In a vehicle control system, a control unit of the vehicle control system executes a stop process by which the vehicle is parked in a prescribed stop area when it is detected that the control unit or the driver has become incapable of properly maintaining a traveling state of the vehicle. In the stop process, the control unit determines a plurality of available stop areas according to the vehicle surroundings and map information, and computes, for each available stop area, a cumulative travel risk obtained by accumulating a travel risk involved in traveling from a position of the vehicle when the stop process is initiated to each available stop area and a stop risk in stopping in each available stop area, the control unit determining a final stop area by comparing the cumulative travel risk with the stop risk in each available stop area sequentially from the nearest one.

It is known in the field of autonomous driving, in case of an emergency where the vehicle operator is incapacitated or has otherwise become unable to properly drive the vehicle, to autonomously maneuver the vehicle to a place where the traffic is least likely to be disrupted, and such a manoeuver is known as a minimal risk maneuver (MRM). See U.S. Pat. No. 9,766,085B2, for instance. According to this prior art, upon occurrence of an emergency situation where the system is required to take over the responsibility of driving the vehicle, and the vehicle happens to be located in a place from which the vehicle is required to evacuate, the system selects a plurality of target positions to which the vehicle may evacuate. The system then computes the risk of stopping at each position, and the risk of passing each position, and decides the target position to which the vehicle should evacuate. Once the target position is decided, the vehicle travels to the target position and comes to a stop at the target position.
According to this prior art, the target position is decided as soon as the need to evacuate the current position is determined. However, depending on the positions of the surrounding other vehicles, and the condition of the target position, the target position may have ceased to be suitable for the vehicle in the MRM situation to evacuate to by the time the vehicle reaches the target position.


An exhaust gas purification device for an internal combustion engine purifies exhaust gas in a first exhaust path and a second exhaust path. The device includes a confluent path. The confluent path extends from a confluent section of the first exhaust path and the second exhaust path. A first auxiliary NOx catalyst is provided in the first exhaust path. A second auxiliary NOx catalyst is provided in the second exhaust path. A main NOx catalyst is provided in the confluent path. A first addition section adds an ammonia source in a first addition amount to a section upstream of the first auxiliary NOx catalyst to supply urea water to the first auxiliary NOx catalyst. A second addition section adds an ammonia source in a second addition amount to a section upstream of the second auxiliary NOx catalyst to supply urea water to the second auxiliary NOx catalyst.

An exhaust gas purification device that is arranged in an exhaust path of an engine and eliminates nitrogen oxide (NOx) in exhaust gas (purifies the exhaust gas) using a catalyst has conventionally been used. Patent Document 1 discloses an in-line four-cylinder engine having an exhaust path, in which a pair of NOx catalysts, i.e., a first selective reduction NOx catalyst and a second selective reduction NOx catalyst are arranged in series. A first ammonia supply system is arranged upstream of the first selective reduction NOx catalyst, which is upstream of the second selective reduction NOx catalyst, and ammonia is supplied from the first ammonia supply system to the first selective reduction NOx catalyst. Ammonia is supplied from a second ammonia supply system to between the first selective reduction NOx catalyst and the second selective reduction NOx catalyst in the exhaust path.
Patent Document 2 discloses a technical idea of making the volume of a first selective reduction NOx catalyst smaller than that of a second selective reduction NOx catalyst and thereby raising the temperature of the selective reduction NOx catalysts to a desired temperature early to improve a NOx purification rate during low-temperature running.
Some of V-engines and the like adopt a configuration including a pair of exhaust paths arranged in parallel. In this configuration, a catalyst is provided for each exhaust path.

Exhaust gas purification device for internal combustion engine


To provide an agent for overcoming immunosuppression which can overcome immunosuppression by regulatory T cells. An agent for overcoming immunosuppression and an inhibitor of FOXP3 function containing an anthracycline antibiotic as an active ingredient.

Regulatory T cells (hereinafter also referred to as "Treg") are T cells which are responsible for suppressive control of immune responses in the immune systems, and play important roles for a brake to suppress excessive immune responses (negative control mechanism) and for maintaining immune homeostasis.
In the meantime, the immunosuppressive activity of regulatory T cells suppresses the induction of immune responses when cancer is developed or infectious bacteria enter the body. For example, it has become clear that regulatory T cells suppress the function of tumor-reactive T cells in vitro and the accumulation of regulatory T cells has a poor prognosis in various types of cancer. Therefore, various attempts to control the function of regulatory T cells have been made in cancer immunotherapy.
It has been confirmed that FOXP3 is expressed in regulatory T cells. It is thought that FOXP3 is a main transcription factor for regulatory T cells, and FOXP3 has a function to control immunosuppression by regulatory T cells. Therefore, there is a possibility that a substance which inhibits FOXP3 function can overcome immunosuppression by regulatory T cells and can be used for cancer immunotherapy and the like.
As the substance which inhibits FOXP3 function, for example, Peptide P60 (Non patent Literature 1) and imatinib (Non patent Literature 2) have been known.
In the meantime, anthracycline antibiotics are a group of compounds which are derived from a Streptomyces microorganism and are used for cancer chemotherapy, and have been used for the treatment of many cancers including leukemia, lymphoma, breast cancer, uterus cancer, ovarian cancer and lung cancer. However, it has been completely unknown that such anthracycline antibiotics have an inhibitory action of FOXP3 function and an action of overcoming immunosuppression by regulatory T cells.

Agent for overcoming immunosuppression and use thereof

GENERAL INCORPORATED ASSOCIATION PHARMA VALLEY PROJECT SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION


A planar light source includes a light source, a light guide member, a wiring substrate, a light reflecting sheet and a pair of conducting members. The light source has a pair of electrodes on one face. The light guide member covers the light source while the electrodes are exposed from the light guide member. The wiring substrate has a wiring layer. The light reflecting sheet is interposed between the light guide member and the wiring substrate and defining a pair of first through holes at positions aligned with the electrodes on a one-to-one basis. The conducting members are respectively disposed in the first through holes and electrically connecting the electrodes to the wiring layer.

The present disclosure relates to a planar light source and the method of manufacturing the same.
Planar light sources which employ light emitting diodes as light sources are used in many devices such as backlights for liquid crystal display televisions. It is necessary to effectively utilize the light from such a light source in order to increase the luminance and reduce the power consumption of the planar light source. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2019-003994 discloses a technique to increase the light extraction efficiency of a light emitting device in which a light emitting element is connected using wires that are exposed.

Planar light source and the method of manufacturing the same


A laser spark plug is described for an internal combustion engine. According to the system, at least one volume Bragg grating element is situated in a beam path of the laser spark plug.

Comparable to spark plugs used for high-voltage ignition, laser spark plugs are situated in the area of a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine and inject high-energy laser pulses into a combustion chamber assigned to them in order to ignite an air-fuel mixture located in it. Considerable design complexity is required in order to ensure a reliable operation of a laser spark plug, including optical components integrated into it under the surrounding conditions (great temperature fluctuations, vibrations, among other things) prevailing in the area of the cylinder head.
A laser-based ignition system for an internal combustion engine in which a converging lens is situated in a laser spark plug is already discussed in JP 2006-242038 A. In addition, the known laser spark plug has a deformation arrangement which is configured for deforming the converging lens. In this way, it is possible to vary the ignition location of the known laser ignition system.
A disadvantage of the known laser-based ignition system is the design complexity associated with the provision of the deformation arrangement for the targeted deformation of the converging lens. Considerable drive energy is required for the deformation arrangement in order to deform the relatively massive converging lens in the desired manner for setting the focus position.

Laser spark plug for an internal combustion engine


A particular area or areas are monitored for the presence of gaseous materials, particularly pollutants by analyzing background infrared radiation present in the selected area with a spectrometer and making the results of this analysis available in a form understandable to the person or device monitoring the area for the presence of specified gaseous materials. The results of the spectrometric analysis may, for example, be displayed on a video unit or they may be printed. Apparatus useful in the practice of this invention generally includes an interferometer of the Michaelson-Morely type having specific optical characteristics, a sensitive infrared detector, electronic data processor, and a device which records and/or displays the results of the determination(s).. In a preferred embodiment, no radiation concentrating or focusing elements are used ahead of the beamsplitter of the Michelson-Morely interferometer, said interferometer having imaging optics which, combined with detector size, results in the optical field of view being essentially no larger than the area of the remote source employed.

The present invention relates to a method for monitoring a boundary or fenceline for gaseous materials present in the atmosphere of a selected area and to apparatus useful therefor.
In production facilities, particularly chemical production facilities, potentially hazardous materials are often employed. To reduce the risk of production, handling and use of such materials, detection of the presence of their vapors in the atmosphere before dangerous levels are reached is desirable. Continuous monitoring of the atmosphere of the production or handling facilities is one way to ensure early detection of undesirable materials in the atmosphere.
Many approaches for monitoring the atmosphere for the presence of pollutants have been explored. U.S. Pat. No. 3,766,380 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,925,666, for example, disclose methods in which an infrared laser beam is transmitted through the atmosphere. The reflections of this transmitted laser beam are collected and analyzed for information relating to the presence of gaseous pollutants. In each of these disclosed methods, the wavelength of the transmitted laser beam must be chosen to detect a specific gaseous pollutant. Consequently, a second different pollutant could be detected on the same device and discriminated from the first pollutant only if a laser beam having a wavelength different from that used to detect the first pollutant were used. It would not therefore be possible to continuously monitor the atmosphere for several hazardous materials with a single device by the process disclosed in these two patents. In fact, continuous monitoring for more than one pollutant would be possible only by using as many devices as there are gaseous pollutants possible in the monitored area.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,490,043 and 4,529,317 each disclose a method for monitoring gaseous pollutants in which multiple transmitted laser beams are employed. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,043, two laser beams at different frequencies are employed. One beam has a wavelength specific to the gas or gases being monitored and the other beam is a reference beam at a nearby wavelength which does not have absorption bands from the pollutant or other compounds. This method is limited to detection of a specific pollutant or pollutants whose presence in the environment is expected. Further, this method requires variation of the amount of radiation reaching the detector in order to prevent overload to the detector when the beam scans areas of high reflectivity, thus limiting the quantitative capabilities of the device. Furthermore, this method gives only the direction of the gas and not the distance of a gas cloud or concentration of the gaseous material.
In the monitoring method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,317, at least two scanning beams, each containing multi-plexed reference and measuring wavelengths are directed towards the location to be monitored from two spaced-apart scanning positions. Combination of information from the two signals provides a measure of the amount of gas at the intersection of the two beams. As in the method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,043, the reference beam wavelength is selected on the basis of the particular pollutant expected to be present in the environment. Continuous monitoring for the presence of more than one pollutant can not therefore be accomplished with a single device.
In each of the above-described systems and any other infrared laser-based systems, only a limited number of discrete wavelengths can be generated by the laser and used for measuring and reference beams. The available wavelengths may not however be well matched to the absorption peaks of interest. Consequently, lower sensitivity of the system and increased likelihood of interference from other pollutants results. In addition, since only one measuring wavelength is normally considered, any other compound which absorbs at the selected frequency would give a signal which would be indistinguishable from the signals given by the pollutant of interest. Interference in the measurement of the pollutant being monitored would result.
The Environmental Protection Agency has pursued methods for monitoring the atmosphere for gaseous pollutants which would not be limited to detection of only one compound at a time. A brief history of The Environmental Protection Agency's attempts to use remote optical sensing of emissions (ROSE) systems in which commercial Fourier Transform infrared spectrophotometers are used is given by Herget et al in "Remote Fourier Transform Infrared Air Pollution Studies," Optical Engineering, Volume 19, No. 4, pages 508-514 (July/August 1980). Herget et al also describes an improved mobile ROSE system in this article. Actual tests conducted with this improved mobile system are described in Herget's "Remote and Cross-stack Measurement of Stack Gas Concentrations Using a Mobile FT-IR System" in Applied Optics, Vol. 21, No. 4, pages 635-641 (Feb. 15, 1982).
One of the EPA's first ROSE systems was a mobile system designed to detect and measure pollutants present at various pollution sources from a point remote from the pollution source. In this system, interferograms collected in the field were returned to a central computer for processing. This delay between data collection and data processing was undesirable because it made it difficult, if not impossible, to detect a leak before it had spread and created a potentially hazardous condition. This early system was subsequently improved to permit on-site processing.
Herget et al reports that these ROSE systems were subsequently further modified to include an interferometer system capable of detecting wavelengths in the infrared spectral region of from 650 to 6000 cm.sup.-1. This ROSE system could be transported in a van-sized vehicle to a location near the area to be monitored. In this most recent ROSE system, a light source and a source telescope are first positioned at a site remote from the site to be monitored. Energy from this remote light source is collected by a receiver telescope through an opening in the van wall. A tracking mirror reflects the infrared signal of gas(es) emitted from a stack of the facility being monitored into the receiving telescope. The receiving telescope focuses energy from the remote light source and the infrared signal of the gas(es) at the interferometer aperture. The interferometer detector which has a dual element sandwich-type configuration mounted in a liquid nitrogen Dewar scans two infrared regions (i.e. 1800 to 6000 cm.sup.-1 and 600 to 1800 cm.sup.-1) separately. Selection of the desired detector element is made by command (via computer). Two beamsplitters are employed in the interferometer. A beamsplitter interchange and realignment takes about five minutes.
Pollutants which do not exhibit characteristic infrared peaks in the range of the selected beamsplitter (i.e. either 650-1800 cm.sup.-1 or 1800 to 6000 cm.sup.-1) can not be identified without a beamsplitter interchange and realignment. Such interchange and realignment, however, take about five minutes. Consequently, if two pollutants were present in a monitored area simultaneously and one of those pollutants had a characteristic IR band at 1700 cm.sup.-1 and the other had a characteristic band at 1900 cm-1, the ROSE system could not detect and monitor both pollutants simultaneously.
Yet another disadvantage of the ROSE system is the initial set up time of two to three hours. The length of time required for set up makes the ROSE system almost useless for detecting a leak in its early stages unless the system is permanently installed at the location of the leak or a leak happens to occur during the scheduled monitoring of an area.
Finally, the primary mirrors of the ROSE System are not suitable for continuous exposure to corrosive industrial atmospheres.
Another improved system for monitoring gaseous pollutants is presently being marketed by Bomem Corporation. Detailed information with respect to the construction and operation of this Bomem system are not yet available to Applicants. However, it is apparent from advertising literature for this system that the optical components used in this system and the design of the instrument would not withstand the corrosive atmospheres encountered in many industrial environments.
The U.S. Army has also announced that it is working on a tripod mounted sensor device capable of detecting chemical vapors at distances of up to five kilometers. Specific details about the structure of this device have not, however, been released.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,253 discloses a remote gas analyzer capable of monitoring an area for the presence of gaseous material in which background radiation is collected by large mirrors, analyzed with a spectrometer and the results of the analysis are displayed or recorded.


A shovel includes an internal combustion engine, a hydraulic pump connected to the internal-combustion engine, a generator connected to the internal-combustion engine, and a control part that controls the generator. The control part increases an electric generation load of the generator before a hydraulic load of the hydraulic pump increases.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shovel that performs operations by supplying hydraulic pressure generated by a hydraulic pump, which is driven by an engine, to a hydraulic operation element.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, there are many case where an engine having a turbocharger (a turbo-type supercharger) is used as an engine (an internal-combustion engine) for a hydraulic shovel. The turbocharger is designed to increase engine output by introducing pressure obtained by rotating turbine with exhaust gas from the engine.
For example, if a boom as the hydraulic operation element is started to be driven while the shovel is operated, the hydraulic load suddenly increases. Then, a load on the engine, which has been maintaining a constant revolution speed, suddenly increases. The engine is controlled to maintain the constant revolution speed against the sudden increase of the load on the engine by increasing a fuel injection amount.
Therefore, there is proposed an output control device in, for example, Patent Document 1 in order to rapidly deal with the sudden increase of the load on the engine. The output control device controls so that the engine output rapidly increase by increasing a supercharge pressure in the engine having the turbocharger when an operation causing the load on the engine to suddenly increase is detected.    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2008-128107

Sumitomo(S.H.I.) Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.


A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a memory element, the memory element including: a semiconductor substrate; a first insulating film formed on a region in the semiconductor substrate located between a source region and a drain region, and having a stack structure formed with a first insulating layer, a second insulating layer, and a third insulating layer in this order, the first insulating layer including an electron trapping site, the second insulating layer not including the electron trapping site, and the third insulating layer including the electron trapping site, and the electron trapping site being located in a position lower than conduction band minimum of the first through third insulating layers while being located in a position higher than conduction band minimum of a material forming the semiconductor substrate; a charge storage film formed on the first insulating film; a second insulating film formed on the charge storage film; and a control gate electrode formed on the second insulating film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and a method for manufacturing the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device.
2. Related Art
In recent years, memory elements have been rapidly becoming smaller in nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices such as EEPROMs (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memories) in which writing and erasing can be electrically performed. In a case of an EEPROM, a high voltage is applied to the control gate electrode, so that electrons are injected into the floating gate electrode from the substrate side through a tunnel insulating film containing silicon (writing), or electrons are pulled out of the floating gate electrode (erasing) (see JP-A 08-125042 (KOKAI), for example). The floating gate electrode is located below the control gate electrode, with an interelectrode insulating film (also referred to as an interpoly insulating film) being interposed in between.
In such a case, a high voltage is required for injecting and pulling electrons into and out of the floating gate electrode, and large stress is caused in the tunnel insulating film. As a result, defects such as traps are formed in the tunnel insulating film, and the leakage current (stress-induced leakage current) increases and degrades the data retention characteristics and the likes.
The defects in the tunnel insulating film that cause the leakage current are formed, because a large amount of energy is generated due to the voltage application when the electrons in the silicon atoms tunnel through the conduction band of the tunnel insulating film to the cathode side. More specifically, when the tunneling electrons having the energy depending on the applied voltage move to the cathode side, impact ions are generated on the cathode side, and holes with a large amount of energy are generated or the hydrogen bonding existing in the silicon interfaces is cut off by the impact ions, resulting in the defects in the tunnel insulating film. The defects then cause leakage current and insulation breakdown.
To restrain the generation of defects in the tunnel insulating film, it is necessary to lower the voltage to be applied, or the write/erase voltage, and to reduce the energy of electrons to be injected. To effectively achieve those effects, the film thickness of the tunnel insulating film should be reduced. In a case where electrons form a FN (Fowler-Nordheim) tunneling current and pass through the tunnel insulating film, the amount of electrons injected J is generally expressed as:J==A×Eox2×exp(−B/Eox)
where A and B represent constants that are determined by the electron effective mass in the insulating film and the energy barrier, and Eox represents the electric field (=Vox/tox) to be induced in the tunnel insulating film. Accordingly, in a case where the tunnel insulating film having a film thickness tox of 8 nm is thinned to a 7-nm thick film, a decrease of approximately 12.5% is expected in the voltage required for injecting and pulling electrons into and out of the floating gate electrode. With this fact being taken into account, thinning the tunnel insulating film is effective in lowering the write/erase voltage (the program voltage).
Also, in a case where a high electric field is induced in the control gate electrode, and electrons are exchanged between the floating gate electrode and the substrate as in a NAND flash memory, a high electric field is induced in the interelectrode insulating film located between those electrodes. Where the devices are made smaller, the electric field to be induced into the interelectrode insulating film becomes larger, and causes a serious problem in reliability, unless the program voltage can be lowered. Therefore, it is necessary to lower the program voltage.
Meanwhile, it is known that the stress-induced leakage current increases, as the film thickness is made smaller. Although a thickness reduction can lower the voltage for erasing, the probability of electrons tunneling through the traps formed in the tunnel insulating film is increased by the thickness reduction. Therefore, the leakage current increases, despite a decrease in the number of defects. In this manner, the thickness reduction and the reliability are in a trade-off relationship, which is a significant cause of the hindrance to a decrease in film thickness of the tunnel oxide film.
As described above, there is the trade-off problem with a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device such as an EEPROM in which a reduction of the film thickness of the tunnel insulating film is effective in lowering the program voltage, but traps are formed when a high voltage is applied at the time of writing/erasing, resulting in an increase in leakage current. Therefore, a tunnel insulating film that restrains the stress-induced leakage current while lowering the program voltage has been demanded. However, it has been very difficult to satisfy such demand by conventional techniques.

Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method for manufacturing the same


The disclosure relates to an optimisation method for calculating an optimised movement path of a coating robot (1), including the following steps:                defining consecutive path points of the movement path using path point data, wherein the path point data defines the spatial position and orientation of the application device (7) at each path point; calculating possible robot configurations for the individual path points of the movement path, wherein each robot configuration includes all axial positions of all robot axes (A1-A7) and at least some of the path points can be reached optionally via multiple different robot configurations;        calculating a path point-related and preferable also sequence-related quality value individually for the different possible robot configurations of the individual path points, such that each robot configuration is assigned a respective quality value; and—selecting one of the possible robot configurations for the individual path points according to the quality value of the different possible robot configurations. The disclosure also comprises a corresponding coating system.

In modern painting systems for painting motor vehicle bodywork parts, typically multi-axis painting robots 1 as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 1 are used. The painting robot 1 therefore has a robot base 2, a rotatable robot element 3, a proximal robot arm 4, a distal robot arm 5, a multiaxis robot hand axis 6 and a rotary atomiser 7, which is per se known from the prior art. The rotatable robot element 3 is rotatable herein about a vertically oriented first robot axis A1 relative to the robot base 2. The proximal robot arm 4 is rotatable relative to the rotatable robot element 3 about a second robot axis A2 oriented horizontally. The distal robot arm 5 is pivotable about a horizontally oriented third robot axis A3 relative to the proximal robot arm 4. It should also be mentioned that the robot hand axis 6 in this exemplary embodiment has three robot axes A4, A5 and A6 in order to enable a highly mobile guidance of the rotary atomiser 7. It should further be mentioned that the robot base 2 in this exemplary embodiment is movable along a linear axis along a robot axis A7.
During operation, the rotary atomiser 7 emits a spray jet of a paint onto the component to be coated, wherein the spray jet has a spray jet axis 8 which is oriented toward a programmed paint impact point TCP (Tool Centre Point).
It should also be mentioned that a linear colour changer 9 is arranged on the distal robot arm 5, which is per se known from the prior art and therefore need not be described further. In operation, the linear colour changer 9 is covered by a cover, although the cover is not shown in the drawing, in order to enable a view of the linear colour changer 9.
During operation, the painting robot 1 is moved so that the programmed paint impact point TCP follows a pre-determined robot path B over the component surface of the component to be painted (e.g. motor vehicle bodywork component). FIG. 2 shows in schematic form the robot path B which is defined by a plurality of points P1-P6, wherein the path points P1-P6 form waypoints for the robot path B. What is important herein is not only the spatial position of the individual path points P1-Pi, but also the orientation of the rotary atomiser 7 and thus also of the spray jet axis 8.
Before the actual coating operation, the robot path B is typically programmed offline, for which purpose, for example, programming programs can be used which are commercially available under the brand names ROBCAD®, Process Simulate™ and Fast®CURVE. Herein, additional information can also be input by the programmer, for example, a desired axis position at a particular path point. This can be advantageous in order to specify unambiguously, in a robot with redundancy, the robot configuration at a particular point. It should herein be mentioned that a robot with redundancy is a robot which can reach a desired path point with a desired orientation using infinitely many robot configurations, i.e. with infinitely many combinations of the axis positions of the robot axes A1-A7.
The known offline programming methods are very complex particularly with robots having redundancy since many information items have to be input manually. Furthermore, an adaptation of the robot path B is always required as soon as the position of the painting robot 1 is changed.
Finally also, no reproducible programming is possible since the quality of the programming is dependent on the experience and skill of the respective programmer.
A need has arisen to provide an improved optimization method for a coating robot and coating system.

Optimisation method for a coating robot and corresponding coating system


A pump gear is provided. The pump gear includes a first shaft portion having a first end and a second end with an integral gear portion formed therebetween. The first shaft portion is made from a first tool steel material. A second shaft portion having a third end brazed to the first end. The second shaft portion has at least one integral drive spline formed adjacent one end. The second shaft portion is made from a second tool material. The first tool steel material has a vanadium content by weight of greater than 9% and the second tool steel material has a vanadium content by weight of less than or equal to 1%.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a pump gear arrangement and in particular to a pump gear arrangement having a bi-metal shaft.
Pump gears are used in a variety of applications such as in fuel pumps for turbine engines. The pump gear typically includes a shaft having a spur gear and a drive spline formed on one end. To reduce cost and weight, pump gears are typically formed from a single unitary material. The pump gear is typically formed for example from a single piece of tool steel alloy bar stock. In general, the drive spline is a relatively small feature that is formed using conventional machining practices allowing it to be integrally and cost effectively formed on the pump gear shaft.
The pump gear may also provide additional functions such as provisions for mounting and driving centrifugal pumps, electrical generators, and auxiliary fuel or hydraulic pumps. These additional functions required a longer pump gear which incorporates drive splines, keys, and threads to retain these auxiliary components. These features are difficult to machine in the wear resistant materials needed for the pump gear. In addition, the cost of the pump gear material is typically over ten times the cost of the tools steels used for shafts, splines, and threaded joints. Reduced cost for raw materials and machining of splines and threads can be achieved joining wear resistant pump gear materials to conventional tool steel.
Due to the desire to form the drive spline as an integral feature, the machinability of material often drives the material selection. However, the desire for good machinability conflicts with a desired wear resistance property for the spur gear. In applications such as aircraft engines, the pump gear is operating in low lubricity jet fuel at high temperatures. This environment has been found increase the wear on the spur gear. While a higher wear resistance material could be used, this would increase the size, weight and cost of the pump gear since the drive spline may not be easily machined using these materials due to its small size. As a result, the desire for a light and small pump gear impacts operational life and increases maintenance costs.
Accordingly, while existing pump gears are suitable for their intended purposes the need for improvement remains, particularly in providing a pump gear having improved gear wear resistance while maintaining machinability of the drive spline and threaded features to retain additional components integrated with the pump gear.


The disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for ionization modulated mass spectrometric analysis. Analog or digital data acquisition and processing can be used. Ions from a time variant source are detected and quantified. The quantified ion output is analyzed using a computer to provide a two-dimensional representation of at least one component present within an analyte.

Mass spectrometers constitute a class of instruments for analysis of elements, compounds and mixtures. Mass spectrometers are often called "universal detectors" because every known species exhibits a mass spectrum. Mass spectrometry has clear benefits, but is often not effective in identifying components of mixtures nor in providing sufficient information to distinguish among similar materials. The improved mass spectrometer apparatus and method of the invention provides additional information which, used in conjunction with the standard mass spectra, allows one to distinguish spectra of similar materials and makes possible the identification of the components of a sampled mixture without requiring separation of the mixture components prior to mass spectral analysis. Utilizing the apparatus and method of the invention in mass spectrometers can additionally significantly lower detection and analysis costs.
A typical mass spectrometer comprises three sections: an ionizer, a mass filter and an ion detector. The ionizer converts some portion of the analyzed material, usually referred to as the analyte, into gaseous ions. The mass filter disperses the ions according to mass and the ion detector measures the flux or concentration of ions transmitted by the mass filter. A variety of devices exists at present to implement each of the three spectrometer sections. Some discussion of ionizers follows in sufficient detail to explain their operation in accordance with the invention.
Electron impact ionizers are the most commonly used ionizers in mass spectrometers. In them, electrons boil off a metal filament and accelerate to some nominal voltage to form ions by collisions with the analyte. Key ionizer performance characteristics are the nominal electron energy, the energy resolution, i.e., the width of the distribution of electron energies about the nominal value, and the magnitude of the electron beam current. Other ionization devices employ light, e.g., photoionization including multiple photon and multiple color processes; ion beams, e.g., secondary ionization mass spectroscopy (SIMS); high speed atoms, e.g., fast atom bombardment (FAB); a hot filament, e.g., surface ionization; strong electric fields, e.g., field ionization; or radioactive decay.
It is well known to those skilled in the art that variations in ionization conditions can cause major changes in the number and identity of the ions formed from a given analyte. For example, increasing the kinetic energy of electrons in an electron impact ionizer typically increases the total amount of ions produced and also leads to a larger variety of ions formed from molecular precursors. Different types of ions are generated because the ionization process, at higher energies, can also break chemical bonds, thereby forming ionized fragments of the molecular precursor. The distribution of fragment ion intensities can provide useful information that may help identify the analyte, but a plethora of fragment ions may also obscure ions due to the other precursor species in the analyte.
Much of the prior art in mass spectrometry consists of devices for identifying one or more components within a mixture or for providing additional useful information to aid species identification. Some prior art mixture analysis devices cause physical separation of the mixture components before ionization. Examples of such devices are chromatographic devices, such as gas chromatography devices, and devices providing selective desorption from a body, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,548,188, to Nemeth, and the molecular beam time-of-flight device. A different approach to mixture analysis measures the mass distribution of fragment ions generated by intentional decomposition of selected ions found in the mass spectrum of the mixture. Ion decomposition can be effected by collisions with a buffer gas or by the action of light on the ions. Ion fragmentation methods have been described as "taking a mass spectrum of a mass spectrum." Such techniques are often referred to as tandem mass spectrometry or as "MS/MS."
Other prior art devices used for mass spectral analysis of mixtures make use of selective ionization of a target species within a mixture or ionization of a subset of species present including the target species. For example, a prior art device utilizing photoionization via multiple photon absorption, which may also include absorption of light at more than one discrete wavelength for trace vapor detection, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,170,736, to Wessel. U.S. Pat. No. 4,433,241, to Boesl, et al., discloses a method and apparatus for determining molecular spectra, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,217,494, to Levy, discloses a method and apparatus for isotope separation. In each of these three patents, the quantity and identity of ions formed is sensitive to relatively small changes in the wavelengths of the photoionization light sources, and the values of the wavelengths used comprise a major part, if not all, of the pertinent experimental conditions.
Some instruments contain a subset of the three components, the ionizer, the mass filter, and the ion detector, that make up a typical mass spectrometer. For example, vacuum ionization gauges, consisting of an electron impact ionizer and a simple cage ion collector, are used to measure gas pressures under high vacuum (10.sup.-3 -10.sup.-8 torr) conditions. Flame ionization detectors for gas chromatography record the instantaneous concentration of ions produced in chromatograph effluent by a high temperature flame. Small, fixed-mass mass spectrometers are used as leak detectors; only helium ions are transmitted to the ion detector.
The present invention has greater generality and wider applicability than the devices and methods of the prior art as represented by the aforementioned photoionization patents. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,170,736, to Wessel, discloses a two color photoionization mechanism which is useful for predetermined gaseous molecules and in which the first and second laser wavelengths are both, for at least some portion of the measurement time, at wavelengths corresponding to known energy transitions within the target molecules. Photoionization, in accordance with the present invention, requires no such restrictions on the correspondence between the light wavelengths and any optical properties of the molecules. Non-resonant excitation mechanisms, including direct single photon photoionization, are effective. The invention also is not limited to measurements of predetermined species, even though the preferred embodiment discusses the use of reference spectra of known materials for mixture deconvolution. The invention also applies to measurements of novel, previously unknown species, and provides a mechanism for characterizing such species which generates more useful information than does conventional mass spectroscopy.
The invention also has greater generality than the laser photoionization patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,433,241, to Boesl, et al. Although this patent discusses generating two-dimensional mass spectra, i.e., ion intensities as a function of both mass and laser wavelength, as with the Wessel patent, it is important to select laser wavelengths coincident with optical transition resonances of the target atoms or molecules. The Levy patent is limited to isotope separation. Levy places restrictions on the allowed wavelengths and wavelength ranges which make his device useful for isotope separation where wavelength specifications are much more restrictive than in practicing the instant invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,796,872, to Merren, describes a device for concurrent accumulation of more information than is available from conventional mass spectrometers through the use of plural ion beams, each generated by a different ionizer and each striking a different detector. His ionizers produce a fixed, steady output during the operation of his device.
In embodiments appropriate to cases in which the analyte can be characterized adequately by the response of the total ion signal to time variant ionization, the method and apparatus need not include mass filtration or analysis of the ions.
One object of the present invention is to decrease the cost of analysis of components within a mixture using a spectrometer.
Another object of the present invention is to provide two-dimensional mass spectroscopic information representative of one or more components within an analyte.
One advantage of the present invention is that the components of an analyte need not be separated in order to use mass spectroscopy to analyze one or more of them.
Another advantage of the present invention is that, in accordance therewith, analog or digital signal acquisition and signal processing are usable.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.


A new and distinct mandarin variety of Citrus deliciosa Ten. named ‘SIGAL’, particularly characterized by easy-peeling, late ripening, high quality flavor, flattened fruit shape at stalk end, medium size fruit, dark orange skin color and lacking seed.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of a mandarin tree, botanically known as Citrus deliciosa Ten., of the Rutaceae Family, and hereinafter referred to by the variety denomination 'SIGAL'.
The new Citrus deliciosa Ten. variety is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventors, Nir Carmi, Yoram Eyal, Hanna Neuman-Leshem, Ahuva Frydman-Shani, Yosef Yaniv, Aliza Vardi, Avraham Elhanati, Kanonich Yehoshua and Fanberstein Luba in Bet Dagan, Coastal Plain, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new late-ripening, easy-peeling, seedless mandarin variety, with high quality and excellent flavor.
The new Citrus deliciosa Ten. variety originated from a cross made by the inventors in 1995 in Bet Dagan, Coastal Plain, Israel. The female or seed parent is the Citrus deliciosa Ten. designated 'ORAH' (unpatented). The male or pollen parent is the Citrus deliciosa Ten. designated 'SHAM' (patented U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,634). The new Citrus deliciosa Ten. 'SIGAL' was observed and selected by the inventors within the progeny of the stated cross, in a controlled environment in 2006 in the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center.
Asexual propagation of the new Citrus deliciosa Ten. variety 'SIGAL' by grafting onto 'Troyer' citrange—Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb. x Poncirus trifoliata L. (unpatented) was first performed in April 1996 in Bet Dagan, Coastal Plain, Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new variety are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual propagation. The new variety propagates true-to-type.

Mediterranean mandarin tree named ‘Sigal’

State of Israel, Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, Agricultural Research Organization


An apparatus for extracting a direct and/or ambience signal from a downmix signal and spatial parametric information, the downmix signal and the spatial parametric information representing a multi-channel audio signal having more channels than the downmix signal, wherein the spatial parametric information has inter-channel relations of the multi-channel audio signal, is described. The apparatus has a direct/ambience estimator and a direct/ambience extractor. The direct/ambience estimator is configured for estimating a level information of a direct portion and/or an ambient portion of the multi-channel audio signal based on the spatial parametric information. The direct/ambience extractor is configured for extracting a direct signal portion and/or an ambient signal portion from the downmix signal based on the estimated level information of the direct portion or the ambient portion.

The present invention relates to audio signal processing and, in particular, to an apparatus and a method for extracting a direct/ambience signal from a downmix signal and spatial parametric information. Further embodiments of the present invention relate to a utilization of direct-/ambience separation for enhancing binaural reproduction of audio signals. Yet further embodiments relate to binaural reproduction of multi-channel sound, where multi-channel audio means audio having two or more channels. Typical audio content having multi-channel sound is movie soundtracks and multi-channel music recordings.
The human spatial hearing system tends to process the sound roughly in two parts. These are on the one hand, a localizable or direct and, on the other hand, an unlocalizable or ambient part. There are many audio processing applications, such as binaural sound reproduction and multi-channel upmixing, where it is desirable to have access to these two audio components.
In the art, methods of direct/ambience separation as described in "Primary-ambient signal decomposition and vector-based localization for spatial audio coding and enhancement", Goodwin, Jot, IEEE Intl. Conf. On Acoustics, Speech and Signal proc, April 2007; "Correlation-based ambience extraction from stereo recordings", Merimaa, Goodwin, Jot, AES 123rd Convention, New York, 2007; "Multiple-loudspeaker playback of stereo signals", C. Faller, Journal of the AES, October 2007; "Primary-ambient decomposition of stereo audio signals using a complex similarity index"; Goodwin et al., Pub. No: US2009/0198356 A1, August 2009; "Patent application title: Method to Generate Multi-Channel Audio Signal from Stereo Signals", Inventors: Christof Faller, Agents: FISH & RICHARDSON P. C., Assignees: LG ELECTRONICS, INC., Origin: MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. US, IPC8 Class: AH04R500FI, USPC Class: 381 1; and "Ambience generation for stereo signals", Avendano et al., Date Issued: Jul. 28, 2009, Application: Ser. No. 10/163,158, Filed: Jun. 4, 2002 are known, which may be used for various applications. The state-of-art direct-ambience separation algorithms are based on inter-channel signal comparison of stereo sound in frequency bands.
Moreover, in "Binaural 3-D Audio Rendering Based on Spatial Audio Scene Coding", Goodwin, Jot, AES 123rd Convention, New York 2007, binaural playback with ambience extraction is addressed. Ambience extraction in connection to binaural reproduction is also mentioned in J. Usher and J. Benesty, "Enhancement of spatial sound quality: a new reverberation-extraction audio upmixer," IEEE Trans. Audio, Speech, Language Processing, vol. 15, pp. 2141-2150, September 2007. The latter paper focuses on ambience extraction in stereo microphone recordings, using adaptive least-mean-square cross-channel filtering of the direct component in each channel. Spatial audio codecs, e.g. MPEG surround, typically consist of a one or two channel audio stream in combination with spatial side information, which extends the audio into multiple channels, as described in ISO/IEC 23003-1—MPEG Surround; and Breebaart, J., Herre, J., Villemoes, L., Jin, C., Kjörling, K., Plogsties, J., Koppens, J. (2006). "Multi-channel goes mobile: MPEG Surround binaural rendering". Proc. 29th AES conference, Seoul, Korea.
However, modern parametric audio coding technologies, such as MPEG-surround (MPS) and parametric stereo (PS) only provide a reduced number of audio downmix channels—in some cases only one—along with additional spatial side information. The comparison between the "original" input channels is then only possible after first decoding the sound into the intended output format.
Therefore, a concept for extracting a direct signal portion or an ambient signal portion from a downmix signal and spatial parametric information is needed. However, there are no existing solutions to the direct/ambience extraction using the parametric side information.

Apparatus and method for extracting a direct/ambience signal from a downmix signal and spatial parametric information

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.


A composition and a method of applying the composition to a site on or within a body of a mammal. The composition includes a hydrogel matrix that includes at least one polymer cross linked, via ionic or covalent bonding, with both hyaluronic acid and alginic acid. The at least one polymer is chitosan, poly L-Lysine, or a combination thereof.

After a traumatic injury, hemorrhage is responsible for over 35% of pre-hospital deaths and over 40% of deaths within the first 24 hours (Kauvar, D. S., Lefering, R., and Wade, C. E. (2006), Impact of hemorrhage on trauma outcome: an overview of epidemiology, clinical presentations, and therapeutic considerations, J Trauma 60, 53-11), second only to the rates of death due to severe central nervous system injury. A cascade of medical problems (e.g., hemorrhage, impaired resuscitation, shock, inflammation and coagulopathy) may be life threatening, can begin with severe hemorrhage, and may occur simultaneously. The severity of each such problem is commonly associated with the extent of overall blood loss. Low blood pressure due to blood loss indicates immediate complications, including the incidence of multiple organ failure and life-threatening infections. See Heckbert, S. R., Vedder, N. B., Hoffman, W., Winn, R. K., Hudson, L. D., Jurkovich, G. J., Copass, M. K., Harlan, J. M., Rice, C. L., and Maier, R. V. (1998), Outcome after hemorrhagic shock in trauma patients. J Trauma 45, 545-549. See also, Franklin, G. A., Boaz, P. W., Spain, D. A., Lukan, J. K., Carrillo, E. H., and Richardson, J. D. (2000) Prehospital hypotension as a valid indicator of trauma team activation. J Trauma 48, 1034-1037; discussion 1037-1039.
Early trauma care focuses on minimizing hemorrhage and restoring circulation effectively.
Mitigation of battlefield injury and hemorrhage is a high priority of U.S. military trauma surgeons and researchers. There is no debate about the importance of hemorrhage control as a first-line measure by medics or emergency medicine personnel. While extremity wounds are more amenable to compression to stop bleeding, 15% of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) battle injuries are to the torso (chest, abdomen, pelvis and back), where compression cannot be applied. See Eastridge, B. (2009) Joint Theater Trauma Registry Data, September 2001-February 2008.
Non-compressible hemorrhage from truncal injury is the leading cause of potentially survivable deaths of American troops. See Kelly, J. F., Ritenour, A. E., McLaughlin D. F., Bagg, Apodaca, A. N., Mallak, C. T., Pearse, L., Lawnick, M. M., Champion, H. R., Wade, C. E., and Holcomb, J. B. (2008), Injury severity and causes of death from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom: 2003-2004 versus 2006. J Trauma 64, S21-26; discussion S26-27.
Patients who have penetrating wounds to the trunk are at risk of severe injuries to major vessels, causing massive hemorrhage, and are most likely to die during the acute (emergency) phase of care. Control of bleeding and limitation of blood loss is the only way to avoid the problems associated with massive hemorrhage in trauma.
Hemorrhagic shock is a severe and life-threatening condition. Over 21% of military casualties are in shock upon admission, and over 25% require a blood transfusion (Eastridge, B. (2009) Joint Theater Trauma Registry Data, June 2006-November 2009). Shock occurs when loss of blood leads to a lack of oxygen to the tissues, causing a systemic build-up of acids. In an attempt to reverse the acid build-up, the patient begins to hyperventilate and, along with other physiological changes, blood pressure increases and blood diverts from the renal system to the heart, lungs and brain. These symptoms occur due to the cellular response to the lack of oxygen, and lead to further breakdown and malfunction of cells, prompting various responses in the circulatory system.
If the problem is not treated or rectified, the cellular response will promote the dysfunction or complete failure of the vital organs, and the patient will die. Prevention of severe hemorrhage, or resuscitation with novel or advanced physiological resuscitation fluids, would diminish the onset of shock.
About 28% of patients with severe traumatic injury also have dysfunction in the process of coagulation (coagulopathy) when the patients arrive at the emergency department (MacLeod, J. B., Lynn, M., McKenney, M. G., Cohn, S. M., and Murtha, M. (2003), Early coagulopathy predicts mortality in trauma, J Trauma 55, 39-44). This dysfunction in the process of coagulation is often caused by dilution of the blood due to infusion of resuscitation products. Coagulopathy is associated with a 3.5- to 5-fold increase in mortality (MacLeod, J. B., Lynn, M., McKenney, M. G., Cohn, S. M., and Murtha, M. (2003), Early coagulopathy predicts mortality in trauma, J Trauma 55, 39-44); and Brohi, K., Cohen, M. J., and Davenport, R. A. (2007), Acute coagulopathy of trauma: mechanism, identification and effect, Curr Opin Crit Care 13, 680-685), and when combined with hypothermia and acidosis is known as the "lethal (or fatal) triad" because of the high likelihood of impending death.
Currently, there is no active intervention for non-compressible hemorrhage available to military or civilian medics and physicians; however, research of non-compressible hemorrhage control methods may offer solutions that could save lives.
Manufactured QuikClot® is an approved zeolite-based hemostatic agent for battlefield use. However, the exothermic reaction associated with QuikClot® as loose granules or as granules packaged in a mesh bag has potential burn effects at the site of application. Zeolites have hemostatic properties used to stop bleeding in severe hemorrhage. See Rhee P. Brown C, Martin M, Salim A. Plurad D, Green D, Chambers L, Demetriades D, Velmahos G, Alm H. (2008), QuikClot use in trauma for hemorrhage control: case series of 103 documented uses, J Trauma. 64(4):1093-9. See also, Arnaud F, Tomori T, Can W, McKeague A, Teranishi K, Prusaczyk K, McCarron R. (2008), Exothermic reaction in zeolite hemostatic dressings: QuikClot ACS and ACS+, Ann Biomed Eng. 36(10):1708-13.
It is widely accepted that severe bleeding is the leading cause of death from wounds on the battlefield, accounting for approximately over 50% of such deaths. It is estimated that one-third of these deaths could be prevented with enhanced hemorrhage control methods and devices. Such enhanced hemorrhage control would also prove very useful in non-military settings; e.g., hospitals and veterinary clinics, where hemorrhage is the second leading cause of death following trauma. No perfect solution currently exists for the effective treatment of excessive bleeding.
To date, application of continuous pressure with gauze bandage remains a primary intervention technique used to stem blood flow, especially flow from severely bleeding wounds. However, this continuous pressure with gauze bandage neither effectively nor safely stanches severe blood flow. This has been, and continues to be, a major survival problem in the case of severe life-threatening bleeding from a wound.
Furthermore, it is widely accepted that severe bleeding is the leading cause of death from wounds on the battlefield, accounting for approximately over 50 percent of such deaths. It is estimated that one-third of these deaths could be prevented with enhanced hemorrhage control methods and devices. Such enhanced hemorrhage control would also prove very useful in non-military settings; e.g., hospitals and veterinary clinics, where hemorrhage is the second leading cause of death following trauma.
Currently available hemostatic bandages such as collagen wound dressings or dry fibrin thrombin wound dressings are restricted to use in surgical applications, and are not sufficiently resistant to dissolution in high blood flow. These currently available hemostatic bandages also do not possess enough adhesive properties to serve any practical purpose. These currently available hemostatic bandages are also delicate and thus prone to failure should these hemostatic bandages be damaged by bending or loading with pressure. These hemostatic bandages are also susceptible to dissolution in hemorrhagic bleeding. Such dissolution and collapse of these hemostatic bandages can produce a loss of adhesion to the wound and allow bleeding to continue unabated.
It is generally accepted that hemostatic products for forward care in a battle zone must control bleeding quickly, be ready to use, be simple to apply, have a shelf life approaching two years, and prevent bacterial or viral transmission. The product's hemostatic action is time-critical in order to meet both military and civilian needs. Devices being investigated or used today as external methods of wound treatment range from absorbent pads containing clotting agents, pressure bandages, gauze, tourniquets for extremities, and trauma kits for wounds to the body.
A number of hemostatic products are available for treating wound trauma; for example, a bandage product using chitosan (deacetylated poly-N-acetyl glucosamine base, Hem Con Inc., Tigard, Oreg.), with limited shelf life and efficiency in stopping severe bleeding, Z-Medica Corporation, Wallingford, Conn., markets a pressure bandage product (QuikClot®) for use by U.S. troops. This product uses a granular, synthetic mineral zeolite to stop bleeding by adsorbing liquid and promoting clotting. However, QuikClot® generates heat that can cause burns if the bandage isn't applied correctly.
ActSys Medical Inc., Westlake Village, Calif., provides a hemostatic gauze product, ActCel®), which is a collagen-like natural substance created from chemically treated cellulose that expands 3-4 times its original size when in contact with blood, thus sealing off damaged vessels a d aiding clotting.
Medafor Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., sell a bio-inert, micro-porous polysaccharide macro-bead product that is synthesized from potatoes, called Trauma DEX®, which is a powdered micro-porous polymer product that stops bleeding by expanding at the wound site and dehydrating the blood, whereupon the body absorbs the material within 48 hours.
Another non-bandage approach employs a non-zeolite topical powder containing a hydrophilic polymer and potassium salt (Quick Relief, Sarasota, Fla.) which, after application, produces a flexible, protective scab to cover the wound site when the powder contacts the blood and slight pressure is applied.
No perfect solution currently exists for the effective treatment of excessive bleeding. Heat generation with respect to one type of agent is a major problem. The dressing's ability to adhere effectively when applied to deep wounds or wounds of irregular shape creates another major limitation. The ability to deal with excessive blood is another drawback, as is treatment and control of pressure bleeding from arterial bleeding.
Surgical and trauma wounds are the most common types of wounds addressed in the wound-care arena. Current bandages are made of gauze and are often applied in conjunction with an elastic bandage. The current bandages allow the wound to breath but are poor barriers to subsequent contamination. The current bandages cannot stop serious bleeding and require the application of pressure in the case of arterial bleeding. Conventional wound sealants fail to present an optimized combination of speed of clotting, effectiveness under pressure bleeding conditions, and clots that are dynamic over time in response to the needs of the trauma site. Typical wound sealants are usually used in conjunction with separate wound dressings. Clearly, surgical trauma caused by sharp objects occurs in a clean environment. However, trauma wounds not caused in a controlled environment are often intermediate sized, widespread, and dirty wounds with considerable tissue damage are found in road traffic accidents or on the battlefield.
Abrasions are generally caused by scraping of the skin's outer layer. Lacerations are jagged, irregular cuts or tears of the skin. Punctures are caused by an object piercing the skin layers, creating a small hole. Incisions are cuts commonly caused by knives or other sharp objects. Burns cause damage which may vary greatly in depth, size, and severity. Wounds due to firearms can be deep and with substantial tissue destruction. Dismemberment due to trauma requires immediate intervention to stop blood loss from the severed limb.
Liquid bandage formulations are available to the Over-the-Counter (OTC) consumer market. Liquid bandage preparations are often used for covering and protecting minor lacerations and abrasions, friction blisters and paper cuts. When applied to the skin, the solution in a liquid bandage evaporates to form a protective film over the application area and to promote healing. The polymerized film covering creates a moist wound healing environment to increase wound healing compared with conventional dressings. Most liquid bandage preparations claim to stop minor bleeding, create a protective seal over the wound, keep out water, dirt and germs, and generally act as a mechanical barrier to common microbial organisms and other forms of contamination. Liquid bandage produces are available from numerous commercial sources. Powder-based hemostats are also widely available OTC.
Cellulose products which are used include microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel range), methylcellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, and other materials such as cross-linked polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), used singly or in admixture. Also, suitable carriers include polyethylene glycol (PEG), in one embodiment having a molecular weight of about 1000; polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), in one embodiment having an average molecular weight of about 50,000; Poly(acrylic acid), PVA, Poly (methyl vinyl ether co-maleic anhydride), Poly (ethylene oxide), and dextran, typically having an average molecular weight of about 40,000.
Shellfish derived chitosan was used in chitosan dressings. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,394,373 employs chitosan in liquid or powder form to agglutinate blood in microgram/mL quantities.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,452,785 is directed to a method of occluding blood vessels therapeutically by injecting chitosan directly into the vessels.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,532,134 relates to hemostasis, inhibiting fibroplasias, and promoting tissue regeneration by placing in contact with the tissue wound a chitosan solution or water-soluble chitosan. The chitosan forms a coagulum, which prevents bleeding.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,476 describes collagen based structurally inhomogeneous sponges for wound dressings and/or implant applications formed by freeze drying techniques employing at least one pharmacological agent and at least one substructure.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,610,625 relates to freeze dried sponge structures that are highly effective in stopping the flow of blood or other fluids and which will be absorbed after a time in the body.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,858,350, relates to a process to make diatom derived biomedical grade, high purity chitin and chitin derivatives.

Composition and method for stopping hemorrhage, infection, and accelerating healing in various types of wound or burns


A remotely adjustable grip tip assembly for a walking aid, such as a crutch, cane, or walking stick that has a hollow tubular structure. The assembly includes a rod extending vertically within the hollow tubular structure, slots formed into the hollow tubular structure near its top and bottom ends, an adjustment screw or pin fitting into each slot, a spring near the bottom end of the hollow tubular structure, and a moveable gripper foot at the bottom end of the hollow tubular structure.

The field of the invention is grip tip assemblies for walking aids.
People who have difficulty walking due to injury, illness, or age have long used canes, crutches, walking sticks, and similar devices to assist them. Certain circumstances, such as difficult terrain or bad weather, pose particular challenges in walking, even with the use of walking aids. No walking aids that are designed for these circumstances are known to be on the market. Walking aids with a gripper foot for walking in ice and snow have been proposed, as shown in the following U.S. Pat. No. 619,235 to Schwarting, No. 4,964,430 to Janis, No. 4,434,808 to Burak, and No. 4,411,284 to Opitz. However, none of these prior art patents shows a gripper foot that is remotely adjustable or is interchangeable for different types of terrain and weather.


The invention provides isolated nucleic acids molecules, designated 46798 nucleic acid molecules, which encode a novel matrix metalloproteinase. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing 46798 nucleic acid molecules, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced, and non-human transgenic animals in which a 46798 gene has been introduced or disrupted. The invention still further provides isolated 46798 proteins, fusion proteins, antigenic peptides and anti-46798 antibodies. Diagnostic methods utilizing compositions of the invention are also provided.

Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) is critical for normal embryonic development, blastocyst implantation, organ morphogenesis, nerve growth, ovulation, cervical dilatation, postpartum uterine involution, endometrial cycling, hair follicle cycling, bone remodeling, wound healing, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and numerous other normal physiological processes. Aberrant degradation of ECM is associated with numerous disease states including, for example, tissue invasion and metastasis by tumor cells, aberrant angiogenesis, cardiovascular diseases (e.g., heart failure and atherosclerosis), arthritis, nephritis, neurological diseases (e.g., macular degeneration), breakdown of the blood-brain barrier, periodontal disease, skin ulceration, gastric ulceration, corneal ulceration, liver fibrosis, emphysema, fibrotic lung disease, and other pathological conditions.
Secreted proteinases of the extracellular matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) gene family are essential for maintaining the architecture of tissues and organs. MMPs are sometimes designated xe2x80x98matrixins,xe2x80x99 and catalyze degradation of ECM. The protein degradative activity of MMPs can be modulated by endogenous inhibitors, alpha-macroglobulins, and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). In addition, expression of most MMPs is transcriptionally regulated by one or more growth factors, hormones, and cytokines, and tends to be differentially regulated during various phases of cellular transformation.
MMPs are generally synthesized in the form of catalytically inactive pre-pro-enzymes, and secreted in the form of inactive pro-enzymes. Pro-MMPs can be activated in vitro using various proteases, thiol-reactive agents, mercurial compounds, reactive oxygen, and denaturing agents. In vivo, pro-MMPs are believed to be activated by removal of the propeptide domain, catalyzed by tissue or plasma proteinases, or sometimes by opportunistic bacterial proteinases. In vivo activation of pro-MMPs is believed to occur primarily at cell surfaces.
Although a primary function of MMPs is catalysis of simple removal (i.e., resorption) of ECM, MMPs can also alter the biological activity exhibited by ECM components. For example, MMP-2 released from neurite growth cones inactivates neurite growth-inhibiting chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans and uncovers laminin (which enhances neurite growth). Other normal and pathological processes in which MMP-catalyzed changes in ECM protein structures have been implicated are described, for example in Nagase et al. (1999, J. Biol. Chem. 274:21491-21494).
No fewer than 23 classes of MMPs, characterized by no fewer than eight characteristic domain arrangements, have been described. In view of the widespread and critical nature of MMP activities in normal and pathological physiological processes, a need exists for identification of further members of this protein family. The present invention satisfies this need by providing a novel human MMP.
The present invention is based, in part, on the discovery of a novel gene encoding an MMP, the gene being referred to herein as xe2x80x9c46798xe2x80x9d. cDNAs encoding 46798 have been isolated in at least two different forms, herein designated the xe2x80x98shortxe2x80x99 and xe2x80x98longxe2x80x99 forms. The nucleotide sequence of a cDNA encoding the long form of 46798 is shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, and the amino acid sequence of the long form of the 46798 polypeptide is shown in SEQ ID NO: 2. In addition, the nucleotide sequence of the coding region is depicted in SEQ ID NO: 3. The nucleotide sequence of a cDNA encoding the short form of 46798 is shown in SEQ ID NO: 11, and the amino acid sequence of the short form of the 46798 polypeptide is shown in SEQ ID NO: 12. In addition, the nucleotide sequence of the coding region is depicted in SEQ ID NO: 13. The short and long forms of 46798 are individually and collectively referred to herein as xe2x80x9846798 proteinsxe2x80x99 or xe2x80x9846798 nucleic acids.xe2x80x99
Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention features a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a 46798 protein or polypeptide, e.g., a biologically active portion of the 46798 protein. In a preferred embodiment the isolated nucleic acid molecule encodes a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of either of SEQ ID NOs: 2 and 12. In other embodiments, the invention provides isolated 46798 nucleic acid molecules having the nucleotide sequence of one of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 11, and 13. In still other embodiments, the invention provides nucleic acid molecules that have sequences that are substantially identical (e.g., naturally occurring allelic variants) to the nucleotide sequence of one of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 11, and 13. In other embodiments, the invention provides a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions with a nucleic acid molecule having a sequence comprising the nucleotide sequence of one of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 11, and 13, wherein the nucleic acid encodes a full length 46798 protein or an active fragment thereof.
In a related aspect, the invention further provides nucleic acid constructs that include a 46798 nucleic acid molecule described herein. In certain embodiments, the nucleic acid molecules of the invention are operatively linked to native or heterologous regulatory sequences. Also included are vectors and host cells containing the 46798 nucleic acid molecules of the invention, e.g., vectors and host cells suitable for producing 46798 nucleic acid molecules and polypeptides.
In another related aspect, the invention provides nucleic acid fragments suitable as primers or hybridization probes for detection of 46798-encoding nucleic acids.
In still another related aspect, isolated nucleic acid molecules that are antisense to a 46798-encoding nucleic acid molecule are provided.
In another aspect, the invention features 46798 polypeptides, and biologically active or antigenic fragments thereof that are useful, e.g., as reagents or targets in assays applicable to treatment and diagnosis of 46798-mediated or related disorders (e.g., MMP-mediated disorders such as those described herein). In another embodiment, the invention provides 46798 polypeptides having matrix metalloproteinase activity. Preferred polypeptides are 46798 proteins including at least one MMP domain, and preferably having a 46798 activity, e.g., a 46798 activity as described herein. Preferred polypeptides are 46798 proteins including at least one transmembrane domain and at least one peptidase_M10 domain.
In other embodiments, the invention provides 46798 polypeptides, e.g., a 46798 polypeptide having the amino acid sequence shown in one of SEQ ID NOs: 2 and 12; an amino acid sequence that is substantially identical to the amino acid sequence shown in one of SEQ ID NOs: 2 and 12; or an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence which hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions to a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 11, and 13, wherein the nucleic acid encodes a full length 46798 protein or an active fragment thereof.
In a related aspect, the invention further provides nucleic acid constructs that include a 46798 nucleic acid molecule described herein.
In a related aspect, the invention provides 46798 polypeptides or fragments operatively linked to non-46798 polypeptides to form fusion proteins.
In another aspect, the invention features antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof, that react with, or more preferably, specifically bind, 46798 polypeptides.
In another aspect, the invention provides methods of screening for compounds that modulate the expression or activity of the 46798 polypeptides or nucleic acids.
In still another aspect, the invention provides a process for modulating 46798 polypeptide or nucleic acid expression or activity, e.g., using the screened compounds. In certain embodiments, the methods involve treatment of conditions related to aberrant activity or expression of the 46798 polypeptides or nucleic acids, such as conditions involving aberrant or deficient degradation or resorption of ECM proteins or aberrant or deficient proteolytic activation of extracellular matrix proteins.
The invention also provides assays for determining the activity of or the presence or absence of 46798 polypeptides or nucleic acid molecules in a biological sample, including for disease diagnosis.
In further aspect the invention provides assays for determining the presence or absence of a genetic alteration in a 46798 polypeptide or nucleic acid molecule, including for disease diagnosis.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, and from the claims.

Nucleic acids corresponding to 46798 a novel human matrix metalloproteinase and uses thereof


Discussed is an application that efficiently utilizes a vehicle battery by predicting performance of the vehicle battery and an available driving distance based on environmental condition of an area where a vehicle is parked and state information of the vehicle battery.

In recent years, as the performance of electric vehicles develops, the importance of a driving available distance according to the capacity of a battery has also emerged. Since the performance or deterioration rate of a vehicle's battery differs depending on the usage environment, if this is properly analyzed and utilized, it is possible for efficient use.
Moreover, in the case of a vehicle parked for a long time, the performance for the capacity of a high voltage (HV) battery may change due to reasons such as constant current consumption, environmental conditions such of temperature and humidity, and the degree of battery deterioration, but conventionally, it was not possible to check and manage the capacity of a HV battery until the user directly started the electric vehicle and checked the driving distance.
As such, it is an important task to predict the capacity of a HV battery in a vehicle as a factor affecting the driving available distance in today's electric vehicles.

Apparatus and application for predicting performance of battery


In one embodiment, the method includes determining, at an access node, a precoder matrix for precoding transmission from the access node to a plurality of downstream devices over a plurality of lines. The plurality of lines include high power lines and low power lines. The high power lines are in active communication and transmit more symbols per frame than the low power lines. The method further includes precoding a signal vector using the precoder matrix regardless of the symbols the signal vector is sending over the low power lines. Here, the determining determines the precoder matrix such that the precoding does not mitigate the cross-talk effect the high power lines have on the low power lines. The method also includes transmitting over the plurality of lines based on the precoded signal vector.

At least one new standard hopes to raise the maximum link speed over telephone lines to 1 Gbps, using 106 MHz of bandwidth. At these higher frequencies, cross-talk between the dozens of copper wires (called lines) in a bundle will be an issue. The use of low power modes where no or only few symbols are sent over some of the lines adds further complexity to the cross-talk issue.


Apparatus is described for measuring and displaying the magnitude of traction forces applied to a patient's lower limbs during surgery, and for measuring the direction and magnitude of counter-traction forces applied to the patient's body by the perineal post located at the patient's groin to oppose traction forces applied to the patient's lower limbs.

In the treatment of certain medical conditions it is desirable to provide a traction force to a patient's limb or limbs. Examples include distraction of the hip for hip arthroscopy or distraction of fractures of the leg bones in order to re-align the broken bones to ensure correct healing ('fracture reduction'). In each of these cases, tension is applied to the patient's lower limb or foot. In order to maintain the traction force, it is necessary to apply a counter-force to prevent the patient's body being pulled off the operating table.
Various means have been developed to apply this counter-traction force, including harnesses and patient positions that use the patient's weight as the counter-force, however the most common approach is to provide a cylindrical post (called a 'perineal post') located at the patient's groin. In this position, traction force is usually applied to both the operative and non-operative limb to prevent the patient's pelvis rotating about the perineal post.
Examples of such apparatus are described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,697,121 (Knebel), U.S. Pat. No. 2,658,507 (Neufeld) and numerous others, generally called 'fracture tables'. Variations of fracture tables provide means to apply and adjust traction forces using screw mechanisms or suspended weights (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,464 (Deprez) and U.S. Pat. No. 3,088,460 (Wright)).
Although this technique for applying limb traction has been in use for more than 100 years, it still presents a risk of significant injury to the patient. Anatomical structures in the groin in both the male and female are delicate and can suffer grievous injury if the perineal post applied force directly along the midline. In males, damage to the perineal nerve can cause loss of sensation in the penis, whereas in the female, damage to the labia can result.
For this reason, the perineal post is generally well padded and located off-centre in the patient's groin to avoid direct application of the traction force to the mid-line of the patient's groin. Various types of perineal posts are known in the art, all generally intended to distribute the force on the perineum over a large area to minimize the pressure applied to the patient's tissue.
A common failing of all fracture tables and perineal posts know in the art is that there is no means to measure and display the force being applied to the perineum, nor the direction of the force, during surgery. Distal traction devices such as screws or weights can easily be (and sometimes are) equipped with indicating scales to show the amount of traction force applied. Unfortunately, such indicating scales are usually not visible during surgery as they are under the surgical drapes or otherwise obscured, and do not indicate the magnitude or direction of the force applied to the patient's groin. Furthermore, during the course of surgery, it may be necessary to alter the direction or magnitude of the traction force applied to the patient's limb in order to provide visualization of or access to the surgical site. When such changes in the direction and magnitude of the traction force are made, these indicating scales do not provide adequate feedback to the surgeon.
In summary, current fracture tables depend on traction applied through the lower limb, countered by a perineal post. In the surgical setting, there is no indication of the traction force applied to the operative or non-operative limb visible to the surgeon, nor is there any indication of the counter-traction force applied by the perineal post or the direction of the force applied to the patient's groin.
The object of the current invention is to provide means for measuring and displaying to a surgeon the traction force applied to the patient's operative and non-operative limbs, to measure and display the counter-traction force applied to the patient's perineum by the perineal post, and to provide an indication as to the direction of application of the force to the patient's perineum by the perineal post. This will ensure that the surgeon is aware if the traction force as applied from time to time during surgery is exceeding acceptable limits, or if the direction of the force applied to the patient's perineum by the perineal post poses a risk to the fragile structures of the patient's groin.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for monitoring surgical traction


UCN-1028A and UCN-1028C having an anti-tumor activity and a protein kinase C inhibitory activity are produced by culturing a microorganism belonging to the genus Cladosporium.

The present invention relates to UCN-1028A and UCN-1028C and a process for the production thereof.
UCN-1028A and UCN-1028C have an anti-tumor activity, a protein kinase C inhibitory activity, etc. and are useful as anti-tumor agents, carcinosuppressive agents, etc. As a substance which is structurally analogous to UCN-1028A and UCN-1028C, there is known Phleichrome isolated as a plant poison from Cladosporium phlei which causes spots on pastures [Agricultural & Biological Chemistry, 39, 1683 (1975), J. Jap. Pasture, 28 (4), 426 (1983)].

UCN-1028A and UCN-1028C and process for the production thereof


Enhancing management of controllers in a RAID system when a post-write-cache of a is disabled, by supplying a stripe buffer that stores sequential write requests—and before such requests are actually written in to the physical disc drives. The stripe buffer can temporarily store data, until the data level reaches the stripe buffer size. Thereafter, contents of the stripe buffer can be flushed onto disc.

Various storage device configurations and geometries are commonly applied to meet the demands for higher storage capacity while maintaining or enhancing reliability of the mass storage subsystems. For example, one category of disk arrays is referred to as Redundant Array of Inexpensive/Independent Drives (RAID). Within a RAID system, varying levels of data storage redundancy can be employed to enable reconstruction of stored data in the event of data corruption or disk failure. These various types of redundant storage strategies is represented by the RAID system.

Buffer for RAID controller with disabled post write cache

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP.


An optical system having a light source, a uniforming device and an optical fiber type lightguide, wherein the uniforming device comprises a first optical transmission portion connected to the lightguide and a second optical transmission portion connected to the first optical transmission portion including a plurality of optical fibers stretching across the inside thereof which are arranged in such a manner that a light-receiving end of each of the optical fibers is placed at a randomly assigned position on a light-receiving end of the second optical transmission portion and on the other hand a light-emitting end of each of the optical fibers is placed at a randomly assigned position on a light-emitting end of the second optical transmission portion, thereby uniforming the distribution of the quantity of light emitted therefrom.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an optical system for transmitting light emitted from a light source to an optical fiber type waveguide or lightguide and more particularly to improvement of a light source system including a light source and a uniforming device connected to a light-receiving end of the optical fiber type lightguide at an end thereof for receiving light emitted from the light source and emitting light, of which quantity or amount is uniformly distributed in every direction of emission, to the light-receiving end of the lightguide.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A typical optical fiber type lightguide, for example, what is called a "linear pattern outputting lightguide" or a "circular pattern outputting lightguide" (that is, a lightguide having a linear or circular light-emitting end) includes a large number of optical fibers and is adapted to receive and transmit the light received from a light source and output the light from the light-emitting end thereof to an external point.
FIG. 16 is a diagrammatical sectional view of a conventional optical system having such a typical lightguide, wherein light radiated from a lamp 11, which can be regarded as a point source of light, is condensed or converged by a reflecting mirror 12. Further, infrared radiation harmful to optical fibers 18 included in a lightguide 15 is removed therefrom by a heat absorbing glass or an infrared absorbing filter 13. Thereafter, the light is directly incident on an end of the lightguide 15.
Nowadays, the lightguides are widely used for general illumination or lighting. Further, in recent years, the lightguides have become employed as light sources of, for instance, inline inspection systems in automated factories, optical business machines and so on. With such spread of the lightguides, it has become requested that the distribution of the quantity of light emitted therefrom is as uniform as possible in every direction of emission of light. Thus, there have been proposed various optical systems provided with a uniforming means 14 such as a diffusing plate 16, a cylindrical or columnar body 17 made of light-transmitting material (hereunder referred to as a cylindrical or columnar light-transmitting device) or the like in a light source system thereof prior to the optical fibers of the lightguide 15 for uniforming, that is, making the distribution in angle of emitting (hereunder referred to as "emitting angle") of the quantity of light which is incident on a light-receiving end of the lightguide.
Such a conventional light source system including a uniforming means for uniforming the quantity of the light, which is incident on the light-receiving end (hereunder referred to as the "incident end") of the lightguide, has a drawback wherein effects of illumination by the light source are extremely degraded because the quantity of the incident light itself decreases due to the diffusion of the light caused by the diffusion plate, though the uniformity of the distribution in "emitting angle" of the quantity of the incident light in every incident angle of light on the "incident end" of the lightguide as well as that of the distribution in "emitting angle" of the quantity of light emitted from the lightguide is promoted or enhanced with increase of the diffusion coefficient of the diffusion plate. Incidentally, the term "incident end" is further used hereinbelow to indicate a light-receiving end of a device such as a lightguide.
Further, the conventional light source system employing the columnar or cylindrical light-transmitting device has a defect that it has little effect on the enhancement of the uniformity of the distribution of the quantity of the incident light, though the efficiency of illumination is not decreased. The present invention overcomes these defects of the prior art optical system.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a light source system having an improved light receiving device including a uniforming means which can uniform the distribution of the quantity of the light emitted therefrom to the lightguide in every direction of the emission of the light without decreasing the quantity of the emitted light during the transmission of the light therethrough.

Light source system with uniforming device for optical fiber type lightguide


An electronic device and a method for sensing an active state of an object are provided; the electronic device includes a signal generating module, a non-symmetric antenna module and a signal analyzing module. The signal generating module is configured to generate a pulse width modulation signal, generate a measuring signal with overshoot and undershoot pulses according to the pulse width modulation signal, and generate a reference signal according to the measuring signal. The non-symmetric antenna module includes a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna. The transmitting antenna is configured to transmit the measuring signal to an object. The receiving antenna is configured to receive the measuring signal reflected by the object. The signal analyzing module is configured to receive and process the reference signal and the measuring signal reflected by the object, so as to obtain an object active state signal.

With the progress of the antenna technology, the size of the antenna grows smaller and smaller. Generally speaking, the quality and strength of the signal received by the antenna are more or less relevant to the size of the antenna. In particular, for antenna for sensing an active state of an object, the quality and strength of the signal received by the antenna are critical to the degree of sensing accuracy.
Therefore, in general, if the quality and strength of the signal received by the antenna are to be improved, the size of the antenna usually has to be enlarged.

Electronic device and method for sensing active state of object

Industrial Technology Research Institute


In-wall mountable housings include a back, top, bottom and laterally opposing first and second sidewalls that form an interior compartment. The sidewalls, top and bottom terminate at a front of the housing. The housing also includes first and second tabs attached to each of the first and second sidewalls. The first and the second tabs have one side that is integrally attached to the first or second sidewalls and three sides that are detached or detachable therefrom so that the first and second tabs can pivot outward to be perpendicular to the sidewalls. When not used, the tabs are flush with the sidewalls or angle inward into the housing. The first tab pivots outward to be spaced apart a first defined distance from the front of the housing and the second tab pivots outward to be spaced apart a second defined distance from the front of the housing.

Electrical loadcenters are well known. Electrical loadcenters include electrical busses that comprise conductors permitting electrical current to be carried throughout the electrical load center. Electrical busses may contain features permitting attachment of fuses, relays, switches, wires, breakers, and other electrical elements. Loadcenters may contain one or more electrical busses in close proximity to one another, and insulating material or insulation may be used to avoid an arcing or shorting event occurring between the busses. Busses are electrically insulated from each other to avoid a phase-to-phase short circuit. Busses are also electrically insulated from the electrical loadcenter enclosure to avoid a phase-to-ground short circuit. Some loadcenters also include branch circuit breakers connected to the electrical busses at specific points within the load centers. The location, orientation, and spacing of the bus elements and insulation elements within the load are arranged so as to prevent an arcing, overcurrent, or short circuit event once the busses are placed under load.
As shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, conventional (residential) loadcenters use a "scribed" line "L" on the sides of the enclosure for an installer to use to visually align or locate the box to be flush with an outside wall surface for different wall thicknesses.

Housing with wall locator members suitable for electrical devices such as loadcenters