Call processing software, methods and equipment providing enhanced notifications are disclosed. Personal agent call processing software executing at a personal agent processor uses existing calling line identification display and calling party name display (CLID/CPND) fields associated with telephony call signals provide these enhanced notification. For example, events that are unrelated to incoming calls may be signaled. Similarly, information derived from incoming CLID information in accordance with subscriber preferences may be provided to a destination. As well, the name or number of the called party and information derived from the CLID/CPND information of the calling party may be provided to a destination. Conveniently, existing telephone appliances capable of display of CLID/CPND information may thus be used to receive a wide variety of notifications.

The present invention relates to personal communication services, and more particularly to call processing software, methods and equipment providing enhanced notifications of incoming calls and events.
In recent years, telephony equipment has become increasingly sophisticated. Most modern day switching centers actually include, or are coupled to, computing facilities. As a consequence, telephone subscribers have been offered a variety of previously unavailable services. For example, subscribers are commonly offered such services as call waiting, calling line identification display and calling party name display (CLID/CPND), call forwarding, residential voice mail, and distinctive ringing.
More recently, telephone network sophistication has provided subscribers the flexibility of having personal call handling software process incoming calls and originate outgoing calls on behalf of the user. Such features are often referred to as personal communications services (PCS). A configured piece of call handling software making such PCS possible is often referred to as a personal agent. Personal agents are more particularly described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,329,578 and 5,905,774, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Personal agents may, for example, process incoming calls based on a set of rules and information including a calling party""s number; the called number; the time of call; or additional information requested from the caller.
One notable benefit of using a personal agent is the ability to process calls from different calling parties differently. So, for example, personal agents may reject calls from undesirables, forward calls from important callers to private numbers, and the like. Another notable benefit of a personal agent is the ability to locate a called party at several locations in response to an incoming call. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,011,843 and 5,802,160, for example, disclose systems having the facility to signal several possible telephone numbers simultaneously, in response to receiving an incoming call.
Unfortunately, existing personal agents have not made optimal use of some existing call handling features, such as the CLID/CPND facilities, with new call processing features. Similarly, personal agents have not effectively exploited the availability of such features.
For example, conventional personal agents typically fail to properly notify the called party of the identity of an incoming call. So, call notifications originated by the personal agents are typically accompanied by CLID/CPND information associated with the personal agent processor, instead of the CLID/CPND associated with the originating call. Moreover, even when such call notifications are originated by a personal agent, the CLID/CPND information is typically limited to that associated with the incoming call.
Accordingly, improved telephony software, equipment and methods allowing improved personalized telephony services are desirable.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, existing CLID/CPND fields associated with telephony call signals are used to provide a wide variety of notifications. For example, events that are unrelated to incoming calls may be signaled. Similarly, information derived from incoming CLID information in accordance with subscriber preferences may be provided to a destination.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, information including the name or number of the called party and information derived from the CLID/CPND information of the calling party may be provided to a destination. Recipients at the destination may thus easily determine the call""s origin and intended recipient. This is particularly beneficial for calls forwarded to destinations away from the intended call recipient""s usual location.
Conveniently then, existing telephone appliances capable of display of CLID/CPND information may be used to receive and display a wide variety of notifications.
Therefore, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method of processing an incoming call at a processor providing personal communications services to a telephony subscriber, includes receiving an indicator of the incoming call, including incoming call information indicative of a source of the incoming call; forming calling party information at the processor based on the incoming call information and a stored user preference; and originating a signal indicative of the incoming call, including the calling party information directed to a pre-programmed destination, so that an identifier of the call chosen by the subscriber may be displayed at the destination.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a telephony switching center, within a telephone network, is operable to: receive an indicator of an incoming call destined for a subscriber serviced by the switching center, the indicator including incoming call information indicative of a source of the incoming call; form calling party information at the processor based on the incoming call information and a stored user preference; and originate a signal indicative of the incoming call including the calling party information, directed to a pre-programmed destination, so that an identifier of the calling party chosen by the subscriber may be displayed at the destination.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a computer readable medium stores computer executable instructions, that when loaded at a processor providing personal communications services to a telephony subscriber, adapt this processor to receive an indicator of the incoming call, including incoming call information indicative of a source of the incoming call; form calling party information at the processor based on the incoming call information and a stored user preference; and originate a signal indicative of the incoming, including the calling party information directed to a pre-programmed destination, so that an identifier of the calling party chosen by the subscriber may be displayed at the destination.
In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention, a method of providing an indicator of a trigger event, unrelated to receipt of a current call for the subscriber at a processor providing personal communications services to a telephony subscriber, includes originating a signal including information identifying the event to a pre-programmed destination so that the information identifying the event may be displayed at a calling line display at a telephone appliance associated with the pre-programmed destination.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.


The present invention provides a crosslinking resin composition comprising an ethylene copolymer and a crosslinking aid, in which the crosslinked product of the resin composition has excellent insulation properties (volume resistivity value). The present invention provides a heat-crosslinking resin composition comprising an ethylene copolymer, a crosslinking agent and a urethane poly(meth)acrylate as a crosslinking aid, and (2) a radiation-crosslinking resin composition comprising an ethylene copolymer and a urethane poly(meth)acrylate as a crosslinking aid.

Conventionally, as a sealing material used for assembly of various kinds of electronic material modules, there has been proposed a resin composition comprising an ethylene-based copolymer as a base material and an organic peroxide as a crosslinking agent (Patent Literature 1).
In addition, there has been proposed an adhesive sheet for a solar cell which is constituted of 100 parts by weight of an ethylene-based copolymer and 0.05 to 0.5 part by weight of an organic peroxide, and comprises a multifunctional monomer having four or more acryloyl and/or methacryloyl groups in total (Patent Literature 2).
Further, there has been proposed a sealing film for a solar cell which comprises an ethylene-unsaturated ester copolymer, a crosslinking agent and a crosslinking aid, in which the crosslinking aid comprises a polyfunctional (meth)acrylate of a polyhydric alcohol and TAIC (Patent Literature 3).
Meanwhile, in the sealing material using an ethylene copolymer as a resin, particularly, insulation properties (volume resistivity value) thereof come into question. In this point of view, the above conventional proposals are not necessarily sufficient.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Crosslinking resin composition and sealing material


A clock signal is supplied from a clock oscillator to a gate circuit. In a period in which a reset signal is at the xe2x80x9cHxe2x80x9d level, the clock signal is supplied to an internal circuit. When the reset signal becomes at the xe2x80x9cLxe2x80x9d level, a control is performed by a gate control circuit so as to stop the supply of the clock signal. Consequently, even when a delay signal in the internal circuit becomes longer than one cycle of the clock signal, occurrence of an erroneous operation can be prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a clock control circuit. More particularly, the invention relates to a clock control circuit capable of achieving desired performance while suppressing power consumption and increase in circuit scale even if there is a signal of a heavy load or a signal having long delay time such as a reset signal.
2. Description of the Background Art
Since a reset signal sets a number of latches at a time, the fan-out is very large. Consequently, it takes time that the reset signal propagates through latches from a reset circuit. Particularly, when the operation frequency is high, it takes time to receive a reset release signal from the outside and release all of latches from the reset state. It becomes a cause of an erroneous operation.
For example, in the case of a circuit shown in FIG. 20, a reset signal shown in FIG. 21B is supplied to reset terminals (R1 to R5) of D-type flip flops 21 to 25 via a buffer 20. Since the output of buffer 20 is a load of five D-type flip flops 21 to 25, there is the possibility that propagation time of reset signal R1 of D-type flip flop 21 shown in FIG. 21C and propagation time of reset signal R5 of D-type flip flop 25 shown in FIG. 21D are deviated from each other by one cycle of a clock signal shown in FIG. 21A. In this case, a reset releasing timing of D-type flip flop 21 to be reset by reset signal R1 and that of D-type flip flop 25 to be reset by reset signal R5 are deviated from each other by a clock cycle, and it becomes a cause of an erroneous operation.
Although the maximum frequency of a system is determined by a slowest path, pulse delay of releasing a reset state decreases the operation frequency of an LSI, and the performance of the whole deteriorates.
Methods for solving the problem include a method of connecting buffers 31 to 34 to the output of a buffer 30 in a tree structure as shown in FIG. 22 and a method of propagating a reset signal by a buffer 40 of a large output as shown in FIG. 23. However, the methods have a disadvantage of a large circuit scale and high power consumption.
Other than the reset signal, a similar problem may occur in a signal source having long delay time from which signals are supplied to many blocks.
For example, as shown in FIG. 24, in the case of a path extending from A to B including a node of large fan-out such that a number buffers 41 to 46 are connected to the output of buffer 40, when a delay time from the timing of the rising edge of a signal A shown in FIG. 25B to the timing of the rising edge of a signal B shown in FIG. 25C becomes longer than a clock cycle shown in FIG. 25A, an erroneous operation is caused.
Methods for solving the problems include a method of forming a tree structure and a method of propagating a reset signal by a buffer of a large output in a manner similar to the case of the reset signal. However, the methods have similarly a disadvantage of a large circuit scale and high power consumption.
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a clock control circuit which solves the problems by decreasing the frequency of a clock signal or stopping the clock signal after or for a period in which a state of a signal having a long delay time such as a reset signal changes.
The invention relates to, briefly, a technique of stopping supply of a clock signal by a gate circuit in response to a first signal and, when the first signal changes from a first state to a second state, stopping the supply of the clock signal always only for a predetermined period by a gate control circuit.
According to the invention, therefore, after elapse of sufficient time since the first signal has propagated, the clock signal is re-supplied from the output of the gate circuit, so that no erroneous operation occurs. As a result, it is unnecessary to use a buffer of a large output or employ a tree structure for a node having long delay time, and a small circuit of low power consumption can be realized.
Further, according to another aspect of the invention, supply of a clock signal is stopped by a gate circuit in response to a first signal, a second signal of which logic level changes is generated by a gate control circuit in response to the first signal, and the supply of the clock signal is stopped for a period in which the logic level of the second signal changes.
According to further another aspect of the invention, the frequency of a clock signal is decreased by a clock converting circuit in response to a first signal and, when the first signal changes from a first state to a second state, the frequency of the clock signal is decreased always only for a predetermined period by a clock switching circuit.
Further, according to another aspect of the invention, in response to a first signal, a clock signal of which frequency is decreased by a clock converting circuit is output from the clock converting circuit. A second signal of which logic level changes in response to the first signal is generated by a clock switching circuit. The frequency of the clock signal is decreased for a period in which the logic level of the second signal changes.
The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


This invention relates to a bag filter having a tubular section, one closed end and one open end, the tubular section having a nonwoven felt comprising an intimate fiber blend of 50 to 80 parts by weight polyphenylene sulfide fiber and 20 to 50 parts by weight acrylic fiber, based on the total weight of polyphenylene sulfide and acrylic fibers in the felt, wherein the acrylic fiber has an equal or lower denier per filament than the polyphenylene sulfide fiber.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to bag filters having enhanced filtration performance. Such bag filters are particularly useful in filtering hot gases, for example gases at temperatures of 150° C. or even higher. In one embodiment, the bag filters are particularly useful in power plants to meet emission standards.
2. Description of Related Art
Polyphenylene sulfide bag filters for hot gas filtration such as disclosed in European Patent Application 386 975 of Chapman et al. are known and are used to protect the environment from particulate matter from asphalt plants, coal plants, and other industrial concerns. Due to the high potential environmental impact from such plants, any improvement that has the potential to improve the capture of particulate material per unit weight of bag filter is desired.

Bag filter comprising polyphenylene sulfide and acrylic fiber


A system includes a platform having an upper surface and defining a recess having a floor, the recess configured to seat a dish, and a movable securing frame that is movably connected with the platform, the frame including a lift support having an upper surface that is movable along a path from a first location that is beneath the floor of the recess, through the recess, to a second location that is coplanar with the upper surface of the platform. A motor configured to cause oscillation of the platform and the movable securing frame can be used. A method of using the system can include placing a dish above a recess defined by an upper surface of a platform, and lowering the frame with respect to the platform, thereby seating the dish within the recess.

The present invention generally relates to systems, such as grinding mills, and more particularly to grinding mills and methods of their use incorporating movable frames to enhance the safety and ease of using such systems.
Grinding mills are useful for pulverizing certain materials. Generally, those materials and pulverizing elements are loaded into a dish, and the dish is in turn loaded into a machine that significantly oscillates to agitate the contents of the dish. The dish can have a substantial weight, which is increased by the weight of its contents, that makes loading and unloading the dish into the grinding mill cumbersome and difficult. Moreover, the strong forces to which the heavy dish are subjected can be dangerous when the systems and components used to hold the dish in place wear out or are not strong enough to perform their intended tasks. Properly and completely securing the dish is critical for efficiency and safety.
There remains room for improvement in the design and use of grinding mills, particularly with regard to loading and unloading heavy dishes and securing same during operation.


A storage rack for storing spent nuclear fuel assemblies using a minimum space of a storage pool. The storage rack includes a plurality of tubular cells with a plurality of moderating members of neutron-absorbing material coupled thereto, and a base member coupled to the tubular cells for supporting the tubular cells substantially perpendicular thereto. The tubular cells are constructed of a plurality of prebent panels forming side portions of the cells. At least one of the prebent panels form at least two of the side portions of at least two of the tubular cells which are diagonally arranged relative to each other.

Currently, nuclear power plants produce large quantities of radioactive spent fuel. These nuclear power plants were originally constructed with a limited amount of storage space for the spent fuel, since it was originally contemplated that the spent fuel would be either reprocessed to provide fissionable uranium and plutonium or stored by the United States government at remote locations from the nuclear power plant. However, the spent fuel has not been reprocessed or removed from the nuclear power plants. Accordingly, the nuclear power plants are continuously seeking ways to better utilize the spent fuel storage space currently available at the plant in a way to permit the storage of larger quantities of fuel in the same given area. Thus, there exists a need to increase the storage capacity of the existing storage facilities.
Most current fuel assemblies are composed of a plurality of fuel rods containing nuclear fuel held in the fuel assembly. The fuel assembly typically has a square cross-section with a width ranging from about 6" to about 12" and a length of about 16 feet. The fuel assembly is used in the nuclear reactor, they are removed and stored in spent fuel storage racks. The storage racks have a plurality of vertically arranged cells designed to adequately support the fuel assemblies also during potential seismic events.
Spent fuel retains a measure of reactivity, i.e., neutron emissivity, which is appreciable but insufficient for economic use in a reactor. Accordingly, it is necessary that the spent fuel be stored in such a way that the mass stored does not become critical. In refueling a reactor, the fuel assemblies in specified areas of the reactor are replaced at intervals of several years. The residual reactivity of the removed or spent fuel assemblies throughout each area of the refueling is not uniform. It is then necessary, in the storage of spent fuel, to preclude nuclear criticality by reason of the presence of fuel assemblies having high residual reactivity.
Accordingly, prior art storage racks precluded such criticality by providing racks whose cells are appropriately spaced apart. In addition, quantities of neutron-absorbing material or poison can be provided in the cells of the racks in which the spent fuel is stored. The first of these solutions, i.e., spacing the cells apart, requires that the volume occupied by the storage racks be unreasonably large. The second solution, i.e., using poison, introduces a high cost factor.
Specifically, storage racks were originally comprised of tubes of a square cross-section with a fuel assembly placed in each of the tubes or cells. These tubes were connected together in batteries of several hundred tubes and placed in a pool of water or coolant to reduce the radiation effects. The tubes were connected to each other by welding the tubes in the upper and lower section to form square pattern of cells. The space between the tubes were used to place an additional radiation moderating material technically known as poison.
The racks with fuel assemblies in individual tubes, however, occupy significant space in the pool and their cost was high because each fuel assembly was surrounded by the tube material and therefore there were two metal walls of tubes between the neighboring two stored assemblies.
In order to place more cells in the pool as well as to reduce the cost of the racks, nuclear utilities began to replace the existing structures in the storage pools with racks of high density structure where only every second fuel assembly was placed in individual tubes. An example of such a storage rack is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,560 to Machado et al, of which the entire disclosure is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
By placing the tubes in a checkerboard pattern as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,560, it became possible to support every other fuel assembly in the space generated by the neighboring tubes. Thus, the area of the tube cells was reduced to about half, and the fuel assemblies could be placed closer to each other. The tubes of this storage were connected by weldments at one side of the tube corners and were attached to the bottom plate by fillet welding. Such asymmetric joints in such storage racks result in deterioration and reduces the accuracy of fabrication of the storage rack. Accordingly, such storage racks require larger tolerances to fabricate.
Examples of some other prior storage racks for storing spent nuclear fuel assemblies are disclosed in the following U.S. Pat. Nos.: 5,196,161 to Lewis; 5,032,348 to Blum et al; 4,948,553 to Machado et al; 4,900,505 to Machado et al; 4,857,263 to Cooney et al; 4,820,472 to Booker et al; 4,788,030 to Bosshard; 4,746,487 to Wachter; 4,710,342 to Grenon et al; 4,695,424 to Flynn; 4,630,738 to Bosshard; 4,400,344 to Robbins et al; 4,366,115 to Schlumpf; 4,319,960 to Larson et al; 4,288,699 to Boucherie et al; 4,287,426 to Anthony; 4,243,889 to Weber; 4,233,518 to Auyeung et al; 4,187,433 to Zezza; 4,177,386 to Robbins et al.; and 4,143,276 to Mollon.
In view of the above, it is apparent that there exists a need in for a storage rack for storing spent nuclear fuel assemblies which will overcome the above problems, and which utilizes less space than the prior storage racks, and which is relatively simple to manufacture and inexpensive to construct.
This invention these needs in the art along with other needs which will become apparent to those skilled in the art once given this disclosure.

Storage rack for spent nuclear fuel assemblies


Method, device, and system for deriving keys are provided in the field of mobile communications technologies. The method for deriving keys may be used, for example, in a handover process of a User Equipment (UE) from an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (EUTRAN) to a Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN). If a failure occurred in a first handover, the method ensures that the key derived by a source Mobility Management Entity (MME) for a second handover process of the UE is different from the key derived for the first handover process of the UE. This is done by changing input parameters used in the key derivation, so as to prevent the situation in the prior art that once the key used on one Radio Network Controller (RNC) is obtained, the keys on other RNCs can be derived accordingly, thereby enhancing the network security.

A mobile communication system includes a radio access network. Examples of the radio access network include second generation mobile communication network, third generation mobile communication network, and Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication network.
When a User Equipment (UE) is handed over from a source network where the UE originally locates to a target network, a key of the target network may be derived from a key of the source network, thereby avoiding a process of authentication and key negotiation. As such, the UE and the target network each generates, through the same key parameter and algorithm, the key eventually used in the target network.
In a Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), the process of authentication and key negotiation generates a Ciphering Key (CK) and an Integrity Key (IK); and in an Evolved UTRAN (EUTRAN), the process of authentication and key negotiation generates a root key (Kasme).
Taking the handover of a UE from the EUTRAN to the UTRAN as an example, a base station (BS) originally serving the UE in the EUTRAN (referred to as a source BS below) initiates a network handover process; a Mobility Management Entity (MME) associated with the source BS (referred to as a source MME below), derives a key CK′ ∥ IK′ of the UE in the target network according to a Key Derivation Function (KDF), an input parameter (i.e. a root key Kasme), and a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) downlink COUNT value in the current security context, and sends the derived key to the target UTRAN. The target network decides a security algorithm for the UE and returns the security algorithm to the UE. The UE synchronizes the key with the target network side according to the security algorithm.
In the above handover process of the UE from the EUTRAN to the UTRAN, the handover of the UE to the UTRAN may fail due to the failure of the connection of an air interface radio link, so that the UE is returned to the EUTRAN. The UE initiates a link reestablishment process to the BS currently serving the UE, that is, the BS where the UE currently locates (referred to as a current BS below) and after deciding to perform a handover, the current BS initiates a second handover process. In this case, the key derivation on the MME in the second handover process and the key derivation on the MME in the first handover process are both performed according to the root key Kasme and the current NAS downlink COUNT value, and therefore the calculated key CK′ ∥ IK′ is the same. Further, the keys obtained during the handovers by several Radio Network Controllers (RNC) in a UMTS network through a target Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) may be the same. Once a key used on one RNC is obtained, keys on other RNCs can be derived accordingly, resulting in a network security risk.


A chair with an automatic standing aid and a wheelchair which incorporates these features are provided. These chairs can raise or lower an occupant automatically while compensating for the change in the center of gravity with stabilizers. The stabilizers allow the chairs to be lightweight, small in size, and independent of heavy supporting bases. The chairs can be used to replace those on existing wheelchair power bases.

The present invention is directed to chair with an automatic standing aid which can lift the operator into a standing position while he or she remains supported and also lower the operator back into a seated position. This function is referred to herein as a "stand-up" feature, and wheelchairs with such a feature are often referred to as "stand-up" wheelchairs.
The stand-up feature in the wheelchair provides the user with greater independence in that it enables him or her to do many activities within environments such as stores, residences, and places of work which cannot be done in the sitting position. This includes opening windows, removing objects from shelves, and operating appliances. Many other activities become more convenient with the greater field of view afforded by the standing position. Employment opportunities are broadened because many workplace modifications are no longer necessary where the wheelchair user has the ability to rise to a standing position. Money may be saved through less workplace and home modifications. Personal maintenance is also made easier for the wheelchair user in that dressing and personal hygiene are simplified. Social interaction is also improved with the stand-up feature in that the occupant may conduct eye-level conversions with companions, coworkers, merchants, etc. Many more leisure activities are possible and more enjoyable.
Standing has many physiological advantages for a person confined to a wheelchair, as well. It stimulates circulation, reduces bone decalcification and pressure sores, and helps with bladder training. Money may be saved with reduced health care and lower therapy costs.
Wheelchairs with a stand-up feature are known in the art and are commercially available. These wheelchairs must accommodate for the loss of the stability when these chairs are in the upright position. The stability of the wheelchair is reduced when the operator is lifted to the upright position because the center of gravity is raised and moved closer to the front axle. The stability of the stand-up wheelchair is defined as its ability to resist tipping over. The wheelchair may tip during a quick stop or start. Accordingly, some conventional stand-up wheelchairs do not move while the seat is in the upright position. Those wheelchairs which provide movement while the seat is in the upright position are large, very heavy, and require complex integration of the lift mechanism into its own heavy mobile power base to provide stability.
It is desirable to provide a wheelchair with a stand-up feature which is simple, light-weight and mobile in the upright position. It is also desirable to provide a chair with a lift mechanism for vertical support adaptable to existing mobile power bases which will enable motion in the upright position.


Some embodiments provide a method for automatically selecting a portion of an image that includes several pixels, each of which has a set of pixel values. The method identifies a background color of the image. For each region of a set of regions of a color space that correspond to the background color, the method determines whether a threshold number of pixels in the image have pixel values that are in the region. The method identifies the pixels of the image in the regions that correspond to the background color and have a threshold number of pixels in the image. The method generates a portion of the color space to define a selection of the image using the pixel values of the identified pixels.

Video producers often shoot video against a blue or green background screen, and later mix that video with a background image or video such that the subject of the video (e.g., a person) appears to be in the environment of the background image or video. The video producer will use an editing application to composite the subject with the desired background. Additionally, photographers (or video producers) will often want to isolate a particular color in a photo (or video) and make modifications to only the portion of the photo with that particular color. For example, a photo shot in poor light might be made better by changing the saturation levels of a particular feature.
A media editing application uses a key to identify the desired portion of the image or video (e.g., the blue or green screen). Some applications allow a user to select a portion of an image (e.g., by tracing over the image) and then just modify that portion—however, it is often difficult for a user to accurately trace the boundaries of an item in an image. In other applications, the key is defined as a portion of a color space. However, identifying an accurate portion of the color space is difficult, especially when accounting for halos that will appear around a subject in front of a blue or green screen.


A method for monitoring engine performance includes sampling exhaust gas temperature associated with a turbine engine over an interval of operational time of the turbine engine. The method further includes applying a first test to identify statistical outliers on the sampled exhaust gas temperature data and removing identified statistical outliers from the sampled exhaust gas temperature data. Subsequently, the method includes applying a second test to identify step changes in slope of the exhaust gas temperature data and dividing the interval of operational time into one or more segments based upon the identified step changes. Finally, the method includes determining a slope for each segment and combining the segments to obtain a rate of performance deterioration of the turbine engine.

The invention relates generally to turbine engines and, particularly, to estimating turbine engine deterioration rates with noisy data. Specific embodiments of the present technique provide systems and methods for estimating engine deterioration rates for single engine in a fleet and average deterioration rates for a fleet of engines.
There are many benefits to understanding deterioration characteristics in a turbine engine. For example, for a commercial aircraft engine, the management of long term service agreements depends on the ability to accurately forecast overhauls, which is highly dependent on performance deterioration. Better knowledge of deterioration characteristics also improves engine fault diagnostic capability by tightening alert thresholds. Finally, knowledge about the drivers of deterioration characteristics in current designs is used in developing future engines.
A variety of engine performance variables, such as engine exhaust gas temperature (EGT), can be analyzed to estimate engine deterioration. Unfortunately, estimation of engine deterioration rate (also referred to as DetRate) is complicated by several types of defects in the raw data caused by a variety of factors such as sensor calibration shifts, water-wash events, etc. Such defects may include, for example, statistical outliers, step changes in the performance variable, and large X-range gaps (i.e. time gaps).
The current approach for estimating the deterioration rate of a single engine uses a linear regression technique. However, this method disadvantageously assigns a single slope to the entire dataset and, hence, does not mitigate outliers and large X-range gaps in the data. For a fleet of engines, the current approach involves dividing the time scale into segments and manually selecting from the estimated individual engine deterioration rates those that seem reasonable. The selected deterioration rates of individual engines are then combined within each segment to obtain the fleet average. A disadvantage of this method is that it provides no estimate for the error in the average deterioration rate of the fleet.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved system and method to estimate engine deterioration rates for single engine as well as average deterioration rates for a fleet of engines.

System and method for estimating turbine engine deterioration rate with noisy data


An electrophotographic photoreceptor comprises a photoconductive layer having a protective layer disposed thereon, said protective layer being formed by dehydrocondensation of the hydrolyzate of a perfluoroalkyl silane coupling agent, or the hydrolyzate of a mixture of a perfluoroalkyl silane coupling agent and a silane coupling agent. The photoreceptor is very useful in that it can exhibit a high performance even in an environment at a higher temperature and at a higher humidity and that it has a high resistance to the abrasion with a great number of sheets being printed and with the cleaning members and that it is capable of preserving a high resolution without any image blurring.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrophotographic photoreceptor, and more particularly, to an electrophotographic photoreceptor having a highly waterproofing surface and a high resistance to mechanical abrasion.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electrophotographic photoreceptors are required to have predetermined sensitivities, electronic properties and optical properties as well as resistance to abrasion and readiness to cleaning. Since the photoreceptors are susceptible to scratches due to development with toner, abrasions with sheets and cleaning members, their resistance to abrasion is very important. On the other hand, the readiness to cleaning is a property determining ease of removing the toner adhered to and remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor and required to be higher in order to produce sharp images causing no blurring of images, particularly under high moisture.
The image blurring phenomenon tends to occur when the surface resistivity of the photoreceptors is markedly reduced at a high humidity owing to existing of a hydrophilic and hygroscopic film on the surface, adsorption of ions to the surface due to the corona charges thereon, or attaching of sheet dust tot he surface upon transferring operation.
The photoreceptors have differences in potential between light parts and dark parts on their surfaces after charging and exposing them to lights. When the photoreceptors have a hydrophilic surface, the charges flow from high potential parts to low potential parts across the interfacial regions therebetween so that the potentials at the interfacial regions are averaged to give no reproduction of sharp contours in images resulting in the image blurring and spread.
The surfaces of conventional inorganic and organic photoreceptors have problems on the resistance to abrasion and the readiness to cleaning so that various methods have been proposed to provide a protective layer.
There have been reported hydrolyzates of silane coupling agents as materials for the protective layers. In such techniques, silane compounds having an alkoxy group, an amino group and/or a methacryl group such as methyl trimethoxysilane, vinylchlorosilane and .gamma.-glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane have been used.
Recently, an attempt has been proposed to allow the protective layers to contain fluorinated silane coupling agents [Japanese Patent Kokai (Laid-open) No. 61-205950 (1986)].
In this attempt, the protective layers comprises a thermoplastic resin, or thermosetting resin mixed with fluorine compounds, or fluorinated silane coupling agents.
As described in prior patents, the processes using hydrolyzates of silane coupling agents as materials for the protective layers resulted in the layers having a resistance to abrasion, but a poor readiness to cleaning, while conversely those using fluorinated silane coupling agents could achieve some improvement in the readiness to cleaning, but caused a problem on the resistance to abrasion due to a lower hardness of the resins and simple blending rather than reacting with the fluorinated silane coupling agents.

Electrophotographic photoreceptor having silicate with perfluoroalkyl groups in protective layer

Shindengen Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


An X-Y shifting mechanism (25) is disclosed for controlling the shifting of a shift rail (17) in a first (Y-Y) transverse direction. The mechanism includes a shift finger assembly (39) including a shift finger (23). A lever member (57) is pivotable about the axis (A) of rotation. When the lever member (57) is pivoted, the movement is transmitted through a spring (91) to rotate a spring seat member (73), thus causing pivotal movement of the shift finger (23). During a non-synchronous engagement, kick-out movement causes pivotal movement of the shift finger in the opposite direction, compressing the spring (91) rather than damaging the shifting mechanism. The disclosed mechanism also enables preselection of neutral, compressing the appropriate one of the springs (91), such that the preloaded spring will move the shift finger and shift rail to the neutral position as soon as a torque break occurs.

The present invention relates to a shifting mechanism of the "X-Y" type for use with a shift bar housing assembly of a mechanical change-gear transmission, and more particularly, to such a mechanism of the type which is automatically or semi-automatically shifted, on a transmission which otherwise would be manually shifted.
Shift bar housing assemblies for mechanical change-gear transmissions usually comprise a plurality of generally parallel, independently transversely movable shift bars, which are to be selected, and moved transversely, to effect engagement/disengagement of a particular gear ratio. Such shift-bar housing assemblies are well known to those skilled in the art, as may be seen by reference U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,951,392; 4,567,785; and 4,873,881, all of which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference.
Typically, such shift bar housings have been manually controlled, and operated by a shift finger fixed to a directly mounted shift lever, or to the cross-shaft of a remotely controlled shifting mechanism. Automatic and semi-automatic mechanical transmissions, based upon generally standard mechanical transmissions, but provided with electric or pneumatic actuators, are now well known in the prior art, as may be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,361,060 and 4,648,290, the latter of which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and both are incorporated herein by reference.
Also now well known in the prior art are automatically controlled "X-Y" type shifting mechanisms, wherein a shift finger is automatically moved in the axial (X-X) or rail selection direction, and then in the transverse (Y-Y) or gear engagement/disengagement direction. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that reference herein to the "transverse" and "axial" directions pertains to the shifter, and do not necessarily imply any particular direction on either the transmission or the vehicle. Also known are single shaft shifting mechanisms, as may be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,815, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Frequently, such an automatic or semi-automatic X-Y shifting mechanism is applied to a non-synchronous mechanical change-gear transmission. As used herein, the term "non-synchronous" will be understood to refer to a mechanical change-gear transmission of the type not equipped with synchronizers (or with less than extremely accurate synchronizers). On such a transmission, one of the problems associated with using an automatic or semi-automatic shifting mechanism is the occurrence of non-synchronous clutch engagements, i.e., an engagement wherein the mating jaw clutches come into contact with each other (typically, on the transverse, end surfaces of the jaws), but don't actually engage in the manner intended for such clutches.
Typically, one result of a non-synchronous clutch engagement is a phenomenon known as "kick-out", in which the jaw clutch being moved into engagement with another jaw clutch is only partially engaged, and then is effectively kicked out of engagement. Such kick-out movement is normally transmitted from the jaw clutch, back through the shift fork, the shift finger, and the shifting mechanism. This kick-out force being transmitted back through the shifting mechanism can cause damage to any one of a number of components of the shift system. By way of example only, in electrically actuated shifting mechanisms of the type illustrated in above-incorporated U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,881, a rotary input from an electric motor provides an input to the shifting mechanism by means of a recirculating ball-screw device. When such a shifting mechanism is subjected to a kick-out force, even if most of the system components can withstand the force without breaking, one typical result is damage to the threads in the ball-screw mechanism. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, thread damage in such a mechanism can render the mechanism nearly inoperable.

Transmission shifting mechanism and force attenuator therefor


A method for adapting a vehicle velocity of a vehicle, the method including determining a required steering torque for guiding the vehicle along a curved driving trajectory, and ascertaining a permissible velocity of the vehicle for guiding the vehicle along the curved driving trajectory using the required steering torque and an available steering torque.

In current lane-keeping support systems (LKS: lane keeping support) with steering assistance, the steering torque requested by the system is limited in terms of its amount, usually to 3 Nm, in order to allow the driver to override the system at all times, in particular in case of possible incorrect interventions.

Method and device for adapting a vehicle velocity for a vehicle


The present invention is a stethoscope which provides the user with continuous access to physiologic sounds. The stethoscope consists of multiple, lightweight, disposable sound receiving sensors and shutoff valves which allow selective auscultation of specific sites without patient disturbance. In addition, depending upon the positions of the shutoff valves, the stethoscope may enhance sound conduction by producing constructive interference of sound waves. A means of attaching the sound receiving sensors to the skin is also described. Because the sound receiving sensors are disposable, the risk of infection due to cross-examination is minimized. Therefore, this invention is safer than known stethoscopes.

Existing stethoscopes are currently utilized to auscultate or listen to physiologic sounds within the body. Auscultation with existing stethoscopes is currently performed by intermittently applying a stethoscope to the body surface through which the clinician hears various sounds. Intermittent auscultation may be a relatively benign procedure. However, several disadvantages and hazards are associated with the use of existing stethoscopes. First, patients undergoing surgery may have the sterile field invaded thereby risking infection in order for the clinician to auscultate the chest. Another disadvantage of known stethoscopes is that patients are frequently awakened and disturbed so that the clinician may apply a cold stethoscope to the patient's chest to monitor vital signs. Recent studies have shown serious developmental abnormalities in newborn infants who are frequently disturbed to auscultate heart and lung sounds with known stethoscopes. Another disadvantage of existing stethoscopes is that the quality of sound wave transmission is dependent upon an airtight seal between the stethoscope and the skin. In the absence of an airtight seal, background noise is inadvertently detected and physiologic sound transmission is impaired. Finally, another disadvantage of existing stethoscopes is that they are not capable of generating positive or constructive interference of physiologic sound waves.
Stethoscopes are known which use two sound receiving heads but have several disadvantages. The stethoscope shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,777 to Baumberg discloses a stethoscope with two sound transmitting tubes connected to a valve. Depending upon the position of the valve, the clinician receives either mono or stereo sounds. However, even when receiving stereo sounds, the sound picked up by each sensor is transmitted through separate channels. In contrast, the present invention transmits sounds through a common tube with constructive interference of sound waves resulting.
Other patents show stethoscopes with multiple heads. In the Patents to Cefaly (U.S. Pat. No. 3,124,211) and Tynan (U.S. Pat. No. 2,722,989), the sound receiving heads are not capable of being used simultaneously. In the patents to Zala (U.S. Pat. No. 1,853,951), Bodenger (U.S. Pat. No. 3,144,091) and Hardt (U.S. Pat. No. 1,847,607), the sound receiving heads transmit sounds through separate tubes.
Finally, the Patent to Tailor et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,401,125) discloses a stethoscope securing pad which includes an adhesive surface for securing the head of the stethoscope to the patient's skin. However, this pad is larger than the diaphragm head and has only one adhesive surface. Also, it does not appear to form an airtight seal between the stethoscope head and the skin.


For generating a signal corresponding to the respiration volume per unit of time of a patient, a signal component correlated with the respiration is filtered out of a measured impedance signal acquired in the region of the heart of the patient, and the zero-axis crossings of this signal component are detected and the maximum values respectively arising in between two successive pairs of zero-axis crossings are identified in terms of amplitude. These maxima are added during a prescribed time interval to form a value corresponding to the respiration volume per unit of time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a method for generating a signal corresponding to the respiration volume per unit of time of a patient, of the type wherein a measured impedance signal is acquired with an electrode arrangement arranged in the region of the heart and a signal component correlated to the respiration of the patient is filtered out of the measured impedance signal and a selected characteristic of the filtered signal is analyzed to obtain a measurement of the respiration volume per unit of time.
2. Description Of the Prior Art
A method of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,725, wherein a measured impedance signal of the heart of a patient is derived with an electrode arrangement of a heart pacemaker and with an impedance measuring means in the heart pacemaker, this measured impedance signal changing dependent on the pumping activity of the heart as well as dependent on intrathoracal pressure fluctuations externally acting on the heart and produced by the respiration and by movements of the patient. A signal component correlated to the respiration is filtered out of the measured impedance signal by band-pass filtering, with frequency parts of the measured impedance signal below 0.05 Hz and above 0.8 Hz are suppressed. Zero-axis crossings of the filtered-out signal component are detected with a zero-axis crossing detector, and a quantity dependent on the amount of the signal component is acquired at every zero-axis crossing, this quantity being utilized for the continuous formation of an average corresponding to the respiration volume per unit of time during a prescribed time interval. To this end, the signal component obtained by filtering is sampled and supplied to a zero-axis crossing detector as well as to an amplitude averaging unit. The amplitude averaging unit averages the amplitude of the samples over a duration corresponding to a few breaths to form an amplitude average of the signal component. It is assumed that the amplitude average of the signal component corresponds to the average volume per breath. At every detected zero-axis crossing during the course of the signal component, the momentary amplitude average of the signal component is supplied to a further averaging unit. This generates a further average value, based on the amplitude average of the signal component again identified at every zero-axis crossing, and that corresponds to the average volume per breath, according to the frequency of the zero-axis crossings that identify the respiratory rate. The further average thus corresponds to the product of volume per breath and respiratory rate, and thus to the respiration volume per time unit. The respiration volume per time unit identified in this way is utilized for the frequency control of the heart pacemaker.
As already mentioned, it is assumed in the known method that the amplitude average of the signal component that is filtered out of the measured impedance signal and is correlated to respiration corresponds to the average volume per breath. Such an assumption, however, is only true when the curve of the signal component is at least approximately sinusoidal and lies symmetrically relative to the zero line. In practice, however, the signal components, despite the filtering, are superimposed with signal parts that are based on the heart activity and on movements of the patient. These signal parts have in fact been reduced in signal height as a consequence of the filtering but can produce zero-axis crossings in the course of the signal component that are erroneously detected as inspiration or expiration of the measured impedance signal and are evaluated with the calculated value for the average volume per breath in the known method. A further source of error is that the lower limit frequency for the band-pass filtering of the measured impedance signal is fixed at an extremely low value, 0.05 Hz in the known method, in view of the lowest respiration rate to be anticipated, so that the zero line of the signal component can fluctuate considerably during the time required for the formation of the amplitude average of the signal component that corresponds to only a few breaths, and therefore the "real" zero line cannot be acquired. The formation of the amplitude of the signal component and their averaging therefore proceeds based on an artificially-set zero line, resulting in deviations of the artificially-set zero line from the real zero line lead to a constant which is not representative of respiration entering into the averaging, which is expressed as an error in the identification of the volume per breath.

Method for generating a signal corresponding to the respiration volume per unit of time of a patient


Disclosed herein are a magnetic fluid, a method for the production thereof, and a magnetic seal apparatus using the same, characterized in that the surfaces of ferromagnetic particles are covered with a monomolecular adsorbed film composed of a chloro-silane type surfactant, and the coated particles are dispersed in an oil. A magnetic seal apparatus using such a magnetic fluid.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a magnetic fluid used at seal rings of shafts, etc., a method for producing such a magnetic fluid, and a magnetic seal means using the same.
2. Prior Art
Hitherto, magnetic fluids have generally been produced by a method in which the surfaces of fine particles of a ferromagnetic material such as fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4 or Co-added .gamma.-Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 are coated with a surfactant such as oleic acid, and said coated particles are dispersed in an oil such as kerosene.
The above-described conventional method, however, although simple and easy to carry out, had the problem that since the surfactant such as oleic acid only adheres to the surfaces of the fine particles of a magnetic material, said surfactant would dissociate from the particle surfaces after long-term use, causing agglomeration of said particles. Thus, the magnetic fluid produced by said conventional method was low in reliability and unsatisfactory in performance for use as a sealant in high-vacuum systems.

Magnetic fluid, method for producing it and magnetic seal means using the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


1. A composition which is at least substantially anhydrous and comprises                a. At least one water immiscible emollient oil in sufficient quantity to provide emollience to skin,        b. At least one emulsifying agent capable of forming an emulsion, in situ, on the skin with the above oil when water is added to the said composition, the said emulsifier in such quantities that the oil is substantially removed from the skin,        c. A physical stabilization of the composition enhancing amount of a component selected from the group consisting of                    1) At lease one wax,            2) At lease one oil gelling agent that is both water and oil insoluble, and            3) A mixture of 1 and 2.

Aqueous skin cleansing compositions have been used for centuries. Washing the skin with various surface-active preparations several times a day results in the swelling of the horny layers, with water insoluble constituents of dirt being washed off and substances endogenous to the skin being washed out. During this process, naturally occurring skin fats are also removed causing over-drying of the skin, thus making it necessary to replenish the skin with moisturizers such as creams and lotion based on oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions.
The most common way of replenishing the skin with moisturizers is to use mild cleansers for showering and then apply an aqueous based emulsion, for example, an oil-in-water emulsion such as creams and lotions after showering. These steps are time consuming and not the most effective methods of moisturizing the skin. The most effective way to moisturize the skin seems to be to lock-in moisture while wet. Prior attempts have been made to overcome the foregoing problems of skin cleansers by the use of emulsion based creams and lotions and by employing anhydrous skin cleansers. Anhydrous skin cleansers, sometimes called waterless cleansers, typically contain high concentrations of water-insoluble solvents, which makes them generally effective at removing oily undesirables from the skin but less effective in removing water soluble undesirables. Further, anhydrous skin cleansers typically are not cosmetically elegant tending to have a heavy, greasy feel making them unappealing to the touch and are not easily removed from the skin. They generally must be wiped off with toweling, leaving the skin feeling greasy or need to be washed off with strong soap, leaving the skin feeling harsh and dry to the user.
Various solutions to these problems have been proposed in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,524,594 relates to a gelled oil skin cleansing compositions and to uses thereof. These compositions are not only effective, foaming cleansers, but they are alleged to leave a light moisturizing feel to the skin after rinsing. U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,526 proposes an anhydrous three component system designed for skin cleansing having a solid particulate matter of various polymers to remove oily particles while being essentially multiphase. The publication WO 01/85103 discloses a substantially anhydrous four component system comprising a) at least one water-immiscible cosmetic emollient oil, the cosmetic emollient oil comprising a major portion of the formulation; b) at least one oil-gelling agent that is both water-insoluble and oil-insoluble; c) at least one emulsifying agent capable of forming an emulsion, in situ, on the skin when a small amount of water is added gradually to the substantially anhydrous formulation during use; and d) a substantially crystalline water-soluble, abrasive material that is substantially insoluble in the substantially anhydrous vehicle of the formulation.
However, each one of them is not totally satisfactory in at least one parameter. A composition within U.S. Pat. No. 6,524,594 describes a foaming system with high oil content. While these forms are a significant improvement over traditional cleansers, the fact that they generate a significant amount of foam would indicate they will remove a significant amount of the moisturizing oils. The U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,526 patent composition is limited to cleansing by removal of oil substances on the skin without the addition of fat bodies to the skin. The WO 01/85103 composition is thought to be removed from the skin with a relatively small amount of water, preferably up to 2 parts of the actual oily composition on the skin. These, and other disadvantages can be overcome by the discovery and use of a new at least substantially anhydrous skin cleansing composition.
The present invention of at least substantially anhydrous rinse-off skin conditioners provide effective skin moisturizing and conditioning in a cosmetically pleasing aesthetic vehicle, thus leaving the skin exceptionally soft, smooth and moisturized after use. The composition has at least enhanced phase stability, is easily applied to the skin while wet in the shower, and can be effectively removed from the skin with varying amounts of water, leaving the skin with perceivable and desirable sensory attribute during and after use. This composition can eliminate the need for use of a cream or a lotion after showering.


This invention relates to a multi-spool gas turbine engine, including: a first generator for providing electrical power to an electrical system, the generator being driveably connected to a first spool; a second generator for providing electrical power to the electrical system, the generator being driveably connected to a second spool; a disconnection device for disconnecting the second generator from the second spool; and, a controller configured to selectively operate the disconnection device under predetermined powered engine conditions.

Conventional gas turbines used for civil aircraft typically have two electrical generators associated with a spool of the engine. The favoured spool by many gas turbine manufacturers and air framers is the high pressure spool because the operating speed range is reduced compared to the lower pressure spools. The reduced speed range is preferable because the electrical frequency outputted by the generators is proportional to spool speed and a large frequency range can be problematic. Also, having a larger speed range generally results in larger, heavier electrical machines.
Some schemes are known in which the lower speed spools are used to provide rotational drives for electrical generators, but these all require some form of electronic control or complex and heavy gearbox arrangements to provide an acceptable electrical output over the broader speed range. Examples of such schemes are described in US20070151258, US2006272313, US2009051219 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,979.
The present invention seeks to provide a gas turbine engine with an improved electrical generating capability.

Electrical generation arrangement for an aircraft


The invention relates to a Heat stable chocolate comprising a fat phase, said fat phase of said heat stable chocolate comprising: 0.1-15% by weight of crystalline seed, 0.01-5% by weight of an emulsifier not being lecithin, said fat phase of said heat stable chocolate further comprising 25-94.9% by weight of a cocoa butter, a cocoa butter equivalent or combinations thereof, and at least 5% by weight of a cocoa butter improver, wherein said crystalline seed comprises SatOSat-triglycerides in an amount of between 40-95% by weight of said crystalline seed and StOSt-triglycerides in an amount of 30-85% by weight of said crystalline seed, wherein the main endotherm melt peak position of said crystalline seed is about 40° C. or higher when measured by Differential Scanning Calorimetry by heating samples of 10±1 mg of crystalline seed from 20° C. to 50° C. at a rate of 3° C./min to produce a melting thermogram defining said main endotherm melt peak position, and wherein Sat stands for a saturated fatty acid, St stands for stearic acid and O stands for oleic acid.

Chocolate is throughout the world regarded as being one of the finest types of confectionary and various types and shapes of chocolate confectionary have been developed over the years. The innovation within the field of chocolate has been much focused on sensory aspects, such as taste, and mouth feel. However, also the visual appearance is an important aspect in the consumer's overall perception of the quality of a chocolate confectionary. Accordingly, the visual appearance of a chocolate confectionary plays a key role for the chocolate manufacturer because a less attractive appearance of the confectionary will easily be judged by the consumer to relate to a confectionary of inferior quality.
An important problem relating to the visual appearance of a chocolate confectionary is the bloom effect which may be easily recognisable on the surface of the chocolate. In case blooming has occurred, the surface of the chocolate confectionary will have a rather dull appearance having less gloss and often having clearly visible bloom crystals on the surface. The appearance of bloom, if any, typically takes place after weeks or months of storage.
Especially storage at high temperatures in warmer regions may be problematic with respect to the stability of the chocolate product.
Chocolate generally comprises cocoa butter, cocoa solids and sugar. Milk fat and other ingredients may be present in chocolate compositions as well.
In the manufacturing process of chocolate, the ingredients are mixed. The mixture is subjected to a tempering process in a tempering apparatus in which the chocolate is subjected to a carefully pre-programmed temperature profile. Subsequently, the chocolate is used for making the chocolate confectionary and the resulting confectionary is cooled following a predetermined cooling program. The tempering process serves the purpose of making a sufficient amount of a desired type of seed crystals, which in turn is responsible for obtaining a rather stable chocolate product less prone to changes in the crystal composition of the solid fats.
Bloom in chocolate is a well-studied phenomenon and among chocolate manufactures it is agreed that the bloom effect somehow is related to solid fat crystal transformations that may take place in the chocolate.
In the prior art various ways of diminishing the bloom effect in chocolates have been suggested.
Sato et al., JAOCS, Vol. 66, no. 12, 1989, describe the use of crystalline seed to accelerate the crystallization going on in cocoa butter and dark chocolate upon solidification.
JP 2008206490 discloses a tempering promoter in the form of SUS-type triglycerides, where S is a saturated fatty acid having 20 or more carbon atoms and U is an unsaturated fatty acid such as oleic acid.
EP 0 294 974 A2 describes a powdery tempering accelerator also based on SUS-type triglycerides having a total number of carbon atoms of the constituent fatty acid residues of between 50 and 56. The tempering accelerator is added, for example, as dispersion in a dispersion medium, as a seed for desired crystal formation to the chocolate during the production.
Also the addition of anti-blooming agents having specific tri-glyceride compositions is known. These anti-blooming agents may typically be based on vegetable fats obtained by chemical interesterification of triglyceride oils using certain catalysts.
Accordingly, in the art of manufacturing chocolate or chocolate-like products, there still exists a need for improving the heat stability of such products.


Variable pixel rate video output and display techniques for computing systems and user devices are presented herein. In one example, a method of providing video data for display on a display device includes determining logical pixels with variable sizing that each represent one or more source pixels comprising at least a portion of a video frame. The method also includes producing metadata describing the variable sizing for the logical pixels, and transferring the metadata with data representing the logical pixels over a display interface for display of at least the portion of the video frame on the display device that maps the logical pixels across target pixels of the display device.

Various electronic user systems, such as computers, gaming systems, and media players, can establish graphics/video outputs for displays and other video systems. For example, a computing system can provide various graphical user interface elements to a video monitor that displays the graphical user interface elements to a user. Gaming and computing systems can interface with monitors, televisions, or virtual reality displays, among others. These user systems include video processor elements, such as graphics cards, graphics processing cores, as well as various display interface circuitry and connectors. However, as popularity with high-performance gaming and video-intensive virtual or augmented reality systems has increased, so has bandwidth requirements increased for transfer of video data from host systems to associated displays. These bandwidth increases can be limited by video link bandwidths, display interfaces, and other elements that generate and transport high-bandwidth video data.


A method of producing enantiomerically pure, open-chain N-alkyl-L or D amino acids which can be carried out with good yields and without excessive or expensive purification and suitable for industrial production. A racemic mixture of an open-chain N-acyl-N-alkyl amino acid is split by means of a stereospecific amino acylase coordinated with an enantiomerically pure N-acyl-N-alkyl-L or D amino acid to yield one of the antipodes to the corresponding, enantiomerically pure, open-chain N-alkyl-L or D amino acid. Then, either the remaining initial compound or the cleavage product is separated. The enantiomerically pure, open-chain N-alkyl amino acids are useful, for e.g. cyclosporins.

Compounds of this type, preferably N-methyl amino acids, are e.g. components of cyclosporins. Cyclic peptides are involved which exhibit antibiotic and immunosuppressive action and for this reason are frequently used in tissue transplantations.
Racemates of these compounds can generally be produced in a purely chemical manner. However, the separation of these racemates into the individual enantiomers is very expensive and requires, e.g., chiral chromatographic columns. A further method of producing these enantiomerically pure compounds is via the free L- or D-amino acids, which are then subsequently alkylated to the .alpha.-amino group and optionally acylated.
However, a large number of byproducts is produced in this process which considerably reduce the yield and can often be removed only with great expense.
An enzymatic production of these compounds, e.g. by means of acylase, always has been unsuccessful in the past due to the unduly narrow substrate specificity of the acylases used. Acylase I is suitable, as described in The Journal of the American Chemical Society, 75, 918-920 (1953) and 111, 6354 to 6364 (1989), for the resolution of racemates of acylated .alpha.-amino acids insofar as the latter have a free hydrogen atom in the acylated amino group. The splitting then takes place L-specifically, so that the N-acyl-D-amino acid remains unsplit and can be separated, e.g., chromatographically or by means of precipitation from the L-amino acid produced: Acylase I, which can be isolated, e.g., from hog kidney or from Aspergillus, does exhibit a broad substrate specificity but no activity at all in the case of N-acyl-N-alkyl-DL-amino acids. Recently, other acylases have been found which have a specificity for terminal proline in peptides and to N-acyl proline as well as to cyclic N-acylatedamino acids modified from proline. These newer acylases are described in Japanese Patent Application 62-232381 (1987), "Biochimica et Biophysica Acta", 744 (1983, pp. 180-188 and in Published European Patent Application EP 0 416 282 A1. A substrate specificity to open-chain N-acyl-N-alkyl amino acids is not known for these acylases.

Method of producing enantiomerically pure, open-chain N-alkyl-L or D-amino acids using comamonas testosteroni


A refrigeration compressor is disclosed which incorporates an improved lubrication system to insure adequate lubrication to all bearings via a single elongated axial offset passage provided in the crankshaft. The lubrication system also incorporates a passage arrangement which serves to vent any refrigerant gases which may be encountered as well as to prevent priming of the vent passage which could result in transfer of lubricant into the motor compartment.

The present invention relates generally to refrigeration compressors and more particularly to lubrication systems for hermetic refrigeration compressors.
Refrigeration compressors and more specifically refrigeration compressors of the hermetically sealed reciprocating piston type normally provide a reservoir of lubricating oil in the lower portion or sump of the sealed shell. Pumping means are normally provided which operate to circulate oil to the bearings through passages provided in the crankshaft. Because the oil is in open communication with the refrigerant, it is not uncommon for some of the refrigerant in liquid and gaseous form to become mixed in the oil. As the oil is heated during operation of the compressor, portions of this liquid refrigerant will be boiled off. It is therefore important that the crankshaft lubrication passages incorporate venting means to avoid vapor lock which could block the flow of lubricant to the bearings. It is also generally desirable to minimize the amount of intermixing of the oil and suction gas flowing to the compressor to both prevent slugging of the compressor as well as the carry over of oil into the refrigeration system.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an improved lubrication system which incorporates passages to effectively vent any gaseous refrigerant therefrom yet still assure that no oil is carried over into the primary suction gas flow area. The system is economical to manufacture yet also assures full and complete lubrication of all bearing surfaces over a wide range of operating conditions while also minimizing the potential for mixing of the oil with the suction gas flowing to the compression cylinders.
Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


The present disclosure is related to methods, systems and apparatus for performing electrophysiological measurements utilizing three or more electrodes attached to a patient. The system in various embodiments may include three or more electrodes attached to the patient and at least one analog-to-digital converter with external circuitry electrically coupled to the electrodes. The system may further include a microprocessor for driving the analog-to-digital conversion process, various inputs and variable frequency current outputs electrically coupled to the microprocessor for receiving signals from the electrodes and sending driven current signals to the electrodes.

The measurement of electrical signals transmitted in biological tissue is commonly practiced in many branches of science, and particularly medicine. Electrophysiological measurements are often taken in studying and diagnosing the human heart. Most systems used to conduct electrophysiological measurements rely on physiological electrodes that require an electrode to skin contact to operate. Commonly used examples of these electrode sensors include electroencephalography (EEG), electrocardiography (EKG), electromyography (EMG) and electrooculography (EOG), to name a few. Each of these systems requires placement of physiological electrodes in contact with the skin to conduct the corresponding electrical signals to signal processing systems. The quality of these electrical signals is highly dependent upon the quality of the connection between the electrode and the patient's body, as well as the quality of the connection between the electrode and the signal processing system itself.
Poor signal quality is often caused by high impedance electrode-skin contact, which naturally results in a poor physiological signal. In turn the poor signal is often difficult to separate from electrical noise or distortion in the system. These signal deficiencies may result in incorrect diagnoses and all the attendant dangerous that follow. Furthermore, the overall impact of poor physiological signal quality is indeterminate test results, increased medical technician time, hardware changes, and of course the expense associated with all these difficulties. Thus measuring the impedance at each electrode can help correct and rectify many signal errors in an electrophysiological measurement system and is therefore highly desirable.
The measurements or electrical activity in the heart typically involve measuring the voltage difference between a weighted sum of one set of input electrodes and a weighted sum of another set of input electrodes positioned at various points on the body. Typically, one electrode which is excluded from the group of electrodes that make up the weighted sum is an output electrode for a feedback loop which reduces common mode interference. The quality of the output electrode signal measurement is directly affected by the impedance of the skin-electrode interfaces. For example, when high impedance skin-electrode interfaces are present the signals measured usually suffer from high or increased noise and/or distortion. High impedance can be caused by improperly attached electrodes, insufficient skin preparation or aging of the electrode, for example.
Some prior art systems for measuring electrode impedance require a system to sequentially drive variable currents through each electrode in a multi-electrode system. The electrode impedance can be measured by driving an alternating current through each electrode and measuring the corresponding voltage between this electrode and another input electrode which does not have an input current of the same frequency and phase injected. This impedance measurement method is made more complex if the attached/detached and the input/output status of the electrodes can or do change during the measurement and the impedance measurement is required to function with certain electrodes detached. While many of these prior art techniques are operable, the hardware required to perform this impedance testing is typically expensive and difficult to operate.
Systems that measure electrode impedance using injected currents with one or two frequencies face several problems. Initially, not all subsets of attached electrodes may be capable of measuring impedance in these systems due to all the attached electrodes having AC current of the same frequency injected into them. In this case, the system can either not display an impedance value, or switch the frequency injected into one or more attached electrodes to a different value.
The above-described frequency switching technique has disadvantages. These systems may require additional circuitry to measure impedances accurately thereby necessitating complex internal state machines. Furthermore, these systems require calibration for each frequency that can be injected in a certain electrode, or introduce measurement error due to the circuitry having different gains at different AC voltage frequencies if only one calibration point is used.
Thus there is a need in the art for a system and method of reliably and efficiently monitoring electrode impedance in an electrophysiological measurement system while minimizing system down time and data loss.
US 2014/194759 A1 discloses a physiological data acquisition apparatus includes three or more leads, at least one AC current source, a switching mechanism structured to selectively couple the current source to selected lead pairs to inject an AC current across the selected lead pairs which produces an AC voltage across the selected lead pair, and a processing device. The processing device is structured to (i) determine an impedance across the current selected lead pair based on the AC voltage, (ii) determine whether the impedance is less than a predetermined threshold, (iii) if the impedance is less than the predetermined impedance threshold cause the current selected lead pair to be used for generating physiological parameter data, and (iv) if the impedance is not less than the threshold cause the switching mechanism to couple the at least one AC current source to a new selected pair of the leads.
US 2014/0247058 A1 discloses systems and methods for monitoring the condition of electrodes used in biological signal measurement. One method includes applying a first test signal having a first frequency to at least one of a plurality of electrodes and applying a second test signal having a second frequency to at least one of the plurality of electrodes. Both frequencies are below a frequency range associated with the biological signal. The method further includes capturing the biological signal while applying the plurality of test signals and generating an output signal that includes both the measured biological signal and the plurality of test signals. The method further includes retrieving an output amplitude for each of the plurality of test signals from the output signal and calculating an estimated impedance for each of the plurality of electrodes based on the retrieved output amplitudes of the plurality of test signals.
US 2007/0038257 A1 discloses an apparatus for assessing the electrical properties of patient electrode interfaces has a carrier signal source injecting two carrier signals comprising an AC signal with a DC offset to the electrodes. The carrier signals are out of phase. The outputs from the electrodes are formed into electrocardiographic lead signals in a pre-amplifier circuit. Signal processing circuit is coupled to the pre-amplifier circuit and provides a first signal comprising the AC carrier signal contained in an ECG lead signal and a second signal containing a DC offset signal. The first and second signals are provided to a microprocessor to obtain an output indicative of the electrical properties of electrode interfaces for the ECG lead signal.

Apparatus and method for measuring electrode impedance during electrophysiological measurements


System(s) and method(s) for magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy, and magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) are provided. A unified heteronuclear coil system includes a volume coil tuned to detect a first nuclei and a butterfly coil tuned to detect a second nuclei for simultaneous detection of both the first nuclei and the second nuclei signals from human breast tissue and perform MRIS. First nuclei and second nuclei each include 1H, 13C, 31P, 23Na, and 19F. The heteronuclear coil system affords detection of NMR-detectable chemicals specific to cancerous breast tissue to improve breast cancer diagnostic specificity. Adjustment of the heteronuclear coil system to detect various nuclei, combined with a specific pulse excitation sequence, facilitates chemical analysis that provides for chemical discrimination and characterization of compounds present in cancerous and other breast tissue as well as healthy breast physiology.

Magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy is a non-invasive technique that allows probing human soft and hard tissue. In addition to being used as a diagnostic tool, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) can be utilized in interventional procedures. While proton MRS and MRI has been employed extensively in brain cancer studies, substantially less research and development has succeeded in breast cancer research through magnetic resonance spectroscopy, in particular at high magnetic fields (e.g., at or above 3 T), albeit breast cancer is the most common malignancy and the number-one leading cause of cancer-related death in women. Each year, nearly 465,000 patients die from breast cancer worldwide, and 1,302,000 more women are newly diagnosed with this disease. Due to its relative good prognosis, nearly 4.4 million breast cancer survivors are living today; however, incidence rates of breast cancer are increasing in most countries. Mortality of breast cancer is mostly associated to metastasis. The current therapeutic interventions typically have limited effect to treat metastatic breast cancer and antiestrogen- chemo- and radiation-resistant tumors. Therefore, early detection is critical in breast cancer management.
A possible reason for having a lesser volume of breast cancer research and clinical success through MRS is that several disparate techniques are mature and used customarily at the clinic level, even though such techniques have substantive limitations. For instance, a technique readily employed is mammography, yet mammography screening(s) has false positive rate about 70%-80%. Ultrasonography is another technique that is often utilized in conjunction with mammography, however ultrasonography has lower specificity than mammography. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is another technique widely utilized and highly sensitive to detect breast cancer and metastasis for tumors larger than 1 cm; sensitivity decreases significantly for smaller tumors.
Regarding MRS and MRI techniques applied to breast cancer, proton MRS and MRI techniques can differentiate benign and malignant breast lesions in vivo. MRI has a high sensitivity (typically greater than 99%) in detecting breast cancer, but low specificity (37%-86%) with a high false-positive rate; MRS can improve breast cancer detection specificity. Currently, choline has been typically the only metabolite that has been observed reliably in human breast cancer by proton MRS, reaching a sensitivity and improved specificity of tumor detection of approximately 78% and 86%, respectively. To further specify, a family of proton MRSI (magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging) methods based on a selective multiple quantum coherence transfer has been developed. Such technique can achieve complete lipid and water suppression in a single scan, which permits detection of low concentration metabolites, such as lactate, choline, and unsaturated lipid molecules as surrogate biomarkers of breast cancer. In an early patient study, a commercial body coil was used for radio frequency (RF) transmission at 2.1 T with an 8 cm surface coil employed for signal receiving. Experiments have also been conducted with various coil configurations for breast cancer MRI/MRS experiments in 3 T scanners.
Despite the foregoing developments associated with MRS and MRI experimentation, conventional equipment have not harnessed the benefits of high magnetic fields, which include dramatic increase in signal-to-noise ratio and spectral editing efficiency. Therefore, there is a need in the art to develop techniques and hardware that can operate reliably at high magnetic fields and lead to effective diagnosis.

Coils for magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging of human breast

University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education


In order to control the transmission interval of unique words inserted at the top of a plurality of HDLC frames in accordance with the quality of the transmission line, a transmitting and receiving system is provided, in which the transmission interval is changed in accordance with the HDLC responses included in the receiving data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for controlling data transmission in accordance with the quality of a communication line, and particularly relates to a method of controlling a transmission interval of a xe2x80x9cproper patternxe2x80x9d which is inserted at the top of a plurality of HDLC frames, by monitoring HDLC responses included in received signals. Here, HDLC is an abbreviation of High Level Data Link Control Procedure. The xe2x80x9cproper patternxe2x80x9d is called a xe2x80x9cUnique Wordxe2x80x9d.
2. Background Art
The HDLC is a communication procedure which is internationally standardized in order to efficiently execute communication and communication control between data terminals such as computers and engineering work stations which constitute a network.
FIG. 1 illustrates a plurality of HDLC frames headed by the unique words (UW), and in the present application, a plurality of HDLC frames are called xe2x80x9can HDLC frame groupxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cmulti-framesxe2x80x9d. The unique words are used for detecting the head of each frame group and for determining the timings of transmission and reception.
Each HDLC frame which constitutes an HDLC group (multi-frames) headed by respective unique words is composed of, as shown in FIG. 1, a start flag (F), an address field (A), a control field (C), an information field (I), a frame check sequence field (FCS), and an end flag (F).
The commands of frames or the content of responses are designated in the control field (C). Naturally, the HDLC command is included in the transmitted signals, and the HDLC response is included in the received signals. Examples of the responses related to the present invention include RR (Receive Ready), RNR (Receive Not Ready) or REJ (Reject). The transmitting or receiving data is inserted in an information portion (I) frames, and the data length is variable.
If the RNR response is included in the receiving frame, since it means that the opposite data terminal (an opposite station) is not ready to receive data, the data transmission will not be executed. In contrast, if the RR response is included in the receiving frame, since it means that the opposite data terminal is ready to receive data, the data transmission is executed. If the REJ response is included in the receiving frame, the data transmission is executed again since the opposite terminal request re-sending of data.
However, in conventional multi-frame HDLC data transmission, the transmission interval of unique words has been fixed at a constant value, irrespective of a quality of a communication line. Thus, this conventional example (hereinafter, referred to as the first conventional example) has had problems which will be described in a later section.
In contrast, Japanese Patent Application, First Publication No. Sho 63-20933 discloses a technique for optimizing the length of the HDLC frame according to the quality of the communication line (hereinafter, referred to as the second conventional example). According to this conventional technique, a line quality monitoring portion obtains an error generation rate per unit time based on xe2x80x9cthe amount of error control processingxe2x80x9d, and the frame length is determined so as to minimize the data transmission time in response to the thus obtained error generation rate.
Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application, First Publication No. Sho 62-163438, discloses a technique in a packet exchange system using the HDLC procedure, which evaluates the quality of the communication line periodically by measuring the number of frames corrupted due to bit errors, and transmitting the data after dividing the data into packets having short data lengths, if the quality of communication line is not satisfactory (hereinafter, called the third conventional example).
In the above first conventional example, the transmission interval of the unique words UW has been fixed and is not been related to the quality of the transmission line. Thus, even if the transmission quality is degraded and the REJ response (which is equivalent to the demand for re-sending) arrives from the opposite data terminal, the bit length of the unique word and the series of the following HDLC (a transmission unit) is maintained at the same length as that of the case of a malfunction caused just before the reception of data. Under such a circumstance, it is likely that the REJ responses are repeatedly generated, which results in causing the problem of reducing the transmission efficiency.
In contrast, the second and third conventional examples control the length of the HDLC frame itself in response to an assumption of the line quality based on the error generation number. However, the error generation number is not directly interrelated with the line quality; thus, the problem arises that the frame length is sometimes reduced to become unnecessarily short.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a transmission system which is capable of solving the above problems associated with the conventional techniques, since the present transmission system judges the quality of the communication line by monitoring HDLC responses issued by the opposite data terminal and controls the transmission intervals of the unique words.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a method for controlling data transmission in accordance with the quality of a communication line comprising transmitting a plurality of frames defined by the High Level Data Link Control Procedures (HDLC) by dividing with unique words, the method comprising the step of: changing the interval of transmitting the unique words in accordance with the HDLC response included in the received signal.
Examples of the HDLC responses include RR (Receive Ready), RNR (Receive Not Ready), and REJ (Reject).
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a transmitting and receiving system for transmitting and receiving a plurality of frames defined by the HDLC by dividing unique words, the system comprising: a HDLC monitoring circuit for detecting said HDLC response included in the received signals; a unique word generating circuit for outputting a selected unique word among a plurality of unique words in response to the HDLC response detected by said HDLC monitoring circuit; a multiplexing circuit for multiplexing the unique word selected by said unique word generating circuit with the transmitting data; and a transmitting circuit for transmitting the output of said multiplexing circuit.

Method and apparatus for controlling data transmission according to quality of communication line

Abstract: Examples of the HDLC responses includes RR (Receive Ready), RNR (Receive Not Ready), and REJ (Reject).


A stapler includes a main arm having two slots and two pivots, wherein two links have two respective first ends thereof are movably and pivotably connected to the two slots, and two respective second ends of the links are pivotably connected to the two pivots of the main arm. An operation arm having a strike plate is pivotably connected to a base and a magazine is located between the operation arm and the base. By pivoting the main arm downward, the two links are movable in the two slots and drive the operation arm to lower the strike plate to eject the staples in the magazine.

A conventional stapler is shown in FIG. 8 and generally includes an operation arm 65 and a magazine 67, and both of which are pivotably connected to the rear end of the base 68 by a first pivot 66. A main arm 61 is pivotably connected the front end of the base 68 by a second pivot 62. The main arm 61 is mounted onto the operation arm 65, and the pin 64 is pivotably connected to the operation arm 65 and movable within the slots 63 in the main arm 61. When a force is applied at the point "P" on the main arm 61, the main arm 61 is pivoted about the second pivot 62 and the distance from the point "P" to the second pivot 62 is the first force arm "A". The insides of the slots 63 apply a force to the pin 64 when pivoting the main arm 61, so that the operation arm 65 is pivoted toward the magazine 67. The distance from the second pivot 62 to the pin 64 is the second force arm "B". For the operation arm 65, the pin 64 applies a force about the first pivot 66 and the distance from the pin 64 to the first pivot 66 is the third force arm "C". Therefore, the operation arm 65 is pivoted about the first pivot 66 to allow the strike plate 651 on the operation arm 65 to eject one of the staples in the magazine 67. The distance from the strike plate 651 to the first pivot 66 is the fourth force arm "D". When the first force arm "A" is longer than the second force arm "B", although the third force arm "C" is shorter than the fourth force arm "D", the ratio "A" to "B" is way larger than the ratio "C" to "D". Therefore, the force of striking the staples can be properly increased to save the force required from the users.
Nevertheless, when the user pivots the main arm 61 downward, the force moves the pin 64 downward so that the transmission ratio A/B of the force from the main arm 61 is larger than the transmission ratio C/D of the force from the operation arm 65 to complete the stapling process. The pin 64 of the operation arm 65 is located within the slots 63 in the main arm 61, and the frequent movement of the pin 64 causes wearing between the pin 64 and the slots 63 so that when pivoting the main arm 61, a small amount of pivotal distance of the main arm 61 does not drive the operation arm 65. This affects the quality and efficiency of the stapling process.
The present invention intends to provide a stapler which improves the shortcomings of the conventional staplers.