A turning device comprises turning members moveable between an idle position and an operational position, a sensor located upstream of the turning member, for scanning the wood pieces on a conveyor, and an deflector controlled by the sensor and adapted, when actuated, to selectively cause the turning member to be displaced to the operational position for turning a given elongated wood piece on the conveyor to a desired position. The turning member is pivotally mounted to a motorised chain for continuously displacing the turning member adjacent the conveyor. The turning member also includes a guide pin, and the chain drives the turning member along a closed-loop guide track, the turning member having its guide pin engaged in the track.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to lumber handling devices and, more particularly, to a high-speed lumber turning device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the art of handling of lumber, such as boards, planks, battens, etc., it is often necessary to turn the pieces of lumber upstream of a planing machine or the like to have the most irregular shape side of each piece (flash sides) facing upward to optimize the planing of the wood piece. This upward orientation is due to the fact that, in saw mills, the thickest layer is removed from the top due to the adjustment of the cutting tools of the planing machines. Presently, because of the absence of adequate, reliable and efficient systems able to operate at high speeds, lumber industries frequently use manual labor to turn the wood pieces. This process has incurred many problems relating to the employees, such as tendinitis and the like, and to employers (quality of the work, profitability).
It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a turning device for selectively turning wood pieces or the like to a desired position on a high-speed conveyor.
Therefore in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a turning device for use in concert with a conveyor adapted to feed elongated wood pieces one-by-one to the turning device, comprising:
at least one turning member moveable between an idle position and an operational position;
a sensor located upstream of said turning member, for scanning the wood pieces on the conveyor; and
an operator controlled by said sensor and adapted, when actuated, to selectively cause said turning member to be displaced to said operational position for turning a given elongated wood piece on the conveyor to a desired position.
Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for turning an elongated wood piece carried by a conveyor, comprising the steps of:
providing a sensor to determine if a wood piece is to be turned on the conveyor; and
b) providing a motorized turning member automatically operated if it has been determined in step a) that the wood piece is to be turned such as to cause the elongated wood piece to be turned on the conveyor by said turning member to a desired position.


[Object] To provide a communication apparatus and a communication method that enable reinforcement of reliability of multicast communication and effective utilization of wireless communication resources to be compatible.

Wireless local area networks (LANs), typified by IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11, have in recent years been widespread, leading to an increase in the number of wireless LAN-capable products.
Technologies for performing efficient communication between a plurality of communication apparatuses have been developed to respond to a trend. A multicast scheme in which frames are transmitted to one or a plurality of communication apparatuses at one time is one of the technologies.
Here, it may be desirable to give a delivery acknowledgment (which will also be referred to as an acknowledgment (ACK) below) with respect to multicast frames, like unicast frames, in view of a reinforcement of reliability of communication. A block ACK (BA), which is a delivery acknowledgment with respect to a plurality of frames, is such a delivery acknowledgment.
For example. Patent Literature 1 discloses an invention relating to a wireless communication apparatus which performs transmission of a block ACK request (BAR) frame indicating a request for transmission of a BA frame and reception of a BA frame that is a response to the BAR frame for each terminal in chronological order after transmitting multicast frames to each of the terminals.

Communication apparatus and communication method

Abstract: [Solution] Provided is a communication apparatus including: a communication unit configured to perform communication of a frame. The communication unit transmits a frequency allocation frame, which includes frequency allocation information that specifies a transmission frequency of a delivery acknowledgment response frame with respect to a multicast frame, and receives the delivery acknowledgment response frame that is transmitted in the transmission frequency specified by the frequency allocation information and is frequency-division multiplexed.


In some aspects of the present disclosure, analyte test strip containers, and methods of manufacturing the same, are provided. The analyte test strip containers may include an interior side of a base that varies in height. In some aspects of the present disclosure, inserts are provided. The inserts serve to provide the cavity floor with a varying height with respect to a longitudinal axis of the container. In some aspects of the present disclosure, analyte test strip container systems, and methods of making the same, are provided. The analyte test strip container systems include a container and insert that situates within the container to provide a cavity floor that varies in height.

Analyte test strips have been used with analyte test meters to provide measurements of analyte levels of a sample. One common application is the determination of blood glucose levels for diabetics. Typically, a diabetic obtains a test strip, inserts it into a glucose meter, pricks his finger using a lancet, and then applies a blood sample to the test strip so the meter may provide a blood glucose measurement.
A number of test strips are usually stored together in a vial having a cap to close the vial. When a test strip is needed, the patient opens the container and inserts a finger or two into the container to grab the test strip. Typically, the vial is usually small and includes a large number of small test strips. If too many analyte test strips are included in the vial, obtaining a single test strip from the vial can pose a small challenge for some users (e.g., diabetic patients). With too many test strips disposed at approximately the same height within the container, the ends of the analyte test strips act collectively as a sort of barrier or surface that prevents the user from easily grabbing a test strip. The more test strips in the container, the less space exists between the test strips for a user to insert a finger tip to grab a test strip. This often leads to the patient trying to forcefully push or wedge their finger tip into a space between test strips to extract a test strip. This may prove difficult and frustrating as well, and may potentially lead to damaging test strips. Users may also find that it is easier to tip or shake the vial to slide multiple test strips partially or completely out of the vial to obtain a test strip. Such techniques may unnecessarily expose other test strips to potential contaminants outside the vial, and may also lead to the patient spilling one or more test strips.

Analyte test strip containers and inserts


A method produces a surface of a cured silicone elastomer with a hardened protective coating when an RTV silicone composition is blended with an oxygen curing compound, exposing the resulting composition to moisture to produce a cured dull surface, then applying a hardenable protective coating composition (such as paint) to the cured surface to obtain a flaw-free film, and then allowing the coating composition to harden.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method for producing silicone elastomer with a painted surface. More specifically, this invention relates to a method for producing a painted surface on a silicone elastomer obtained from a room temperature vulcanizable (RTV) silicone elastomeric composition.
2. Background Information
Silicone compositions which cure to produce elastomers at room temperature are widely used as sealants and caulking materials because they have a unique property profile for applications, such as in building construction. These properties include excellent weatherability, resistance to heat, maintaining their flexibility at low temperatures, ease of application, and rapid cure in place. However, the structures in which such sealants and caulking materials are used are often coated with decorative and protective coatings, such as with paints, varnishes, lacquers, and shellacs. Silicone elastomers have a disadvantage in that they do not have surfaces which accept such organic based decorative and protective coatings. It is desired to have the exposed surface of the silicone elastomers accept painting, for aesthetic purposes, and also may be applied to provide some protection of the surface from the environment. While some silicone elastomers accept some paints, it is very inconvenient to commercially provide certain silicone elastomeric compositions for painting with certain kinds of paint.
Many persons have advanced approaches to solving the painting problem of silicone elastomers. Metters describes in U.S. Pat. No. 3,542,714, issued Nov. 24, 1970, that by incorporating 0.5 to 10 weight percent rosin into dimethylpolysiloxane rubbers, the resulting rubber could be painted. Matters describes many kinds of dimethylsiloxane elastomers and teaches that the paintability of these elastomers can be improved by adding unmodified rosin, modified rosin, or rosin derivatives. Rosin is obtained from the oleoresin or stump wood of pine trees and the primary ingredient in the rosin is abietic acid. Metters teaches that the rosin has a compatibility such that a film of the rosin is formed on the surface of the elastomer. The rosin is added to the compositions of Matters by mixing it with a solvent such as toluene. Solvent, such as toluene is environmentally unacceptable.
Schulz in U.S. Pat. No. 3,812,164, issued May 21, 1974, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,836,502, issued Sep. 17, 1974, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,836,503, issued Sep. 17, 1974, teaches three specific kinds of compounds which can be used in RTV silicone elastomeric compositions which contain an alkoxy silicon compound as the crosslinker. These specific compounds are silanes of the following formulae ##STR1## wherein R is methyl, ethyl or propyl, a is 0 or 1, and x is 1, 2, 3, or 4. Schulz teaches that these silanes are present in an amount of from 0.5 to 10 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of a hydroxyl endblocked polydimethylsiloxane and that the combination of these silanes and alkoxy silicon compound (crosslinker) provides from 1 to 15 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the hydroxyl endblocked polydimethylsiloxane. Schulz also teaches that for these kinds of compositions the cured products can be painted with both latex based paints and oil based paints and that the elastomers have improved heat stability and improved adhesion to substrates.
Clark et al in U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,714, issued May 18, 1976, teach that silicone rubber compositions which cure to elastomers with paintable surfaces are those which are made from hydroxyl endblocked polydimethylsiloxane, monoalkyltriacetoxysilane, an organotin carboxylate, finely divided agglomerated precipitated acicular calcium carbonate, and organic solvent. Although these composition provide a specific RTV silicone composition which cures to an elastomer with a surface which can be painted with at least one decorative organic based paint, such organic solvent containing compositions are environmentally unacceptable today because they have too high a content of volatile organic material, the organic solvent. Furthermore, the high shrinkage caused by the evaporation of the organic solvent has a negative effect on the sealing capability of these sealants.
Shimizu in U.S. Pat. No. 4,358,558, issued Nov. 9, 1982, teaches that a paintable RTV polyorganosiloxane composition contains a silanol-terminated polydiorganosiloxane, an aminoxy functional organosilicon compound (crosslinker), an inorganic filler, and a monohydric unsaturated alcohol containing a carbon-to-carbon triple bond and a hydroxyl group bonded with a primary or secondary carbon atom. Shimizu teaches that these RTV silicone compositions cure to provide adhesive surfaces to which paint will adhere. The monohydric unsaturated alcohols are environmentally unacceptable volatile organic materials.
Fukayama et al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,447,576, issued May 8, 1984, teach paintable, RTV cured polyorganosiloxane sealants made from a hydroxyl-terminated polyorganosiloxane, an organosilicon compound containing at least two amido groups, aminoxy groups or combinations of these groups (crosslinker), and a substituted alcohol which contains as a substituent, an acyloxy, alkoxycarbonyl, cyano, amino, amido, mercapto, or a combination of a carbon-to-carbon triple bond and an ether-type oxygen atom. Fukayama et al teach that their compositions provide sealants with exposed surfaces with sufficient adhesiveness to be coated with paints.
Although each of the forgoing patents teach various solutions to the paintability problem of silicone rubber, they each are faced with difficulties and are specific to kinds of silicone rubber. Even today, the state of the art is such that silicone rubber is consider to be unpaintable, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,063,270, issued Nov. 1, 1991, to Yukimoto et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,965,311, issued Oct. 23, 1990, to Hirose et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,906,707, issued Mar. 6, 1990, to Yukimoto et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,575, issued Feb. 20, 1990, to Yukimoto et al. Endres et al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,985,476, issued Jan. 15, 1991, teach that the so called neutral based joint sealants, RTV-1K systems cannot be coated with lacquers and that some sealing compounds must be brushed with solvent prior to painting.
It is desirable to provide a method suitable for many kinds of RTV silicone elastomeric compositions that cure to elastomers having surfaces paintable with many kinds of protective coatings and at the same time be environmentally acceptable. Such is the objective of this invention.

Method for producing a painted silicone elastomer


A battery-charger with adjustable contacts which are specifically arranged according to specific positions of power contacts of different types of batteries. The battery-charger includes a base body on which a battery to be charged is placed, a contact-adjusting member disposed on the base body and a set of conductive contacts fitted in the contact-adjusting member in accordance with the positions of power contacts of the battery. After a set of contacts are specifically fitted in the contact-adjusting member, the contact-adjusting member is fitted on the base body. Thereafter, the battery to be charged is fixedly located on the base body and adjacent to the contact-adjusting member. At this time, the specifically arranged contacts contact with the power contacts of the battery and conduct electricity to the battery.

The present invention relates to a battery-charger, and more particularly to a battery-charger with adjustable contacts which are specifically arranged according to specific positions of power contacts of different types of batteries.
The batteries currently used in portable electric implements have different positions of the positive and negative electrodes for meeting the different specifications of the electric implements manufactured by different manufacturers. Accordingly, a specific kind of electric implement will need a specific battery with corresponding contact positions. As a result, a charger for the battery must be designed with specific contact positions. Therefore, when purchasing a battery-charger, it must be considered whether the contact positions of the charger are suitable for those of the battery. This is inconvenient to a user. Furthermore, in view of a manufacturer, the market of a certain kind of electric implement is linked with the market of the battery-charger. Therefore, in case where the selling condition of the electric implement is undesirable, the selling condition of the battery-charger will be undesirable as well. Therefore, a battery-charger which has adjustable contacts and is suitable for various kinds of batteries of different electric implements is needed.

Battery-charger with adjustable contacts


Described is a latch which comprises: a first AND-OR-invert (AOI) logic gate; and a second AOI logic gate coupled to the first AOI logic gate, wherein the first and second AOI logic gates have respective first and second keeper devices coupled to a power supply node. Described is a flip-flop which comprises: a first latch including: a first AOI logic gate; and a second AOI logic gate coupled to the first AOI logic gate, wherein the first and second AOI logic gates have respective first and second keeper devices coupled to a power supply, the first latch having an output node; and a second latch having an input node coupled to the output node of the first latch, the second latch having an output node to provide an output of the flip-flop.

A primary design challenge for modern microprocessors, DSPs (digital signal processors), and SoCs (System-on-Chip) in smart phones, tablets, laptops, and servers, etc., is improving power efficiency or performance per Watt. In these clocked synchronous systems, a large percentage of the overall power dissipation is in the clock tree grid and final sequential load. Designing sequential units for low power consumption improve power efficiency of these clocked synchronous systems.
Another knob to reduce power and improve power efficiency in such a system is to lower the supply voltage and scale down frequency. Voltage scaling of a chip may be constrained by the lowest operating voltage (VMIN) under process variation. One of the limiters of VMIN is the sequential hold time degradation at lower voltages resulting in frequency independent functional failures. Since the majority of sequential units have a very low data activity (e.g., 5-10%), clock power dominates the overall sequential dynamic power.
A large percentage of logic paths in a system may have timing slack or are non-critical. Since delay may not be the primary concern, these non-critical paths typically use sequential units with minimum sized transistors to reduce power. These minimum sized sequential units are a common power lever used in many microprocessor and SoC products. These sequential units cannot be downsized any further to take advantage of the timing slack because the sizing of the sequential units depends on the minimum sized transistors allowed by the process technology and that a minimum transistor width is needed to meet the product's VMIN requirements.
One way to reduce power consumption in sequential units is to use pulsed latches. However, pulsed latches degrade hold time and may also suffer pulse width evaporation issues. Another way to reduce power consumption in sequential units is to use auto-gated flip-flops based on data probability. However, for minimum sized flip-flops, power benefit may not be realized for auto-gated flip-flops since the additional gating circuitry consumes more power than saved.

Apparatus and method for low power fully-interruptible latches and master-slave flip-flops


A trocar assembly for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures includes a cannula subassembly and an obturator subassembly. The obturator assembly includes an obturator shaft member defining a longitudinal axis and an obturator tip configured to be removable from the obturator shaft member or, alternatively, constructed with the obturator member as a single unit. Various designs of the obturator tip are contemplated.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an apparatus for penetration of body tissue. More particularly, the present invention relates to an obturator assembly for use with a trocar assembly and having a variety of tapered tip configurations.
2. Background of Related Art
In endoscopic surgical procedures, surgery is typically performed through narrow endoscopic tubes (cannulas) inserted through a small entrance wound in the skin. In laparoscopic procedures, surgery is performed in the interior of the abdomen. Generally, after the surgical region is insufflated, a trocar is used to puncture the body cavity and a cannula which receives the obturator remains in place for use during the laparoscopic procedure. Typically, a trocar includes an obturator having a sharp tip for penetrating the body cavity. Benefits with use of trocars in laparoscopic surgery include less trauma to the patient and reduced recovery time.


It is disclosed an over-coating agent for forming fine patterns which is applied to cover a substrate having photoresist patterns thereon and allowed to shrink under heat so that the spacing between adjacent photoresist patterns is lessened, with the applied film of the over-coating agent being removed to form fine patterns, further characterized by comprising a water-soluble polymer which contains a monomeric component and a dimeric component, wherein the total content of the monomeric component and the dimeric component in the water-soluble polymer is reduced to 10 mass % or less, and a method of forming fine patterns using the same. By the present invention, even in reducing the pattern size on a substrate having thereon patterns having different pitches, the heat shrinkage of the over-coating agent can be controlled, irrespective whether the pitch is dense or isolate, thus achieving the pattern size reduction.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an over-coating agent for forming fine patterns in the field of photolithographic technology and a method of forming fine-line patterns using such agent. More particularly, the invention relates to an over-coating agent for forming or defining fine-line patterns, such as hole patterns and trench patterns, that can meet today's requirements for higher packing densities and smaller sizes of semiconductor devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the manufacture of electronic components such as semiconductor devices and liquid-crystal devices, there is employed the photolithographic technology which, in order to perform a treatment such as etching on the substrate, first forms a film (photoresist layer) over the substrate using a so-called radiation-sensitive photoresist which is sensitive to activating radiations, then performs exposure of the film by selective illumination with an activating radiation, performs development to dissolve away the photoresist layer selectively to form an image pattern (photoresist pattern), and forms a variety of patterns including contact providing patterns such as a hole pattern and a trench pattern using the photoresist pattern as a protective layer (mask pattern).
With the recent increase in the need for higher packing densities and smaller sizes of semiconductor devices, increasing efforts are being made to form sufficiently fine-line patterns and submicron-electronic fabrication capable of forming patterns with linewidths of no more than 0.20 μm is currently required. As for the activating light rays necessary in the formation of mask patterns, short-wavelength radiations such as KrF, ArF and F2 excimer laser beams and electron beams are employed. Further, active R&D efforts are being made to find photoresist materials as mask pattern formers that have physical properties adapted to those short-wavelength radiations.
In addition to those approaches for realizing submicron-electronic fabrication which are based on photoresist materials, active R&D efforts are also being made on the basis of pattern forming method with a view to finding a technology that can provide higher resolutions than those possessed by photoresist materials.
For example, Patent Reference 1 discloses a method of forming fine patterns which comprises the steps of defining patterns (=photoresist-uncovered patterns) in a pattern-forming resist on a substrate, then coating over entirely the substrate with a mixing generating resist that is to be mixed with said pattern-forming resist, baking the assembly to form a mixing layer on both sidewalls and the top of the pattern-forming resist, and removing the non-mixing portions of said mixing generating resist such that the feature size of the photoresist-uncovered pattern is reduced by an amount comparable to the dimension of said mixing layer. Patent Reference 2 discloses a pattern forming method comprising the steps of depositing a resin, which becomes insoluble in the presence of an acid, on a substrate having formed thereon a resist pattern containing an acid generator, heat treating the assembly so that the acid is diffused from the resist pattern into said resin insoluble in the presence of an acid to form a given thickness of insolubilized portion of the resist near the interface between the resin and the resist pattern, and developing the resist to remove the resin portion through which no acid has been diffused, thereby ensuring that the feature size of the pattern is reduced by an amount comparable to the dimension of said given thickness.
However, in these methods, it is difficult to keep the in-plane temperature of the wafers uniformly by means of the heater employed in current fabrication of semiconductor devices, and therefore the heat dependency of the layers formed on the resist patterns on the wafers is as great as ten-odd nanometers per degree Celsius, and this leads to the problem of occurrence of significant variations in pattern dimensions. Furthermore, there are other problems such as occurrences of defects due to the layers formed on the resist patterns and cracks in the layers themselves. In addition, these methods tend to be highly resist-dependent because the degrees of reducing pattern dimensions largely differ due to the contents of acids in the resists.
Another approach known to be capable of reducing pattern dimensions is by fluidizing resist patterns through heat treatment and the like. For example, Patent Reference 3 discloses a method comprising the steps of forming a resist pattern on a substrate and applying heat treatment to deform the cross-sectional shape of the resist pattern, thereby defining a fine pattern. In addition, Patent Reference 4 discloses a method comprising the steps of forming a resist pattern and heating it to fluidize the resist pattern, thereby changing the dimensions of its resist pattern to form or define a fine-line pattern.
In these methods, the wafer's in-plane heat dependency of the resist pattern is only a few nanometers per degree Celsius and is not very problematic. On the other hand, it is difficult to control the resist deformation and fluidizing on account of heat treatment, and resist pattern profile deteriorate, such as non-rectangularization, pattern-collapse, so it is not easy to form a uniform fine-lined resist pattern in a wafer's plane.
An evolved version of those methods is disclosed in Patent Reference 5 and it comprises the steps of forming a resist pattern on a substrate, forming a stopper resin on the substrate to prevent excessive thermal fluidizing of the resist pattern, then applying heat treatment to fluidize the resist so as to change the dimensions of its pattern, and thereafter removing the stopper resin to form or define a fine-line pattern. As the stopper resin, specifically, polyvinyl alcohol is employed. However, polyvinyl alcohol alone is not highly soluble in water and cannot be readily removed completely by washing with water, introducing difficulty in forming a pattern of good profile. The pattern formed is not completely satisfactory in terms of stability over time. In addition, polyvinyl alcohol cannot be applied efficiently by coating, and when it is employed to a substrate formed thereon resist patterns having a different spacing, i.e., a wide spacing and a narrow spacing, between adjacent resist patterns, in-plane-uniform amounts of shrinkage cannot be obtained. Because of these and other problems, the method disclosed in Patent Reference 5 has yet not to be adopted commercially.
For solving these prior-art problems, the present applicant has proposed a technique directed to an over-coating agent for forming fine patterns and to a method of forming fine patterns in Patent References 6-11. The technique shown in these Patent References 6-11 has made it possible to form fine-line patterns that satisfy pattern dimension controllability, good profile and other necessary properties for semiconductor devices. These techniques are quite efficient in defining fine-line patterns on the substrate especially having photoresist patterns thereon in the same pitches, but there have not been made investigations for the substrate having photoresist patterns having thereon in the different spacing or "pitch" between adjacent photoresist patterns, such as "isolate" patterns having wide spacing between adjacent photoresist patterns, and "dense" patterns having narrow spacing between adjacent photoresist patterns.
In forming fine-line patterns or reducing the spacing between adjacent photoresist patterns on the substrate where the photoresist patterns have different pitches of both isolate patterns and dense patterns, the thermal-shrinkage behavior of the over-coating agent tends to be pitch-dependent of the photoresist patterns, and it was difficult to control to obtain the equal amount of thermal shrinkage of the over-coating agent without regard to differences of pitches of photoresist patterns. Therefore, reducing amount of the patterns differ between the photoresist patterns formed by isolate pitches and the ones formed by dense pitches. Because of this, it was conducted to control the temperature of the heat treatment and time of the heat treatment of the over-coating agent (coating film) in accordance with the degree of isolation or density of the pitches so as to obtain pitch-independently the equal amount of thermal shrinkage of the coating. In this technique, however, the amount of the shrinkage is apt to vary due to a lot-to-lot variability of the over-coating agent.
It is desirable that, even when various patterns differing in the pattern dimension and the line-to-line distance exist on one substrate, such as densely-pitched ones or isolated-pitched ones, all the patterns could enjoy the same degree of thermal shrinkage of the over-coating agent.
Patent Reference 1: JP5-166717A
Patent Reference 2: JP5-241348A
Patent Reference 3: JP1-307228A
Patent Reference 4: JP4-364021A
Patent Reference 5: JP7-45510A
Patent Reference 6: JP2003-084459A
Patent Reference 7: JP2003-084460A
Patent Reference 8: JP2003-107752A
Patent Reference 9: JP2003-142381A
Patent Reference 10: JP2003-195527A
Patent Reference 11: JP2003-202679A

Over-coating agent for forming fine patterns and a method of forming fine patterns using such agent


Process, cache memory, computer product and system for loading data associated with a requested address in a software cache. The process includes loading address tags associated with a set in a cache directory using a Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) operation, determining a position of the requested address in the set using a SIMD comparison, and determining an actual data value associated with the position of the requested address in the set.

Computer processors function by processing data elements through various registers in accordance with instructions provided by a computer program. The processor executes instructions in the form of machine language, which are the low-level instructions relating to what data elements are processed through which registers. Most software, however, is written in higher-level programming code, such as C++, which has the advantages of being human readable and of embodying relatively complex processing operations using comparatively short, quickly-written commands. A compiler receives the high-level programming code, and based upon the programming of the compiler itself, generates the machine language that is readable by a processor.
Software cache is a robust solution to locally cache remote data in systems that do not have a hardware cache, such as synergistic processing elements (SPEs) in a cell broadband engine. Using such software caches, a program can load from global address space data it requires on a need basis, which is extremely convenient when either the data access pattern is irregular, the data footprint is larger than the local memories, or a combination of both.
Due to high memory latencies of direct memory access (DMA) requests to get data in and out, performance software caches are significantly increased by increasing the set associativity of software caches. By increasing the associativity of the cache, the software cache subsystem is more resilient to multiple frequently accessed data that hash to the same cache set.
The problem with larger set associativity of software cache is mainly that it increases the amount of work required to be performed by the processor to detect whether an access is a hit or a miss, a task referred to as "cache lookup." This cost also exists in hardware caches, but the latency of the cache lookup is hidden by using content addressable memory (CAM). When implementing cache in software, typical processors such as the SPE do not have access to the programmable CAM. As a result, testing for a match must be performed explicitly for each of the tags in a cache set.

Optimized software cache lookup for SIMD architectures

International Business Machines Corporation


The invention relates to a field of tissue repair and regeneration. More particularly, the invention relates to a composition for promoting cutaneous wound healing. In one embodiment, the composition is composed of one or more metazoan parasites or a mimic thereof sufficient to promote helminth-induced type-2 immune response. Preferably, the composition contains N. brasiliensis excretory/secretory antigen (NES) or an immune triggering portion thereof. The invention also relates to a method of accelerating wound healing in a subject in need of such treatment.

Vertebrates, including mammals, must be prepared for defense against two distinct types of infectious insult. In the first instance, rapidly replicating micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa or fungi have the potential to overcome host defenses by sheer numbers. In the second, the body's protective barriers are breached by physical trauma as occurs when helminths and other metazoan parasites enter, migrate or exit their host. Infection by metazoan parasites is ubiquitous and seriously compromises host fitness.
In humans, helminths not only cause overt morbidity but contribute to anaemia and impaired physical and cognitive development, which can result in poor school or work performance. The powerful selective force of macroparasite infection in mammals is illustrated by direct effects on host fecundity energy consumption and ability to survive the winter. This selection pressure has led to the evolution of a host protective response, which includes the rapid repair of tissues to tolerate the damage caused by these macroparasites as well as resistance mechanisms to reduce parasite burden.
The type 2 arm of the immune system is essential for helminth control. It evolved from a progenitor wound healing response largely as a consequence of the exposure to tissue damaging macroparasites. During this dynamic vertebrate:macroparasite coevolutionary process, important additional characteristics were incorporated that together contribute both to increased tolerance, through enhanced wound healing, and to parasite resistance. In the course of evolution type 2 cytokines may have come to direct wound repair machinery not only towards tissue repair and reconstruction but also to containment, destruction, and expulsion of helminths and other macroparasites. For example, reparative cells or pathways may promote rapid encapsulation or efficient expulsion through the excess production of collagen or mucus, respectively. Thus, under the umbrella of type 2 immunity both wound repair and anti-worm effector pathways have evolved in tandem to mediate host protective helminth responses. Although type 2 immunity may include responses to a broad range of insults, it is the ability of helminth parasites to compromise host fitness that is likely to have driven the evolution of Th2 cells to control and direct the innate type 2 response towards reducing parasite numbers and more rapidly repairing the damage they inflict as they aggressively migrate through host tissues. This evolutionary view also encompasses the counter-regulatory nature of type 2 immunity, because a type 1 anti-microbial response directed at a large migrating worm would cause serious collateral damage and would need to be actively avoided and because effective wound repair requires suppression of inflammation to proceed. In other words, effective wound repair requires both the direct reconstruction of the injured tissue and suppression of pro-inflammatory responses.
In view of the foregoing, a solution which overcomes the above-described inadequacies and shortcomings in current wound repair techniques is desired. In particular, it would be desirable to develop a method that utilizes aspects of the type 2 immune elicited by helminth to promote tissue repair and wound healing.

RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY


The invention provides a system (1) for determining an identification characteristic of a medical device (3) carrying at least an ultrasound emitter/sensor element (321). The identification characteristic is based on a detection signal from the ultrasound emitter/sensor element (321) upon a drive signal. The system (1) can identify the medical device from a database (211,511) of known medical devices. Furthermore, the system (1) can update the duration and frequency of use of the medical device (3) and it can prohibit further use of the medical device (3) when a predetermined limit of use is exceeded.

Use of medical devices for diagnosing or treating conditions of the body can result in entrapping biological material on the surface or within the structure of the medical device. Cleaning and subsequent sterilization of medical devices after use may provide sufficiently safe conditions for reuse. However, material fatigue and chemical reactions during sterilization may result in unsafe conditions for use of medical devices after repetitive sterilization cycles.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,780 presents a catheter that electronically retains an identification code that uniquely identifies the predetermined operating characteristics. The catheter is capable of transmitting the identification code to an external reader in response to a predetermined prompt. An associated apparatus reads the identification code and compares it to predetermined operating criteria. The identification code can be pre-programmed on a solid state micro-chip integrated into the catheter handle. Alternatively the identification means can be based on a resistor with a prescribed electrical resistance value, integrated into the catheter, and the electrical resistance value becomes the identification code when sensed by the associated apparatus. The apparatus will not permit interaction with the functional catheter component if the identification code indicates that the functional characteristics of the catheter are not suited for the intended interaction. The catheter can store usage information on the solid state micro-chip, to prevent reuse.
Integration of specific electronic devices such as microchips for retaining an identification code or resistors for identifying the medical device based on a specific resistance value requires also connection to the electronics for read out and control purposes. Incorporating additional electronics in tightly packed medical devices like catheters or interventional needles presents a serious technical challenge due to severe dimensional requirements of such medical devices. Furthermore, functional requirements regarding connection of the medical devices to operating systems such as flexibility and handling freedom is conflicting with addition of specific connections required for the identification micro-chip or electrical resistance to the read out electronics. Any additional electronic component integrated into the medical device, as well as long transmission lines between read-out electronics and medical device represent potential electromagnetic interference burden on detection signals measured during the intended use of the medical device comprising ultrasound emitter/sensor elements.
WO2008032239A2 presents a medical system for generating comprehensive simulated report of the system's capabilities for demonstration and validation purposes, the medical system comprising an ultrasound imaging probe, an ultrasound signal path, a processing unit, disk drive and a report printer. The comprehensive report simulation is realised with the following steps: storing patient data and raw data corresponding to signals in a first database contained in the medical system; processing the raw data to obtain data corresponding to visually conceivable information; using the patient data and the visually conceivable information to create a report simulation.

System for monitoring a use of a medical device


A system and methodology that facilitates automatically determining performance parameters of a broadband network connected to a femto access point (FAP) is provided. In particular, the system automatically performs a broadband test, in the background, to detect the current speed, performance, throughput, etc. of the broadband network. The results of the speed test are then provided to the customer and/or to the femtocell carrier's Customer Care team, to facilitate diagnosing and correcting problems with the femtocell's performance. Specifically, the system notifies the customer of the broadband test results via short message service (SMS) message(s), email and/or posts the results on a femtocell management web page accessed by the customer. In addition, the femtocell automatic broadband test results can also be posted to an online tool that is accessed by authorized entities within the femtocell carrier's Customer Care team to facilitate easy and accurate diagnosis of femtocell performance issues.

Femtocells—building-based wireless access points interfaced with a wired broadband network—are traditionally deployed to improve indoor wireless coverage, and to offload a mobility radio access network (RAN) operated by a wireless service provider. Improved indoor coverage includes stronger signal and improved reception (e.g., voice, sound, or data), ease of session or call initiation, and session or call retention as well. Offloading a RAN reduces operational and transport costs for the service provider since a lesser number of end users utilizes over-the-air radio resources (e.g., radio frequency channels), which are typically limited. With the rapid increase in utilization of communications networks and/or devices, mobile data communications have been continually evolving due to increasing requirements of workforce mobility, and, services provided by femtocells can be extended beyond indoor coverage enhancement; for example, femtocells can be utilized in areas wherein macro coverage is not poor or weak.
Typically, the femtocell includes a femto access point (FAP) that connects to a broadband router, provides a strong wireless cell signal in a femtocell coverage area, and facilitates voice and/or data between a user equipment (UE) the mobile carrier's network via the broadband network. In particular, the broadband network provides access to the Internet by employing a digital subscriber line (DSL) or cable modem. If a femtocell is connected to a broadband service with an upload and/or download speed that is slower than minimum femtocell broadband speed requirements, the customer can experience problems, such as, inability to activate the femtocell, poor call quality, and/or dropped calls.
Majority of customers are unaware of their current broadband speed and typically have no idea if their femtocell performance problems are due to a slow broadband connection. This makes diagnosing and correcting femtocell performance problems caused by slow broadband speed very difficult. Inaccurate diagnostics and errors in correcting femtocell performance problems can lead to tedious troubleshooting and negatively impact customer satisfaction.


Presented is a method for detecting link quality and a terminal device. The method includes that: a terminal device receives a first event reported by a first protocol layer in a second protocol layer, the first event being configured to indicate that quality of a signal in a first signal set is poor enough to meet a first condition; and the terminal device determines that a second event occurs in the second protocol layer based on the first event, the second event being configured to indicate that quality of a link corresponding to the signal in the first signal set is poor enough to meet a second condition. The method and terminal device are favorable for improving signal transmission performance.

In researches on 5th-Generation (5G) mobile communication technologies, the beamforming technology is an important technology for improving coverage and spectrum efficiency. As an antenna-array-based signal preprocessing technology, beamforming is used to generate directional beams by regulating weights of various antenna array elements in terms of signal transmission.
A network device may send multiple signals by adopting different beams. A terminal device may measure these signals received, thereby determining whether links for transmission of these signals are too bad to be available, namely determining whether the beams for transmitting these signals are available, i.e., determining whether there is any beam failure. Regarding how to determine a beam failure, there is yet no solution for reference.

Link quality detection method and terminal device

GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.


A rearview mirror is located between a driver""s seat and a front passenger""s seat. The rearview mirror includes a housing, a reflector, and an interface. The housing includes a front surface facing the driver""s seat, a rear surface at the opposite side of the front surface, and a slot at a part closer to the driver""s seat than the passenger""s seat. A recording medium is attached to and removed from the interface by moving the recording medium along a predetermined moving axis. The interface performs at least one of reading of data from the medium and writing of data to the medium. The predetermined moving axis is inclined relative to the width direction of the housing such that the predetermined moving axis approaches the center in the width direction of the housing from the front surface toward the rear surface.

The present invention relates to a rearview mirror provided in the passenger compartment of a vehicle.
In recent years, with the development of intelligent transport systems (ITS), incorporation of an information network into vehicles is now under progress. Together with this trend, vehicles are equipped with a human machine interface (HMI) associated with a variety of information systems. The HMI is located at a location at which a driver can easily operate it, such as near the driver""s seat. For example, in an electronic toll collection system (ETC), a car-equipped ETC is provided near the driver""s seat as an HMI.
Generally, a variety of operation devices, a display, and the like are provided near the driver""s seat, so that it is sometimes difficult to ensure a space for installing a car-equipped ETC. To address this problem, conventionally, there has been proposed to arrange the car-equipped ETC within a rearview mirror which is provided with multiple functions. In the following, a conventional rearview mirror 51 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11.
As shown in FIG. 9, the rearview mirror 51 is located between a driver""s seat 54 and a passenger""s seat 55 in a front section of a passenger compartment 53 of a vehicle 52. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the rearview mirror 51 includes a housing 56 and a reflector 57. The reflector 57 is fixed in the passenger compartment 53 to orient substantially toward the back of the vehicle. A slot 58, through which an IC card 159 can be inserted as a recording medium, is formed on a side facing the driver""s seat of the housing 56 (on the right side in FIGS. 10 and 11).
As shown in FIG. 11, the housing 56 contains an interface unit 59 and a data processing unit 60 which make up a car-equipped ETC. The interface unit 59 is provided with a card holder 59a which is in communication with the slot 58. The card holder 59a is formed such that the IC card 159 can be inserted into or removed from the card holder 59a in a direction substantially parallel with the mirror surface of the reflector 57.
For ensuring a backward field of view from the driver""s seat, the mirror surface of the rearview mirror 51 must be inclined toward the driver""s seat. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the rearview mirror 51 is used with its mirror surface inclined toward the driver""s seat by up to 30 degrees. However, the rearview mirror 51 is set such that the IC card 159 is inserted in a direction substantially parallel with the mirror surface of the rearview mirror 51. For this reason, for inserting the IC card 159, the driver is obliged to insert the IC card 159 backward from a direction in which the vehicle 52 is running, as indicated by an arrow F1 in FIG. 9. In other words, the driver must insert the IC card 159 in front from a position far from the driver""s scat. Therefore, a windshield is likely to interfere with the driver""s hand or the like when the driver inserts or remove the IC card 159, making it difficult to perform operations involved in the insertion and removal of the IC card 159.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a rearview mirror which permits the driver to readily insert or remove a thin recording medium.
In order to attain the above object, the present invention provides a rearview mirror located between a driver""s seat and a front passenger""s seat in a front section of the passenger compartment of a vehicle. The rearview mirror includes a housing, a reflector and an interface. The housing includes a front surface facing the driver""s seat, a rear surface at the opposite side of the front surface, and a slot at a part closer to the driver""s seat than the passenger""s seat. The slot receives a recording medium that stores predetermined data. The reflector is attached to the front surface of the housing. The interface is located in the housing. The recording medium is attached to and removed from the interface by moving the recording medium along a predetermined moving axis. The interface performs at least one of reading of data from the recording medium and writing of data to the recording medium. The predetermined moving axis is inclined relative to the front surface of the housing such that the predetermined moving axis approaches the center of the housing.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with be accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.

Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho


A method (10) of controlling maximum output power of a transmitter (23) of an unmanned aerial vehicle (2) is disclosed. The method (10) is performed by the unmanned aerial vehicle (2) and comprises obtaining (11) information about its height h over ground, and adapting (12) maximum allowed output power based on the obtained information about the height h over ground. A corresponding method in a network node, an unmanned aerial vehicle, a network node, computer programs and computer program products are also disclosed.

Regulatory requirements on Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) can, for a specific antenna implementation, be translated to limits on the maximum allowed output power for radiating devices, such as, for instance, access nodes (e.g. base stations), user equipment (UE), etc., and it is expected that similar requirements are to apply also for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), also known as drones. Because UEs might be radiating in close vicinity of people, the EMF requirements are very strict for such devices and may be different in e.g. different geographical regions (maximum allowed output power may, for instance, be 23 dBm). Compliance with EMF requirements can for base stations be assured by deploying the equipment at a certain distance from people, hence base stations can be allowed to use larger output power. Since the drones move around, they might radiate close to people, which means that compliance to EMF requirements needs to be ensured also when these radiating devices are operated close to people.
It is expected that, for safety and performance reasons, future drones will be connected to wireless networks for example Long Term Evolution (LTE) and/or 5G. In order to fulfil the EMF requirements also when the drone is close to people, the maximum allowed output power for drones will be very low, most likely in the same order as for UEs. A difficulty may arise on how to communicate with the drones, e.g. how provide it with instructions on routes, in a reliable manner while also meeting the EMF requirements.

Method of controlling maximum output power of a transmitter of an unmanned aerial vehicle


A method for controlling a motor is described. The method includes configuring a current sensor to sense a current supplied to the motor from at least one of a plurality of power lines and to generate at least one current signal indicative of the sensed current. The method also includes coupling a processing device to the current sensor such that the processing device receives the current signal. The method also includes configuring the processing device to determine which of the plurality of power lines is active based at least partially on the current signal and generate a motor speed control signal that directs the motor to operate at the motor speed that corresponds to the active power line.

The field of the invention relates generally to electric motors, and more specifically, to systems and methods that facilitate replacing an induction motor with an electrically controlled variable speed motor in aquatic applications.
One of many uses of an electric motor is to operate a pump, and in turn, move a fluid. Examples of aquatic applications for pumps include pools, spas, and hot tubs. Such applications include a basin or tub structure that holds a supply of water and a circulation pump system. For example, the circulation pump system may include a pump and a pump motor. The pump, in combination with the pump motor, facilitates water filtering and heating by removing water from the tub structure, through a filter and/or heater, and returning the water into the tub structure.
A common motor used in such pump systems is an alternating current (AC) induction motor, for example, a single-speed AC induction motor or a two-speed AC induction motor. The two-speed AC induction motor is configured to operate at a high speed and at a low speed. At the low speed, a rate of water flowing through the pump is decreased when compared to the motor operating at the high speed. The pump motor operating at low speed consumes less electrical power, although, cost savings from lower energy consumption may be offset because the pump system has to operate for a longer period of time at the low speed to circulate the same amount of water as the pump system at high speed.
Other types of motors may be included in a pump system, for example, electronically commutated motors (ECM). Examples of ECMs are brushless direct current (BLDC) motors, permanent magnet alternating current (PMAC) motors, and variable reluctance motors. Typically, these motors provide higher electrical efficiency than an AC induction motor. ECMs also facilitate variable speed operation of the pump system. Therefore, replacing an AC induction motor in a pool, spa, or hot tub with an ECM typically will reduce the operating costs associated with heating and/or filtering the pool, spa, or hot tub. However, ECMs and AC induction motors are not interchangeable, due at least in part to differences between how ECMs and AC induction motors are powered and controlled. The speed at which a two-speed AC induction motor operates depends upon which of two inputs receives an electrical power. A voltage, for example, a 115 VAC or 230 VAC voltage, is provided to either a high speed power line or a low speed power line. The two-speed AC induction motor operates at a high speed when operating power is provided to the high speed power line, and to high speed coils, of the AC induction motor. The two-speed AC induction motor operates at a low speed when operating power is provided to the low speed power line, and to low speed coils, of the AC induction motor. In contrast, an ECM typically receives an operating power from a power source at a motor drive unit, and varies a speed of operation of the motor based on a low-voltage control signal.

Systems and methods for controlling operations of a motor


A unique system and method that facilitate automatic tracking of user data and providing on-demand site or merchant reputation information is provided. The system and method involve monitoring user input such as by keystrokes over a period of time and forming a long continuous string of characters. The string of characters can be monitored for repeating substrings or non-repeating substrings that indicate sensitive user information such as SSN or credit card number (CCN). The substrings can be displayed to the user in a digest form and order according to frequency of occurrence, for example. Thus, the user can readily view where and when their sensitive information has been entered. In addition, the typing of certain substrings such as CCNs or other sensitive field data can trigger a reputation service to retrieve the reputation data for the current site or merchant to mitigate dealing with fraudulent sites or merchants.

The World Wide Web ("web") has become a valuable resource and source of vastly different types of information. For corporate or individual consumer users, it can be used as a reference guide for important stock information in real time, current traffic or weather information, health and medical, consumer goods, available real estate, personal and commercial banking, and the news as it is reported from all around the world. In addition, many users have also come to rely on the web for commerce. Some stores exist on the web only to reduce overhead costs while others have added a web counterpart to expand their businesses electronically. However, it may easily be forgotten that the web also includes a significant amount of user information based on a user's web activity. In particular, some web users have grown accustomed to entering their name or other personally identifiable information (PII) whenever requested by a web page or site. Unfortunately, this can become troublesome for the user such as by making the user more vulnerable to phishing schemes or any other schemes that relate to and result in identity theft.

Automatic tracking of user data and reputation checking


Diaphragm device of a lens includes a click mechanism with a locking portion disposed in one of a stationary tube and a diaphragm setting ring, the locking portion having an elastically supported locking element, and an entrapment body disposed on the other of the stationary tube and the diaphragm setting ring. The entrapment body having an entrapment surface wherein a plurality of entrapment portions are formed for catching the locking element pressed against the entrapment surface at one of a plurality of aperture numbers when the diaphragm setting ring is turned. A mode select mechanism for switching between a click mode wherein the locking element is pressed against the entrapment surface and a non-click mode wherein a click function is deactivated with the locking element and the entrapment surface separated from each other by altering the position of at least one of the locking portion and the entrapment body.

A diaphragm setting ring disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Utility Model Application No. 1979-72039 and a click stop mechanism disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 1986-173227 are conventionally known examples of a diaphragm setting ring rotatably mounted on a stationary tube of a lens barrel to adjust a lens aperture and a diaphragm device of a lens including a click mechanism capable of stopping such a diaphragm setting ring at positions corresponding to a plurality of aperture numbers with click action, respectively.
The diaphragm setting ring described in Japanese Laid-open Utility Model Application No. 1979-72039 has a plurality of click stock grooves formed in a curved inside surface of the diaphragm setting ring at specific intervals along a circumferential direction of the curved inside surface and a click ball disposed on a curved outside surface of the stationary tube facing the curved inside surface of the ring, the click ball being forced outward by a leaf spring. The diaphragm setting ring thus configured makes it possible to take a picture at one of lens apertures defined at individual stop positions. Also, the click stop mechanism described in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 1986-173227 has a plurality of click grooves formed in a curved inside surface of a diaphragm preset ring at specific intervals along a circumferential direction and a click ball disposed on a stationary ring facing the curved inside surface of the diaphragm preset ring, the click ball being forced outward by a leaf spring. In this click stop mechanism, the click ball is pressed against the curved inside surface of the diaphragm preset ring.


The present invention relates to tesofensine compositions, methods to prepare the same and uses thereof in preparing medicines for the prevention and treatment of overweight, obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity and associated comorbidities in the human population has increased at an unprecedented rate in recent years. The United Nations has estimated that if this trend continues, 17% of adults globally will be obese by 2025. That is, there will be 170 million adults with a BMI >35. If the estimate also adds overweight population, there will be 2.7 billion overweight adults by 2025, well above the 2 billion of 2010.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is one the greatest impact comorbidities associated with overweight and obesity. It has been estimated that the number of adults with diabetes has almost quadrupled from 108 million adults who had diabetes in the year 1980 to 422 million adults in 2014. Diabetic complications can lead to heart attacks, blindness, renal failure or limb amputation, among other consequences. It is believed that 43% of premature deaths (before age 70) occurring due to diabetes are preventable by the adoption of policies supporting a healthy life style, as well as through improved methods of detection and treatment of the illness.
Consequently, there is a global commitment to prevent, detect and treat overweight and obesity, and associated comorbidities, since these diseases have profound physical, psychological and socioeconomic impacts.
The active ingredient tesofensine, (3S,4R)-3-(3,4-dichlorphenyl)-4-(ethoxymethyl)-8-methyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane, first described in WO 97/30997, is a monoamine reuptake inhibitor. WO 97/30997 suggests that tesofensine may be used to treat obesity. It has been taught that tesofensine has the potential to produce weight loss at a better rate than currently approved drugs. It has also been found that tesofensine has the potential to reverse the progress of type 2 diabetes mellitus by decreasing hepatic fat, and also has beneficial effects on plasma insulin concentration and glycated hemoglobin (HbAlc) (U.S. Pat. No. 8,202,884 B2; Astrup A, Madsbad S, Breum L, Jensen T, Kroustrup J and Meinert T (2008) Lancet 372(9653): 1906-13; Wharton S and Serodio K (2015) Curr Cardiol Rep. 17(5):35). WO 2005/073228 describes isolation, purification and large scale production of tesofensine.
Preclinical and clinical studies conducted with tesofensine have increased the knowledge on the drug's mechanism of action and have generated new findings regarding its use for treating conditions of overweight, obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
The prior art has also taught the doses at which tesofensine would provide the desired therapeutic effects, and has disclosed compositions of tesofensine in combination with other active ingredients such as metoprolol (WO 2013/120935).
One skilled in the art would know that establishing the stability of a pharmaceutical composition is a determining factor since the chemical stability of pharmaceutical molecules can affect the safety and efficacy of a medicament. Testing the stability of a pharmaceutical product is essential to understand how the quality of the drug and that of the final product changes over time under several environmental conditions. Applicants are required to observe this prerequisite to obtain a marketing authorization.
Evaluation of the drug's stability is critical to achieve safe and effective formulations and pharmaceutical forms, as well as to select proper packaging. On the other hand, the dissolution profile is a key indicator of the quality and is inherently related with the selection of the proper excipients as well as with the selection of the manufacture equipment and best preparation methods.
In view of the potential of tesofensine in medicine, it would be advantageous to have qualitative and quantitative formulations of tesofensine. It would also be advantageous if such pharmaceutical formulations were sufficiently stable and effective so that they can be used commercially to prepare medicaments indicated for the prevention and treatment of overweight, obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Specifically, it would be advantageous to identify pharmaceutical compositions showing bioavailability and chemical stability, and a low content of impurities. It is also desirable to obtain orally administerable, commercial, pharmaceutical tesofensine compositions, without compromising bioavailability or stability.


Vehicle-mounted fuel cell stack includes one or more cooling cells and an air allocation mechanism. Via the allocation mechanism, air flowing in a front-to-rear direction of the vehicle is introduced through reacting-air introduction openings of power generating cells and also introduced through cooling-air introduction openings of the cooling cells, so that the power generating cells can be cooled by the cooling cells. Sliding movement of the air allocation mechanism can allocate the cooling air and reacting air in desired amounts, so that it is possible to not only appropriately deal with an increase in the power generation amount but also appropriately remove excessive heat. Because the cooling cells are each constructed of thin metal plates, they can effectively remove a great amount of heat produced from power generating cells, with an enhanced efficiency.

Fuel-cell-powered vehicles known today use hydrogen as their fuel; specifically, the fuel-cell-powered vehicles are provided with a traveling motor and a fuel cell stack that generates electric power using hydrogen and oxygen, so that they can travel by electricity. One example of a conventional fuel cell assembly is known from Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. SHO-54-22537, and one example of a conventional fuel cell unit for use in an automotive vehicle is known from Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-514745 (WO98/04013).
FIG. 13 hereof is a perspective view showing a fundamental construction of the conventional fuel cell assembly disclosed in the above-mentioned SHO-54-22537 publication. The disclosed conventional fuel cell assembly includes fuel cell laminates 201, and bipolar plates 202 arranged alternately with the fuel cell laminates 201 and each having fuel gas channels 203 and oxygen-containing gas channels 204. With such arrangements, the fuel cell laminates 201 can be cooled naturally with air.
The conventional fuel cell unit disclosed in the above-mentioned 2000-514745 publication includes a cooling system that cools fuel cells using traveling wind produced by traveling of an electric vehicle. The disclosed conventional fuel cell unit further includes a pressure source (e.g., air blower or fan) for compulsorily passing air through the cooling system, so that the fuel cells can be cooled by the fan during low-speed travel of the vehicle or when the ambient temperature is relatively high.
However, the conventional fuel cell assembly disclosed in the SHO-54-22537 publication is not satisfactory in that heat produced in the fuel cell laminates 201 can not be dissipated or removed easily. Namely, like other polymer-electrolyte-type fuel cell assemblies today, the disclosed fuel cell assembly is constructed to produce higher outputs, which would unavoidably lead to production of greater heat; in the conventionally-known fuel cell assemblies (fuel cell stacks), about 80% of the produced heat would remain in the assembly without being consumed by heat insulation, natural dissipation etc., and heat measures of the polymer-electrolyte-type fuel cells have therefore been one of the primary concerns. Although the air-cooled type fuel cell assemblies may have an advantage of simplified construction, they suffer from a poor cooling efficiency, so that, in the case where the polymer-electrolyte-type fuel cells, designed to produce higher outputs, are employed, there may arise a possibility of the temperature of the fuel cells getting excessively high, depending on the conditions. For these reasons, there has been a great demand for an improved fuel cell construction capable of effectively eliminating the produced heat.
The conventional fuel cell unit disclosed in the 2000-514745 publication is normally incorporated where a radiator of the vehicle is mounted, so that the cell unit (fuel cell stack) can be cooled directly by the traveling wind. In this case, however, there is a need for appropriately allocating air, introduced into an engine room of the vehicle, for two purposes, cooling and electric-power generating purposes, and a need for relating the flow rate of the air (oxygen) to an increase of the amount of the generated electric power and to the temperature of the fuel cell stack. Further, in the disclosed conventional fuel cell unit, where the air is introduced directly into the unit, air-side electrodes tend to be contaminated with foreign matters, such as dust and dirt, suspended in the air, which may thus result in a lowered electric power-generating performance.


An averaging pitot tube for measuring fluid flow in a pipe or conduit, is disclosed, including an integral head connected by a transition to a sensing tube or probe. The probe is insertable through the conduit or pipe in which fluid flow occurs to measure an upstream high pressure and a downstream low pressure. Upstream holes are formed in the probe to communicate high pressure into a high pressure chamber in the probe. Downstream holes are also formed in the probe to communicate a low pressure into a low pressure chamber in the probe. Valves placed in the integral head selectively open and close the high and low pressure passageways that communicate with the high and low pressure chambers. A measurement device is selectively connectable to the integral head and is in fluid communication with said high and low pressure passageways to make measurements of flow dependent upon the difference between the high and low pressure. Tube fittings placed in the head are disclosed for reducing leaks in the system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to averaging pitot tubes used as flow meters and, more particularly, to pitot tubes of the type wherein the correction factor or flow coefficient, defined as the actual flow rate divided by the theoretical flow rate, is maintained as close to constant as possible regardless of the Reynolds number produced by the fluid flow.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Measuring fluid flow in a pipe with pitot tubes or differential pressure type devices, wherein an upstream high pressure and a downstream low pressure are measured to obtain a differential pressure signal, have been known for many years. A simple plate with an orifice formed therein creates such a differential pressure, though at the cost of creating a large, permanent pressure loss and thus requiring more energy to pump the fluid at a given flow rate. The typical averaging pitot tube blocks much less of the pipe, thus producing much less of a permanent pressure loss to read the same flow rate. The averaging pitot tube also uses several holes or ports across the cross-section of the pipe to obtain the average value of the fluid velocity profile, from which the fluid flow rate can be computed. This is necessary in order to take into account a varying velocity profile due to greater frictional losses near the pipe wall.
Commercially available pitot tubes have typically been of cylindrical or diamond-shaped cross-sections. The shape of the sensing tube or probe portion of a pitot tube is important in order to minimize the effect of lift and drag forces inherent in fluid flow. Probe shape is a function of essentially two factors. On the one hand, it is desired to control the point at which boundary layer flow around the probe separates. Maintaining a constant or at least controllable separation point allows the correction factor, or flow coefficient, to remain constant so that there are less variables introduced into a flow calculation. It is an aspect of U.S. Pat. No. 4,154,100 issued to James B. Harbaugh, et al., to localize the point at which boundary layer separation occurs by creating a separation point at a sharply contoured edge at which flow separates from the probe, creating a predictable wake area in which the low pressure reading is taken.
On the other hand, it is desirable to reduce the forces on the probe due to lift, drag and vortex shedding. These vortices, caused by fluid flow from the separated boundary layer into the lower pressure wake area, tend to lock onto the resonant frequency of the probe, producing a situation of self-excitation which creates excessive vibration that, in extreme cases, can cause cracking and even breakage of the probe. Vortex shedding problems are typically associated with diamond-shaped cross sections, since the diamond produces much larger vortices.
In any event, it is a goal of many averaging pitot tubes to establish a flow coefficient which is constant over a large range of conditions in the flow. Such variable factors in the flow include fluid velocity, density and viscosity, as well as pipe diameter. All these factors are included in the Reynolds number, a dimensionless variable which relates inertial and viscous forces in fluid flow.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,154,100 to James B. Harbaugh, previously mentioned, utilizes the diamond-shaped cross-section to establish a fixed separation point for the boundary layer to stabilize the low pressure side and produce a predictable differential pressure signal. U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,807 to Michael Victor shows a cylindrical cross-section for the bluff body, as a non-aerodynamic probe is sometimes known, with a series of low pressure holes located approximately 110.degree. from the direction of flow. Again, Victor's intent is to stabilize the low pressure signal from the probe.
German Patent No. 1,168,659 issued to A. Closterhalfen shows a truncated elliptical cross-section including a rounded nose and parallel sides. The principal inventive feature of the Closterhalfen patent is that the single upstream high pressure opening is on a different flow line from that of the single low pressure downstream opening. This is advantageous in measuring the pressure differential and from there the fluid flow only in close proximity to a pump discharge, where the fluid velocity profile is more predictable.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,355,946 issued to Robert C. Lazell shows conically-shaped interior openings in the front and rear of an averaging pitot device.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,508,017 issued to Frederick W. Greve shows an averaging pitot tube of circular cross-section. An aerodynamic shape is used in U.S. Pat. No. 1,428,780, issued to Paul Jaray, to measure velocity of flow. Forward and lateral openings give a differential pressure used to establish velocity. U.S. Pat. No. 4,304,137 issued to Richard C. Mott automatically aligns in a fluid flow to measure static pressure.
Total pressure is also measured. Another airfoil shaped device for measuring flow is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 2,522,574 issued to William H. Hagenbuch.
The prior art devices have focused on the shape of the probe or location of sensing ports to control the flow coefficient. No other means of controlling the boundary layer has been utilized. The thickness of the boundary flow layer will dictate the size of the wake and magnitude of the vortex shedding forces. The thicker the boundary layer, the greater the vortex shedding forces. None of the prior art has utilized surface roughness to help reduce the laminar boundary layer and thus the resulting vortex shedding forces.
The prior art for averaging pitot tube instrument head designs that port the high and low pressure signals (generated by the sensing tube to block valves or valve manifolds external to the pipe) includes various configurations of internal and external threaded connections. U.S. Pat. No. 4,343,195, issued to James R. Bowers and Michael Victor, shows an instrument head with flanged connections for mounting a manifold to the pitot tube without using threaded connections. Incorporating the block valves or manifold directly into the instrument head has not, heretofore, been shown.
The prior art for mounting the pitot tube in the pipe includes commercially-available flanges and compression fittings. It is desirable to bottom the probe on the opposite end of the pipe since this condition increases the structural integrity of the probe by fixing the probe at both ends. Not doing so allows all the force induced on the cantilevered probe to act on a single mounting point, which can lead to excess probe vibrations and breakage in extreme cases. While vibration and breakage can occur in the bottomed configuration of the probe, much more extreme flow conditions are required than in the cantilevered case.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,250,236, issued to Jacob M. Spitzglass, shows a compression-type fitting where a packing gland simultaneously bottoms the probe to the opposite end of the pipe and tightens the packing material to produce a fluid-tight connection. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,159, issued to Norman Alston, et al., shows a compression-type fitting where a packing gland simultaneously bottoms the probe to the opposite pipe wall. All prior designs, however, will require periodic readjustment because fluctuations in fluid pressure and temperature will cause the diameter of the pipe to expand and contract. While expansion and contraction of the pipe is minute, it is, nonetheless, sufficient to cause the probe to lose contact with the opposite end of the pipe in many circumstances. Incorporation of an elastic mechanism, such as a spring, which would compensate for such variation in pipe diameter, would ensure the probe would remain bottomed on the opposite wall of the pipe and would not require periodic adjustment of the packing gland.


The present invention relates to a method for controlling a novel video game in which dancing is used as a factor in the behavior of a character, a machine for the video game, and a medium in which a program for the video game is recorded, and makes it possible to dance characters 611 and 612 displayed using 3-D polygons in time with music, to evaluate their dance skills based mainly on whether dance actions are in time with the music, and to proceed with a story by winning matches with a computer or to match with other players.

The present invention relates to methods for controlling video games designed so that a player determines the behavior of a character on a video screen, in which the behavior itself, or effects caused by the behavior, or both, are displayed on the video screen so as to provide the player with a virtual experience, machines for the video games, and media in which programs for the games are recorded.
Conventional games of this type include: action games in which a character on a video screen overcomes obstacles and defeats opponent characters in order to reach a predetermined goal in accordance with commands input by a player operating a controller provided with keys; fighting games in which, by making various attacks, the life points (HP) of an opponent character operated by another player or by the computer are reduced to zero so that the opponent character is defeated; adventure games in which any of the commands displayed on a screen is selected, and the story or ending varies in accordance with the selection; role-playing games in which field shifting, battle with opponent characters, etc., are repeatedly performed, whereby a character is developed so that clearing an event is the goal; simulation games for measuring an ability of a player as an airplane pilot, a military commander, a head of a city, etc., or competing with another player or the computer; and various types of games in which the above factors are appropriately combined.
As described above, various types of video games have been proposed and realized. Currently, new video games are in continuing demand.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for controlling a video game in which dancing is introduced as a factor in the behavior of a character, a machine for the video game, and a medium in which the program of the video game is recorded.
According to the present invention, in order that the foregoing object may be achieved, in a method for controlling a video game designed so that a player determines the behavior of a character on a video screen, and the behavior itself, or effects caused by the behavior, or both are displayed on the video screen so as to be enjoyed as virtual experience of the player, a dance performed in time with music is used as a behavioral factor determined by said player, and an evaluation of the dance is presented to said player.
Accordingly, the player can enjoy the dance of the character and the evaluation of it as the player""s virtual experience. In addition, by controlling the progress of the game in accordance with the evaluation of the dance, the player can enjoy not only the dance but also other factors such as the progress of the story in an adventure game and the entrance of a hiding character.
Here, by combining plural-type short dances (actions), which are executed when predetermined dance commands are input, to form the dance, various dances in accordance with operations by the player can be performed by the character.
It is basically appropriate to evaluate the dance based on whether dance command inputting is in time with the rhythm of music. When command inputting fails, or no command inputting is performed for a predetermined interval or more, the character flashes. When the inputting of a command having a high level of difficulty succeeds, successive actions succeed, a composite action is performed, no failure in command inputting is detected for not less than predetermined time, and the connection between actions is preferable, an additional score is given, whereby interest as to operating can be enhanced.
In addition, by using music recorded on an ordinary music CD as dance music, the character can be danced in time with music of the player""s preference, and dance scenes are edited to form video clips.

Method of controlling video game, video game device, and medium recording video game program


A method by which a task once set-up by the API is retained in an idle status after the task is complete. Set-up tasks are maintained in a pool. A task manager, in response to an application work request, initially searches the pool for an idle task (i.e., idle thread or process) corresponding to the task request. If there is a corresponding idle task in the pool, control passes to the application code for execution. If there is no idle task available, the Task Manager functions as an API and sets-up the task as in the prior art except that, when completed, it is not terminated but rather its identifier is placed in the pool.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an improved method for starting application tasks in a multi-tasking operating system, and more particularly to an adaptive building method in which a task, once set-up and run, is saved in a set-up but idle state, forming a pool of available tasks.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, in the OS/2 (a Trademark of IBM Corporation) multi-tasking operating system, application program requests are made to the operating system through an application program interface (API). A request starts a task; a task may be either a process, thread or session.
A thread identifies a dispatchable unit of work (a program runs within a thread). A process is a collection of one or more threads and associated system resources (such as memory, open files, and devices). A session is a collection of one or more processes associated with a virtual console (keyboard, video display, or mouse).
The basic unit of execution in OS/2 is the thread. Every process in the system has at least one thread. The thread provides program code with an execution environment that consists of the register values, stack, and the CPU mode as the thread's context. OS/2 automatically maintains the correct context for each thread. An application may employ one or more threads. For example, the application program reads from a diskette with one thread while it prints data with a second thread. Threads do not own system resources. Other than their own execution stacks, threads share the resources of the process. When all the threads of a process have ended, OS/2 terminates the process.
Program resources in OS/2 are grouped into logical units called processes. More precisely, a process is a collection of system resources allocated to a particular program. For example, the threads, memory, files, and devices created by a program all become part of the process.
Whenever OS/2 starts a program, it first creates a process to "own" the resources. OS/2 then loads the program and starts a thread to run the code. As the program allocates (or acquires) additional resources, they become part of the process. For example, memory segments, file, queues, semaphores, and threads are all resources a program may dynamically allocate.
Processes are created with the OS/2 DosExecPgm API. This API allows a caller to identify a program (EXE file) to be read in from disk and run as a process. If the program is already running, OS/2 creates a new process with a new execution instance of the code.
After a requested task has been set-up by the OS/2 API, control is passed to the application for execution. When control returns to the operating system, the task is terminated. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating this prior art process.
The OS/2 operating system is described in detail in a publication entitled OS/2 Programmer's Guide, by Ed Iacobucci and published by Osborne McGraw-Hill, incorporated herein by reference.
While generally satisfactory, the OS/2 start-up process for a task is time consuming and can degrade overall system performance.

Method for adaptively building a library of program threads

International Business Machines Corporation