Systems and methods for using a reconfigurable multi-manager observer system to identify markers are provided. The system allows for easy collaboration among users of the system and with subjects. Systems and methods may comprise receiving subject data, selecting predictor and outcome variable classes based on the data, generating a predictor score based on the data and a predictor rule, generating an outcome score based on the data and an outcome rule, generating a marker score based on the predictor score and a marker rule, generating a marker metric based on the outcome score, the marker score, and a marker relationship, and, optionally, taking an action based on the predictor score, the outcome score, the marker score, or the marker metric.

Individuals, healthcare providers, researchers, and others may seek to collect and analyze large amounts of data from a variety of sources to study, monitor, or improve health; study, monitor, or improve healthcare services; conduct research; or make advances in therapies. But tools for collecting and analyzing large amounts of data from a variety of sources are lacking, as are tools for sharing related information.
Managing the interpretation of data and identifying markers for various health states can be difficult. The amount of data, types of data, or real-time processing strain may be too large for systems to handle. The analysis or reporting may be too regimented or restricted to a specific path, which makes changes difficult to implement and alternate hypotheses burdensome to test. Furthermore, there is no easy way to share data, methodologies, processes, configurations, algorithms, interpretations, and results among studies, among users, or across different scientific fields.
Current strategies for collecting data from numerous subjects, monitoring health status, and providing guidance to subjects on adhering to a therapy plan suffer from inflexibility. Current systems are designed to deploy a specific therapy plan, and they cannot identify new markers, or adapt markers to identify new therapeutics. Other systems may provide some flexibility in collecting data, but only if a user is capable of complex coding techniques.
Other systems offer unidirectional data migration, with hard-coded sensors, devices, and analyses. Other systems may offer processing of only stored data or real-time data, but not both. And often the data is obtained from only a single source.
Currently, data (e.g., baseline data) is first collected in a manner that is protocolized to match a specific model, and, then, after reviewing the data against the model, a new protocol is developed to collect further data and compare. This cycle repeats until a discovery is made, but it can take years to develop the protocol, modify the solution to aggregate the information, and then compare the results to the developed model to confirm whether the findings yield a level of precision required for investigatory trials of new pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and therapies. There exists a need for systems and methods to allow new markers and refined markers to be modeled and identified, to encompass the use of data from a variety of sources, to provide readily adaptable and reconfigurable analysis and reporting, to allow the sharing of information among users and/or subjects, and to facilitate the application of interventions. There exists a need for systems with bidirectional configurability; soft-coded formulaic re-configurability; the ability to process both real-time and stored data; the ability to test configurations; the ability to use predefined and/or configurable expressions; and the ability to collaborate and share data, workbooks, and expressions in a way that can be adapted and improved upon.
The disclosure presented herein addresses these and other problems of current systems.

Systems and methods for identifying markers using a reconfigurable system


Method and apparatus for sealing molten metal for use in twin-roll type continuous casting apparatus for preventing molten metal from entry into a clearance between a pair of mold rolls and side weirs disposed at opposite ends of the pair of mold rolls to define a molten metal reservoir above the gap between the mold rolls. a sealing medium is supplied at the inner side of the side weirs in the vicinity of the border between the molten metal and each of the mold rolls. Entry of molten metal into the clearance is prevented without the necessity of pressing the side weirs against the roll ends.

Continuous casting apparatuses of the twin-roll type for casting a thin steel plate have been known in which a pair of mold rolls are employed for drawing slabs through a clearance between the rolls. In such twin-roll type continuous casting apparatus, side weirs are provided at opposite ends of the rolls so as to form a molten metal (molten steel) reservoir above the gap between the two rolls. The side weirs are pressed against the rolls under considerable force in order to prevent any leakage of molten metal.
However, such known arrangement involves a problem that abrasive wear occurs between the rolls and the side weirs with the result that the service life of the side weirs is reduced and that corner portions of the rolls become rounded, the sealing performance of the arrangement being thus adversely affected. Another problem is that both the rolls and the side weirs are inevitably thermally affected so that some gap is produced in the interface between each roll and each side weir, with the result that molten metal enters the gap to produce burrs which would be a cause of inferior slab configuration or breakage of slide portions of the side weir, thus leading to a shutdown in casting operation.

Method and apparatus for sealing molten metal for a twin-roll type continous casting apparatus


An LED landing light arrangement for an aircraft comprises a plurality of LED light sources (12,14,16) for arrangement on an aircraft (24), primarily on the wing roots (20), on the front edges of the wings (22) and/or on the landing gears (18). The LED light sources (12,14,16) are operative to generate, relative to the central axis of the aircraft (24), a light distribution (10) ahead of the aircraft (24) that is spread substantially in a Y-shaped configuration in an obliquely downward direction. The light distribution (10) comprises two converging lateral regions (34,36) arranged laterally ahead of the aircraft (24), and a central region (40) running from said converging lateral regions (34,36) along an extension of said central axis and oriented in a direction away from the aircraft (24).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an LED landing light arrangement for an aircraft with improved illumination of the regions laterally of the cockpit and in front of the cockpit during the aircraft's landing approach, touchdown and rolling movement on the landing strip, on the taxiway and on the field in front of the terminal. The LED landing light arrangement of the invention improves the safety and the comfort for the pilot of the aircraft as well as the visibility of the aircraft to persons external of the aircraft.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Aircraft presently in service are provided with landing lights which are used during the landing approach of the aircraft and are arranged in the wing roots and on the front landing gear (see e.g. US-A-2008/0137353 and GB-A-601079). After touchdown of the aircraft and during taxi of the aircraft on the ground, the effect of the landing lights is supported by turn-off and taxi lights which have a wide light distribution to the front and to the sides. Due to their orientation and performance, turn-off and taxi lights allow for views in lateral directions only during the taxiing of the aircraft on the ground. Thus, these lights are not suited to enlarge of improve the pilot's illuminated field of view during the landing approach.
At present, there exist substantially two types of landing lights, namely so-called HID and "sealed beam" lights. Both types of landing lights have a relatively narrow rotationally symmetric light distribution which is appropriately oriented in the direction of the touch-down point of the aircraft on the landing strip. Meanwhile, however, there have been introduced first types of LED landing lights which produce the same light patterns as the above mentioned two types of landing lights. In landing lights of the types currently in use, however, relatively much light will be wasted as stray light, which is caused by shading and insufficient intensity. Further, HID landing lights cannot be used for offering the pilot an obliquely downward view of the ground. The narrow light strips generate a "finger" effect with high differences in the illuminating light, which, due to the lateral-angle and elevation-angle variations of the aircraft during the landing approach, has the consequence that the illuminated areas will "dance" on the ground, so that no all-inclusive illumination of the landing strip will be possible.
A difference has to be made between, on the one hand, landing light arrangements whose light is directed onto the ground during the landing approach of the aircraft, and, on the other hand, navigation or position lights as described e.g. in US-A-2005/0093718.
It is an object of the invention to render it possible, by use of simple means, to reliably illuminate the area which is relevant to the pilot during the landing approach, i.e. the area in front of the cockpit and to both sides of the cockpit.


An hydraulic unit includes a hydraulic cylinder, and a piston retained in the hydraulic cylinder, wherein the piston can be moved from a first end position located at one end of the hydraulic cylinder to a second end position located at the opposite other end position of the hydraulic cylinder. The hydraulic cylinder is hydraulically connected with a delay unit which is equipped with an auxiliary cylinder containing an auxiliary piston, with which a movement of the piston can be delayed in a middle section located between the first and the second end position. The auxiliary cylinder has a first and a second opening for incoming and outgoing hydraulic oil. In order to precisely set an attenuation point, a throttle valve provided on the auxiliary cylinder or piston be connected in the flow path.

The invention relates to a hydraulic unit.
Such a hydraulic unit is known from DD 46 600.
The known hydraulic unit has the disadvantage that a delayed movement of a piston in a section of the hydraulic cylinder located between the first and second end position is not possible for a precisely specified position.
Such hydraulic units are widely known in accordance with the state of technology. For example, they are used to generate an opening and closing movement of a gripper installed on a transfer. To attenuate the opening and closing movement of the gripper at the end of the particular path of motion, one usually uses hydraulic cylinders with a so-called end position attenuation. With this, the hydraulic cylinder and a piston installed therein work together on the ends of the hydraulic cylinder with a suitable geometrical embodiment so that the hydraulic oil is forced through a narrowed cross section when the end position is reached and the movement of the hydraulic cylinder is thus delayed or attenuated in the vicinity of the end position.
In particular, hydraulically operated grippers are usually constructed so that the end positions of the hydraulic cylinder correspond to a maximum opening or closing position of the gripper arms of the gripper. In the maximum closing position, the gripper arms are usually resting flat on each other. However, when a work piece is gripped with the gripper arms, this gripping position usually corresponds to a middle position of the piston contained in the hydraulic cylinder. The movement from the maximum opening position to the gripping position takes place without any attenuation whatsoever.
Due to this, undesired pressure shocks in hydraulic unit occur when the work piece is gripped.
Object of the invention is to eliminate the disadvantages in accordance with the state of technology. In particular, a hydraulic unit is to be specified which is as simple and inexpensive to manufacture as possible and which permits an attenuated movement of the piston in a middle section of the hydraulic cylinder located between the first and the second end position. In particular, the movement should be able to be delayed with a precisely specified position in a section located between the first and second end position. In accordance with a further goal of the invention, the hydraulic unit is be able to be operated to the extent possible with conventional hydraulic cylinders.


A method for operating a laboratory system comprising laboratory instruments and a laboratory information system is presented. The method comprises grouping laboratory instruments into instrument cluster(s) and providing a cluster manager thereto. The plurality of laboratory instruments publishes their instrument resource descriptions. Each cluster manager maintains an inventory of cluster resources and publishes a list of processing capabilities of the instrument cluster. The laboratory information system assigns processing of test order(s) to instrument clusters. Each cluster manager assigns resources of the laboratory instruments corresponding to test orders from the laboratory information system in view of the inventory of cluster resources. Each laboratory instrument carries out the processing step(s) on the biological sample as instructed by the cluster manager.

The present disclosure generally relates to a computer implemented method for operating a laboratory system for processing biological samples and to a laboratory system for processing biological samples.
In vitro diagnostic testing has a major effect on clinical decisions, providing physicians with pivotal information.
In analytical laboratories such as, clinical laboratories, a multitude of analyses on samples are executed by an analytical system in order to determine the physiological state of a patient. The kind of analytical test to be executed on a biological sample is typically specified as a test order which is typically registered and managed in a laboratory information system. According to established laboratory procedures, the laboratory information system maintains an inventory of the resources of all instruments of the laboratory system and in some cases maintains a current status of these resources. It then assigns resources of the laboratory instruments according to the test order. Known laboratory information systems then instruct the corresponding laboratory instrument(s) to carry out the respective processing step(s) on the biological sample based on each instrument's processing capabilities and current status.
This is however disadvantageous as such known laboratory systems are centrally managed by the laboratory information system. In laboratory systems of increased size with a high number of instruments, the central laboratory information system becomes very complex and may even be overloaded. The high complexity/load of the laboratory information system represents a single point of failure of the laboratory system—since the failure of the laboratory information system will inevitably lead to a halt in processing of any further test orders.
Furthermore, setting up the laboratory information system for a laboratory system comprising a high number of instruments is a very complex and therefore error-prone task, since a single laboratory information system needs to handle the resources/availability and capacity of all instruments to be able to distribute the processing steps of all test orders to the corresponding instruments.
In order to address the above-mentioned disadvantages of a single point of failure due to the high complexity and load of a central laboratory information system, attempts have been made to group instruments into groups, each group being managed by a dedicated instrument group manager. Currently instrument grouping is commonly implemented as a physical grouping, sometimes even including a dedicated sample transportation system. Also, each group of instruments has its own configuration system, isolated from higher level system configurations. This often leads to situations where for example a change of a reagent(s) used by one or more instruments of the group needs to be reconfigured manually not only at instrument/group level but also separately at the level of the entire laboratory system.
While such known laboratory systems with instrument grouping do address to some degree the high complexity of a centrally managed laboratory system, they suffer from a lack of flexibility as each group has to be set up and configured manually, wherein the extension of such a group by addition of an instrument or reconfiguration of a group needs to be accompanied by a manual reconfiguration of the corresponding instrument group manager. Furthermore, while such known laboratory systems with instrument grouping provide local management of the grouped instruments, the laboratory information system needs to manage a list of resources of each group of instruments to be able to instruct the correct group for each test order to carry out the respective processing step(s) on the biological sample based on each instrument's processing capabilities and current status.
Furthermore, laboratory systems have to deal with two types of laboratory instruments as far as their capability to fully or partially process a test order. While there are laboratory instruments which can carry out the entire processing of a test order, a second type of laboratory instruments comprise only resources to carry out a certain part of a test order. Centrally managing the completion of test orders by the latter type of instruments is particularly challenging in laboratories with a high number of instruments.
Currently known laboratory systems employ a single data-communication topology—usually a centralized topology. However, although for certain applications a centralized topology may be useful, for other applications, where e.g. large volumes of data need to be exchanged between a subset of instruments, a centralized communication topology is at risk of getting overloaded.
Therefore, there is a need for a laboratory system and method for operating a laboratory system that is both flexible and scalable in order to handle a high number of laboratory instruments and eliminate the need for manual (re)configuration upon changes in the processing capabilities and/or availability and/or capacity of any of these laboratory instruments as well as a need for a fault tolerant system to provide high availability of the overall laboratory system and a need for a solution that provides flexible data-communication topology.

Method for operating a laboratory system


A biodegradable, single-phase starch/polymer mixture comprising. (a) 10 to 99 parts of a starch molding composition comprising PA0 (b) 90 to 1 parts of at least one linear polymer, the parts by weight of components (a) and (b) adding up to 100. In addition, 0 to 20 parts of additives which are customary in this area are included. A method of preparation, and the use thereof for thermoplastically molded parts, in particular films, is also disclosed.. (i) 95 to 45 parts of at least one chemically modified starch, and PA1 (ii) 5 to 55 parts of at least one emulsifier, plasticizer or destructurizing agent, the parts of (i) and (ii) adding up to 100; and

Since starch is a vegetable carbohydrate, efforts are being made to use it as a "natural plastic" in a wide variety of areas using existing methods of processing plastics. Due to their granular structure, however, natural starches must first be broken down or destructurized, before they become thermoplastically processable. Although they are biodegradable and have then the characteristics of thermoplastic plastics, the starches do not have their desired good properties. In order to achieve these properties, thermoplastic starch compositions of this type must be further improved. However, this frequently causes them to lose their full biodegradability.
EP 344 118 A2 relates to a polymer blend material comprising a melt of at least one water-containing destructurized hydrophilic polymer and at least one synthetic, essentially water-insoluble thermoplastic polymer. Examples are blends based on gelatin and cellulose derivatives, and polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl ether, polyoxymethylene, and ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers which show an improvement in dimensional stability resulting from the addition of the water-insoluble polymer. However, the reference made therein to a possible biodegradability, namely the loss of this additional stability after several days, is instead something of a disadvantage for products molded from the blends, without actually saying anything regarding biodegradability itself.
EP-A 327 505 A2 describes a melt-mixed polymer blend material comprising destructurized, - but chemically unmodified-starch and at least one water-insoluble, synthetic thermoplastic polymer.
In the same way, EP-A 409 789 A2, EP-A 409 788 A2, EP-A 409 783 A2, EP-A 409 782 A2, EP-A 409 781 A2, EP-A 408 503 A2, EP-A 408 502 A2, EP-A 408 501 A2, EP-A 407 350 A2, EP-A 404 728 A2, EP-A 404 723 A2, and EP-A 404 727 A2 disclose polymer blend compositions comprising destructurized, but chemically unmodified, starch and a functionalized polymer. Each of these compositions may additionally contain a water-insoluble, thermoplastic polymer. The functionalized polymer then acts as a compatibility enhancer between the chemically unmodified starch and the additional third thermoplastic polymer.

Starch/polymer mixture, process for the preparation thereof, and products obtainable therefrom


A method and apparatus for detecting RF field strength. A field strength reference generator develops a field strength reference current as a function of a field strength of a received RF signal; and a field strength quantizer develops a digital field-strength value indicative of the field strength reference current. In one embodiment, detected field strength is used to dynamically vary the impedance of a tank circuit whereby, over time, induced current is maximized.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to detecting RF field strength, and, in particular, to detecting RF field strength in a passive RFID system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, in the descriptions that follow, we will italicize the first occurrence of each special term of art that should be familiar to those skilled in the art of radio frequency ("RF") communication systems. In addition, when we first introduce a term that we believe to be new or that we will use in a context that we believe to be new, we will bold the term and provide the definition that we intend to apply to that term. In addition, throughout this description, we will sometimes use the terms assert and negate when referring to the rendering of a signal, signal flag, status bit, or similar apparatus into its logically true or logically false state, respectively, and the term toggle to indicate the logical inversion of a signal from one logical state to the other. Alternatively, we may refer to the mutually exclusive boolean states as logic_0 and logic_1. Of course, as is well know, consistent system operation can be obtained by reversing the logic sense of all such signals, such that signals described herein as logically true become logically false and vice versa. Furthermore, it is of no relevance in such systems which specific voltage levels are selected to represent each of the logic states.
In accordance with our prior invention previously disclosed in the Related References, the amplitude modulated ("AM") signal broadcast by the reader in an RFID system will be electromagnetically coupled to a conventional antenna, and a portion of the current induced in a tank circuit is extracted by a regulator to provide operating power for all other circuits. Once sufficient stable power is available, the regulator will produce, e.g., a power-on-reset signal to initiate system operation. Thereafter, the method disclosed in the Related References, and the associated apparatus, dynamically varies the capacitance of a variable capacitor component of the tank circuit so as to dynamically shift the fR of the tank circuit to better match the fC of the received RF signal, thus obtaining maximum power transfer in the system.
In general, the invention disclosed in the Related References focused primarily on quantizing the voltage developed by the tank circuit as the primary means of matching the fR of the tank circuit to the transmission frequency, fC, of the received signal. However, this voltage quantization is, at best, indirectly related to received signal field strength. We submit that what is needed now is an effective and efficient method and apparatus for quantizing the received field strength as a function of induced current. It is further desirable to develop this field quantization in a form and manner that is suitable for selectively varying the input impedance of the receiver circuit to maximize received power, especially during normal system operation. Additionally, in light of the power sensitive nature of RFID systems, it is desirable to vary the input impedance with a minimum power loss.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the preferred embodiment of our invention, we provide an RF communication system in which an external transmitter electromagnetically couples a signal of predetermined frequency, fC, to a receiver separated by an air gap from the transmitter. The system uses a method for dynamically maximizing a received power transfer by adjusting a tuning circuit of the receiver. The tuning circuit comprises an antenna and a capacitor that can be varied in a selected one of first and second directions. The method comprises the steps of (1) choosing a selected one of said first and second directions; (2) capturing a first current response of the tuning circuit to the signal transmitted by the transmitter; (3) varying the capacitor in the selected first or second direction; (4) comparing the captured first response to a second current response of the tuning circuit to the signal currently transmitted by the transmitter; (5) if the comparison made in step 4 indicates that the second current response is weaker than the captured first response, selecting the other of the selected directions; and (6) returning to step 2.
In accordance with another embodiment of our invention, we provide a power detector for use in an RF receiver. The power detector comprises a power reference generator and a power quantizer. The power reference generator is adapted to develop a power reference current as a function of a power transferred via a received RF signal. The power quantizer is responsive to the power reference current and is adapted to develop a digital field power value indicative of the power reference current.
In accordance with another embodiment of our invention, we provide a field strength quantizing detector for use in an RF system. The detector comprises a regulator, a current source circuit, a reference circuit, and a control circuit. The regulator circuit is adapted to conduct a first current proportional to the field strength of a received electromagnetically coupled RF signal. The current source circuit is adapted to develop a field strength reference current in response to a digital input. The reference circuit is coupled to the regulator circuit and to the current source circuit and is adapted to develop a mirrored current as a function of the first current and the field strength reference current. The control circuit adapted to capture the mirrored current, compare the captured mirrored current against a predetermined threshold value, increase the field strength reference current in response to an indication that the field strength current is insufficient, and cease operation in response to an indication that the field strength reference current is sufficient.
In accordance with another embodiment of our invention, we provide a method of quantizing field strength in an RF system comprising a regulator, a current source, a reference circuit, and a control circuit. The method comprises the steps of (1) conducting a first current proportional to the field strength of a received electromagnetically coupled RF signal, (2) developing a field strength reference current in response to a digital input, (3) developing a mirrored current as a function of the first current and the field strength reference current, (4) capturing the mirror current, (5) comparing the captured mirrored current against a predetermined threshold value, (6) changing the field strength reference current in response to an indication that the field strength current is insufficient, and (7) ceasing operation in response to an indication that the field strength reference current is sufficient.
In accordance with another embodiment of our invention, we provide a field strength quantizing detector for use in an RF system. The detector comprises a regulator circuit, a current source, a reference circuit, and a control circuit. The regulator circuit is adapted to conduct a first current proportional to the field strength of a received electromagnetically coupled RF signal. The current source circuit is adapted to develop a field strength reference current in response to a digital input and to develop a reference voltage on a sensing node in response to said field strength current. The reference circuit is coupled to the regulator and to the current source and is adapted to develop a mirrored current as a function of the first current and the field strength reference current and to further develop the reference voltage on the sensing node in response to the mirrored current. The control circuit is adapted to capture the reference voltage, compare the captured reference voltage against a predetermined threshold value, change the field strength reference current and further develop the reference voltage in response to an indication that the field strength current is insufficient, and cease operation of the control circuit in response to an indication that the field strength reference current and the reference voltage are sufficient.
In accordance with another embodiment of our invention, we provide a method of quantizing field string in an RF system comprising a regulator, a current source, a reference circuit, and a control circuit. The method comprises the steps of (1) conducting a first current proportional to the field strength of a received electromagnetically coupled RF signal; (2) developing a field strength reference current in response to a digital input and developing a reference voltage on a sensing node in response to the field strength current; (3) developing a mirrored current as a function of the first current and the field strength reference current and further developing the reference voltage on the sensing node in response to the mirrored current; (4) capturing the reference voltage; (5) comparing the captured reference voltage against a predetermined threshold value; (6) changing the field strength reference current and further developing the reference voltage in response to an indication that the field strength current is insufficient; and (7) ceasing operation in response to an indication that the field strength reference current and the reference voltage are sufficient.
In accordance with another embodiment of our invention, we provide a maximum current detection circuit in an RF system. The maximum current detection circuit comprises a current shunt circuit, a current mirror circuit, an analog-to-digital converter ("ADC"), a digitally controlled current source ("DCCS"), and a digital logic block. The current shunt circuit is adapted to conduct a first current proportional to a received signal. The current mirror circuit is coupled to the current shunt circuit and is adapted to conduct a second current that is proportional to the first current and to produce a reference voltage that is proportional to said second current. The an a ADC is coupled to the current mirror circuit and is adapted to generate a first digital value if the reference voltage is below a first voltage value, to generate a second digital value if the reference voltage is above a first voltage value and output an ADC value that is a selected one of the first digital value and second digital value. The DCCS is coupled to the current mirror and the ADC and adapted to modify the reference voltage in response to receiving a DCCS code. The digital logic block is coupled to the ADC and the DCCS and is adapted to sweep the DCCS code from a first value to a second value, to save a first copy of the DCCS code corresponding to the first instance of ADC value indicating the reference voltage is above the first voltage value.
In accordance with another embodiment of our invention, we provide a tuning circuit for dynamically varying the impendence of a tank circuit. The tank circuit comprises an inductor and a capacitor, the capacitance of which can be varied in a selected one of first and second directions. The tuning circuit comprises a voltage regulator, a current mirror, an analog-to-digital converter ("ADC"), a digitally controlled current source ("DCCS") and a digital logic block. The voltage regulator is coupled to the tank circuit and is adapted to maintain a constant voltage. The voltage regulator further comprises a current shunt circuit adapted to conduct a first current proportional to a received signal. The current mirror circuit is coupled to the current shunt circuit and is adapted to conduct a second current that is proportional to the first current and to produce a reference voltage that is proportional to the second current, The ADC is coupled to the current mirror circuit and is adapted to generate a first digital value if the reference voltage is below a first voltage value, to generate a second digital value if the reference voltage is above the first voltage value and output an ADC value that is a selected one of the first digital value and second digital value. The DCCS is coupled to the current mirror and the ADC and is adapted to modify the reference voltage in response to receiving a DCCS code. The digital logic block is coupled to the voltage regulator and the tank circuit and adapted to save a first copy of the DAC code corresponding to the first instance of ADC value indicating the reference voltage is above the first voltage value, to sweep the DCCS code from a first selected value to a second selected value, to determine a polarity of the change in a previous value of the DCCS code and current value of the DCCS code, to select one of the first and second directions in response the polarity and to selectively vary the capacitance of the capacitor in the selected direction.
In the drawings, similar elements will be similarly numbered whenever possible. However, this practice is simply for convenience of reference and to avoid unnecessary proliferation of numbers, and is not intended to imply or suggest that our invention requires identity in either function or structure in the several embodiments.

Method and apparatus for detecting RF field strength


A hybrid semiconductor circuit adjustable by a control current for controlling voltage comprising a single high-voltage reversely polarized diode surrounded by at least two diodes emitting infrared radiation fed in series by the control signal and arranged to allow optical interaction with the high-voltage diode, wherein the diodes are encapsulated with a coating resin having a high transmission rate in an infrared domain.

This is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/FR00/03290, with an international filing date of Nov. 24, 2000, which is based on French Patent Application No. FR 99/14934, filed Nov. 26, 1999.
This invention relates to the field of high-voltage, low-power electronic circuits, more particularly, amplification circuits and programmable-feed circuits.
Known in the state of the art are high-voltage control devices employing electron tubes. Such devices require considerable heating forces for heating the filaments. They are also relatively large and bulky.
Low-voltage optical coupler circuits are also known in the state of the art.
EP 646973 concerns an integrated low-voltage optical coupler designed to create electric separation between an input signal and an output signal.
WO 06/08857 also pertains to a low-voltage optical coupler having an improved signal-noise ratio.
FR 2,569,978 concerns an optoelectronic receiver for fiber-optic transmission.
The article xe2x80x9cINNOVATIVE CIRCUITS CREATE 20-MA 20 KV IC OP AMPxe2x80x9d published in ELECTRONIC DESIGN, Jan. 21, 1993, describes an optical coupler employing multiple stages connected in series, with each stage comprising a low-voltage diode coupled optically to a single emitting diode. Such a device has excessive bulk for certain applications.
It would accordingly be advantageous to resolve these drawbacks and provide a miniaturized circuit capable of operation at voltages higher than 6000 volts.
This invention relates to a hybrid semiconductor circuit adjustable by a control current for controlling voltage comprising a single high-voltage reversely polarized diode surrounded by at least two diodes emitting infrared radiation fed in series by the control signal and arranged to allow optical interaction with the high-voltage diode, wherein the diodes are encapsulated with a coating resin having a high transmission rate in an infrared domain.
This invention also relates to a high-voltage amplifier comprising at least one hybrid circuit as set forth above and controlled by an input signal feeding the at least two diodes and delivering an output signal controlled by the high-voltage diode fed by a reverse current.
This invention further relates to a high-voltage adjustable feed comprising at least one hybrid circuit as set forth above and controlled by an adjustable signal feeding the t least two diodes and delivering an output signal controlled by the high-voltage diode fed by a reverse current.
Better comprehension of the invention will be attained by reading the description below with reference to a nonlimitative example of implementation and to the attached figures in which:
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an optical coupler according to aspects of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a graph showing the response curve of the high-voltage diode;
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of such an optical coupler; and
FIG. 4 is a general diagram of a high-voltage amplifier.

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique C.N.R.S.


The present disclosure relates to heterocyclic compounds, and pharmaceutical compositions of the same, that are modulators/inhibitors of HDACs, such as HDAC8 and are useful in the treatment of HDAC-associated diseases.

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are a class of enzymes that catalyze the removal of acetyl groups from a lysine residue on both histones and non-histone proteins. The HDAC family of enzymes consists of at least 18 members, which can be subdivided into two categories: the classical HDAC family of zinc-dependent amidohydrolases, including classes I (HDACs 1, 2, 3, and 8), II (HDACs 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10) and IV (HDAC 11); and the NAD+-dependent class III (Sirt 1-7) sirtuin family of HDACs, which are unrelated in sequence and mechanism to classical zinc-dependent HDACs (Li et al., Int. J. Biol. Sci. 2014; 10(7):757-70). HDAC8 is a unique class I HDAC family member because of its reported cytoplasmic and nuclear subcellular localization (as opposed to nuclear localization for other class I HDACs), and its ability to deacetylate non-histone proteins, such as estrogen-related receptor α (ERR-α), and cohesion SMC3 (structural maintenance of chromosome 3) (Olson et al., Chem Biol. 2014; 9(10):2210-6; Balasubramanian et al., Leukemia 2008; 22(5): 1026-34; and Deardorff et al., Nature. 2012; 489 (7415)).
HDACs regulate diverse cellular functions, including gene transcription, cell cycle, apoptosis, growth, differentiation and immunity (Falkenberg et al., Nat. Rev Drug Discov. 2014; 13(9): 673-911; and Li et al., Int. J. Biol. Sci. 2014; 10(7):757-70). HDACs have been found to be associated with multiple human diseases including cancer, inflammatory, immunologic, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative disorders (Wagner et al. Epigenetics. 2010; 1(3-4):117-136). Deregulation of SMC3 acetylation/acetylation by HDAC8 is associated with Cornelia de Lange syndrome, an inherited congenial malformation disease in which loss of function HDAC8 mutations have recently been identified in a subset of patients (Deardorff et al., Nature. 2012, 13; 489 (7415)). HDAC8 is implicated in multiple human cancers including but not limited to childhood neuroblastoma (Oehme et al., Clin. Cancer Res. 2009; 15(1):91-9), breast cancer (Park at al., Onco.l Rep. 2011; 25(6): 1677-81), hepatocellular carcinoma (Wu et al., Dig Dis. Sci. 2013; 58(12): 3545-53), colon cancer (Kang et al., Cell Death Dis. 2014; 5: e1476), myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) (Gao, et al. Exp Hematol. 2013; 41(3): 261-70.e4), T-cell lymphoma (Balasubramanian et al., Leukemia 2008; 22(5): 1026-34), and AML with inv(16)/t(16;16) (carrying CBFβ-SMMHC fusion protein) (Jing et al., Blood 2014: 124 (21)). HDACs have also been shown to involve in dynamic regulation of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory gene expression, and to influence the functions of various immune cells such as immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs) and antigen presenting cells (APCs) (Falkenberg et al., Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2014; 13(9): 673-911; and Kroesen et al., Oncotarget. 2014; 5(16): 6558-72). In this regard, HDAC8 has been identified to affect the expression and production of proinflammatory cytokines (e.g. IL-1β; TNFα, IL-6) (16, 17), and to regulate the expression of the MHC class I protein (Li et al., Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2006; 349(4): 1315-21). Commercially available pan-HDAC inhibitors exhibit significant side effects such as bone marrow depression, diarrhea, weight loss, taste disturbances, electrolyte changes, disordered clotting, fatigue, and cardiac arrhythmias and have narrow therapeutic windows (Witt et al., Cancer Lett. 2009; 277(1):8-21). Accordingly, there is a need in the art for compounds that can selectively modulate the activity of HDAC for the treatment of inflammation and autoimmune diseases as well as applications in cancer immunotherapy.


The present invention provides a process for the preparation of a nonracemic diastereomer of 1-(4-benzoxy-phenyl)-2-(4-hydroxy-4-phenyl-piperidin-1-yl)-1-propanol by hydrogenation of a corresponding nonracemic 1-(4-benzoxy-phenyl)-2-(4-hydroxy-4-phenyl-piperidin-1-yl)-1-propanone using a catalyst system comprising ruthenium, a nonracemic diphosphine ligand, a bidentate amine ligand selected from amino-thioethers and achiral diamines, and a base.

NOT APPLICABLE
NOT APPLICABLE
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This invention relates generally to preparing nonracemic chiral alcohols. It is directed to a novel process for the preparation of a nonracemic diastereomer of 1-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)-2-(4-hydroxy-4-phenyl-piperidin-1-yl)-1-propanol compounds of the formula I or a stereoisomer thereof, wherein R is hydrogen or a hydroxyl-protecting group.
This invention more specifically relates to preparing nonracemic chiral alcohols by asymmetric hydrogenation of ketones. It is directed to the preparation of compounds of the formula I by asymmetric hydrogenation of the corresponding nonracemic ketone compound of formula II or its enantiomer.
Compounds of formula I are useful as pharmaceutically active compounds and as intermediates thereto. For example, the nonracemic compound of formula I having the (1S,2S) stereochemical configuration, wherein R is hydrogen, exhibits potent NMDS (N-methyl-D-aspartic acid) receptor antagonist activity and is useful in the treatment of traumatic brain injury and other central nervous system conditions. Corresponding compounds wherein R is an alkyl group or a hydroxyl-protecting group are useful in the preparation of the compound of formula I wherein R is hydrogen.
Ketones can be converted to racemic chiral alcohols by hydrogenation using certain catalyst systems of ruthenium, a phosphine ligand, a 1,2-diamine, and an alkaline base. Aromatic and heteroaromatic ketones can be hydrogenated to nonracemic chiral alcohols by using certain catalyst systems of ruthenium, an appropriate enantiomeric diphosphine ligand, an enantiomeric 1,2-diamine, and an alkaline base. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., vol. 40, (2001), 40-73; U.S. Pat. No. 5,763,688; J. Am. Chem. Soc., vol. 117 (1995), 2675-2676; J. Org. Chem., vol. 64 (1999), 2127-2129. Similarly, such ketones can be hydrogenated to nonracemic chiral alcohols by using corresponding catalyst systems formed using a racemic chiral 1,2-diamine, wherein the active diastereomeric ruthenium catalyst is formed with the enantiomeric diphosphine ligand and the xe2x80x9cmatchedxe2x80x9d enantiomer of the racemic chiral 1,2-diamine, and the diastereomeric ruthenium complex with the xe2x80x9cunmatchedxe2x80x9d enantiomer of the racemic chiral 1,2-diamine, if it is formed, is relatively inactive. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., vol. 40, (2001), 40-73; European Patent Application 0,901,977; J. Am. Chem. Soc., vol. 120 (1998), 1086-1087. A catalyst system of ruthenium, S-2,2xe2x80x2-bis(diphenyl-phosphino)-1,1xe2x80x2-binaphthyl (S-BINAP), achiral ethylene diamine, and potassium hydroxide in isopropanol is reported to hydrogenate 1xe2x80x2-acetonaphthone to (R)-1-(1-naphthyl)ethanol in 57% enantiomeric excess. The corresponding catalyst system having enantiomeric (S,S)-1,2-diphenyl-ethylenediamine instead of achiral ethylene diamine is reported to hydrogenate 1xe2x80x2-acetonaphthone under the same conditions to (R)-1-(1-naphthyl)ethanol in 97% enantiomeric excess. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., vol. 40, (2001), 40-73; J. Am. Chem. Soc., vol. 117 (1995), 2675-2676.
An earlier method (U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,961) for the preparation of enantiomeric (1S,2S)-1-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)-2-(4-hydroxy-4-phenyl-piperidin-1-yl)-1-propanol (formula I, R=H) involves the steps of: 1) a hydride reduction of the racemic ketone corresponding to formula II having R=benzyl to produce the racemic syn-enantiomers (equal parts (1S,2S) and (1R,2R) configurations) of formula I having R=benzyl; 2) debenzylation by catalytic hydrogenolysis to produce the racemic syn-enantiomers of the formula I having R=H; 3) diastereomeric salt resolution of the racemic syn-enantiomers using D-(xe2x88x92)-tartaric acid to produce the D-tartrate salt of the (1S,2S)-enantiomer of formula I having R=H; and 4) neutralization of the D-tartrate salt to produce the free base (1S,2S)-1-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)-2-(4-hydroxy-4-phenyl-piperidin-1-yl)-1-propanol (formula I, R=H). The free base is further reacted with methanesulfonic acid to produce the mesylate salt trihydrate. In this method, half of the racemic mixture of syn-enantiomers formed in the first step has the undesired (1R,2R) stereoconfiguration, which must be separated and discarded in the subsequent resolution step.
A related application (U.S. Ser. No. 09/840,580 filed Apr. 23, 2001), describes process improvements which allow a more efficient D-(xe2x88x92)-tartaric acid resolution of the syn-enantiomers and allows the direct conversion of the D-(xe2x88x92)-tartrate salt to the mesylate salt without intermediate conversion to the free base.
In a related application (Ser. No. 09/840,668 filed on Apr. 23, 2001) both enantiomers of the racemic ketone starting material are converted into a diaroyl D-tartrate salt of the (2S)-enantiomer (formula II, R=benzyl) by a dynamic resolution using a diaroyl D-tartaric acid. After neutralization to the free base, the enantiomerically pure ketone is reduced with hydride to produce the (1S,2S)-enantiomer of formula I having R=benzyl. Debenzylation produces (1S,2S)-1-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)-2-(4-hydroxy-4-phenyl-piperidin-1-yl)-1-propanol (formula I, R=H), which is subsequently converted to its mesylate salt. The dynamic resolution of the ketone, in which both enantiomers are converted into one, avoids the wasteful resolution of the alcohol in the earlier process, in which the undesired enantiomer is discarded.
The present invention provides a process for the preparation of a nonracemic chiral alcohol by hydrogenation of a ketone using a catalyst system comprising ruthenium, a nonracemic chiral diphosphine ligand, a bidentate amine ligand selected from an amino-thioether and an achiral diamine, and a base. The inventors have surprisingly found, contrary to the teachings of the background references, that a chiral diamine ligand is not required to obtain highly enantioselective hydrogenation of a ketone to a nonracemic chiral alcohol when using a catalyst system comprising ruthenium, a nonracemic chiral diphosphine ligand, an amine ligand and a base. Accordingly, the present invention provides highly enantioselective hydrogenation of a ketone to a nonracemic chiral alcohol using a bidentate amine ligand selected from a monoamine-thioether and an achiral diamine, when using a catalyst system also comprising ruthenium, a nonracemic chiral diphosphine ligand, and a base.
In one group of embodiments the base is selected from alkylguanidines, aminophosphazenes, and proazaphosphatranes.
In one particular embodiment, the present invention provides a process for the preparation of a nonracemic diastereomer selected from 1-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)-2-(4-hydroxy-4-phenyl-piperidin-1-yl)-1-propanol having the structural formula I and stereoisomers thereof, wherein R is hydrogen or a hydroxyl-protecting group by hydrogenation of a corresponding nonracemic 1-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)-2-(4-hydroxy-4-phenyl-piperidin-1-yl)-1-propanone compound having formula II or the enantiomer thereof using a catalyst system comprising ruthenium, a nonracemic chiral diphosphine ligand, a bidentate amine ligand selected from amino-thioethers and achiral diamines, and a base.

Process for the preparation of nonracemic syn-1-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)-2-(4-hydroxy-4-phenyl-piperidin-1-yl)-1-propanol compounds


Arrangements relate to determining a travel route. An origin and a destination of intended travel can be received. A plurality of first inputs can be received. Each first input can relate to the availability of a respective communication channel between the origin and the destination. Each first input can create at least one data item representing the availability of the respective communication channel. One or more suggested travel routes between the origin and the destination can be determined based on one or more of the received plurality of first inputs. At least a subset of the determined one or more suggested travel routes can be presented to a user.

Arrangements described herein relate to determining travel routes between an origin and a destination.
When planning to travel to a destination, there are often numerous routes available to reach the destination from a given starting point. Users may select a route based on the shortest travel distance or the shortest amount of travel time between the origin and the destination. Mapping applications are widely available to help a user with such planning.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Travel routes based on communication channel availability

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


The invention relates to a drive device (1) for a bending press, in particular a folding press (2), comprising a press frame (3), a press table (9) and a press beam (11) that can be adjusted relative to the press table (9) via a hydraulic system (18) comprising a hydraulic pump (47), controlled drive motor (45), switch and control means and pressure lines and at least one pressure cylinder (12) which can be supplied with at least one pressure medium. The hydraulic system (18) forms a closed system together with a ring line (44) comprising the hydraulic pump (47), control valves (39, 41, 58, 84, 86, 87, 88, 89) and a pressure store (57). The ring line comprises a first line section (51) between a pressure chamber (23) of the pressure cylinder (12) and the hydraulic pump (47) and a second line section (53) between an additional pressure chamber (22) of the pressure cylinder (12) and the hydraulic pump (47). The pressure store (57) can optionally be in fluid connection via at least one of the control valves (58, 84, 86) with the first line section (51) or the second line section (53) to take up or release a storage volume of the pressure medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a drive device, as described in the preamble of claim 1.
2. The Prior Art
From document WO 2006/101156 A1 a hydraulic drive device for a folding press and a method for operating the latter are known, according to which with an open hydraulic system for supplying operating cylinders a hydraulic pump is driven by a speed-controlled motor. The speed can be varied according to the different requirements for movement operations, such as rapid traverse, press traverse, emergency stop, return stroke, from standstill to maximum speed.
From document JP 2002-147404 A a drive device for a bending press is known comprising a press frame and with a fixed press beam and a press beam adjustable relative to the latter, wherein the drive device consists of a hydraulic system with a hydraulic pump and a ring line with control valves for a switchable flow circuit for a pressure medium for alternately charging two pressure chambers of at least one pressure cylinder for the adjustment of the press beam. The hydraulic system is an open system supplied with pressure medium from a tank, which excludes a pressure store, as the differential volume of medium required for the different filling volumes of the pressure chambers of the hydraulic cylinder is conveyed respectively into or out of the tank. This requires a suitably high overall volume and conveying volume of the pressure medium for the alternate charging of the hydraulic cylinder.
From document DE 1 027 951 B a hydraulic-rapid control is known with devices for avoiding control shocks for hydraulic presses, hydraulically operated machine tools or the like. The rapid control comprises in addition to a main valve an additional control valve, which by means of a connection line produces the connection between a pressure source, e.g. a pump, an accumulator, a press cylinder and the main control valve. Furthermore, it comprises a bypass line, which leads directly from the pressure source to the main control valve, wherein the latter has a smaller cross section than the connection line running via the additional control valve, and in said bypass line if necessary also a throttle valve can be provided. Thus pressure shocks caused by the control processes are counteracted by the corresponding cross sectional selection of the connection line as well as the regulating possibility of the throttle valve and as far as possible pressure equalization is achieved.
From a further document, DE 21 40 183 A1, a hydraulic drive device is known with an open design, with a tank, pump and feed line for charging a pressure chamber of an operating cylinder with a pressure medium. A bypass line of the pressure medium from the additional pressure chamber can be supplied via a switch valve optionally to the feed line or returned as a function of the determined pressure level in the feed line or the pressure chamber via an outflow line into the tank. By mixing the outflowing pressure medium into the feed line with a predefined output of the pump there is an increase in the displacement speed of the press beam before the actual pressing operation, i.e. a rapid approach and thereby a shortened cycle time.
From document EP 0 967 028 A1 a hydraulic press is known with a hydraulic operating cylinder acting on both sides with active faces of varying size on both sides of a piston. The hydraulic drive device comprises a container for the pressure medium, which by means of an electric motor driven pump is fed into in a conveying circuit and via control valves to the operating cylinder, optionally to the pressure chambers separated by the piston for the movement of a press beam connected in motion to the piston or a piston rod for making an adjustment for a press stroke and a return stroke. To reduce the operating cycle between lines for the alternate charging of the pressure chambers of the operating cylinder an additional suction line with an additional suction valve is provided for a rapid equalisation of the volume flows of the pressure chambers with different capacities.
From a further document, AT 008 633 U1, a hydraulic drive unit is known for a press, e.g. a die bending press, for activating a press beam by means of a double-acting hydraulic cylinder with different active surfaces. The hydraulic drive unit comprises a container for a pressure medium, an electric motor driven pump and supply lines and control valves and a flow-connected, chargeable pressure store, by means of which for compensating the inherent mass of the press beam a counteracting force is provided by the operating cylinder.
Conventional driving techniques in presses of higher force categories use a hydraulic load-sensing principle for the operating process and a hydraulically controlled drop of the pressure beam in rapid traverse downwards. As in load-sensing operation a control reserve of the pressure loss is required and the movement is also controlled during the rapid-up or rapid-down traverse via a resistance control, losses are caused as defined by the principle. The resulting oil-warming has to be reduced in many cases by oil coolers. A further disadvantage is that the electric drive motor and the connected hydraulic constant flow pump run during the entire operating period, which results in losses and unnecessary noise. Such a driving configuration comprises one hydraulic supply unit per machine, which in addition to the pump and motor also comprises tank connecting lines and various auxiliary devices and prevents a strictly modular construction, in which each axis is completely separate and compact. Numerous hydraulic connections have to be produced in the assembly process of the press. The latter may lead to leakages caused by permeability, breaks in the tubing or during the replacement of hydraulic components.
Furthermore, today electric-hydraulic hybrid drives are known, the basic idea of which is to connect a hydraulic constant flow pump with a variable-speed electric motor, in order to control the speed electrically in this way and to use the connected hydraulic circuit with a hydraulic cylinder at its end on the one hand for simple force translation and on the other hand as a change-speed gearbox for rapid operation shifting. An open hydraulic system is used for this, which, in addition to the actual operating cylinder, designed as a single-thread differential cylinder, uses an additional plunger cylinder. Its hydraulically active surface is equal to the ring surface of the differential cylinder. The cylinder chambers assigned to both these areas are switched in rapid traverse, such that the action of a through rod cylinder is adjusted which is moved by the pump. The piston-side chamber suctions in rapid traverse from the tank. In working operation the pump acts on the piston side of the differential cylinder, the annular side lies on a hydraulic storage unit for holding.


Disclosed herein are light diffusing films, methods of making the same and articles using the same. In one embodiment, a light diffusing film is formed from a composition comprising: a polycarbonate, phosphite stabilizer, epoxy stabilizer, hindered phenol stabilizer, and light diffusing particles having a refractive index of about 1.3 to about 1.7. The film comprises a hiding power of 0 to about 0.5. In one embodiment, a method for producing a film comprises combining a polycarbonate, a phosphite stabilizer, an epoxy stabilizer, and light diffusing particles to form a combination, and forming the combination into the film.

In many backlight display devices, for example in liquid crystal display televisions (LCD TV), there is a demand for larger and larger displays. As the size of a display increases, the number of light sources (e.g., a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL)) used to backlight the display can also increase. Accordingly, the backlight display system can desirably comprise a light diffusing film (also referred to as a light diffusing sheet, a plate, and the like). Examples of the utility of the light diffusing film includes, but is not limited to, hiding the light and dark pattern that can be created by an array of CCFLs, hiding injection molded patterns or printing on a light guide of the display device, providing uniformity in illumination, and the like.
Accordingly, a continual need exists in the art for improved light diffusing devices, especially those light diffusing films employed in LCD TVs.

Light diffusing films, methods of making the same, and articles using the same


A method for optimization of a parametric array shallow profile difference frequency conversion performance, comprising the following steps: building a three-layer parametric array shallow profile emission acoustic wave propagation path model, and establishing a detection horizontal position DL equation capable of detecting a detection performance of the parametric array shallow profile; and building a model for optimization of the parametric array shallow profile difference frequency conversion performance. A parametric receiving array includes the receiving hydrophone and a pump transducer, comprising: a silicone rubber column is added between the receiving hydrophone and the pump transducer to improve the conversion efficiency of the parametric receiving array. The present disclosure improves the conversion efficiency of the parametric receiving array by increasing the high-frequency power and acoustic pressure level and reducing the ratio to improve the conversion efficiency and the parameter receiving array uses silicone rubber columns.

In modern times, marine development activities are increasing, and the exploration and development of marine resources has become the main battlefield for competition among contemporary countries. Coastal marine engineering construction is an important support for national defense and economic development. The construction of marine engineering is based on understanding the submarine strata structure, detecting the properties of the strata, and the structure of sediments. The shallow profile meter is used to measure the frequency response of seabed sediments, the formation attenuation coefficient, the propagation medium impedance, the acoustic velocity and other formation parameters. If appropriate identification methods are adopted, the shallow profile meter can become a geological exploration sonar with both bottom quality identification and seabed detection function, and the shallow profile meter can effectively detect the thickness of the seabed sedimentary layer, the fault structure, and the bedrock depth, and at the same time detect the distribution of obstacles on the seabed, and hold the disasters and geological conditions of the sea area (landslides, shallow gas), providing more accurate and detailed geological data for the laying of underwater pipelines and the construction of some offshore projects (such as docks, power stations, bridges, artificial islands, etc.).
Acoustic parameter array is a mathematical expression and physical model of a transmitting device analysis parameter array which uses nonlinear acoustic phenomena to generate difference frequency signals in the far field of the sound field. However, the parametric array has some problems in the difference frequency conversion during the application process: 1) The difference frequency conversion efficiency of the parametric array is low; 2) In order to achieve non-linear acoustic effects, the original sound source is required to have a higher energy level, which results in excessive transmission power of the transducer.

Method for optimization of a parametric array shallow profile difference frequency conversion performance

HUNAN GUOTIAN ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A wear resisting span lock system for bascule bridges includes a normally-inactive hydraulic lockbar shoe expander operable to minimize sliding engagement of the lockbar with its guiding and receiving shoes only during bridge opening and closing operations.

This invention relates to improvements in wear compensating energy-absorbing span lock systems, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,327,605 and 6,588,041 assigned to Steward Machine Co., Inc.
In the '605 patent, FIG. 1 illustrates in plan view a span lock mechanism connecting aligned ends of a double leaf bascule bridge. FIGS. 7a, 7b and 7c illustrate schematically the motion of a locking bar that connects the ends. Resilient elements are illustrated as Bellville-washer type springs that engage shoes which bear on the end portion of the locking bars to effect the desired resilient connection of the span leafs across their ends.
In the '041 patent, an adjustable pre-load mechanism is provided to maintain a desirable level of continuous contact load pressure between the shoes and locking bar, and to afford manual compensation for wear that may occur over prolonged periods of time in service.
While the mechanisms disclosed in these Patents function satisfactorily for their intended purposes when properly maintained, there is a need to provide an improved mechanism to minimize wear between the shoes and locking bar in an automatic manner when bridges are installed and maintained under less than desirable conditions and environments.
One way to do this contemplates the use of hydraulic cylinders to press the shoes into firm contact with the lockbar with hydraulic pressure while the spans are locked, such as disclosed in FIG. 11 and Col. 5, Lns. 38-43 of the '605 patent. A problem with this concept is that hydraulic pressure would need to be maintained continuously while the bridge is locked for land vehicular traffic. This requires power and costs associated with continuous power, or could require accumulators to maintain contact pressure. The present invention overcomes the disadvantage of the aforedescribed concept by providing a mechanism that eliminates the need for continuous power while the bridge is locked and requiring power only when needed to open and close the bridge. Since bascule bridges are normally locked, and only occasionally opened for passing marine vehicular traffic, substantial savings in overall power consumption can be achieved over the continuous pressure concept referenced.


On a center of the front surface of a positioning member 10, positioning projections 25a to 25d are provided in line in such a manner as to project therefrom. On both a left and a right sides of the positioning projections 25a to 25d, scales 27a displaying metric paper sizes and scales 27b displaying inch-based paper sizes are inscribed. The positioning member 10 is horizontally inverted through 180 degrees and a direction indication line 29a on the scale 27a side or a direction indication line 29b on the scale 27b side is aligned with a fitting reference line 30 for fixation to the positioning member 10, thereby permitting switching between positioning for a metric paper size and positioning for an inch-based paper size.

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-180139 filed on Jun. 29, 2006, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a large-capacity paper storage device which stores paper and also which feeds the paper to an image forming apparatus, such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile, or the like. The invention more specifically relates to a method of reliably positioning at a predetermined position a width regulating member which regulates a side end of paper regardless of a paper size.
2. Description of Related Art
For example, sharing of one image forming apparatus by a large number of users increases paper consumption per image forming apparatus. Thus, an image forming apparatus has been in development which is loaded with a large-capacity paper storage device capable of storing a larger number of paper. In such a large-capacity paper storage device, paper is resupplied by the thousands. Thus, upon paper resupply, the user resupplies the paper into a paper storage cassette (paper storage section) a plurality of times.
FIG. 7 is a plan view of a conventional large-capacity paper storage device. FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of the paper storage device (cross section taken along line AA′ of FIG. 7). The paper storage device 100 is of a large-capacity type capable of storing paper by the thousands, in which paper is resupplied from above a paper storage cassette 1. Numeral 2 denotes an elevating plate which is vertically elevatable in the paper storage cassette 1. The elevating plate 2 is driven by an elevator (not shown) composed of wires, a take-up pulley, and the like. The paper storage device 100 is coupled to an image forming apparatus (not shown) adjacent thereto on the left of FIG. 8. Once image formation is started, paper 3 inside the paper storage cassette 1 is sequentially fed into the image forming apparatus through the paper feed section 4. The timing of feeding the paper 3 by the paper feed section 4 is controlled by a control signal transmitted from a control section on the image forming apparatus side.
On the bottom surface 1a of the paper storage cassette 1, a pair of width regulating members 5a and 5b for positioning paper in the width direction and a posterior end regulating member 6 for aligning the posterior ends of paper are vertically provided in such a manner as to penetrate through holes 2a, 2b, and 2c formed in the elevating plate 2. In the elevating plate 2, in addition to the through holes 2a to 2c, a plurality of through holes or notched parts (not shown) are provided. Any of the through holes or the notched parts can be selected and the width regulating members 5a and 5b and the posterior end regulating member 6 can be arranged at positions in accordance with a predetermined paper size to thereby store paper of the predetermined size at a predetermined position in the paper storage cassette 1.
A conventional large-capacity paper feed cassette is typically configured, as described above, to be capable of adjusting in a stepwise manner the positions of the width regulating members 5a and 5b in accordance with so called regular paper sizes, such as A4, B4, and the like. Or, the conventional large-capacity paper feed cassette is configured, as disclosed in patent documents 1 and 2, to be capable of free adjustment in accordance with various paper sizes not limited to the regular sizes.
On a paper feed cassette that performs paper feeding with respect to the widthwise center of paper as a reference (center reference), when two types of paper, for example, paper in an A4-size (with a width of 210 mm) and paper in a letter size R (with a width of 8.5 inches=216 mm) are loaded, a difference in the distance from the center reference to the paper side end between the two types of paper is only 3 mm, and thus their left and right width regulating members need to be adjusted by shifting of 3 mm.
Now, for example, to perform positioning with the upper ends of the width regulating members 5a and 5b being bent horizontally and with a positioning hole on the width regulating member side brought into engagement with a positioning projection on the cassette body side, the positioning projections respectively corresponding to the A4 size and the letter size need to be located in extreme proximity (at an interval of 3 mm), which possibly results in adjustment to a wrong position with respect to the paper size. Moreover, to avoid, upon engagement of the positioning hole with one of the projections, interference with another one of the projections, fitting sections of the width regulating members need to be configured in a complicated manner.
A possible method of avoiding the problems as described above is to provide two positioning members which have positioning projections respectively corresponding to a metric paper size and an inch-based paper size provided separately from each other and then selectively use them in accordance with the paper size. However, this method leads to an increase in the number of components.
Further, a too narrow width of the width regulating member for the paper width results in load which causes paper jam upon paper transport. On the other hand, a too broad width of the width regulating member for the paper width results in paper misalignment in the width direction, thus causing paper skew. However, even commercially available paper of a regular size has some size variation. Thus, the configuration such that the width regulating member is finely adjusted in a stepwise manner in accordance with paper of a regular size fails to finely adjust the width of the width regulating member in accordance with paper size variation. Even the configuration as in patent documents 1 and 2 such that adjustment can be freely made in accordance with a paper size provides no reference for adjustment upon positioning the width regulating member, thus resulting in difficulty in delicate position adjustment.
On the other hand, patent document 3 discloses a paper feed cassette in which a positioning member for regulating members can be switched accordingly between an inch-based paper size and a metric paper size. However, the method disclosed by the patent document 3 is based on the assumption that the regulating members are used for a paper feed cassette of a type in which the regulating members slide along the cassette bottom surface. Thus, this method is hard to apply to positioning of a width regulating member which is used in the large-capacity paper storage device 100 as described in FIG. 8, which is long in the paper loading direction, and which is engaged and fixed with the cassette body.
[Patent Document 1]JP-A-S63-208438[Patent Document 2]JP-A-2004-123396[Patent Document 3]JP-A-2005-126150


Methods and products for thermally degrading unwanted substances is provided which involves contacting such substances with a particulate metal composition in the presence of water and an alkali metal salt, and causing sufficient heat to be generated during such contacting to degrade the substance. The particulate metal compositions include respective quantities of particulate iron and magnesium, and optionally quantities of particulate aluminum and zinc. The compositions generate temperatures on the order of 300-550.degree. F. during such thermal degradations, along with quantities of hydrogen gas and water vapor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is broadly concerned with improved methods and products for the thermal degradation of unwanted substances involving contacting such substances with a particulate metal composition in the presence of water and an alkali metal salt. More particularly, the invention pertains to such methods and products wherein the metallic compositions include respective quantities of particulate iron and magnesium, and preferably lesser amounts of particulate aluminum and zinc; such metal compositions can be used to thermally degrade materials such as agricultural manures to a small volume without any adverse environmental impact.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Agricultural areas involved in large-scale swine production face an increasingly difficult problem in disposing of swine manure and wastes. Indeed, in certain locales, government regulations are in place which severely limit the right of swine producers to dispose of such wastes in conventional ways; in some instances, these restrictions threaten to put such producers out of business or impose such costs as to make further production impractical.
There are a number of other industries that give rise to significant waste problems. Among these are packing house operations, oil refineries and the electrical utility industry because of the prior use of polychlorinated biphenols. Here again, these industries face evermore stringent environmental regulations making disposal problems a significant business issue.
Powdered metal compositions have been provided in the past for production of heat and hydrogen gas. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,017,414 and 3,993,577 describe iron and magnesium-containing compositions designed to generate relatively low temperatures with the evolution of hydrogen gas. The particular utility described in these references is that of replacing lost body heat for undersea divers or combat troops, or for heating machinery or instruments in remote or cold areas.

Methods for thermally degrading unwanted substances using particulate metal compositions


A marked region recognition apparatus recognizes an arbitrary marked region of a document image from a mark signal which indicates whether or not there exists a mark which indicates the marked region. The marked region recognition apparatus comprises a first storing part for storing the mark signal for at least one scanning line, a second storing part for storing a coordinate in a main scanning direction where the marked region ends for each scanning line based on the mark signal stored in the first storing part, and a recognition part for recognizing an inside and an outside of the marked region and producing a marked region signal which indicates the inside or the outside of the marked region for a present scanning line responsive to a state of the marked region of a previous scanning line, which state is read out from the first and second storing parts.

The present invention generally relates to marked region recognition apparatuses and more particularly to a marked region recognition apparatus which can designate a region of a document image by a mark and carry out different image processings inside and outside the designated region. The marked region recognition apparatus is especially suited for use in an image processing part of a digital copying machine.
In a digital copying machine, a document image data which is read from a document is subjected to an image processing in the form of an electrical signal. For this reason, the digital copying machine is capable of making image processing and image editing which cannot be made on an analog copying machine. Conventionally, there is a digital copying machine which carries out different image processings inside and outside an arbitrary closed region of a document image which is marked by a marker pen or the like. In such a digital copying machine, it is possible to carry out image processings such as erasing the inside of the marked region and turning over the black and white inside of the marked region. In order to carry out such image processings, it is necessary to recognize the inside and the outside of the marked region which is the arbitrary closed region surrounded by the mark.
For example, a Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 61-109374 proposes a marked region recognition apparatus. According to this proposed marked region recognition apparatus, there is provided a mark detection means for detecting a mark from a document image data which is read by a reading means and is continuous in a main scanning direction. The marked region is recognized by switching a marked region recognition result as the inside and the outside of the marked region every time a mark signal ends. In addition, the marked region recognition results for one line are stored, and no mark region is recognized unless the mark signal is obtained when a previous line is not a marked region.
However, the proposed marked region recognition apparatus suffers from the following disadvantages. That is, when a rectangular region is marked by a mark 2 as shown in FIG. 1A, it is possible to normally process this region and recognize the inside of a marked region 1 as indicated by a hatching in FIG. 1B. However, when a non-rectangular region is marked by the mark 2 as shown in FIG. 2A, the inside of the marked region 1 is erroneously recognized as indicated by a hatching in FIG. 2B.
On the other hand, when the mark 2 does not mark a closed region as shown in FIG. 3A, the marked region 1 is erroneously recognized as indicated by a hatching in FIG. 3B. In FIGS. 1B, 2B and 3B, MS denotes a main scanning direction and SS denotes a sub scanning direction.
Therefore, in order to prevent an erroneous recognition of the marked region, it is necessary to restrict the shape of the mark and also limit the user who makes the marking to a person familiar with the rules of the marking.


Systems and methods are provided for improving communication by various computing systems in a network. Each computing system can be used to receive and process data. The data can be associated with a process represented by a chain of tasks. The computing systems can determine various parameters associated with the chain of tasks for determining a risk associated with the chain of tasks. The computing system can also determine a risk associated with multiple chains of tasks and aggregate the risks associated with the multiple chains of tasks. Determining the risk associated with each chain of tasks in the multiple chains of tasks can normalize a risk represented by the chains of tasks. Determining the risk associated with each chain of tasks or normalizing the risks represented by the chains can improve communication by the various computing systems in the network.

A network of computers can include multiple computing systems or computing devices. Each of the computing systems can be used to obtain a data set (e.g., from a database), which may be associated with a process for planning or implementing a clinical trial and the computing systems may process the data set. The computing systems can communicate the data sets as the data sets are processed (e.g., as the clinical trial is implemented). The computing systems can also communicate the data sets after the data sets are processed (e.g., after a portion of the clinical trial is implemented). The computing systems can process and communicate the data set as part of the process of planning or implementing the clinical trial.

Normalizing data sets for predicting an attribute of the data sets


A method for determining programming/erase conditions and a method for operating a charge-trapping semiconductor device are disclosed. Programming and erase conditions are determined such that a first net charge distribution variation profile, upon going from programmed to erased state, is substantially the opposite of a second net charge distribution variation profile, upon going from erased to programmed state.

1. Technical Field
The present invention is in the field of semiconductor processing and devices, more specifically in the field of non-volatile charge-trapping memory devices. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for determining programming/erase conditions and a method for operating a non-volatile charge-trapping memory device.
2. Background Art
Non-volatile memories (NVM) are characterized by the fact that once a bit is stored in a memory cell this bit will be retained even when the memory cell is no longer powered. When electrical fields are used for erasing and programming of the memory cell, the NVM devices are also known as EEPROM (Electrically-Erasable-and-Programmable-Read-Only-Memory) devices. Whereas in floating gate EEPROM devices charge is stored in a conductive layer being part of a double-capacitor structure, in charge-trapping EEPROM devices charge is stored in a non-conductive layer being part of a single-capacitor structure. In such non-conductive charge-storage layer, e.g. nitride, oxide containing polysilicon nanocrystals or metal nanoparticles, the charge will not spread out uniformly over the whole of the charge-storage layer but will be confined substantially to the location where the charge was introduced into this non-conductive charge-storage layer. Charge-trapping memory devices are characterized by the presence of discrete charge traps as memory elements contrary to floating gate memory devices where a conductive layer is used as one continuous charge trap for storing charge. Developments in EEPROM devices are increasingly focused on localized charge trapping because it eases integration and reduces stress-induced-leakage. In particular NROM™ devices using nitride as non-conductive charge-storage layer as disclosed for example by B. Eitan in international application W099/070000, are very attractive since they allow storage of two physical bits per memory cell, each bit at a different location in the nitride charge-storage layer. By injecting carriers, e.g. electrons, in the nitride layer the NROM™ cell is programmed. In order to erase the NROM™ cell opposite-type carriers are injected in the nitride layer as to compensate the charge stored during programming, e.g. holes are injected in the nitride layer to compensate the electrons already present. However, poor endurance and poor retention after cycling, i.e. repetitive programming and erasing of a cell, are major drawbacks of NROM™.
Hence there is a need to improve the endurance and charge retention characteristics of non-volatile charge-trapping memory devices, in particular of NROM™-type devices.

Method for operating a non-volatile charge-trapping memory device and method for determining programming/erase conditions

Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum (IMEC)


There is disclosed a focus state display device, adapted for use in a camera which has plural focus detection areas in the phototaking image field and effects focusing in one area (focusing area) selected from such plural focus detection areas. The device has a display with two different display modes, and displays the focusing area in one display mode when the lens of the camera is in an infocus state to the object in the focusing area, and in the other display mode when the lens is in an out-of-focus state to the object in the focusing area. In another embodiment, the device has a display with three different display modes, and displays the focusing area by a display mode and other focus detection areas (namely nonfocusing areas) by two other display modes depending on whether the object in respective area is in focus or out of focus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a focus state display device for use in a camera which is adapted to effect focusing to an object in one of plural focus detection areas within the phototaking image field of said camera.
2. Related Background Art
In the field of conventional cameras, there are already known devices for displaying an area in which the focus detection is to be conducted or a focus state.
FIGS. 1 and 2 are respectively a cross-sectional view and a plan view of a conventional focus state display device, for use in a camera, disclosed in the Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 56-99332.
In these drawings there are shown a photo-taking lens 1; a quick-return mirror 2 and a focusing screen 3 provided, for example, with a Fresnel lens thereon. The light entering the phototaking lens 1 is reflected by the mirror 2 and focused on the focusing screen 3.
A focus state display plate 4, composed of a flat transparent substrate, is provided at the central part thereof with a display area 5 consisting of a group of microprisms, as shown in FIG. 2. An illuminating LED 6 is positioned at the side of the display plate 4, and directed toward the display area 5. The light from said illuminating LED 6 enters the display plate 4 through a light-guiding prism 7, then is repeatedly reflected by the upper and lower faces of said display plate 4 and reaches the display area 5, thus illuminating the same.
There are further provided a condenser lens 8, a pentagonal prism 9, and an eyepiece lens 10, through which the image focused on the focusing screen 3 can be observed.
When the illuminating LED 6 is not turned on, the display area 5 appears as a shadow, thus indicating the focus detection area. The LED 6 is turned on when the in-focus state is reached in the course of focus detecting operation, whereby the display area 5 is illuminated in superposition with the image shown in the view finder and can therefore be utilized for the display of focus state. The photographer observes simultaneously the object image in the view finder and the shadow of the display area 5 indicating the focus detection area, and manually focuses the phototaking lens so as that said display area 5 is turned on.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing another conventional example of the focus state display device, for use in a camera, as disclosed in the Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 56-99332. In this example, a display area 5 is divided into partial display areas 5a, 5b arranged in lateral direction and respectively formed in the form of arrows, and a pair of illuminating LED's 6a, 6b are provided respectively corresponding to said partial display areas 5a, 5b. The partial display area 5a at the left is turned on in the so-called rear focused state, while that 5b at the right is turned on in the front focused state, and both areas 5a, 5b are turned on when the photo-taking lens is adjusted to the in-focus state. Consequently the photographer can effect the focusing of the phototaking lens, while continuously watching the image in the view finder.
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a conventional example of a focus detection area display device, for use in a camera, disclosed in the Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 1-288845.
The camera of this conventional example is capable of focus detection in plural areas in the image field. Consequently the display plate 4 is provided with plural display areas 5, and illuminating LED's 6 are provided in a corresponding number. In case of such multi-area focus detection, it is necessary to indicate the area in which the focus detection is to be conducted, and, for this reason, upon selection of a focus detection area, a corresponding display area 5 is turned on.
However, in a camera having plural focus detection areas as shown in FIG. 4, if the display area 5 is turned on for the purpose of indicating the selected focus detection area, said lighted display area 5 can no longer be used for indicating the in-focus or out-of-focus state in the manner as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
On the other hand, if the in-focus or out-of-focus state is indicated by the lighting of the display area 5, it is not possible to indicate the focus detection area since no area is lighted in the out-of-focus state. In a camera with plural focus detection areas, if the display of the focus detection area is not available, the photographer is unable to obtain information on said area from the image in the view finder during the focusing operation of the phototaking lens. Consequently the photographer may become uncertain about or forget the selected focus detection area, in case the focusing operation takes a long time for the confirmation of focus state of the background scene or in case the observation of the view finder is interrupted for reconfirming the object.
Such drawbacks can be prevented by dividing, as shown in FIG. 3, each display area 5 into small display areas 5a, 5b and lighting either for indicating the focus detection area. However, such structure will require plural small display areas 5a, 5b and corresponding LED's 6 for each of the plural display areas, thus leading to an increased number of light emitting devices and optical components and eventually to an increased cost and an increased dimension of the camera. Also the distance between the small display areas 5a, 5b along the lateral direction of the display plate 4 becomes smaller than in the conventional device, so that the illumination of a small display area may induce illumination of the neighboring small display areas by stray light.


The disclosure provides methods, systems, and computer readable media for calibrating user responses to questions. The method may comprise presenting, with the aid of a computer system and an interactive display operatively coupled to the computer system, a query to a user. The query may relate to the user's dietary consumption, exercise, health condition or mental condition. The system may receive from the user a response to the query. The system may interpret a user's response to a query based on a set of reference information. The set of reference information may comprise a pictorial depiction of portion size of the dietary consumption, exertion level of the exercise, existing state of the health condition or existing state of the mental condition.

A questionnaire is a series of questions or other prompts for the purpose of gathering information from a respondent. A questionnaire may be a research instrument designed for statistical analysis of user responses.
A questionnaire may be presented to a user with the aid of a computer system having a graphical user interface (GUI). A GUI is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices through images and text commands. GUIs can be used, for example, in computers, hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players, mobile phones, gaming devices, household appliances and office equipment. In some cases, a GUI represents the information and actions available to a user through graphical icons and other visual indicators, such as secondary notation, as opposed to text-based interfaces, typed command labels, voice commands and responses, brail interface or text navigation.
There are various issues and limitations associated with questionnaire systems and methods currently available. For instance, a questionnaire may present a user with the following question: "How large was your lunch?" The questionnaire may present the user with various response options to select from, such as "small", "medium" and "large." The user's selection of one of these options typically does not provide an individual providing the questionnaire the ability to interpret the user's response.

Systems and methods for response calibration