An electrophotographic toner contains a resin, a colorant and a releasing agent. The releasing agent has a solidifying point of from 79° C. to 109° C., and one peak in an endothermic curve measured by a differential scanning calorimeter. A difference between temperature to give a maximum endothermic peak of the releasing agent and an end-set temperature of the releasing agent is within 10° C. A melt viscosity of the releasing agent at 110° C. is in a range of from 4 mPa·s to 9 mPa·s. The releasing agent in one particle of the toner forms 3 or more domains. Domains having a ratio of a major axis to a minor axis which is in a range of from 5 to 15 occupy 90% or more by number based on the total number of domains.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toner for an electrostatic charge development for use in an electrophotography and a method for producing the toner.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming method for visualizing image information via an electrostatic charge image by an electrophotographic method is now utilized in various fields. In recent years, with development of digitalization or a high-grade image processing technique, a technique for obtaining a higher quality image has been required.
Regarding such requirement for the high quality image, It has been in progress to bring the toner for the electrostatic charge development into that having a small size and a uniform particle size distribution. In a conventional knead-grinding method, there is a limitation in bring it into that having the small size. With reference to bring it into that having the uniform particle size distribution, even when the toner is allowed to pass through a classification step, it can not sufficiently be responded to bring the image into that having a high quality.
Further, a consideration to the environment, a low energy consumption, a low cost and a long period of life time are required for the toner for the electrostatic charge development. As measures for attaining these features, from the standpoint of a fixation technique, oilless fixing for the long period of life time, and a low-temperature high-speed fixation for the low energy consumption and the low cost can be mentioned. As for methods for attaining these measures, a method in which a releasing agent such as a wax is contained in the toner such that the toner itself has a releasing effect has ordinarily been performed.
However, it is a present situation in which, in the conventional knead-grinding method, it is difficult to control a structure of the releasing agent and control an amount to be added in a same manner as in the case of bringing the toner into that having a high quality. Accordingly, the aforementioned measures hardly become practical attaining measures.
In recent years, as a method for actively controlling a structure of the toner for the electrostatic charge development, JP-A-63-282752 and JP-A-6-250439 have proposed a method for producing a toner by an emulsion-polymerization-aggregation method. In JP-A-63-282752 and JP-A-6-250439, a production method of a toner in which a resin dispersion liquid is prepared by an emulsion-polymerization method, a colorant dispersion liquid in which an colorant is dispersed in a solvent is prepared and, then, both dispersion liquids are mixed to form an aggregate having a particle diameter corresponding to that of the toner and, thereafter, the thus-formed aggregate is heated, to thereby be coalesced. In this method, a shape can be controlled to some extent and improvements of a charging property and durability can be attained. However, since an inner structure of the toner becomes approximately uniform, there remain problems in a releasing property of a fixing sheet at the time of fixing and a fixing property under a low-temperature high-speed condition.
Then, in JP-A-5-61239, a toner for oilless fixing which contains a large amount of releasing agent component in the toner has been proposed. However, when a large amount of releasing agent is added, although a releasing property is improved to some extent, a binder component and the releasing agent exhibit compatibility therebetween and, then, oozing of the releasing agent can not stably and uniformly be performed and, accordingly, a releasing stability can not be obtained. Further, dispersibility of each material inside the toner comprehensively affects fixing properties to a great extent, such as, an adhesion property of the aforementioned fixed image to paper, a releasing property from a fixing roll, a folding resistance after the fixing, a gloss and an OHP transparency.
As for methods for improving dispersibility of the releasing agent, for example, in JP-A-2-105163, a method in which a property to be contained and an oozing property of the releasing agent are both improved by actively incorporating a resin having a polar group has been proposed. However, although this method has improved the oozing property and the property of containing the releasing agent to some extent, little effect in controlling a position of the releasing agent within the toner or improving dispersibility of the colorant is obtained and, as a result, the fixing property can not fully be improved.
Further, in JP-A-9-073187 and JP-A-10-161338, focusing on a structure of a releasing agent in a toner, the toner in which a ratio of a major axis to a minor axis of a wax in the toner is defined has been described. Although such method as described in JP-A-9-073187 and JP-A-10-161338 has improved an oozing property of the releasing agent at the time of fixing to some extent in a same manner as in the case described above and improved a fixing performance, there is little effect in efficiency and an oozing speed and, also, there is no description on thermal characteristics of the releasing agent. Accordingly, it is difficult to sufficiently correspond to the low-temperature high-speed fixing or the oilless fixing.

Electrophotographic toner and production method therefor


A system to monitor an overlay network may include a plurality of publishers, a plurality of subscribers, and a plurality of brokers. The system may also include an overlay network linking the publishers, the subscribers, and the brokers. The overlay network includes a first computer network having a first network protocol carried by a second computer network having a second network protocol. The system may further include an inspection unit to monitor message topics sent over the overlay network amongst the publishers, the subscribers, and the brokers.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of computer systems, and, more particularly, to visualization systems of such.
2. Description of Background
Modern enterprises and organizations increasingly span across multiple geographical locations. At the same time, they collaborate with more and more other enterprises and organizations, resulting in a complex system of operational units. These units are usually heterogeneous and independent. Message Oriented Middleware (MOM) is the messaging infrastructure that allows the various disparate units to achieve seamless and federated communication.
Publish/subscribe messaging has become a central communication paradigm in many MOMs. Its indirect and loose coupling between sending endpoints (e.g., publishers) and receiving endpoints (e.g., subscribers) enables dynamic interoperation as well as scalable service provisioning. Typically, users of a specific location or operational unit form a local messaging domain and are served collectively by a dedicated publish/subscribe broker. Brokers at different locations are then interconnected, resulting in a Publish/Subscribe Broker Overlay Network across a potentially wide area. The central role of the broker overlay network is to route messages across local messaging domains. Messages published to a local broker flow through the broker overlay network via an overlay path to finally reach a different subscribing broker where they are delivered to the subscriber(s) in that broker's local messaging domain.
Publish/subscribe is a messaging paradigm that differs from traditional point-to-point communications in the sense that message senders and message receivers may not be directly aware of each other. Instead, messages are associated with a specific "topic" that represents a common communication pipe. Such systems typically interconnect publishers and subscribers across several offices, geographical locations, or even across multiple organizations. To achieve the above requirement, each functional unit is served by a messaging broker, which handles the reception and delivery of messages within a particular unit. The actual clients that publish and subscribe to topics are called messaging clients. Several clients can be associated with a messaging broker and publish or subscribe to a particular topic. The various messaging brokers are then interconnected over the physical network in an overlay. A link between two brokers is called an overlay link and corresponds to an underlying physical connection between the brokers, such as an Internet path, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection, and/or the like.

International Business Machines Corporation


A method and medium are disclosed for executing a technical computing program in parallel in multiple execution environments. A program is invoked for execution in a first execution environment and from the invocation the program is executed in the first execution environment and one or more additional execution environments to provide for parallel execution of the program. New constructs in a technical computing programming language are disclosed for parallel programming of a technical computing program for execution in multiple execution environments. It is also further disclosed a system and method for changing the mode of operation of an execution environment from a sequential mode to a parallel mode of operation and vice-versa.

MATLAB® is a product of The MathWorks, Inc. of Natick, Mass., which provides engineers, scientists, mathematicians, and educators across a diverse range of industries with an environment for technical computing applications. MATLAB® is an intuitive high performance language and technical computing environment that provides mathematical and graphical tools for mathematical computation, data analysis, visualization and algorithm development. As a desktop application, MATLAB® typically runs on a single computer and serially executes technical computer programs. However, a single computer executing a program sequentially can be limiting as to the size and the type of the problem that can be solved. For example, some complex and data intensive problems are too large to fit in the memory space of a single computer. In another example, a complex and data intensive problem may take an unreasonable amount of time to run on a single computer.
With the availability of more cost effective parallel computers, such as Beowolf clusters, researchers and scientists are interested in parallel computing in a technical computing environment such as MATLAB®. However, the use of low level parallel programming paradigms is difficult even for the more advanced users. Such parallel programming paradigms require extensive message passing between computing environments to coordinate and control parallel computing activities. Less advanced users who are well versed in the user friendly technical computing programming language of MATLAB® may find it challenging to design and develop technical computing programs for parallel processing.
With many engineering and scientific problems requiring larger and more complex modeling that would benefit from parallel computing, it is desirable to provide a technique to execute in parallel a technical computing program in a user-friendly manner. Systems and methods are needed to execute a technical computing program in parallel in multiple execution environments.

Methods and system for executing a program in multiple execution environments


Drilling fluid can be monitored throughout a drill site and at various stages of drilling operations. The drilling fluid may be analyzed to identify components that make the drilling fluid as well as the volume of each of the components, The volume of each component can be used, for example, to determine a percentage of water in a water-based drilling fluid and the average specific gravity of the water-based drilling fluid without further decomposition of the drilling fluid. The percentage of water and the average specific gravity can then be used to modify the drilling fluid, in real-time, based on conditions in the wellbore.

Drilling within subterranean environments typically includes the use of one or more types of drilling fluids. Drilling fluids can may help keep the drill bit cool and remove the drill cuttings as the drill operates. Drilling fluids may be specially formulated to suit the particular characteristics of subterranean formations in a wellbore. For example, one or more additives can be added to the drilling fluid such as lubricants, thickeners, deflocculants, etc. In order to ensure consistent and safe drilling, the drilling fluid may be tested periodically on site between operations of the drill bit. This can ensure that other additives to the drilling fluid or contaminants have not altered essential properties of the drilling fluid.
Testing drilling fluids can be difficult and induce significant delays in drilling operations. Typically, testing of drilling fluids must be performed in controlled settings such as those at particular temperatures or pressures. Since drilling fluid returning from the wellbore is often too hot to test, the drilling fluid is pumped into tanks and cooled either by waiting a significant amount of time or through the use of a refrigerant. Once cooled, a drilling fluid can be chemically tested to determine whether the properties of the drilling fluid conform to the requirements of the subterranean environment and are thus safe for continued use in drilling operations.

Dynamic formulation of water-based drilling fluids


Disclosed is a process for making a water-soluble granule enriched in humic acid. Disclosed also is a water-soluble granule enriched in humic acid. Such a granule is useful as an organic aid to crop growth, particularly in applications where solubility is desirable or necessary.

Extraction of humic acid and related materials from carbonaceous raw materials such as humalite, leonardite, sub-bituminous coal, menefee, peat, and the like has been practiced for years and is accordingly known in the art. Process steps vary, but the process output is generally a particulate material with suboptimal solubility in water.
It is known that humic substances (HS) include fulvic acid, humic acid, and/or humin. Of these, fulvic acid has the lowest molecular weight and least resistance to decomposition by microorganisms; humin has the highest molecular weight and greatest resistance to decomposition, because it has a large number of negative charges per unit mass, humin also has a very high CEC. The large molecules of humus bind to clay particles and greatly increase aggregate formation and stability therefore improving soil properties. Humin is the alkali (and acid) insoluble portion of HS that many manufacturers dispose of, although it is known that there are individuals who may extract and use it.
Since it takes longer for dry lignite to be broken down, and thus be functional in the soil, it is necessary to convert the lignite into forms that provide a more timely overall benefit (e.g. transformation into a water-soluble form). Such a conversion "unrolls" the tight molecular ball of lignite and creates water-soluble humic acids, either as a liquid or in the form of sodium, potassium, or ammonium salts (known as humates). Such a water-soluble form is desirable, as in their soluble form, humic acids can readily chelate nutrients, preserve nitrates from leaching, enhance root development, and improve overall crop vigor and yields.
Attempts to create a fully water-soluble granule enriched in humic acid have been unsuccessful. It is known that there are humic acid enriched granules that have solubility as high as about 85%, but even these are not fully water-soluble. For example, granules such as those discussed in CN 102898254. The raw humic materials undergo chemical reactions prior to granulating, in CN 102898254, but even with that the granule itself contains other insoluble portions, thus preventing the granule from achieving a full water solubility.
Suboptimal solubility in water of particulate material enriched in humic acid and related materials presents a problem. Because organic and other producers typically prefer to apply mixtures that contain solvents such as water that are safe and healthful for both plants and workers, there is a need, long-felt by now, for a process for making a fully water-soluble granule enriched in humic acid.

Fully water-soluble granule enriched in humic acid


An N-methyl pyrrolidone-containing middle distillate stream is separated by use of a polyethyleneimine membrane which has been cross-linked with a polyisocyanate or a poly(carbonyl chloride) cross-linking agent.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, middle distillates such as diesel oils, cracking stocks, and catalytic cycle oils as produced are characterized by various deficiencies including poor cetane number and burning quality.
It is common to attempt to improve the quality of these hydrocarbon stocks by extracting the undesirable components which are responsible for the deficiencies. These stocks may for example be treated with N-methyl pyrrolidone which may extract aromatics, olefins, and compounds of nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur from the middle distillate oil. The treated oil is typically characterized by improved properties.
A substantial portion of the cost of an N-methyl pyrrolidone treating unit lies in the several distillation columns and associated equipment including fired heaters, heat exchangers, pumps, etc; and the cost of operation is clearly large because of the cost of heat and power associated with these operations.
It is an object of this invention to provide a novel process for N-methyl pyrrolidone treating of middle distillates. It is a particular object of this invention to provide a process which minimizes the need to provide distillation steps and which permits substantial savings in operating costs. Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Membrane separation of N-methyl pyrrolidone/middle distillate streams


A balancing system for both horizontal and vertical shaft engines has a drive gear attached to the crankshaft, a driven gear disposed on and freely rotatable from the camshaft, and a counterbalance weight attached to the driven gear. The rotation of the crankshaft and the drive gear causes the driven gear and the counterbalance weight to rotate at crankshaft speed and in the opposite direction from the crankshaft. Substantial cost savings are achieved since the balancing system does not require any additional shafts and minimizes the number of gears needed to achieve balancing.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines, and more particularly to balancing systems for such engines.
Balancing systems for internal combustion engines are used to balance the reciprocating forces due to piston movement and the rotational forces due to crankshaft and crank pin rotation. Many systems are known for counterbalancing these reciprocal and rotational forces. Typical balancing systems use one or more additional balancing shafts, with each additional shaft having a gear that meshingly engages a gear on another shaft, on the crankshaft, or on a shaft attached to the crankcase. Counterbalance weights rotate with the rotation of the additional shaft to balance the reciprocating and rotational forces.
The use of additional shafts, gears and counterweights in such prior art devices increases the cost of the balancing system by fifty per cent or more, and therefore increases the cost of the entire engine.
Many prior art balancing systems use one or more counterbalance weights which rotate at a speed other than the speed of the crankshaft. For example, such counterbalance weights may rotate at camshaft speed, which is typically one-half that of the crankshaft rotation speed. Since the balancing system is designed to balance the crankshaft rotational forces, a counterbalance weight that rotates at any speed other than crankshaft speed typically does not optimally balance the crankshaft rotational forces.

Engine balancing system having freely rotatable single counterbalance weight


An ink jet recording sheet comprising a non-water absorptive support having thereon an ink absorptive layer comprising polyvinyl alcohol, a cationic polymer, and a compound containing a zirconium or aluminum atom other than zirconium oxide and aluminum oxide, wherein a surface pH of the ink absorptive layer is 4 to 6 measured 30 minutes after receiving a water based ink of pH range 6 to 9 jetted from an ink jet printer in an amount of 20 ml/m2.

The present invention relates to an ink jet recording sheet, and particularly to an ink jet recording sheet which exhibits excellent ink absorbability, minimizes bleeding, and results in stable color density under keeping in high humidity.
In recent years, ink jet recording has increasingly resulted in enhancement of image quality which is approaching that of conventional photography. In order to achieve such conventional photographic quality, improvement has been made in the area of recording sheets. A void type recording sheet, which comprises a highly smoothened support having thereon a minute-void layer comprised of fine particles and hydrophilic polymers, exhibits high gloss, results in bright color formation, and exhibits excellent ink absorbability as well as ink drying properties. Accordingly, said recording sheet has been regarded as one of those which are most similar to conventional photographic quality. Specifically, when a non-water absorptive support is employed, it is possible to prepare high quality prints because cockling (wrinkling), which is noticed in a water absorptive support, is not present, and it is possible to maintain the highly smoothened surface.
Ink jet recording is mainly divided into two types; one in which ink, comprised of water-soluble dyes, is employed and the other in which ink, comprised of pigments, is employed. The ink comprised of pigments results in highly durable images but gloss tends to vary imagewise. As a result, it is difficult to prepare prints which exhibit conventional photographic quality. On the other hand, when an ink, comprised of water-soluble dyes, is employed, it is possible to obtain very bright and clear images of uniform gloss. Accordingly, it is possible to prepare color prints approaching conventional photographic quality.
However, ink, comprised of water-soluble dyes, results in disadvantages such as bleeding and poor water resistance due to the high hydrophilicity of said water-soluble dyes. Namely, when after printing, prints are stored at high humidity for a long period of time, or water droplets are allowed to adhere onto the print surface, said dyes tends to result in bleeding.
In order to overcome such drawbacks, it is a general practice to incorporate dye fixing materials such as cationic materials into a porous layer.
A method preferably employed is one in which, for example, an anionic dye is allowed to bond to a cationic polymer so as to be immobilized. Cited as such cationic polymers are polymers of quaternary ammonium salts, which are, for example, described in the conventional art of xe2x80x9cInk Jet Printer Gijutsu to Zairyo (Technology and Materials of Ink Jet Printers)xe2x80x9d, (published by CMC Co., Ltd., July 1998) and Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection No. 9-193532.
Further, a method has been proposed in which water-soluble polyvalent metal ions are previously incorporated into an ink jet recording sheet so that during ink jet recording, dyes are immobilized while being coagulated and fixed.
However, when such cationic polymers and water-soluble polyvalent inns are incorporated to minimize bleeding as well as to enhance water resistance, said dyes tend to coagulate on the surface. As a result, the image surface tends to result in a bronzing phenomena, in which the image surface exhibits a metallic gloss. Said bronzing tends to generally occur when prints are stored in a highly humid environment.
It has been known that compounds containing a zirconium atom and an aluminum atom are employed in ink jet recording sheets.
Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection Nos. 55-53591, 55-150396, 56-867789, 58-89391, and 58-94491 describe ink jet recording sheets comprised of water-soluble polyvalent metal salts which bond to water-soluble dyes to form minimally water-soluble salts.
Further, Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection Nos. 60-67190, 61-10484, and 61-57379 describe ink jet recording sheets comprised of cationic polymers as well as water-soluble polyvalent metal salts.
Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection No. 60-257286 describes an ink jet recording sheet comprised of basic polyhydroxyl aluminum compounds.
Further, Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection No. 10-258567 discloses a method employing a hydrophilic polymer and a water-soluble compound comprising a 4A group element, in combination, while Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection No. 10-309862 discloses a method employing a hydrophilic polymer together with a polyhydric carboxylic acid, and a zirconyl compound, also in combination.
Further, regarding compounds comprising said zirconium element, Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection No. 4-7189 discloses a method employing a porous pigment and an acid zirconium chloride compound. Said patent specification describes that by adding said acid zirconium chloride salt, desired adhesion strength is obtained employing a relatively small amount of binder, and it is possible to achieve improvement of image quality.
Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection No. 6-32046 discloses a method in which a zirconium compound is combined with silica and modified polyvinyl alcohol.
Further, European Patent No. 754,560 discloses that a water-soluble binder, a pigment, a zirconium compound, and a cationic polymer are employed in combination.
However, it was discovered that when water-soluble polyvalent metal salt, as above, were incorporated, problems occurred in which, when the added amount increased so as to obtain sufficient effects to minimize bleeding as well as to enhance water resistance, bronzing tended to occur. Further, it was also discovered that even though said basic polyaluminum hydroxide and zirconium oxychloride salts did not result in said problems, problems tended to occur in which the color of formed images tended to vary during storage after printing.
Namely, it was clarified that when an ink jet recording sheet comprising basic polyaluminum hydroxide and zirconium oxychloride in its ink absorptive layer was printed at high humidity, color variation tended to be greater compared to that printed at low humidity. As a result, immediate improvement has been demanded.
From the viewpoint of the foregoing, the present invention was achieved. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording sheet which exhibits minimized bleeding during storage after printing and improved water resistance under an application of water-soluble dyes, and exhibits excellent stability of color reproduction with respect to ambient humidity variation during printing.
Said object of the present invention was achieved employing the embodiments described below.
1. An ink jet recording sheet comprising a non-water absorptive support having thereon an ink absorptive layer comprising polyvinyl alcohol, a cationic polymer, and a compound containing a zirconium or aluminum atom other than zirconium oxide and aluminum oxide,
wherein a surface pH of said ink absorptive layer is 4 to 6 measured 30 minutes after receiving a water based ink of pH range 6 to 9 jetted from an ink jet printer in an amount of 20 ml/m2.
2. The ink jet recording sheet of item 1, wherein an average molecular weight of the cationic polymer is between 5,000 and 100,000.
3. The ink jet recording sheet of item 1, wherein the compound containing a zirconium atom is selected from the group consisting of zirconyl carbonate, ammonium zirconyl carbonate, zirconyl acetate, zirconyl nitrate, zirconium oxychloride, zirconium lactate, and zirconyl citrate.
4. The ink jet recording sheet of item 1, wherein the compound containing an aluminum atom is selected from the group consisting of aluminum chloride, basic aluminum chloride, aluminum sulfate, basic aluminum sulfate, and basic aluminum sulfate silicate.
5. The ink jet recording sheet of item 1, wherein the surface pH of said ink absorptive layer is 4.5 to 5.5 measured 30 minutes after receiving a water based ink of pH range 6 to 9 jetted from an ink jet printer in an amount of 20 ml/m2.
6. The ink jet recording sheet of item 1, wherein the ink absorptive layer is a porous layer.
7. The ink jet recording sheet of item 1, wherein said ink absorptive layer comprises boric acid or a salt thereof in an amount of 2 to 30 millimol per m2 of said ink absorptive layer, and a surface pH of said ink absorptive layer prior to receiving ink is from 3.5 to 5.5.
8. The ink jet recording sheet of item 1,
wherein said cationic polymer is represented by Formula (1),
wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; R1, R2, and R3 each represent an alkyl group or a benzyl group; J represents a bond or a divalent organic group; Xxe2x88x92 represents an anion group.
9. The ink jet recording sheet of item 1,
wherein said ink absorptive layer comprises at least two ink absorptive layers,
wherein said cationic polymer in said ink absorptive layer farthest from said non-water absorptive support comprises a repeating unit represented by Formula (1),
wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; R1, R2, and R3 each represent an alkyl group or a benzyl group; J represents a bond or a divalent organic group; Xxe2x88x92 represents an anion group.
The inventors of the present invention performed diligent investigations to overcome said problems. As a result, it was discovered that by incorporating polyvinyl alcohol, specified cationic polymers, and specified compounds comprising zirconium or aluminum atoms, it was possible to minimize bleeding and improve water resistance without the resulting bronzing. Further, it was also discovered that the layer surface pH of said ink absorptive layer was closely related to color variation due to humidity variation, and by adjusting said layer surface pH in the range of 4 to 6, color reproducibility at varied humidity, especially at high humidity was greatly improved. Based on said discoveries, the present invention was achieved.


An embodiment of the invention is a program for dynamically managing files to comply with security requirements. In one embodiment, changing security requirements require that the computer system identifies the current storage locations of files along with the files' respective security levels. Files containing changed security levels due to the changed security requirements are relocated to storage locations clustered with storage locations containing files of the same security level. In another embodiment, the computer system receives a file having a certain security level, identifies current storage locations of files with the files' respective security levels, and finally allocates the new file to a storage location clustered with storage locations containing files of the same security level.

This disclosure relates generally to data storage management and more specifically to allocating and organizing data based on varying data security requirements.
The cloud computing environment is an enhancement to the predecessor grid environment, whereby multiple grids and other computation resources may be further abstracted by a cloud layer, thus making disparate devices appear to an end-user/consumer as a single pool of seamless resources that are highly scalable. These resources may include such things as physical or logical compute engines, servers and devices, device memory, storage devices, etc.
The disparate devices of a cloud computing environment may actually be physically separated by great distances. A computing environment which spans multiple geographies may find itself subject to data security standards from these different locations. Further, such a computing environment may be accessed by clients from around the globe. Similarly, clients from different geographies may require that data belonging to them meet with their geographies' data security standards. The same may hold true for clients of cloud computing environment who themselves have clients from around the globe.
In addition, the rise of mobile computing devices also increases the occurrence of single computing devices crossing these same geographic boundaries. In certain instances, a computing device meeting certain data security standards may find itself to be out of compliance as the computing device travels from one geography to the next.

Security compliant data storage management


Methods and systems for a transportation vehicle are provided. One exemplary method includes generating by a processor a master instruction set with a routing plan for loading data to and from a transportation vehicle using one or more networking links; creating by the processor a transportation side instruction set for loading and offloading data from the transportation vehicle, the transportation side instruction set being based on the master instruction set; using the master instruction set, the local instruction set and the transportation side instruction set to automatically load data to and from the transportation vehicle using the one or more network links to meet an objective of the master instruction set; and monitoring data loading to and from the transportation vehicle for making any changes to meet an objective of the master instruction set based on delivery time, cost or both delivery time and cost.

Transportation vehicles, for example, aircraft, trains, buses, recreation vehicle, boats and other similar vehicles use various computing devices for providing various functions, including entertainment, system control, content storage, and other functions. These computing devices include hardware (for example, servers, switches, network interface cards, storage adapters, storage devices and others) and software (for example, server applications, operating systems, firmware, management applications, application programming interface (APIs) and others).
Transportation vehicles today have individualized functional equipment dedicated to a particular passenger seat, which can be utilized by the passenger, such as adjustable seats, adjustable environmental controls, adjustable lighting, telephony systems, video and/or audio entertainment systems, crew communication systems, and the like. Many commercial airplanes today have individualized video and audio entertainment systems, often referred to as "inflight entertainment" or "IFE" systems. Such systems may also be referred to as "inflight entertainment and communication" systems as well, and typically abbreviated as "IFEC" systems.
Loading electronic data to transportation vehicles and from transportation vehicles can be challenging due to the mobile nature of the vehicles moving in and out of airports, train terminals, bus terminals, shipping terminals and others. Continuous efforts are being made to efficiently and securely, load and offload data from transportation vehicles.

Methods and systems for content loading and offloading to and from a transportation vehicle


Embodiments of the invention discloses a space imaging overlay inspection method and an array substrate; the method comprises: forming a thin film having a space imaging overlay mark by photolithography; when the thin film is a transparent thin film, performing a color developing treatment on the space imaging overlay mark on the transparent thin film, so as to make the space imaging overlay mark appear in a non-transparent color; and conducting a space imaging overlay inspection between the transparent thin film and an adjacent thin film by using the space imaging overlay mark appear appearing in the non-transparent color. In the method, by conducting the color developing treatment to the space imaging overlay mark on the transparent thin film and then conducting positioning, the space imaging overlay mark can be positioned quickly and accurately, thus alignment condition between two photolithography procedures can be detected swiftly and effectively.

An ADvanced Super Dimension Switch technology (ADS) is a wide-viewing angle technology, which has been proposed for liquid crystal televisions and tabletop displays of large-size and high-resolution in the liquid crystal field at present. Because it possesses advantages of wide viewing angle, high aperture ratio, low power consumption, high luminance, and so on, its application is becoming more and more widespread. In this technology, a multi-dimensional electric field is formed by an electric field produced at edges of slit electrodes on the same plane and an electric field produced between a slit electrode layer and a plate-like electrode layer, so as to allow liquid crystal molecules at all orientations in a liquid crystal cell, which are located directly above the electrode and between the slit electrodes, to be rotated, thereby enhancing the work efficiency of liquid crystals and increasing transmissive efficiency. The Advanced Super Dimensional Switch technology can improve the picture quality of TFT products, and has advantages of high resolution, high transmittance, low power consumption, wide viewing angle, high aperture ratio, low chromatic aberration, and push Mura-free, etc.
In a current process for manufacturing an array substrate of a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), a plurality of photolithography procedures are used to perform patterning for thin film layers so as to form a plurality of thin film (pattern) layers. For ensuring exactness of each of the photolithography procedures, it is necessary to make sure the alignment accuracy among the plurality of photolithography procedures by space imaging overlay inspections. Generally, in an overlay inspection, an overlay mark on a photomask is used to form an overlay mark pattern in the thin film layer formed by photolithography, and by means of checking a shift between overlay mark patterns on adjacent thin film layers, alignment condition between two photolithograph procedures can be effectively detected. Thus, precise alignment of the overlay mark patterns on two adjacent thin film layers is the key to ensure accuracy of the overlay inspection.
With a current process for manufacturing an array substrate of an ADS mode TFT-LCD as an example, a layer of indium tin oxides (ITO) conductive film is formed on a glass substrate in a first photolithography, and a layer of metal gate thin film is further formed on a surface of the layer of the ITO thin film in a second photolithography. However, the ITO thin film is a transparent conductive thin film, and before an overlay inspection between the gate thin film layer and the ITO thin film layer is conducted, photoresist on the surface of the ITO thin film layer (photoresist is usually non-transparent, and an overlay mark pattern on it is relatively clear) has already been removed, and therefore, when the overlay inspection is conducted between the gate thin film layer and the ITO thin film layer, transparency of the ITO thin film layer often results in such a case that an overlay mark pattern on the ITO thin film layer cannot be positioned accurately, and accordingly time consumption for the overlay inspection is longer.

Space imaging overlay inspection method and array substrate

BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


The present invention is directed to methods for treating cancer wherein more than one therapeutic agent is used, with each of the therapeutic agents having different tumor-killing capabilities, and wherein the therapeutic agents are delivered to the tumor sites using combined targeting and pre-targeting methods. The methods of the present invention achieve good tumor to non-tumor ratios of the therapeutic agents, and are effective for cancer therapy.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to methods for treating cancer or an infectious disease wherein more than one therapeutic agent is used, with each of the therapeutic agents having different tumor-killing or infectious cell-killing capabilities, and wherein the therapeutic agents are delivered to the tumor sites or diseased sites using combined targeting and pre-targeting methods. The methods of the present invention achieve good tumor/disease site to non-tumor/non-disease site ratios of the therapeutic agents, and are effective for therapy.
2. Description of Related Art
Target-directed therapy, such as antibody-directed therapy, offers advantages over non-targeted therapy such as systemic therapy via oral or i.v. administration of drugs or whole body therapy such as external radiation therapy (XRT). An advantage of antibody-directed therapy, and of therapy using monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) in particular, is the ability to deliver increased doses of a therapeutic agent to a tumor, with greater sparing of normal tissue from the effects of the therapeutic agent. This directed therapy might include the use of naked MAbs or MAbs conjugated to drugs, bacterial or other toxins, radionuclides, or neutron-capturing agents, such as boron addends.
However, antibody-directed therapies have drawbacks, which include: (1) the inability to target all cancer cells within a tumor due to tumor antigen heterogeneity especially when using non-isotopic therapeutics; (2) low absolute accretion of antibody in the tumor; and (3) the use of therapeutic conjugates which cause unacceptable normal organ toxicity. The prior art treatment methods have not provided complete solutions to each of these problems.
Methods of increasing the amount of isotope which can be specifically directed to a tumor while at the same time minimizing the amount of time an isotope remains in circulation so that host toxicity is reduced are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,482,698 and 5,525,338, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. For example, host toxicity may be minimized by using pre-targeting techniques that decouple the isotope delivery step from the antibody localization step. In addition, these patents disclose methods for amplifying the amounts of therapeutic agents which may be delivered to tumor sites. These methods also are useful in accordance with the present invention. U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,846, discloses methods for reducing host toxicity by administering a second antibody to clear circulating radiolabeled first antibody. Co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/486,166, filed Jun. 7, 1995, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, teaches the use of an antibody that is anti-idiotypic to the first administered (radiolabeled) primary targeting species as a clearing agent in pre-targeting methods. These methods also may be used in accordance with the present invention, and the contents of the aforementioned patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Although these patents and patent applications disclose methods which address several of the problems associated with target-directed therapies, none of them address the problem caused by tumor antigen heterogeneity. Additionally, there is a continuing need to utilize the specificity of a targeting moiety to simultaneously deliver tumor-killing amounts of therapeutic agents to tumors yet sparing the toxic effect of these agents on normal tissues. The present invention provides a solution to these problems by disclosing a method that utilizes multiple targeting and pre-targeting administrations to deliver more than one therapeutic agent to the tumor. Preferably the therapeutic agents have different tumor killing properties so that. more cells in the tumor can be targeted and killed. Further, the present methods maximize and amplify the mole amounts of therapeutic agents delivered per mole of antibody to address the low absolute target accretion levels of antibody. To solve the problem of low antibody-to-normal tissue ratios, at least one therapeutic agent is delivered in a later treatment step.


Video coding schemes may include one or more filters to reduce coding artifacts and improve video quality. These filters may be applied to decode video data in a predetermined sequence. The output from one or more of these filters may be selected for different images, blocks, or sets of video data and then copied and/or routed to a display or a buffer storing reference data that is used to decode other video data in a data stream. Providing the ability to select which filter output is used for display and as a reference may result in better video quality for multiple types of video data. The filters that are selected for display and for reference may be different and may vary for different images, blocks, and data sets.

Existing video coding standards and technologies use block-based methods for coding video information. Such methods included intra and inter prediction, as well as transform, quantization, and entropy coding processes. Intra and inter prediction used spatio-temporal correlation to compress the video data, whereas the transform and quantization processes corrected any errors that may have been incurred due to inaccuracies in prediction for a selected bitrate or target quality. The quantization level for each block was adjustable and entropy encoding was used to further compress the resulting data.
Although substantial compression of an image or of video data was achieved, the use of block-based methods has resulted in unwanted coding artifacts that deteriorate the perceived quality of the image or video. To minimize these unwanted artifacts, in-loop or out of loop processing methods, such as a deblocking filter and/or a sample adaptive offset (SAO) technique have been applied to image and video data after reconstruction. Other techniques, such as adaptive loop filtering (ALF) have also been used.
Deblocking filters have commonly analyzed information about a region or block that has been coded, and then employ filtering strategies in an attempt to reduce any detected coding artifacts. The information that was analyzed included: (i) the intra- or inter-type of coding mode used for prediction, (ii) the motion vectors and their differences between adjacent blocks, (iii) the presence of residual data, and (iv) the characteristics and differences between filtered samples. Quantization parameters and other characteristics were selected to maximize the ability to detect coding artifacts.
While deblocking is directed to maximizing the ability to detect coding artifacts, SAO has classified the reconstructed samples into different categories, and minimized the distortion in each category by adding a category specific offset. The classification of a sample was based on pixel intensity or edge characteristics of the sample. SAO parameters could be associated with an entire picture or on a per region basis. ALF also applied an additional, Wiener-like filter over all samples in an image or region to further reduce distortion based on parameters specified within a region of an image, e.g. a slice, an entire image, or video bitstream. Once the filtering process was complete, the processed images were send to a decoder picture buffer where the processed images were used as reference images for subsequent images and were outputted to a display.
Using the processed images as both reference images for analyzing subsequent images and as output images for the display may add unnecessary delay to the display process, which need not be processed through the deblocking and/or SAO filter stages. Additionally, optimizing the filters to provide best image quality for displaying the processed images may result in reduced quality reference pictures for prediction and vice versa. Additionally, in those instances where external post-processing schemes have been applied to processed images prior to displaying them, the post-processing schemes may cancel or negate the effects of the filters applied during filtering. For example, in those situations where noise or film grain effects have been added to video frames for artistic purposes, such as to generate the appearance of a vintage film clip, the noise and other effects may be removed by the filters such as the deblocking and SAO filters. In these instances, it would be desirable to bypass the filters to preserve the artistic aspects of the film.
Some video coding formats provide for optional message codes that, when included in a data stream, enable a decoder to bypass the deblocking and SAO filters and display the image prior to deblocking if desired. This could allow the encoder to fully optimize the deblocking process for prediction, instead of both prediction and display since the images are outputted to the display before the deblocking filter is applied. One limitation of this approach is that the message codes to enable this functionality are optional, and therefore different decoders may ignore them altogether so that the displayed images may appear differently on different devices depending on whether the message codes were ignored or not.
Another limitation of this approach is that the message codes only provide two options—either outputting the decoded images for display before applying any filters, such as deblocking or SAO, or after all filters have been applied. By only providing these two options, the process ignores the cascaded nature of filter designs. In particular, in some instances it may be desirable to provide additional message codes that allow the decoder to output decoded images not only prior to deblocking and after all in-loop processing steps have been completed, but also in between different applied filters.
FIG. 1 shows a simplified block diagram of a prior art system 100 that included components for encoding and decoding video data.
The system 100 may include a subtractor 112, a transform unit 114, a quantizer 116 and an entropy coding unit 118. The subtractor 112 may receive an input motion compensation block from a source image and a predicted motion compensation block from a decision unit 150. The subtractor 112 may subtract the predicted block from the input block and generate a block of pixel residuals. The transform unit 114 may convert the residual block data to an array of transform coefficients according to a spatial transform, typically a discrete cosine transform ("DCT"), a discrete sine transform ("DST"), or a wavelet transform. The quantizer 116 may truncate transform coefficients of each block according to a quantization parameter ("QP"). The QP values used for truncation may be transmitted to a decoder in a channel. The entropy coding unit 118 may code the quantized coefficients according to an entropy coding algorithm, for example, a variable length coding algorithm. Additional metadata containing the message, flag, and/or other information discussed above may be added to or included in the coded data, which may be outputted by the system 100.
An inverse quantization unit 122, an inverse transform unit 124, an adder 126, a deblocker 140, a SAO filter 142, a picture buffer 144, a motion estimator 146, a motion compensated predictor 148, and a decision unit 150 may be used to decode video data. The inverse quantization unit 122 may quantize coded video data according to the QP used by the quantizer 116. The inverse transform unit 124 may transform re-quantized coefficients to the pixel domain. The adder 126 may add pixel residuals output from the inverse transform unit 124 with predicted motion data from the motion compensated predictor 146. The summed output from the adder 126 may then be filtered at a deblocking filter 140. The output from the deblocking filter 140 may then be further filtered by a SAO filter 142. The buffer 144 may store recovered frame data as outputted and filtered by the SAO filter 142 for use as reference frames during coding of later-received blocks.
The motion estimator 146 may estimate image motion between a source image being coded and reference frame(s) stored in the buffer 144. For example, it may select a prediction mode to be used (for example, unipredictive P-coding or bipredictive B-coding), and generate motion vectors for use in such predictive coding. The motion compensated predictor 148 may generate a predicted motion compensated block for use by the block coder. In this regard, the motion compensated predictor 148 may retrieve buffered block data of selected reference frames from the buffer 144.
As discussed previously, in prior art coding systems, there were only two options for specifying when, during the decoding process, the decoded data should be sent to a display. These two options included outputting the decoded data before applying any filters, such as deblocking filter 140, or outputting the decoded data after all filters have been applied, such as after SAO filter 142. Additionally, prior art coding systems did not provide any options for dynamically selecting or changing the type of reference data stored. As shown in FIG. 1, the reference data stored in the buffer was the filtered output from SAO filter 142.
There is a need for more flexible coding systems that provide additional options for specifying when during the decoding process the decoded data should be sent to a display and when during the decoding process the decoded data should be stored as reference data for decoding and/or encoding subsequent video data.


A technique for entropy coding information relating to frequency domain audio coefficients. For portions of a frequency spectrum having a predominate value of zero, a multi-level run length encoder statistically correlates sequences of zero values with non-zero values and assigns variable length code words. An encoder uses a specialized code book generated with respect to the probability of receiving an input sequence of zero-valued spectral coefficients followed by a non-zero coefficient. A corresponding decoder associates a variable length code word with a sequence of zero value coefficients adjacent a non-zero value coefficient.

In a typical audio coding environment, data is represented as a long sequence of symbols which is input to an encoder. The input data is encoded by an encoder, transmitted over a communication channel (or simply stored), and decoded by a decoder. During encoding, the input is pre-processed, sampled, converted, compressed or otherwise manipulated into a form for transmission or storage. After transmission or storage, the decoder attempts to reconstruct the original input.
Audio coding techniques can be generally categorized into two classes, namely the time-domain techniques and frequency-domain ones. Time-domain techniques, e.g., ADPCM, LPC, operate directly in the time domain while the frequency-domain techniques transform the audio signals into the frequency domain where compression is performed. Frequency-domain codecs (compressors/decompressors) can be further separated into either subband or transform coders, although the distinction between the two is not always clear. That is, sub-band coders typically use bandpass filters to divide an input signal into a small number (e.g., four) of sub-bands, whereas transform coders typically have many sub-bands (and therefore a correspondingly large number of transform coefficients). Processing an audio signal in the frequency domain is motivated by both classical signal processing theories and human perception psychoaoustics model.
Psychoacoustics take advantage of known properties of the listener in order to reduce information content. For example, the inner ear, specifically the basilar membrane, behaves like a spectral analyzer and transforms the audio signal into spectral data before further neural processing proceeds. Frequency-domain audio codecs often take advantage of auditory masking that is occurring in the human hearing system by modifying an original signal to eliminate information redundancies. Since human ears are incapable of perceiving these modifications, one can achieve efficient compression without distortion.
Masking analysis is usually conducted in conjunction with quantization so that quantization noise can be conveniently "masked." In modern audio coding techniques, the quantized spectral data are usually further compressed by applying entropy coding, e.g., Huffman coding. Compression is required because communication channels usually have limited available capacity or bandwidth. It is frequently necessary to reduce the information content of input data in order to allow it to be reliably transmitted, if at all, over the communication channel.
Tremendous effort has been invested in developing lossless and lossy compression techniques for reducing the size of data to transmit or store. One popular lossless technique is Huffman encoding, which is a particular form of entropy encoding. Entropy coding assigns code words to different input sequences, and stores all input sequences in a code book. The complexity of entropy encoding depends on the number m of possible values an input sequence X may take. For small m, there are few possible input combinations, and therefore the code book for the messages can be very small (e.g., only a few bits are needed to unambiguously represent all possible input sequences). For digital applications, the code alphabet is most likely a series of binary digits {0, 1}, and code word lengths are measured in bits.
If it is known that input is composed of symbols having equal probability of occurring, an optimal encoding is to use equal length code words. But, it is not typical that an input stream has equal probability of receiving any particular message. In practice, certain messages are more likely than others, and entropy encoders take advantage of such data correlation to minimize the average length of code words among expected inputs. Traditionally, however, fixed length input sequences are assigned variable length codes (or conversely, variable length sequences are assigned fixed length codes).
By their nature, however, most compression techniques for audiovisual data are lossy processes. The level of quality and fidelity delivered in sound and video files depends primarily on how much bandwidth is available and whether the compressor/de-compressor (codec) is optimized to prepare output for an available bandwidth.

Multi-level run length coding for frequency-domain audio coding


A strippable paint is poured down onto coated surfaces 1, 2 and 3 of an automobile V within regions to be protected, from a plurality of nozzles 10 disposed in parallel in a widthwise direction of the automobile V above the coated surfaces 1, 2 and 3 of the automobile V, while controlling the number of nozzles which are used to discharge the strippable paint, in accordance with the extent of the regions to be protected. Thereafter, the strippable paint is spread over an entirety of the coated surfaces 1, 2 and 3 in the regions to be protected. Thus, the region covered by each of the nozzles can be relatively reduced to efficiently carry out the pouring-down of the strippable paint and to prevent dusts of a coating material from being scattered to a wide range. In addition, the need for a masking step and/or an inspecting/correcting step can be eliminated to reduce the operating steps and further to alleviate the operational load.

To avoid that an outer surface of a completed automobile suffers a contamination due to soot, dusts, iron powder rust, acid rain and the like, a corrosion due to excrement of birds and insects, or a damage such as a scratch during transportation or storage of the completed automobile, it is conventionally carried out that the coated surf ace of the completed automobile is temporarily protected by a protective film formed from the strippable paint. In a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 6-142604, for example, a strippable paint is applied onto coated surfaces by a roller, a brush or the like along an outer peripheral edge of a region to be protected, and after or before such application, the strippable paint is sprayed to a region narrower than the region to be protected, so that an overlapped-coated zone is formed in the double-coated regions.
In the above conventional technique, however, dusts of a coating material may be spread to a wider range during spraying operation of the strippable paint, whereby the dusts may be scattered beyond the overlapped-coated zone to adhere to a portion out of the region to be protected. Therefore, a masking step is required, and/or an inspecting/correcting step is required, resulting in an increase in number of steps.
In applying the strippable paint by a roller, a brush or the like, an operation of putting the strippable paint on the roller or the brush must be repeated many times, which is troublesome. In this case, it is considered that a self-contained roller brush is used, but because a coating material supplying hose is connected to the self-contained roller brush, the direction of movement of the self-contained roller brush is limited; the weight is increased, and the operational load is increased.
The present invention has been accomplished with such circumstances in view, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a process for forming a protective film on coated surfaces of an automobile, wherein it is possible to prevent the strippable paint from being adhered to the portion out of the region to be protected, thereby simplifying the operating steps and alleviating the operational load.

Process for forming protective film on coated surface of automobile


This disclosure concerns a wind diverting device having a first hollow triangular body portion engaged with a second hollow triangular body portion in a concentrically nested manner for slideability therebetween, and a pair of opposing end caps configured to attach to each respective terminal end of the nested triangular bodies; wherein the wind diverting device is configured to attach to a window frame or similar object for diverting laterally passing wind into an opening of an enclosed structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present embodiment relates to a wind diverter device that is mounted on an exterior surface in front of an opening to an interior structure, such as a window, for the purpose of capturing and redirecting wind in a lateral bi-directional manner into the interior of the structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Previously, a device or apparatus with the capability to deflect or re-direct air has been manufactured having a rectangular, curved, angled, wedged or a right triangular form which is mounted on a given structure such as the top of a semi-truck, the rear cab of a pickup truck, or in front of a ceiling air vent. In U.S. Pat. No. D683,678 to Weakes and Jacobs, air vent deflectors are designated for use with an air vent in a suspended ceiling grid of an interior structure with the purpose of redirecting forced air flow down and away from air vents to reduce the amount of debris accumulating on the grid and ceiling tiles. The air deflector prevents air vents from blowing in one direction by using metal foils. In reference to air deflectors stated for use in the automotive industry as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,316,630 to Evans, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,560 to Ivan, such air deflectors have proven to reduce wind displacement, eliminate drag, increase fuel mileage, and reduce the amount of road debris. Whereby, the air flow moves over an angled shield like design and away from a semi-truck or trailer while in transit. In addition, an air deflector that is vertically mounted, proposed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,669,270 to Card and Card, also considered an air foil, embodies two long hollow wedge type forms that are mounted perpendicular at the rear cab of a pickup truck, thus affecting the air flow away from the vehicle.
Although the above mentioned air deflectors all redirect air flow away from the vent or vehicle, the present wind device, has the advantage of capturing and redirecting wind with the purpose of increasing ventilation into an interior structure. While U.S. Pat. No. 6,669,270 to Card and Card also proposes mounting their embodiment vertically, the present proposed embodiment is enclosed by end caps instead of remaining hollow, mounts at the end of each end cap instead of mounting flat, and is telescopic to allow adjustment in a variety of structural frames whereas Card and Card's air deflector is non-adjustable. While the above wind deflectors are suitable for their intended applications, none are intended to capture and re-direct air into an interior structure using only natural wind.


An intranasal cannula apparatus for use to filter air that enters a nasal cavity of a user is provided. The apparatus includes a pair of elongated bodies coupled together and designed to insert in the nasal cavity of the user. Each elongated body has a front portion, a rear portion, a top portion, a bottom portion and side portions that form an internal cavity therein. Each elongated body has a nasal opening disposed on the bottom portion of the elongated body that aligns with one of the nostrils of the user. A dorsal opening is disposed on the top portion of each elongated body. A pair of filters is disposed within the pair of elongated bodies. The apparatus is designed to permit air from the nostrils of the user to pass entirely through the nasal openings and dorsal openings in the elongated bodies to the nasal cavity of the user.

The embodiments herein relate generally to air filtration devices for individuals. More specifically, embodiments of the invention are directed to an intranasal cannula apparatus for filtering air.
The inhalation of polluted air is a world-wide problem, especially in large cities and other congested areas. Polluted air may contain viruses, bacteria, odors, pollen, foreign objects and/or other particulates, which can cause many health problems for individuals. To address this problem, individuals in these areas often wear masks over their noses and/or mouths to prevent the inhalation of harmful viruses, bacteria and/or particulates. However, air filtration through these masks is ineffective, inefficient, uncomfortable and/or unsightly.
As such, there is a need in the industry for an intranasal cannula apparatus that addresses the limitations of the prior art, which provides an air filtration device that is effective, discreet comfortable and reusable.

Intranasal cannula apparatus for filtering air


A vehicle body structure is obtained that can ensure ease of ingress/egress in a structure in which an energy absorbing member is disposed at a vehicle width direction outer side with respect to a skeleton member that forms a lower edge of an opening for ingress/egress. A vehicle body structure (10) has a rocker (20) that is long in a front-rear direction and at which a cross-section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is a closed cross-sectional portion (20C); an outer panel (55) that covers the rocker (20) from a transverse direction outer side; and an EA member (54) for a side collision that is disposed between the rocker (20) and the outer panel (55). An opening flange (80) is formed by joining of a standing flange (60), that is disposed at a vehicle width direction outer side with respect to the closed cross-sectional portion (20C) at the rocker (20), and a standing flange (62) of the outer panel (55).

There is known a configuration in which an energy absorbing member, that is wave-shaped and absorbs impact energy of a side collision, is disposed within the closed cross-section of a rocker that forms the skeleton of a vehicle body that is formed from a fiber-reinforced plastics material (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-400548).


A braking device including: a piezoelectric element; and a braking portion. The braking portion is configured to be fixed to a member when the piezoelectric element is in a first state, and to be slidable along the member when the piezoelectric element is in a second state. The piezoelectric element changes from one state to another state when a voltage is applied.

In various mechanical systems such as an optical system having a microscope, fixing one component to another component may have to be rigid. However, such a rigid fixing cannot be sufficiently achieved for many reasons. For example, in some applications, position of a component may need to be changed frequently and rapidly. In traditional fixing mechanisms, it is not convenient to repeatedly fixing and releasing a component that requires changing its position frequently and rapidly during operation or setup.
Therefore, there is a need for mechanical systems so that components can be more rigidly fixed to each other as well as allowing frequent quick fix-release operations.


A holding fixture that holds a component and mounts the component on an electronic circuit board includes a holding member that holds the component at a side of a first surface of the electronic circuit board, a first fixing member that includes a first base that is engageable with the holding member, and an elastic member that is pivotally attached to the base, sandwiches the electronic circuit board at a side of a second surface of the electronic circuit board, and elastically supports the holding member at the side of the first surface, the second surface opposing to the first surface, and a second fixing member that includes a second base that is engageable with the holding member, and a projection member that projects from the second surface of the electronic circuit board and is engageable with the elastic member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a heat radiating mechanism, and more particularly to a heat radiating mechanism that transmits the heat generated from an exoergic circuit element (referred to as "exoergic element" hereinafter) mounted on an electronic apparatus. The present invention is suitable, for example, for a heat spreader that radiates heat from a CPU mounted on a printed board (also referred to as a "system board" or "motherboard") in a personal computer (referred to as "PC" hereinafter). Here, the "heat spreader" is a metal plate that efficiently transmits the heat from the exoergic element to the outside.
2. Description of the Related Art
A Ball Grid Array ("BGA") package, one type of package board soldered to the printed board, has conventionally been proposed in order to meet recently increasing demands for supplies of high-performance electronic apparatuses. The BGA package realizes a narrower pitch and more pins (i.e., high-density leads) without enlarging the package than a Quad Flat Package ("QFP") that has the Gullwing type leads at four sides. Thus, the BGA package provides the high-performance electronic apparatus through the high density of the package.
The BGA package is mounted with an IC and an LSI that generally serve as a CPU, and the improved performance and larger size of the LSI swells the calorific value, for example, up to 100 W to 150 W. Accordingly, in order to thermally protect the electronic circuit in the LSI, a radiator called a heat sink is thermally connected to the LSI via a heat spreader. The heat sink has cooling fins, is located near the CPU, and radiates the LSI through natural cooling. Use of a material having a high coefficient of thermal conductivity (e.g., about 16.5×10−6/° C.), such as copper, for the heat spreader would result in a significant difference in the coefficient of thermal conductivity between the heat spreader and the LSI made of silicon (which has a coefficient of thermal conductivity of about 4.2×10−6/° C.). In addition, there is also a significant difference in thickness between them because the LSI has a thickness of several hundred microns whereas the heat spreader has a thickness of several millimeters.
Prior art includes, for example, Japanese Patent Applications, Publication Nos. 6-169037, 2-47895, 62-183150 and 2002-184914, and Japanese Utility-Model Application, Publication No. 2-101535.
A jointing layer joints the LSI to the heat spreader, and is typically made of a material having no elasticity, such as epoxy resin and solder. For example, a Cu heat spreader is arranged on an Si chip via a heat-hardening adhesive as a jointing layer, and the jointing layer is hardened, for example, at 150° C. and then returned to room temperature. Then, the heat spreader and the LSI generate thermal strains, but the heat spreader is thicker than the LSI and difficult to deform in the thickness direction. Therefore, a large thermal stress is applied to the LSI. which can break the LSI and the jointing layer. In particular, the influence of the thermal stress applied to the LSI becomes conspicuous for the increased chip size.
One conceivable solution for this problem is to use for the jointing layer an elastic adhesive, such as a silicon adhesive, or a sheet or paste jointing material. However, the metallic jointing material, such as solder, has a coefficient of thermal conductivity of about 40 W/° C.·m, whereas these materials have such a small coefficient of thermal conductivity as 1 to 2 W/° C.·m, lowering the radiation efficiency of the CPU. The non-operating LSI can endure the temperature up to about 200° C., but the operating LSI's electronic circuit should be maintained at about 100° C. and protected thermally. The low radiation efficiency would cause the operating LSI's temperature to exceed 100° C. and possibly result in the thermal breakdown of the electronic circuit. In particular, as the CPU has recently increased the calorific value, it is undesirable to use the jointing material having a low coefficient of thermal conductivity for the CPU and the heat spreader.

Semiconductor package, printed board mounted with the same, and electronic apparatus having the printed board


A magneto-optical recording or reproducing device having an information erasing means for erasing information or data recorded on a magneto-optical recording medium. According to the invention, the information erasing means comprises an erasing magnet having a field strength sufficient to initialize the magneto-optical recording medium without the assistance of a laser and/or an optical scanning device.

Magneto-optical recording media and devices for recording and reproducing information stored on magneto-optical recording media are generally known. A known magneto-optical recording medium is the magneto-optical disc, which is also denoted as MOD or MO and in which there is arranged behind a transparent layer a magneto-optical layer on which information or data are stored and from which the stored information or data can be read. In order to store or write information or data onto a magneto-optical disc, the magneto-optical layer is heated by a laser beam, focused onto the disc, to a temperature in the region of the Curie or compensation temperature. Arranged behind the disc is an electromagnet which magnetizes the region heated by the laser beam in one direction of magnetization or the other. A magneto-optical writing device therefore comprises an optical scanning device which co-operates with an electromagnet and is denoted as a pick-up. After the laser beam is switched off, the heated site cools off again below the compensation temperature, and the direction of magnetization fixed by the electromagnet is maintained. It is, so as to say, frozen. In this case, one direction of magnetization corresponds to a logic one while the opposite direction of magnetization represents a logic zero.
The information or data are read using a principle which is based on the Kerr effect and on the fact that the plane of polarization of a linearly polarized light beam is rotated by an angle in the case of reflection at a magnetized mirror. The plane of polarization of the reflected light beam is rotated to the right or left in accordance with the direction of magnetization of the mirror. The rotation of the plane of polarization of the light beam reflected by the disc is detected by an optical scanning device, and a corresponding information or data signal is generated.
Provided for the purpose of magnetizing the magneto-optical layer is an electromagnet which can magnetize a region which is swept over by an optical scanning device. Magneto-optical recording devices are known in which information or data already stored on the recording medium must be erased before new information or data can be recorded. For this purpose, the magneto-optical layer is heated by the laser up to the Curie or compensation temperature at the sites at which the new information or data are to be stored, and magnetized in one direction. The plate is initialized. The laser power is switched between a small and a large value as a function of the bit to be stored so as to record the new information or data. For example, if a logic zero is stored at the previously erased site, the laser operates at the low power so that the Curie or compensation temperature is not reached. For the purpose of recording a logic one, by contrast, the laser heats the new site to be written on up to the Curie or compensation temperature so that said site can be remagnetized.
By contrast with this, there are also already known magneto-optical recording devices in which already stored information or data are directly overwritten on the recording medium without firstly having to be erased. For the purpose of reliable remagnetization, this method presupposes a high field strength which must be changed over at high speed in order to record new information or data. Since changing over high field strengths at high speed leads in a known way to intense heating of the electromagnet, the data rate up to which this method can be applied is limited. A very high data rate such as required, for example, to store a television signal would lead to impermissible overheating of the write head. In order to store new information or data at a high data rate on a magneto-optical recording medium already written onto, it is therefore necessary for the stored information or data to be erased in advance in accordance with the abovenamed method. For this purpose, before recording it is necessary to provide a time consuming erasing pass, which can be carried out by the magneto-optical writing device provided for recording information or data. In order to permit information or data to be recorded immediately, there is therefore a need for an additional magneto-optical writing device which can then be used to erase in advance information or data already recorded on the magneto-optical recording medium. The magneto-optical recording medium is then initialized by the magneto-optical writing device, also denoted as an erase pick-up.

Magneto-optical recording or reproducing device


First and second refrigerating circuits respectively cause first and second adsorbing bodies to alternately adsorb and release first and second coolants. In the first refrigerating circuit, when the first adsorbing body is heated, it releases the first coolant. The released first coolant is cooled, and discharged through an expansion valve so that a part of the first coolant is liquefied. The resultant latent heat of vaporization can be utilized to cool an object to be cooled. Thereafter, the first coolant is adsorbed when the first adsorbing body is cooled. In the second refrigerating circuit, when the second adsorbing body is heated, it releases the second coolant. The released second coolant is cooled by a liquefied-gas-type cooler, and discharged through an expansion valve so that a part of the second coolant is liquefied. The resultant latent heat of vaporization is utilized to cool the first adsorbing body of the first refrigerating circuit. Thereafter, the second coolant is adsorbed by the second adsorbing body. The liquefied-gas-type cooler cools the second coolant by utilizing the latent heat of vaporization of a liquefied gas. Thus, the amount of the second coolant liquefied after being discharged through the expansion valve in the second refrigerating circuit is increased.

The present invention relates to a cryogenic refrigerator.
In a superconducting device, it is necessary to cool a superconducting magnet section to a very low temperature. For this purpose, the superconducting magnet section is disposed, for example, in an enclosed vessel containing liquid helium, and cooled by the liquid helium within the liquid helium vessel to a temperature of approximately 4.2.degree. K. Further the liquid helium vessel is surrounded by an adiabatic casing, and the interior of the casing is maintained in a vacuum, so as to prevent heat of the atmosphere outside the adiabatic casing from transferring to the inside of the liquid helium vessel.
However, heat from the ambient atmosphere may transfer in the form of heat conduction via piping or in the form of heat radiation to the inside of the liquid helium vessel through the adiabatic casing. Such heat radiation may cause corresponding vaporization of liquid helium.
In order to cope with this problem, a cryogenic refrigerator is used to collect helium gas and reconvert it into liquid helium.
In such a cryogenic refrigerator, identical refrigerating circuits, each comprising an adsorbent, a counterflow heat Exchanger and a Joule-Thomson expansion valve, are serially connected together in a plurality of stages so as to create a cryogenic condition.
In each refrigerating circuit, the adsorbent is cooled and heated alternately. The adsorbent is heated to thereby release a coolant therefrom. Then, the coolant is sent to the Joule Thomson expansion valve to be expanded, and the Joule-Thomson effect provided at this time is utilized to lower the temperature of the coolant. Coolant whose temperature has been lowered in a preliminary stage is utilized to cool the adsorbent of the subsequent stage. A cryogenic condition is created in this way.
However, a conventional cryogenic refrigerator comprises a plurality of stages of identical refrigerating circuits, in all of which the adsorbent is used in a similar manner. As a result, the entire apparatus is inevitably large. This problem will be described in detail.
When activated carbon for example is used as the adsorbent the amount of adsorption increases as the temperature lowers, and this increase causes a corresponding increase in cooling ability. Conversely, the amount of adsorption decreases and, accordingly, cooling ability decreases, as the temperature rises.
Therefore, among the plurality of stages of refrigerating circuits, the quantity of the adsorbent used is to be smaller toward the final stage and larger toward the first stage. As a result, the increase in size and weight is particularly evident in those refrigerating circuits nearer the first stage. This makes it totally impossible to install the cryogenic refrigerator in a vehicle.
When the coolant is to be adsorbed by the adsorbent, the adsorbent is cooled by utilizing coolant resulting from the preliminary stage. On the other hand, when the coolant is to be released from the adsorbent, the adsorbent is heated by using a suitable heating fluid. For this purpose, it is necessary to intermittently supply the preliminary-stage coolant and the heating fluid to the adsorbent. Thus, a thermal switch, including an electromagnetic valve or the like, has to be disposed in the flow passage for the coolant and the heating fluid.
In order that the thermal switch be electromagnetically controlled at a high level of precision in a cryogenic environment, the solenoid section of the electromagnetic valve, etc. must be maintained at normal temperature. As a result, the solenoid section at normal temperature and the actuator section at a very low temperature are inevitably separated from each other. Disadvantageously, controllability deteriorates, and the electromagnetic valve becomes large in size. In addition, heat of the ambient atmosphere may transfer through the joint between the solenoid section at normal temperature and the actuator section at a very low temperature, thereby lowering operational efficiency.


The present invention relates to a laundry dryer. The laundry dryer has a drum rotatably provided to a cabinet, a hot air heater heating air to supply hot air to the drum, a steam generator selectively supplying steam to the drum, and a water supply source provided to one side of the cabinet. And, the water supply source has an accommodating part for storing water supplied to the steam generator and a water supply means for supplying the water within the accommodating part to the steam generator.

A laundry dryer is a home appliance for drying a washed laundry, e.g., dresses using hot air. In general, a laundry dryer includes a drum for accommodating an object to be dried therein, a driving source for driving the drum, a heating means for heating air introduced into the drum, a blower unit for sucking air into the drum or discharging air from the drum, and the like.
Laundry dryers can be categorized into an electrical type laundry dryer and a gas type laundry dryer according to a system for heating air, i.e., a heating means. The electrical type laundry dryer heats air using electric resistance heat genera. And, the gas type laundry dryer heats air using heat generated from gas combustion.
Moreover, laundry dryers can be categorized into a condensing type laundry dryer and an exhaust type laundry dryer. In the condensing type laundry dryer, air exchanges heat with an object to be dried in a drum and then turns into humid air. The humid air circulates within the laundry dryer without being externally discharged. The circulating humid air exchanges heat with external air by a separate condenser to generate condensed water. The condensed water is then drained cut of the laundry dryer. In the exhaust type laundry dryer, air exchanges heat with an object to be dried in a drum and then turns into humid air. The humid air is directly discharged out of the laundry dryer.
Besides, laundry dryers can be categorized into a top loading type laundry dryer and a front loading type laundry dryer according to a system for putting an object to be dried into a laundry dryer. In the top loading type laundry dryer, an object to be dried is put into the laundry dryer via a topside of the laundry dryer. In the front loading type laundry dryer, an object to be dried is put into the laundry dryer via a front side of the laundry dryer.


A mounting system is provided for mounting an air conditioner on the exterior of a building adjacent to a window with an opening defined by a window frame having a lower sill and a height to an upper horizontal frame member. The air conditioner includes a main cabinet and a removable air duct. The mounting system includes two mounting arms, each arm being attached at a first point to a wall of the main cabinet and at a second point being engaged to the frame of the window. The main cabinet is suspended from the two mounting arms such that when mounted, a top surface of the main cabinet is positioned at a height of no more than 10% of the height of the window opening above the sill. The mounting system may provide support for the air conditioner at three points, namely, the sill of the window, an inside casing of the window and an exterior surface of the building, without requiring any fasteners to be driven into any of these points.

The present invention relates generally to a mounting system for an air conditioner.
Air conditioners are oftentimes mounted in or adjacent to a window for the room such that at least a portion of the air conditioner is located outside of the room while the air conditioner is operating in order to prevent hot air associated with the condenser from entering the room that is being cooled. Many air conditioners are too large for them to merely rest on the window sill, with the partially closed window holding the air conditioner in place. Therefore, various types of mounting systems have been suggested in the art.
For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,816, a bracket arrangement is disclosed that attaches, such as with screws, to the exterior window sill, and rests upon a strut pressed against the exterior siding of the building below the window. A variety of spacer blocks and vibration absorbing blocks are involved in the bracket arrangement. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,758,456, a bracket arrangement is disclosed that attaches to the interior window sill, such as by screws, and also rests upon a strut pressed against the exterior siding of the building below the window. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,717,139, a bracket arrangement is disclosed that clamps to an interior portion of the window sill, and also rests upon a strut pressed against the exterior siding of the building below the window. In each of these mounting systems, the bracket arrangements are installed prior to the air conditioner being placed on the bracket arrangement, and the air conditioner, in use, is positioned in the window opening, partially extending exterior of the room, and partially extending into the room. Also, in each case, to close the window fully or winterize the window, the air conditioner is required to be removed and stored in some other location.
U.S. Patent No. 4,510,852 discloses a mounting assembly for a room air conditioner that attaches on the inside of the room, above the window, and holds the air conditioner inside the room, until the air conditioner is to be used. At that point, the air conditioner is rolled on the mounting assembly to a position where it partially extends outside of the window by overhanging a portion of the mounting assembly. With this mounting assembly, the room air conditioner must be lifted to the elevated position of the upper window of a double hung window, and slid into an opening of the support frame. This mounting arrangement is useful only with double hung windows.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,543,533, 3,548,611, 3,552,139 and 3,602,006 all disclose a mounting arrangement for an air conditioner in which the operating components of the air conditioner depend along an outside building wall below a window, with a main body of the air conditioner projecting up into the window opening space. The air conditioner is attached to the window sill by screws and rests against the exterior siding of the building on a horizontal support foot. To install the air conditioner, either the installation takes place from the exterior of the building, if installed in a first floor window, or the person installing the air conditioner must blindly align a flanged support member with a channeled receiving track that is attached to a sill of the window opening.
It would be an improvement in the art if a mounting system were provided for an air conditioner that would address the problems of the prior art.

Mounting system and method for mounting an air conditioner


Some embodiments provide a method for training a machine-trained (MT) network. The method uses a first set of training inputs to train parameters of the MT network. The method uses a set of validation inputs to measure error for the MT network as trained by the first set of training inputs. The method adds at least a subset of the validation inputs to the first set of training inputs to create a second set of training inputs. The method uses the second set of training inputs to train the parameters of the MT network. The error measurement is used to modify the training with the second set of training inputs.

Machine learning automates the creation, based on historical data, of models that can then be used to make predictions. A class of models called deep neural networks (or DNNs) has become popular over the last few years, and there is now a menagerie of types of DNNs. Some examples of DNN's include feed-forward, convolutional, recurrent, long-short term memory (LSTM), and Neural Turing Machines (NTM).
To train such networks, a common technique is to use a set of training inputs with known true outputs. These training inputs are run through the network, an error is calculated, and various techniques (e.g., back-propagation) are used to modify network parameters (e.g., weight values) in order to attempt to minimize a loss function that is based on this calculated error (and potentially other factors). Network training parameters, also called hyperparameters, affect how this training is performed. However, rigorous techniques for setting and/or modifying these hyperparameters are generally not used (instead, the hyperparameters are often manually set), which can result in overfitting or other non-optimal solutions for the network parameters.

Iterative transfer of machine-trained network inputs from validation set to training set


A method includes monitoring a pressure of a gasification system after gasifier shutdown via a pressure sensor, wherein the gasification system includes a gas treatment system and a gasifier configured to output syngas to the gas treatment system during gasification. In addition, the method includes depressurizing the gasification system after gasifier shutdown by opening a flare valve to release gas from the gasifier and the gas treatment system to an atmosphere. The method also includes pressurizing the gasification system after gasifier shutdown, when the monitored pressure reaches a lower pressure threshold, by establishing multiple purge flows of inert gas into the gasification system to remove residual gas from the gasification system. The multiple purge flows are established at different times and at different locations within the gasification system relative to each other.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to systems and methods for removing residual gases from a gasification system.
Integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plants are capable of generating energy from various carbonaceous feedstock, such as coal or natural gas, relatively cleanly and efficiently. Such IGCC power plants generally include a gasification system, used to convert the carbonaceous feedstock into a gas mixture of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2), i.e., syngas, by reaction with oxygen and steam in a gasifier. Unfortunately, existing IGCC systems may be ineffective at removing residual gases from gasification system components after the gasifier is shut down. For example, existing gasification systems may not remove the gases quickly enough to enable a hot restart of the gasifier.

System and method for removing residual gas from a gasification system