A radial cylinder hydraulic pump or motor has radial pistons each provided with a guide pad urged against the cylindrical inner surface of a guide element. A continuous series of rollers cover the cylindrical inner surface and are interposed between such surface and the guide pads. The rollers are prevented from coming in contact with each other by a number of auxiliary smaller rollers. Between each piston and its respective guide pad there is interposed a sliding member which is slidably mounted on the pad along a tangential direction.

The present invention relates to hydraulic pumps or motors of the radial cylinder type.
With reference to FIG. 1 of the annexed drawings, a conventional radial cylinder hydraulic pump or motor comprises a stator with a hollow guide element 1 having a cylindrical inner surface 2 and a rotor 3 which is rotatably mounted within the guide element 1 around an axis 4 which is offset from the axis of the cylindrical surface 2. The rotor 3 has a number of radial cylinders 5 wherein radial pistons 6 are slidably mounted. Each piston 5 is provided at its radially outer end with a guide pad 7 which slides on the inner surface 2 of the guide element 1. A fixed cylindrical body 8 is arranged within an inner cavity of the rotor 3 and is provided with inlet and outlet ducts for the oil. In the operation as a pump, the rotor 3 is caused to rotate by a motor (not shown) so that the radial pistons 6 are urged outwardly by centrifugal force. In some cases, springs or fluid pressure coming from an auxiliary pump are exploited in order to increase the thrust urging the radial pistons outwardly.
In the above described conventional construction, the pads 7 are pivotally connected to the respective pistons and are pressed against the surface 2 of guide element 1 with the interposition of a film of oil under pressure fed through a hole formed through the pad itself. Such a construction is not completely satisfactory, since it poses a limitation to the offset degree of axis 4 and to the speed of the rotor.
From U.S. Pat. No. 2.130.299 to Ernst a radial piston pump or motor is known wherein a continuous series of rollers is provided covering the inner surface of the guide element 1 and interposed between each piston pad and the inner surface of the guide element. In this case, however, each pad is connected to the respective piston through the engagement of the outer end of the piston in a seat of the pad. Also, this known construction can be operated only with a minimun offset degree of the rotor axis and therefor poses again a limitation to the capacity and power of the pump. The reason of this limitation is that, due to the offset position of the rotor axis, each pad and the outer end of the respective piston have a displacement relative to each other also in a tangential direction with respect to the rotor axis. Moreover, power losses occur as a consequence of the contact between adjacent rollers, which have opposed local speeds in the point of contact.

Hydraulic pumps or motors of the radial cylinder type


The present invention relates to a film forming composition comprising a resin and modified nanoparticles comprising nanoparticles and adsorbed thereon a segmented copolymer, preferably a segmented blockcopolymer, comprising an adsorbing segment and a hydrophobic surface active segment, wherein the adsorbing segment has one or more functional groups that adsorb on the nanoparticles and wherein the hydrophobic segment is more hydrophobic than the resin providing surface migration of the nanoparticles. The invention also relates to novel modified particles and the use of the specified segmented copolymer of specified modified particles in a film forming composition for imparting thereto improved surface properties such as scratch resistance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a film forming composition comprising a resin and modified nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are modified to improve surface migration of the nanoparticles in a film. The invention also relates to novel modified nanoparticles and to the use of modified nanoparticles in film forming compositions, in particular in clear coating compositions, for improving surface properties, in particular scratch resistance.
2. Description of the Related Art
WO 03/102089 describes nanoparticles modified with compounds that lower the surface tension. The nanoparticles are enriched at the surface of the coating. The particles are chemically modified, leading to a non-reversible covalent chemical bond, by using silane coupling agents such as the octyltriethoxysilane, perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane and reaction product of e.g. aminopropyltriethoxysilane and epoxy eicosane. Such covalent chemical treatments, however, are based on expensive silane chemicals. Moreover, during the chemical modification not all silane material is attached to the particles but remains in part—also as oligomers—dissolved in the solution of the modified nanoparticles. Further, during the storage slow reaction takes place of these oligomeric species containing reactive groups such as silanol groups which causes storage stability problems such as loss of clarity and viscosity increase of the dispersion. Such aged dispersion is not any more suitable for use in coatings especially not in clear coatings. Another disadvantage is that during the film formation and curing both the surface active particles and the remaining surface active unattached silane material will go in competition in migrating to the surface of the coating. The lower molecular weight silane species migrate faster due to the higher mobility.
PCT/EP2006/061826 describes nanoparticles chemically modified with a cross-linked polysiloxane. The particles are surface active yielding enrichment of the particles at the surface of the cured film-forming resin. The enrichment is shown with TEM (i.e. Transmission Electron Micrographs) and/or ToF-SIMS (i.e. Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy). The disadvantage of this modification is that it is relatively expensive.
PCT/US2005/018656 describes film forming compositions comprising crystalline nanoparticles such as alumina powder dispersed by means of a polymeric dispersant. The polymeric dispersant helps to disperse the nanoparticles to their primary particles size and prevents agglomeration. Upon extra addition of surface active chemicals, for example silicone or fluor types these dispersed nanoparticles migrate to the surface. The surface activity of the dispersed nanoparticles is said to be caused by the interaction of the surface active chemicals with the polymeric dispersant. This enables the migration of the nanoparticles to the surface of the coating and results in improved scratch resistance. A drawback of such approach is that it is cumbersome, critical and expensive due to the use of both dispersant and surface active agent. It is difficult to prevent that such surface active agent interferes with wetting or levelling agents that are usually added to a film forming composition for other purposes, for example to get a good film appearance.
There is still a need for a nanoparticle based additive for film-forming compositions, in particular coating compositions that enhances the scratch resistance of coatings and has less or none of the above described disadvantages of the prior art modified nanoparticles and that is simple to use and is inexpensive.

Film forming composition comprising modified nanoparticles and modified nanoparticles for use in film forming compositions


A portable charging system includes a bag configured to receive an electronic device, a battery, a docking station, a charging apparatus and a cord. Another portable system includes a bag, a charging system, and a cord for charging an electronic device. A battery includes a battery cell for storing energy, an external case surrounding the battery cell, and an electrical contact for transmitting electricity therethrough.

Electronic devices have become smaller and more mobile, and the number of electronic devices that a person carries with them has greatly increased in the last few years. Electronic devices include mobile telephones, personal digital assistants, tablets, e-readers, laptops, cameras, portable navigation systems, personal digital music players, handheld game consoles, and the like. Some of the mobile devices have removable rechargeable batteries where the battery is placed into a docking station to be recharged, or alternatively is recharged while located within the device. Others have internal rechargeable batteries which are recharged while located within the device.


A beater for striking a bass drum comprising a support, a shaft borne by said support, an intermediate part with a recess for receiving a bearing so that said intermediate part is swivel mounted on the shaft, an element bearing the head attached to the intermediate part, a foot mechanism acting on the intermediate part for moving the head towards the head, and a return mechanism for moving the head away from the drum.

The invention relates to a beater for sticking a drum, said beater comprising an element which is swivel-mounted in relation to an axis, said element bearing a head which is intended to strike the drum and being associated to a return mechanism.
Commercial beater for striking a drum comprises an element which is swivel-mounted in relation to an axis, said element bearing a head which is intended to strike the drum and which is connected to a mechanism operated by the foot in order to displace the head towards the drum and to a return mechanism for moving said head away from said drum, said beater comprising a support, and a shaft which is borne by said support and on which said element is mounted.
Beaters of this known type are of complicated construction and result in considerable fatigue for the drummer.
Beaters are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,494. The beater of this document comprises a support with two legs between which a rotating shaft extends. The shaft is mounted on said legs with interposition of bearings. An element bearing the head intended to strike the drum is fixedly mounted on the shaft. A further element is fixedly mounted on said shaft, said further element being connected to the mechanism operated by the foot. The operation of the foot mechanism provokes the rotation of the shaft, whereby the movement of the head for striking the drum. The shaft has a hexagonal cross section for preventing movement of elements fixedly attached thereto, during the operation of the foot mechanism.
The present invention aims to beater of simple construction, enabling an easy use of the beater and/or enabling specific use of the beater, whereby enabling to obtain specific sounds or rhythms.
The beater of the invention intended for striking a drum comprises an element which is swivel-mounted in relation to an axis, said element bearing a head which is intended to strike the drum and which is connected to a mechanism operated by the foot in order to displace the head towards the drum and to a return mechanism for moving said head away from said drum, said beater comprising a support, and a shaft which is borne by said support and on which said element is mounted.
The beater according to the invention comprises an intermediate part having a recess intended to receive at least part of at least one bearing mounted on the shaft so that said intermediate part can swivel about the shaft, whilst said element is mounted on said intermediate part. The return mechanism is designed in order to exert a return force on a said intermediate part or on a piece attached to said intermediate part. Although the shaft can be mounted so that it can move in relation to the support, it is advantageously fixed in relation to said support.
In one particular embodiment of a beater according to the invention, the intermediate part or a piece or component attached thereto comprises a means of fixation for a first part or end of the return means, said means being designed in order to fix said first part or end at a point which is distant from the axis of the shaft about which the intermediate part can swivel, whilst the return means comprises a second part or end which is connected to said support by a system which is swivel-mounted on said support. Possibly, abutments can be provided for limiting the swivel movement of the system.
The beater preferably comprises a means which is capable of being displaced between a position which enables said system to be swivelled and a position which substantially prevents any swivelling of said system.
According to one particular embodiment, the return means has an inoperative position in which the first part or end and the second part or end of the return means extend substantially in a plane in which the swivelling axis of the intermediate part and the swivelling axis of the system extend. This means that in its inoperative position the return means exerts a force in a direction which extends in the plane which passes through or which is defined by the swivelling axis of the intermediate part and the swivelling axis of the system.
According to another particular embodiment, the return means has an inoperative position in which the first part or end and the second part or end of the return means extend substantially along a straight line or axis which intersects the swivelling axis of the intermediate part, and a return position (a position in which the return means tends to return the parts which it joins into the inoperative position) in which the first part or end and the second part or end of the return means extend substantially along a straight line or axis which is remote from the swivelling axis and which is inclined in relation to the plane in which the swivelling axis of the intermediate part and the swivelling axis of the system extend. According to one possible detail of this embodiment, a stop limits the swivelling of the system so that the return means has an inoperative position in which the first part or end and the second part or end of the return means extend substantially along a straight line or axis which intersects the swivelling axis of the intermediate part, and a return position (a position in which the return means tends to return the parts which it joins into the inoperative position) in which the first part or end and the second part or end of the return means extend substantially along a straight line or axis which is inclined in relation to the plane in which the swivelling axis of the intermediate part and the swivelling axis of the system extend.
The present invention also relates to a beater comprising an intermediate part on which a part is mounted at which serves to support the beater head or a rod which bears the beater head. In this beater, the mechanism operated by the foot comprises a swivelling pedal and a linkage which extends between said pedal and said intermediate part. The intermediate part comprises a guide means which serves to support part of the linkage and which enables the linkage to wind or unwind on said guide means during the movement of the pedal. In particular, said linkage is a chain and said guide means is part of a ring gear. For example, the ring gear part can be disposed on the intermediate part so that the distance which separates the chain from the swivelling axis of the intermediate part is a minimum when the return means is in its inoperative position or when the head is separated from the drum.
According to another embodiment of the beater according to the invention, the first part or end of the return means is attached to an element which is capable of slipping, rolling or sliding a long a first wall which is comprised by a part which is attached to the intermediate part. The part which is attached to the intermediate part is advantageously a wheel having a groove along which said element is supported, said wheel being mounted on a moveable shaft borne by a body which is joined to the intermediate part. The intermediate part preferably bears a shaft, the axis of which is substantially parallel to the swivelling axis of the intermediate part, whilst the body is mounted on said shaft of the intermediate part.
According to one possible embodiment, said body is swivel-mounted on said shaft and has an inoperative position, whilst said intermediate part has a striker pin which, when the intermediate part swivels in the direction in which it approaches the head of the drum, bears on said body and pushes said body into a position remote from its inoperative position.
The invention relates also to a beater for striking a drum, said beater comprising:
an element which is swivel-mounted in relation to an axis, said element bearing a head which is intended to strike the drum and which is connected to a mechanism operated by the foot in order to displace the head towards the drum and to a return mechanism for moving said head away from said drum,
a support,
a shaft which is borne by said support and on which said element is mounted, and
an intermediate part having a recess intended to receive at least part of a bearing mounted on the shaft so that said intermediate part can swivel about the shaft, said intermediate part being provided with a rod,
whereby the return mechanism comprises a rolled spring blade with an inner end attached to the rod of the intermediate part and an outer end connected to the support by means of a connecting piece, said spring blade exerting a return force for moving the head away from the drum. The use of such a spring blade is advantageous, as the spring blade can be placed in a chamber, such as a substantially closed chamber, whereby protecting the spring blade and whereby preventing the possible soil thereof. When the chamber is substantially closed, the spring blade can be provided with oil(s), grease(s), lubricating means, anti corrosion means, etc. whereby ensuring substantially constant properties for the spring blade. It is obvious that instead of using one spring blade, it is possible to use two, three, or more spring blades, exerting a same return force or different return forces.
Advantageously, the connecting piece is adapted for controlling the return force of the spring blade.
For example, the connecting piece is mounted rotating with respect to an axis corresponding to the axis of rotation of the element bearing the head, and in which the beater comprises a system for maintaining the connecting piece in rotated positions with respect to the axis. Such a rotating connecting piece is advantageous, as by using marks or arrows on the connecting piece and on the support, it is possible to control and/or to select the desired return force.
Another beater of the invention is a beater for striking a drum, which comprises:
an element which is swivel-mounted in relation to an axis, said element bearing a head which is intended to strike the drum and which is connected to a mechanism operated by the foot in order to displace the head towards the drum and to a return mechanism for moving said head away from said drum, the element moving according to a swivel movement of the element from a substantially stable position up to a position where the head contacts the drum,
a support, and
a shaft which is borne by said support and on which said element is mounted,
whereby the return mechanism comprises a first part attached to an intermediate body which is at least partly swivel-mounted in relation to the swivel axis of the element, and whereby the element and the intermediate body are in relation to each other so that the return mechanism does not act on the element for a first portion of the swivel movement thereof adjacent to the stable position, while acting on the element for at least a second portion of the swivel movement different from the first portion. Such a device is advantageous for enabling a quick or rapid initial movement of the mechanism operated by the foot for moving the element towards the drum.
According to an embodiment of this beater, the intermediate body is mounted rotating with respect to the axis of the element, and in which the element comprises an abutment intended to contact a part of the intermediate body for said second portion of the swivel movement, while not contacting said part of the intermediate body during the first portion of the swivel movement. Advantageously, the beater is further provided with a mechanism suitable for adapting the relative position between the abutment and the part of the intermediate body so as to define the first portion of the swivel movement.
Still a further beater of the invention is a beater for striking a drum, which comprises:
an element which is swivel-mounted in relation to an axis, said element bearing a head which is intended to strike the drum and which is connected to a mechanism operated by the foot in order to displace the head towards the drum and to a return mechanism for moving said head away from said drum, said return mechanism having a first part and a second part associated to each other,
a support with a supporting shaft, a hollow extending in the support as well as in the supporting shaft between two open ends, and
an intermediate part having a recess intended to receive at least part of a bearing mounted on the hollow rod of the support and having a rod extending through the hollow shaft and the hollow of the support, said rod having a free end extending outside of the hollow of the support,
whereby said element is mounted on said intermediate part, and whereby the return mechanism is designed in order to exert a return force on an component selected from the rod and pieces attached to said rod.
A further embodiment of a beater of the invention comprises:
an element which is swivel-mounted in relation to an axis, said element bearing a head which is intended to strike the drum and which is connected to a mechanism operated by the foot in order to displace the head towards the drum and to a return mechanism for moving said head away from said drum, said return mechanism having a first part and a second part associated to each other,
a support, and
a shaft which is borne by said support and on which said element is mounted,
whereby the return mechanism is designed in order to exert a return force between a component connected to the element and piece connected to the support, whereby said component comprises a means of fixation for the first part of the return mechanism, said means of fixation of said first part being designed in order to fix said first part at a point which is distant from the axis of the element, while the piece to which the second part of the return mechanism is attached is swivel-mounted with respect to said support.
The invention relates also to a beater provided with a return mechanism comprising a rolled spring blade.
It is obvious that a beater of the invention can be associated to one or more beaters not of the invention and/or of the invention, so as to form a beater assembly with at least two heads for striking one single drum and/or different drums. The beaters of one assembly have advantageously at least one different characteristic, said characteristic being for example type of head, length of the arm bearing the head, return force, return mechanism, initial movement substantially free of resistance, etc. Preferably two or more beaters of the invention are associated or combined.
It is also possible to use one single return mechanism for moving back two mechanisms activated by a foot.
The invention also relates to a method of playing pieces of music by means of a drum and one beater according to the invention.
Particular features and details of the invention follow from the detailed description given below, in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings.


In the pneumatic tire, the blocks above the circumferential reinforcing layer have at least one sipe. Also, the sipe has a bent shape, in a plan view, with two flex points P1, P2, and has a closed structure with two end points Q1, Q2 terminating within the block. Also, the angle α between the line that connects the flex points P1, P2 and the tire circumferential direction is within the range such that 0°≦α≦10°. Also, the angle β1 between the line connecting the flex point P1 and the end point Q1 and the tire circumferential direction, and the angle β2 between the line connecting the flex point P2 and the end point Q2 and the tire circumferential direction are within the range such that 35°≦β1≦55° and 35°≦β2≦55°.

In recent years, pneumatic tires have been provided with a circumferential reinforcing layer in a belt layer in order to suppress radial growth of tires and suppress uneven wear (in particular, step wear in a shoulder land portion). The technology described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-73337A is known as a conventional pneumatic tire that is configured in this manner.
On the other hand, in pneumatic tires with a block pattern, there is also the issue that heel and toe wear in the blocks should be suppressed. Also, in pneumatic tires with a rib pattern, there is the issue that railway wear in the ribs should be suppressed.

Pneumatic heavy-duty tire having circumferential reinforcing layer and sipes


A method, a system, and a computer readable medium for determining a readiness of a computerized network against distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks are provided herein. The system may include: an interface configured to obtain properties characterizing the computerized network; a knowledge base containing a plurality of rules taking into account DDoS risks and best practice related thereto; and a computer processor configured to: analyze the properties using the knowledge base to yield an analysis; and determine a readiness of the computerized network against DDoS attacks, based on the analysis. In some embodiments, the properties are obtained by analyzing a filled-in questionnaire relating to the computerized network under test. In other embodiments, these properties are automatically derived from databases containing data pertaining to the computerized network.

Prior to the background of the invention being set forth, it may be helpful to set forth definitions of certain terms that will be used hereinafter.
The term "denial of service" or "DoS", and more particularly "distributed denial of service" or "DDoS", as used herein refers to a cyber-attack where the perpetrator seeks to make a machine or network resource unavailable to its intended users by temporarily or indefinitely disrupting services of a host connected to the Internet. Denial of service is typically accomplished by flooding the targeted machine or resource with superfluous requests in an attempt to overload systems and prevent some or all legitimate requests from being fulfilled.
The terms "network element" or "services and network elements" as used herein refer broadly to facility or equipment used in the provision of a telecommunications service and can thus refer to elements in charge of network security but also to network elements which are not related to network security. The type of network element or a service may include any of the following entities: Web service; Web socket service; Domain Name System (DNS) service; Cloud Access Control List (ACL); Firewall; Web Application Firewall (WAF); DDoS mitigation appliance; Internet Service Provider (ISP)-based DDoS protection; Cloud-based DDoS Protection (which is DNS based); Cloud based DDoS Protection being Border gateway Protocol (BGP) based; Content Distribution Network (CDN); router; and an Internet pipe.
The term "decision support system" or "DSS" as used herein is defined herein as a computer-based information system that supports business or organizational decision-making activities, typically resulting in ranking, sorting or choosing from among alternatives. DSSs serve the management, operations, and planning levels of an organization (usually mid and higher management) and help people make decisions about problems that may be rapidly changing and not easily specified in advance—i.e., Unstructured and Semi-Structured decision problems. Decision support systems can be either fully computerized, human-powered or a combination of both.
One challenge of determining a readiness of a computer network of an organization against DDoS attacks is that many organizations are reluctant to provide full access to their network in order to carry out an analysis that check readiness against DDoS attacks by interfacing into their actual network.
Yet another challenge which is even more important is the ability, or more particularly, lack thereof, of running an actual "live" DDoS testing, also known as DDoS Penetration Testing or DDoS Simulation Testing.
It would be therefore advantageous to be able to reach a conclusion or get some insight regarding the readiness of a specific computer network against DDoS attacks without actually accessing and simulating an attack against the computer network itself.

Method and system for determining a readiness of a computer network of an organization to denial of service (DoS) attacks


A method for monitoring an inverter module for a multi-phase electric motor/generator includes deactivating operation of the inverter module, monitoring voltage on a high-voltage bus configured to supply electric power to the inverter module, detecting occurrence of a true fault when a change in the voltage on the high-voltage bus is greater than a predetermined threshold, and detecting occurrence of a false fault when the change in the voltage on the high-voltage bus is less than the predetermined threshold.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure. Accordingly, such statements are not intended to constitute an admission of prior art.
Inverters employ power switches, e.g., insulated gate-drive bipolar transistors (IGBTs) or MOSFETs to convert high-voltage DC electrical power to high-voltage AC power that is transferred to an electric motor/generator to generate torque for tractive effort in vehicles employing hybrid-drive and electric-drive powertrain systems. Faults in such systems include line-to-line electric shorts, ground faults, and shoot-through conditions in the power switches of the inverter, the electric motor/generator, and a multi-phase power bus electrically connected between the inverter and the electric motor/generator. Faults associated with power switches and windings of the electric motor/generator may result in excess electric current flow through the various components, and an increased voltage magnitude across a collector and emitter of one or more of the power switches, referred to as desaturation. One known fault mode is a shoot-through condition, wherein upper and lower switches in the same inverter leg are switched ON at the same time. This condition causes a shoot-through condition wherein the DC bus is shorted. This condition produces a voltage dip on the DC bus.
Known power switches are controlled to one of an ON condition and an OFF condition. When in the ON condition with the power switch functioning as designed, electric current through the power switch is saturated, i.e., all available current passes through the switch with a small portion dissipating into heat energy due to switch resistance. When in the OFF condition, the switch blocks flow of electric current.
A desaturation fault in a power switch can cause electric current to increase beyond a maximum operating limit, wherein the power switch enters a linear mode, thus desaturating the power switch (DSAT). A DSAT condition is said to exist when the voltage magnitude across a collector and emitter (Vce) of a power switch rises above a threshold, e.g., 1-2 volts when a gate-emitter voltage is high. Known control system responses to a DSAT fault include an immediate shutdown of the electric motor/generator. Known systems are configured to monitor power switch collector-emitter voltages to detect DSAT faults, and include control systems to effect an immediate shutdown of the electric motor/generator upon detection of a DSAT fault. Powertrain systems are exposed to external disturbances including electromagnetic interference (EMI) that may trigger false detection of a fault and an associated immediate shutdown of the electric motor/generator that is unnecessary.
Known DSAT diagnostic methods involve employing a hardware circuit to monitor electric parameters and executing remedial action designed to protect hardware and systems from electrical or heat damage. One known method of monitoring to protect against DSAT faults includes measuring a voltage drop between a collector and an emitter on each power switch. Known hardware-based DSAT diagnostics are designed to respond quickly to a perceived fault, but require circuitry that must be designed and implemented during system development when system properties are not all known. Therefore hardware-based diagnostics can suffer from false-positive fault triggers due to hardware circuitry production tolerance variations and unexpected system events. Due to hardware imperfections and tolerance stack-up issues, hardware-based DSAT diagnostics may produce a false-positive DSAT signal leading to unnecessary shutdown of the electric motor/generator. A known method of compensating for issues associated with hardware-based DSAT diagnostics includes employing diagnostic software that includes a retry routine wherein a first hardware diagnostic trip does not trigger a system wide shutdown. Known retry routines clear or erase faults detected by the hardware-based diagnostics and allow the system to restart a calibratable number of times using a retry counter. The quantity of retries for the hardware-based diagnostic can be a predetermined fixed value. This fixed quantity of retries creates a protection from nuisance trips, but can create an overstress condition for hardware when a real fault is present.

Method and apparatus for detecting a desaturation fault in an inverter module


Hardener composition for condensation-crosslinking RTV-2 silicone compositions contain    (A) at least one crosslinker,    (B) at least one crosslinking catalyst which is an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal compound which is not a hydroxide, and    (D) at least one functional silane as a coupling agent.

1. Field of the Invention
Two-component (2K) silicone compositions have been known for a relatively long time in the prior art and are often used as adhesives and sealants in various applications.
2. Description of the Related Art
Two-component silicones which crosslink at room temperature are referred to as "room temperature vulcanizing 2 part silicones" (RTV-2). One of the two components is frequently referred to as the polymer composition or as the "A component." The second component is frequently referred to as the hardener composition or else as the "B component." Such formulations typically contain tin compounds as crosslinking catalysts which catalyze the crosslinking (polycondensation) of the polymers by means of the crosslinker components at room temperature, as described, for example, in Walter Noll, Chemistry and Technology of Silicones, 1968, 2nd edition, page 395ff.
Although the polycondensation reaction can also proceed without a catalyst, catalysts are required to allow the crosslinking to occur within acceptable time frames. Such catalysts are usually based on heavy metals, usually organotin compounds, as previously indicated. Discussion has heightened recently regarding the risk potential of such organotin compounds and also the known ability of tin compounds to promote the backreaction (reversion) making it necessary to seek alternative catalysts. However, previous attempts at a solution have shown that the reactivity of alternative catalysts is not sufficiently good or else the composition is not storage-stable. Thus, for example, bismuth carboxylates in combination with aminofunctional alkoxysilanes tend to form of a colloidal Bi(0) precipitate, resulting in a decrease in the amount of active Bi(III) available, and destroying storage stability.
Titanium-catalyzed, one-component condensation compositions are known in the prior art, as described, for example, in WO 01/49774 A2, but cannot be applied to two-component systems since titanium compounds lead to spontaneous vulcanization of α,ω-dihydroxy-functional polymers used in such compositions. In addition, titanium compounds are greatly inhibited by amine-containing compounds, which rules out the formulation of self-adhesive compositions.
Other metal compounds such as zinc acetylacetonate or aluminum acetylacetonate when used as catalysts lead to functionalization of the reactive end groups, i.e. a reaction competing with crosslinking, which brings about a conversion to the RTV-1 mechanism.
As tin-free alternatives, calcined kaolin is used as catalyst in WO 2009/080266, and in EP 0 933 398 A together with basic components. Since kaolin is present in dispersed form and is used in WO 2009/080266 in amounts of from 3 to 400 parts per 100 parts of polymer, it has the disadvantage that no transparent compositions cannot be produced.


In a laser light pump, a multiplicity of micromanipulators adjust the positions of a cylindrical lens and line of optical fiber ends relative to each other and relative to a light source composed of a line of laser diode facets. Each micromanipulator achieves extremely fine resolution by imposing a vernier or differential screw arrangement into a flexure ratio divider, and thereby multiplying its resolving capability. The vernier screw arrangement spreads two members of different stiffnesses, and the stiffer one of the members moves the lens or the line of fiber ends.

This invention relates to lasers and, particularly, to means for precisely manipulating the positions of a cylindrical microlens and a row of optical fiber waveguide input ends relative to an array of laser diodes so that the lens accurately directs light emerging from the diodes upon the fiber waveguide input ends so that it can be concentrated at the output ends of the waveguide for use in pumping a laser cavity. The invention is also directed to a simple manipulator having fine resolution reaching into the sub-micron range.
Various means are available for positioning components relative to others. Typically, such devices are too large for manipulating members of the size of laser diode arrays, cylindrical microlenses, and rows of fiber optic waveguides in the one to ten micron range. Such devices are also complex and expensive. Moreover, existing devices are frequently incapable of easily attaining resolutions in the micron or sub-micron range.
Consequently, it is a primary object of this invention is to avoid these difficulties.
Another object of the invention is to improve lasers.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive means for manipulating the components of systems using laser diodes and fiber optical waveguides for pumping laser cavities.
Other objects of the invention will be apparent from reading the detailed description to follow.


A display panel includes at least two pixel repeating units arranged in an array. Each of the pixel repeating units at least includes a first pixel, a second pixel, and a third pixel. A shape of the first pixel includes a convex arc, and each of shapes of the second pixel and the third pixel includes a convex arc and a concave arc. Shapes of edges of two of the first pixel, the second pixel, and the third pixel are complementary in at least one of a first direction, a second direction, a third direction, and a fourth direction, the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction, the third direction is a direction having an angle of less than 90 degrees with the first direction, and the fourth direction is perpendicular to the third direction.

Organic light emitting diode (OLED) display devices have many advantages such as self-luminous, low driving voltage, high luminous efficiency, short response time, high clarity and contrast, nearly 180 degrees viewing angle, wide operating temperature range, flexible display and large area full-color display, and are recognized by the industry as the most promising display devices.
Luminescent material layers of pixels in conventional organic light emitting diode (OLED) display panels are generally formed by evaporation processes.
In the formed pixels, areas of red pixels, areas of green pixels, and areas of blue pixels only consider the optical effect when the organic materials are optimally illuminated. After display for a long time, attenuations of different materials are inconsistent with respect to the lifetime of the materials. This result in color shifting in the display panel.
OLED display devices generally include a substrate, an anode disposed on the substrate, a hole injection layer disposed on the anode, a hole transport layer disposed on the hole injection layer, a light emitting layer disposed on the hole transport layer, an electron transport layer disposed on the light emitting layer, an electron injection layer disposed on the electron transport layer, and a cathode disposed on the electron injection layer. The principle of light emission of the OLED display devices is that a semiconductor material and an organic light emitting material are driven by an electric field to cause light emission through carrier injection and recombination. In details, the OLED display devices generally use an indium tin oxide (ITO) pixel electrode and a metal electrode as the anode and the cathode of the device, respectively. Driven by a certain voltage, electrons and holes are injected into the electron transport layer and hole transport layer from the cathode and the anode, respectively. The electrons and holes migrate to the light emitting layer through the electron transport layer and the hole transport layer, respectively, and meet in the light emitting layer to form excitons and excite light emitting molecules, which emit visible light after radiation relaxation.
With the development of display technologies, people have higher and higher requirements on resolution and brightness of display devices. To make a high-resolution OLED display requires a higher precision fine metal mask (FMM). In a pixel composed of ordinary stripe pixels (RGB stripe), three pixels are arranged within a pixel pitch in a direction perpendicular to a pixel stripe direction. When a pixel density is greater than 300 ppi, it is very difficult to realize an FMM process at this stage. In addition, due to the improvement of resolution, a distance between a light emitting areas of the pixels is required to be smaller and smaller, and color mixing of an evaporated screen will become more and more serious, especially conventional stripe arrangement of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) three pixels. A length of an opening area of the FMM corresponding to each pixel is long, it is difficult to control the linearity, and color mixing is likely to occur. If the conventional RGB strip pixel structure is directly applied to the OLED panel, there is an issue that the resolution cannot be improved and the production is difficult.
Therefore, it is necessary to propose a new technical solution to solve the above technical issues.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

WUHAN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS SEMICONDUCTOR DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


This invention relates to the production of synthesis gas by partial oxidation of liquid or gaseous, carbonaceous fuel in the presence of an oxygen-containing oxidant, wherein the fuel, the oxidant and a moderator are separately supplied to a burner and wherein the fuel and the moderator are mixed in a mixing chamber of the burner, before they are brought in contact with the oxidant. To reduce the load of the burner in particular during operation with transient conditions, the oxidant is centrally introduced through an outlet opening of the burner into a combustion chamber and the mixture of fuel and moderator is introduced through the outlet opening into the combustion chamber concentrically around the oxidant.

Hydrogen-containing gas mixtures generally are referred to as synthesis gases, which are employed in various synthesis reactions. Examples include the methanol synthesis, the production of ammonia by the Haber-Bosch process or the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. Synthesis gases can be produced from solid, liquid or gaseous starting materials.
Processes and apparatuses for producing synthesis gas are known in principle in the prior art. For example, a number of different technical approaches exist, in which liquid or gaseous, carbonaceous fuels with a moderator consisting of steam, carbon dioxide or a mixture thereof are partially oxidized with an oxygen-containing gas. The outlet opening of the used burner is directed into a combustion chamber.
WO 2008/065182 A1 discloses a process for producing synthesis gas, in which a burner is provided with a plurality of nozzle openings, so that a hydrocarbon fuel is guided through the burner separate from an oxidizing gas. The hydrocarbon fuel and the oxidizing gas are separated from each other by a lead-through for a moderator gas. The exit velocity of the moderator gas is greater than the exit velocity of the oxidizing gas.
U.S. 2003/0085385 A1 describes a process in which the reactants hydrocarbon fuel, steam, oxygen and recycled water are guided to the nozzle of a four-stream injector in separate channels. By means of the arrangement, a better conversion of the hydrocarbon fuel should be achieved.
In the process for producing synthesis gas known from WO 95/32148 A, nozzle corrosion should be avoided in that hydrocarbon fuel and oxidant run away from the nozzle in parallel separated by a moderator and there is no mixing of moderator and fuel.
In these known burners at least three outlet openings are present at the burner throat and the atomization of the fuel is effected outside the burner. In the case of an external atomization of the fuel, high relative velocity differences of the reactants exiting adjacent to each other are necessary at the burner throat, in order to perform the necessary atomization work. These high exit velocities of the moderator and/or of the oxidant generate extensive reaction zones. In addition, a high input of energy takes place via the conveying devices (e.g. pumps). Therefore, the nozzle outlet openings must be cooled in particular under transient conditions, such as in start-up and shut-down operations. In the prior art, a great problem also is premature material wear or the removal of material at the burner throat.
In the process for producing synthesis gas by partial oxidation of liquid or gaseous fuels in the presence of oxygen, which is described in DE 101 56 980 B4, the fuel, the oxygen-containing gas and an atomizing medium are separately supplied to the burner, and the atomizing medium is expanded via one or more nozzles directly before the central orifice opening for the fuel. The oxygen-containing gas is guided past the outside of the atomizing nozzle and enters the reactor space concentrically around the mixture of fuel and atomizing medium. This results in exothermal reactions in the vicinity of the burner head, which under transient conditions leads to a great thermal load of the reactor wall in the region of the burner.

Process and burner for producing synthesis gas


Electrochemical ionization apparatus, system and method for purifying water by the generation of metallic ions, such as copper and silver, which apparatus comprises an ion-generation chamber apparatus composed of an insulating tubular housing, and outer and inner spaced apart, concentric tubular electrodes disposed within the housing and composed of a conductive metallic material, such as copper or a copper alloy, an insulating and interlocking block to insulate and space apart the first and second electrodes and to interlock the electrodes into position, and threaded connectors extending from the outside of the housing through the housing wall, the outer electrode, the block and the inner electrode, and a pair of electrical connectors on the outside of the housing for connection of the housing to a power supply and control source.

Electrochemical ionization systems for purifying water, such as in a swimming pool, are well known. Typically, such electrolytic water purification systems eliminate algae and bacteria from the water, while minimizing or eliminating the need to employ hazardous chemicals, such as chlorine, disinfectants or other toxic chemicals in the pool which normally must be used to disinfect the water. Such electrochemical ionization systems generally employ electrodes, such as electrodes composed of copper, or copper-silver alloys, since copper is a well-known algaecide and silver is also a very powerful bacteriacide. The electrolytic system is connected to a safe, low voltage DC power supply arranged so that as the water flows about the electrodes in an ionization chamber chemical ions of copper and silver are generated, to remain in the solution for a period of time, attacking and killing bacteria and various algae, therefore reducing or eliminating the need for the addition of chemicals to disinfect the pool. In addition, the charged particles generally have a mutual attraction for each other, causing an increase in size or flocculation which moves dead algae or bacteria together and allowing the regular pool filter to remove them from the water. Typically, the ions generated remain in the pool, disinfecting the pool until they are used up in the disinfecting process. The employment of silver, copper and other metallic ions in the solution are effective at very low concentrations, are odorless and tasteless, and do not have damaging side effects, as do chemical disinfectants.
One prior art electrochemical ionizing process employed for the disinfecting and purification of water includes a pair of spaced-apart, copper electrode plates or blades projecting from an insulating threaded base wherein the electrodes are supplied from a power supply and are spaced apart, for example, 3/8 of an inch. The electrodes are generally composed of about 95% copper and about 5% silver. The position of the spacing apart of the electrode blades varies, since a closer distance provides more conductivity and less resistance. Such blades create negative-charged ions of copper and silver to purify the water. Generally, the pool water flows in a perpendicular path to the longitudinal axis of the blade and through the pair of spaced-apart blades, to insure an adequate reaction between the water and the electrodes. Such prior art electrolytic cells are not wholly effective, since the surface area of the spaced-apart, blade-like electrodes is generally small and typically ranges from about 4 to 6 square inches. In addition, the electrode design being of a blade shape requires a turbulent flow past the blades to get sufficient coverage, particularly when a low concentration of negative ions is desired. The employment of turbulent flow in connection with such prior art electrolytic cells is also a disadvantage in creating an excessive load on the water pump.
Another electrochemical ionization system for purifying water is provided, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,525,272 issued Jun. 25, 1985, hereby incorporated by reference. The improved water purification system as described discloses an electrolytic cell composed of an anode, typically comprised substantially of copper, in a wire mesh cathode surrounding the anode and spaced apart therefrom and typically substantially composed of iron. The conduit is attached to the housing of the electrolytic cell to direct the flow of water into the housing perpendicular to the anode and cathode so that the water flows through said wire mesh cathode toward the anode, then is deflected away from and sent in a different direction of flow travel. The power supply and a control unit is employed to cause current to flow between the anode and cathode, and to cause oxygen to be produced and the elements in the water to plate down on the electrode and for the copper electrode to produce a concentration of disinfecting copper ions in the water. As with the prior art electrolytic cell, the ionizing system with the wire mesh cathode also requires turbulent flow of the water to operate, which also causes an excessive load on the pump motor and shortens pump life. The turbulent flow is also needed to insure an adequate interaction between the water and electrodes. A further disadvantage of the described system is that the wire mesh cathode minimizes the surface area of the electrode, reducing efficiency, and the wire mesh cathode tends to wear out fairly rapidly in use.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide for a new and improved electrochemical ionization apparatus, such as an ion-generation chamber, a system employing such an ion-generation chamber, and a method for the electrochemical purifying of water which overcomes some of the disadvantages of prior art systems.

Electrochemical ionization apparatus system for purifying water


A smart payment device is issued to a user; the device is capable of both offline and online transactions and has a total available balance split. The split is between an available offline balance and an available online balance. It is determined whether the user has entered a primarily offline environment or will imminently enter a primarily offline environment. If this is so, the total available balance split is redistributed to favor offline transactions.

Devices, such as electronic devices, and particularly electronic payment devices (for example, so-called "smart cards" having integrated circuit chips) may be useful for a variety of payment and other applications. In chip based payment products, the total funds available to the cardholder can either be located on the card, which is ideal for off-line purchases, or can be located on the payment provider's (e.g., the Issuer's) server, which is ideal for on-line purchases. However, depending on where the funds are located, some functionality may not be available. For example, a preauthorized off-line card balance cannot be used for telephone or internet purchases. An on-line balance may not be ideal at merchant locations that cannot support high speed on-line authorizations or where fast throughput requirements favor offline transactions (for example, the entrance to a transit system such as an underground, metro, subway, or the like).
Such products may accordingly split any funds available between the on-line and off-line balances, in which case the whole balance may not be available for a particular transaction, and the cardholder may not understand why. If the total funds available are significant (e.g. >$1000), the cardholder is unlikely to perceive an issue; however for cards where only limited funds are available (e.g. <$50), the issue may be more significant.
Heretofore, for cards supporting the two balances, the level of preauthorized offline balance is fixed by the Issuer, typically at the same level across an entire portfolio. When the card is involved in an online transaction via the contact interface, the offline counters are reset (effectively topping up the preauthorized offline balance to the predetermined fixed value), provided that sufficient overall funds are available. In most cases (typically essential with prepaid cards), the portion of the total balance available with the online balance is decreased by an equivalent amount. As the card is then used in an offline environment, the available preauthorized offline balance is depleted until an online transaction via the contact interface is undertaken, resetting the balance to the predetermined fixed value.
With regard to the aforementioned offline counters, the skilled artisan will appreciate that in at least some instances, in the case of a bank card, a value is not truly held on the card as was historically done with an electronic purse such as Mondex® products (registered mark of Mondex International Limited, 47-53 Cannon Street London UNITED KINGDOM EC4M 5SQ). Rather, the counter represents an amount of money which the card has the ability to spend without going online to the issuer; as such, this amount is a pre-authorized amount. Normally, with a bank card, in order to spend money, it is necessary to have the transaction authorized by going online to communicate with the issuer of the card. The offline counters give the card the ability to spend offline a predetermined amount. Typically, offline counters may include multiple counters; for example, one or more counters representing value and one or more counters representing a number of transactions that can be made offline. The offline counters thus represent a number of security features on the card (typically counters which count down)—for example, the counters may be such that $50 of offline spending, or ten offline transactions, whichever is reached first, cause the card to go back online.

Apparatus and method for dynamic offline balance management for preauthorized smart cards


Disclosed is a dietary ingredient comprising at least one edible lipid which does not inhibit mineral absorption, enhances mineral absorption and intake, particularly a chemically or enzymatically synthesized synthetic oil, particularly glyceride-based lipid with high levels of mono- or polyunsaturated fatty acids at positions sn-1 and sn-3 of the glycerol backbone, vegetable- and plant-derived oil, such as flax and canola oils, short and medium chains lipid, preferably MCT and an oil mimicking the triglyceride composition of human mother's milk fat and its various uses.

All publications mentioned throughout this application are fully incorporated herein by reference, including all references cited therein.
Lipids in general are the building blocks of life. They are used as building blocks of membranes, cells and tissues, as energy sources, either immediate or stored, as precursors to a variety of other bio-molecules, as well as biochemical signals. In all biochemical processes lipids have an important role.
Many lipids, and especially triglycerides, are consumed in the human nutrition on a daily basis. In most cases, these lipids are metabolized and used for energy storage, as precursors for the biosynthesis of other lipids or bio-molecules. Whatever the fate of the lipids in the metabolic pathways, during and after their consumption, they interact with other nutrients or their metabolic products.
Fatty acids in human milk fat have a highly specific positional distribution on the glycerol backbone. This specific configuration is known to have a major contribution to the efficiency of nutrient absorption.
Palmitic acid (C16:0) is the predominant saturated fatty acid in mature human milk, constituting 20-25% of the fatty acids. 70-75% of this fatty acid is esterified at the sn-2 position of the triglycerides. In contrast, palmitic acid present in vegetable oils, which are most commonly used in the manufacture of infant formulas, is esterified at the sn-1 and sn-3 positions, while the sn-2 position is predominantly occupied by unsaturated fatty acids. The reason for the preferential esterification of palmitic acid to the sn-2 position of glycerol during the synthesis of triglycerides in the mammary gland in uncertain.
Several studies have demonstrated the preferential absorption of palmitic acid when present at the triglyceride sn-2 position [Lien E L. et al. (1997) J. Ped. Gastr. Nutr.; 52(2):167-174; Carnielli V P. et al. (1995) Am. J. Clin. Nutr.; 61:1037-1042; Innis S M. et al. (1993) Am. J. Clin. Nutr.; 57:382-390; Filer L. J. et al. (1969) J. Nutr.; 99:293-8]. The greater absorption of fat and calcium in breast-fed infants compared with those fed formula has been ascribed to two factors: the presence in breast milk of a lipolytic enzyme (the bile salt-stimulated lipase) and the relatively high proportion of palmitic acid at the sn-2 position of the triglyceride [Hernell O. et al. (1988) Perinatal Nutrition. New York: Academic Press.; 259-272; Wang C S. et al. (1983) J. Biol. Chem.; 258:9197-9202]. Higher palmitic acid absorption was obtained with formulas rich in palmitic acid esterified in the sn-2 position of the triglycerides, than with those containing palmitic acid predominantly esterified in the sn-1,3 position [López-López A. et al. (2001) Early Hum. Dev.; 65:S83-S94].
Calcium Absorption
During the first year of life, an infant's birth weight triples and the length is increased by 50%. To meet the requirements of their rapidly expanding skeletal mass, growing infants require a bioavailable source of calcium. For formula-fed infants, availability of calcium depends on the composition of the formula [Ostrom K M. et al. (2002) J. Am. Coll. Nutr.; 21(6):564-569].
The digestion of triglycerides involves lipolysis at the sn-1 and 3 positions and formation of free fatty acids and 2-monoglycerides. When palmitic acid is located at the sn-1,3 positions, as is the case in most infant formulas, it is released as free fatty acid which tends to form insoluble calcium soaps. In contrast, palmitic acid as 2-monoglyceride, as in human milk, is unavailable to form calcium soaps [Small D M. (1991) Annu. Rev. Nutr.; 11:413-434].
Several studies have shown a correlation between formulas containing high levels of palmitic acid situated at the sn-1,3 positions of the triglyceride and reduction in calcium absorption [Nelson S E. et al. (1998) J. Amer. Coll. Nutr.; 17:327-332; Lucas A. et al. (1997) Arch. Dis. Child.; 77:F178-F187; Carnielli V P. et al. (1996) J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. 23:553-560; Ostrom (2002) id ibid.; Hanna (1970) id ibid.]. In addition, it was shown that dietary triglycerides containing palmitic acid predominantly at the sn-2 position, as in human milk, have significant beneficial effects on the intestinal absorption of fat and calcium in healthy term infants as well as in preterm infants [Carnielli (1996) id ibid.; Carnielli (1995) id ibid.; Lucas (1997) id ibid.]. Infants fed a formula containing high levels of palmitic acid at the sn-1,3 positions showed greater fecal excursion of calcium and, hence, lower percentage absorption of calcium compared to infants fed a formula containing low levels of palmitic acid [Nelson S E. et al. (1996) Am. J. Clin. Nutr.; 64:291-296.]. Fecal excretion of calcium was closely related to the fecal excretion of fat. This study also showed that urinary phosphorus excretion increased and phosphorus retention decreased when infants were fed the formula containing high levels of palmitic acid at the sn-1,3 positions. These findings presumably reflect lower availability of calcium for deposition in bones.
Another important issue which is associated with formula feeding is constipation in both term and preterm infants which, in the latter, can lead to life threatening complications. By contrast, constipation is rare in breast fed term infants. A study comparing breast fed and formula fed infant stool hardness and composition showed that calcium fatty acid soaps are positively correlated to stool hardness. Stools from formula-fed infants were significantly harder than those of the breast-fed infants suggesting different handling of saturated fatty acids [Quinlan P T. et al. (1995) J. Pediatr. Gastr. and Nutr.; 20:81-90].
In an attempt to overcome the decreased calcium absorption and hard stool phenomena, infant formula manufacturers tend to deviate from the fatty acid profile by replacing palmitic acid with lauric acid and, in some cases, by increasing the polyunsaturated fatty acid content. Studies have shown that fatty acid composition of the diet influences the fatty acid composition of developing infant tissue [Widdowson E. M. (1975) Br. Med. J.; 1:633-5; Carlson S E. et al. (1986) Am. J. Clin. Nutr.; 44:798-804; Innis S M. et al. (1990) Am. J. Clin. Nutr.; 5:994-1000; Koletzko B. et al. (1989) Eur. J. Pediatr.; 148:669-75] and thus the lipoprotein and lipid metabolism differ between breast-fed and formula-fed infants [Putnam J. C. et al. (1982) Am. J. Clin. Nutr.; 36:106-114; Innis S M. et al. (1992) Am. Coll. Nutr.; 11:63S-8S; Van Biervliet J P. et al. (1981) Acta. Paediatr. Scand.; 70:851-6].
Innis and colleagues [Innis (1993) id ibid.], when comparing three formulas containing similar amounts of saturated fatty acids—C8-C14, C16 from palm oil (predominantly in the sn-1,3 positions), or C16 from synthesized triglyceride (predominantly in the sn-2 position)—showed that the chain length of saturated fatty acids in infant formula influences the metabolism of the dietary oleic, linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids. This study also showed that the sn-2 configuration of C16 in human milk triglycerides seems to have unique properties that extend beyond absorption. These include effects on HDL and cholesterol concentrations, and the cholesterol ester fatty acid composition.
The impact of soap formation on calcium absorption can be significant. Many infant formulas contain sufficient saturated fatty acids to form soaps with virtually all the calcium available.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,107 (corresponding to EP 0 209 327) describes a substitute milk fat composition which is suitable as replacement fat in infant formulations. In this fat composition the total palmitic acid residues present is as high as 45%, with at least half of the fatty acid residues at the 2-position of the glycerol backbone being palmitic. The product has about 27% palmitic acid residues at the 1- and 3-positions, and the other substituents at the 1- and 3-positions are mainly unsaturated C16 and C18 fatty acid moieties. The fat composition is prepared by a specific process, in the presence of hexane. Rather high levels of the fat compositions are required for the preparation of infant formulations.
EP 0 495 456 also discloses substitute milk fat compositions. These compositions have a saturated fatty acid content at the sn-2 position of at least 40%, most of which palmitic acid residues, and contain 0.2-7% linolenic acid moieties, 70% of which are bonded at the 1- and 3-positions of the glycerol moieties, the remaining acid moieties at the 1- and 3-positions, other than unsaturated fatty acids, are saturated C4-C12 fatty acids.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,768 discloses a multiple-step process for preparing triglyceride compositions in which more than 40% of the saturated fatty acid moieties are at the 2-position. Many of the steps involve enzymatic modifications.
Furthermore, lipids in the form of fatty acids hydrolyzed from triglycerides interact with minerals, either obtained from the diet or present in the body, especially calcium ions. This interaction can lead, in some cases, to the complexation for example of fatty acids and calcium ions to form insoluble complexes, which cannot be utilized by the human body and are secreted, resulting in their loss. This is actually a loss of important nutrients, since calcium is essential for skeleton building and other bodily functions, while fatty acids are an important source of energy and precursors of other lipids and nutrients.
Thus, infants and young children until the age of 3 are advised to base their nutrition on human breast milk or its replacements in the form of infant formulas, since these include in their ingredients a fat portion which mimics to some extent the fat composition of human breast milk. However, many infants and young children do not have access to such fat, either because they do not breast feed or consume infant formulas, or they consume infant formulas without human milk fat replacements, or even, above a certain age, because they supplement their nutrition with other foods, besides breast milk or infant formula. Moreover, many food products allegedly designed for the consumption of infants and young children, such as cereals, dairy products, and biscuits, are based on vegetable oils which have nothing in common with breast milk fat.
In all these scenarios, infants and young children consume fats and oils which upon their digestion create insoluble complexes with essential calcium which in turn are secreted, leading to the loss of both calcium and energy supplying lipids. This is very detrimental, since calcium is an essential nutrient during child development, in particular for skeletogenesis, i.e., bone formation.
For adults, dietary supplementation of all minerals and particularly calcium is carried out using commercial products in which the mineral can appear in different salt forms, for example calcium is in the form of calcium carbonate, calcium alginate, calcium picolinate, calcium from corals, and many other forms. In many cases, this supplemented calcium is not absorbed by the body and is secreted, or it causes digestive problems, such as constipation.
Therefore, although the dietary supplementation of minerals is needed for infants and young children, as well as adults, especially women over the age of 45, in order to treat or prevent disorders or conditions caused by mineral depletion, it is not fulfilled in a satisfactory manner.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dietary ingredient comprising edible lipid(s), wherein said lipid has the property of enhancing the absorption and intake of minerals. Other uses and objects of the invention will become clear as the description proceeds.

Lipid preparation for enhancing mineral absorption

Abstract: The dietary ingredient is particularly intended for use in enhancing calcium absorption and in the prevention and/or treatment of disorders associated with depletion of bone calcium and bone density, prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, for the enhancement of bone formation and bone mass maximization and for the enhancement of bone formation in infants and young children.


A piezoelectric actuator is constructed by forming a common electrode 27 of Cr, a piezoelectric layer 29 of Pb(Zr,Ti)O3, a cover layer 31 of BaTiO3, and an individual electrode 33 of Pt in this order into a laminate. The thickness of the piezoelectric layer 29 in the lamination direction (T1) and the thickness of the cover layer 31 in the lamination direction (T2) satisfy the relationship of 0.08≦T2/T1≦1. The relative dielectric constant of the piezoelectric layer 29 (εr1) and the relative dielectric constant of the cover layer 31 (εr2) satisfy the relationship of εr2/εr1≧0.2.

Conventionally, an inkjet head which uses the piezoelectric effect of a piezoelectric element for recording has been known.
This inkjet head has a piezoelectric actuator. The piezoelectric actuator includes a common electrode, a piezoelectric element and an individual electrode, which are formed in this order into a layered structure. A diaphragm is formed over a surface of the piezoelectric actuator. The diaphragm is adhered onto an ink passage member with an adhesive to form a pressure chamber. In order to eject ink, the voltage is applied to the common electrode and the individual electrode, so that the piezoelectric element expands or shrinks. The expansion/shrinkage is constrained by the diaphragm, whereby the piezoelectric actuator deflects in the thickness direction. The deflection causes a change in the volume of the pressure chamber, so that the ink in the pressure chamber is ejected from a nozzle.
However, in a production process of the piezoelectric actuator, at the step of forming a piezoelectric element on an electrode, foreign substance adhered when the electrode is formed by sputtering is, for example, introduced into the piezoelectric element, whereby a defective portion is generated in the piezoelectric element in some cases. Due to the defective portion, the voltage-withstanding characteristics of the piezoelectric element deteriorate, so that there is a possibility that dielectric breakdown is caused in an ink ejection operation.
In a technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-351212, an insulating material is applied onto a piezoelectric element using a spin coater such that a defective portion is filled with the insulating material, and an insulating layer is formed on the piezoelectric element. Then, the insulating layer is removed by dry etching in order to prevent the deterioration of the piezoelectric characteristics. As a result, the voltage-withstanding characteristics of the piezoelectric element are improved, and dielectric breakdown is prevented.
However, removing only the insulating layer by dry etching is not an easy task. Furthermore, because of the difficult task of removing the insulating layer, the production yield is decreased, and the production cost is increased.
The present invention was conceived in view of the above problems. An objective of the present invention is to improve the piezoelectric characteristics and voltage-withstanding characteristics of a piezoelectric element without removing an insulating layer formed on the piezoelectric element.

Piezoelectric actuator and ink-jet head, and ink-jet recorder

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


To provide a catalyst for synthesis reaction which can achieve good yield in the Sonogashira reaction and also can be recovered after the reaction, and a method for synthesizing a compound in which the catalyst for synthesis reaction is used, a perovskite-type composite oxide containing palladium is used as the catalyst for synthesis reaction in the Sonogashira reaction represented by the following reaction scheme (1):R1—X+HC≡CR2→R1C≡CR2  (1)

Heretofore, the Sonogashira reaction has widely been known as a coupling reaction of an alkyne and has been used in a synthesis of a biologically active substance having an acetylene skeleton in the molecule, or an organic functional material.
In this Sonogashira reaction, palladium as a catalyst and copper as a promoter are usually used in combination. In practice, for example, tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium, dichlorobis(triphenylphosphine)palladium and copper iodide are used in combination (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 10-114691).
However, since palladium is expensive, it is desired that palladium is recovered after the reaction and used again so as to reduce the production cost.
However, in the actual reaction, palladium is used in the form of an organic metal complex, which is soluble in an organic solvent, such as tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium or dichlorobis(triphenylphosphine)palladium, as described above. Therefore, it is difficult to recover palladium and the organic metal complex is discarded as it is after the reaction.
An object of the present invention is to provide a catalyst for synthesis reaction which can achieve good yield in the Sonogashira reaction and also can be recovered after the reaction, and a method for synthesizing a compound in which the catalyst for synthesis reaction is used.

Method for synthesizing compound and catalyst for synthesis reaction

Cambridge University Technical Services Limited


Embodiments of a golf club head are described herein including a plurality of ports with doors. The golf club head comprises a ball striking face and a body, wherein the body comprises a plurality of ports each adapted to receive a threaded fastener and defines an outer surface of the golf club head. The plurality of ports comprises a bore recessed inward relative to the outer surface of the body, wherein the bore is fluidly isolated from the internal volume, wherein the bore is adapted to receive a threaded fastener; and a door hingably coupled to the body and pivotable between a first position that is substantially flush with the outer surface and a second position that is deflected inward of the outer surface; wherein the door at least partially blocks ingress of the threaded fastener into the bore when in the first position, and permits ingress of the threaded fastener into the bore when in the second position.

In an ideal club design, for a constant total swing weight, the amount of structural mass would be minimized (without sacrificing resiliency) to provide a designer with additional discretionary mass to specifically place in an effort to customize club performance. In general, the total of all club head mass is the sum of the total amount of structural mass and the total amount of discretionary mass. Structural mass generally refers to the mass of the materials that are required to provide the club head with the structural resilience needed to withstand repeated impacts. Structural mass is highly design-dependent, and provides a designer with a relatively low amount of control over specific mass distribution. Conversely, discretionary mass is any additional mass (beyond the minimum structural requirements) that may be added to the club head design for the sole purpose of customizing the performance and/or forgiveness of the club.
In many club head designs, discretionary weight may be affixed to the body of the club head by screwing the weight into a threaded port provided on the club head. If a user elects not to utilize additional weight, or to utilize fewer than all available threaded ports, then the unused ports are typically left open where they are susceptible to being impacted with dirt or debris.


A data transmission method includes: receiving, by the PNF SDN controller, a first packet and an access loop identifier that are sent by a first network device; generating, by the PNF SDN controller, a second packet based on the access loop identifier and the first packet; and sending, by the PNF SDN controller, the second packet to the virtualized network function software-defined networking VNF SDN controller, so that the VNF SDN controller sends the second packet to a second network device, where the second packet is used to request the second network device to assign an IP address or IP address prefix to user equipment.

Network devices in a system accessed by a user may include user equipment, an access device, a switch, and an Internet Protocol (IP) edge device. An example in which a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) message/router solicitation (RS) message is processed and transmitted is used.
After receiving a first DHCP/RS packet sent by the user equipment, the access device generates an access loop identifier, adds the access loop identifier to the first DHCP/RS packet to generate a second DHCP/RS packet, and forwards the second DHCP/RS packet to the switch to send the second DHCP/RS packet to a DHCP server by using the switch and the IP edge device, so as to request the DHCP server to assign an IP address or IP address prefix to the user equipment. The DHCP server assigns the IP address or IP address prefix to the user equipment, and sends, based on the access loop identifier, a DHCP/RS response packet carrying the IP address or IP address prefix to the user equipment.
However, for different operators, access loop identifiers corresponding to the user equipment have different formats. Therefore, the network devices each need to be customized for the operators, resulting in relatively high complexity of the network devices.

Data transmission method, PNF SDN controller, VNF SDN controller, and data transmission system


An exemplary backlight module (2) includes a light guide plate (21) and a light source (20). The light guide plate includes a body (211) and a protrusion (212) extending from the body. The body includes a light emitting surface (2111) and a side surface (2112) adjacent the light emitting surface. The light source includes a wire (22) which is disposed in a space defined between the side surface and the protrusion. The backlight module is compact with a reduced length.

A typical liquid crystal display is capable of displaying a clear and sharp image through millions of pixels that make up the complete image. The liquid crystal display has thus been applied to various electronic equipment in which messages or pictures need to be displayed, such as mobile phones and notebook computers. However, liquid crystals in the liquid crystal display do not themselves emit light. Rather, the liquid crystals have to be lit up by a light source so as to clearly and sharply display text and images. The light source may be ambient light, or a backlight module attached to the liquid crystal display.
Referring to FIG. 8, a conventional backlight module 1 generally includes a light guide plate 11, a light source 10 having a wire 12, and a frame 13 for accommodating the light guide plate 11 and the light source 10.
Referring to FIG. 9, the light guide plate 11 includes a side surface 111 and a top light emitting surface 112. The frame 13 has an L-shaped transverse cross-section. Top portions of the frame 13 cover a periphery of the emitting surface 112 of the light guide plate 11. An inner surface 131 of the frame 13 cooperates with the side surface 111 of the light guide plate 11 to form a space for accommodating the wire 12.
With this configuration, the space between the side surface 111 of the light guide plate 11 and the inner surface 131 of the frame 13 is provided in order that the wire 12 can be disposed between the light guide plate 11 and the frame 13. That is, the space is an additional expanse that increases an overall length of the backlight module 1. This militates against the trend toward miniaturization of corresponding electronic equipment such as mobile phones and notebook computers.
Therefore, a new backlight module that can overcome the above-described problem is desired.

Backlight module and liquid crystal display having same


The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates re-locating a web application associated with a network service utilizing a portion of serialized data. The network service can be any collection of resources that are maintained by a party (e.g., third-party, off-site, etc.) and accessible by an identified user over a network (e.g., WAN, Internet, etc.). An interface component can receive a portion of serialized data with transparent structure related to an application specification. A hydrate component can create a web application independent of a network service based at least in part upon the serialized data, the web application has state within the network service.

Conventionally, most computational tasks are undertaken upon a client or within a proprietary intranet and/or internet. For instance, through utilization of a software application resident upon the client, data is created, manipulated, and saved upon a hard drive of the client or on an on-site server. Client-side operating systems are employed to manage relationships between users, software applications, and hardware within a client machine, as well as data that is resident upon a connected intranet. As network connectivity has continued to improve, it has become apparent that a more efficient computing model includes lightweight (inexpensive) clients that continuously communicate with 3rd party computing devices to achieve substantially similar end results when compared to the conventional computing paradigm.
With the advent of highly sophisticated computer software, hardware, and/or network connectivity, servicing areas associated therewith have stormed into existence in order to meet consumer high-demands. Typically, computational services are undertaken upon a client or within a proprietary intranet. Client-side systems are employed to manage relationships between users, software applications, web applications, services, and hardware within a client machine, as well as data resident upon a respective intranet. However, in addition to client-side systems providing services and/or web applications, off-site systems (e.g., third party) can also provide services in order to improve data capability, integrity, reliability, versioning, security, and mitigate costs associated therewith.
Traditional web developing frameworks utilize various programming paradigms associated with web applications, back-end databases, web server modifications, server side operating systems, etc. which prove to be extremely difficult to manage and/or utilize. For instance, a typical web application can utilize a plurality of disparate programming paradigms associated therewith. Such variety and range in programming associated with web applications can be extremely troublesome for the web application to be compatible and/or portable to disparate environments. For instance, web applications for particular environments may not be capable of deploying in disparate environments based at least in part upon the specifics and/or details embedded within. In other words, web application development and implementation is constricted, limited, and very rigid.


A decoder reads an instruction for information specifying a bit sequence storage area, information indicating a first bit range, and information indicating a second bit range that is contiguous with the first bit range, then outputs a decoded signal in response to the information so read, and a bit manipulation circuit generates and outputs an output sequence based on a bit sequence stored in the bit sequence storage area by inserting uniform predetermined values between a first bit range and a second bit range in accordance with the decoded signal output from the decoder.

Computer systems typically read and write data to and from a storage device in word units, each unit being made up of a multiple of eight bits (e.g., 16 bits).
Conventionally, in order to effectively use memory areas of the storage device when data made up of a number of bits equivalent to a fraction of the word unit are stored therein, the computer system packs the data into whole word units before writing.
A bit field manipulation circuit, such as that described in Patent Literature 1 and in Patent Literature 2. is an example of a device providing comparatively effective data packing to a computer system.
The bit field manipulation circuit described in Patent Literature 1 (hereinafter, bit field manipulation circuit A) performs bit field manipulation as indicated in FIG. 21.
As shown, bit field manipulation circuit A performs bit field manipulation operations on data A 2000 and B 2001, which are N-bit sequences input thereto. Data C 2002 is an N-bit sequence output from bit field manipulation circuit A upon performing the bit field manipulation operations.
When instructions indicating data A 2000, data B 2001, an offset length 2010, and a width 2011 are input thereto, the bit field manipulation circuit A performs bit field manipulation operations so as to generate data C 2002 by inserting a bit sequence that includes the least-significant bit of data B 2001 and is of width 2011 at a position within data A 2000 shifted leftward by the offset length 2010 from the least-significant bit position.
The bit field manipulation circuit described in Patent Literature 2 (hereinafter, bit field manipulation circuit B) performs bit field manipulation as indicated in FIG. 22.
As shown, bit field manipulation circuit B performs bit field manipulation operations on data A 2100 which is an N-bit sequence input thereto. Data B 2101 is an N-bit sequence output from bit field manipulation circuit B upon performing the bit field manipulation operations.
When instructions indicating data A 2100, an offset length 2110, and a shift length 2111 are input thereto, the bit field manipulation circuit B generates data B 2101 by inserting a bit sequence that includes the least-significant bit of data A 2100 and is of the length indicated by the offset length 2110 into the data A 2100 as logically shifted rightward by the shift length.

Data processing device and data processing method