An image forming apparatus includes a high-speed duplex-printing mode execution unit, a print request unit, an output processing unit, a request control unit, and a request invalidation unit. The high-speed duplex-printing mode execution unit executes a high-speed duplex-printing mode in which image formation is sequentially performed on first sides from a leading sheet, and then image formation is performed on a second side of at least the leading sheet. The print request unit issues simplex-printing requests. The output processing unit receives the requests, performs an output process, and causes image formation to be performed. The request control unit causes the print request unit to issue simplex-printing requests using, as a trigger, either input of each duplex-printing request or completion of the output process. The request invalidation unit maintains a trigger based on the output process completion as invalid.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the description in this section is not prior art to the claims in this application and is not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus capable of executing a high-speed duplex-printing mode, and a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having an image formation program recorded thereon.
Some image forming apparatuses, such as digital multifunction peripherals, are configured to execute a high-speed duplex-printing mode in which duplex image formation is performed in parallel while a plurality of sheets are being simultaneously circulated. The high-speed duplex-printing mode enables duplex printing on a plurality of sheets with higher speed as compared to duplex printing on each sheet in turn.
To ensure high-speed performance, it is preferable to at least sequentially print on one side (the side printed first, hereinafter referred to as the "first side") of a plurality of sheets, starting from the leading sheet in a circular direction in accordance with the number of sheets capable of being simultaneously circulated.
For example, in an apparatus in which four sheets are capable of being circulated (four-sheet circulation), if six pages are to be printed in duplex mode, the first sides of three consecutive pages P2, P4, and P6 are printed in order, starting from the leading sheet. After that, the second sides P1, P3, and P5 are printed in order starting from the leading sheet.
The high-speed duplex-printing mode is executed in such a manner that duplex-printing requests for individual sheets are issued through a print job process, and a video controller issues, based on the duplex-printing requests, simplex-printing requests for individual sides at appropriate timings. After the simplex-printing requests have been issued, image formation is performed on the sheets through an output process performed by an engine controller.
Typically, simplex-printing requests are issued using, as triggers, (i) a request to the video controller for duplex printing for each sheet and (ii) completion of an output process performed by the engine controller in response to a simplex-printing request. Using both the triggers enables issuance of simplex-printing requests at appropriate timings. However, the timing at which a duplex-printing request for each sheet is issued may be delayed depending on how a print job is processed, and therefore issuance of a simplex-printing request (itself triggered by issuance of the duplex-printing request) is not performed at an appropriate timing in some cases. If the duplex-printing request for the second or subsequent sheet is delayed, duplex printing may be performed in a normal duplex-printing mode or a defective high-speed duplex-printing mode.
For example, if a duplex-printing request for the second sheet is delayed, after an output process for a simplex-printing request for the first side of the first sheet is completed but before the duplex-printing request is input, a simplex-printing request for the second side of the first sheet is issued as a trigger upon completion of the output process for the first side of the first sheet (normal duplex-printing mode). Also, if a duplex-printing request for the third sheet is delayed, after an output process for a simplex-printing request for the first side of the first sheet is completed but before the duplex-printing request is input, a simplex-printing request for the second side of the first sheet is issued as a trigger upon completion of the output process for the first side of the first sheet (defective high-speed duplex-printing mode).

Reliable high-speed duplex printing mode configured to issue simplex-printing requests for individual sides based on a plurality of input duplex-printing requests for individual sheets


A multiple beam space antenna system for facilitating communications between a satellite switch and a plurality of earth-based stations is shown. The antenna is deployed after the satellite is in orbit by inflation of a raft-type supporting structure which contains a number of antenna horns. These antenna horns are oriented in substantially concentric circular groups about a centrally located antenna horn. Each of the antenna beams projects an area on the earth. Each of the areas of the beams are contiguous. As a result, one large area is subdivided into many smaller areas to facilitate communications. In addition, a lens may be employed to focus the beams of the horn antennas.

The present invention pertains to antenna systems for spacecraft and more particularly to a deployable antenna array system which projects a multiple beam pattern with each beam covering a disjoint area.
Spacecraft typically achieve communications (i.e. "uplinks" and "downlinks") with earth-based stations by projecting spot beams to certain areas. These earth-base systems may include but are not limited to land-based stations, water-based stations, such as those located on ships, stations based on airplanes or other spacecraft. The spot beams which are projected by spacecraft may be relatively narrow or broad beams. Small beams are easily focused upon a known earth-based source. For communication situations in which many sources are randomly located over a portion of the earth, that entire portion of the earth must be covered by the antenna system.
For communication by the satellite with a number of earth-based stations, a limited number of communications frequencies or channels exist. Spatial diversity between satellite antenna beams is required. Therefore, satellite communication with a plurality of earth stations is limited to the number of antenna beams (or cells) projected by the antenna system. As cell numbers are increased, spatial diversity becomes difficult to maintain.
In addition, a large number of satellite antennas is difficult to launch into space. Furthermore, large numbers of antennas are difficult to position and deploy in space once the launching vehicle has achieved proper orbit.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide uniformly sized spot beams for facilitating communications between satellites and a plurality of earthbased stations.

Multiple beam deployable space antenna system


A display device includes a display unit, a sealing substrate, a first metal layer, a second metal layer, and a conductive wire member. The display unit is formed over a substrate. A sealing substrate is secured to the substrate by a bonding layer, and comprising a composite member and an insulating member. A first metal layer is formed over the inner surface of the sealing substrate facing the substrate, and a second metal layer is formed over the outer surface of the sealing substrate. A conductive wire member successively passes through at least two points of each of the first metal layer, the insulating member, and the second metal layer, and is secured to the sealing substrate to provide conduction of the first metal layer and the second metal layer.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to a display device, and more particularly, to an organic light emitting diode display device.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Among display devices, an organic light emitting diode display is of a flat panel design and self-luminous.
An organic light emitting diode display is equipped with a self-luminous organic light emitting diode to display an image. A display unit including a plurality of organic light emitting diodes is functionally degraded when exposed to moisture and oxygen, and hence a technique for suppressing the permeation of external moisture and oxygen by sealing a display unit is required.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the described technology and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Display device, organic light emitting diode display, and manufacturing method of sealing substrate


A rechargeable battery according to one or more exemplary embodiments includes: a pair of electrode assemblies, each including a first electrode including a coated region, a tab, and a connecting tab, a second electrode including a coated region, a tab, and a connecting tab, and a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode, the first electrode, the separator, and the second electrode being wound; a case accommodating the pair of electrode assemblies; a cap plate at an opening of the case and defining terminal openings; and first and second electrode terminals respectively connected to the tabs of the first and second electrodes and respectively passing through the terminal openings. The pair of electrode assemblies are electrically connected to each other via the connecting tabs.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to a rechargeable battery.
2. Description of the Related Art
A rechargeable battery differs from a primary battery in that it is designed be repeatedly charged and discharged, while the latter is not designed to be recharged. Low-capacity rechargeable batteries are used in small portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones, notebook computers, and camcorders, while high-capacity rechargeable batteries can be used as a power source for driving motors of a hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle, and the like.
For example, a rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly for performing charging and discharging operations, a case housing the electrode assembly, a cap plate combined to an opening of the case, and electrode terminals through which the electrode assembly is drawn out of the cap plate.
The electrode terminals are connected to tabs of the electrode assembly, allowing the electrode assembly to be charged and discharged by a current. Accordingly, because current density is concentrated in areas of the tabs of the electrode assembly, which are connected to the electrode terminals, temperature deviations may be generated in the electrode assembly depending on distances from the electrode terminals and the tabs. That is, due to degradation in the areas of the electrode terminals and the tabs of the electrode assembly, the rechargeable battery may have a shorter service life, as well as a reduced output.
In addition, when the tabs of the plurality of electrode assemblies are electrically coupled to the electrode terminals, unbalanced charging and discharging may occur between the electrode assemblies. In this case, a temperature difference between the electrode assemblies may be generated.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only to enhance the understanding of the background of the invention, and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art.

Rechargeable battery having improved current density


A radar system has different modes of operation. In one mode the radar operates as a single-input, multiple-output (SIMO) radar system utilizing one transmitted signal from one antenna at a time. Codes with known excellent autocorrelation properties are utilized in this mode. At each receiver the response after correlating with various possible transmitted signals is measured in order to estimate the interference that each transmitter will represent at each receiver. The estimated effect of the interference from one transmitter on a receiver that correlates with a different code is used to mitigate the interference. In another mode, the radar operates as a MIMO radar system utilizing all the antennas at a time. Interference cancellation of the non-ideal cross correlation sidelobes when transmitting in the MIMO mode are employed to remove ghost targets due to unwanted sidelobes.

The use of radar to determine range, velocity, and angle (elevation or azimuth) of objects in an environment is important in a number of applications including automotive radar and gesture detection. A radar typically transmits a radio frequency (RF) signal and listens for the reflection of the radio signal from objects in the environment. A radar system estimates the location and velocity of objects, also called targets, in the environment by comparing the received radio signal with the transmitted radio signal. A radar system with multiple transmitters and multiple receivers can also determine the angular position of a target in the environment. Each receiver can compare a received signal with each of the possible transmitted signals. Because the received signal contains signals from various transmitters, a receiver attempting to determine the time delay from one transmitter will have interference from other transmitters.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Adaptive transmission and interference cancellation for MIMO radar


A method and to a device for dispensing data from a tachograph to an endless printing medium. A first division is plotted in the longitudinal direction of the printing medium, and a second division is plotted transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the printing medium. The first division represents a predetermined unit of time, in particular a day in generalized time coordinates, and the second division represents at least one variable recorded by the tachograph during the unit of time, the at least one variable is depicted by at least one graph.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and to a device for dispensing data from a tachograph to an endless printing medium.
2. Prior Art
Tachographs are used in motor vehicles for recording data with regard to the vehicle activities and the driver activities. In addition, states of digital inputs of the tachograph can be recorded. The recorded data is stored in the tachograph over a certain period of time and can be dispensed to a printing medium, e.g. for control purposes.
It is legally specified what data is to be recorded. The tachograph usually keeps the recorded data stored for one year. Via a printer provided in the tachograph, control printouts of periods to be selected can be output on a printing medium. The printing medium is paper that comes from an endless roll. Anticipating the description of the figures, FIG. 2 is a typical printout as known in the prior art. Such a printout consists of a sequence of various data blocks which in each case have a predetermined significance. At the beginning of a printout, date and clock time of the printout are specified, followed by any information relating to the type of the printout, information relating to the authorization of the person who initiated the printout and information relating to the vehicle, to the tachograph manufacturer, to the calibration of the tachograph, to the last check and to the relevant driver. This is followed by lines of information relating to the actual vehicle and driver activities together with respective clock times of a day. The data output are essentially in text form. EEC regulation No. 3821/85 of Dec. 20, 1985 specifies contents and symbols for this.
It is especially during vehicle checks in road traffic that a problem occurs that very many printouts must be checked within a short time, probably even in darkness, and other peripheral devices that could provide for a comfortable transfer of data from the tachograph are not available.

Method and device for dispensing data from a tachograph


A device and a method of forming the same are disclosed. The device comprises a substrate and a thin film. The substrate is characterized by a first coefficient of thermal expansion. The thin film is attached to a surface of the substrate, and is characterized by a second coefficient of thermal expansion. The thin film includes first and second layers in states of compression, and a third layer in a state of tension, the third layer being positioned between the first and second layers. The thin film is in a net state of tension within a temperature range.

Microstructure devices often incorporate a thin film disposed atop a substrate surface, the film being formed into a cantilever, bridge, membrane, or other similar structure suspended over a cavity etched into the substrate. In some cases, the thin film may encase a sensing element, or may intrinsically provide a sensing function. For example, a thin film thermal conductivity sensor, used to detect the thermal conductivity of gas in the output flow from a gas chromatograph may include a thin film bridge of silicon nitride suspended over a cavity in a silicon substrate, the thin film encasing a metal film resistor and thereby providing environmental passivation to the resistor.
A thin film in a microstructure must resist mechanical and thermal shock, and must survive large temperature excursions during fabrication, storage, shipping, and use of the microstructure. However, differences in the coefficient of thermal of expansion (CTE) between the thin film and the substrate on which it is supported present a challenge to the thin film's survival.
Typically the thin film is formed, by some combination of deposition and growth, on a surface of the substrate at one or more formation temperatures, typically high temperatures, while the resultant device is stored, shipped, and operated over a temperature range which may go above or below the formation temperature. The thin film incorporates stresses which are intrinsic to the film at its formation temperature, and is subjected to additional thermal stress due to any thermal expansion mismatch between the substrate and the thin film, or due to any thermal expansion mismatch between materials within the thin film, or due to any thermal expansion mismatch between the thin film and any elements disposed within or upon the thin film. Further, the thin film is subject to environmentally-induced mechanical stress from sources such as shaking, dropping, air currents, water flow, and the like, depending on the particular environment. When some combination of intrinsic stress, thermal stress, and mechanical stress exceeds the tensile strength of the thin film, it is subject to destructive failure in the form of cracking or breaking.
For example, when the substrate comprises silicon with a CTE of 3.7 parts per million per degree Kelvin (CTESi=3.7 ppm/° K) and the film comprises silicon nitride, with a coefficient of expansion of CTEnitride=3.3 ppm/° K, the difference in CTEs between the thin film and the substrate is 0.2 ppm/° K, which difference can lead to mechanical failure of the film, either after the deposition when the film cools down, during shipping, or during the operation of the finished device. If the initial intrinsic stress in the film is zero at a deposition temperature of, for example, 300° C., and the substrate and thin film cool from the deposition temperature, to a room temperature of 25° C., the thin film could then be in a net state of compression. If a portion of the underlying support for the thin film is then removed to create a suspended structure, that structure is at risk of buckling at room temperature. The buckling may lead to localized rupture because the local bending involved in buckling creates localized tensile stress which exceeds the tensile strength of the thin film material. Further, if such a device is operated at a temperature higher than the deposition temperature, the thermal expansion mismatch can place the structure in a state of high tension, presenting a risk of rupture.

Thin film with improved temperature range


A new connector with effective shielding function. The new connector includes conductive shielding, a connector body and a set of terminals. The connector body is provided with a cavity within which the set of terminals can be accommodated and is made from plastic cement; the set of terminals are located within the cavity of the connector body. The conductive shielding can be inserted between the connector body and the set of terminals, and specifically includes several shielding bars and conductive areas; the shielding bars are made from metal, and the conductive areas, which are embedded in the shielding bars and connected with the ends of the set of terminals, are made from conductive plastic cement.

As the data storing capacity continues to rise, the demand for higher transmission rate has been on the increase, which means the increase of clock frequency and dramatic decrease of the rise time in the server storing industry. The SAS and PCIe channels of most current connectors will be subject to crosstalk during communication when used simultaneously, which should be avoided.

Amphenol East Asia Electronic Technology (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd.


Present invention discloses an oil palm composition for use in prevention or treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The composition is useful in impeding formation of neurotoxic peptide. Present invention can be used in preparation of a medicament in a therapeutic effective amount for prevention or treatment of Alzheimer's disease and diseases related thereto.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an incurable neurodegenerative disease that progressively worsened and eventually led to death. AD is often diagnosed in persons over the age of 65 years and has affected 36 million persons globally in 2010. At the current rate of increase in prevalence, it is predicted that AD will affect 1 in 85 persons worldwide by the year 2050.
The onset of AD often shows symptoms that appear to be "age-related" issues and difficulties in coping with stress. During the early stage, there is difficulty with acquiring new memories so that it is difficult to recall recent events. As AP progressed to worsened, one observes confusion, irritability, aggression, language breakdown, mood swings, long-term memory loss, and the withdrawal of the person from society while their senses decline.
The cause of AD is yet to be determined, however there are various hypothesis explaining the cause of this disease. One of the hypotheses proposed is Amyloid hypothesis, which is used in present invention. Amyloid hypothesis discloses the pathogenesis of AD to be essentially-related to beta amyloid peptide (BAP) (MW 4514 Da). Amyloid beta is a peptide composed of 36-43 amino acids, which is processed from a transmembrane cellular glycoprotein amyloid precursor protein (APP). An autosomal dominant mutation in the APP results in a hereditary form of early-onset Alzheimer's disease, with increase in amyloid beta peptide. The amyloid beta peptide can form dimers which are quite toxic to neurons.
One of the experimental evidences supporting Amyloid hypothesis is from the genetic locus of the amyloid beta precursor protein (APP) on chromosome 21, patient with Down's syndrome (Trisomy 21) will have an extra gene copy for the APP, it is observed that these patients universally succumb to AD by the age of 40 years. In addition, inheritable AD is also speculated to be involved with APOE4. This allelotype results in an excessive accumulation of beta amyloid in the brain, preceding the very early appearance of AD at only 40 years of age. Another research on transgenic mice expressing a mutation of the human APP gene shows that these mice develop fibrillar deposits of amyloid peptide in the brain and develop Alzheimer's-like neuropathology with specific spatial learning deficits.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the APP protein located transmembranal within plasma membrane and spanned from cytoplasm into the surrounding extracellular space. Post-translational processing of APP involves several secretase enzymes to cleave APP into smaller polypeptides. It is normal for a healthy person to have some beta amyloid peptide in his/her cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and bloodstream as these peptides may diffuse out or be actively transported out from the brain; however people with AD have a pathologic accumulation of the beta amyloid peptide within their brains and are unable to excrete the peptide from the brain.
FIG. 2 shows the pathologic appearance of beta amyloid peptide in the brain of persons with AD. As AD progresses, the beta amyloid peptide aggregates into fibrils and becomes deposited as insoluble precipitate in senile neuritic plaques, which may be stained histochemically and be detected using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Amyloid beta (Aβ) found to be the primary constituent of fibrils in the extraneuronal senile neuritic plaques of Alzheimer's patients' brains. It is believed that the mature fibrils of Aβ peptide are not neurotoxic per se, but may serve as a reservoir of small, diffusible soluble oligomers of Aβ. It has been shown that cortical levels of soluble Aβ correlate with both the extent of synaptic loss and severity of the clinical symptoms.
Aβ40 and Aβ42 are two common isoforms of the peptide where Aβ42 is more fibrillogenic, aggregates more quickly, and higher toxicity especially in the dimer state. Aβ has little toxicity while in the monomeric state. Therefore, inhibiting formation of soluble Aβ dimers will nullify the neurotoxicity and be effective in preventing and/or treating Alzheimer's disease.
Previous research has discovered that the addition of soluble Aβ dimers to rodent hippocampal slices will potently inhibit long-term potentiation (LTP), enhance long-term depression (LTD), and reduce the neuronal dendritic spine density in the normal rodent hippocampus. These soluble Aβ dimers are also known to interfere with memory of learning behavior in rodents' brains.
Shankar's lab showed that the level of soluble Aβ-dimers is correlated to the clinical Alzheimer's disease state and the degree of progression of the dementia. It is known that the hippocampus is important in memory formation and consolidation, the pathologic appearance of amyloid plaques correlates well with the progression of Alzheimer's disease and the concomitant memory and cognitive losses. Clearance of these soluble Aβ dimers from the brain will ameliorate the cognitive deficits. Researchers have theorized that dementia is resulted from clearance of soluble Aβ dimers in the brain.
It has also demonstrated that soluble Aβ dimers interfere with glutamatergic synaptic transmission, where mGluRs are necessary for LTD induction. The data shows interference of soluble Aβ dimers with the NMDARs (N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors) is required for neuronal dendritic spine losses.
Multiple studies have shown that the soluble assemblies of oligomeric Aβ are the neurotoxic species which cause the cognitive losses of Alzheimer's disease. These oligomeric Aβ(oAβ) have also been called Aβ-derived diffusible ligands (ADDLs). Recent research has shown that the oAβ/ADDLs play a key role in cognitive decline.
Direct injection of oAβ/ADDLs into the hippocampi of live rats has caused cognitive and memory losses characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. Gandy has shown that the brain levels of oAβ/ADDLs correlate well with impaired acquisition of the Morris Water Maze (MWM) task by APPE693Q Q mice.
Selkoe's group has shown that Aβ dimers at subnanomolar concentrations directly induce Tau hyperphosphorylation, disruption of the microtubule cytoskeleton and neuritic degeneration in the rat hippocampus. Others have demonstrated that Aβ oligomers induce key characteristics of the AD phenotype including dendritic spine loss, altered hippocampal synaptic plasticity, and impaired memory for learned behaviors.
The hypothesis that small soluble oligomers of Aβ underlie the key phenotypic characteristics of Alzheimer's disease is supported by experimental data showing that these small soluble oligomers may: (1) cause synaptic loss and decreased dendritic spine density; (2) cause hyperphosphorylation of tau proteins with resulting intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles and collapse of the neuritic cytoskeleton; (3) memory impairment and cognitive losses in the absence of amyloid plaques.
There are various ways AD diagnosis can be done; some of the examples are behavioral and cognitive testing, and an MRI of the brain. The presence of senile plaques in brain MRI is the indicator used in diagnostic of AD. These senile plaques are composed of fibrils of polymerized and precipitated beta amyloid. The aggregated oligomers and fibrils formed are neurotoxic and can caused neuronal cell death, thus it is speculated to be key events in the pathogenesis and progression of AD.
Most of the researches for Alzheimer's disease focus on preventing accumulation of beta amyloid peptide in the brain, which is believed to be a central event in the progression and pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Some therapeutic strategies have been proposed, these strategies include but not limited to: (1) decreasing proteolytic production of Aβ through β-secretase inhibitors which block the first cleavage of APP in extracellular; (2) γ-secretase inhibitors which block the second cleavage of APP in the cell membrane; (3) increasing the clearance of soluble Aβ dimers through immunotherapy to induce antibody formation to amyloid beta; and (4) anti-aggregation drugs to inhibit the aggregation and polymerization of amyloid beta peptide.
Various natural plant-derived extracts or phytochemicals are being tested to look for natural agents to prevent polymerization of Aβ. Natural agents such as apple procyanidins, grape-derived polyphenols, Resveratrol and polyphenol curcumin (diferuloylmethane) are found to be inhibiting Aβ aggregation. Other polyphenol compounds which inhibit β-amyloid aggregation include: tannic acid, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, curcumin, rosmarinic acid, kaempferol, ferulic acid, (+)-catechin, (−)-epicatechin, and tetracycline. Blueberry-enriched polyphenols have been shown to prevent synaptic failure and adenosine triphosphate imbalance.
Flavonoids are also shown to have anti-aggregatory properties, examples like myricetin, chrysin, fisetin (3,3′,4′,7-tetrahydroxyflavone), 3′,4′,7-trihydroxyflavone, 3,3′,4′-trihydroxyflavone, 3,3′,7-trihydroxyflavone, 5-deoxykaempferol and synthetic derivatives. The glycosaminoglycan homotaurine (3-aminopropanesulfonic acid) also has anti-aggregation properties, however this compound has failed Phase III clinical trials in US and therefore it is no longer in use clinically.
Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) has demonstrated various biological effects in treating diseases and improving health condition using palm oil and other palm-based materials such as palm oil vegetation liquor and oil palm phenolics.
Oil palm phenolics (OPP) is a complex aqueous derived from plant which mainly comprises polyphenol compounds, shikimic acid, oligosaccharides, and lipid. In addition, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid and ferulic acid are also presence in OPP through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LS/MS/MS) analyses. Five of the major polyphenol compounds are protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, 3-caffeoylshikimic acid, 4-caffeoylshikimic acid, and 5-caffeoylshikimic acid. These polyphenol compounds are known to have significant antioxidant properties as assayed by the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay as well as the GAE (Gallic Acid Equivalent) assays.
Our prior research has demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of OPP in specific strains of mice, and therefore it is an object of present invention to disclose the efficiency of OPP in impeding or inhibiting the aggregation of Aβ into the neurotoxic soluble Aβ dimers or oligomers in vitro.
The present invention discloses OPP containing some active compounds that inhibit the aggregation of amyloid beta peptide and thus reduce the polymerization of the peptide. This inhibition may cause the beta amyloid peptide to remain in the soluble monomeric state and facilitate the clearance of the peptide from the brain via the normal physiologic mechanisms. Therefore, it is an object of present invention to provide a compound in preventing or slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention may become apparent upon referring to the preferred embodiments of the present invention as shown in the accompanying drawings and as described in the following description.

Protective effects of oil palm composition on Alzheimer's disease


An image based bar-code reading and robotic registration apparatus and method for use in automated tape library systems is disclosed. An imager is positioned on a picker assembly with its own illumination source and appropriate optics to filter out ambient light. The imager connects to a microprocessor in its immediate vicinity. All image acquisition and processing are done by these components. To ensure operation independent of illumination variations, the image processing code developed for this invention automatically adapts to dynamic lighting situations. The tape cartridge cells are used as fiducials to allow tape cartridge registration without fiducial markings. The use of the tape cartridge cells as fiducials maximizes storage capability.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to automated tape library systems, and more particularly to an image based bar code reading and robotic registration apparatus and method for use in automated tape library systems.
2. Description of Related Art
Magnetic tape has long been used as a storage media for audio, video and computer information. Tape cartridges have been used extensively because they provide a convenient way to house and support a length of magnetic tape for engagement by a transducer in a tape drive while protecting the tape upon removal of the cartridge.
Storage libraries provide large capacity secondary storage to modern computing requirements. Such storage libraries typically employ robotic control mechanisms used by a host computer to physically manage tape media cartridges. A plurality of tape cartridges are stored within a storage library. Each tape cartridge is in a particular slot in the storage library. Each slot is identifiable by its physical position in the storage library. Each tape cartridge is typically uniquely identified by a machine readable label. The storage library maintains inventory information to associate a particular tape cartridge with a particular slot in the storage library. Responsive to a host computer request, a robotic mechanism or picker physically retrieves an appropriate tape cartridge from its associated slot in the storage library, moves the tape cartridge to an appropriate read/write device for processing, and inserts the tape cartridge into the device.
The robotic mechanism typically includes a hand or gripper mechanism positioned on a movable arm. To retrieve a tape cartridge, the arm moves to position the gripper near the slot holding the desired tape cartridge. The gripper then extends and grips the tape cartridge and retracts to take the tape cartridge out of the slot. The arm with the hand gripping the tape cartridge moves to the device and the hand then extends and inserts the tape cartridge into the device. Conversely, when the use of the tape cartridge is complete, the robotic mechanism retrieves the tape cartridge from the read/write device, moves the tape cartridge adjacent its associated slot according to the inventory maintained by the storage library, and inserts the tape cartridge into the storage slot of the storage library ready for future use in response to another host computer request.
A problem with prior automated storage libraries designs which contributed to their relatively higher complexity and resultant higher costs relates to the multiplicity and complexity of various sensing mechanisms used to sense several parameters of the operating storage library. Picker registration has proven to be a problem, resulting in occasional dropped cartridges and decreased system performance. Past registration techniques made of a "flying spot" paradigm, using an LED retroreflective sensor to locate the position of a few fiducial marks and then calculate the theoretical position of every cartridge cell in robot coordinates to initialize its position table. In practice this method has been less than perfect, with some systems suffering jams or drops. Other techniques have used a dedicated vision processor and bulky CCD camera with incandescent lighting. However, the production cost of such a system is high. Such excessive cost has been addressed by using a laser-based scanner for the bar-codes, and a "flying spot" sensor for registration. However, registration accuracy has proven to be a problem because the environment is dynamic and the robot accessor (picker) begins to drift over time. Recalibration with the sensor requires complete control of the robot, halting all other operations. Other camera-based vision systems in tape libraries have been used that depend on special fiducial markings for registration. Accordingly, a cost-effective imaging system for aligning a picker in an automated tape library system has not been developed.
It can be seen that there is a need for an image-based bar-code reading and robotic registration apparatus and method for use in automated tape library systems.

Image based bar-code reading and robotic registration apparatus for use in automated tape library systems

International Business Machines Corporation


A magnetic tape cassette transport/accessor assembly is actuated by a sprocket driven, belt drive system. First and second belt drives drive the transport/accessor assembly in horizontal and vertical directions and are tensioned by spring dampener assemblies. Each spring dampener assembly dampens rough and jerky movements and effects smooth and gentle acceleration and deceleration of the transport/accessor assembly. Each spring dampener assembly also provides compensation for belt drive wear, belt stretching and differential thermal expansion and contraction of the belt.

This invention relates in general to magnetic tape cassette transport apparatus. More particularly, this invention relates to a magnetic tape cassette transport/accessor assembly, which is driven in at least horizontal and vertical directions by means of a sprocket driven, belt drive system. The belt drive is tensioned by a spring dampener assembly which dampens rough and jerky movements of the assembly and effects smooth and gentle acceleration and deceleration thereof.
In applications in which a large amount of information is stored on electronic media (such as the storage of digital information on a plurality of magnetic tape cassettes), it is often desirable that each unit of storage (e.g., magnetic tape cassette), be accessed in a minimum amount of time. For example, it is desirable to minimize the time required to change over from one cassette to another cassette used in a magnetic tape record/reproduce device. Where the cassette storage system includes a large number of cassette storage compartments, it is also desirable that the cassette be transported between a storage compartment and a record/reproduce device, in a manner which minimizes damage to the cassette through rough or jerky movements in the cassette transport device. Thus, a smooth, gentle acceleration and deceleration of the cassette transport assembly is desired.
Various arrangements have been proposed to actuate a transport assembly to transport an object between spaced locations in a storage system. The simplest type of arrangement uses manual power for actuation of the transport system. (See: U.S. Pat. No. 4,113,119, issued Sept. 12, 1978, entitled APPARATUS FOR LOADING ARTICLES ONTO VERTICALLY SPACED HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED SHELVES.) Although such an arrangement is relatively inexpensive, it is disadvantageous because it is not readily adaptable for use as an automatic storage system. Moreover, manually initiated movements tend to be abrupt and jerky, causing possible damage to objects being transported. It has been proposed to use motors in order to actuate the transport assembly. Typically, at least one or more of the actuating motors are mounted on the transport assembly itself. (See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,557,977, issued Jan. 26, 1971, entitled LOAD DETECTING DEVICE FOR WAREHOUSING SYSTEM, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,614,474, issued Sept. 30, 1986, entitled DEVICE FOR EXCHANGING DISKS.) However, drive motors and drive motor supports, add considerable weight to the transport assembly, thus increasing the stresses on the transport assembly drive and on the transport assembly load-bearing components. Moreover, reliability is reduced and maintenance is made more difficult and gentle, smooth movement of the assembly is more difficult.
It has been proposed to use a belt or cable system to eliminate mounting one or more motors on moving components of the transport assembly. Thus, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,044, issued Mar. 26, 1985, entitled ROBOT AND CONTROL SYSTEM, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,346, issued Jan. 28, 1986, entitled AUTOMATED TOOL MANIPULATING STRUCTURE WITH X-Y MOVEMENT INCLUDING A BELT AND PULLEY DRIVE ARRANGEMENT, there are disclosed arrangements in which x and y direction drive motors are not mounted on the member which is moved in the x and y directions. Although these arrangements may be suitable for the purposes for which they were intended, they do not solve the problem of rough and jerky movement of the driven assembly. Although spring tensioning devices have been proposed for use in belt and chain driven assemblies (See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,476,508, issued Oct. 9, 1984, entitled APPARATUS FOR RECORDING FLEXIBLE MAGNETIC DISKS; U.S. Pat. No. 4,198,871, issued Apr. 22, 1980, entitled TRANSDUCER POSITIONING APPARATUS; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,773, issued Jan. 20, 1981, entitled INDUSTRIAL ROBOT OF THE ARTICULATED ARM TYPE), such devices are not suitable for use in a belt drive system for a magnetic tape cassette transport system. In the latter system, it is desirable to transport a magnetic tape cassette in a manner which prevents damage to the cassette and the tape contained therein.

Spring dampener assembly for a sprocket driven belt drive system


A fuel cell system that employs a matched battery that matches the battery voltage to a fuel cell power bus voltage so as to eliminate the need for a DC/DC converter. The internal characteristics and parameters of the matched battery allow it to operate over the large load dependent voltage swing of the fuel cell, and prevent the battery state of charge from going below a damaging value. The battery type, number of battery cells and the battery internal impedance are selected to provide the desired matching. In one embodiment, the battery is a lithium ion battery. The system also includes a diode electrically coupled to the power bus line and a by-pass switch electrically coupled to the power bus line in parallel with the diode. The by-pass switch is selectively opened or closed to allow the fuel cell stack to recharge the battery and prevent the battery from being overcharged.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a fuel cell system and, more particularly, to a fuel cell system that employs a matched battery that eliminates the need for a DC/DC converter.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Hydrogen is a very attractive fuel because it is clean and can be used to efficiently produce electricity in a fuel cell. The automotive industry expends significant resources in the development of hydrogen fuel cells as a source of power for vehicles. Such vehicles would be more efficient and generate fewer emissions than today's vehicles employing internal combustion engines.
A hydrogen fuel cell is an electrochemical device that includes an anode and a cathode with an electrolyte therebetween. The anode receives hydrogen gas and the cathode receives oxygen or air. The hydrogen gas is dissociated in the anode to generate free hydrogen protons and electrons. The hydrogen protons pass through the electrolyte to the cathode. The hydrogen protons react with the oxygen and the electrons in the cathode to generate water. The electrons from the anode cannot pass through the electrolyte, and thus are directed through a load to perform work before being sent to the cathode. The work acts to operate the vehicle.
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are a popular fuel cell for vehicles. The PEMFC generally includes a solid polymer electrolyte proton conducting membrane, such as a perfluorosulfonic acid membrane. The anode and cathode typically include finely divided catalytic particles, usually platinum (Pt), supported on carbon particles and mixed with an ionomer. The catalytic mixture is deposited on opposing sides of the membrane. The combination of the anode catalytic mixture, the cathode catalytic mixture and the membrane define a membrane electrode assembly (MEA). MEAs are relatively expensive to manufacture and require certain conditions for effective operation. These conditions include proper water management and humidification, and control of catalyst poisoning constituents, such as carbon monoxide (CO).
Several fuel cells are typically combined in a fuel cell stack to generate the desired power. The fuel cell stack receives a cathode input gas, typically a flow of air forced through the stack by a compressor. Not all of the oxygen is consumed by the stack and some of the air is output as a cathode exhaust gas that may include water as a stack by-product. The fuel cell stack also receives an anode hydrogen input gas that flows into the anode side of the stack.
Most fuel cell vehicles are hybrid vehicles that employ a supplemental power source in addition to the fuel cell stack, such as a DC battery or super capacitor. The power source provides supplemental power for the various vehicle auxiliary loads, for system start-up and during high power demands when the fuel cell stack is unable to provide the desired power. The fuel cell stack provides power to a traction motor through a DC voltage bus line for vehicle operation. The battery provides supplemental power to the voltage bus line during those times when additional power is needed beyond what the stack can provide, such as during heavy acceleration. For example, the fuel cell stack may provide 70 kW of power. However, vehicle acceleration may require 100 kW of power. The fuel cell stack is used to recharge the battery at those times when the fuel cell stack is able to provide the system power demand. The generator power available from the traction motor during regenerative braking is also used to recharge the battery.
In the hybrid vehicle discussed above, a bi-directional DC/DC converter is typically necessary to step up the DC voltage from the battery to match the battery voltage to the bus line voltage dictated by the voltage output of the fuel cell stack and step down the stack voltage during battery recharging. However, DC/DC converters are relatively large, costly and heavy, providing obvious disadvantages. It is desirable to eliminate the DC/DC converter from a fuel cell vehicle including a supplemental power source.
There have been various attempts in the industry to eliminate the DC/DC converter in fuel cell powered vehicles by providing a power source that is able to handle the large voltage swing coming from the fuel cell stack with its V/I characteristic (polarization curve) over the operating conditions of the vehicle. FIG. 2 is a graph with current density on the horizontal axis and fuel cell stack voltage on the vertical axis showing a typical fuel cell stack V/I characteristic or polarization curve of a stack including 400 cells in series. In one known system, a super-capacitor is used as the supplemental power source. However, the super-capacitor is limited by how much it can be discharged because of its low energy content. Also, the super-capacitor requires a power device to ramp up the super-capacitor voltage at system start-up. Certain types of batteries have also been used to eliminate the DC/DC converter in vehicle fuel cell systems. However, these systems were limited by the ability to discharge the battery beyond a certain level. In other words, these types of batteries would be damaged as a result of large voltage swings on the DC bus line during the operation of the system.

DC/DC-less coupling of matched batteries to fuel cells


A drilling calibration method, apparatus, device and medium based on image recognition includes lifting a top drive to a position of a derrick, and receiving and recognizing a target image acquired by an image acquisition apparatus of an operating terminal; calculating a quantity of pixels from the top drive to a rotary table surface in the target image by a data processing unit of the operating terminal; and receiving a height of the top drive measured by a diastimeter by the operating terminal. The height of the top drive is a height from the top drive to the rotary table surface. A pixel relationship table may be established between the quantity of the pixels from the top drive to the rotary table surface and the height of the top drive by a calibration unit of the operating terminal to finish drilling calibration. The pixel relationship table may be determined between the quantity of the pixels from the top drive to the rotary table surface and the height of the top drive by an image recognition technique to finish calibration of drilling, so that influence of a drilling environment to drilling calibration may be reduced greatly.

Before operation, it is necessary to calibrate a drilling system, so that the drilling system finishes drilling work during drilling according to a calibration result.
In the prior art, most drilling calibration methods are too complex and may be implemented by meeting specific conditions. However, sometimes, a drilling environment is complex and variable, for example, drilling is affected by severe weather such as gale. Errors often appear in drilling calibration, so that measured values may not be used as errors between the measured values of drilling and true values are too large.

Drilling calibration method, apparatus, device and medium based on image recognition

INSTITUTE OF GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES


The invention is a method of recovering hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, which comprises injecting into an underground formation through an injection well about 0.05 to about 1.0 pore volumes of an aqueous surfactant slug comprising about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of a surfactant system, injecting a drive fluid into the formation through the injection well to push the surfactant slug towards the production well, and recovering hydrocarbons at the production well, said surfactant system comprised of a lignin phenol surfactant, a lignin, a primary amine having about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms, and a solubilizer.

This invention relates to a method of recovering hydrocarbons involving a surfactant system derived from lignin products. More particularly, the surfactant system comprises four components: a lignin phenol surfactant, lignin, an amine, and a solubilizer.
Investigations of ways to increase oil recovery by improving the displacement ability of floods have produced useful surfactants which reduce the interfacial tension between the oil and water in the reservoir. With lower interfacial tension, oil that is trapped in the pore structure can disperse into the water as smaller and more easily deformable droplets. Many types of surfactants have been investigated and the choice of which surfactant to employ in a flood operation is dependent upon the conditions in the reservoir, as well as the cost and availability of the surfactants.
Most surfactant floods have employed a petroleum sulfonate as a sole surfactant, or at least a major component of a mixture of surfactants. Synthetic alkylaryl sulfonates and alkyl sulfonates and sulfates have been proposed as oil recovery surfactants. Sulfonates are preferred because they have a better high temperature stability than the sulfates. These surfactants are all classified as organic sulfonates and are usually metal salts of alkylbenzene sulfonate containing 12 to 30 carbon atoms, but may also be aliphatic sulfonates or alkylated naphthalene sulfonates. These surfactants have an equivalent weight that ranges from 320 to 700 g/equivalent.
To combat layering and precipitation problems in high salinity applications, a material with both water-soluble and oil soluble characteristics is usually added to organic sulfonate surfactant mixtures. When used in surfactant flooding, these materials are generally referred to as "solubilizers" or "cosurfactants" and often constitute the most expensive component in a surfactant mixture. Conventional solubilizers are sulfate or sulfonate salts of polyethoxylated alcohols or alkyl phenols. The amount of solubilizer required depends on the amount of and types of organic sulfonate surfactants employed in a surfactant flood operation. A minimum amount of solubilizer is required to prevent the surfactants from precipitating from the flood water. The choice of the solubilizer employed is dependent on the choice of surfactants to be used and the salinity of the flood water. Surfactant quantity is a function of the reservoir's size and other characteristics. The concentration of surfactant components in the system is usually 1% to 6% expressed on an active surfactant basis. The surfactant slug is usually made up in high salinity brine and the customary polymer slug in fresh water.
One problem with many surfactants is their high cost of manufacture. Surfactants which are relatively cheap have an inherent advantage in the market place, especially if the surfactants are to be used in a high volume, enhanced oil recovery application.
One approach taken has been to substitute lignin phenol surfactants for water soluble, petroleum sulfonate surfactants in surfactant flooding systems. This replaces some of the relatively expensive petroleum sulfonates with surfactants prepared from lignin, a low cost material. In U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,739,040 and 4,787,454, the preparation of surfactants from lignin and their use in surfactant flooding systems is discussed. These patents disclose reducing lignin in the presence of a carbon monoxide or hydrogen reducing agent at high temperature and pressure to produce low molecular weight lignin phenols, and transforming the lignin phenols to surfactants by one or a combination of several reactions such as alkoxylation, alkylation, sulfonation, sulfation, alkoxysulfation, and sulfomethylation.
Another approach has been to develop a lignin amine surfactant system wherein high equivalent weight, oil soluble, petroleum sulfonate surfactants are replaced with lignosulfonate and an amine. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,756,370 and 4,821,803 discuss such lignin amine surfactant systems which contain less of the more expensive petroleum sulfonates and more lignin products.
A third approach of substituting lignin products for expensive petroleum sulfonate surfactants is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,548,721. This reference discloses the use of the reaction product of a lignin and an amine at elevated temperatures as an enhanced oil recovery surfactant.

Lignin phenol/lignin/amine surfactant system


The invention relates to a biopsy device having the ability to adjust the size of the sample to be removed. The biopsy device includes biopsy needle assembly and cannula insertion guide co-axially aligned therewith such that longitudinal adjustment of the cannula insertion guide likewise adjusts the exposure of the stylet and cutting edge of the biopsy needle assembly thereby changing the size of the resulting sample. A longitudinal adjusting element is positioned between and connects the cannula insertion guide and housing of the device. The invention is particularly useful in biopsy procedures where improved control over sample size and cutting stroke are desirable.

The invention relates to a device for tissue removal in biopsy procedures. In particular, the invention relates to a manually operated biopsy device containing an adjustable biopsy needle.
Biopsy needle devices with handpieces containing an actuating apparatus which activates the motion of a biopsy needle are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,625 to Bates et al. discloses a biopsy device containing a handpiece and stylet which projects independently of a cannula and wherein the handpiece contains an attachment means for the cannula. The insertion guide used in such systems includes a cannula guide made up of a hollow small tube in which the proximal end bears a trigger, and is equipped with an attachment means, as well as a luer lock for a syringe to introduce a medicament to the site after tissue removal.
Procedures using actuated biopsy needles typically involve first inserting the biopsy needle and cannula insertion guide into the patient""s body by positioning the distal end of the needle in proximity to the object to be sampled. Upon determining the desired position by magnetic resonance (CAT scan) or other technique, the stylet and cannula cutting edge are sequentially activated to obtain the sample. Once the sampling step has been performed, the attachment means are released and the biopsy needle withdrawn from the cannula insertion guide to check the sample. If the sample is incorrect or otherwise insufficient, a new biopsy needle is inserted into the cannula insertion guide and the sampling sequence is repeated. After obtaining the desired sample, a medicament can be administered to the site by applying a syringe to the insertion guide.
One disadvantage of such systems is that variation or adjustments of sample length and needle cutting stroke are not feasible, since the stylet or cannula cutting edge are not adapted to adjust feed stroke beyond the tip of the insertion guide. Control of biopsy procedures is important when the tissue to be sampled is in proximity to vital organs or bones and positioning of the insertion guide or biopsy needle is such that the feed stroke of the stylet and cannula-cutting edge can potentially further damage the vital tissues, organs or bone.
There is a need in the biopsy device field for devices having improved control capabilities to permit the practitioner to avoid unnecessary tissue damage as well as obtain tissue samples with more specific parameters.
The invention disclosed is an adjustable biopsy device having the ability to vary the size of the sample to be removed. The biopsy device includes biopsy needle assembly and cannula insertion guide co-axially aligned therewith such that longitudinal adjustment of the cannula insertion guide likewise adjusts the exposure of the stylet and cutting edge of the biopsy needle assembly thereby changing the size of the resulting sample. The cannula insertion guide is connected to the housing of the device through a longitudinal adjusting element. The invention is particularly useful in biopsy procedures where improved control over sample size and cutting stroke are desirable.
The biopsy device generally contains a biopsy needle assembly, a housing having a control device for operation of the biopsy needle assembly therein, a cannula insertion guide co-axially aligned with and accommodating a portion of the biopsy needle assembly, and a longitudinal adjusting element positioned between (and connecting) said housing and insertion guide. The longitudinal adjusting element is adapted to adjust the position of the cannula insertion guide lengthwise relative to the biopsy needle assembly of the device. The housing containing the control device is generally configured as a handpiece and the control device per se is manually operated by the user or practitioner and actuates the biopsy needle assembly therein.
The biopsy needle assembly extends beyond the distal portion of the housing and includes a perforating stylet having proximal and distal portions which is positioned within a cannula having a cutting edge. The proximal portion of the perforating stylet is coupled to and operates relative to the cannula (and cutting edge) as activated by the control device within the housing. The medial portion of the stylet extends beyond the distal portion of the housing and co-axially through both the longitudinal adjustment element and the cannula insertion guide attached thereto. The distal portion of the stylet is positioned at the distal portion of the cannula insertion guide and contains an indentation (or groove) to accommodate and retain tissue.
The cannula insertion guide comprises a proximal attachment means adapted for removable attachment to the distal portion of the longitudinal adjustment element and for internal positioning of the biopsy needle assembly of the device. The cannula insertion guide and biopsy needle assembly are configured to operatively interact with one another such that the cannula cutting edge and perforating stylet of the biopsy needle assembly function at the distal tip of the cannula insertion guide. Rapid sequential motion between the stylet and cannula cutting edge beyond the distal tip of the cannula insertion guide severs or cuts the tissue to be sampled. The extent to which the biopsy needle assembly (cannula cutting edge and perforating stylet) extend beyond the distal tip of the cannula insertion guide is controlled by the longitudinal adjusting element of the device.
The longitudinal adjustment element is positioned between (and connects) the distal portion of the housing and the proximal portion of the cannula insertion guide and contains a lumen adapted for placement of the biopsy needle assembly therein. The longitudinal adjusting element has a proximal portion and distal attachment means, the proximal portion being adapted for engagement with and movement (e.g., rotatable motion) relative to the distal portion of the housing and the distal attachment means being adapted for removable attachment to the proximal attachment means of the cannula insertion guide such that adjustment of the longitudinal adjusting element results in corresponding adjustment of the cannula insertion guide in the same direction. In operation, the adjustment of the cannula insertion guide and corresponding the distal exposure of the biopsy needle assembly controls the degree of exposure of the stylet indentation and thus controls the amount of tissue to be accommodated therein.
Thus, there is disclosed a biopsy device comprising a biopsy needle assembly having a perforating stylet within a cannula having a cutting edge; a housing having a control device for operation of the biopsy needle assembly; a cannula insertion guide co-axially aligned with and accommodating the biopsy needle assembly and having proximal attachment means; and longitudinal adjusting element positioned between the housing and cannula insertion guide and having a proximal portion and distal attachment means and a lumen adapted for placement of the biopsy needle assembly; wherein the longitudinal adjusting element is adapted to co-axially adjust the position of the cannula insertion guide relative to the biopsy needle assembly of the device.
In a further embodiment, there is disclosed a biopsy device according to the invention comprising a longitudinal adjusting element adapted for engagement with and rotational movement relative to the housing of the device. In yet another embodiment, there is disclosed a biopsy device according to the invention further comprising an indicator means for indicating position and longitudinal displacement of the cannula insertion guide relative to the housing.
There is also disclosed a method of obtaining a tissue sample having a pre-deteremined size from a tissue site using a biopsy device according to the invention comprising the steps of inserting and positioning the cannula insertion guide and biopsy needle assembly of the device in proximity to the tissue sampling site; and actuating the biopsy needle assembly to obtain the sample; wherein the sample size is determined prior to actuating the biopsy needle assembly by adjustment of the longitudinal adjusting element of the device.
The invention also includes a kit for performing biopsy procedures comprising the biopsy device according to the invention.
Among the advantages of the device according to the invention is that it permits the user or practitioner to vary needle cutting stroke and therefore vary sample size. Another advantage is that a single device can be used to obtain multiple samples of varying sizes. Yet another advantage of the invention is that unnecessary damage of tissues and organs can be avoided as a result of the improved control over the sampling procedure.


The invention comprises a method of reducing rash formation and itching of skin caused by poison ivy. The method comprises breaking up a plant of the genus Plantago, preferably broadleaf Plantain, to release the sap therein and to form a fibrous pulp containing sap and applying an effective amount of the sap-containing pulp to the affected area of the skin.

Poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac each has a sap that is composed of substances that provoke a sensitizing reaction in most people the first time contact with the sap occurs. After a person has become sensitized, subsequent contact with the sap produces an allergic reaction. First, the skin reddens and begins to itch. Small watery blisters appear and the inching becomes worse. Persons with poison ivy commonly scratch which slows healing and may spread the active substances from the plant's sap to other locations on the body. Boric acid solutions or calamine lotion have been used to relieve itching with only limited success.
It is fairly common for a person, when partaking in an outdoor activity, to come into contact with poison ivy and plants that cause an allergic response. Similarly, some people have an allergic response to insect bites, foods and other agents that result in the formation of itchy watery blisters like those caused by an allergic response to poison ivy. Substances that cause allergic reactions such as those described above are referred to herein as "allergens". A remedy that reduces rash formation and itching of the skin caused by these types of allergic reactions is desirable.

Composition of matter and method for treating poison ivy


A computer-implemented method for correlating online aliases with real-world identities may comprise accessing a first user account associated with a first online communication mechanism, obtaining contact data associated with a first online alias from the first user account, identifying contact data associated with a second online alias, identifying, by comparing the contact data associated with the first online alias with the contact data associated with the second online alias, at least one common characteristic between the first online alias and the second online alias, and associating both the first online alias and the second online alias with a common contact. A graphical user interface may display a contact's name, online aliases for by the contact, and the online communication mechanisms that may be used to communicate with the contact. The method may also facilitate communication with a contact using online communication mechanisms. Corresponding systems and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Online communication mechanisms, such as web-based email services, instant-messaging services, and social-networking websites, allow users to communicate with and meet others in a variety of ways. For example, a user may communicate with a friend, family member, or other acquaintance by sending an email or instant message, by posting a message on a message board, or by sending a message via a social or professional-networking website.
Online communication mechanisms typically identify users by assigning or allowing users to choose a distinct online alias, such as a username or handle. Because individuals are often users of multiple online communication mechanisms, a single individual may have multiple online aliases. For example, an individual may choose or be assigned the username "Joey B" for a social-networking website, the handle "bradfordj" for an instant-messaging service, and the username "jybrad" for a web-based email service.
Due to the large number of online communication mechanisms available, manually identifying or remembering the various online aliases used by friends or family members may prove problematic. Moreover, even if an individual expends the time and effort required to identify these online aliases, an even greater amount of time and effort may be required to manage this information and keep it up-to-date.

Systems and methods for correlating online aliases with real-world identities


A bandpass filter receives a tracking error signal. An average/minimum frequency measurement circuit repeats measurement prescribed times, of an average frequency and a minimum frequency of a signal output from the bandpass filter. A standard deviation calculation circuit assumes the average frequency and the minimum frequency obtained by prescribed times of measurement as one variate, and calculates a standard deviation of this variate. A determination circuit determines an optical disc to be reproduced as a read-only optical disc when the standard deviation is equal to or larger than a prescribed value, while it determines the optical disc to be reproduced as a recordable optical disc when the standard deviation is smaller than the prescribed value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical disc reproduction apparatus, and more particularly to an optical disc reproduction apparatus attaining a function to determine whether an optical disc to be reproduced is a read-only optical disc or a recordable optical disc.
2. Description of the Background Art
Types of optical discs include read-only optical discs such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM and recordable optical discs such as a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD-R, or a DVD-ROM.
A recordable optical disc has a meandered wobble formed on a circumference in order to maintain its linear velocity constant during reproduction and recording. In the recordable optical disc, as tracking is carried out using the wobble, a signal having a frequency in accordance with a shape of the wobble is superposed on a tracking error signal. The superposed signal is referred to as a wobble signal.
Depending on whether or not the wobble signal is superposed on a tracking signal, whether the optical disc to be reproduced is either a read-only optical disc or a recordable optical disc can be determined. If the optical disc to be reproduced is determined as the recordable optical disc, reproduction of specific contents is disabled. That is, reproduction of the specific contents that have illegally been copied can be avoided.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2000-182314 discloses a method of determining whether or not a wobble signal is superposed on a tracking error signal. In other words, in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2000-182314, whether or not the wobble signal is superposed is determined with a method noting a zero crossing point as discussed below.
In Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2000-182314, a zero crossing point of a tracking error signal is detected so as to calculate a time interval between the zero crossing points. When a difference D between the time intervals is equal to or larger than a prescribed value, a count value is incremented. Then, after a prescribed time has passed, whether the count value is not smaller than the prescribed value is determined. If the count value is not smaller than the prescribed value, it is likely that difference D between the time intervals is equal to or larger than the prescribed value, and therefore, it is determined that the wobble signal is superposed.
On the other hand, with the method of determining whether or not the wobble signal is superposed on the optical disc using the time interval between the zero crossing points as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2000-182314, presence/absence of the wobble signal cannot be determined with high accuracy when a large amount of noise component is superposed on the tracking error signal.

Optical disc reproduction apparatus determining whether optical disc to be reproduced is read-only or recordable


Method for manufacturing elements made from composite material using the co-bonding technique, in which uncured elements (preformed beams (2)) are bonded onto another cured element (the skin (3)) with multiple thickness changes, using a rigid tooling made of invar used for support and positioning during the curing process. Each element is made with preimpregnated material using automated tape laying. The preform of the beams (J-section) is obtained by hot forming of flat laminates. The final curing and bonding to the precured skin (co-bonding) is performed using a direct vacuum bag in an autoclave. A flat development of the vacuum bag is performed, it is traced with a numerical control machine and it is made prior to being placed on the tool. For large surfaces with difficult access the final adjustment is performed with the tool and the part in a vertical position, due to the ergonomic difficulties involved in working on certain areas of same. The invention is applicable to the field of aeronautics.

The present invention relates in general to methods for manufacturing a composite material structure, in which on a precured element (skin) are glued other uncured elements (beams) by placing an adhesive layer between them (between the precured element and each uncured element), thereby obtaining a structural union. The adhesive is cured at the same time as the latter elements.
More specifically, the object of the invention is to develop the required theoretical concepts and the corresponding manufacturing methods for providing a union system by co-bonding of one or several elements (beams) made from composite materials and uncured, and a base (skin) also made of composite material but which is precured, with multiple changes in thickness. A precise adjustment must be obtained of the uncured elements, both with the adhesive surface (skin) and with the other, upper surface.
For this purpose, the tooling used is the most relevant factor, which is in this case a rigid invar rod (described in detail below) with a direct bag that allows to obtain a high dimensional precision at the same time as a tight positioning tolerance. To clarify the term xe2x80x9cdirect bagxe2x80x9d, it should be pointed out that the direct vacuum bag concept relates to the fact that the elements comprising the vacuum bag (FEP or fluoro-ethylene-propylene, AIRWEAVE type aerator and bag plastic) are directly on the part to be cured without any interposed tooling. This ensures a uniform consolidating pressure.
The union is achieved by curing the adhesive layer under strict pressure conditions and at its polymerization temperature, which must match that of the resin of the uncured elements as both chemical processes take place simultaneously in the same autoclave cycle.
Likewise, the union effected is designed to withstand shear loads applied to the skin by the beams, due to deflections of the structure, and detachment forces applied on the beams by the skins, as well as various types of internal pressures such as those of a fluid when the torsion box is the fuel tank.
The most remarkable characteristic of the present invention is the use of a rigid tooling (a system of rigid tools and rakes) for the bonded union, combined with applying autoclave pressure using a scheme with a vacuum bag in direct contact with the elements to be bonded and cured.
In order to bond the uncured elements to a precured skin which must match another complex surface at the unbonded end, a manufacturing system was initially developed with a flexible tooling using the xe2x80x9cinflatable toolxe2x80x9d technique. These tools were made from an elastomer material stiffened as required with carbon fiber.
The high cost and low reliability of this tooling spurred the development of a rigid tooling system to solve these problems; this is the co-bonding system with rigid tools.
During the development stage of the rigid tooling trials were performed with tools of various configurations:
Several configurations were tested with steel material, which were discarded because of the thermal gradients generated which resulted in deformations of the part to the point of not obtaining the required quality.
Two constructive solutions have been tested using invar:
Rigid tools made from welded sheets which are later machined. This solution is the lightest but its construction is extremely complex and involves several deformation and straightening operations during fabrication.
It is also possible to leave a small wall thickness after machining, with the resulting risk of collapse of the tool in the autoclave. The resulting weight does not allow manual handling.
Rigid tools made from a sheet with a sufficient thickness and enlightened by machining, and later covered by a welded plate.
The enlightened material weighs ≈25 kg as compared to a weight of the solid tool of around 150 kg. This enlightening is not justified due to handling issues as it greatly increases the tool fabrication cycle and its handling still requires additional means.
As well as the use of different materials and configurations of the rigid tools, another basic aspect in the use of this type of blade-shaped rigid tooling is the distance between the edge of the rigid tool and the radius of the beam foot. The following configurations were tested:
The rigid tool extending 2 mm into the radius.
The rigid tool remaining 2 mm above the radius.
The rigid tool extending as far as the middle of the radius.
It was concluded that the rigid tool should end above the radius of the foot, as this configuration provides the best dimensional and quality results, as well as facilitates demolding.
Later studies led to an optimization of the distance between the rigid tool and the beam foot radius, arriving at the conclusion that the ideal distance was 3 mm from the edge of the rigid tool to the start of the beam foot radius.
The results obtained indicate that rigid tools should be made of solid invar, as this simplifies their construction and improves dimensional tolerance. Additionally, they are handled in all cases with auxiliary means and not manually, regardless of their configuration.
As regards the bonded unions, using a different type of tooling, the prior art closest to the application are those relating to:
1. Joining beam stiffeners of the torsion box for the A330-340 airplane horizontal stabilizer (currently in the production stage).
2. Joining the longitudinal stiffeners for the skin of the torsion box of the CASA 3000 airplane wing (in prototype stage).
3. Joining auxiliary longitudinal beams to the skin of the torsion box of test FB.5-1 of the technological development program for large airfoils (GSS) to be applied to the horizontal stabilizer of the A3XX.
From the results of the above experiences and from other relevant manufacturing studies and tests it was concluded that the application of the method of the present invention is feasible and reliable for its use in parts of highly demanded withstanding structures and with high quality requirements, with complex shapes and strict dimensional tolerances.
This invention is applicable to the manufacture of structures made of composite materials in which participate a precured element (skin) and other uncured elements (beams) that are cured simultaneously to their union to the precured element.
The structures for which this technique would be applicable are such as:
Airplane structures and controls, such as airfoils, moving airfoil surfaces, fuselages.
Space ships
Marine and land vehicles
Industrial machinery and equipment.
The various manufacturing stages which comprise the full process are:
Fabrication of the Skin
Tape laying on a curved tool.
Placing the vacuum bag on a laminate.
Curing in an autoclave.
There is no demolding operation nor a non-destruction inspection.
Fabrication of the J-beams
Flat tape laying.
2D cutting in fresh state on patterns.
Mounting patterns until final configuration of the beam cloths.
A first hot forming cycle to obtain two L-shaped beam halves.
Placing one half on the other.
A second hot-forming cycle, to provide the final J-shaped beam.
3D cutting of the uncured beam rises as well as other cutting to obtain the final size of the beam after the curing cycle.
Fabrication of the Vacuum Bag
Approximate flat layout of the final bag configuration.
Tracing the bag in a flat machine with numerical control or manually with jigs or Mylar. The position of the beams and fasteners on the radii is traced.
Formation and manual attachment of the fasteners.
Fabrication of the Final Structure: Co-bonding
Assembling the beams on rigid invar tools on auxiliary preassembly benches. Each bench has two rigid tools to allow ergonomic working conditions.
Placing all possible elements of the final vacuum bag on the beams in the preassembly benches. Additionally, a consolidation is carried out to ensure adjustment on the skin. For this, the preassembly benches are provided with a surface which perfectly resembles the surface of the skin.
Transfer of rigid tools+rakes+beams to their final position on the skin.
Placing the remaining elements of the vacuum bag.
Assembling the prefabricated and checked vacuum bag.
Final adjustment of the vacuum bag with the assembly in a vertical position for large surfaces with difficult access to certain areas.
Autoclave curing cycle.
Demolding.
Non-destructive inspection of the skin.
Re-edging (only for the skin as the system of rigid tools allows to obtain beams with their final geometry).
Non-destructive inspection of beams.
Priming and painting.
Materials
The materials to be used will be composite materials, in which the fibers and resin can be:
Fibers
Carbon fiber.
Glass fiber.
Ceramic fiber.
Aramid fiber.
Boron fiber.
Resins
Epoxy resin.
Thermoplastic resin.
Other thermosetting resins.
The object of the invention is a method for manufacturing composite material structures in which several uncured elements (beams) are joined to a precured element (skin) so that the union has structural requirements.
The bonding and curing of the beams is achieved by a prior forming and a final curing in an autoclave with a direct vacuum bag.
The uncured elements have a J-shaped cross section.
The basis of the manufacturing method is the optimized design of forming tools (made of aluminum and improved wood with an integrated vacuum system for overturning) and particularly curing in an autoclave, rigid tools made of invar (to avoid deformations due to thermal expansion) and the automation of all processes.
The method is applicable to any base structure which must be stiffened by elements with a precise geometry.
The tape laying technique can be either manual or automated, although the automated tape laying system optimizes the process considerably.
In a specific embodiment the invention discloses a method for manufacturing precured parts of composite material by using uncured J-beams, in which are structurally joined at least two parts made of composite materials, of which a first part known as the base part or skin is in a cured state and a second part or parts, known as beams, are uncured, and in which the two parts are joined by a layer of structural adhesive so that the second part is compacted against the first, with a suitable cross linking of the resin of the composite material, and so strongly bonded to the skin of the first part that the required strength of the adhesive layer is ensured. This method is characterized by the following stages: laminating superposed layers of preimpregnated composite material so that the fiber orientation is adapted to the structural requirements of the part to be obtained, obtaining from the resulting laminates on one hand the base part and on another a set of basic stacks used to form the second part; curing the base part in an autoclave; cutting the flat laminate with the areas of different thickness from which the second parts are obtained; assembling packages from the patterns obtained in the previous cutting; hot forming in two cycles, by applying heat and vacuum, of the previously obtained flat configurations to obtain a preform with a J-shaped cross-section; mounting the preforms on the curing tools on auxiliary preassembly benches which simplify this task; precise positioning of all tooling (rigid tools+rakes) and J-shaped parts on the precured base; mounting a previously made and checked vacuum bag; overturning the part and the tool to a vertical position when the parts have a large area and are difficult to access, in which position the fine adjustment of the vacuum bag is performed; and performing the autoclave curing cycle.
In accordance with the invention a base part and one or more second parts are joined to obtain a finished precured part. The uncured elements to be bonded are obtained from flat laminates of varying thicknesses in some areas, which are later cut and stacked in packages until the final configuration of the part, with packages of at least two cloths being stacked and in no case with two cloths touching each other.
Likewise, the uncured elements to be bonded are hot formed to obtain preforms with the final geometry, so that they can be easily mounted on the curing tools (rigid tools). The hot forming tools are made of aluminum with improved wood on their top part, which is in contact with the fiber, in order to prevent heat transfer losses as well as in the integrated vacuum system for overturning said tools.
In addition, the curing tools generally have a rectangular trapezoid cross-section so that the geometrical quality of the part is ensured, allowing to adjust the beams on their top surface with another part of the type of the base part. These curing tools are made of invar to prevent deformations due to thermal expansion during the autoclave cycle.
Furthermore, between the edge of the rigid tool and the foot radius of the beam there is a 3 mm separation which ensures the geometrical quality of the part as well as facilitates the demolding; the autoclave curing process is performed at a pressure between 585 kPa and 896 kPa, and at a temperature of up to 190xc2x0 C. depending on the composite material used, with a heating gradient of 0.5 to 2xc2x0 C./min.
With the method of the invention parts are obtained that can be applied in structures and controls of aerospace, marine and land vehicles, as well as in industrial machinery and equipment. Specifically, the base part (skin) comprises the skin of an airplane wing, a stabilizer or any other element which must be stiffened to fulfill its structural functions.
In accordance with the invention, the uncured parts have a J-shaped cross section and thickness between 1 and 6 mm, while the base part has a length of up to 7 m and is shaped as a delta.
The vacuum bag used in the method of the invention is quite large, so that it is traced with a numerical control machine and made before it is placed.
The composite material used in the method of the invention consists of fibers and resins selected among glass fiber, carbon fiber, aramid fiber, boron fiber, epoxy resin, thermoplastic resin and other thermosetting resins.

Method for manufacturing elements of composite materials by the co-bonding technique


The present disclosure relates to a novel CRISPR-Cas9 based system for editing mitochondrial DNA. Aspects of the disclosure provide for mitochondrial translocation of both the guide RNA and the recombinant Cas9 nuclease.

Pathogenic mutations and deletions in the maternally inherited mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) affect as many as one in five hundred births and cause conditions with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. Clinical manifestations of heteroplasmy for defective mitochondria include variable multisystem disorders such as Pearson and Kearns-Sayre Syndromes, progressive external ophthalmoplegia, mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, stroke-like syndrome (MELAS), myoclonic epilepsy with ragged-red fibers (MERFF), and Leigh Syndrome. Other specific manifestations caused by mitochondrial disorders include Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). Many of these clinical manifestations derive from deleterious single base substitutions in the mitochondrial genome.
Animal models of mitochondrial diseases are essential to evaluate cause-effect relationships of mtDNA mutations, determine pathophysiological processes, and to assess therapeutic strategies. However, their effective generation has been hampered by inaccessibility of mtDNA to gene targeting, and limited transmission of mutant mitochondria via the female germline. This disclosure describes novel approaches to edit mitochondrial DNA and produce animals heteroplasmic for mutant mitochondria.

Stem loop RNA mediated transport of mitochondria genome editing molecules (endonucleases) into the mitochondria

Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital


According to one embodiment, in a nonvolatile semiconductor memory in which a charge store layer is formed on a tunnel insulating film formed on a channel region of a semiconductor substrate, a first nanoparticle layer containing first conductive nanoparticles is formed on the channel side, and a second nanoparticle layer containing a plurality of second conductive nanoparticles having an average particle size larger than the first conductive nanoparticles is formed on the charge store layer side. An average energy value ΔE1 required for charging one electron in the first conductive nanoparticle is smaller than an average energy value ΔE required for charging one electron in the second conductive nanoparticle, and a difference between ΔE1 and ΔE is larger than a heat fluctuation energy (kBT).

In recent years, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory having a structure in which a nanoparticle layer containing conductive nanoparticles such as Si nanocrystals is inserted into a tunnel oxide film has been developed as an evolved MONOS nonvolatile semiconductor memory. This memory has a structure in which using a tunnel current, charges are exchanged between an Si surface and the trap level in a silicon nitride film (charge storage layer) via a double tunnel junction sandwiching the Si nanocrystals satisfying the Coulomb blockade condition between the tunnel oxide films.
In the semiconductor memory of this type, in the memory retention mode, an energy barrier ΔE by the Coulomb blockade effect and quantum confinement of the Si nanocrystals blocks the information charge tunnel. This allows to exponentially improve the storage retention characteristics in accordance with exp(ΔE/kBT). In the write/erase mode, since an appropriate write/erase voltage is applied to the memory, the information electrons tunnel without receiving an influence of the energy barrier ΔE. This allows to perform high-speed write/erase.
When the particle size of the Si nanocrystals decreases, the energy barrier ΔE by the Coulomb blockade effect and quantum confinement increases, thereby improving the memory retention characteristics. When the particle size of the Si nanocrystals to assure the storage retention capability decreases and the energy barrier ΔE increases, degradation occurs due to a low energy barrier in the write/erase mode. That is, when the reduction of the particle size of the Si nanocrystals progresses, the energy barrier ΔE increases to exponentially improve the memory retention characteristics. However, the appearance of a low energy barrier in the write/erase mode starts to exponentially decrease the write/erase rate.
An increase in write/erase voltage allows to eliminate the low energy barrier. In this case, the increase in the write/erase voltage results in loss of device reliability. The memory retention improvement is undesirably insufficient while low-voltage high-speed write/erase is maintained.


A bottle uses a sleeve to stabilize it when in the inverted position. The sleeve in normally around the middle of the bottle when the bottle is upright. The bottle has a lock for the sleeve which is a thickened area of the bottle sidewall. When one wishes to invert the bottle, the lock is pushed inwardly and the sleeve is slid upward over the lock and its top edge is above the bottle top. The top edge is what provides a stable base to support the bottle when it is inverted. The sleeve is maintained in this extended position by the lock pressing against the sleeve due to the resiliency of the bottle.

1. Field of the invention
The invention relates to a bottle that is stable in both the upright and inverted position. A sleeve around the bottle supports and stabilizes the bottle when it is inverted, allowing the contents to collect near the opening at the top.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When a bottle of viscous liquid is more than half empty it is sometimes a problem to get the contents out of the bottle. Viscous liquid has a tendency to cling to the sides of the bottle and takes a long time to reach the opening. This often necessitates the shaking and pounding of the bottle to get the liquid to move quicker.
There have been previous attempts to solve this problem. Most use the cap or a series of caps to solve the problem. Others use metering devices and are expensive to make and maintain.

Bottle that functions upright and inverted using the sides of the bottle for support


In one aspect, a system for determining forces exerted on rolling ground engaging components of an agricultural implement may a ground engaging component configured to roll relative to soil within a field as the agricultural implement is moved across the field. A controller of the disclosed system may be configured to control an operation of a braking device such that a braking force is applied to the rolling ground engaging component. When the braking force is being applied to the rolling ground engaging component, the controller may be configured to monitor a rotational speed of the rolling ground engaging component based on measurement signals received from a sensor. Moreover, the controller may be configured to determine a force exerted on the rolling ground engaging component by the soil within the field based on the applied braking force and the monitored rotational speed.

Modern farming practices strive to increase yields of agricultural fields. In this respect, agricultural implements are towed behind a tractor or other work vehicle to disperse seeds and other agricultural products throughout a field and/or condition the soil. An agricultural implement typically includes one or more rolling ground engaging components that are configured to roll relative to the soil as the implement is moved across a field. For example, in certain configurations, the implement may include one or more disc openers that form a furrow or trench within the soil while rolling relative to the soil. Furthermore, the implement may also include one or more closing discs that close the furrow while rolling relative to the soil. As the implement is moved across the field, the soil exerts a force or a rolling resistance on the rolling ground engaging components. Such force may be indicative of one or more characteristics of the soil within the field across which the implement is being moved.
Accordingly, an improved system and method for determining forces exerted on rolling ground engaging components of an agricultural implement would be welcomed in the technology.

Determining forces exerted on rolling agricultural components based on an applied braking force