Multilayered magnetic pigment flakes and foils are provided. The pigment flakes can have a stacked layer structure on opposing sides of a magnetic core, or can be formed as an encapsulant structure with encapsulating layers around the magnetic core. The magnetic core in the stacked layer structure includes a magnetic layer that is sandwiched between opposing insulator layers, which in turn are sandwiched between opposing reflector layers. Similarly, the magnetic core in the encapsulant structure includes a magnetic layer that is surrounded by an insulator layer, which in turn is surrounded by a reflector layer. The insulator layers in the pigment flakes substantially prevent corrosion of the flakes when exposed to harsh environments. Some embodiments of the pigment flakes and foils exhibit a discrete color shift at differing angles of incident light or viewing. The pigment flakes can be interspersed into liquid media such as paints or inks to produce colorant compositions for subsequent application to objects or papers. The foils can be laminated to various objects or can be formed on a carrier substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to pigments and foils. In particular, the present invention relates to robust multilayered pigment flakes and foils that have magnetic layers and which can also have optically variable characteristics, as well as pigment compositions that incorporate the multilayer magnetic pigment flakes.
2. Background Technology
Various pigments, colorants, and foils have been developed for a wide variety of applications. For example, magnetic pigments have been developed for use in applications such as decorative cookware, creating patterned surfaces, and security devices. Similarly, color shifting pigments have been developed for such uses as cosmetics, inks, coating materials, ornaments, ceramics, automobile paints, anti-counterfeiting hot stamps, and anti-counterfeiting inks for security documents and currency.
Color shifting pigments, colorants, and foils exhibit the property of changing color upon variation of the angle of incident light, or as the viewing angle of the observer is changed. The color-shifting properties of pigments and foils can be controlled through proper design of optical thin films or orientation of the molecular species used to form the flake or foil coating structure. Desired effects can be achieved through the variation of parameters such as thickness of the layers forming the flakes and foils and the index of refraction of each layer. The changes in perceived color that occur for different viewing angles or angles of incident light are a result of a combination of selective absorption of the materials comprising the layers and wavelength dependent interference effects. The interference effects, which arise from the superposition of light waves that have undergone multiple reflections, are responsible for the shifts in color perceived with different angles. The reflection maxima changes in position and intensity, as the viewing angle changes, due to changing interference effects arising from light path length differences in the various layers of a material that are selectively enhanced at particular wavelengths.
Various approaches have been used to achieve such color shifting effects. For example, small multilayer flakes, typically composed of multiple layers of thin films, are dispersed throughout a medium such as paint or ink that may then be subsequently applied to the surface of an object. Such flakes may optionally be overcoated to achieve desired colors and optical effects. Another approach is to encapsulate small metallic or silicatic substrates with varying layers and then disperse the encapsulated substrates throughout a medium such as paint or ink. Additionally, foils composed of multiple layers of thin films on a substrate material have been made.
One manner of producing a multilayer thin film structure is by formation on a flexible web material with a release layer thereon. The various layers are deposited on the web by methods well known in the art of forming thin coating structures, such as PVD, sputtering, or the like. The multilayer thin film structure is then removed from the web material as thin film color shifting flakes, which can be added to a polymeric medium such as various pigment vehicles for use as an ink or paint. In addition to the color shifting flakes, additives can be added to the inks or paints to obtain desired color shifting results.
Color shifting pigments or foils have been formed from a multilayer thin film structure that includes the same basic layers. These include an absorber layer(s), a dielectric layer(s), and optionally a reflector layer, in varying layer orders. The coatings have been formed to have a symmetrical multilayer thin film structure, such as:                absorber/dielectric/reflector/dielectric/absorber; or        absorber/dielectric/absorber.Coatings have also been formed to have an asymmetrical multilayer thin film structure, such as: absorber/dielectric/reflector.
With regard to magnetic pigments, U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,648 to Phillips et al. (hereafter "Phillips '648") discloses a thin film magnetic color shifting structure wherein the magnetic material can be used as a reflector or absorber layer. One disclosed magnetic material is a cobalt nickel alloy. Phillips '648 discloses flakes and foils with the following structures:                dyed superstrate/absorber/dielectric/magnetic layer/substrate;        dyed superstrate/absorber/dielectric/magnetic layer/dielectric/absorber/dyed superstrate; and        adhesive/magnetic layer/dielectric/absorber/releasable hardcoat/substrate.
One attempt at incorporating a magnetic layer into a multilayer flake is disclosed in European Patent Publication EP 686675B1 to Schmid et al. (hereinafter "Schmid"), which describes laminar color shifting structures which include a magnetic layer between the dielectric layer and a central aluminum layer as follows:                oxide/absorber/dielectric/magnet/Al/magnet/dielectric/absorber/oxideThus, Schmid uses aluminum platelets and then coats these platelets with magnetic materials. However, the overlying magnetic material downgrades the reflective properties of the pigment because aluminum is the second brightest metal (after silver), and thus any magnetic material is less reflective. Further, Schmid starts with aluminum platelets generated from ballmilling, a method which is limited in terms of the layer smoothness that can be achieved.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved magnetic pigment flakes and foils that overcome or avoid the deficiencies of prior flakes and foils.

Robust multilayer magnetic pigments and foils


A jacket is provided to the outer circumference of a cable core, a rip cord, and a tension member. The cable core, the rip cord, and the tension member are collectively covered by the jacket. A wrapping tape is longitudinally placed on the outer circumference of a core part so as to be wound therearound. Thus, immediately after the wrapping tape is longitudinally placed and wound, a wrap part thereof is formed so as to lie substantially straight in the axial direction of an optical fiber cable. In contrast, in an optical fiber cable, the cable core is obtained by combining and intertwining the core part and the wrapping tape. Because of this configuration, the wrap part of the wrapping tape is helically disposed in the longitudinal direction.

Due to a growing amount of information in recent years, there is a demand for an optical cable to accommodate more optical fibers with high density so that the amount of information transmitted per optical fiber cable can be increased. Accordingly, various types of optical fiber cables have been proposed.
As such the optical fiber cable, a central core optical fiber cable including an outer jacket provided on an outer circumference of a plurality of optical fiber units with tension members buried in the outer jacket has been proposed (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2016-206350 (JP-A-2016-206350), for example).
Since a central core optical fiber cable uses no hard slotted rod, to protect optical fibers inside, a wrapping tape is wound around an outer circumference of the bundled optical fibers (hereinafter, simply called as a core part). Here, a helical winding and a longitudinal winding may be considered as ways to wind the wrapping tape around the outer circumference of the core part. In common optical fiber cables, the wrapping tape is wound using the longitudinal winding. This is because the wrapping tape is wound directly around the outer circumference of the optical fibers, and, if the wrapping tape is wound helically, tension of the wrapping tape presses the optical fibers, which may cause an increase in transmission loss and the like.
When the wrapping tape is longitudinally placed and wound, a wrap part is formed at a part of the wrapping tape to cover the core part entirely, and then a linear body such as a string is wound around the outer circumference of the wrapping tape to stop the wrap part from opening up. At this time, the linear body winds helically around the outer circumference of the wrapping tape, and thus the linear body presses the wrap part of the wrapping tape at predetermined intervals.
However, parts of the wrap part that are not pressed by the linear body may easily open up because of restoring force of the wrapping tape, causing the core part inside to be exposed. However, reducing a winding pitch of the linear body to solve this issue requires lowering a linear speed at the time of production, which deteriorates its manufacturability.
Also, although increasing a wrapping margin of the wrap part may prevent the core part from being exposed, a lifted part of the wrap part, if there is any, may be caught by a chip that is passed through when placing the outer jacket. This requires to increase the size of the chip more than necessary and to make the cable thicker. Also, making the wrap part larger increases an amount of material used for the wrapping tape, causing an increase in cost, and, furthermore, this makes it harder to take out the optical fibers inside.
The present invention was made in view of such problems. Its object is to provide an optical fiber cable and a method for producing the optical fiber cable that can suppress transmission loss of optical fibers while maintaining excellent workability when taking out the optical fibers.

Optical fiber cable and cable core production method


Provided is a fixing device including a fixing member that fixes a toner image onto a recording material, a pressurizing member that forms a pressurizing portion, in cooperation with the fixing member, through which the recording material holding a non-fixed toner image passes, a heating member that includes a heat generating portion having a predetermined pattern shape and being energized to generate heat, and heats the fixing member, a supporting member that supports the heating member along an inner circumferential surface of the fixing member, and a thermal diffusion member that faces the supporting member with interposing the heating member, and diffuses heat from the heating member and conducts the heat to the fixing member.

(i) Technical Field
The invention relates to a fixing device and an image forming apparatus.
(ii) Related Art
In the related art, a fixing device that applies heat via a fixing member to a recording material where a toner image is formed and fixes the toner image onto the recording material is known.

Fixing device and image forming apparatus


A caster-supporting device for a stroller includes a caster-mounting member for extension of a caster axle therethrough, a connector secured to the bottom of the stroller body and having a cylindrical lower portion journalled on the caster-mounting member, and a control body mounted pivotally on the caster-mounting member. Normally, the connector can rotate relative to the caster-mounting member. When the control body is moved to a first position, the key of the control body is inserted into the keyway of the connector, so as to prevent rotation of the connector relative to the caster-mounting member, thereby setting the direction of the caster. When the control body is moved to a second position, the gripping rod of the control body moves to a position between two adjacent spokes of a spoke member which is secured to the caster, so as to prevent any rolling of the caster. Simultaneously, the two parallel clamping plates of the control body move to clamp two parallel side surfaces of the connector therebetween, so as to prevent rotation of the connector relative to the caster-mounting member. A bump (13) on the side surface of the caster-mounting member acts to secure the control body into each of its three positions by seating into one of three holes (331-333) in the control body.

This invention relates to a caster-supporting device for a stroller, more particularly to a caster-supporting device which can be selectively adjusted to a first position in which the direction of the caster is set, or a second position in which the direction of the caster is set and any rolling of the caster is prevented.
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional caster-supporting device for a stroller includes a connector (A) secured to the bottom of the stroller body, a caster-mounting member (B) provided for the extension of the caster axle therethrough, a vertical tube (C) connected pivotally to the front portion of the caster-mounting member (B), a rotating shaft (D) journalled within the vertical tube (C), and a sliding block (E) with a dovetail groove. As illustrated, the sliding block (E) is engaged with both the dovetail tongue (A1) of the connector (A) and the dovetail tongue (C1) of the vertical tube (C), so as to prevent rotation of the connector (A) relative to the caster-mounting member (B). The sliding block (E) can be moved upward to disengage from the dovetail tongue (C1) of the vertical tube (C), so as to enable the connector (A) to rotate relative to the caster-mounting member (B). Normally, each caster is equipped with a gripping rod. The gripping rod can be moved to a position between two adjacent spokes of the caster, so as to prevent the caster from rolling on the ground. When the user desires to prevent the caster from rolling and set the direction of the caster, the user must move both the gripping rod and the sliding block (E).

Caster with lever for braking and direction setting

No. 59, Alley 85, Lane 673, Chung Chen Road, Yi-Chia Village


A chain scraper conveyor has a conveyor line of linked segments so as to be curvable. A scraper chain runs in a conveying channel through the conveyor line. The scraper chain turns around chain drums in machine frames at the ends of the line, these being drivable to circulate the scraper chain and/or longitudinally adjustable to tension it. The conveyor has wheels so as to be bodily movable, e.g. by an integral caterpillar-track drive at one end, and for this reason includes a flexible tension element, preferably a round-link chain, that extends along the conveyor line under the channel and is fixed at its ends. The tension chain has lateral freedom relative to the segments, limited by side abutments. At curves (A, B) it can take up a substantially chordal relation to the center line of the conveyor so as to reduce stress on the scraper chain and the consequent tendency of the line to straighten out when being driven.

Curve conveyors constructed as chain scraper conveyors, capable of shifting in their longitudinal direction e.g. by being towed by a winning machine situated at the head and equipped with crawler tracks, are known in various constructional forms (DE-OS 37 27 272, DE-PS 32 41 129, DE-OS 33 39 404). Such self-moving curve conveyors are used e.g. in room and pillar retreating working or under similar conditions.
In curve chain scraper conveyors, the actual conveying line consists of a plurality of short conveyor segments (providing conveyor channel lengths or run sections) which are connected, leaving clearance adequate for curve formation, by means of screw bolts or other connecting elements in a tension-resistant but articulated manner. The length of the conveyor segments and the amount of axial freedom at the connection zones determine the curvability of the conveyor, i.e. the smallest possible curve radius of the conveyor. When travelling along a curved course, the channel joints open at the outer side of the curve. This involves increasing the central length of the conveyor line. This change in length must be permitted by the scraper chain, which for this reason is adjustable in its effective length and tension by means of a loading device. If the loading device used is e.g a hydraulic cylinder device associated with a turn-round drum for the scraper chain, this device must be constructed so that the cylinders can manage the excess pressure when curves are formed and the conveyor line is correspondingly altered in length. Moreover the conveyor segment butt ends are pressed against one another by the preloading of the scraper chain, at both sides when the course of the conveyor is straight, but only at the inner side of the curve in curved regions. The greater the preloading of the scraper chain, the greater the forces and restoring moments tending to return the conveying line to a straight course again.
When the conveyor is moved bodily in the longitudinal direction e.g. by crawler track running gear at its head end, or by a winch or the like, the entrainment of the conveying line is effected on the one hand by the friction of the conveyed material in the conveyor run and on the other hand in the form of thrust via the scraper chain band circulating about the return point or turn-round point at the rear machine frame. This means that when the curve conveyor is displaced during conveying work the scraper chain is additionally loaded by the high towing forces. These forces are also transmitted via any chain preloading device, so that the device has to be made substantially stronger. In the stationary state of the conveyor the preloading cylinder has then to be switched back to a lower pressure level, to avoid high wear caused by conveying with excessively strongly preloaded scraper chains.

Untertage Maschinenfabrik Dudweiler GmbH


The invention relates to an apparatus for measuring products, including at least one hopper for feeding the product, at least one cell intended to receive the product and provided with a means for opening and closing for arbitrary evacuation of the product after measurement, and a weighing sensor. The apparatus according to the invention is distinguished in that it includes a structure that is movably mounted to reciprocate vertically up and down with respect to a fixed frame, the structure including support means for said cell for driving it in its motion over at least part of its vertical course, and that the weighing sensor is mounted on a part of the fixed frame, and that it is arranged to support said ceil by assuring its measurement, in a predetermined position of the travel thereof, this position called the weighing position, from which a motion of the movable structure in one direction disunites the structure from the cell, while in the other direction, it is the sensor that is disunited from said cell. The invention also relates to a method for measurement by means of such an apparatus.

Various types of measurement equipment are available for performing measurements of cereal in grain form. These measurements may relate to several parameters, such as the test weight or test weight the weight for a given volume.
To measure the specific gravity, weighing must be done at a constant volume of the product in question. While the measurement of the test weight is undertaken, another measurement can be taken such as a measurement of the moisture content of the product, example.
Various types of equipment, which include a weighing sensor, are known for the purpose of performing multiple measurements of a product, but they have the particular disadvantage that the weighing sensor is under stress at all times. Such equipment also includes several motors or actuators for controlling the various devices for opening, closing or other actions.

Measurement apparatus and method for bulk products, including at least one weight measurement


A feeder is provided with a pushing member that pushes the carrier tape against a rail, an engaging member engageable with indexing holes of the carrier tape, and an interlocking mechanism that moves an engaging member upwards by interlocking with the upwards movement of the pushing member. The engaging member engages with indexing holes of the carrier to restrict the movement of the carrier tape to the insertion section side. The interlocking mechanism separates the engaging member from the indexing holes of the carrier tape by interlocking upwards movement of the engaging member with upwards movement of the pushing member, allowing movement of the carrier tape in the conveyance direction.

Feeders are used on component mounters that mount components on circuit boards (patent literature 1). The feeder rotates a sprocket that engages with indexing holes formed at regular intervals in the conveyance direction of the carrier tape so as to index carrier tape inserted into an insertion section in the conveyance direction along a rail. By this, the feeder supplies components to a removal section such that the components can be picked up by a component mounter.
Also, carrier tape is set such that the sprocket is rotated after the carrier tape has been inserted to a specified position at which the sprocket can engage with the indexing holes of the carrier tape. Disclosed in patent literature 2 is a non-splicing feeder that, when replenishing carrier tape to a feeder that is being used by a component mounter, enables continuous supply of components without the need to connect (splice) in-use carrier tape and replenishment carrier tape.
With the non-splicing feeder, replenishment carrier tape is inserted from the insertion section of the feeder to a specified position such that the replenishment carrier tape is on top of the in-use carrier tape. When the tail end of the in-use carrier tape passes the specified position, the replenishment carrier tape is pushed by a rail such that the sprocket engages with the indexing holes. Thus, the replenishment carrier tape is indexed by the rotation of the sprocket.


A camera system comprises a flash device and a focus detecting device capable of effecting the focus detection of a plurality of areas and adapted to make focus adjustment preferentially to the nearest object in the plurality of areas when the flash device is in a state in which it is capable of emitting light.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a camera system having flash means and focus detecting means.
2. Related Background Art
As a camera system having flash means and focus detecting means, there has heretofore been one as disclosed, for example, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 3-58036. This camera system has been such that a plurality of areas are distance-measured and the amount of emitted flashlight is determined on the basis of each bit of focus information.
Situations in which photographing is effected by the use of a flash device include slow synchro in which a person or persons are photographed in the nighttime with neon signs as the background, daylight synchro in which a person or persons are photographed against the light in the daytime, etc.
In case of the photographing of such scenes, the background is bright and strong in contrast as compared with a person or persons and therefore, a focus detecting apparatus capable of distance-measuring a plurality of areas, as it were, having a wide distance measuring area, has suffered from a serious problem of being liable to make focus adjustment to the background.


A removable orthotic insert for improving the gait of a person suffering from diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or other condition that impairs proper transfer of weight to the forefoot. There is a rigid cap member having a downwardly extending, transverse ridge located proximate the junction between the arch and forefoot portions of the insert, behind the metatarsal head area of the foot. The ridge engages the underlying insole of the shoe to form a pivot point that enables the insert to rock forwardly and rearwardly in the shoe. As the person""s foot moves through the gait cycle, the transfer of weight towards the forward end of the foot causes the rigid cap member to tilt forwardly in the shoe, enhancing the angular orientation of the foot as the toe-off position is reached.

a. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to orthotic foot appliances, and more particularly to an improved orthotic device for treatment of gait cycle disorders which frequently develop in patients suffering from diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and certain other conditions.
b. Background
Relevant to the background of the present invention, there will now be a discussion of the following: i) the main components or parts of the human leg and foot; ii) the proper gait cycle which a person goes through in a normal walking motion; and iii) the abnormal gait cycle which develops from diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis or other conditions which impair proper transfer of weight onto the forefoot when walking, and which is corrected by the present invention.
a) The Main Components or Parts of the Human Leg and Foot
With reference to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown a typical human foot 10, and the lower part 12 of the leg 14. The two lower bones of the leg 14 are the tibia 16 and the fibula 18. Below the tibia 16 and fibula 18, there is the talus 20 (i.e., the xe2x80x9cankle bonexe2x80x9d). Positioned below and rearwardly of the talus 20 is the calcaneus 22 (i.e., the xe2x80x9cheel bonexe2x80x9d). Positioned moderately below and forward of the talus 20 are the navicular 24 and the cuboid 26. Extending forwardly from the navicular 24 are the three cuneiform bones 28. Extending forwardly from the cuneiform bones 28 and from the cuboid 26 are the five metatarsals 30. Forwardly of the metatarsals 30 are the phalanges 32 which make up the five toes 34.
The movement of the talus 20 relative to the tibia 16 and fibula 18 is such that it enables the entire foot to be articulated upwardly and downwardly (in the motion of raising or lowering the forward part of the foot). However, the talus 20 is connected to the tibia 16 and fibula 18 in such a way that when the entire leg 14 is rotated about its vertical axis (i.e., the axis extending the length of the leg), the talus 20 rotates with the leg 14.
With regard to the relationship of the talus 20 to the calcaneus 22, these move relative to one another about what is called the xe2x80x9csubtalar jointxe2x80x9d indicated at 36. The subtalar joint 36 can be described generally as a hinge joint about which the talus 20 and calcaneus 22 articulate relative to one another. The hinge axis extends upwardly and forwardly at an angle of about 42xc2x0 from the horizontal, and also slants forwardly and inwardly at a moderate angle (e.g., about 16xc2x0 from a straightforward direction). There is also the midtarsal joint 38, which is in reality composed of two separate joints, the talo-navicular and the calcaneal-cuboid.
b) Gate Cycle of a Normal Foot
During the normal walking motion, the hip (i.e., the pelvis) moves on a transverse plane. Also, the femur (i.e., the leg bone between the knee joint and the hip) and the tibia rotate about an axis parallel to the length of the person""s leg. This rotation of the leg about its vertical axis is interdependent with the pronating and supinating of the foot during the gait cycle. There is also flexion and extension of the knee and the ankle joint.
At the beginning of the normal gait cycle the heel of the forwardly positioned leg strikes the ground, after which the forward part of the foot rotates downwardly into ground engagement. The leg then continues through its walking motion to extend rearwardly and the person pushes off from the ball of the foot as the other leg comes into ground engagement.
The phases that make up the gait cycle can be seen in FIG. 4. When the leg is swung forwardly and makes initial ground contact, at the moment of ground contact the leg is rotated moderately to the outside (i.e., the knee of the leg is at a more outward position away from the centerline of the body) so that the foot is more toward the supinated position. However, as the person moves further through the gait cycle toward the 25% position, the leg rotates about its vertical axis in an inside direction so that the subtalar joint is pronating. The effect of this is to rotate the heel of the foot so that the point of pressure or contact moves forwardly from an outside rear heel location (shown at 52 in FIG. 5) towards the location indicated at 54 in FIG. 5. This pronating of the subtalar joint 36 produces a degree of relaxation of the midtarsal joint 38 and subsequent relaxation of the other stabilization mechanisms within the arch of the foot, which reduces the potential shock that would otherwise be imparted to the foot by the forward part of the foot making ground contact.
With further movement from the 25% to the 75% position, the leg rotates in an opposite direction (i.e., to the outside so that the midtarsal joint 38 becomes supinated at the 75% location of FIG. 4. This locks the midtarsal joint 38 so that the person is then able to operate his foot as a rigid lever so as to rise up onto the ball of the foot and push off as the other leg moves into ground contact at a more forward location.
With reference again to FIG. 5, it will be seen that the initial pressure at ground contact is at 52 and moves laterally across the heel to the location at 54. Thereafter, the pressure center moves rather quickly along the broken line indicated at 56 toward the ball of the foot. As the person pushes off from the ball of the foot and then to some extent from the toes of the foot, the center of pressure moves to the location at 58.
c) Abnormal Gait Cycle of the Foot of a Person Suffering From Diabetes or Rheumatoid Arthritis
FIG. 6 shows a side view of the foot 60 of a person suffering from diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis, this view being essentially identical to the corresponding view of the normal foot that is shown in FIG. 2.
A common problem is that people suffering from these conditions tend to avoid using their toes when they walk. Typically, this is because of the pain that exists in the areas of the ball of the foot 62 (under the metatarsal heads) and the toes 64. Furthermore, in the case of a diabetic condition, the poor circulation caused by this disease frequently leads to the development of painful sores in those areas which are subjected to repeated pressure or friction, again especially under the ball of the foot and toes.
Because of the discomfort, a person suffering from rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes learns more or less unconsciously to minimize the pressure on the forward portion of the foot when walking, resulting in the abnormal gait cycle that is illustrated in FIG. 7. These views show the person""s right foot and lower leg, and correspond to the views shown in FIG. 4. As can be seen, during the initial phases the action of the person""s foot is essentially the same as in a normal gait cycle. However, when the person""s foot moves from the 50% point towards the 75% point in the cycle, as is shown in the fourth view, the weight begins to be transferred forwardly and generally towards the area of the first metatarsal head, as indicated above with reference to FIG. 5. If rheumatoid arthritis is present in the forefoot area, this causes the person significant pain or discomfort, which tends to increase in intensity as the weight moves forwardly towards the toes. Consequently, the person seeks to reduce the pain by avoiding transfer of weight forwardly beyond the ball of the foot, with the result that the normal xe2x80x9ctoe-offxe2x80x9d action does not occur; instead, the foot is lifted away from the ground more or less horizontally at the end of the gait cycle, as is shown in the right-hand view of FIG. 7.
Over time, this action becomes automatic, so that the person develops a shuffling gait in which the feet simply flatten out after heel strike and then lift off again in a horizontal orientation. This abnormal gait cycle is extremely inefficient, and frequently leads to development of other problems in the person""s feet and legs. Moreover, the constant pressure on the ball of the foot at the end of the abortive gait cycle tends to xe2x80x9csqueezexe2x80x9d the blood out of the comparatively thin layer of tissue that exists under the bones in this part of the foot, eventually leading to development of sores and serious tissue damage.
Although the shuffling gait cycle and lack of toe-off described above are commonly associated with rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes, it will be understood that there are other conditions affecting the leg and/or foot that can lead to similar problems. For example, a condition of functional hallux limitus (often resulting from arthritis in or at the base of the large toe, from an elevated first ray, or from some other structural malformity) can precipitate foot and gait problems very much like those described above.
There have been previous attempts to treat these problems by devising a special shoe having a rocker bottom, in an effort to move the person""s foot into more of a toe-off position before the end of the gait cycle. However, this solution is excessively expensive and the special shoes are uncomfortable and difficult to use, especially for elderly patients. However, if the condition is left untreated additional foot and leg problems can develop, and in some cases the damage to the foot may progress to the point where a partial or full amputation is required.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a device which facilitates proper toe-off by the foot at the end of the gait cycle, so as to ensure proper foot motion and avoid development of an improper shuffling gait, particularly in individuals suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, functional hallux limitus or other conditions that prevent the normal transfer of weight onto the forefoot portion of the foot. Furthermore, there exists a need for such a device that induces proper toe-off at the end of the gait cycle without causing pain in toes and forefoot portions of a foot of a person suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes or similar condition. Still further, there exists a need for such a device that can be used with a conventional shoe, both for convenience and to minimize the cost to the user, and also to permit the user to employ a single device or pair of devices with several different shoes. Still further, there exists a need for such a device that can be shaped to meet the contours and specific requirements of the feet of individual users. Still further, there exists a need for such a device that can be manufactured in a quick, efficient and economical manner, and that is durable and long lasting and will sustain extended use without collapsing, breaking, or otherwise undergoing significant deterioration.
The present invention has solved the problems cited above, and is an orthotic insert that is removably insertable in a shoe for providing enhanced orientation of a foot at the toe-off position of the gait cycle.
Broadly, the insert comprises a substantially rigid cap member for engaging a plantar surface of a person""s foot, the cap member having a rearward portion for extending beneath an arch and rearfoot portion of a person""s foot, a forward portion for extending to a position at least proximal the metatarsal head portion of the foot, and a ridge portion extending downwardly from the cap member proximate the junction between the forward and rearward portions thereof for engaging an upper surface of an insole of the shoe so as to form a pivot point that causes the cap member to tilt forwardly in response to a shift in weight from the rearfoot portion to the forefoot portion of the foot, so that as weight shifts forwardly on the foot as the orthotic insert tilts forwardly in the shoe so as to orientate the foot at increased forward angle at the toe-off position of the gait cycle.
A ridge portion may extend transversally across the bottom of the rigid cap member, and may be formed integrally with the cap member. The ridge portion may extend at an angle that is substantially parallel to an angle of a row of metatarsal heads of the foot. The transverse ridge portion may be positioned proximate to and slightly rearwardly of the metatarsal head area of the foot, so that the cap member tilts forwardly in response to weight being transferred forwardly towards the metatarsal head area.
The rearward portion of the rigid cap member may include a curved arch portion following an arch portion of the foot, while the forward portion of the cap member may include a metatarsal flange portion for extending forwardly beneath the metatarsal head area of the foot along the transverse plane of the foot. The ridge portion may be formed substantially level with the flange portion of the cap member, at a location a spaced distance rearwardly from a position of the metatarsal head area of the foot, so that at this location the ridge portion extends a predetermined vertical height below the arch portion of the cap member.
The rigid cap member of the insert may have a forward edge for being positioned proximate the metatarsal head area of the foot. The forward edge of the cap member may extend at an angle substantially parallel to the angle of the row of metatarsal heads of the foot. The insert may further comprise a forefoot extension mounted to the flange portion and extending forwardly therefrom for transmitting downward forces from the forefoot portion of the foot to the flange portion of the cap member. The forefoot extension may comprise a layer of resiliently cushioning material mounted to the flange portion of the cap member.
The rigid cap member may be formed of at least one layer of fiber-resin material. The insert may further comprise a resilient, cushioning blank member mounted atop the rigid cap member for engaging a plantar surface of the foot.

Orthotic for improving toe-off action of human foot


The shear velocity of a region of an earth formation may be determined by a logging tool insertable in a wellbore penetrating the formation which includes plural transducers for generating compressional waves for transmission through the formation as shear wave between the signal generating transducers and an array of signal receiving transducers spaced from the signal generating transducers. The transducers may be plural in number and arranged to effect impingement of the compressional wave on the borehole wall at an angle of incidence preferably in the range of 35.degree. to 75.degree. to a normal to the wall surface. The transducer array is controlled so that a significant portion of the compressional wave energy transmitted through liquid in the wellbore is converted to shear waves at the wellbore wall, which shear waves constructively interfere to develop a torsional wave propagating along the wellbore between the transducers and the receiver elements. Strong shear waves are thus generated in formation materials where the shear velocity may not be otherwise measurable.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to an acoustic logging tool adapted to generate shear waves in an earth formation having a torsional propagation characteristic with respect to the borehole axis.
2. Background
In acoustic well logging, an array of acoustic transducer elements for both transmission and receiving of acoustic wave signals may be arranged in a sonde or tool which is disposed in the wellbore to provide information
useful in indicating certain conditions and properties of
the formation in the vicinity of the tool. The acoustic waves generated by the tool are typically characterized as compression waves, shear waves, and pseudo-rayleigh waves.
Certain formation properties and characteristics may be determined by measuring the shear wave velocity in the formation with respect to or about the borehole axis. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,593,255 to White, U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,525 to Angona et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,526 to Winbow et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,308 to Chung, U.S. Pat. No. 4,698,792 to Kurkjian et al, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,803 to Mallett et al and European Patent Publication No. 0224372 to Mobil Oil Corporation disclose various aspects of shear wave generating and receiving apparatus for acoustic well logging tools. However, all of these references discuss shear wave tools which generate radially outwardly directed pulses of acoustic energy in different patterns to "flex" or "pluck" the formation around the wellbore by pushing it, in effect, sideways at some point and this disturbance then propagates axially. However, by torsionally deflecting the formation around the wellbore in accordance with the method and apparatus of the present invention a fundamentally different propagation mode is developed and different formation characteristics may be measured and used in analysis of formation properties for various purposes.


The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions include a novel nucleotide sequence for a root-preferred and inducible promoter for the gene encoding a soybean ripening-related protein. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequences disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises stably incorporating into the genome of a plant cell a nucleotide sequence operably linked to the root-preferred promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant that expresses the nucleotide sequence.

Recent advances in plant genetic engineering have enabled the engineering of plants having improved characteristics or traits, such as disease resistance, insect resistance, herbicide resistance, enhanced stability or shelf-life of the ultimate consumer product obtained from the plants and improvement of the nutritional quality of the edible portions of the plant. Thus, one or more desired genes from a source different than the plant, but engineered to impart different or improved characteristics or qualities, can be incorporated into the plant's genome. New gene(s) can then be expressed in the plant cell to exhibit the desired phenotype such as a new trait or characteristic.
The proper regulatory signals must be present and be in the proper location with respect to the gene in order to obtain expression of the newly inserted gene in the plant cell. These regulatory signals may include, but are not limited to, a promoter region, a 5′ non-translated leader sequence and a 3′ transcription termination/polyadenylation sequence.
A promoter is a DNA sequence that directs cellular machinery of a plant to produce RNA from the contiguous coding sequence downstream (3′) of the promoter. The promoter region influences the rate, developmental stage, and cell type in which the RNA transcript of the gene is made. The RNA transcript is processed to produce messenger RNA (mRNA) which serves as a template for translation of the RNA sequence into the amino acid sequence of the encoded polypeptide. The 5′ non-translated leader sequence is a region of the mRNA upstream of the protein-coding region that may play a role in initiation and translation of the mRNA. The 3′ transcription termination/polyadenylation signal is a non-translated region downstream of the protein coding region that functions in the plant cells to cause termination of the RNA transcript and the addition of polyadenylate nucleotides to the 3′ end of the RNA.
Expression of heterologous DNA sequences in a plant host is dependent upon the presence of an operably linked promoter that is functional within the plant host. The type of promoter sequence chosen is based on when and where within the organism expression of the heterologous DNA is desired. Where expression in specific tissues or organs is desired, tissue-preferred promoters may be used. Where gene expression in response to a stimulus is desired, inducible promoters are the regulatory element of choice. In contrast, where continuous expression is desired throughout the cells of a plant, constitutive promoters are utilized.
An inducible promoter is a promoter that is capable of directly or indirectly activating transcription of one or more DNA sequences or genes in response to an inducer. In the absence of an inducer, the DNA sequences or genes will not be transcribed, or will be transcribed at a level lower than in an induced state. The inducer can be a chemical agent, such as a metabolite, growth regulator, herbicide or phenolic compound, or a physiological stress directly imposed upon the plant such as cold, drought, heat, salt, toxins. In the case of fighting plant pests, it is also desirable to have a promoter which is induced by plant pathogens, including plant insect pests, nematodes or disease agents such as a bacterium, virus or fungus. Contact with the pathogen will induce activation of transcription, such that a pathogen-fighting protein will be produced at a time when it will be effective in defending the plant. A pathogen-induced promoter may also be used to detect contact with a pathogen, for example by expression of a detectable marker, so that the need for application of pesticides can be assessed. A plant cell containing an inducible promoter may be exposed to an inducer by externally applying the inducer to the cell or plant such as by spraying, watering, heating, or by exposure to the operative pathogen.
A constitutive promoter is a promoter that directs expression of a gene throughout the various parts of a plant and continuously throughout plant development. Examples of some constitutive promoters that are widely used for inducing the expression of heterologous genes in transgenic plants include the nopaline synthase (NOS) gene promoter, from Agrobacterium tumefaciens, (U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,322), the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S and 19S promoters (U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,605), those derived from any of the several actin genes, which are known to be expressed in most cells types (U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,068), and the ubiquitin promoter, which is a gene product known to accumulate in many cell types.
Additional regulatory sequences upstream and/or downstream from the core promoter sequence may be included in expression constructs of transformation vectors to bring about varying levels of expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a transgenic plant. Genetically altering plants through the use of genetic engineering techniques to produce plants with useful traits thus requires the availability of a variety of promoters.
In order to maximize the commercial application of transgenic plant technology, it may be useful to direct the expression of the introduced DNA in a site-specific manner. For example, it may be useful to produce toxic defensive compounds in tissues subject to pathogen attack, but not in tissues that are to be harvested and eaten by consumers. By site-directing the synthesis or storage of desirable proteins or compounds, plants can be manipulated as factories, or production systems, for a tremendous variety of compounds with commercial utility. Cell-specific promoters provide the ability to direct the synthesis of compounds, spatially and temporally, to highly specialized tissues or organs, such as roots, leaves, vascular tissues, embryos, seeds, or flowers.
Alternatively, it may be useful to inhibit expression of a native DNA sequence within a plant's tissues to achieve a desired phenotype. Such inhibition might be accomplished with transformation of the plant to comprise a tissue-preferred promoter operably linked to an antisense nucleotide sequence, such that expression of the antisense sequence produces an RNA transcript that interferes with translation of the mRNA of the native DNA sequence.
Of particular interest are promoters that are induced by plant pathogens. Pathogen infection, such as nematode infection, is a significant problem in the farming of many agriculturally significant crops. For example, soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines, herein referred to as "SCN") is a widespread pest that causes substantial damage to soybeans every year. Such damage is the result of the stunting of the soybean plant caused by the cyst nematode. The stunted plants have smaller root systems, show symptoms of mineral deficiencies in their leaves, and wilt easily. The soybean cyst nematode is believed to be responsible for yield losses in soybeans that are estimated to be in excess of $1 billion per year in North America. Other pathogenic nematodes of significance to agriculture include the potato cyst nematodes Globodera rostochiensis and Globodera pallida, which are key pests of the potato, while the beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii is a major problem for sugar beet growers in Europe and the United States.
The primary method of controlling nematodes has been through the application of highly toxic chemical compounds. The widespread use of chemical compounds poses many problems with regard to the environment because of the non-selectivity of the compounds and the development of insect resistance to the chemicals. Nematicides such as Aldicarb and its breakdown products are known to be highly toxic to mammals. As a result, government restrictions have been imposed on the use of these chemicals. The most widely used nematicide, methyl bromide, is scheduled to be soon retired from use, and at present, there is no promising candidate to replace this treatment. Thus, there is a great need for effective, non-chemical methods and compositions for nematode control.
Various approaches to pest control have been tried including the use of biological organisms which are typically "natural predators" of the species sought to be controlled. Such predators may include other insects, fungi, and bacteria such as Bacillus thuringiensis. Alternatively, large colonies of insect pests have been raised in captivity sterilized and released into the environment in the hope that mating between the sterilized insects and fecund wild insects will decrease the insect population. While these approaches have had some success, they entail considerable expense and present several major difficulties. For example, it is difficult both to apply biological organisms to large areas and to cause such living organisms to remain in the treated area or on the treated plant species for an extended time. Predator insects can migrate and fungi or bacteria can be washed off of a plant or removed from a treated area by rain. Consequently, while the use of such biological controls has desirable characteristics and has met with some success, in practice these methods have not achieved the goal of controlling nematode damage to crops.
Advances in biotechnology have presented new opportunities for pest control through genetic engineering. In particular, advances in plant genetics coupled with the identification of insect growth factors and naturally-occurring plant defensive compounds or agents offer the opportunity to create transgenic crop plants capable of producing such defensive agents and thereby protect the plants against insect attack and resulting plant disease.
Additional obstacles to pest control are posed by certain pests. For example, it is known that certain nematodes, such as the soybean cyst nematode ("SCN"), can inhibit certain plant gene expression at the nematode feeding site (see Gheysen and Fenoll (2002) Annu Rev Phytopathol 40:191-219). Thus, in implementing a transgenic approach to pest control, an important factor is to increase the expression of desirable genes in response to pathogen attack. Consequently, there is a continued need for the controlled expression of genes deleterious to pests in response to plant damage.
One promising method for nematode control is the production of transgenic plants that are resistant to nematode infection and reproduction. For example, with the use of nematode-inducible promoters, plants can be genetically altered to express nematicidal proteins in response to exposure to nematodes. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,252,138, herein incorporated by reference. Alternatively, some methods use a combination of both nematode-inducible and nematode-repressible promoters to obtain nematode resistance. Thus, WO 92/21757, herein incorporated by reference, discusses the use of a two promoter system for disrupting nematode feeding sites where one nematode-inducible promoter drives expression of a toxic product that kills the plant cells at the feeding site while the other nematode-repressible promoter drives expression of a gene product that inactivates the toxic product of the first promoter under circumstances in which nematodes are not present, thereby allowing for tighter control of the deleterious effects of the toxic product on plant tissue. Similarly, with the use of proteins having a deleterious effect on nematodes, plants can be genetically altered to express such deleterious proteins in response to nematode attack.
Although these methods have potential for the treatment of nematode infection and reproduction, their effectiveness is heavily dependent upon the characteristics of the nematode-inducible or nematode-repressible promoters discussed above, as well as the deleterious properties of the proteins thereby expressed. Thus, such factors as the strength of such nematode-responsive promoters, degree of induction or repression, tissue specificity, or the like can all alter the effectiveness of these disease resistance methods. Similarly, the degree of toxicity of a gene product to nematodes, the protein's longevity after consumption by the nematode, or the like can alter the degree to which the protein is useful in controlling nematodes. Consequently, there is a continued need for the identification of nematode-responsive promoters and nematode-control genes for use in promoting nematode resistance.

Soybean root-preferred, nematode-inducible promoter and methods of use


A processor on a delegator receives an input upon which an expensive function is to be evaluated. The delegator incorporates the input into a request to perform a task that is different from evaluating the function. When the task is performed, it provides a secondary result that is observable by the delegator. The secondary result is different from an answer to the expensive function and can be verified by the delegator with less computational expense than evaluation of the expensive function. The task can be performed by the server only after the server has verifiably evaluated the function based on the input. Request data, that is indicative of the request to perform a task with the input incorporated therein is transmitted to the server for performance of the task. The delegator then receives a returned result from the server indicative of the server performing the task. The returned result has a value that reflects both an answer to which the server has evaluated the function, and whether the answer is verified as being correct.

In some current computing environments, some users require computations to be performed that are very computationally expensive in that they require a great deal of time or computational resources, or both. However, it is often the case that such users do not have, at their disposal, sufficient computational resources to perform the expensive computations in any sort of efficient manner. Therefore, such computations are sometimes outsourced, or delegated, to a more powerful resource, such as a server. Thus, for instance, when the user receives an input that requires the expensive computation, the user sends the input off (or delegates it) to the server for performance of the expensive computation on the input. The server then returns the result to the user (or delegator).
However, there can be incentives for the server to perform a calculation in a way that is less costly, but often less accurate, than otherwise. Therefore, it can be beneficial for the delegator to be able to verify the answer returned by the server.
One way to address this problem is to simply have the delegator repeat the expensive calculation to verify the answer returned by the server. This, however, is highly inefficient in that the delegator must perform the expensive computation which has been outsourced. Alternatively, the delegator can verify only some of the results returned by the server. This also has drawbacks because the more results that are verified, the lower the efficiency of the overall computation.
Other ways of verifying an outsourced computation often involve a highly interactive verification process. That is, there are a relatively large number of interactions between the delegator and the server, in order to verify that the computation is indeed correct.
Other problems exist with outsourcing computations as well. Some systems allow the server to observe whether the delegator accepts or rejects the result returned by the server. With many iterations, the server can slowly learn the techniques used for verification by the delegator, and can then, eventually, mislead the user into accepting an incorrect answer.
Also, in many current systems, the server returns the result of the expensive computation, and the delegator must then perform a separate operation to verify the accuracy of the result. That is, the performance of the expensive computation, and the verification of the result of that computation, are two separate processes, often requiring two separate components.
Data encryption has been employed using a public and private key architecture. In such an architecture, a public key is generated and published, and a private or secret key is also generated and secretly shared with those entities that are allowed to decrypt data. When data is encrypted, it is encrypted using the public key and the only entity that can decrypt the data is one who has the private key.
Attribute based encryption is a type of encryption that is commonly employed in an environment where a message is encrypted, but the entity that encrypts the message does not necessarily know who will be accessing the data. In general, the data can be encrypted to any predefined set of attributes. The data is encrypted to a set of attributes, and the entity that is decrypting the data has a secret key that is associated with a predefined access policy. If the decryption entity has a secret key associated with an access policy, and the set of attributes that the data is encrypted under satisfies the access policy, then and only then can the decrypting entity successfully decrypt the data.
A type of attribute-based encryption, referred to as "key policy attribute-based encryption" (KP-ABE), is a type of attribute-based encryption wherein each user's private key has an associated access structure which specifies the type of ciphertext the private key can successfully decrypt. If the user's access structure is satisfied by the set of attributes that the ciphertext is encrypted under, then the user can decrypt the ciphertext. Otherwise, the secret key corresponding to the access structure is useless to the decryption entity.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Non-interactive verifiable, delegated computation


This invention relates to macrocyclic compounds of formula (I) shown in the specification. These compounds can be used to treat hepatitis C virus infection.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV), a (+)-sense single-stranded RNA virus, is the major causative agent for most cases of non-A, non-B hepatitis. Infection by HCV is a compelling human health problem. See, e.g., WO 05/007681; WO 89/04669; EP 381216; Alberti et al., J. Hepatology, 31 (Suppl. 1), 17-24 (1999); Alter, J. Hepatology, 31 (Suppl. 1), 88-91 (1999); and Lavanchy, J. Viral Hepatitis, 6, 35-47 (1999).
Hepatitis caused by HCV infection is difficult to treat since the virus can quickly mutate and escape the natural immune response. The only anti-HCV therapies currently available are interferon-α, interferon-α/ribavirin combination, and pegylated interferon-α. However, sustained response rates for interferon-α or interferon-α/ribavirin combination were found to be <50% and patients suffer greatly from side effects of these therapeutic agents. See, e.g., Walker, DDT, 4, 518-529 (1999); Weiland, FEMS Microbial. Rev., 14, 279-288 (1994); and WO 02/18369. Thus, there remains a need for developing more effective and better-tolerated therapeutic drugs.
An HCV protease necessary for viral replication contains about 3000 amino acids. It includes a nucleocapsid protein (C), envelope proteins (E1 and E2), and several non-structural proteins (NS2, NS3, NS4a, NS5a, and NS5b).
NS3 protein possesses serine protease activity and is considered essential for viral replication and infectivity. The essentiality of the NS3 protease was inferred from the fact that mutations in the yellow fever virus NS3 protease decreased viral infectivity. See, e.g., Chamber et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87, 8898-8902 (1990). It was also demonstrated that mutations at the active site of the HCV NS3 protease completely inhibited the HCV infection in chimpanzee model. See, e.g., Rice et al., J. Virol. 74 (4) 2046-51 (2000). Further, the HCV NS3 protease was found to facilitate proteolysis at the NS3/NS4a, NS4a/NS4b, NS4b/NS5a, NS5a/NS5b junctions and was thus responsible for generating four viral proteins during viral replication. See, e.g., US 2003/0207861. Consequently, the HCV NS3 protease enzyme is an attractive target in treating HCV infection. Potential NS3 HCV protease inhibitors can be found in WO 02/18369, WO 00/09558, WO 00/09543, WO 99/64442, WO 99/07733, WO 99/07734, WO 99/50230, WO 98/46630, WO 98/17679, WO 97/43310, U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,276, Dunsdon et al., Biorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 10, 1571-1579 (2000); Llinas-Brunet et al., Biorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 10, 2267-2270 (2000); and S. LaPlante et al., Biorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 10, 2271-2274 (2000).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An extendable golf club having threadably intercoupled upper and lower shaft sections. The golf club can be extended by threadably coupling one or more spacers between the upper and lower shaft sections and tightening a set screw into engagement with a spacer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to athletic equipment having shafts which can be adjusted in length. In another aspect, the invention concerns a golf club having a shaft which is extendable to accommodate a user""s increased height.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The game of golf is becoming increasingly popular with both adults and children. As a result of golf""s popularity among children, manufacturers now produce golf clubs in a variety of lengths to accommodate people of all sizes. However, purchasing a golf club of a shorter length does not allow a growing child to use the club for very long. As the young golfer grows, he or she must continually replace the club as it becomes too short for proper use.
Prior art golf clubs employing extendable shafts typically have one or all of the following disadvantages: (1) The extendable shaft is not strong enough to withstand repeated impacting of a standard golf ball; (2) the extendable shaft is too heavy compared to high quality non-extendable shafts; (3) the extendable shaft is not sufficiently flexible relative to high quality non-extendable shafts; (4) the extendable shaft is difficult to properly extend; and/or (5) the extendable shaft is not as aesthetically pleasing as a standard shaft due to the irregular shape of the shaft segments and the joints between shaft segments.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an extendable golf club having a shaft that is similar in weight, strength, flexibility, and appearance to a standard, non-extendable, high quality golf club shaft.
A further object of the invention is to provide an extendable golf club employing a relatively simple method of extending the length of the golf club shaft.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an extendable golf club that utilizes substantially identical shaft-lengthening spacer segments, thereby reducing the overall cost of manufacturing the extendable golf club.
It should be understood that the above-listed objects of the present invention need not all be accomplished by the invention claimed herein. Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, claims, and drawing figures.
Accordingly, in one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an extendable golf club comprising a shaft and a first spacer for lengthening the shaft. The shaft includes a first section, a second section, and a set screw threadably received in the first section. The golf club is shiftable from a first configuration wherein the first spacer is entirely detached and spaced from the shaft to a second configuration wherein the first spacer is coupled between the first and second sections to thereby lengthen the shaft relative to the first configuration. The set screw engages the second section when the golf club is in the first configuration, thereby releasably coupling the first and second sections to one another. The set screw engages the first spacer when the golf club is in the second configuration, thereby releasably coupling the first section and the first spacer to one another.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an extendable golf club comprising a shaft and a first spacer for lengthening the shaft. The shaft includes first and second sections. The golf club is shiftable from a first configuration wherein the first spacer is entirely detached and spaced from the shaft to a second configuration wherein the first spacer is threadably coupled between the first and second sections to thereby lengthen the shaft relative to the first configuration. The first and second sections are threadably intercoupled when the golf club is in the first configuration. The first spacer includes an adhesive capsule when the golf club is in the first configuration. The adhesive capsule is adapted to rupture when the golf club is shifted from the first configuration to the second configuration to thereby permanently couple the first spacer to the second section.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an extendable golf club comprising a shaft and a first spacer for lengthening the shaft. The shaft includes a first section, a second section, and a set screw threadably received in the first section. The golf club is shiftable from a first configuration wherein the first spacer is entirely detached and spaced from the shaft to a second configuration wherein the first spacer is threadably coupled between the first and second sections to thereby lengthen the shaft relative to the first configuration. The first section includes a female end portion, while the second section includes a male end portion. The male end portion is threadably received in the female end portion with the set screw engaging the male end portion when the golf club is in the first configuration. The first spacer includes a male projection and a female opening. The male end portion of the second section is threadably received in the female opening of the first spacer and the male projection of the first spacer is threadably received in the female end portion of the first section when the golf club is in the second configuration. The set screw engages the male projection of the first spacer when the golf club is in the second configuration. The first spacer includes an adhesive capsule located in the female opening when the golf club is in the first configuration. The adhesive capsule is adapted to be ruptured by the male end portion of the second section when the golf club is shifted from the first configuration to the second configuration, thereby permanently fixing the first spacer to the second section.
In a still further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of lengthening a golf club having a threadably interconnectable first and second shaft sections. The method comprises the steps of: (a) loosening a set screw threadably received in the first shaft section, thereby shifting the set screw out of engagement with the second shaft section; (b) unscrewing the second shaft section from the first shaft section, thereby decoupling the shaft sections from one another; (c) threadably coupling a first spacer between the first and second shaft sections, thereby lengthening the golf club; and (d) tightening the set screw into engagement with the first spacer, thereby releasably locking the first spacer to the first shaft section.

Extendable golf club having interlockable spacer segments


Compounds of Formula I, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, are set forth, in addition to compositions and methods of using these compounds. The compounds have activity against hepatitis C virus (HCV) and may be useful in treating those infected with HCV.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronically infects an estimated 170 million people worldwide, with 3 to 4 million infected individuals in the United States alone (Boyer, N. and Marcellin, P. J. Hepatology. 2000, 32:98-112; Alter, M. J., et al. Engl. J. Med. 1999, 341:556-562). Prior to the mid 1990s, transfusion with infected blood products was the main route of HCV transmission. Following the introduction of blood screening methods, transmission via injection drug use became the primary risk factor. Chronic infection often leads to the development of severe liver complications, including fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. HCV infection is also the leading cause of orthotopic liver transplantation in the United States. The degree to which disease progression is related to viral and cellular factors is not completely understood.
Considerable heterogeneity is found within the nucleotide and encoded amino acid sequence of the HCV genome (Simmonds, P. J. Gen. Virology. 2004, 85:3173-3188). Based on this sequence diversity, six major genotypes and multiple associated subtypes have been described. The genotypes of HCV differ in their worldwide distribution, and the clinical significance of the genetic heterogeneity of HCV remains elusive despite numerous studies of the possible effect of genotypes on pathogenesis and therapy.
Medical treatment for HCV is limited by the lack of a vaccine or approved therapies that specifically target the virus. Currently, patients undergo treatment with a combination of parenterally administered pegylated alpha-interferon and oral ribavirin. Genotype 1 HCV is the most difficult to treat and elimination of the virus (sustained virologic response) is achieved for only approximately 50% of patients (Fried, M. W. et al. N. Engl. J. Med. 2002, 347:975-982; Zeumzem, S. Nature Clinical Practice. 2008, 5:610-622). This poor treatment response, combined with often severe side effects induced by therapy, highlight a need for improved antiviral drugs with better efficacy and safety profiles.
HCV is a member of the Flaviviridae family of viruses with a single-stranded positive-sense RNA genome. Following infection of host cells, the 9.6 Kb genome is translated into a polyprotein precursor of approximately 3,000 amino acids (reviewed in Lindenbach, B. D. and Rice, C. M. Nature. 2005, 436:933-938; Moradpour, D, Penin, F., and Rice, C. M. Nature Reviews. 2007, 5:453-463). Post-translational processing by both cellular and viral proteases results in the generation of at least 10 separate viral proteins. The structural proteins (which by definition are found in mature virions) include core, E1, E2, and possibly p7, and originate from the amino-terminal region of the polyprotein. The core protein assembles into the viral nucleocapsid. The E1 and E2 glycoproteins form heterodimers that are found within the lipid envelope surrounding the viral particles, and mediate host cell receptor binding and entry of the virus into cells. It is unclear if p7 is a structural protein, and its role in replication has yet to be defined. However p7 is believed to form an ion channel in cellular membranes, preventing acidification of intracellular compartments in which virions are assembled, and it has been shown to be essential for viral replication and assembly. The nonstructural proteins NS2, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A, and NS5B are produced through maturational cleavages of the carboxy-terminal region of the polyprotein. NS2 along with the amino terminus of NS3 form the NS2-3 metalloprotease which cleaves at the NS2-NS3 junction. Additionally, NS2 is involved in assembly and egress of nascent virions. The NS3 protein contains both a serine protease in its amino-terminal region, and a nucleotide-dependent RNA helicase in its carboxy-terminal region. NS3 forms a heterodimer with the NS4A protein, constituting the active protease which mediates cleavages of the polyprotein downstream of NS3, both in cis, at the NS3-NS4A cleavage site, and in trans, for the remaining NS4A-NS4B, NS4B-NS5A, NS5A-NS5B sites. The complex formation of the NS3 protein with NS4A seems necessary to the processing events, enhancing the proteolytic efficiency at all of the sites. The NS3 protein also exhibits nucleoside triphosphatase and RNA helicase activities. The NS4B protein has been shown to be important for localization of HCV proteins into replication complexes in altered membranous structures within the cell. NS5B encodes an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase that is involved in the replication of HCV.
Subgenomic HCV replicons, containing the untranslated regions 5′ and 3′ to the coding sequence fused to the nonstructural proteins or the full-length polyprotein, are competent for translation, viral protein expression, and replication within cultured cells (Lohmann, V. et al. Science. 1999, 285:110-113; Moradpour, D, Penin, F., and Rice, C. M. Nature Reviews. 2007, 5:453-463). The replicon system has proven valuable for the identification of inhibitors targeting the nonstructural proteins associated with these functions. However, only limited subsets of HCV genotypes have been used to generate functional replicons.
Other systems have been used to study the biology of the HCV structural proteins that mediate the entry into host cells. For example, virus-like-particles made in recombinant baculovirus-infected cells with the HCV core, E1 and E2 proteins have also been used to study the function of the HCV E1 and E2 proteins (Barth, H., et al. J. Biol. Chem. 2003, 278:41003-41012). In addition, pseudotyping systems where the E1 and E2 glycoproteins are used to functionally replace the glycoproteins of retroviruses have been developed (Bartosch, B., Dubuisson, J. and Cosset, F.-L. J. Exp. Med. 2003, 197:633-642; Hsu, M. et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 2003, 100:7271-7276). These systems yield HCV pseudoparticles that bind to and enter host cells in a manner which is believed to be analogous to the natural virus, thus making them a convenient tool to study the viral entry steps as well as to identify inhibitors block this process.
Recently, a full-length genotype 2a HCV clone, JFH1, was isolated and demonstrated the ability to replicate in vitro. Through repeated passage and adaptation in cell culture increased titers of infectious virus were produced (Lindenbach, B. D., et al. Science. 2005, 309:623-626; Wakita, T. et al. Nature Med. 2005, 11:791-796). In contrast to the HCV replicon or pseudotyping systems, the infectious virus is useful for studying the complete HCV replication cycle, including identifying inhibitors of not only the replication proteins, but those involved in early steps in virus infection (entry and uncoating) and production of progeny viruses (genome packaging, nucleocapsid assembly, virion envelopment and egress).
Triazines have been disclosed. See WO 2009/091388 and US 2009/0286778.
The invention provides technical advantages, for example, the compounds are novel and are effective against hepatitis C. Additionally, the compounds provide advantages for pharmaceutical uses, for example, with regard to one or more of their mechanism of action, binding, inhibition efficacy, target selectivity, solubility, safety profiles, or bioavailability.

Ammonium derivatives for the treatment of hepatitis C


An exposure device includes a determining unit determines specific transfer patterns, which are transfer patterns of predetermined portions of a unit pattern, among transfer patterns projected through a photomask including an internal pattern having a plurality of unit patterns that is arranged at a predetermined interval and has the same shape, for two or more unit patterns, an error calculating unit calculates an error between the transfer pattern and the specified transfer pattern on the basis of the comparison between the relative position between the specific transfer patterns and a specified value of it, a correction parameter calculating unit calculates correction parameters for correcting the transfer patterns on the basis of the calculated error, and a correction control unit corrects exposure conditions using the correction parameters such that the transfer patterns are corrected.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an exposure device, an exposure method, and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device.
2. Related Art
In a photolithography process, an exposure device is used to transfer the pattern of a photomask (for example, a reticle) to a photoresist on a substrate (for example, a semiconductor wafer). The transfer pattern (projection image) needs to be projected to a predetermined position on the substrate. However, in some cases, the transfer pattern is not transferred to a desired position due to, for example, the distortion of the photomask or the aberration of a lens.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-33208 discloses a technique which measures the error of the transfer position of an internal pattern (a pattern transferred to a portion of a substrate in which a resist pattern is formed by exposure) of the photomask using the following method and removes the error by correction. That is, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-33208, first, the pattern data of the photomask is acquired before exposure. Then, an optical image on the surface of the wafer when exposure light is emitted to the photomask is calculated by a simulation using the acquired pattern data (hereinafter, the optical image calculated by the simulation is referred to as a simulation image). Then, the simulated pattern is actually transferred onto a wafer stage with exposure light, and the projection image of the transfer pattern is measured by a sensor that is provided on the wafer stage. Then, the difference between the measured projection image (measured image) and the simulation image is calculated, thereby measuring the position error of the internal pattern of the photomask. Then, the transfer position is corrected such that the measured position error is removed. Then, actual exposure is performed.

Exposure device, exposure method, and method for manufacturing semiconductor device


Embodiments may be directed to a liquid crystal display apparatus, including a plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel of the plurality of pixels includes a first sub-pixel and a second sub-pixel, wherein the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel of a same pixel receive a same data signal and gate signal, wherein the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel include a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode, respectively, and wherein the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode have a first voltage difference at least during a light-emitting period, when a backlight unit emits light.

1. Field
Embodiments relate to liquid crystal display apparatuses, and methods of driving the liquid crystal display apparatuses.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display apparatus displays an image corresponding to input data by converting the input data into a data signal in a data driver and adjusting brightness of each pixel by controlling scanning of each pixel by a gate driver. The liquid crystal display apparatus adjusts the brightness of each pixel by changing an orientation of liquid crystal molecules of a liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer is embodied in various ways, i.e., a twisted nematic (TN) mode, a vertical alignment (VA) mode, an in-plane switching (IPS) mode, etc. Due to their low power consumption, liquid crystal display apparatuses have been widely used from large-size display apparatuses to small-size electronic apparatuses.

Liquid crystal display apparatus and method of driving the same


A motor vehicle tank subassembly for storing and discharging an operating liquid, encompassing a tank having a tank volume, a filling opening a withdrawal opening, and a conveying pump having intake and delivery sides, the intake side connected to the withdrawal opening, a material that forms a pore volume being received in the tank; the material that forms a pore volume, constituting a porous conveying body having a body volume, occupies only part of the tank volume, the porous conveying body embodied to receive liquid stored in the tank in its pore volume utilizing a capillary effect; the porous conveying body having a discharge portion connected to the withdrawal opening such that the withdrawal vacuum at the withdrawal opening brings about in pores of the discharge portion a discharge vacuum that overcomes the capillary effect occurring there; the remainder of the porous conveying body extending away from the discharge portion and the withdrawal opening.

A tank subassembly of the species is known from DE 38 80 271 T2. This document discloses a fuel tank that is filled with fiber structures in order to prevent surging movements of fuel in the tank and in order to prevent excessively rapid outflow of liquid from the tank, for example, in the event of damage to the tank. Surging movements of a fuel in the tank can result in electrostatic charging and thus in undesired sparking in the vicinity of the stored fuel. The fiber structures received in the known fuel tank thus provide explosion protection. The fiber structures that fill up the entire tank volume are furthermore embodied to be electrically conductive, so that any electrostatic charge occurring even in a context of limited surging movements can be discharged to the tank wall and thus to a ground potential.
Also known on motor vehicles are further operating-liquid tanks that, for example, store water in order to inject the latter into the fresh mixture in order to abate pollutants that occur upon the combustion of fuel in the internal combustion engine (see DE 10 2016 205103 A1, US 2006/0266307 A1, DE 10 2016 203056 A1, DE 10 2014 222467 A1, and WO 2017/137101 A1). In addition or alternatively to this manipulation of the fresh mixture in order to reduce pollutant emissions, it is known to inject aqueous urea solution into the exhaust gas produced upon combustion. Aqueous urea solution is stored for this purpose in tanks as an operating liquid (see DE 10 2015 210682 A1).
All the aforesaid operating liquids are withdrawn from the tank by conveying pumps during utilization of the tank subassembly as intended, and delivered to a respective user.
While there is no risk of freezing with combustible fuels because of their physical properties, the tank subassemblies for storing water or water-containing operating liquids comprise heating apparatuses in order to prevent freezing of the operating liquid or to thaw out frozen operating liquid.
The freezing of operating liquid in motor vehicles is not, however, the only risk of deficient withdrawal of operating liquid from the tank. In addition to the static withdrawal risk presented by freezing, dynamic withdrawal risks exist if, for example in the tank of the tank subassembly carried on a motor vehicle, the operating liquid which is movable therein moves away from the withdrawal opening due to accelerated motion resulting from acceleration forces, and is temporarily kept away from it. The conveying pump then cannot take in operating liquid through the withdrawal opening and deliver it to the relevant user. In a context of extended cornering or long phases of acceleration to high speed from a stop, this can result in an appreciable impairment in the supply of operating liquid to a user.

Motor vehicle tank subassembly and withdrawal module having a porous conveying body


A liquid cartridge includes a liquid storing portion that stores liquid therein, a liquid path that is in fluid communication with the liquid storing portion, a sealing member that is selectively penetrated and closed, and a storage. The storage includes a first count storage area configured to store first count data corresponding to a number of times the sealing member has been penetrated at a first position, and a first position sealing data corresponding to a first number that is comparable to the first count data.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a liquid cartridge storing liquid such as ink, a liquid ejecting device including the liquid cartridge and a main body, a method of manufacturing a liquid cartridge, and a method of refurbishing a liquid cartridge.
2. Description of Related Art
A known liquid cartridge, such as an ink cartridge, includes a non-volatile memory in which the number of times the liquid cartridge was inserted to and removed from a liquid ejecting device is stored as a guideline for replacement of the liquid cartridge.

Liquid cartridge, liquid ejecting device, method of manufacturing liquid cartridge, and method of refurbishing liquid cartridge