Aspects described herein relate to methods, devices and systems that allow for a client device, as part of a remote access or cloud-based network environment, to map external user identities to desktops and applications. Local user accounts can be dynamically generated on a virtual delivery agent. A mapping of the local user account to an external identity can be secured using signed tokens and maintained by a broker machine that allocates resources for the deployment of particular applications to the client device from the virtual delivery agent. This allows for the removal of any dependency on an Active Directory for maintaining user identities or federated sign-on services, greatly simplifying the management of user identities within the system and allowing for greater compatibility across client devices.

Remote access environments and cloud-based environments may provide devices with access to connected resources. The resources, for example, may be used to launch and execute an application (e.g., a desktop) that can be used by a device as if the device itself was executing the application. A virtual environment service provider may provide identity and access management for user devices to access various services and resources in a cloud-based environment. Many organizations and individuals rely on enterprise application stores as a means for remotely selecting and downloading applications. It may be important to ensure an efficient login process for a user to access these enterprise application stores. However, it may be difficult to facilitate domain-pass through authentication between enterprise application stores and user devices operating in a hybrid cloud environment.

Local mapped accounts in virtual desktops


A method of positioning a rack onto a base structure is provided. The rack includes a support member for supporting the rack on the base structure. The method includes: affixing a positioning tool to the base structure; aligning a guiding opening defined in the support member of the rack with the positioning tool affixed to the base structure; lowering the rack onto the base structure such that the guiding opening receives the positioning tool therein; and removing the positioning tool from the base structure once the rack is in a desired position atop the base structure.

Racks are used across various industries as a storage solution. For instance, data centers are typically equipped with multiple racks for storing servers therein.
In some cases, the racks are stacked atop one another to maximize the use of space within the data center. However, moving and stacking these racks can be logistically difficult due to the significant size and weight of the racks. Notably, correctly aligning one rack atop another is a time-consuming and hazardous task. Similarly, even moving the racks with a forklift or other such work vehicle can present difficulties as it can be time-consuming to correctly position the rack on a pallet for the forklift to move the rack around.
There is therefore a desire for a method for positioning a rack atop another rack or other base structure which can alleviate at least some of these drawbacks.

Method for positioning a rack onto a base structure


Automated food delivery methods and systems using computer-managed delivery to an array of food delivery enclosures and computer-enabled customer access to the food delivered to the enclosures. Customers using the methods and systems may utilize their personal communication device such as a cell phone or tablet to order food and subsequently open an enclosure containing their food order.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,568,618 and 8,261,980, which are incorporated herein by reference, describe a system and method for delivering food to customers using an array of enclosures. Each of the enclosures includes a food supply opening through which food is placed in the enclosure and a food delivery opening through which food is delivered to the customer after a door which covers the delivery opening is unlocked and opened by the customer. A similar system and method are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/247,511 filed Aug. 25, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,482,525.

System and method for expediting the delivery of food orders to customers


A device for securing a set of golf clubs in a bag is disclosed, in which a flat plate is provided having four generally parallel tongues defining three slots which are closed at one end of the plate and open at the opposite end. Each slot is slightly wider than a narrow region of the golf club shafts, and is substantially longer than its width, so that a group of golf clubs can be laterally inserted in series. A generally U-shaped arm is pivotally attached at one of its ends to one of the two outermost tongues, so as to be pivotable between an open position, in which clubs can be inserted in the slots, and an engaged position in which the arm closes the slot openings, securing the clubs in the device. Holes are provided in the other end of the arm and the other one of the plate's outermost tongues, which overlap when the plate and arm are in the engaged position, allowing a padlock shackle to lock the two pieces together. One end of a long cable is attached to the plate, the other end having a loop which hangs free when the device is not in use. The device may thus be locked to another object, such as a tree or pole, by wrapping the cable around the object and connecting the loop and the two overlapping ends of the device with the padlock shackle.

This invention relates to security devices for protecting golf clubs and golf club bags from tampering or theft and, more particularly, to a novel and effective device for securing golf clubs in a golf club bag, which device is simple, lightweight, and small enough to be stored in a pocket of the bag when not in use.
Theft of golf clubs from unattended golf bags at public golf courses or country clubs has unfortunately been common through the years. Various devices have been designed to prevent the removal of golf clubs from golf bags under such circumstances, with varying degrees of success and convenience.
It is well known to provide a cover designed to fit over the mouth of a golf bag and completely enclose the golf clubs therein, with the cover locking in some manner to prevent theft of the clubs. Examples of such devices may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,570,510 (McQuirk); 1,928,922 (Adams); and 1,908,998 (Mullins). Because the covers are typically made of cloth or leather, these devices are easily cut open to allow removal of golf clubs.
Other devices having a plurality of holes through which individual golf club shafts may extend are shown in U.S Pat. Nos. 1,770,060 (Barlow); and 1,717,959 (Cauffman). However, these devises are awkward to use and severely restrict access to the inside of the bag.
Another form of security device, shown in U.S Pat. No. 4,538,728 (Lewis), comprises a two piece pivoting arrangement which attaches to the mouth of a golf club bag and provides a single hole in its center for encircling the shafts of a group of golf clubs at the narrow region near the golf club head. This design is only capable of securing a specific number of golf clubs, since the clubs can easily be removed if the single hole is not tightly packed.
In addition, the devices described above are only designed to retain golf clubs in their bag. It is still possible for thieves to remove the bag and clubs together to a remote location, at which the security devices can be defeated and the clubs removed.


A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) comprises a current DAC, first and second resistance circuits, and an operational transconductance amplifier (OTA). The first resistance circuit is coupled between a first node and an output of the OTA. The second resistance circuit is coupled between the first node and a power supply node. The current DAC is arranged to provide an analog current to a first node in response to a digital input signal. The OTA has a first input that receives a stable DC reference voltage signal, and a second input that is coupled to the first node. A charge pump provides the local supply voltage of the OTA to improve the system dynamic range. The output voltage corresponds to the sum of the voltages across the first and second resistance circuits. An increase in the current produced by the current DAC causes a decrease in the output voltage.

The present invention relates to digital-to-analog converters, and, in particular, to a low power digital-to-analog converter with a shifted output and an increased range to improve the system dynamic range.
A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) is configured to convert a digital signal into an analog voltage. One type of DAC comprises a tapped set of resistors, wherein one of the tap points is coupled to an op-amp at a summing junction. In this type of DAC, the output voltage is proportional to the voltage of the selected tap point. Several other kinds of DACs are known in the art, such as: R-2R ladders, current-switched DACs, and pulse width modulation DACs.

Digital-to-analog converter with a shifted output and an increased range


A process for producing a water-absorbing resin, which comprises polymerizing (D) an aqueous solution comprising (A) at least one monomer component selected from the group consisting of an unsaturated carboxylic acid and salts thereof; (B) a compound having two or more unsaturated groups in a molecule; and (C) a compound having two or more functional groups which are capable of reacting with carboxyl groups in a molecule, the polymerization being conducted in such a manner that the following conditions (a) to (c) are simultaneously satisfied: (a) the molar ratio (B)/(C) being in the range of from 2.times.10.sup.-3 to 300, (b) the polymerization being initiated by a redox polymerization initiator, and (c) the maximum reaction temperature being in the range of from 60.degree. to 100.degree. C., and a water-absorbing resin having a degree of reduction in absorption magnification of from 1 to 16, and n absorption magnification under pressure of from 20 to 40.

Water-absorbing resins have been used in various absorbing articles. Such article include diapers, sanitary goods, soil water-retaining agent, freshness-maintaining agents, dew condensation preventing agents, sealing materials, etc.
Various water-absorbing resins and processes for producing them have been proposed. Examples of the known water-absorbing resins include a hydrolyzed product of a starch-acrylonitrile graft copolymer (as described in JP-B-49-43395), a partially neutralized material of a starch-acrylic acid graft copolymer (as described in JP-B-53-46199), a saponified material of a acrylic acid ester-vinyl acetate copolymer (as described in JP-B-53-13495), a crosslinked material of a partially neutralized acrylic acid (as described in JP-B-58-35605), a modified material of a crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol (as described in JP-A-54-20093), etc. (The term "JP-B" as used herein means an examined Japanese patent publication, and the term "JP-A" as used herein means an unexamined published Japanese patent application.)
The above-described conventional water-absorbing resins contain a certain amount of water-soluble content. The presence of the water-soluble content sometimes is not desirable in the aspect of both the performance and the safety of the water-absorbing resin. For example, when the water-absorbing resin is in contact with a liquid to be absorbed to form a hydrogel structure whereby the water-soluble content is extracted into the liquid to be absorbed, not only the absorbing properties of the resin are reduced in proportion to the extracted water-soluble content, but also deterioration of the water-absorbing resin is accelerated. When a large amount of the water-soluble content is in contact with a human body, etc., such a water-soluble content sometimes is not desirable from the viewpoint of safety as it gives unpleasant slimy feeling, etc.
Processes for producing water-absorbing resins having a small amount of water-soluble content have been proposed. Examples of such processes include a process comprising polymerizing a monomer containing both a polymerizable unsaturated group and a free acid group, followed by neutralization (as described in JP-A-62-54751), a process comprising polymerizing a low-neutralized monomer, followed by neutralization (as described in JP-A-1-144404), a process comprising irradiating a water-absorbing resin with an ultraviolet ray in the presence of a radical scavenger (as described in JP-A-4-120112), a process comprising adding a reducing substance and a radical scavenger to a water-absorbing resin (as described in JP-A-4-120111), etc.
The above-described processes each includes a new unit operation which is required in production steps. For example, in the processes of JP-A-62-54751 and JP-A-4-144404, a neutralization step is required after the polymerization. In the processes of JP-A-4-120112 and JP-A-4-120111, a step for mixing an additive with the water-absorbing resin and a step for irradiating the water-absorbing resin with an ultraviolet ray are required. In the step for neutralization of the water-absorbing resin after polymerization, and the step for mixing additives with the water-absorbing resin after polymerization, a uniform neutralization or mixing is difficult and may cause a decrease in the productivity.
It is generally known that the amount of water-soluble content can be reduced by increasing the amount of a crosslinking agent used. However, as a result of the use of an increased amount of a crosslinking agent, the absorbing properties of the water-absorbing resin decreases.
Water-absorbing resins having a small amount of water-soluble content have been known. For example, in a process for producing a water-absorbing resin by adiabatic polymerization (as described in JP-B-1-31531), a polymer gel is treated with water and a methanol solution. In this production process, a water/methanol treatment is required and therefore the productivity decreases. Further, it is probable that methanol remains in the resulting resin and, hence, the process is not desirable from the standpoint of safety.
Water-absorbing resins sometimes required to have salt resistance. For example, the absorbing properties change depending on the kind of solutions to be absorbed and depending on the lapse of time.
The water-absorbing resin containing an electrolytic structure such as the partially neutralized acrylic acid described above generally has poor salt resistance. If such a water-absorbing resin is used as a diaper, the absorbing properties are changed due to the change in concentration of salts from electrolytes in urine and the lapse of time, resulting in fluctuation of product quality.
It is known that nonionic water-absorbing resins and sulfonic group-containing water-absorbing resins are excellent in absorbing properties to electrolytic solutions. Examples thereof include the water-absorbing resin contained in the water-swellable waterproofing material (as described in JP-A-62-259846), the water-absorbing resin contained in the waterproofing material for cables (as described in JP-A-4-363383), and the waterproofing material for optical and electric cables (as described in JP-B-5-4764). However, these water-absorbing resins have low gel strength, resulting in deteriorated absorbing properties under pressure.
Water-absorbing resins having high absorbing properties under pressure have been known. For example, a water-absorbing resin having high absorbing properties under pressure is used in the absorbing article containing hydrogel having high absorption capability under pressure (as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,343).
Processes for producing a water-absorbing resin having high absorbing properties under pressure also have been known. Examples thereof include a process for producing powdery polymer with selecting surfactant (as described in French Patent 8,611,742), a process for producing a water-absorbing resin by a high-concentration polymerization (as described in JP-A-63-275607), a process for producing a water-absorbing resin by forced heating (as described in JP-A-63-275608), and a process for producing water-absorbing resin by mixing a second crosslinking agent, followed by subjecting heating treatment (as described in JP-A-6-184320). However, these water-absorbing resins having high absorbing properties under pressure do not have high salt resistance.
The present invention is directed to solution of the above-described problems.

Water-absorbing resin and process for producing same


An insulation system for an embedded track construction for a transit railway having spaced parallel railway rails includes a rail boot for substantially enclosing each of the rails along its length, rail clips extending on each side of each of the rails for securing the rails to supporting ties, and fillers extending on each side of each of the rails, frictionally engaging and removably mounting the rails to an associated one of said rail clips. The fillers cooperate to provide a coplanar roadway with said rails.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the art of railway track assemblies and more particularly, to an embedded railway track structure using elastomeric elements.
2. Description of the Related Art
Construction of railroad tracks along streets has long presented the problem of how to provide long-lasting serviceability and track evenness with the road surface, while still giving needed access to the rails and supporting structures at lesser expense than has previously been possible.
Where tracks are embedded in pavement it is necessary to have a gutter to contain each rail, yet is must also be possible to gain access to the rail, its supporting structures, and fasteners attaching the rail to the supporting structures, once the gutter has been sealed.
Many highways and arterials which cross railroad tracks utilize elastomeric crossing elements. Crossings, using elastomeric elements not only are inherently smoother than crossings made from non-elastomeric materials, but maintain their smoothness much longer.
Timber crossings, for example, wear quite quickly and soon present a rough crossing surface. While asphalt wears better than timber, it is difficult to compact asphalt immediately adjacent to the rails. Thus, an asphalt grade crossing soon settles adjacent to the rails which also creates a rough surface. In addition, it is difficult to prevent water from entering between the asphalt and the rails and when freezing occurs the water expands and causes deterioration of the asphalt. Concrete wears better than asphalt and does not require mechanical compaction, however, freezing is a problem with this material also. In addition, concrete grade crossings usually have metal edges which occasionally causes shorting to occur between the rails which can activate the crossing signs.
Not only do elastomeric grade crossing elements provide greater smoothness, they are easier to remove than timber, concrete or asphalt which permits them to be reused when the track is brought up to grade by adding ballast and retamping.
Raymond U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,545 discloses sealing insert assemblies which extend along the length of the rails of an embedded track, but which appear likely to be costly to construct and yet unable to provide access to the rail support structure for repair.
Davis U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,657 discloses a grade crossing system including elastomeric pad units located along each side of the rails for supporting automobile traffic crossing railroad tracks. The disclosed structure, however, requires specially pre-cast panels which rest on the pads, making such structure undesirably expensive for use along a railway track embedded in a paved street.
Lucas U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,294 discloses a railroad track assembly that includes rubber filler bodies held in place along the sides of each rail by retainer strips which lock into place on the filler bodies. A retainer form is placed over the top of the rail and filler bodies, holding the filler bodies in place closely alongside the rail. Paving material is placed alongside the rail structure, including the retainer form, whose depending legs act as a form for the paving material to define a slot alongside the filler bodies. The disclosed structure, however, requires the retainer form to be removed from atop the rail and filler bodies and the retainer strips are forced into the slot making the structure undesirably expensive and its installation time consuming.
Additionally, in order to avoid undesired unevenness of the surface of a street across or along which a railroad track runs, it is desirable that the pavement surface be approximately level with the height of the top of the rails of the track and that appropriate resilient filler structure be provided between the pavement and each rail to support motor vehicle traffic. Such filler structures are an added expense and, moreover, must not interfere with passage of railroad cars along the track.
What is desired, then, is a structure for railroad tracks embedded in a roadway, which is easier and less costly than previously used structures yet can provide long-lasting serviceability and track evenness, while still giving needed access to the rails and supporting structures at lesser expense than has previously been possible.
The present invention overcomes the aforementioned shortcomings of the prior art and provides a railway track structure that is serviceable and maintains its evenness after extended use. The railway track structure includes a pair of spaced parallel rails, secured by fasteners to transversely extending crossties or support beams. Each rail has a base portion, a head portion and a web portion integrally connecting the head and base portions. A plurality of rail clips, formed from an elastomeric material, include a cavity for receiving the rail fastener and engage the rails at spaced apart positions. An elastomeric boot formed as a continuous piece encases the rail. The boot includes a body having two exposed top surfaces, an inner surface, and an outer surface. The boot extends from the base portion of the rail to cover substantially all of an outer surface of the head portion. The rail clips contact an outer surface of the boot near the base portion of the rail. A pair of preformed filler bodies, formed from an elastomeric material, reside alongside a respective outer surface of the rail boot body and are in sealable contact with the rail boot body. The bottom surface of the filler bodies are engagingly attached to a respective rail clip.
In this manner, the railway track structure of the invention may be assembled to provide a grade crossing or a so-called grass track roadway which both enjoy a substantially coplanar surface with the top surfaces of the rails.


An apparatus for estimating a direction of arrival includes an antenna, a beamforming network, and an evaluator. The antenna is configured to receive signals, is circularly polarized, and includes a plurality of different radiation patterns. The beamforming network is configured to provide based on signals received by the antenna decomposed signals that are received by associated radiation patterns of the plurality of radiation patterns. The evaluator is configured to estimate the direction of arrival based on the decomposed signals and based on information describing signal receiving characteristics of the antenna. The invention also refers to a corresponding method.

Direction-of-arrival (DoA) estimation of a signal emitted by a source or signal source of unknown location involves in the state of art an receive antenna array. Relying on the delay the signal is received amongst the antennas, a conclusion on the direction of the source can be drawn.
Not only the location of the signal source, but usually also the source orientation concerning the emission of signals is unknown. Thus, the polarization of the source signal can be arbitrarily inclined with respect to the receive array. Therefore, receive arrays of linearly polarized elements are usually deployed, because the phase difference amongst the elements is preserved for varying source inclination. This, however, can cause polarization mismatches, possibly leading to weak receive signals, whose direction of arrival cannot be accurately estimated.
Circularly polarized receive antennas do not suffer from polarization losses caused by inclined sources, assuming a linearly polarized source signal. Yet because of the limited axial-ratio beam width, which is displayed by a circularly polarized antenna, the phase difference amongst the elements varies with varying source inclination (see FIG. 1).
The scientific community has been investigating various antenna arrays and concepts to increase the accuracy of direction finding (DF).
This includes approaches using multibeam antennas (MBA) [2, 3]. Typically these antennas are linearly polarized and so are the signal sources. Thus, even if the signal source is arbitrarily oriented, the phase of the received signals stays mostly constant for a given impinging angle [4]. This allows for estimating of the DoA without considering source inclination, at the expense of a reduced estimation performance caused by polarization mismatches.
To achieve a DoA estimation performance being independent of the source orientation, a circularly polarized direction finding antenna is advantageous. However, for such an antenna, the received signal phases vary with changing signal source inclination, due to the limited axial ratio beamwidth.
There is a variety of methods for direction finding such as subspace-based methods, e.g. MUSIC [5]. Amongst all methods, the accuracy strongly depends on the set of steering vectors used and how accurate those represent the antenna characteristics. This includes polarization and the inclination of the source with respect to the antenna. As abovementioned, polarization mismatch causes inaccurate DoA estimates.
To cope with polarization mismatch, receive antenna arrays with dual polarization can be used. These arrays have different steering vectors for different source inclination and are therefore referred as polarization sensitive arrays [6]. Each element provides two signals, one for the first polarization and one for the second polarization. A set of two orthogonal polarization is typically used, e.g., linear vertical and linear horizontal polarization or right handed circular and left handed circular polarization (RHCP & LHCP). This, however, doubles the implementation effort, as twice as many signal branches are needed compared to an array supporting one polarization. Hence, an array supporting a single polarization only is advantageous in practice.

Apparatus for estimating a direction of arrival and corresponding method

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.


A dual action hydraulic clutch system. The system includes a master cylinder having an outer piston therein, wherein the outer piston includes a channel therethrough that can receive an inner piston therein. A gap is formed between the outer and inner pistons, such that activation of the outer piston activates the inner piston once the outer piston has traveled a length of the gap. The outer piston forces hydraulic fluid through an outer outlet connected to a hydraulic clutch, and the inner piston forces hydraulic fluid through an inner outlet connected to a rear brake, allowing a user to simultaneously disengage the clutch and engage the rear brake. A lever is connected to the outer piston, such that the lever can move the outer piston between a resting position, a clutch position, and a brake position. The master cylinder can secure to a support surface via a mounting bracket thereon.

The present invention relates to a dual action hydraulic clutch system. Specifically, it relates to a dual action hydraulic clutch system wherein an inner piston is actuated by an outer piston to simultaneously release a clutch and actuate a rear brake.
Many people enjoy riding a variety of vehicles, including motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and the like, however drivers are often unable to use the rear brake to steer the rear-end of the vehicle while executing a turn. Additionally, it can be difficult for riders driving in difficult terrain to manipulate the direction of a vehicle while in the air, as the rider's feet are typically lifted off of the pegs that house the rear brake. When attempting to steer the rear of a vehicle, it typically requires disengaging a clutch with one control, and activating a brake with another control, often requiring a user to remove a hand from a steering wheel or handlebar, which increases the risk of a crash as the driver can easily become distracted. Therefore, a device that allows a user to control the rear brake of a vehicle while simultaneously disengaging the clutch of the vehicle without removing their hands from the steering column is desired.
In light of the devices disclosed in the known art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the known art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing clutch systems. In this regard, the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.


An optically active oligomer obtained by polycondensation of an (R)-3-hydroxyalkanoic acid alkyl ester and at least one of a diol, a diamine and an amino alcohol and an optically active polymer obtained by copolymerization of said oligomer and a monomer selected from diisocyanic acid esters, dicarboxylic acid derivatives, and dichlorosilanes are disclosed. Novel functional polymers with biodegradability and hydrolyzability are produced with industrial advantage.

Microorganisms which accumulate polyester comprising (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate units (included in the (R)-3HA unit constituting the polymer of the present invention) in the microbial cells are known (see P. A. Holmes, Phys. Technol., Vol. 16, p. 32 (1985)). This polymer has biodegradability, i.e., enzymatic decomposability, hydrolyzability, and bioaffinity, and is now attracting attention as a new type of functional material (see Yoshiharu Doi, Seibunkaisei Kobunshi Zairyo, page 19, Kogyo Chosakai (1990)). However, biological synthesis of a polymer utilizing a microorganism or an enzymatic reaction requires complicated steps such as separation of the polymer from microbial cells.
On the other hand, ring-open polymerization of D-(+)-methyl-.beta.-propiolactone is reported in Polymer Letters, Vol. 9, p. 173 (1970). However, a convenient process for synthesizing D-(+)-methyl-.beta.-propiolactone to be ring-open polymerized has not yet been established.
In addition, either of these known techniques involves various industrial problems, such as the high production cost incurred.

Biodegradable optically active polymers and intermediate oligomers thereof, and process for producing them


A medical device and associated method for controlling a cardiac pacing therapy sense a first cardiac signal including events corresponding to cardiac electrical events and a second cardiac signal including events corresponding to cardiac hemodynamic events. A processor is enabled to measure a cardiac conduction time interval using the first cardiac signal and control a signal generator to deliver a pacing therapy. A pacing control parameter is adjusted to a plurality of settings during the pacing therapy delivery. A hemodynamic parameter value is measured from the second cardiac signal during application of each of the control parameter settings. The processor identifies an optimal setting from the plurality of settings and solves for a patient-specific equation defining the pacing control parameter as a function of the cardiac conduction time interval.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a treatment for heart failure patients in which one or more heart chambers are electrically stimulated (paced) to restore or improve heart chamber synchrony. Improved heart chamber synchrony is expected to improve hemodynamic performance of the heart, such as measured by ventricular pressure and the rate of change in ventricular pressure or other hemodynamic measures. Achieving a positive clinical benefit from CRT is dependent on several therapy control parameters, such as the atrioventricular (AV) delay and the ventricular-ventricular (VV) delay. The AV delay controls the timing of ventricular pacing pulses relative to an atrial depolarization, intrinsic or paced. The ventricular-ventricular (VV) delay controls the timing of a pacing pulse in one ventricle relative to a paced or intrinsic sensed event in the other ventricle.
Numerous methods for selecting optimal AV and VV delays for use in controlling CRT pacing pulses have been proposed. For example, clinicians may select an optimal AV or VV delay using Doppler echocardiography. Such clinical techniques are time-consuming and require an expert technician to perform. A need remains for optimizing CRT control parameters to achieve a positive result.

Heart-sounds based adaptive cardiac resynchronization therapy timing parameter optimization system


Process of register adjustment or maintenance by means of register marks and an index pulse of the processing element, in which a position pulse train indicates the instantaneous position and the speed of the processing element during each of its cycles. It is essentially characterized in that, to allow an automatic initial register adjustment and maintenance, it consists in determining and storing, in the form of numerical sequence, at least one characteristic of a selected register mark, in continuously picking up the signal of a detector, in sampling this signal synchronously from the position pulses, between the index pulses, and in writing the results in memory, in the form of numerical values, at successive addresses, in periodically analyzing the memory contents to locate in it the sequence of numerical values corresponding best to that determined as a function of the selected register mark in calculating, from a specific address of said sequence, and from the position of the processing element associated with it, the deviation between the actual position and the set point of the register mark and, from the deviation thus calculated, in applying the desired correction to bring the deviation to zero. The invention is particularly useful in off-line machines processing a web of preprinted material.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a process of register adjustment or maintenance, with automatic initial register adjustment, of a web of preprinted material in processing machines.
By initial register adjustment is understood here the process during which, at each starting or restarting of the processing machine, the preprinted web and the processing tool are initially brought into register, i.e., under such a condition that the tool acts at each cycle at the desired point of the web, relative to the preprinted format that it carries. This register adjustment therefore implies, on the one hand, synchronization of the tool and web and, on the other hand, adjustment in position (generally angular, the tool being rotary) of the tool relative to the web.
In the art of printing and processing, or more generally of processing of a web of material, and to perform several operations on the same web of material, two types of machines are essentially known, namely, "on-line" machines and "off-line" machines.
On-line machines are machines, in which a blank web is processed at the beginning, and the web passes in successive work stations along a continuous path, in an essentially taut state, while the various tools are operated by the same shaft.
The "off-line" machines are machines in which a web that has already undergone a processing (generally a printing) is processed in a machine with one or more independent work stations.
The problems that on-line machines and off-line machines pose are fundamentally different.
The on-line machines are essentially stable by design, with the elements being in perfect synchronization with the printed pattern, because the printing groups are mechanically keyed on the same drive shaft as the processing tools. Performing all the operations at the same time on a blank web at the beginning avoids all the problems of register readjustment during restarting after a stop, accidental or not.
Once the machine has been adjusted so that the successive tools (starting from the 2nd, the first working on a blank web) will be in register with the web, the inevitable variations will occur in one direction and the other, around the position in correct register, even in the absence of any correction.
On the other hand, the off-line machines have an essentially unstable positioning. Essentially two problems arise for register adjustment of such a machine. First, it is necessary to make the speed of the web and the speed of the tools correspond to have one rotation of the tool for one advance of a paper printing (speed error) This problem has several origins, for example:
there is always slippage between the web and driving rollers,
the mechanical development of the machine is constant, while the length of repetition of the printing varies inside the same reel, and with greater variance during a large printing (group of reels).
Secondly, the processing tools must be brought into correct position relative to the printing (position error).
This problem is more significant in such an off-line machine. Actually, it is practically impossible, for example, to run or initially insert the preprinted web in register, which means that, after a break in the web for example, it is necessary to perform a new register adjustment.
Without an automatic correction system, the register of such a machine drifts as a function of the slippage, of the repetitive printing length and the like.
Once adjusted, the on-line machines essentially no longer have an adjustment problem, even after a stop or incident (paper break), all the stations in practice being "locked" relative to one another by the initial adjustment.
Such adjustment systems are known in the art, for example, from Adamson et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,594,552 and Stratton et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,318,176.
In a blank zone of the web there are placed register marks used to determine the position of the formats printed on the web relative to the working elements assuring the processing. These register marks have the form of printed marks, surrounded by blank printing zones, and photoelectric cells are placed in the machine, opposite the path of the marks, while an encoder is attached to the drive shaft of the working element.
The encoder supplies pulses whose relative position and frequency are linked to the position and speed of the working element, and these pulses are used to activate the signal of the photoelectric cell in a "window" extending over a predetermined distance on both sides of the ideal position or set point of the register mark relative to the working element.
The signal of the cell is analyzed in the window, in analog form, by a processor that identifies, relative to a background signal of the blank margin, the signal due to the register mark, a determination as to any deviation between the actual position and the set point position of the register mark is made, and then any correction to bring the register mark to the set point position is made.
This type of adjustment system assures a correct positioning of the register mark, and therefore a correct maintenance of the register adjustment, in the on-line machines, whose functioning is essentially stable, as is stated above, which causes the register mark, of course, to be kept within the limits of a rather narrow window on both sides of the register position.
The problem posed by off-line machines processing a preprinted web is basically different in that the functioning of such a machine is essentially unstable, as is stated above.
In known adjustment systems, of the abovementioned type, the processor which makes the adjustment may work in only a limited window, and therefore these types of systems do not allow automatic initial register adjustment, but, on the contrary, require a manual register adjustment, at least approximately so as to set the "window". Considering the unstable nature of off-line processing, the register mark constantly tends to leave this predefined window and, as soon as the register mark has left the window, the adjustment process must be stopped, to make a new approximate manual register adjustment of the window. This is the case after a break of the web as well. This obviously is costly in time and materials (spoilage of the preprinted web).
Therefore there is a need for a process and apparatus for assuring an automatic register adjustment, or an initial register adjustment, in an off-line machine working on a preprinted web, and assuring maintenance of the register adjustment under the unstable operating conditions of these machines.
To solve this problem and to make possible an automatic initial register adjustment, it is not sufficient to extend for a complete cycle the extent of the window in which the cell signal is analyzed. Actually, according to the prior art, analysis of the cell signal or other detector is limited to a window which is selected so that the register mark with the selected format appears there alone, in a quite distinct and isolated manner (for example, from other register marks of colors or the like also being able to be required for later printing and processing).
To solve this problem it is necessary therefore, besides extending the window for a complete cycle, to find a process and apparatus which makes it possible to identify reliably the format register mark relative to the background signal.
We also note that existing registers function only from a determined speed threshold (i.e., .+-.20% of maximum speed).
To minimize spoilage, it is advantageous to proceed to the register adjustment or readjustment at slow speed (i.e., .+-.3% of maximum speed), then to rise, in register, to the production speed.
Manual adjustment causes considerable spoilage. Further, it has the drawback of depending on the skill of the operator and, when the machine comprises a single shaft and several successive work stations, it is complicated by the fact that the upstream adjustment has an impact, of course, on the downstream stations, with the necessity of making this adjustment successively from upstream to downstream, which increases the spoilage and risks of error. Additionally, this operation must be repeated after each production accident such as a break in the web.
According to the invention, it is proposed to provide a process and apparatus of adjustment, with automatic initial register adjustment, of a preprinted web relative to a working element, operating independently of the machine speed, from the slow start of the machine to the maximum speed, and assuring the register adjustment after several operating cycles, to reduce the inevitable spoilage.
Besides simplifying the register adjustment and reducing spoilage, the process and apparatus of the invention makes it possible to identify one register mark among others, and easily to go from one register mark to another register mark, for example, of a different width, or again to define the register mark by a part of the printed format itself, so as to be able to eliminate the margin of the web which normally should remain free of printing, with the exception of the register marks, and thus reduce rejects of material.
It is important to stress here the difference between existing registers, which position a window relative to a register mark which are freely "chosen" from others, printed on a blank margin of the web, and the process of the invention, which identifies among others a register mark that is imposed by the operator, and that is not necessarily on a blank margin, but can be all or part of the preprinted format itself.
Actually, the known systems do not identify a specific register mark, but merely make the window move until there falls within it a printed mark giving a signal satisfactory for acting as a register mark (generally, a printed mark with a minimum blank zone on both sides). Generally, there will be several marks that are thus satisfactory over the length of the format and, in case of a considerable deviation, for example, the system can thus go from its register mark to another mark, giving an equivalent signal but causing a loss of register adjustment.
A purpose of the invention therefore is to provide a process of register adjustment or maintenance of a continuous web of material in a processing station of a machine, by means of register marks provided on the web, and an index pulse of the processing element of said station, in which a position pulse train is produced whose position relative to the index pulse is an instantaneous position measurement of the processing element during each of its cycles, and whose frequency is a measurement of its speed of movement, a detector signal is picked up, which is a function of a difference in characteristic between the background of the web and the marks that it carries, from which the deviation between the actual position and the set point position of the register mark is determined and, from the deviation thus determined, the desired correction to bring the deviation back to zero is applied. This process comprising, to allow automatic initial register adjustment and maintenance of a preprinted web, the steps of:
selecting a register mark over the length of the printed format, and determining its set point position,
determining and storing, in the form of a numerical sequence, at least one characteristic of the register mark selected, acting on a detected signal,
continuously sampling the detector signal synchronously with the position pulses, between the index pulses, and writing the results in memory, in the form of numerical values, at successive addresses,
periodically analyzing the memory contents to locate in it the sequence of numerical values corresponding best to that determined as a function of the register mark selected, and
calculating the deviation between the actual position and the set point position of the register mark from a determined address of said sequence and from the position of the processing element associated with it.
According to another feature of the process and apparatus of this invention, the characteristics of the register mark selected are its width, in the direction of travel of the preprinted web, and its shape, and there is calculated from its width the number of position pulses, and therefore of memory addresses, on which it extends, and a sequence of theoretical numerical values for the sampled detector signal are determined from its shape.
According to another embodiment of the process and apparatus of the invention, the characteristics of the selected register mark are its width, in the direction of travel of the preprinted web, and its color, and there is calculated from its width a number of position pulses, and therefore of memory addresses, on which it extends, and a sequence of theoretical numerical values for the sampled detector signal are determined from its color.
According to another embodiment, each index pulse causes the writing in memory of the subsequent numerical values to , successive addresses, whose origin is the start address of the memory.
According to another embodiment, analysis of the memory contents consists in calculating, in a first register adjustment mode, or initial register adjustment, at each address of the memory and over the extent of a complete cycle of the machine, from the central address of the sequence considered, a function of the sequence of the theoretical numerical values and of the sequence of actual numerical values, exhibiting a minimum or a maximum when the detected register mark exhibits the same width and the same shape or color as the predefined register mark, and in retaining the minimum of the minima or the maximum of the maxima associated with the corresponding address, the latter representing said desired central address.
According to another embodiment, since the operations of reading and writing in memory are exclusive, and analysis of the memory contents therefore interrupts the writing operation, analysis of the memory contents for a given cycle (i) begins after writing in memory, during this cycle, of the numerical value to which address (Xk) of the memory has been assigned which is the last of those corresponding to the analysis period, and therefore of nonwriting, of the preceding cycle (i-1), and the analysis is directed toward numerical values covering one cycle of the machine, and going from the following address (Xk+1) to said address (Xk), by considering the memory as a closed loop.
According to another embodiment, there is defined an adjustment zone extending over an interval exhibiting a predefined maximum deviation on both sides of the theoretical position of the register mark relative to the processing element and, when the correction has brought the register mark into this zone, the memory contents are analyzed, in a second adjustment mode, over a corresponding reduced zone.
According to yet another embodiment, the deviation between the closest value and the theoretical value is compared, and when this deviation is greater than a predefined value, the adjustment mode is deactivated to analyze the entire memory contents, according to the process of the register adjustment mode.

Process and apparatus for register adjustment or maintenance, with automatic initial register adjustment, of a web of preprinted material


A child training system is provided, including a doll having a soft, hollow compressible leg reservoir; a hollow torso; a head formed with a mouth orifice into which liquid can be introduced; and a liquid discharge orifice containing a supply assembly of tubing and a check valve disposed so as to supply liquid to the leg reservoir.

Wetting dolls or figures are well known in the art and have been presented in various embodiments for many years. Generally, a wetting doll includes an orifice for intake of liquid, a reservoir within the doll for holding the liquid, and an orifice for expulsion of the liquid from the doll. The expulsion of the liquid simulates the wetting action of the doll. Expulsion of the liquid may be controlled or uncontrolled, with various degrees of control and various mechanisms for effectuating such controlled expulsion. Controlled expulsion may include a delay in expulsion, a control limiting the amount of expulsion, a requirement for certain positioning of the doll, triggering from some external component, or manual pumping action from the user. The controlled expulsion may be combined with other simulations, such as production of tears, burping, or spitting. The various doll presentations exhibit a wide range of simulation accuracy in the reproduction of these physiologic functions.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,907,139 to Rekettye teaches a wetting doll having a gravity-influenced reservoir, allowing for the repeated discharge of small amounts of liquid. Rekettye teaches placing the reservoir in the head and positioning the doll upright as a means to release liquid from the reservoir for discharge.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,160,338 to Lyons et al. teaches a sound emitting and wetting doll having air bellows in the doll's body and head, a mouthpiece chamber, and a de-tuned reed, allowing for the simulation of delayed burping and spitting in addition to wetting. A simulated feeding bottle must be squeezed to fill the mouthpiece chamber. The doll automatically wets when the doll is placed in the upright position with the mouthpiece chamber filled.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,775,901 to Ellman et al. teaches a child's doll having a reservoir for fluid, a discharge valve that may be opened by a magnetic field, and a magnet attached to the seat of a toy chamber pot.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,839,819 to Hollingsworth et al. teaches a controlled wetting unit for a doll having a reservoir placed within the doll's torso, a manual squeeze bulb, and flow control valve. Hollingsworth et al. teaches a reservoir configuration that prevents premature wetting during the filling of the reservoir. Manual pumping of the squeeze bulb allows emptying of the reservoir and wetting while the doll is in the upright position. The purpose is to place wetting under control of the child.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,413,441 to Hunter et al. teaches a controlled wetting function doll having a reservoir for fluid in the doll's head, a pinch valve, and accompanying toy toilet. A hidden lever that is actuated by placement on the toy toilet opens the pinch valve.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,033,229 to Scherman et al. teaches a male doll medical device having a removable reservoir, external hand pump, and doll hands that may attach to the simulated human penis. The instructor hides the external hand pump behind a stand, which is also used to hold the doll in a standing position.
These teachings share a limitation in that wetting action is dependent upon the position of the doll. Those with controlled wetting mechanisms tend to require special actuation or positioning which distracts from the natural wetting experience. Squeeze bulbs for manual pumping tend to be located such that the doll must be incorrectly handled to actuate the pumping action, disrupting the simulation of the wetting action. These various configurations do not lend themselves to simulation of actual toilet training, as the dolls tend to have to be handled in an unnatural way to pump the liquid, such as pressing a thumb into the back of the doll, or the doll has to be in a seated position to accomplish wetting action. For seat-actuated dolls, the dolls must be precisely and fully seated to actuate the wetting function. This prevents a toilet training instructor from fully demonstrating the process of seating and urination, as the instructor is not able to position the doll in successive increments of the seating movement. This also prevents the instructor from controlling the wetting action throughout the duration of the seating movement. Additionally, a toilet training instructor is not able to demonstrate urination while standing. For back actuated dolls, the toilet training instructor projects confusing signals to the trainee, owing to the awkward positioning of the instructor's hands about the doll's torso to actuate the wetting.


A method for dissociating cell aggregates in an agitated reactor. The method comprises providing a cell culture comprising cell aggregates in the agitated reactor, contacting the cell aggregates with a dissociation reagent, generating a dissociation force in the agitated reactor and exposing the contacted cell aggregates to the generated dissociation force under conditions sufficient to dissociate the contacted cell aggregates. The method may be used in a process for passaging cells and/or generating dissociated differentiated cells from stem and/or progenitor cells.

Suspension culture of cell aggregates is a well-known technique for expanding cell populations, such as, for example, pluripotent stem cells, multipotent stem cells, and various further and/or terminally differentiated cell types. Successful cell expansion in suspension culture has been demonstrated, for example, in murine1,2,3 and human4,5 embryonic stem cells (ESCs), as well as in murine6,7 and human8-10 induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Additional cell types that are amenable to aggregate suspension culture include, for example, neural stem and/or progenitor cells11,12, mesenchymal stem cells18 and differentiated cells, such as cardiomyocytes13.
Traditionally, cell aggregate dissociation has been achieved by manually disrupting cell aggregates using a dissociation solution and pipetting. Pipette dissociation of cell aggregates is time consuming, poorly defined, and poorly controlled. The results of manual dissociation of cell aggregates are dependent on the skill of the operator and can be highly variable, at least in terms of cell recovery and cell viability.
In general, suspension culture of cell aggregates has been carried out at a scale suitable for research and development use. Larger scale cell culture is needed, for example, for process development, commercial production of cells, cell expansion for clinical trials and/or cell banking. As commercial production of cells in suspension increases, so will the need to dissociate cell aggregates at a larger scale. Manual cell aggregate dissociation has been applied to cells harvested from bioreactors7,10,13,14. However, manual cell aggregate dissociation is only effective when applied to a low number of cells (e.g., less than about 2×108 cells) provided in a low volume of liquid (e.g., less than about 25 mL).
It is desirable to obviate or mitigate one or more of the above deficiencies.

THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO


A method of separating a blank from a stack of blanks is provided and includes grasping a first blank and moving the first blank away from a plurality of blanks. At least one additional blank from the plurality of blanks is adhered to the first blank to form a sub-stack of blanks and at least one impulse electrically generated force (EGF) is applied to separate the at least one additional blank from the first blank. The first blank may be grasped by a device with a force F1, and the at least one impulse EGF may be less than the force F1. Also, the at least one impulse EGF may be applied to separate the at least one additional blank from the first blank by passing a pulse of current through an EGF generator positioned adjacent the first blank and inducing an EGF within the plurality of blanks.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
In a material forming operation, such as a stamping operation, a stack of blanks is generally positioned in proximity to a stamping press and automatically fed into the stamping press by a material handling machine, such as a material handling robot. Tool and die surfaces of the stamping press receive the blanks and form the blanks into a desired shape. The robot includes an end-effector, which is moved to a position above the stack of blanks, grasps and lifts the uppermost blank from the stack, and feeds the uppermost blank into the stamping press or onto a conveyor that transports the uppermost blank to the stamping press.
To facilitate the grasping operation of the end-effector, the stack of blanks may be de-stacked or separated before the end-effector grasps the uppermost blank. Typical de-stacking methods are not suitable for high-volume manufacturing cycle times which require automated, rapid, and robust blank de-stacking. Also, if two or more blanks are picked up by the robot, the system experiences a disruption and stops the production line, resulting in downtime of the manufacturing process.
Moreover, typical de-stacking methods are not suitable for picking up a variety of blank materials and of varying dimensions. For example, a typical de-stacking method that works with steel blanks may not work with aluminum blanks.
These issues associated with de-stacking equipment relative to material blanks, and the limitation of only certain materials being handled, are addressed by the present disclosure.

Impulse electrically generated force separation of blanks for the automated destacking of metal sheet


A multi-layer blood culture sensor includes two matrices. The first matrix is a polymer that is permeable to carbon dioxide and water, but impermeable to protons. A pH sensitive absorbance based dye is encapsulated or isolated in the polymer. The second matrix is a polymer with a pH insensitive fluorescent dye encapsulated or isolated in the polymer. The matrices are spectrally coupled and are useful for the determination of microorganisms in a blood culture bottle.

Microorganisms present in bodily fluid can be detected using a culture bottle. Generally, a culture bottle is a flask allowing positive cultures to be detected rapidly. The flask is generally a transparent closed container filled with nutrient that promotes the growth of the organism. In particular, bacteria in blood can be detected in culture. U.S. Pat. No. 4,772,558 (Hammann).
Many different qualitative and quantitative detection means are used to monitor the growth of microorganisms in a culture bottle. The microorganisms in a culture bottle have been detected by use of external detectors such as a magnifying lens, U.S. Pat. No. 4,543,907 (Freudlich). Additionally, integral detectors such as liquid level indicators can show bacterial growth as a function of increased pressure in the vessel V. Swaine et al., EPA 124,193. Additionally, microorganisms can be detected by measuring changes in pH caused by bacterial growth, Mariel, G.B. Patent No. 1,601,689.
Still another method to detect microorganisms involves the use of a culture media that contains a compound which changes color or appearance according to the growth of microorganisms. The change in the media can be detected with a spectrophotometer. There are many examples of reactions used in Microbiology that rely on a color change. Bascomb, Enzyme Tests in Bacterial Identification, 19 Meth. Microbio. 105 (1987). For example. a variety of organisms can be classified in large part by their pattern of fermentation, oxidation or assimilation of carbon sources. Fermentation of carbohydrates results in the production of acid which causes a decrease in pH. This drop in pH can be easily detected by including a pH indicator like bromothymol blue or phenol red. With both indicators, acid conditions representing the fermentation of a particular carbohydrate result in a yellow color (changing from blue-green for bromothymol blue or pink/red for phenol red). The same approach can be adopted for a variety of carbohydrates, ranging from monosaccharides like glucose to polysaccharides like inulin. In an analogous fashion, increasing pH can also be monitored. Assays for detecting the presence of decarboxylase and urease, and the ability to use malonate are based on an increase in pH, as indicated by a color change in the indicator. Turner, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,060 discloses a device for detecting microorganisms. In this device changes in the indicator medium resulting from pH changes in CO.sub.2 concentration in the medium are detected from outside the vessel.
Chemical and enzymatic reactions are used to detect or quantirate the presence of certain substances in microbiological or other assays. Many of these tests rely on the development or change of color or fluorescence to indicate the presence or quantity of the substance of interest.
Another approach to determine if an organism can degrade a particular substrate, is to use a reagent which is capable of reacting with one or more of the intermediates or final products. For example, the detection of the reduction of nitrate to nitrite. If nitrite is formed, then a pink to deep red color will result when sulfanilic acid and alpha-naphthylamine are added to the reaction mixture.
In contrast to the indirect detection of an enzymatic reaction illustrated by the nitrate/nitrite test, it is possible to use a synthetic analog of a natural substrate to directly indicate the presence of an enzyme. For example, methylene blue can be reduced under certain conditions by the action of reductase, resulting in a shift from blue to colorless. In another test, the oxidase assay relies on the interaction of cytochrome oxidase with N, N, N', N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine producing a blue color.
Another example is the ability of microorganisms to degrade sulfur-containing amino acids as indicated by the production of H.sub.2 S. Typically, the organism is incubated with a high concentration of a sulfur-containing substrate (e.g. cysteine, cystinc) in an acid environment. The production of H.sub.2 S is indicated by the formation of a black precipitate in the presence of ferric ammonium citrate.
Enzymes can usually act on more than one substrate. This allows for the use of synthetic enzyme substrates for the detection of enzyme activities. Synthetic substrates contain a metabolic moiety conjugated with a chromatic or fluorescent moiety. The conjugated molecule usually has a different absorption and/or emission spectrum from the unconjugated form. Moreover, the unconjugated chromatic or fluorescent moiety shows a considerably higher absorption or fluorescence coefficients than those of the conjugated molecule. This allows the measurement of small amounts of products of enzyme activities in the presence of the large amounts of conjugated substrate required for maximal enzyme activity. An example of a synthetic enzyme substrate is o-nitro-phenol-.beta.-galactopyranoside used for the detection of activity of the enzyme .beta.-galactosidase. The conjugated substrate is colorless. The .beta.-galactosidase enzyme hydrolyzes the substrate to yield .beta.-galactosidase and o-nitrophenol. o-nitro-phenol absorbs strongly at 405 nm, and its release can be measured by the increase in absorbance at that wavelength. Bascomb, Enzyme Tests in Bacterial Identification, Meth. Microbiol. 19, 105 (1987), reviewed the synthetic moieties used for enzyme substrates and the enzymatic activities measurable using this principle.
Presently, the monitoring of color or color end-product in chemical and microbial reactions is usually achieved in either of two ways; 1) the detection of color or color end-product can be achieved by visual observation and estimated qualitatively, or 2) the detection of color end-products or loss of color can be achieved by measuring the intensity of color instrumentally. Spectrophotometers that measure light absorbance are commonly used for this purpose. When measuring the concentration of a number of substances it is advantageous to use one instrument based on one principle of measurement, otherwise cost increased.
Although the use of colorimetric reactions is widespread there are limitations, especially in the sensitivity of detection. In order to improve sensitivity and, in the case of identification of microorganisms, thereby to decrease the time required to obtain a result, fluorescence-based methods frequently are used. Unfortunately, it may not be possible to develop a fluorescent equivalent to every assay. Additionally, the fluorescent reagents themselves may be highly toxic and therefore difficult to commercialize.
In such cases one might need to measure activities of some enzymes fluorometrically, the others colorimetrically. However, most instruments are suited to measure either absorbance or fluorescence, and very few can be used to measure both.
The general principle of fluorescence quenching has been accepted as a way to detect or determine enzymatic or chemical reactions. For example, Fleminger et al. synthesized intramolecularly quenched fluorogenic substrates for the assay of bacterial aminopeptidase, P. Fleminger et al., Fluorogenic Substrates for Bacterial Aminopeptidase P and its Analogs Detected in Human Serum and Calf Lung, Eur. J. Blochem. 125, 609 (1982). In this case, the fluorescence of the aminobenzoyl group is quenched by the presence of a nitrophenylalanyl group. When the enzyme is present, the nitrophenylalanyl group is cleaved, with a concommitant increase in the sample's fluorescence. A variety of enzymes have been assayed by this type of procedure, including hydrolytic enzymes, other amino- and carboxypeptidases and an endopeptidase. Yaron et al., Intramolecularly Quenched Fluorogenic Substrates for Hydrolytic Enzymes, Anal. Bioche. 95, 228 (1979); Carmel et al., Intramolecularly--Quenched Fluorescent Peptides as Flurorogenic Substrates of Leucine Aminopeptidase and Inhibitors of Clostridial Aminopeptidase, Eur. J. Biochem. 73, 617 (1977); Carmel et al., An Intramolecularly Quenched Fluorescent Tripeptide as a Fluorgenic Substrate of Angiotensin-I-Converting Enzyme and of Bacterial Dipeptidyl Carboxypeptidase, Eur. J. Biochem. 87, 265 (1978); Florentin et al., A Highly Sensitive Fluorometric Assay for "Enkephalinase", a Neutral Metalloendopeptidase that Releases Tyrosine-Glycine-Glycine from Enkephalins, Anal. Biochem 141, 62 (1984). In each of the previous approaches, a synthetic substrate containing a quenching group and a fluorescing group was generated in order to detect the activity of the enzyme.
An alternative to this approach would involve the synthesis of a resonance energy transfer pair of fluorescing groups on a substrate molecule. In this method, cleavage by the enzyme of one of the groups would result in a decrease in fluorescence, since the critical distance would be exceeded, eliminating the transfer of energy. However, the previously discussed approaches are limited to specifically designed substrates.
Still another approach involves the estimation of a chromophore by fluorescence measurement. See W. Blumberg et el., Hemoglobin Determined in Whole Blood "Front Face" Fluorometry, Clin. Hemo. 26, 409 (1980). Blumberg disclosed an assay based on attenuation of fluorescence of a dye, whose excitation wavelengths overlap with the absorption wavelengths of the chromophore.
Subsequently, M. Shaffar, U.S. Pat. No. 4.495,293 (hereinafter Shaffar) filed a patent application disclosing a method to fluorometrically determine a ligand in an assay solution using conventional fluorometric techniques. In Shaffer the intensity of the fluorescence emitted by the assay solution is related to the change in transmissive properties of the assay solution produced by the interaction of the ligand to be determined and a reagent system capable of producing change in the transmissive properties of the assay solution in the presence of the ligand. More particularly, Shaffar discloses a method to monitor absorbance using a fluorophore in solution with the chromophore. In this method the fluorophore may interact with the assay cocktail and produce changes in fluorescence intensity which are unrelated to the change being measured. The selection of the fluorophores is also restricted, in that pH dependent or environment sensitive fluorophores cannot be utilized. Additionally, when the fluorophore is in solution, less than accurate measure of absorbance may be obtained because light is absorbed exponentially through the chromophore sample.
Similarly, Beggs & Sand, EPA 91,837 disclosed a solution based method for determination of tryptophan-deaminase activity by measuring the reduction in fluorescence in the presence of a chromophore produced by the interaction between indole pyruvic acid and metal ions using a fluorophore "whose fluorescence is capable of being quenched by the indole pyruvate-metal ion complex, the ions of the fluorophore being present throughout the incubation period".
Also, Sands, U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,788 discloses a process to detect a nitrate reducing microorganism by measuring reduction of fluorescence in solution by causing the diazotization of the fluorophore. In all these cases a specific fluorophore needs to be chosen for each test to ensure that it will fluoresce under the conditions of the test, e.g. only few fluorophores fluoresce at pH of less than 2.0.

Measurement of bacterial CO.sub.2 production in an isolated fluorophore by monitoring an absorbance regulated change of fluorescence


The present invention relates to a piloting assistance method for an aircraft, the method consisting in using data from at least one active telemeter sensor (A) in order to construct a sensor safety cordon (B) for avoiding the terrain and obstacles that are overflown. The method;                defines and calculates angular sectors (w) over the field of regard facing the pilot;        constructs a terrain safety cordon (D) using at least one terrain database (C);        for at least some of the angular sectors (w), constructs a hybrid safety cordon (E) that, in each of the angular sectors (w) in question, makes use of the higher of the sensor and terrain safety cordons (B, D); and        displays one of the cordons selected from: the hybrid safety cordon (E), the terrain safety cordon (D), and the sensor safety cordon (B).

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the general technical field of providing piloting assistance for aircraft flying at low altitude. In this kind of flight configuration, often close to obstacles and to the ground, it is necessary to have safety margins that are reliable when a pilot is following a path manually or with the help of an autopilot system. These margins, which are representative of the distance between the aircraft and the terrain, are displayed on a screen, e.g. in the form of a safety cordon, and they are absolutely essential, particularly when flying in low visibility.
The present invention relates more particularly to flying at low altitude and more precisely to following terrain at varying altitudes on a continuous basis, with an aircraft such as a rotorcraft, e.g. a helicopter, in order to avoid colliding with the terrain or with obstacles.
The following conventional abbreviations are used below:
Lidar (light detection and ranging);
Radar (radio detection and ranging);
AHRS (attitude and heading referential system);
GPS (global positioning system);
GNSS (global navigation satellite system), a term covering any satellite positioning system, including the global positioning system (GPS);
FOR (field of regard), measured in terms of the aperture angle of the acquisition window;
MSL (mean sea level);
WGS (world geodetic system);
HFoM (horizontal figure of merit), i.e. position error in the horizontal plane; and
VFoM (vertical figure of merit), i.e. position error in the vertical plane.
Furthermore, during a medical evacuation or when flying at low altitude under cloud cover, helicopters attempt to fly as close as possible to the terrain, while avoiding colliding therewith. In order to perform contour flying at low altitude, while avoiding collisions with the terrain, helicopter pilots fly under visual flight rules (VFR). Known means enable this type of mission to be performed, providing visibility is good, or else in poor visibility, but at altitudes that are not appropriate for all missions. Such altitudes are generally related to information in a terrain database in which potential obstacles are referenced.
(2) Description of Related Art
At present, two families of solutions are known for performing low altitude flying, while remaining as close as possible to the terrain and while avoiding obstacles.
One of the families relates to methods using terrain databases (elevation relative to a reference geoid (e.g. MSL or WGS84)), possibly together with databases of obstacles (geo-located together with their heights above the ground). Those methods are strongly dependent on geo-location means. For example, losing a GNSS system presents a major drawback for continuing a mission under initial conditions. Furthermore, there is the problem of lack of accuracy in "terrain" databases. Obstacles such as cables are not always accurately identified. In order to comply with flight safety margins, the helicopter is thus constrained to fly at an altitude that is too high relative to the relief.
Another family relates to methods making use of active telemeter sensors. Those methods present the drawback of not making it possible to anticipate turns that need to be performed and of not providing any predictive aspect concerning the path to be followed over the long term. One method making use of active telemeter sensors is described for example in Document FR 2 886 439. The method described nevertheless requires flight to be performed at high altitude when visibility is poor. That method also suffers from wave-reflection problems of the kind that are inherent to telemeter sensors.
In addition, such methods are very dependent on the quality of the telemeter sensor used. For example, such sensors have varying ranges (from 500 meters (m) to 2000 m), with cables being detected in Lidar mode, but not necessarily in Radar mode, and with other obstacles being detected regardless of the weather in Radar mode, but not in Lidar mode. Such methods thus increase the stress and the workload on the pilot.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 3,245,076 discloses an autopilot system enabling a safety curve to be determined at a distance from the aircraft, and more precisely with the help both of its speed vector, and of a distance corresponding to the minimum distance that must be maintained between the aircraft and detected relief. The system described also determines upper and lower curves located on either side of the safety curve. As a function of the appearance of obstacles that are referenced positively or negatively relative to the safety curve, between the lower and upper curves, the system calculates angles for pointing the nose down or up that are compatible with the maneuverability of the aircraft.
Document FR 2 712 251 describes a method of assisting the piloting of an aircraft for flying at low altitude, which method consists in detecting dangerous obstacles in relief. The method is based in particular on the maneuvering capability of the aircraft, on the basis of which a fictitious or potential curve is calculated that is tied to the aircraft and that is associated with an optimum theoretical path for overflying an obstacle in a vertical plane. That optimum theoretical overflight path is recalculated in each angular sector of the FOR while taking into consideration its highest obstacle, e.g. as detected by a telemeter sensor.
Document FR 1 374 954 describes associating a radar and a computer to operate continuously to determine the situation of an aerodyne relative to the ground and to issue nose-down or nose-up orders.
In addition to the Documents FR 2 886 439, U.S. Pat. No. 3,245,076, FR 2 712 251 (=EP 0 652 544), and FR 1 374 954, other documents may be mentioned.
Thus, Document U.S. Pat. No. 5,892,462 describes an adaptive type system for avoiding collision with terrain. Parameters are taken into account from various sources in order to consolidate a terrain-avoiding algorithm, those parameters including telemeter measurements or map-based data, but without seeking to construct a safety cordon over angular sectors.
Document US 2008/0243383 describes a terrain collision avoiding system that incorporates parameters from various sources.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 7,633,430 describes a terrain awareness warning system (TAWS) for aircraft, which system incorporates various parameters including on-board radar returns.
Document US 2003/195672 describes a flight management system including an augmented three-dimensional (3D) display of terrain.
Documents US 2006/0235581, FR 2 658 636, U.S. Pat. No. 6,317,690, and US 2008/243383 may be considered.
When a telemeter sensor is used, known methods are also highly dependent on the quality of the telemeter sensor and are unsuitable for mitigating any failure of said telemeter sensor. The pilot may thus be in a situation in which it is not possible to use a safety cordon, either because it is not available, or else because it is degraded by data that is wrong or inaccurate. The methods described also require flying to take place a high altitude when visibility is poor.
Problems of wave reflections that are inherent to telemeter sensors are not overcome by using said methods.
All of the measurements from geo-locating means are often not taken into account at present, in particular the measurement errors delivered by GNSS means such as HFoM or VFoM giving information about horizontal and vertical measurement errors are often not taken into account when calculating a path for low altitude flights.


A compensator for use in connection with the metering of electricity calculates multi-level losses due to loss devices such as transformers and transmission lines. The compensator calculates losses to delivered electricity due to the presence of such loss devices and can sum losses from multiple loss devices to determine the electricity being delivered at various points, or levels, in the transmission system.

This invention relates to an electrical energy meter such as used by power generation and transmission companies, and, more particularly, to a revenue accuracy meter and meter system that calculates multi-level energy losses.
Utility power distribution generally is divided into three segments: generation, transmission and distribution. More particularly, power is generated by a power generation facility, i.e., a power generator or power plant. The power generator supplies power through step-up subtransmission transformers to transmission lines. To reduce power transportation losses, the step-up transformers increase the voltage and reduce the current. The actual transmission line voltage conventionally depends on the distance between the subtransmission transformers and the users or customers.
Distribution substation transformers reduce the voltage from transmission line level to generally a range of about 2-35 kV. The primary power distribution system delivers power to distribution transformers that reduce the voltage still further, i.e., to about 120 V to 600 V.
Prior to electric utility deregulation, one entity or xe2x80x9celectric utilityxe2x80x9d usually owned the power generation, transmission and distribution segments. This utility would charge its customers according to the amount of energy the customer used. Energy usage could be determined by metering the usage at the customer""s location. Such metering was relatively simple and inexpensive because of the low voltages at these metering locations.
Electrical utilities would account for energy losses during transmission and distribution when calculating its rate structure. In other words, the utility would allocate the energy losses between its customers, thereby charging each customer a fair portion for the energy losses that occurred in transmitting the energy to the customer.
Utility deregulation, however, allows for separate ownership of the individual segments (and sub-segments) of a power generation, transmission and distribution system. Thus, one entity may own and maintain a power generation facility, which delivers energy to a transmission system that may be owned and maintained by another entity, which then delivers energy to a distribution system which may be owned and maintained by yet another entity.
Consequently, it is important that each entity know the exact amount of energy being supplied by it to another company (or received from another company). In other words, the power generator should know the amount of energy it is supplying to the transmission company and the transmission company should know the amount of energy it is supplying to the distribution company. Therefore, it is important to know the amount of energy being delivered at each point of delivery to each entity. This way, each entity knows the amount of energy it is selling or receiving at the various points of delivery throughout the system.
However, there are usually high voltages at these points of delivery, such as after step-up transformers and along transmission lines. Thus, because of the high voltages, it is difficult and expensive to connect a meter at such points to monitor the energy values. In addition, by adding additional meters and transformers to such systems, maintenance becomes more difficult and reliability may decrease.
Metering at different locations is also important because of energy losses that occur during transmission and distribution. Specifically, transformers and transmission lines cause the majority of energy losses during transmission and distribution. Moreover, each entity itself consumes energy in its day to day activities, such as for lighting, controls and heating. It is important to account for these losses since, with deregulation, it becomes important to know the exact amount of energy that is delivered at different points of delivery along the system.
Consequently, and especially with deregulation, there is a need for better management and accounting of energy supply and delivery. There is also a need to determine the amounts of energy being delivered at different points in a generation, transmission and distribution system, without increasing the number of meters in the system. There is also a need for the simplification of energy metering.
Moreover, each supplier, user and deliverer should be able to communicate with each other, and transfer information regarding the quantity, and, if desired, the quality, of the energy being transferred into and out of their particular portion of the generation and transmission system. Thus, the management, accounting and metering of energy is becoming more and more important.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an inexpensive and reliable metering device that provides information about energy being delivered at different points in a utility generation and transmission system. Moreover, it is desirable to eliminate meters, or the need for meters, at certain locations in utility transmission and distribution systems.
The present invention advantageously provides a loss compensator for use in or in connection with an electronic revenue access meter to provide it with the means to calculate energy losses associated with equipment and transmission lines in a transmission system. The loss constants associated with this equipment and transmission lines are available to the compensator, or are preferably pre-stored in the compensator. A meter coupled to the compensator preferably communicates with other meters in the system to net the available supply of energy at the first level of the system. Losses for the second level are then subtracted from this net, which results in a calculation of the net energy available at the second level or second point in the system, downstream of the equipment and/or lines that caused the losses. Losses for a third level are then subtracted from this second net, to arrive at the net energy available at a the third level, and so on.
The present invention thus provides a compensator for computing compensation level losses in an electrical energy transmission system that includes devices to which electrical energy losses can be attributed, i.e., xe2x80x9closs devicesxe2x80x9d such as transformers or transmission lines. The compensator is coupled to a meter located at a first point in the system and in communication with at least one other meter, each such meter at a respective point at the system distal from the first point. The compensator comprises at least one totalizer programmed to receive at least one input relating to a measure of electricity information, to compute a total value of that electricity information, and to output that value. The compensator further comprises a memory device containing at least one loss constant corresponding to a loss device. In, addition, the compensator comprises a loss calculator coupled to the at least one totalizer for receiving an output from the totalizer, and coupled to the memory device for receiving the at least one loss constant from the memory device, and programmed for computing an electrical energy loss value based on the outputs received from the totalizer of totalizers and from the memory device.
The present invention further provides for a compensation method for use in an electrical energy meter coupled to an electrical energy network including loss devices. The energy meter makes at least one measurement relating to electrical energy, and the method compensates the at least one measurement for electrical energy loss due to at least one of the loss devices. This method according to the present invention comprises the steps of selecting a compensation level of the network, determining whether a compensation corresponding to the selected level is to be made to the at least one measurement relating to electrical energy, totalizing the electrical energy measure for at least one of the loss devices, and calculating, based on the result of the totalization step, a loss for the selected level and attributable to the at least one loss device.
A meter coupled to the compensator the present invention thus eliminates the need for additional meters in certain areas of the system, thereby decreasing costs and increasing reliability. A meter coupled to the compensator of the present invention provides detailed information to selected users, customers, managers, and the like, about available energy and losses for multiple levels of the system. In other words, the meters having such a compensator are preferably accessible by suppliers, users, utilities, managers and the like, thereby making usage, losses and metering information available for accounting, study, management, etc.
Consequently, multi-level meters coupled to compensators of the present invention allow power generation facilities and/or utilities to easily and reliably manage and meter the quantity and quality of the energy being delivered and transferred at different locations or levels in a transmission system.

Multi-level transformer and line loss compensator and method


A conditioning and cutting apparatus for a blade is provided. The apparatus may include a cutting board and a conditioning device. The cutting board may include a top cutting surface, a bottom surface disposed in opposition to the top cutting surface, and a peripheral wall extending between the top cutting surface and the bottom surface and defining the perimeter of the cutting board. The cutting board may define a channel therein. The channel may define a recess and an opening thereto. The peripheral wall may define the opening of the channel. The conditioning device may be disposed in the channel. The conditioning device may be configured to interact with the blade as the blade is drawn through the channel.

A wide variety of cutting boards are utilized for various activities involving knives and other tools which incorporate blades. For example, cutting boards are frequently used in the kitchen or in the butcher's shop as surfaces on which to cut, slice, trim, and chop various foods. The cutting boards are frequently placed in prominent, exposed areas, such as, for example, in the kitchen on a countertop. Guests and customers who frequent the kitchen or butcher's shop may view the cutting boards in their exposed positions. It therefore may be desirable for cutting boards to be aesthetically pleasing.
In order to facilitate efficient and effective cutting by the blades of knives and other cutting tools, and to facilitate the safety of users of the blades, the blades should be maintained with sharp, straight cutting edges. Any cutting processes result in the cutting edges of the blades quickly becoming dull and warped, which necessitates periodic sharpening and conditioning of the blades. For example, blade cutting edges curl with frequent use, and conditioning of the blade to straighten the cutting edge is required to ensure safe, efficient, and effective use of the blade.
Many tools are available for sharpening and conditioning blades. These tools are generally independent sharpening and conditioning devices. The devices are generally stored between periodic uses and must therefore be located each time a blade is in need of sharpening or conditioning. The process of locating a sharpening device or a conditioning device can become tedious and time-consuming, and can take away from time spent, for example, preparing a meal.
In the past, cutting boards and blade sharpening and conditioning devices have been combined in order to allow for sharpening and conditioning of blades during use of the cutting board. However, these devices have been cumbersome to use, frequently requiring the user of the cutting board to remove food from the cutting board in order to utilize the sharpening device or conditioning device. Additionally, the sharpening and conditioning devices incorporated into cutting boards of the past have intruded on the cutting surfaces of the cutting boards, interfering with the cutting process and limiting the useful cutting surface of the cutting boards. Indeed, in some instances, the sharpening and conditioning devices incorporated into cutting boards of the past have accidently damaged and dulled blades during use of the blades on the cutting surfaces of the cutting boards. Further, the sharpening and conditioning devices incorporated into cutting boards of the past have interfered with the aesthetics and sanitary requirements of the cutting boards.
In view of the above, a need currently exists for a cutting board that incorporates a blade conditioning device. Additionally, a need exists for a cutting board that remains sanitary and aesthetically pleasing while incorporating a blade conditioning device. Further, a need exists for a cutting board that allows for the entire cutting surface of the cutting board to be utilized while incorporating an unobtrusive blade conditioning device.


Device for the preservation of substances to be kept separate until their application includes a container (2), which is provided with an at least partially deformable body (6), and a delivery mouth (4), on which there is provided a delivery element for delivering the mixture. A watertight chamber (5) is arranged between the delivery mouth and the body of the container and is provided with a connection mouth (12) for the connection to the body (6), which is closed by cap means (20). A component of the substance to be delivered is contained in the watertight chamber (5), whereas another component is contained in the body (6). The communication between the two components is established by removing said cap, by interference between the walls of the cap and the walls of the body.

The present invention is related to a device for dispensing substances, for example liquid substances, to be kept separate until their application. Devices or bottles are known, which comprise two containers, generally with different capacities, and in which one container is filled with some of the components of the solution, while the other container is filled with the other components of the solution. Upon application of the product, a communication is established between the two containers, thus allowing the components to be mixed.
The Italian patent no. IT1251658, in the name of the same Applicant, discloses a device of the type described above and comprising a container 2, which is provided with a body 6, which is at least partially deformable, and with a delivery mouth, on which there is provided at least one mixture delivery element. A watertight chamber is arranged between said delivery mouth and said body of the container and is provided with a connection mouth for the connection to the body of the container, which is closed by cap means that can be removed.
A component of said mixture is contained in said watertight chamber, whereas another component is contained in the deformable body. The communication between the two components is established by removing said cap means, said removal occurring by interference between the walls of said cap means and the walls of the body of the container.
The device comprises a bellows portion, which has a horizontal annular wall, and an upper annular wall, which, in section, is oblique. Under the horizontal wall there are provided ribs. The cap means, in one of the two embodiments, can be removed by compressing the bellows and by causing the cap means to come in contact with an annular narrowing, which is arranged in the body under the bellows and has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the cap. In this way, the cap is removed from its mouth.
The effectiveness of this method for removing the cap substantially depends on the effectiveness of the bellows and on the dimensions of the annular narrowing.