A gas turbine engine comprises a compressor section and a turbine section, the compressor section having a last compressor stage. High pressure cooling air is tapped from a location downstream of the last compressor stage and passed through a heat exchanger. Lower pressure air passes across the heat exchanger to cool the high pressure cooling air. A housing surrounds the compressor section and the turbine section and there being a space radially outwardly of the housing, and a mixing chamber received in the space radially outwardly of the housing, the mixing chamber receiving the high pressure cooling air downstream of the heat exchanger, and further receiving air at a temperature higher than a temperature of the high pressure cooling air downstream of the heat exchanger. Mixed air from the mixing chamber is returned into the housing and utilized to cool at least the turbine section.

This application relates to a mixing chamber for mixing two air sources in a gas turbine engine to utilize as turbine cooling air.
Gas turbine engines are known and typically include a fan delivering air into a bypass duct as propulsion air and also into a core engine. The air in the core engine enters a compressor where it is compressed and then delivered into a combustor. The air is mixed with fuel and ignited and products of this combustion pass downstream over turbine rotors driving them to rotate.
Historically, a fan drive turbine rotated at a single speed with the fan. However, more recently, a gear reduction has been placed between the fan drive turbine and the fan rotor. This allows the fan to increase in diameter and rotate at slower speeds, which has many beneficial effects.
The fan drive turbine is able to rotate at higher speeds. Temperatures within the gas turbine engine increase with this change for several reasons. Further, the pressure downstream of the combustor also increases.
As can be appreciated, components of the gas turbine engine and, in particular, those in the turbine section, see very high temperatures. It is known to provide cooling air to cool those components. However, due to the increased pressure, it becomes desirable to use highly pressurized air as the cooling air such that it is able to move into the turbine section. The most pressurized air in the gas turbine engine is downstream of a high pressure compressor and it is typically hot.
This high pressure cooling air must be cooled. After cooling, it may be at a temperature too low for effective use under all conditions. Thus, it would be desirable to mix this cooing air with higher temperature air. However, available space for a required mixing chamber becomes difficult to locate within the compact space of the modern gas turbine engine.

External mixing chamber for a gas turbine engine with cooled turbine cooling air


An audio system having a main chassis including an audio preamplifier and a remote chassis including a power amplifier has a clipping level detector circuit in the remote chassis for detecting the onset of clipping by the power amplifier and has a gain control element in the main chassis for controlling the gain of the preamplifier. Thus, clipping distortion is eliminated without introduction of other distortion and while preserving the spectral balance of the audio signal.

The present invention relates in general to audio systems which prevent distortion from amplifier clipping by employing voltage limiting, and more specifically to automotive audio systems in which power amplification of an audio signal is performed in a location remote from a main audio unit.
Typical audio reproduction systems include a variable-gain preamplification stage followed by a fixed-gain power amplifier which drives an output transducer such as a speaker. A volume control voltage provided to the variable-gain stage controls the output volume heard by a listener.
An important objective in designing an audio system is to provide minimum distortion in signal reproduction. However, there is always some distortion, especially at high sound levels. As the magnitude of the signal provided from the variable-gain preamplifier stage to the power amplifier increases above a certain level, the power amplifier becomes overdriven. This situation occurs when the input signal to the power amplifier multiplied by the fixed-gain of the power amplifier approaches the supply voltage provided to the power amplifier. As a result, the power amplifier becomes saturated and the signal peaks of the audio signal are distorted by clipping. The variable-gain preamplifier is also susceptible to clipping, but the power amplifier is likely to begin clipping first.
The problem of clipping is severe in automotive audio systems. Less voltage headroom (i.e., safety margin) is available to the power amplifier since the automobile is limited to a 12-volt electrical supply. Although a DC/DC converter can be used to obtain a higher DC voltage, such converters are relatively expensive. Also, bass boost is needed in the automotive environment to mask low frequency road and engine noise, making clipping more likely.
High performance automotive audio systems typically employ a power amplifier located remote from the main audio unit in the dashboard, where it is not visible to the occupants of the automobile. A remotely located power amplifier saves space in the dashboard and reduces the amount of heat that would otherwise be generated in the main unit.
When the two amplifier stages are not located together, the problem of clipping of each amplifier stage has been handled individually in the prior art. Therefore, either one or both amplifier stages have been provided with voltage limiting in order to reduce distortion from signal clipping.
In a voltage limiting amplifier, whenever the amplifier output exceeds a predetermined referenced voltage, the input signal to that amplifier stage is attenuated in order to ensure that the amplifier is not overdriven. In the prior art remote power amplifier systems, unless both the variable-gain amplifier in the main unit and the power amplifier in the remote unit are separately provided with voltage limiting, clipping distortion can result at sufficiently high input signal levels or gain levels, and once distortion is introduced into the signal it cannot be removed.
An audio system employing voltage limiting amplifiers in both the main variable-gain preamplifier and the remote power amplifier avoids clipping distortion, but at the expense of an additional source of distortion referred to as modulation-type distortion. The gain reduction elements employed in the voltage limiting feedback circuits necessarily have time constants characteristic of their operation. Specifically, there are attack times and release times which govern the gain reduction. It is relatively difficult and expensive to provide perfectly matched attack and release times in the two independent limiters acting in series, and any mismatch in attack and release times creates distortion in the audio signal.

Audio amplifier limiting for a remote power amplifier


A smart container for facilitating operations in a facility is provided. The smart container includes an apparatus configured to store and transport one or more items, one or more electronic devices disposed one or more sides on the apparatus, and a wheel-based charging system coupled to the apparatus and configured to charge one or more battery packs for the one or more electronic devices. The one or more electronic devices are configured to transmit information for monitoring and tracking a position of the smart container throughout an environment.

The present invention relates to an intelligent container for facilitating facility operations (or processes).
Many facilities (e.g., warehouses, plants, distribution centers, storehouses, factories, etc.) perform tasks such as storing items, sorting items, packaging items, shipping items, and the like. Such facilities generally use various transport devices (e.g., carts, containers, pallets, bins, etc.) to transport items to different locations inside and/or outside the facility. As an example, an associate may retrieve items from storage and use a cart to transport the items to a location in preparation for shipping. In another example, an associate can load items onto a cart from a loading dock and transport the items to a storage location in the facility. In some cases, the items may be stored in larger containers. These containers can be transitioned throughout the facility on carts or on other transport devices.


According to one embodiment, a soft magnetic layer, a first nonmagnetic underlayer having a fine crystal structure and made of Pd or a Pd alloy, a second nonmagnetic underlayer made of Ru or an Ru alloy, and a perpendicular magnetic recording layer are stacked on a nonmagnetic substrate.

1. Field
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a perpendicular magnetic recording medium and magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus for use in, e.g., a hard disk drive using the magnetic recording technique.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a demand has arisen for increasing the capacity of a hard disk drive, and the recording bit size is more and more decreasing as the recording density increases. To form a large-capacity hard disk medium, it is necessary not only to decrease the recording bit size but also to improve the recording/reproduction characteristics, i.e., reduce noise generated from the medium. The main cause of the medium noise is presumably a zigzagged domain wall in the bit boundary portion. One method of reducing the noise generated from the bit boundary portion is to form a clearer recording bit boundary. This makes it possible to reduce the magnetic interaction between recording bits, and accurately perform recording/reproduction in each individual bit.
It is disclosed by, for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2003-77122, an example of the means for improving the recording/reproduction characteristics is a technique in which in a perpendicular magnetic recording medium formed by sequentially stacking at least a nonmagnetic underlayer, magnetic layer, and protective layer on a nonmagnetic substrate, the magnetic layer is made of ferromagnetic crystal grains and a nonmagnetic grain boundary mainly containing an oxide, the nonmagnetic underlayer is made of a metal or alloy having the hexagonal closest packed crystal structure, and a seed layer made of a metal or alloy having the face-centered cubic crystal structure is formed between the nonmagnetic underlayer and nonmagnetic substrate. This technique is particularly characterized in that the seed layer is made of a metal selected from Cu, Au, Pd, Pt, and Ir, an alloy containing at least one of Cu, Au, Pd, Pt, and Ir, or an alloy containing Ni and Fe. This technique can orient the (111) plane as the closest packed face of the face-centered cubic structure as the seed layer, and can orient the nonmagnetic underlayer formed on the seed layer and having the hexagonal closest packed structure along the (002) plane. This makes it possible to improve the crystal orientation of the recording layer having the same hexagonal closest packed structure as the nonmagnetic underlayer, and obtain a perpendicular magnetic recording medium having good magnetic characteristics.
When the crystalline seed layer having the face-centered cubic structure is used, however, the crystal orientation improves, but the crystal grains become difficult to downsize because the grain size of the seed layer is reflected on the nonmagnetic underlayer.
As disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2004-327006, for example, there is a technique having tried to improve the recording/reproduction characteristics and increase the thermal decay resistance by using a perpendicular magnetic recording medium in which at least a soft magnetic underlayer, first nonmagnetic underlayer, second nonmagnetic underlayer, perpendicular magnetic recording film, and protective film are formed on a nonmagnetic substrate, the first underlayer is made of Pt, Pd, or an alloy of at least one of Pt and Pd, and the second nonmagnetic underlayer is made of Ru or an Ru alloy. In particular, a Pt alloy or Pd alloy obtained by adding another element to Pt or Pd can be used in the first underlayer in order to downsize the crystal grains. Favorable examples of the additive element are B, C, P, Si, Al, Cr, Co, Ta, W, Pr, Nd, and Sm. This technique has tried to improve the crystallinity of the second nonmagnetic underlayer and magnetic recording layer by particularly adding C.
Unfortunately, although the crystal orientation and recording/reproduction characteristics improve by the addition of the additive to Pt or Pd, grains are observed in the first nonmagnetic underlayer, i.e., the layer maintains the shape of a crystal grain as described in the embodiment. In this case, the grain size in the first nonmagnetic underlayer imposes limitation and makes it difficult to further decrease the grain size in the magnetic recording layer.

Perpendicular magnetic recording medium and magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus


Methods and devices are disclosed for forwarding data packets during handover in a packet-switched wireless communications system, such as a 3GPP Long-Term Evolution/System Architecture Evolution system. In an exemplary method, a source base station node determines that handover of at least one radio bearer for a served user terminal to a target base station node is imminent. The source base station node classifies a plurality of data packets into two or more data flow classifications according to a transmission status for each data packet, a service requirement for each data packet, or both and selectively forwards one or more of the data packets to the target base station node based on the data flow classification for each data packet. For example, data packets associated with a reliable delivery service requirement may be forwarded while data packets associated with a maximum delay service requirement are not.

Within the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the design and specification of the next generation of wireless communications networks is ongoing in an effort known as the Long Term Evolution (LTE) initiative. Along with the definition of new wireless interfaces, a new core network architecture is also being defined. This definition is known as System Architecture Evolution (SAE). As shown in FIG. 1, an LTE/SAE network includes two types of network elements supporting user and control planes: an enhanced base station 110, called the Evolved NodeB or "eNodeB"; and the Access Gateway (aGW) 120. The eNodeB 110 provides the LTE air interface and radio resource management, while the AGW provides a mobility anchor point for the user plane and provides a gateway to IP Service Networks 140, which may include the Internet, intranets, and other IP-based service networks.
Until recently, discussions regarding LTE mobility, i.e., handover from one eNodeB 110 to another, have been based on the assumption that the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) is terminated in the LTE Access Gateway node 120 at one end and in the user equipment (UE) 160 at the other. PDCP, part of Layer 2, performs IP header compression and decompression, as well as ciphering and integrity protection of transmitted data. PDCP sequence numbers are added to user data, primarily for ciphering purposes; these sequence numbers may be used in handover procedures for reordering of packets and detection of duplicate packets. FIG. 2A thus illustrates the prior understanding of the allocation of Layer 1 and Layer 2 functionality between the UE 100, the evolved NodeB (eNodeB) 110, and the aGW 120. As shown in FIG. 2A, PDCP terminates in aGW 120, while the Radio Link Control (RLC) and Medium Access Control protocols terminate in the eNodeB 110.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a typical handover procedure in a system utilizing the architecture depicted in FIG. 2A need not involve the PDCP, because an inter-eNodeB 110 handover does not require a change in aGW 120. One advantage of this architecture is that header compression can continue through a handover process without being restarted or moved to another node in the radio access network or in the core network. This applies to both uplink and downlink data transfers.
Recently, however, 3GPP has decided to locate the PDCP functionality in the eNodeB, rather than in the aGW, as shown in FIG. 2B. The move of PDCP functionality to the eNodeB has several implications for mobility. For instance, the header compression functionality in the PDCP "moves" from the source eNodeB 110 to the target eNodeB 110 during handover.
Header compression requires flow classification—the header of each incoming IP packet must be inspected in order for the compressor to identify the flow to which the packet belongs, and the corresponding compression state to use. When multiple IP flows with varying service requirements share the same PDCP instance, it is then possible to identify and distinguish between IP packets based on their service requirements at the eNodeB 110. For example, different IP flows may have different requirements with respect to avoidance of duplicate packets, loss of packets, in-sequence delivery, interruption time, and/or jitter.

Selective packet forwarding for LTE mobility


The invention relates to a pipe comprising at least one metallocene-catalyzed polyethylene resin, wherein the polyethylene resin has a multimodal molecular weight distribution and comprises at least two metallocene-catalyzed polyethylene fractions A and B, wherein fractions A and B are prepared in different reactors of at least two reactors connected in series, wherein the polyethylene resin comprises:

Polymer materials are frequently used for preparing pipes suitable for various purposes, such as fluid transport, i.e. transport of liquid or gas, e.g. water or natural gas, during which the fluid can be pressurized. Moreover, the transported fluid may have varying temperatures. These pipes are usually prepared from polyolefins, such as medium density polyethylene and high density polyethylene.
Polyethylene (PE) pipes are generally manufactured by extrusion, or by injection moulding. The properties of such conventional PE pipes produced by extrusion or injection moulding are sufficient for many purposes, although enhanced properties may be desired, for instance in applications requiring high pressure resistance, i.e. pipes that are subjected to an internal fluid pressure for a long and/or short period of time.
According to ISO 9080, PE pipes are classified by their minimum required strength, i.e. their capability to withstand different hydrostatic (hoop) stress during 50 years at 20° C. without fracturing. The standard provides a definitive procedure incorporating an extrapolation using test data at different temperatures analyzed by multiple linear regression analysis. The results permit the determination of material-specific design values in accordance with the procedures described in the relevant system standards. This multiple linear regression analysis is based on the rate processes most accurately described by log10(stress) versus log10(time) models. Thereby, pipes withstanding a hoop stress of 8.0 MPa (minimum required strength MRS8.0) are classified as PE80 pipes, and pipes withstanding a hoop stress of 10.0 MPa (MRS10.0) are classified as PE100 pipes.
Advanced pipe materials should nowadays conform to pressure resistance levels higher than PE80. One attempt to meet these requirements has been the increase of the density of the polyolefin composition used for such pressure pipes. However, by increasing the density, slow crack growth resistance (SCGR) is reduced which will result in earlier brittle failure and thus has a negative impact on the minimum required strength (MRS) rating as well. The density increase also induces a flexibility decrease.
Further properties which are desirable to improve or to maintain at a high level are processability, tensile modulus, short term pressure resistance, and impact properties of the pipe material.
It is today difficult to produce a flexible pipe which can withstand high pressure for long times while at the same time satisfying criteria of processing, slow crack growth resistance, and cold temperature impact strength of PE100 class materials.
Therefore, it is an object underlying the present invention to provide pipes comprising polyethylene resins which can withstand high pressures for long times while at the same time satisfying criteria of processing, slow crack growth resistance, and cold temperature impact strength of PE100 class materials.

Pipe comprising a metallocene-catalyzed polyethylene resin

Abstract: at least 30% by weight and at most 50% by weight of the polyethylene fraction A, based on the total weight of the polyethylene resin, wherein fraction A has a melt index MI2 of at least 50 g/10 min as determined on the fluff of fraction A according to ISO 1133:1997 condition D at a temperature of 190° C. and under a load of 2.16 kg;wherein fraction B has a density of at most 0.9210 g/cm3; and wherein the polyethylene resin has a melt index MI5 of at least 0.10 g/10 min and of at most 1.0 g/10 min as determined according to ISO 1133:1997, condition T, at 190° C. and under a load of 5 kg; wherein the polyethylene resin has an HLMI of at least 4.0 g/10 min and at most 14.0 g/10 min, as measured according to the procedure of ISO 1133:1997 condition G with a temperature of 190° C. and a load of 21.6 kg; and a density of at least 0.9420 g/cm3 and of at most 0.9460 g/cm3 as determined according to the procedure of ASTM D-1505 at a temperature of 23° C.


A hypothesis space of a search graph may be determined. The hypothesis space may include n hypothesis-space transcriptions of an utterance, each selected from a search graph that includes t>n transcriptions of the utterance. An evidence space of the search graph may also be determined. The evidence space may include m evidence-space transcriptions of the utterance that are randomly selected from the search graph, where t>m. For each particular hypothesis-space transcription in the hypothesis space, an expected word error rate may be calculated by comparing the particular hypothesis-space transcription to each of the evidence-space transcriptions. Based on the expected word error rates, a lowest expected word error rate may be obtained, and the particular hypothesis-space transcription that is associated with the lowest expected word error rate may be provided.

Search graphs, or lattices, in automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems can be used to map an input utterance to one or more output text strings. Some implementations attempt to select text string(s) that have a minimal probability of having one or more word errors. It may be more accurate to instead select text strings that have the smallest expected word error rate (e.g., the smallest edit distance) to a correct transcription of the utterance. However, doing so can be computationally expensive.

Minimum bayesian risk methods for automatic speech recognition


Systems and methods may facilitate healthcare provider enrollment with one or more payers. The systems and methods may include receiving identification of a plurality of payers; determining required enrollment information needed for the healthcare provider to enroll for one or more services of the plurality of payers; retrieving or receiving available enrollment information associated with the healthcare provider; determining missing enrollment information based upon a comparison of the required enrollment information and the available enrollment information; and delivering, by the service provider to the healthcare provider computer, a request for the missing enrollment information.

Healthcare providers are required to enroll with a payer in order for the payer to process claims of the healthcare process. However, this enrollment process is manual, time-consuming, and tedious. Likewise, the enrollment must be performed on a payer-by-payer basis. Thus, there is an opportunity for systems and methods for facilitating healthcare provider enrollment with one or more payers.

Systems and methods for facilitating healthcare provider enrollment with one or more payers


Disclosed is a magnetic recording medium which comprises;. (a) a non-magnetic support; and provided thereon, in sequence PA1 (b) a conductive layer containing carbon black preferably with a DBP absorption of 100 cc/.sub.100g or more, an average particle size of 5 to 30 microns and a pH of less than 5; and PA1 (c) a magnetic layer; PA1 (I) containing tabular barium ferrite magnetic particles in each of which the axis of easy magnetization is substantially perpendicular to the plane surface and 7 to 30 parts by weight of alpha alumina; and 0.1 to 5 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of said magnetic particles, of carbon black with an average particle size of 40 to 300 m.mu.; and PA1 (II) is formed on said conductive layer by the wet-on-wet method; a magnetic recording medium according to this invention is improved both in durability and electromagnetic conversion characteristics.

A magnetic recording medium is generally obtained by applying on a non-magnetic support a magnetic coating composition, followed by drying. A magnetic coating composition is commonly prepared by dispersing uniformly in a binder resin ferromagnetic powder, an abrasive, an anti-static agent, a lubricant, a hardener, other additives, and optionally, a solvent.
It is a common technique to add carbon black to a magnetic layer that contains ferromagnetic metal powder or barium-ferrite tabular particles. By the addition of carbon black, the magnetic layer can have improved abrasion resistance and lower specific surface resistance. Addition of conductive powder (e.g. carbon black, graphite, silver powder, nickel powder) or a surfactant (natural, nonionic, anionic, cationic and ampholytic surfactants) to a magnetic layer to lower its specific surface resistance is known from Japanese Patent Examined Publication Nos. 22726/1971, 24881/1972, 26882/1972, 15440/1973, 26761/1973, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2271623, 2240472, 2288226, 2676112, 2676924, 2676975, 2691566, 2727860, 2730498, 2742379, 2739891, 3068101, 3158484, 3201253, 3210191, 3294540, 3415649, 3441413, 3442654, 3475174 and 3545974.
Addition of conductive powder has such a drawback that the packing density or dispersibility of barium-ferrite powder is lowered due to the presence of conductive powder (in the case of a floppy disc, conductive powder is added normally in an amount larger than that in a magnetic tape), which results in a lowered output and an increased noise level. Surfactants can lower the specific surface resistance of a magnetic layer, but not significantly. Moreover, if a large amount of a surfactant is contained, a magnetic layer inevitably has poor durability. Carbon black contained in a magnetic layer deteriorates the surface condition of the magnetic layer and lowers the packing density of a magnetic substance, and eventually affects adversely the electromagnetic conversion characteristics of a recording medium. In particular, carbon black with an average particle size of 50 m.mu. or more, which can allow a magnetic layer to have improved abrasion resistance, makes the surface of a magnetic layer excessively rough, thus causing a recording medium to have a lower chroma S/N.
Meanwhile, carbon black with an average particle size of 50 m.mu. or less and an oil absorption of 100 ml or more is used widely since it can lower the specific surface resistance of a magnetic layer. However, this carbon black cannot be dispersed well in a magnetic layer, and adversely affects the orientation and packing ratio of a magnetic substance, resulting in a lowered chroma output.
Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection (hereinafter referred to as Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication) Nos. 125927/1985, 296525/1986, 121927/1987 and 20488/1989 each disclose a recording medium in which a conductive layer containing carbon black is provided between a support and a magnetic layer.
In this recording medium, a conductive layer and a magnetic layer are formed on a support by the wet-on-dry method; i.e., a magnetic layer is formed on a conductive layer after the conductive layer is dried. One drawback of the wet-on-dry method is that a recording medium has poor durability because of poor adhesion between layers. This problem is more serious in a magnetic disc containing barium-ferrite magnetic powder. That is, in the case of a magnetic disc containing barium-ferrite magnetic powder, if layer formation is conducted by the wet-on-dry method, a magnetic layer tends to come off during operation due to its insufficient adhesion to other layers. Another drawback of the wet-on-dry method is that dust is likely to stick to the surface of a recording medium during running, resulting in frequent dropouts. Further, the wet-on-dry method is accompanied by such problem that the roughness of a dried surface of a conductive layer affects adversely the surface condition of a magnetic layer. A solvent contained in a magnetic coating composition is caused to diffuse to a conductive layer, causing a difficulty in smooth casting of the magnetic coating composition on the conductive layer.
Providing on a carbon black-containing subbing layer a 4.0 .mu.m or more-thick magnetic layer that contains ferromagnetic metal powder or barium-ferrite magnetic particles is already known in the art. However, such large thickness of a magnetic layer prevents carbon black from manifesting its effect of lowering the specific surface resistance of a magnetic layer. As a result, dust is likely to stick to a recording medium, causing frequent dropouts. In this technique, a magnetic layer is formed on a subbing layer by the wet-on-dry method which, as mentioned above, has such drawbacks as complicated procedures and deteriorated surface condition of a magnetic layer due to the roughness of a subbing layer. If the surface of a magnetic layer is too rough, a recording medium has a lower chroma S/N.
Under such circumstances, there has been an increasing demand for a magnetic recording medium with a greater memory capacity, a higher reproduction output and more improved durability.
However, none of conventional magnetic recording mediums, in particular, those for use as floppy discs, satisfy such demand.

Magnetic recording medium comprising a conductive underlayer containing carbon black and a magnetic layer containing tabular barium ferrite magnetic particles, .alpha. alumina, and binder resin


A kit is provided which has a number of protective covers of a generally U-shaped cross section to be frictionally snapped about the decorative molding, trim, or other component of an automobile, to protect the textured decorative trim components from an application of wax when the car is waxed, for protection and beautification. Additional plastic protection covers are provided for door handles, antenna well, and similar components where the introduction of wax or other foreign material would adversely affect the appearance and/or performance of the component.

This invention relates to protective cover members for vehicles, and more particularly to a kit of a plurality of reusable protective cover members for protecting decorative trim and the like on a vehicle.
In today's society, it is common to protect expensive vehicles and the like with a protective wax coating to preserve and enhance the finish and decorative appearance of the vehicle. On many cars and boats, decorative trim and other accessories are applied which have a different surface, appearance and finish than the main portion of the vehicle and it is frequently desirable to not wax these textured decorative portions because the wax will tend to build up in an unsightly fashion and will also tend to fill in the textured surface of the decorative trim or other accessary. Also under certain conditions, some accessories and trim items on a vehicle can be adversely affected by the beautifying and protective wax used on the main surface of the vehicle.


A method for operating an engine compartment fan for an engine compartment of a motor vehicle, in which at least one component, in particular for the drive of the motor vehicle, is situated, including the following: ascertaining a present engine compartment temperature as a function of a thermal energy input into the engine compartment and a thermal energy discharge out of the engine compartment; and activating the engine compartment fan as a function of the ascertained present engine compartment temperature.

In a motor vehicle operated using an internal combustion engine, heat is introduced into an engine compartment of the motor vehicle by the internal combustion engine and an exhaust gas system. To dissipate this heat, an airflow permeates the engine compartment during a movement of the motor vehicle. If the airflow is not sufficient for dissipating the thermal energy introduced by the internal combustion engine and the exhaust gas system because of an excessively low vehicle speed, the dissipation of the thermal energy is assisted by an engine compartment fan. Overall, components in the engine compartment are to be prevented from being damaged as a result of excessively high heat input.
Engine compartment fans are typically not configured for high numbers of operating hours over their service life. However, based on a conventional two-point regulation for operating the engine compartment fan, it may not be ensured that the number of operating hours guaranteed by the producer is not exceeded.

Method and device for operating an engine compartment fan for a motor vehicle


To provide a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof achieving both reduction in ON resistance and increase in breakdown voltage and suppressing a short circuit. The semiconductor device has, in its semiconductor substrate having a main surface, a p− type epitaxial region, n− type epitaxial region, n type offset region, and p type body region configuring a pn junction therewith; and further has a p+ type buried region between the p− type and n− type epitaxial regions, isolation trench extending from the main surface to the p+ type buried region, and trench sidewall n type region formed on at least a portion of the sidewall of the isolation trench. The n type impurity concentration in the trench sidewall n type region is higher than that in the n− type epitaxial region. The trench sidewall n type region extends along the sidewall to reach the p+ type buried region.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same, in particular, to a semiconductor device having a lateral element.
For semiconductor elements used as a switching driver, lateral high-breakdown-voltage MOS (metal oxide semiconductor) transistors have been used popularly. A lateral high-breakdown-voltage MOS transistor is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-66067 (Patent Document 1). In the lateral high-breakdown-voltage MOS transistor disclosed in Patent Document 1, a hollow formed in an element isolation trench contributes to an increase in breakdown voltage.
In addition, the semiconductor device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-258501 (Patent Document 2) and having a high-breakdown-voltage p type MOS transistor is formed on a so-called SOI (silicon on insulator) substrate and it has a dielectric isolation trench for element isolation around the p type MOS transistor.
Further, a lateral high-breakdown-voltage MOS transistor formed on an SOI substrate and having a dielectric isolation trench for element isolation is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 8 (1996)-64686 (Patent Document 3).
The semiconductor devices disclosed in the above-mentioned patent documents have, along the main surface of the semiconductor substrate thereof, a so-called buried layer in which an impurity region has been buried in the semiconductor substrate.    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-66067    [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-258501    [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 8 (1996)-64686

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing same


The present invention relates to electroluminescent compounds of formula 1 where A and/or B represent fluorene, carbazole, dibenzo[b,d]thiophene or dibenzo[b,d]furan derivatives and L1, X1, Ar1, Ar2, R5, R6 and R7 are as defined herein, and organic electroluminescent devices comprising the same. The compounds according to the present invention have an advantage in manufacturing an organic electroluminescent device which has a high luminous efficiency and a long operational lifetime.

An electroluminescent (EL) device is a self-light-emitting device which has advantages over other types of display devices in that it provides a wider viewing angle, a greater contrast ratio, and has a faster response time. An organic EL device was first developed by Eastman Kodak, by using small molecules which are aromatic diamines, and aluminum complexes as a material for forming a light-emitting layer [Appl. Phys. Lett. 51, 913, 1987].
The most important factor to determine luminous efficiency in an organic EL device is a light-emitting material. Until now, fluorescent materials have been widely used as a light-emitting material. However, in view of electroluminescent mechanisms, phosphorescent materials theoretically show four (4) times higher luminous efficiency than fluorescent materials. Thus, recently, phosphorescent materials have been investigated. Iridium(III) complexes have been widely known as phosphorescent materials, including bis(2-(2′-benzothienyl)-pyridinato-N,C3′)iridium(acetylacetonate) ((acac)Ir(btp)2), tris(2-phenylpyridine)indium (Ir(ppy)3) and bis(4,6-difluorophenylpyridinato-N,C2)picolinate iridium (Firpic) as red, green and blue materials, respectively.
In order to improve color purity, luminous efficiency and stability, light-emitting materials can be used as one prepared by mixing a dopant with a host material. In the host material/dopant system, the host material has a great influence on the efficiency and performance of an EL device, and thus is important.
At present, 4,4′-N,N′-dicarbazol-biphenyl (CBP) is the most widely known host material for phosphorescent substances. Further, Pioneer (Japan) et al. developed a high performance organic EL device employing, as a host material, bathocuproine (BCP) and aluminum(III)bis(2-methyl-8-quinolinate)(4-phenylphenolate) (BAlq) which had been a material used for a hole blocking layer.
Though these phosphorous host materials provide good light-emitting characteristics, they have the following disadvantages: (1) Due to their low glass transition temperature and poor thermal stability, their degradation may occur during a high-temperature deposition process in a vacuum. (2) The power efficiency of an organic EL device is given by [(π/voltage)×current efficiency], and the power efficiency is inversely proportional to the voltage, and thus the power efficiency should be high in order to reduce power consumption. Although an organic EL device comprising phosphorescent materials provides higher current efficiency (cd/A) than one comprising fluorescent materials, when the conventional materials such as BAlq or CBP are used as phosphorescent host materials, a significantly high driving voltage is necessary compared to an organic EL device using a fluorescent material. Thus, there is no merit in terms of power efficiency (Im/W). (3) Further, the operation lifetime of an organic EL device is short and luminous efficiency is still required to be improved.
International Patent Publication No. WO 2006/049013 discloses compounds for organic electroluminescent materials having a condensed bicyclic group as a backbone structure. However, it does not disclose a compound having a nitrogen-containing condensed bicyclic group, which is formed by condensing two 6-membered rings, a carbazolic group, and an aryl or heteroaryl group.

Compounds for organic electronic material and organic electroluminescent device using the same

Rohm and Haas Electronics Materials Korea Ltd.


The present invention relates to an UV blocking film comprising microfibrillated cellulose wherein at least part of the microfibrillated cellulose is microfibrillated cellulose produced from non-chemical modified lignocellulosic material. The invention also relates to a method for producing the film, use of said film as well as a composition having UV blocking properties.

The amount of UV radiation from the sun that reaches the surface of the earth varies around the globe and through time. Several factors account for this variation, e.g. cloud cover or ozone layer. UV (ultraviolet) radiation is light with wavelengths shorter than those visible to the human eye. UV radiation is divided into three categories by wavelengths: UVA (320-400 nm), UVB (290-320 nm) and UVC (100-290 nm). The wavelengths of UVA are longer than UVB and can penetrate deeper into the layers of our skin. UVA radiation contributes to skin aging, photochemical smog, fading and damage to woods, plastics, paints and fabrics. Only 1% of the solar radiation is within the UVB band, and most of this is blocked by the ozone layer. Nevertheless, UVB wavelengths are those that can cause the most damage to human skin. UVC radiation is totally blocked by the ozone and other gases in the atmosphere, and does not reach the surface of the earth.
UV radiation has both positive and negative effects. However, due to the negative impact that UV radiation sometimes has it is important to find solutions how to prevent the UV radiation to cause damages. The most common solution is to use UV blockers that will block the UV radiation and thus reduces the UV degradation of the exposed material. UV blockers are often used as additives in window films, in paints, coatings, plastic or plastic films, sunscreens and in paper or paperboard products. Components used as UVA/UVB blockers are e.g. avobenzone, oxybenzone, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide and they will prevent e.g. the skin or material from being negatively affected by the UV radiation. However, the UV blockers used today are both costly and might also have a negative effect on the environment or might not be approved for use in certain applications.
Thus, there is a need for a more environmental friendly and cost efficient UV blocker.

UV blocking film and composition comprising microfibrillated cellulose, a method for producing said film and use of the composition


An antenna device and an electronic apparatus are provided that enable a smaller casing and more stable communication by effectively using a magnetic shielding effect of a metal plate, regardless of internal structure or relationship of other components in a mobile apparatus. Included therein is an antenna coil (12) bisected into one side section and another side section of a loop antenna (11) along an edge of a magnetic sheet (110) attached to an inner wall surface of a metal body (111) disposed at a distant position relative to an antenna (121) of an opposing external device. The one side section of the loop antenna (11) opposes the magnetic sheet (110) and the other side section of the loop antenna (11) opposes the metal body (111) disposed at the distant position.

Electronic apparatuses, such as a cellular phones, smart phones, and tablet PCs, have traditionally employed an antenna module for RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) to provide the function of short-distance contactless communication.
This antenna module communicates by making use of inductive coupling to an antenna coil incorporated into a transmitter, such as a reader/writer. In other words, this antenna device can drive IC that converts a magnetic field which an antenna coil receives from the reader/writer into electric power, thereby functioning as a communication processor.
For reliable communication, the antenna module needs to receive at least a certain value of magnetic flux from the reader/writer via the antenna coil. Therefore, an antenna device according to a known example is provided with a loop coil in the cellular phone and receives magnetic flux from the reader/writer via this coli.
In the antenna module incorporated into an electronic apparatus such as a cellular phone, metal such as a substrate in the apparatus, a battery pack, or the like receives the magnetic field from a reader/writer, thereby generating eddy current that repels the magnetic flux from the reader/writer. For example, considering the casing surface of a cellular phone, the magnetic field coming from the reader/writer tends to strengthen at the periphery portion of the casing surface and weaken near the center of the casing surface.
In the case of an antenna using the regular loop coil, the opening of the loop coil is positioned in the central portion of the cellular phone, where there is little reception of the above-described magnetic field that passes through the periphery portion of the casing surface. Therefore, with an antenna using a regular loop coil, the efficiency of receiving a magnetic field is poor.
Therefore, an Antenna device in which the loop antenna is disposed in the peripheral portion of the casing surface, where the magnetic field from the reader/writer is strong, and an antenna device that uses a magnetic sheet to increase magnetic flux and enhance performance have been proposed. In these antenna devices, the loop antenna is shaped to be rectangular, with the long sides disposed along the outer peripheral edge of the casing surface (for example, see PTL 1-3).


Methods for permitting a log in to a restricted access communications terminal are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request from a user to access a communications terminal, the request including a first authentication provided by the user, and verifying the first authentication provided by the user. The method also includes identifying the user based on the verified first authentication, determining, based on an actual location of the communications terminal, that the user is restricted from accessing the communications terminal, and requesting a second authentication from the user when the user is attempting to access the communications terminal from an unauthorized or undocumented location. The method further includes receiving the second authentication from the user, verifying the second authentication provided by the user, and providing access to the user to the communications terminal based on the verified second authentication. Systems, terminals, and machine-readable media are also provided.

1. Field
The present disclosure generally relates to computer systems, and more particularly to the use of a computer system to monitor a location of an individual.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many detention environments attempt to keep an updated record of a location of individuals (or "residents") at the facility in order to provide appropriate limited access to the individual to items or spaces in the facility. In order to maintain the record, the detention environment (or "controlled facility"), which may be a correctional facility (e.g., detention center, jail, or prison), military installation, or even secure office location, commonly requires facility staff to manually update the location of individuals in the facility in a legacy system. For example, in a correction facility, a jail management system is manually updated with recent user (e.g., a resident or inmate) location data, such as an identification of the cell or "home room" to which the resident is assigned.
In many cases, because the updates of an individual's location are input manually by facility staff, the location of the individual recorded in the legacy system is often in disagreement with the actual location of the individual. The incorrect information can last from a period of a few minutes to many days or weeks. The out-of-date information can cause denial of access to items or physical spaces the individual would otherwise have access to if the legacy system were updated with the individual's current location.
For example, in a correction facility, there are often a limited number of communication terminals (e.g., telephones, video visitation stations, etc.) by which a large number of residents may communicate with visitors, family, and friends. As residents usually do not have access to terminals outside the physical space in which they reside, a resident must commonly reserve a terminal or book use of the terminal (e.g., by walking up to and laying claim to the terminal) at a time for a scheduled visit so as to ensure the availability of the terminal to the resident. Furthermore, to allow incoming telephone calls to be routed to a terminal that the resident to whom the call is intended has access to, particularly those telephone calls that are not pre-scheduled, it is necessary to know which location the resident is currently in. Residents who are unable to make or receive telephone calls or video visitations after being moved to a new location are likely to file formal complaints stating that they are unable to contact friends, family, or legal representation for some period after being moved. These complaints tie up the valuable time of facility staff, for example, to arrange an update for a resident's location identified in the jail management system, and these complaints cause both the facility and communications provider to incur costs, such as legal costs or other related costs.

Individual location tracking in detention environments


Disclosed is a composite focusing wedge for ultrasonic non-destructive testing/inspection. The composite wedge comprises a base made of machined or cast material, and a lens made of a material which is cast in liquid form and subsequently solidifies. The acoustic velocity in the base material is less than that in the lens material. The castable lens material conforms exactly to a convex machined or cast surface of the base, thereby forming a concave lower surface of the lens. A flat ultrasonic probe is coupled to a planar upper surface of the lens. The minimum distance between the lower concave and upper planar surfaces of the lens is less than one acoustic wavelength in the lens material. The ringdown time of reverberations between the two surfaces is then sufficiently short that there is no interference between the reverberations and signals from sub-surface flaws in the object being tested.

Beam focalization for ultrasonic transducers has been widely used to concentrate beams of acoustic longitudinal wave (LW) energy from an ultrasonic probe into a particular area of a part to be inspected. Beam focalization can efficiently compensate for energy losses at interfaces and within the part being tested, thereby increasing the signal to noise ratio of the ultrasonic detection and improving the accuracy of flaw sizing. One example of such focalization would be use of an ultrasonic probe to measure corrosion of the inner surface of a pipe. In this case a focused beam from the probe might be used to counteract defocusing at the outer surface of the pipe, in order that the resultant beam would be either parallel or focused on to the inner surface.
One method of focusing the ultrasonic beam is to employ a probe or probe array with a curved surface. The wedge is then manufactured with matching curvature, and the curvature of the probe-wedge interface may be customized in order to achieve the required focal properties. A problem with this approach is that it is difficult to achieve matching curvatures, and if the curvatures are mismatched, the probe surface is prone to be damaged if the probe is tightly screwed to the wedge. Another problem is that it is very expensive to manufacture probes with curved surface, and to customize the curvature for multiple applications. Probes with a flat active surface are much more economical.
Another method of focusing an ultrasonic beam is to use a composite wedge comprising two different materials having different LW velocity, wherein the focusing is achieved at the interface between the two different materials. Patent GB1285715 by Lack describes various combinations of ultrasonic generators and focusing wedges, in which the wedges include a lens made of a material whose acoustic velocity is different from that in the material of the rest of the wedge. However Lack is silent on the question of how such composite wedges may be assembled and how they may be manufactured in large quantities at reasonable cost.
Another problem not addressed by Lack is how to manage reflections of acoustic energy from the interface between the two different materials in the wedge. Reflections from the interface, followed by further reflection at the probe surface, can result in multiple acoustic reverberations which, particularly in cases where a single probe is used as both generator and receiver, can seriously interfere with reception of acoustic signals from flaws in the part being tested.


An automated testing system is described for efficient testing of software applications. Locators are used by the test to find user interface elements in an application's graphical user interface during testing. If during a test a user interface element is not found, which may be due to a changed locator during code refactoring, the system finds the user interface element based on the element's type and on previously stored information about the element. Such information can be a snapshot image of the element, the coordinates of the element's location, dimensions of the element, or other information. Once the missing element is found, a new locator for the element is read and the test is performed using the new locator.

Efficient testing of software presents one of the biggest challenges for software developers today. As computers and the Internet continue to form the backbone of modern business, commerce, and communication, the importance of having reliable, consistent software has become increasingly more and more critical. Particularly for businesses, errors and bugs in software can lead to losses in revenue, customer dissatisfaction, liability, and other problems. To avoid such issues, developers of software applications, whether hosted on personal computers or on websites, must put the applications through thorough testing before deploying them to users.
Automated testing software makes the process of software testing more efficient and reliable. Such software contains instructions that test software by performing various operations on the software and check for successful execution. Hence, instead of an individual testing out each function of an application manually, the automated testing software can be executed on the application to automatically test the functions, saving valuable time and cost in manual labor.
However, many issues still persist. For example, when an application's code is refactored, which is common for many types of applications, such as websites, locators corresponding to user interface elements in the application may be changed. Because automated testing software may rely on locators to identify user interface elements in the application's user interface during testing, the test may fail after such refactoring. Accordingly, automated testing software may need to be updated to ensure that locators are accurate after code is refactored. Producing such updates on the automated testing software manually is burdensome, inefficient, and costly. To compound these difficulties, software applications are becoming larger and more complex, and rapidly evolving business and technology environments require ongoing code refactoring to deliver updates and fixes. As a result, software testing and maintaining properly functioning automated testing software for constantly evolving code presents a formidable task for software developers. A more efficient approach is desirable for automated software testing.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Automatic updating of graphical user interface element locators based on dimension comparison


A magnetic shim for correcting the n-th order harmonic of the Z-axis component of the main magnetic field of an NMR device has its end surfaces disposed such that each of the (n+2)-order harmonics of the magnetic fields generated by the end surfaces are nonzero and such that the sum of the (n+2)-order harmonics is equal to zero.

This invention relates to a magnetic shim for correcting a magnetic field so as to obtain a magnetic field of greater uniformity. More particularly but not exclusively, it relates to a magnetic shim for correcting the main magnetic field in an NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) apparatus.
In an NMR apparatus, it is desirable that the main magnetic field be highly uniform in the region of an object which is being measured by NMR. One convenient and inexpensive method of correcting a magnetic field is the use of passive shims. A shim is a ring or cylinder of a magnetic material such as iron which is disposed in the main magnetic field of the NMR apparatus. The shim is magnetized by the main magnetic field and generates its own magnetic field which can compensate for a certain harmonic of the main magnetic field and increase the uniformity of the main magnetic field.
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of an NMR apparatus which employs a conventional iron shim. The NMR apparatus has a superconducting main coil 1 which generates a main magnetic field in the direction of the Z-axis. The main coil 1 is housed inside a cryostat 2 which includes a liquid helium tank or the like. The cryostat 2 has a room temperature bore 3 formed at its center into which an unillustrated object which is being measured is inserted. A pair of cylindrical iron shims 4 are coaxially disposed inside the bore 3 along the Z axis in symmetry with respect to an origin O. The Z coordinates of the end surfaces 4A and 4B of each shim 4 are Z.sub.1 and Z.sub.2, respectively. The angles .theta. between the Z axis and straight lines which connect ends 4A and 4B with the origin O are respectively .theta..sub.1 and .theta..sub.2, and the length of each iron shim 4 along the Z axis is L.sub.1.
Next, the operation of the iron shims 4 shown in FIG. 1 will be explained while referring to FIG. 2, which illustrates a portion of the iron shim 4 in an X-Z coordinate system. The case will be explained in which the iron shims 4 are cylindrical and are in a state of complete magnetic saturation due to the main magnetic field generated by the main coil 1. It will further be assumed that the component of the magnetic field due to magnetization (or the magnetic charge) of both end surfaces 4A and 4B is in the direction of the Z axis.
Normally, the main magnetic field which is generated by the main coil 1 contains, in addition to a zero-order harmonic B.sub.zo in the direction of the Z axis, a higher-order error field .DELTA.B.sub.z (X,Y,Z) which has a component .DELTA.B.sub.z (Z) in the direction of the Z axis. This Z-axis component is expressed by the following equation, in which C.sub.1, C.sub.2, C.sub.3, etc. are constants corresponding to higher-order harmonics: EQU .DELTA.B.sub.z (Z)=C.sub.1 Z+C.sub.2 Z.sup.2 +C.sub.3 Z.sup.3 +. . . (1)
As shown in FIG. 2, the magnetic field B.sub.z1 which is generated in the direction of the Z axis at the coordinate Z due to the magnetization J1 of one end surface 4A of the iron shim 4 is expressed by the following equation: EQU B.sub.z1 =B.sub.s .multidot.A.multidot.cos.theta..sub.1 /4.pi.r.sub.1.sup.2 . . . (2)
B.sub.s is the saturation flux density of the iron shim 4, A is the cross-sectional area of the end surface 4A, and r.sub.1 is the distance of the end surface 4A from the coordinate Z. The product (J.sub.1 A) of the magnetization J.sub.1 and the cross-sectional area A is referred to as the magnetic charge. In FIG. 2, only a portion of the iron shim 4 is illustrated. If the radius of the iron shim 4 is a, then the distance r.sub.1 from the coordinate Z and cos.theta..sub.1 are expressed by the following formulas: ##EQU1## Therefore, Equation (2) can be rewritten as follows: EQU B.sub.z1 =B.sub.s .multidot.A.multidot.(Z.sub.1 -Z){(Z.sub.1 -Z).sup.2 +a.sup.2 }.sup.-3/2 /4.pi. . . . (3)
In general, the main magnetic field at the coordinate Z can be expressed as a Maclaurin series. If Equation (3) is generalized and expressed as a Maclaurin series, then the magnetic field Bz at an arbitrary point Z which is generated by the magnetic charge on the end surface having a Z coordinate (Z.sub.1) is given by the following summation for k=0 to .infin.: EQU B.sub.z =.SIGMA.[(1/k!)(B.sub.z1 /.differential.Z.sup.k).sub.Z=0 ]Z.sup.k . . . (4)
Combining Equations (3) and (4) gives the following equation: ##EQU2## wherein B.sub.zs =B.sub.s .multidot.A/4.pi.a.sup.2. Furthermore, if EQU S=sin.theta.=a/R EQU U=cos.theta.=Z.sub.1 /R,
where R is the distance of the end surface 4A from the origin O, Then the coefficients .epsilon..sub.0, .epsilon..sub.1, etc. for each term are expressed as follows: EQU .epsilon..sub.0=S.sup.2 U EQU .epsilon..sub.1 =S.sup.3 (S.sup.2 -2U.sup.2) EQU .epsilon..sub.2 =(3/2)S.sup.4 U(-3S.sup.2 +2U.sup.2) EQU .epsilon..sub.3 =(1/2)S.sup.5 (-3S.sup.4 +24S.sup.2 U.sup.2 -8U.sup.4) EQU .epsilon..sub.4 =(5/8)S.sup.6 U(15S.sup.4 -40U.sup.2 S.sup.2 +8U.sup.4) etc. . . . (6)
As an example, the case will be considered in which the second-order harmonic of the main magnetic field, i.e., the harmonic which is proportional to Z.sup.2 is corrected. Each iron shim 4 is disposed so that the fourth-order harmonics of the magnetic fields which are generated by the surface magnetic charges which appear in end surfaces 4A and 4B are zero, so the following equation is satisfied: EQU .epsilon..sub.4 (.theta..sub.1)=.epsilon..sub.4 (.theta..sub.2)=0 . . . (7)
Combining Equations (6) and (7) gives EQU .epsilon.4(.theta.)=(5/8)S.sup.6 U(15S.sup.4 -40S.sup.2 U.sup.2 +8U.sup.4)=0
The two values of .theta. which satisfy this equation are EQU .theta..sub.1 .apprxeq.57.42.degree. EQU .theta..sub.2 .apprxeq.25.02.degree.
With these values of .theta., the relationship between the length L.sub.1 of the iron shim 4 in the direction of the main magnetic field (along the Z axis) and the radius a is L.sub.1 .apprxeq.1.5a.
Furthermore, if the magnetic field at the other end surface 4B is B.sub.z2, then from Equation (5), the second-order harmonic B.sub.z (Z.sup.2) of the magnetic field which is generated at the coordinate Z by both end surfaces 4A and 4B of the iron shim 4 is ##EQU3##
In Equation (8), the sign of .epsilon..sub.2 (.theta..sub.1) is negative because at end surfaces 4A and 4B, the poles are reversed with respect to one another.
When the iron shim 4 corrects the first-order harmonic B.sub.z (Z) of the main magnetic field, the end surfaces of the shims 4 are positioned such that the third-order harmonics of the magnetic fields which are generated at the coordinate Z by the surface magnetic charges in the end surfaces 4A and 4B are each 0, i.e., such that .epsilon..sub.3 (.theta..sub.1)=.epsilon..sub.3 (.theta..sub.2)=0. At this time, the length L.sub.1 of each shim 4 in the direction of the Z axis is L.sub.1 .apprxeq.1.32a. In addition, when the magnetic field in the X direction is corrected using iron shims which are divided in the circumferential direction, then L.sub.1 .apprxeq.1.15a.
It can be seen that conventional iron shims for correcting a magnetic field are quite long with respect to their radius. This results in the shims being very large and heavy, and due to their size, the support structure which resists the electromagnetic forces which are exerted on the shims must also be large.

Magnetic shim for magnetic field correction


The invention is directed to certain novel compounds. Specifically, the invention is directed to compounds of formula (I):

Cellular membranes represent a large store of second messengers that can be enlisted in a variety of signal transduction pathways. In relation to function and regulation of effector enzymes in phospholipids signaling pathways, class I PI3-kinases (e.g. PI3Kdelta) generate second messengers from the membrane phospholipid pools. Class I PI3Ks convert the membrane phospholipid PI(4,5)P2 into PI(3,4,5)P3, which functions as a second messenger. PI and PI(4)P are also substrates of PI3K and can be phosphorylated and converted into PI3P and PI(3,4)P2, respectively. In addition, these phosphoinositides can be converted into other phosphoinositides by 5′-specific and 3′-specific phophatases. Thus, PI3K enzymatic activity results either directly or indirectly in the generation of two 3′-phosphoinositide subtypes which function as second messengers in intracellular signal transduction pathways (Trends Biochem. Sci. 22(7) p. 267-72 (1997) by Vanhaesebroeck et al.; Chem. Rev. 101(8) p. 2365-80 (2001) by Leslie et al.; Annu. Rev. Cell Dev. Biol. 17 p. 615-75 (2001) by Katso et al.; and Cell. Mol. Life. Sci. 59(5) p. 761-79 (2002) by Toker). To date, eight mammalian PI3Ks have been identified, divided into three main classes (I, II, and III) on the basis of sequence homology, structure, binding partners, mode of activation, and substrate preference. In vitro, class I PI3Ks can phosphorylate phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PI4P), and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) to produce phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PI3P), phosphatidylinositol-3,4-bisphosphate (PI(3,4)P2, and phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate (PI(3,4,5)P3, respectively. Class II PI3Ks can phosphorylate PI and PI4P. Class III PI3Ks can only phosphorylate PI (Vanhaesebroeck et al. (1997), above; Vanhaesebroeck et al. Exp. Cell Res. 253(1) p. 239-54 (1999); and Leslie et al. (2001), above).
Class I PI3K is a heterodimer consisting of a p110 catalytic subunit and a regulatory subunit, and the family is further divided into class Ia and class Ib enzymes on the basis of regulatory partners and mechanism of regulation. Class Ia enzymes consist of three distinct catalytic subunits (p110α, p110β, and p110δ) that dimerise with five distinct regulatory subunits (p85α, p55α, p50α, p85β, and p55γ), with all catalytic subunits being able to interact with all regulatory subunits to form a variety of heterodimers. Class Ia PI3K are generally activated in response to growth factor-stimulation of receptor tyrosine kinases, via interaction of the regulatory subunit SH2 domains with specific phospho-tyrosine residues of the activated receptor or adaptor proteins such as IRS-1. Small GTPases (ras as an example) are also involved in the activation of PI3K in conjunction with receptor tyrosine kinase activation. Both p110α and p110β are constitutively expressed in all cell types, whereas p110δ expression is more restricted to leukocyte populations and some epithelial cells. In contrast, the single Class Ib enzyme consists of a p110γ catalytic subunit that interacts with a p101 regulatory subunit. Furthermore, the Class Ib enzyme is activated in response to G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) systems and its expression appears to be limited to leukocytes.

As illustrated in Scheme A above, phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) phosphorylate the hydroxyl of the third carbon of the inositol ring. The phosphorylation of phosphoinositides to generate PtdIns(3,4,5)P3, PtdIns(3,4)P2 and PtdIns(3)P, produces second messengers for a variety of signal transduction pathways, including those essential to cell proliferation, cell differentiation, cell growth, cell size, cell survival, apoptosis, adhesion, cell motility, cell migration, chemotaxis, invasion, cytoskeletal rearrangement, cell shape changes, vesicle trafficking and metabolic pathway (Katso et al. (2001), above; and Mol. Med. Today 6(9) p. 347-57 (2000) by Stein et al.).
The activity of PI3-kinases responsible for generating these phosphorylated signalling products was originally identified as being associated with viral oncoproteins and growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases that phosphorylate phosphatidylinositol (PI) and its phosphorylated derivatives at the 3′-hydroxyl of the inositol ring (Panayotou et al. Trends Cell Biol. 2 p. 358-60 (1992)). However, more recent biochemical studies have revealed that class I PI3-kinases (e.g. class IA isoform PI3Kδ) are dual-specific kinase enzymes, meaning they display both lipid kinase (phosphorylation of phosphoinositides) as well as protein kinase activity, which have been shown to be capable of phosphorylation of other protein as substrates, including auto-phosphorylation as an intramolecular regulatory mechanism (EMBO J. 18(5) p. 1292-302 (1999) by Vanhaesebroeck et al.). Cellular processes in which PI3Ks play an essential role include suppression of apoptosis, reorganization of the actin skeleton, cardiac myocyte growth, glycogen synthase stimulation by insulin, TNFα-mediated neutrophil priming and superoxide generation, and leukocyte migration and adhesion to endothelial cells.
PI3-kinase activation, is believed to be involved in a wide range of cellular responses including cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis (Parker, Current Biology 5(6) p. 577-79 (1995); and Yao et al. Science 267(5206) p. 2003-06 (1995)). PI3-kinase appears to be involved in a number of aspects of leukocyte activation. A p85-associated PI3-kinase has been shown to physically associate with the cytoplasmic domain of CD28, which is an important costimulatory molecule for the activation of T-cells in response to antigen (Pagès et al. Nature 369 p. 327-29 (1994); and Rudd, Immunity 4 p. 527-34 (1996)). Activation of T cells through CD28 lowers the threshold for activation by antigen and increases the magnitude and duration of the proliferative response. These effects are linked to increases in the transcription of a number of genes including interleukin-2 (IL2), an important T cell growth factor (Fraser et al. Science 251(4991) p. 313-16 (1991)).
PI3Kγ has been identified as a mediator of G beta-gamma-dependent regulation of JNK activity, and G beta-gamma are subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins (Lopez-Ilasaca et al. J. Biol. Chem. 273(5) p. 2505-8 (1998)). Recently, (Laffargue et al. Immunity 16(3) p. 441-51 (2002)) it has been described that PI3Kγ relays inflammatory signals through various G(i)-coupled receptors and is central to mast cell function, stimuli in the context of leukocytes, and immunology including cytokines, chemokines, adenosines, antibodies, integrins, aggregation factors, growth factors, viruses or hormones for example (J. Cell Sci. 114 (Pt 16) p. 2903-10 (2001) by Lawlor et al.; Laffargue et al. (2002), above; and Curr. Opinion Cell Biol. 14(2) p. 203-13 (2002) by Stephens et al.).
Specific inhibitors against individual members of a family of enzymes provide invaluable tools for deciphering functions of each enzyme. Two compounds, LY294002 and wortmannin (hereinafter), have been widely used as PI3-kinase inhibitors. These compounds are non-specific PI3K inhibitors, as they do not distinguish among the four members of Class I PI3-kinases. For example, the IC50 values of wortmannin against each of the various Class I PI3-kinases are in the range of 1-10 nM. Similarly, the IC50 values for LY294002 against each of these PI3-kinases is about 15-20 μM (Fruman et al. Ann. Rev. Biochem. 67 p. 481-507 (1998)), also 5-10 microM on CK2 protein kinase and some inhibitory activity on phospholipases. Wortmannin is a fungal metabolite which irreversibly inhibits PI3K activity by binding covalently to the catalytic domain of this enzyme. Inhibition of PI3K activity by wortmannin eliminates subsequent cellular response to the extracellular factor. For example, neutrophils respond to the chemokine fMet-Leu-Phe (fMLP) by stimulating PI3K and synthesizing PtdIns (3, 4, 5)P3. This synthesis correlates with activation of the respiratory burst involved in neutrophil destruction of invading microorganisms. Treatment of neutrophils with wortmannin prevents the fMLP-induced respiratory burst response (Thelen et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91 p. 4960-64 (1994)). Indeed, these experiments with wortmannin, as well as other experimental evidence, show that PI3K activity in cells of hematopoietic lineage, particularly neutrophils, monocytes, and other types of leukocytes, is involved in many of the non-memory immune response associated with acute and chronic inflammation.

Based on studies using wortmannin, there is evidence that PI3-kinase function is also required for some aspects of leukocyte signaling through G-protein coupled receptors (Thelen et al. (1994), above). Moreover, it has been shown that wortmannin and LY294002 block neutrophil migration and superoxide release.
It is now well understood that deregulation of oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes contributes to the formation of malignant tumours, for example by way of increased cell growth and proliferation or increased cell survival. It is also now known that signaling pathways mediated by the PI3K family have a central role in a number of cell processes including proliferation and survival, and deregulation of these pathways is a causative factor a wide spectrum of human cancers and other diseases (Katso et al. Annual Rev. Cell Dev. Biol. (2001) 17 p. 615-675 and Foster et al. J. Cell Science (2003) 116(15) p. 3037-3040). PI3K effector proteins initiate signalling pathways and networks by translocating to the plasma membrane through a conserved Pleckstrin Homology (PH) domain, which specifically interacts with PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 (Vanhaesebroeck et al. Annu. Rev. Biochem. (2001) 70 p. 535-602). The effector proteins signalling through PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 and PH domains include Serine/Threonine (Ser/Thr) kinases, Tyrosine kinases, Rac or Arf GEFs (Guanine nucleotide exchange factors) and Arf GAPs (GTPase activating proteins).
In B and T cells PI3Ks have an important role through activation of the Tec family of protein tyrosine kinases which include Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) in B cells and Interleukin-2-inducible T-cell kinase (ITK) in T cells. Upon PI3K activation, BTK or ITK translocate to the plasma membrane where they are subsequently phosphorylated by Src kinases. One of the major targets of activated ITK is phospholipase C-gamma (PLCγ1), which hydrolyses PtdIns(4,5)P2 into Ins(3,4,5)P3 and initiates an intracellular increase in calcium levels and diacylglycerol (DAG) which can activate Protein Kinases C in activated T cells.
Unlike the Class IA p110α and p110β, p110δ is expressed in a tissue restricted fashion. Its high expression level in lymphocytes and lymphoid tissues suggests a role in PI3K-mediated signalling in the immune system. The p110δ kinase dead knock-in mice are also viable and their phenotype is restricted to defects in immune signalling (Okkenhaug et al. Science (2002) 297 p. 1031-4). These transgenic mice have offered insight into the function of PI3Kδ in B-cell and T-cell signalling. In particular, p110δ is required for PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 formation downstream of CD28 and/or T cell Receptor (TCR) signalling. A key effect of PI3K signalling downstream of TCR is the activation of Akt, which phosphorylates anti-apoptotic factors as well as various transcription factors for cytokine production. As a consequence, T cells with inactive p110δ have defects in proliferation and Th1 and Th2 cytokine secretion. Activation of T cells through CD28 lowers the threshold for TCR activation by antigen and increases the magnitude and duration of the proliferative response. These effects are mediated by the PI3Kδ-dependent increase in the transcription of a number of genes including IL2, an important T cell growth factor.
Therefore, PI3K inhibitors are anticipated to provide therapeutic benefit via its role in modulating T-cell mediated inflammatory responses associated to respiratory diseases such as asthma, COPD and cystic fibrosis. In addition, there is indication that T-cell directed therapies may provide corticosteroid sparing properties (Alexander et al. Lancet (1992) 339 p. 324-8) suggesting that it may provide a useful therapy either as a standalone or in combination with inhaled or oral glucocorticosteroids in respiratory diseases. A PI3K inhibitor might also be used alongside other conventional therapies such as a long acting beta-agonists (LABA) in asthma.
In the vasculature, PI3Kδ is expressed by endothelial cells and participates in neutrophil trafficking by modulating the proadhesive state of these cells in response to TNFalpha (Puri et al. Blood (2004) 103(9) p. 3448-56.). A role for PI3Kδ in TNFalpha-induced signalling of endothelial cells is demonstrated by the pharmacological inhibition of Akt phosphorylation and PDK1 activity. In addition, PI3Kδ is implicated in vascular permeability and airway tissue edema through the VEGF pathway (Lee et al. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. (2006) 118(2) p. 403-9). These observations suggest additional benefits of PI3Kδ inhibition in asthma by the combined reduction of leukocyte extravasation and vascular permeability associated with asthma. In addition, PI3Kδ activity is required for mast cell function both in vitro and in vivo (Ali et al. Nature (2004) 431 p. 1007-11; and Ali et al. J. Immunol. (2008) 180(4) p. 2538-44) further suggesting that PI3K inhibition should be of therapeutical benefit for allergic indications such asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis.
The role of PI3Kδ in B cell proliferation, antibody secretion, B-cell antigen and IL-4 receptor signalling, B-cell antigen presenting function is also well established Okkenhaug et al. (2002), above; Al-Alwan et al. J. Immunol. (2007) 178(4) p. 2328-35; and Bilancio et al. Blood (2006) 107(2) p. 642-50) and indicates a role in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus. Therefore PI3K inhibitors may also be of benefit for these indications.
Pharmacological inhibition of PI3Kδ inhibits fMLP-dependent neutrophil chemotaxis on an ICAM coated agarose matrix integrin-dependent biased system (Sadhu et al., J. Immunol. (2003) 170(5) p. 2647-54.). Inhibition of PI3Kδ regulates neutrophil activation, adhesion and migration without affecting neutrophil mediated phagocytosis and bactericidal activity over Staphylococcus aureus (Sadhu et al. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. (2003) 308(4) p. 764-9). Overall, the data suggest that PI3Kδ inhibition should not globally inhibit neutrophil functions required for innate immune defence. PI3Kδ's role in neutrophils offers further scope for treating inflammatory diseases involving tissue remodeling such as COPD or rheumatoid arthritis.
In addition, there is also good evidence that class Ia PI3K enzymes also contribute to tumourigenesis in a wide variety of human cancers, either directly or indirectly (Vivanco and Sawyers, Nature Reviews Cancer (2002) 2(7) p. 489-501). For example, inhibition of PI3Kδ may have a therapeutic role for the treatment of malignant haematological disorders such as acute myeloid leukaemia (Billottet et al. Oncogene (2006) 25(50) p. 6648-59). Moreover, activating mutations within p110α (PIK3CA gene) have been associated with various other tumors such as those of the colon and of the breast and lung (Samuels et al. Science (2004) 304(5670) p. 554).
It has also been shown that PI3K is involved in the establishment of central sensitization in painful inflammatory conditions (Pezet et al. The J. of Neuroscience (2008) 28 (16) p. 4261-4270).
A wide variety of retroviruses and DNA based viruses activate the PI3K pathway as a way of preventing host cell death during viral infection and ultimately exploiting the host cell synthesis machinery for its replication (Virology 344(1) p. 131-8 (2006) by Vogt et al.; and Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 6(4) p. 265-75 (2008) by Buchkovich et al.). Therefore PI3K inhibitors may have anti-viral properties in addition to more established oncolytic and anti-inflammatory indications. These antiviral effects raise interesting prospects in viral induced inflammatory exacerbations. For example, the common cold human rhinovirus (HRV) is responsible for more than 50% of respiratory tract infections but complications of these infections can be significant in certain populations. This is particularly the case in respiratory diseases such as asthma or chronic obstruction pulmonary disease (COPD). Rhinoviral infection of epithelial cells leads to a PI3K dependent cytokine and chemokine secretion (J. Biol. Chem. (2005) 280(44) p. 36952 by Newcomb et al.). This inflammatory response correlates with worsening of respiratory symptoms during infection. Therefore PI3K inhibitors may dampen an exaggerated immune response to an otherwise benign virus. The majority of HRV strains infect bronchial epithelial cells by initially binding to the ICAM-1 receptor. The HRV-ICAM-1 complex is then further internalised by endocytosis and it has been shown that this event requires PI3K activity (J. Immunol. (2008) 180(2) p. 870-880 by Lau et al.). Therefore, PI3K inhibitors may also block viral infections by inhibiting viral entry into host cells.
PI3K inhibitors may be useful in reducing other types of respiratory infections including the fungal infection aspergillosis (Mucosal Immunol. (2010) 3(2) p. 193-205 by Bonifazi et al.). In addition, PI3Kδ deficient mice are more resistant towards infections by the protozoan parasite Leishmania major (J. Immunol. (2009) 183(3) p. 1921-1933 by Liu et al.). Taken with effects on viral infections, these reports suggest that PI3K inhibitors may be useful for the treatment of a wide variety of infections.
PI3K inhibition has also been shown to promote regulatory T cell differentiation (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (2008) 105(22) p. 7797-7802 by Sauer et al.) suggesting that PI3K inhibitors may serve therapeutic purposes in auto-immune or allergic indications by inducing immuno-tolerance towards self antigen or allergen. Recently the PI3Kδ isoform has also been linked to smoke induced glucocorticoid insensitivity (Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. (2009) 179(7) p. 542-548 by Marwick at al.). This observation suggests that COPD patients, which otherwise respond poorly to corticosteroids, may benefit from the combination of a PI3K inhibitor with a corticosteroid.
PI3K has also been involved in other respiratory conditions such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). IPF is a fibrotic disease with progressive decline of lung function and increased mortality due to respiratory failure. In IPF, circulating fibrocytes are directed to the lung via the chemokine receptor CXCR4. PI3K is required for both signalling and expression of CXCR4 (Int. J. Biochem. and Cell Biol. (2009) 41 p. 1708-1718 by Mehrad et al.). Therefore, by reducing CXCR4 expression and blocking its effector function, a PI3K inhibitor should inhibit the recruitment of fibrocytes to the lung and consequently slow down the fibrotic process underlying IPF, a disease with high unmet need.
Attempts have been made to prepare compounds which inhibit PI3-kinase activity and a number of such compounds have been disclosed in the art. However, in view of the number of pathological responses which are mediated by PI3-kinases, there remains a continuing need for inhibitors of PI3-kinase which can be used in the treatment of a variety of conditions.
The present inventors have discovered novel compounds which are inhibitors of kinase activity, in particular PI3-kinase activity. Compounds which are PI3-kinase inhibitors may be useful in the treatment of disorders associated with inappropriate kinase activity, in particular inappropriate PI3-kinase activity, for example in the treatment and prevention of disorders mediated by PI3-kinase mechanisms. Such disorders include respiratory diseases including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF); viral infections including viral respiratory tract infections and viral exacerbation of respiratory diseases such as asthma and COPD; non-viral respiratory infections including aspergillosis and leishmaniasis; allergic diseases including allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis; autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis; inflammatory disorders including inflammatory bowel disease; cardiovascular diseases including thrombosis and atherosclerosis; hematologic malignancies; neurodegenerative diseases; pancreatitis; multiorgan failure; kidney diseases; platelet aggregation; cancer; sperm motility; transplantation rejection; graft rejection; lung injuries; and pain including pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, back pain, general inflammatory pain, post hepatic neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy, inflammatory neuropathic pain (trauma), trigeminal neuralgia and Central pain.
In one embodiment, compounds of the invention may show selectivity for PI3-kinases over other kinases.
In another embodiment, compounds of the invention may be potent inhibitors of PI3Kδ.
In a further embodiment, compounds of the invention may show selectivity for PI3Kδ over other PI3-kinases.

Abstract: and salts thereof. The compounds of the invention are inhibitors of kinase activity, in particular PI3-kinase activity.

GlaxoSmithKline Intellectual Property Development Limited


The present invention provides a method and system for listing network search results. The network has a plurality of sites. Each site has a plurality of pages. The method and system comprise searching the network based on a search term and saving original results from the search and modifying the results of the search wherein at least one of the plurality of pages of a site containing the search term is excluded from reference in the search results and a reference to the home page of the site is included in the search results. Through the use of a method and system in accordance with the present invention, the number of result hits listed on the results list produced by a web search engine will be dramatically reduced. Tens or hundreds of result pages are potentially eliminated. A user will also be able to quickly locate web pages, within each of the individually listed web sites, that contain the search term(s). As a result, a user within a network system such as the Internet is no longer burdened with having to review page after page of irrelevant information related to his/her searches, where the information is duplicative or undesirable because of its relation to a web site that is of no interest to the user.

The present invention relates generally to listing search results and particularly to displaying the search results in an optimized manner.
Computer networking systems such as the Internet are exploding in popularity all over the world. There are many reasons for this phenomenal growth, not the least of which is the ability to discover and access needed information in an efficient manner. The power of the Internet enables the average person with very little technical training to search for information in minutes instead of days, weeks, or even months of searching libraries, telephone books, directories or other conventional research means. To better understand conventional Internet search technology, refer now to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 represents a flowchart of how an Internet user performs a conventional web search.
First, the Internet user accesses a web search engine, via step 10. Next, the Internet user enters a search term(s) into the web search engine, via step 12. The web search engine then identifies the web pages that contain the search term(s), via step 14. Finally, the web pages containing the search term(s) are listed by the search engine, via step 16.
However, as more and more information comes online, at accelerating rates, today""s search engine interfaces and features are not keeping pace. Searches that would have previously produced less than a dozen relevant documents are now producing hundreds of documents. This is making it very difficult and time consuming for the Internet user to evaluate and investigate the results. More sophisticated searches, sometimes beyond the grasp of a non-professional researcher, are not always the answer as the narrower searches introduce greater risk of eliminating relevant and useful information. The severity of this problem is growing day by day at an ever-increasing rate.
One of the circumstances greatly exacerbating this problem is the tendency of web page developers to add large numbers of keywords to each and every page of their web site as a strategy to boost their standings with the Internet search engines. Thus, a single web site, which an Internet user may decide is not relevant after accessing the web site home page, may produce dozens or even hundreds of result pages listed in the search results. FIG. 2 shows a typical web search results list. The search term(s) 20 appears on multiple web pages of the xe2x80x9cwww.pinemountainlake.comxe2x80x9d 22 and xe2x80x9cwww.pmlr.comxe2x80x9d 24 web sites. Even with enhanced bandwidth and greater network speeds, wading through hundreds of these xe2x80x9chitsxe2x80x9d to move to the next interesting web site is inefficient, cumbersome and annoying. An Internet user may actually lose patience after viewing dozens of pages of results with redundant information and terminate his search prematurely missing the relevant page buried deep down in the list.
On some occasions an Internet user may actually want to have the results display all pages of a single web site found by the search engine as meeting the Internet user""s Internet search criteria. However, most of the time, the Internet user wants to find a list of relevant and interesting web sites related to his search criteria. If only one of ten found Internet web sites is relevant, it is tedious and unproductive to review and skip over numerous xe2x80x9chitsxe2x80x9d for each of the other nine web sites. For example, the user may determine that the needed detailed information at a web site is only available through a paid subscription service at a price higher than he is willing to pay. In this case, the user would prefer to not see the numerous hits for pages from this site. In another example, a found web site may only serve wholesale customers when the Internet user is only interested in a retail purchase. Once again, the numerous xe2x80x9chitsxe2x80x9d for pages from this web site would not be interesting to this user.
There is another limitation in search engine and browser technology that is an increasing source of frustration to users of today""s search engines. When accessing a single result page, the xe2x80x9cfindxe2x80x9d function of the browser will only display items on that single page matching the find criteria. Thus, once the Internet user has arrived at a list of potentially interesting and relevant web sites, it may be difficult, especially if the web site is robust with many pages, to find the particular page or pages containing the desired information. Using the page by page results list from the search engine can be equally frustrating in that the orientation and navigational information needed by the Internet user may not be evident by jumping to a single page within the web site structure.
What is needed is a search engine that can reduce the number of hits listed for a search. For example, a search engine could be directed to return first the home page of each web site that contains one or more pages meeting the Internet users search criteria. The user should then be able to quickly locate the relevant pages of each of the individually listed web sites. This will dramatically reduce the number of result xe2x80x9chitsxe2x80x9d listed on the results list produced by a web search engine. Since many search requests produce multiple web page references for a single web site, tens or even hundreds of web page references may be redundant from the user""s perspective and therefore can be eliminated from the results.
The present invention provides a method and system for listing network search results. The network has a plurality of sites. Each site has a plurality of pages. The method and system comprise searching the network based on a search term and saving original results from the search and modifying the results of the search wherein at least one of the plurality of pages of a site containing the search term is excluded from reference in the search results and a reference to the home page of the site is included in the search results.
Through the use of a method and system in accordance with the present invention, the number of result hits listed on the results list produced by a web search engine will be dramatically reduced. Tens or hundreds of result pages are potentially eliminated. A user will also be able to quickly locate web pages, within each of the individually listed web sites, that contain the search term(s). As a result, a user within a network system such as the Internet is no longer burdened with having to review page after page of irrelevant information related to his/her searches, where the information is duplicative or undesirable because of its relation to a web site that is of no interest to the user.

Method for listing search results when performing a search in a network

International Business Machines Corporation


A rail section comprises a body portion. The rail section has a profile that provides one or more roller contact areas extending a length of the rail section. The rail section further comprises an end portion that defines one or more slots that allow the one or more roller contact areas to deflect elastically relative to the body portion.

Many of today's manufacturing procedures involve a conveyor of one sort or another, and in some systems a slide rail consisting of joined rail sections is used for moving work pieces along a manufacturing line. For example, articles may be placed on, or suspended from, carriages that travel along a rail from one work station to another. The carriages may travel continuously or may move and be stopped intermittently. For example, the carriage may be transported along a series of modular work stations, where a different operation is performed on the work piece at each station.
When precision in carriage location on the rail is important, such as in the automated production of relatively small electronic devices, the carriage typically is designed to be held in fairly close contact with the rail. For example, in some slide rail systems the rail has a specific profile allowing it to be embraced by part of the carriage during operation, such that the carriage generally cannot be lifted upward (or titled to the side) while mounted on the rail. This may be helpful in assuring that the carriage can be placed in an exact position for robotic operations on the work piece, to name just one example.
The close fit between carriage and rail may, however, also be associated with disadvantages. It becomes increasingly important that adjacent different rail sections are well aligned. Relatively minimal misalignment can make it difficult or impossible for a carriage to pass over a joint between two rail sections. These difficulties can be troublesome in a manufacturing process involving modular work stations, when it can be difficult to precisely align adjacent work stations so that their respective rail portions can be joined. Such difficulties may arise also in non-conveyor applications, such as a component that travels over joined sections before reversing direction to return over the same sections.

Rail section that facilitates rail section alignment


A rolling bearing unit has an inner shaft and an inner race that is fitted on an outer circumferential surface of the inner shaft at one end side thereof. The inner race is fixed to the inner shaft by a clamping portion resulting from an end portion of the inner shaft. An annular stepped portion is formed on an outer end face of the inner race on a radially outward side thereof. A pulser ring is disposed within the stepped portion and is then held between the stepped portion and the clamping portion to thereby be fixed in place thereat.

The present invention relates to a wheel supporting rolling bearing unit.
As wheel supporting rolling bearing units, there exists a wheel supporting rolling bearing unit in which an inner race is fitted on an outer circumferential surface of an inner shaft at one end thereof and one end portion of the inner shaft is clamped against an outer end face of the inner race so as to fix the inner race to the inner shafts and a pulser ring is attached to the side of the inner race in such a manner as to face a magnetic sensor on the side of an outer race for detecting rotation (refer to Patent Document JP-A-2003-121454). The pulser ring is fitted in the shoulder portion of the inner race to thereby be fixed thereto in such a manner that a detecting portion thereof faces the magnetic sensor in the axial direction.
In the related rolling bearing units, since the position of the detecting portion of the pulser ring relative to the magnetic sensor, that is, the detection diameter of the detecting portion is determined by the outside diameter of the shoulder portion of the inner race, it is necessary to use an inner race that has a shoulder portion whose outside diameter satisfies the required detection diameter. Due to this, once there occurs a change in the detection diameter, the inner race needs to be changed to one having a shoulder portion whose outside diameter satisfies the changed detection diameter, this increasing the production costs of the rolling bearing units. In addition, when attempting to cut the outside diameter portion of the shoulder portion so as to make the outside diameter of the shoulder portion match the changed detection diameter, the cutting work has to involve some costs.