A liquid crystal display includes a display section performing display using a liquid crystal, a substrate disposed to face a bottom surface of the display section and having a circuit for driving the liquid crystal mounted thereon, and a heat diffusing section disposed in contact with the bottom surface of the display section and a top surface of the substrate and having thermal conductivity higher than the thermal conductivity of air.

Recently, various enterprises and universities are actively engaged in the development of electronic paper. The most promising application of electronic paper is electronic books, and other applications include sub-displays of mobile terminals and display sections of IC cards. One of the most advantageous display method used for electronic paper is the use of a liquid crystal display panel utilizing a cholesteric liquid crystal. A liquid crystal display panel utilizing a cholesteric liquid crystal has excellent features such as semi-permanent display retention characteristics (memory characteristics), vivid color display characteristics, high contrast characteristics, and high resolution characteristics. A cholesteric liquid crystal is obtained by adding a relatively great amount of chiral additive (chiral material) to a nematic liquid crystal (to a chiral content of several tens percent), and it is also called a chiral nematic liquid crystal. A cholesteric liquid crystal forms a cholesteric phase in which nematic liquid crystal molecules are greatly twisted helically to such a degree that incident light will undergo interference reflection.
A liquid crystal display panel utilizing a cholesteric liquid crystal displays an image by controlling the alignment of liquid crystal molecules at each pixel. States of alignment of a cholesteric liquid crystal include a planar state and a focal conic state. Those states exist with stability even when there is no electric field. A liquid crystal layer in the focal conic state transmits light, and a liquid crystal layer in the planar state selectively reflects light rays having particular wavelengths in accordance with the helical pitch of the liquid crystal molecules. A liquid crystal display panel utilizing a cholesteric liquid crystal cannot be properly made to enter the planar state or focal conic state unless a pulse voltage having an optimal pulse width is applied.
A liquid crystal display panel of this type, which may be used as a display panel of a liquid crystal display, is vulnerable to the influence of temperatures. For example, the viscosity of a cholesteric liquid crystal increases in a manner like an exponential function at low temperatures, which results in a corresponding reduction in the response (γ characteristic) of the cholesteric liquid crystal to a pulse voltage applied to drive the same. For this reason, it is necessary to vary the magnitude or pulse width of the pulse voltage applied to drive the cholesteric liquid crystal depending on temperatures. FIG. 9 illustrates examples of optimal effective pulses widths (ms) associated with temperatures a common cholesteric liquid crystal. Temperatures (C.°) of the cholesteric liquid crystal is illustrated along the horizontal axis, and logarithms of the optimal effective pulse widths (ms) are illustrated along the vertical axis. Referring to FIG. 9, points D1 to D7 represent actual effective pulse widths at respective temperatures, and a curve C is a curve approximated from the points D1 to D7. As depicted in FIG. 9, the optimal effective pulse width applied to the cholesteric liquid crystal is greater, the lower the temperature of the cholesteric liquid crystal. The figure also depicts that the pulse width is smaller, the higher the temperature.
FIG. 10 is an illustration schematically depicting display irregularities of a liquid crystal display. As depicted in FIG. 10, a liquid crystal display panel 246 of a liquid crystal display may enter a state in which pixel regions at relatively high temperatures and pixel regions at relatively low temperatures coexist (a state what is called temperature irregularities) because of heat emitted from a driving circuit 231, a control circuit 232, and the like provided on a circuit substrate 230 of the panel or heat from not-depicted devices provided inside the liquid crystal display. In such a state, the liquid crystal display panel 246 has the problem of so-called display irregularities attributable to differences in response to substantially the same pulse voltage between the pixel regions at high temperatures and the regions at low temperatures. In order to reduce display irregularities attributable to temperature irregularities as thus described, liquid crystal displays utilizing a cholesteric liquid crystal have been proposed, in which a heat leveling layer is provided on a bottom surface of a light absorbing layer to allow uniform heat radiation substantially throughout the bottom of a display surface (for example, see JP-A-2002-82325).
In such a liquid crystal display, although display irregularities attributable to temperature irregularities are reduced, the temperature of the liquid crystal display panel itself is not increased. Therefore, no improvement is achieved in the response of the liquid crystal. Therefore, a problem arises in that degradation of the response of the liquid crystal results in an extremely long screen rewriting time especially at low temperatures. FIG. 11 is an illustration schematically depicting a sectional configuration of a liquid crystal display having an electric heater. In order to solve the above-described problem, for example, a configuration as depicted in FIG. 11 may be employed. Specifically, a film-like electric heater 212 generating heat from electric power supplied by a battery 213 is provided on a bottom surface of a liquid crystal display panel 246, whereby the liquid crystal layer is heated to improve the response of the liquid crystal.
The above-described configuration including an electric heater provided on a bottom surface of a liquid crystal display panel has a problem in that high electric power is consumed to generate heat by the electric heater. In particular, when a liquid crystal display having such a configuration is provided in a battery-driven electronic apparatus, a problem arises in that power dissipation of the battery is significantly accelerated.

Liquid crystal display with rewriting image and heat diffusing section contact bottom surface of display section and electronic apparatus having the same


An improved process for the hydroconversion of coal comprising pretreating coal in an aqueous carbon monoxide-containing environment, followed by extracting a soluble hydrocarbon material from the coal, and subsequently hydroconverting the extracted material in a hydroconversion reactor. The extracted material consists of a relatively hydrogen-rich material which is readily converted to valuable liquid products in high yield. The residue from the extraction stage is relatively hydrogen deficient material which can be gasified to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide for the hydroconversion and pretreatment stages, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The petroleum industry has long been interested in the production of "synthetic" liquid fuels from non-petroleum solid fossil fuel sources. It is hoped that economic non-petroleum sources of liquid fuel will help the petroleum industry to meet growing energy requirements and decrease dependence on foreign supplies.
Coal is the most readily available and most abundant solid fossil fuel, others being tar sands and oil shale. The United States is particularly richly endowed with well distributed coal resources. Additionally, in the conversion of coal to synthetic fuels, it is possible to obtain liquid yields of about three to four barrels per ton of dry coal, or about four times the liquid yield/ton of other solid fossil fuels such as tar sands or shale, because these resources contain a much higher proportion of mineral matter.
Despite the continued interest and efforts of the petroleum industry in coal hydroconversion technology, further improvements are necessary before it can reach full economic status. Maximizing the yield of coal liquids is important to the economics of coal hydroconversion.
The present invention relates to an improved process for converting coal to liquid hydrocarbon products in a catalytic hydroconversion process. The improvement relates to a coal pretreatment stage comprising subjecting the coal to aqueous carbon monoxide under specific pressure and temperature conditions. Such pretreatment enhances solubility in the subsequent coal extraction stage. The reactivity of the coal extract in the subsequent hydroconversion stage is advantageously high.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The known processes for producing liquid fuels from coal can be grouped into four broad categories: direct hydrogenation, donor solvent hydrogenation, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (via gasification), and pyrolysis (see Kirk Othmer - Fuels).
The direct hydrogenation of coal in the presence of solvent and catalyst was first developed in Germany prior to World War II. In such a process, a slurry of coal in a suitable solvent was reacted in the presence of molecular hydrogen at an elevated temperature and pressure.
A number of previous co-assigned patents disclose coal liquefaction processes utilizing hydroconversion catalysts which are micron-sized particles comprised of a metal sulfide in a carbonaceous matrix. These catalysts are generally formed from certain soluble or highly dispersed organometallic or inorganic compounds or precursors. These precursors are converted into catalyst particles by heating in the presence of a hydrogen-containing gas. The catalyst particles are highly dispersed in the feed being treated during hydroconversion. Among the various patents in this area are U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,867; U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,765; U.S. Pat. No. 4,149,959; U.S. Pat. No. 4,298,454; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,916. Other patents disclose catalysts similar to the above except that the catalytically active metal compound is supported on finely divided particles of solid metals and metal alloys, for example as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,295,995 and 4,357,229.
The conversion of coal in the presence of high temperature steam and carbon monoxide is well known, dating back to Fischer and Schrader in 1921 (F. Fisher & H. Schrader, Bennst. Chem., 2, 257, 1921). Several hydroconversion processes, including the U.S. Bureau of Mines COSTEAM process (H. R. Appell, E. C. Moroni, R. D. Miller, Energy Sources, 3, 163, 1971), have been developed based on using steam/carbon monoxide or steam/syngas at 750-850.degree. F. in a primary conversion step. In contrast, the present invention is directed to the use of an aqueous carbon monoxide environment for pretreatment of coal before a subsequent primary conversion step.
One of the problems encountered in certain catalyzed coal hydroconversion processes is the separation of slurried catalyst from solid by-products, such as undissolved organic coal and ash. Such solid materials are typically dispersed throughout the reaction mixture during the hydroconversion operation, and are thus present in the coal liquid recovered after hydroconversion. Such solid materials are present in the coal liquids in a finely divided, particulate state, and are typically separated from the coal liquid products by distillation.
Another problem inherent in coal hydroconversion processes has been the requirement for large amounts of hydrogen. It has been suggested that this problem of hydrogen consumption could be reduced by converting only a relatively small fraction of the coal, which fraction is rich in hydrogen. However, to be economical, there is a need for a process which converts a relatively large fraction of the coal to valuable liquid hydrocarbon products. The present process, while not necessarily reducing the requirement for hydrogen, allows coal to be taken to a higher conversion level. Hydrogen utilization is therefore more efficient. For a given amount of liquid products less gas is produced, resulting in a better liquid to gas selectivity.
An object of the present invention is to provide a novel process for the hydroconversion of coal in order to produce valuable liquid hydrocarbonaceous products.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved process for producing liquid hydrocarbonaceous products from coal by utilizing a pretreatment step wherein the coal is subjected to reaction with aqueous carbon monoxide.
A still further object of the present invention is to pretreat coal in a specific temperature range to enhance extraction and generate a more reactive coal material for hydroconversion, thereby obtaining more product, with better liquid to gas selectivity.
Another object of the present invention is to improve the utilization efficiency of molecular hydrogen, in the transformation of coal to valuable liquids, by sending a more hydrogenated fraction of the coal to hydroconversion, as well as effecting better liquid-to-gas selectivity.
Another object of the present invention is to increase the thermal efficiency of a coal hydroconversion plant by providing a more efficient coal dewatering and coal partial oxidation operation.
Still another object of the present invention is to liquefy coal by a process comprising in sequence a pretreatment stage, an extraction stage (ex-situ or in-situ), and a catalytic hydroconversion stage.
Additional advantages of the present coal hydroconversion process will become apparent in the following description.

Coal hydroconversion process comprising solvent extraction (OP-3472)


A user device and a server provide a VR experience service to a user without significant interruption in response to a user's movement. In particular, the server may create a stitched image of a 360-degree video of a predetermined virtual environment according to a user movement state and transmit the stitched image to a user device. The user device may i) receive, from a server through a wireless link, a stitched image of a 360-degree video of a predetermined virtual environment which is dynamically changed according to a user movement state and ii) render a stereoscopic image at a user's view-point which is dynamically changed according to a user's head movement, using the received stitched image of the 360-degree view of the predetermined virtual environment.

The present disclosure relates to a virtual reality (VR) experience service and, more particularly, to seamlessly providing a VR experience service to a user in response to user actions through a wireless communication link.
A virtual reality (VR) experience service enables a user to experience a virtual reality at a stationary position (a fixed location) using a VR technology. Such a VR experience service may be provided through a media streaming scheme from a server to a user device (e.g., head mounted device). For example, a server creates a virtual environment with three dimensional (3D) graphic images, receives information on user's positions and movements whenever the user makes movements, reflects such user's positions and movements to the virtual environment based on the received information, and streams images (e.g., stereoscopic images) of the reflected virtual space to a user device. Then, the user device may display the streamed images of the virtual space on a stereoscopic display.
In general, a user changes positions and movements abruptly and frequently in the virtual space. Accordingly, the server needs to quickly and immediately reflect such changes in the virtual environment and transmits the result to the user device for displaying the reflected and changed virtual environment to the user. However, there is delay caused by image processing and data transmission. Accordingly, there is a demand for reducing such a delay in processing images in response to the user's movements and transmitting the result to the user device.

Providing virtual reality experience service


Provided are a human type 55 replication defective adenovirus vector, a method for preparing the same and uses thereof. The human type 55 replication defective adenovirus vector is prepared by the following method: knocking out E1 and E3 genes from Ad55, substituting the open reading frame 6 or the open reading frames 2, 3, 4, 6, and 6/7 of E4 gene in Ad55 genome with the corresponding open reading frames of Ad5 genome. In addition, an exogenous gene expression cassette may also be integrated into the E1 gene region of Ad55.

Adenovirus (Ad) is a double-stranded DNA virus with a genome length of about 35-40 kb. It is known that human adenovirus is classified into 7 species (A-G) including more than 60 serotypes. Adenovirus type 3, 4, 7 and 14, belonging to species B, can cause acute respiratory diseases and even fatal pneumonia. In recent years, the emergence of type 55 adenovirus (hereinafter referred to as Ad55) which is a recombinant virus of type 11 and 14 adenoviruses, has led to a series of outbreaks of community-acquired pneumonia. Death cases were sporadically reported in these epidemics. Clinically, supportive treatment is the only strategy for Ad55 infection. There are still no anti-viral drugs nor prophylactic vaccines. Therefore, development of anti-Ad55 vaccines and drugs is essential for the control of Ad55 infection in general populations, especially among military recruits, young students and the like.
At present, the only adenovirus vaccine is used in US troops. This vaccine is enteric-coated capsules comprised of wild type Ad4 and Ad7 which are passaged and propagated on diploid human fetal kidney fibroblasts, and then frozen, dehydrated, and coated with cellulose lactose. The utilization of this vaccine effectively decreased the outbreaks of adenovirus epidemic in US troops. However, the used adenovirus vaccine is still of significant drawbacks. This vaccine is mainly used to prevent Ad4 and Ad7 infection, and has no exact preventive effects on Ad14 and Ad55 which are highly pathogenic. On the other hand, this vaccine is comprised of wild-type adenovirus, which may bring safety concerns because residual live viruses discharged from the intestinal tract can easily pollute the water and thus resulting in the spread of the viruses. This vaccine, therefore, cannot be applied to general population. Replication defective adenovirus vaccine with high safety and protective capacity against Ad55 is urgently needed.
Previous studies have shown that E1 gene is essential for the replication of adenovirus, whereas E3 gene antagonizes host immune responses. Adenovirus with E1 and E3 genes deleted lose the ability to replicate in immune-competent individuals and exhibit an attenuated phenotype, whereas the major surface antigens such as Hexon and Fibre are not affected. Therefore, the use of replication defective adenovirus as a vaccine can effectively enhance its safety and expand its applicable range. Replication defective adenovirus can be propagated in complementary cell lines, such as 293 and PerC6 cells, which steadily express the E1 gene of Ad5. However, for many adenoviruses, especially those from species B, deletion of E1 and E3 genes renders them difficult to propagate in these cell lines, mainly because Ad5 E1B 55K cannot interact with E4 Orf6 from species B adenovirus, and thereby cannot effectively inhibit host mRNA transportation out of the nucleus and enhance the expression of viral late proteins.
Replication defective Ad55 can also be widely used as gene vector in gene therapy, as well as vaccines and other fields. Adenovirus vector has a number of advantages such as good safety, effectiveness of gene transduction and convenience of large-scale production. Due to these advantages, adenovirus vector has been used in hundreds of clinical trials around the world, ranking among the most widely used vectors (24.8%). Most studies use Ad5 or Ad2 as vector. However, the pre-existing anti-Ad immune response elicited by previous adenovirus infection limits the use of traditional adenovirus vector. Studies have shown that pre-existing Ad2 and Ad5 neutralizing antibodies are of high seropositive rate in developing countries and regions such as Africa, South America and China. In some populations the seropositive rate is even more than 90%. These neutralizing antibodies inhibit the entry of adenovirus vectors into body cells, making it difficult to perform immunological or therapeutic functions. To overcome the pre-existing anti-Ad immune response, researchers have developed a series of techniques, including: 1) using immunosuppressive agents to inhibit the anti-Ad immune response such as cyclosporine, cyclophosphamide, FK506, etc.; 2) modifying or reconstructing surface proteins of adenovirus vector in order to bypass pre-existing neutralizing antibodies; 3) infecting PBMC by adenovirus in vitro, then performing autologous transfusion (an AVIP techniques which we have previously developed), and so on. However, these techniques either have severe side effects (such as immunosuppressive agents) or can only be used for once because of the immune response triggered against a new vector after the application.

Human type 55 replication defective adenovirus vector, method for preparing same and uses thereof


An IO driver utilizes a slew rate boost circuit coupled to an IO driver circuit to improve the slew rate of the driver during transitions on the output of the driver. One or more additional output stages are coupled in parallel with a primary output stage of the driver, and are temporarily activated responsive to a transition in an input signal to the driver to effectively decrease the output impedance and boost the pull-up and pull-down time response characteristics of the driver during the transition of the output. The additional output stages are active only for a small part of a cycle, so the slew rate is thereby increased while the effective output impedance during most of the cycle is essentially unaffected.

Slew rate and output impedance are often competing parameters in an IO driver circuit design. The slew rate refers to the maximum rate of change for the output voltage of a circuit for all possible input signals. From the perspective of an IO driver that is driven by a binary input signal, the slew rate effectively relates to how quickly the driver can switch the output of the driver between two logic states.
Output impedance generally refers to the characteristic impedance of the output of a circuit. Control over output impedance is typically required for the purpose of impedance matching with a load. When the output impedance of a circuit is mismatched with that of its load, the fidelity of the signal being transmitted can degrade due to reflections and distortions of the signal.
A requirement for high driver output impedance generally introduces delays into a circuit, and as such, often has the net effect of decreasing the slew rate of the circuit. As circuits such as IO drivers are used in increasingly faster and higher performing circuits, however, the need to increase the slew rates of such drivers has increased. Many specifications, on the other hand, require a specific output impedance, and as such, the output impedance cannot simply be scaled down to assist with improving the slew rate of a driver.
To reconcile these conflicting requirements, a need exists in the art for a manner of improving the slew rate of an IO driver while maintaining a desirable output impedance for the driver.

International Business Machines Corporation


A method for testing the mechanical properties of a specimen. The specimen is generally characterized by a first contact surface and a second contact surface spaced apart from and opposing the first contact surface. The method involves applying forces to the contact surfaces of the specimen to deform the specimen over a period of time. The response of the specimen to the forces is then measured over time. A spatial distance between the contact surfaces is defined such that the equivalent gauge length of the specimen is greater than the distance between the contact surfaces.

Materials such as metal can creep if they experience stress at a high enough temperature, over a long period of time. One of the primary aims of a designer of equipment operating in a creep range is to plan for the possibilities of failure by excessive deformation and avoid such failure. For example, dimensional changes with time, even of the order of a few millimetres, leading to mismatch of components or contact between moving parts, could lead to serious damage to plant, not to mention loss of human life and revenue.
Therefore there is a need for the generation of ways of predicting whether components operating in the creep range will sustain the life required of them. The useful life of a material could be terminated when deformation becomes excessive, when rupture occurs or when latent flaws or initiated cracks grow at unacceptable rates by creep or creep/fatigue.
Creep is defined as a high temperature progressive deformation at constant stress. "High temperature" is a relative term dependent upon the materials involved. Creep rates are used in evaluating materials for boilers, gas turbines, jet engines, ovens, or any application that involves high temperatures under load. Understanding high temperature behaviour of metals is useful in designing failure resistant systems.
Conventional uniaxial creep tests using cylindrical bar type specimens are usually performed for determining the creep properties. Creep occurs in three stages: Primary, or Stage I; Secondary, or Stage II: and Tertiary, or Stage III. Stage I, or Primary creep occurs at the beginning of a components life during which the strain rate reduces. Resistance to creep increases until Stage II is reached. In Stage II, or Secondary creep, the rate of creep becomes roughly steady. This stage is often referred to as steady state creep. In Stage III, or tertiary creep, the creep rate begins to accelerate as the cross sectional area of the specimen decreases due to (i) material degradation, and (ii) necking or internal voiding which decreases the effective area of the specimen. If stage III is allowed to proceed, fracture will occur.
Creep tests are usually employed to determine the minimum creep rate in Stage II. Engineers need to account for this expected deformation when designing systems. Currently there are three types of tests commonly used to determine creep strain data for a sample of material which is relatively small in size. These are the uniaxial, impression and small punch tests which are described further below.
To determine creep properties from the uniaxial creep test using small uniaxial specimen, material is subjected to prolonged constant tension or compression loading at constant temperature. Deformation is recorded at specified time intervals and a creep strain vs. time diagram is plotted. Slope of curve at any point is creep rate. If failure occurs, it terminates the test and Time for Rupture is recorded.
Impression creep testing, wherein a flat-ended cylindrical punch is used to load a small area of the specimen in compression, enables testing of small material volumes and the use of miniaturized specimens, with minimal preparation. However, under very slow creeping situations (depending on material, stress and temperature), a considerable time is necessary for the evolution of a steady-state creep zone under the punch, resulting in a prolonged period of decreasing creep rate even when the constitutive creep behaviour is strain-independent. This test-dependent transient behaviour, where the creep rate decreases slowly even at very long test times, complicates the determination of true material creep parameters. The very small creep deformations which occur under such conditions can be very difficult to accurately measure.
Small punch creep (SPC) test technique is another method used to evaluate the creep properties of materials extracted from components in a high temperature environment. The SPC uses a number of theory and test techniques for the purpose of applying the SPC test to the residual creep life assessment of plant components. However, as it is carried out in a high temperature environment using very thin miniature disc specimens, which is different from conventional uniaxial creep tests described above. The creep properties of the test specimens can be significantly influenced by surface oxidation. Moreover, when creep and oxidation occur simultaneously, it becomes difficult to unambiguously distinguish which changes are attributable to oxidation and which to fracture. When the oxide is strong and firmly adherent to the metal, it can improve creep strength, but if the oxide had low inherent strength or spalls away from the surface, creep strength can decrease.
The advantage that the small punch test method has relative to the impression creep test method is that it involves tertiary creep and fracture, whereas the impression creep test method only gives information on secondary creep behaviour and some indication about primary creep. However, so far the small punch test method does not have a fully verified and universal route for interpreting the primary, secondary and tertiary contributions to the overall displacement versus time curve.
For practical small specimen dimensions, the "test section" area for all three specimen types can be made large enough to enable "bulk" creep properties to be obtained (as opposed to single grains, or a few grain boundary properties being determined, which can be the case if the sample is very small). Similarly, all three have relatively small equivalent gauge length (EGLs), i.e. 2 to 10 mm for practical dimensions. The term EGL is defined as the length by which the measured deformation must be divided to give the equivalent strain to that which would be obtained from a corresponding uniaxial test.
The term "gauge length" is used in mechanical testing, it is the length, usually marked on a portion of a tensile test piece over which the elongation is measured.
In order to obtain results in reasonably short timescales (tests are usually carried out for times in the range 500 h to 3000 h), and in order to get easily measureable deformations with high accuracy, tests are often conducted at relatively high "stress" levels and/or temperatures, as compared with typical values of stress and temperature that a component would be designed to endure. All three specimen types currently being used are relatively "stiff" and so there is little scope for significantly increasing the EGL.
Any discussion of documents, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the invention. It should not be taken as an admission that any of the material forms part of the prior art base or the common general knowledge in the relevant art.

Specimen creep test and methods of using such tests


The present invention relates to a pest monitoring method based on machine vision. The method includes the following steps: arranging a pest trap at a place where pests gather, and setting an image acquisition device in front of the pest trap to acquire an image; identifying a pest in the acquired image, and obtaining a number of pests; extracting multiple suspicious pest images from a region of each identified pest in the image, and determining identification accuracy of each suspicious pest image, if the number of pests is greater than or equal to a preset threshold for the number of pests; and calculating a predicted level of pest damage based on the number of pests and the identification accuracy of each suspicious pest image. The present invention acquires a pest image automatically through the image acquisition device in front of the pest trap.

In recent years, pests cause severe damage and financial loss in some areas of China. In particular, for large areas of citruses planted in South China, citrus greening disease transmitted by psyllids has seriously affected the normal operation of citrus orchards and greatly affected the output and quality of citrus fruits. Pest control is considered as the key to controlling pest damage. Various regions have taken related control measures to prevent the citrus greening disease. In this process, the occurrence rule of the damage caused by citrus psyllids is mainly visually inspected by a person, and the degree of damage is predicted artificially. This is laborious, and the accuracy of monitored data is affected by the activity and migration of adult pests. Other traditional pest monitoring methods, such as the use of traps for monitoring, are unideal in terms of accuracy and timeliness. In addition, these methods cannot provide effective guidance for orchard pest control, and high control costs and poor results.

Pest monitoring method based on machine vision

ZHONGKAI UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND ENGINEER


A steerable antenna architecture, or configuration, for optimal steering of transmitting and/or receiving beam over wide scan angles, is capable of steering the beam on a full hemisphere (2π steradians), with no singularity or key-hole within a coverage area and with only one RF rotary joint. The architecture includes a dual-reflector assembly defining an antenna focal point located close to a main reflector surface and a signal feed chain having a signal source located adjacent to the antenna focal point and defining a feed axis substantially pointing towards a sub-reflector intersection point. A first actuator rotates the feed chain and the dual-reflector assembly about a first rotation axis generally perpendicular to the feed axis and not intersecting with the coverage area. A second actuator rotates one of the main reflector and the dual-reflector assembly about a second rotation axis aligned with the feed axis.

It is well known in the art to use steerable (or tracking) antennas to communicate with a relatively moving target over a wide scan angle. Especially in the aerospace industry, such steerable antennas preferably need to have high gain, low mass, and high reliability. The antennas used in these wide scan applications typically include two rotation axes requiring two rotary joints, cable cassettes or other means of propagating the signal over each of the rotation axis. The elimination or the reduction of the number of RF (radio-frequency) rotary joints is highly desirable from a cost, signal loss and reliability perspective. Some solutions have been developed to eliminate rotary joints in wide angle (essentially greater than 90 degrees) steerable antennas but they are affected by the presence of a singularity which affects the ability to track a target when the beam becomes substantially aligned with one of the rotation axes. This singularity is referred to as the key-hole effect, because of the time required for the rotation around the axis presenting a singularity to catch up with the target rate of motion. Generally for satellite based systems, this singularity is associated with the use of an azimuth rotation axis that points to the earth (sub-satellite point or nadir). For certain missions, this singularity has little impact on the overall system performance or complexity but in many cases, especially when a high gain is required, it can lead to very high actuator speed in order to maintain an adequate link as the targets gets aligned with a rotation axis. For a steerable antenna equipped with a nadir pointing azimuth rotation axis, this happens when the sub-satellite track makes a pass very near the intended target. This can become a driver in the choice of the actuator and increase the complexity of the drive electronics system. Larger rotary actuators with more complex and costly drive electronics are then required. A solution having no rotary joints is illustrated in FIG. 1 (ref U.S. Pat. No. 6,747,604). This configuration has a key-hole or singularity at nadir (pointing towards the Earth center for an antenna mounted on an Earth facing panel of an orbiting spacecraft) since one of the rotation axis is pointing towards nadir. A different configuration using an elevation over azimuth gimbal is shown in FIG. 2. This approach has only one rotary joint but also suffers from the key-hole effect at nadir.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved steerable antenna configuration.

Wide scan steerable antenna with no key-hole

McDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Corporation


An image reading apparatus having a line image sensor for line scanning a document is disclosed. The line image sensor is comprised of plural sensor chips aligned in the main scan direction thereof each of which has an output terminal for outputting each image signal obtained thereby. The image reading apparatus provides plural analogue to digital conversion means for converting respective analogue image signals outputted from respective image sensor chips into digital data, respectively, plural memory means for memorizing the digital data and an output means for reading said digital data from said plural memory means parallel and for outputting those digital data having been read serially.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus providing a line image sensor for line scanning a document.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The color CCD (charge coupled device) image sensor of contact type is widely used for the color image reading apparatus. An image of a document is dissolved into plural light components (usually three primary color red (R), green (G) and blue (B) components) and those light components are transduced to color data by photo-electric transducers, respectively. Then, respective color data is converted into digital data. These digital data are binarized according to a predetermined method such as the dither method after shading correction to them is performed. The binarized data are outputted to an external device such as a printer.
The CCD sensor of contact type has a limitation with respect to the scanning speed thereof and, accordingly, it is impossible to read a document faster than the limitation. A time interval necessary for reading a document is increased as the integration density of the CCD image sensor is increased.
In a highly integrated CCD image sensor, plural CCD sensor chips are arranged alternatively along the lengthwise direction of the CCD image sensor and each chip provides a signal output terminal. In a conventional CCD image sensor, respective chips are driven serially in the order of alignment of them and respective output signals from them are transmitted, via analogue switches, to a single signal line.
According to this conventional signal processing, it is difficult to speed up the reading speed of a document image.

Image reading apparatus having plural line image sensor chips


A technique of testing connectivity between a plurality of source components, e.g., source servers, and a plurality of destination components, e.g., destination servers, in a network is discussed herein. A request to test connectivity between a plurality of source components and a plurality of destination components is received, the request being directed to testing the connectivity between each source component and each destination component. Connectivity between each source component and each destination component is tested, with multiple tests being conducted substantially simultaneously. Based at least in part on the testing, a report is generated related to connectivity between the plurality of source components and the plurality of destination components. The ranges of IP addresses for the source components and ranges of IP addresses of the destination components are provided using a Comma-Separated Values (CSV)-based input.

In recent years, mobile telecommunication devices have advanced from offering simple voice calling services within wireless communication networks to providing users with many new features. Mobile telecommunication devices now provide messaging services such as email, text messaging, and instant messaging; data services such as internet browsing; media services such as storing and playing a library of favorite songs; location services; and many others. In addition to the new features provided by the mobile telecommunication devices, users of such mobile telecommunication devices have greatly increased. Such an increase in users is only expected to continue and, in fact, it is expected that there could be a growth rate of twenty times more users in the next few years alone.
As the number of users of mobile telecommunication devices has increased and continues to increase, the size of wireless communication networks also continues to increase. As users and functionality for the wireless communication networks increases, the number of components, e.g., servers, and complexity of such components also grows. Thus, testing of the various components is also increasing. For example, such components often need to communicate with each other in order to provide services to users of the wireless communication networks and thus, connectivity, e.g., Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity and/or firewall connectivity, among components may need to be tested. For example, as new components are added to the wireless communication networks, updates are provided for the various components, etc., the connectivity among the various components may need to be tested and retested.
Due to the large number of components within wireless communication networks, manual testing of connectivity among the various components can be very time consuming. For example, if connectivity from 150 source components needs to be tested with respect to 50 destination components, then 7500 connections need to be tested. For example, each source component, e.g., source server, may need to have a firewall connectivity test with respect to each of the 50 destination components, e.g., destination servers. Generally, each test for each connection needs to be manually initiated and run, thus resulting in each test for each connection being run sequentially. For such an example, if it takes approximately one to one and one-half minutes to enter required parameters and run a test for each of the 7500 connections, this results in a large amount of testing, e.g., on the order of around one hundred hours. This is not efficient or economical.

Automated connectivity testing among a large number of servers


Hydraulic valve circuitry adapted for automatic weight-responsive control of load-clamping members of a load-lifting system having a free lift mast. The load-lifting system generally includes one or more fluid power actuator for applying a gripping force to a load, at least one elongate, longitudinally-extensible fluid power lifting device having a free lift range of motion and at least one main lift range of motion, and manually operated load-clamping and load-lifting selector valves. The hydraulic valve circuitry provides, independently, weight-responsive control of the load-clamping members when lifting a load, full-time automatic weight-responsive force control of the load-clamping members without concurrent manual actuation of load-clamping or load-lifting selector valves, and equalization of sensed load weight so that the sensed load weight is substantially independent of the longitudinally-extensible position of the lifting device.

This disclosure relates generally to hydraulic valve circuits for use with material handling equipment and, more particularly, to hydraulic valve circuits adapted for weight-responsive control of clamping members associated with material handling equipment having free lift masts.
Standard forklifts and other types of material handling equipment typically have mast assemblies for hoisting or lifting a load from one height to another, and such mast assemblies are typically configured to receive a variety of attachments that may be designed for handling particular types of loads. For example, load-clamping attachments such as carton clamps or paper roll clamps may be used, each having hydraulically controllable load-clamping members for imparting sufficient gripping forces on the sides of a load to allow lifting and carrying the load from one place to another.
Mast assemblies are typically one of two general types—"free lift" or "non-free lift." Free lift masts permit lifting a load from one height to another throughout a "free lift" range of motion without a corresponding change in the overall height of the mast assembly. Lifting the load beyond the free lift range of motion requires the mast to telescope so as to extend the range of lifting. The mast may have several stages which telescope in succession, one after the other. Each stage will generally have one or more extensible hydraulic cylinders which, when activated, extend fully before activation of the one or more extensible hydraulic cylinders associated with the next stage. The hydraulic cylinders in each successive stage usually require higher hoist pressures for activation than cylinders of the preceding stage. Consequently, in a free lift mast having, for example, a free lift range of lifting motion and a main lift range of lifting motion, the main lift cylinder or cylinders will not begin to extend until the free lift cylinder or cylinders have reached their fully extended position.
By contrast, non-free lift masts begin to telescope immediately as the load is lifted. Such telescoping of the mast is undesirable in overhead constrained environments. For example, the interior of enclosed tractor trailers may be limited to, for example, an inside height of 104 inches. If the particular lift truck has a collapsed mast height of between 79 to 84 inches, as is common for counterbalanced sit-down lift trucks, there may be only 20 to 25 inches of vertical space available for the mast to telescope before further telescoping of the mast interferes with the ceiling of the trailer.
In part because free lift masts typically require stepped or progressively higher hoist line pressures for extending the mast beyond the free lift range of motion, principally hydraulic control systems adapted to utilize hoist line pressures for sensing load weight and correspondingly regulating gripping forces automatically in response to such pressures have not been achieved with such masts. Alternative designs using electronic controllers for such gripping force regulation have disadvantages such as higher unit costs and added system complexity, as well as the requirement for electrical conductors which must be movable in response to mast extension. Therefore, different hydraulic valve circuits are needed for automatic weight-responsive force control of load-clamping members associated with material handling systems having free lift masts.


The disclosure includes embodiments for generating a synched video. A method includes determining a duration and a number of discrete frames of an original video. The method includes determining a type of replacement video that includes a live source or a recorded source. The method includes tracking a location of an original head in the original video to determine positioning data for the original head in each of the discrete frames. The method includes synching the replacement video to the original video based on a position, a size and a rotation between the original head in the original video and a replacement head in the replacement video, wherein the synching generates a synched video which synchs the replacement head to the original head based on the position, the size and the rotation.

This specification relates to video personalization. Embodiments relate to providing video personalization for a mobile client device.
A mobile device includes a processor-based computing device. For example, the mobile device includes a smartphone, tablet computing device, a smartwatch, augmented reality glasses, etc. The mobile device includes hardware and software that enables it to record, stream, and/or play back video content. However, there are no good solutions for personalizing video content on a mobile client device that is enjoyable, accurate, and intuitive to use.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The invention comprises a modular electric machine comprising a modular stator having a plurality of stator teeth and windings and a modular rotor comprising a plurality of modular magnetic elements for electromagnetic interaction with stator teeth. The invention further comprises a method of control of a modular electric machine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a high efficiency brushless direct current motor or generator and more specifically to an improved modular electric machine utilizing a modular stator construction, and modular rotor magnetic elements to produce an inexpensive, high power density motor. The invention further comprises a method of operation of an electric machine that results in a motor or generator capable of exceptional power density.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many designs and configurations of electric motors and generators are presently in use in the field of alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) motors. Both AC and DC motors are in widespread use in many industries and are increasingly utilized in transportation applications where high-torque and low power consumption are two seemingly contradictory goals. The magnetic motor industry is continuously attempting to design motors with increased and enhanced efficiency to facilitate motor operation with a minimum of electric power consumption, thereby gaining competitive advantage. Motors utilizing an array of differing rotor and stator designs have been devised in an attempt to provide higher power densities throughout the motor rotor and stator, thereby leading to enhanced operational efficiency.
However, there is a need in the art for a motor or generator assembly employing a more efficient rotor and stator design to enhance electromagnetic flux density in the motor, particularly at the pole placements between rotor and stator elements. Traditionally, many motors utilize a single array of north-south-north magnets secured to a steel hub via an epoxy resin to form a magnetic rotor and/or stator. These prior art designs produce rotors that have one magnet pole per rotor or stator tooth that interacts electromagnetically with the complementary rotor or stator.
However, a design that permits multiple points of electromagnetic interaction between points on the rotor and stator of the motor would lead to enhanced efficiency and is therefore highly desirable. Furthermore, a motor design taking advantage of the superior magnetic properties of an efficient permanent magnet circuit to increase power density is also desirable.
Additionally, most prior art motors employ stator tooth windings that necessarily require additional machine weight, field losses, and axial length due to the arrangement of the end windings. Thus there is a need in the art for a motor that reduces the electromagnetic disadvantages as well as the manufacturing disadvantages of conventional DC motor designs.
Finally, many prior art electric machines that operate at relatively high electromagnetic flux densities suffer from overheating. The high field strength present at the rotor or stator hubs produces eddy currents and other undesirable electromagnetic interactions with surrounding components which in turn produces a great deal of heat. Thus there is a need for a lightweight rotor or stator hub in conjunction with a high-power density motor that rapidly and efficiently dissipates the excess heat generated by a high power density electric machine.


An air nozzle includes a hollow casing, a plug received in the chamber and having a channel defined through the plug, a central tube movably received inside the channel of the plug and having an outer threading formed on an outer periphery thereof, a nozzle rotatably received inside the chamber and having a nose out of the top open end of the hollow casing and a compartment to receive therein the central tube and the plug and a cap to secure the nozzle, the central tube and the plug inside the hollow casing such that movement of the central tube allows the air nozzle to adapt to various positions of a central pin of a second air nozzle in an object for inflation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air nozzle, and more particularly to an air nozzle having a central tube movably received therein so as to adapt to various positions of a pin in an object to be inflated.
2. Description of Related Art
With reference to FIG. 10, a conventional air nozzle is shown and includes a hollow casing A having two open ends, a sleeve D received inside the hollow casing A, a plug C received inside the sleeve D and a central tube E securely received inside the plug C. A cap B having a central passage (not numbered) is then provided to engage with an inner periphery of one of the two open ends of the hollow casing A.
When the conventional air nozzle is used, the first end E1 of the central tube E is connected to an air hose which in turn connects to an air pumping device and the second end E2 of the central tube E is to be adapted to connect to a pin in an object to be inflated. It is to be noted that the pin in the object to be inflated is firmly and fixedly mounted inside the object and immovable relative to the object. Therefore, only when the central tube E is able to connect to the pin in the object, can the air pumping device pump air into the object to be inflated. That is, if the pin in the object extends out of the object, the central tube E does engage with the pin. However, because the central tube E engages with the pin too early, air leakage occurs even before the air pumping device starts operation. However, when the pin is retracted inside the object, it is impossible for the central tube E to engage with the pin such that inflation to the object cannot be completed. As a matter of fact, the conventional air nozzle as shown can only be applied to a certain type of object for inflation due to different positions of the pin in the object.
To overcome the aforementioned disadvantages, the present invention tends to provide an improved air nozzle to obviate the aforementioned disadvantages.

Air nozzle with a central tube movably received therein to adapt to various positions of a pin in an object to be inflated


A machine learning model is trained. A feature importance metric is determined for each machine learning feature of a plurality of machine learning features of the machine learning model. Based on the feature importance metrics, one or more machine learning features of the plurality of machine learning features of the machine learning model are managed.

Machine learning allows predictions and decisions to be based on patterns automatically learned from training data. The accuracy of a machine learning model built using training data is heavy influenced by the kind and amount of training data available. Aspects of training data utilized as inputs to build models are often referred to as machine learning features of the model. In an attempt to increase accuracy, there has been a push to increase the number of features utilized in a model. It is not uncommon to find models that have tens or hundreds of thousands of features. However, as the number of features is increased, so does the amount of storage and processing required to train and utilize the model. Thus, the efficiency, stability and reliability of the training all become hard to manage.


Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a data synchronization method and system, and an optical network unit. An ONU receives synchronization data that is transmitted by a first OLT through a GEM port corresponding to a predetermined GEM port ID or a logical link corresponding to a predetermined LLID, and stores the synchronization data. When a fault occurs on the first OLT or on a backbone optical fiber connected to the first OLT, the ONU transmits the synchronization data to a second OLT so that the second OLT recovers services according to the synchronization data.

A passive optical network (PON) is a point to point optical access technology. A PON includes an optical line terminal (OLT), an optical splitter, an ONU and an optical fiber connecting these devices. The OLT is connected to an optical splitter by using a backbone optical fiber, and the optical splitter is connected to ONUs respectively by using multiple branch optical fibers.
To ensure that services can still be performed normally when a fault occurs on the OLT, two OLTs may be used for backup. FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of OLTs and ONUs in the prior art. In FIG. 1, a first OLT1 and a second OLT2 each are connected to an optical splitter 3 by using an independent backbone optical fiber. The optical splitter 3 is connected to each ONU4 by using a branch fiber. The first OLT1 and the second OLT2 both communicate with an element management system (EMS) 5. In normal cases, the first OLT1 communicates with each ONU4. When detecting that a fault occurs on the first OLT1, the EMS5 instructs the second OLT2 to serve as a master OLT and transmits synchronization data of the first OLT1 to the second OLT2 so that the second OLT2 communicates with each ONU. The synchronization data refers to all types of data needed for communication between the second OLT2 and each ONU, for example, an identification of each ONU (ONU ID), and a serial number of each ONU.
The data synchronization method in the prior art has the following problems: each OLT communicates with the EMS based on the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), and the speed of data transmission is slow; and each OLT and the EMS are far from each other physically, and interaction data may need to span multiple switch devices. If a fault occurs on one of the switch devices, the communication between the OLT and the EMS cannot be performed, resulting in that data synchronization cannot be implemented. As a result, the reliability of the data synchronization method is not high.

Data synchronization method and system, and optical network unit


Disclosed are an image forming system including an image reader, a printer, and a processor and a control method therefore. In this image forming system, the image reader reads an image from an original, and the printer prints the read image onto a print medium. If a xe2x80x9cno print mediumxe2x80x9d error occurs during the printing operation by the printer, the read operation by the image reader is terminated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming system, image forming apparatus, and control method therefor and, more particularly, to an image forming system, image forming apparatus, and control method therefor suitably applicable to a copying machine or the like which is a composite apparatus of, e.g., a scanner (image reading device) for photoelectrically reading an original image and a printer for forming a copied image on the basis of image data.
2. Description of the Related Art
A variety of conventional high-speed, high-quality printers such as ink jet printers and laser beam printers have been proposed as output terminals of personal computers and workstations. Also, high-speed, high-resolution scanners and the like for inputting image data have been developed and put into practical use. Along with this stream, the stream of a multifunctional printer is advancing which integrates a scanner as one conventional standalone input terminal and a printer as one conventional standalone output terminal into a single composite apparatus. As a consequence, it is beginning to be possible to easily form copied images.
Unfortunately, the abovementioned prior art has the following problem. That is, in the multifunctional printer described above, an image processor performs a copying operation while independently communicating with a printer and a scanner. Therefore, even if a paper sheet supplied to the printer is different from a desired paper sheet and a xe2x80x9cno paperxe2x80x9d error occurs during the copying operation, the scanner performs scanning in accordance with the initial settings. Consequently, it takes a long time before the multifunctional printer is released from the job.
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above situation, and has as its object to provide an image forming system and its control method which when a xe2x80x9cno print sheetxe2x80x9d error occurs in a printer during a copying operation, can rapidly start the next copying operation.
According to the present invention, the foregoing object is attained by providing an image forming system comprising: an image reader for reading an image from an original; a printer for printing the image read by the image reader onto a print medium; and a processor for terminating the read operation by the image reader if a xe2x80x9cno print mediumxe2x80x9d error occurs during the printing operation by the printer.
According to the present invention, the foregoing object is also attained by providing a control method of an image forming system comprising an image reader, a printer, and a processor, comprising: the image reading step of reading an image from an original by using the image reader; the printing step of printing the image read in the image reading step onto a print medium by using the printer; and the termination step of terminating the image reading step by using the processor if a xe2x80x9cno print mediumxe2x80x9d error occurs in the printer during the printing step.
In the above arrangements, even if print media are used up in the printer during a copying operation in which the image reader reads an image and the read image data is printed, the image read operation by the image reader is immediately terminated. Hence, the next copying operation can be rapidly started.
Preferably, control is so performed that the image reading means is returned to the initial standby position at the same time the read operation is terminated. With this arrangement, even if print media are used up in the printer during a copying operation in which the image reader reads an image and the processor sequentially converts the read image data into print data and transfers the print data to the printer to perform printing, the image read operation by the image reader is terminated, and the image reading means is returned to the initial standby position. Accordingly, the next copying operation can be rapidly started.

Image forming system, image forming apparatus, and control method therefor


An implantable tubular textile prosthesis particularly useful in branched end-to-side anastomoses is provided. The prosthesis includes a first portion including an elongate tubular main wall which defines a fluid passageway therethrough, and a second portion including a tubular branch wall which extends laterally from the tubular main wall and which defines a fluid passageway therethrough. The tubular branch wall includes an elongate tubular extent and a contiguous flared tubular extent. The tubular branch wall is secured to the tubular main wall at the flared tubular extent to establish fluid communication between the passageways of the tubular main wall and the tubular branch wall. The flared tubular extent includes a gradual increase in diameter with respect to the tubular branch extent to provide a seamless and substantially fluid-tight transition between the tubular main wall and the tubular branch wall along the flared tubular extent.

The present invention is directed generally to a vascular prosthesis which is useful in repair or replacement of a branched section of a blood vessel. More particularly, the present invention provides a textile vascular graft which is substantially fluid-tight and which is particularly useful in branched end-to-side anastomoses.
The use of tubular textile fabrics for soft-tissue implantable prostheses is well known in the repair or replacement of damaged or diseased lumens in the body. For example, tubular devices or conduits are used to repair lumens such as in the esophagus and colon areas, and, in particular, prostheses are used in the vascular system to repair, buttress or replace a weakened section of the vessel. Such conduits are generally affixed in a specified location in the vessel by means of sutures, stents, hooks or other mechanisms which serve to secure the device in place.
Synthetic vascular grafts for the repair or replacement of blood vessels have taken a wide variety of configurations and shapes. The most common type of vascular graft is that manufactured in a generally tubular form extending along a longitudinal axis. Such tubular vascular grafts are particularly well suited for use in end-to-end anastomoses, i.e., where the damaged portion of the blood vessel is dissected and the ends of the tubular graft are connected to the cut ends of the blood vessel to span the dissected portion. These tubular grafts may also be used in end-to-side anastomoses, i.e., where the end of a graft tube is typically attached to the side of a blood vessel. Such tubular vascular grafts are also useful in percutaneous applications, where the graft is inserted percutaneously and is positioned to span a damaged or diseased portion of a blood vessel without dissection.
Various designs have been proposed in order to provide for proper suturing and proper internal blood flow with end-to-end as well as end-to-side vascular grafts. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,619 discloses a flanged end-to-side vascular graft which is provided in the form of a tubular vascular graft having a flared end portion. Such a graft is cannibalized, i.e., cut, from a conventional bifurcated graft structure which includes a main tubular section and two smaller branched tubular sections. The bifurcated graft is cut along an arcuate segment at the bifurcated arch between the bifurcated tubular sections and along the wall of the main tubular section, to provide a single tubular graft with a flanged end formed from the arcuate cut. The flanged end, however, typically requires stitching along the flanged portion, since bifurcated textile grafts of the prior art typically require suturing at the bifurcated portion in order to be blood-tight. Further, as the flanged graft in the ""619 patent is constructed of only a single tube with a flange at one end, it is designed to be attached to an end of a blood vessel, and is not suitable for repair or replacement of a branched section of a blood vessel. Still further, the graft disclosed in the ""619 patent is designed to extend from the blood vessel at a gradually sloping angle, and would not be appropriate for applications where an end-to-side graft is required which incorporates a branch extending substantially perpendicular to a main tubular section.
Occasionally, it is necessary to provide an end-to-side vascular graft in which the side branch portion extends substantially perpendicular from the main portion to replace a portion of a blood vessel or to be positioned within a portion of a vessel which splits into one or more branch vessels. In order to overcome the deficiencies of earlier end-to-side grafts which do not include a generally perpendicular extending branch, true end-to-side vascular grafts have been constructed with branch portions which extend generally perpendicular to the main tubular section. Such end-to-side vascular grafts have typically been constructed by suturing one tubular vascular graft to the side of a second tubular vascular graft. Such end-to-side vascular grafts are used, for example, to repair or replace a damaged or diseased portion of the aorta. In such procedures, an aortic vascular prosthesis which includes a main aortic trunk portion and arterial branch portions extending generally perpendicular to the main aortic trunk portion for the left and right carotid arteries and the subclavian artery is particularly well suited. In order to provide an aortic vascular prosthesis with three branches, a surgeon will typically suture three separate straight tubular vascular grafts to the side of a larger tubular graft. Such suturing, however, usually occurs immediately prior to or during a procedure, is labor intensive and requires extreme skill and precision in suturing, thereby introducing the potential for human error.
Prior art end-to-side vascular grafts such as the aforementioned aortic vascular prostheses have not been completely successful. In particular, the attachment of one tubular graft to the side of another tubular graft results in a sharp transition, typically with an immediate transition of 90xc2x0 from the main tubular section to the branched tubular section. Additionally, such attachment results in suturing or stitching directly at the point of transition between the main tubular section and the branched tubular section. Such sharp transitioning and suturing at this transition result in poor blood flow through the transitional portion, and can lead to an undesirable thrombosis at the transition.
Alternatively, custom-made aortic vascular prostheses can be constructed. While these custom-made structures may overcome some of the aforementioned deficiencies, they are extremely expensive and time-consuming to fabricate.
Accordingly, there is a need for a vascular graft which is useful in repair or replacement of a branched section of a blood vessel which is substantially blood-tight and includes a gradual transition from the main lumen to the branched lumen, and which does not include any suturing directly at the lumen transition.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a vascular graft which is useful in the repair or replacement of a blood vessel.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a branched vascular graft which is useful in an end-to-side anastomosis.
It is a further object to provide an end-to-side vascular graft which includes a gradual transition from the main portion to the branched portion.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a branched aortic arch vascular graft which is useful in end-to-side anastomoses involving the aorta and arterial branches of the left and right carotid arteries and the subclavian artery.
In the efficient attainment of these and other objects, the present invention provides an implantable tubular textile prosthesis which includes a first portion including an elongate tubular main wall which defines a fluid passageway therethrough, and a second portion including a tubular branch wall which extends laterally from the tubular main wall and which defines a fluid passageway therethrough. The tubular branch wall includes an elongate tubular extent and a contiguous flared tubular extent. The tubular branch wall is secured to the tubular main wall at the flared tubular extent to establish fluid communication between the passageways of the tubular main wall and the tubular branch wall. The flared tubular extent incorporates a gradual increase in diameter with respect to the tubular branch extent to provide a seamless and substantially fluid-tight transition between the tubular main wall and the tubular branch wall along the flared tubular extent.
The flared tubular extent may include a textile pattern which has a plurality of warp yarns and fill yarns and incorporates a gradual change in the number of warp yarns with respect to the fill yarns. The gradual change is preferably defined by a change of no more than 3 warp yarns for every 2 fill yarns in the textile pattern.
The prosthesis of the present invention is a textile product, and is preferably constructed of textile materials such as woven materials, knitted materials, braided materials, and mixtures thereof. The textile material may be any known material, for example, polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene and mixtures thereof.
The tubular main wall of the prosthesis may be straight, or, more preferably, may be arched, for example, by pre-forming into the shape of an aorta, with the elongate tubular extent extending substantially perpendicular from the main tubular wall. The prosthesis may include a plurality of elongate tubular extents at the tubular branch portion, and preferably includes three elongate tubular extents, for anastomosis with the left, right and subclavian arteries, respectively. The plurality of elongate tubular extents may be of equal or different diameters and lengths. In particularly preferred embodiments, the plurality of elongate tubular extents are spaced along an axis with respect to the tubular main wall, and are circumferentially offset with respect to the tubular main wall. The prosthesis may further include an elongate tubular port extending laterally from the tubular main wall at a location remote from the tubular branch wall, which is particularly useful during implantation procedures.


Provided is a sensor chip including: a board; a three-dimensional object provided on the board, the three-dimensional object being a cuboid or a cube having a first surface and a second surface facing the first surface and including an insulating material; a first coil provided on the first surface; a second coil provided on the second surface, the second coil being electrically connected to the first coil; and a magnetic measurement element provided in the three-dimensional object. Directions of magnetic fields generated in the first coil and the second coil by current for electrically conducting the first coil and the second coil are the same.

A sensor chip (current detection device) detects a magnetic field generated by a current flowing in a coil by using a magnetosensitive portion such as a Hall element. For example, in the case of detecting the magnetic field by a Hall element, the sensor chip converts the intensity of the current flowing in the coil into a voltage.
In order to obtain a high magnetic field strength, two coils are disposed opposite to each other, and a magnetic measurement element is disposed between the two coils.

TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION


A valve includes a valve body defining a cavity and including a flange having an outer surface and a first element. The first element includes at least one of a recess defined in the outer surface of the flange and a projection extending from the outer surface of the flange. A seat retainer is mounted on the flange and has an inner surface. The seat retainer includes a second element including at least one of a recess defined in the inner surface of the seat retainer and a projection extending from the inner surface of the seat retainer. A valve seat is retained on the flange by the seat retainer. The seat retainer is secured to the flange by a cooperative snap fit engagement between the first and second elements. A valve member may be rotatably mounted in the cavity and engage the valve seat.

Polymeric ball valves are widely used for a variety of industrial applications. Polymeric ball valves typically provide the advantages of relatively light weight, low cost, corrosion resistance, and the ability to be welded on site into a piping system.
A known method of forming a polymeric ball valve includes providing a polymeric body/end piece and a polymeric end piece. A valve ball is disposed in the body/end piece and the end piece is fused to the body/end piece to enclose the valve ball in an integral valve body. A pair of resilient, ring-shaped seats provide seals between the ball and the body/end piece and the end piece. Each seat is held in place by a respective ring-shaped seat retainer. An example of a valve of this construction is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,201 to Spears et al.
A preferred method for forming a ball valve of the type described includes inserting a first seat, a first seat retainer and the ball into the body/end piece. Thereafter, a second seat retainer, a second seat and the end piece are placed over the ball and the end piece is fused to the body/end piece.
During the assembly procedure, the seats should be maintained in the desired position to ensure proper mating between the seats and the ball. One method for holding the seat retainer, and thereby the seat, in place includes providing flanges projecting inwardly from the body/end piece and the end piece, outer threads on the flanges and inner threads on the seat retainers. The seat retainers are screwed onto the flanges and thereby held in place. However, the threads must be molded, machined or otherwise formed on the body/end and end pieces. The thread formation may add significantly to the cost and inconvenience of manufacturing the valve. In particular, because the seat retainers and the body/end and end pieces are typically formed of polyethylene or polypropylene, care must be taken in forming the threads. Furthermore, care must be taken in screwing the seat retainers on to avoid cross-threading and damaging the threads. Additionally, a tendency may exist to distort the seat as the seat retainer rotates into engagement with the seat, or to apply too much or too little pressure to the seat by under-tightening or over-tightening the seat retainer.
Polymeric ball valves (and other valves including rotatable valve members) may be provided with a gearbox to facilitate rotation of the ball to open and close the valve. Typically, the gearbox includes a casing, a gear reducer and a drive shaft adapted to engage a valve stem which is connected to the ball. Drive means such as an electric motor may be disposed in or on the casing or otherwise associated with the gearbox.
In order to secure the gearbox to a polymeric ball valve, it is known to provide an integral upstanding flange on the valve body. The flange surrounds the valve stem. Holes are formed radially through the flange. The gearbox may be mounted on the flange by inserting bolts through the holes.
The foregoing gearbox mounting arrangement may suffer from a number of potential drawbacks. The provision of an upstanding flange which is strong enough and secure enough to resist torque from the gearbox without failure may add significantly to the weight and to the cost of forming the valve. Moreover, it may be necessary to provide a special bracket on the gearbox to allow mounting on the flange.

Ball valve including seat retainer securing means and method for forming the same


A portable, self-contained, rechargeable battery power source provides a plurality of voltage levels to a load circuit, thus allowing one source to replace the need for many batteries. The battery is a high-capacity unit of the type used in camcorders and enables increased playing time for each battery period of charge.

The invention relates generally to power sources, and in particular, to a portable, rechargeable battery power source which provides a high capacity and plurality of voltages at its output.
Batteries are available in a number of different configurations. The batteries, however, are typically designed to replace a standard nickel/zinc or alkaline battery and are available at standard voltages and sizes. Accordingly, it is necessary to buy a large number of different batteries to operate different components which require, for example, one and one-half volts, three volts, and nine volts for correct operation. In addition, most commercially available rechargeable batteries for special components are of an undesirably small limited capacity and, as is the nature of a rechargeable battery, do not provide substantial advance warning prior to discharge, when their voltage diminishes substantially. Further, because the standard available rechargeable battery does not have substantial capacity, its use is limited and the battery must be recharged on a regular, periodic basis.
Accordingly, objects of the present invention are a battery system capable of being electrically connected to various components by providing a plurality of voltages and a battery system having a large capacity so that recharging is not necessary on a frequent basis.

Self-contained rechargeable battery power source with voltage reducer


An approach is provided in which an information handling system performs multiple tests on a memory device using different supply voltage levels. The information handling system identifies a set of memory cells in the memory that produce a same set of results during each of the memory tests at the different supply voltage levels, and generates a random number based on a set of data values collected from the set of memory cells. In turn, the information handling system uses the random number generator in one or more processes executed by the information handling system.

Random number generation is the generation of a sequence of numbers or symbols that are not reasonably predicted or duplicated. Various applications of randomness have led to the development of several different methods for generating random data. In computing, a hardware random number generator is a physical device that generates random numbers from a physical process. Such devices are often based on microscopic phenomena that generate low-level, statistically random noise signals, such as thermal noise, photoelectric effects, and other quantum phenomena.


This invention is described and illustrated in connection with the generation of a homograft composed of collagenous tissue generated on a prosthetic device. A tubular substrate having generally cylindrical outside and inside surfaces is suspended in the lumen of a blood vessel of a living body. The tubular substrate is open at each end to permit blood to flow over both the inside and outside surfaces. One of the surfaces of the substrate is a thrombogenic surface or supports a thrombogenic mesh material to promote growth of a tube of collagenous tissue suitable for use as a surgical graft. The substrate is suspended in the blood flow of a blood vessel by an anchor which permits the substrate to freely move within the lumen of the vessel but is anchored by the tether to prevent the substrate from moving along the vessel in the direction of blood flow. The collagenous tissue growth about the substrate is generally tubular and suitable for use as a surgical graft.. The method of generating a homograft includes preparing a prosthesis composed of a tubular substrate. The substrate is open at each end to permit blood to flow along the length of the substrate inside wall. The substrate is selected to have at least one thrombogenic surface or a thrombogenic mesh material supported by the substrate. The prosthesis is inserted in the lumen of a blood vessel, either a vein or artery, of a living body and anchored in the lumen of the vessel to prevent the substrate from moving along the vessel with the blood flow. The body generates collagenous growth on the thrombogenic surface of the substrate while the substrate is freely suspended in the blood flow of the vessel. The substrate is then removed from the vessel after which a tubular homograft of collagenous tissue is removed from the substrate.

Vascular disease in man has become one of the primary causes of poor overall health and death in recent years. Vascular diseases occur throughout the body and affect the heart, limbs and other parts of the body. Arterial disease has caused death by heart attack, reduced physical activity due to constriction or blockage of vessels or arteries serving the muscles of the heart, and constriction or blockage of vessels and arteries to the limbs, particular to the legs. These vascular diseases have resulted in the loss of extremities when the blood flow becomes sufficiently restricted to prevent proper nourishment of the tissue of the extremities and have caused death when reduced blood flow to the muscles of the heart have starved the heart of needed blood.
Each year, hundreds of thousands of revascularization procedures for angina are performed in the world. Mild cardial revascularization and limb salvation which are well accepted procedures for treatment of arterial diseases depend upon a readily available supply of prostheses or vascular transplants for the purposes of returning proper levels of blood flow to affected parts of the body. The availability of a suitable vascular prosthesis or transplant is frequently a limiting factor in decisions to treat such diseases through surgical procedures, including coronary artery bypass surgery.
A variety of techniques and prostheses have been tried in an effort to provide a surgically applied prosthesis capable of restoring proper blood flow to the afflicted part of the body. Modern synthetic fabric technology has provided one form of prosthesis which has been tried as a substitute for diseased arteries and vessels. Such synthetic fabrics are woven into tubes of fabric which may be sutured to the ends of blood vessels in order to provide a bypass or a replacement for a diseased section of the vessel. Such prostheses present a number of problems for surgeons and for patients. Successful grafting of such fabric replacement prostheses requires an extended convalescence during which collagenous tissue generated by the body must become implanted in the fabric prosthesis in order to ensure a successful long-term graft. This lengthy convalescence exposes the patient to an extended period of time during which hemorrhage may occur in the prosthesis and at the site of the connection. Failure requires additional emergency surgical procedures. Further, there is always the danger that unfavorable reaction to the implanted fabric material will occur and prevent the long-term use of the fabric prosthesis in the patient.
Another procedure frequently adopted for the replacement of restricted and affected vascular sections involves the harvesting of venus grafts from other parts of the body. Commonly, sections of vessel are removed from the patient's legs and implanted in the coronary artery system. Surgical removal of vessels from the leg complicates the surgical treatment of coronary bypass procedures because the surgeon must in effect perform two surgical procedures. One procedure involves opening the chest cavity and the other involves harvesting the sections of vessel from the legs. This naturally increases the operative time associated wit vessel procurement with an increased danger to the patient Even successful bypass surgery of this type presents the patient with added distress during the recuperation period since healing must take place not only at the site of the surgical graft implant but also at the site of the harvesting of the vessel section.
A readily available supply of vascular grafts is desirable since emergency repair or grafting of arterial or venous sections must frequently be undertaken on relatively short notice. For this reason, one attempt to provide a readily available supply of such surgical grafts is outlined in U.S. Pat. No. 4,319,363 in which a vascular prosthesis and methods of making such a prosthesis are outlined. In this particular patent, the vascular prosthesis is generated in a non-human host. A tube of collagenous material reinforced by a fiber mesh is obtained through implantation in a non-human host and removed from the host after a predetermined growth of collagenous tissue has become implanted in the fiber mesh. After removal of the tube of fiber-impregnated collagenous tissue, the tissue is tanned in order to provide a source of a vascular prosthesis suitable for surgical grafting in human patients. An obvious disadvantage of such a vascular prosthesis involves a non-human host and therefore potential tissue incompatibility by a human patient. The patient on which such a graft is used may reject the foreign tissue since the non-human tissue is clearly a foreign body of a type commonly rejected by the human body.
In order to avoid tissue rejection, the best tissue available for vascular grafting is the patient's own body tissue. As indicated previously, one approach to using the patient's own tissue is to harvest vessel sections from the leg. Frequently, immediate replacement of constricted and diseased sections of arteries and vessels is not necessary. If sufficient time is available to the patient, tissue can be grown in the patient's own body in order to generate a tube of collagenous tissue which may be used as a graft. Charles Howard Sparks provided a method and apparatus for generating such tubes of collagenous material and these methods and devices are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,866,609, 3,707,958 and 3,866,247. In these patents, Sparks describes a method and apparatus for generating tubes of collagenous material by forming a tunnel in muscle tissue located in or adjacent to the groin area of the body. A mandrel bearing a coat of fibrous material is inserted into the tunnel in the muscle tissue and surgically implanted in the muscle tissue for a period of time sufficient for the body to generate a growth of collagenous material which impregnates the fibrous material. The mandrel implant is then surgically removed from the surrounding muscle tissue for use as a vascular graft in the patient.
This method and the collagenous section of tube produced by this growth of collagenous tissue presents several disadvantages. First, the patient is required to undergo a rather extensive surgical procedure in the removal of the collagenous implant. The collagenous tube is generated as a tube which is thoroughly connected to and become a part of the surrounding muscle tissue. The collagenous tube must be very carefully removed from the surrounding muscle tissue before it may be used as a vascular graft. Further, the collagenous tissue generated by this procedure is muscle tissue and therefore a type of collagenous tissue which is characteristic of muscle tissue. It is not characteristic of the tissue normally associated with artery and vessel walls.
Medical investigation has revealed that there are noticeable differences between collagenous tissue generated in muscle tissue and collagenous tissue which is generated in or near the vascular system. While the collagenous tissue generated in the muscle tissue of a patient will be compatible with the patient's body tissues, it nevertheless is not of the same type of tissue normally associated with the vascular system and accordingly is not as desirable as a vascular graft as might be desirable.
Additionally, collagenous tubes formed in the muscle tissue may be nicked by the surgeon's instruments when removed and generally has walls of varying thickness. These walls of varying thickness can cause complications in the patient's circulatory system when such tissue is used as grafts.
Harvesting venous sections from other parts of the body also is less than satisfactory because the harvested sections are frequently of larger than optimum diameter. Small diameter transplants of good quality are difficult to obtain. Use of large diameter transplants results in difficult surgical procedures to connect the transplant because of this incompatability of size.
Thus it is apparent that past methods and apparatus for supplying vascular grafts have not been entirely successful. Such prior procedures and grafts have encountered problems with tissue rejection, extended convalescence, extended exposure to infection, lengthy surgical procedures and other risks attendant to coronary arterial bypass surgery and similar vascular graft surgery.


The disclosed computer-implemented method for filtering log files may include (1) identifying, on the endpoint computing device, log files that recorded events performed by processes executing on the endpoint computing device, (2) prior to sending the log files from the endpoint computing device to a security server for analysis, filtering, based on an analysis of the events recorded by the log files, the log files by excluding log files that recorded non-suspicious events, and (3) forwarding the filtered log files from the endpoint computing device to the security server for analysis. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Log files may provide valuable information about the performance and/or security of various applications running on computing devices. For example, a log file may record each event or action performed by an application, including events that may indicate the presence and/or cause of a malware infection, access control violation, or performance deficiency. As such, enterprises may deploy logging systems within their computing devices that send all or a portion of the log events generated on the computing devices to a central server. The server may then analyze the log events to identify problems such as security breaches or software malfunctions.
Unfortunately, traditional logging systems may forward vast numbers of unnecessary and/or unhelpful log events to security servers. As a result, servers and/or IT administrators may have to analyze massive numbers of normal, non-suspicious log events to identify small numbers of abnormal or suspicious log events. Some logging technologies may attempt to mitigate this problem by aggregating log files (e.g., grouping log files from related processes or operating systems). However, such techniques may not sufficiently eliminate or reduce the quantity of unnecessary log files sent for analysis. In the event that too many non-suspicious log files are forwarded to a security server, the security server may be unable to effectively identify security threats. As a result, computing devices that forwarded the log files may be vulnerable to malware, data leaks, or any additional attack. Therefore, the current disclosure identifies and addresses a need for additional and improved systems and methods for filtering log files.

Systems and methods for filtering log files