization process was efficacious using various techniques known in the art, e.g., by use of a self-contained biological sterilization indicator, such as the STERRAD® CYCLESURE® 24 Biological Indicator, manufactured by Advanced Sterilization Products, Division of Ethicon US, LLC, located in Irvine Calif. Confirmation using this biological indicator typically requires about twenty-four hours. During this time, while the effectiveness of the sterilization remains unconfirmed, medical personnel may decide not to use the medical devices. This may cause inventory management inefficiencies for a health care provider, such as a hospital, because, for example, the medical devices should be stored while they cannot be used, perhaps requiring the health care provider to keep more medical devices in its inventory than it otherwise would to ensure a sufficient supply of medical devices. Alternatively, health care providers may use the medical devices before the sterilization confirmation is completed and sterilization efficacy confirmed. However, using the medical devices before sterilization efficacy has been confirmed may expose a subject of a medical procedure to risk of infection from the medical devices. Given the total amount of time medical devices may be unsuitable for use because of the time required to conduct a sterilization process and the time required to confirm that the sterilization process was efficacious, healthcare personnel desire updated sterilization processes and confirmation techniques that require less time to conduct and reduce the likelihood that a process may fail as compared to those presently available.
An example of a commercially available sterilization chamber is the STERRAD® 100NX® System manufactured by Advanced Sterilization Products, Division of Ethicon US, LLC, located in Irvine Calif. The 100NX® is advertised as being capable of sterilizing most general surgical instruments in 47 minutes. The cycle temperature of the 100NX® is advertised as being between 47° C. to 56° C. These temperatures are preferred for helping to vaporize residual water with heat without over-heating the instrument, which could compromise the function or structure of instruments. Further, these temperatures are preferred for generating plasma, which helps improve the effectiveness of the sterilization process and further helps vaporize any residual water, and to aid in removing residual hydrogen peroxide from the vacuum chamber.
Commercially available sterilization systems that employ, e.g., hydrogen peroxide are designed to preferably operate without any residual water on loads in the sterilization chambers. Although some sterilization systems introduce hydrogen peroxide as a vapor mixed with water vapor into the sterilization chamber, generally, hydrogen peroxide should not be introduced into a chamber where moisture may be present. If healthcare personnel erroneously introduced water into the chamber on the load, the water will begin evaporating as the pressure within the chamber is lowered to maintain a surface-pressure equilibrium between the water and its surroundings. This pressure equilibrium, which is also a function of temperature, is typically referred to as the vapor pressure of water. At 100° C., the vapor pressure of water is one atmosphere, or 760 torr, which is why it is commonly stated that water boils at 100° C. However, when the local pressure around water is less than 760 torr, the liquid water may change phase to water vapor at lower temperatures.
Some sterilization systems check for the presence of water in the sterilization chamber before they introduce a sterilant gas therein based on analyses of pressure measurements taken within the chamber. For example, some check for small increases in pressure inside the chamber while vacuum is being drawn. If no water is present in the chamber while vacuum is being drawn, the pressure decreases asymptotically without any increases therein. However, if any water is in the chamber while vacuum is being drawn, at least some of the water may turn to vapor, which may cause slight local increases in pressure. Accordingly, detection of a small pressure increase while vacuum is being drawn indicates the presence of water in the vacuum chamber. Other sterilization systems lower the pressure in the chamber to a predetermined pressure level and then attempt to maintain the pressure at that predetermined pressure level while monitoring the chamber for pressure increases that may be attributable to water vapor.
Although the goal is to identify whether any moisture may be present within the chamber, pressure and not humidity is the quantity that is typically monitored to ensure adequate dryness of a vacuum chamber for hydrogen-peroxide based sterilization. Humidity sensors are sometimes used to confirm that required humidity levels are present in other types of sterilization, such as EtO sterilization, but in that context, moisture is required for EtO sterilization to be effective whereas in hydrogen peroxide sterilization, moisture should be avoided.
When water is detected during a hydrogen peroxide sterilization process, the process may be aborted so that excess water may be removed from the medical devices before attempting sterilization again. Aborting a sterilization process as soon as water is detected may help save time and resources as compared to continuing a sterilization process that may not be efficacious, and may help avoid use of a non-sterile device.
In some instances, instead of aborting the sterilization process, it may be preferable to attempt to remove the water from the vacuum chamber by a process called "load conditioning." Load conditioning is typically accomplished by, first, some combination of heating and/or introducing plasma into the sterilization chamber and re-pressurizing the sterilization chamber to transfer energy to the water, and, second, drawing a vacuum anew to convert the water to vapor. Load conditioning may occur before, after, or both before and after vacuum is drawn in the chamber. In some instances load conditioning cannot remove water from the chamber. In other instances load conditioning may remove some but not all of the water. In such instances, additional load conditioning may be attempted, which may ultimately remove sufficient moisture from the chamber.

Apparatus and method for detecting moisture in a vacuum chamber


A silicon germanium alloy layer is formed on a semiconductor material layer by epitaxy. An oxygen impermeable layer is formed on the silicon germanium alloy layer. The oxygen impermeable layer and the silicon germanium alloy layer are patterned to form stacks of a silicon germanium alloy fin and an oxygen impermeable cap. A shallow trench isolation structure is formed by deposition, planarization, and recessing or an oxygen permeable dielectric material. An oxygen impermeable spacer is formed around each stack of a silicon germanium alloy fin and an oxygen impermeable cap. A thermal oxidation process is performed to convert a lower portion of each silicon germanium alloy fin into a silicon germanium oxide. During the thermal oxidation process, germanium atoms diffuse into unoxidized portions of the silicon germanium alloy fins to increase the germanium concentration therein.

The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor structure, and particularly to a semiconductor structure including electrically isolated SiGe fins, and a method for manufacturing the same.
A finFET is field effect transistor including a channel located in a semiconductor fin having a height that is greater than a width. FinFETs employ vertical surfaces of semiconductor fins to effectively increase a device area without increasing the physical layout area of the device. Fin based devices are compatible with fully depleted mode operation if the lateral width of the fin is thin enough. For these reasons, fin based devices can be employed in advanced semiconductor chips to provide high performance devices.
Formation of a silicon germanium alloy fin including a high concentration of germanium on a silicon substrate is difficult because of large lattice mismatch between silicon and germanium. As the atomic germanium concentration increases in a silicon germanium alloy that is epitaxially formed on a silicon layer, defect density within the silicon germanium alloy also increases. Silicon germanium alloy fins patterned from the silicon germanium alloy also include high density of defects, which degrade performance of semiconductor devices formed on the silicon germanium alloy fins.

Electrically isolated SiGe fin formation by local oxidation

International Business Machines Corporation


An EBCOT codec (1) is provided which includes a bit modeling unit (11), arithmetic codec (12), input FIFO memory (13), output FIFO memory (14) and a controller (16). The input and output FIFO memories (13) and (14) have a function to control the bit length of to-be-stored data correspondingly to that of supplied data. For the coding, the input FIFO memory (13) is supplied with a wavelet transform coefficient of 16 bits, and for the decoding, it is supplied with a code data of 8 bits. For the coding, the output FIFO memory (14) outputs 8-bit code data, and for the decoding, it outputs wavelet transform coefficients of 16 bits. Thus, the circuit scale can be reduced and data transfer speed be improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an entropy encoder/decoder based on EBCOT (embedded block coding with optimized truncation) or the like used in JPEG2000 for example.
This application claims the priority of the Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-045250 filed on Feb. 21, 2002, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, there has been proposed a still picture compression method adopting a discrete wavelet transform called JPEG 2000 (ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 29/WG1).
JPEG 2000 uses a coding called xe2x80x9cEBCOT (embedded block coding with optimized truncation)xe2x80x9d for the entropy coding in order to make the most of the features of the discrete wavelet transform.
EBCOT is implemented with the use of a bit modeling unit and an arithmetic encoder/decoder (the xe2x80x9cencoder/decoderxe2x80x9d will be referred to as xe2x80x9ccodecxe2x80x9d hereunder). The bit modeling unit provides a bit modeling in which an arithmetic-coding binary symbol and a context indicative of the arithmetic coding method are generated from the wavelet transform coefficient generated by the discrete wavelet transform, and effects the bit modeling reversely. The arithmetic codec fractionates a probability line correspondingly to an appearance probability of a generated sequence of symbols, makes an arithmetic coding to assign a binary decimal value indicative of a position in each of the fractions to a code corresponding to the code sequence, and effects the fractionation and arithmetic coding reversely.
Generally, FIFO (first-in first-out) memories are generally provided at input and output stages, respectively, of an EBCOT-based entropy codec circuit to continuously effect the coding and decoding without a break between them.
The EBCOT-based entropy codec having the FIFO memories provided at the input and output stages thereof is constructed as will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
The entropy codec generally indicated with a reference 101 includes a wavelet transform coefficient input FIFO memory 102 to store supplied wavelet transform coefficients, code data input FIFO memory 103 to store supplied code data, code data output FIFO memory 104 to store to-be-outputted code data, wavelet transform coefficient output FIFO memory 105 to store to-be-outputted wavelet transform coefficients, bit modeling unit 106 and an arithmetic codec 107. It should be noted that the wavelet transform coefficient and code data to be supplied to or outputted from the entropy codec 101 are of 16 bits and 8 bits, respectively.
For coding, wavelet transform coefficients each of 16 bits are supplied from an external wavelet transform unit to the wavelet transform coefficient input FIFO memory 102 as shown in FIG. 1. The wavelet transform coefficient input FIFO memory 102 transfers wavelet transform coefficients stored therein one after another to the bit modeling unit 106. The bit modeling unit 106 generates a symbol and context from the wavelet transform coefficients thus received, and outputs them to the arithmetic codec 107. The arithmetic codec 107 generates a code data of 8 bits from the symbol and context thus received, and outputs the data to the code data output FIFO memory 104. The code data output FIFO memory 104 outputs 8-bit code data stored therein one after another to an external code forming device.
For decoding, an 8-bit code data is supplied from the external code forming device to the code data input FIFO memory 103, as shown in FIG. 2. The code data input FIFO memory 103 transfers code data stored therein one after another to the arithmetic codec 107. The arithmetic codec 107 generates a symbol from the code data thus received and a context supplied from the bit modeling unit 106, and outputs the symbol to the bit modeling unit 106. The bit modeling unit 106 generates a context and 16-bit wavelet transform coefficient from the symbol thus received. The bit modeling unit 106 outputs the context to the arithmetic codec 107 while outputting the 16-bit wavelet transform coefficient to the wavelet transform coefficient output FIFO memory 105. The wavelet transform coefficient output FIFO memory 105 outputs 16-bit wavelet coefficients stored therein one after another to the external wavelet transform unit.
Having the FIFO memories provided in the input and output stages, the entropy codec 101 can continuously effect the coding and decoding without a break between them.
In the EBCOT-based entropy coding/decoding, the data bit is different in length between before and after the coding and also between before and after the decoding. That is, the wavelet transform coefficient and code data after arithmetically coded are different in bit length from each other. Thus, the FIFO memories provided at the input and output stages of the EBCOT-based entropy codec should include a total of four FIFO memories for input of discrete wavelet coefficients, input of code data, output of discrete wavelet coefficients and for output of code data, respectively, as mentioned above.
Of such four FIFO memories, however, those intended for decoding are not in operation when in the coding mode of operation of the EBCOT-based entropy codec while those intended for coding are not in operation when in the decoding mode of operation. That is to say, the EBCOT-based entropy codec with the four FIFO memories has a redundant circuitry. Also, it is necessary to provide, outside the entropy codec 101, a selector to make a selection between input data and a selector to make a selection between output data. On this account, the data transfer rate of the entropy codec 101 will be lower because of the selection made by the selectors. Especially in case a memory used in common in the entire coding system (JPEG 2000 coding system, for example) is used as each FIFO memory, the data transfer rate will be considerably lower.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks of the related art by providing an entropy encoder/decoder having a reduced circuitry scale and an improved data transfer rate.
The above object can be attained by providing an entropy encoder/decoder including, according to the present invention, an input FIFO (first-in first-out) memory to provisionally hold supplied data and output data held therein in their supplied order, an output FIFO memory to provisionally hold supplied data and output data held therein in their supplied order, a bit modeling means for making a bit modeling, an arithmetic coding/decoding means for making an arithmetic coding and effecting the arithmetic coding reversely, and a control means for controlling the number of data bits held in each of the input and output FIFO memories.
For the coding, the input FIFO memory is externally supplied with a multivalued data having a first number of bits and outputs the multivalued data to the bit modeling means, and for the decoding, it is externally supplied with a code data having a second number of bits, different from the first number of bits in the multivalued data and outputs the code data to the arithmetic coding/decoding means.
For the coding, the output FIFO memory is supplied with the code data having the second number of bits from the arithmetic coding/decoding means and outputs the code data to outside, and for the decoding, it is supplied with the multivalued data having the first number of bits from the bit modeling means and outputs the multivalued data to outside.
For the coding, the bit modeling means is supplied with the multivalued data from the input FIFO memory and generates an arithmetic-coding binary symbol and a context indicative of the arithmetic coding method from the multivalued data, and for the decoding, it is supplied with a symbol from the arithmetic coding/decoding means and generates a context and a multivalued data based on the symbol thus supplied.
For the coding, the arithmetic coding/decoding means is supplied with the symbol and context from the bit modeling means and generates a code data based on the symbol and context thus supplied, and for the decoding, it is supplied with the code data from the input FIFO memory and the context from the bit modeling means and generates a symbol based on the code data and context.
For the coding, the control means sets a valid number of bits held in the input FIFO memory as the above first number of bits and a valid number of bits held in the output FIFO memory as the above second number of bits, and for the decoding, it sets a valid number of bits held in the input FIFO memory as the above second number of bits and a valid number of bits held in the output FIFO memory as the above first number of bits.
These objects and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


The present invention is directed to compounds having the Formula (I), (II), (III), (IV), and (V), compositions thereof, and methods for the treatment of a condition associated with a dysfunction in proteostasis.

Cells normally maintain a balance between protein synthesis, folding, trafficking, aggregation, and degradation, referred to as protein homeostasis, utilizing sensors and networks of pathways [Sitia et al., Nature 426: 891-894, 2003; Ron et al., Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 8: 519-529, 2007]. The cellular maintenance of protein homeostasis, or proteostasis, refers to controlling the conformation, binding interactions, location and concentration of individual proteins making up the proteome. Protein folding in vivo is accomplished through interactions between the folding polypeptide chain and macromolecular cellular components, including multiple classes of chaperones and folding enzymes, which minimize aggregation [Wiseman et al., Cell 131: 809-821, 2007]. Whether a given protein folds in a certain cell type depends on the distribution, concentration, and subcellular localization of chaperones, folding enzymes, metabolites and the like [Wiseman et al.]. Human loss of function diseases are often the result of a disruption of normal protein homeostasis, typically caused by a mutation in a given protein that compromises its cellular folding, leading to efficient degradation [Cohen et al., Nature 426: 905-909, 2003]. Human gain of function diseases are similarly frequently the result of a disruption in protein homeostasis, such as the accumulation of misfolded proteins, leading to protein aggregation [Balch et al. (2008), Science 319: 916-919].
The proteasome is a large protein complex of multiple subunits which acts as a protease to degrade misfolded proteins. Most proteasome substrates are targeted for degradation by the covalent attachment of ubiquitin moieties which are recognized by the proteasome [Lee et al. (2010), Nature 467(7312): 179-184]. Proteins with longer ubiquitin chains tend to have a stronger association with the proteasome than those with smaller chains [Lee et al. (2010); Proctor et al. (2007), BMC Systems Biology 1: 17]. The length of the ubiquitin chains is modulated, in part, by proteasome-associated deubiquitinating enzymes. One such mammalian deubiquitinating enzyme is Usp14 which has been shown to act as an inhibitor of the proteasome [Lee et al. (2010)].
Both proteasome dysfunction and dysfunction in proteostasis have been implicated in a diverse range of diseases including for example, neurodegenerative disease, metabolic diseases, inflammatory diseases, and cancer. In many such diseases and conditions, the proteasome has decreased ability to degrade misfolded or abnormal proteins, leading to the presence of toxic protein aggregates. In addition, the enhancement of proteasome activity can be therapeutic for any disease characterized by deficient proteasome activity, or deficient activity of other components of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway including, but not limited to, von Hippel-Lindau disease, spinocerebellar ataxia 1, Angelman syndrome, giant axon neuropathy, inclusion body myopathy with Paget disease of bone and frontotemporal dementia (IBMPFD), and others [Lehman, N. L., (2009), Acta Neuropathologica, 118(3), 329-347; Weihl et al., (2007), Neuromuscular Disorders, 17, 87-87]. Enhancing proteasome activity is also therapeutic for diseases in which proteasome substrates are involved and contribute to pathology, but which do not satisfy a strict definition of proteinopathies. For example, numerous oncoproteins are proteasome substrates and their ability to promote cancer can potentially be attenuated by enhancing proteasome activity.
Therefore, there is a need for compounds and pharmaceutical compositions to treat conditions associated with proteostasis dysfunction and/or that provide therapies based on enhancing proteasome activity.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Present subject matter provides a semiconductor nanocrystal comprises a core and a shell. The core is fabricated from a first semiconductor. The shell is fabricated from a second semiconductor. The optical cross section of the semiconductor nanocrystal is in a range of 10−17 cm2-10−12 cm2 in a 2-3 eV region. The core is less than 2 nanometers from an outer surface of the shell in at least one region of the semiconductor nanocrystal. Present subject matter also provides method for preparation of the semiconductor nanocrystals and method for photosynthesis of organic compounds.

Semiconductor Nanocrystals (NCs) are semiconductors which have a particle size of a few nanometers. Semiconductor nanocrystals also include quantum dots (QDs). Properties of the NCs can be tuned by varying their size and shape. Typically, NCs are used in optical applications, such as light-emitting devices, lasers, and the like. NCs have also been used in lighting harvesting systems, such as photovoltaic cells and as photo-catalysts.


A capillary structure for passive, directional fluid transport includes a capillary having a forward direction and a backward direction, the capillary including first and second capillary units each having a sequence of capillary components including a connective section in fluid communication with a diverging section, the diverging section having a forward side and dimensions inducing a concave meniscus in the forward direction, wherein the connective section of the second capillary unit is connected to the forward side of the diverging section of the first capillary unit to form at least one transition section, and wherein a change in the dimensions in the transition section induces in the backward direction a convex liquid meniscus or a straight liquid meniscus with an infinite radius of curvature.

Typically, large masses of materials are required to move fluid volumes due to the random orientation of fibers in many porous structures found in absorbent and fluid handling structures. As a result, several materials with different properties are used in combination to transport fluid. A surface that could enhance movement of fluid would allow a structure to perform better and to take advantage of capacity that is not typically used. Such a surface can be formed or placed to facilitate liquid movement. In this manner, fluid does not move randomly but instead follows the surface structure. This provides one the ability to design where fluid travels.
Previous, unsuccessful attempts to address these or related problems include Canadian Patent Application No. CA2875722 A1 to Comanns et al., which describes interconnected capillaries, and the technical publication "One-way Wicking in Open Micro-channels Controlled by Channel Topography," Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 404 (2013) 169-178, which describes a directional fluid transport that attempts to minimize, but does not eliminate, backflow.


Mechanisms for organizing messages across different message types. This may be accomplished by using a single integrated user interface in which messages across a variety of different message types are represented in a common way. For example, the user experience of placing a telephone call is standardized, regardless of the actual telephone technology (Cell Phone, VoIP, or POTS) used to conduct the telephone conversation. Also, addition to a general log that includes the overall list of messages, each message also has a separate, message-based log, thereby allowing for more flexible querying and organization of the messages regardless of the message type.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to networking technologies; and more specifically, to an integrated message user interface in which the user experience is standardized regardless of the type of message, and in which logs are maintained on a per-message basis thereby facilitating organization of the messages.
2. Background and Related Art
Communication is an essential need of humankind. The advent of the telephone represents one of the most important advances in communication technology, allowing real-time audio conversations to occur even over vast distances. As humanity progresses further into the information age, we find increasing diversity in the number of technologies that may be used to electronically communicate. For example, e-mail, instant messaging, shared windows, and electronic white-boarding are all in common use.
Even telephone technology alone has greatly diversified when telephone technology is defined as any networking technology that facilitates real-time audio conversations. For example, one can now use the conventional regular land-line telephone using Plain-Old Telephone Service (POTS) to engage in a telephone conversation. Furthermore, new telephone technologies have emerged enabling mobile telephones. Even the standard Internet Protocol (IP) may be used to communicate real-time audio conversations using Voice-over IP (VoIP).
While this vast array of communication technologies has greatly improved our freedom to communicate, it has also presented organizational challenges. For instance, there is typically one application used to engage in instant messaging, another to engage in e-mail, yet another to engage in a telephone call, and so forth. Accordingly, it is quite difficult to organize all communications across message types. This is especially true for synchronous communications such as telephone conversations, instant messaging, shared windows, and the like. Since messages are difficult to organize across message types, it is often difficult to correlate related messages to thereby harness the value provided from the information within the messages. Accordingly, information overload often prevails.
What would therefore be advantageous are mechanisms for organizing messages across a variety of different message types in an intuitive manner.

Integrated messaging user interface with message-based logging


A power tool is provided which includes a housing assembly; a motor assembly disposed in the housing assembly and having an output shaft; a trigger assembly coupled to the housing assembly and configured for use in actuating the motor assembly; a spindle; and a transmission assembly transmitting rotary power between the motor assembly and the spindle. The transmission assembly comprises a star compound gear train.

Various transmissions have been developed in the art for drills and other power tools. Many of these have been described in the patent literature. These include, for example, the transmissions described in U.S. 2011/0127059 (Limberg et al.), entitled "Precision Torque Tool", EP2666595 (Beadman et al.), entitled Planetary gear Assembly With Protection Clutch", U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,675 (Mayer et al.), entitled "Gear Shiftable Planetary Transmission", U.S. Pat. No. 7,644,783 (Roberts et al.), entitled "Power Tool Gear-Train And Torque Overload Clutch Therefor", U.S. Pat. No. 9,233,461 (Tomayko), entitled "Tool Having Multi-Speed Compound Planetary Transmission", U.S. 2004/0211576 (Milbourne et al.), entitled Multispeed power Tool Transmission", U.S. 2009/0233754 (Pedersen), entitled planet Gear", U.S. 2012/0186842 (Wiedmann et al.), entitled "Drill Hammer And/Or Chipping Hammer Device", U.S. Pat. No. 7,021,399 (Driessen), entitled "Power Tool", U.S. 2009/0021090 (Du et al.), entitled "Power Tools With Motor Having A Multi-Piece Stator", and U.S. 2009/0101379 (Du et al.), entitled "Cordless Power Tool Having Multi-Speed Transmission And Constant Speed Light Torque Range".
Some transmissions for power tools have also been described in the academic literature. These include, for example, the transmissions described in the Honors Thesis by Kedrowski et al., entitled "Wobbling Gear Drivetrain For Cordless Screwdriver" (Western Michigan University, 1993).
Power tools have reached a high level of sophistication. The devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,233,461 (Tomayko) (reproduced herein in FIG. 1) and U.S. 2011/0127059 (Limberg et al.) (reproduced herein as FIG. 2) are representative of the current state of the art. These devices feature transmissions that offer four speeds using a high-speed electric motor that drives a series of compact epicyclic gear trains arranged in series.

Transmission for shop tool based on star compound gear train


A data-locking system for generating an application, includes a data entry device, a video display screen, a storage medium, and a system for locking data in the storage medium. The video display screen allows for the display of inputted information in a predetermined application format comprising an integrated arrangement of critical and non-critical data fields. The data-locking system has circuitry for generating first and second records from the inputted information, as well as circuitry for generating a unique generator key number for encrypting the first record and circuitry for generating a data-lock code number and a time stamp number. When using the data-locking system, the inputted information in the critical data fields of the predetermined application format, once data-locked, cannot be changed.

As is known, applications for insurance or financial services sometimes require an account representative to visit with a prospective client in order to obtain and record relevant information in writing, and to obtain a signature of the prospective client as to the accuracy of the information recorded before returning from such point-of-sale to a centralized location for processing of the application. It has also been known to use portable keypads and printers to record the information provided by an applicant for an application process. However, such devices merely record information without securing it from access and manipulation by others. Also, the use of printing devices by account representatives during the application process with a client has fallen into disfavor as such on-site printing can lead to multiple requests of illustrations as to costs for specific services, and create logistical problems sourced in excessive equipment and maintenance thereof.
Furthermore, after an application has been actually printed and signed by an applicant, changes to non-pertinent information in the Application usually have required amendment paperwork or initialing by the applicant.
Accordingly, an object of this invention is to eliminate the need to provide for an on-site printer at a point-of-sale in an application process.
It is another object of this invention to avoid tampering with data entered into a data entry device.
It is another object of this invention to prevent a system user from changing certain predetermined application information entered into a processing system.
It is another object of this invention to allow a system user to modify predetermined non-critical portions of an application with information obtained subsequent to a point-of-sale.
It is another object of this invention to enable a system user and an applicant to realize the briefest possible application for obtaining insurance.
It is another object of this invention to reduce the need for manual amendment form handling, thereby eliminating the need for unnecessary correspondence.


A motorcycle restraining device for securing a motorcycle to a trailer or other transport device is provided. The restraining device includes first and second brackets permanently attached to opposite sides of a motorcycle. A connecting rod is inserted through the brackets when the motorcycle is to be loaded onto the transport device. The motorcycle with the rod then approaches first and second receiving members, which constitutes an anchor, and the rod is secured to the receiving members. As the receiving members are adjustable and the design of the brackets adjustable as well, the motorcycle restraining device of the present invention may be used with generally any make and model of motorcycle. In addition, the brackets are permanently attached such that they do not create any problems or prevent ride ability of the motorcycle.

While many people own motorcycles (also known as "bikes"), both for street riding and off-road riding, there are times when they may not be ridden, and instead need to be hauled or transported. However, the hauling of motorcycles creates problems due to the fact that they only have two wheels, and are generally top heavy due to the motor being raised at a location between the two wheels. A kickstand may be used for temporarily resting a motorcycle, but it would not be able to keep a motorcycle from tipping over while travelling in or on a trailer or other vehicle.
Straps or tie downs have historically been used in transporting motorcycles in trailers or connected to vehicles. One or more straps must be attached to each side of the motorcycle and then to the trailer. The straps then must be tightened to ensure that the motorcycle will not tip one way or another. Tightening the straps causes a high amount of pressure to act downwardly on the motorcycle, which can cause wear and tear on the shocks and/or suspension of the motorcycle. In addition, it is time consuming to add and remove the straps, and the restraining of the motorcycle with straps or tie downs cannot usually be accomplished by one person. At least one person must hold the motorcycle, while another either straps the bike down, or removes the straps.
Other ways of restraining a motorcycle in a trailer or vehicle are known that do not incorporate the use of straps or tie downs. In such systems, brackets or clamps are added to the motorcycle, generally at the rear wheel, after riding and before loading the bike in the trailer or vehicle. Therefore, the brackets and/or clamps are not permanent fixtures on the motorcycles. The extra components take time to add, and much like with the use of straps, cannot be accomplished by a lone person. Again, at least one person must hold the motorcycle steady while another person or people attach the clamps or brackets to the specific locations of the motorcycle. Only then may the motorcycle be loaded onto or into the trailer and secured for transporting. However, once the motorcycle/trailer combination has reached its destination and the motorcycle has been removed from the trailer, the clamps and/or brackets must be removed before the motorcycle is safe to ride. As with the preloading process, the unloading process will take multiple people to accomplish and will cut into or reduce the amount of time the owner may ride his or her motorcycle.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a motorcycle restraining device that can be incorporated with a trailer or vehicle that does not include the use of straps or tie downs that put undue stress on the suspension and/or shocks of the motorcycle. There is also a need in the art for a restraining and hauling device that allows a motorcycle rider to load and unload his or her motorcycle onto a trailer or other vehicle that is not time consuming and that can be done without the aid of other people.
It is therefore a primary object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to overcome or improve on deficiencies in the art.
It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide a motorcycle transport retaining device that prevents a motorcycle from falling over or otherwise causing damage during transport in a trailer or vehicle.
It is yet another object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide a motorcycle transport retaining device that does not put undue stress on the motorcycle.
It is still another object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide a motorcycle transport retaining device that is permanently attached to a portion of the motorcycle.
It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide a motorcycle transport retaining device that allows a rider to quickly restrain his or her motorcycle to a trailer without the help of another person.
It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide a motorcycle restraining device that can be used with all different brands and styles of motorcycles.
It is still another object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide a motorcycle restraining device that can be easily moved to another trailer.


Disclosed are a photosensitive resin composition for a color filter that includes a colorant including a phthalocyanine-based compound represented by the following Chemical Formula 1 and a triarylmethane-based compound represented by the following Chemical Formula 2, wherein the substituents of Chemical Formulas 1 and 2 are the same as same as defined in the detailed description, and a color filter prepared using the same.

Color filters are used for liquid crystal displays (LCDs), optical filters for cameras, and the like. The color filters may be fabricated by coating a fine region with three or more colors on a charge-coupled device or a transparent substrate. This colored thin film can be fabricated using various methods, such as dyeing, printing, electrophoretic deposition (EPD), pigment dispersion, and the like.
The pigment dispersion method forms a colored film by repeating a series of processes such as coating, exposing to a light, developing, and curing a photopolymerizable composition including a coloring agent on a transparent substrate including a black matrix. The pigment dispersion method can improve heat resistance and durability, which are very important characteristics for a color filter, and can provide a film with a uniform thickness.
However, in the pigment dispersion method, the pigment may be not dissolved in a solvent and remain as a dispersion. Accordingly, the pigment particles may reflect, diffract, refract, or otherwise interfer with light during light transmission. As a result, pigment dispersion methods can be limited with regard to improved color characteristics of contrast ratio.

Photosensitive resin composition for color filter and color filter prepared using the same