A decoder for decoding received vectors r encoded in accordance with a forward error correction code having a parity check matrix H with multiple regions at least two of which have patterns of ones with different pattern characteristics. The decoder can include a permuted decode module configured to decode in accordance with a permuted version of the parity check matrix H in which the ones in one of the regions are permuted into a permuted pattern that has a pattern characteristic of the other region. The decoder can also include a reorder module that permutes probabilities of a received vector r to be decoded to correspond with the permuted parity check matrix H.

The present invention relates generally to decoding received vectors encoded with a linear block forward error correction (FEC) code having a parity check matrix comprising multiple distinct pattern regions.
It is known to encode message words of a digital message with an FEC code prior to sending the message through a transmission medium. Among other benefits, the FEC encoding allows a decoder at a receiver to detect and correct errors in the received vectors of the transmitted message.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a prior art system 100 comprising an encoder 104, a source 108, a receiver 112, and a decoder 116. As shown, the encoder 104 can receive a message stream 102 comprising a plurality of digital message words m each of which comprises k bits m1, m2, . . . , mk. The encoder 104 can encode each message word m into a codeword c, producing a codeword stream 106. Each of the codewords c in the codeword stream 106 can comprise n bits c1, c2, . . . , cn, where n is greater than k. The source 108 can send the codeword stream 106 through a transmission medium 110 to a receiver 112, which receives the transmitted codeword stream 106 as a received vector stream 114.
Distortions and other errors can be introduced into the codewords c by the circuitry of the source 108, the transmission medium 110, and/or the circuitry of the receiver 112, which can render uncertain the values of the bits c1, c2, . . . , cn at the receiver 112. The codewords c are thus identified at the output of the receiver 112 as received vectors r, and the bits are referred to as probabilities r1, r2, . . . , rn. The receiver 112 is thus shown in FIG. 1 as providing a stream of received vectors r to a decoder 116. The decoder 116 decodes the probabilities r1, r2, . . . , rn of each received vector r into the bits c1, c2, . . . , cn of the codewords c from which the decoder 116 can output 118 as a stream 102′ of decoded message words m, which should be the same as the original message words m in the stream 102.
The source 108 can be any device that sends digital data to a receiver. For example, the source 108 can be a radio frequency (RF) wireless transmitter, a node in a computer or communications network, a data source such as a data memory (e.g., a digital storage disk), or the like. The receiver 112 can be any type of receiver for receiving data from such a source 108.
Linear block codes are a class of FEC codes. A particular linear block FEC code can be defined by a generator matrix G and/or a corresponding parity check matrix H. The generator matrix G is an n row by k column matrix, which encodes each k-bit message word m in a set of possible message words into a unique n-bit codeword c. For example, for each possible k-bit message word m, multiplication of the message word m by the generator matrix G yields a unique n-bit codeword c. The parity check matrix H is an n−k row by n column matrix. Multiplication of a valid codeword c by the parity check matrix H is zero. The parity check matrix H can thus be used to decode probabilities r1, r2, . . . , rn of the received vectors r that correspond to codewords c encoded with a linear block FEC code.
FIG. 2 illustrates a simplified example of a parity check matrix H 200 in which the parity check matrix H 200 is a two row by four column matrix. There is a column C1, C2, C3, C4 for each bit c in a codeword c, and the matrix H 200 thus corresponds to four bit codewords c. Each row R1, R2 of the matrix H 200 defines a parity check calculation for determining whether current estimated values of the probabilities r1, r2, r3, r4 of a received vector r that corresponds to a codeword c being decoded are likely correct.
FIG. 3 illustrates a Tanner-Graph based decode module 300 that corresponds to the parity check matrix H 200. As is known, a Tanner-Graph based decode module of a parity check matrix H has the following characteristics: there is a variable node (VN) for each column of the matrix H and thus each probability r1, r2, r3, . . . , rn of a received vector r being decoded; there is a check node (CN) for each row of the matrix H; each VN calculates a new estimated value (EV) of one of the probabilities r1, r2, r3, . . . , rn of the received vector r using the current EV and one or more parity check results from check-node-to-variable-node messages (C-VMs) from one or more check nodes (CN); each VN sends its new EV to one or more CNs via a variable-node-to-check-node message (V-CM); each CN performs a parity check calculation defined by one of the rows of the matrix H using EVs received from VNs in the V-CMs; each CN sends its parity check result to one or more VNs via a C-VM; and there is a connection for the V-CMs and C-VMs between each VN and CN that correspond to a "one" in the parity check matrix H.
Accordingly, in FIG. 3, the Tanner-Graph decode module 300 comprises VN1 302, VN2 304, VN3 306, VN4 308, which correspond respectively to columns C1, C2, C3, C4 of the matrix H 200 of FIG. 2 and thus to the probabilities r1, r2, r3, . . . , rn of a received vector r. The module 300 likewise comprises CN1 312, CN2 314, which correspond respectively to rows R1, R2. As also shown in FIG. 3, there is a connection (also known as an "edge") 322, 324, 326, 328, 330 between the VNs 302, 304, 306, 308 and the CNs 312, 314 for each "one" in the parity check matrix H 200. That is, due to the "one" at R1, C1 of the matrix H 200 in FIG. 2, there is a connection 322 between VN1 302 and CN1 312 in FIG. 3. There is also a connection 324 between VN2 304 and CN1 312 and a connection 326 between VN4 308 and CN1 312 due to the "ones" in the matrix H 200 at R1, C2 and R1, C4. There are likewise connections 328 and 330 between VN2 304 and CN2 314 and VN3 306 and CN2 314 due to the "ones" in the matrix H 200 at R2, C2 and R2, C3.
The decoder 116 of FIG. 1 can be configured in accordance with the Tanner-Graph decode module 300 of FIG. 3. In operation, for each received vector r in a received vector stream 114 of FIG. 1, the VNs 302, 304, 306, 308 provide initial estimated values EVs of the probabilities r1, r2, r3, and r4 of the received vector r (in the simplified example illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 the number of bits c in a codeword c and thus the number of probabilities r in a received vector r is four) in V-CMs to the CNs 312, 314 through connections 322, 324, 326, 328, 330. Each CN 312, 314 then performs a parity check calculation using the EVs and provides the results in C-VMs to the VNs 302, 304, 306, 308. The VNs 302, 304, 306, 308 then use the parity check calculations in the C-VMs to calculate new EVs for the probabilities r1, r2, r3, and r4 of the received vector r and provide the new EVs in new V-CMs to the CNs 312, 314 after which each CN 312, 314 again performs a parity check calculation using the new EVs and provides the results of the parity check calculations in new C-VMs to the VNs 302, 304, 306, 308. The foregoing iteration of calculations of new EVs by the VNs 302, 304, 306 308 followed by the calculation of new parity checks by the CNs 312, 314 can be repeated until the new EVs for the probabilities r1, r2, r3, and r4 of the received vector r are believed to be the correct values of the bits c1, c2, c3, and c4 of the corresponding codeword c or until the iterations are stopped for other reasons.
In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, each V-CM and C-VM is identified by a subscript indicating the sending and receiving nodes. Thus, V-CM11 is a message sent from VN1 302 to CN1 312 that contains a new EV for the first probability r1 of the received vector r calculated by VN1 302, and C-VM11 is a message sent from CN1 312 to VN1 302 that contains the results of a parity check calculation by CN1. Similarly, V-CM21 is a message sent from VN2 304 to CN1 312 that contains a new EV for the second probability r2 of the received vector r calculated by VN2 304, and C-VM12 is a message sent from CN1 312 to VN2 304 that contains the results of the parity check calculation by CN1 312. Likewise, V-CM22 is a message sent from VN2 304 to CN2 314 that contains the new EV for the second probability r2 of the received vector r calculated by VN2 304, and C-VM22 is a message sent from CN2 314 to VN2 304 that contains the results of a parity check calculation by CN2 314. The messages V-CM32 and C-VM23 follow the same pattern: V-CM32 is a message sent from VN3 306 to CN2 314 that contains a new EV for the third probability r3 of the received vector r calculated by VN3 306, and C-VM23 is a message sent from CN2 314 to VN3 306 that contains the results of a parity check calculation by CN2 314. The messages V-CM41 and C-VM14 also follow the same pattern: V-CM41 is a message sent from VN4 308 to CN1 312 that contains a new EV for the fourth probability r4 of the received vector r calculated by VN4 308, and C-VM14 is a message sent from CN1 312 to VN4 308 that contains the results of a parity check calculation by CN1 312.
Traditionally, a Tanner-Graph based configuration of the probability decoder 116 is configured such that, at each iteration, CNs 312, 314 do not perform their parity check calculations until all VNs 302, 304, 306, 308 have sent all of the messages V-CM, and VNs 302, 304, 306, 308 do not thereafter perform their calculations in the next iteration until all CNs 312, 314 have sent all of the messages C-VM. Recently, however, various configurations of digital processing electronics have been developed for improving the efficiency of Tanner-Graph based configurations of a probability decoder 116. For example, each VN and CN can be implemented in one or more processors that are connected serially and/or in parallel to perform efficiently the calculations of the VNs and CNs. Processing efficiency has been achieved in some cases by tailoring the interconnections of such processors to particular patterns of the "ones" in the parity check matrix H. This has allowed, for example, the Tanner-Graph implementation to be based on a sub-set of the columns and/or rows of the parity check matrix H and then repeatedly applied to the parity check matrix H until all of the columns and/or rows have been processed. Some FEC codes, however, have a parity check matrix H comprising multiple regions in which the patterns of "ones" have different pattern characteristics. Prior configurations of Tanner-Graph based probability decoding modules have not efficiently addressed decoding such FEC codes. Embodiments of the present invention provide efficient decoding of FEC codes in which the parity check matrix H comprises multiple regions in which the pattern of "ones" in at least two of those regions have different pattern characteristics.

Decoding vectors encoded with a linear block forward error correction code having a parity check matrix with multiple distinct pattern regions


A hand dryer is equipped with a hand insertion area (10), having a width that is able to accommodate hands, a high-pressure air generator (2), which generates a high-pressure airflow, discharge nozzles (N1, N2), which are disposed in the upper surface of the hand insertion area (10) and blow the high-pressure airflow, an exhaust duct (4), which is connected between the exhaust side of the high-pressure air generator (2) and the discharge nozzles (N1, N2), an ejection port (23), which opens to the space surrounding the hand dryer, a switching damper (24), which opens a portion of the exhaust duct (4) and is connected to the ejection port (23), and an ion generator (22), which generates ions having sterilization action into the high-pressure airflow passing through the exhaust duct (4) on the upstream side of the switching damper (24).

A hand dryer is a device structured such that, when wet hands are inserted into a hand insertion area, a hand detecting sensor detects the hands, and a high-pressure air generator and a heater start operating to blow a jet of heated air through a discharge nozzle into the hand insertion area, to thereby blow away water drops from the hands. Hand dryers are mostly placed in public rest rooms. Public rest rooms are used by unspecified people, and there may be pathogenic bacteria and viruses floating in the air around hand dryers. Thus, in a situation in which a number of people are using a public rest room, there is a risk of air-borne infection by bacteria or viruses occurring to the users while waiting for a turn to use a hand dryer or while using one.
As to air-cleaning devices, public rest rooms are at best provided with ventilating fans, which are, of course, not equipped with a function of actively working on floating bacteria or viruses to kill or inactivate them.
The applicant of the present application proposed before an air conditioner and an air cleaner which are provided with an ion generator that generates positive and negative ions, including mainly H+ (H2O)m and O2− (H2O)n, capable of killing floating bacteria and inactivating floating viruses (see Patent Literature 2). However, provision of air conditioners or air cleaners as described above in a public rest room would increase the facility cost and the maintenance cost. Furthermore, preparing a space for placing them would be another problem. Thus, practically, it is very difficult to provide an air conditioner or an air cleaner in a public rest room.


The invention relates to a method for removing oxygen from hydrocarbon-containing gas mixtures, characterized in that a hydrocarbon-containing gas mixture containing 50 vol % of one or more hydrocarbons, 2 to 10 vol % of oxygen, and possibly one or more gases from the group comprising nitrogen, noble gases, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and water is introduced into an isothermally operated reactor, in which the oxygen contained in the hydrocarbon-containing gas mixture is at least partially converted into carbon dioxide and water in the presence of one or more catalysts, wherein the specifications in vol % relate to the total volume of the hydrocarbon-containing gas mixture introduced into the reactor and add up to 100 vol % in total.

The invention relates to a process for removing oxygen from hydrocarbon-containing gas mixtures.
Hydrocarbons such as ethylene, propylene or other hydrocarbons having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms are standard basic chemicals of the chemical industry. Gases of such hydrocarbons often contain impurities, for example oxygen, which can be a hindrance in the utilization of the hydrocarbon gases and in such cases should be at least partly removed from the hydrocarbon gases. A customary purification method is cryodistillation. However, this method is problematical for oxygen-containing hydrocarbon gases since such mixtures cannot be sufficiently separated by distillation and an accumulation of oxygen can instead occur when impurities are distilled off. In addition, cocondensation of hydrocarbon gases and oxygen can occur in cryodistillation, which is very problematical from a safety point of view. Accumulation of oxygen in hydrocarbon gases has to be avoided at all costs since oxygen is a hindrance for many uses of hydrocarbon gases and, particularly problematically, unstable or even explosive gas mixtures can be formed. In the membrane process too, sufficient separation does not occur, which can lead to accumulation of oxygen in the retentate or permeate and thus again to formation of explosive oxygen-containing gas mixtures.
The oxidative purification of gas mixtures, in which hydrocarbons and oxygen of the gas mixture are reacted with one another to form products which are not a hindrance or can easily be separated off, e.g. carbon dioxide and water, is also known. However, these reactions are strongly exothermic. The oxidative purification has found widespread use for gas mixtures which contain very small amounts of hydrocarbons and/or very small amounts of oxygen, for example industrial offgases or exhaust gases from automobiles. In the case of gas mixtures which contain relatively large proportions both of hydrocarbons and also of oxygen, heat is liberated in the oxidative purification in such considerable amounts that the formation of undesirable by-products or decomposition products or even an explosive oxidation reaction is to be expected.
In order to be able to carry out the oxidative purification at relatively low reaction temperatures, use has frequently been made of catalysts, for example ruthenium catalysts. However, even catalysts require certain minimum temperatures, the "light off" temperature, in order to obtain their catalytic activity, and these continue to be in a range which is problematical from a safety point of view in the case of gas mixtures having high contents of hydrocarbons and oxygen.
Thus, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,093,703 describes the oxidative removal of ethylene from gas mixtures containing up to 1.8% by volume of ethylene. US 2010/0048972 teaches the use of ruthenium catalysts for purifying ethylene from crackers. The oxygen content of the gases to be purified described therein is in the ppm range. US 2010/0048972 advises against the use of palladium catalysts for oxygen removal. EP 0499087 is concerned with the removal of traces of nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons from oxygen-rich exhaust gases from gas turbines. The exhaust gases consist essentially of nitrogen. GB 883945 describes methods of purifying offgases from the oxidative reaction of ammonia to form nitric acid, in which nitrogen oxides and oxygen are removed by addition of unsaturated compounds and sulfides. These offgases, too, consist essentially of nitrogen. In Chemical Engineering and Processing 34, (1995), pages 469 to 478, van de Beld describes the total oxidation of ethene and propane over Pd catalysts supported on Al2O3. Rusu also discusses the oxidation of ethene in Environmental Engineering and Management Journal, 2003, Vol. 2, No. 4, pages 273 to 302. The most frequently used catalyst systems here are Pd or Pt on TiO2, Al2O3 or SiO2. In Catalysis Today, 122, (2007), pages 391 to 396, Hosseini recommends Pd and Au on TiO2 as catalyst for the total oxidation of propene. Catalysts for purifying exhaust gases from diesel engines are known from EP 2656904. The catalysts contain a catalytic coating comprising Pt, Pd and a carbon-storing compound such as zeolite and also a further coating comprising Pd and Au.
Owing to the fact that the handling and purification of hydro-carbon gases which are contaminated with considerable amounts of oxygen continue to present problems, such gas mixtures are frequently incinerated, which is fatal from an economic point of view since hydrocarbons such as ethylene are valuable petrochemical starting materials.

Removal of oxygen from hydrocarbon-containing gas mixtures


To provide a constant velocity universal joint having a high resistance to cracking, a high dimensional stability and an excellent rolling fatigue life, the constant velocity universal joint includes an outer coupling member (5), an inner coupling member such as a tripod member (2), and a drive transmitting member such as rollers (7) operatively interposed between the outer and inner coupling members (5 and 2). At least one of the outer coupling member (5), the tripod member (2) and the rollers (7) has a carbonitrided layer and, at the same time, an austenite grain size is greater than the grade of No. 10.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a constant velocity universal joint and a method of manufacturing the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to the constant velocity universal joint of a type capable of withstanding rolling fatigue for a prolonged period of time and having a high resistance to cracking and, also, a resistance to secular change in dimension, and the method of manufacturing such constant velocity universal joint.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The constant velocity universal joint is well known in the art and is so designed to connect drive and driven shafts together there through so that even though the drive and driven shafts lie at an angle relative to each other, a rotatory drive can be transmitted from the drive shaft to the driven shaft
The constant velocity universal joint generally comprises an outer coupling member, an inner coupling member and a rollable drive-transmitting member interposed between the outer and inner coupling members. Since in the constant velocity universal joint, the rotatory drive is transmitted from one of the outer and inner coupling members to the other of the outer and inner coupling member while the angle between the drive and driven shafts is accommodated by a rolling motion of the drive transmitting member, the drive transmitting member and the outer and inner coupling members are placed under severe conditions with respect to the rolling fatigue. Because of this, heat treatment is generally applied to the inner and outer coupling members and the drive-transmitting member so that they can have a prolonged lifetime against the rolling fatigue. In this connection, the need has arisen to improve the heat treatment method to enhance the rolling fatigue life.
On the other hand, the constant velocity universal joint is currently available in some types, including a tripod type, an improved version of the tripod type such as disclosed in the Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2000-320563, and a ball joint type.
In a rolling bearing which is a mechanical component of a type utilizing rolling elements as is the case with the constant velocity universal joint, as a method of heat treatment effective to increase the lifetime of the rolling bearing against the rolling fatigue, the Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 8-4774 discloses a heat treating method in which the atmosphere under which heat treatment is carried out contains an ammonium gas in addition to the RX gas so that a surface region of a component part of the rolling bearing can have a carbonitrided layer. The use of this known carbonitriding treatment is effective to harden the surface region of the component part, causing a residue austenite structure to grow in the microstructure to thereby increase the rolling fatigue life.
However, since the constant velocity universal joint operates to transmit the rotatory drive from one of the inner and outer coupling members to the other of the inner and outer coupling members while the angle between the drive and driven shafts is accommodated by the rolling motion of the drive transmitting member, a relatively large load tends to act on contact portions of the drive transmitting member, with the bearing pressure at portions of contact between the inner and outer coupling members and the drive transmitting member increased consequently. In addition, in the constant velocity universal joint employed in the modern automotive vehicles, the need has arisen to reduce the size and weight of the constant velocity universal joint and, therefore, improvement in rolling fatigue lifetime is pressing.
Since the carbonitriding treatment is a diffusion process in which carbon and nitrogen are diffused, the material to be treated must be retained at an elevated temperature for a substantial length of time. In view of this, it is difficult to increase the resistance to cracking because the structure tends to become coarse. Also, a problem is arisen in that secular change in dimension tends to increase as a result of increase of the residue austenite.
On the other hand, to secure a prolonged lifetime against the rolling fatigue, increase the resistance to cracking and to inhibit increase of the secular change in dimension, it may be possible to achieve those objectives by employing an alloy instead of steel. However, with the design of an alloy, a problem such as an increase of material cost would arise.
Considering that a high load and an elevated temperature in the environment of use are increasingly imposed on component parts of the constant velocity universal joint, future's component parts of constant velocity universal joints are required to have such characteristics as to withstand against the high load and the elevated temperature. Accordingly, the need has arisen to develop and manufacture those component parts having a high strength, a prolonged lifetime against the rolling fatigue, a high resistance to cracking, and a high stability against secular dimensional change.

Constant velocity universal joint and method of manufacturing the same


A device for generating a hollow plastic profile, in particular a plastic tube, having an air guidance system for interior cooling of the tube, wherein said device allows for a more simple design, improved process properties, and better tube quality. The device according to the invention comprises an extrusion die (100) having a melt channel (114) encompassing the extrusion axis, an extruder that feeds plastic melt to the extrusion die (100), and a suction device for suctioning air through the interior of the profile opposite the direction of extrusion, wherein the extruder feeds the extrusion die (100) centrally and the suction device comprises a central suction tube (140) disposed within the melt channel and partial flow suction channels (144) connected to the central suction tube (140); in the suctioning direction and leading out of the interior of the extrusion die (100).

The invention relates to a device for generating a hollow plastic profile, in particular a plastic tube, with an extrusion die with a melt channel encompassing the extrusion axle, an extruder feeding the extrusion die with plastic melt and a suction device for the suctioning of air through the interior of the profile contrary to the direction of extrusion, and a corresponding method.
Air guidance systems for tube interior cooling are known from the prior art, for example DE 10 2008 047 207 A1 or DE 10 2008 047 211 A1. Here, air is sucked through the interior of the tube contrary to the direction of extrusion, in order to thus cool the tube. In known systems, the suction of air through the profile is arranged centrally in front of the extrusion die, for example a tube head, and the extrusion die itself has an aperture in order to be able to suck the air through up to the end of the extrusion line, so that the feeding of melt must take place laterally. On the one hand, this has disadvantages related to manufacture, because the extrusion die must be provided with a corresponding aperture and the necessary lateral supplying of the melt leads to a more complex die construction. On the other hand, this also entails disadvantages related to method, because owing to the lateral supplying of melt, for example the loss of pressure increases and flushing times, e.g. on colour change, become longer, but also the homogeneous melt distribution over periphery of the tube is made difficult, which can, in addition lead to losses of quality.

Device for generating a hollow plastic profile


The present invention relates to adeno-associated viral vector useful for transducing adipose tissue. The invention also relates to polynucleotides, plasmids, vectors and methods for the production of such adeno-associated viral vector. The invention also relates to gene therapy methods useful for the treatment of a disease that requires the regulation of the expression levels of a gene.

Adipose tissue has been recognized recently as a major metabolic and endocrine organ, in addition to its already known role as a fat reservoir and modulator of energy homeostasis. It has been proposed that impaired white adipose tissue (WAT) function, as well as decreased brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity or BAT mass, are main contributors to the development of obesity. In this regard, adipocyte and WAT dysfunction have been described in humans. Moreover, an inverse correlation between BAT activity and body mass index (BMI) has also been reported. See Yee J, et al., Lipids Health Dis. 2012, 11:19-30, Ichimura A, et al., Nature 2012; 483: 350-354, Mazzatti D, et al., Arch. Physiol. Biochem. 2012; 118(3): 112-120, Cypess A, et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 2009; 360:1509-1517, and van Marken Lichtenbelt W, et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 2009; 360:1500-1508.
The incidence of obesity has increased dramatically during the last decades to reach epidemic proportions. It is estimated that over 500 million individuals are obese. Obesity is a major public health problem today. See IASO, "Global Prevalence of Adult Obesity, Report IOTF 2008" (IASO, London, G B, 2009). Obesity per se increases the risk of mortality and has been long strongly associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. See Peeters A, et al., Ann. Intern. Med. 2003; 138:24-32 and Moller D, et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 1991; 325:938-948. In addition, adipocyte dysfunction and obesity are also significant risk factors for certain types of cancer and for many other serious illnesses such as heart disease, immune dysfunction, hypertension, arthritis, and neurodegenerative diseases. See Roberts D, et al., Annu. Rev. Med. 2010; 61:301-316, Spiegelman B, et al., J. Biol. Chem. 1993; 268(10):6823-6826, and Whitmer R, et al., Curr. Alzheimer Res. 2007; 4(2): 117-122.
Diet and exercise are the mainstay treatments for obesity, but an increasing number of patients also require pharmacotherapeutic intervention to decrease and maintain body weight. However, pharmacotherapy does not induce involuntary nor substantial weight loss and, additionally, anti-obesity drugs often display important side effects due to their systemic actions. Hence, there is an urgent need for novel and safe approaches to prevent and combat the current obesity epidemic. In this regard, unraveling the pathological events underpinning obesity is crucial for the development of new anti-obesity therapies. In vivo gene transfer of candidate genes to white and brown adipose tissue may offer great potential to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the onset and development of obesity. In addition, gene therapy approaches targeting adipocytes may open up new opportunities for the future treatment of obesity and their associated disorders while minimizing systemic effects. To date, however, effective and specific gene transfer to white and brown adipose tissue remains elusive.
Recently, the AAV of serotype 1 (AAV1) has been shown to modestly infect mouse WAT in vivo when combined with a non-ionic surfactant or celastrol. See Mizukami H, et al., Hum. Gene Ther. 2006; 17:921-928 and Zhang F, et al., Gene Ther. 2011; 18:128-134. Other AAV serotypes such as AAV6, AAV7, AAV8 or AAV9 have been reported to be highly infectious but their adipose transduction efficiency is unclear. See Gao G. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2002; 99:11854-11859, Nakai H, et al., J. Virol. 2005; 79:214-224, Pacak C, et al., Circ. Res. 2006; 99:e3-e9, Broekman M, et al., Neuroscience 2006; 138:501-510, Wang Z, et al., Diabetes 2006; 55:875-884, Taymans J, et al., Hum. Gene Ther. 2007; 18:195-206, Bish L, et al., Hum. Gene Ther. 2008; 19:1359-1368, and Lebherz C, et al, J. Gene Med. 2008; 10:375-382. Thus, there is a need in the art for the development of vectors that allow the specific transduction of adipose tissue and, moreover, the transduction of particular types of adipose cells.

Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors useful for transducing adipose tissue


A supporting bracket for a monitor includes a stand and a control structure. The stand comprises a pole. The control structure comprises a installation member, a clamping member, a resilient member and a control member. The installation member comprises an installation portion in which an installation hole is defined. The clamping member is engaged in the installation hole and against the pole. The resilient member is sandwiched between the inside wall of the installation portion and the clamping member. The control member is installed in the installation member. The control member is rotatable relative to the installation member to modulate a friction between the pole and the clamping member.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to supporting brackets, and particularly to a supporting bracket for a computer monitor.
2. Description of Related Art
In a computer system, a monitor is configured to be secured to a supporting bracket. The monitor can be conveniently adjusted up and down. However, users may need to adjust the monitor to a right direction or a left direction, in most cases the whole supporting bracket will need to be moved for this type of adjustment.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (WuHan) Co., Ltd.


A liquid cooled electronic device and a method for sealing a liquid cooled electronic device are disclosed. The liquid cooled electronic device has at least one heat generating electronic device suspended in an electrically insulative heat transfer fluid. The heat generating device or devices are electrically connected to at least two electrodes, which pass through and are sealed in electrically insulating portion of a sealed housing that encloses the electrically insulative heat transfer fluid. At least one thermally conductive surface is in direct contact with the electrically insulative heat transfer fluid, and at least one thermally conductive surface is sealed to the remainder of the housing, for example.

This invention relates to electronic devices and more specifically relates to a package for electronic devices having improved cooling.
Semiconductor die such as diodes, transistors, thyristors and the like are usually mounted within a protective housing, frequently a plastic molded structured which encloses the die. The protective packages are made of electrical insulation materials which reduce the ability to remove heat generated by the die over its full surface area and from localized hot spots on the die.
It would be desirable to provide a semiconductor device package which provides excellent electrical insulation properties for the die while providing improved cooling of the die and reducing hot spot heating on the die.
In accordance with the present invention a heat-generating electronic device is suspended in an electrically insulative heat transfer fluid, which is sealed in a housing. The lead frame terminals are sealed in and passed through the housing wall for external connection. At least a portion of the housing is thermally conductive and in direct contact with the electrically insulative heat transfer fluid, which is sealed in the interior volume within the housing. An insulative heat transfer fluid such as any of the well known liquids, for example, GALDEN(copyright) PFPE0001, a perfluoropolyether, which has the chemical formula shown in FIG. 7, then fills at least a portion of the interior of the housing and is in contact with an exposed surface of one or more of the die of the heat generating electronic device. Thus heat produced by the device is carried by conduction and convection through the fluid (preferably a liquid) to the thermally conductive plate or plates, and then to the ambient exterior of the package.
Herein the term thermally conductive is defined as having a coefficient of thermal conductivity of at least 170 W/m K, the thermoconductivity of aluminum nitride. Some other examples of thermally conductive materials are aluminum and alloys of aluminum that are thermally conductive (about 200 W/m K), beryllium oxide (260 W/m K), and copper (393 W/m K), for example.


A method and apparatus for plugging leaking oil and leaking gas wells is disclosed. The apparatus includes a stepped structure capable of being mounted over the one of the leaking oil well and the leaking gas well. The stepped structure includes a plurality of structural modules arranged in a stacked form. A pipe arrangement capable of extracting one or effluents perpendicularly passes through the plurality of structural modules. One or more effluents are extracted from one of the leaking oil well and the leaking gas well. Additionally, one or more pressure relief pipes are provided to extract the one or more effluents. The one or more pressure relief pipes protrude outwardly through a peripheral surface of each of one or more structural modules. The pipe arrangement and the one or more pressure relief pipes enables extraction of the one or more effluents to reduce the pressure within the stepped structure.

Leakages due to failure of oil and gas well heads are common these days. Such leakages pose environmental and geological hazards and are required to be plugged within a short period of time. In the case where a leakage occurs in a subsea oil well, the damage caused by the leakage is magnified due to slick formation on surface of the sea. Leakages are plugged by placing plugs on the oil well heads and using relief pipes for transporting oil away from the oil well heads.
However, due to pressure at which oil emerges out from the leaking oil well heads, the plugs are inefficient at stopping flow of oil from the failed oil well head. Further, the plugs are a temporary solution for stopping the flow of oil until a normal oil extracting apparatus is installed in the oil well head.
Therefore, there is a need for an efficient method and apparatus for plugging leaking oil and gas wells.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

Method and apparatus for plugging leaking oil and gas wells

King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)


A method, system and computer program product for verifying a result of a floating point square root operation is provided. The method includes: receiving a result of a floating point square root operation for an operand; performing a comparison of a magnitude of a least significant bit (LSB) of the operand and a magnitude of a most significant bit (MSB) of a remainder; and determining whether the result is correct based on the comparison.

This invention relates generally to microprocessing, and more particularly to providing methods to improve floating point arithmetic operations.
In most processors, it is common to see some type of floating point unit (FPU) or other processing unit that completely implements (or at least has enhanced support for) various floating point square root instructions. Implementations of these instructions are based on popular square root algorithms, including non-restoring SRT (Sweeney Robertson Tocher) algorithms, Newton-Raphson algorithms, Goldschmidt algorithms and others.
Errors may occur during execution of these instructions using any of various algorithms, either due to errors in the design (including the algorithm itself) or due to circuit malfunctions such as manufacturing faults or rare environmental disturbances. Functional checking of these types of floating point square root algorithms and their results using formal verification techniques is not currently available, and such checking would only serve to eliminate design flaws, as opposed to malfunctions occurring during execution.
Accordingly, other techniques have been devised to try and verify the correctness of the algorithm and/or the result. For example, previous machines have focused on verifying the internal verifiable mathematical operations of the square root using parity and residue checks. While these techniques can verify the correctness of each internal operation, they do not speak to the correctness of the square root algorithm or the final result.
Thus, it would be desirable to be able to detect errors in the final result of a floating point square root algorithm, particularly to detect errors occurring due to a circuit malfunction. Such an ability would be useful in providing a method to verify the actual results of a square root operation without the need to verify each mathematical step in the algorithm.

Verifying floating point square root operation results

International Business Machines Corporation


Hundreds of thousands of concrete bridges, buildings etc. and hundreds of billions of tons of concrete require characterization throughout the process from manufacture to pouring and curing and on throughout service life. The characterization may relate to initial concrete properties, projected concrete properties, framework removal, corrosion, failure etc. Accordingly, a variety of measurements such as water content, electrical resistivity, and half-cell corrosion potential for example would be beneficially implemented as easy to use field test equipment or embedded sensors allowing lifetime monitoring to be performed rather than discrete assessments when issues become evident.

Concrete can be one of the most durable building materials and structures made of concrete can have a long service life. Concrete is a composite construction material composed primarily of aggregate, cement, and water. It provides superior fire resistance, compared with wooden construction and can gain strength over time. Further, as it is used as liquid that subsequently hardens it can be formed into complex geometries and may poured either directly into formworks at the construction sites (so called ready mix concrete) or employed remotely to pre-build concrete elements and structures. Overall concrete is the most widely used construction material in the world with an annual consumption estimated at approximately 30 billion tons in 2006, compared to 2 billion in 1950. During the next 5 years concrete consumption is estimated to grow with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) between 6% and 9% according to market forecasts of cement and concrete admixtures globally over the period 2012 to 2017 such that the 30 billion ton consumption will increase to approximately 40 billion tons.
There are many types of concrete available, created by varying the proportions of the main ingredients of cement, aggregate, and water as well as reinforcement means, chemical admixtures, and mineral admixtures. In this way or by substitution for the cemetitious and aggregate phases, the finished product can be tailored to its application with varying strength, density, or chemical and thermal resistance properties. Examples of chemical admixtures include accelerators to speed up the hardening of concrete, retarders to slow the hardening of concrete for large or difficult pours, air entrainments to capture air bubbles, plasticizers to increase workability, pigments for colour, corrosion inhibitors, bonding agents and pumping aids. Recently the use of recycled materials as concrete ingredients has been gaining popularity because of increasingly stringent environmental legislation. The most conspicuous of these is fly ash, a by-product of coal-fired power plants. This use reduces the amount of quarrying and landfill space required as the ash acts as a cement replacement thus reducing the amount of cement required.
Concrete is strong in compression, as the aggregate efficiently carries the compression load. However, it is weak in tension as the cement holding the aggregate in place can crack, allowing the structure to fail. Reinforced concrete solves these problems by adding steel reinforcing bars, steel fibers, glass fiber, or plastic fiber to carry tensile loads. Thereafter the concrete is reinforced to withstand the tensile loads upon it. Due to their low cost and wide availability steel reinforcing bar (commonly referred to as rebar) has been the dominant reinforcing material for the past 50 years. However, these steel rebars may corrode whereby the oxidation products (rust) expand and tend to flake, thereby cracking the concrete and reducing the bonding between the rebar and the concrete. Such corrosion may arise from several sources including carbonation when the surface of concrete is exposed to high concentration of carbon dioxide or chlorides, such as when the concrete structure is in contact with a chloride-contaminated environment such as arises with de-icing salts and marine environment.
Chlorides, including sodium chloride, contribute to the initiation of corrosion in embedded steel rebar if present in sufficiently high concentration. Chloride anions induce both localized corrosion (pitting corrosion) and generalized corrosion of steel reinforcements. Accordingly, the quality of water used for mixing concrete becomes important, as does ensuring that the coarse and fine aggregates do not contain chlorides, and nor do any admixtures contain chlorides. However, it was once common for calcium chloride to be used as an admixture to promote rapid setting of the concrete as it was also mistakenly believed to prevent freezing. However, this practice has fallen into disfavor once the deleterious effects of chlorides became known, but a significant portion of existing concrete infrastructure employed calcium chloride. Additionally, the use of de-icing salts on roadways, used to reduce the freezing point of water, probably to date has been one of the primary causes of premature failure of reinforced or pre-stressed concrete bridge decks, roadways, and parking garages.
Corrosion is an electro-chemical process. Accordingly, the flow rate of the ions between the anode and cathode areas, and therefore the rate at which corrosion can occur, is affected by the resistivity of the concrete. Empirical tests comparing electrical resistivity (p) measurements with other physical and chemical analysis have generated threshold values with the prior art for determining the wherein if ρ>120 Ω·m corrosion is deemed unlikely, if ρ<80 Ω·m then corrosion is fairly certain, and where 80 Ω·m≤ρ≤120 Ω·m corrosion is possible. However, these values have to be used cautiously as there is strong evidence that chloride diffusion and surface electrical resistivity are dependent on other factors such as mix composition and age. Further, the electrical resistivity of the concrete cover layer decreases due to increasing concrete water content, increasing concrete porosity, increasing temperature, increasing chloride content, and decreasing carbonation depth. However, as an overall industry rule when the electrical resistivity of the concrete is low, the rate of corrosion increases. When the electrical resistivity is high, e.g. in case of dry and carbonated concrete, the rate of corrosion decreases.
Laboratory based measurements of electrical resistivity may exploit two electrode methods wherein the concrete electrical resistance is measured by applying a current using two electrodes attached to the ends of a uniform cross-section specimen and electrical resistivity calculated. This method suffers from the disadvantage that contact resistance can significantly add to the measured resistance causing inaccuracy. Accordingly, on-site electrical resistivity of concrete is commonly measured using four probes in what is known as a Wenner array which is used for the same reason as in the laboratory methods, namely to overcome contact errors. In this method four equally spaced probes are applied to the specimen in a line. The two outer probes induce the current to the specimen and the two inner electrodes measure the resulting potential drop. The probes are all applied to the same surface of the specimen and the method is consequently suitable for measuring the resistivity of bulk concrete in situ. Less commonly employed is a transformer to measure resistivity without any direct contact with the specimen. The transformer consists of a primary coil which energises the circuit with an AC voltage and a secondary which is formed by a toroid of the concrete sample.
However, it would be evident that for the US alone with over 600,000 concrete bridges and their associated support piers together with 55,000 miles of concrete road surface and billions of tons of concrete in buildings represent a significant measurement hurdle in terms of establishing protocols for rapid testing as well as associating the measurements specifically to particular elements of the physical infrastructure being evaluated. This is without considering all of the other elements of infrastructure built using concrete such as aqueducts, viaducts, railway bridges, pedestrian bridges, underground railways, subways, and buildings for example.
Accordingly, it would be beneficial for a field characterization system to automatically triangulate the location of the electrical resistivity device so that mapping of a structure can be performed without requiring an initial mapping of the structure to define measurement locations. It would be evident that erroneous association of electrical resistivity measurements to the wrong section of a structure may result in substantial disruption, such as closing the wrong side of a bridge to perform repairs where it then becomes evident the other side was actually corroding as the repairs having destroyed the road surface to get to the rebars find them non-corroded. Further, such erroneous activities substantially increase the overall costs of performing repairs straining already limited Federal and State budgets for example.
In other circumstances the concrete may have been covered with asphalt as a result of road resurfacing, repairs, etc. Accordingly, there is the problem of making quick and reproducible contact to the concrete through these overlying materials. It would therefore be beneficial to provide a means of improving this contact in such a manner. Likewise, it is the low frequency impedance of rebar in concrete that is correlated to the corrosion state of the steel reinforcement rods within the concrete. Accordingly, the direct measurement of the low frequency impedance of the rebar is a very time consuming measurement and one that is vulnerable to noise. As such, this low frequency technique is not easy to use in the field which is why commercial prior art electrical resistivity meters employ AC measurements of electrical resistivity at certain high enough frequencies. Hence, it would be beneficial to provide a means of making the electrical resistivity measurements that allows the low frequency resistivity to be derived from the measurements thereby improving determination of corrosion whilst reducing measurement times.
Likewise, prior art techniques for measuring the electrical resistivity of rebar, such as half-cell potential measurements, require that electrical connection is made to the rebar in contrast to concrete electrical resistivity measurements that determine the properties of the concrete surrounding the rebar. Accordingly, this requirement increases the complexity of making the measurements and requiring additional disruption/repair/cost even when no corrosion is identified. However, in many instances this is not feasible such as with epoxy coated steel rebar which is intended to reduce the occurrences of corrosion but as the rebars are electrically isolated from each other half-cell potential measurements are infeasible. As such it would be beneficial to provide a method of determining the state of rebar without requiring an electrical contact to the rebar with in the concrete infrastructure.
Just as the exploitation of concrete increased over the past 50 years then so have the requirements on it as engineering structures continue to push new boundaries of higher buildings, longer bridges, larger dams, artificial islands etc. Further disasters with poor concrete etc. have led to stricter regulation and compliance requirements. Accordingly, today the concrete industry faces competing demands for faster construction, shorter durations of formwork use, cost reductions whilst ensuring safety and quality are met or exceeded. As such testing techniques for concrete have evolved and will continue to evolve to meet these requirements. However, many of these techniques require samples be taken, full extended curing of the concrete performed, or simple mechanical tests be performed on site with the concrete being delivered.
However, it would be beneficial to provide concrete suppliers, construction companies, regulators, architects, and others requiring data regarding the cure, performance, corrosion of concrete at different points in its life cycle with a series of simple electrical tests that removed subjectivity, allowed for rapid assessment, were integrable to the construction process, and provided full life cycle assessment.
For large construction projects contractors order pre-mixed concrete, known as ready mix concrete, and this dominates sales with approximately 70% of the U.S cement use in 2014. However, approximately 4% of the U.S. cement sales in 2014 were through building materials dealers such as national chains such as Home Depot™, Lowes™, Payless Cashway™ etc. to local and regional building material suppliers. With a total U.S. cement market in 2014 of approximately 90 million metric tons this represents 3.6 million metric tons of cement sold in a range of bag sizes from 20 kg to just over 40 kg. Assuming 33.3 kg average bag weight this represents the equivalent of 30 bags per ton or approximately 110 million bags of cement. In addition to these cement sales there were also additional sales of bagged concrete and mortar on top of these figures.
These are used in a wide range of projects including residential and commercial structures subject to planning permission and other municipal/state/national requirements. However, whilst quality controls are applied by the manufacturers and constructors with ready mix concrete no such controls are generally applied when bag cement is used. This arises as, whilst testing techniques for concrete have evolved and will continue to evolve to meet requirements for faster construction, shorter durations of formwork use, and cost reductions, many of these techniques require samples be taken, fully extended curing of the concrete achieved, and laboratory measurements/testing performed. Typically, even the simple mechanical tests such as the slump test are not performed on site.
Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide building owners, insurers, contractors, regulatory authorities, architects, and others with data regarding the cure and performance of concrete made on site with bagged cement or bagged concrete mixes. It would be further beneficial for the necessary measurements and calculations to be automatically performed with a self-contained data acquisition/logging module added to the concrete which wirelessly communicates to a portable electronic device during installation and/or during lifetime of the concrete structure formed.
It would be further beneficial for such automated testing/characterization using self-contained data acquisition/logging modules to be employed/compatible with other products during their manufacturing, deployment and lifetime.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and systems relating to construction material assessment


Provided are a low-molecular-weight organic gas absorbent material including a porous material having an average pore size of 10 to 200 nm impregnated with one or more organic compounds having 10 or more carbon atoms in a proportion of 10 wt % or more based on the porous material, and a fuel vapor treatment apparatus for an internal combustion engine using this low-molecular-weight organic gas absorbent material. This low-molecular-weight organic gas absorbent material sufficiently absorbs and removes low-molecular-weight organic gases even for a porous material having large pores which cannot adsorb low-molecular-weight organic gases such as butane and the like.

Automobile exhaust gas and industrial exhaust gases produced by the evaporation of organic solvents during the drying process in the paint industry, for example, have become an environmental problem. There is thus a need for efficient recovery of such organic gases.
Gasoline, which is the fuel used in automobiles, is highly volatile. Therefore, when the automobile is moving or is parked under the scorching sun, gasoline vaporizes in the fuel tank, and the gasoline vapor is discharged into the atmosphere. Gasoline vapor is also produced during refueling.
Accordingly, to prevent gasoline vapor from being discharged from the automobile, a canister is provided in the automobile and active carbon or the like contained in the canister is used as an absorbent material. For example, JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2005-35812 A describes that by allowing an organic substance to be adsorbed on starting active carbon having a wide range of pore sizes so that the smaller-sized pores are selectively blocked, the resulting active carbon has excellent adsorption/desorption properties. Patent Document 1 also describes that a canister using such active carbon suppresses the adsorbed component from leaking.
However, porous materials having pores such as active carbon for the adsorption and removal of organic gases have been developed and are in use. The adsorption mechanism of such organic gases is reported to be that the organic gas is liquefied under high pressure inside micropores of the porous material and is retained by adsorption inside the micropores.
Accordingly, the pore size of the adsorbent material is optimized according to the molecular weight, concentration and the like of the organic gas to be adsorbed. For adsorption of comparatively low-molecular-weight organic gases, such as butane, a porous material having a large number of micropores with a diameter of 5 nm or less is optimal. In contrast, for a porous material having large pores of a diameter of 10 nm or more, it is difficult for the organic gas to be liquefied under high pressure inside the pores, so that the low-molecular-weight gas is not retained by adsorption.

Absorbent material for low-molecular-weight organic gas and fuel vapor treatment apparatus using same


Methods, apparatuses, and computer program product for distributed debugging of an application in a distributed computing environment are provided. Embodiments include a first debug module on a first host receiving a set breakpoint message from a management debug module of a management system. In response to receiving the set breakpoint message, the first debug module sets a breakpoint for executing a first service on the first host, for the application. Upon hitting the breakpoint while executing the first service for the application, the first debug module sends a breakpoint condition of the first service to the management debug module. In response to receiving the breakpoint condition, the management debug module sends to a second debug module of a second host, an instruction to pause execution of the second service of the second host.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention is data processing, or, more specifically, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products distributed debugging of an application in a distributed computing environment.
2. Description of Related Art
The development of the EDVAC computer system of 1948 is often cited as the beginning of the computer era. Since that time, computer systems have evolved into extremely complicated devices. Today's computers are much more sophisticated than early systems such as the EDVAC. Computer systems typically include a combination of hardware and software components, application programs, operating systems, processors, buses, memory, input/output devices, and so on. As advances in semiconductor processing and computer architecture push the performance of the computer higher and higher, more sophisticated computer software has evolved to take advantage of the higher performance of the hardware, resulting in computer systems today that are much more powerful than just a few years ago.
Software source code is increasingly complex and is often developed by various developers, sometimes physically dispersed from one another. One part of software development, source code debugging, is especially complex in today's distributed software development environments.

Distributed debugging of an application in a distributed computing environment


An absorbent article having water disintegratability that includes a water disintegratable top sheet, a water disintegratable back sheet, a pressure-sensitive adhesive section for attaching the absorbent article to clothing, disposed on the surface of the back sheet opposite the top sheet, and a release sheet for protection of a contact surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive section which contacts with clothing. One or more protrusions and one or more depressions are formed on the contact surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive section.

Absorbent articles with water disintegratability, such as water disintegratable sanitary napkins, panty liners and urine-absorbing pads, have been developed and are marketed. Such absorbent articles are composed of water disintegratable materials, and when flushed through large amounts of water, such as in a flush toilet, they disperse in the water.
Such absorbent articles usually include on the back sheet a pressure-sensitive adhesive section to attach the absorbent article to clothing, such as underwear, and often have a flat pressure-sensitive adhesive section coated on a flat back sheet. Therefore, when the unused absorbent article from which the release sheet has been released is accidentally discarded in a flush toilet, the entire surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive section sometimes clings to the toilet bowl and is difficult to peel off. In addition, if it is flushed without clinging to the toilet bowl, it can cling to the inner walls of the sewage pipes, causing clogging of pipes.
In order to solve this problem, PTL 1, for example, discloses a water disintegratable absorbent article having, on the back side of a back sheet, pressure-sensitive adhesive sections provided at a plurality of locations at spacings in the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction of the absorbent article, to affix the absorbent article to an exterior attachment surface, wherein the spacing between adjacent pressure-sensitive adhesive sections is longer than the maximum fiber length of the fibers in the back sheet. FIG. 4 of PTL 1 discloses an absorbent article in which a plurality of dot-like pressure-sensitive adhesive sections are configured in a zigzag fashion.
PTL 2 describes an absorbent article that includes an adhesive system comprising a plurality of three-dimensional protruding sections that are deformable essentially in a two-dimensional architecture, and an interconnected network structure of an adhesive surrounding the protruding sections, which prevents inadvertent contact of the three-dimensional protruding sections with the outer walls until it deforms essentially in a two-dimensional architecture. With the absorbent article described in PTL 2, the adhesive surface is protected by the three-dimensional protruding sections, and therefore even if it is accidentally flushed into a flush toilet before wear, there is a low chance of it clinging to the toilet bowl or inner walls of the pipes.

Absorbent article and method of producing absorbent article


A permanent magnet motor having three chambers aligned end to end where each chamber has a bar magnet. The north pole of the bar magnet in the center chamber faces the north pole of the bar magnet in the chamber to its right and the south pole of the bar magnet in the center chamber faces the south pole of the bar magnet in the chamber to its left. Structure is provided to move the end magnets away from the center magnet and, by means of springs, alternately sequentially snap the end magnets toward the center magnet to drive the center magnet back and forth in its chamber. Shaft members which are connected to gears are provided to control the movement of the end magnets and to convert the back and forth motion of the center magnet to a rotary motion.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to permanent magnet motor devices and more specifically to a spring assisted magnetic motor that uses the magnetic fields created thereby to rotate a drive gear.
2. Description of Related Art
Magnetic motors are known in the prior art. More specifically, by way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,867,514 to Fecera discloses a motor providing unidirectional rotational motive power. The motor has a generally circular stator with a stator axis, an outer surface, and a circumferential line of demarcation at about a midpoint of the outer surface. The motor also includes one or more stator magnets attached to the outer surface of the stator. The stator magnets are arranged in a generally circular arrangement about the stator axis and generate a first magnetic field. An armature which is attached to the stator for rotation has an axis which is parallel to the stator axis. One or more rotors, are spaced from the armature and coupled thereto by an axle for rotation about an axis of each rotor, each rotor rotates in a plane generally aligned with the armature axis. Each rotor includes one or more rotor magnets, with each rotor magnet generating a second magnetic field. The second magnetic field generated by each rotor magnet interacts with the first magnetic field to cause each rotor to rotate about the rotor axis. A linkage assembly drivingly connects each rotor to the stator to cause the armature to rotate about the armature axis to provide the unidirectional rotational motive power of the motor.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,700,248 to Long discloses a non-linear magnetic harmonic motion converter for transferring non-linear motion into rotational motion for producing work from the interaction of at least two magnetic fields. An axial shaft is disposed in rotating relationship with a gimbal supported magnet that reciprocates in relation to the axial shaft. A rotor magnet is positioned to rotate in relation to the axial shaft in response to a non-linear movement of the gimbal supported magnet. A plurality of rotor magnet units are disposed to rotate about separate axial shafts, with each rotor magnet unit having a rotor magnetic field influenced by the non-linear movement of the gimbal supported magnet. Movement of each gimbal supported magnet creates repulsion and attraction of each respective rotor magnet, with inducement of axial shaft rotation, to produce rotational movement that is harnessed to perform work. Also disclosed are combinations of rotor magnet units disposed to rotate about respective axial shafts upon the reciprocation of a central gimbal supported magnet, for the operation of a fluid transfer pump and/or an electric generator.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,600,844 to Lawson, et al. discloses a self-starting rotational motor capable of providing significant torque which employs a magnetic propelling force. The motor is based on the principle of maintaining interacting substantially perpendicular rotor and stator magnet flux fields, one within the other, without gaps or spacing around the entire circumference of the magnet stator. The rotor magnets are controlled and moved relative to the stator magnets by a mechanism whereby the perpendicular rotor and stator magnet flux fields are maintained constantly in interacting relationship to produce turning of the rotor in one direction.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,067 to Schumann discloses a permanent magnet motion conversion device which includes spaced stationary permanent magnets and a carriage having permanent magnets located adjacent to the ends of the carriage. The carriage shuttles back and forth between the permanent magnets as a result of magnetic repulsion when shield plates are moved into and out of shielding positions in front of the stationary magnets. The carriage is provided with a connecting rod which is connected to a crank shaft.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,151,431 to Johnson discloses permanent magnet motors having ferro magnetic and other materials as a source of magnetic fields for producing power without any electron flow. Permanent magnets are utilized to produce a motive power source solely through the superconducting characteristics of a permanent magnet and the magnetic flux created by the magnets are controlled and concentrated to orient the magnetic forces generated in such a manner to do useful continuous work, such as the displacement of a rotor with respect to a stator. The timing and orientation of magnetic forces at the rotor and stator components produced by permanent magnets to produce a motor is accomplished with the proper geometrical relationship of these components.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,899,703 to Kinnison discloses a magnetic motor having at least one drive unit including first and second stationary magnets arranged with inverse directions of polarity and a movable magnet mounted for movement within the magnetic fields of the first and second stationary magnets. A diverter device is switched between two positions for alternately diverting the magnetic fields of the first and second stationary magnets. The movable magnet is alternately switched into alignment with the first and second stationary magnets, while the diverter diverts the magnetic field from the other magnet. In this manner a repulsion force is created which causes the continued movement of the movable magnet.


A laryngoscope disinfector characterized by a drawer that provides positioning for laryngoscopes in the drawer so that all surfaces of the laryngoscopes are exposed to ultraviolet radiation. The drawer provides for the laryngoscope blades to be positioned generally horizontally and generally vertically for disinfection of the blades. The drawer also provides, in some embodiments, positioning for the laryngoscope handles.

Laryngoscopes in common use are characterized by a handle, with a blade extending from the handle. In most embodiments, the blade is curved, and extends at generally a right angle from the handle. The handle is usually held in a generally vertical orientation. The handle may contain a battery for powering a light source that is present in the laryngoscope blade. The handle may provide light by means of a fiber optic light source. In more sophisticated embodiments, the handle and blade may provide video imaging which appears on a remote monitor.
For laryngoscopes as contemplated by the present invention, the blade may be separated from the handle. Since the blade is inserted through the patient's mouth, it is imperative that the blade is disinfected, and even sterilized, prior to reuse. Laryngoscopes should be thoroughly disinfected.
The use of chemical agents for disinfecting is problematic. Certain bacteria may be resistant to chemical cleaning. It has been demonstrated that ultraviolet radiation, such as ultraviolet-C radiation, is effective in killing bacteria and other harmful pathogens. However, it is important that the ultraviolet light be directed to all surfaces of the laryngoscope, and that certain surfaces are not hidden in shadows, or masked by surfaces of any ultraviolet disinfecting device.
There is a need for a laryngoscope disinfector that uses ultraviolet radiation to disinfect the laryngoscope, and particularly, the laryngoscope blade. There is a need for a device that will provide for all surfaces of the ultraviolet radiation reaching all surfaces of the laryngoscope blade.


A system and method for enabling a user with a mobile device to link to information, on a local or global electronic network, related to an item of interest to the user while observing a visual, audio, or printed medium containing the item. Linking is accomplished by an item information provider creating codes that can be utilized by the user to implement a link between the user""s device and an item information containing server programmed by the provider. The user can select the item by inputting codes to the device and be instantly linked to a database in the server on which item information is stored by the provider along with associated information to link to a network website specifically containing further item-related information for user access. If the user doesn""t wish to access the information immediately, the mobile device may be used to xe2x80x9cbookmarkxe2x80x9d or store the user""s coded information request and the user may link to the server and retrieve the desired information when convenient.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and method for enabling a user to quickly search an electronic or computer network, such as the Internet, for information related to media items observed by and of interest to the user, and, more particularly, to a method and means by which a user can, using a mobile device, quickly link to electronic databases, located locally and/or on a global computer network, that contain information associated with items in audio, visual, and printed media observed by the user, which information is compiled by a provider connected with the media item of interest with content related thereto and accessible by suitable coding.
2. Description of the Related Art
Global electronic and computer networks, such as the Internet, provide access to a tremendous amount of information relating to myriad topics and items such as various products, manufacturers, distributors, news, entertainment, and providers of services. It is difficult, however, for a user to investigate a particular item, e.g., a product, on a global computer network when the product is sold under more than one name, or when the user is not sure of the proper name of the product or its source. Similarly, the user may not know how to particularly identify an item that is seen or heard in a visual or audio medium or printed material in order to link to information of interest related to that item. It, therefore, can be quite a time-consuming and complex procedure to do an effective search on an item of interest, observed by a user, through all of the web sites and databases available that may contain pertinent information.
As the global computer networks, such as the Internet, are now capable of being accessed by various mobile devices in addition to landline based devices, searches that are complex and time-consuming are a deterrent to the use of these devices for that purpose. These mobile devices include Internet telephones, Internet PDA""S, and various other such Internet portable devices. Many of the devices allow instant access to the Internet through wireless modems or other means, and some allow the collection of information and then the transfer of that information to landline based (desktop) computers for use when accessing the Internet. The PALM VII wireless PDA is an example of a current internet capable wireless device, the PALM III-V is an example of a current PDA that can transfer information for later internet access. Such mobile devices allow their users to have tremendous amounts of information available to them on a mobile basis. Services such as BarPoint, Yahoo, CNN, and the Weather Channel are all currently available on a variety of wireless devices. For example, the BarPoint service, which is at least partly described in the above-noted priority application, allows users to access information on products using their UPC numbers or to link to other information based on other machine readable symbologies or numerical codes. The Barpoint service uses an implementing server containing a database of product and manufacturer or provider identifying codes, e.g., UPC manufacturer codes, so that information relating to a particular product and its manufacturer, can be quickly obtained with the product""s UPC. The entire UPC is input to the implementing server, which reads the manufacturer""s code from the UPC and, using the UPC database therein, identifies the manufacturer. The server is programmed to then perform a search of the global computer network to locate sites relating to or operated by the manufacturer. Additionally, the server may search the global computer network on a product basis to locate other sites containing the UPC under search. To aid the server, and reduce search time, the user can identify the general category of the product (auto, book, music or movie cassette, food, hardware, software, etc.) when the UPC is entered.
3. Problem to be Solved
While these known service systems enable a user to link to information related to products of interest which are being or have been observed, it will be seen that there is a need for a system that will enable the user to quickly link to information particularly related to specific items contained in various media content, including images and audio and printed materials transmitted or provided by some local medium such as video tape, mass digital storage devices, DVDs, CD-ROMS, movies, television, radio, books, catalogs, etc., during observation. Accordingly, a need is perceived for a user, while viewing an image, or hearing audio, or reading printed material, to be able to quickly relate a specific or exact part of the content of that image, audio, or printed matter to a particular site or sites on an electronic network, such as by linking to a site on the global computer network or Internet, particularly using a mobile device.
4. Objects of the Invention
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system and method whereby a user can quickly and easily obtain a supply of available information about a specific item observed in an audio or visual or printed media, by linking to a local or global electronic or computer network.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a system and method whereby a user can quickly and easily obtain a supply of available information about a specific item observed in an audio or visual or printed media, by linking to a local or global electronic or computer network with the use of a mobile device.
It is another object of the invention to provide a system and method for quickly and easily linking a mobile device to a local or global computer network to access information about an item being observed in any of an audio, visual, or printed media, the content of which information may be supplied by a provider of the item of interest.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an interactive system and method that enables a user with a mobile device to quickly search a local or global electronic network and easily obtain a supply of information about the content of an item while observing audio works, visual images, and printed media, by linking to a database in a local or global computer network using codes that can be utilized by the information content provider, and the user requesting the link, to produce the link.
The present invention is directed to a system and method for achieving the above-mentioned objectives by enabling a user with a desktop computer or mobile device to link to information, on a local or global electronic network, e.g., the Internet, that is related to a content item of interest to the user while observing any of a visual, audio, or printed medium containing the item, which linking is accomplished by creating codes that can be utilized by both the information content provider and the user requesting the link to implement the link.
In one embodiment of the invention regarding an item in a visual medium, a user watching television in his home, where the source of the program may be a broadcast or a video tape or DVD, sees something of interest, such as an attractive actress or automobile, on which he would like to have more information. The user may take out his mobile device, press a button or enter keystrokes to select the item of interest and instantly he is linked to a server providing information made available on the actress stored by the producer on an internet website specifically for user access, or information is presented on the automobile that is stored by the manufacturer. Also, if the user does not wish to access this information while watching the program, the mobile device may be used to xe2x80x9cbookmarkxe2x80x9d the user""s request for information on the actress and automobile and any other observed item, or the user may simply record the request on paper, and the user may then link to the server, access and retrieve the desired information when the program ends or at any time in the future.
Regarding the linking operation, in the event, for example, that the user would like to receive information on a television commercial or event, he may input to the server: the category, i.e., television; his location, unless he wishes the server to assume that he is at his home based city which the server knows from the user""s ID; the channel he is watching; and the approximate time and date of the commercial or event. The commercial may be marked with a marking icon or dot or other symbology so that the user knows that the information is available. The commercial content producer will have previously placed the content category/channel/time of broadcast, the date of broadcast/content/associated content link onto the server. The server may then resolve the user""s request and provide the user the requested information. If several links occur near the user""s reported time then the server may give the user a choice of several content sources. The user may then receive the requested content and be able to gain further access to additional content with additionally supplied global computer network links, and, if utilizing a mobile device, the user may also be able to transmit the content including associated links, to another computer, e.g., a home based computer, for later access.
Television viewing applications may also have extra utility with respect to commercials and home shopping as the user can request information on an item seen in a television commercial or a home shopping product, and then actually purchase the item on the spot by transmitting the purchase request from their computer or mobile device to the information site or other site as indicated.

System and method of linking items in audio, visual, and printed media to related information stored on an electronic network using a mobile device


A trolley is provided, including an illumination module disposed in a frame having a plurality of plates, wherein the illumination module includes a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed on the second surface of each plate, and each light emitting diode comprises a red light chip providing 75% to 85% of it's total light energy, a green light chip providing 5% to 15% of it's total light energy and a blue light chip providing 5% to 15% of it's total light energy.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a trolley for transporting plants, and in particular relates to a trolley equipped with illumination modules emitting light to the plants.
2. Description of the Related Art
When plants are transported, the plants, in containers, are disposed on a trolley. In general, the trolley is equipped with cold cathode fluorescent lamps for illumination of the plants. However, cold cathode fluorescent lamps emit heat which may damage the plants. Therefore, light emitting diodes (LEDs) have been used, which emit less heat, to illuminate plants in trolleys.
However, LEDs emitting light with different wavelengths are not optimum for cultivating healthy plants.


Hemostasis valves and methods for making and using hemostasis valves are disclosed. An example hemostasis valve may include a main body having a distal end region and a proximal end region. A first seal member may be disposed within the proximal end region of the main body. A cartridge may be at least partially disposed within the proximal end region of the main body. The cartridge may include a second seal member. A plunger may be coupled to the proximal end region of the main body. A rotation limiting member may be positioned adjacent to the proximal end region of the main body. A tab member may be positioned adjacent to the proximal end region of the main body. The tab member may be designed to rotate relative to the proximal end region of the main body until the tab member engages the rotation limiting member.

A wide variety of medical devices have been developed for medical use, for example, intravascular use. Some of these devices include guidewires, catheters, and the like. These devices are manufactured by any one of a variety of different manufacturing methods and may be used according to any one of a variety of methods. Of the known medical devices and methods, each has certain advantages and disadvantages. There is an ongoing need to provide alternative medical devices as well as alternative methods for manufacturing and using medical devices.


Techniques are disclosed for algorithm execution output cache. A remote presentation session server conducting concurrent remote presentation sessions with a plurality of clients generates a signature for each image that it is to send to a client. The remote presentation server also maintains a signature table comprising pairs of signatures and compressed images. Each signature and compressed image pair corresponds to input data (i.e. the signature was generated from an image and the compressed image was generated from that same image). The remote presentation session server checks the signature against the signature table. Where the remote presentation session server determines that there is a match between the signature and a signature in the signature table, it sends the client the compressed image that corresponds to the signature in the signature table that generated the match. In doing so, the remote presentation session server may avoid redundantly compressing the second image.

Although computers were once isolated and had minimal or little interaction with other computers, computers now interact with a wide variety of other computers through Local Area Networks (LANs), Wide Area Networks (WANs), dial-up connections, and the like. With the wide-spread growth of the Internet, connectivity between computers has become more important and has opened up many new applications and technologies. The growth of large-scale networks, and the wide-spread availability of low-cost personal computers, has fundamentally changed the way that many people work, interact, communicate, and play.
One increasing popular form of networking may generally be referred to as remote presentation, which can use protocols such as Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), Independent Computing Architecture (ICA), and others to share a desktop and other applications with a remote client. Such computing systems typically transmit the keyboard presses and mouse clicks or selections from the client to a server, relaying the screen updates back in the other direction over a network connection (e.g., the Internet). As such, the user has the experience as if their machine is executing the applications locally, when in reality the client device is only sent screenshots of the applications as they appear on the server side.
A remote presentation session server may conduct concurrent remote presentation sessions with a plurality of clients. These plurality of clients may be each sent the same data. For instance, where a plurality of the client sessions are to display an identical screen saver (e.g. black with a static logo). To send this image data to each client requires the server to independently encode the image data for each client session, resulting in a use of server processing resources to perform a redundant task.


An apparatus for opening and cleaning textile fiber material includes a fiber feeding device for advancing the fiber material; a first clothed roller situated downstream of the fiber feeding device and being arranged for entraining the fiber material advanced by the fiber feeding device; a second clothed roller situated downstream of the first clothed roller and being arranged for entraining fiber material after entrainment thereof by the first clothed roller; a mote knife cooperating with the first and second clothed roller; a waste removal clearance bounded by each respective mote knife; and a third clothed roller situated between the first and second clothed rollers. The first, third and second clothed rollers are arranged in series, whereby the fiber material passes from the first clothed roller to the third clothed roller and from the third clothed roller to the second clothed roller. The third clothed roller cooperates with the first clothed roller and the second clothed roller cooperates with the third clothed roller as a doffer-and-opening roller.

This invention relates to an apparatus for opening and cleaning fiber material, particularly cotton and is of the type which has at least two rollers provided with a clothing (hereafter "clothed rollers") arranged downstream of a fiber feeding device, as viewed in a direction of fiber feed. At least two of the clothed rollers are provided with a mote knife associated with a waste removal clearance. The centrifugal forces at the circumference of the second clothed roller are greater than at the circumference of the first clothed roller arranged upstream of the second clothed roller as viewed in the direction of the advance of the fiber material.
In a known apparatus of the above-outlined type, as disclosed, for example, in German Offenlegungsschrift (non-examined published application) No. 2,712,650, first and second clothed rollers are serially arranged and are rotated in opposite directions. The second clothed roller has a smaller diameter and rotates with a significantly higher rpm than the first clothed roller and the points of the two clothings are in a fiber-transferring (doffing) position relative to one another. The vacuum present in a downstream-arranged screen drum extends back to the second clothed roller via a fiber conveying channel. After passing the waste removal clearance, the fiber material leaves the second clothed roller and is admitted to the screen drum. This occurrence is influenced by an intake air stream which passes through an opening in the housing and the waste removal clearance. According to another embodiment disclosed in the above-identified German Offenlegungsschrift, the first and second clothed rollers are associated with a third clothed roller which has the same diameter as the first clothed roller and which rotates codirectionally therewith but has a lower rpm. The clothing points of the first and the third clothed rollers are in a carding relationship with one another. The third clothed roller is surrounded by a housing interrupted by a waste removal clearance provided with a mote knife. In both embodiments the second clothed roller cooperates directly with the first clothed roller.
It has been found that in a prior art arrangement as described above, the suction air stream which takes off the fiber material from the second clothed roller has, disadvantageously, a feedback effect on the first clothed roller. It is particularly disadvantageous that the suction stream gains access to the region about the first clothed roller by extending through the intermediate space between the first clothed roller and the housing and thus adversely affects the guidance of the fiber. It is furthermore disadvantageous that by virtue of the intake air stream which is admitted from the outside, the suction air stream, together with the useful fiber tufts removed from the second clothed roller, also entrains trash from the waste removal clearance associated with the second clothed roller. The suction stream provided to advance the fiber material to the screen drum has a disadvantageous effect on the waste removal clearances associated with the first and second clothed rollers. It is yet another disadvantage of the above-described prior art construction that the fiber material, upon direct transfer from the first to the second clothed roller can be opened only as a result of particularly high rpm's which requires a structurally complex arrangement, and further, the rpm is limited by the critical bending rpm and the width of the clothed roller. Since the fiber material is insufficiently opened because of the significantly lower rpm's, the cleaning effect of the second clothed roller is altogether insufficient.

Apparatus for opening and cleaning fiber material