A scalable, performance-based, volume allocation technique that can be applied in large storage controller collections is disclosed. A global resource tree of multiple nodes representing interconnected components of a storage system is analyzed to yield gap values for each node for a specific time period. The gap value for each node is an estimate of the amount of the additional or increased workload that can be allocated in the subtree of that node without exceeding the performance and space bounds at any of the nodes in that subtree for the specific time period. The gap values of the global resource tree are further analyzed to generate an ordered allocation list of the volumes of the storage system.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to large computer storage controller collections. More specifically, this invention relates to performance-based volume allocation in a storage controller collection with respect to time sensitive storage access services.
2. Background
Performance-based volume allocation in a storage system is the task of determining where to allocate volumes for a workload based on the workload profile in terms of space and performance requirements and the current performance numbers at the various components of the storage controllers in the system. This task becomes more challenging as the storage sizes increase, the number of disks per controller increases, and the number of controllers in the system increases. Current single controller algorithms do not scale well with the increasing sizes and hence are not suitable for large dynamic storage control scenarios. Furthermore, conventional controller algorithms introduce large variances among system components.
Current storage controllers are sophisticated devices which can be modeled as a hierarchy of components where each component has its performance constraints. By modeling the storage controller as a hierarchy of components, i.e. a resource graph model, dependencies between the hardware components in a storage controller may be captured. In one embodiment, each of the components in the resource graph model is referred to as a node. The current space and performance numbers for each component are obtained to ensure that no component in the hierarchy is overloaded. Overloading of a single component in the hierarchy can disrupt workloads assigned to the storage pools associated with the component. Workload profiles for new workloads may be used to predict the space and performance requirements for new workloads. Other factors such as minimum and maximum permissible or required logical volume sizes can also impact the workload assignment decision making process. The existing performance numbers along with the workload profiles and other factors mentioned above may be taken into account to determine suitable storage controller components for creating volumes for allocating the new workloads.
Conventional algorithms for storage volume allocation introduce a large variance among system components, leading to heavy loads on some components in the storage controller resource hierarchy. Greedy or random assignment algorithms lead to poor allocations resulting in unbalanced systems as they fail to consider load balancing for system components higher in the hierarchy of the resource graph. As system components, i.e. nodes, higher in the resource graph hierarchy are responsible for larger number of workloads compared to system components lower in the hierarchy, any overloading of these components can lead to poor overall system performance. Some systems and methods have been developed in the area of storage control and resource allocation.
There is a need in the art for programs, methods and systems to allocate storage volumes in a distributed storage system with improved performance. Further, there is a need for such programs, methods, and systems to employ an algorithm for allocating volumes in large storage controller collections that is scalable and performance-based. Such needs should address load on system components in the storage hierarchy during specific periods of time. These and other needs are met by the present invention as detailed hereafter.

Scalable performance-based volume allocation for time-based storage access services

International Business Machines Corporation


A method for transferring a sensor of a production apparatus with a sensor assembly positioned in a housing includes connecting at least one of (1) supply lines, and (2) sensor signal lines to a sensor section of the sensor. A first end of a sealing sleeve is sealingly connected to a sealing section of the sensor. A second end of the sealing sleeve is sealingly connected to a sealing container. The sensor with the sealing sleeve are inserted into the sealing container. A first end of the sealing container is sealingly connected to an access opening defined by the housing of the production apparatus. The access opening is opened and the sensor is transferred from the sealing container to an interior of the housing.

Production apparatuses of the type at issue here can for example be rotary tablet presses, capsule filling machines or isolators for rotary tablet presses or capsule filling machines. In rotary tablet presses, for example, powder material added to cavities of a die plate is pressed into pellets by means of upper and lower punches. The produced tablets are generally conveyed by the lower punch to the top side of the die plate and for example scraped off of the die plate for example by a scraping element and supplied to one or more outlets of the rotary tablet press.
It is known for example from EP 1 568 480 B1 to monitor tablets produced in rotary tablet presses with spectroscopic sensors, for example NIR sensors (near infrared sensors), for example for the active ingredient content. It is also known to monitor the powder product to be processed in the rotary tablet press before being pressed into the cavities for example in a filling apparatus that regularly adds the powder product under gravity to the cavities of the die plate from a filling chamber. With spectroscopic measuring methods, for example the desired mixing ratio of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and excipients or lubricants can be reliably monitored. In general, sensors at issue here are also termed PAT sensors (process analytical technology sensors).
Recently, so-called containment production apparatuses have significantly gained in importance. With such production apparatuses, design measures have been pursued to minimize an exit of product dust from the production apparatus into the environment. This is in particular of major importance in processing pharmaceutical active ingredients and with respect to the protection of the operating personnel. For a given production apparatus and the given production conditions, a containment level can be defined according to the so-called SMEPAC test (standardized measurement of equipment particulate airborne concentration). Production apparatuses of the type at issue here can for example have a containment level according to the SMEPAC test of OEB 3 or higher. Such production apparatuses have a housing that is designed to be tight against the environment in order to achieve the desired containment level. An access to the interior of the housing should be correspondingly avoided as much as possible. To the extent that access is necessary, access openings that are specially provided for this can be provided such as so-called rapid transfer ports.
Sensors to be used in puncture apparatuses, for example sensors that work by spectroscopy, must be arranged in the housing of the production apparatus for measurement. They therefore necessarily come into contact with product dust located in the housing interior. When the sensor is later removed from the housing, it must correspondingly be cleaned for sufficient decontamination. Known sensors do not however possess a sufficient protection class for wet cleaning, i.e., cleaning with a cleaning fluid that is normally used for decontamination. In addition, known sensors frequently possess a surface that is difficult to clean, for example a ribbed or otherwise contoured surface. At the same time, when operating containment production apparatuses, the goal after the end of production is to remove all e.g. residual pharmaceutical product from the production apparatus without contaminating an operator or the environment of the production apparatus. This is correspondingly only feasible if a sensor arranged in the housing interior is cleaned together with the other components arranged in the housing interior, which is impossible with the known sensors for the explained reasons. Until now, this has prevented the use of PAT sensors in containment production apparatuses, or respectively this would permit such use only with a greatly increased expenditure of time.
Starting from the explained prior art, the object of the invention is to provide a sensor assembly and method of the aforementioned type that permit safe use in containment production apparatuses without a greatly increased expenditure of time.

Sensor assembly for a production apparatus and method for transferring a sensor into and out of a housing of a production apparatus


Double shock-absorbing steering wheel, in particular for automobile vehicles, comprising a primary inertia mass connected to an engine shaft (12), a secondary inertia mass (14) connected by clutch E to a gearbox BV, and a torsion damper (18) rotatably connecting the two inertia masses (10, 14), this torsion damper including an epicycloidal gear train whose outer crown wheel (22) engages with a spring (28) for absorption of vibrations and rotation acyclisms, said spring being mounted around the crown wheel (22) in a fixed frame (26).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a double-flywheel damper, in particular for automobile vehicles, including two inertia masses mobile in rotation about the same axis and connected by a torsion damper including spring means and an epicyclic gear train.
2. Description of the Related Art
A double-flywheel damper of this type is known already, in particular from the document FR-A-2714131, which describes a double-flywheel damper in which the torsion damper includes an epicyclic gear train. In one embodiment described in the above prior art document, the sun gear is driven in rotation by a first inertia mass fastened to the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, the outer crown wheel is fastened to the second inertia mass, and coil springs are mounted in a chamber delimited by the first inertia mass between that first inertia mass and the planet gear carrier, between the first inertia mass and the outer crown wheel or between the outer crown wheel and the planet gear carrier.
One advantage of using an epicyclic gear train in the torsion damper of a double-flywheel damper is the transmission of torque between the two inertia masses with a transmission ratio determined by the epicyclic gear train. However, the embodiments described in the document FR-A-2714131 have the drawback that the springs of the torsion damper, which are driven in rotation with the inertia masses and are situated at the external periphery of those inertia masses, are very sensitive to centrifugal forces and have a hysteresis that increases when the rotation speed increases, with risks of blocking and jerky operation.

Double-flywheel damper with epicyclic gear train


A dual phone arrangement allowing two persons to simultaneously listen and talk during the same telephone conversation which includes a pair of telephones connected back-to-back each having a receiver and a transmitter; electrical wires connecting each telephone to each other and to an external telephone line and dialing instrument; and a tubular member interposed between said pair of telephones to provide support for the same on an external stand which may be a shoulder support or a free-standing unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to telephones and more particularly pertains to a telephone arrangement which may be utilized by more than one person at a time.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of telephones and speaker phones is known in the prior art. More specifically, telephones heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of multiple listeners or speakers are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. Such devices lack all privacy as to the incoming telephone call since it is amplified and audible to any within earshot. Typical prior art devices are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,099,514; 4,944,698; 5,059,141; 3,830,987; and 4,926,474.
In this respect, the dual telephone according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of permitting more than one user to use a telephone at the same time with the privacy of a single phone.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for new and improved telephone arrangement which can be used by more than one person simultaneously. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


The present invention discloses an integrated storage platform system and a method thereof. The system comprises at least one adaption module respectively connecting with at least one storage space and each performing a plurality of adaption settings corresponding to one storage space; a storage administration module connecting with the adaption modules and processing the files of the storage spaces; and an access interface connecting the storage administration module, operated by a user to access the storage space through the storage administration module and the adaption module, and presenting access results to the user. The present invention establishes different adaption modules to enable the user to link to and access different types of storage spaces.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cloud-based storage technology, particularly to an integrated storage platform system and a method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
With popularization of the Internet, many cloud-based storage services appear in the Internet. Although there have been mechanisms to integrate storage spaces, backup files and share data, those mechanisms have some problems, including the user have to deal with different operating environments of different storage services; the user have to administrates a plurality of service account numbers; network-based storage service is hard to integrate with personal storage devices; the network-based storage service only supports file access.
For an example, a scheme for constructing a global file system provides a single-interface virtual file system for different FTP servers to overcome the problem that a user has to administrate a plurality of account numbers and deal with different operating environments. However, the scheme can only provide a unitary access interface for FTP servers. It cannot enable the user to access the cloud-based storage spaces commonly seen in the Internet nowadays. For another example, a technology, named Campus Cloud for Data Storage and Sharing, provides the user with a single-interface access service to access different file systems. For the inaccessible file systems, the technology needs to install additional FTP servers to provide Internet access service of the files; the user's computer cannot have the personal service to access the files.
Accordingly, the present invention proposes an integrated storage platform system and a method thereof to overcome the abovementioned problems.

Integrated storage platform system and method thereof


An organ protectant solution which is intravenously administerable includes a high concentration of cell impermeant molecules which have a charge and/or molecular weight which permit passage across a capillary endothelium and into an interstitial space in said subject but which are too large and/or charged to cross a cell plasma membrane such that said one or more cell impermeant molecules preferentially load into an extracellular fluid compartment can be used to to allow for improved organ harvesting from DCD and brain death donors for transplantation purposes and also can be used extend the “Golden Hour” for traumatic and hemorrhagic shock patients thereby allowing more time for those patients to reach a point of care facility to receive medical treatment.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to organ protectant solutions, and more particularly, to a solution which prevents or reduces in vivo lethal swelling of tissues and organs during periods of warm ischemia due to lack of oxygen delivery and oxygenation.
2. Prior Art
Initial therapy of trauma and hemorrhage shock centers on effective cessation of bleeding and on the infusion of large volumes (2 to 8 liters) to replace lost blood volume. This is considered necessary to restore normal circulatory functions such as arterial blood pressure, cardiac output, oxygen consumption and renal function. Conventionally isotonic fluids are used for high volume resuscitation. Many cellular complications and practical limitations have been cited while using high volume fluids for resuscitation.
Recently, successful resuscitation of hemorrhaged animals and injured patients has been accomplished with low volume hyperosmotic saline solutions. Glucose or mannitol has been tested with less successful results. Small volume resuscitation has been successfully used in some cases using hyperoncotic albumins or high molecular weight tense state polymerized hemoglobin's. The use of hypertonic saline solutions (HS) or colloid solutions (albumin, HES, Hetastarch, Hextend) have had very limited success in clinical trauma and resuscitation, and, due to their mechanism of action, they do not prevent cell swelling.
In the case of uncontrolled donation after cardiac death (DCD) organ donation, controlled DCD organ donation and brain death organ donation, the vital organs are removed from the body as quickly as possible and subsequently the vital organs are preserved in appropriate media to maintain the organ functions. Low volume resuscitation in recently expired patients prior to removal of vital organs to maintain the vitality of the organs and to prevent lethal organ swelling is not usually practiced.
None of these procedures is known to be effective in preventing lethal cell swelling in vivo. In recently expired patients and hemorrhagic shock and trauma patients there is substantial intracellular oxygen deprivation which in turn drops ATP concentration. Due to lack of ATP sodium pump fails, free sodium enters the cell followed by osmotic water movement causing cell swelling. There is no present day technology to deal with cell swelling of organs from DCD donors before harvest or cell swelling in organs in patients with severe shock.

Organ protection solution and method of use


Indicator dilution techniques are used to measure vascular access flow rates during routine hemodialysis. A bolus injection port is used to infuse a specific volume (Vi) of an indicator diluent, such as saline or dye, into the patient cardiovascular circuit by one of the following:

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for transcutaneously measuring access blood flow. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for measuring access blood flow through the optical measurement of percentage change in a blood parameter and application of the Ficke dilution principle.
2. Related Art
Modern medical practice utilizes a number of procedures and indicators to assess a patient""s condition especially in the dialysis setting. Hemodialysis is a process wherein an artificial kidney is required to function in the place of the patient""s normal kidney in order to remove certain biologic waste products. When the human kidney no longer functions correctly removing waste products such as urea, potassium, and even excess water, blood must be removed from the patient via blood tubing lines and filtered through an artificial kidney or dialyzer. In this process blood is passed through the dialyzer, cleansed, then returned to the normal circulatory system of the patient. Access to the patient""s circulatory system is achieved through the use of a surgically implanted shunt or fistula (access). This xe2x80x9caccess sitexe2x80x9d is typically located in the arm, leg, or neck of the patient. Typically needles are placed into the access in such a way as to facilitate the easy removal of blood on the xe2x80x9carterialxe2x80x9d or upstream side of the dialyzer and typically return the purified blood downstream of the first needle placement on the xe2x80x9cvenousxe2x80x9d side. Unfortunately, in many cases the access will clot or xe2x80x9cstenosxe2x80x9d over time. This results in decreased blood flow through the access site which ultimately necessitates either angioplasty or a surgical replacement of the shunt. As the access flow ceases or xe2x80x9cclots offxe2x80x9d part of the purified dialyzed blood is forced to flow back into the arterial withdrawal site and, hence, recirculates only to be dialyzed again; this is termed xe2x80x9caccess recirculationxe2x80x9d.
Access Blood Flow (ABF, represented by the variable Qa) is the rate at which blood passes through an arteriovenous (AV) graft or fistula. Poor or low Qa rates are generally indicative of hemo-dynamically significant access stenosis and/or thrombosis, which can reduce the adequacy of dialysis therapy and endanger the patient. In 1997 Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative (DOQI) Guidelines, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) sets forth both the rationale and the procedural guidelines for the monitoring and maintenance of AV grafts and fistulas. These guidelines suggest that regular assessment of ABF may be predictive of access stenosis, which in turn may facilitate early intervention, thereby reducing the rate of thrombosis and loss.
NKF-DOQI Guidelines clearly identify access blood flow as a preferred method of monitoring AV grafts and fistulas: xe2x80x9cSequential, timely, repetitive measurement of access flow is the preferred method for monitoring AV graftsxe2x80x9d, and xe2x80x9cFlow measurements should be used when available to monitor for stenosis and thrombosis in AV fistulae.xe2x80x9d NKF-DOQI Pocket Summary, Clinical Practice Guidelines for Vascular Access: Guideline 10,11.
Lindsay and Leypoldt state, xe2x80x9cReductions in access blood flow rates if recognized may mandate reductions in QB and lead to difficulty in delivering adequate dialysis; if unrecognized these reductions can lead to the phenomenon of access recirculation, which will significantly decrease the efficiency of the hemodialysis treatment. Furthermore, such reductions may herald the problem of acute access thrombosis. It seems ideal, therefore, to monitor access blood flow.xe2x80x9d Lindsay R, Leypoldt J: Monitoring Vascular Access Flow. Advances In Renal Replacement Therapy, Vol. 6, No. 3 (July), 1999: pp. 273-277.
Blood flow, Q, measured by the so-called Ficke dilutional techniques, has been described by A. C. Guyton, Textbook of Medical Physiology, Sixth Edition, pg. 287, 1981, wherein Q equals the volume of the injected diluent divided by the mean concentration of the diluent times the duration of the passage of the diluent through the vessel. A dilution curve is obtained by continuously monitoring changes in a given physical parameter of the blood over the time period of the injection. The change in the concentration of either the diluent (or the media) is measured over time.
Access Blood Flow (ABF) measurement is an area of concern in hemodialysis since it is a good indicator of access viability. Recent methods of determining ABF have included Doppler imaging, reversed line recirculation, and             Δ                    xe2x80x83                  H        H                (              the                          xe2x80x83                        percentage                          xe2x80x83                        change                          xe2x80x83                        in                          xe2x80x83                        hematocrit                          xe2x80x83                        through                          xe2x80x83                        the                          xe2x80x83                        access                          xe2x80x83                        site            )        .
The time, cost, and/or dialysis line reversal requirements of these methods have greatly limited their wide spread use and routine clinical applicability. With the exception of Doppler, ABF methods require the patient to be on dialysis and unencumbered by intradialytic activity such as blood pressure assessment or eating, further reducing flexibility in measurement. Conversely, Doppler measurements remain limited in accuracy due to uncertainty in measuring access size and cross-sectional area.
It is to the solution of these and other problems that the present invention is directed.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a straightforward method of determining ABF, Qa, using an optical sensor placed on the skin directly over the access site.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a transcutaneous method of ABF measurement that is not affected by size and/or depth of the access site, placement of the dialysis needles, pump speed variations, skin color, tissue composition, or access site location and type.
It is another object of the invention to provide a method of measuring a parameter transcutaneously downstream of a site where an indicator diluent is injected.
It is another object of the invention to provide a method of measuring a parameter transcutaneously in a perturbed system downstream of a site where the perturbation is introduced.
These and other objects of the invention are achieved by use of indicator dilution techniques to measure vascular access flow rates during routine hemodialysis, as well as in a clinic, before and/or after hemodialysis. A bolus injection port is used to infuse a specific volume (Vi) of an indicator diluent, such as saline or dye, into the patient cardiovascular circuit by one of the following:
1. Needle injection of a known volume (bolus) of indicator diluent directly into the access site in the presence or absence of the hemodialysis circuit.
2. Infusion of an indicator diluent into the arterial or venous needle or line upstream of the detector.
3. Turning the ultrafiltration of the dialysis delivery system from OFF to ON and OFF again over a predetermined time period.
4. In a hemodialysis circuit, turning on the hemodialysis pump and using the priming saline volume as a single saline bolus.
A transdermal optical sensor is used to measure the percent change in a blood parameter. The sensor is positioned directly over the vascular access site a prescribed distance downstream of the injection site and upstream of the access-vein connection in the case of grafts. The sensor employs complementary emitter and detector elements at multiple spacings (d1, d2) for the purpose of measuring the bulk absorptivity (xcex1) of the area immediately surrounding and including the access site, and the absorptivity (xcex1o) of the tissue itself.
In one aspect of the invention, the optical sensor system comprises an LED of specific wavelength and a complementary photodetector. A wavelength of 805 nm-880 nm, which is near the known isobestic wavelength for hemoglobin, is used.
When the sensor is placed on the surface of the skin, the LED illuminates a volume of tissue, and a small fraction of the light absorbed and back-scattered by the media is detected by the photodetector. The illuminated volume as seen by the photodetector can be visualized as an isointensity ellipsoid, as individual photons of light are continuously scattered and absorbed by the media. Because a wavelength of 805 nm-880 nm is used, hemoglobin of the blood within the tissue volume is the principal absorbing substance. The scattering and absorbing characteristics are mathematically expressed in terms of a bulk attenuation coefficient (xcex1) that is specific to the illuminated media. The amount of light detected by the photodetector is proportional via a modified Beer""s law formula to the instantaneous net xcex1 value of the media.
When the volume of tissue illuminated includes all or even part of the access, the resultant xcex1 value includes information about both the surrounding tissue and the access itself. In order to resolve the signal due to blood flowing within the access from that due to the surrounding tissues, the sensor system illuminates adjacent tissue regions on either side of the access. Values of xcex1o for tissue regions not containing the access are then used to normalize the signal, thus providing a baseline from which can be assessed in access hematocrit in the access blood flowing directly under the skin.
In the case that hematocrit is the monitored parameter, these values are then related to the percentage change of the parameter by the relationship:             F                    (                              Δ                                      xe2x80x83                                    H                    H                )              =                            d                                xe2x80x83                              i                i                              (                      d            -                          1              α                                )                                  (                                    α              2                        -                          α              o              2                                )                      ,
where i is defined from a modified Beer""s law as:
I≈IoAexe2x88x92xcex1d,
where A≈xcex1
More specifically, the diluent bolus is injected into the access site at an average flow rate of Qi. Since the hematocrit of the indicator solution is zero, the red blood cell (RBC) mass does not change. The transcutaneous access blood flow (TQa) differential equation of state may be re-written in either a transient formulation,             Q      a        =                  V        i                    ∫                              F                                      (                                                Δ                                                        xe2x80x83                                                      H                                H                            )                                                      ⅆ            t                                ,            where                    xe2x80x83                                    Δ                                xe2x80x83                              H                H              =          function                    xe2x80x83                  of                    xe2x80x83                  time
or time dependent or steady flow formulation. The steady flow form of the TQa differential equation is obtained by assuming uniform and steady flow rates over the analysis time period, and is written as       Q    a    =            Q      i              F                    (                              Δ                                      xe2x80x83                                    H                    H                )
In both cases, the quantity   F        (                  Δ                          xe2x80x83                        H            H        )
is measured as the indicator bolus is injected into the system. If the bolus injection rate Qi is uniform and constant, then the access flow Qa may be determined from the steady flow formulation. Conversely, if the system remains dynamic and the bolus injection rate is uncertain or uncontrollable, then the transient solution must be used to determine Qa.
The percentage change in blood parameters (both macroscopic and microscopic) passing through the access site can be measured in a variety of ways. Macroscopic parameters such as bulk density or flow energy can be measured by ultrasonic, temperature, or conductivity means. Microscopic parameters (sometimes called xe2x80x9cphysiologic or intrinsicxe2x80x9d parameters) such as hematocrit or red cell oxygen content are measured by optical means. In both cases, the measurement relies on the quantity   di  i
when saline is injected. Thus, the method in accordance with the present invention can also be applied to the measurement of macroscopic parameters (percent change in density, temperature, conductivity, or energy) using ultrasonic, temperature, or conductivity sensors; and to the measurement of microscopic parameters like hematocrit using an optical sensor.
In the measurement of both macroscopic and microscopic blood parameters, it is necessary to differentiate the access site, and parameter changes therein, from the surrounding tissue structure. The method in accordance with the present invention utilizes a transdermal sensor incorporating photoemitters and photodetectors positioned directly over the access site itself and is based upon optical back-scattering of monochromatic light (xcex=805 nm-880 nm) from the blood flow in the access site and the surrounding tissues, so that it is not limited to the extracorporeal circuit.
Light back-scattered from a turbid tissue sample follows the modified form of Beer""s Law,
I≈IoAexe2x88x92xcex1d, A≈xcex1
A transcutaneously measured xcex1 value is a prorated composite measure of all the absorption and scattering elements contained within the illuminated volume or xe2x80x9cglowballxe2x80x9d of the emitter source, and typically includes the effects of tissue, water, bone, blood, and in the case of hemodialysis patients, the access site. The effects of absorption and scattering of the access site are separated from that of surrounding tissue structure by taking measurements in areas near but not including the access site. If the tissue is more or less homogeneous, it is only necessary to make a single, non-access site reference xcex1o measurement. On the other hand, if a gradient in xcex1o exists in the area of interest, multiple measurements are made to establish the nature of the gradient and provide an averaged estimate of xcex1o.
The value of       Δ              xe2x80x83            H    H
is defined as the time derivative of intensity i, normalized by i. To determine       di    i    ,
a baseline intensity (taken in the absence of a bolus) is first measured to establish a reference. The intensity is then measured as a time varying signal. The quantity   di  i
is then calculated as             d                    xe2x80x83                  i        i    =                    I        baseline            -              I                          (          t          )                            I      baseline
The value   F        (                  Δ                          xe2x80x83                        H            H        )
consequently is:       F              (                        Δ                                xe2x80x83                              H                H            )        =                              d                                xe2x80x83                              i                i                  α                      (                  d          -                      1            α                          )                          (                              α            2                    -                      α            o            2                          )
Since d is fixed and known,       di    i    ,
xcex1 and xcex1o are computed by the equations:                     d                          xe2x80x83                        i            i        =                            I          baseline                -                  I                                (            t            )                                      I        baseline              and      α    ≈                  -                  Ln                                (                                          I                measured                                            I                o                                      )                              d
or from:
I≈Ioxcex1exe2x88x92xcex1d,
where xcex1 is solved in polynomial form.
where access size and/or volume or depth dependence are not factors in either the transient or the steady state formulation of Qa.
It is another object of the invention to provide a method of measuring a parameter transcutaneously in a perturbed system downstream of a site where the perturbation is introduced.
Although one embodiment of the invention uses saline as a diluent and measures the dilution of an existing endogenous material such as blood, the method in accordance with the present invention generally contemplates measuring a parameter transcutaneously in a perturbed system downstream of a site where the perturbation is introduced. The parameter can, for example, comprise a marker and the method comprises measuring the marker downstream using a sensor. Possible markers are proteins or red cells tagged with a radio nucleotide, which can be measured using a Geiger counter. Other parameters that can be measured in accordance with the present invention, and the devices for measuring them are: ultrasound, measured by an ultrasound detector; temperature, measured by a thermistor; impedance, measured by a bio-impedance measuring device; and albumen, glucose, and other blood constituents, measured using the optical sensor disclosed herein, but in which the LEDs emit different wavelengths suited to the specific constituent.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of this specification including the accompanying drawings.

Method of measuring transcutaneous access blood flow

Abstract: 2. Infusion of an indicator diluent into the arterial, venous line upstream of the venous needle.

Abstract: A transdermal sensor is used to measure the percent change in a blood parameter. The sensor is positioned directly over the vascular access site a prescribed distance downstream of the injection site and upstream of the access-vein connection. The sensor employs emitter and detector elements at multiple spacings (d1, d2) for the purpose of measuring the bulk absorptivity (xcex1) of the area immediately surrounding and including the access site, and the absorptivity (xcex1o) of the tissue itself.


There is provided a method for forming a graphene pattern, in which a graphene thin film layer is transferred onto a surface of a photosensitive film, and then patterned through exposure/development of the photosensitive film. The photosensitive film is cured after being finally developed, thereby securing stability and reliability.

1. Field of the Invention
An aspect of the present invention relates to a method for forming a graphene pattern, and more particularly, to a method for forming a graphene pattern using a transfer photolithography process.
2. Description of the Related Art
Graphene is a material that forms a honeycomb-shaped two-dimensional planar structure in which carbons are connected to one another in a hexagonal shape, and has high stability. In addition, the graphene has electrical conductivity 100 more times superior to silicon, and is flexible and transparent. Hence, studies on the graphene have been conducted in various fields.
Recently, studies on a method forming a thin film using the graphene have been actively conducted. A method of forming a micro-pattern of graphene is necessarily developed in order to produce the graphene as a substantially commercial product. However, the development of the method has not been completed.
A chemical patterning method using exposure should be applied to form a micro-pattern of graphene, but there exists no echant solution for etching the graphene due to the chemically stable characteristic of the graphene.
Accordingly, a physical dry etching or imprinting method was conventionally applied to form a micro-pattern of graphene. However, it is possible to implement the micro-pattern of the graphene using the method.


A graphically depicted meter to show the status of a parent-child relationship.

In many fields, parent-child relationships exist. It is desirable to be able to graphically represent the status of a child with respect to a parent in the parent-child relationship.
In the prior art, meters or gauges were used to depict the status of a single entity, such as the amount of fuel in a fuel tank. In addition, minor work was done depicting percentages, such as a bar graph which can show current progress versus a target number. However, the prior art failed to address the need for the ability to graphically represent the status of a parent-child relationship.

Meter for graphically representing relative status in a parent-child relationship and method for use thereof


In order to accurately probe a structure of concrete, a series of probe signals with defined carrier frequencies are generated by a probe signal generator and coupled into the structure by an antenna. The returning echo signals are processed by an echo signal receiver. Processing includes phase and amplitude detection in a multiplier, frequency-specific scaling in a scaling unit, replacement of the measured phases and amplitudes in an interpolation unit, and the generation of time-domain data in a Fourier transformation module. The device is robust against RF noise, accurate and low-power.

It has been known to probe the structure of concrete by means of electromagnetic waves. For doing so, a short electromagnetic pulse is sent into the structure and its echo is received. The structure can then be derived from the amplitude and delay of the peaks in the echo.
This type of analysis requires complex hardware that is able to sample the returning echoes with high temporal resolution. This type of hardware needs to perform a high-frequency sampling of the echo and therefore has high power consumption. Also, signals over a wide frequency range have to be processed, which makes the technology sensitive to interference with radio communication signals, such as WiFi signals.

Probing a structure of concrete by means of electromagnetic waves


A neuro-fuzzy integrated architecture which permits on-line self-training includes at least one microcontroller of the fuzzy type dedicated to fuzzy rules computing and integrated monolithically on a semiconductor together with a non-volatile memory. Also included within the same integrated circuit are a microprocessor, a volatile memory unit, and an arbiter block linked to a bus interconnecting the fuzzy microcontroller, the microprocessor, and the volatile memory unit. The arbiter block controls access to the memory unit by the microprocessor or the fuzzy microcontroller. An additional fuzzy co-processor may be connected between the fuzzy microcontroller and the microprocessor for performing the fuzzy logic operations.

This invention relates to electronic circuits, and, more particularly, to a neuro-fuzzy network architecture having self-training or on-line learning capabilities.
The invention particularly relates to a self-training neuro-fuzzy network architecture including at least one fuzzy microcontroller (fuzzyfier/defuzzyfier) dedicated for calculating fuzzy rules. The fuzzy microcontroller may be integrated monolithically in a semiconductor along with a non-volatile memory, for example. The invention also relates to a method of electronically controlling semiconductor-integrated electronic devices using self-training.
Of the currently available electronic devices integrated monolithically in a semiconductor, the fuzzy logic products typically fall in the category of processors, microcontrollers, or general purpose fuzzy co-processors. However, these products are unsuitable for operation in an on-line learning and self-training mode. For example, there exist no commercially available devices which include circuit portions adapted to process dedicated self-training instructions.
The unavailability of integrated devices with self-training processing features makes prior art approaches ill-suited to address problems requiring a capability to accommodate process variations and changing environmental conditions. Such is the case, for example, with the control of fuel injection systems in internal combustion engines and in other automotive applications.
The present invention is directed to a semiconductor integrated electronic device for enabling processing of predetermined instructions or data processing procedures by self-training. The technical problem addressed by the present invention is to provide a programmable device as described above which is of the neuro-fuzzy type.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a programmable integrated device of the neuro-fuzzy type with dedicated hardware appropriate for on-line learning capabilities. In essence, the invention provides a fuzzy neural system (hereinafter Fuzzy Neural Network or FNN) which uses the properties of neural networks to automatically learn the variations of a process to be controlled, as well as to adjust its behavior accordingly by adaptation of the fuzzy rule system parameters for increased efficiency throughout.
Based on this concept, the objects are achieved by a self-training neuro-fuzzy network including at least one fuzzy microcontroller dedicated to fuzzy rules computing, a non-volatile memory integrated monolithically with the at least one fuzzy microcontroller on a semiconductor and connected thereto, a microprocessor, a volatile memory, and a bus interconnecting the fuzzy microcontroller. The microprocessor, the volatile memory, and an arbiter circuit are connected to the bus. The arbiter circuit controls access to the volatile memory by the microprocessor and the fuzzy microcontroller.
More specifically, the self-training neuro-fuzzy network may also include a fuzzy co-processor connected between the fuzzy microcontroller and the microprocessor for performing fuzzy logic operations. The fuzzy co-processor may be a slave to the microprocessor. Furthermore, an arithmetic logic unit may be connected to the microprocessor, and the arithmetic logic unit may include a sequential machine including a plurality of internal registers.
Additionally, the volatile memory may be a dual port random access memory. The self-training neuro-fuzzy network may further include an interface connected between the volatile memory and the non-volatile memory for exchanging data therebetween. Also, an input/output (I/O) module may be connected to the microprocessor for interfacing with external peripherals.
The invention also relates to a method of electronically controlling an electronic device by self-training where the electronic device is monolithically integrated on a semiconductor and includes at least one fuzzy microcontroller for fuzzy rule computing and a non-volatile memory connected thereto. The method includes writing data from the non-volatile memory to a volatile memory, reading data from the volatile memory and executing predetermined sequences of instructions on the data, connecting an arbiter circuit to a bus interconnecting the fuzzy microcontroller, the microprocessor, and the memory unit, and activating a fuzzy co-processor with the arbiter circuit. The fuzzy co-processor is activated upon receipt and recognition of a fuzzy logic instruction from the volatile memory. Additionally, the fuzzy co-processor may be operated as a slave to the microprocessor.

Neuro-fuzzy network architecture with on-line learning capabilities and corresponding control method


In an example, a fluid ejection apparatus includes a printhead die embedded in a printed circuit board. Fluid may flow to the printhead die through a plunge-cut fluid feed slot in the printed circuit board and into the printhead die.

Printhead dies in an inkjet pen or print bar may include tiny channels that carry fluid, such as ink, to the ejection chambers. Ink may be distributed from the ink supply to the die channels through passages in a structure that supports the printhead die(s) on the pen or print bar. It may be desirable to shrink the size of each printhead die, for example to reduce the cost of the die and, accordingly, to reduce the cost of the pen or print bar. The use of smaller dies, however, may require changes to the larger structures that support the dies, including the passages that distribute ink to the dies.
all in which various embodiments may be implemented.
Examples are shown in the drawings and described in detail below. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, and various features and views of the drawings may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematic for clarity and/or conciseness. The same part numbers may designate the same or similar parts throughout the drawings.

Printed circuit board fluid ejection apparatus

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A method is provided for making a rigid spacer, containing a silicone bound desiccant which is useful for a multi-pane sealed window. An infrared radiation curable silicone is used as a binder for a desiccant such as a zeolite which is injected in a continuous manner into a U-shaped or V-shaped semi-rigid spacer such as a steel channel.

The present invention is directed to a method which employs infrared radiation to effect the cure of a desiccant filled silicone composition in a rigid or semi-rigid spacer for a multi-pane sealed window.
Chenel, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,226,063 and 4,205,104, shows multi-pane sealed windows having a silicone and butyl rubber as flexible spacer sealing elements. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,622,249, similar materials are used as spacers. However, the butyl rubber is used as the outer sealant and a desiccant filled silicone sealant is employed as the inner spacer. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,217, an inner spacer is made from a moisture permeable flexible or semi-rigid foam material which incorporates a desiccant material. In many situations, a more rigid material is preferred as the spacer, because the glazing unit often incorporates a heat shrinkable plastic film which can be applied in a final assembly step. Sufficient spacer rigidity often is needed to prevent wrinkles from being formed at the corners following heat shrinking of the plastic film.
Because of its rigidity, steel is often preferred as the spacer for multi-pane window applications. In addition, dehydrated zeolites, which are derived from hydrated aluminum and calcium or sodium silicates have gained wide acceptance as desiccants. In one design, the desiccant is used directly in a steel tubular spacer having perforated walls. Moisture uptake is achieved through the walls of the spacer when in place. Because the desiccant is sometimes incorporated at the terminus of the spacer, it can be difficult to incorporate the desiccant in an economic manner.
Preferably, the spacer has a readily accessible U-shaped or V-shaped open channel. However, in order to minimize loss of the desiccant through spillage, a heat curable desiccant binder is often needed which allows the mixture to remain stable and flowable for at least 60 minutes below about 50.degree. C. In addition, the resulting cured product must be adherent to the spacer wall, while maintaining its moisture absorbing capability once it is installed in the multi-pane window structure.

Method for making a spacer element for a multi-pane sealed window


An image forming apparatus includes a display section and a control unit. The display section is configured to display a plurality of picture segments. The control unit is configured to execute a display operation to display the plurality of picture segments. The plurality of picture segments correspond to a plurality of options corresponding to an image formation related function. The control unit executes a picture segment selection operation to select picture segments, of which number is equal to a predetermined display number, as normal picture segments among the plurality of picture segments. The control unit executes a prominent display operation to select picture segments, of which number is larger than the predetermined display number, as provisional picture segments among the plurality of picture segments and to allow the display section to prominently display the provisional picture segments during a predetermined prominent display time.

The present disclosure relates to image forming apparatuses and particularly relates to a technique which allows the user to select a setting content of an image formation related function.
There has been a technique known in the art in which in order to execute various image formation related functions that image forming apparatus has, an operation screen, which selectably displays optional picture segments (hereinafter referred to as picture segments), such as icons, corresponding to options that can be setting contents of the respective functions, is displayed on a display device. With this technique, the user can input any setting content of each function through an easy operation of selecting a picture segment.
Further, since the size of the operation screen is limited according to the size of the display device, the number of picture segments capable of being displayed on the operation screen is limited accordingly. To tackle this problem, techniques have been known in which picture segments to be displayed on the operation screen are changed for display on the display device.
Referring to such a technique, for example, there is a technique which alternatively switches modes between a normal display mode, in which all function selection keys (picture segments) are arranged on an image formation related function listing screen (operation screen), and a simple display mode, in which only usually-used function selection keys are arranged on the image formation related function listing screen according to the user's preference or proficiency. Alternatively, in some imaging device, selectable menu items are superimposed to display menu items as much as possible.


Techniques for solving asset synthesis by integrating asset synthesis instances into a historical, virtual, or predicted workflow within an organization. The integration facilitates improving a parameter of the synthesis, such as cost or time. The result is a system that improves productivity in an organization and improves accuracy of workflow completion prediction within the organization.

Today's modern business enterprises require and make use of sophisticated information systems to acquire vital insights into the performance or prospective future performance of their business relative to goals, market metrics, competitive information, and the like. This class of information products is known in the field today as Management Information Systems (MIS) or Business Intelligence (BI) tools. In addition, businesses seek better ways to identify the right strategies and new ideas that can help them grow, and information solutions supporting these objectives are often referred to as Collaboration Technologies, and Innovation Management Systems. Collectively these information systems fall under the general category of Enterprise and Marketing Intelligence Systems and represent a critical part of today's business software and information systems marketplace.
A lot of assets are underutilized or improperly parameterized, resulting in a waste of resources, including both time and money. As such, organizations have hidden operating expenses in the form of waste. While meeting enablers, meeting managers, and meeting schedulers are known to bring teams of humans together, a flaw with BI systems today is that they fail to properly parameterize assets for maximum utility. Although assets are interlinked in an organization, there are no tools to effectively measure the impact of synthesizing the various assets.


A hydraulic cement is formed from a Class C fly ash, an alkali metal activator, and citric acid. Mortar and concrete compositions can be prepared with this hydraulic cement. The cement is particularly useful in producing mortar and concrete compositions that achieve high strengths in a short time, in particular, a mortar having a strength of at least 2500 psi in 24 hours, when cured at room temperature.

Hydraulic cements, such as portland cement and blended hydraulic cements, consisting of portland cement and pozzolans, have, for many years, been used as an essential ingredient of the mortar and concrete used for construction of structures, highways, etc. In many instances, fly ash has been used as the pozzolanic component in blended hydraulic cements, and as a mineral admixture to replace part of the more expensive portland cement used in mortar or concrete. The use of fly ash, in place of part of the portland cement or as a constituent in blended cements reduces the large amount of energy required to produce the hydraulic cements required for mortar and concrete. However, the prior art has taught that no more than 35 to 45 per cent of the portland cement can be replaced with fly ash. According to the teachings of the prior art, when more fly ash than that is employed, the resulting mortars and concretes do not have sufficient strength.
Fly ash, particularly Class C fly ash, is a waste material. Many million of pounds of this material are produced each year and must be disposed of. Because this fly ash contains potentially dangerous heavy metals, disposal is becoming a more and more significant problem. While merely adding water to the waste fly ash will cause it to harden, as is true of many solid materials, the hardened product has no significant strength, and the disposal problem is merely changed, without being solved.
Because of the significant waste disposal problem, uses have long been sought for this fly ash, but these uses have generally involved merely hardening the fly ash, as indicated above, an operation which does not provide a material with sufficient strength for any useful purpose.
Though the fly ash can be blended with portland cement to create a useful product, as indicated above, the amounts which can be used are limited, so that the massive amounts of this waste material available are not consumed. Also as indicated, merely hardening the waste material does not really provide for its effective utilization. To avoid the substantial costs of energy involved in producing cement, generally between $3 and $11 per ton, at current rates, if the fly ash, where there is no energy cost, because it is a waste material, could be used for structural uses, an extremely desirable situation would be created. This desirable situation is not accomplished through a mere hardening of the materials, as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,332, Nicholson and U.S. Pat. No. 4,432,280, Kneller, et al.
It now has been found, however, according to the present invention, that a hydraulic cement, where all of the portland cement or blended hydraulic cement is replaced with fly ash, can be formed by activating a Class C fly ash with an alkali metal material, along with citric acid. Through employment of the composition of the present invention, a waste material, Class C fly ash, with relatively small amounts of activators and other conditioning agents, forms a useful, structural cement without the utilization of the energy otherwise required for such materials.
Not only is the fly ash employed for production of a usable, structural material, without the expenditure of significant energy costs, but, in addition, the costs which would otherwise be attributed to the disposal of the fly ash are avoided.

Hydraulic cement and composition employing the same


Disclosed are various embodiments for distributed video and network camera management. A video management system is described that determines the capabilities of a network camera as it is added or on-boarded to a network. Depending on the capabilities of the network camera, the network camera may be assigned to one of a network video collector or a remote storage service for storing video data generated by the network camera.

A network camera, also commonly referred to as an internet protocol (IP) camera, is a type of digital video camera capable of sending and receiving data over a computer network, such as the Internet. Network cameras are generally used for conducting webcasts, live streaming of events, monitoring areas, conducting surveillance, and similar functions. Network cameras often interact with network video recorders (NVRs), which are specialized computing systems having video recording and video management software executing thereon. NVRs are commonly used to record video captured using a network camera.
NVRs and their supporting infrastructure are costly to maintain. For instance, as more network cameras are added to a network, more NVRs are required to store video recorded and sent from the network cameras. This requires increased bandwidth capabilities, additional server storage, and other computing resources. As such, the use of NVRs does not scale efficiently as more devices are added to the network. Moreover, NVRs are "centralized" such that a single point of failure (e.g., a failure in a data center) can be catastrophic to the uptime of the network.

Distributed video and network camera management


An apparatus or method can include forming a graphene layer including a working surface, forming a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) layer upon the working surface of the graphene layer, and forming a dielectric layer upon the PVA layer. In an example, the PVA layer can be activated and the dielectric layer can be deposited on an activated portion of the PVA layer. In an example, an electronic device can include such apparatus, such as included as a portion of graphene field-effect transistor (GFET), or one or more other devices.

Graphene can be described as a two-dimensional sheet of covalently-bonded carbon atoms. For example, three-dimensional graphite can include sheets of graphene, and a one-dimension carbon nanotube can include a graphene wall (e.g., forming a single-wall carbon nanotube). An obstacle to development of a graphene-based electronic device, such as a graphene field-effect transistor (GFET), can be the inert nature of the covalently-bonded hexagonal carbon lattice of graphene.

Graphene device including a PVA layer or formed using a PVA layer

The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York


Methods and apparatus are provided for localizing a source of a set of radio signals, such as radio signals received from an RFID tag at various locations. A source of a set of radio signals (such as radio signals received from an RFID tag at various locations) is localized by obtaining a plurality of radio signals in the set from a different location in an environment; determining a magnitude and received location for each of the plurality of radio signals; determining a direction for each of the plurality of radio signals by comparing each given radio signal to other radio signals in the set; and determining a location of the source of the set of radio signals by determining an intersection of the direction for each of the plurality of radio signals. The direction for each of the plurality of radio signals optionally comprises a net directional vector determined using a weighted circular mean.

Data centers are facilities used to house computer systems and related devices, such as power supplies, communications and storage systems, environmental controls (such as air conditioning and fire suppression) and various security devices. A number of techniques have been proposed or suggested for automatically navigating, mapping and/or monitoring data centers. For example, J. Lenchner et al., "Towards Data Center Self-Diagnosis Using a Mobile Robot," ACM Int'l Conf. on Autonomic Computing (ICAC '11) (2011), incorporated by reference herein, discloses a robot that serves as a physical autonomic element to automatically navigate, map and monitor data centers. The disclosed robot navigates a data center, mapping its layout and monitoring its temperature and other quantities of interest with little, if any, human assistance. In addition, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/348,846, filed Jan. 12, 2012 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,606,542), entitled "Discovery and Monitoring of an Environment Using a Plurality of Robots," incorporated by reference herein, discloses techniques for coordinating multiple mobile robots for exploring and monitoring a given environment or region.
Radio Frequency IDentification Identification (RFID) tags are often used in numerous industrial applications as a method for ready identification of a given asset. An asset is first tagged with a given RFID tag and the association is commonly stored in an asset database. Typically, active RFID tags broadcast their respective serial number on a periodic basis and a receiver then records the received serial number along with the signal strength of the received signal and the location at which the signal was received. While RFID tags have greatly improved the ability to readily track equipment, they suffer from a number of limitations, which if overcome, could further extend the utility and efficiency of systems that either automatically or semi-automatically track equipment. Localizing the assets to a desired granularity is often quite difficult due to, for example, multipath propagation of signals and directional interference.
A need therefore remains for improved techniques for localizing a source of a set of radio signals, such as radio signals received from an RFID tag at various locations.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods and apparatus for localizing a source of a set of radio signals


Methods and apparatus disclosed herein implement or otherwise embody a technique that compensates for cyclic position errors in encoder-based position detection, wherein the cyclic position errors arise from the presence of harmonic components in the encoder signals relied upon for position determination. Using position-domain compensation for errors arising in the encoder domain offers computational simplicity and impressive compensation performance, even when compensating for a plurality of higher harmonics in the encoder signals, e.g., third harmonic, fifth harmonic, etc. Consequently, even high-precision position monitoring or control can use relatively inexpensive types of encoders known to output encoder signals having significant harmonic components.

A sinusoidal encoder outputs a pair of sinusoidal signals in quadrature phase relationship, with distance covered over one signal cycle of the encoder being referred to as one "line" of the encoder. The term "sinusoid" is used loosely in this context because some encoders, particularly less expensive encoders, output only rough approximations of sinusoids, or otherwise output sinusoids with significant harmonic components in addition to the fundamental frequency component.
A coarse physical position ("position") may be tracked by a running count of the signal cycles over multiple lines of the encoder, and much finer incremental positions may be tracked within each signal cycle via "interpolation." One technique for interpolating the position within each signal cycle relies on the arctangent function, which expresses the incremental or fine position within the current signal cycle as:
            ∅      fine        =                  tan                  -          1                                  (                              V            sin                                V            cos                          )              ,where Vsin and Vcos are the instantaneous signal values of the quadrature waveforms output by the encoder. So-called "encoder interpolators" exploit the foregoing angular relationship to provide high-resolution tracking of position within each recurring cycle of a sinusoidal encoder. Precision machining and many other motion-control applications require the higher resolutions that can be provided by good encoder interpolators.
However, errors in the encoder signals directly affect accuracy in position determination, and this point holds true whether the encoder encodes angular or linear positions of a physical system. Merely by way of example, the physical system may be a robotic arm, a machine tool head, or a workpiece holder.
Known approaches to compensation for imperfections—errors—in the encoder signals typically operate in the "encoder domain," which is another way of saying that the corrections are detected and applied with respect to the output signals provided by the encoder in question. Consider, for example, the encoder interpolator detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,384,570, which patent is incorporated herein by reference and discloses techniques for compensating for fundamental errors in the encoder signals. Here, fundamental errors include any one or more of voltage offsets on the encoder signals, magnitude mismatches between the encoder signals, and phase error between the encoder signals. The '570 patent provides for such compensation by adjusting the numerical values sampled from the encoder signals.
Potentially significant errors in position detection arise because of harmonic components in the encoder signals. The encoder signals output from a sinusoidal encoder include a fundamental frequency component, which can be understood as the "desired" signal. Unfortunately, the encoder signals may also include undesirable harmonic components. Known encoder compensation techniques contemplate limited forms of harmonic compensation.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,109,900, for example, describes a technique for detecting and compensating the third harmonic component present in encoder signals. The disclosed approach operates in the encoder domain and relies on examining the Lissajous patterns resulting from converting the encoder signals—i.e., sine and cosine signals—into corresponding radius and angle values. Computational complexity limits the viability of the technique, and that complexity especially discourages extension of the technique to higher harmonic components of the fundamental frequency.

Method and apparatus for encoder interpolation


An arrangement for mounting a panel on a spacecraft employs a spring sheet which serves to mount one end of the panel to the spacecraft for pivoting the panel with respect to spacecraft and which is capable of storing spring energy for actuating the panel to pivot it from one of a stowed position and a deployed position to the other. In the preferred embodiment, the panel is a radiator for rejecting waste heat into outer space from a dynamic isotope power system of the spacecraft.

A dynamic isotope power system in a spacecraft such as a satellite, has an organic Rankine cycle which requires a radiator/condenser system to reject waste heat to space. Due to the demands for limiting the radiator area on the spacecraft, there is a need for a radiator system which can be deployed from a stowed position to a deployed position where both sides of the radiator can serve to reject waste heat to space thereby minimizing the necessary radiator area and weight. An arrangement for mounting a panel, such as a radiator panel, on a spacecraft must also have great reliability and be lightweight.
Arrangements for deploying solar panels on spacecraft are known from NASA JPL Technical Report 32-1519 entitled "Lightweight Solar Panel Development" by Walter A. Hasbach, Mar. 15, 1971, pages 2-7, 15 and 6, for example. An inflatable radiator system for a satellite has been disclosed by Vought Systems Division of LTV Aerospace Corporation as indicated in a publication entitled "Heat Rejection Systems Development Programs". German Offenlegungsschrift DE 3,042,923 July 1, 1982, discloses a clamping arrangement for spacecraft solar panels using cables with sprung bands connected thereto for holding down and deploying panels. U.S. Pat. No. 3,347,309 discloses radiator tubes which are pivotably mounted at one end for deployment. A torsion spring actuator at hinged connections between solar panels and a spacecraft is shown in FIGS. 10 and 13 of the Proceedings European Symposium on Photovoltaic Generators in Space, "Development Of A Rigid Fold-Out Solar Array For 3 Axes-Stabilized Geosynchronous Satellites" by G. Barkots, Nov., 1978, pp. 169-171. U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,715 discloses a resilient hinge assembly for a display structure for merchandising goods wherein a band of plastic material incorporates a central flexible bridge interconnecting a pair of end elements. A leaf spring extends across the flexible bridge and is connected to the end elements for imparting a required degree of restoration force to the assembly.

Petal deployable radiator system for spacecraft


A device is set forth defined by an upper angular mouthpiece including diametrically opposed flexible projections positioned on opposed edges of the mouthpiece for grasping by teeth of an administrator of the device. A first conduit is orthogonally oriented relative to the angular mouthpiece directed to a convex abutment skirt for engagement and positioning of a victim's mouth during use. A replaceable filter is removably mounted between the upper conduit and the skirt. A lower conduit in communication with the first conduit and filter and axially aligned therewith is of a generally arcuate "L" shaped configuration tapering downwardly to a lower opening. A modified filter for use with the invention includes a flexible squeeze bulb with a conduit associating the bulb with a filter, wherein the squeeze bulb includes a rupturable diaphragm containing a germicidal fluid therewith for directing the fluid onto the filter prior to use of the device. A further modified device includes an aspiration bulb of a generally pear shaped configuration formed with a tapered forward surface and a forward outlet for positioning within the mouthpiece to enable directing of pressurized air from the bulb through the first conduit, filter, and lower conduit into a victim.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to resuscitation devices, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved resuscitation device typically utilized in CPR or mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior art is available in use of resuscitation devices that may be employed to administer artificial breathing to a victim in an effort to revive such an individual. In contemporary environments, the risk of contracting various communicable diseases and viruses has created a reluctance to employ such life-saving procedures to unknown victims due to fear of contracting such diseases. Examples of the prior art include U.S. Pat. No. 3,508,543 to Aulicono setting forth a mouth-to-mouth type resuscitation device wherein a single conduit, including a medially projecting flange positioned exteriorly of the conduit, includes a plurality of nozzles directed to the upper portion of the conduit above the flange for positioning interiorly of an individual's nostrils during a CPR type procedure.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,559,940 to McGinnis sets forth a resuscitation device including an angular cap member to overlie an individual's mouth and nostrils including a construction of a main resuscitation tube to minimize closure thereof during a CPR type procedure.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,802,428 to Sherman sets forth a mouth-to-mouth resuscitation device including a mask for securement to an administrator of the device with a central nozzle directed from an annular disk positioned adjacent an upper end of the nozzle.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,303,845 to Detmer sets forth a resuscitation device with a central convex flange, an upper nozzle, and a fork-like lower member to maintain an individual's tongue in a desired orientation during the CPR procedure.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,057,347 to McGee sets forth a breathing device including an upper tube, a central flange, and lower arcuate tube for directing interiorly of an individual of unitary construction.
As such, it may be appreciated that there is a continuing need for a new and improved resuscitation device wherein the same addresses both the problems of ease of use and effectiveness in construction and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


An image forming apparatus includes a control unit arranged to control an image forming unit so as to form images based on image information and to form maintenance images for maintaining the image forming unit. The control unit is arranged to control the image forming unit so as to form images on the second side of the sheet after forming images on the first side of the sheet, and so as to form the maintenance images on the second side at positions such that the maintenance images do not overlap with the images based on the image information formed on the first side.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-126530 discloses an image forming apparatus that forms images on both sides of a long continuous roll sheet by an inkjet system. This apparatus acquires an image of the leading edge of a sheet supplied from a sheet supply unit and determines the print positions of a plurality of subsequent images with reference to the position information thereof. The continuous sheet whose first side is printed with the plurality of images is wound in a roll, and the trailing edge at the rear of the last image printed on the first side is cut. For second-side printing, the continuous sheet is drawn out from the wound roll and is fed to a recording unit, with the cut trailing edge at the head, at which a plurality of images are printed on the second side. If there is misalignment in the sheet conveying direction between the first side and the second side when the register marks thereof are visually checked, misalignment between images on the first side and images on the second side is corrected by inputting a length for correcting the misalignment from a terminal unit to thereby correct the image recording positions.
With the configuration disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-126530, since a plurality of images can be printed on both sides of a continuous sheet without stopping, print processing efficiency is enhanced; however, little consideration is taken to consistency in image formation on the first side and the second side, with the print quality of both sides maintained. For example, if printed sheets subjected to duplex printing are bound into a book, such as a photobook, the sheets subjected to duplex printing serve as pages that constitute the book. Thus, it is important to control processes, such as maintenance printing for maintaining image quality, to prevent the image quality from differing between pages next to each other on the front and back. Furthermore, in an apparatus configured to achieve duplex printing by printing a first side and then printing a second side, if images cannot be printed on the second side in an intended manner, the page needs to be printed again, and the sheet whose first side is printed is wasted.


The disclosure provides methods for increasing genome stability of an embryonic stem (ES) cell or induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell, increasing telomere length in an ES or iPS cell, or both, for example by contacting an ES or iPS cell with an agent that increases expression of Zscan4 in the cell. Methods for increasing the genome stability in a population of ES or iPS cells, increasing telomere length in a population of ES or iPS cells, or both, are provided, for example by selecting Zscan4+ ES or iPS cells from the population of ES or iPS cells (which can include both Zscan4+ and Zscan4− ES or iPS cells). Therapeutic methods of using ES or iPS cells expressing Zscan4 are also provided. Further provided are methods of treating cancer by administering a Zscan4 polynucleotide or Zscan4 polypeptide. Also provided are methods of inducing differentiation of isolated ES or iPS cells into germ cells.

Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells are derived from the inner cell mass (ICM) of blastocysts and share similar gene expression patterns with the ICM. The defining features of ES cells are pluripotency and self-renewal, both of which have been the focus of intensive research for many years. Another hallmark of mouse ES cells is their ability to defy cellular senescence and to proliferate more than 250 doublings without crisis or transformation (Suda et al., J Cell Physiol 133:197-201, 1987). Although the fraction of euploid cells tends to decrease in long-term culture (Rebuzzini et al., Cytotechnology 58:17-23, 2008), the genome integrity of mouse ES cells is more strictly maintained than any other cultured cells. For example, ES cells maintain their ability to form chimeric animals with germline competency even after many passages (Longo et al., Transgenic Res 6:321-328, 1997; Nagy et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 90:8424-8428, 1993; Sugawara et al., Comp Med 56:31-34, 2006). The mutation frequency in ES cells is also much lower (>100-fold) than those in mouse embryonic fibroblast cells and other somatic cells (Cervantes et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 99:3586-3590, 2002). The unique feature of mouse ES cells can be further highlighted by a lower frequency of chromosomal abnormalities compared to embryonal carcinoma cells, which share similar characteristics to ES cells (Blelloch et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 101:13985-13990, 2004), as well as some human ES cells (Brimble et al., Stem Cells Dev 13:585-597, 2004). However, the mechanism by which mouse ES cells maintain genomic stability is currently poorly understood.
Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences accompanied by proteins that cap and protect the end of each chromosome from continuous degradation in each cell cycle, thereby securing and protecting chromosomal integrity. Telomere shortening may lead to cancer by contributing to genomic instability (Raynaud et al., Crit. Rev Oncol Hematol 66:99-117, 2008), and has been associated with aging and cellular senescence (Yang, Cytogenet Genome Res 122:211-218, 2008). Telomerase has been identified as the major enzyme known to be involved in telomere elongation maintenance. Although telomerase is active in ES cells (Thomson et al., Science 282:1145-1147, 1998), telomerase knockout ES cells (Terc−/−) show a marked reduction in telomere length only after 400 cell doublings, reaching a dramatic senescence event 10-30 doublings later, followed by establishment of a telomerase-independent population with no marked short telomeres (Niida et al., Nat Genet. 19:203-206, 1998; Niida et al., Mol Cell Biol 20:4115-4127, 2000). Hence, a telomerase-independent mechanism for telomere maintenance, named alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) (Bryan et al., EMBO J. 14:4240-4248, 1995), has been suggested for Terc−/− ES cells. Apparently, telomere recombination, or telomere sister chromatid exchange (T-SCE) can compensate for the lack of telomerase activity. Indeed, an increased frequency of T-SCE events has been demonstrated in long-term cultures of Terc−/− ES cells (Bailey et al., Nucleic Acids Res 32:3743-3751, 2004; Wang et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 102:10256-10260, 2005).
Additionally, telomere recombination appears to be a normal mechanism in preimplantation embryos. Even though enzymatic activity of telomerase cannot be detected in preimplantation embryos from the unfertilized oocyte stage to the blastocyst stage (Wright et al., Dev Genet. 18:173-179, 1996), telomere length is rapidly increased during this period. In just one cell cycle, the average telomere length of 2-cell stage mouse embryos is doubled compared to that of unfertilized eggs (Liu et al., Nat Cell Biol 9:1436-1441, 2007). Although T-SCE events have been demonstrated in several studies, genes involved in this important process remain to be identified.

Methods for enhancing genome stability and telomere elongation in embryonic stem cells

The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services


A vehicle steering device includes a steering wheel part coupled non-rotatably to a steering column and a central part which is stationary with regard to a rotation of the steering wheel part. The steering device further includes a gas bag module including a gas generator unit. The gas generator unit in the installed state of the gas bag module is a component of the steering wheel part. Another vehicle steering device also includes a steering wheel part coupled non-rotatably to a steering column and a central part which is stationary with respect to a rotation of the steering part. A gas bag module including a gas generator unit is housed in the stationary central part. The gas generator unit is connected electrically via a supply line with a control unit arranged outside the steering device. The supply line is guided from a first clock spring arranged in a stationary section of the steering device via a second clock spring arranged in the rotatable steering wheel part to the gas generator unit.

From German and European Published Applications DE 2 131 902 and EP 0 414 245 A1, respectively, vehicle steering devices are known, which comprise a steering wheel part coupled non-rotatably to a steering column, and a central part which is stationary with regard to a rotation of the steering wheel part. The known gas bag modules include a gas generator unit and are housed in the stationary central part. The gas generator unit is connected electrically via a supply line with a control unit arranged outside the steering device. Such steering devices basically have the advantage that operating elements arranged on the central part are always to be found at the same place irrespective of the steering wheel position. In steering devices with a gas bag module housed in the stationary central part, the gas bag no longer has to necessarily be constructed so as to be symmetrical to the rotation center of the steering device. As the orientation of the gas bag, unfolding from the stationary central part, is always the same, asymmetrical gas bag shapes with better restraint characteristics can be used.
The wiring of a gas bag module which is stationary in relation to the rotatable steering wheel part is, however, problematic compared with conventional steering wheels without a stationary central part, in which usually a so-called clock spring ensures the proper electrical connection between the rigid laced wiring harness on the steering arm and the electrical components rotatable with the steering wheel. In a steering device with a stationary gas bag module, on the other hand, in particular the supply lines to the gas generator must be guided through the rotatable steering wheel part.
There is a desire to provide a steering device with stationary central part, which offers the advantages of a fixed gas bag, but in which a simple and secure wiring of the gas bag module is made possible.

Vehicle steering device with stationary central part


A PC card slot device for an ExpressCard affords a smooth insertion of the ExpressCard into a slot for the PC card slot device, without the height of the slot being increased. A lower chassis ceiling wall defines the lower face side of a card storage space, and also includes a slot side edge that is formed of a rear-side inclined line portion and a slot-side inclined line portion. The rear-side inclined line portion and the slot-side inclined line portion are respectively inclined at angles α1 and α2, relative to a reference cross section. To insert the ExpressCard into the slot of the card storage space, the right corner of the right upper level lower face portion of the card is inserted into the card storage space and the front end of the right stepped portion of the card is guided along the inclined line portions.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a slot device, such as an ExpressCard slot device, mounted in a notebook computer, and particularly relates to a slot device that facilitates the smooth insertion of a card type inversion/ejection member into a slot.
2. Description of the Related Art
Currently, typical notebook computers are equipped with PC card slot devices. The specifications for PC cards are standardized by the PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association), and PC cards are employed as extension devices for personal computers (hereinafter referred to as "PCs"; note, however, that the term "PC card" is itself a proper noun, and does not correspond to the term "personal computer card"). In Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-182712, while taking into account a situation wherein a user has trouble aligning a PC card with and inserting the PC card in a card slot, a structure is disclosed that facilitates the insertion of a PC card. According to this Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-182712 a slot device is equipped with a movable tray. When a user presses on the push rod of an eject mechanism, the movable tray is extracted and positioned outside of the PC card slot device. The user then places a PC card on the movable tray and pushes the movable tray back into the storage space.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-213505, a slot device is disclosed that can be used in common for two types of cards, i.e., a wide, thick card and a narrow, thin card. According to the slot device, a card guide mechanism is arranged at the entrance to a card slot, and in accordance with the type of card that is to be inserted, guides the card into one of the card slot sections in the storage space.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-63197, in accordance with the type of card inserted, a slot device moves a movable member equipped with a contact piece so that, regardless of the card type, the contact piece can contact the electrode of the card. Thus, the number of parts required can be reduced.


A data storage device, a stacking method thereof, and a data storage device assembly are provided. The data storage device assembly includes a first data storage device and a second data storage device respectively having a body, a magnetic element, and a storage device. Each body has a first containing space and a second containing space. Each magnetic element is disposed in the corresponding first containing space. At least one of the magnetic elements of the first and the second data storage device is a magnet. Each storage device is disposed in the corresponding second containing space and includes an electrical connector terminal, a memory chip, and a memory controller with no crystal oscillator. The magnetic elements of the first and the second data storage device attract each other so that the body of the first data storage device is stacked on the body of the second data storage device.

1. Technology Field
The present invention generally relates to a data storage device, and more particularly, to a data storage device that can be easily stacked, a stacking method thereof, and a data storage device assembly.
2. Description of Related Art
Along with the development of technologies, high portability has become one of the most important features of today's storage media along with large storage capacity. Accordingly, highly portable flash drive has become one of today's most indispensable digital products. A flash drive has a flash memory as its storage component, and a flash memory is a non-volatile memory (data stored therein won't be lost when power is turned off) and offers such advantages as being programmable and erasable, high access speed, and low power consumption. Thus, conventional 3.5″ floppy disk and CD that have either small storage capacity or inconvenient data update performance are gradually replaced by flash drive that comes with plug-and-play and hot plug features.
Generally speaking, a host system can write data into or read data from a flash drive conveniently as long as the host system comes with a transmission interface compatible to the flash drive. Accordingly, the portability of data is greatly improved. Thus, nowadays, people are getting used to storing data in flash drives, and one usually has more than one flash drive products. However, since flash drive products are usually very small, how to effectively keep and manage several flash drive products has become one of the major subjects to today's flash drive manufacturers.
Nothing herein should be construed as an admission of knowledge in the prior art of any portion of the present invention. Furthermore, citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the present invention, or that any reference forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art.

Data storage device, stacking method thereof, and data storage device assembly


A method of guiding a user to a suitable parking spot is a method used to aid a user in finding a suitable parking spot near a desired location. The method uses at least one remote server and a mobile computing device. The remote server manages information related to potential parking spots, and performs calculations to determine if a potential parking spot is a suitable parking spot. The mobile computing device monitors the location of the user and allows the user to interact with the method. A parking search request is sent from the mobile computing device to the remote server. Upon receiving the parking search request, the geospatial vehicle detection system is used to locate potential parking spots. At least one filtering process is used to identify suitable parking spots from the potential parking spots, before the suitable parking spots are displayed to the user.

GPS units and smartphones with similar capabilities are widely used to help people get from one place to another. While these products are relatively efficient in getting users to a destination, they are not capable of directing users to an open parking spot. This can be a major hassle for the user, especially in cities or at crowded events where parking may be scarce. In such situations, it is not uncommon for users to be forced to park far away from their desired location. It is also not uncommon for users to park far away from their destination, only to find that there is a much closer spot that they could have taken.
Accordingly, there is a present need for a method of directing users to a destination and finding a parking spot that is close to said destination. The present invention is a method and that solves this problem by providing users with live updates on where to find a convenient parking spot. This is done through analyzing streets and parking lots via satellite monitoring or other comparable methods. The method accesses information from satellite pictures determines if a user can fit into a potential parking spot. The user is able to register their car such that the vehicle dimensions can be readily compared with the calculated size of a spot. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is a mobile application and is able to detect potential hazards, as well as areas in which parking is not authorized.

Method of guiding a user to a suitable parking spot


A continuous method of treating a polymer reaction mixture for continuously separating a styrene polymer and volatile ingredient by flowing down, for example, a mixture of low molecular weight styrene polisher and high molecular weight styrene polymer through a circular-ring-shaped space formed between a jacketed double pipe and a concentrically located inner pipe of a heat-exchanger, and flashing into a vacuum chamber connected with said heat-exchanger, is provided.. The polymer is useful for the preparation of electrophotographic toner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for separating a styrene polymer useful in the field of electrophotographic toner by continuously treating a reaction mixture containing the styrene polymer prepared by the homopolymerization of styrene monomer or its copolymerization with other vinyl monomer to separate and remove volatile ingredients such as unreacted monomer, polymerization solvent and decomposition product of polymerization initiator by use of a specific separation equipment of the volatile ingredients.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Methods for separating the bulk- or solution-polymerized styrene polymer from the reaction mixture have been disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 31678/1970, 29797/1973 etc. The styrene polymer described in these publications has a relatively high molecular weight in order to use, for example, for molding application. These methods have a disadvantage and not suitable for treating the reaction mixture containing the styrene polymer of this invention.
For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 29797/1973 discloses a method for using a vertical multitubular heat-exchanger. In the case, however, of applying the heat-exchanger for the reaction mixture of styrene poller in this invention, flow rate of the reaction mixture into the heating zone is remarkably increased. This is because the low molecular weight polymer always existing in the aforesaid reaction mixture is formed by the reduced pressure in the heat exchanger. Therefore the flow line of reaction mixture still maintains its original direction after flowing into the heating zone, and the distribution of flow amount to each tube tends to be uneven in the heating zone. This phenomenon results in variation of flow amount, flow amount distribution and residence time in the heating zone. Consequently the efficiency for removing the volatile ingredients is found to have a remarkable fluctuation and the quality of product is greatly dareaged. It is of course possible to homogenize the flow amount distribution to some extent by fitting a dispersion plate at the inlet of heating zone. It, however, is still unsatisfactory so long as the vertical multitubular heat-exchanger is used.

Continuous method of treating polymer reaction mixture