The present invention relates generally to an improved method and apparatus for measurement of properties of a sample as a function of temperature. The method and apparatus are based on formation of a stable temperature gradient through the holding fixture such as a cell or a plate containing the sample under study, measurement of the property of interest as a function of position, and relating the positions of the measurements to the temperature of the studied sample at that position. In the preferred application, thermal and thermodynamic properties of solutes are obtained. Provisions are described to combine optical interrogation with Raman spectroscopy. Alternate technique of interrogation is total internal fluorescence reflection. Chemical reaction rates as function of temperature can be advantageously studied including reactions catalyzed by enzymes.

The present invention relates generally to measuring temperature dependent properties of liquids or solid samples contained within a liquid bath or otherwise thermally coupled to the holding fixture. More particularly, the apparatus and methods of the invention describe an apparatus including a liquid containing fixture with a predetermined temperature gradient thereacross equipped with an optical means to measure temperature-dependent optical properties of the liquid of interest contained therein.
Calorimetry is a well-known method of evaluating the thermal and thermodynamic properties of liquids. Prior art in calorimetry is well described in numerous textbooks on physics and physical chemistry and in monographs devoted to the subject. When the liquids display favorable optical properties, methods for indirect determination of thermal and thermodynamic properties are known. Several formulations based on the van't Hoff equation for example have been described in the art aiming at extracting thermodynamic information for non-calorimetric observables measured as a function of temperature. The words "observable" and "property" are used interchangeably in this description and have the same meaning. These van't Hoff methods can be advantageously applied to temperature-dependent spectroscopic data.
Liquids present a variety of temperature dependent optical properties. Several nonlimiting examples are discussed herewith. The refractive index of most pure liquids, mixtures and solutions depends on temperature. Further, liquids containing one or more optically active components display temperature dependent birefringence. Liquids comprising or containing chromophores or fluorophores display temperature dependent absorbance or fluorescence properties. The molecular origins of the temperature dependent changes in absorbance or fluorescence spectra of a particular liquid may arise from one or more of several processes. Examples of thermochromic reactions include ligand substitution reactions such as observed when hexaaquacobalt (II) is heated in mixtures of water and primary alcohols. Other examples include temperature dependent changes in ionization state of chromophores or fluorophors, which are coupled to optical changes. Other examples include processes in which molecular complexes change conformation as a function of temperature resulting in changes in optical properties. Such processes frequently involve changes in the solvent exposure of chromophores or fluorophores attached to polymers. Examples include the temperature dependent conformational changes in proteins and nucleic acids which alter the chemical environment of intrinsic (such as amino acid side chains or covalently bound cofactors in proteins or nucleobases in nucleic acids) or extrinsic (such as noncovalently bound cofactors, or drug molecules) chromophores or fluorophores. Macromolecule conformations may be mediated by small molecule effectors as a function of temperature. Such small molecule mediated effects on optical properties are observed frequently with proteins and nucleic acids but may also be observed in synthetic polymers or carbohydrates an example of which is the changes observed when iodine-starch mixtures are subjected to temperature changes. In the above examples, if the chromophore or fluorophore is optically active or bound to an optically active substrate temperature dependent dichroism or anisotropy may be observable.
Current temperature-dependent spectroscopic and calorimetric methods are laborious and material intensive. In most cases, spectroscopic methods require measuring an optical property of a liquid at one particular temperature preset point and then repeating this measurement for another temperature point until the entire characteristic of the optical property is obtained. Complex sample holding cells are described in the prior art allowing maintaining the temperature of the sample liquid at a desired level. An example of such a cell is described in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,192,910 and includes a sophisticated system for maintaining the same temperature throughout the entire liquid volume. A significant amount of time is needed to achieve and stabilize the temperature of the next measurement point and therefore the entire characteristic can not be obtained quickly. Improvements in sample throughput are therefore needed to make high-throughput thermodynamics practical. A throughput increase of at least two orders of magnitude is required. A need exists in a liquid spectroscopy technology permitting a significant acceleration in optical and thermodynamic characterization of liquids.
Another disadvantage of the temperature dependent optical methods of the prior art is in the discrete nature of measurements. Only certain temperature points are available on the curve and therefore in transitional phases it is quite difficult to obtain information about the property of interest with sufficient resolution without either prior knowledge of the point of transition and its breadth or the time consuming collection of high resolution data outside the range of interest. This also pertains to so-called "zooming", when the property is evaluated most closely and at smallest temperature increments at a temperature from just below to just above the temperature of transition. The need exists therefore for a device and a method of obtaining the optical property of the liquid in a way that accounts for all temperature data points continuously or at sufficient resolution to approximate a continuous measurement from a predetermined first temperature to a predetermined second temperature.
The preferred application of the invention is for liquids containing biological macromolecules. The need exists for a device and method allowing rapid characterization of the thermodynamics of biological macromolecule solutes and their interactions. Such characterizations are useful for drug design, design of probe molecules for use in high-throughput screening, protein engineering, and nucleic acid based diagnostics. Further applications of the method and device in proteomics, genomics and material science are anticipated.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus and method for measuring temperature dependent properties of liquid


A resin boots for constant velocity universal joint, including: a resin bellows including an approximately conical bellows-shaped portion with its inner hollow part, a small diameter end portion communicated with an inner space of the bellows-shaped portion and arranged at one end, and a large diameter side end portion communicated with the inner space of the bellows-shaped portion and arranged at the other end; a large thickness portion formed in an inner surface of a large diameter side end portion of the resin bellows in accordance with an injection molding, protruded in the vertical direction to the center of the large diameter side end portion and arranged in the circumferential direction at regular intervals; and a small thickness portion arranged between the large thickness portions and formed thinner in the diametrical direction compared with large thickness portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a resin boot for constant velocity universal joint used in a state of being firmly fixed to an outer peripheral surface of a tripod joint, an outer periphery of which is formed in a convex-recess shape, in a constant velocity universal joint, for example, used in a drive shaft and a propeller shaft for transmitting a power from an engine of a motor vehicle to a tire.
2. Description of the Related Art
The tripod joint has recess portions formed in desired portions on the outer peripheral surface for various purposes such as reduction in thickness, reduction in weight and the like.
In the resin boot for constant velocity universal joint used in a state of being firmly fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the constant velocity universal joint, a bellows-shaped portion thereof plays a part in a cover and also a part in bending in correspondence to a motion of the drive shaft, the propeller shaft or the like, and an end portion thereof is firmly fixed to the outer periphery of the constant velocity universal joint via a band and plays a part in an oil (grease) seal and dust seal.
Accordingly, it is necessary to form an inner periphery of the end portion of the boots in a shape closely attached so as to be aligned with the outer periphery of the tripod joint (a joint outer race or the like), and since the tripod joint has the recess portions formed in the outer periphery thereof as described above, it is necessary that the end portion in a large diameter side firmly fixed to the outer periphery be formed to have an inner periphery having a different thickness portion.
In the past, as a boot for constant velocity universal joint used for a tripod joint, there is known a boot having a structure as shown in FIG. 24 and FIG. 25 (for example, refer to Catalogue "Constant Velocity Universal Joints or Automobiles" (CAT. No. 5601-II/JE) page 9, issued on Feb. 3, 2000 by NTN Co., Ltd).
According to the structure of the related art, the boot includes a resin bellows 100 which is formed, for example, by an injection blow molding and has a large diameter side end portion 101, having a uniform thickness, and a rubber grommet 200 which has an outer diameter fitted to an inner surface of the large diameter side end portion 101 of the resin bellows 100, is formed in a circular ring shape, and has thickness portions 201 protruding in an inner diameter direction every fixed intervals. An outer periphery of the grommet 200 independently formed as mentioned above is fit to the inner periphery of the large diameter side end portion 101 of the bellows 100. An inner periphery of the grommet 200 is fit to an outer periphery of the tripod joint 80. The boot is fastened and firmly fixed to the outer periphery of the tripod joint 80 from the outer peripheral side of the large diameter side end portion 101 by a fastening device such as a band 300 or the like.
Further, in the past, a resin grommet having thickness portions protruding in an inner diameter direction every fixed intervals is previously formed, the grommet is held within a metal mold and thereafter injection molding or blow molding of a resin bellows is executed, to thereby integrate the grommet and the bellows within the metal mold (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Registration Application Publication No. 2-22463 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-286048).
However, when assembling the boot having the structure in FIG. 24 and FIG. 25 above in which the bellows 100 and the grommet 200 are independently formed and are fitted and assembled, there is a fear in that a grease may leak. That is, if the fitting operation is carelessly carried out at a time of fitting the grommet 200 to the inner periphery of the bellows large diameter side end portion 101, a displacement is generated between both elements. Alternatively, it is possible to outward fit the bellows large diameter side end portion 101 after fitting the grommet 200 to the outer periphery of the tripod joint 80, however, there is a fear in that a displacement may be generated between the bellows large diameter side end portion 101 and the grommet 200, thereby generating grease leakage.
Further, in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Registration Application Publication No. 2-22463 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-286048, no specific technical means is provided in integrally forming the grommet and the bellows, so the both elements are not securely welded even if they are integrally formed on the surface. Accordingly, the portion which is expected to be integrally formed peels off, with the result that there is generated a problem such as grease leakage.

Resin boots for constant velocity universal joint


A vehicle tailgate and bed arrangement is disclosed. The tailgate is movable over a range of motion between an open and a closed position. The vehicle bed surface has a rear edge and the tailgate includes a convexly arced surface defining a gap with the rear edge. The convexly arced surface maintains the gap at a substantially constant width along the entire range of motion of the tailgate. The constant gap width prevents any debris from collecting in the gap between the tailgate and the bed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a vehicle tailgate and bed arrangement. More particularly, it relates to a tailgate or tailgate cladding having an arc shaped member for maintaining a substantially constant width gap between a vehicle tailgate and bed.
2. Description of Related Art
Vehicles with a tailgate and bed are sometimes used to deliver or haul loose and/or granular material. A problem arises when hauling this type of material. The problem involves a gap that exists between the tailgate and the bed when the tailgate is open. Loose material collects in the gap during loading or unloading when the tailgate is open. The material collected in the gap prevents the tailgate from being closed. The material must them be cleaned from the gap before the tailgate can be shut. If the loose material is rock or other rigid material, the shutting of the tailgate can damage the tailgate, bed or associated hinge assemblies.
There are various solutions in the prior art directed towards solving this problem. The solutions involve covering the gap in some fashion. One solution, for example, covers the gap with a piece of flexible material spanning the gap and attached to both the tailgate and the bed. This solution prevents debris from falling into the gap but causes other problems. If the material is too flexible, it will sag and become stuck in the gap, thus causing the same problem it was meant to alleviate. If the material is too rigid, it will create additional forces and hinder the normal operation of the tailgate. Over time, the material will degrade and may break due to the repeated opening and closing of the tailgate. Additionally, some vehicles include removable tailgates. This solution makes the tailgate unremovable.
A second method for preventing debris from accumulating in the gap involves using an additional flap spanning the gap and hingedly connected to either the tailgate or bed. This does prevent debris from falling into the gap. However, it hinders the working area of the truck bed. It will create a hump that must be traversed when items are removed from and loaded into the bed of the vehicle. Further, the flap creates problems when unloading granular material. The flap is also subject to multiple forces when loading and unloading the vehicle. These forces can easily break or damage the flap. Finally, because the flap is hinged it also has a gap area that may be subject to collecting debris and inhibiting its operation.
The prior art shows various arrangements for preventing debris from accumulating in the gap between a vehicle tailgate and bed. However, the prior art does not show a simple cost effective arrangement for protecting the gap without entirely covering the gap with a secondary piece of material.
In light of the present need for protecting the gap between a vehicle tailgate and bed and preventing the accumulation of debris within the gap, a brief summary of the present invention is presented. Some simplifications and omission may be made in the following summary, which is intended to highlight and introduce some aspects of the present invention, but not to limit its scope. Detailed descriptions of a preferred exemplary embodiment adequate to allow those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention concepts will follow in later sections.
A vehicle tailgate and bed arrangement is disclosed. The tailgate is movable over a range of motion between an open and a closed position. The vehicle bed surface has a rear edge and the tailgate includes a convexly arced surface defining a gap with the rear edge. The convexly arced surface maintains the gap at a substantially constant width along the entire range of motion of the tailgate.
In another embodiment, a vehicle tailgate and bed arrangement is disclosed. The tailgate has a range of motion between an open and a closed position. The vehicle bed surface has a rear edge. A first cladding overlies the tailgate and has a convexly arced surface defining a gap with the rear edge. The convexly arced surface maintains the gap at a substantially constant width along the entire range of motion of the tailgate.
In another embodiment, a vehicle tailgate and bed arrangement is disclosed. The tailgate is movable over a range of motion between an open and a closed position. The vehicle bed surface has a rear edge and the tailgate includes a convexly arced surface defining a gap with the rear edge. The convexly arced surface maintains the gap at a substantially constant width along the entire range of motion of the tailgate. The gap defines the top opening of a debris clearance area, which also includes a bottom opening for ejecting debris from the debris clearance area.
In yet another embodiment, a vehicle having a bed and a tailgate with a hinge member for swingably mounting the tailgate to the vehicle about an axis of rotation for movement between an open and a closed position is disclosed. It includes a first cladding covering at least a portion of the tailgate. The first cladding includes an arced surface. It also includes a second cladding covering at least a portion of the bed and having a rear edge. The arced portion is located between the axis of rotation and the rear edge of the vehicle bed and maintains a substantially constant distance away from the rear edge of the second cladding as the tailgate is moved between the open and closed positions.


A process for production of 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene is disclosed; comprising the steps: (1) an acylation step where 2,4-dimethylisobutyrophenone is produced from m-xylene, propylene and carbon monoxide: (2) a hydrogenation step where the carbonyl group of the above 2,4-dimethylisobutyrophenone is hydrogenated: and (3) a dehydrogenation and cyclization step where the above hydrogenated product is subjected to dehydrogenation and cyclization to produce the desired 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene. The process enables efficiently producing high quality or high purity 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for production of 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene and more particularly to a process for producing 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene on a commercial scale from m-xylene, propylene and carbon monoxide as starting materials through 2,4-dimethylisobutyrophenone.
2. Description of the Related Arts
2,6-Dimethylnaphthalene is generally used as a starting material for producing industrially useful 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid through oxidation. This 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid is used, for example, for producing polyethylene naphthalate fibers or films having excellent tensile strength and thermal resistance.
2,6-Dimethylnaphthalene which is such a useful chemical material, has heretofore been obtained by isolating it from a tar fraction. However, in this method of isolating from a tar fraction, only a small amount of 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene can be obtained and moreover its separation or purification is difficult. Thus this method using a tar fraction as a starting material cannot be said to be a method suitable for industrial production of 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene in large quantities and at low production costs.
In recent years, various methods of synthesizing 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene from various starting materials have been proposed. In fact, however, no industrial methods of production whereby 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene can be synthesized effectively and selectively from an inexpensive starting material have been developed.
For example, Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 17983/1975, 17984/1975 and 17985/1975 disclose methods in which 5-(o-tolyl)pentene-2 is used as a starting material and it is subjected to dehydrogenation and cyclization to produce 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene and other dimethylnaphthalene. In general, the 5-(tolyl)pentene-2 to be used as a starting material in the above methods is synthesized from o-xylene and 1,3-butadiene. In this reaction, however, alkylation of the methyl group in the o-xylene is unpractical and, therefore, the production of 5-(o-tolyl)pentene-2 itself is not easy. Also at the dehydrogenation and cyclization steps of 5-(o-tolyl)pentene-2, a number of dimethylnaphthalene isomers other than 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene are formed and, therefore, an isomerization step, and a complicated separation and purification step are required.
Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 1701/1976 and 5292/1978 disclose methods in which an alkylated product from toluene or p-xylene is used as a starting material and it is subjected to dehydrogenation and cyclization to produce various types of dimethylnaphthalenes as well as 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene. In particular, Japanese Patent Publication No. 5292/1978 discloses a method in which 3-methyl-4-(p-tolyl)-butane obtained by the side chain alkylation of p-xylene with butene-1 is used as a starting material and it is subjected to dehydrogenation and cyclization to produce 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene. However, since a large amount of an alkali metal such as sodium or potassium is generally used in the side chain alkylation, the starting material itself becomes expensive. Moreover, in the dehydrogenation and cyclization reaction of the starting material, a number of dimethylnaphthalene isomers other than 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene are also produced. Thus the above method cannot be said to be an industrially satisfactory method.

Process for production of 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene


In a wheel-mounted sprayer for depositing liquid agricultural chemicals from storage tanks through feeder conduits and multiple spaced-apart spray heads or nozzles onto the ground, a liquid flow detector flow system includes a primary feeder tube forming a part of each feeder conduit, a secondary feeder tube having a larger diameter than the primary feeder tube and being open to the primary feeder tube and to the upper end of a spray nozzle, the feeder conduit being formed into an upwardly extending loop with the primary feeder tube being connected to the secondary feed toward the top of the loop. A pair of adjacent flow detector electrodes extend through an upper portion of the secondary feeder tube near the top of the loop on the downward flow side, and electrical means detects the presence or absence of electron flow between each pair of electrodes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention has relation to wheel mounted field sprayers for application of liquid agricultural chemicals to the ground through a plurality of transversely spaced-apart nozzles, and more specifically to the monitoring of flow and the detection of the absence of liquid flow through each individual nozzle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to spray agricultural chemicals through a plurality of spaced-apart nozzles as tractors or other prime movers propel spray booms over the ground. See U.S. Pat. No. 3,425,628 granted to Reams on Feb. 4, 1969, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,702 granted to Coffee et al. on Nov. 19, 1985.
The patent to Coffee et al. shows liquid detectors between the storage tanks and the boom and are for the purpose of sensing as to whether or not a particular chemical is being added to the mixture. In that patent are disclosed liquid detection devices 216 and 217 which merely report the presence or absence of liquid in a conduit. They cannot determine whether there is flow through the conduit. Further, there is no suggestion of the use of a trapped "air bubble" to deprive electrodes of contact with liquid whenever there is no flow of liquid in a conduit.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,430,886 granted to Rood on Feb. 14, 1984, shows the use of a reduction in pressure drop between an upstream restrictor and a downstream ON-OFF valve to indicate a partially closed nozzle. Rather than detect the presence or absence of flow in one of a multiplicity of nozzles, this invention measures the pressure in one nozzle.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,869,368 granted to Brown on Jan. 20, 1959, senses the presence of a liquid at various levels in the tank by using a multiplicity of vertically spaced electrodes. The patent is not concerned with the flow of liquid through a conduit or a tank, but is concerned merely with establishing the level of liquid existing in the tank at a particular point in time.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,115,877 granted to Wall on Sept. 26, 1978, shows the use of an electrode which can be submerged into a liquid in a U-tube. The change in capacitance between the electrode and a side wall surrounding the electrode indicates the liquid level in the tube. The patent is not concerned with the monitoring of flow and the signalling of lack of flow in each one of a multiplicity of tubes or conduits.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,832 granted to Prodosmo et al. on Oct. 18, 1988, is also concerned with indicating a level of a liquid in a vessel, using the presence of water in a U-tube. It is not related to detecting and indicating flow and lack of flow in a tube.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,363 granted to Fuller on Jan. 8, 1980, shows the use of electrodes at various heights to indicate and control the height of liquid in a reservoir. It does not detect, and cannot detect, the presence and absence of flow in a tube.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,052,003 granted to Steffen on Oct. 4, 1977, discloses a pressure sensor developing an electrical signal related to the pressure in a spray bar. This monitoring of the total pressure supplied to all nozzles does not show or suggest how to detect the cessation of flow in any individual nozzle. The concept of using an air bubble to detect and indicate flow and lack of flow is not shown or suggested.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,465 granted to Gauchet et al. on July 23, 1985, shows a flow rate sensor which regulates pressure of liquid being delivered to all of the spray heads. This is done by measuring the time required for emptying a predetermined volume of fluid (column 3, lines 1-3 and column 5, lines 31-33). There are no means here of indicating stoppage of flow to individual spray heads.
The foregoing patents were uncovered in a preliminary search made in the records of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
There are mechanical devices used for the same purpose, some of which are believed to be spring operated for example. The details of these are unknown to the inventor and those in privity with him. It is believed that these are very complicated and/or expensive compared to the device of the present invention, and they have not found favor in the marketplace.
The present inventor experimented earlier with infra-red emitters and detectors in an attempt to monitor and detect cessation of flow to individual nozzles, but abandoned any attempt to use optical sensors because of the problem of finding a remote location to monitor each nozzle. Also, because of the environment in which such detectors must work, the ends of the light fibers or glass lenses collect dust, spray mist and suspended agricultural powders, become dirty and, therefore, rapidly become inoperative.
The inventor and those in privity with him are aware of no prior art closer than that discussed above; and are aware of no prior art or combination thereof which anticipates the claims herein.


A method and device for invoking a set of services corresponding to a plug-in application installed on an image handling device. The method including launching a host application of an image handling device, accessing a configuration file of the image handling device, launching the at least one plug-in based on the information regarding the activation of each service and presenting a graphical interface that includes a graphical indicia of each activated service corresponding to each activated plug-in.

The present invention relates to a system and method to allow the removal and addition of functions on a multi-function printer.
Conventionally, when a user wanted to install a new service on a multi-function printer ("MFP") such as a file storage application 2/3, a new application 4 had to be installed to the MFP that made these services available, as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 22 illustrates an example of a conventional multi-function printer 800 with an application layer 802 having applications 801a, 801b, and 801c, an OS 803 and hardware 804.
In order to leverage these applications in an MFP context, the applications are installed by a service person that would travel to the physical site of the multi-function printer and install the applications manually. In addition if a user or a retailer wanted to remove an application from the MFP a service person was required to visit the physical site of the MFP and physically uninstall the application.

System and method to allow the removal and addition of functions on a multi-function printer


A validation and testing method is provided. The validation and testing method is executable by a processor coupled to a memory. The validation and testing method includes inserting intermediary save points within an instruction stream. The method includes executing the instruction stream including the intermediary save points. The method includes executing a save operation for data in one or more registers at each of the one or more intermediary save points.

The disclosure relates generally to flexible and in-line register comparison for bug analysis.
In general, microprocessors have become extremely complicated. In turn, contemporary validation and testing methods for these microprocessors have increased in complexity. Unfortunately, as complexity increases, the contemporary validation and testing methods lose speed, lose reliability, and include more errors.
For instance, a contemporary validation and testing method is to generate and provide an instruction set for a test case to a machine. Any error or failure in processing the instruction set is not observed until the machine provides an output. Unfortunately, the output is only generated when the machine encounters an interrupt. Thus, errors or failures that occur with respect to earlier instructions can be masked by the processing of a later instruction. In this way, as the number of instructions in the instruction set increases (e.g., as the testing method increases in complexity), the probability of errors or failures being masked increases (e.g., reliability is lost).

Flexible and in-line register comparison for bug analysis

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


The invention is directed to TRPM8 antagonists of Formula (I). More specifically, the present invention relates to certain novel compounds, methods for preparing compounds, compositions, intermediates and derivatives thereof and methods for treating TRPM8-mediated disorders. Pharmaceutical and veterinary compositions and methods of treating pain and various other disease states or conditions using compounds of the invention are also described.

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are non-selective cation channels that are activated by a variety of stimuli. Numerous members of the ion channel family have been identified to date, including the cold-menthol receptor-1, also called TRPM8 (McKemy D D et al. Nature 2002; 416(6876): 52-8). Collectively, the TRP channels and related TRP-like receptors connote sensory responsivity to the entire continuum of thermal exposure, selectively responding to threshold temperatures ranging from noxious hot through noxious cold as well as to certain chemicals that mimic these sensations. Specifically, TRPM8 is known to be stimulated by cool to cold temperatures as well as by menthol and icilin, which may be responsible for the therapeutic cooling sensation that these agents evoke. TRPM8 is located on primary nociceptive neurons (A-delta and C-fibers) and is modulated by inflammation-mediated second messenger signals (Abe J et al. Neurosci Lett 2006, 397(1-2):140-4; Premkumar L S et al. J Neurosci 2005; 25(49): 11322-9). The localization of TRPM8 on both Aδ and C-fibers may provide a basis for abnormal cold sensitivity in pathologic conditions wherein these neurons are altered, resulting in pain, often of a burning nature (Kobayashi K et al. J Comp Neurol 2005; 493(4): 596-606; Roza C et al. Pain 2006; 120(1-2): 24-35; Xing H et al. J Neurophysiol 2006; 95(2): 1221-30). Cold intolerance and paradoxical burning sensations induced by chemical or thermal cooling closely parallel symptoms seen in a wide range of clinical disorders and thus provide a strong rationale for the development of TRPM8 modulators as novel antihyperalgesic or antiallodynic agents. TRPM8 is also known to be expressed in the brain, lung, bladder, gastrointestinal tract, blood vessels, prostate and immune cells, thereby providing the possibility for therapeutic modulation in a wide range of maladies.
In International Patent Application WO 2006/040136 A1, Lampe, T. et al of Bayer Healthcare AG disclose substituted 4-benzyloxy-phenylmethylamide derivatives as cold menthol receptor-1 (CMR-1) antagonists for the treatment of urological disorders.
In International Patent Application WO 2006/040103 A1, Alonso-Alija, C. et al of Bayer Healthcare AG disclose methods and pharmaceutical compositions for treatment and/or prophylaxis of respiratory diseases or disorders.
In International Patent Application WO 2007/017092 A1, Lampe, Thomas et al of Bayer Healthcare AG disclose substituted 4-benzyloxy-benzoic acid amide derivatives as cold menthol receptor-1 (CMR-1) antagonists for the treatment of urological diseases or disorders, chronic pain, neuropathic pain, postoperative pain, rheumatoid arthritic pain, neuralgia, neuropathies, algesia, nerve injury, ischaemia, neurodegeneration, stroke, and inflammatory disorders such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary (or airways) disease (COPD).
In International Patent Application WO 2007/017093 A1, Lampe, Thomas et al of Bayer Healthcare AG disclose substituted 2-benzyloxy-benzoic acid amide derivatives as cold menthol receptor-1 (CMR-1) antagonists for the treatment of urological diseases or disorders, chronic pain, neuropathic pain, postoperative pain, rheumatoid arthritic pain, neuralgia, neuropathies, algesia, nerve injury, ischaemia, neurodegeneration, stroke, and inflammatory disorders such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary (or airways) disease (COPD).
In International Patent Application WO 2007/017094 A1, Lampe, Thomas et al of Bayer Healthcare AG disclose substituted benzyloxy-phenylmethylcarbamate derivatives as cold menthol receptor-1 (CMR-1) antagonists for the treatment of urological diseases or disorders, chronic pain, neuropathic pain, postoperative pain, rheumatoid arthritic pain, neuralgia, neuropathies, algesia, nerve injury, ischaemia, neurodegeneration, stroke, and inflammatory disorders such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary (or airways) disease (COPD).
It is an object of the present invention to provide compounds that are TRPM8 antagonists useful for treating TRPM8-mediated disorders. It is another object of the invention to provide a process for preparing compounds, compositions, intermediates and derivatives thereof. It is a further object of the invention to provide methods for treating chronic or acute pain, or the diseases that lead to such pain, and pulmonary or vascular dysfunction. More particularly, the compounds of the present invention are useful for the treatment of diseases or conditions including, but not limited to, those that cause inflammatory or neuropathic pain, cold intolerance or cold allodynia, peripheral vascular pain, itch or urinary incontinence, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary hypertension and anxiety or stress-related disorders.


Provided are optimized scatterometry techniques for evaluating a diffracting structure. In one embodiment, a method includes computing a finite-difference derivative of a field matrix with respect to first parameters (including a geometric parameter of the diffracting structure), computing an analytic derivative of the Jones matrix with respect to the field matrix, computing a derivative of the Jones matrix with respect to the first parameters, and computing a finite-difference derivative of the Jones matrix with respect to second parameters (including a non-geometric parameter). In one embodiment, a method includes generating a transfer matrix having Taylor Series approximations for elements, and decomposing the field matrix into two or more smaller matrices based on symmetry between the incident light and the diffracting structure.

Optical metrology techniques generally referred to as scatterometry offer the potential to characterize parameters of a workpiece (i.e., a sample) during a manufacturing process. In practice, light is directed onto a periodic grating formed in a workpiece and spectra of reflected light are measured and analyzed to characterize the grating. Characterization parameters may include critical dimensions (CDs), sidewall angles (SWAs) and heights (HTs) of gratings, material dispersion parameters, etc., which affect the polarization and intensity of the light reflected from or transmitted through a material. Characterization of the grating may thereby characterize the workpiece as well as manufacturing process employed in the formation of the grating and the workpiece. For example, the optical metrology system 100 depicted in FIG. 1 can be used to determine the profile of a grating 102 formed on a semiconductor wafer 104. The grating 102 can be formed in test areas on the wafer 104, such as adjacent to a device formed on the wafer 104. The optical metrology system 100 can include a photometric device with a source 106 and a detector 112. The grating 102 is illuminated by an incident beam 108 from source 106. In the present exemplary embodiment, the incident beam 108 is directed onto the grating 102 at an angle of incidence θi with respect to normal of the grating 102 and an azimuth angle φ (e.g., the angle between the plane of incidence beam 108 and the direction of the periodicity of the grating 102). A diffracted beam 110 leaves at an angle of θd with respect to normal and is received by the detector 112. The detector 112 converts the diffracted beam 110 into a measured metrology signal. To determine the profile of the grating 102, the optical metrology system 100 includes a processing module 114 configured to receive the measured metrology signal and analyze the measured metrology signal.
Analysis of measured spectra generally involves comparing the measured sample spectra to simulated spectra 116 to deduce a scatterometry model's parameter values that best describe the measured sample. As used herein, "model" refers to a scatterometry model and "parameter" refers to a model parameter of the scatterometry model unless otherwise specified.
FIG. 2 illustrates a method 200 for analyzing a diffracting structure in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. At block 202, an optical metrology system (e.g., the optical metrology system 100 of FIG. 1) performs measurements of a sample with a diffracting structure. Performing measurements involves shining light on the sample and measuring spectral information for the sample such as reflectance. At block 204, the optical metrology system identifies an initial model of the measurement process. Identifying the initial model of the measurement process includes constructing a geometric model of the diffracting structure, determining how to parameterize the geometric model, characterizing the incident light, and characterizing the optical measurement system. Typically, model parameters include layer thicknesses, material dispersion parameters, SWAs and HTs, angle of incidence of light directed onto the diffracting structure, calibration parameters of an optical measurement system, etc. Based on the model parameters, the optical metrology system determines reflectance from the diffracting structure (e.g., via a simulation). Reflectance is generally determined using rigorous diffraction modeling algorithms, such as the Rigorous Coupled Wave Analysis (RCWA) method based on Maxwell's equations.
At block 206, the optical metrology system attempts to fit the modeled data obtained at block 204 to the experimental data obtained at block 202. Fitting the modeled data generally involves comparing the modeled data to the experimental data and determining an error between the two sets of data. The initial model identified is generally based on expected parameters of the diffracting structure, and typically results in an error significant enough to require additional iterations of blocks 204 and 206. Therefore, the optical metrology system performs a regression analysis. In the regression analysis, the optical metrology system determines the next set of model parameters to use, 208. The next set of model parameters is generally based on the derivative of the error. The optical metrology system repeats blocks 204 and 206 until one or more conditions occur indicating the regression should be terminated. Conditions can include reaching (or sufficiently approaching) convergence such that the error is below a threshold value. Other conditions that can terminate the regression include: reaching a maximum number of iterations, determining that the difference between previous model parameters and current model parameters is less than a threshold value, and/or any other conditions justifying discontinuing further iterations of block 204 and 206.
Once a condition is reached for terminating the regression, the optical metrology system can determine values of parameters of the actual diffracting structure based on the best fit model parameters, at block 210. Upon completing the regression, the scatterometry model is typically close enough to the actual diffracting structure that determining values of some parameters of the actual diffracting structure may simply involve ascertaining the best fit model parameters. This can be true, for example, for geometric parameters that have a one-to-one correspondence with a single parameter used in the scatterometry model. Determining other parameters of the actual diffracting structure may involve additional operations such as adding two parameters of the scatterometry model together.
The method 200 involves computations which can be time intensive and resource intensive (e.g., requiring large amounts of computer memory and/or processing power). For example, computing spectral information for a model at block 204 and determining next parameters at 208 generally involve complex derivatives. Furthermore, scatterometry computations have become increasingly complex due to, for example, increasing complexity of the geometry of the diffracting structures being evaluated. Complex geometry can make computations such as the derivatives used at blocks 204 and 208 infeasible or impractical. Computations which are time and resource intensive can inhibit the method 200 from providing measurements in a sufficiently timely manner for use in some applications such as semiconductor manufacturing.


An offset hanger has a central retainer portion, a first leg and a second leg. The central retainer portion defines a segment of a generally cylindrical shape and retains a conduit, pipe, tube or the like.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to construction hardware used to mount utilities.
2. Description of the Related Art
For various purposes, conduit, pipe and miscellaneous architectural, decorative and mechanical devices are mounted to buildings. To do so, a wide variety of brackets and other hardware have been developed. Such hardware is frequently, if not universally, the subject of building code requirements, UL specifications and the like. Offset hangers are used to mount pipe and conduit to a wall stud or the like with a predetermined gap provided between the wall stud and the pipe or conduit. The offset defines the gap. Cantilevered forces, therefore, are applied to such hardware. Thus, it is advantageous to have structurally rigid and easily mounted hangers to secure utilities within a structure.


A communication system is desccribed which comprises a transmitter which transmits a standard broadcast format with an associated text string and a receiver for the reception and processing of the standard broadcast format and associated text string. The associated text string has close caption text in addition to other program or station specific text. The other program or station specific text is separated from the associated text string, decoded, processed and stored in function specific memories. When one changes a channel, or presses a button on a remote or has programmed in specific information requested, the program or station specific text is displayed. This text may be displayed on the televison screen with the picture, or it may be displayed on a separate display.

The present invention relates in general to broadcast communications and in particular to apparatus and methods for increasing the information available on a certain broadcast at a certain time.
In its early days, television consisted of a few major stations with one educational station thrown in for good measure. When one was out of town on business or visiting a relative, finding the desired program was not difficult due to the limited selection available. The expansion of the cable television industry has vastly changed the amount and the quality of the television programming available to the viewing public such that finding the desired program may be time consuming and difficult. Finding what station is broadcast on what channel is the first stumbling block. Unless one is familiar with all the shows broadcast on a particular channel or is willing to watch a channel until it takes a station break, this task could prove formidable. To only make things more frustrating, every time one changes a channel, this task must be repeated.
In a somewhat similar manner, sports fans are oftentimes frustrated because the broadcast station does not show the score of the sporting event often enough. Sports fans may be flipping through the sporting events trying to get an update on all the scores, only to be disappointed by the seemingly purposely sluggish manner in which the stations post the scores. In addition, money is oftentimes wagered upon sports scores, which increases the allure of a constant score update system.
Most televisions only display the channel number of the selected channel. Some also display the time. Recently, several televisions have come on the market which allow the user to program in up to four characters of information describing the channel. This information, such as station call letters or the network, is printed on the screen with the channel number when a channel is selected. However, a special television is necessary to provide this function.
Thus, a need has arisen for a way of harnessing the huge array of public programming into a stand-alone user friendly entertainment system. Such a system would provide network and/or show title information at a minimum. Such a system should be inexpensive and be capable of being integrated into present communications transmitters and receivers.
Some televisions are already equipped to strip and display text or other icon information, i.e. Close Captioning for the Hearing Impaired. As used herein, icons include any text strings or other symbolic items. The present invention improves on this idea, wherein some descriptors, in the form of text for a title or numerals for a sport score, of the displayed show be broadcast with the show, and then displayed either on the television display or on a separate display. One simple method of broadcasting these descriptors could be to imbed the descriptors in the Close Caption text and mark it with special characters. Then, the close captioning equipment could be used to strip the descriptors for display on all receivers. Receivers for the hearing impaired could display both. In this manner, program or station specific information could be displayed on the same screen as the program being broadcast or on a separate display.

Program network specific information for TV or radio


The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for remote medical analysis. Advances in mobile devices offer a way to connect animals and veterinarians in ways other than physical proximity. Using a phone's camera to take photos or and/or video and send those to a veterinarian allows greater degree of detail to be communicated in triaging or diagnosing or follow-up for an animal. Additionally, the camera could be used to conduct a video chat between an animal owner and a veterinarian allowing real-time viewing and conversation between the two parties.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of remote medical analysis, and, more particularly, to veterinary consultations.
2. Related Art
When an animal is need of medical attention, the animal's owner typically takes the animal to a veterinarian for evaluation and treatment. For larger animals, a veterinarian may instead go to the location of the animal and evaluate and treat the animal there. However, it can often be difficult to get a qualified veterinarian and an animal in the same physical location for any number of reasons. For example, the distance needed to transport the animal may be too great, no qualified veterinarian may be available for the type of animal requiring assistance, an animal's medical condition or mood may prevent transportation, the animal may be too large to transport, etc.


In one embodiment, a network functions virtualization infrastructure can be managed in a decentralized fashion. A front end can receive a request to provision a virtualized network function. The front end can create service descriptors for the request according to the virtualized network function, the service descriptors comprising a hierarchy of information elements organized based on distributed back-end agents operable to provision and manage the virtualized network function. The front end can store the service descriptors in a distributed data store.

Network functions virtualization (NFV) represents a paradigm where network functions are run (or virtualized) on general-purpose hardware. The general-purpose hardware can be configured with a network function (rather than using custom hardware appliance), and the hardware are networked together to form a desired network topology. Virtualizing network functions, such as routing, firewalls, packet filtering, load balancing, etc., means that network administrators no longer have to provision physical custom networking hardware. Rather, network administrators can deploy virtualized network functions over generic physical resources. In some cases, network administrators can deploy a mix of physical network functions and virtualized network functions. Network administrators can now implement a desired network in a flexible manner, and even in a more dynamic manner. Network operations are simplified; operational costs are lowered. However, orchestrating, i.e., managing, NFV infrastructure (NFVI) can be challenging.

System and method of lightweight decentralized NFV orchestration


Aspects of a method and system for extending the usability period of long term orbit (LTO) are provided. A GPS enabled handset may receive LTO data from an AGPS server via a wireless communication network such as 3GPP or WiMAX. The GPS enabled handset may be enabled to receive broadcast GPS signals. The GPS enabled handset may extract navigation information from the received broadcast GPS signals to be used to adjust the received LTO data. The usability period of the received LTO data may be extended, accordingly. A clock model and a satellite health model associated with the extracted navigation information may be used to update or replace the clock model and/or the satellite health model of the received LTO data, respectively. A navigation solution for the GPS enabled handset may be determined more accurately based on the adjusted LTO data.

Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers acquire GPS radio signals from several satellites to compute position. The process of acquiring the GPS radio signal is enhanced in speed and sensitivity if a GPS receiver has prior access to a model of the satellite orbit and clock. This model is broadcast by the GPS satellites and is known as ephemeris or ephemeris data. The ephemeris is presented to receivers as part of the GPS signal or navigation message. The broadcast ephemeris comprises navigational information for the transmitting GPS satellite. The navigational information may comprise standard satellite orbits models, clock model, and/or information about the operation status of the GPS satellite (healthy or unhealthy), which may be essential for determining position and velocity of a GPS receiver.
The broadcast ephemeris is encoded within the navigation message and is transmitted at a rate of 50 bps, taking 18 seconds in all for a complete ephemeris transmission. The broadcast ephemeris is typically valid for 2 to 4 hours into the future (from the time of broadcast). Before the end of the period of validity, the GPS receiver needs to obtain a fresh broadcast ephemeris to continue operating to produce an accurate position. It is slow (no faster than 18 seconds), frequently difficult, and sometimes impossible (in environments with very low signal strengths), for a GPS receiver to download ephemeris from a satellite. For these reasons, AGPS (Assisted-GPS) technique may be used to provide ephemeris assistance data from an AGPS server to speed up the process of determining a position fix for the GPS receiver, especially in a weak signal environment. The ephemeris assistance data may be derived at the AGPS server from satellite signals collected via a plurality of reference GPS receivers. The ephemeris assistance data remains valid for only a few hours. However, the AGPS sever may be enabled to provide the GPS receiver with ephemeris assistance data valid for up to, for example, 10 days, by using Long Term Orbits (LTO) technology. The utilization of the LTO technology enables the benefits of AGPS technology even when temporarily out of mobile operator network range.
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 extending the usability period of long term orbit (LTO)


A neuromodulation system for treating acute heart failure syndromes includes a first catheter having a parasympathetic therapy element adapted for positioning within a first blood vessel such as a superior vena cava, and a second catheter sympathetic therapy element adapted for positioning with a second, different, blood vessel such as the pulmonary artery. The catheters comprise a system in which one of catheters is slidably disposed over the other of the catheters. The system may further be slidably disposed over a third elongate element such as a Swan-Ganz catheter positionable within a pulmonary artery, such that the Swan-Ganz may be used for monitoring parameters such as blood pressure and cardiac output during neuromodulation therapy. The parasympathetic therapy element is energized to deliver neuromodulation therapy to a parasympathetic nerve fiber such as a vagus nerve, while the sympathetic therapy element is energized to deliver neuromodulation therapy to a sympathetic nerve fiber such as a sympathetic cardiac nerve fiber. For treatment of acute heart failure syndromes, the neuromodulation therapy may be used to lower heart rate and increase cardiac inotropy.

Acute heart failure syndromes (AHFS) are serious conditions resulting in millions of hospitalizations each year. Well documented in the literature are causal links between declining renal function or myocardial injury during AHFS hospitalization and poor prognosis. Heart failure resulting from myocardial ischemic insult or tachycardia precipitates complex alterations in autonomic tone, neurohormonal activation, and the inflammatory metabolic state. These changes in autonomic tone are typically manifested by increased heart rate and a reduction in heart rate variability. In the setting of an acute exacerbation of heart failure, the dramatically elevated heart rate is frequently accompanied by hypotension. The critical role of treating the autonomic nervous system dysfunction observed in HF has long been recognized (with inotropic agents and beta-blockers). Recently, specific neuromodulation of the parasympathetic cardiac nerve inputs has shown significant therapeutic benefit. Cleland J. G., Bristow M. R., Erdmann E, Remme W. J., Swedberg K, Waagstein F. Beta-blocking agents in heart failure. Should they be used and how? Eur Heart J 1996;17:1629-39; De Ferrari G. M., Crijns H. J., Borggrefe M, et al. Chronic vagus nerve stimulation: a new and promising therapeutic approach for chronic heart failure. Eur Heart J 2011;32:847-55.
However, in the case of AHFS associated with congestive symptoms and reduced blood pressure (BP), the negative inotropic effects of lone parasympathetic intervention or beta-blockade can severely limit their utility. In the face of hypotension, sympathetic tone must be maintained in order to assure adequate left ventricular (LV) contractility. Anand I. S., Fisher L. D., Chiang Y. T., et al. Changes in brain natriuretic peptide and norepinephrine over time and mortality and morbidity in the Valsartan Heart Failure Trial (Val-HeFT). Circulation 2003;107:1278-83. Animal studies have demonstrated positive inotropic effects (increased LV pressure and cardiac output without change in systemic vascular resistance) when selectively stimulating certain cardiac efferent sympathetic nerves. Zarse M, Plisiene J, Mischke K, et al. Selective increase of cardiac neuronal sympathetic tone: a catheter-based access to modulate left ventricular contractility. J Am Coll Cardiol 2005;46:1354-9; Meyer C, Rana O. R., Saygili E, et al. Augmentation of left ventricular contractility by cardiac sympathetic neural stimulation. Circulation 2010;121:1286-94.
The autonomic nervous system includes the parasympathetic nervous system and the sympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system have somewhat opposing effects on the cardiovascular system. One function of the parasympathetic nervous system is to slow the heart through action of the vagus nerve. On the other hand, the sympathetic nervous system is associated with increasing the heart rate and increasing the contractility of the heart. The disclosed system and method augment balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems in AHFS patents so as to lower heart rate and increase heart contractility.

Neuromodulation systems and methods for treating acute heart failure syndromes


Providing an imaging apparatus wherein dust does not easily adhere to the imaging portion. The apparatus comprising an imaging portion provided with an image pickup device, a first housing holding the imaging portion, a protective cover disposed a photographic object side, a second housing holding the cover and provided with a mount structure, to attachably and removably mount interchangeable lenses at the photographic object side, and wherein an airtight space is formed by at least one of the first and the second housings, the imaging portion, and the cover.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus for imaging a photographic object image.
2. Description of the Related Art
Imaging apparatuses such as interchangeable lens digital cameras and the like generally have a structure wherein when attaching or removing a photographic lens, the inner space of the camera main body is exposed to the outside. As a result, the problem arises that dust entering the inner space of the camera main body from the outside adheres to the imaging portion.
Because of this, there is a device for preventing the adhesion to the imaging portion of dust entering from outside of the camera main body, by forming an airtight space in a housing including, as wall portions, a transparent cover disposed in the vicinity of the mount of the photographic object side, and a image pickup device of the photographer side (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication 2000-241869).

Imaging apparatus with a camera body whereon an interchangeable lens can be removably mounted


A passive, in-line method of monitoring film removal (or deposition) during plasma etching (or deposition) based on interference phenomena is disclosed. Plasma emission intensity is monitored at a selected wavelength, without additional illuminating apparatus, and variations in plasma emission intensity are correlated to remaining film thickness, etch rate and uniformity, and etch selectivity. The method is useful in conjunction with nitride island etch, polysilicon etch, oxide spacer etch, contact etch, etc. The method is also useful in determining a particular remaining film thickness (e.g., just prior to clearing) at which point the etch recipe can be changed from a high-rate, low selectivity etch to a low-rate, high-selectivity etch.

An important process in the fabrication of integrated circuits is the removal of various layers of materials formed on a silicon wafer. Two major etching techniques are in common usage; 1) wet, or chemical etching, wherein a photoresist-patterned silicon wafer is immersed in a chemical solution; and 2) dry, or plasma etching, wherein a wafer is exposed to a plasma containing a gas such as CF.sub.4. The present invention relates mainly to plasma etching.
Plasma etch processes and apparatus are generally well known for etching materials for semiconductor device fabrication. The process begins with application of a masking material, such as photoresist, to a silicon wafer. The masking pattern protects areas of the wafer from the etch process. The wafer is then placed in a plasma reactor ("etcher") and etched. Subsequent steps are determined by the type of device being fabricated. This process is especially valuable for the definition of small geometries.
A common etch process involves the removal of polysilicon ("poly") overlying gate oxide ("oxide"). Among other issues involved, the selectivity of etch between the poly and the underlying gate oxide ("poly:oxide selectivity") should be as high as possible so as to reduce oxide loss.
Using a typical etcher, such as the top-powered, wafer-grounded LAM 490 etcher, poly:oxide selectivities in excess of 100:1 can be achieved with low power (100 Watt) Cl.sub.2 /He plasmas, but can result in severe undercutting or notching of the poly sidewall. On the other hand, helium-rich (greater than 50%), high power (greater than 200 Watts) processes produce vertical sidewalls at the expense of selectivity (less than 30%) and tend to incidentally damage the gate oxide. Lateral etching occurs during the overetch cycle and not during bulk poly removal. Hence, the amount of overetch must be limited.
Irrespective of the particular etch process being employed, it is generally of universal concern to detect when an overlying material ("film") has been completely removed ("cleared"). This is generally accomplished by detecting the presence of the underlying material, now exposed, in the plasma, such as by spectroscopy.
It would also be advantageous to know (i.e., be able to detect) when a desired amount of material, in some cases less than all of the overlying material, has been removed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,415,402 discloses a method for determining the completion of removal ("clearing") by plasma etching of phosphorous doped silicon dioxide from an underlying substrate. The patent illustrates an endpoint detection technique wherein a specific wavelength, or range of wavelengths, changes in intensity upon clearing the etched material. The patent does not describe a technique for detecting when the film being etched reaches a known, pre-cleared thickness.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,001 discloses an interferometric method for measuring etch rate. The method makes use of the phenomenon that device patterns etched into substrates produce diffraction patterns when illuminated. A beam of light is directed onto a region of a substrate being etched. The light reflected from the region forms a diffraction pattern, and the intensity of a diffraction order is detected and recorded as a function of time during the etching process. The etch rate of the substrate is inversely proportional to the period of oscillations in the recorded intensity/time curve.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,680,084 discloses interferometric methods for etch monitoring and thickness measurement. The etch depth of a substrate region undergoing etching is monitored, or the thickness of the region is measured, by impinging the region with light and detecting the intensity of the reflected light.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,539 discloses endpoint detection and control of a laser etching process. An excimer laser vaporizes successive layers of a chromium on a region, and a chromium chloride reaction product is formed on the region being etched. A dye laser directed to a zone above the region being etched causes copper chloride in the zone to fluoresce. A narrow band photodetector registers the fluorescence.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,446 discloses endpoint detection for etching epitaxially grown silicon. A "monitor" wafer is etched along with "working" wafers. The monitor wafer consists of a silicon substrate having an oxide layer and a polysilicon layer deposited thereon. A laser is used to measure the etch rate of the monitor wafer by measuring reflected light off of the oxide layer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,937 discloses a method of detecting an endpoint of plasma treatment. The use of a spectroscope is disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,188 discloses an interferometric method whereby etched trench depth is determined by shining coherent light onto a wafer surface.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,846,928, 4,847,792 and 4,861,419 generally disclose methods of comparing endpoint traces obtained by conventional means with a reference trace in order to detect abnormalities. Reference is made to determining regions of an endpoint curve (i.e., before endpoint, during endpoint, overetch), and taking the slope of the curvature within such regions.
In the references noted above, we generally see that: 1) various techniques and equipment are known for monitoring plasma etching processes; 2) the use of separate illuminating light (e.g., laser) is employed for monitoring; 3) often, test (monitor) wafers are required to characterize and/or monitor etching; and 4) endpoint detection is primarily detected at monitoring clearing of a film (layer) being etched.
Regarding the etching process itself, various etch "recipes" may be used. For example, the flow rate and pressure, electrode spacing, and gaseous species may be varied depending on the material being etched to yield desired selectivities, etch rate and uniformity.


A method for a computer system include determining a first social distance for a first user with respect to a second user, determining a second social distance for a third user with respect to the second user, determining a first trust-metric for the first user in response to the first social distance, determining a second trust-metric for the third user in response to the second social distance, and prioritizing a first communication from the first user over a second communication from the third user, in response to the first trust-metric and the second trust-metric.

The present invention relates to trust-metric networks. More specifically, the present invention relates to prioritizing communications via trust-metrics methods and apparatus.
With the wide-spread use of computers, cell phones, pda, and the like, it has become easier for people to communicate with each other. As a result, more parents call children, more friends chat over IM with other friends, more business send e-mail to other businesses, and the like. Unfortunately, this also results in people making and receiving calls from "wrong numbers," businesses making unsolicited calls to people, often at dinner time, businesses and individuals receiving "spam" e-mail, and the like. In the past several years, unsolicited communications have become more burdensome to recipients.
To address such problems, regulations have been passed to attempt to reduce the amount of unwanted communication. For example, telemarketing laws have been passed to allow consumers to opt-out of cold-call lists via use of a national telephone registry. As another example, federal and state spam laws have been passed to allow consumers and businesses to request "removal" from unsolicited e-mail mailing lists.
These regulations have only been somewhat effective. For every regulation, there are work-arounds. For example, as been noted in the press recently, telemarketing laws do not appear to cover telemarketers outside the US, and/or telemarketers making VOIP calls. As another example, e-mail spammers with overseas servers are beyond enforcement jurisdiction.
The problem with unwanted communications is now being extended to new forms of communication, including IM-type chat, SMS, data feeds, pop-up web windows, and the like.
Accordingly, in light of the above, what is desired are methods and apparatus that provide communications without the drawbacks to individuals, as discussed above.

Communication systems and methods with social network filtering


Devices and methods are disclosed herein for accessing the hip joint. A first device can be securely attached to the capsule of a joint. The first device can tent the capsule to increase the volume of the peripheral compartment. A second device can be biased against the first device to pierce the tented capsule and create a portal. Devices and methods are also disclosed herein for distending the capsule of a joint. A distention device may access a portal established within the capsule. The distention device can expand the capsule by applying an expansive force within the peripheral compartment. The distention device can maintain distention of the peripheral compartment while other devices access the joint.

Obtaining arthroscopic access into orthopedic joints to perform surgical procedures can be extremely challenging. This is particularly true of the hip joint, which has two tissue barriers that must be crossed in order to gain access to the inner part of the joint. The outer barrier is known as the capsule, a series of tight overlapping ligaments surrounding the joint, effectively sealing off the hip joint from the remainder of the body. The area within the capsule is known as the peripheral compartment.
Within the peripheral compartment, the joint is fluidly sealed by a skirt-like tissue known as the labrum which is attached to the acetabular rim and hugs tightly around the base of the femoral head. The labrum/femoral head interface creates a vacuum seal within the joint which helps to hold the femoral head tightly within the acetabulum. In order to gain access to the central compartment (i.e., the portion of the joint within the labrum lying between the femoral head and acetabulum) the seal of the labrum must be broken and instruments then introduced into the very narrow opening between the bottom edge of the labrum and femoral head.
In arthroscopic surgery, access to the peripheral compartment is typically obtained through the use of elongate tubular devices (e.g., arthroscopic portals or cannulas), which are inserted through the patient's skin and through the ligaments of the capsule to provide a tunnel or lumen through which instruments may be introduced. Multiple access portals are typically employed, with one access portal being used for visualization (e.g., for placement of an arthroscope), and the remaining portal(s) being, available for the introduction of other instruments.
However, the creation of access portals can be problematic. For one thing, the patient's anatomy (e.g., bone, blood vessels, nerves, etc.) can greatly restrict the possible portal locations. Furthermore, some hip structures (e.g., the articular cartilage on the femoral head, the articular cartilage on the acetabular cup, etc) can be quite delicate, thereby requiring great precision when forming the access portal so as to avoid damaging delicate structures. Additionally, some of the intervening tissue (e.g., the joint capsule) can be quite tough, thus requiring substantial force to penetrate the tissue, and thereby raising the danger of accidental plunging as an access tool breaks through the intervening tissue. Such accidental plunging increases the risk of inadvertently damaging delicate joint structures (e.g. articular cartilage).
Due to the numerous difficulties and concerns associated with forming an access portal, surgeons have traditionally resorted to a multi-step procedure for forming the access portal.
More particularly, surgeons have traditionally first passed a small needle (sometimes referred to as an access needle) down to the interior of the hip joint. This is generally done by first using external anatomical landmark and tactile feedback for needle guidance; then, as the sharp tip of access needle enters the capsule of the joint and approaches delicate structures (e.g. articular cartilage), fluoroscopy is used to carefully direct final needle placement. Inexperienced surgeons, or experienced surgeons dealing with particularly problematic cases, may also use fluoroscopy during the earlier stages of needle placement.
Next, a guidewire is placed through the lumen of the access needle, then the access needle is removed. Next, the tissue surrounding the guidewire is opened laterally by passing a series of tissue dilators over the guidewire. These dilators progressively increase in diameter so as to dilate the tissue disposed between the skin and the interior of the joint.
Once the opening from the top surface of the skin down to the interior of the joint has been established, a tubular liner (sometimes referred to as an "access cannula") is inserted over the guidewire, and the guidewire may be withdrawn from the joint. This access cannula holds the incision open and provides a surgical pathway (or "corridor") from the top surface of the skin down to the interior of the hip joint, thereby enabling instrumentation (e.g., arthroscopes, surgical instruments, etc) to be passed through the central lumen of the access cannula so as to reach the remote surgical site within the joint.
This multi-step process requires substantial effort on the part of the surgeon, increases the instrumentation necessary for the procedure, and extends the duration of the procedure.
Surgeons have also created portals by inserting long spinal needles into the joint under fluoroscopic guidance. In order to avoid damaging the cartilage of the hip joint with the needle, the femur is distracted from the pelvis by approximately 5 to 10 millimeters to create a gap between the femoral head and the acetabulum of the pelvis. The needle is accordingly guided into the gap.
Hip distraction typically requires the use a distraction table, a surgical table that includes a post placed against the patient's perineum and a tensioning device which fastens to the patient's foot or ankle and allows high forces (e.g., 50 to 70 pounds) to be exerted on the patient's leg to distract the femur and create space within the joint. These tables not only are large, cumbersome and expensive, but they limit the mobility of the joint during the procedure and frequently produce complications such as nerve damage.
Even with use of a distraction table, damage to the cartilage and other joint tissue may be difficult to avoid. The capsule surrounding the hip joint is significantly denser and "tougher" than tissue externally surrounding the capsule. Accordingly, a high amount of force is required to pierce the capsule, even with use of a sharp needle. However, the capsule is relatively thin, 2 to 15 millimeters, and the high amount of force required to pierce it can inadvertently cause a needle to uncontrollably "pop" through the capsule and damage tissue beyond. The space within the peripheral compartment is also relatively small for use with arthroscopic devices. Accordingly, several portals must be created to enable proper access to the joint. Each time a portal is created, the risk of unintended harm is increased.
Methods and devices have been proposed for accessing the hip joint without using a distraction table. For example, commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/483,446, filed Jun. 12, 2009, entitled "Methods and Apparatus for Joint Distraction", the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein, discloses various internal distraction devices for distracting the hip and other joints. These devices use balloons or other expandable features placed within the central compartment to displace the femoral head further away from the acetabulum in order to allow access for surgical instruments. While such devices eliminate the need for a distraction table, challenges may still be encountered in introducing these devices into the peripheral and central compartments. Further, even where a conventional distraction table is used, the placement of portals and the introduction of instruments into the peripheral and central compartments remain challenging.
On account of the foregoing, there is a substantial need for a simpler, faster and more convenient approach for creating an access portal to the interior of the hip joint.
More particularly, there is a substantial need for a new approach for deploying an access cannula into the interior of the hip joint.
There is also a substantial need for locking an access cannula so that its distal tip is constrained within the capsule of the hip joint so as to facilitate the insertion and removal of instruments.
In addition to the foregoing, there is also a significant need for creating additional workspace once access is gained to the interior of the hip joint, whereby to afford surgeons improved visualization at the surgical site and more room to maneuver.

Methods and devices for accessing and retracting a capsule of a joint


Disclosed are various embodiments for searching encrypted data stores. A first computing device can send a message authentication code (MAC) to a second computing device the MAC representing a tuple of a name of a data table, an identifier of a column of the data table, and a valid value for the column. Then, an encrypted bitmap can be received from the second computing device and decrypted to generate a decrypted bitmap. Bitwise operations can be performed on the decrypted bitmap to identify a plurality of encrypted rows of the data table containing a cell that comprises the valid value. Then, at least the plurality of at least partially encrypted rows of the data table can be requested from the second computing device and decrypted to generate a respective plurality of decrypted rows.

Many organizations are moving data storage off-premises and into leased storage services or facilities, such as leased file stores or file servers, databases, database servers, or similar facilities. While the use of leased storage facilities allows for organizations to outsource the provisioning and maintenance of storage services, the provider of the leased storage services or facilities is able to access unencrypted data stored using their services or facilities. Although the data stored using the leased storage services or facilities can be encrypted prior to storage, encryption can limit the functionality of applications used by the organization to access, search, or modify the data.


Implemented are an apparatus and a method that enable highly accurate intent estimation of a user utterance. An utterance learning adaptive processing unit analyzes a plurality of user utterances input from a user, generates learning data in which entity information included in a user utterance with an unclear intent is associated with a correct intent, and stores the generated learning data is a storage unit. The utterance learning adaptive processing unit generates learning data in which an intent, acquired from a response utterance from the user to an apparatus utterance after input of a first user utterance with an unclear intent, is recorded in association with entity information included in the first user utterance. The learning data is recorded to include superordinate semantic concept information of the entity information. At the time of estimating an intent for a new user utterance, learning data with similar superordinate semantic concept information is used.

Recently, there is an increasing use of a speech dialogue system that performs speech recognition of a user utterance and performs various processes and responses based on recognition results.
In such a speech recognition system, the user utterance input via a microphone is recognized and understood, and processing is performed in accordance with the recognized and understood result.
For example, in a case where the user utters "tell me the weather of tomorrow", processing is performed to acquire weather information from a weather information providing server, generate a response based on the acquired information, and output the generated response from a speaker. Alternatively, in a case where the user utters "turn off the television", an operation is performed to turn off the television.
A typical speech dialogue system has, for example, a natural language understanding functions such as natural language understanding (NLU), and applies the natural language understanding (NLU) function to understand an intent of a user utterance.
However, there is a case where it is difficult to correctly understand the user utterance intent even if the natural language understanding (NLU) process is applied due to individual differences in wording or the like.
Uttering users include users speaking various dialects in various ages, and further include non-native people who do not use a supported language of the system as the native language.
Utterances of such various types of users have characteristics and are difficult for the system to understand in some cases.
In recent speech recognition systems, a process of learning various types of utterance data and enhancing accuracy in understanding of intents of various utterances using learning data is performed in order to cope with the diversity of utterances.
However, it is difficult to accurately understand the intents of ail the diverse user utterances even if such a learning process is used.
Users often stop talking to the system in a case where the system does not understand their utterance intents.
General processing of the speech dialogue system is performed as follows.
A user utterance speech input from a speech input unit (microphone) is input to a speech recognition unit having an automatic speech recognition (ASR) function so as to convert speech data into text data.
The text data generated by the speech recognition unit is input to an intent understanding unit, and the intent understanding unit executes a natural language understanding (NLU) process to analyze an utterance intent from the text data.
The general speech dialogue system executes such processing.
For example, in a case where a user utterance has not been correctly converted to text (has been erroneously recognized) in the speech recognition (ASR) process included in the above-described processing, it is difficult to correctly execute the natural language understanding (NLU) process in the intent understanding unit at a later stage, and a result such as erroneous intent understanding and intent understanding incapability is output.
For example, there are individual differences in user's personal articulation, and there is also a limit in performance of automatic speech recognition (ASR). Therefore, it is difficult to completely prevent an error (erroneous recognition) in the automatic speech recognition (ASR) process and the natural language understanding (NLU) process.
Note that examples of the related art disclosing a configuration to enhance the intent understanding accuracy of the speech recognition system include Patent Document 1 (International Publication WO 2016/151699) and Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent. Application National Publication (Laid-Open) No. 2017-516153).
Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which vector representation data based on constituent elements of text data obtained from an utterance is generated, and determination on a similarity with the vector representation data is performed based on various types of text data to improve accuracy in understanding of an intent of a user utterance.
Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration in which a speech recognition system executes a plurality of utterances with respect to a user, and accuracy in grasping an intent of a user utterance is enhanced on the basis of a semantic connection between a first utterance and a second utterance.

Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method, and program


The examples described herein relate to methods and apparatus for cleanup prediction and monitoring. A disclosed method of predicting cleanup of a sample fluid obtained by a downhole tool includes drawing the sample fluid into the downhole tool via a probe assembly; measuring optical densities of the sample fluid at a plurality of different respective times; selecting at least some of the measured optical densities as fitting points; identifying one or more inversion parameters; and performing, via a processor, an inversion using the fitting points, the inversion parameters and simulation data to generate data associated with a predicted cleanup of the sample fluid.

In sampling operations performed on a subterranean formation, cleanup procedures are typically performed prior to obtaining a fluid sample representative of the formation fluid. To obtain a representative fluid sample, a large amount of time may be needed to sufficiently decrease the level of contaminate(s) (e.g., drilling fluid filtrate) in the formation fluid. For job planning or other purposes, operators may attempt to estimate the amount of time remaining to obtain a representative formation fluid sample and the anticipated level of contamination in the sample to be obtained. However, currently, a significant amount of time is required to acquire data to generate a reasonably accurate estimation.


A pair of guide bores in an electric punch support a pair of punching blocks aligned with, and movable into, respective punching holes in a main frame. Two operation arms are pivoted on respective holders and each is connected to one punching block to impart vertical motion thereto. Each operation arm includes a longitudinal guide groove therein. A pair of operation pins are driven in circular paths within the guide grooves to reciprocate the operation arms about their pivots. In the quiescent condition, the one of the guide pins lies at the end of its guide groove, whereas the other guide pin lies about in the middle of its guide groove. A guide concavity at the end of the guide grooves accepts its respective operation pin, whereby the associated operation arm rests at a different rotational position than it would if the guide concavity were omitted. A spring provides a restoring force on the punching block associated with the guide concavity. The guide grooves and holders may be positioned at selectable spacings. A reversing switch permits reversing the direction of the circular paths to clear jams.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric punch, and in particular to a battery-operated portable electric punch which punches a plurality of filing holes in a sheet or sheets of paper.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many types of electric punches are known. One conventional device has middle portions of operation arms supported by respective shafts at the side of respective holders in the manner permitting vertical rotation of the operation arms. A punching block is supported by a shaft at the end of each operation arm so that the punching blocks are vertically movable. A pair of shafts, eccentric with respect to each other, are revolvably inserted into a pair of grooves of identical shape in the rear portions of the respective operation arms.
The two punching blocks are differentially raised and lowered by revolving movement of the two eccentric shafts via their respective operation arms. The grooves in the operation arms are of identical shape, and the eccentric shafts are inserted into different regions of the grooves, causing the revolving movement of one of the operation arms to be smaller and consequently the vertical stroke of the punching block interlocked with this operation arm to be shorter. This presents a problem that the punching action may not be thorough when punching a filing hole in paper. Also, there a sheet or sheets of paper may get caught by the punching blade at the bottom of the punching block while the punching block is being raised after the punching. This can damage the paper.