A method for use in the fabrication of a gate electrode includes providing a gate oxide layer and forming a titanium boride layer on the oxide layer. An insulator cap layer is formed on the titanium boride layer and thereafter, the gate electrode is formed from the titanium boride layer. A barrier layer may be formed on the oxide layer prior to forming the titanium boride layer with the gate electrode being formed from the barrier layer and the titanium boride layer. Further, a polysilicon layer may be formed on the gate oxide layer prior to forming the titanium boride layer with the gate electrode being formed from the titanium boride layer and the polysilicon layer. Yet further, a polysilicon layer may be formed on the gate oxide layer and a barrier layer formed on the polysilicon layer prior to forming the titanium boride layer. The gate electrode is then formed from the polysilicon layer, the barrier layer, and the titanium boride layer. Similar methods can further be used in the formation of interconnects to connect contact regions. Gate electrode structures and interconnect structures resulting from the methods are also described. Further, in such methods and structures, the titanium boride layer may be a titanium diboride layer or a titanium boride layer having silicon incorporated therein.

Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) devices are widely used in integrated circuit devices. Such MOS devices may include memory devices which are comprised of an array of memory cells. Each memory cell is comprised of a capacitor, on which the charge stored represents the logical state of the memory cell. Conductors, referred to as word lines, serve as gate electrodes of multiple access transistors which provide access to the memory cells. In a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), a word line gate electrode typically is fabricated on a p-type silicon substrate coated with a thin film of silicon dioxide, known as the gate oxide. Word lines conventionally are formed on the gate oxide layer as a two-layer stack, typically including polysilicon and a conductor material such as tungsten silicide or titanium silicide (commonly referred to as a polycide word line). Further, polycide structures are also used for local interconnects in MOS devices. For example, such polycide structures may be used for the local interconnection of gates and drains in a SRAM (Static Random Access Memory).
Minimizing resistivity throughout the word line or other interconnect structures is of importance to meet the need of reducing time constants and allowing access of memory cells in as short a time period as possible. As memory density increases, feature sizes, including line sizes, decrease. For example, when the feature size of a conductor, such as a local interconnect or a word line, is reduced in a high density memory, the resistance of the conductor increases. Thin tungsten silicide and titanium silicide are larger grain materials that contribute to a very rough silicide/silicon interface. As such, it reduces the effective ohmic contact area. Therefore, it is desirable to utilize conductors whose resistivity will not significantly increase for the same feature dimensions.
Further, in the fabrication of semiconductor devices, it is desirable to find conductors which are suitable for use at high temperatures (e.g., up to about 1100° C.) during processing steps. Particularly desirable are materials which have low bulk resistivities and good oxidation resistance at high temperatures. However, such materials can be difficult to find, and, once found, difficult to form by conventional methods. Further, other problems may occur with such materials, such as, for example, diffusion of atoms from one layer to another, particularly at high processing temperatures. Such diffusion is particularly undesirable if the properties of one layer are changed because of diffusing atoms.
It has been reported in the article by Choi et al., "Electrical Characteristics of TiB2 for ULSI Applications," IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, Vol. 39, No. 10 (Oct. 1992) that titanium diboride may be used as a diffusion barrier in metallization applications.
In view of the above, there is a need for low resistivity materials for use in gate electrode and interconnect applications. The present invention provides gate electrode structures and interconnect structures which overcome the disadvantages described above, along with other problems as will be apparent from the description below.


A method of searching a femtocell access point includes: transmitting configuration/measurement information an operating frequency and a transmission power strength from multiple femtocell access points located within the macro cell to an OSM)/CPC server; and receiving, at the OSM/CPC server, the configuration/measurement information from the femtocell access points, and generating a femtocell access point list usable in a mobile terminal to provide the generated femtocell access point list to the mobile terminal. The method further includes selecting, at the mobile terminal, one femtocell access point from the femtocell access point list provided from the OSM/CPC server and accessing the selected femtocell access point.

Recently, with the development of information communications and the increasing demands for multimedia services, a base station technique that provides a service in a combined form of an existing network at home or indoors is required. To this end, a femtocell concept has been introduced in order to provide a data service at a high speed while solving defects occurring when providing a service at an indoor radio wave shadow area. The standardization and technical development thereof are in progress. The standardization of a femtocell started from 3GPP and 3GPP2 in 2007. Several issues such as a femtocell network structure, an interface scheme, a handover procedure, selection of an access system, mobility management and synchronization and the like have been discussed.
The foregoing femtocell satisfies requirements in a user service and has an effect of saving installation and maintenance time and operating costs of a base station, by allowing an installation and a change of a cell providing a service to be within a space like home or an office. Further, such a femtocell can increase a frequency usage rate by minimizing a cell size, and provide an existing wired wideband service at low costs even in a mobile communications network. In addition, when a femtocell is introduced to an indoor environment to provide a service, since a conventional mobile terminal that accesses a wideband wireless access service in the indoor environment by employing a cellular and WLAN dual mode function can provide a service by using only a cellular mode, it has a merit in that the cost thereof is lowered.
Further, the femtocell has a very small cell region in comparison to the macro cell, and thus, multiple femtocells may be installed in a single macro cell region. Also, the femtocell may be installed by mobile communication carriers in a service shadow area and an area with a high population density such as a shopping mall such that the service can be provided to registered subscribers, or installed directly by a subscriber in a limited space such as a home such that the subscriber can receive the service.
In this femtocell, since a service region is very small and an installation thereof is easy, multiple femtocells may be provided in a single macro cell. Thus, managing the femtocell by a cell planning like an existing macro cell is very difficult. Also, the femtocell may provide a service by using the same frequency as that of a macro cell and a neighbor femtocell. Therefore, since there is interference between cells, a frequency configuration scheme of a femto access point (FAP) that takes into consideration interference is required.
That is, in an environment where macro cells and femtocells are mixed, when a mobile terminal is connected to a macro cell and a channel environment is good, the mobile terminal does not search and access a femtocell although the femtocell is present in an adjacent position. In this case, communication between the mobile terminal and the macro cell acts as serious interference to the femtocell.
Further, a mobile terminal requires functions of estimating and searching a position of a femtocell and determining whether or not to access thereto, in order to receive a service provided by the femtocell. In case where a mobile terminal can support a global positioning system (GPS) function and receive a GPS signal, position information measured by the mobile terminal and position information on an FAP may be compared to search the femtocell. However, in case where a mobile terminal with no GPS function or a mobile terminal with a GPS function enters indoor to which a GPS signal cannot be received, it fails to obtain position information on the mobile terminal.
In this case, the mobile terminal does not recognize the femtocell and accesses a macro cell to receive a service or periodically performs a scanning procedure for searching a femtocell. Thus, battery consumption of the mobile terminal is great and a search time increases.

Method and system for searching femtocell access points

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


An apparatus for lower back exercise comprises a support structure and a body support platform supported by the support structure. A pendulum having three segments is connected to the support structure. The pendulum has a first segment; pivotably connected to the support structure; a second segment that proceeds from the first segment at a first angle; and a third segment that proceeds from the second segment at a second angle, so that the center of mass of the pendulum is offset from the vertical. Weights may be connected to the third segment of the pendulum. There is a means, such as straps, connected to the pendulum, for engaging the legs of a user. The user exerts force with his legs to move the pendulum through a range of motion greater than 90 degrees.

Back muscle and cartilage injuries, especially in the lower lumbar region of the back are relatively common. Such injuries are especially common in individuals who, for one reason or another, have failed to maintain the conditioning and tone of the muscles that support the lower back. These muscles, the spinal erectors and hip flexor must be maintained in reasonable condition if such muscle and cartilage injuries are to be protected against.
Additionally, once injury has occurred, healing can be promoted by increasing the flow of blood to the injured muscles and the areas surrounding the injury. Unfortunately, the number and density of blood vessels in the lower back area is relatively low. However, exercise is believed by many to stimulate increased blood flow. A drawback to most forms of exercise is the risk or tendency of hyperextension of the already injured muscles thereby aggravating the injury rather than promoting healing of the muscles, cartilage and surrounding tissues.
None of the previous attempts to design exercise machines for the back have met the needs of individuals who have already sustained lower back injuries or whose lower back areas are too out-of-condition to be able to withstand rigorous exercise. In order for exercise to be of value, it must progressively increase in intensity. A common method of increasing the intensity of an exercise is through the use of increased resistance from static weight additions. However, adding weight to an exercise can increase the hyperextension of lower back muscles. Therefore, weight training is not generally recommended for those suffering from lower back muscle, tissue and cartilage injuries. Also, prior-art systems do not provide a large enough range of motion to adequately load the low-back spinal erectors while simultaneously providing greater traction to the lumbar region.
There is a need for a method of exercise and an exercise apparatus that avoids hyperextension of lower back muscles while providing for conditioning and muscle tone, and which can increase local blood circulation to injured muscles and tissues in the lower back. There is also a need for an exercise machine that will provide a sufficient range of motion to adequately load the low-back spinal erectors while simultaneously providing greater traction to the lumbar region.


A device providing concurrent audio streaming to multiple wireless audio output devices may include at least one processor configured to receive a user selection of at least two paired audio output devices. The at least one processor may be further configured to connect to each of the at least two of the paired audio output devices. The at least one processor may be further configured to synchronize at least one audio output synchronization parameter across each of the at least two of the paired audio output devices. The at least one processor may be further configured to concurrently stream a respective audio stream to each of the at least two of the paired audio output devices.

Users may wirelessly stream audio from an electronic device, such as a phone, to a wireless audio output device, such as a wireless headset, wireless headphones, wireless earbuds, and the like. For example, a user may stream music from their phone to their wireless audio output device, and/or a user may stream incoming audio for a communication session, such as a telephone call, to their wireless audio output device.

Concurrent audio streaming to multiple wireless audio output devices


There is disclosed a manually powered aeration device having a frame and a removable weight tank which is positioned such that the center of gravity of the weight tank and the aerator cylidner are in substantially vertical alignment.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to lawn aerating devices, particularly those lawn aerating devices of the type which are manually propelled about the lawn to penetrate the lawn surface thereby increasing the amount of oxygen available in the underlying soil and facilitating soil fluid retention.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Tyson U.S. Pat. No. 1,217,245, issued Feb. 27, 1917, shows a turf ventilator with a forked handle having a large rolling cylinder disposed between the ends of the handle. A rack of aeration blades is pivotally coupled to the cylinder axle and trails the cylinder. Depth of penetration is controlled by a bar with an adjustable counterweight weight extending over the rack.
Fitts U.S. Pat. No. 1,802,711, issued Apr. 28, 1931, shows a surface cutter and cultivator with pivotally connected, opposing forked handles and a large central aeration cylinder having mounted shoes with projecting spikes. The weight of the cylinder controls the depth of penetration.
Buel U.S. Pat. No. 1,866,998, issued July 12, 1932, shows a turf roller having a large aerator cylinder disposed at the end of frame members and a wheel which is cross-braced to the frame. The weight of the cylinder controls the depth of penetration.
Richards U.S. Pat. No. 1,898,214, issued Feb. 21, 1933, shows a lawn aerator having a forked frame with an aeration cylinder horizontally disposed between the frame members. The cylinder can be filled with sand or water to control the depth of penetration.
Allen U.S. Pat. No. 1,955,937, issued Apr. 24, 1934, shows a spiked roller having a leading aerator cylinder, with a pair of large wheels positioned on lateral sides of the cylinder, and a trailing roller. The weight of the cylinder controls the depth of penetration.
Logan U.S. Pat. No. 3,171,498, issued Mar. 2, 1965, shows a aerating apparatus with a forked frame with drums disposed between the frame members. A series of spikes rotate with the drums and the entire apparatus is meant to be towed behind a vehicle. The drums can be filled with water to control the depth of penetration.
Angeski U.S. Pat. No. 3,881,553, issued May 6, 1975, shows a lawn aerating and dressing apparatus having a frame with a drum disposed between the frame members. The hollow drum has spiked pluggers that lift plugs of soil into the drum. Rotation of the drum breaks the soil into small particles for distribution over the lawn. The apparatus has leading wheels that pivot to facilitate transportation when not in use.
Clements U.S. Pat. No. 4,158,391, issued June 19, 1979, shows a soil aerating device having a hollow drum with hollow coring elements extending radially from the drum. A weighted drum or other receptacle provides cantilever force to control the depth of penetration. The apparatus is meant to be pulled behind a vehicle.
Gorbett U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,329, issued Oct. 28, 1986, shows a soil aerator having a hollow drum, with knife-like projections, which rolls directly on the soil surface. The apparatus is meant to be pulled behind a vehicle.
None of the foregoing patents teach the axial alignment of the frame member and the wheels with a trailing aerator, wherein a removable weight tank is positioned such that the center of gravity of the drum and of the aerator cylinder are vertically aligned. Of the manually operated aerators, none use a drum or tank capable of being filled with water or sand that is separate from the aerator cylinder, thereby permitting easy storage and transport of the lawn aerator when not in use. The aerators designed to be pulled behind a vehicle are bulky and incapable of efficient use on the typical small lawn.
There exists a need for a lightweight, relatively small, and easily portable lawn aerator capable of use on typical household and other small lawns.


A method for machining a transparent material by the non-linear absorption of pulsed laser radiation, in the region of a laser focus, includes the following steps: a laser wavelength of between 300 and 1000 μm is selected; and laser impulses having a temporally flat beam profile are applied. The method is characterized in that the irradiation intensity is selected from an interval pre-determined for the material to be machined, in which plasma is formed without plasma luminescence. An apparatus for laser treating a transparent material includes structure to set an irradiance and inspect the treatment as being within a defined interval.

The invention relates to a method for laser machining transparent materials, in particular for producing precise, localised changes of material inside a transparent body.
Generating very tine effects during laser material machining requires localised deposition of very small amounts of energy. When energy is deposited by linear absorption (single-photon absorption), the desired high precision of the material machining requires a small optical penetration depth of the laser radiation as well as a sufficiently short length of the laser pulse so as to avoid heat diffusion during the duration of the laser pulse.
In transparent materials such as glass, quartz, water, body tissue without pigments, or cells, energy can be deposited in a localised fashion only through non-linear absorption, that is to say by multiple-photon processes in the form of multi-photon ionisation and avalanche ionisation that lead to the formation of a plasma (quasi-free charge carriers in the material consisting of a mixture of electrons and ions). Since the occurrence of multi-photon processes is a non-linear function of the laser light intensity, this is referred to as "non-linear absorption". And since the plasma formation rate above a threshold that depends on the material and laser parameters increases extremely strongly, in this parameter range the plasma formation process is also called "optical breakdown".
A high degree of precision during machining material by non-linear absorption requires that spatially localised reproducible small amounts of energy can be introduced into the material (deposited). Good spatial localisation is above all achieved by focusing the laser pulses by means of aberration-free optics having a high numerical aperture.
In the prior art it is assumed that a much better way to introduce little energy in conjunction with a high degree of reproducibility can be by ultra-short laser pulses having a duration in the range of a few femtoseconds up to a few picoseconds rather than with longer pulses (nanoseconds or even microseconds). For this there are above all three reasons:                1. The threshold that can be detected experimentally for the optical breakdown is usually equated with the observation of plasma luminescence—above all in the case of pulse durations in the nanosecond range.        2. The energy threshold for the formation of luminescent plasmas decreases strongly with a decrease in the pulse duration—approximately by a factor of 200 when the pulse duration is reduced from 10 ns to 100 fs. For nanosecond pulses, occurrence of a luminescent plasma is therefore linked to a much higher energy density and therefore associated with much stronger mechanical laser effects and side effects of the actual ablation of material.        3. Close to the threshold for the optical breakdown the laser effects generated by the conventional nanosecond pulses have a much wider scattering range than the femtosecond effects.
This has led to the view that the optical breakdown with nanosecond pulses be of a generally "statistic nature" while the femtosecond breakdown be "deterministic" and therefore better suited for reproducible machining of materials. The statement is furthermore justified that the occurrence of plasma luminescence during laser treatment with nanosecond pulses in principle conflicts with a precise localisation of the laser effects.
Regrettably, pulsed laser systems with pulse durations of less than 100 ps are complex systems with correspondingly high acquisition costs. Over and again compromises were sought that link the desire substantiated above for short-time pulses .with affordable equipment.
This is for example the case in the work by Colombelli et al., "Ultraviolet diffraction limited nanosurgery of live biological tissues", Rev. Sci. Instrum., Vol. 75, 472-478 (2004), where a UV chip laser (triple-frequency Nd:YAG) with a pulse duration of 500 ps is successfully used as a laser scalpel among others for individual cells. Such microchip lasers are relatively low priced, but typically also work with nanosecond pulses and in principle cannot fall below pulse durations of a few 100 ps.
According to the teachings of DE 198 55 623 C1 precise machining of materials with nanosecond pulses in transparent media is possible for carrying out the known inside laser engraving of glass; here even pulse durations of 100 ns are used. The patent specification however expressly states that wavelengths outside the plateau region of the transmittancy should be used, that are those for which the material precisely does not have an optimum degree of transparency. The importance of the occurrence of linear absorption that is necessitated thereby is emphasised by the authors but not explained in more detail.
A method for detecting very small transient changes in material are suggested in another patent application of the applicant (DE 10 2007 003 600.2). It's about a method for laser perforation of cell membranes that is as gentle as possible, where the pulsed laser light generates bubbles in the immediate vicinity of the cells in the focus. The size determination of the bubbles can take place via measuring the oscillation time by detecting the behaviour over time of the change in light intensity of a probe laser beam (cw laser, preferably another wavelength) that is guided together with the pulsed radiation (fs to ps pulses) through the laser focus during machining. Bubble sizes of as low as 150 nm have been detected in this way.

Method for laser machining transparent materials


There is now provided a method for determining vision defects and for collecting data for correcting vision defects of the eye. The method comprises projecting an image into the eye of the patient with an adaptive optical system having adaptive optical elements. The optical characteristics of the optical elements can be individually changed by an electrical signal. The presence of distortions of the image as perceived by the patient is determined by interaction of the patient with the examiner. By way of an electronic control system the optical characteristics of the adaptive optical elements are changed through outputting of an electrical signal to obtain a modified image with minimized distortions in the eye of the patient. The optical characteristics of the adaptive optical elements, as modified, are determined and vision correcting data for the eye being examined are computed from the optical characteristics of the adaptive optical elements, as modified. The method not only takes into consideration the aberrations of the optical imaging system but also the properties of reception and signal processing in the human brain. The method is further characterized in that the correction data for the aberrations of the human eye that impair the vision can be obtained by a measuring method that is actively physiologically evaluated beforehand. There is also provided an apparatus for determining vision defects and for collecting data for correcting vision defects.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in one aspect to a method for determining vision defects and for collecting data for correcting vision defects of the eye by interaction of a patient with an examiner and apparatus therefor.
2. Background Information
The primary or traditional method for correcting vision defects, such as, correcting myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism, comprises selection of and mounting of particular lenses in a spectacle-frame by the physician for a vision test, and the patient establishes his optimal faculty of vision based on the gradation of the test lines of a test image. In accordance with this traditional methods the patient can obtain optimally suited glasses for correction of significant, or approximate or gross, vision defects, but the method substantially may provide only for approximate or rough correction of vision defects.
This classical approach or method has now been replaced by objective metrological methods which are performed without active participation by the patient. Examples include automatic refractometers.
Next to the objective determination of significant vision defects, various topographical apparatus and devices for measuring eye aberrations, such as, aberroscopes or aberrometers, are utilized so as to determine patient-specific cornea topographies and, as well, substantially all wavefront aberrations. On the basis of such metrological data, the patients are treated, for example, by using an excimer laser system, to have specific topographies applied or formed on the cornea of the eye, which topographies are to ensure an optimal faculty of vision (compare: P. Mierdel, H.-E. Krinke, W. Wiegahnd, M. Kaemmerer, T. Seiler, xe2x80x9cMe xcex2platz zur Bestimmung der monochromatischen Aberration des menschlichen Auges {Test station for the determination of the monochromatic aberration of the human eye}xe2x80x9d, OPHTHALMOLOGE, 1997, 94; pages 441-445, SPRINGER VERLAG, 1997).
In these determinations, or measurements or metrological approaches, a double-pass through the optics system of the eye needs to be realized due to technical reasons. The main problem with this method resides therein that the uneven or odd-valent aberrations are determined in a falsified manner. A reduction of the problem with the double-pass method can be obtained, for example, by use of different numerical apertures for the entering and exiting light. Another approach comprises inducing of a fluorescence on the cornea so as to preclude these metrological errors (compare: LASER FOCUS WORLD, April 1999, pages 35-36).
In the methods available in the state of the art, an optical apparatus or system, the eye, which is a rather dynamic system, is precisely measured and corrected, but only in a momentary or snapshot-like manner. This suggests errors, particularly in the desired correction of higher-order aberrations which preclude attainment of an optimal faculty of vision. This is indicated thereby that with the measurements of eye aberrations of eyes actually having the best faculty of vision, occasionally high aberrations are shown, and till this day it is not known with certainty whether a physical correction of the eye actually increases or even worsens the faculty of vision of the eye.
It is further known that aberrations of the human eye can be compensated with the aid of adaptive optics, so as to realize high-resolution images of the cornea for medical investigations (compare: LASER FOCUS WORLD, August 1998, pages 18-22).
A microscope with an adaptive optics is described in German patent publication No. 19 733 193 A1. This publication mentions various wave modulators.
In the paper xe2x80x9cSupernormal vision and high-resolution retinal imaging through adaptive optics,xe2x80x9d by Liang et al., J. Opt. Soc. Am. A, Vol 14 (1997), pages 2884-2892, apparatus and method are described with which by way of a wavefront measurement, using a deformable mirror, the feasibility of an adaptive correction of eye aberrations as well as photographic images of the retina is achieved.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,777,719 issued to inventors Williams et al. on Jul. 7, 1998 and entitled xe2x80x9cMethod and apparatus for improving vision and the resolution of retinal images,xe2x80x9d also describes a method and a device for obtaining improved photographic pictures of the retina, with the apparatus, using a deformable mirror, being capable of obtaining corrected pictures of the retina using a CCD-camera.
It is an object of the invention to provide a method for determining vision defects and for collecting data for correcting vision defects of the eye by interaction of a patient with an examiner and apparatus therefor.
It is also an object of the invention in one aspect to make available a method, and apparatus, which serve in the acquisition of correction data for the correction of eye aberrations, with the translation of such data leading to an improved faculty of vision of the patient.
One feature of the invention to accomplish the foregoing objects resides in a method for determining vision defects and for collecting data for correcting vision defects of the eye by interaction of a patient with an examiner, said method comprising: projecting an image into the eye of the patient with an adaptive optical system; said adaptive optical system comprising at least one adaptive optical element; said at least one adaptive optical element being configured to have its optical characteristics changed by an electrical signal, in an attempt to minimize distortions of the image as perceived in the eye and the brain of the patient; determining the presence of distortions of the image as perceived in the eye and the brain of the patient by interaction of the patient with the examiner; providing an electronic control system; said electronic control system being configured to control the optical characteristics of said at least one adaptive optical element through outputting of an electrical signal; modifying the optical characteristics of said at least one adaptive optical element through outputting of an electrical signal of said electronic control system and obtaining a modified image of the image in the eye of the patient, in an attempt to correct for the distortions of the image as perceived in the eye and the brain of the patient; evaluating said modified image by interaction of the patient with the examiner; repeating said modifying step and said evaluating step and obtaining a modified image having minimized distortions as perceived in the eye and the brain of the patient; determining the optical characteristics of said at least one adaptive optical element, as modified, resulting from said modified image having minimized distortions as perceived in the eye and the brain of the patient; and computing vision correcting data for the eye being examined, from said optical characteristics of said at least one adaptive optical element, as modified, resulting from said modified image having minimized distortions as perceived in the eye and the brain of the patient.
Another feature of the invention to accomplish the foregoing objects resides in a method for determining vision defects and for collecting data for correcting vision defects of the eye by interaction with a patient, said method comprising: forming an image in the eye of the patient with an optical system; said optical system being configured to have its optical characteristics changed by at least one signal, in an attempt to minimize distortions of the image as perceived in the eye and the brain of the patient; determining the presence of distortions of the image as perceived in the eye and the brain of the patient by interaction with the patient; providing an electronic control system being configured to control the optical characteristics of said optical system through outputting of at least one signal; modifying, at least once, the optical characteristics of said optical system through outputting of at least one signal of said electronic control system and obtaining a modified image of the image in the eye of the patient, in an attempt to correct for the distortions of the image as perceived in the eye and the brain of the patient by interaction with the patient; determining the optical characteristics of said optical system, as modified, resulting from said modified image of the image in the eye of the patient having minimized distortions as perceived in the eye and the brain of the patient; and computing vision correcting data for the eye being examined, from at least one signal indicating said modified optical characteristics of said optical system.
A further feature of the invention resides in an apparatus for determining vision defects and for collecting data for correcting vision defects of the eye by interaction between a patient and an examiner, said apparatus comprising: an adaptive optical system configured to form an image in the eye of the patient; said adaptive optical system being configured to have its optical characteristics changed by at least one signal, in an attempt to minimize distortions of the image as perceived in the eye and the brain of the patient; an electronic control system operatively connected to said adaptive optical system; said electronic control system comprising an arrangement configured to modify, at least once, the optical characteristics of said adaptive optical system, and being configured to output at least one signal to obtain a modified image, in an attempt to correct for the distortions of the image as perceived in the eye and the brain of the patient through interaction with the patient; an arrangement configured to determine the optical characteristics of said adaptive optical system, as modified, resulting from said modified image formed in the eye of the patient having minimized distortions as perceived in the eye and the brain of the patient; and an apparatus configured to compute vision correcting data for the eye being examined, from at least one signal indicating said modified optical characteristics of said adaptive optical system.
Thus, the foregoing objects are accomplished in one aspect of the invention by the apparatus, and in one aspect of the invention by the method, in accordance with the independent claims. Further preferred embodiments are indicated in the dependent claims.
More particularly, the object in accordance with one aspect of the invention is accomplished by an apparatus for the determination of correction data for the correction of eye aberrations of a patient, said apparatus comprising an optics system, and the apparatus further comprising an adaptive optics, and/or a wavefront modulator, as well as an arrangement for the display of test images, to be displayed by way of the adaptive optics, and a control system. This apparatus makes it possible for test images to be shown to the patients, by means of the adaptive optics, which test images can be evaluated in subjective manner by a patient. By way of the subjective assessment of the test images that are displayed on the adaptive optics, minute aberrations of the eye can be recognized and the correction that has been determined by the patient as subjectively most suitable compensation of eye aberrations can be determined. The alignment or position of the adaptive optics at the moment in which the corrections are perceived as subjectively optimum conditions, accordingly, corresponds to the correction data for the correction of eye aberrations.
The optical system serves to align and/or focus the direction of rays from the eye to the adaptive optics. Such an optical system may be provided, for example, by an arrangement of lenses.
It is preferred that the adaptive optics is a modulator, particularly, a wavefront modulator. Such adaptive optics can be realized in various embodiments. Thus, there are available transmitting modulators based on LCD-basis, or reflecting modulators having moveable membranes. These modulators with moveable membranes can be classified on the basis of their control, for example, piezoelectric, electrostatic, and bimorph membranes. Electrostatic membrane mirrors are particularly preferred to configure the adaptive optics, or electrically controlled micro-mirror arrays. Reflecting and also transmitting media may be employed to configure the adaptive optics.
The arrangement for the display of test images by means of the adaptive optics may comprise, in the case of reflecting elements of the adaptive optics, a projector, which projects the test images onto the reflecting elements of the adaptive optics, which test images then reach the eye, preferably, by way of the optical system. In the case of an adaptive optics with transmitting media, a projector is contemplated which projects through the adaptive optics onto the eye. It is furthermore possible, in the case of an adaptive optics with LED-display, for the arrangement for the display of test images to utilize electrical signals which generate corresponding test images and/or portions of such test images on the individual LED-surfaces.
It is preferred that the test images are configured in such a way that they react, in reference to the aberrations that are to be investigated, particularly pronounced to the modulated wavefront through the adaptive optics. Thus, in the test image a portion of an image error can be traversed in scanning mode and the wavefront can be deformed in such a way that only one individual image error is changed or compensated. By way of the test image that has been determined by the patient, by way of iterative analysis, to be subjectively the most distortion-free test image, a subjectively aberrations-free image is produced on the eye.
The control system is preferably a computer. The adaptive optics can be controlled by way of the control system, and with it one can determine the correction data for the correction of eye aberrations. This control system preferably comprises a computer which controls n x m micro-optics elements, whereby each element can be individually controlled in terms of angle of inclination and in terms of adjustment of height. This, means that the wavefront can be changed in a localized defined manner.
The correction data are preferably utilized to determine an optimal, patient-specific, refractive element. Refractive elements preferably comprise IOLs (intra ocular inserts), ICLs (implantable contact lenses), contact lenses, and spectacle glasses. It is particularly preferred that the correction data are utilized to determine the beam alignment for a contemplated laser treatment of the eye, particularly of the cornea.
It is preferred that the adaptive optics is comprised of a plurality of mirrors that can be individually adjusted. These individual mirrors can be repositioned in conformity with the subjective judgement of the patient in such a way that the mapped test image is subjectively and optimally viewed by the patient. Thus, by means of the adaptive optics, the selected test images, and the corresponding evaluation algorithms, the actively physiologically evaluated mirror positions can be converted into correction data for a correction of eye aberrations, so as to provide an optimal faculty of vision for a patient. The mirror positions in their entirety define a data set which describes that correction that has been sensed to be the optimal correction, based on the adaptive optics: the adaptive data.
It is particularly preferred that the adaptive optics is configured substantially as a segment of a sphere. This makes it possible to determine the correction data from the normals of the positioned mirrors, because the adaptive optics in the configuration of a segment of a sphere corresponds directly to the outer shape of the eye. This obviates otherwise required conversion of the sensed parameters into the correction data.
In a particularly preferred embodiment according to one aspect of the present invention, a control system is contemplated, which serves to align or adjust the position or attitude of the adaptive optics. In this manner, through changes of the individual mirrors any aberration behavior or condition of an eye can be compensated and the test images for specially preselected aberrations in the human eye thus displayed can be processed. By means of this control system it is also possible to display predetermined sets of aberrations of higher-orders and these can be evaluated in a dialogue with the patient. It is particularly preferable that by means of the control system, the adaptive optics, in the scanning mode, tests a series of eye aberrations, to thereby determine the optimal setting of the adaptive optics for an optimal faculty of vision of the patient.
In a preferred embodiment of one aspect of the present invention, the embodiment comprises an aberrations measuring arrangement, particularly an aberrations measuring device, such as, an aberroscope or aberrometer, for the determination of aberration data which correspond to the objective aberrations of the eye. Such aberrations measuring arrangements, for example, refractometers, or aberroscopes, and/or wavefront analyzing or measuring apparatus, can determine the objective eye aberrations and, for verification of the computed correction values of the patient, they can be confirmed or corrected by the patient by way of an adaptive optics.
Thus, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, subjective correction values, obtained by means of an adaptive optics, and objective correction values, obtained by means of an aberroscope, can be advantageously combined.
It is particularly preferred that the correction data for the correction of eye aberrations are determined by means of a second control system. It is preferred that this second control system comprises a computer. By means of applicable software, the set of correction data can be established, on the basis of adaptive data or, respectively, aberration data. It is preferred that the aberration data are determined as rough or approximate values, so at to determine the adaptive data, by way of a subjective assessment of the test images, by means of the adaptive optics, and to utilize such adaptive data as basis for the correction data. It is also within the scope of the invention that use is made of the average or mean value of the adaptive data and of the average or mean value of the aberration data as the basis for the correction data.
The object of one aspect of the present invention is also particularly accomplished by a method for the determination of correction data for the correction of eye aberrations, in which method in a first step are determined, by means of an adaptive optics, adaptive data relating to a subjectively optimal correction adjustment of the eye, and in a further step are determined the correction data for the eye corrections which correction data are based on the adaptive data. It is an advantage of this method that the correction data are obtained in an a priori active, physiologically assessed metrological method, such correction data serving to correct vision defects of the eye, such vision defects negatively impacting the faculty of vision. This means that no longer does use need to be made of an error-prone determination of objective display errors in a dynamic-organic display apparatus in which determination no use is made of the characteristics, or features, of the signal processing by the human nervous system, respectively the brain. In a dialogue with the patient, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, by means of the adaptive optics, those values are determined which correspond to the optimal correction condition; this may be different from the condition which was found to be the optimal condition in an objective assessment.
In a preferred embodiment of one aspect of the present invention, additional aberration data are gathered which correspond to the objective aberrations of the eye and the correction data are determined on the basis of the adaptive data and the aberration data. By way of a comparison of the subjectively determined data and the objectively determined data, it is possible to point to the importance of the physiological influences of the image processing.
It is particularly preferred that with the aid of objective metrological methods, using the aberrations measuring arrangements or, respectively, the mentioned measuring devices, the coarse or significant correction values are determined and they are utilized as a starting point for the further determination of the final correction data by way of the subjective method, that is, a method comprising an active physiological assessment.
In a preferred method of one aspect of the present invention the adaptive data for a subjectively optimal correction condition of the eye are obtained by a subjective assessment of modified test images by the patient, modified by the change of mirror positions of mirrors of the adaptive optics. The change of the mirror position of the individual small mirrors allows one to compensate for any aberration condition of the eye. The position of the individual small mirrors, or micromirrors, is then establishing that condition which affords the maximum of compensation for the eye aberrations of the patient. The position parameters of the individual small mirrors, accordingly, correspond to the subjectively optimal correction of the eye aberrations. These position parameters of the mirrors can easily be captured and provide a good utilization basis for the determination of the adaptive data and/or the correction data.
The above-discussed embodiments of the present invention will be described further hereinbelow. When the word xe2x80x9cinventionxe2x80x9d is used in this specification, the word xe2x80x9cinventionxe2x80x9d includes xe2x80x9cinventionsxe2x80x9d, that is the plural of xe2x80x9cinventionxe2x80x9d. By stating xe2x80x9cinventionxe2x80x9d, the Applicants do not in any way admit that the present application does not include more than one patentably and non-obviously distinct invention, and maintains that this application may include more than one patentably and non-obviously distinct invention. The Applicants hereby assert that the disclosure of this application may include more than one invention, and, in the event that there is more than one invention, that these inventions may be patentable and non-obvious one with respect to the other.

Method for determining vision defects and for collecting data for correcting vision defects of the eye by interaction of a patient with an examiner and apparatus therefor


A novel process for preparing 2-diazo-3-trisubstituted silyloxy-3-butenoates, synthons useful in the conversion of 3-substituted-4-acetoxy azetidinones and penicillin to thienamycin, imipenem and other carbapenem antibiotic compounds is provided, comprising the reaction of the appropriate diazo acetoacetate with the substituted silane, base and salt.

The instant invention relates to a novel process for preparing 2-diazo-3-trimethylsilyloxy-3-butenoates.
1-(4-Nitrobenzyl)-1-oxo-2-diazo-3-(trimethyl silyloxy) butene has been described (U.S. Pat. No. 4,525,582) as a synthon used in the conversion of 3-substituted-4-acetoxy azetidinones and penicillin to thienamycin.
A different process than this invention for preparing one of the silyloxy-3-butenoates, described as a key intermediate used in the synthesis of thienamycin and other carbapenem antibiotics, has been disclosed (U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,296) wherein a triflate silylating agent and a base were reacted with a p-nitrobenzyl diazoacetoacetate. This patent makes specific reference to the "use of weaker organic bases such as trialkylamines with the triorganic silyl halide silylating agent" which "does not produce the desired enol silyl ester" of this specific p-nitrobenzyl diazoacetoacetate.
The general reaction for converting simple nonfunctionalized ketones to silyl enol ethers has been previously described by Cazeau, et al. (Tetrahedron, 43, 2075-2088(1987)).
It is the object of the instant invention to provide a novel process for the preparation of diazosilyloxybutenoates which are useful in the synthesis of carbapenem antibiotic compounds.

Process for the preparation of 2-diazo-3-trisubstituted silyloxy 3-butenoates


A process for treating a water stream produced in the recovery of heavy oil from geological formations. The process includes use of a heat exchange unit having at least one tube having a multi-layer coating. The multi-layer coating includes a melt flowable copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene adhered to the interior surface or exterior surface of the tube.

As the world's supply of conventional light crude is slowly diminished, challenging resources like the oil sands have become more economically attractive as sources of heavy, viscous oil also referred to as bitumen. Many methods for the production of heavy oil from geologic formations employ heated water and/or steam as the fluid medium to transfer heat to the targeted deposit, thereby reducing the viscosity of the hydrocarbon and allowing for more economic extraction of the heavy oil component. Two common thermal steam methods are Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) and Cyclic Steam Stimulation (CSS). When steam or warm water is injected into a reservoir for this purpose, there is generally a significant amount of water carried along with the produced oil stream in the form of an emulsion. Water must be separated from this emulsion to yield relatively pure heavy oil or hydrocarbon for sale and pipelining. In many heavy oil operations, it is critical to further treat the separated produced water so that it may be recycled and reinjected downhole as liquid or steam to continue the heavy oil extraction process. In the specific case of SAGD operations, produced water must undergo significant treatment to ensure it is of sufficient quality (purity) for use as feed to once-through steam generators (OTSGs) or drum boilers typically used for the generation of steam for injection downhole into underground geological formations. Cyclic Steam Stimulation (CSS) is an example of another method for recovering heavy oil that involves injection of steam and treats the water stream produced in recovering the heavy oil. Whereas SAGD is a continuous injection process, CSS employs a cyclic process wherein the steam is injected and allowed to soak into the reservoir for a period of weeks or months before the well is switched to production.
A major concern with the use of heat exchangers for the heating and cooling of produced water streams in heavy oil processing is the propensity of these units to foul with various constituents of the treated stream. Hydrocarbon components such as bitumen and asphaltenes are notoriously tenacious foulants that adhere readily to tube walls and process equipment, thereby severely reducing the heat transfer capacity of the heat exchanger and, in many cases, restricting the maximum throughput of the entire water treatment system. The SAGD water treatment process in particular is prone to extreme fouling due to the high concentrations of asphaltenes, organic acids, scaling compounds and various dissolved or suspended solids that must be separated from the treated water stream before it can be reboiled to produce steam. Treatment of water in heavy oil operations is more fully explained in U.S. Pat. No. 7,077,201 B2 to Heins of GE Ionics, Inc.
One possible solution proposes to prevent fouling by coating the tube surfaces with epoxy coatings. However, such epoxy coatings have not been able to reduce extreme fouling.
SAGD operators have implemented numerous measures to mitigate the heat exchanger fouling problems with minimal success to date. Advanced cleaning methods, including chemical injection, heat sweeping and flow pulsing have been employed with little financial or productive benefit, while alternate exchanger designs (i.e., helically baffled, spiral-wound, etc) have also been employed more recently. Initial indications are that these alternate designs have little impact on the fouling rates observed at SAGD sites.
In WO 2009/014596 to Chakrabarty to Exxon Mobil Upstream Research Company, the problem of fouling in vessels used in a paraffinic froth treatment process which extracts bitumen from mined oil sands is discussed. Although fluorocarbon polymers adhered to the surface of a vessel or conduit are described as producing a reduction in the fouling observed on the surface, surfaces of molded PTFE are exemplified while sprayed fluoropolymers, especially those containing additives or fillers, were found to be ineffective.

Process for treating water in heavy oil production using coated heat exchange units


A time of flight velocimeter wherein a radiation source projects two parallel beams into an air mass. Each of the parallel beams converges into a waist portion. As an aerosol particle moves through the waist portion, part of the radiation of each of the beams is backscattered. This backscattered radiation is focused onto two detectors, one for each beam. Signals from the detectors, generated in response to the backscattered radiation, are processed to determine the velocity of the particle which has passed through the waist portion of the two beams.

The three components of an aircraft's velocity are currently determined by comparing the stagnation pressure, measured by a pitot tube, with static pressure. Such devices are simple, reliable, relatively inexpensive and reasonably accurate. By their very nature, however, they must make their measurements in a region of space which is in close proximity to the aircraft and hence is disturbed by the presence of the aircraft itself. The pitot tubes, which protrude into the air mass, have the disadvantage of disturbing the very air mass which they are sensing. This problem becomes particularly acute near the speed of sound where the shock waves generated by the motion of the aircraft can significantly disturb the actual measurement. Pitot tubes and similar sensing elements increase drag on an air frame. In addition, prior art pneumatic systems have slow response times and are inaccurate at low velocities. As the accuracy of measurement of the parameter being measured decreases, the accuracy with which the aircraft can be controlled decreases. Accordingly, fuel and maintenance costs increase.
Another prior art technique for measuring gas velocities is one utilizing the laser Doppler principle and depends upon aerosol particles being constrained in the air. Aerosol particles are particles of water, dust or pollen that occur naturally in the atmosphere and range in size from several tens of microns down to almost molecular sizes. The smaller aerosol particles are actually entrained within the airstream and follow its motion exactly. Since these particles scatter light, it is possible to detect both their presence and motion. Thus by measuring the motion of the aerosol particles with respect to the aircraft, it is possible to deduce the velocity of the aircraft with respect to the air mass through which it is moving.
The laser Doppler velocimeter generates, in a volume remote from the aircraft, a fringe pattern resulting from constructive and destructive interference of two coherent beams of light. An aerosol particle traversing these fringes will alternately scatter light when it is in a region of constructive interference and not scatter light when it is in a region of destructive interference. A portion of the light is scattered back to the aircraft. Since the spacing between the fringes is known, the component of the aerosol particle's velocity normal to the fringe direction can be calculated by measuring the frequency of the back-scattered signal and combining this frequency with wavelength and beam separation parameters. As an example of a prior art device embodying the above principles, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,979 entitled "Compact Radiation Fringe Velocimeter for Measuring in Three Dimensions."
The laser Doppler velocimeter approach overcomes the disadvantages of the mechanical-pneumatic approach. It, however, does have the disadvantages of having a low sampling rate at high altitudes due to the absence of larger particles and consequently low data rates. It also requires coherent source and high energy to overcome background noise.
Accordingly, the present invention contemplates providing an improved non-invasive optical velocimeter which adds no drag to the aircraft's air frame, operates quickly and accurately, operates at low velocities, and has a high sampling rate and high data rates. In addition, the present invention is less susceptible to background noise.


An emotion recognition apparatus and method are provided. The emotion recognition apparatus acquires a first emotion factor and a second emotion factor of an emotion model. An emotional state of a user is estimated based on the first emotion factor and the second emotion factor. The emotion recognition apparatus may also acquire a third emotion factor of the emotion model.

1. Field
The following description relates to a technique for estimating the emotional state of a user of a terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, smart phones or tablet PCs have been designed to have hardware performance able to provide a variety of functions and services. In particular, a number of smart phones or tablet PCs provide context-awareness services that are characterized by providing various functions in consideration of the context of a user. Even though context awareness is still at a relatively early stage, high-quality intelligent services that involve complicated reasoning processes may become available in the near future.
In the meantime, studies from fields such as brain science or psychology show that emotions have a greater influence than reason on the human thinking process. Since the amount of time that it takes for the emotional brain to process sensory information is only about one fifth of the amount of time that it takes for the rational brain to process sensory information, people typically feel an emotion before coming up with a thought or making a decision. Accordingly, it may be argued that one's emotional state is reflected in his or her desire or decision-making process.
If a mobile terminal is able to estimate the emotion of a user, the mobile terminal may provide more relevant services such as, for example, providing services suitable for the current emotional state of the user.

Emotion recognition apparatus and method


A modular and scalable high optical fiber count connector assembly (800) is formed by engagement mating of a plug connector (500) to a receptacle connector (700). The plug connector (500) includes a plug shell unit (200) and a pin subassembly unit (400), which includes a plurality of small form factor engagement mate pin connectors (100). The plug connector (500) is formed by inserting the pin subassembly unit (400) into the plug shell unit's (200) hollow body (230). The receptacle connector (700) includes a receptacle shell unit (300) and a socket subassembly unit (600), which includes a plurality of small form factor engagement mate socket connectors (150). The receptacle connector (700) is formed by inserting the socket subassembly unit (600) into the receptacle shell unit (300) hollow body (330).

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a modular and scalable high optical-fiber count wet engagement mate connector assembly.
2. Background Art
There are many types of connectors for making connections of optical-fiber cables in underwater, high-pressure, and other harsh environments. Such connectors typically comprise a plug unit containing pin connectors with cable rear ends and pin contact forward ends, and a receptacle unit containing complementary (equivalent) socket connectors with cable rear ends and socket contact forward ends for mate engagement with the pin contacts. Typically, the plug unit pin contacts extend into the receptacle unit when the plug and receptacle units are connected. The wet (underwater) connectors are designed for a limited number of mate/demate cycles, which are performed by a diver or a remotely operated underwater vehicle, as compared to non-underwater connectors. This limitation is due to small amounts of water and contaminates getting into the connector each time it is mated.
A known wet-mate connector is disclosed in US Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0045146 to Carl Stoesz. A further known wet-mate connector assembly for fiber optics (model G3) is available from Sea Con of Bellville, Tex.
A variety of sealing mechanisms are being used for achieving wet engagement mate of the pin and socket connectors. Typically, for wet engagement mate connections, both the socket and pin connector contacts reside in a pressure-balanced sealed fluid-filled chamber. These designs are inherently compatible with any ocean depth since the operating surfaces see essentially no differential in pressure. During engagement mating, as the plug and receptacle units come together, the seals exclude any external fluid and particulate debris. As the mating occurs, both fluid chamber and seals simultaneously move or change shape opening a clean, compensation fluid filled path between the plug and receptacle internal volumes. The final mating step passes the plug unit contact pins through opening seals and aligns them to the receptacle socket contacts creating a clean physical connection. In this operational sequence, the pin and socket connector contacts are never exposed to the external environment before, during, or after mating, ensuring a long-term, reliable optical connection. To demonstrate survivability in harsh underwater environments, the wet-mate connectors are subjected to mechanical shock, vibration, and extensive thermal and pressure qualification testing. In addition, qualification testing can include turbid tank mate/demate testing to ensure survivability in harsh near bottom water conditions. In these tests, the connector is placed in a tank filled with a fully agitated sand/silt mixture. The connector is then repeatedly mated and demated to ensure successful and reliable operation.
The individual pin and socket wet-mate connectors that are contained in the plug and receptacle connector units, respectively, are typically enclosed in protective housing and have alignment and latching features for pin to socket mate engagement. Each individual pin and socket connector can accommodate multiple optical fibers with a range of four to eight fibers being a typical number. With optical fibers being used in various types of sensor arrays, and in broadband telecommunication applications including voice, video, and data transmission, connectors that can simultaneously connect a large number of optical fibers at a single connection point are highly desirable.
It is therefore desirable to provide a wet-mate connector capable of accommodating high optical-fiber counts in a modular scalable package with relatively low physical size and weight. It should be noted that while a number of noteworthy advances and technological improvements have been achieved within the art of pin and socket wet-mate connectors, none completely fulfill the specific objectives achieved by this invention.


The methods disclosed herein relate to the treatment of skin infections in dogs, by administering a therapeutically effective amount of norketotifen. Therapeutic antimicrobial activity of norketotifen against Malassezia sp. is described.

Ketotifen (Zaditen®, Zaditor®, Sandoz, Novartis) is a Generation-1 antihistamine that is mainly used for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Ketotifen may be the most sedating of all marketed antihistamines and the unusually severe sedative side effects of ketotifen have limited the therapeutic usefulness of the drug. In the USA, ketotifen is only used as eye drops (Zaditor®, Novartis) to alleviate the symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis in humans and does not cause sedation due to the extremely low systemic concentrations of the drug after local administration to the eyes.
Norketotifen, an active metabolite of ketotifen, is an achiral molecule, but has two atropisomers, S-norketotifen and R-norketotifen, as has previously been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,226,934 and 7,557,128. As explained in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,226,934 and 7,557,128, norketotifen also has a significant sedation effect when studied in the art-accepted mouse model of sedation, and further, the sedative effects were attributed to the R-isomer. It was thus proposed that only the S-isomer could be administered without significant sedation effects.
Approximately 1500 fungi have been described, and some of them exist normally on the skin of various mammal species, including dogs, cats and humans. Malassezia species form a family of 6 to 10 lipolytic fungi. Overgrowth of Malassezia species causes toxic or immunological reactions and contributes to various dermal diseases and conditions, such as for example, adult seborrheic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, dandruff, Malassezia dermatitis, Malassezia folliculitis, pityriasis versicolor, psoriasis, rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis and tinea. These disorders are typically treated with medication for the underlying condition in combination with an antifungal medication that can be administered orally or topically to the skin.
What is needed are methods of treating inflammatory and infectious dermal disorders without causing sedation or the much feared side effects of current medications for such diseases in dogs, which consist of corticosteroids and immunosuppressant drugs. Also needed are improved topical treatments for dermal disorders.

Medicinal treatment of dermal diseases in companion animals


Disclosed are various embodiments for identifying relationships between items included in user-created item lists and a predefined set of keywords based at least in part upon a comparison of the item list titles and the keywords. Each item lists title may be compared with the set of keywords to determine if any of the title terms in the item list title matches any of the keywords. If a match is detected, each of the items included in the item list are associated with the matching keyword. Items that are associated with a particular keyword based on the comparison may be added to an item category corresponding to the keyword.

Categorization of items involves placing groups of items into different categories based on some sort of determined relationship. Items may be placed into specific categories based on a relationship between the item and the type of item category. However, occasionally items that should be placed in a particular category fail to be identified for that category due to lack of data associated with the item that describes the relationship.

Categorizing items using user created data


Provided is a measuring chip, a measuring device and a measuring method, which are capable of performing a more simple and highly accurate measurement than the conventional measurement. Light introduced into an incoming part may propagate while totally reflecting within a propagating part of a propagation layer. A phase shift amount in the total internal reflection may be different between sections of an upper surface of the propagation layer where a ligand is formed and where a ligand is not formed. When an analyte is adsorbed to the ligand, the phase shift amount in the reflection may become larger than before attaching the analyte. As a result, a beam pattern of the light outputted from an outgoing part may change.

Conventionally, as measuring devices which conduct genetic analysis, clinical diagnosis, or hazardous substance detection etc., a measuring device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is proposed, for example.
The measuring device of Patent Document 1 uses surface plasmon resonance and measures a change in a refractive index which occurs depending on whether a detected object is adsorbed.

Measuring chip, measuring device and measuring method


A network of nodes interconnected by links, such as a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) ring network, is modeled by a delayed graph in which propagation delay between nodes is accounted for. Given the delayed graph, a traffic matrix for an admissible traffic pattern is scheduled over a frame period. Scheduling of the traffic matrix formulates a set of scheduling constraints based on the delays and decomposes the traffic matrix into a set of transmission matrices. Each of the set of transmission matrices is scheduled over the frame period.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to scheduling data transfer between nodes in a communications network, and, more particularly, to generating a schedule using graphs.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) is commonly employed for optical transport networks. WDM technology is applied to both optical ring architectures and mesh networks. A transport WDM optical ring consists of a number N of nodes connected through optical links in a ring topology. Each node can add or drop one or more wavelengths, and each node passes-through the rest of the wavelengths. In many WDM systems, a dedicated wavelength is assigned between any two nodes requiring a communication path, and traffic management is performed with wavelength granularity.
The cost of each WDM node is determined by: i) the number of optical transmitters and receivers corresponding to the number of wavelengths that are added/dropped at each node and ii) the circuitry and memory bandwidth required to process traffic that is added/dropped at each node. In the worst case, which is observed in the case of uniform traffic demands, every node requires a communication path to every other node in the ring, and each node must support at least N transmitters and N receivers.
One problem associated with WDM optical rings is that the granularity of traffic demands is determined by the wavelength granularity, which leads to inefficient resource utilization. If traffic demands are lower than the bandwidth available on a wavelength, then the point-to-point (node-to-node) wavelengths are underutilized. For example, if each wavelength supports a data rate (bandwidth) of 10 Gbp/s, and traffic demand rates are 1 Gbps each, then 90% of the available wavelength bandwidth remains unused.
To increase resource utilization, a WDM optical ring can be implemented with electronic grooming devices. With electronic grooming devices, a wavelength is i) dropped at a node and demultiplexed and/or ii) multiplexed with local traffic and added back to the ring. Although the number of separate wavelength transmitters and/or receivers can be reduced with electronic grooming as opposed to optical grooming, grooming devices add to the network cost. This network cost can be high in terms of equipment cost, added cost of controlling additional devices, sparing, and network management support.
Alternatively, grooming or packet multiplexing services may include optical technologies that are based on optical packet or burst switching. Packet or burst switching allows for sharing of a wavelength between multiple transmitters/receivers in the optical domain and without the need for additional electronic devices. In ring networks, three methods can be used for switching. The first method employs tunable transmitters and fixed receivers (TTFR). With the TTFR method, traffic is transmitted in terms of packets or bursts, and communication between two nodes occurs by tuning the wavelength of the transmitter to the fixed wavelength associated with the receiver. The second method employs fixed transmitters and tunable receivers (FTTR). With the FTTR method, traffic is transmitted in terms of packets or bursts, and communication between two nodes is on a fixed wavelength of the transmitter. The receiver tunes to the wavelength it wishes to receive (equivalent to a "broadcast-and-select" architecture). A third method allows both tunable transmitters and tunable receivers (TTTR), thus providing further flexibility.
Implementing TTFR, FTTR, and TTTR architectures without substantial loss of bandwidth due to slow tuning times of the optical components requires fast tunable lasers in the transmitter or fast tunable optical detectors in the receiver. Recent developments in optical technologies have demonstrated fast tunable lasers with less than 50 ns tuning time. Tuning time might be further reduced to less than Ins using integrated multi-frequency lasers (MFLs).
A requirement of operation of a WDM optical ring with the TTFR method is that data from two transmitters cannot arrive at the same receiver at the same time, since a given transmitter sends only to one receiver at any given burst (or "time-slot"). When the data from two transmitters arrives at the same receiver, a conflict arises and data is corrupted at the receiver. Propagation delay may cause packets on a given wavelength sent from nodes distant to a given node to overlap packets that are sent from nearer nodes which the given node is attempting to receive. Similar conflicts arise in FTTR and TTTR rings. Therefore, a "contention resolution" mechanism is necessary to prevent such conflicts.
FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C illustrate the problem of scheduling in a TTFR ring with long propagation delays. FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C each show an exemplary WDM optical ring 100 having three nodes, N1, N2, and N3, where the three nodes are interconnected by equidistant links and where each node/link supports 3 wavelengths. Each link length corresponds to a 1 μs propagation delay (e.g., resulting from a 330 m-distance fiber). WDM optical ring 100 includes a simple traffic matrix that describes the required transfer of packet or burst traffic data between a given pair of network nodes. A traffic matrix is also known as a demand matrix or rate matrix.
For WDM optical ring 100, the traffic matrix specifies every node requires capacity equal to 50% of the wavelength bandwidth to communicate with the other two nodes in the ring. In other words, during one time-slot the node tunes the transmitter to send on one wavelength to one node, and in the next time-slot the node tunes the transmitter to send on the other wavelength to the other node. For WDM optical ring 100, the time-slot (burst) length is 1 μs (i.e., the time-slot length equals the propagation delay). A simple TDMA scheduling of the traffic matrix that achieves this traffic distribution under zero propagation delays is given in Table 1.
TABLE 1NodeDestination NodeDestination NodeDestination NodeNumberIn Time-Slot 1In Time-Slot 2In Time-Slot 3123223133121
Referring to FIG. 1A, at time-slot 1, node N1 transmits packet 101 to node N2, node N2 transmits packet 102 to node N3, and node N3 transmits packet 103 to node N1. Referring to FIG. 1B, at time-slot 2, packets 101, 102, and 103 have reached their destination nodes N2, N3, and N1, respectively. In addition, at time-slot 2, node N1 transmits packet 111 to node N3, node N2 transmits packet 112 to node N1, and node N3 transmits packet 113 to node N2. Thus, during time-slot 2, each packet that a node generates now must traverse one intermediate node before receipt at the destination node.
Referring to FIG. 1C, at time-slot 3, a conflict arises. At time-slot 3, intermediate node N1 attempts to forward packet 113 to the corresponding destination node N2, intermediate node N2 attempts to forward packet 111 to the corresponding destination node N3, and intermediate node N3 attempts to forward packet 112 to the corresponding destination node N1. However, at time-slot 3, the scheduling matrix dictates that node N1 transmit packet 121 to node N2, node N2 transmit packet 122 to node N3, and node N3 transmit packet 123 to node N1. Therefore, at time-slot 3, all three nodes N1, N2, and N3 are attempting to transmit packet data in the same wavelength that is already used by a previous node. For example, node N1 attempts to transmit packet 121 to node N2 while also attempting to forward packet 113 to node N2. The contention illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C shows that simple scheduling, such as is typically defined in TDMA networks, does not provide 100% throughput in a TTFR ring with large propagation delays.
Two different methods of the prior art might be employed for contention resolution in WDM packet-switched rings. One method is based on per-wavelength power detectors, and the other method is based on an independent control channel. In both of these methods, each node detects the wavelengths that are currently passing through the node, and each node selects an available wavelength (and thus destination) for transmission based on a Medium Access Protocol (MAC).
Contention resolution for networks with propagation delays is not restricted to WDM optical ring networks. In general, contention resolution of the prior art may be extended to other networks of nodes employing switching where scheduling of a traffic matrix accounts for propagation delays.

Scheduling with delayed graphs for communication networks


A security chassis for a secure area in the interior of a secure housing having a supporting frame for the printing mechanism in the non-secure area, a printing module being arranged such that it can move in the supporting frame and being protected mechanically against unauthorized access. The supporting frame is supported on at least one functional edge of at least one chassis shell, and at least two mutually spaced chassis shells surround the secure area. The at least one functional edge has ventilation openings formed at its margin. The geometric shape of the edge of the functional edge making penetration of tools into the secure area enclosed by the two chassis shells impossible.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a security chassis for a secure area in the interior of a security housing. The configuration has a supporting frame for the printing mechanism in the non-secure area, a printing module being arranged such that it can move in the supporting frame and being protected mechanically against unauthorized access. The invention is suitable for devices which have an internal secure area and from which excess heat is to be dissipated. It is used in particular in franking machines, addressing machines and other mail-processing devices.
A thermal transfer franking machine distributed by Francotyp-Postalia of Germany, the assignee of this application, under the designation T1000 has a thermal transfer print head arranged permanently in the housing for printing a franking stamp. The franking stamp contains postal information previously entered and stored, including the postal charge data for the carriage of the letter. A compartment fitted to the housing is used to accommodate a replaceable ink-ribbon cassette (U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,228). While a door leading to the compartment can be opened at any time, access to the secure area of the printing device is prevented by a security housing.
If a franking machine is to be opened for repair purposes, break-off screws belonging to the security housing have to be destroyed. In franking machines and other mail-processing devices having a security housing, lead seals or plastic parts may additionally be used as a further protection against access to the microprocessor controller and to the control lines of the stationary print head. Following a repair which requires the security housing to be opened, break-off screws belonging to the security housing, lead seals or the plastic parts serving to prevent access must be replaced.
The JetMail(copyright) franking machine of Francotyp-Postalia is equipped with a base and a removable meter. Only the latter is protected against misuse by an appropriately designed housing. As distinct from this, the housing of the base, which contains a mail transport device and an inkjet printing device, does not have to have any protective function and can be of repair-friendly design. Since the ink reservoir of the print head is arranged separately and can be replaced, replacement of the print head is dispensed with. In addition, no special security measures for the print head or to protect the drive and data signals have to be taken if, using a specific piezoelectric inkjet print head, a security stamp with a mark is printed which permits rechecking of the authenticity of the security stamp (U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,704).
Inkjet print heads have also already been used in the printing module in franking machines having a security housing, that is to say without a separate housing for base and separable meter (for example, in mymail(copyright) of Francotyp-Postalia, in Personal Post(trademark) of Pitney Bowes, and the PortoStar of Neopost). An ink reservoir and a bubble jet print head are integrated into a replaceable ink cartridge, as previously known, for example, from the half-inch ink cartridges of Hewlett Packard. However, it must be possible for a hatch in the security housing to be opened by the user in order to remove or replace an empty ink cartridge. Because of the access to the printing mechanism which is therefore made possible and, possibly, to the printer electronics or making contact with the ink cartridge, the result may be new possibilities for producing an unauthentic security stamp. Some postal authorities place strict requirements on the approval of franking machines, which makes their producers equip such ink cartridges with additional security means or take suitable protective measures, so that influence can be exerted neither indirectly via manipulated ink cartridges or directly on the printing operation in order to print franking stamps without paying for them.
In addition to the purely electronic solutions, solutions are already known which mechanically prevent a further printing device being controlled impermissibly with the printing data during the printing operation. According to U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,534 or published European patent application EP 875 861 A2, a franking machine for franking printing can be operated only when a hatch is closed. However, the hatch must continue to be open in order to remove or replace an empty ink cartridge. A secure area in the interior of the device housing is not particularly protected in any of the aforementioned solutions.
European patent application EP 1 024 682 A2 discloses a security housing which comprises two housing shells, their side walls overlapping one another in the assembled state. The two housing shells enclose the inner secure area having a circuit board on which a controller is constructed. However, no dissipation of heat by means of forced convection is provided. However, if ventilation slots were to be provided for heat dissipation, then the inner area would either have to be viewed as no longer secured or the production costs of the housing shells would become unacceptably high.
However, the user of a franking machine is to continue to be provided with the possibility of removing or replacing an ink cartridge without there being a possibility for manipulation through an opening required for this purpose, in order to penetrate into the inner secure area.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a security chassis, which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and which provides for a housing construction with internal chassis parts that cover the inner secure area and permit heat dissipation by means of forced convection of the air stream to the outside, with low production costs.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a security chassis for the secure area in the interior of the security housing, the security housing having an interior with a secure area and a non-secure area and a printing mechanism disposed therein. The configuration comprises:
at least two mutually spaced-apart chassis shells enclosing the secure area, one of the chassis shells having a functional edge;
a supporting frame for the printing mechanism in the non-secure area supported on the functional edge of the one chassis shell, and a printing module movably disposed in the supporting frame and protected mechanically against unauthorized access;
the functional edge having ventilation openings formed in a margin thereof, the margin of the functional edge and the ventilation openings having a geometric shape rendering penetration of tools into the secure area enclosed by the at least two chassis shells substantially impossible.
In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the ventilation openings at the margin of the functional edges are formed in mutually offset rows.
In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the chassis shells include a first chassis shell having an edge formed with ventilation openings and a second chassis shell spaced apart from the first chassis shell formed with ventilation openings at the margin of the functional edges thereof.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the margins of the chassis shells wrap around one another and are shaped at an angle rendering impossible a penetration of tools.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, at least one of the functional edges is configured in an L shape.
In accordance with again a further feature of the invention, at least one of the functional edges of at least one of the chassis shells is configured in a U shape or an inverted U shape.
In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the offset between the rows is configured only to render impossible a penetration of tools into the secure area along a rectilinear path.
In other words, inside the security housing there is at least one secure area and at least one non-secure area. Only authorized persons, such as service engineers, are authorized to make access to both areas and may open the security housing. By means of a housing construction with internal chassis parts, the secure area in the interior of the security housing is protected against unauthorized access. At least two chassis shells spaced apart from each other surround the secure area. A supporting frame for the printing mechanism in the non-secure area is supported on at least one functional edge of at least one chassis shell. A printing module is arranged such that it can move in the supporting frame and is protected mechanically against unauthorized access. In this case, the starting point is the thought that the mutually spaced functional edges have ventilation openings formed at their edge, the geometric shape of the edge of the functional edges making penetration of tools into the secure area enclosed by the two chassis shells impossible. Provision is made for the ventilation openings at the edge of the functional edges to be arranged in the form of mutually offset rows, the offset being only such that penetration of tools into the secure area on a rectilinear path is made impossible. Ventilation openings are arranged at the edge of a first chassis shell and at the edge of functional edges of a second chassis shell spaced apart from the first. The edges of the chassis shells, which wrap around each other, are, at the same time, shaped at an angle which makes penetration of tools impossible, at least one of the functional edges of at least one of the chassis shells being configured in a U shape or in an inverted ∩ shape or L shape. As a result of this design, the weight and the forces acting in the printing mechanism are dissipated via the supporting frame onto the upper chassis shell and from the latter via the lower chassis shell onto the lower housing part. The printing mechanism is advantageously easily accessible for service and for the ink cartridge change, and good dissipation of heat is ensured, nevertheless chassis parts cover the inner secure area.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a security chassis, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.


Replicable libraries having discrete members in defined locations for screening for antigens to a pathogenic organism are provided. Also provided are methods for using such libraries as well as a specific antigen, CT788, which induces T-cell activation during a Chlamydia infection.

Excitement around vaccine technologies has renewed over the past few years, driven by the emergence of new disease threats to humanity, the reemergence of previously curable diseases in the Western World such as TB, the threat of bioterrorism, and increasing evidence that cancers can be treated by vaccination, as long as the right antigens can be found. Infectious diseases still remain as one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, killing more than 13 million young adults and children annually. TB alone is responsible for 2 million deaths annually, while it is estimated that combined over 3 million individuals die from malaria and AIDS each year. New emerging or reemerging infectious diseases, such as SARS or Avian flu, also pose a continual threat to global world health. Many infectious diseases, such as malaria, TB, AIDS, SARS, and influenza are caused by intracellular pathogens that are capable of growing and spreading directly within human cells. Because intracellular pathogens grow sequestered within host cells, the humoral (antibody) immune response is often ineffective in generating protective immunity.
When they work, vaccines are one of the most effective ways of preventing and treating disease. Unfortunately, many research and clinical vaccine programs have a low probability of success because, prior to the present invention, there was no way to screen all possible antigens or predict which ones will be effective.
Thus, there is a need for new strategies to develop effective vaccines for the treatment of infectious diseases and cancer.

Compositions for and methods of identifying antigens

President and Fellows of Harvard College