A cutterbar for a rotary mower includes a gear housing containing a series-parallel spur gear train coupled for driving cutting units spaced along the cutterbar. The gear housing, as viewed from an end, defines a cavity which is wedge-shaped in cross section with the deep part of the wedge being located at the rear of the cutterbar. As considered when the cutterbar is leveled from end-to-end and disposed for cutting crop at a relatively high level, a top wall of the cavity extends substantially horizontally and the spur gears contained within the cavity are positioned close to and parallel to the top wall so that a substantial volume is left below the gears for containing lubricant. A plurality of fore-and-aft extending, transversely spaced ribs are formed along a bottom wall of the housing at a level below the gearing whereby the ribs serve to prevent the lubricant from moving quickly towards a lower end of the cutterbar when the latter is working on a slope. Provided in a lower rear location of each rib is an orifice which serves to permit lubricant to drain to the low end of the cutterbar when it is desired to remove the lubricant from the cutterbar by way of an appropriate drain hole. A sight gauge is provided at each end of the housing for viewing the lubricant level for aiding in leveling the cutterbar from end-to-end and then for determining if the lubricant level is that desired.

The present invention relates to rotary or disc mowers of a type including an elongate cutterbar, and more particularly relates to such a cutterbar including a fluid-tight gear housing adapted for holding lubrication fluid for the gears contained in the housing.
The idea of using a cutterbar drive gear housing as a gear lubrication fluid reservoir is well known in the art. Both underfilling and overfilling the cutterbar with lubricant will result in gear damage, damage through underfilling resulting because of the gears becoming starved for lubrication and running dry; and damage through overfilling resulting because the gears churn and overheat the fluid which causes it to break down and lose its lubricity. Of course, operation of the gears in a bath of lubricating fluid is also not desirable because of the power loss attendant with such operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,797, granted 10 Sept. 1985, discloses a cutterbar including a housing which is substantially rectangular in cross section and having a depth only slightly greater than that of a series-arranged spur gear train contained therein for driving cutting units carried by the housing. Thus, the volume of the housing which is available for containing lubricant is relatively small which has the disadvantage of making the cutterbar quite sensitive to both underfilling and overfilling of lubricant. Although the patent features a way of detecting whether or not sufficient lubricant is contained in the cutterbar, the method of checking lubricant level is not very convenient or simple since it involves placing the cutterbar on a relatively level area, elevating one end of the cutterbar a predetermined amount and then removing a fill plug from the elevated end to see if the lubricant level is up to the fill plug orifice, such a level of lubricant being an indication of a sufficient amount. While this may be an effective way of determining if enough lubricant is present, it has the disadvantage of not effectively preventing overfilling of the cutterbar since an operator is liable to think that the cutterbar is properly filled if lubricant is present when the fill plug is removed when in fact the cutterbar may be overfilled.

Cutterbar gear housing design for containing gear lubrication fluid


An accelerometer includes a proof mass and a frame that are formed in a handle layer of a silicon-on-an-insulator (SOI). The proof mass is separated from the frame by a back-side trench that defines a boundary of the proof mass. The accelerometer also includes a reflector coupled to a top surface of the proof mass. An optical detector is located above the reflector at the device side. The accelerometer further includes at least one suspension spring. The suspension spring has a handle anchor that extends downwards from the device side to the handle layer to mechanically support upward and downward movement of the proof mass relative to a top surface of the proof mass.

An accelerometer measures proper acceleration, which is the acceleration it experiences relative to free fall. Proper acceleration is associated with the phenomenon of weight experienced by a proof mass that resides in a frame of reference of the accelerometer. An accelerometer measures the weight per unit of the proof mass, a quantity also known as specific force, or g-force. Conceptually, an accelerometer behaves as a damped mass on a spring. When the accelerometer experiences acceleration, the position of the proof mass is displaced with respect to the frame. The displacement is measured to determine the acceleration.
Accelerometers can be applied to inertia navigation, seismometry and a wide variety of diagnostic and instrumentation applications. For example, an accelerometer can be used to evaluate the performance of both the engine/drive train and the braking system of a vehicle.
Recent development in Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology has made it possible to build MEMS accelerometers (also called micromachined accelerometers). These micromachined accelerometers can be used in a wide variety of small-size light-weight handheld devices. However, there is a continuing need for the micromachined accelerometers to have high resolution and low noise.

Micromachined force-balance feedback accelerometer with optical displacement detection


This invention is directed toward a wheel assembly that can easily be attached and detached from a case such that the case can be wheeled when needed, but have the wheels removed for storage or transportation in a vehicle or plane. The wheel assembly comes in three parts—an axel, two wheels, and two wheel mounts—so it is simple to assembly, and because it has no moving parts, it is solid and durable.

Field of the invention: This invention relates to the general field of detachable wheels that can be temporarily attached to and removed from wheeled cases depending on whether the user wants to wheel them or pack them for transport or storage. The example used in this provisional patent application is the SKB 3i Series of cases, and more specifically, to more specifically to a detachable, large diameter wheel assembly that can be attached and detached from a SKB 3i Series case, but the general technology could be applied to any wheeled case where it would be advantageous to easily attach and detach a larger wheel assembly from the case.
The case being used for illustration here is a standard case for transportation a quadcopter or drone. The case has a hollowed-out base, usually with cushioning foam cut out in the shape of a particular brand and model of drone, and a lid that rotates down on the top of the base through hinges, then locks with a latch. The case has two sets of small wheels at the back bottom of the case which work very well on smooth, flat surfaces, but not so well over the rough terrain a drone pilot often has to traverse to reach a location for his or her flight. The case also has two cavities, called end foot sleeves.
The wheel assembly is basically an axel with a wheel on either send and two "wheel mounts" in between the wheels and the axel. These wheel mounts have a long end, called a "mount tongue", and a hook-shaped end called a "hook". As a general overview of the invention, the mount tongue of the wheel mount at one end slides into the case's wheel end foot sleeve and the hook of the wheel mount snaps around the existing wheel system on the case. The complete assembly is held in place by resistance created by the hook wrapping around more than 50% of the wheel and at the hook's end being slightly smaller diameter than the wheels of the case. This allows a user to quickly and effectively add wheels to a case, such that when the user wants to wheel the case, he/she can easily attach the wheels, but when the case is going to be stored or shipped, the wheels and axel can be easily removed.
Problem solved by this invention. As the drone industry evolves, drones have been getting larger, more sophisticated, and heavier. Five years ago, the skies were ruled by DJI's Phantom 2 line of drones, which were around a cubic foot in size and weighed around three pounds. Since then, drones have begun carrying better (and heavier) cameras and other payloads such as remote sensors, lidar, and even seed dispersers. The size of batteries and propellers also increased, to the point where many of today's "commercial" drones are two to three times the size of the Phantom line.
And, while five years ago it was fairly easy to put a Phantom in a backpack and haul it around, putting one of today's larger, heavier drones with extra batteries into a backpack is way too large, cumbersome and heavy to safely or comfortably carry on one's back. Thus, wheeled cases made their way into the drone world several years ago. Because these cases were wheeled, a user could more easily transport a drone case from job to job. However, like their counterparts in the suitcase industry, the protruding wheels were a weak point in these cases, and would often break during shipping, thereby rendering the case basically useless. Also, because of the small wheel size the wheels are relatively useless on rough ground, including gravel, sand, dirt, weeds, etc., and would frequently clog with dirt, sand or grass to the point where they no longer worked even on flat pavement.
To minimize the exposure of the wheels to breakage, drone case manufactures use wheels that are typically 2″ to 3″ in diameter on injection molded cases. These wheels work decently on hard, flat surfaces such as solid pavement, flooring, sidewalks or streets, but trying to roll the cases with heavy contents onto sand, gravel, dirt surfaces is nearly impossible. The surfaces typically inject stones and other items into the wheel assembly housing which lock the wheels, so they are no longer able to turn, causing the user to either drag the case or be forced carry it. These wheels also do not function over sticks, logs or uneven surfaces. So, clearly it would be advantageous to use larger wheels, but these would be easily broken off during travel. Thus, while minimizing the chances that the current wheels will be broken off when the case is shipped or stored, these manufacturers are accepting a trade-off against having a case that can be effectively moved over rough terrain.
Thus, there has existed a long-felt need for a case that has wheels that are large enough to travel over all sorts of terrain, but at the same time, will not be easily broken off during shipping or storage. The current invention provides just such a product with a detachable wheel assembly that can be quickly and efficiently attached to and detached from a protective case. Its wheels are large enough to move over all sorts of terrain, but they can be removed for shipping, storage and other uses during which a protruding wheel can be damaged.
The current invention provides just such a solution by providing a quick snap on and off assembly. This assembly has no mechanical locking system, strictly friction since the cases are used in extreme terrain and the user cannot afford to have springs, latches, etc. malfunction in time of need. Instead, the invention provides large (10″ or so) diameter solid wheels that do not go flat or jam up on rough surfaces. The assembly attaches so that the case still sits flat on the ground as to still be 100% usable when opening the case. Because the wheel assembly easily snaps on and off, a user flying drones can wheel the drone case out of the airport on its "case wheels", put into a rental car, drive to a remote location, snap on this invention, wheel the case over rough terrain to a desired drone take-off location and fly the drone without worrying about having to carry both the drone and the case back to the car. After the drone photography/videography is done and the dronist returns to the airport, he/she can just snap off the wheel assembly, store it separately, and wheel the case on its original wheels to airport check-in.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Detachable wheel assembly for wheeled cases


The invention relates to a method and device to use a locked mobile terminal with a new subscription. This method is based on presentation of several IMSI and detection of an IMSI with valid MCC and/or MNC code replaced by another IMSI so that the end-user can use his new SIM card with the locked mobile terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and a device to freely use a mobile terminal, also called handset, when subscribing a new contract with a different operator from the one the mobile terminal is locked with. Such a different operator is for example a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), allowing at least voice and data exchanges on a telecommunication network. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and a device for allowing the free usage of mobile terminals.
2. Background Art
Currently, mobile terminals are sold with an operator lock, implemented whereby the mobile operator has subsidized the mobile terminal. The telecommunication operators implement a lock mechanism so that only a subscriber identity module containing the IMSI of that operator can be used. It's known as described in the ETSI standard, that the locked mobile terminal checks for a specific Mobile Country Code (MCC)/Mobile Network Code (MNC) within the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) during its initialization phase and unless the IMSI matches the predefined IMSI in the mobile terminal, the subscriber identity module is rejected and considered as not valid by the telecommunication network.
Currently, as disclosed in US2001030235, a procedure for checking the validity of smart cards in a mobile-radio end device is known, comprising the steps of reading, by a mobile-radio end device, a portion of data stored in an International Mobile Subscriber Identity of a smart card in the mobile-radio end device; Comparing the at least a portion of data with allowed value range stored in the mobile-radio end device; and allowing operation of the mobile-radio end device with the smart card by the mobile-radio end device when the portion of data read from the smart card in said step (a) is within the allowed value range stored in the mobile-radio end device.
MVNO today sell many (U)SIM-only packs to end-users. That means that the MVNO provide to end-users an UICC implementing subscriber identity module (SIM) or universal subscriber identity module USIM. When end-users insert their MVNO (U)SIM card into their existing handset, they are often disappointed to find that the handset remains locked to their network facilities unless the end-user pays an unlocking fee or the remainder of the monthly fees until the end of the contract.
The end-user can pay to have their handset unlocked on the black market but this is not always possible and is an extra expense incurred by the end-user.
Currently Different Handset locking mechanisms are implemented and mobile telecommunication operators agree upon several different parameters stored on the subscriber identity module, which must be verified by the handset during the initialization sequence.
These subscriber identity module settings are usually the following fields: Leading MCC/MNC digits of the IMSI field, or GID1/GID2 values. The more important of these two fields is the MCC/MNC digits but both can possibly play an important role for the subscriber identity module initialization check.
A small proportion of Mobile network operators today are implementing SIM lock via GID1/GID2 and the principal means of mobile terminal locking is via the IMSI. Consequently, when a mobile virtual network operators (MVNO) provides a subscriber identity module to a new end-user, unless the end-user has an unlocked mobile terminal, he cannot use the mobile virtual network operators (MVNO) subscriber identity module.
Consequently, when a mobile virtual network operators (MVNO) provides a subscriber identity module to a new end-user, unless the end-user has an unlocked mobile terminal, he cannot use the mobile virtual network operators (MVNO) subscriber identity module.
There is consequently a need to provide a way for the end-user to use his mobile terminal when subscribing for a mobile virtual network operators (MVNO) subscription or prepaid contract.
It is in fact desirable to provide an efficient way to allow the mobile phone end-user to benefit from this new MVNO subscription, even if the mobile terminal he has was previously, during the phase the end-user had a contract with another network operator, locked by the said network operator. There are indeed locked mobile terminals MVNO new customers would like to use.

Method and device to use a mobile terminal with a new subscription


In one aspect, a valve actuation system includes a drive unit including an actuator configured to engage and move multiple valves disposed within a fluid cassette to selectively open and close each valve of the multiple valves and a positioning frame disposed adjacent the fluid cassette and along which the drive unit can be moved in three dimensions to align the actuator with a selected valve of the multiple valves.

Dialysis is a medical treatment that provides life-saving support to patients with insufficient renal function. The two principal dialysis methods are hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD). During HD, the patient's blood is passed through a dialyzer of a dialysis machine, while a dialysis solution (or, dialysate) is also passed through the dialyzer, generally in an opposite or countercurrent direction. A semi-permeable membrane within the dialyzer separates the blood from the dialysate and allows fluid exchanges to take place between the dialysate and the blood stream via diffusion, osmosis, and convective flow. These exchanges across the membrane result in the removal of waste products (e.g., such as solutes, like urea and creatinine) from the blood. These exchanges also help regulate the levels of other substances (e.g., sodium and water) in the blood. In this way, the dialyzer and dialysis machine act as an artificial kidney for cleansing the blood.
During PD, the patient's peritoneal cavity is periodically infused with dialysate. The membranous lining of the patient's peritoneum acts as a natural semi-permeable membrane that allows diffusion and osmosis exchanges to take place between the solution within the peritoneal cavity and the blood stream. Like HD, these exchanges across the patient's peritoneum result in the removal of waste products from the blood and help regulate the levels of other substances (e.g., sodium and water) in the blood.
Automated PD machines (e.g., PD cyclers) are designed to control the entire PD process so that it can be performed at home, usually overnight without clinical staff in attendance. This process is termed continuous cycler-assisted PD (CCPD). Many PD cyclers are designed to automatically infuse, dwell, and drain dialysate to and from the patient's peritoneal cavity. The treatment typically lasts for several hours, often beginning with an initial drain cycle to empty the peritoneal cavity of used or spent dialysate. The sequence then proceeds through the succession of fill, dwell, and drain phases that follow one after the other.
Various fluid paths within a dialysis system must be managed throughout a dialysis treatment via selective actuation of multiple dialysis fluid cassette valves.

Valve actuation systems and related methods


A guardrail or other energy absorbing apparatus includes a plurality of terminal end rails extending longitudinally extend between a plurality of support posts, wherein a first four of said plurality of rails (labelled 1-4 below) situated at a terminal end of a guardrail, or impact end of an energy absorbing apparatus; are connected to one another at respective downstream and upstream ends via: an impact slider assembly joined to a downstream portion of terminal rail 1, and surrounding a downstream portion of terminal rail 1 and an upstream portion of an adjacent rail 2; a first set of frangible bolts which are the sole bolts connecting rail 2 and adjacent rail 3 together; and a second set of frangible bolts which connect rail 3 and adjacent rail 4 together, wherein at least one standard post bolt connects the rails 3 and 4 to a post at this joint.

The specification details an energy absorbing apparatus which includes one or more longitudinal members. The specification in one embodiment details a guardrail which comprises longitudinal members in the form of rails. For ease of reference, the present invention will now be discussed in relation to a guardrail. Although, it will be appreciated that the present invention may have utility in relation to different energy absorbing applications, utilising telescoping longitudinal members.
Guardrails are widely used throughout the world on the side(s) of highways, motorways and the like to act as a safety barrier to redirect errant vehicles back onto the road. However, the terminal ends of guardrails pose a significant risk to vehicles which have a head on impact therewith. It would therefore be an advantage, if there could be provided a way, in which more of the energy arising from a head on impact with the terminal end of a guardrail, could be absorbed, so as to minimise the damage caused to a vehicle, involved in such a collision.
Current guardrails, marketed as "X-tension" utilise a single set of frangible (shear) bolts to join the second and third rails, and a slider which fits around the first and second rails, at the terminal end of a guardrail, joins the first and second rails together. The slider is bolted to the downstream end of the first rail, and after a head on impact travels along the second rail. When the slider reaches the downstream end of the second rail the upstream end of the second rail impacts with an impact head on the upstream end of the first rail. The shock of this impact with the end of the second rail with the impact head, shears the heads off the shear bolts. As the shear bolts have now failed this disconnects the second and third rails, which can now telescope with respect to one another, as the slider to travels along and gathers the third rail therein, alongside, the first and second rails.
However, once the slider has travelled along the third rail further telescoping with the fourth rail is not possible as a second set of shear bolts cannot be utilised to join the third and fourth rails. As if a second set of shear bolts is used to join the third and fourth rails the applicant has found it is difficult to reliably control the order in which the shear bolts fail. Thus if the downstream second set of shear bolts connecting the third and fourth rails is to fail before the first set of shear bolts upstream this prematurely halts telescoping and energy absorption.
Ideally, it would be desirable if a terminal end of a guardrail could have at least one additional set of shear bolts, connecting downstream rails in a manner that enables more rails to reliably telescope, in sequential order, from upstream to downstream, so as to absorb more energy from a head on impact. However, as mentioned the key is to somehow control when the downstream bolts shear, which is difficult, as the shock of impact automatically transfers force along the rails, and can cause downstream bolts to shear prior to upstream bolts shearing. This, in turn, adversely reduces the capacity of the guardrail to absorb energy.
All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country.
Throughout this specification, the word "comprise", or variations thereof such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.
It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.
Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.


A load-bearing, bioabsorbable surgical repair device manufactured from a copolymer having a plurality of first linkages of lactide or lactide/glycolide, and a plurality of second linkages of a polymer having a glass transition temperature below ambient temperature. The second linkages preferably are selected from: 1,3-dioxan-2-one; 1,4-dioxan-2-one; and .epsilon.-caprolactone.

There is a need for surgical repair devices such as bone plates, screws, staples, and other tissue and fracture fixation devices which are bioabsorbable. Suitable polymeric materials are desired which are readily and safely absorbed by the body, a process also known as bioresorption, at a rate which enables the repair device to maintain sufficient integrity while the soft tissue or bone heals. Surgical repair devices formed of materials which are absorbed too quickly may fail when compressive, tensile or flexural loads are placed on the devices before the tissue or bone has fully healed.
There is also a need for absorbable polymeric materials that can be permanently deformed at room or body temperature, especially in medical device applications that require the material to be reshapable. One such application is in absorbable maxillofacial bone fixation plates where complex fracture site surface contours are often encountered. For comparison, see the Masterpiece.TM. maxillofacial bone plate system (Storz Instrument Co., Mo. 63122, USA). Another application is in absorbable surgical clips and staples where improved toughness and ductility are desirable.
As the term is used herein, permanent deformation refers to a type of deformation wherein the material does not completely return to its original form once the deforming load is removed. Such a deformation results from the properties of ductility or plasticity. Ductility and plasticity have equivalent meanings as used in describing the invention and can be applied in elongational or flexural deformations. A ductile polymer "yields" when a sufficient stress or strain are applied. The yielding process can involve molecular reorganization (usually in softer polymers with glass transition temperatures below ambient temperature) or crazing (usually in more rigid polymers with glass transition temperatures higher than ambient temperature), discussed in more detail below.
The following U.S. patents are pertinent to the present inventions described in this application: 4,243,775, 4,279,249, 4,300,565, 4,539,981, 4,550,449, 4,744,365, 4,788,979, 4,839,130, 4,844,854. Also pertinent is the international patent application WO 89/05664 and corresponding U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,891,263, 4,916,193, 4,916,207 and 4,920,203. These patents and the application are incorporated herein by reference.
The modification of glassy polymeric materials for improved toughness is well known in the non-absorbable polymer art. Perhaps the most notable example of a toughened glassy plastic is high impact polystyrene (HIPS). The following review article describes the property improvements of HIPS: Soderquist, M. E. and Dion, R. P., "High Impact Polystyrene," in Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering, Vol. 16, pp. 88`97, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1989. Many other nonabsorbable polymers have been modified for improved toughness or impact resistance. A general review of this field can be found in Yee, A. F., "Impact Resistant Materials," in Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering, Vol. 8, pp. 59-68, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1989 and in Bucknail, C. B., Toughened Plastics, Applied Science Publishers, London, 1977 and in Comprehensive Polymer Science, Vol. 2, section 15.3, pp. 526-532, C. Booth & C. Price, eds., Pergamon Press, New York, 1989. Generally, toughness and impact resistance have been improved by incorporating a discontinuous rubbery phase in the parent polymer matrix. This has been done by physical blending or by preparation of block or graft copolymers. Similar concepts have been applied to thermosets such as epoxy resins (see Yee, A. F. and Pearson, R. A., "Toughening Mechanisms in Elastomer-Modified Epoxies Part 1 Mechanical Studies," J. Mat. Sci., Vol. 21, 1986, pp. 2462-2474 and Pearson, R. A. and Yee, A. F., "Toughening Mechanisms in Elastomer-Modified Epoxies Part 2 Microscopy Studies," J. Mat. Sci., Vol. 21, 1986, pp. 2475-2488. All of the above cited disclosures are incorporated herein by reference. Although increases of ductility in nonabsorbable rubber modified plastics have been reported, the primary purpose of the modification has been to impart impact resistance and toughness. To our knowledge this property modification method has not been put to use in medical devices, either absorbable or nonabsorbable.
The U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,243,775 and 4,300,565 cited above disclose absorbable polymeric compositions which were thought to form a two phase morphology. These patents do not mention any enhancement of deformability in bending due to the presence of a rubbery phase.
Some other patents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,744,365, 4,839,130 and 4,844,854) disclose two phase copolymers of lactide and glycolide. These patents do not mention any enhancement of deformability in bending other than reduced brittleness. Also, the copolymers disclosed in the '365, '130 and '854 patents do not contain a rubbery phase; rather, they contain two semicrystalline glassy phases. The utility of these two phase copolymers are described as a surgical clip or staple. The rubber toughened materials of this application may also be useful as a surgical clip or staple.
None of the prior art mentions the usefulness as a medical device of materials which can be permanently deformed at room temperature through crazing. The term "crazing" is used in its typical meaning of cavitation and/or microcrack formation, such as occurs during bending one portion of a suitable material relative to a second portion to form crazes at the bend site. Crazing will not occur if the material is too rubbery or too brittle. In some materials, sufficient crazing can take place to permit the material to deform ductily or plastically under an applied load.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,279,249 claims bioabsorbable boneplate devices manufactured from a copolymer of at least 90% units derived from lactic acid and reinforcing fibers made of polyglycolic acid or a copolymer thereof. Nowhere in this patent is it disclosed that the material can be permanently deformed by bending at room temperature, although improved resilience and shock resistance are disclosed. Also, this patent claims a "matrix" polymer of at least 90% lactic acid units.
Other bioabsorbable bone fixation devices have been fashioned from high molecular weight poly(1-lactide); see, e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,539,981 and 4,550,449. This material does not allow reshaping at room temperature and no mention of such a property is made in these patents.
Block copolymers containing trimethylene carbonate and lactide were exemplified in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,916,193. The materials exemplified were higher in rubber phase content compared to the compositions described in this application. In this patent no mention was made of ductile properties or the usefulness of such a property in medical devices.
Block copolymers containing trimethylene carbonate, caprolactone, and glycolide as well as block copolymers containing caprolactone and glycolide were exemplified for use as suture coatings in U.S. Pat. No. 4,788,979. In contrast to the materials of the present invention, these materials were also rich in soft phase forming units. No mention was made of ductile properties in this patent.


Methods and devices for verifying whether to send a message may include delaying, at an operating system executing on the computer device, sending of a message to at least one recipient based at least upon an associated delay period for the message. The methods and devices may include verifying a completion of the delay period and determining whether at least one override condition exists. The methods and devices may include altering a sending of the message when the at least one override condition occurred.

The present disclosure relates to delaying the sending of messages and/or receiving of messages.
Today it is possible to delay sending and/or receiving a message, such as but not limited to an email, for example, by time. A user may select a future date to send an email and the email will not be sent until that time is reached. It is also possible to control the frequency of syncing emails and messaging as well as muting or ignoring individual threads of messages. However, these are either perpetual or manual operations.
Thus, there is a need in the art for improvements in controlling the sending and/or receiving of messages.

Delaying sending and receiving of messages


A cutting and machining fluid applicable to both cutting and electrical discharge machining. This cutting and machining fluid comprises a water-soluble organic compound that shows an electrical resistivity of not less than 10,000 .OMEGA..cm when it is contained in deionized water having an electrical resistivity of not less than 1,000,000 .OMEGA..cm, in a concentration of from 1 to 10 % by weight, a nonionic surface active agent, or a mixture of these. The organic compound is selected from the group of ethylene glycols, propylene glycols, glycol monoethers, and polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters.

Molds and dies have been hitherto manufactured in the following way: In usual instances, a workplace is first cut using a cutting machine and then machined by electrical discharging in an insulating medium of an electrical discharge machine so that the workpiece is die-sinked, bored or cut by causing continuous spark discharge between the workpiece and a work electrode. In recent years, it has been proposed to directly impart to a cutting machine the function of electrical discharge machining for the purposes of omitting the troublesome operations to set up the change-over from cutting to electrical discharge machining, decreasing the mold and die manufacturing cost, e.g., saving an installation area for a machine, or improving the machining precision.
Incidentally, used as cutting fluids are solutions having good performance in lubricity, rust prevention and non-flammability, which, however, are not suitable for electrical discharge machining because of their low electrical resistivity. On the other hand, used as fluids for electrical discharge machining are those having a high electrical resistivity and good performance in recovering electrical resistivity by ion-exchange treatment (i.e., electrical discharge machining continuity), which, however, can not promise any rust prevention or lubricity and are not suitable for cutting. Accordingly, when the function of electrical discharge machining is imparted to cutting machines, it has been necessary to use a working fluid exclusively used for the cutting when cutting is carried out and to use a working fluid exclusively used for the electrical discharge machining when electrical discharge machining is carried out. Using different fluids in different steps in this way has brought about the problem of a serious lowering of operating efficiency.
An object of the present invention is to solve the above problem and provide a working fluid applicable to both the cutting and the electrical discharge machining.

Dual-purpose fluid for cutting and electrical discharge machining


Embodiments generally relate to hot-plug technology. The present technology discloses hardware and software specifications that can enable hot-plug functions for high-bandwidth and low-latency data transmission within a computing system. The present technology can provide hot-plug functions to PICe devices within a server rack by utilizing various controllers and power indicators embedded in the system. In addition to PCIe, the present technology can provide hot-plug functions to other high-throughput computer I/O (Input/Output) expansion technologies.

A data center typically includes a large group of servers or nodes for remote storage, processing or distribution of large amounts of data. For example, a data center can comprise a large number of rack units each housing numerous nodes and integrated switches. These nodes and switches can transmit data through layers of network interfaces and protocols.
A system bus is a link through which signals can be transmitted between two or more nodes or switches. For example, Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCIe) bus is a universal system bus that enables computing components, including processor, chipset, cache, memory, expansion cards, and storage devices, to communicate with each other.
PCIe hot-plug technology enables PCIe devices to be added or removed from a computer without interrupting normal system operation or requiring a system reboot. By reducing latency in powering off and rebooting the system, PICe hot-plug technology can improve system performance as well as efficiency.


Power control of a digital datalink system within an aeronautical telecommunication network is described herein. According to embodiments, the system is configured to calculate the transmission power of an air-based communication station, based on the transmission power used by a ground-based communication station, wherein the transmission power of the air-based communication station is sot to a decibel level higher than or equal to the transmission power of the ground-based communication station.

Data communication is a key enabler to the FAA NextGen Air Transportation System program. The NextGen Air Transportation System program is a comprehensive overhaul of the National Airspace System (NAS) by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in order to make air travel more convenient, dependable and safe. As the utilization of NextGen applications increases and services are materialized, the capacity demand on the data communication networks is growing. Conveying huge amounts of NextGen data traffic over the already fully occupied Aeronautical VHF frequency band is becoming a critical challenge to the overall NextGen success. The increase in data transmission capacity is supported by the development of new Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (ATN) protocols, which allow data rates up to 31.5 kbps in a single VHF channel, known as VHF Data Link Mode 2 (VDL 2).
Currently, the VDL 2 radios of air-based communication stations and ground-based communication stations do not have a sophisticated power control mechanism. Instead, these communication stations transmit data at a pre-fixed power level, which leads to limited channel spatial capacity, inefficient spectrum utilization, and eventually results in requiring an excessive amount of frequencies to meet the NextGen data communication demand. Accordingly, there is a need for a power control mechanism, which augments spatial capacity by reducing transmission power, thus boosting spectral efficiency.


The present invention may be used for attachment to a vertical structural element such as a building wall for support of an electronic display. A wall mount frame may have two wall mount brackets spaced apart, slidably disposed and fixedly attachable on two horizontal adjustment bars inserted in two bar apertures in each of the wall mount brackets. There may be an articulating arm assembly rotatably attached at a first extension arm by a wall mount hinge to the two horizontal adjustment bars. An equipment attachment frame may be rotatably attached to a second extension arm of the articulating arm assembly by a frame hinge.

This invention relates to devices for attachment to a vertical structural element such as a building wall for support of an electronic display and positioning of the electronic display for viewing by a user. The new attachment frame may have a wall mount frame, an articulating arm assembly and an equipment frame to facilitate attachment of a display to a generally vertical structure and positioning of the display for viewing by a user.
Various wall mount and ceiling mount devices may be in use for television sets and other display systems. These devices generally incorporate some form of platform or shelf that has structural elements to attach the platform to a vertical structure or a ceiling. There may be some structural elements that allow limited adjustment of the tilt or horizontal orientation of the television or display for viewing by a user. There may also be cantilevered or articulated arm devices for attachment to a wall or generally vertical structure to allow hinged movement and extension away from an attached location of a display such as a flat panel display. However, these devices may be limited in the range of rotational orientation or movement of a display to accommodate a user. Such devices may also be difficult to install considering the size and weight of a display.


A method for applying novel coatings to substrates is provided. The ends of multiplicity of rods of different materials are melted by focused beams of laser light. Individual electric fields are applied to each of the molten rod ends, thereby ejecting charged particles that include droplets, atomic clusters, molecules, and atoms. The charged particles are separately transported, by the accelerations provided by electric potentials produced by an electrode structure, to substrates where they combine and form the coatings. Layered and thickness graded coatings comprised of hithereto unavailable compositions, are provided.

The invention described herein relates generally to methods for applying coatings to substrates, and more particularly to methods for applying regulated composite coatings, of uniform or variable composition and configuration, onto a wide variety of solid, or even liquid, substrate surfaces, and to the unique coatings produced by these methods.
There presently exist a wide variety of methods for applying coatings to substrates. Many of these methods require the coating material to be melted or vaporized, or even ionized, while being physically restrained in some manner, as for example by being melted in a crucible or vaporized and passed through a nozzle. For some chemically reactive materials, or materials with very high melting temperatures, crucibles and nozzles are not practically available. However, even when available, they often act as a contaminant source for the resulting coating, and further, being costly and short lived, greatly add to the expense of the coating operation.
In the well known fundamental technique of coating by vapor deposition, the coating material is melted and evaporated, with a coating formed by the subsequent condensation of the vapor upon a substrate. There are many known variations to this basic technique. For example, Blum et al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,451,503 issued May 29, 1984, teaches a process where metal carbonyl is heated in a reaction chamber to produce metal compound vapors that are photodecomposed by ultraviolet radiation of wavelengths less than 200 nm. The released metal atoms are condensed onto a substrate. Matsuda et al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,855 issued Feb. 11, 1986, discloses a process for forming a deposition film, containing silicon atoms, on a substrate, by exciting and decomposing a gaseous silicon compound with light energy. Tanaka et al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,604,294 issued Aug. 5, 1986, teaches the vacuum vapor deposition of an organic compound. The compound is vaporized by a laser beam having an energy level corresponding to that of the chemical bond of the organic compound. Swain in U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,723 issued Jan. 24, 1984, discloses a method and apparatus for vacuum deposition and annealing, wherein a coating material is evaporated by a first laser beam, while a second laser beam locally heats the substrate to promote annealing and contaminant elimination of the resulting coating.
In a related area of coating technology, there presently exist various ion sources that may be used, for example, to implant ions in assorted materials. For instance, Umemura et al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,833 issued Nov. 25, 1986, teaches a liquid metal ion source wherein a source material is melted, by resistance heating or by a laser beam, and held in a reservoir. The melted source material is fed from the reservoir to a separated emitter, from which ions are ejected under a high electric field. It is pointed out that the source material must be properly selected so that it does not react violently with the emitter, and thus stop the ion extraction process. Because of this consideration, source materials are limited to various copper alloys.
Particle implantation is also taught by Bruel et al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,585,945 issued Apr. 29, 1986. In this teaching a beam of high energy particles are shot into a cloud of secondary particles, to impart energy to the secondary particles, and thus enable them to penetrate a metal substrate.
Once particles or ion beams have been produced, there presently exist many known processes for their subsequent manipulation. For example, Ashkin et al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,092,535 issued May 30, 1978 disclose an improved optical device for the levitation of a particle in vacuum; and Dalglish in U.S. Pat. No. 4,464,573 issued Aug. 7, 1984, teaches a charged particle beam focusing device wherein a pair of rod-like electrodes, of different electrical potential, are arranged on either side of the focused beam.
An apparatus and a method for depositing ionized clusters, consisting of 100 to 1000 atoms, on a substrate are disclosed by Takagi in U.S. Pat. No. 4,152,478 issued May 1, 1979, and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,217,855 issued Aug. 19, 1980. The material to be deposited is heated within a sealed crucible having one or more nozzles. The vapor of the material is ejected through the nozzles and into a low pressure region that surrounds the crucible. The resulting adiabatic expansion forces the vapor into a supercooled state that results in the formation of vapor aggregates or clusters. The clusters are then ionized by electron bombardment, and provided with kinetic energy by an extractor electrode that is held at a negative potential.
In other technology, first described by Zeleny in Phys. Rev. 10, 1 (1917), it is well known that an electric field applied to the surface of a liquid can distort the fluid surface and cause the ejection of charged droplets or even, as later discovered, multiatomic particles or single atoms. This effect is caused by the electric field producing forces which interact on the material additionally with the gravity forces, internal molecular and atomic binding forces, and surface tension forces, that are normally present in any liquid. These forces all interact to form a dynamic pressure distribution on the surface of the liquid that is functional of the local radius of curvature of the fluid surface. Small quantities of the liquid are forced to flow into regions within which the local radius of curvature is impelled to rapidly diminish, and are ejected from the fluid surface as droplets. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to precisely control the size distribution of the particles produced by this method. .he technique is very well-known and, to name a few of its applications, has been used in printing, ion etching, pattern deposition and ion implantation.
For example, Hendricks in U.S. Pat. No. 3,582,958 issued June 1, 1971 discloses a printer having an ion beam source in which a beam of large or small, single or multiatomic ions are extracted from a liquid surface by an electric field. The beam is directed upon a web, to impress a message upon the web.
The early activity in this art of particle production was all carried out using media that are liquid at normal room temperature, such as water, ink, glycerol and mercury. In later applications, however, as exemplified by the teaching of Mahoney et al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,264,641 issued Apr. 28, 1981, metal droplets have been formed by the application of an intense electric field to the liquid surface of a molten metal. In Mahoney et al, the metal is melted by a crucible heater and placed in a refractory reservoir, from which it is drawn into a refractory nozzle that terminates in a short capillary tip. when the molten metal approaches the nozzle tip, it enters a region of intense electric field established by the application of high positive voltage to the nozzle. The electric field is maintained between the positive nozzle and an extractor electrode that is held at a negative potential. Both the molten metal surface and the nozzle tip are bombarded by backstreaming electrons emitted from the extractor electrode. Additional backstreaming electrons can be emitted from the extracted metal droplets themselves, or from small plasmas formed from the droplets. Backstreaming electrons heat the molten metal surface and create a runaway condition wherein the heating process is not under control. However, in some applications, negatively biased thermionic electron emitters have been specifically used to provide electrons to heat the metal surface and keep it molten during high electric field particle extraction. Nevertheless, where uncontrolled backstreaming electrons are present, as is often the case, they can heat and melt the nozzle tip itself, even though it be made of a refractory ceramic or some other high-melting-point material such as stainless steel. When this happens, the material of the nozzle tip intermixes with and contaminates the metal droplets which the process is seeking to produce.
In my U.S. patent application Ser. No. 911,847 filed Sept. 26, 1986, issued Sept. 27, 1988 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,774,037 and titled "Method For Producing Solid or Hollow Spherical Particles Of Chosen Chemical Composition and of Uniform Size," I provide a method for producing large quantities of high melting temperature solid or hollow spherical particles of a predetermined chemical composition and having a uniform and controlled size distribution. An end of a solid or hollow rod of the material is rendered molten by a laser beam. Because of this, there is no possibility of the molten rod material becoming contaminated with extraneous material. In various aspects of the invention, an electric field is applied to the molten rod end, and/or the molten rod end is vibrated. In a further aspect of the invention, a high-frequency component is added to the electric field applied to the molten end of the rod. By controlling the internal pressure of the rod (when the rod is hollow), the rate at which the rod is introduced into the laser beam, the environment of the process, the vibration amplitude and frequency of the molten rod end, the electric field intensity applied to the molten rod end, and the frequency and intensity of the component added to the electric field, the uniformity and size distribution of the solid or hollow spherical particles produced by the inventive method are controlled. The polarity of the electric field applied to the molten rod end can be chosen to eliminate backstreaming electrons, which tend to produce run-away heating in the rod, from the process.
It is, thus, apparent that the presently existing methods for applying coatings to substrates are unsatisfactory in regard to providing pure coatings of materials having a very high melting temperature. The prior art is also wanting in regard to providing a methodology for the production of coatings created from charged clusters of atoms. It generally appears that the prior art of coating substrates is seriously inadequate in that regulated multi-material composite coatings of variable composition and configuration frequently cannot be provided. The prior art is, further, apparently lacking with regard to the deposition of coatings onto liquid surfaces.

Method of applying coatings to substrates

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy


Disclosed are embodiments relating to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device that may improve the yield rate of the semiconductor device. In embodiments, the method may include preparing a substrate including a plurality of conductive patterns, forming first and second insulating layers on the substrate, forming a plurality of via holes by selectively etching the first and second insulating layers, forming a plurality of trenches by selectively etching the second insulating layer in such a manner that the trenches are communicated with the trenches, and forming metal interconnections in the via holes and the trenches. The width ratio of the trench to the insulating layer positioned between adjacent trenches may be in a range of 0.45 to 0.55.

Embodiments relate to a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating a semiconductor device, which may improve a yield rate.
To fabricate a semiconductor device, an inter-metal dielectric layer, for example including FSG (fluorine silicate glass), may be formed through a BEOL (Back-End-Of-Line) process. A metal interconnection, for example including copper (Cu), may then be formed on the inter-metal dielectric layer. In such a semiconductor device, a damascene process may be used, instead of a metallization process using a subtractive scheme, to form a metal interconnection that may include aluminum (Al). Thus, although the BEOL process has been changed, the process has not yet been optimized.
Since the process conditions have not yet been optimized, a yield rate of a semiconductor device may be significantly lowered.

Method of manufacturing semiconductor device


An apparatus for introducing molding sand into a mold space defined by a pattern plate (1) having a pattern, a flask (2) placed on the pattern plate (1) for surrounding the pattern, and a filling frame (3) placed on the flask (2) and for compacting the molding sand in the mold space. The apparatus includes a sand hopper (10) having an inlet pipe (7) for introducing a first airflow at a low pressure (0.05 to 0.18 MPa) and compressed air thereinto from an upper part thereof, and a plurality of separated nozzles (17) at a lower portion thereof for blowing and introducing the molding sand held in the sand hopper into the mold space by the first airflow. First and second chambers (11 and 12) supply a second airflow under a low pressure (0.05 to 0.18 MPa) and compressed air to the molding sand in the sand hopper (10) to fluidize the molding sand. Vertically movable, multi-segmented squeeze feet (16) are mounted on the lower portion of the sand hopper (10) at various locations, each of which is adjacent to a side of each nozzle, for compacting the molding sand in the mold space. In the sand hopper (10), a cutter (14) is provided to mill sand balls contained in the fluidized molding sand within the sand hopper (10).

This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for the introduction of molding sand, and in particular to an apparatus and a method for blowing and thereby introducing the molding sand into a mold space to mold a sand mold.
A conventional method of blowing and thereby introducing molding sand into a mold space is known wherein the molding sand in a hopper is blown and thereby introduced into the mold space by applying highly pressurized air to the molding sand. Such a method is disclosed in, for example, JP 52-20928, A and 52-20929, A. They were both assigned to the assignee of the present application and published on Feb. 17, 1977.
However, in the conventional method, if the molding-sand contains sand balls, the efficient blowing and introducing of the molding sand from the hopper may significantly worsen. Therefore, it is relatively difficult for the molding-sand to be accurately introduced into the mold space in a predetermined condition. It is advantageous to resolve the problem of the sand balls.
In the conventional method, maintenance to avoid clogging the molding sand should be frequently performed, since an outlet or nozzle that ejects the molding sand can readily be clogged with the mold sand due to the blowing and introducing of the molding sand with the highly pressurized air.
Also, there is a tendency wherein less of the molding sand is introduced into a pattern plate having a complicated pattern, in particular, one having a long recess or pocket, in a mold space.
These problems of the clogged sand and the reduced introduction of the molding sand into the pattern plate having a complicated pattern may occur even if the molding sand includes no sand balls.
Therefore, it is also advantageous to provide an apparatus and a method applicable to accurately introduce the molding sand into a flask without it being clogged with the molding sand.
One aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus for introducing molding sand into a mold space and compacting the introduced molding sand wherein the mold space is defined by a pattern plate having a pattern, a flask is disposed on the pattern plate in such a manner that it surrounds the pattern, and a filling frame is disposed on the flask. The apparatus includes a sand hopper located above the mold space. The sand hopper includes means for introducing a first airflow of compressed air at a low pressure thereinto from an upper part thereof, and a plurality of separated nozzles at a lower portion thereof for blowing and thereby introducing molding sand held therein into the mold space by the first airflow. An aeration means supplies a second airflow of compressed air at a low pressure to the molding sand in the sand hopper to fluidize it. Vertically movable, multi-segmented squeeze feet are mounted on the lower portion of the sand hopper at various locations, each of which is adjacent to a side of a nozzle, for compacting the molding sand in the mold space.
In order to mill sand balls that are contained in the fluidized molding sand within the hopper, the apparatus may include a milling means, such as a rotary cutter.
The aeration means may introduce the second airflow of compressed air at the low pressure into the sand hopper from either or both the lower inner portion of the sand hopper and the lower peripheral portion of the sand hopper.
In one embodiment of the present invention the upper surface of the pattern plate has a convex and concave profile, and a squeeze surface that is defined by all squeeze feet also has a convex and concave profile, which matches that of the pattern plate.
The low pressure of the first or second airflow of compressed air or both may be 0.05 to 0.18 MPa. Since the molding sand in the sand hopper is fluidized by the second airflow of compressed air at the low pressure, the pressure of the first airflow of compressed air, which discharges the fluidized molding sand from the nozzle, also can be low.

Method and device for filling casting sand


A spectrograph including light beam reformatting element(s), beam expander(s), dispersive element(s) and light receiving element(s). The light beam reformatting element(s) reformat a received light beam into a reformatted light beam having a first dimension along a first axis that is larger than a dimension of the received light beam along the first axis and a second dimension along a second axis substantially orthogonal to the first axis that is smaller than a dimension of the received light beam along the second axis. The beam expander(s) anamorphically expand the reformatted light beam along the second axis into an expanded light beam. The dispersive element(s) disperse the expanded light beam along the second axis, resulting in a dispersed light beam. The light receiving element(s) receive the dispersed light beam. The light receiving element(s) may include one or more detectors to measure spectral intensity of the dispersed light beam.

A spectrograph is a device for measuring the intensity of light or other electromagnetic radiation as a function of wavelength (e.g., where the wavelength falls within the visible spectrum, a color wavelength). Spectrographs may be used in an enormous variety of applications, including for example the determination of physical attributes of materials, substances, or objects by analyzing spectral characteristics of light emitted by, reflected from, or transmitted through such materials, substances, or objects. At a fundamental level, a spectrograph can consist of an input aperture through which light is sent into the device, a dispersing element which bends the light beam through different angles depending on wavelength, and a camera subsystem which translates those angles into positions along a detector.
Among fundamental performance parameters of a spectrograph are (1) its bandpass, i.e., the range of wavelengths which it can detect, (2) its spectral resolution, i.e., the size of the smallest spectral feature or detail which can be discerned, and (3) its throughput, i.e., the percentage of light entering the device which is ultimately measured by the spectrograph sensor.
For many applications, bandpass, spectral resolution, and device throughput are all important. Higher spectral resolution can give a sharper view of the target spectrum, permitting a more detailed analysis, and higher throughput can provide a stronger measurable signal, improving the quality of the data (often quantified as the "signal-to-noise ratio").
Many, if not most, current conventional spectrographs represent tradeoffs between these parameters. For example, the spectral resolution of a particular spectroscopic device is often limited by the size of the image of the light input aperture as measured along the direction of dispersion. To achieve higher resolution, many spectrographs employ a "slit," such as in the form of a rectangular aperture which is narrow along a dispersion direction and relatively taller in a perpendicular dimension. A narrow slit can yield a narrow monochromatic image on the detector, and thus a sharper view of spectral features. However, a narrow slit can also block a large fraction of the input light if, for example, the initial light source is larger than the slit width. Such a spectrograph therefore typically sacrifices throughput in order to achieve higher resolution, with resultant reduced data quality. Analogous difficulties may arise where, for example, alternate light sources such as fiber optic cable or other inputs are employed.

Spectrograph with anamorphic beam expansion


The invention relates to a CDK4/6 kinase inhibitor, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, or their isomers; a pharmaceutical formulation, pharmaceutical composition and kit comprising said CDK4/6 kinase inhibitor, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, or their isomers, and use of said CDK4/6 kinase inhibitor, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof, or their isomers. For example, the compounds of the invention are useful for reducing or inhibiting the activity of CDK4/6 kinase in a cell, and/or treating and/or preventing a cancer-related disease mediated by CDK4/6 kinase.

Tumorigenesis is associated with the disbalance of oncogenes and antioncogenes. For almost all of the oncogenes or antioncogenes, their functions and effects are finally converged to cell cycle. Therefore, tumor can be taken as a cell cycle disease (CCD), and it is one of the routes for treating tumor by regulating or blocking cell cycle. In current, it is found that there are a lot of molecules associated with cell cycle regulation, among which Cyclin-Dependent-Kinases (CDKs) are core molecules of cell cycle regulatory network. CDKs, as catalytic subunits, are a class of Ser/Thr kinases, which participate in different stages of cell cycle as important signaling molecules in cells. Studies show that in a cell cycle regulatory network with CDKs as core, any abnormity would result in abnormal cell cycle and finally result in tumorigenesis. CDK family now has 21 isoforms, which work by binding to their regulatory subunit cyclins. In addition to the role in regulating the cell cycle, CDK isoforms are also involved in regulating transcription, DNA repair, differentiation and programmed cell death. Based on the key role of CDKs in regulating proliferation and death of tumor cells, the family of CDKs provides a chance and a new field for the discovery and development of anti-tumor drugs.
In the development of drugs, the first generation of CDK inhibitors, represented by flavopiridol, UCN-01 and the like, are designated as "pan-CDK" inhibitors, which block all the isoforms of CDK family equivalently and exhibit a relatively high toxicity in clinical trial, and some of them cannot be administered in a therapeutically effective amount. Therefore, human begins to develop selective CDK inhibitors to enhance the selectivity of the therapy and prevent normal cells from injury by some side effects.
Among the CDK isoforms involved in cell cycle, CDK4/6 plays an unreplaceable role. Cancer-associated cell cycle mutations are mainly present in G1 phase and G1/S transition. The complex formed by CDK4/6 and Cyclin D releases the bound transcriptional factor E2F by phosphorylation (pRb) of the antioncogene product Rb, and triggers transcription of genes associated with S phase, thereby promoting cells to pass the checkpoint and to transit from G1 phase to S phase. About 80% of human tumors are abnormal in cyclin D-CDK4/6-INK4-Rb pathway. Due to the alteration of the pathway, the G1 phase is accelerated so that tumor cells have the proliferation sped up and thus acquire survival advantage. Therefore, the interference of the pathway has become a strategy of treatment, and CDK4/6 has become a new anti-tumor target. CDK4/6 as anti-tumor target has the following advantages: (1) for most of proliferative cells, their proliferation is CDK2 or CDK4/6-dependent, however, CDK4/6 inhibitors do not exhibit the cytotoxicity of "pan-CDK inhibitors", such as bone marrow depression and intestinal reaction; and (2) preclinical tests show that if cyclin D level is increased or P16INK4a is inactivated in cells, the sensitivity of cells to drugs can be increased; since tumor cells have said phenomena relative to normal cells, the targeting property of drugs is increased to some extent.
So far, no CDK inhibitor drugs are approved for commercial marketing. A series of CDK4/6 inhibitors with good selectivity, which have been reported by some pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer, Eli Lilly and Novartis, are in clinical trials. Among them, of particular concern are PD0332991 (palbociclib) developed by Pfizer, LY2835219 (Phase III) developed by Eli Lilly and LEE-011 (Phase III) developed by Novartis

In April, 2013, Pfizer's PD0332991 received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from Food And Drug Administration (FDA); and in August, 2014, Pfizer submitted with FDA a New Drug Application (NDA) intended for approval of PD0332991 (palbociclib) in combination with letrozole as treatment of post-menopausal women with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, who are estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) and human epidermal growth factor 2 negative (HER2−), and did not received systemic treatment previously. It has very positive effect on the development of CDK4/6 inhibitors.
In order to achieve a better therapeutic effect for tumor and to better meet the market demand, the inventors hope to develop a new generation of CDK4/6 inhibitors with high efficacy and low toxicity. The invention provides selective CDK4/6 inhibitors with a new structure, and finds that the compounds with such a structure have good efficacy, and can effectively pass through the blood brain barrier, which makes CDK inhibitors as therapy for brain cancer possible.

SIHUAN PHARMACEUTICAL HOLDINGS GROUP LTD.


A turbomachine has a housing, a rotor shaft extending along and rotatable about an axis in the housing, and a pair of axially spaced axial-thrust bearings in the housing carrying the shaft and normally only permitting a predetermined small axial displacement of the shaft in the housing. An impeller is rotationally fixed on the shaft. An axially fixed transmission gear is rotationally coupled to the shaft and has an axially directed gear face. A collar fixed axially on the shaft has an axially directed collar face confronting the gear face and normally spaced from the gear face by a clearance equal to more than the predetermined axial displacement. Thus on failure of one of the bearings and axial overtravel of the shaft the gear face and collar face engage each other and limit axial movement of the shaft.

A turbomachine with integral gearing has a housing holding a shaft carrying both an impeller and a transmission input gear. Typically there are two such impellers axially flanking the gear so that axial forces are somewhat balanced. Axial-thrust bearings support the shaft and impellers in the housing. Such a device can be used as a turbocompressor or expansion turbine.
The turbocompressor rotor is driven by an integral gear transmission, while an expansion turbine rotor drives via an integral gear transmission either a load formed by a generator that is coupled to a large-diameter transmission gear or drives further turbocompressor rotors mounted around the common gear. The meshing teeth of the gears run obliquely to their rotation axis, generate when transmitting torque an axial force that must be countered in order to ensure meshing of the gears. At the same time, flow over the impellers generates axial forces that must be countered. As a rule, the axial forces are transmitted through the shafts on which the gears and impellers are attached to axial bearings and thence to the housing. The bearings that brace the rotor axially of the drive gear have a certain clearance.
If an axial force that is too strong acts on the axial bearings, the clearance is exceeded and axial bracing fails. This can lead to serious damage to the turbomachine, that is when the impeller blades brush against the closely adjacent mating surfaces of the housing. Contact between the impeller and housing thereby occurs either directly or indirectly via the seals of the impeller. In particular with turbomachines that either compress or expand pure oxygen, an impeller rubbing against the housing can have fatal consequences. The frictional generation of heat or sparking can trigger a catastrophic machine fire.
In order to avoid damage of this type, it is usual to detect axial displacement during operation of the rotor. When a limit is exceeded, suitable safety measures are taken. These can be either triggering an operating alarm or switching off the drive of the rotor. Both measures can also be used simultaneously.
Once the drive has been switched off, the turbomachine spins down. This spin-down can take a rather long time before the rotor actually stops. This is due to the generally very high operating speeds of turbomachines and their high mass moment of inertia. The entire drive train contributes to the high mass moment of inertia.
Due to the rotor mass once accelerated in the axial direction, axial forces also continue to act during the spin-down time. This leads to further axial displacement during spin-down so that damage to the turbomachine can still occur even after an emergency shut-down.


An adjustable organizer, for holding useful items and supported between the mattress and box spring of a bed, between couch or chair cushions, or by a bed frame, if available, as examples, is described, Useful items may include magazines, books, mobile telephones, computer tablets, charging devices therefor, drinking water containers, and the like. The adjustable organizer may be disassembled, making it readily storable, and includes a container, which may have multiple compartments, and an open top for providing ready access to the items, first and second planar cylindrical support bars, and planar U-shaped connecting bracket.

Many bedside storage devices currently known in the art require a support in order to be effectively used. Such supports include a shelf, stand, or a bedside table, as examples. Space around beds is often limited, which may prevent convenient access to these storage devices. Depending on the design and location of the support, accessibility to the contents of the storage device may be difficult for someone laying on the bed, especially if bedridden. Moreover, many existing storage devices are supported between a bed mattress and box spring in the absence of a frame, thereby requiring a user to reach below the surface of a mattress in order to locate items to be retrieved.


An accessory and method for displaying a data feed are described. A device interface of the accessory is configured to connect a processor with an external device and transfer a data feed from the external device to a display of the accessory. A memory stores computer executable instructions to instruct the processor to receive the transferred data feed via the device interface and to instruct the processor to provide the transferred data feed to the display. A user interface provides a user input in response to the transferred data feed to the processor and back to the external device.

The present accessory generally relates to an apparatus for use with a cellular device and, in particular, an apparatus connected to a cellular device for providing a ticker tape type of display of one or more data feeds received by the cellular device from a cellular network.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

Accessory with integrated display controlled by connected device


A numerical control device of a machine tool recognizes a failure of a vibration detection unit in a relatively short time to minimize damage to functions achieved using the vibration detection unit. A program interpreting unit interprets an automatic tool exchange operation, and a storage unit is instructed to store vibration information V(x) from the vibration detection unit. After the automatic tool exchange operation is finished, the storage unit is instructed to stop storage. When none of the vibration information V(x) stored in the storage unit exceeds a prescribed vibration level, a vibration information analysis unit determines abnormality of the vibration detection unit.

Conventional machine tools may cause chatter vibrations due to a lack of rigidity of a cutting tool relative to a cut or a cutting amount of a workpiece when cutting the workpiece by rotating a spindle on which a cutting tool is installed, whereby uneven machining patterns may be generated on a machining surface of the workpiece corresponding to the chatter vibrations. To solve this problem, a well-known machine tool executes machining in such a manner that an intrinsic frequency of the machine tool is prevented from being equal to the number of vibrations during machining which is determined by the number of rotations and blades of the cutting tool. However, searching for a rotating speed that does not match the intrinsic vibration number or the number of vibrations during machining of the cutting tool would require trial and error even for those having expertise and intuition in the art, and would be time-consuming. When the chatter vibrations occur, therefore, those skilled in the art often solve it by reducing the cut-in amount.
Recent machine tools adopt a technique proposed to enable the following functions. Specifically, a control device previously stores a stability limit line corresponding to a cutting amount limit for each machine tool and determines whether a vibrating frequency during machining is equal to a frequency of chatter vibrations of the cutting tool on the basis of machining vibration information from a vibration detection unit attached to the spindle. If it is determined that the vibration level exceeds a certain threshold, the control device changes a rotating speed of the spindle to fall within a stable rotational range. Such a technique has been disclosed in, for example, JP 2012-213830 A and JP 2012-56072 A.
Another numerical control device for a machine tool diagnoses a condition of a spindle bearing by detecting characteristic vibrations generated when abnormality or abnormal symptoms occur in the spindle bearing.
Typically, the above-described vibration detection unit includes an acceleration sensor, and a piezoelectric element is used as a sensor element from the viewpoint of detection sensitivity or robustness of the sensor element. FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic configuration of a vibration detection unit. Electrodes 304a and 304b are formed on both sides of a piezoelectric element 302, with the other side of the electrode 304b connected to frame ground of the vibration detection unit 301 and the other side of the electrode 304a connected to an amplifier 303. The piezoelectric element 302 and the amplifier 303 are enclosed in a housing of a vibration detection unit 301 and fixed to a spindle with bolts or adhesives which are not illustrated. When the spindle vibrates due to, for example, chatter vibrations, the vibrations are transmitted to the vibration detection unit 301 and vibrate the piezoelectric element 302. With the piezoelectric effect due to the vibrations, the piezoelectric element 302 generates a voltage and amplifies it to a predetermined level with the amplifier 303, and outputs the voltage to an external numerical control device as vibration information OUT. The numerical control device converts the vibration information OUT by analog-to-digital conversion to obtain digital information, and uses the digital information for diagnosing the chatter vibrations or a condition of the spindle bearing.
The voltage output of the piezoelectric element 302 caused by the vibrations goes positive and negative around 0 V. The output is 0 V when there is no vibration. However, the vibration information OUT from the amplifier 303 is also 0 V even when the vibrations exist, if the piezoelectric element 302 is broken and no vibration is applied, or a connection line between the piezoelectric element 302 and the amplifier 303 is broken. When the vibration information OUT is 0 V, the numerical control device cannot determine whether no vibration is applied to the spindle, the piezoelectric element 302 has failed, or the connection line between the piezoelectric element 302 and the amplifier 303 is broken. In other words, the numerical control device cannot be aware of abnormal vibrations caused by chatter vibrations or damage of the spindle bearing when no voltage is output due to the failure or the like of the piezoelectric element 302. To check if the vibration detection unit 301 fixed to the spindle is functioning correctly, the spindle may be hit with a soft hammer, for example, to give the spindle some vibrations, and a change or no change of the vibration information displayed on the numerical control device is visually checked.

Numerical control device for machining tool


An ultrasound device, including (i) an ultrasound transducer, and (ii) a coupling material in contact with the ultrasound transducer is presented. The coupling material can comprise a solid component and a liquid component, wherein the liquid component is absorbed within the solid component and forms a microscopic liquid layer on a surface of the solid component, through which acoustic energy from the ultrasound transducer can be conducted. The device can be mounted to an external body surface proximate to a portion of the lumen, allowing the device to measure the rate at which a component moves through the lumen. Also provided are methods for making the device and using the device to determine a physiological parameter based on at least the flow rate of a component through the lumen.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Ultrasound transducers, particularly Doppler ultrasound transducers, are a promising avenue for measuring several clinically relevant parameters for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. For example, heart rate, blood flow rate and blood pressure can be measured using Doppler ultrasound transducers. Ultrasound diagnostic devices use an energy coupling medium between the transducer and the skin. The energy coupling medium is typically a water-based liquid gel that is applied to the skin and/or ultrasound transducer. However, the use of wet coupling gels is not practical in a long-term device, especially in the case of a wearable consumer device. Dry coupling media are prone to drying out and are therefore also not favorable.

Energy coupling material for wearable ultrasound devices


A brush replacement kit for use with a dynamo electric machine of the kind having a yoke, apertures in the yoke through which brushes of the machine are accessible, and a brush holder assembly for supporting the brushes in a predetermined alignment in relation to a commutator or slip-ring assembly of the machine, the kit comprising replacement brushes of a length exceeding the length of the conventional brushes for the machine, and a cover component comprising a cylindrical band for attachment around the exterior of the yoke to close said brush access apertures in use, said band including radially outwardly extending protrusions to be positioned over said apertures of the yoke in use and thereby to accommodate the additional length of the replacement brushes.

This invention relates to a kit for improving the service life of a dynamo electric machine, and to a dynamo electric machine modified by the use of such a kit.
The term xe2x80x9cservice lifexe2x80x9d is used herein to indicate a recommended operational period between maintenance times at which the machine is withdrawn from service for scheduled maintenance.
The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with dynamo electric machines for use in conjunction with aircraft gas turbine engines, particularly starter-motor/generator units. The present inventor has recognised that recent improvements in the design and manufacture of such dynamo electric machines has produced a situation in which the service life is governed by the wear rate of the brushes of the machine and has recognised that if the useful life of the brushes of the machine can be extended then the service life can be extended by a corresponding amount up to the point at which the service life of some other component of the machine is reached.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a kit for use with a dynamo electric machine of the kind having a yoke, apertures in the yoke through which brushes of the machine are accessible, and a brush holder assembly for supporting the brushes in a predetermined alignment in relation to a commutator or slip-rings of the machine, the kit comprising replacement brushes of a length exceeding the length of the conventional brushes for the machine, and a cover component comprising a cylindrical band for attachment around the exterior of the yoke to close said brush access apertures in use, said band including radially outwardly extending protrusions to be positioned over said apertures of the yoke in use and thereby to accommodate the additional length of the replacement brushes.
Preferably the kit further includes replacement springs for attachment to respective brush holders and engagable with the outer ends of the replacement brushes to urge the brushes radially inwardly of the machine in use throughout the increased wear length of the replacement brushes.
Conveniently said replacement springs comprise constant force springs together with clip means for anchoring the constant force springs to their respective brush holder.
Desirably the kit further includes replacement brush holders shaped to receive said replacement springs and said replacement brushes.
In another aspect the invention resides in a brush replacement kit for use with a dynamo electric machine of the kind having a yoke, apertures in the yoke through which brushes of the machine are accessible, and a brush holder assembly for supporting the brushes in a predetermined alignment in relation to a commutator or slip-ring assembly of the machine, the kit comprising replacement brushes of a length exceeding the length of the conventional brushes for the machine, replacement springs for attachment to respective brush holders and engagable in use with outer ends of respective replacement brushes to urge the brushes radially inwardly of the machine in use throughout the increased wear length of the replacement brushes, said replacement springs comprising constant force springs together with clip means for anchoring the constant force springs to a respective brush holder, replacement brush holders shaped to receive said replacement springs and said replacement brushes, and a cover component comprising a cylindrical band for attachment around the exterior of the yoke to close said brush access apertures in use, said band including radially outwardly extending protrusions to be positioned over said apertures of the yoke in use and thereby to accommodate the additional length of the replacement brushes.
The invention also resides in a dynamo electric machine fitted with a kit of the kind defined above.
In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a dynamo electric machine of the kind having a yoke, apertures in the yoke through which brushes of the machine are accessible, a brush holder assembly for supporting the brushes in a predetermined alignment in relation to a commutator or slip-ring assembly of the machine, brushes of a length exceeding the length of the conventional brushes for the machine, spring arrangements attached to respective brush holders and engaging with outer ends of respective brushes to urge the brushes radially inwardly of the machine in use throughout the increased wear length of the brushes, and a cover component comprising a cylindrical band for attachment around the exterior of the yoke to close said brush access apertures in use, said band including radially outwardly extending protrusions to be positioned over said apertures of the yoke in use and thereby to accommodate the additional length of the brushes.
Preferably said spring arrangements comprise constant force springs together with clip means for anchoring the constant force springs to a respective brush holder, and said brush holders being shaped to receive said constant force springs together with clip means, and said brushes.


An apparatus for lifting and moving an axle of a rail vehicle includes a frame, a pair of rollers rotatably mounted to the frame to movably support the frame on a railroad track rail, and a pair of wedges mounted to the frame having mutually opposed ramped faces. The pair of wedges adjustable along the frame between a first position in which the ramped faces bracket, but do not contact, a rail vehicle wheel that rests on the track rail, and a second position in which the ramped faces engage the circumference of the wheel to support the wheel at a height above the railroad track rail. The apparatus further includes at least one jacking device for urging the wedges toward one another from the first position to the second position.

Technical Field
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to vehicles. Particular embodiments relate to the repair or transport of such vehicles.
Discussion of Art
Rail vehicles, such as those driven by AC traction motors, can suffer from locked axle outage due to various component failures, e.g., bearings damaged from heavy load or adverse environment, lubrication leakage, fatigues, and the like. When a traction motor or axle journal bearing fails, the railway vehicle wheel axle can lose its traction and become frozen on the rail. As a result, the vehicle has to stop to avoid a potential derailment. Once stopped and frozen on a rail, it often takes several days to move the vehicle to a service center. In addition, the service costs are high, not to mention the railroad fees and associated shipping delays.
Typical methods of moving a locked axle rail vehicle include lifting the entire rail vehicle by a crane or cutting a gear shaft from the locked axle traction motor. The latter method is effective only if the cause of the locked axle has been correctly diagnosed to a motor bearing, rather than a journal bearing. As will be appreciated, typical methods of moving a locked axle rail vehicle require equipment, logistics, and skilled labor. In view of the above, it is desirable to develop a cost-effective, lightweight and easy-to-use external tool for use by non-craft-trained crewmembers to quickly move a rail vehicle that suffers a locked axle.

Apparatus and method for lifting and moving an axle of a rail vehicle


A dynamic authentication system that makes authentication stronger, while reducing the cost to business and the burden to users. The system includes a service that provides centralized, non-federated, proxied authentication. The system uses a two-pass authentication process that first receives a supposed identity of the user and then determines one or more authentication criteria for proving that supposed identity. When the user attempts to use an online service that relies on the dynamic authentication system for authentication, the service requests the user's identity. The system dynamically determines authentication criteria for the user to prove the provided identity belongs to the user. In the second pass, the service receives a response from the user containing additional authentication information, and forwards the received response to the system for verification. If verification succeeds, the service allows the user to access the requested resources.

Authenticating users to websites, corporate accounts, and other online sites attempts to prove the identity of a user so that the user can access private data or services associated with the user. In the current authentication space, each website defines the manner in which the user authenticates. This usually includes a username and password. It is very difficult for users to manage passwords at all the online sites they visit, so users often use the same, easy to remember password at each website. Since every website has to manage the authentication for the users, stronger mechanisms of authentication are not widely in use. Websites are hesitant to adopt additional technologies that might lock them in with a large up-front cost and proprietary solutions. At the same time, online fraud is on the rise and business websites incur billions of dollars of lost revenue.
Online commerce and other Internet activities are dependent on a high level of confidence in the security of personal transactions, whether they involve money or simply information. Online fraud not only threatens these transactions, but also results in billions of dollars of lost revenue and wasted resources. The single greatest source of web fraud and financial risk comes from authentication—that is, the process by which a specific end user proves his or her identity for conducting an online transaction. Most authentication systems in place today are inherently vulnerable to failure; the typical practice of individual usernames and passwords entered into "secure" web sites may inspire general confidence that is not warranted in light of common causes of compromised security and likelihood of future problems.
Web "security" varies greatly from site to site. Not all website records are equally secure, and there have been many high-profile security-related data losses over the past several years that have included users' passwords, credit cards, and social security numbers. In addition, some web site owners do not have systems in place to monitor the integrity of users' data, let alone respond to compromised accounts. As such, they may not even know that their files have been hacked. Fraud forgiveness policies create false security. Credit card companies strive to inspire confidence in web commerce by protecting users from fraudulent transactions, but by transferring responsibility, they inadvertently encourage bad habits and hide the full extent of the threat.
Currently, almost all online services use passwords for authentication. The user signs in with a username, and then enters a password to prove the user's identity. This system is not as secure as many users and institutions believe. Whether a user transfers funds at a bank site, makes an online purchase from an e-commerce site, or uses online services intended to be private to the user, the parties involved conduct their business based more on trust than actual security. There are a number of reasons for this failure. Businesses and merchants are not authentication experts. Most companies know very little about authentication, because it is not their core business. Outsourcing online transactions and authentication to dedicated experts helps, but the current solutions offered still rely on processes that are inherently susceptible to failure and fraud.
Users pick easy-to-remember (and hack) passwords. Users are prone to selecting passwords that are easy to remember, which makes them similarly easy for hackers to exploit. A recent analysis of a large database showed that about 30% of users choose passwords of six or fewer characters. Almost 60% choose their passwords out of a limited set of alphanumeric characters, and nearly 50% of users used common names, slang words, dictionary words, or other trivial passwords comprised of consecutive digits or characters adjacent to one another on the QWERTY keyboard. In fact, the most common password among users is "123456." Users also pick the same password for multiple sites. Managing multiple passwords for multiple online accounts is burdensome, so most users tend to have one or two passwords that they use across multiple web sites. Another recent large-scale study conducted by Microsoft of password habits found that the average user has 6.5 passwords across 25 various accounts, and types an average of eight passwords per day. This habit increases vulnerability even more, because the loss of password security at one site can compromise many other accounts.
Users are not often aware of hacked accounts. There currently is no universally accepted (and expected), systematic process to alert users that their account(s) have been compromised and to advise them of corrective measures. Changing passwords is too time-consuming. When users are aware of a compromised account, they rarely go to each site on which they use the same password and change it one by one. Given the large number of online accounts most people have, and the tendency to use the same or similar passwords on each site, it is not surprising that one compromised site leads to many others.
Strong authentication is cost-prohibitive. Web site owners assume responsibility for protecting their users' passwords and sensitive information, and are potentially liable for their loss. While stronger mechanisms of authentication are available, such as hardware and software token systems, these proprietary solutions involve a significant up-front cost plus ongoing resources to maintain them. Most businesses are hesitant to make such an investment.

Dynamic user authentication for access to online services