An aircraft jet engine including a wall centered about a longitudinal axis and surrounding a stream of gas ejected at a downstream end of the wall in the direction of the axis, primary ducts distributed at the periphery of the downstream end of the wall configured on command each to eject a jet of primary fluid to interact with the ejected stream of gas, the primary ducts of each pair converging towards one another near the downstream end of the wall so that the primary jets ejected form two sides of a triangle that meet at the vertex thereof in a view projected onto a plane perpendicular to a transverse plane, and secondary ducts each associated with each pair of primary ducts and configured on command to eject a jet of secondary fluid directed into the triangle formed by the primary jets.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an aircraft jet engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
In known manner, an aircraft jet engine comes in the form of a nacelle in the center of which a turbomachine is positioned.
This nacelle is intended to be installed under the wing group of an aircraft by means of an engine nacelle pylon.
The turbomachine consists of a gas generator that drives a fan installed on the shaft of the gas generator, upstream from the latter along the longitudinal direction of the jet engine nacelle.
The air stream that passes longitudinally through the nacelle penetrates partially into the gas generator and takes part in combustion.
This stream is called primary stream and is ejected at the outlet of the generator.
The part of the air stream penetrating into the nacelle and that does not pass through the gas generator is carried along by the fan.
This stream, called secondary stream, flows in an annular passage, concentrically in relation to the primary stream. This passage is formed between an outer longitudinal wall (nacelle wall) and an inner longitudinal wall surrounding the gas generator.
The secondary stream is ejected from the nacelle at the downstream end of the outer wall of the latter along the more or less longitudinal direction of the jet engine.
The inner wall surrounding the generator for the gas also defines with an inner longitudinal part an annular passage through which the primary stream flows.
This stream is ejected at the downstream end of the inner wall that surrounds the gas generator.
During take-off phases, the gas stream that is ejected (primary and secondary stream) takes on very high speeds. At these speeds, the meeting of the ejected stream with the surrounding air, as does the meeting of the primary stream and the secondary stream, generates a considerable noise.
A fluidic device for reduction of noise generated by an aircraft jet engine is known from international application WO2002/013243.
This device comprises several pairs of ducts opening into the outlet of a nozzle of the jet engine that ejects a propulsive jet and which are distributed around the periphery of this nozzle.
The ducts of each pair each eject an air jet and are disposed in convergent manner in relation to each other in order to generate at the outlet a triangle of interaction of the air jets.
The angle of convergence of the ducts is between 40 and 70°.
This device is satisfactory for small nozzle sizes.
Nonetheless, when the diameters of the nozzles take on relatively high values, for example on the order of a meter, the aforementioned device loses its effectiveness.
The fluid jets originating from the convergent ducts in fact cannot interact with the entirety of the propulsive jet ejected by the nozzle. For this reason, a portion thereof meets the external peripheral flow of air, thus generating noise.
A need therefore exists to reduce the noise caused by the ejection of the gas stream or streams at the outlet of a jet engine nacelle of an aircraft, in particular when the dimensions of the jet engine are considerable.

Device with secondary jets reducing the noise generated by an aircraft jet engine

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)


A method of fabricating a magnetoelastic torque sensor includes plating a magnetoelastic material to a magnetically inert substrate, and its endowment with uniaxial magnetic anisotropy through the creation within the transducer element of stress anisotropy. The plating of magnetostrictive material to the magnetically inert substrate provides a less expensive torque element that exhibits desired levels of accuracy and reliability.

This invention relates to a method of fabricating a magnetoelastic torque sensor. More particularly, this invention relates to fabrication of a magnetoelastic torque sensor having a transducer ring affixed to a substrate in a plating process.
Conventional non-contact torque sensors include a magnetoelastic ring that is supported on a shaft. A uniaxial, circumferential stress anisotropy is created in the magnetoelastic ring such that a circumferential magnetic anisotropy results, creating a predisposition within the transducer element toward a circumferential magnetic field within the magnetoelastic ring. The circumferential magnetic field becomes distorted responsive to surface shear stress resulting from an applied torque to the shaft. The amount and direction of magnetic field distortion is measured and provides a value utilized to provide the desired torque measurements.
Conventional methods of fabricating a torque sensor include the pressing of a ring of positively-magnetostrictive material onto a magnetically inert shaft. The shaft includes a taper such that a press fit of the ring onto the shaft will produce the desired circumferential tension or "hoop stress". The circumferential tension creates a magnetic easy axis and thereby facilitates the stability of the circumferential magnetic field. The press fit between the ring and the shaft is a limiting factor to the capability and accuracy of such torque sensors. Any slipping or relative movement between the shaft and the ring distorts the actual reading of torque and causes a shift in the zero point of any torque measurement.
A known improvement over press fitting of rings onto a shaft includes the use techniques such as thermal-spraying or kinetic metallization to apply a magnetoelastic material, particularly nickel, onto a non-ferromagnetic stainless steel substrate. The desired stress anisotropy for the magnetoelastic material is provided by applying an axial load and heat to the substrate during the application of the magnetoelastic material. Once applied, the substrate is cooled and the axial load released. This results in an axial tensile stress and a compressive circumferential hoop stress on the magnetoelastic materials, thereby producing the desired magnetic field. However, such a fabrication method is difficult to control, requires the use of an expensive grade of stainless steel for the substrate, and wastes much of the magnetoelastic material during the thermal spraying process.
Accordingly, it is desirable to develop a method of fabricating a magnetoelastic torque element that utilizes less expensive materials in a more reliable manner.

Fabrication of a magnetoelastic torque sensor

Continiental Automotive Systems US, Inc.


A data storage array device includes redundant data storage devices and a controller. The controller includes a set of instructions issued to the data storage devices; a detector for detecting responses to the set of instructions; a timer; and a processor for monitoring the responses. If the responses from all data storage devices finished within a period set by the timer, the processor completes response processing for the set of instructions at the point when the responses finished. If the responses from all data storage devices are not finished at the end of a period set by the timer, the processor completes response processing for the set of instructions using only the responses that are finished at the end of the period of the timer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data storage array device having a redundant configuration and so on for storing continuous media data such as image information.
2. Related Art of the Invention
With the recent development in multimedia technology, continuous media data such as digital images and voice data are more often recorded onto data storage devices (random access devices) such as a hard disk drive. For image data, such as MPEG for example, the transfer rate is about 1.5 to 30 Mbps per stream. Further, since the data size of continuous media data is large, it is becoming common to use several random access devices as an array, and to allow them to be externally recognized as one virtual large-capacity device.
Accessing continuous media data requires uninterrupted access to the data in data storage devices and reliability with which the server system as a whole does not stop even if a part of the data storage devices goes wrong. A plurality of data storage devices in a redundant configuration also enable recovery of correct data by using redundant data even if a part of the data storage devices goes wrong.
In a data storage array device with a redundant configuration, when a host writes data, the data from the host is written to the data storage devices with redundant data added to it. When the host requests data to be read out, the data is read out and returned to the host as it is, if all data storage devices are operating properly. If there is a failure in one of the data storage devices, the redundant configuration enables the data in the failed part to be reconstructed from the data of the remaining data storage devices operating properly and the redundant data to return the data to the host.
A data storage array device having such a redundant configuration can address partial failures of data storage devices. However, a server system for continuous media is not allowed to cause significant delay with respect to access requests from a host even if it may not be regarded as a failure, because delay above a certain level causes discontinuity of images.
To guarantee the response time delay in a data storage array device for such a server system that supports continuous media, some methods use a timer to guarantee the response time.
One of the conventional methods of processing with a timer upon reading out, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-81123 specification entitled xe2x80x9cParallel Data Transfer System and Its Devicexe2x80x9d, discloses a method in which delay of a response due to a failure of a data storage device is detected, and data is reconstructed by using redundant data. In a configuration of N number of data disks and one redundant disk, delay for Read requests addressed to the N+1 disks is detected by starting a timer when any one of the disks responds to the Read request. If the last one has not responded after a predetermined period, the data of the disk with its response delayed is recovered from data of the proper data disks and data of the redundant disk. Thus, the delay after the disks begin to respond can be limited to a certain range.
Another conventional example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-69027 entitled xe2x80x9cRecording System for Multimediaxe2x80x9d, discloses a method of guaranteeing delay with a timeout table for guaranteeing the response time for a plurality of users. The timeout table is set for each user, and a timer is set upon receipt to fare quest from a host, then Read or Write requests are issued to the disks. Timeout processing is performed when a response of any disk is delayed. If necessary data has not been accessed after a period stored in the timeout table, redundant data is accessed to recover the necessary data, and the response is returned to the host. After response to the host, the operation returns to the state of waiting the next requests from the host and repeats requesting to the disks and the timeout processing described above when a new request arrives. The delay time from the arrival of requests to the return of responses can be guaranteed by timer values in the timeout table.
However, the conventional data storage array devices have the problems described below.
The problems involved in the timer processing as in the conventional devices are as follows. Typical disk devices, which involves an access waiting time including a seek time of a magnetic head and a waiting time for disk rotation, adopts multiprocessing of commands (Read or Write instructions) by command queuing in order to optimize disk accesses and to increase the total transfer rate.
Optimizing execution of a plurality of commands within the disk devices by the command queuing can improve the transfer rate more significantly than separately processing commands without queuing. However, in the conventional examples, timer processing is performed in which requests and responses are in one-to-one correspondence, so that it is impossible to queue a plurality of requests from the host. Thus, each disk device processes the access requests independently of other requests, which precludes the disk devices from offering their full performance and from supplying data at a high transfer rate as a data storage array device.
If the data storage array device supports the command queuing in response to successive requests issued by the host, it is possible to increase efficiency of the operation of the disk devices by queuing accesses to the disk devices. However, it is difficult for the conventional methods using a timer to guarantee the response delay times imply by queuing accesses to the disk devices. For example, if the access time is guaranteed for the maximum number of requests acceptable at a time, the timer will be set long and therefore the response delay time will belong with no guarantee of real time operation. Further, when there are a small number of users, only a few requests are accepted at a time and the waiting time will be wasted.
Thus, with a view to solving the above-mentioned problems, the object of the present invention is to guarantee response performance for continuous media data accesses and to provide a data storage array device and so on that perform multiprocessing of a plurality of access requests while having a high transfer efficiency.
One aspect of the present invention is a data storage array device including: a plurality of data storage devices having a redundant information; and a controller that controls the data storage devices,
wherein said controller comprises:
instruction issuing means of sequentially issuing access instruction groups configured by a plurality of divided access instructions, to said plurality of data storage devices;
response detecting means of detecting responses to the instructions executed in the data storage devices;
timer means of counting time; and
completion processing means, which monitors a group of responses to a given one of the access instruction groups, and
if the responses from all data storage devices have been finished within a period set by the timer means, completes response processing for the given one of the access instruction groups at the point when the responses have been finished, and
if the responses from all data storage devices have not been finished at the end of a period set by the timer, completes response processing for the given one of the access instruction groups by using only the responses from the data storage devices that have finished their responses at the end of the period of the timer.
Another aspect of the present invention is the data storage array device according to 1st invention, wherein the timer for a given one of the access instruction groups is started with a timing of the response finished last in a group of responses to the just previous one of the access instruction groups.
Still another aspect of the present invention is the data storage array device, wherein the timer for a given one of the access instruction groups is started with a timing of the response finished first in a group of responses to the just previous one of the access instruction groups.
Yet still another aspect of the present invention is the data storage array device, wherein the timer for a given one of the access instruction groups is started with a timing between that of the response finished last and that of the response finished first in a group of responses to the just previous one of the access instruction groups.
Still yet another aspect of the present invention is the data storage array device, wherein the timer for a given one of the access instruction groups is started with a timing of the start of the instruction executed first in the given one of the access instruction groups.
A further aspect of the present invention is the data storage array device, wherein the timer for a given one of the access instruction groups is started with a timing of the start of the instruction executed last in the given one of the access instruction groups.
A still further aspect of the present invention is the data storage array device, wherein the timer for a given one of the access instruction groups is started with a timing between that of the start of the instruction executed first and that of the start of the instruction executed last in the given one of the access instruction groups.
A yet further aspect of the present invention is the data storage array device, wherein, as long as the responses from all data storage devices have not been finished at the end of a period set by the timer, the timer is started next at the end of the period of the timer.
A still yet further aspect of the present invention is the data storage array device, wherein, when the responses from all data storage devices have not been finished at the end of a period set by the timer, data of a data storage device that has not finish its response is recovered by using data of a predetermined number of data storage devices, including a data storage data stored therein, that have finished their responses.
An additional aspect of the present invention is a data access method for a data storage array device, including: a plurality of data storage devices having a redundant information; and a controller that controls the data storage devices,
wherein said controller comprises the steps of:
multiplexingly and sequentially issuing access instruction groups to said plurality of data storage devices;
detecting responses to the instructions executed in the data storage devices;
counting time with timer means;
monitoring a group of responses to a given one of the multiplexed access instruction groups;
if the responses from all data storage devices have been finished within a period set by the timer means, completing response processing for the given one of the access instruction groups at the point when the responses have been finished; and
if the responses from all data storage devices have not been finished at the end of a period set by the timer, completing response processing for the given one of the access instruction groups by using only the responses from the data storage devices that have finished their responses at the end of the period of the timer.

Data storage array device and data access method

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


Various methods and systems are provided for diagnosing an engine component condition in an exhaust gas recirculation system. In one example, a method includes selectively routing exhaust from a subset of engine cylinders to an exhaust passage via a first valve and to an intake passage via a second valve, and obtaining one or more of a pressure or temperature from the subset of engine cylinders. The method further includes indicating an engine component condition based on the one or more of the pressure or temperature.

Engines may utilize recirculation of exhaust gas from an engine exhaust system to an engine intake system, a process referred to as exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), to reduce regulated emissions. In some examples, a group of one or more cylinders may have an exhaust manifold that is exclusively (and/or selectively) coupled to an intake passage of the engine such that the group of cylinders is dedicated, at least under some conditions, to generating exhaust for EGR. Such cylinders may be referred to as "donor cylinders." Further, some EGR systems may include multiple valves to direct exhaust to an intake passage and/or an exhaust passage based on a desired amount of EGR.

Methods and systems for exhaust gas recirculation


There is disclosed in one example a computing apparatus, including: a processor and a memory; a network interface to communicatively couple to a backup client; a storage to receive backup data from the client, including a plurality of versions and an associated reputation for each version, the associated reputation to indicate a probability that the version is valid; and instructions encoded within the memory to instruct the processor to: receive from the backup client a request to store a new version of the backup data; determine that the client has exceeded a backup threshold; identify a backup version having a lowest reputation for validity; and expunge the backup version having the lowest reputation for validity.

Ransomware is a denial of access attack on a computer system. In a typical ransomware attack, a malicious Trojan is installed on the target machine. The Trojan then locks down the computer, and demands a ransom for unlocking it. An unsophisticated ransomware may use an easily-circumvented attack, such as locking the user's account. But more advanced ransomware may actually encrypt the user's files, and demand a ransom in exchange for the decryption key. As it may be impractical to decrypt the files without the key, and as the user's files may be important, many users pay the ransom.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Process for preparing monodisperse weakly basic or optionally strongly basic anion exchangers of the poly(meth)acrylamide type, the ion exchangers themselves and their use.

From the prior art, heterodisperse anion exchangers of the poly(meth)acrylamide type are already known. These are a class of anion exchangers which can be used in practice for numerous different applications.
An important area of use of heterodisperse anion exchangers of the poly(meth)acrylamide type is water treatment technology, in which it is possible to remove anions, for example, chloride, sulphate or nitrate, and weak acids such as salicylic acid and carbonic acid; organic acids such as formic acid, acetic acid, citric acid, humic acids and others.
Currently, both gel-type and macroporous heterodisperse anion exchangers of the poly(meth)acrylamide type are used in decolorizing press juices from beets and sugar cane. In the course of the complex production process of sugar extraction, the press juices from the beets, preferably sugar beets, and the sugar cane discolor. Pigments, for example melanoidines and caramel colors are formed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,701 discloses the use heterodisperse anion exchangers of the poly(meth)acrylamide type, for decolorizing pigment solutions. Raw solutions of liquid sugar syrup or invert sugar syrup are also currently desalted using heterodisperse anion exchangers of the poly(meth)acrylamide type.
It is also known to use gel-type or macroporous heterodisperse anion exchangers of the poly(meth)acrylamide type for the removal of acids or acidic components from whey and fruit thin press juices.
A known process for preparing heterodisperse anion exchangers of the poly(meth)acrylamide type is aminolysis of crosslinked acrylic ester bead polymers with polyamines according to U.S. Pat. No. 2,675,359, CZ-A 169 356, DD 99 587 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,020.
The crosslinked (meth)acrylic ester resin bead polymers used for the aminolysis are prepared in the prior art as gel-type or macroporous resins. They are prepared in mixed polymerization by the suspension polymerization process. This produces heterodisperse bead polymers having a broad particle size distribution in the range from approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 1.2 mm.
The heterodisperse anion exchangers of the poly(meth)acrylamide type obtained after the subsequent aminolysis can be quaternized by alkylating agents. The reaction to be performed here to give strongly basic groups can be carried out in the range from 1 to 100%, that is to say completely. Customary alkylating agents are alkyl halides or aryl halides or mixtures of the two, for example chloromethane according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,701 or benzyl chloride.
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,675,359, gel-type and macroporous heterodisperse bead polymers based on a methylacrylate-divinylbenzene copolymer are reacted with diethylenetriamine.
DD 99 587 describes the preparation of solid-grain weakly basic heterodisperse anion exchangers based on polyacrylic esters. The grain solidity is achieved by means of the fact that, after the copolymer is reacted with the polyamine, the resin is treated with a water-miscible solvent which swells the resin to a lesser extent than water.
Suitable solvents used are, for example, methanol, ethanol, acetone or mixtures thereof. 99% of the beads are obtained without cracks or fissures.
Without the treatment with methanol, for example, 35% of the beads have cracks and fissures.
The heterodisperse anion exchangers of the poly(meth)acrylamide type, depending on the charged form of the resin, that is to say depending on the type of counter ion to the nitrogen, exhibit differing resin volumes. When converted from the chloride form to the free base form, the resin swells markedly. Conversely, it shrinks on conversion from the free base form to the chloride form. In the industrial use of these heterodisperse anion exchangers of the poly(meth)acrylamide type, therefore, charging and regeneration is associated in each case with shrinkage or swelling, respectively. In the course of long-term use, however, these heterodisperse anion exchangers are regenerated several hundred times. The shrinking and swelling operations occurring in the course of this stress the bead stability so greatly that a fraction of the beads develop cracks, finally even fracturing. Fragments are produced which lead to blockages in the service apparatus and the columns, and impede flow, which in turn leads to an increased pressure drop. In addition, the fragments contaminate the medium being treated, preferably water, and thus reduce the quality of the medium or the water.
The flow of water through a column packed with beads, however, is impeded not only by resin fragments, but also by fine polymer beads, if present. An increase in pressure drop occurs. Due to the particle size distribution of known heterodisperse anion exchangers of the poly(meth)acrylamide type, beads of differing diameters are present. The presence of such fine beads additionally increases the pressure drop.
Seidl et al., Chemicky prumysl, roc. 29/54 (1979) cis 9,470, studied the aminolysis reaction of crosslinked acrylic ester resins and found that, in addition to the acrylamide unit, free acrylic acid units are also formed. All acrylamide resins exhibit free acrylic acid units.
After completion of charging of heterodisperse anion exchangers of the poly(meth)acrylamide type with anions, therefore, the resin is regenerated with dilute sodium hydroxide solution in order to prepare it for new charging. Sodium hydroxide solution residues are washed out of the resin with water. In addition the carboxylate ion which results from treating the carboxylic acid group with sodium hydroxide solution is hydrolysed by the water washing. During production of the resins a low conductivity of the effluent water (wash water) from the resin is desired, since otherwise impure water is present. The goal is to achieve low conductivity using small amounts of wash water, since this can be regarded as a sign that only small amounts of weakly acidic groups remain.


A regenerative incinerator comprises a combustion chamber, a regenerator having a plurality of discrete segments each of which has a heat exchange material therein and a valve for sequentially directing contaminated gas, purge air and cleansed gas to and from discrete segments of said regenerator, selectively.

This invention relates generally to incinerators for the abatement of process emissions, for example, fumes emitted from coating, laminating, painting, or dry cleaning processes, and more specifically, to a novel regenerative incinerator and valve for the control of fluid flow to and from the regenerator portion of the incinerator.
Noxious fumes, waste gases or process emissions, which may be termed "feed gas", "waste gas" or "emissions" generally contain combustible contaminants. However, the amount of combustible material contained in such emissions is generally below several thousand ppm and, accordingly, will not ignite or propagate a flame at ambient temperature.
Incinerators increase the temperature of such emissions to a level above the ignition temperature of the combustible contaminants by the use of heat derived from a supplemental energy source thereby to oxidize the emission.
Regenerative incinerators recover heat remaining in the cleansed exhaust gas to increase the temperature of emissions entering the incinerator thereby minimizing the amount of supplemental energy required to raise the emission to its ignition temperature.


Method for forming the virtual topology (21-45) of an ATM-layer where the ATM-layer is carried over an optical network (1) where inputs such as the physical topology (2-8, 11-16) and constraints of physical nature are given, thereafter forming node-pairs with end-to-end connections according to some known optimal routing algorithm, and finally applying a non-deterministic mathematical approach to obtain an optimal virtual topology with the objective of minimising the need for necessary electrical processing (50, 60, 70, 80) in the nodes (11-16) of the network (1).

The invention relates to a method for solving optimisation problems occuring during the design of a mostly optical ATM network.
The technique of finding new solutions for designing networks based on Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) or on All Optical Networks (AON) is a rapidly growing area of research in telecommunication and computer business. Both ATM and AON have own methodologies for simplifying network management and switching. Whereas ATM networks apply the VP (Virtual Path) concept, i.e many connections which have a common path in a part of the network are handled (managed, switched) together, the AONs assign the wavelengths to connections in such a way that connections of the same wavelength are handled together without any electrical processing during the transmission. Optical networks employ Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) and specially designed algorithms allow a high aggregate system capacity due to spatial reuse of wavelengths.
A known idea, (Mukherjee, Ramamurthy and Banerjee, xe2x80x9cSome principles for designing a wide-area optical networkxe2x80x9d IEEE 1994, pp. 110-119), is to combine the technology of AONs with ATM technique. By using optical amplifiers and switches in a mostly optical ATM network, the number of opto-electrical conversions can be reduced significantely, which leads to better signal quality and lower delays, but from the point of view of ATM there is a problem: the VPI/VCI modification in the cell header becomes impossible. The Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) technique offers a good utilization of the fibre but the transmission capacity is divided into equal parts (channels) defined by the wavelengths used. Because of this partitioned capacity the statistical multiplexing (SM), which is another benefit of the ATM, has limits. SM can shortly be described as the gain accomplished when dynamically multiplexing together channels with bursty traffic into one channel, thereby eliminating those empty timeslots which may occur in the channels due to the burstiness. The larger the capacity, the lower the effective bandwith, therefore the resource usage is more efficient.
Combining the technology of AONs with ATM technique entails a loss of performance due to the loss of SM. The total effect though, is a gain due to the enhanced performance coming from the simplified VP management.
A use of this combined technique implies both advantages and drawbacks. The drawbacks are that the switching must be done on three different levels (instead of two), namely: 1. Pure optical switching for VPLs; 2. VP switching (Cross connects) where the switching is done on the basis of VPIs (VPIs are changed); 3. VC switching. The design procedure is computationally hard as the complexity is about the number of available wavelengths to the power of the number of nodes in the network. The main advantage though, is that many opto-electrical conversions can be avoided so that less CCs are required, thereby enhancing the performance.
There is a problem in how to make the architecture of systems like this optimal, i.e when designing backbone networks for example, one must assume full logical connectivity between the nodes in the network and try to find optimisation algorithms for best using the limited number of wavelengths to accomplish a high aggregate system capacity due to spatial reuse of wavelengths.
The architecture used in the IEEE-paper is a combination of well-known xe2x80x9csinglehopxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cmultihopxe2x80x9d approaches as employed in many other WDM networks/proposals. The paper deals with optimising the cost, efficiency and throughput of the routing node by theorethical analysis. The optimisation is here split into two steps with the objective of minimising the average message delay caused by transfer: 1. They find and map a virtual topology into the given physical; and 2. Assign the wavelengths to links of the virtual topology. This technique brings about that the VP design is already performed in step one, meaning that the optimality criteria could be deteriorated and the delays could increase since if there are more end-to-end streams on a physical link than the allowed number of wavelengths, the paper proposes a rerouting of one of these streams. Hence, the average delay is increased as the wavelength assignment and the virtual topology forming are divided.
Combining ATM networks with an All Optical Network (AON) is a rather new technique with drawbacks and advantages. Here we try to design the virtual topology of an optimal ATM network on top of a AON. The optimality criterion refers here to making the ATM network xe2x80x9cas opticalxe2x80x9d as possible, meaning that we want as long lightpaths as possible in the network without having to change the wavelength, i.e the total number of necessary wavelength changes in the network should be as few as possible, thereby minimising the need for the lightpaths to enter Crossconnects (CCs). This idea solves the problem by, and discloses a method for, finding an optimal routing of the VPCs so that the amount of VP switching can be maximally reduced. In ATM networks is an end-to-end connection associated with a VCC (Virtual Channel Connection). One or more VCCs are established on a VP Connection (VPC) which is built of one or more VP Links (VPL) along the path of the VCC. The VPL consists of one or more VPs concatenated. Hence, the VP is a xe2x80x9cbundlexe2x80x9d of VCCs along one physical link.
Along a VPL the VPI/VCI is not changed. Therefore no electrical processing is needed along the VPL, which also is the objective with the invention. Since no electrical processing is needed along a VPL, the same wavelength can be assigned to all of its components, i.e VPs. In this case the VPCs using these VPLs will not have to enter in the Cross Connects (CCs). They can be switched by passive optical switches. Since the limit on the processing capacity of CCs is dependent upon the internal bus speed, applaying an ATM network on top of an AON realise the use of much larger networks. The objective is to carry the cells by the virtual topology as far as possible in the optical domain. Packet forwarding from lightpath to lightpath is performed via electronic switching when required.
When we design a backbone network, full logical connectivity must be assumed, which means that every node must be able to connect every other node in the network. In general, the design consists of three problems to be solved optimally: 1. Route the VPCs; 2. Cut them into VPLs; 3. Dimension the VPLs. These problems are dependent of each other. When our model is applied, the third problem can be relaxed, instead we have a constraint: None of the VPL capacities should exceed the partition (channel) capacity. The invention proposes a two-phase method in order to accomplish optimality as often as possible, where the first phase involves finding one (or two for reliability purposes) node-and-vertex disjoint path(s) for each node-pair and assigning them capacities according to their traffic. The objective to be minimised when routing the VPCs is the total network cost. This calls for input parameters such as position of nodes, estimated traffic demands between nodes and the costs of building physical links between them when we design the network; or estimated traffic demands between the nodes and the physical topology with capacities given when we are rerouting the VPCs. The second part of the method involves a cutting of paths between node-pairs into sequences and merging these sequences into VPLs and assigning them a wavelength. The emphasis is laid on this second part. The objective to be minimised here is the total number of cuts of a VPC or in other words, minimising the number of VPLs along a VPC. It can mathematically be expressed as a constrained discrete optimisation problem, which can be solved by stochastic optimisation (e.g Simulated Annealing or Genetic Algorithm). The novelty of the invention lies in the two step model as a whole and especially the second step with the objective of the optimisation and the constraints, i.e. the formulation of the problem and how to apply stochastic optimisation onto this problem, i.e how to match the model to the optimisation algorithm, to obtain an optimal network with a minimum of use of electric processing.
The method gives the optimal virtual topology simultaneously with the wavelength assignment! Furthermore it does not increase the transfer delays in the network because we join some of the streams if enough capacity is available instead of a rerouting of one of the streams, which is necessary in prior art as the number of streams on a physical link are more than the number of available wavelengths.

Method for optimizing a mostly optical network


A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for communicating the shelf position of an item within a storage unit. An item to be located in the storage unit is identified. The storage unit system determines the shelf position of the identified item. The system then communicates the shelf position of the identified item to the user. If the user requests multiple items, the optimal sequence of retrieval for the items is determined based on a user configurable algorithm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present application relates generally to an improved data processing system and in particular to a method and apparatus for retrieving stored items. Still more particularly, the present invention is directed to a computer implemented method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for communicating the position of items in a storage unit equipped with a sensor shelf.
2. Description of the Related Art
Finding individual items in storage systems may be time consuming and cumbersome. Often when storing items on a shelf, only the first row of items is visible. Since the items in the first row often block the view of items behind them, items in front rows may need to be removed to find items in back rows. Removing and replacing more items than are necessary to retrieve the wanted item is inefficient and time consuming.
One solution has been to place items in fixed locations on the shelves; however, this solution may cause inefficiencies in the number of items that may be stored. Fixed locations may limit the capacity of a storage system by forcing empty spaces where the specific items slotted for that specific space are out of stock. Personnel may need to constantly redefine shelf space and update documentation to provide the flexibility needed, thus causing further inefficiencies.

Item position indicator and optimized item retrieval for a sensor equipped storage unit

International Business Machines Corporation


A low profile non-contacting position sensor for rotational engagement with a shaft. A pole piece has a first and a second piece. A backstrap retains the first and second pieces in parallel and opposing relationship. A shaft passes through at least one of the pieces. The pole piece is held to the shaft by a shaft retainer. A first and second magnet is disposed on the first and second pieces, respectively. A magnetic sensor is positioned between the first and second magnets. A magnetic field sensor such as a hall effect sensor is positioned in an gap and operates to provide an output signal representative of the field strength of the magnet as the shaft rotates. The output signal changes magnitude in relation to the relative position of the magnet with respect to the magnetic field sensor.

1. Field of the Preferred Embodiment(s)
This invention generally relates to position sensing and to a position sensor which is compact, durable and precise. More specifically, the invention relates to a noncontacting low profile position sensor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Position sensing is used to allow an electrical circuit to gain information about an event or a continuously varying condition. There are a variety of known techniques for angular position sensing. For example, optical, electrical, electrostatic, and magnetic fields are all used in a sensor to measure position. There are many known sensors such as resistive contacting networks, inductively coupled ratio sensors, variable reluctance devices, capacitively coupled ratio detectors, optical detectors using the Faraday effect, photo-activated ratio detectors, and electrostatic ratio detectors.
There are many applications for sensors, and a wide variety of technologies to fill these needs. Each of these technologies offers a unique set of advantages and limitations. limitations. Of these technologies, magnetic sensing is known to have a unique combination of long life components and excellent resistance to contaminants.
Regardless of the arrangement and method for changing the field about the sensor, the magnetic circuit faces several obstacles which have not been overcome. Movement of the sensor relative to the gap as a result of bearing play will lead to a variation in field strength measured by the sensor. This effect is particularly pronounced in Hall effect, magneto-resistive and other similar sensors, where the sensor is sensitive about a single axis and insensitive to perpendicular magnetic fields.

Low profile non-contacting position sensor


A controllable valve is provided for a low-flammability fluid within an aircraft with at least one magnetic coil which, upon brief electrical excitation, moves a structural element provided therein from a first position to a second position in which the structural element is held by a permanent magnet after completion of the electrical excitation of the magnetic coil.

A valve, in particular a solenoid valve, is a technical structural part used to control or regulate a mass flow of a gas or a liquid. A solenoid valve contains an electromagnet which can be activated by switching a switch on or off.
An aircraft contains a large number of hydraulic lines of one or more hydraulic circuits. Hydraulic lines of this type can be used to actuate control surfaces, in particular flyer plates, for example. A hydraulic fluid is transported in the hydraulic lines, the flow of the hydraulic fluid being controlled or regulated by means of valves.
In addition to the hydraulic circuits, an aircraft also contains water circuits in order to supply the passengers, in particular the passenger toilets, with water, for example. These water circuits are also controlled or regulated by means of switching valves.
In addition to these low-flammability fluids, that is to say hydraulic oil and water, an aircraft, in particular an aeroplane, carries a large amount of high-flammability fuel, in particular kerosine, in order to operate the engines and to generate sufficient thrust.
A large part of this high-flammability fuel is located in the central region of the fuselage and in particular also in the wings of an aeroplane. For actuating control surfaces, hydraulic lines, in particular, therefore extend in local proximity to fuel tanks and fuel lines.
Conventional solenoid valves used in aeroplanes switch an armature element from a first switching position to a second switching position by means of at least one magnetic coil. After switching-over, the armature element is conventionally held mechanically by means of a spring mechanism or in another manner. Alternatively, after the excitation of the magnetic coil has been switched off, the armature element is moved back in a spring-loaded manner to the starting position or starting stance again.
However, these conventional solenoid valves have the drawback that they are, on account of the structural parts necessary for the mechanical interlocking and owing to this mechanical wear, relatively fault-prone or display low reliability. In addition, the mechanical structural parts used for the mechanical interlocking greatly limit the extent to which it is possible to miniaturise the solenoid valve.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a controllable valve for a fluid within an aircraft that is distinguished by high reliability and a long lifetime and at the same time minimises the risk of ignition of fuel of the aircraft.


Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a flip flop circuit that obviates the need of a transmission gate. The flip flop includes a first match multiplexer, a second match multiplexer and a separable inverter. The first match multiplexer receives an input data signal and generates a feedback output based on the input data signal and the logic levels at two nodes coupled to the first match multiplexer. The separable inverter receives the feedback output and switches the logic level of one of two nodes but maintains the logic level per each clock cycle. The second match multiplexer generates a signal output based on the logic levels at the two nodes and the signal output that is fed back into the second match multiplexer. Embodiments may reduce power consumption and operate at lower voltages.

1. Field of Technology
The present disclosure generally relates to flip flops, and specifically relates to master slave flip flops.
2. Background
Flip flops are data storage elements used in digital electronic circuits. Flip flops store one of two states and changes states in response to one or more inputs. A typical master slave flip flop is made of a master latch and a slave latch that change states in response to a control signal such as a clock. The output of the master latch is the input to the slave latch, and the output of the slave latch is the output of the flip flop. During the negative phase of the clock, the master latch stores a data input signal while the slave latch maintains its previously stored value. During the positive phase of the clock, the master latch maintains its previously stored value while the slave latch stores the data input signal previously stored in the master latch, thus the data input signal is written to the output of the flip flop.
One of many problems with typical master slave flip flops is that the slave latch and the master latch could both be acquiring or storing new data at the same time. For example, during a positive clock phase, the master latch maintains the input data from the previous clock phase while the slave latch acquires new data. During a negative clock phase, the master latch acquires new input data while the slave latch maintains the input data from the previous clock phase. During the transition from the positive to negative clock phase, the slave latch may change to a maintaining mode before the master latch changes to an acquiring mode. However, it is possible that the master latch changes to an acquiring mode before the slave latch changes to a maintaining mode, both the master latch and slave latch in an acquiring mode, causing the output value of the flip flop to be compromised.


A method for desulfurizing molten pig-iron involving injecting a gas-evolving desulfurization agent which includes a calcium compound and a gas forming material comprising of a gas-producing compound, a slag-forming agent and magnesium.

The sulfur content in iron ores and other materials commonly used in pig-iron production, i.e. coal and coke, have increased the costs of steel making. As a result, it is becoming increasingly desirable to desulfurize the pig-iron before the iron enters the basic oxygen furnace and/or steel making furnace. Over the years, a wide variety of materials and mixtures have been used to desulfurize the pig-iron. It has long been known that various calcium compounds are good desulfurization agents. It has also been known that magnesium, alone or in combination with various alkaline metal oxides, is also a good desulfurization agent. There have been several patents which disclose the use of calcium oxide and magnesium as the primary desulfurization agents. (See Skach U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,765,830; and 4,708,737; Green U.S. Pat. No. 4,705,561; Candler U.S. Pat. No. 4,139,369; Kawakami U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,072; Koros U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,625). Furthermore, desulfurization agents disclosing the use of calcium carbide as the primary desulfurization agent have also been known and well documented. (See Freissmuth U.S. Pat. No. 3,598,573; Todd U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,464; Braun U.S. Pat. No. 4,395,282).
Recently, the use of a calcium compound and magnesium, in combination with a gas-producing compound, has been used to increase the amount of sulfur removal. It has been found that the gas-producing compound releases a gas upon contact with the molten pig-iron to create a turbulent environment within the molten pig-iron. The released gas primarily breaks down agglomerations of the desulfurization agent and disperses the desulfurization agent throughout the molten pig-iron. The gas-producing agent is typically a hydrocarbon, carbonate or alcohol which has a tendency to release various amounts of gas upon contact with the molten pig-iron. Use of these various gas-producing agents is well documented. (See Takmura U.S. Pat. No. 3,876,421; Meichsner U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,915; Gmohling U.S. Pat. No. 4,194,902; Koros U.S. Pat. No. 4,266,969; Freissmuth U.S. Pat. No. 4,315,773; Koros U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,940; Green U.S. Pat. No. 4,705,561; Rellermeyer U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,767; Meichsner U.S. Pat. No. 4,764,211; Meichsner U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,739; Luydkx U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,086).
Desulfurization agents may also contain various slag-forming agents. Previously, the importance of the slagging agent has been passed over for more immediate concerns about the economics of using various ingredients of the desulfurization agent. Although it is important to use the proper desulfurization components to react with the sulfur in the pig-iron and separate the sulfur from the pig-iron, the composition of the slag is very important to retain the removed sulfur within the slag and not allow the sulfur to re-enter the molten pig-iron.
Various slagging agents have been used for various purposes. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,315,773 a desulfurization agent comprising calcium carbide, a gas-involving compound, and fluorspar is disclosed. Fluorspar is used to modify the properties of the slag to prevent carbon dust production from igniting during the desulfurization.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,086, fluorspars are used to modify the characteristics of the slag increasing the fluidity of the slag during the desulfurization process.
At the present time, concerns of balancing the proper use of various desulfurization agents to remove sulfur from the pig-iron with the slag forming agents, which entraps the removed sulfur and prevents the sulfur from re-entering the pig-iron, have not been previously disclosed in the art. As a result of the inadequate attention to the slag characteristics during the desulfurization process, there is now a demand for better slagging agents to ensure easy removal of the slag and to ensure proper entrapment of the sulfur within the slag to optimize the sulfur removal from the pig-iron.


The present invention relates to thidiazuron mixtures. The present invention further relates to methods of promoting or synchronizing bud break in woody perennial plants by applying thidiazuron mixtures of the present invention. The present invention further relates to methods of promoting plant growth in woody perennial plants by applying thidiazuron mixtures of the present invention.

Perennial woody plants such as deciduous fruit trees and grape vines require chilling temperatures between growing seasons to properly bear a commercially acceptable fruit yield during the growing season. Specifically, the plants develop a resting bud at the conclusion of the growing season that better survives chilling temperatures between growing seasons. This bud stage is known as dormancy. In order for dormancy to be broken and plant growth to resume, a threshold amount of chilling is required. Effective chilling is based on both the duration of chilling and the temperature of the chilling period. This is normally followed by elevated temperatures that break dormancy and lead to synchronous flowering and fruit development. This breaking of dormancy in perennial woody plants is known as bud break.
In warmer climates, perennial woody plants do not receive sufficient chilling, and without chemical intervention to break dormancy, asynchronous bud break, flowering and fruit set may significantly reduce fruit yield. The most commercially successful bud dormancy breaking chemical is hydrogen cyanamide. Hydrogen cyanamide is the active agent in Dormex® (Dormex is a registered trademark of and available from AlzChem AG, Germany). In addition to compensating for a lack of chilling, hydrogen cyanamide has been used to initiate earlier bud break and more synchronous bud break leading to better fruit yields. However, hydrogen cyanamide is highly toxic and has been shown to cause adverse human health effects from contact with the skin and/or mucous membranes. See Schep et al.: The adverse effects of hydrogen cyanamide on human health: an evaluation of inquiries to the New Zealand National Poisons Centre. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2009 47(1):58-60. Moreover, high rates of hydrogen cyanamide are associated with in-season phytotoxicity and long-term decline in vine health and bearing.
Thidiazuron, 1-Phenyl-3-(1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-yl)urea, is another chemical that has been used to break bud dormancy. Thidiazuron has been reported to break dormancy in apples, plums, and grapes. See Wang S Y, et al.: Breaking bud dormancy in apple with a plant bioregulator, thidiazuron, Phytochem, 1986 January, 25(2), 311-317; and Alvarado R H, et al.: Thidiazuron, flower budbreak and ovary dimensions in Japanese plum (Prunus salicina L.) "Shiro", Agrociencia, 2002 34(3) 321-327. However, thidiazuron is less-effective and not as reproducible as a dormancy beaker in the field as hydrogen cyanamide. Moreover, it may be phytotoxic at high concentrations.
Nitrogen-containing fertilizers are used to enhance plant growth in most plant species. Nitrogen fertilizers have also been shown to promote bud break and bud break synchrony in apples, cherries and grapes. Hawerroth F J, et al.: Erger and calcium nitrate concentration for budbreak induction in apple trees, Acta Hort., 2010 August, 872(32), 239-244. However, nitrogen fertilizers are not as effective or consistent as hydrogen cyanamide at breaking bud dormancy.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a composition that can break bud dormancy as well or better than hydrogen cyanamide but without causing negative plant or animal health issues.


A short circuit fault current limiter includes a circuit breaker, a transfer current limiting unit and a current detection unit. The current detection unit is connected to the circuit breaker in series, and the circuit breaker and the transfer current limiting unit are connected in parallel into the power system line. An output terminal of the current detection unit is connected to a control terminal of the transfer current limiting unit. The current detection unit is configured to detect a fault current flowing through a branch of the circuit breaker under a short circuit fault operating condition and trigger the corresponding trigger switch of the transfer current limiting unit to be switched on, so that the circuit breaker is disconnected and the secondary side winding of the coupling reactor is connected to the system line in series, which is capable of rapidly limiting the amplitude of the fault current and reducing impact of the fault current on the system.

In recent years, with rapid development of the electric power system, short circuit current level of the system increases dramatically, and the increased short circuit current level results in serious consequences to the power grid, which restricts development of the electric power system. Therefore, effective measures must be taken to limit the short circuit fault current.
As a solution for limiting the short circuit fault current, the fault current limiter can effectively limit the short circuit current lever in the power grid. The fault current limiter has the following advantages: on the one hand, dynamic and thermal stability load of various high-voltage electrical equipment such as a circuit breaker can be reduced to ensure safety and stable operation of the power grid; and on the other hand, design capacity of the power grid structure can be remarkably reduced. Thus, it is of great practical significance and application value to develop a novel fault current limiter which is excellent in performance and economically reasonable.
Currently, there are several types of fault current limiters as below: (1) a fault current limiter in which a current limiting reactor is connected into the system in series, but the series-in inductance may increase normal running impedance of the system, thereby affecting transmission capacity and operation stability of the system; (2) an inductive superconducting fault current limiter, but hidden danger that the transformer bears a too large short-circuit current and is saturated in magnetic flux is required to be avoided in the current limiting process; (3) a solid-state fault current limiter which is divided into a switch type solid-state fault current limiter and a resonance type solid-state fault current limiter, but the switch type solid-state fault current limiter has a relatively high cost while requiring a extremely high response speed of the protection circuit, and the resonance type solid-state fault current limiter introduces inductor and capacitance elements, which increases possibility of generation of oscillation and overvoltage in the system; and (4) an arc current transfer type fault current limiter, but it limits the fault current by a current limiting resistance, and thus has a resistance heating problem under the current-limiting operating condition. Thus, application of the above current limiting schemes in an actual system is limited due to various defects.

HUAZHONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


A drag bit for soft, sticky formations is disclosed with a new fluid dynamics control mechanism that minimizes "bit-balling". Multiple blades carrying PDC cutters have tapered back sides to achieve greater velocity through the fluid channels. Multiple jet nozzles in each fluid channel create interacting vortices that produce extremely turbulent flow thereby minimizing the coagulation and deposition of the hydrated clay cuttings on the bit cutting surfaces.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to diamond drag bits.
More particularly, this invention relates to polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) drag bits for drilling soft, sticky clay and shale earthen formations.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Earthen formations, such as bentonitic shales and other hydratable clays, that are plastic and sticky, are very difficult to drill because the drilled cuttings tend to coagulate and adhere to or "ball-up" the cutting face of the drill bit. This drastically reduces the drilling rate and bit life.
Roller cone drill bits and tungsten carbide "fish-tail" drag type drill bits have had limited success when attempting to drill these formations with water base muds. Both bit types "ball-up" very easily, severely slowing or stopping the drilling rate. This results in having to make numerous costly trips of the drill string to change bits.
Natural diamond drill bits also have had limited success drilling these sticky formations because they are very easily "balled-up" due to the extremely small protrusion of the diamond cutting elements.
PDC type drag bits in present use are very effective drilling soft, hydratable shales and clays when using oil base drilling mud, but severely "ball-up" when using water base drilling muds which hydrate the formations which made them sticky.
State of the art PDC drill bits for drilling soft formations are multiple bladed with PDC cutters affixed to the outer surfaces of the blades. The aforesaid blades have a leading side and a trailing side which are essentially vertical and parallel to the tilt axis. A single nozzle is positioned in relatively close proximity to the bit center and in the center of a fluid channel formed by two of the blades. The drilling fluid exiting the nozzle naturally flows radially at high velocity to the outer diameter of the bit close to the center line of the fluid channel. This creates low fluid pressure areas proximate the leading and trailing sides of adjacent blades, thereby inducing reverse flow of drilling fluid and entrained hydrated drill cuttings close to the blades. The hydrated drill cuttings now have an affinity for the metal bit head surface because of their electrical charge, therefore they aggregate and adhere to the bit head surface behind the trailing side of the aforesaid preceding blade. The rotation of the bit while drilling also causes a differential pressure between the leading and trailing sides of the blades amplifying the adherence of the drill cuttings to and subsequent balling of the bit head.
A new fluid dynamics control mechanism is disclosed which overcomes the inadequacies of the prior art. This new control can be adapted to the basic blade type bits presently in use.


A shared application store for a platform-as-a-service (PaaS) system is disclosed. A method of the disclosure includes receiving, by a processing device of an application store, an indication of a selection of an application provided by the application store, the application configured for deployment on a platform-as-a-service (PaaS) system, issuing a command to create a copy of a repository associated with the selected application, wherein the command to create the copy further comprises tracking changes made to the copy and flowing the tracked changes to the repository from which the copy originates, and sending a copy of the repository in response to the command to create the copy, wherein the copy of the repository is deployed on the PaaS system for a user that selected the application.

Currently, a variety of Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) offerings exist that include software and/or hardware facilities for facilitating the execution of web applications in a cloud computing environment (the "cloud"). Cloud computing is a computing paradigm in which a customer pays a "cloud provider" to execute a program on computer hardware owned and/or controlled by the cloud provider. It is common for cloud providers to make virtual machines hosted on its computer hardware available to customers for this purpose.
The cloud provider typically provides an interface that a customer can use to requisition virtual machines and associated resources such as processors, storage, and network services, etc., as well as an interface a customer can use to install and execute the customer's program on the virtual machines that the customer requisitions, together with additional software on which the customer's program depends. For some such programs, this additional software can include software components, such as a kernel and an operating system, and/or middleware and a framework. Customers that have installed and are executing their programs "in the cloud" typically communicate with the executing program from remote geographic locations using Internet protocols.
PaaS offerings typically facilitate deployment of web applications without the cost and complexity of buying and managing the underlying hardware and software and provisioning hosting capabilities, providing the facilities to support the complete life cycle of building and delivering web application and service entirely available from the Internet. Typically, these facilities operate as one or more virtual machines (VMs) running on top of a hypervisor in a host server.
Current PaaS offerings allow customers to build their own custom applications either by writing code (application development) or by composition (e.g. gears, add-ons, plug-ins, etc). One problem encountered may be difficulty in building and deploying a new application on the PaaS offering. Some customers may not have enough technical know-how to easily accomplish this end product. For instance, to build and deploy an application on a PaaS system, the customer should know what components to build the application with, where to obtain these components, how to add the components to the PaaS platform, and how to configure the application on the PaaS platform. Furthermore, current PaaS offerings do not provide options for a pre-configured application that can be easily deployed and run by a customer without the customer's involvement in the build and deployment process.

Shared application store for a platform-as-a-service (PaaS) system


According to an illustrative embodiment, a head-mounted display is provided. The head-mounted display includes a detector for detecting an angle of tilt of the head-mounted display; and an output unit for outputting an indication of the angle of tilt.

A head-mounted display (HMD) that the user puts on the head for, for example, viewing images is known. For example, as one of the HMDs, there is known an HMD including image display surfaces and display elements for right and left eyes (see, PTL 1). The HMD having such a configuration can display images having a parallax to the left and right eyes of the user through the left and right display surfaces, and hence can present three-dimensional (3D) images without crosstalk.
Meanwhile, also in an endoscope apparatus and the like used for medical purposes, a practical use of a 3D endoscope apparatus that can present 3D images is in consideration. An endoscopic surgery is less invasive for patients than a general surgical operation, and hence is popular in recent years. However, an affected part(s) is checked only by images during a surgery, and hence it is sometimes difficult to perceive a depth with traditional two-dimensional (2D) images. Therefore, it is expected that connecting and using the HMD capable of providing 3D images to a 3D endoscope apparatus can realize a more correct and rapid endoscopic surgery while viewing realistic images of the affected part.

Head-mounted display which provides an indication of an angle of tilt therefor relative to a wearer


A message storage apparatus that can stimulate creativity and imagination of children and adolescents is disclosed. The apparatus facilitates storage of messages such as secrets, memories, notes, diary entries, wishes, dreams, trivia and other educational facts, quiz and other game questions, valentines, etc. More particularly, the apparatus can virtually (or physically) store intangible (and tangible) messages, thereby enhancing creativity and imagination. The message storage apparatus has a message delivery system that receives a message and delivers it securely to a storage chamber where the message can be accessed at a later time.

Educational games and toys have become prolific in today's marketplace; this is partly because parents and educators recognize the need for supplemental educational stimulation and learning outside of the classroom. However, few of the products in the marketplace provide both educational learning and fun for the child. Stimulation of a child's imagination is an important part of the childhood development cycle. Although parents, siblings, friends and teachers have a critical role in a child's development, individual imaginary play is as important to the child's development
Many believe that a child's mind is most creative around the age of eight years old. The years between birth and this age have a profound impact upon a child's future. Creativity is particularly important for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, creativity can develop and improve a child's imaginative skills. Basic skills are often honed by way of a child's creativity and imagination. Additionally, creativity and imagination enable a child to learn at their own pace in an environment that is both educational and fun.
Today, there are countless resources available for parents to help stimulate their child's creativity. As with many decisions throughout the tender years, parents sometimes struggle to make the right choice in selecting toys and activities for their child. Many toys available today offer both amusement and educational value to a child. This stimulation is invaluable in giving the child a head start in life on an educational level. Many of the toys and amusement products available today help a child to learn basic shapes, colors, numeracy, literacy, and creativity. Through the use of stimulating yet enjoyable products, children learn about everything from shapes and colors to numbers and letters.
Children often stimulate their mind through books, puzzles and imaginary friends. Encouragement of imagination both stimulates and nurtures the child's developing mind, curiosity, and creative skills. Imagination also inspires independence and creativity—there is a need for amusement devices that inspire children to learn and develop during these formative years.

Device for accepting and storing messages


Adjustable stool are configured to provide comfort and support for an occupant in a plurality of environments, including environments having uneven surfaces, such as a yard. Adjustable stools may include a seat platform and a pair of arms. The seat platform configured to support the occupant may comprise a seating surface and a plurality of pins. The plurality of pins may be affixed to corners of the seat platform and extend away from the seat platform. The pair of arms may define a slotted portion, with the slotted portion comprising a plurality of endpoints. The slotted portion may be configured to be engaged by each of the plurality of pins that extend away from the seat platform. Each of the plurality of pins may be configured to be reversibly held at each of the plurality of endpoints, with each of the plurality of endpoints defining a height of the adjustable stool. The plurality of endpoints may comprise a pattern.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventor, to the extent it may be described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present technology.
Chairs may secure an occupant in a seated position. More specifically, chairs may provide a surface the occupant may engage and sit on when the occupant desires to remain in a fixed position. Stools, a type of chair, commonly include a seat bottom and a pair of arms, with the seat bottom configured to contain the occupant in the seated position. While the stool is well suited to provide comfort and support for the occupant in the fixed position, it would be advantageous to provide a stool that satisfies additional requirements. For example, the occupant may desire mobility such that the stool may be used in a plurality of environments. Further, the occupant may desire the stool to provide comfort and support when used in environments having uneven surfaces, such as a yard or inside a home.


In a toy figure with body parts movable in various directions the body parts (in the embodiment shown the legs) are connected with the body in a manner known per se by means of a socket (13) designed to receive a ball (6). To ensure long-term frictional stability between the movable parts, the body part (9) is formed with a pair of opposed walls (10,11) designed to squeeze an engagement face (7) which is contiguous with the ball (6 l ).

The invention concerns a toy figure having movable body parts, where the joint between two mutually movably connected body parts comprises a ball at the end of a pin protruding from one body part, and where the other body part has a depression with a socket to receive the pin so that the ball engages the socket. A toy figure of this type is known e.g. from the U.S. Pat. Specification No. 1 868 049. This prior art, like later known attempts at constructing movable joints on toy figures, is vitiated by the drawback that the mobility appears to be "loose-jointed". More particularly, there is no limit to the possible movements so that the limbs may easily assume all possible positions, and the friction, which might be intended for retaining the body parts in a specific position with respect to the body, disappears rapidly because of wear. Therefore, the toy figure rapidly becomes unable to serve its purpose, i.e. to stay in a given position with some mutual friction between the movable parts.
The object of the invention is to provide a toy figure of the present type, which eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks.


Aspects of a method and system for interference cancellation substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims. In this regard, a receiver may be operable to receive a differential signal via a differential channel, and to sense a common mode signal on the differential channel. A frequency range in which interference is present in the common mode signal may be determined. The differential signal and the common mode signal may be filtered to attenuate frequencies outside the determined frequency range. A phase and/or amplitude of the filtered common mode signal may be adjusted based on the filtered differential signal and the adjusted and filtered common mode signal may be subtracted from the received differential signal. The common mode signal may be sensed via a pair of resistors coupled to the differential channel.

In almost any communication system, interference, externally and/or internally generated, limits the performance of the communication system. Differential signaling is one technique that can be utilized for dealing with such interference. However, while differential signaling may reduce the effects of such interference, it does not eliminate them.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

Method and system for interference cancellation


This invention relates to inhibition of the complement signaling using an anti-C5a antibody. Specifically, the invention relates to methods of treating a complement-mediated disease or complement-mediated disorder in an individual by contacting the individual with an anti-C5a antibody.

The complement system is part of innate immunity that plays a key role in host defense. However, activated complement also has the potential to cause significant tissue injury and destruction and dysregulated complement activity has been found to be associated with a number of rare and common diseases such as paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, age-related macular degeneration, etc. Thus, anti-complement therapy is a promising way of treating these human disorders.
Complement C5 is a critical protein in the terminal pathway of complement activation and is the precursor protein for generating the potent pro-inflammatory mediator C5a, as well as the cytolytic membrane attack complex (MAC), C5b-9.
In some complement-mediated diseases, both C5a and MAC-mediated processes may contribute to pathogenesis, while in other diseases only C5a-mediated inflammation or MAC-mediated cellular injury may be involved. Since complement mediators, including C5a and MAC, also play an important role in host defense against pathogen infection, it is desirable that in therapeutic drug development, we develop anti-complement drugs that are selective, i.e. drugs that will block only the detrimental effect of complement in tissue injury while leaving its normal host defense function intact.
The hemolytic disease PNH is caused by MAC. Other anti-C5 mAbs for the treatment of PNH exist. However, those antibodies unnecessarily block C5a production, putting patients at a greater risk for infection than a therapeutic drug that blocks MAC alone. Likewise, there are complement-mediated diseases that may be mediated primarily by C5a-dependent inflammation (e.g., sepsis) and for such conditions, an anti-C5 mAb drug, while expected to be effective, would unnecessarily block MAC as a side effect.
Thus, there is a need in the art for anti-human C5a mAbs that can inhibit C5a-mediate activity but does not block MAC activity. The present invention addresses and meets these and other needs.

The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania


A controller of an internal combustion engine includes processing circuitry configured to execute a peak current command value calculating process of calculating a peak current command value, which is a command value of a peak current flowing through a coil, based on a detection value of a pressure in a delivery pipe, and a peak control process of controlling a value of the peak current at the peak current command value. The in-cylinder injection valve is configured to execute multi-stage injection including a first injection and a second injection carried out at a timing toward a retarding side from the first injection. A peak current command value for the second injection is larger than the peak current command value for the first injection.

The present invention relates to a controller for an internal combustion engine and a method for controlling an internal combustion engine.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2016-223348 describes a controller that sets a peak value of a current energizing a coil of an in-cylinder injection valve based on a pressure in a high pressure accumulating piping (delivery pipe) (see paragraphs [0026], [0037]).

Controller for internal combustion engine and method for controlling internal combustion engine


The invention provides an adjustable protective scalpal covering device which enables a hair stylist to effectively treat selective hair strands with a discoloring reagent. The device includes a protective body portion sized so as to only partially cover the scalp and equipped with a plurality of orifices for withdrawing hair therethrough and a pair of straps extending outwardly from the body portion with means for variably adjusting and securing the device onto the patron's head. The size, construction, configuration and interrelationship between the component parts significantly enhance the efficacy, operational use and versatility of the device in hair discoloring treatments. The device may be inexpensively manufactured.

It is conventional to use scalp protectors in hair coloring treatments in which certain selected hair strands are treated with hair discoloring reagents. These treatment techniques are often referred within the hair stylist or the beautician trade as "bleaching", "frosting", "streaking", "tipping", "accenting", "glazing", "haloing", "highlighting", "marbilizing", "naturalizing", "rainbowing", etc.
The practice customarily involves covering the scalp of a patron with a scalp protector containing a plurality of orifices for randomly withdrawing occluded hair strands located in the vicinity of the orifices through the orifices via a hooked instrument such as a crochet hook, and then chemically treating the withdrawn strands of hair.
The scalp protectors (as currently used by the trade) are generally designed to cover the entire scalp of the patron (reported as amounting to 120 square inches for an average American Caucasian female adult). When fitted with means of securing the protector onto patron's head, the protectors are typically equipped with chin straps. One of the most common practices is to use a rubber protector of a design similar to conventional elastomeric swimming cap having a plurality of orifices for hair strand withdrawal. The patron will assist the hair stylist throughout the hair treatment by pulling downwardly upon the lower outer lip of the scalp protector while the hair stylist withdraws and then treats the withdrawn strands. These elastic protectors are designed to be tightly drawn against the patron's scalp. Consequently, considerable matting of the hair, inability to withdraw the appropriate strands through the protector, discomfort pain and possible injury to the patron will occur. Moreover, the hair stylist cannot ascertain what the overall effect of treatment since withdrawal of the hairs is random and essentially completely occluded from the hair stylist's view.
In Kimball U.S. Pat. No. 4,289,150, there is disclosed a protective cover for dyeing selected locks of hair. The Kimball protective cover comprises an outer layer adapted to absorb excess liquid dye; a liquid impervious liner adapter for placement adjacent to the scalp, with the liner and outer layer being easily punctured to permit withdrawal of the locks, and the liner and outer layers being joined together and supplied as a flat piece that is foldable to fit a patron's scalp; and adhesive tabs to secure the folds of the cover after it is fitted on a patron's scalp. The design of this cover likewise envelopes the patron's entire scalp which renders the treatment random and occluded from the operator's view.
Mach U.S. Pat. No. 2,818,074 discloses a protective hair covering which is comprised of an inner and outer sheet of flexible material, with each sheet having a plurality of perforations therethrough; and means for securing said sheets together along marginal seams so that perforations of the inner sheet are offset with respect to the perforations of the outer sheet. The Mach protective hair covering is likewise designed to cover the entire scalp.
A still further full scalp protetive covering for use in hair curling is disclosed in Glick U.S. Pat. No. 2,575,589. The covering comprises a slitted perforated cap or pattern and an adjustable chin strap. The covering is used by placing the pattern over the head; drawing out portions of hair through slitted perforations in the pattern; applying a curler to the withdrawn hair portions; and removing the cap from the head by re-inserting the curler and curled hair through the patterned perforations.
Another protective device proposed for the treatment of hair, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,143,117, comprises a plurality of triangular sections of absorbent material pivotally connected at common apex so that the sections may be fanned outwardly in a circular fashion for emplacement upon substantially all of the user's scalp. Neerup U.S. Pat. No. 2,700,977 describes a hair dress protector designed to protect waved or curled hair from subsequent displacement or disarrangement. The protector, consructed of foam rubber, is adjustable and fits over side portions of both the frontal and lower scalp regions.

Adjustable scalp protection for hair discoloration


A method of recovering metal values from metal-bearing materials such as slags and drosses includes the steps of pulverizing the material to particles less than about 100 μm; leaching the pulverized material with a solution of ammonium chloride, sodium chloride, and potassium chloride; sequentially recovering at least two metals from the leachate by the addition of zinc using a sequential cementation process; and recovering zinc from the solution by electrowinning.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
For centuries, the pyrometallurgical production of metal from ores or ore concentrates has resulted in the creation of slags and drosses as a by-product. The compositions of these slags and drosses vary, but they are typically a glassy or vitreous material with residual metal values in oxide, sulfide, and even elemental form. Because many of these slags and drosses can contain heavy metals such as lead, they generally cannot be put to use as a construction material or employed for other purpose. In older slags and drosses the metal values can be quite high, and even in more recent slags significant metal values are high despite improvements in metal recovery technologies.
Because of the residual metal values, slags and drosses are often the subject of environmental regulation, as they are in the United States. In the United States most slags are deemed hazardous waste as defined RCRA (40 CFR Part 261), but benefit from the Bevill exclusion, an amendment to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) which allows slags to be stored at certain permitted locations. However there are continuing obligations of monitoring and management of these permitted locations If these slags could be made to pass the EPA's Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) according to EPA Test Method 1311, then they would not qualify as hazardous waste under classifications D004 through D052 as defined RCRA (40 CFR Part 261), and they could be removed and used (for example in building and roadway construction) and the land where they had been stored reclaimed for other uses.
Despite these reasons and the substantial economic value of the metals trapped in slag piles around the world, little has been done to recover these metals because conventional wisdom was that slag had to be reheated in order to release a significant fraction of the metals from the glassy matrix. The most common slag treatment technology is slag fuming. The slag is melted in a furnace at a very high temperature and the vaporized metals are recovered. To increase the efficiency of the separation, the time of the operation is increased to allow enough time for any vaporized metal to pass through the slag layer and go with the vaporized metals. This approach, in any case, generates another slag. To increase the metal extraction in fuming, chemical additions to the melt are also required which add to the volume of the final slag. This process in very energy intensive, and does not necessarily result in complete recovery of the metal values, which means that the resulting slag may still be considered a hazardous material.

System and method for the recovery of metal values from slags, drosses, and other metal-bearing materials

METALS TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, LLC


A vertical lift craft includes a vertical lift craft, a powered rotor system including two counter-rotating lift rotors rotatably mounted to the body and a cage fixed to the body and extending about the powered rotor system, the cage including flexible rods extending in an open mesh pattern and mutually attached at a plurality of intersections between the flexible rods and netting extending between the flexible rods to cover the cage. The mesh pattern includes latitudinally and longitudinally extending flexible rods and the cage further includes elastomeric bumpers at the plurality of intersections between flexible rods. A base has axles fixed relative to the body and wheels on the axles.

The field of the present invention is model aircraft.
Toys and models are currently available which perform as guided vertical lift craft such as helicopters and the like. Such devices have a body, are battery powered or engine driven and have a powered rotor system having one or more lift rotors. When two rotors are employed, they are advantageously counterrotating to eliminate yaw torque. Such devices range from simple toys to very sophisticated models. The controls associated with such devices also span a wide range from the simple to the sophisticated. Such devices can be controlled by wire but are more frequently controlled by an RF controller.
These vertical lift craft, which can take the form of helicopters, spaceships and the like, have one principal drawback preventing universal applicability in terms of users and environments. The rotors provide a hazard which can limit the propriety of operation to older children and outdoor environments. The rapidly rotating blades can hurt objects entering into the path of travel of the blades, e.g., fingers, lampshades and the like.


A first control device controls a temperature of an object so as to make it near a first predetermined temperature. A second control device stops heating the object if a temperature thereof reaches a second predetermined temperature as a result of a temperature thereof increasing because the first control device is substantially disabled. The second predetermined temperature is higher than the first predetermined temperature.

The present invention relates to a temperature control, it particularly relates to temperature control for fixing a picture on paper, to which the picture is to be transferred ( this is referred to as "transferee paper" hereinafter ), in a picture reproducing process. This picture reproducing process may be particularly used in a picture reproduction forming apparatus employing an electrophotographic method, for example, an optical printer such as a laser printer, a duplicator, or a facsimile machine.
Generally speaking, in a picture reproducing apparatus of an electrophotographic method, for example, a laser printer, a picture fixing unit is used. The picture fixing unit is used for fixing a picture on a transferee paper, which picture has been transferred from a surface of a photosensitive belt member by means of toner. A heat roller is used in the picture fixing unit for heating and pressing a made-from-toner-picture on transferee paper so as to fix a picture on the transferee paper.
In the picture fixing unit, the heat roller is heated by means of an internal-heater. A picture-fixing-temperature-controlling apparatus ( it is referred by "PFTC apparatus" hereinafter ) is used in the picture fixing unit for controlling a surface temperature of the heat roller at a predetermined temperature. The PFTC apparatus interrupts electric power supply to the heater by means of a thermostat or a temperature-controlled fuse ( referred by "TC fuse" hereinafter ) if the heat roller is heated excessively.
However, generally speaking, a thermostat and a TC fuse do not have a temperature-response-property such as to prevent the following phenomenon. The phenomenon is that a part of the picture fixing unit may be melted by heat, or smoke may be emitted from a part of the picture fixing unit by heat even if a thermostat or a TC fuse interrupts electric power supply to the heater. The phenomenon may take place because the thermostat or the TC fuse would not interrupt before the corresponding part of the picture fixing unit may be heated excessively.

Temperature control having improved reliability as a result of having plurality of control means and disabling means


A projectile and a compact carrying and launching case in combination. The projectile includes foldable wings which when unfolded resemble a plane. The compact carrying and launching case includes a two piece housing that is pivotally attached to each other about a hinge/launching mechanism. When closed, the two piece housing encloses the plane in its folded position. When opened, the hinge/launching mechanism can be pulled to a cocked position and then released forcibly moves the projectile such that it releases from the launching mechanism and is capable of flying.

This invention relates to a toy composed of a projectile and a compact case used for storing the projectile and for launching the projectile into the air. The projectile of the invention has wings which are folded together when stored in the compact case but which unfold when the compact case is opened.
Devices are known for launching projectiles such as toy planes shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,410. However, these devices require long tubes and require the user to whip the tube quickly in order to launch the projectile. This type of launcher prevents accuracy or the ability to aim the projectile. There is thus a need to provide for other types of projectiles and compact cases that can be used for launching the projectile.


A metal wiring layer can be formed within a recess of a substrate and an unnecessary plating layer is not left on a surface of the substrate. A metal wiring layer forming method includes forming a first plating layer 7 as a protection layer at least on a tungsten or tungsten alloy 4 formed on a bottom surface 3a of a recess 3 of a substrate 2; removing an unnecessary plating layer 7a formed on a surface 2a of the substrate 2; and forming a second plating layer 8 on the first plating layer 7 within the recess 3.

Recently, semiconductor devices such as LSI have been required to have higher density in order to meet requirements for reducing the mounting space or for improving the processing rate. As an example of a technology that achieves the higher density, there has been known a multilayer wiring technology of manufacturing a multilayer substrate, such as a three-dimensional LSI or the like, by stacking multiple wiring substrates.
According to the multilayer wiring technology, a through-via-hole in which a conductive material such as copper (Cu) is buried is typically formed to penetrate each wiring substrate in order to obtain electrical connection between the wiring substrates.
When producing the wiring substrate, Cu is used as the conductive material and is buried in a recess of the substrate. In this case, a barrier film serving as a Cu diffusion suppressing film needs to be formed within the recess, and a seed film needs to be formed on this barrier film by electroless Cu plating. Accordingly, a wiring volume of a wiring layer may be reduced or a void may be generated in the buried Cu. Meanwhile, there has been developed a technique in which a catalyst is supplied within the recess of the substrate and a Co-based metal, instead of Cu, is buried within the recess by the electroless plating to be used as a wiring layer. In this case, the Co-based alloy within the recess is buried in a bottom-up shape on a lower electrode which is provided on a bottom surface of the recess.
When supplying the catalyst within the recess of the substrate, however, this catalyst may also adhere to a sidewall of the recess or a surface of the substrate. In such a case, the Co-based alloy may grow on the catalyst attached to the surface of the substrate as well, and a plating layer of the Co-based alloy formed on the surface of the substrate remains as an unnecessary plating layer. This unnecessary plating layer needs to be removed afterwards by using a chemical mechanical polishing method.

Metal wiring layer forming method, metal wiring layer forming apparatus and recording medium


A vehicle control apparatus (100) for controlling a vehicle (10) provided, as a drive system, with: an internal combustion engine (200) in which a compression ratio is variable; and a transmission (500) which has a torque converter (300) and a lockup mechanism (400) between an input shaft and an engine output shaft (205) of the internal combustion engine and which can change a ratio between a rotational speed of the input shaft and a rotational speed (Nout) of an output shaft coupled with an axle, is provided with: a first controlling device for changing an operating state of the lockup mechanism in accordance with an operating condition of the vehicle; and a second controlling device for changing the compression ratio in at least one portion of a case where the operating state is changed.

As an apparatus for controlling a transmission having a lockup function, there has been suggested an apparatus for setting a lockup area on the basis of a lockup line defined by a vehicle speed and a throttle opening degree (e.g. refer to a patent document 1). According to the apparatus disclosed in the patent document 1, the lockup is performed in an area in which the torque variation of an engine is not large and in which there is no booming noise even in the lockup.