Described here are devices, systems, and methods for providing remote traction to tissue. Generally, the systems may include a grasper and a delivery device configured to releasably couple to the grasper. The grasper may have a first jaw and a second jaw and a main body having a barrel portion. The barrel portion may have a lumen extending therethrough, and a portion of the delivery device may be advanced through the lumen to rotate one or both of the jaws. The delivery devices may include a handle, a shaft, and a distal engagement portion. The delivery devices may further include an actuation rod which may be advanced through a barrel portion of a grasper to actuate the grasper. In some instances, the delivery device may further include a locking sheath, wherein the locking sheath is configured to temporarily couple to a grasper.

Many surgical procedures are shifting toward the use of minimally-invasive approaches that are configured to minimize the number and size of incisions that are made in a patient. Minimally-invasive procedures such as endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures may be associated with lower pain, quicker post-surgical recovery, shortened hospitalization, and reduced complications when compared to open surgical procedures. During minimally-invasive procedures it may be desirable to reposition or otherwise manipulate tissue, however the introduction of additional devices to engage tissue may crowd the access sites provided by incisions, which may require the formation of larger or additional access sites. Accordingly, it may be desirable to provide one or more devices that may retract or otherwise manipulate tissue without the need to have a portion of the device present in an access site to the body.

Grasper with magnetically-controlled positioning


A power generation system comprises a fuel gas supply device 13 for controlling methane concentration or carbon dioxide concentration in a mixed gas MG containing methane and carbon dioxide within a setting range for the concentration in the fuel gas of a gas engine 11, and for supplying the mixed gas MG to the gas engine 11 as the fuel gas, and a gas concentration sensor 14 for measuring the carbon dioxide concentration or the methane concentration of the mixed gas MG. The fuel gas supply device 13 comprises a carbon dioxide removal device 16 for removing carbon dioxide in the mixed gas MG, and an operating condition control device 17 for controlling an operating condition that affects an increase or decrease of a carbon dioxide removal rate of the carbon dioxide removal device 16, and the operating condition control device 17 controls the operating condition of the carbon dioxide removal device 16 based on the measurement result of the gas concentration sensor 14, thereby controlling the concentration of methane and carbon dioxide in the mixed gas.

In recent years, it has drawn attention to utilize, as a new energy source, a biogas obtained by methane fermentation of organic waste such as biomass and sewage sludge. The biogas is used as a substitute for fossil fuel, and is used for power generation, boiler, and the like.
The biogas is mainly composed of methane and carbon dioxide, and the methane concentration may vary in the range of about 50% to 75% and the carbon dioxide concentration may vary in the range of about 25% to 50% depending on the conditions for producing methane gas (fermentation conditions) and the type of raw material. The biogas also contains a very small amount of sulfur compounds such as siloxane and hydrogen sulfide, which must be removed at the time of use.
On the other hand, gas engines that use a mixed gas containing methane as a main component, such as biogas, as a fuel include a biogas engine in which biogas is assumed to be used directly as a fuel, and a natural gas engine in which natural gas is assumed to be used as a fuel. In order to use biogas as a fuel for a natural gas engine, it is necessary to previously reduce the carbon dioxide concentration in the biogas in order to increase the purity of methane to about 90% or more. Further, in the case of a biogas engine, the carbon dioxide concentration in the mixed gas is set as a specification value to, for example, about 35% to 40% and allowed.
As a power generating apparatus using a biogas engine, for example, the following Patent Document 1 discloses a biogas power generating apparatus that controls the total number of gas engines to be driven and the driving of surplus gas combustion devices in accordance with the pressure at which biogas is supplied to the engine.
Further, the following Patent Document 2 discloses a power generation system in which carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide in biogas are absorbed and separated using an alkaline absorption liquid to purify the biogas and the methane concentration is stably increased to 90% or more, and then the biogas is used as a fuel for an engine-type power generation apparatus using a gas engine or a gas turbine or a fuel cell-type power generation apparatus using a fuel cell.


A door seal for a doorway in a vehicle for public passenger transportation has at least one reinforcing element coated with an elastomer, the reinforcing element having a lesser elasticity in the longitudinal direction of the seal than in the transverse direction.

A door seal for a high-speed rail vehicle is sufficiently known from the prior art. Such seals are highly stressed when used in doors of high-speed trains because the doors move with a considerable force against the seals in the door opening, thus subjecting the seals to a strong deformation. This is necessary to prevent the pressure surges, which occur when the high-speed train is moving and which act against the outer shell of the train, e.g. when two trains meet or when a train enters a tunnel, from entering into the interior of the vehicle.
US2009/243142 A1 discloses a seal with a connecting member, the connecting member serving for example for fixation on the coachwork of a vehicle. The connecting member has a support made of metal with a U-shaped cross-section, the support having several slots disposed in a row transversely to the longitudinal axis. The support is coated with an elastomer. The slots in the support serve to adapt the connecting member to the shape of the coachwork. The seal, which is disposed on the connecting member, has a hollow space and consists apparently of an elastomer.
Up to now seals with a complex cross-section were manufactured by vulcanisation in a mould. This is extremely complicated, particularly considering that a multitude of doors of different sizes must be equipped with such seals, wherein at least one moulding tool needs to be provided for each seal profile of each door type. This means that the expense required for providing the appropriate moulding tools, but also the manufacturing effort itself, are enormous as a consequence of job production in a mould.


A tube stub is formed from the material of a sheet metal cover to define the bunghole of a drum, cask or barrel and is provided with a screwthread into which the bung is threadedly fitted so that the bung will press a seal against an annular sealing surface defined by the tube stub.

A bung-type container of the kind with which the invention is concerned, generally has a body, a bottom rigidly and sealingly connected to the body and a top or cover likewise rigidly and sealingly connected to the body, e.g. by a folded seam at the upper chime of the body.
The cover has at least one filling opening, hereinafter referred to as a bunghole into which a bung or plug can fit. The plug can have a screwthread which mates with a screwthread in the bunghole to provide a liquid tight and gas tight closure for the drum, cask or barrel.
A bung-type container of the kind described, composed of relatively thin sheet metal, can be used as a barrel or drum for a variety of liquids or flowable bulk solids. It can be used as a cask for beverages, e.g. as a beer barrel or keg.
Generally the wall thickness of the structure forming the bunghole must be relatively large in conventional barrels so that a threaded fitting adapted to form the bunghole is attached to the cover of the drum or barrel by a screw connection, by rolling over sheet metal portions, by a pressing operation or by welding the fitting in or onto the cover.
As a consequence, fabrication of the container requires a larger number of parts than may be desirable to form a cover which is satisfactory and also mandates a number of fabrications steps to ensure a firm attachment of the fitting and a sealing between the fitting and the cover which can increase the cost of fabrication of the barrel to an excessive degree. Special means may be required for providing a seal between the bung and the cover and such means can include additional sealing rings.
It is also common practice to provide the fixture with additional sealing rings.
The conventional constructions are, however, fraught with a number of problems. For example, drop tests have shown that the region between a rigid fixture or fitting and the thin sheet metal cover is subjected to local stresses which can destroy the connection or so damage it that leakage can occur.
The provision of sealing rings between the fitting and the cover not only means that additional elements are required but that a variety of considerations in the handling of the container will arise. For example, many conventional types of elastic sealing rings may not be resistant to the substances with which the container is to be filled so that the use of such sealing rings must take into consideration the ultimate use of the container and the products which are to be packaged or transported therein.
Furthermore, the use of elastic sealing rings may impede the handling of the containers since the seals may be affected by solvents and cleaning agents used in cleaning the container or by high temperatures utilized in the cleaning process.
Indeed, if the container is equipped with an elastic ring between the fitting and the cover, a variety of cleaning agents may be excluded from use and it may not be possible to employ elevated cleaning temperatures.


Disclosed herein are NOx sensors and methods of using the same. In one embodiment, a method for sensing NOx comprises: contacting a first NOx electrode with the gas, contacting a second NOx electrode with the gas, determining a NO2 emf between the first NOX electrode and a first reference electrode, determining a NOx emf between the second NOx electrode and a second reference electrode, and determining a NO2 concentration and a NO concentration using the NO2 emf and the NOx emf. The first electrode can be at a first temperature of greater than or equal to about 700° C., and the second electrode can be at a second temperature of about 500° C. to about 650° C.

Exhaust gas generated by combustion of fossil fuels in furnaces, ovens, and engines contain, for example, nitrogen oxides (NOx), unburned hydrocarbons (HC), and carbon monoxide (CO), which are undesirable pollutants. Vehicles, e.g., diesel vehicles, utilize various pollution-control after treatment devices (such as a NOx absorber(s) and/or Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) catalyst(s)), to reduce NOx. For diesel vehicles using SCR catalysts, NOx reduction can be accomplished by using ammonia gas (NH3). In order for SCR catalyst to work efficiently and to avoid pollution breakthrough, an effective feedback control loop is needed. To develop such technology, the control system needs reliable commercial NOx sensors.
Some NOx sensor designs use an impedance oxide method to measure the partial pressure of NOx. In this design, NOx gases interact with semiconducting oxides, thereby causing an electrical impedance change in the oxides. These sensors cannot effectively maintain calibration. Further, these sensors experience selectivity problems wherein other gasses; for example, CO, hydrogen (H2), HC, NH3, CO2, and water (H2O), will interfere with NOx sensing.
Therefore a cost effective sensor that can reliably measure NOx under exhaust gas conditions would benefit the control system.

NOx sensor and methods of using the same


Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for collecting and compiling information regarding search operations. In one aspect, a query log that stores search event data items for identifiers is accessed. A proper subset of the search event data items is identified, the proper subset of search event data items being search event data items for search events related to an image search. A proper subset of the identifiers is identified, the proper subset of identifiers being identifiers associated with a search event data item for a search event related to an image search. For each identifier of the proper subset of identifiers, an image search session data object is generated using the proper subset of search event data items.

This specification relates to collecting and compiling information regarding search operations.
The Internet provides access to a wide variety of resources such as image files, audio files, video files, and web pages. A search system can identify resources in response to a text query that includes one or more search terms or phrases. The search system ranks the resources based on their relevance to the query and on measures of quality of the resources and provides search results that link to the identified resources. The search results are typically ordered for viewing according to the rank.
The search system may also rank resources based on the performance of the resource with respect to the particular query. For example, some conventional search systems rank resources having a high click-through rate for the particular query higher than resources having a lower click-through rate for the particular query. The general assumption under such an approach is that queries are often an incomplete expression of the information needed, and the user's action of selecting a particular resource is a signal that the resource is at least as responsive to, or more responsive to, the user's informational need that the other identified resources.
To determine the performance of a resource with respect to particular queries, information regarding the particular query, the resources, and user actions is collected. However, some search results facilitate other user interactions in addition to the selection of an identified resource. Given the vast amount of user interaction data that can be collected, and the noise that is inherent in the data, it is difficult to collect this information in a meaningful form for processing.

Collecting image search event information


A firing apparatus includes a light generating device for emitting a modulated light beam that includes information regarding the firing apparatus upon triggering in a direction toward a target. Lens optics is positioned in a path of the modulated light beam including a one dimensional lens for beam shaping the modulated light beam to provide a shaped modulated beam including a low divergence horizontal beam portion and a vertically elongated beam portion. A combat training system includes a head mounted apparatus including at least one photodetector affixed. The vertically elongated beam portion allows the light beam generated by the firing apparatus to be aimed at the torso of the target and be detected by photodetectors that are exclusively on the helmet.

Training can enhance the skill of individuals by repetition and developing appropriate responses to various situations. In the combat context, combatants may conduct various types of training exercises in order to prepare for scenarios that can be anticipated in actual combat situations.
The Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) is a system designed for combatants involved in training exercises in order to provide a realistic training battlefield environment. The MILES system includes simulated offensive weapons, such as firearms, that provides tactical engagement simulation for direct fire force-on-force training by emitting relatively harmless near infrared (e.g., eye-safe) line-of-sight "bullets" generated by one or more light emitting diodes (LED) or lasers.
The "bullets" are sent in the form of pulses that transmit weapon information to the target. These pulses are transmitted each time the weapon is fired with a blank or blanks to simulate the firing of an actual round or multiple rounds. An audio sensor or a photo-optic sensor typically detects the firing of the blank round(s) and simultaneously energizes an LED or laser to emit the beam of "bullets" toward the target which is in the conventional sights of the weapon.
Information contained in the pulses (such as by intensity modulation) generally includes the combatant (e.g., player) identification (e.g., player identification (PID) code) and the type of weapon used so that the identity of a combatant who has made a "kill" can be ascertained. Each individual and vehicle (each can be considered a combatant) in the training exercise has a detection system to sense hits, player units and control systems which include a microprocessor based control circuit for processing the signals from the photodetectors to determine if there has been a hit, the type of weapon registering the hit, and the identity of the shooter. Transmitters are attached to each individual and vehicle weapon system target that transmits a casualty assessment that is calculated based on the actual ranges and lethality of the specific weapon systems. After performing casualty assessment, a control circuit provides status information to the player, indicating on a display whether the player has been "killed". MILES training has been proven to dramatically increase the combat readiness and fighting effectiveness of military forces.
In conventional force-on-force training, a cluster of photodetectors on a target must be placed near the center of mass (i.e. center of the torso) so that a beam firing "bullet" at that point can be detected. The number of photodetectors and the separation between each photodetector in a cluster is dependent on the beam characteristics at the minimum range to be used in the training exercise because the beam size of the "bullets" from the transmitter (e.g., LED or laser transmitter) starts off very small (e.g., few mm in dimension) and continuously expands as it moves away from the transmitter.
In order to insure that the beam does not hit a target position between photodetectors, and thus not be detected, a plurality of target photodetectors are conventionally placed very close to the center of mass in a cluster. However, photodetector placements clustered around the center of a chest do not support an aim point near the neck or head so that additional photodetectors must be placed in those areas if a complete simulation is desired at all ranges. For example, combatants may be fitted with photodetectors on both the helmet and the body harness attached to the torso for detecting "bullet" hits. Unfortunately, such an implementation requires a large number of expensive photodetectors, battery power to each photodetector, as well as complex internal wiring.

Beam shaping for off-axis beam detection in training environments


A test block is formed of at least one profile block and one mating block, wherein the two blocks lying one on top of the other with varying thickness combinations are radiographed together, in order to ascertain, for the pairings of the materials in the respective thickness, in each case a reference value relating to their common radiographic properties.

In the industrial manufacturing of products, in particular foodstuffs, an examination of the products for undesired foreign bodies or contaminants is often required, or the proportion or thickness of a particular material B in a particular position inside, above or underneath the material A of the product is to be ascertained. For example, it is to be established whether, or in what proportion, a piece of meat (as material A) contains bone or fat (as material B) in a particular position. For this purpose, the product can be radiographed by means of X-rays, wherein in principle any other energy form suitable for radiography can also be used, for instance terahertz radiation. The residual intensity of the X-rays emerging from the radiographed product is detected via a detector (line or area sensor) and converted into a so-called "grayscale value" corresponding to the intensity. This is then characteristic of a particular thickness of a material radiographed on its own or of a combination of material A, in a particular thickness, with material B, in a particular thickness (which can also differ from the thickness of material A).
In order to be able to classify the correct thickness of the material or of the materials combined with one another from the grayscale value measured during operation, the associated grayscale value has to be ascertained or simulated beforehand for each possible material thickness or for each pairing of two different materials in different thicknesses in each case and, for the classification, stored in a suitable data processing device, for example in table form (training phase). As classifications are defined here, the term "calibration" can also be used, and the test block could also be called "calibration block". For a grayscale value measured during regular operation, that is, regular production examining products, the thickness of the pure material or of the materials lying one behind the other in the radiation direction can then be ascertained with reference to the table.
For the simulation of the radiographic properties, the two possible materials are, according to current practice, successively placed one on top of the other in different thicknesses and in each case radiographed, in order to be able to ascertain and store the associated grayscale value (here not the materials themselves but instead replacement materials which have the same or similar radiographic properties, are long-lasting and easily processable are preferably used). The creation of a grayscale value table containing all relevant thickness combinations in this way is very time-consuming, and the provision of each replacement material in different thicknesses is also costly.


The invention provides a flake and method for reducing waste heat using water produced when an air conditioner operates and thereby heat exchange efficiency can increase. Accordingly, an energy-saving effect can be achieved. The flake is placed at an inner bottom side of the air conditioner and between a condenser fan and a condenser coil. When the condenser fan operates, wind power created by the condenser fan has a portion blowing toward the flake, and then blowing toward underlying water, produced when the air conditioner operates, along the flake such that the water can move to the condenser coil and cool the condenser coil. Thereby, the temperature of discharged waste heat can be reduced. When the condenser coil cools, heat exchange efficiency increases. Accordingly, an indoor cooling effect can be improved and an energy-saving effect can be achieved.

a) Field of the Disclosure
The invention relates to a flake reducing temperature of waste heat discharged from an air conditioner, and more particularly, to a flake used to reduce temperature of a condenser coil in an air conditioner for the sake of reducing temperature of waste heat discharged from the air conditioner.
b) Brief Description of the Related Art
Technology is continuously advanced and widely used and thus life is made more comfortable. In addition to the positive benefits, the technology also brings negative damage. In recent years, global warming and climate changing brought meteorological disasters at every moment around the world. Thus, attention to environmental issues is gradually paid. Various devices for preventing pollution and saving energy become a mainstream one of product designs.
With regards to an air conditioner, reducing energy consumption is emphasized, but the impact on the environment by hot air discharged from the air conditioner is ignored when we are deeply concerned about the performance of the air conditioner. In a densely populated city, numerous air conditioners expel polluted and hot air that causes serious pollution.
Currently, some air conditioners are provided with fans raising water produced in operation, and thereby the water can be discharged with wind to the outside. However, they have disadvantages that spaces are necessary to be left between the fans and bottoms of the air conditioners and thus the damage of the fans hitting the bottoms can be avoided. In this case, water remains at the bottoms and cannot be discharged. Further, dust is partially collected at the bottoms and cannot be expelled with wind. After a period of time, the dust will be attached to the bottoms and indirectly affects a cooling efficiency.
Accordingly, with regards to a design for an air conditioner, reducing temperature of waste heat has become an important section. Particularly, how emissions of waste heat can be reduced so as to lessen thermal pollution in the environment becomes a major issue in this industry of air conditioners. However, existing air conditioners have not achieved expected effects.

Flake and method for reducing temperature of waste heat discharged from air conditioner


A container assembly including a pouch, spout and closure is provided. The closure includes a tamper-evident band having two or more wall sections. Adjacent wall sections of the tamper band may be connected to one another with frangible connectors configured to break upon twist-off of the closure from the spout. The closure also includes one or more support walls supported between an outer wall and central wall of the closure. The closure further includes one or more hinges attaching the ends of the wall sections of the tamper band to the lower ends of the support walls. The hinges are configured to increase the resistance required to break or otherwise distort the frangible connections of the tamper-evident band, so as to prevent or lower the risk of accidental or inadvertent breakage of the tamper-evident band prior to twist-off of the closure from the spout.

The present invention relates to a cap and spout assembly for closing a container such as a pouch which holds a material having a liquid or gel-like consistency. In particular, the present invention relates to a child-safe closure with a hinged tamper band. In particular embodiments, the tamper band includes one or more hinges that are configured to increase the resistance required to break the tamper band so as to prevent the tamper band from inadvertently distorting and/or breaking prior to twist-off of the closure from the spout during opening of the container.


An apparatus and method for deploying web services in a web services infrastructure are provided. With the apparatus and method, a deployment descriptor for a web service is retrieved from a configuration file. A location type in the deployment descriptor is provided for identifying whether the web service is implemented using a web services description language (WSDL) document only, a JavaBean only, or both a WSDL document and a JavaBean. Based on the location type, and associated attributes of the location type, processes are performed for generating an internal definition of the web service to thereby deploy the web service in the web services infrastructure. The internal definition may be generated from the WSDL document directly, if the location type is WSDL only. If the location type is JavaBean only, the internal definition may be generated by first generating a WSDL document from the JavaBean and then generating the internal definition from the generated WSDL document. If the location type is both a WSDL document and JavaBean, then the internal definition is generated from the WSDL document with a Java binding being added to reference the JavaBean.

1. Technical Field
The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method of flexible web service deployment. More specifically, the present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for deploying a web service using a web services description language document, a Java bean, or both.
2. Description of Related Art
In service-oriented architectures, the fundamental premise is the reuse of web services across one or more enterprise applications. Web services are services that are offered across the Internet that are built using standard technologies that allow interoperability between systems and applications. Web services are typically invoked by enterprise applications to perform some extended functionality not otherwise available in the enterprise application itself. The enterprise applications and their associated enterprise systems are often referred to as "clients" of the web services that they invoke.
Web services are described using a standard language called the Web Services Description Language (WSDL). Co-developed by Microsoft and IBM, WSDL describes the protocols and data types used by the web service. WSDL descriptions can be referenced in a Universal Description, Discovery and Integration (UDDI) registry in order to promote the use of Web services worldwide. Typically, a web service provider publishes information about its web service in a UDDI registry; that information points to the WSDL description of the web service. A client that wants to use the web service obtains the WSDL from a UDDI registry or perhaps other sources. Using the information in the WSDL document, the client can access the web service.
Both the web service provider and the web service client require a "web services infrastructure." The provider infrastructure must know about the web services it is to provide. Thus, web services must be "deployed" in such provider infrastructures. There are several examples of provider infrastructures including Apache SOAP, Apache Axis, or the IBM Web Services Gateway. These infrastructures differ in the requirements for deploying web services, however. Apache infrastructures support deployment simply by naming the "local" implementation, i.e., on the same node, (in Java, the class name), because the implementation is always local. The Gateway, however, requires that any implementation be described using WSDL, because the Gateway supports implementations that can be local (for example a Java class) or remote, i.e., a web service running on a different node, such that the Gateway is acting as a proxy or intermediary.
A web service implementation may require complex data types as parameters or return values. For convenience, these data types are implemented as structures, as in the C language, or classes, as in object-oriented languages such as Java. WSDL supports the description of data types of arbitrary complexity. A WSDL description, as an XML document, uses namespace-qualified names (qname) to identify data types and other entities described in the WSDL document. The data type qnames must be used in the SOAP messages that flow between a web service and a client of that web service to identify instances of parameter and return value types.
When a web service provider deploys a web service into its web service infrastructure, such as Apache SOAP, or Apache Axis, the provider must tell the infrastructure how to match the data types in the SOAP message with the actual implementation of the data type used by the web service implementation. Similarly, a web service client that wishes to use implementations of data types must also tell its infrastructure how to match the data types in the SOAP message with the actual implementation of the data type used by the client. This is accomplished in both infrastructures by defining a mapping to the infrastructure. The mapping relates a qname to a structure or class name. The actual data type implementations may or may not be the same, and typically they will not be the same.
Since the data type qname information in the WSDL document used by the client is generated by the provider of the web service, there is a guaranteed match. That is, the client must include the namespace information for data types from the WSDL document produced by the web service provider in the messages it sends to the web service, so that the web service provider understands how to match the data.
Thus, some known systems require that all web services, either remote or local, be described using WSDL. Other known systems allow local services to be described using only a name of the implementing class, i.e. described as JavaBeans. There is no known system that facilitates the use of both WSDL document descriptions for remote and local web services and/or local description of web services as JavaBeans.

Apparatus and method for flexible web service deployment

International Business Machines Corporation


Generation of a plurality of orthomosaic image layers for a geographical area, wherein the layers comprise different spatial resolutions and are radiometrically normalized to facilitate improved radiometric consistency when zooming relative to the geographic area. In applications that facilitate zooming with respect to a geographic area imaged by the orthomosaic layers, radiometric normalization of the orthomosaic image layers may reduce radiometric discontinuities when zooming in, zooming out, and/or panning a displayed portion that is output to the user. The orthomosaic layers may be generated based on one or more orthomosaic image layer or may be developed independently using a source images. In any regard, the radiometric normalization may include generating a normalization function based on image metadata that is calculated and may be independent of the spatial resolution of the image.

The use of geospatial imagery has continued to increase in recent years. As such, high quality geospatial imagery has become increasingly valuable. For example, a variety of different entities (e.g., individuals, governments, corporations, or others) may utilize geospatial imagery (e.g., satellite imagery). As may be appreciated, the use of such satellite imagery may vary widely such that geospatial images may be used for a variety of differing purposes.
In any regard, due to the nature of image acquisition, a number of geospatial images may be pieced together to form an orthomosaic of a collection of geospatial images that cover a larger geographic area than may be feasibly covered with a single acquired image. In this regard, it may be appreciated that the images that form such a mosaic may be acquired at different times or may be acquired using different collection techniques or parameters. In this regard, there may be differences in the images to be used to generate a mosaic (e.g., radiometric distortion). As such, when generating a mosaic, differences in the images may become apparent to users (e.g., discontinuous color changes or the like).
Furthermore, when viewing such orthomosaic images, it is often desirable to provide a mechanism that allows for zooming in and out with respect to a geographic area covered by the mosaic. Accordingly, a plurality of zoom levels may be made available for viewing the geographic area. As may be appreciated, images corresponding to higher zoom levels (e.g., those levels where the view is from a higher elevation above the Earth's surface) may be of lower resolution that lower zoom levels (e.g., those levels where the view is from a lower elevation above the Earth's surface). This may be because the detail of the higher zoom levels may not be capable of being output with sufficient resolution to match the available resolution of the image (e.g., due to limitations in display or printing technology or even due to limitations in the human eye to perceive the details). As such, for efficiencies in data management or the like, lower resolution images (e.g., having potentially a much smaller size in memory) may be used for higher zoom levels. As may be appreciated, the images used for the plurality of zoom levels may have radiometric discontinuities as well. For example, when zooming in or out relative to an output of geospatial imagery including multiple orthomosaic image layers having different spatial resolutions, aspects of the image may not remain consistent between zoom levels when using a plurality of image layers, which may become apparent to users.

Automated geospatial image mosaic generation with multiple zoom level support


A rack for supporting a sleds includes a pair of elongated support posts and pairs of elongated support arms that extend from the elongated support posts. Each pair of the elongated support arms defines a sled slot to receive a corresponding sled. To do so, each elongated support arm includes a circuit board guide to receive a chassis-less circuit board substrate of the corresponding sled. The rack may include a cross-member arm associated with each sled slot and an optical connector mounted to each cross-member arm. Additional elongated support posts may be used to provide additional sled slots.

Typical enterprise-level data centers can include several to hundreds of racks or cabinets, with each rack/cabinet housing multiple servers. Each of the various servers of a data center may be communicatively connectable to each other via one or more local networking switches, routers, and/or other interconnecting devices, cables, and/or interfaces. The number of racks and servers of a particular data center, as well as the complexity of the design of the data center, may depend on the intended use of the data center, as well as the quality of service the data center is intended to provide.
Traditional rack systems are self-contained physical support structures that include a number of pre-defined server spaces. A corresponding server may be mounted in each pre-defined server space. Typical rack systems often include an enclosure or housing in which the pre-defined server spaces are located. Due to the housing and/or physical architecture of a traditional rack system, the configuration of the rack system is often fixed and cannot be modified.


A sanding block comprises a support block having a right side and a left side. A gripping slot extends from the right side to the left side. The gripping slot is capable of receiving ends of a sheet of sandpaper folded around the support block.

The present invention generally relates a sanding block. More specifically, the invention relates to a multi-surface sanding block with a self-locking mechanism for sandpaper.
Existing sanding blocks typically use only one sanding surface. Further, adhesive or some other locking system is required to hold the sandpaper to the sanding bock, making manufacturing more expensive and requiring more setup time for use.
As can be seen, there is a need for a multi-surface sanding block that is less expensive to manufacture and use.


The present invention is an aftertreatment method further applied to an amorphous carbon film to which a treatment including heating is performed after the film has been formed on a substrate. The treatment of preventing oxidation of the amorphous carbon film is performed immediately after the treatment including heating.

In a semiconductor device, an interlayer insulator is formed between interconnection layers. As such an interlayer insulator, a SiO2 film has been used conventionally. However, a film with a lower permittivity has been desired along with the request for higher speed semiconductor devices in recent years. As such a low-permittivity film, organic materials mainly including Si containing Si, O, and C have been started to use.
However, in addition to a high cost, such a low-permittivity film mainly including Si has a problem that it is difficult to perform a high selectivity etching between other films. Therefore, a low-permittivity film that does not cause such a problem, has been desired.
As such a film, a hydrogen added amorphous carbon film has been considered. As disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-12972, the amorphous carbon film can be deposited by a CVD using a hydrocarbon gas as a process gas. The amorphous carbon film is inexpensive and does not cause problems like the low-permittivity film mainly including Si.
By the way, in a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device, there are many cases where a film is heated to approximately 350 degrees Celsius to 400 degrees Celsius after forming the film and then a heat treatment, such as an annealing treatment, or other treatment is performed to prevent an alteration of each layer or change in dimensions in a final annealing treatment or based on a requirement of the process. However, when such heat is applied to the amorphous carbon film, a portion of the film is detached due to the disconnection in the portion relatively inferior to the heat on the amorphous carbon film surface. When the film is exposed to the atmosphere with this condition, the portion with the disconnected bond reacts with the oxygen or moisture in the atmosphere and oxidized, thereby the electric characteristics, such as permittivity and a leak current value, and a refractive index are significantly changed. When there is such a change in the characteristics, disadvantages, such as desired device characteristics cannot be obtained, will occur.

Aftertreatment method for amorphous carbon film


The present application proposes a method of locating oscillation sources of wind power integrated system based on energy spectrums. The method include: collecting information of voltage and current at the terminal of each generator and obtaining a dynamic energy curve of each generator over time; choosing the generators whose curve shows an upward trend in the dynamic energy over time curve into alternative generators; obtaining and processing energy spectrums of synchronous generator, DFIG with PLL, and/or an analogical energy spectrum of DFIG with virtual inertia among the alternative generators; selecting generator with maximum proportion of dominant oscillation mode as an oscillation source reference generator; and calculating the similarity coefficients between energy spectrums of each remaining candidate generator and the oscillation source reference generator, determining the oscillation source generators.

As an additional control link of DFIG (Doubly-fed induction generator), virtual inertia may improve the inertia and frequency response characteristics of a system to some extent. However, it also opens the channel for the interaction of power between DFIG and system when disturbance occurs, which strengthens the coupling effect between DFIG and power grid. The virtual inertia will lower damping level of wind power integrated system and cause the oscillation mode where DFIG participates to exhibit weak damping, thus the system may easily oscillate, diverge and go unstable after being disturbed. On the other hand, apart from the dominant oscillation mode, other oscillation modes with weak damping may also be excited during the system oscillation process, and the coupling between multiple oscillation modes will cause the frequency components in the system oscillation waveform to be more complicated, making it difficult to locate the dominant oscillation source generators accurately. Therefore, in order to guarantee the stable level of the disturbed wind power integrated system, accurately locating oscillation source generators in the dominant oscillation mode has become a key issue to be solved urgently.
At present, the location of low-frequency oscillation disturbance sources in power system has gradually become a hot topic for many experts and scholars at home and abroad. However, existing studies on the location of oscillation source are mainly focused on traditional power system, and none has been taken into account the coupling effect of multiple oscillation modes generated by disturbance of wind power integrated system with virtual inertia. Thus, they cannot distinguish between oscillation source generators in the dominant oscillation mode and non-dominant oscillation modes, and cannot accurately locate the oscillation sources of the system.

System and method of locating oscillation sources of wind power integrated system based on energy spectrums


There is provided a mobile food/drink serving apparatus including a body which has electrical equipment, an attaching connector capable of being electrically connected to a power source connector provided on a customer table, and a counter for cooking; and mobility means for moving the apparatus, characterized in that the electrical equipment is supplied with electricity by connecting the attaching connector to the power source connector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile food/drink serving apparatus for simple cooking, such as sushi, before customers and for service of food/drink.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, a circulating food/drink serving system such as a kaiten sushi has widely been known. In a kaiten sushi restaurant, plates on which sushi is placed are put on a flat top conveyor, and are circulated before customers sitting at a counter. The customers can take favorite sushi together with a plate passing before them to eat. Nowadays, some restaurants serve various kinds of food/drink other than sushi by circulating them.
However, in such a conventional circulating food/drink serving system, for example of sushi, it is not preferable to circulate the sushi too long since the customers lose their appetite for they do not know when the sushi is made. In addition, there occurs a problem of a waste of material since the sushi circulating for a long time must be disposed. In order to keep moisture, temperature and freshness of the circulating sushi for a long time, however, adequate equipment must be provided. Additionally, the conveyor must be operated even when there is no customer, which wastefully consumes electric power.
On the other hand, for example, in a yum cha restaurant, a wagon or the like is used to serve food/drink to customers sitting at their table. This system using a wagon is to serve ready-made food according to the customers"" order. Therefore, the system is unsuitable for sushi etc. because the value of sushi is to eat as soon as it is made.
In order to solve these problems, the inventor devised an apparatus used to cook and serve food before customers according to their order by moving a kitchen table to a customer table without circulating food/drink as before. The objects of this invention are as follows.
Namely, the first object is to provide a mobile food/drink serving apparatus, by which the food is cooked and dished up near the customer table to be served, and which is useful for reducing the waste of food materials by serving fresh-prepared food according to the customers"" order, and for reducing a cost by consuming no unnecessary electric power when separated from the customer table.
The second object is, in addition to the first object described above, to provide a mobile food/drink serving apparatus with less time and labor when supplying electricity to electrical equipment.
The third object is, in addition to the first object or the second described above, to provide a mobile food/drink serving apparatus to arouse the customers"" interest and to assist the customers"" order of food/drink by supplying electricity to the electrical equipment.
The fourth object is, in addition to the first object, the second or the third described above, to provide a mobile food/drink serving apparatus suitable for food requiring cold storage.
To achieve the first object, the first invention in the present application provides a mobile food/drink serving apparatus comprising a main body (10) and mobility means (e.g. casters (15)) to make the main body mobile. The main body (10) comprises electrical equipment, an attaching connector electrically connectable to a power source connector equipped with a customer table (60) for supplying electricity to the electrical equipment, and a counter (e.g. a cooking counter (12)) for cooking.
Namely, the first invention provides a mobile food/drink serving apparatus for cooking food readily cooked on the counter before customers, and for serving it to the customer, in which electricity for the electrical equipment is supplied from the customer table.
Herein, the xe2x80x9celectrical equipmentxe2x80x9d includes lighting equipment (20), an electrically-driven tool or machine used for cooking, which can be mounted on the main body (10). For example, lighting equipment (20) installed in a decorative portion (17) provided on the main body (10) is a kind of the electrical equipment.
Moreover, the xe2x80x9cpower source connectorxe2x80x9d is a connector connectable to a power source, including, for example, a plug socket provided on the customer table (60). The xe2x80x9cattaching connectorxe2x80x9d is a connector connectable to the power source connector, including, for example, a plug that can be inserted into the plug socket.
In the first invention, all of the electrical equipment mounted on the main body (10) may not be power-supplied by connecting the attaching connector and the power source connector; for example, rechargeable refrigerating equipment may be mounted on the main body (10).
According to the first invention, the main body (10) is moved near to the customer table (60) by the mobility means, the electrical equipment is power-supplied from the customer table (60) to turn on the lighting equipment (20), and the food is cooked on the cooking counter (12), by which food can be served. When the apparatus is separated from the customer table (60), the attaching connector is disconnected from the power source connector, and then the main body (10) is moved.
According to the first invention, there can be provided a mobile food/drink serving apparatus, by which the food is cooked and dished up near the customer table to be served, and which is useful for reducing the waste of food materials by serving fresh-prepared food according to the customers"" order, and for reducing a cost by consuming no unnecessary electric power when separated from the customer table.
To achieve the above second object, the second invention is, in addition to the characteristic of the first invention, characterized in that the power source connector and the attaching connector are electrically connected by attaching the main body (10) to the customer table (60).
Therefore, the second invention in the present application is so formed that the connection between the power source connector and the attaching connector occurs at the same time of the attachment between the main body (10) and the customer table (60). Namely, by attaching the main body (10) to the customer table (60), the power source connector and the attaching connector are connected to each other and the electricity is supplied to the main body (10).
Concretely, the attaching connector (main body connector (41)) and the power source connector (customer table connector (42)) are installed at a portion at which the main body (10) can attach to the customer table (60).
According to the second invention, the main body 10 is so moved to attach the customer table 60, thereby the electrical equipment being supplied with electricity without inserting a plug.
According to the second invention, in addition to the effect of the first invention, there can be provided a mobile food/drink serving apparatus with less time and labor of supplying the electricity to the electrical equipment.
To achieve the above third object, the third invention is, in addition to the characteristic of the first invention or the second, characterized in that the main body is at least equipped with lighting equipment as the electrical equipment.
The lighting equipment (20) includes a lamp or the like used for decoration in addition to the one for illuminating food materials to be served.
According to the third invention, when the main body (10) is attached to the customer table (60), that is, when service is provided to the customer, lighting is provided, and when the main body (10) is separated from the customer table (60), the lighting is turned off as a necessary consequence.
According to the third invention, in addition to the effect of the first invention or the second, there can be provided a mobile food/drink serving apparatus to arouse the customers"" interest and to assist the customers"" order of food/drink by supplying electricity to the electrical equipment.
To achieve the above fourth object, the fourth invention is, in addition to the characteristic of the first invention, the second or the third, characterized in that the main body (10) is at least equipped with a refrigerating case (30).
Herein, the xe2x80x9crefrigerating case 30xe2x80x9d may be any case that can keep food or the like at a fixed low temperature. The case may use ice or a cold reserving material, or may be refrigerating equipment such as a refrigerator as the electrical equipment. In this case as well, electricity may be provided from the power source connector (customer table connector (42)).
The fourth invention is suitable for serving food that is cooked by using food materials requiring cold storage, for example, serving of sushi.
According to the fourth invention, in addition to the effect of the first invention, the second or the third, there can be provided a mobile food/drink serving apparatus suitable for food requiring cold storage.


In a computer system having a power supply, processor, and additional subcomponents that are powered by the power supply, a method for estimating the total power requirements of the system under a variety of operating modes and configurations. In an exemplary embodiment, information concerning power requirements for each subcomponent under its operating modes is stored within non-volatile memory within the subcomponents. This information is accessed by the processor during the boot sequence, and if the information is not available, substitute information is provided. The compiled information is tabulated to compute the estimated total power requirement of the current hardware configuration. A display of this information, along with configuration selection rules, enables the user to select alternative operating modes and configurations and to show the resulting estimated power requirements.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to computer systems containing a power supply and a plurality of other subcomponents, and more particularly, to a method for automatically determining the total power requirement for the power supply based on the power requirements for each of the subcomponents, under a variety of operating modes and configurations.
2. Description of the Related Art
Present-day computer systems, such as desktop PCs and laptop computers, commonly have an architecture shown schematically in FIG. 1, comprising a power supply 101, processor 102 and additional subcomponents 103-105 such as RAM, hard disk drives, DVD drives, I/O ports, etc., that may be easily added or removed from the system. Some or all of these subcomponents (shown here, for example, with respect to subcomponents 103 and 104 but not 105) typically include a non-volatile memory containing vital product data (VPD) 106 and 107 relating to configuration parameters for the subcomponent. For example, a hard disk drive may contain information in the VPD memory indicating the number of cylinders, the number of heads, and the storage size of each cylinder.
Power supply 101 converts electrical energy from a source of energy (e.g., line current or a battery, not shown) into the various voltages and currents necessary to run the subcomponents of the computer system. For each subcomponent to function properly, that subcomponent must receive a required amount of power from the power supply. This amount of power may vary during the operation of the subcomponent—for example, a hard disk drive will need more power when the disk is accelerating than when it is constantly rotating or at rest. In addition, the subcomponents may operate under diverse operating modes. For example, it may be possible to select the operating speed of the processor, which usually affects the power consumed by the processor. The system may also support processors having different operating characteristics. For each of the possible operating modes of a particular subcomponent, it is usually possible to define the maximum power consumed by that subcomponent when operating in that mode, and also the average power required under normal usage. The total power required of the power supply must then be at least as great as the total of the average power requirements for each subcomponent in a particular set of operating modes.
When choosing the proper power supply for a particular computer system, it is therefore important to know the power requirements for each of the subcomponents in its various operating modes, based on a particular configuration. This information is usually obtained by observing a printed label on each subcomponent or by reference to specification manuals. Once the power requirements are known, the total power requirement may be computed, and the size of the power supply can then be chosen to equal or exceed this amount. Since at a later date, it may become necessary to modify the hardware configuration of the computer system to include additional subcomponents beyond those originally installed, and in order to avoid at that time replacing the power supply with a larger one, it is usually prudent to choose the power supply that is initially installed in the computer system to exceed the original power requirements by a sufficient margin to accommodate any future anticipated subcomponent expansion.
It should be appreciated that the subcomponents in present-day computer systems can include a large variety of operating modes and associated power requirements that can vary from one manufacturer to another and from one product series to another. For example, the amount of power used by the memory modules will depend on the technology used to fabricate the modules, the storage capacity of the modules, as a function of the selected clocking speeds. Because of the large number of parameters and circumstances controlling the power requirements for the subcomponents, keeping track of all of the power requirements for all of the subcomponents in all of their modes in a dynamic market where products change daily can be extremely difficult for the installer. Further, when subcomponents are changed or added to a computer system at a later date, it is necessary for the user to recompute the total power requirements in order to make sure that the power supply currently installed will be adequate. Determining the total power requirements may be difficult for the user to do, because the power information may be placed on labels that are currently inaccessible within the system, or are covered by other modules and therefore require disassembly of portions of the computer system, or are unavailable because the necessary specification manuals are unavailable.
Therefore, a need exists to quickly and easily determine the total power requirements of a computer system under a variety of operating modes and configurations.

Method for estimating total power requirement in a computer system


The invention relates to a composition comprising buprenorphine and a μ opioid receptor antagonist, wherein the composition is characterized by an Agonist Antagonist Activity Index (AAnAI) of between about 0.7 and about 2.2; wherein;

The opioid neuropeptide system plays an important part in regulating mood disorders. [Machado-Viera R. et. al.; Depression and Anxiety, 28 (4) 2011, 267-281]. Opioid peptides and their receptors are potential candidates for the development of novel antidepressant treatment. The actions of endogenous opioids and opiates are mediated by three receptor types (μ, δ and κ), which are coupled to different intracellular effector systems. [Berrocoso E. et. al., Current Pharmaceutical Design, 15(14) 2009, 1612-22]. As such, agents that can modulate the actions of one or more of the opioid receptor types with selectivity and sensitivity are important to treat the various diseases and disorders regulated by the opioid system.
The μ-opioid system has a profound effect on emotional state and is modulated in the context of major depressive disorders (MDD) and changes in emotional state. The μ-opioid receptors are present and densely distributed in brain regions implicated in the response to stressors and the regulation and integration of emotionally significant stimuli. These include cortical regions, including the rostral anterior cingulate, prefrontal cortex [Eisenberger, Science 302, 2003, 290-2; Kennedy Arch Gen Psychiatry 63(11), 2006, 1199-208; Zubieta, Science, 293 2001, 311-5; Zubieta, Arch Gen Psychiatry, 60(11), 2003, 1145-53]. Subcortically, the μ-opioid system is known to have a prominent regulatory role in the striatopallidal pathway (nucleus accumbens, ventral pallidum) and associated circuits (e.g., amygdala, thalamus, insular cortex) involved in the evaluation and response to salient stimuli, both rewarding and nonrewarding [Anderson A K, and Sobel N. Neuron 39(4) 2003, 581-3; Horvitz J C., Behav Neurosci. 114(5), 2000, 934-9; Koob and Le Alcoholism Clinical & Experimental Research, 2001 25(5 Suppl.) 2001, 144S-151S; Napier and Mitrovic, Ann N Y Acad Sci., 1999, 176-201; Price 2000; Quirarte, Brain Res., 808(2), 1998, 134-40; Steiner and Gerfen, Exp Brain Res., 60-76, 1998; Zubieta, Science, 293 2001, 311-5]. Activation of μ-opioid receptors increases dopamine which may contribute to anti-depressant effects including enhancement of hedonic tone and sense of contentment, but will lead also to abuse when the increase in dopamine is higher than required to treat symptoms of depression.
Positron emission tomography (PET) studies in humans have shown functional effects of the μ-opioid system in the regulation of mood. In vivo μ-opioid receptor availability in the sub-amygdalar temporal cortex has been found to inversely correlate with the metabolic responses of this region to the presentation of a negative emotional challenge [Liberzon, Proc Natl Acad Sci. 99(10): 2002, 7084-9]. In a subsequent PET study emotional challenges were shown to elicit further differences in brain μ activity between normal human subjects, patients with SSRI responsive MDD, and patients with treatment resistant depression [Kennedy, Curr. Psychiatry Rep. 8(6), 2006, 437-44].
It has been hypothesized that blockade of κ-receptor activation will have a beneficial therapeutic effect in the treatment of depression. The hypothesis is based on human and animal evidence generated primarily during the past two decades. The following discussion is adapted from a recent review by Knoll and Carlezon, Jr. [Brain Res. 2010, 56-73, 2010]. Whereas I-opioid receptor activation results in elevation of mood in humans, activation of the κ-opioid receptor is associated with adverse effects on mood, including dysphoria and anhedonia [Pfeiffer, Horm Metab Res., 18(12): 1986, 842-8].
Anatomically, the κ-opioid receptor and dynorphin, the primary endogenous κ ligand, are expressed throughout limbic brain areas implicated in the pathophysiology of depression. In addition to dysphoria and anhedonia, some aspects of the aversive effects of κ activation appear to involve increased anxiety. κ-opioid receptors and dynorphin are expressed throughout brain areas involved in fear and anxiety, including the amygdala and extended amygdala (Alheid 2003; Fallon and Leslie 1986; Mansour, 1995b]. The effect of κ blockade in humans has yet to be tested in humans; a pharmaceutically acceptable probe has eluded medicinal chemistry efforts.
Treatment resistant depression (TRD), is a widespread disease where patients with MDD do not achieve an adequate response to monoamine reuptake inhibitor anti-depressant therapy. Despite the emergence of multiple new therapeutic agents in recent decades, TRD remains a major clinical and public health problem that results in significant adverse consequences to patients, families, and society as a whole [Gibson, J., Manag. Care, 16:370-377, 2010; Sackeim, J Clin Psychiatry, 62 Suppl 16:10-17, 2001]. Prior to the advent of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), opioids were the primary therapeutic modality for depression. Modern characterization of the endogenous opioid system has elaborated the role of opioidergic peptides in the regulation of both stress response behaviors and hedonic tone. Buprenorphine, a partial μ-opioid agonist, has been reported to be useful in treating depression in patients where other available therapies have failed. [Callaway, Soc. Biol. Psychiatry, 39, 1996, 989-990; Emrich et. al., Neuropharmacology, 22, 1983, 385-388; Bodkin et. al., J. Clin. Psychopharmacology, 15, 49-57, 1995].
While opioid agonists have anti-depressant effects they are generally not used to treat depression. Long-term use of a full μ-opioid agonist may result in the development of opioid-dependency in patients. In addition there are other undesirable side effects including additive potential, sedation, respiratory depression, nausea and constipation that will accompany acute and chronic opioid use. Buprenorphine is an μ-opioid partial agonist which produces typical μ-opioid agonist effects and side effects such as additive potential and respiratory depression while producing maximal effects that are less than those of full agonists like heroin and methadone. Buprenorphine produces sufficient μ-agonist effect to enable opioid-addicted individuals to discontinue the misuse of opioids without experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
While there are many well-known opioid receptor binding compounds, there is little evidence to guide the management of depression that has not responded to a course of antidepressants. Treatment-refractory depression is an important public health problem and large pragmatic trials are needed to inform clinical practice. [Stimpson et al., The British Journal of Psychiatry, (2002) 181: 284-294]. There still remains a need to develop effective treatments of mood disorders, in particular major depressive disorders.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Compositions of buprenorphine and μ antagonists

Abstract: AAnAI  =                    [                              C                          max                                            (                BUP                )                                              /                      EC            50                          ]                    [                              C                          max                                            (                ANTAGONIST                )                                              /                      IC            50                          ]              .


An apparatus for eliminating gas constituents, such as moisture or the like, from a cooking space of an industrial kitchen apparatus or the like, has a radial fan which is arranged close to an essentially vertically housing wall, the drive shaft of the radial fan penetrating the housing wall, and the housing wall having a housing opening close to the circumference of the radial fan with a partition provided close to the circumference of the radial fan for deflecting a part of the flow generated by the fan into the housing opening.

The present invention is directed to an apparatus for the elimination of gas constituents, such as moisture or the like, from a cooking space of an industrial kitchen apparatus or the like, wherein a radial fan having a drive shaft penetrating through an essentially vertical housing wall is arranged close to the wall.
An excess of moisture can occur, particularly when cooking food containing a great deal of water, whose water partially emerges into the atmosphere of the cooking space. Since, for example, this excess of moisture prevents the formation of crust on the food to be cooked, the excess moisture is frequently considered undesirable. There is, therefore, a necessity to eliminate the occurring moisture, at least from time to time.
The actual possibility of removing the moistures are limited. Since the reproducible qualities cannot be guaranteed, a simple measure, such as the regular opening of the door of the cooking space, is unacceptable for an industrial kitchen. Simple exhausts via chimneys provided at the cooking space also suffers from the same deficiency. The measures that are additionally undertaken, such as exhaust devices or the like, require an increased outlay for the apparatus or equipment.
German Patent 21 03 593 discloses a vapor exhaust hood for a kitchen, wherein an essentially radially-directed flow is produced in a gas volume present in a vapor exhaust hood. The radial blower is thereby partially surrounded by a guide surface, wherein the housing wall is provided onto which the gas flow in the vapor exhaust hood is directed with a partition serving as a baffle. It is not possible to eliminate a single gas constituent, such as moisture or the like, that is present in excess from the gas volume with this apparatus.
German GM 85 34 653 discloses a shut-off means for an exhaust system, wherein the suction pipe can be closed in the non-operating condition. This is thereby not a matter of an apparatus that could be employed in a kitchen device or the like for extracting, for example, excess moisture from the cooking space atmosphere.

Apparatus for elimination of gas constituents


The invention features a non-transgenic model of Alzheimer""s Disease, method for inducing prolonged in vivo gene expression in a mammal, and methods of inhibiting Alzheimer""s Disease-associated neuronal cell death.

This invention relates to neurodegenerative conditions.
Alzheimer""s Disease is a neurodegenerative illness characterized by memory loss and other cognitive deficits. The prevalence of Alzheimer""s Disease increases with age, and the presence of the disease is difficult to determine without brain biopsy. Alzheimer""s Disease is characterized by the presence of neuritic plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuronal cell death. Post-mortem slices of brain tissue from Alzheimer""s disease patients exhibit the presence of amyloid in the form of proteinaceous extracellular cores of the neuritic plaques. The amyloid cores of these neuritic plaques are composed of a protein called the amyloid-beta or amyloid-b. Amyloid-containing neuritic plaques are a prominent feature of selective areas of the brain in Alzheimer""s Disease patients as well as patients afflicted with Downs Syndrome. However, little is known about the development of Alzheimer""s Disease or the mechanisms, which contribute to the disease.
The invention features a non-transgenic animal model for Alzheimer""s Disease and methods for inducing prolonged in vivo gene expression in the brain. Prolonged expression of an exogenous nucleic acid in a mammal is achieved by contacting a cells or tissue with a composition, which contains a nucleic acid, a histone, and an amphipathic compound. Preferably, the composition also contains a liposome. The tissue is not skeletal muscle tissue. Preferably, the tissue is neuronal tissue such as central nervous system (CNS) tissue. For example, the tissue contains a post-mitotic neuronal cell, a cortical neuronal cell, a cerebellar neuronal cell, a glial cell, a vascular endothelial cell, or a hippocampal neuronal cell.
Gene expression in the tissue is detected in vivo for at least 48 hours after contacting the tissue with the nucleic acid composition. Preferably, gene expression persists for at least 72 hours, more preferably for at least 96 hours, more preferably for at least one week, and even more preferably for at least two to four weeks after contacting the tissue with the composition. By expression is meant transcription of a nucleic acid molecule. Gene expression is measured by detecting nucleic acid transcripts, or by detecting a translation product. The gene delivery system described herein has been successfully used to achieve gene expression in a target tissue for at least two months (and longer) after contacting the tissue with the composition.
The nucleic acid composition is in the form of a liposome, e.g., a neutral, anionic, or cationic liposome. The composition contains histone proteins, e.g., H1, H2A, H2B, H3, or H4. The amphipathic compound is cationic. For example, the compound is a polyamine, such as, a non-natural polyamine having a hydrophobic moiety such as a C6-C24 alkane, C6-C24 alkene, sterol, steroid, lipid, fatty acid, or a hydrophobic hormone. Optionally, the composition contains a nuclear localizing signal.
The nucleic acid portion of the composition is any polypeptide-encoding DNA or antisense template. To induce Alzheimer Disease physiological conditions in vivo, the nucleic acid encodes an Alzheimer""s Disease-associated neural thread protein (AD-NTP) such as Alzheimer""s Disease-associated neural thread protein 7c (AD7c-NTP)
An antisense template is one that is transcribed into a nucleic acid molecule that has a sequence that is complementary to a specific mRNA. The transcribed nucleic acid molecule binds to the complementary sequence in the specific mRNA and inhibits translation of the mRNA. An antisense oligonucleotide has a sequence that is complementary to a specific mRNA and binds to the complementary sequence in the specific mRNA to inhibit translation of the mRNA. For example, the nucleic acid portion of the composition is AD7c-NTP antisense molecule or a nitric oxide synthase III (NOS-3) antisense molecule. An AD7c-NTP antisense template is transcribed into an RNA molecule, which binds to a portion of an endogenous AD7c-NTP mRNA in a target cell or tissue and inhibits translation of the AD7c-NTP mRNA into a AD7c-NTP polypeptide or gene product. Similarly, NOS-3 antisense template is transcribed into an RNA molecule, which binds to a portion of an endogenous NOS-3 mRNA in a target cell or tissue and inhibits translation of the NOS-3 mRNA into a NOS-3 polypeptide or gene product. Preferably, the antisense DNA contains a sequence, which is complementary to a DNA sequence in the AD7c-NTP or NOS-3 cDNA sequence. For example, the DNA is complementary to a 5xe2x80x2 untranslated region of the gene
The composition and method are useful for gene therapy applications or to produce non-human animal model of a human disease state. For example, the nucleic acid portion of the composition contains a sequence encoding a polypeptide such as a AD7c-NTP polypeptide for development of an animal model of Alzheimer""s Disease.
The methods are useful to make a non-transgenic model for Alzheimer""s Disease. The model is a non-human animal, which contains an exogenous AD7c-NTP nucleic acid in its brain tissue, e.g., in a neuronal cell, of the animal. AD7c-NTP gene product is over-expressed in brain tissues of the animal. The animal model of human Alzheimer""s Disease recapitulates the neurodegenerative process and neuropathological changes which occur in the brains of human patients with Alzheimer""s Disease. Utilizing the prolonged gene expression system described above, the animal expresses an exogenous AD7c-NTP polypeptide in a neuronal cell of the animal for at least 48 hours and up to and exceeding a period of 4 weeks. Expression has been detected in vivo for up to two months after contacting brain tissue with the exogenous nucleic acid. The animal is a rodent or a non-human primate. Cortical and/or hippocampal neuronal cells express the AD7c-NTP polypeptide over extended periods of time and exhibit physical conditions and symptoms, which mimic human Alzheimer""s Disease, e.g., sporadic Alzheimer""s Disease. Such conditions include neuritic plaque formation, neuronal cell death by apoptosis (as well as activation of pro-apoptosis genes), and increased levels of phospho-tau, APP and amyloid-b.
Alternatively, the model is a non-human animal, which contains an exogenous nitric oxide synthase nucleic acid, e.g., NOS-3, and which expresses an exogenous nitric oxide synthase polypeptide in a neuronal cell of the animal for at least 48 hours and longer. The physical condition and symptoms of the animal mimic those of human Alzheimer""s Disease.
Also within the invention is a method of inhibiting Alzheimer""s Disease-associated neuronal cell death, by contacting an AD7c-NTP-overexpressing cell with a composition, which contains an AD7c-NTP antisense nucleic acid (e.g., an antisense template or an antisense ologinucleotide). The composition also contains a histone polypeptide. Optionally, the composition contains an amphipathic compound described above. The AD7c-NTP antisense template (e.g., a DNA) is transcribed into an RNA molecule, which binds to a portion of an endogenous AD7c-NTP mRNA in the overexpressing cell and inhibits translation of the AD7c-NTP gene product. In this manner, AD7c-NTP protein production is regulated and the adverse effects of overproduction reduced. The method is useful as a genetic therapeutic tool to reduce the pathologic symptoms of Alzheimer""s Disease, e.g., sporadic Alzheimer""s Disease. For example, downregulating pathological overproduction of endogenous AD7c-NTP in this manner leads to decreased production of NOS-3, decreased neuronal cell death, decreased production of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and amyloid-b, as well as decreased formation of neuritic plaques. NOS-3 expression is directly reduced by administering a NOS-3 antisense oligonucleotide or a NOS-3 antisense template.
Alzheimer""s Disease associated neuronal cell death is also inhibited by contacting an AD7c-NTP overexpressing neuronal cell with an AD7c-NTP or an NOS-3-specific ribozyme. A ribozyme is an RNA molecule, which contains a catalytic center. For example, the ribozyme is an enzyme, a self-splicing RNA, or a self-cleaving RNA. Ribozymes decrease production of a target protein by inhibiting the translation of the mRNA that encodes the target protein, e.g., AD7c-NTP.
Another method of inhibiting Alzheimer""s Disease-associated neuronal cell death involves contacting an AD7c-NTP-overexpressing cell with a compound such as small organic molecule, a peptide, an antibody (or fragment thereof) that inhibits signal transduction via the insulin receptor substrate (IRS) pathway.
Alzheimer""s Disease-associated neuronal cell death is inhibited by contacting an AD7c-NTP-overexpressing cell with an inhibitor of an IRS-dependent growth factor. For example, the inhibitor decreases the transcription of an IGF-1 gene, translation of an IGF-1 mRNA, or function of its gene product. In one example, the inhibitor binds to an N-terminal insulin/IGF1 receptor domain in AD7c-NTP, thereby inhibiting binding of endogenous insulin and/or IGF-1 to neuronal cell surface AD7c-NTP. A soluble fragment of AD7c-NTP is used to inhibit IGF-1 binding to cellular AD7c-NTP. For example, the fragment contains the amino acid sequence of residues 2-14 of SEQ ID NO:2. Preferably, the polypeptide fragment is less than 250 residues, less than 200 residues, less than 150 residues, less than 100 residues. For example, the fragment is greater than 13 residues or more, but less than 50 residues, contains the amino acid sequence of residues 2-14 of SEQ ID NO:2, and inhibits signal transduction via the IRS signal transduction pathway. Alternatively, the compound is a drug (e.g., a small organic molecule), peptide, antibody, or an antibody fragment, which binds to the insulin/IGF-1 hybrid domain of AD7c-NTP.
A fragment of a reference protein is a polypeptide, which is shorter in length than the reference protein. The fragment includes a sequence, e.g., at least 10 amino acids, which is identical to the reference protein. The fragment may be 50%, 60%, 75%, 80%, 90%, 95%, and up to 99% of the length of the reference protein. Similarly, a gene fragment is shorter in length than the gene sequence to which it refers but includes a DNA sequence, e.g., at least 18 nucleotides, which is identical to the reference sequence.
Other methods of inhibiting Alzheimer""s Disease-associated neuronal cell death, include those which include the step of contacting an AD7c-NTP-overexpressing cell with an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase III and those which include the step of contacting an AD7c-NTP-overexpressing cell with an inhibitor of insulin.
The invention also features methods of screening for compounds which inhibit the onset or progression of Alzheimer""s Disease or inhibit a symptom or physiological condition of the disease methods. Screening assays are carried out in vitro using AD7c-NTP or NOS-3 over-expressing cells. In vivo assays are carried out using the non-transgenic model of AD7c-NTP or NOS-3 overexpression. For example, a method of identifying a compound which inhibits Alzheimer""s Disease-associated neuronal cell death is carried out by contacting an AD7c-NTP over-expressing cell with a candidate compound and measuring cell viability. An increase in cell viability in the presence of the compound compared to in its absence indicates that the compound inhibits Alzheimer""s Disease associated neuronal cell death. The cell is a primary or immortalized cell line. Preferably the cell is a primary cerebellar neuronal cell, hippocampal cell, glial cell, or vascular endothelial cells which contains an exogenous AD7c-NTP encoding DNA and expresses the exogenous AD7c-NTP polypeptide in an inducible or constitutive manner. Another screening method is carried out by contacting a non-human animal comprising an AD7c-NTP over-expressing cell in a neuronal tissue in vivo, with a candidate compound and measuring neuronal cell viability. An increase in cell viability in the presence of the compound compared to in its absence indicates that the compound inhibits Alzheimer""s Disease associated neuronal cell death.
Compounds are screened for the ability to inhibit one or more symptom or physiological characteristic of Alzheimer""s Disease. For example, a non-human animal containing an AD7c-NTP over-expressing cell in a neuronal tissue, e.g., the brain, is contacted with a candidate compound. The non-human animal is a transgenic or non-transgenic animal, which has been engineered to overexpress AD7c-NTP or NOS-3 (compared to levels expressed in its wildtype counterparts). The compound is administered systemically or locally. For example, the compound is delivered directly to brain tissue, e.g., by intraventricular infusion. Amyloid precursor protein (APP) expression is detected in the tissue, and a decrease in APP expression in the presence of the compound compared to in its absence indicates that the compound inhibits a symptom of Alzheimer""s Disease. Similarly, an assay to identify a compound which inhibits a symptom of Alzheimer""s Disease is carried out by contacting a non-human animal comprising an AD7c-NTP over-expressing neuronal cell with a candidate compound and detecting neuritic amyloid plaques in the tissue. A decrease in the amount of plaques in the presence of the compound compared to in its absence indicates that the compound inhibits a symptom of Alzheimer""s Disease or decreases the severity of Alzheimer""s Disease. The methods allow high throughput screening of candidate compounds to identify therapeutic agents which reduce a pathological condition associated with Alzheimer""s Disease.
Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and and from the claims.

Non-Transgenic nonhuman model for Alzheimer""s Disease using a AD7c-NTP nucleic acid


The invention relates to a wafer scale process for the manufacture of optical waveguide devices, and particularly for the manufacture of ridge waveguide devices, and the improved waveguides made thereby. The present invention has found a process for achieving sub-micron control of an optical waveguiding layer thickness by providing a dimensionally stable wafer assembly into which adhesive can be introduced without altering the planar relationship between a carrier wafer and an optically transmissive wafer in wafer scale manufacture. This process permits wafer scale manufacture of optical waveguide devices including thin optically transmissive layers. A pattern of spacer pedestals is created by a deposition and etch back, or by a surface etch process to precisely reference surface information from a master surface to a carrier wafer to a thin optically transmissive wafer. The tolerance achievable in accordance with this process provides consistent yield across the wafer.

Optical waveguide devices require a high degree of accuracy in the dimensions of the optical waveguiding layer. In the past it has not been possible to achieve the degree of parallelism and uniformity in a wafer scale manufacturing process that would enable an adequate yield across the wafer, and from wafer to wafer. A wafer of optically transmissive material thinned and polished to waveguide dimensions of approximately 1-10 microns does not have the dimensional stability to be polished to or to hold the flatness required, or even to be handled without breaking. In order to achieve the degree of parallelism required in a thin optical material, a master reference plane must be provided in a carrier substrate wafer. It is known in the art to polish wafers to a uniformity of parallelism within 0.005 microns. However, for wafer scale manufacture, this precision is not transferred to the thin waveguiding layer due to variation introduced by the adhesive layer securing the waveguiding layer to the carrier substrate. Optical devices such as planar lightwave circuits, electro-optic modulators and ridge waveguide devices are examples of optical waveguide devices for which dimensional uniformity is essential to achieve wafer scale production.
Second harmonic generation applications (frequency doubling) using ridge waveguide devices have been developed to create laser output in the ultraviolet, visible and infrared wavelength spectrum for use in numerous technologies. Demand for these devices is high. However, the manufacture of ridge waveguide devices has been limited to individual device processing. One problem that arises in the manufacture of ridge waveguides for the application of second harmonic generation is the control of dimensions of the ridge. In particular the thicknesses of the ridge waveguide must be controlled accurately, due to sensitivity of the upconversion wavelength to all dimensions of the ridge. Lateral dimensions are controlled with photolithographic processes, while vertical dimensions are controlled by etching and polishing processes.
Ridge waveguide devices for second harmonic generation considered in this application have periodically poled regions in the waveguides for phase matching the pump and output signals. Adhesive assembly of the supporting carrier wafer and optically transmissive wafer is preferred. In order to achieve adequate manufacturing yield, the range of thickness of the ridge and planar slab region must be controlled to within a few tenths of a micron. In order to achieve this level of uniformity across the wafer and from wafer-to-wafer, the thickness of the adhesive between the transmissive wafer and carrier wafer must be controlled to within this same range. This level of control for wafer scale manufacture has not been demonstrated in the prior art.
An optical wavelength conversion element is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,631,231 by Kiminori Mizuuchi et al. issued to Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. on Oct. 7, 2003. In this patent a continuous joining layer of amorphous material is used to join a poled waveguide structure to a substrate layer. No method for controlling the adhesive thickness is disclosed, although the disclosure does recognize some critical optical limitations to adhesive thickness. Instead, significant post assembly finishing is disclosed. These are labor intensive methods for individual device production. Such methods do not produce high yield. Furthermore, the Mizuuchi design is dependent on the optical properties of the adhesive layer, which limits the design choice.
Adhesive layer spacing is known in various optical industries. For instance glass fiber particles are disclosed for use as spacers between LCD display screen layers in U.S. Pat. No. 4,390,245. U.S. Pat. No. 6,896,949 disclosing the wafer scale manufacture of etalons also makes use of small beads to facilitate spacing between plural assembled etalons, or of fritted glass which is applied to a certain thickness and heated to its melting point to join etalon elements. An image sensor as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,911 also discloses the assembly of an individual device, using spacers constructed through resist patterning in order to secure a protective cover with controlled parallelism. However, none of these disclosures provide instruction for adhesive assembly suitable for the present application that can provide the level of accuracy necessary for wafer scale production control across the wafer and from wafer to wafer. Beads and spacers available in the industry do not provide the uniformity within 0.1 microns deviation needed to ensure tolerance control across the wafer.
A wafer scale manufacturing process for optical waveguide devices, and ridge waveguide devices in particular, remains highly desired in the industry.
An object of the present invention is to provide a wafer scale manufacturing process for producing optical waveguide devices with sub micron accuracy and high yield.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a ridge waveguide device made in accordance with the manufacturing process of the present invention including rigid spacing elements within a precisely dimensioned discontinuous adhesive layer.

Wafer scale method of manufacturing optical waveguide devices and the waveguide devices made thereby


The present invention relates to an improved gas sampling device comprising a pair of hollow rectangular chambers having diffusion apertures, a heat insulating plate, a reflecting element, a light source and a light detector; wherein the pair of rectangular chambers are arranged one over the other, with the heat insulating element being placed therebetween, the reflecting element having two reflecting surfaces at right angle with respect to each other, one end of the rectangular chambers being secured to the reflecting element with each end thereof being aligned with a reflecting surface, the light source and the light detector being placed at the other end respectively of the rectangular chambers. In use, the rectangular chambers are placed horizontally with the light source being in the lower chamber such that when light is emitted from the light source, light rays pass through the lower chamber and are reflected by the reflecting surface to enter into the upper chamber and, finally, received by the light detector. The concentration of the gas can be measured by analyzing the variation in intensity resulted from the specific wavelength of the infrared light absorbed in the chambers by the gas to be measured. With the light source being packed in a metal, gas sampling rate is increased with the gas flowing into the upper chamber by the convection due to the higher temperature in the lower chamber than that in the upper chamber when light is emitted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gas sampling device and, in particular, to a dual-chamber gas sampling device using thermal convection for accelerating gas diffusion rate, which can be used in all non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) gas concentration analyzer, and for improving the sampling rate and reducing the length of the device.
2. Description of Related Art
A gas sampling device is required for conventional non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) gas concentration analyzer. With prior art gas sampling devices, a gas pump or fan is used such that gas is introduced into a gas chamber by forced convection. By doing so, while reaction time is reduced, a lot of problems, such as noise, vibration, interference due to the noise, excessive power consumption, etc., are caused, thus rendering them unsuitable for use in hand-held or pocket-size battery operated apparatuses. Therefore, there have been gas sampling devices in which chamber of porous materials or chamber having diffusion apertures left all around are utilized. Gas sampling is achieved by using the difference in concentration to generate diffusion. These devices, however, have disadvantages in that the reaction time is relative longer and the chamber has to be longer in length for sufficient sensitivity.
In view of the disadvantages encountered by conventional gas sampling devices described above, the present invention provides a dual-chamber gas sampling device in which, in addition to the diffusion apertures provided on the gas chamber, the temperature difference between the upper and lower chambers is used to increase the gas diffusion rate such that the reaction time is reduced. At the same time, the reflecting surfaces of the reflecting elements which are at right angle with respect to each other are used for transmitting light rays so as to serve the purpose for analyzing gas concentration by non-dispersive infrared, and a single chamber can thus be divided into two chambers for improved arrangement such that the size of the device can be further reduced.

Industrial Technology Research Institute