Provided herein are quinolines, e.g., a compound of Formula I, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of their use for treating, preventing, or ameliorating one or more symptoms of a neurological disease, neurodegenerative disorder, or diabetes. Also provided herein are methods of their use for modulating the activity of a sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum C2+ ATPase.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an organelle, which plays an essential role in multiple cellular processes that are central for cell survival and normal cellular functions. Those vital cellular processes include intracellular calcium homeostasis, protein secretion, and lipid biosynthesis. Anelli et al., EMBO J. 2008, 27, 315-327; Pizzo et al., Trends Cell Biol. 2007, 17, 511-517; Ma et al., J. Chem. Neuroanat. 2004, 28, 51-65.
Perturbation of ER homeostasis leads to accumulation of unfolded protein in the ER, triggering an evolutionarily conserved response known as the unfolded protein response (UPR). Ron et al., Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 2007, 8, 519-529; Malhotra et al., Semin. Cell Dev. Biol. 2007, 18, 716-731. Disturbances that lead to ER stress include, for example, disturbances in cellular redox regulation, glucose deprivation, aberration of calcium regulation in the ER, viral infection, high-fat diet, protein-inclusion-body diseases (e.g., chronic neurodegenerative diseases), and inclusion-body myositis. Kim et al., Nat. Rev. Drug Dis. 2008, 7, 1013-1030; Ma et al., J. Chem. Neuroanat. 2004, 28, 51-65; Ozcan et al., Science 2004, 306, 457-461; Frand et al., Trends Cell Biol. 2000, 10, 203-310. ER stress has been linked to a wide range of diseases, including neurodegeneration (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, polyglutamine disease, and prion disease), stroke, bipolar disorder, heart disease, atherosclerosis, cancer, diabetes (types 1 and 2), muscle degeneration, inflammatory diseases, and autoimmune disease. Kim et al., Nat. Rev. Drug Dis. 2008, 7, 1013-1030; Oyadomari et al., Cell Death Differ. 2004, 11, 381-389.
Sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum C2+ ATPase (SERCA), is a major regulator of ER stress and glucose homeostasis in obesity. Park et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2010, 107, 19320-19325. Obesity disrupts intracellular C2+ homeostasis and induces ER stress. Fu et al., Nature 2011, 473, 528-531. Chronic activation of ER stress has been implicated in the development of insulin resistance and diabetes in obesity. Hotamisligil, Cell 2010, 140, 900-917; Kim et al. Nat. Rev. Drug Discov. 2008, 7, 1013-1030. ER Ca2+-homeostasis is found to be altered in small and non-small cell lung cancer cell lines. Bergner et al., J. Exp. Clin. Cancer Res. 2009, 28, 25. Restoration of C2+ homeostasis via SERCA activation has been shown to alleviate dyskinesia in a model of Parkinson's disease. Dahl, Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2017, 25, 53-57. SERCA activation has also been shown to improve memory and coordination in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Krajnak & Dahl, Bioorg. Med. Chem Lett. 2018, 28, 1591-1594. Therefore, there is a need for therapeutic agents capable of reducing ER stress or restoring ER homeostasis for treating ER stress-caused diseases.

Quinolines that modulate SERCA and their use for treating disease


A multi-functional sporting equipment comprises a front housing, a rear housing which can be folded up to the front housing while not in use. A slidable housing is slidable on the front housing. A pair of parallel rail disposed at the front and rear housing. A storage box disposed at sides of front housing and a pedal stored at the rear housing. A plurality of training equipments are disposed and stored in a proper position of the housing. Thereby, no interference will occur between equipment pieces during exercise. This is a multi-functional sporting equipment. The rear housing can be folded to a box. On the other hand, a cast and handle 191 are provided and the sporting equipment can be easily moved to proper position.

This invention relates to a sporting equipment and, more particularly, to a multi-functional sporting equipment which integrates with functions of a plurality of individual sporting equipments to facilitate different kinds of sport within a single unit.
There are many kind of sporting equipment and the customer can use it for indoor exercise, such as running equipment, rowing-boat equipment, ski equipment, body build-up equipment, waist twisting equipment . . . etc. On the other hand, the so called multi-functional equipment means a plurality of functions can be integrated to a single unit. But, despite of a single sporting equipment or a multi-functional sporting equipment, there can be concluded with the following defects.
1) Most of the sporting equipment has a single and designated function and can not used for other applications. For example, a running can only be utilized as a running equipment, which can be utilized for other sport, such as a ski equipment. In light of this, their function are limited. If the user hopes to do sporting exercise other than running, a new sporting equipment shall be bought. Not only will this increase the sporting cost of the user, but also will the equipment take a large of space. Not every people can afford the cost and space easily.
2) Even the now existing multi-functional sporting equipment can provide a plurality of functions which are achieved by integrating a plurality of sporting equipment into a single unit, it has a very complicated configuration. Since those added sporting equipment can not be stored while they are not in use, the sporting space for a single sporting will be seriously blocked. Hence a plurality of limitations are exposed to the user. The sporting effect is largely spoiled.
3) The now existing multi-functional equipment has a very large size and it needs a comparative large space. On the other hand, it has heavy weight as well. Most of all, all the added equipment as fixed onto it, they can not be disassembled and stored into the unit while there are not in use. It become a great headache while the unit is not in use. These above described defects are inevitable for a sole-functional equipment or a multi-functional equipment.


It is an object of this invention to provide an ion source and a plasma processing apparatus capable of generating stable and long-life plasma. The ion source is provided with a high-frequency antenna (16) installed on the outer peripheral side of a partition wall (15) made of a dielectric material and partitioning a plasma generating chamber (14) and a shield body (26) made of a dielectric material and preventing deposition on the inner peripheral surface of the partition wall (15) facing the high-frequency antenna (16) inside the plasma generating chamber (14). The structure made of a dielectric material can prevent an increase in high-frequency power required for inductive coupling with plasma. The shield body (26) is formed with a slot (26a) in a direction crossing a winding direction of the high-frequency antenna (16). Since this arrangement can prevent continuous deposition on the inner surface of the partition wall in the winding direction of the high-frequency antenna, an induction loss between the high-frequency antenna and the plasma generating chamber can be effectively prevented even if the deposited film is made of a conductive material.

Conventionally, a plasma process is utilized for manufacturing semiconductors and electronic devices or for surface modification of structural materials. Examples of these kinds of plasma processes include ion beam etching and ion beam sputtering. Ion beam etching is the etching process of extracting ions from plasma in the form of a beam and then irradiating a metal film on the surface of a substrate to be processed with the ions. The ion beam sputtering is the sputtering process of extracting ions from plasma in the form of a beam, irradiating a sputtering target with the ion beam, and then depositing the sputtered materials onto a substrate to be processed.
Several ion sources, such as capacitive coupling type, inductive coupling type (ICP type) and electron cyclotron resonance type (ECR type), are known as the plasma processing apparatus mentioned above. As shown in FIG. 16, the ion source of the inductive coupling type includes a plasma generating chamber 1, a partition wall 2 made of a dielectric material and partitioning the plasma generating chamber 1, and a high-frequency antenna 3 arranged externally of the partition wall 2 for generating plasma in the plasma generating chamber 1.
The partition wall 2 is typically made of a dielectric material such as quartz. As shown in FIG. 16, the high-frequency antenna 3 is a coiled shape disposed around the periphery of the partition wall 2 and generates inductively coupled plasma through the partition wall 2. Only ions 7 are accelerated by extraction electrodes 4 from the plasma and are extracted to a process chamber 5. An object matter 6 such as a substrate or a sputtering target is irradiated with the extracted ions 7 and then the predetermined etching process or deposition process is carried out.
In the above conventional ICP type ion source, the object matter 6 is sputtered by the ions extracted from plasma and parts of sputtered materials 8 adhere onto the inner surface of the partition wall 2 partitioning the plasma generating chamber 1. Particularly when the sputtered materials 8 are made of a conductive material and are deposited onto the inner surface of the partition wall 2 in the winding direction of the high-frequency antenna 3 in succession, a current flows to the inside surface of the partition wall 2 in a direction denying an induction electromagnetic field produced in the plasma generating chamber 1. As a result, a dielectric loss is increased. Also, conductive sputtered materials 9 from the extraction electrodes 4, which are generated by collision of ions 7 on the electrodes 4, may adhere onto the inner surface of the partition wall 2 through the plasma generating chamber 1.
As described above, when the conductive materials adhere on the inner peripheral surface of the partition wall 2 around the whole periphery thereof, the dielectric loss is increased and also high-frequency power for obtaining a desired plasma density is increased, thereby finally causing the problem of difficulty in stable formation or maintenance of plasma.
To solve the problem, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a construction in which a shield body for regulating the adhesion of sputtered materials onto the inner surface of a partition wall is installed inside a plasma generating chamber. The shield body is installed opposed to the inner surface of the partition wall. Thus, sputtered materials are restrained from adhering to the inner surface of the partition wall, and then a stable generation or maintenance of plasma is secured.    Patent Document 1: JP2004-228181A    Patent Document 2: JP11-251303A

Ion source and plasma processing apparatus


A management device determines, in response to a request, given from a requester terminal included in a plurality of terminals, for determining an information distributor to distribute request target information, any one of a server and a relay terminal to retain the request target information as the request target information distributor, and instructs the requester terminal and the relay terminal determined to be the distributor to determine, based on a status of a route which connects the server, the relay terminal and the requester terminal, whether the request target information can be held or deleted after having the request target information distributed.

Nowadays, various items of information are distributed via a network to a user who utilizes a computer and other terminals. Then, with an increase in quantity of information to be distributed, a variety of technologies are proposed, which reduce concentration of a load on a server for distributing the information or on a network via which the information is transmitted. For example, a known technology is that the terminal has a relay function to share a part of the distribution load of the server.
The following system is exemplified as a first example in which the terminal has the relay function to share a part of the distribution load of the server. In the system in the first exemplification, a client as an information requester queries another client on the network about a desired content of a moving picture. Then, if a distribution-enabled response saying that the content can be distributed to this query is given, the requester client issues a request for distributing the moving picture content to the client which sent back the distribution-enabled response. Then, the requester client reproduces the received moving picture content. Further, if no response to the query is given from any clients, the requester client issues a request for distributing the desired content to the server.
The following system is exemplified as a second example in which the terminal has the relay function to share a part of the distribution load of the server. In the system in the second exemplification, as a first distribution mode, a device for distributing the content distributes by streaming in a broadcasting mode the content data to the terminals. Further, as a second distribution mode, between a plurality of terminal devices, one terminal device, which retains the content data, distributes the content data on the basis of a request for downloading the content data from another terminal device. Another system is proposed, which has both of the first distribution mode and the second distribution mode.

Management device in distributing information, management method and medium


A pump, in particular a hydraulic pump for a power steering system, has a housing. The pump is a prefabricated structural unit in which the end faces of the housing are closed by a flange and by a cover, respectively. The flange and the cover are braced against each other by at least one holding part.

The invention relates to a pump, in particular a hydraulic pump for a power steering system, comprising a housing.
Such pumps are generally assembled from many individual parts, so that they are very costly to put together. The installation of the pump, for example into a motor/pump unit of a power steering device of a motor vehicle, generally takes place in a complicated way by means of screws or similar connecting means. In addition, the individual components of the pump are to be designed taking into account the pressure difference between the interior and exterior of the pump.
The need therefore exists for a simply and compactly constructed pump, which is possible to put together and install into a motor/pump unit or the like at a favorable cost and without effort.

Hydraulic pump for a power steering system


When printing, an image forming apparatus determines, based on a threshold voltage corresponding to a print speed during printing, whether or not a corona wire of a charger needs to be cleaned. On the basis of whether or not a monitoring voltage corresponding to a current value of a charged bias, which is applied to the corona wire by a charged-bias high-voltage power supply, is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold voltage corresponding to the print speed during printing, the image forming apparatus determines whether or not the corona wire needs to be cleaned.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method using a discharger in which a corona discharging system is used, and forming an image based on image data on a paper by an electrophotographic system.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process exposes a photosensitive member (image bearing body) charged by a charger based on image data to be processed, to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member. Moreover, the image forming apparatus supplies charged toner (developer) to the latent image by a developing unit, to form a toner image on the photosensitive member. The image forming apparatus transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive member onto a paper by a transfer unit. The image forming apparatus then fuses the transferred toner image to the paper by a fuser, to form an image on the paper. Such an image forming apparatus may use, as a charger for charging the photosensitive member, a discharger in which the corona discharging system is used.
The charger of the corona discharging system includes a corona wire, formed by tungsten, stainless steel or the like, which is enclosed by a casing. The charger is arranged near the photosensitive member. When high voltage is applied to the corona wire, corona discharge occurs between the corona wire and the photosensitive member, the air around the corona wire is ionized, and ions are generated. The generated ions are moved to the surface of the photosensitive member to charge the surface of the photosensitive member.
It has been known that, in the charger of the corona discharging system, if dirt is adhered to the corona wire, the photosensitive member is not normally charged at the portion that contains the dirt, causing a charge failure at the photosensitive member. Such a charge failure results in significant deterioration in image quality because, for example, a solid black area may be formed on the printed image. It is thus necessary to sufficiently clean the corona wire in order to maintain good image quality.
For example, an image forming apparatus has been proposed, which includes a means for cleaning the corona wire in conjunction with opening and closing an access cover (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-251195). Another image forming apparatus has been proposed, which determines if there is dirt on a charger immediately after cleaning of the corona wire, and allows a printing operation to occur if it determines that there is no dirt (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-184826). By thus cleaning the corona wire on a regular basis and appropriately determining if there is dirt on the charger, the corona wire can be maintained in a clean condition, and it is possible to reduce the degradation of quality of the formed image.
The technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-184826 has a configuration that detects charging current of the charger, determines if there is dirt on the charger based on the detected value of charging current, and provides a notification if there is dirt on the charger.
It is known, when the image forming apparatus forms an image on a paper, that two or more types of print speeds may be used for processing and that the print speed can be switched in accordance with, for example, the type of paper. Such an image forming apparatus requires a change in the standard used to determine the presence/absence of dirt on the charger, when the print speed is switched. This is because the rotation speed of the photosensitive member is also changed when the print speed is changed, and the voltage applied to the charger is further changed in order to obtain constant charging density.
The Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-184826, however, does not consider switching of the print speed. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus capable of processing with two or more types of print speeds, it is difficult to determine appropriately whether or not the corona wire needs to be cleaned depending on each print speed.

Image forming apparatus and image forming method


A value for an aircraft movement limit is received where the aircraft movement limit is associated with a manned aircraft. The aircraft movement limit is automatically set to the value. A pilot instruction is received and a control signal for the aircraft is generated using the pilot instruction and the aircraft movement limit.

New types of aircraft are being developed for use by inexperienced pilots (e.g., without a pilot's license) and/or for use in closer proximity with other aircraft compared to traditional types of aircraft. For example, these new types of aircraft may be easier to learn (e.g., so that inexperienced pilots without a pilot's license can learn how to fly such aircraft quickly and easily) and perform vertical takeoff and landing (e.g., which permits more aircraft to occupy the same space compared to conventional takeoff and landing aircraft). New safety technologies for use in more crowded flight environments and/or with inexperienced pilots would be desirable. For example, these safety technologies may be used at a training facility where multiple people are simultaneously learning how to fly an aircraft. In some cases, these techniques are used even after a training session.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Aircraft movement limits for safe flight


An actuator, which can be actuated along a longitudinal axis, in particular for a spring carrier, includes a stationary part, a first rotor, which can be driven so as to perform a rotary motion, a rotatable second rotor, which is supported against the stationary part in the axial direction in an axial rest position, a coupling device, by which the second rotor is coupled to the first rotor, and an output element, which is connected to the second rotor and can be moved axially by means of a rotary motion of the second rotor. The coupling device interacts with the first rotor and the second rotor in such a way that, starting from the rest position, an axial movement of the second rotor can be produced by means of a first rotary motion of the first rotor in order to release the second rotor from the stationary part and thereby bring it into a working position.

The present invention relates to an actuator which can be actuated along a longitudinal axis, in particular for a spring carrier.
Linear actuators are employed in a large number of appliances. Often there is the problem that a component which is to be driven by the actuator is subjected to a load acting parallel to the direction of actuation. As a result, the components of the actuator are subjected to severe loading, even when the actuator is not being operated. In many cases, these actuators must even actively apply a continuous holding force in order to counteract the load and prevent unwanted adjustment.
The problems can be illustrated clearly using a spring carrier in a wheel suspension system of a vehicle. Spring carriers of this kind often have a coil spring which is arranged between two spring plates and the preload of which can be set by axial movement of one of the spring plates. In this way, the spring force is influenced by a displacement of the spring characteristic in order then to be able to regulate the level of the vehicle. In order to move the spring plate, the usual practice is to use an actuator comprising an electric motor and a threaded spindle which interacts with a threaded nut connected to the spring plate.
The wheel loads of the vehicle act in the longitudinal direction of the spring carrier. These loads are transmitted at least partially via the threaded nut and the threaded spindle and hence via the actuator. Because they are subjected continuously to static and dynamic loads, the components of the actuator must be of correspondingly robust dimensions. Moreover, there is a need for the presence of devices which prevent unwanted movement of the spring plate by the wheel loads. In individual cases, additional brakes or switchable double overrunning clutches are provided for this purpose. Moreover, there is a need for a "fail-safe" configuration of such devices, for safety reasons among others. They must be controlled separately and may require their own energy supply. A holding force counteracting the unwanted displacement can also be provided by the electric motor itself but this results in high energy consumption.
It is an object of the invention to provide an actuator of the type stated at the outset which reliably permits axial movement and at the same time provides a supporting or locking function which at least partially relieves the actuator of loads when it is not being operated. The intention is that the actuator should be compact and inexpensive and provide the abovementioned functions without additional energy supply systems.


Methods of using eplerenone, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and optionally a diuretic are described for treatment of heart failure and hypertension.

Combinations of an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and an aldosterone antagonist are described for use in treatment of circulatory disorders, including cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure, hypertension and congestive heart failure. Of particular interest are therapies using a spirolactone-type aldosterone antagonist compound in combination with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor to reduce the death rate or the number of non-fatal hospitalizations in patients.
Myocardial (or cardiac) failure, that is, heart failure (xe2x80x9cHFxe2x80x9d), whether a consequence of previous myocardial infarction(s), heart disease associated with hypertension, or primary cardiomyopathy, is a major health problem of worldwide proportions. The incidence of symptomatic heart failure has risen steadily over she past several decades.
In clinical terms, decompensated cardiac failure consists of a constellation of signs and symptoms that arise from congested organs and poorly perfused tissues to form congestive heart failure (CHF) syndrome. Congestion is caused largely by increased venous pressure and by inadequate sodium (Na+) excretion, relative to dietary Na+ intake, and is importantly related to circulating levels of aldosterone (ALDO). An abnormal retention of Na+ occurs via tubular epithelial cells throughout the nephron, including the later portion of the distal tubule and cortical collecting ducts, where ALDO receptor sites are present.
ALDO is the body""s most potent mineralocorticoid hormone. As implied by the term mineralocorticoid, this steroid hormone has mineral-regulating activity. It promotes Na+ reabsorption not only in the kidney, but also from the lower gastrointestinal tract and salivary and sweat glands, each of which represents classic ALDO-responsive tissues. ALDO regulates Na+ and water resorption at the expense of potassium (Kxe2x88x92) and magnesium (Mg2+) excretion.
ALDO can also provoke responses in non-epithelial cells. Elicited by a chronic elevation in plasma ALDO level that is inappropriate relative to dietary Na+ intake, these responses can have adverse consequences on the structure of the cardiovascular system. Hence, ALDO can contribute to the progressive nature of myocardial failure for multiple reasons.
Multiple factors regulate ALDO synthesis and metabolism, many of which are operative in the patient with myocardial failure. These include renin as well as non-renin-dependent factors (such as Kxe2x88x92, ACTH) that promote ALDO synthesis. Hepatic blood flow, by regulating the clearance of circulating ALDO, helps determine ALDO plasma concentration, an important factor in heart failure characterized by reduction in cardiac output and hepatic blood flow.
The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (xe2x80x9cRAASxe2x80x9d) is one of the hormonal mechanisms involved in regulating pressure/volume homeostasis and also in the development of hypertension, a precursor condition implicated in the progression of more serious cardiovascular diseases such as congestive heart failure. Activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system begins with secretion of the enzyme renin from the juxtaglomerular cells in the kidney. The enzyme renin acts on a naturally-occurring substrate, angiotensinogen, to release a decapeptide, Angiotensin I. This decapeptide is cleaved by angiotensin converting enzyme (xe2x80x9cACExe2x80x9d) to provide an octapeptide, Angiotensin II, the primary active species of this system. This octapeptide, angiotensin II, is a potent vasoconstrictor and also produces other physiological effects such as stimulating aldosterone secretion, promoting sodium and fluid retention, inhibiting renin secretion, increasing sympathetic nervous system activity, stimulating vasopressin secretion, causing a positive cardiac inotropic effect and modulating other hormonal systems.
Emphasis has been placed on minimizing hyperaldosteronism as a basis for optimizing patient treatment. This includes the importance of ALDO-receptor antagonism both in patients treated with conventional diuretic programs and in patients treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, who are often constrained to small doses of ACE inhibitor because of orthostatic hypotension. Such patients may demonstrate a recurrence of heart failure symptoms likely related to elevations in plasma ALDO levels.
Many aldosterone blocking drugs and their effects in humans are known. For example, spironolactone is a drug which acts at the mineralocorticoid receptor level by competitively inhibiting aldosterone binding. This steroidal compound has been used for blocking aldosterone-dependent sodium transport in the distal tubule of the kidney in order to reduce edema and to treat essential hypertension and primary hyperaldosteronism [F. Mantero et al, Clin. Sci. Mol. Med., 45 (Suppl 1), 219s-224s (1973)]. Spironolactone is also used commonly in the treatment of other hyperaldosterone-related diseases such as liver cirrhosis and congestive heart failure [F. J. Saunders et al, Aldactone; Spironolactone: A Comprehensive Review, Searle, New York (1978)]. Progressively-increasing doses of spironolactone from 1 mg to 400 mg per day [i.e., 1 mg/day, 5 mg/day, 20 mg/day] were administered to a spironolactone-intolerant patient to treat cirrhosis-related ascites [P. A. Greenberger et al, N. Eng. Reg. Allergy Proc., 7(4), 343-345 (July-August, 1986)]. It has been recognized that development of myocardial fibrosis is sensitive to circulating levels of both Angiotensin II and aldosterone, and that the aldosterone antagonist spironolactone prevents myocardial fibrosis in animal models, thereby linking aldosterone to excessive collagen deposition [D. Klug et al, Am. J. Cardiol., 71(3), 46A-54A (1993)]. Spironolactone has been shown to prevent fibrosis in animal models irrespective of the development of left ventricular hypertrophy and the presence of hypertension [C. G. Brilla et al, J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol., 25(5), 563-575 (1993)]. Spironolactone at a dosage ranging from 25 mg to 100 mg daily is used to treat diuretic-induced hypokalemia, when orally-administered potassium supplements or other potassium-soaring regimens are considered inappropriate [Physicians"" Desk Reference, 46th Edn., p. 2153, Medical Economics Company Inc., Montvale, N.J. (1992)].
Previous studies have shown that inhibiting ACE inhibits the renin-angiotensin system by substantially complete blockade of the formation of Angiotensin II. Many ACE inhibitors have been used clinically to control hypertension. While ACE inhibitors may effectively control hypertension, side effects are common including chronic cough, skin rash, loss of taste sense, proteinuria and neutropenia.
Moreover, although ACE inhibitors effectively block the formation of Angiotensin II, aldosterone levels are not well controlled in certain patients having cardiovascular diseases. For example, despite continued ACE inhibition in hypertensive patients receiving captopril, there has been observed a gradual return of plasma aldosterone to baseline levels [J. Staessen et al, J. Endocrinol., 91, 457-465 (1981)]. A similar effect has been observed for patients with myocardial infarction receiving zofenopril [C. Borghi et al, J. Clin. Pharmacol., 33, 40-45 (1993)]. This phenomenon has been termed xe2x80x9caldosterone escapexe2x80x9d.
Combinations of an aldosterone antagonist and an ACE inhibitor have been investigated for treatment of heart failure. It is known that mortality is higher in patients with elevated levels of plasma aldosterone and that aldosterone levels increase as CHF progresses from RAAS activation. Routine use of a diuretic may further elevate aldosterone levels. ACE inhibitors consistently inhibit angiotensin II production but exert only a mild and transient antialdosterone effect.
Combining an ACTS inhibitor and spironolactone has been suggested to provide substantial inhibition of the entire RAAS. For example, a combination of enalapril and a 25 mg daily dose of spironolactone has been administered to ambulatory patients with monitoring of blood pressure [P. Poncelet et al, Am. J. Cardiol., 65(2), 33K-35K (1990)]. In a 90-patient study, a combination of spironolactone at a dose in a range from 50 mg/day to 100 mg/day (average 73 mg/day) and captopril was administered and found effective to control refractory CHF without serious incidents of hyperkalemia [U. Dahlstrom et al, Am. J. Cardiol., 71, 29A-33A (Jan. 21, 1993)]. Spironolactone dosage at 100 mg/day coadministered with an ACE inhibitor was reported to be highly effective in 13 of 16 patients afflicted with congestive heart failure, with a 25 mg/day to 50 mg/day spironolactone maintenance dosage given at trial completion to compensated patients being treated with an ACE inhibitor and loop diuretic [A. A. van Vliet et al, Am. J. Cardiol., 71, 21A-28A (Jan. 21, 1993)]. Clinical improvements have been reported for patients receiving a co-therapy of spironolactone and the ACE inhibitor enalapril, although this report mentions that controlled trials are needed to determine the lowest effective doses and to identify which patients would benefit most from combined therapy [F. Zannad, Am. J. Cardiol., 71(3), 34A-39A (1993)].
Spironolactone, in combination with ACE inhibitors and loop diuretic therapy, has been shown to be effective in reducing N-terminal pro-atrial natriuretic factor, a marker of heart failure, in patients with that disease [The RALES Investigators, Am. J. Cardiol., 78(8), 902-907 (1996)].
Low dosages of spironolactone (e.g., less than 25 mg per day) for use in treating cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and heart failure, are described in PCT Application WO 96/24358, published Aug. 15, 1996.
Combination of an ACE inhibitor and low dosages of spironolactone (less than 25 mg per day) for treating congestive heart failure are described in PCT Application WO 96/24373, published Aug. 15, 1996.
Use of combinations of ACE inhibitors, low dosages of spironolactone (less than 25 mg/day) and diuretic agents for treating congestive heart failure, are described in PCT Application WO 96/24372, published Aug. 15, 1996.

Methods of treating heart failure and hypertension using combinations of eplerenone and an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor


Provided herein is a processor-implemented method of creating a hyperlink from a text messaging text entry field in a text messaging app on a user's mobile device. The method includes assigning within the messaging app one or more keyboard characters as control characters respectively designating a start of a text search string and an end of a text search string; enabling the user to enter text including the control characters into the text messaging app text entry field; and upon the user activating a send command to send a text message that includes the start and end control characters defining the bounds of a search text string, displaying the search string as a hyperlinked text in the message thread selectable to invoke a search outside of the text messaging app. In an embodiment, invoking a search includes automatically initiating a search by presenting the search text string to a search engine interface to return results based on the search, in the event that a user selects the hyperlinked search string text in the message of the message thread. Computing systems and processor-readable media embodying computer programs are also provided.

Computers and mobile communications devices, for example cellular telephones, tablets, smartphones, smart watches and the like, have become a very popular means of accessing information sources and resources of all types for many daily activities, and for communicating with others for both business and personal purposes. In most populated regions, such digital devices provide individuals with virtually constant access to information and communications via the Internet.
Mobile telephones (also known as cellular telephones or smartphones) have the ability to connect to the internet either through a cellular network by conventional cellular technology, or through a local network utilizing 'Wi-Fi', and as such have become a particularly useful and widespread example of this. Mobile telephones are small enough to be easily carried virtually anywhere, and have evolved to provide myriad mobile device application programs or "apps" that allow users to perform various tasks in addition to telephony and connectivity to the Internet.
However, as a compromise in favour of mobility and ease of handling, mobile telephones suffer from the drawback that the display is very small. It is therefore not practical to use multiple apps simultaneously the way one can on a computer, where the display is large enough that windows generated by different applications can display data, interfaces etc. adjacent to other windows. The size of the display in a mobile telephone lends itself to displaying only one app's interface at a time. For the same reason, mobile telephones necessarily have very small keyboards for data entry, which makes typing difficult for many users. In many cases mobile telephones provide the keyboard as part of the touch-screen display, which further reduces the amount of display area available for app interfaces and data.
Because the keyboard is so small, any process that can reduce the amount of typing required by the user to perform a task is considered to be advantageous. It reduces both the time spent by the user performing tasks, and the user's frustration level with inevitable typographical errors attendant to the small size of the keyboard.
Also, because the display area is so small and is practically able to provide only one app's interface at a time for use by the user, any process that can facilitate toggling between the interfaces of different apps is advantageous.
It would accordingly be advantageous to equip a mobile device with a process that reduces the amount of typing required by the user, thus reducing the time taken to perform a task on the mobile device and opportunities for errors. It would further be advantageous to reduce or eliminate the steps required to toggle between different apps that are being used to perform related tasks.

Processor-implemented method, computing system and computer program for invoking a search


An implement for removing from its socket and testing a Christmas light bulb which has a handle with two opposite ends. The handle has a cap secured to one of the ends. The cap has a socket in its distal end and the socket is adapted to loosely receive the base of a bulb. A cavity is formed in the other of the ends. The cavity has a top and a pair of opposite side walls that extend toward the other end, and a bottom. A bulb gripper is provided in the bottom for gripping the base of a bulb. A battery is housed in the handle. The battery is easily accessible so that it can be removed and replaced as desired. The battery and the cap are electrically connected. The handle cooperatively attaches the cap and the cavity and the gripper so that the bulb can be positioned in the cavity and the gripper can grip the base to the bulb from its socket without separating the bulb from its base. The bulb then can be loosely positioned in the socket and tested.

The present invention pertains to implements for testing light bulbs and more particularly pertains to an implement that is particularly useful for removing from their sockets and testing Christmas light bulbs.
Christmas lights are notorious, because of their limited seasonal use, for becoming defective between seasons. Christmas lights come in all sizes and are removably secured in sockets which are equally spaced on leads--more commonly known as a "string" of lights. The string generally has a plug at one end adapted to plug into a power source or into the opposite end of another string, whereby the string can be made longer.
There are generally two kinds of "strings". One is strung parallel wherein each bulb is lit independently. The other is strung in series wherein all of the bulbs do not light when one or more of the bulbs or sockets are defective.
In both cases in order to test bulbs to determine whether they are defective the lead must be plugged into a power source. Those bulbs in parallel strings which do not light are defective. In series strings each bulb and/or socket must be tested in order to determine which ones are defective. It is often the case that the socket not the bulb is defective. In any case many bulbs which are not defective, are thrown away.
Another problem is convenience. In order to "trouble shoot" a string of lights, the operator must be positioned near a source of electricity. This is especially inconvenient as many Christmas lights are positioned outdoors where electricity outlets are scarce, and in some instances non-existent. Testing methods heretofore available are also complicated by new bulb designs.
Some bulbs are extremely tiny and difficult to hold without damaging the fragile connections, or pulling the glass portion loose from the base. The dexterity required to remove these bulbs from their sockets is imperial; this is especially true if the operator has arthritis or if the work is being done outdoors in characteristically cold Christmas-time temperatures. Lastly, one becomes frustrated after spending time struggling to remove a bulb from its socket, only to discover that be has positioned the bulb in a defective socket, or he has damaged the bulb rendering it defective.
Therefore it is highly desirable to provide an improved implement for removing and installing Christmas light bulbs.
It is also highly desirable to provide an improved implement for testing Christmas light bulbs.
It is also highly desirable to provide an improved implement for removing, installing and testing Christmas light bulbs.
It is also highly desirable to provide an improved implement for removing, installing and testing Christmas light bulbs which conveniently carries its own power source.
It is also highly desirable to provide an improved implement for removing, installing and testing "miniature" Christmas light bulbs that is capable of removing the bulb from its socket without damaging the fragile leads or pulling the bulb loose from its base.
It is also highly desirable to provide an improved implement for removing, installing and testing Christmas light bulbs that is capable of removing and testing a Christmas light quickly and conveniently.
It is finally highly desirable to provide an improved implement for removing, installing and testing Christmas light bulbs which meets all of the above desired features.

Implement for removing and installing and testing Christmas light bulbs


To improve detection efficiency in a solid-state imaging element including a SPAD in which an electrode and wiring are placed in a central portion. A solid-state imaging element includes a photodiode and a light collecting section. The photodiode includes a light receiving surface and an electrode placed on the light receiving surface, and that outputs an electrical signal in accordance with light incident on the light receiving surface in a state where a voltage exceeding a breakdown voltage is applied to the electrode. The light collecting section causes light from a subject to be collected in the light receiving surface other than a region where the electrode is placed.

Thus far, an imaging device in which a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) is used as a photoelectric conversion element of a pixel has been used as an imaging device used for imaging or the measurement of the distance to a subject in a low-illuminance environment. The SPAD is a photodiode that performs photoelectric conversion in a state where a voltage exceeding the breakdown voltage is applied. Since a voltage exceeding the breakdown voltage has been applied, an electron avalanche derived from a carrier generated by photoelectric conversion occurs, and the SPAD enters a breakdown state. As a result, multiplication of carriers based on the photoelectric conversion is made, and an improvement in sensitivity in the imaging device is expected. However, since a relatively high voltage is applied to the SPAD, the SPAD requires a relatively large isolation region for being isolated from the surrounding circuits etc. Further, an electrode of the SPAD and wiring connected to the electrode are placed on a surface of the pixel. The region where the SPAD is formed corresponds to a light receiving surface in the surface of the pixel; therefore, by the isolation region etc. described above being placed, the ratio of the light receiving surface in the pixel surface, that is, the aperture ratio is reduced. Hence, photon detection efficiency is a relatively low value. Here, the detection efficiency is the ratio of the number of detected photons to the number of incident photons, and is a value showing characteristics of photon detection.
Thus, an imaging device in which light incident on an isolation region is guided to a SPAD and thereby detection efficiency is improved is used. For example, an imaging device in which a microlens is placed for each pixel and light is collected to a region of a SPAD that is formed in a central portion of the pixel is proposed (for example, see Patent Literature 1).

Solid-state imaging element and imaging device

Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation


A rate adjustable backplane includes a set of switch slots configured to receive one or more switch cards forming a switch core and a plurality of line slots each configured to receive a line card. A low speed bus couples the line slots to the set of switch slots. A high speed bus also couples the line slots to the set of switch slots. Each line slot includes a low speed connector coupled to the low speed bus and a high speed connector coupled to the high speed bus. The low speed connector is adapted to receive a mating connector of a line card to establish a low speed communication connection between the line card and the switch core. The high speed connector is adapted to receive a mating connector of the line card to establish a high speed link between the line card and the switch core.

This invention relates generally to the field of telecommunications, and more particularly to a rate adjustable backplane and method for a telecommunications node.
The Internet has dramatically increased the potential for data, voice, and video services for customers. Existing circuit-switch telephony systems, however, do not provide the foundation to support the growing need for bandwidth and new services required by both residential and business consumers. As a result, integrated access devices have been introduced to support Internet and related technologies as well as standard telephony service.
Integrated access devices are typically implemented in a card shelf configuration with functionality of the device distributed between discrete line and switch cards connected over a backplane. The line cards provide the service interfaces for the different traffic types and accordingly operate at different rates. For example, a line card providing a plain old telephone service (POTS) interface operates at low speeds on the order of 64 Megabits per second (Mb/s) while a line card for a synchronous optical network (SONET) link, such as a OC-48 link, operates at high speed on the order of 2.5 Gigabits per second (Gb/s).
To support line cards of different rates, backplanes are typically designed to support a full array of high speed line cards. This allows high and low speed line cards to be used in every slot of the integrated access device. Circuitry on the backplane to support the high speed cards, however, can be prohibitively expensive for many low-cost applications in which access devices are utilized. Moreover, while devices with backplanes designed to support only low speed cards can be utilized in these applications, such devices cannot be later upgraded to support high speed interfaces.
The present invention provides a rate adjustable backplane and method for a telecommunications node that substantially eliminates and reduces disadvantageous and problems associated with previous systems and methods. In particular, the backplane includes a low speed bus that terminates at a multiple format switch card and a high speed bus that terminates at an optional high capacity switch card. Circuitry for implementing a high speed communication connection is provided on high speed line cards and the high capacity switch card in order to support low speed applications at low cost and to allow upgrades to higher capacity applications.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a rate adjustable backplane includes a set of switch slots configured to receive one or more switch cards forming a switch core and a plurality of line slots each configured to receive a line card. A low speed bus couples the line slots to the set of switch slots. A high speed bus also couples the line slots to the set of switch slots. Each line slot includes a low speed connector coupled to the low speed bus and a high speed connector coupled to the high speed bus. The low speed connector is adapted to receive a mating connector of a line card to establish a low speed communication connection between the line card and the switch core. The high speed connector is adapted to receive a mating connector of a line card to establish a high speed communication connection between the line card and the switch core.
More specifically, in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, the set of switch slots includes a first switch slot adapted to receive a low capacity switch card and a second switch slot adapted to receive a high capacity switch card. A unibus couples the first and second switch slots together. In this and other embodiments, the low speed bus may comprise a time division multiplex (TDM) bus and the high speed bus may comprise an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) bus. ATM cells may be transported in asynchronously fixed, synchronous or other suitable cell slots.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a high speed communication connection is established between a line card and a switch core over a backplane of a telecommunications node by establishing a communication connection between the line card and the switch core over a low speed bus operating at a predefined rate. A high speed rate at which to operate a point-to-point link of a high speed bus coupling the line card to the switch core is determined. The high speed bus is then operated at the defined rate to communicate traffic between the line card and the switch core.
Technical advantages of the present invention include providing an improved backplane for a telecommunications node. In particular, the backplane is rate adjustable to support low capacity applications at low cost and ungradable with the addition of high speed line cards and a high capacity switch card to support high capacity applications. As a result, system costs are more directly proportional to functionality which allows low-cost solutions for low-rate and other limited applications.
Another technical advantage of the present invention includes providing a distributed bus architecture for a backplane of a telecommunications node. In particular, a low speed TDM bus and a high speed ATM bus are provided between each line card and a switch core. The low speed bus and the high speed bus each include point-to-point links between the line cards and the switch core to provide signal robustness and allow each high speed link to operate at a different rate. High speed line cards use the low speed telephony subscriber bus as a data link to establish a rate with which to communicate service traffic with the switch core over the high speed bus. Thus, the backplane provides a robust communication structure, supports high and low speed line cards in each slot of the telecommunication node to maximize flexibility, and allows high speed line cards to set the rate of their connection to the switch core.
Other technical advantageous of the present invention will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims.

Rate adjustable backplane and method for a telecommunications node


An optical switching assembly comprised of a substrate, a first plurality of waveguides in a first plane in the substrate, a second plurality of waveguides in a second plane parallel to said first plane in the substrate, the optical signals being selectively transferable from one substrate to the other. The second waveguides cross the first waveguides at an angle and the first waveguides each have a segment extending generally parallel to a segment of the second waveguides at the crossing. Controllable coupling material is disposed between the segments of the waveguides at the crossing and a control circuit is employed for selectively changing the index of refraction of the coupling material by electrical or thermal means.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to optical switches and more particularly to waveguide based optical matrix switches.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Fiber optic networks for transmission of optical signals have come into wide use for telecommunications and data communications in recent years. These fiber optic networks need a rapid, efficient and effective means for switching a channel from one path to another within the network. Several switching techniques and structures have been developed in recent years that are satisfactory for many applications for switching a single channel from one path to another. However, these are not entirely satisfactory for functioning as large cross connect switches.
Several cross connect switches using a waveguide matrix have recently been developed. A common problem of current waveguide based matrix switches is the decrease in power of an optical signal as it traverses each potential switch point. The light typically leaves the waveguide at the switch points and propagates (unguided) across the cross point and then back into the waveguide. The coupling of the light from one waveguide to another results in a notable power loss at each cross point. A number of switch structures of this type are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,699,462 and 5,960,131. In general, an optical signal must traverse between one and (2*N)xe2x88x921 points in an N*N matrix switch.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved waveguide-based switch that decreases the cross point power loss.
It is a primary purpose of the present invention to provide a waveguide based matrix switch that overcomes the above problems of the prior art by decreasing the cross point power loss.
The present invention provides a cross-point switch in which generally orthogonal waveguides are relatively parallel at their mutual cross point. For example, one of two generally orthogonal waveguides can have a 45 degree jog about the cross point, while the other waveguide has a xe2x88x9245 degree jog about the cross point. Herein, for purposes of determining whether two waveguides are generally orthogonal, the general orientation of a non-straight waveguide is that of a least-squares-fit straight line for that waveguide. A controller controls coupling material between the crossing waveguides to control the optical coupling between the waveguides. In practice, the waveguides can be formed at opposing faces of respective substrates.
This can be accomplished by placing two planar substrates parallel to one another, and having optical waveguides on the confronting surfaces. In the embodiment described in detail, the elongated waveguides on one plane are generally orthogonal to those on the other plane, except that at the crossing points each waveguide has a 45xc2x0 jog in such a way that a short portion of both waveguides in a pair of waveguides are parallel at the crossing zone. While the waveguides appear to cross from a plan view perspective, they are spaced from each other. These parallel, spaced segments provide for the optical signal to transfer from the waveguide in one plane to the one it crosses in the other plane. Controllable coupling material is mounted between the parallel waveguide segments in the crossing zone. Switching of optical signals between the waveguides at the crossing zone is accomplished by applying an electronic or a thermal signal to the coupling material between the waveguides.
Other crossing angles are contemplated as well as are other ways to form the spaced waveguide planes with coupling material at the crossing zones.
As in the prior art, waveguides that are couplable at a cross point are generally orthogonal to facilitate routing and to minimize unintended coupling away from cross points. By providing that waveguides are parallel at mutual cross points, the present invention provides an increased coupling area. The increased coupling area improves power coupling between the waveguides while the coupling material is controlled to promote coupling. Thus, the present invention decreases the cross point power loss. Certain embodiments of the invention provide other advantages in addition to or in lieu of the foregoing.

Optical switch comprising two non-coplanar arrays of optical waveguides


An off-road vehicle has two front wheels and two rear wheels, the rear wheels being connected to a spool gear driven by a motor. The vehicle also has a left front brake, a right front brake and a single rear brake. Speeds of left and right front wheels are respectively monitored by left and right front speed sensors. A single sensor monitors a common speed of left and right rear wheels. Two user actuated braking input devices, for example a hand lever and a foot lever, may be used independently or concurrently to provide a braking command. An anti-lock braking system may use speed measurements from the various speed sensors to control selective application of pressure on the left front brake, the right front brake and the rear brake.

All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and similar vehicles are used for utility and recreational purposes. Such ATVs are oftentimes equipped with a hand lever mounted on a handlebar for controlling front brakes and, in some cases, for further controlling rear brakes. A foot lever is used to control rear brakes.
Many road vehicles are equipped with anti-lock braking systems (ABS) designed to prevent locking of the wheels in slippery conditions. Such vehicles provide a brake assembly and a wheel speed sensor at each of the wheels of the vehicle. Braking components, in particular those of ABS systems, are expensive and add to the weight of a vehicle.
Thus, there is a desire for an ABS-equipped off-road wheeled vehicle that addresses the aforementioned drawbacks.

Four-wheel off-road vehicle having an anti-lock braking system assembly


An incremental author disambiguation framework may create new clusters to accommodate new data based on the existing cluster results and newly added data. The proposed system may provide frequent update of taxonomic classification, name disambiguation and many other applications because it takes less time to generate new results. In addition, the proposed methods may reduce the time needed for updating the model and help improve the performance with the limited computational resource.

Big data analysis creates big data challenges. These include maintaining and updating indexes and data clusters that permit efficient and accurate data access. In the metagenomics field as an example. One of the main challenge in metagenomics is to answer, "What is here?", i.e., identify the microorganism in the sample. Taxonomic classification on DNA sequences is helpful to assist the researcher with this problem. Taxonomic classification, however, suffers from model updating problems. That is, new strains and species are discovered and added to the database frequently. The cost of sequencing a genome is out-pacing Moore's law (FIG. 2). Thus, more and more new species or strains are discovered and sequenced. Moreover, Moore's law has not applied in the past few years (FIG. 3).
In other words, in contrast to the growth of the number of (meta)genomes being added to databases, the computational speed to process them is not increasing at the same rate. Thus, it is more and more computationally intensive to reprocess the whole National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Genomes database and update the classifier when the database is updated. FIGS. 4 and 5 show the growth of completed bacterial genomes in NCBI. FIG. 4 shows that the total number of complete genomes keeps increasing over the past 18 years. FIG. 5 shows the number of complete genomes being added to the database per year. As shown, there are more and more new genomes being added to the database.
While presented in the field of genomics, the challenge in that field is not unique and the invention described herein is not sol limited. Other big data challenged fields like social media, financial transactions, recommendation systems, as well as others, may face the same challenge.

Multi-temporal information object incremental learning software system


A device for mounting a conduit of a vapor canister on a vehicle includes a base having a first side and an opposing second side. The base includes fastener openings for receiving fasteners to attach the base to a frame. A connector extends from the first side of the base between the fastener openings for connecting the device to a conduit of a vapor canister. A pipe having an inlet extends from the second side of the base and forms an air passage from the inlet to the connector. The device may also include supports on the second side of the base for supporting the device on frame members with rounded or flat surfaces. The conduit mounting device can be installed by attaching the device on a frame member without the need for tools.

The disclosed subject matter relates to mounting devices. More particularly, the disclosed subject matter relates to devices for mounting conduits on vehicles.
Conventionally it is known that vehicles powered by internal combustion engines have a fuel tank for storing fuel. Vaporized fuel may accumulate in the fuel tank and may sometimes leak into the surrounding environment. Such loss of vaporized fuel may lead to unwanted environmental effects and may reduce fuel efficiency.
In order to reduce the undesirable effects of such evaporative emissions, control equipment is sometimes applied to vehicles. Evaporative emission control equipment may include canisters having an absorbent material, such as active carbon, to remove the vaporized fuel from the fuel tank. The fuel may then be returned to the engine for combustion during operation of the engine.
Automobiles sometimes have carbon canisters mounted to the vehicle body using rigid mounting devices. Such arrangements are suitable for automobiles that usually travel on paved roads without excessive jarring or vibrations. However, off-road vehicles may add demands in mounting carbon canisters that are not encountered with typical automobiles. For example, off-road vehicles are often subjected to larger vibrations caused by driving on rough surfaces. Such vibrations may adversely affect the utility or wear of the carbon canisters. Moreover, off-road vehicles are often subjected to harsh conditions, including muddy, wet, or dirty conditions that may adversely affect the carbon canisters if not properly protected. Also, the carbon canisters may be damaged if deleterious material is allowed to be ingested into the intake of the carbon canister.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a device for mounting conduits of evaporative emissions control equipment that allows for intake air to be withdrawn from a location that prevents ingestion of water or dirt, such as an interior of a frame member. It would also be desirable to provide a device for mounting conduits of evaporative emissions control equipment in off-road vehicles that can be mounted easily to frames having different configurations. Additionally, it would be desirable to provide a canister mounting arrangement that helps to reduce the vibrations experienced by the canister, and that allows the canister to be protected from harsh environmental conditions.


This invention provides a method for infusibilization of pitch fibers for production of carbon fibers which comprises putting pitch fibers prepared by melt spinning from a spinning pitch in containers, introducing in succession the containers containing the pitch fibers into an infusibilizing furnace divided into a plurality of sections and passing the containers therethrough from inlet to outlet wherein the containers containing the pitch fibers are intermittently moved through the infusiblizing furnace to retain each of the containers in respective sections for a given period of time, during which temperature of respective sections is independently raised from minimum controlled temperature to maximum controlled temperature and thereafter is lowered to the minimum controlled temperature and then the container is moved.

This invention relates to a method for infusibilization of pitch fibers by heat treating, in an oxidizing atmosphere, pitch fibers obtained by melt spinning a spinning pitch prepared from coal or petroleum pitch.
In the case of producing carbon fibers by melt spinning a coal or petroleum pitch, pitch fibers prepared by spinning a pitch are heat meltable and, if the pitch fibers are carbonized as they are, they are molten and cannot retain the individual fibrous shape. Therefore, infusibilization treatment of pitch fibers to insolubilize and infusibilize the pitch fibers by introduction of oxygen into molecular structure of pitch in the pitch fibers to produce crosslinkage therein is conducted under controlled conditions before carbonization treatment.
For infusibilization of pitch fibers, there have been proposed a method of dipping pitch fibers in an aqueous solution of an oxidizing agent (Japanese Patent Kokoku (Post Exam Publn) Nos. 47-21904 and 47-21905) and a method of extracting a component of low softening point in pitch fibers with a solvent (Japanese Patent Kokoku (Post Exam Publn) No. 52-38855 and Japanese Patent Kokai (Laid Open Publn) No. 61-2824). Normally, however, there has been employed a method of infusibilization by heating pitch fibers in an oxidizing gas (such as air, oxygen, ozone, nitrogen dioxide or mixed gas thereof) to oxidize the fibers.
For heating pitch fibers in an oxidizing gas, the following methods have been proposed, namely, a method of putting pitch fibers in a container and infusibilizing the fibers in batchwise manner (Japanese Patent Kokai (Laid Open Publn) Nos. 60-151316 and 61-12917), a method of continuously introducing pitch fibers accumulated on a conveyor into an infusibilizing furnace and continuously infusibilize the fibers therein (Japanese Patent Kokai (Laid Open Publn) Nos. 51-60774, 55-90621 and 59-192723), a method of continuous infusibilization by putting pitch fibers in a container or suspending them in a container and introducing continuously or intermittently this container into an infusibilizing furnace (Japanese Patent Kokai (Laid Open Publn) Nos. 55-6547, 58-60019 and 60-126323).
According to the batchtype infusibilizing method, temperature of the infusibilizing furnace can be accurately controlled depending on the rising rate of softening temperature of pitch fibers with progress of infusibilization and generation of heat from pitch fibers with progress of infusibilization and thus infusibilization can be performed without damaging the characteristics of fibers and causing runaway reaction of pitch fibers. However, it is well known that heat treatment of batch process system is industrially disadvantageous and is not suitable for mass-production of carbon fibers. Infusibilization of pitch fibers by accumulating pitch fibers on a conveyor or in a container and continuously passing the pitch fibers through an infusibilizing furnace can be expected to accomplish higher productivity than the batchtype infusibilization. However, control of distribution of temperature in the furnace is difficult and so it is difficult to perform heat treatment of pitch fibers at proper heating rate. That is, in the case of a furnace of conveyor type, normally inside of the furnace is divided into a plurality of sections, in each of which are provided a ventilating apparatus and a temperature controlling apparatus and heat treatment is carried out by blowing an oxidizing gas adjusted to a given temperature upon pitch fibers or flowing the oxidizing gas through the pitch fibers. According to such furnace, naturally, the middle part of each section in lengthwise derection has relatively uniform and flat distribution of temperature while abrupt change of temperature and thus non-uniform distribution of temperature occur at boundary part of each section. Therefore, when conveyor or container is moved at a constant speed through the infusibilizing furnace, the pitch fibers on the conveyor or in the container undergo extremely non-uniform and stepwise change of temperature (heating rate). That is, heating rate is slow and thus infusibilization reaction is gentle in the middle part of each section. On the other hand, elevation of temperature is rapid and infusibilization reaction is abrupt in the boundary part of each section. Rapid elevation of infusibilization temperature causes the temperature of atmosphere to be close to softening point of pitch fibers and causes fusion bonding of fibers. Thus, not only characteristics of fibers are damaged, but also uncontrollable exothermic reaction is brought about depending on state of accumulation of fibers and state of ventilation. Therefore, operating conditions of infusibilizing furnace of such type (preset temperature in each section, speed of conveyor, ventilation condition and accumulation amount of pitch fibers) are limited on the basis of heating rate in boundary part between each section and thus, there must be employed such conditions which result in reduction of productivity, for example, reduction in conveyor speed and decrease in accumulated amount of pitch fibers.
The method of infusibilization by intermittently introducing containers in which pitch fibers are accumulated, into infusibilizing furnace or intermittently moving the containers through the furnace also suffers from the problem of temperature control.
That is, in the method of intermittently moving the container, pitch fibers undergo more stepwise change of heat treating temperature than in the continuous moving method, namely, they are repeatedly subjected to retention of a certain temperature and abrupt elevation of temperature. According to such heating method, infusibilizing reaction comprises combination of rapid and slow progresses and operating conditions of infusibilizing furnace are limited on the basis of rapid heating rate just after beginning of movement as mentioned for the method of continuous introduction of conveyor or container into infusibilizing furnace. For this reason, measures such as increase of residence time in each section and decrease of the amount of accumulation of pitch fibers on conveyors or in containers must be taken, which inevitably reduce productivity.
As explained above, the conventional infusibilizing methods all have defects. Especially, it is a essential problem in production of pitch-based carbon fibers that elevation of heat treating temperature of pitch fibers is not uniform and so the productivity is restricted in the industrially important method of continuous or semicontinuous infusibilization by continuously or intermittently introducing conveyors or containers into an infusibilizing furnace.


An injection device includes a product container having an injection needle, a needle protection cap detachably secured to the product container surrounds the injection needle and seals same in a sterile manner. A cap is connected to the needle protection cap, via a remover element having an engaging element, in such a way that the removal of the cap from the injection device brings about the removal of the needle protection cap from the product container, where the engaging element is in an engaging position in relation to the needle protection cap, where in the engaging position, a section of the needle protection cap is arranged distally in line with the engaging element, characterized in that the cap and the engaging element are coupled in such a way that the cap is or can be moved relative to the engaging element during the removal from the injection device.

The term "medicine" comprises any flowable medical formulation that is suitable for controlled administration through a means such as a cannula or hollow needle, e.g. comprising a liquid, a solution, a gel, or a fine suspension that contains one or more medical substance. A medicine can be a composition from a single container with a single active substance or a pre-mixed or co-formulated composition that has numerous active substances. Medicines comprise drugs such as peptides (e.g. medicines containing insulin, GLP-1, or preparations derived therefrom or analogous thereto), proteins and hormones, biological or active substances based on hormones or genes, nutrient formulas, enzymes and other substances, both in solid (suspended) or liquid forms, as well as polysaccharides, vaccines, DNS or RNS or oligonucleotides, antibodies or components of antibodies, and suitable base, auxiliary and carrier substances.

External cap having needle protection cap remover element and method for assembling an injection device


An electric power supply system used in electric trains or electric buses is equipped with a device for removing ripples of low frequencies which cause flickering in a lighting system on the train or bus. The system includes an inverter for inverting DC power to AC power, a low pass filter for passing components of the AC power having low frequencies, amplitude detecting means for detecting an amplitude of an output of the filter, error detecting means for detecting any deviation of the amplitude from a reference signal, and a control system for detecting and removing flickering components from an error signal generated by the error detecting means. The control system includes a flickering component passing device for passing only flickering components contained in an output of the filter, a phase compensating device for compensating a phase lag of the flickering components, and a gain compensating device for compensating a gain of the flickering components.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric power supply system used in electric trains or electric buses, and particularly to an electric power supply system with an inverter system comprising a control system to remove ripples of low frequencies which cause flickers in lighting.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional electric trains use alternating current (AC) for electric devices such as lighting systems and air conditioners, and have an inverter system which changes direct current (DC) to AC. A conventional inverter system is shown in FIG. 1.
In the figure, DC power is supplied to the inverter system 11 through a pantograph unit 15 from a trolly wire 13. The DC power is inverted into AC power and is supplied to loads 19 such as an air compressor 19a, a lighting device 19b and an air conditioner 19c of the locomotive.
An output voltage of the AC power supply system is fluctuated by various causes, for example, by a torque change in its driving motor, influence from another train which runs on the same wire span, a load change of electric devices used in the train, or a change of the state in which the pantograph contacts the wires.
To remove the fluctuation of the output voltage, the conventional inverter system has a control system 11 as shown in FIG. 1. The control system 11 comprises an inverter 17 for inverting DC current into AC current; a low frequency passing filter 20 for removing high frequency noise caused by the switching of the inverter; an amplitude detector 21 for detecting an output voltage of the inverter; a reference voltage setting device 23; an error detector 25 for detecting errors as deviations from a voltage; a controller 27 for generating a control value M; and a pulse width modulator (PWM) 29 for changing the control value into a pulse signal which controls a switching part of the inverter 17.
The control system regulates the fluctuation caused by the various reasons mentioned above.
However, as the load of the air compressor 19a fluctuates at a low frequency of from several Hz to about 20 Hz and its current flow is great, the fluctuation is not completely removed and it remains in the output voltage as a ripple. This ripple is small compared with the output voltage and it does not cause trouble when using general electric devices. But, ripples of 10 Hz to 20 Hz cause passengers to become aware of flickering lighting even if the ripples are several volts.
The degree of flickering at which a human becomes aware of the flickering depends on the frequency of the ripple and each individual person.
A relationship between the mean degree of flickering and frequencies of the ripple is known as a luminosity curve. Frequencies of a load fluctuation of a mechanical device such as an air compressor are in a range where luminous efficiency is large. Then, when the air compressor begins to work, ripples of several volts are generated in the output voltage, which cause a flicker in the lighting. The flickering of light causes discomfort to the passengers. This problem has been left unsolved.
FIG. 2A shows a waveform of an output of PWM 29 exhibiting pulse width modulation. FIG. 2B shows a fundamental waveform of the output voltage of the inverter. FIG. 2C shows an output signal with a ripple caused by inverter 17. FIG. 2D shows a ripple wave with an amplitude .increment.v and a period T extracted by error detector 25. FIGS. 2C and 2D have a shortened time scale.

Electric power supply system for electric train which removes flickering in lighting


A method is disclosed for efficient multiplexing of a plurality of electrodes in a nerve stimulator using improved, predetermined, regular, repeatable geometric patterns arranged in a predetermined mosaic to form a desired array. Multiple electrodes within said array are addressed by the nerve stimulator as being a stimulating electrode by an instruction specifying a single identifier, indicating a position within each regular geometric pattern. As such, each electrode within the array, maintaining the specified position within its respective repeatable geometric pattern, becomes a stimulating electrode and is connected to the appropriate electronic circuit for subsequent, potential use in nerve stimulation.

A single electrode has proven to elicit the perception of a spot of light, a so-called phosphene, in humans with vision impairment. U.S. Provisional Application 60/473,304, filed May 29, 2003 disclosed the implantation of electronic devices wholly or partially at the retina, with an array of electrodes provided to deliver electrical stimulation to remaining intact retinal neurons. An improved arrangement of electrodes was disclosed comprising a stimulation array whereby electrodes are arrayed, in whole or in part, in a staggered pattern allowing for a high density of phosphenes, but wherein the elicitation of discrete phosphene is nonetheless achievable. (See FIG. 1)
In such an array each electrode of said stimulation array is relatively large by comparison to remaining intact retinal neurons, stimulating many neurons when actuated. In such an array, an electrode primarily activates intact retinal neurons that lie on the small, retinal region directly adjacent to the center of said electrode. With increased stimulation, said region of activation increases, a phenomenon approximately modeled by circular regions of increasing radii, concentric to said adjacent region.
For an electronic retinal prosthesis, electrodes effectively render an image by way of phosphenes in the implant recipient's visual field. This is achieved by way of each electrode activating a population of retinal neurons in a discrete region; each population pertaining to the perception of a phosphene. A high density of rendered phosphenes (and therefore a high density of electrodes) is desirable for it allows better visual acuity in the implant recipient. This density, however, is constrained by interference. If any two regions of activation are too close, injected charge will interfere, meaning that the elicitation of discrete phosphenes can not be achieved. For example, an intraocular array of two, small, stimulating electrodes which, when actuated maximally, can activate two large, circular regions of retinal tissue. The two stimulating electrodes need be disparate enough such that the two, said circular regions do not interfere. However, since high density is desirable, the two electrodes should be close enough such that the two circular regions meet tangentially.
In light of the above, the problem as to how to array said stimulating electrodes is analogous to the geometric problem regarding optimally packing equi-sized circles on an unbounded plane. It is a geometric result that the densest packing of equi-sized circles on an unbounded plane is a mosaic exhibiting staggering between successive rows and columns, as illustrated by the four rows and seven columns in FIG. 1. An example of this mosaic is the hexagon.
A stimulating prosthesis of non-trivial complexity must be configured to deliver electrical stimuli. Typically this is achieved by way of switching, via a multiplexing circuit, current or voltage sources to the intended electrodes. Configuring said multiplexing circuit requires instructions to configure, time to convey, and time to act upon said instructions. It is therefore advantageous to reduce either or both the instructions necessary to configure the multiplexing circuit, or the time required for said instructions to be delivered and acted upon.
Utilizing the hexagonal mosaic for electrode layout, or abstracts thereof, a novel multiplexing method for configuring and delivering the stimulus or stimuli from said electrode layout is described.

Electrode multiplexing method for retinal prosthesis


A method is disclosed for the purification of crude terephthalic acid, crude isophthalic acid or a crude naphthalene dicarboxylic acid that employs a titanium dioxide-supported purification catalyst.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a catalyst and method employing such catalyst for purifying crude terephthalic acid, crude isophthalic acid or a crude naphthalene dicarboxylic acid, and more particularly concerns the use in the aforesaid purification method of a catalyst comprising at least one metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table supported on a carrier comprising titanium dioxide.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Polymer grade or "purified" terephthalic acid and isophthalic acid are the staring materials for polyethylene terephthalates and isophthalates, respectively, which are the principal polymers employed in the manufacture of polyester fibers, polyester films, and resins for bottles and like containers. Similarly, polymer grade or "purified" naphthalene dicarboxylic acids, especially 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid, are the starting materials for polyethylene naphthalates, which can also be employed in the manufacture of fibers, films and resins. A purified terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid or naphthalene dicarboxylic acid can be derived from a relatively less pure, technical grade or "crude" terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid or "crude" naphthalene dicarboxylic acid, respectively, by purification of the crude acid utilizing hydrogen and a noble metal catalyst, as described for terephthalic acid in U.S. Pat. No. 3,584,039 to Meyer. In the purification process, the impure terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid or naphthalene dicarboxylic acid is dissolved in water or other suitable solvent or solvent mixture at an elevated temperature, and the resulting solution is hydrogenated, preferably in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, which conventionally is palladium on a carbon support, as described in Pohlmann, U.S. Pat. No. 3,726,915. This hydrogenation step converts the various color bodies present in the relatively impure phthalic acid or naphthalene dicarboxylic acid to colorless products. Another related purification-by-hydrogenation process for aromatic polycarboxylic acids produced by liquid phase catalyst oxidation of polyalkyl aromatic hydrocarbons is described in Stech et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,809.
Carbon is conventionally used as the support material for the noble metal in the catalyst employed in the aforesaid purification method. A common disadvantage of the use of a carbon support is that carbon fines are often generated during commercial operations. The generation of such fines can be minimized but generally cannot be completely avoided. During the subsequent esterification process, such particulates introduced with the particular purified acid, for example, terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid or 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid, can plug filters and thereby cause interruptions in the process. Other such particulates that bypass the filter may be incorporated into the resulting polyester fiber or film and cause fiber breakage or film distortion.
For this reason, it is highly desirable to use other materials as the support material in the catalyst employed in the aforesaid purification method. However, because of the highly corrosive conditions under which the aforesaid purification is performed, it has proven difficult to develop suitable non-carbon catalyst supports for use in the purification catalyst. For example, as indicated in Meyer, U.S. Pat. No. 3,584,039 in column 5, lines 10-14, hot aqueous solutions of terephthalic acid dissolve supporting materials such as natural and synthetic alumina, silica, silica-alumina, kieselguhr, calcined clays, zirconium supports and other metal oxides and metal salt containing supports.
M. Bankmann, R. Brand, B. H. Engler and J. Ohmer, "Forming of High Surface Area TiO.sub.2 to Catalyst Supports," Catalysis Today, Vol. 14, pages 225-242 (1992), contains an extensive discussion of the use of titanium dioxide having a high surface area as a catalyst support. The article (which was previously presented in a substantially identical form by R. Brand at the Fall, 1991, American Chemical Society meeting) indicates that the titanium dioxide must have a high surface area in order to be a suitable catalyst support and discusses only titanium dioxide having surface areas of 50 and 100 square meters per gram. The article discusses the extrusion process for manufacturing titanium dioxide having the requisite high surface area and the effect of the raw materials, additives and process parameters employed in the extrusion process on catalytically important characteristics of the resulting titanium dioxide. As disclosed, the extrusion process involves the steps of (1) mixing and kneading the raw materials, (2) extruding, (3) drying, and (4) calcining, each of which influences the quality of the resulting support. Correlations between the concentration of water, plasticizers and binders and the type of titanium dioxide raw material employed in the mixing and kneading step and the crushing strength, attrition resistance, pore diameter and pore volume of the resulting catalyst support, and correlations between the calcination temperature and the surface area, pore volume, mean pore diameter and pore size distribution and the degree of transformation from the anatase crystalline phase to the rutlie crystalline phase in the resulting catalyst support, are discussed in the article. More particularly, the use of catalysts containing palladium, platinum or rhodium components supported on titanium dioxide for selective hydrogenation is discussed. On pages 240-241, the use of such catalysts to hydrogenate a para-substituted benzaldyhyde to the corresponding para-substituted benzyl alcohol or para-substituted toluene is disclosed. The table on page 241 indicates that the para-substituent can be a carboxylic acid group, a methyl group or a halogen. The article discloses that the results of the hydrogenation of para-substituted benzaldyhyde were substantially different depending upon whether the catalyst contained palladium, platinum or rhodium on the titanium dioxide support. The article indicates that the titanium dioxide must have a high surface area in order to be a suitable catalyst support and discusses only titanium dioxide having surface areas of 50 and 100 square meters per gram. In addition, the article discloses that depending on the reaction temperature employed, the reduction of a parasubstituted benzaldehyde affords either of several products with high selectivity and in high yield. Except for the catalyst, the reaction temperature and the hydrogen pressure employed, the article does not disclose the conditions under which the hydrogenation was performed.
Schroeder et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,743,577, discloses that the use of catalysts containing palladium finely dispersed on carbon in the aforesaid purification of terephthalic acid derived from the oxidation of p-xylene results in contamination of the resulting purified terephthalic acid with fines produced by abrasion of the carbon granulates due to their relatively low crush strength and abrasion resistance. This patent discloses that reduced fines contamination results from the use instead of a catalyst containing a thin layer of palladium, nickel, rhodium, platinum, copper, rhuthenium and cobalt on a porous sintered support of metallic titanium, zirconlure, tungsten, chromium, nickel and alloys incorporating one or more of these metals. The surface area of palladium-plated supports of titanium, incoriel and nickel are disclosed as 0.22, 0.55 and 1.21 square meters per gram, respectively, which are very significantly smaller than specific surface area of a palladium on active carbon catalyst.
Sikkenga et al., pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/900,593, filed Jun. 18, 1992, discloses the preparation of an aromatic carboxylic acid by the liquid phase catalyzed oxidation of an alkyl-substituted aromatic compound such as o-, m-, or p-xylene or 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene. The application further discloses on page 11, lines 23-31, that the resulting aromatic carboxylic acids can be purified by hydrogenation thereof in the presence of a catalyst comprising one or more Group VIII metals deposited on a support such as alumina, titania or carbon. The application contains no other mention of titania.
Holzhauer et al., pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/900,637, filed Jun. 18, 1992, discloses on page 27, lines 1-12, a method for purifying 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid by treating it with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst containing one or more of platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, osmium and iridium supported on alumina, silica-alumina, silica, titania, clays and zirconia. The application contains no other mention of titania.
Timruer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,008, discloses the use of a catalyst containing a rhodium-containing component supported on titanium dioxide for the hydrogenation of benzene, toluene, o-xylene, terephthalic acid, disodium terephthalate, and diethyl terephthalate, in which the aromatic ring is hydrogenareal.

Catalyst and method for purifying crude terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid or naphthalene dicarboxylic acid