A liquid crystal display includes: a gate line disposed on a substrate to transmit a first gate signal to switching elements; a data line crossing the gate line to transmit a data voltage to the switching elements; a boosting gate line disposed on the substrate to transmit a second gate signal; a pixel electrode disposed on the substrate and including a first subpixel electrode and a second subpixel electrode; a first switching element connected to the first subpixel electrode; a second switching element connected to the second subpixel electrode; a boosting capacitor including a first terminal connected to the first subpixel electrode; a third switching element connected to a second terminal of the boosting capacitor; and a fourth switching element including a gate electrode connected to the boosting gate line, a source electrode connected to the second subpixel electrode, and a drain electrode connected to the second terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display.
2. Discussion of the Background
A liquid crystal display (LCD) is one type of widely used flat panel displays (FPDs). The LCD is composed of two display panels on which field generating electrodes such as pixel electrodes and a common electrode are formed, and a liquid crystal layer is disposed between the two display panels. A voltage is applied to the field generating electrodes to generate an electric field in the liquid crystal layer, which determines an orientation of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer that controls a polarization of incident light passing through the liquid crystal layer to display an image.
A vertical alignment (VA) mode LCD has the liquid crystal (LC) molecules aligned with their long axes perpendicular to the display panels in the absence of the electric field. The VA mode LCD is of interest because of its high contrast ratio and wide reference viewing angle.
In the VA mode LCD a plurality of domains in which the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules within respective domains are different from the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules in the other domains may be formed in one pixel to achieve the wide reference viewing angle.
Methods in which a minute slit or a cutout is formed in the field generating electrodes or a protrusion have been proposed as means for forming the plurality of domains in one pixel. In this method, the plurality of domains may be formed by aligning the liquid crystal molecules vertically with respect to a fringe field generated between the edges of the cutout or the protrusion and the field generating electrodes facing the edges.
Also, a light alignment method in which light is irradiated to an alignment layer to control an alignment angle and alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules has been proposed as another way to form the plurality of domains in one pixel.
On the other hand, the liquid crystal display of the VA mode may have lower side visibility compared with front visibility. Thus, one pixel may be divided into two subpixels, and different voltages may be applied to the subpixels to solve this problem.
Among the various methods for applying a different voltage to each subpixel, one method applies one data voltage to two subpixels, and then a charged voltage of one subpixel is pulled down and a charged voltage of the other subpixel is raised up through a boosting capacitor such that the visibility may be improved by differentiating the voltages of the two subpixels without a reduction of the aperture ratio due to increasing the number of data lines or gate lines. Also, a decrease of luminance due to capacitive coupling of two subpixels may be eliminated.

Liquid crystal display having boosting capacitor


A method of providing a corrected reconstructed computed tomography image accesses image data for computed tomography images of a subject, identifying a subset of the computed tomography images that contain high density features. At least one high density feature is detected in each of the identified subset. The high density feature is classified and a compensation image is formed by distributing pixels representative of tissue over the classified high density feature. A difference sinogram is generated for each image in the identified subset of images by subtracting a first sinogram of the high density feature from a second sinogram of the original image. A resultant sinogram is generated for each image in the identified subset by adding a third sinogram generated according to the compensation image to the difference sinogram. The corrected reconstructed computed tomography image is formed according to the resultant sinogram generated for each image in the identified subset of images.

There are various artifacts that are characteristic to computed tomography (CT) technology, for example, such as in cone beam CT (CBCT) and spiral x-ray CT. In one paper ("Artifacts in Spiral X-ray CT Scanners: Problems and Solutions", Proceedings Of World Academy Of Science, Engineering and Technology, Volume 26, December 2007, pp. 376-380) researcher Mchran Yazdi describes three classes of artifacts: physics-based, patient-based, or scanner-based artifacts. Physics-based artifacts, for example, can be caused by beam hardening, photon starvation, and under-sampling. Patient-based artifacts can include artifacts caused by high density objects and inadvertent motion. Scanner-based artifacts include those caused by detector sensitivity and mechanical instability.
Artifacts caused by metal and other high density materials pose a significant problem that affects the performance of computed tomography (CT) systems. Metal features tend to generate high-frequency streaks or artifacts in the resulting image, typically emanating from metal objects in the scanned subject. These artifacts could occur due to high attenuation by the metal objects and consequent reduction in the number of photons reaching the detector of the CT system. This can also result in a poor signal-to-noise ratio. Additionally, metal objects harden the x-ray beam by attenuating x-rays in an energy-specific manner. The resulting nonlinear changes in the projection data can appear as low-frequency tail artifacts around the metal objects, as well as between the metal and other high density objects. For example, in medical diagnostic imaging, streaks caused by implanted metal objects limit the capability to assess surrounding soft tissues and skeletal structures. In dental cone beam CT imaging, artifacts cased by dental fillings (including dental fixtures) can constrain or prevent proper representation of surrounding tooth, bone, and tissue structures. Metal and other high density features attenuate x-ray beams as they propagate through the patient or other subject being exposed, complicating the task of accurate 3-D reconstruction and often resulting in unwanted image artifacts.
Various approaches have been considered to mitigate the effects of high density objects in CT reconstruction. One simple preventive solution has been to use filling and restorative materials that have lower X-ray attenuation coefficients and to develop and use implants and other devices that have smaller cross-sectional areas. Another approach is increasing the X-ray energy to improve beam penetration and to reduce effects of the missing projection data resulting from high density features. These approaches can help to reduce/minimize the impact of Metal and other high density features, but may not be appropriate in all cases. Increasing X-ray energy, because of increased risk to the patient, is seen as a poor solution to the problem.
Image processing methods have been developed to address the artifact problem. One method for addressing artifacts due to high density features is to reformat the axial CT image data into new interpolated axial, orthogonal, or oblique images. Image reformatting into planes other than the scan plane can weight the true image signal over the pseudo randomly distributed artifact signal when integrating between adjacent axial images (original axial images are averaged out of the planar reformatting). As another processing solution, post-reconstruction filtering can also be directly applied to noisy images to improve image quality.
Image processing methods that have been considered for reducing artifacts and re-creating the missing projection data can be generally classified into two categories: projection interpolation and iterative reconstruction. As one example of the latter approach, U.S. Pat. No. 7,023,951 entitled "Method and Apparatus for Reduction of Artifacts in Computed Tomography Images" to Man describes a method for reducing artifacts in CT images by iteratively reconstructing corrected sinogram data to generate improved reconstructed CT images based on a weight measure associated with each sinogram element. The corrected sinogram is generated by, for example, interpolating a measured sinogram that is the original sinogram obtained from the CT scanner.
Non-iterative sinogram interpolation techniques have also been proposed for addressing this problem. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,721,387 entitled "Method and System for Reducing Metal Artifacts in Images Generated by X-ray Scanning Devices" to Naidu et al. describes identifying metal objects in preliminary images, generating metal projections from the identified metal objects, then subtracting the metal projections from the input projections to yield corrected projections. The final corrected image is then reconstructed from the corrected projections. Naidu et al. also describe preserving thin-sheet high density objects in the '387 patent disclosure.
Conventional image processing methods that address the metal artifact problem use information extracted from neighbors of the high density objects identified to mitigate the artifacts. While such methods may have some merit, however, they fall short of what is needed for accurate artifact compensation for cone-beam CT dental images. A number of problems encountered in dental CT imaging are particular to dental imaging applications and are not encountered for other imaging applications. For example, unlike other CT imaging applications, dental CT imaging encounters a range of hard and soft tissue types, such as hone, dentine, enamel, and gum tissue, as well as a variety of metals and other high density materials used in fillings, implants, crowns, and other restorative structures. Interpolation methods such as those proposed in the Naidu et al. '387 disclosure can be employed when metal objects are embedded within a substantially homogenous area, but yield disappointing results in the dental imaging environment where metal objects or fillings reside in regions that have dramatically different properties than the surrounding tissues. In general, automated procedures for metal detection can be computationally intensive and may not utilize relevant information about the patient in order to optimize operation.
Thus, Applicants recognize that there is a need for a method that compensates for artifacts due to metal and other high density materials in CBCT and other CT scanning, particularly dental CT scanning.

Method and system for cone beam computed tomography high density object artifact reduction


There is disclosed an apparatus and a method for supporting a movable or stationary decoy displayed on a stake for attracting waterfowl where the decoy has a neck portion, a head portion, a body portion, and a stake that protrudes from and may be securely attached to the body portion of the decoy. A tubular receiving member having an internal channel is provided for loosely receiving the stake. The tubular receiving member can be made of black PVC conduit or other suitable materials and has an upper end that is flared to provide an opening that is larger than the internal channel in the tubular receiving member and a lower end that is sealed to prevent water from entering the tubular receiving member. The lower end of the tubular receiving member is adapted to be mounted in the ground.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to placing and removing waterfowl decoys in a field and, more particularly, to providing a tubular receiving member that is set in the ground for loosely receiving a vertical stake used as a support for a motion or stationary waterfowl decoy. The vertical support stake on the waterfowl decoy, when placed into the tubular receiving member, allows the waterfowl decoy to twist and turn with the wind to provide a decoy having a realistic motion. At the end of the day when the hunt is finished, the waterfowl decoys can be lifted out of the tubular receiving member to protect the decoys from theft and avoid premature deterioration of the decoys due to dirt, frost, freezing rain, or snow until the next hunt when the decoys are quickly and easily positioned in the same formation or pattern by simply inserting the vertical stakes of the decoys in the previously positioned tubular receiving members. With this invention the support stakes on the waterfowl decoys are neither pushed into the ground or into holes in the ground that must be drilled when the ground is frozen.
2. Description of the Related Art
For years hunters have used various types of decoys to assist in harvesting waterfowl. A common type of waterfowl decoy used on land is called a waterfowl decoy displayed on a stake.
One example of a waterfowl decoy displayed on a stake is a_typical motion waterfowl decoy, such as a goose decoy. This decoy is normally a shell decoy that has a rust resistant metal support stake with a standard washer welded to the stake approximately one inch from its top end. The decoy has an opening in its back that is just large enough in diameter to receive the support stake. To use the decoy, the support stake is partially driven into the ground, leaving approximately 14 inches, more or less, above the ground and the top of the stake is guided into an opening in the back of the decoy as the decoy is lowered into place. A standard washer is welded to the stake to prevent the decoy from sliding all the way down the stake and resting on the ground. The washer supports the decoy above the ground and allows about one inch of the support stake to protrude up and out of the back of the decoy. The loose attachment of the decoy to the stake allows the decoy, with the slightest wind present, to wobble and tilt with a lifelike motion.
The decoys used by a hunter can number as high as 200 units and are displayed in a variety of patterns to entice flying waterfowl to land in or near the decoy spread and blind. The decoy spread is placed near or around the hunter's blind where the hunter and possibly one or more hunting companions wait for their quarry. The decoys are usually placed in position (set up) well before shooting time, which is at sunrise, or earlier. Normally, the decoys are retrieved after the hunt is finished or at the end of the day, to prevent theft or disfigurement of the decoys from dirt, frost, ice, or snow. Care must be taken with the handling and use of decoys so as to not change their pristine, natural appearance. Mud or dirt from the field is probably the biggest contaminate. The more natural appearing the decoys remain, the more attracting qualities they display. The decoys are almost always used in harvested grain fields, or other fields that hold a food supply.
Stake mounted types of waterfowl decoys are usually deployed in low light and all kinds of weather conditions. Wind, rain, snow and freezing conditions make this type of motion decoy or any decoys that use a support stake difficult to use. For example, when the ground is frozen, holes must be pre-drilled or punched into the ground before the stake and decoy can be put in place. In addition, the placement of the decoys in low light conditions presents many problems. The stakes used for Canada geese are painted flat black to resemble waterfowl legs and have a red tape or paint marking at their top for identification. If a stake is placed in the ground without the decoy being attached or in position, on the top end of the stake, the decoy will then have to be placed onto the stake later. This process usually requires two hands to complete, and is best done by handling and placing only one decoy at a time onto a stake. This requires two steps which can be time consuming. The first step being the placement of the stakes into the ground and the second step being the placement of the decoy on the top of the stake. If the decoy is placed on the stake before the stake is inserted into the ground, two hands must be used to prevent the decoy from falling off the stake.
This method of inserting the stake into the ground while the decoy is on the stake can damage the area where the decoy meets the stake, especially when a hunter pushes or pounds on the decoy to push the stake into the ground when the ground is very firm or contains stones. In addition, when setting up decoys in the early morning when the lighting is poor, a desired spread pattern may not be achieved. Even with artificial lighting, it is difficult to see the whole decoy pattern. Thus, changes in the decoy pattern may have to be made after first light, or sunrise.
When setting up or retrieving decoys during rain, snow, or when the ground is wet or muddy, it is important that the decoys are not placed on the ground. When removing the decoy stakes, a clump of mud usually remains stuck to the supporting stake, and must be wiped or washed off in order to insure that contamination of the decoys does not take place during handling and storage. This task, when multiplied by the sheer number of decoys being used, can become very labor intensive.
During very cold conditions, the ground may be very firm or frozen and inhibit the use of supporting stakes. Die hard hunters will resort to drilling a support stake hole into the frozen ground with a drill or punching a hole into the ground in order to insert the supporting stake. After the hole is drilled or punched, the supporting stake must be inserted immediately before the hunter loses track of the location of the hole. During snowy, or frozen conditions, this task is almost impossible to accomplish. If no hole is pre-drilled or punched into the frozen ground, a metal stake may bend, and a plastic stake may break when insertion is attempted.
During severe wind conditions, the decoys may be blown off their stakes because they are not rigidly attached to their support stakes; they are only loosely coupled to the supporting stakes. If a decoy is blown off its stake, it will have to be repositioned on its stake in order to be effective, and may suffer from mud or other contamination upon falling on the ground.

Apparatus and method for using waterfowl decoys on land


A high temperature secondary battery based energy storage and power compensation system wherein, an electric power supply system, electric load, and electric energy storage system including a high temperature secondary battery and power conversion system, are electrically connected with one another. When operating normally, electric power is supplied from the electric power supply system to the electric load, while the electric energy storage system operates to effect peak shaving and load leveling. A high speed switch is provided between the electric power supply system and the electric energy storage system, so that when a voltage sag or service interruption occurs while electric power is being supplied from the electric power supply system, the voltage sag is immediately detected and the switch is immediately opened, and electric power is immediately supplied from the electric energy storage system to the electric load to compensate for the voltage sag or service interruption.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high-temperature secondary battery based energy storage and power compensation system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, various energy storage systems for carrying out a peak shaving function as well as a load leveling function have been proposed. Although the proposed systems have been put into practical use in pumped storage hydro, none of the proposed systems has a power compensation function for compensating for a voltage sag or a service interruption, all of which are likely to happen suddenly in power supply systems.
Various electric power quality stabilizing apparatus formed by using semiconductor electric power conversion apparatuses capable of inhibiting harmonic distortion as well as voltage fluctuations have also been proposed. In fact, these electric power quality stabilizing apparatuses have been practically used in active filters and static Var compensator(SVC). Furthermore, to compensate for voltage sag and service interruption, UPSs have been proposed and have already been put into practical use. However, none of the apparatuses mentioned above has a peak shaving function or a load leveling function.
The present invention relates to a system which solves the above problems. It is an object of the present invention to provide an economical, high-temperature secondary battery based energy storage and power compensation system which has a peak shaving function and a load leveling function, as well as an electric power quality stabilizing function.
According to the present invention, there is provided a high-temperature secondary battery based energy storage and power compensation system, comprising an electric power supply system, an electric load, and an electric energy storage system including a high-temperature secondary battery and a power conversion system (PCS).
In the preferred embodiment, the electric power supply system, the electric load and the electric energy storage system are electrically connected, and when operating normally, electric power is supplied to the electric load while the electric energy storage system operates to effect peak shaving running and load leveling running.
In addition, a high speed switch is provided between the electric power supply system and the electric energy storage system such that when a voltage sag or a service interruption occurs in the electric power being supplied from the electric power supply system, the voltage sag is immediately detected, the circuit is temporarily shut off and electric power is immediately supplied from the electric energy storage system to the electric load in order to compensate for the voltage sag or the service interruption.
Further, according to the present invention, the high temperature secondary battery is preferably a sodium sulfur battery.
Moreover, in the preferred embodiment the energy storage system compensating for a voltage sag or a service interruption is a system capable of outputting a compensation electric power which is 3 to 8 times the rated electric power of the peak shaving running and the load leveling running.
In addition, according to the present invention, it is preferred that a back-up generator is connected to a circuit on the electric power compensation side of the high speed switch. Additionally, a voltage compensation controller is provided which is capable of detecting a circuit shut-down effected by the high speed switch, sending a command in accordance with the detection signal to cause the energy storage system to discharge electric power required by the load, and at the same time starting the back-up generator. Thereby if the electric power supply is not restored within a predetermined time period, the back-up generator is connected in parallel with the system, while at the same time the electric power supply from the energy storage system is stopped.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is preferred that an electric power supply system further comprises a control function capable of coping with a fluctuation derived from an accident such as a spike or a frequency fluctuation in the electric power by detecting immediately such an accident, and sending a signal based on detection to the electric energy storage system in order to compensate for the fluctuation.
Moreover, according to the present invention, it is preferred that spare high-temperature batteries connected in parallel with the module batteries are provided so as to compensate by switching module batteries to the spare batteries in a case when the module batteries fail.

High-temperature secondary battery based energy storage and power compensation system

The Tokyo Electric Power Company, Incorporated


An apparatus includes an interface and a processor. The interface sends and receives data over a network. The processor uses the interface to transmit a first series of profiles to a first user. The first series of profiles corresponds to recommendations of users for a second user. The processor also uses the interface to receive a selection from the first user of a first profile of the first series of profiles. In response to receiving the selection from the first user of the first profile of the first series of profiles, the processor determines, based at least in part on the selection from the first user of the first profile, a second series of profiles. The processor additionally uses the interface to transmit the second series of profiles to the second user.

Networking architectures, developed in communications environments, have grown increasingly complex in recent years. A multitude of protocols and configurations have been developed to accommodate a diverse group of end users having various networking needs. Many of these architectures have gained significant notoriety because they can offer the benefits of automation, convenience, management, and enhanced consumer selections. Using computing platforms with the networking architectures has allowed for increased communication, collaboration, and/or interaction. For example, certain network protocols may be used to allow an end user to connect online with other users who satisfy certain search requirements. These protocols may relate to job searches, person finding services, real estate searches, or online dating.

System and method for providing enhanced recommendations based on third-party opinions


A riding system of a robot which supports a PUI through user authentication to provide convenience to users, and including a server for exchanging authentication information with the robot; a mobile terminal including an application interlocking with the server and for arranging use information of the user through the application and for calling the robot through the application; and a robot storing the authentication information, to authenticate the user through the authentication information when there is a call from the mobile terminal, and deforming according to a body size of the user included in the use information and to allow the user to ride thereon and to move the user to the destination, and a control method thereof.

Recently, functions of a robot are expanding due to development of deep learning technology, self-driving technology, automatic control technology, the Internet of Things, and the like.
In regard to each technology in detail, the deep learning is one of fields of machine learning. The deep learning a technology of allowing a program to execute similar determinations in various situations, not checking conditions and setting the program with commands in advance. Accordingly, according to the deep learning, a computer can think similarly to a human brain and analyze massive amounts of data.
Self-driving is a technology that allows machine to determine on its own to move and avoid an obstacle. According to the self-driving technology, a robot autonomously recognizes a location through a sensor to move and avoid an obstacle.
An automatic control technology refers to a technology for automatically controlling an operation of machine by feeding back a measured value obtained by inspecting a state of the machine in the machine to a control device. Accordingly, the machine can be controlled without a human operation, and a target to be controlled can be automatically adjusted to fall within a targeted range, that is, to a target value.
The Internet of Things refers to an intelligent technology and service that connects all things based on the Internet and communicates information between a person and an object, and between objects. Devices connected to the Internet by the Internet of Things transmit and receive the information by their own determinations and communicate with each other autonomously without any assist of a human.
Applications of the robot are generally classified into industrial, medical, astronautic, and submarine field. For example, the robot may perform repetitive tasks in the machining industry such as automobile manufacturing. In other words, a lot of industrial robots have been already in operation in which the robots can repeat the same motion for hours once a human teaches a task performed by an arm to the robots.
The robot has a fixed shape, and, even when a user mounts or rides thereon, the shape of the robot remains unchanged. In this case, there is a need for a PUI for operating the robot to suit to a body of a person.
In this regard, Korean Patent Publication No. 2015-0099667 (Curved Main Body and Wearable Device Including the Same), which is also published as US 2015/0241917, discloses technology for providing a PUI optimized to utilization of various UIs, which includes: a strap provided with a rectangular opening and including a buckle disposed at one end thereof; a buckle portion for fastening both ends of the strap by tying together; and a main body coupled to the opening by being inserted or decoupled therefrom, wherein the main body includes a front surface and a rear surface, the main body includes a substantially rectangular curved display disposed on the front surface when viewed from above, and a biometric recognition sensor disposed on the rear surface, and further includes a sensor unit to detect a touch, a pressure, or a temperature, in addition to a curved soft LCD configuration.
However, there is inconvenience that a person should directly adjust equipment to suit to his/her body, and in particular, there is a problem that, when a person having mobility difficulty uses an airport robot, the person should manually adjust the robot to suit to his/her body.

Riding system of robot and method thereof


A receiver tunable to a plurality of frequency channels includes a reference frequency generator, a downconverter, an analog-to-digital converter, and a processor. The reference frequency generator generates a reference frequency signal, and the downconverter downconverts received signals to provide intermediate frequency signals. Moreover, the downconverter is synchronized to the reference frequency signal. The analog-to-digital converter generates a plurality of complex numbers representative of the received signals including interference components responsive to the intermediate frequency signals wherein the analog-to-digital converter is synchronized to the reference frequency signal. The processor estimates an origin point for the plurality of complex numbers and subtracts the origin point from each of the complex numbers thereby producing interference-compensated complex numbers representative of the received signals with reduced internally generated interference. Moreover, the processor processes the interference-compensated complex numbers to obtain desired signaling information. Related methods are also discussed.

In the field of radio receivers, there has been a concentrated effort to reduce the amount of tuned circuitry used in the receivers. By reducing the number of tuned circuits, large portions of the receiver can be integrated resulting in smaller receivers. These compact receivers can then be used in many areas such as cellular telephones. A major advance in the design of such receivers is a technique known as the "zero-IF" technique.
Slope, drift, and offset compensation in zero-IF receivers is discussed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,520 entitled "Slope Drift and Offset Compensation In Zero-IF Receivers". In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,241,702 entitled "Slope Drift And Offset Compensation In Zero-IF Receivers" discusses reducing DC offset in homodyne (zero-IF) receivers by differentiating the I,Q signals before digitization using an analog differentiating circuit, and then re-integrating the signal samples numerically after digitization to restore the signal's undifferentiated waveform. Each of these patents is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. Furthermore, the inventor of the present invention is an inventor in each of these patents.
In homodyne receivers, received signals are converted directly down to zero frequency I and Q signals, also called the quadrature baseband, by mixing the received signal against a local oscillator placed in the center of the desired receive channel. Since the local oscillator is directly on top of the received signal, it may be a significant source of interference to reception. Because the interfering signal may be the same as the downconversion oscillator, however, it is coherent interference and appears as DC offset on the I,Q outputs. This DC offset can be much larger than the weakest signal that the receiver is desired to receive and can drive the I,Q Analog-to-Digital convertors to full scale or beyond, causing signal degradation.
The patents discussed above thus provide ways to reduce DC offset of the I,Q signals to reduce interference from a local oscillator within a homodyne receiver. In known homodyne receivers, the local oscillator frequency may be the dominant crystal-related interfering signal because the local oscillator is tuned to the channel frequency by means of a digital frequency synthesizer using the crystal as a reference.
These patents, however, may not resolve problems relating to superhetrodyne receivers wherein received signals are mixed with a local oscillator that is not tuned to the channel frequency but that is tuned to the channel frequency plus or minus a constant offset equal to the desired first intermediate frequency. In such a system, the local oscillator may not be a significant source of interference to a desired signal and the problem of DC offset in I and Q signals may not be evident or obvious.
Interference to a desired signal by other crystal related frequencies such as crystal harmonics, however, may also contribute to the DC offset in the I and Q signals. Accordingly, there continues to exist a need in the art for improved receivers and methods of reducing interference.

Methods of suppressing reference oscillator harmonic interference and related receivers


Viewing of a scrolled image on a display screen is facilitated. Assume that a first image portion (81) is being displayed on the display screen of a mobile telephone and that a second image portion (82) is not being displayed on the screen. If scrolling is performed rightward in order to display the second image portion (82) on the display screen, data representing the scrolling direction and scrolling amount is transmitted from the mobile telephone to an image server. The image server rotates the second image portion (82) in accordance with the scrolling direction, reads the rotated second image portion (82) block by block and transmits the resultant image data to the mobile telephone block by block. The mobile telephone rotates the block images reversely through the angle of the original rotation and displays the blocks in order. The second image portion (82), which was not being displayed on the display screen, is displayed along the scrolling direction from the portion contiguous to the edge, in terms of the scrolling direction, of the first image portion (81) that is being displayed on the display screen.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an image communication system, an image server, a method of controlling operation of the image server and a medium storing a computer program for controlling the operation of the image server.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is possible to communicate with an image server and display an image, which is represented by image data transmitted from the image server, on the display screen of a mobile telephone. If the image is large, the image is reduced in size so as to fit the size of the display screen because the display screen of a mobile telephone is comparatively small. When the image is reduced in size, the displayed image becomes difficult to view. In order to deal with this, there is a technique whereby part of the image is displayed on the display screen and the remainder of the image is displayed based upon image data transmitted from the image server to the mobile telephone in accordance with a scrolling operation performed by the user (see the specification of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-86482). Usually, however, the image data transmitted from the image server to the mobile telephone is image data that has been compressed. In general, this compression is based upon the JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) scheme (see the specification of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-86318). With JPEG-based compression, image data is compressed in a prescribed order block by block, where each block is composed of a plurality of pixels, and the image data is expanded in the prescribed order. Depending upon the scrolling direction, the order of the remaining image portions displayed and the scrolling direction may not coincide owing to expansion. Even if scrolling is performed, therefore, locations where no image exists arise and viewing becomes difficult.

Image communication system, image server, method of controlling operation thereof and medium storing computer program for controlling operation thereof


A method of driving a gray scale and a drive circuit therefor are provided in which the simplification and reduction of the operating speed of a circuit for generating display voltages in a matrix display device are promoted, and low cost and multi-color display of high minuteness are simultaneously realized. The display circuit for generating the display voltages is composed of an image signal processing circuit for dividing an input digital image signal into plural bit groups, a first display voltage generating circuit for generating the display voltages corresponding to the first bit group obtained by the division, a second display voltage generating circuit for generating the display voltages corresponding to the second bit group obtained by the division, and a line-at-a-time timing circuit. The first and second display voltage generating circuits are operated in parallel to combine the outputs thereof with one another, thereby to generate a gray scale displaying voltage.

The present invention relates to a drive circuit of an image display and a method of driving the same, and more particularly to a display, such as a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, and an EL display, which is suitable for displaying a gray scale of high picture quality with a simple circuit, and a method of driving the same.
As for a technology of displaying a gray scale in the prior art display, there is given JP-A-2-264294. A circuit portion and a performance chart which are directly related to the present invention are shown in FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B, respectively. In those figures, a reference numeral 100 designates an analog gate, a reference numeral 101 designates a holding capacitor, a reference numeral 102 designates an output buffer circuit, and a reference numeral 103 designates a level shifter.
As shown in this well known example, a step-like voltage As for determining brightness of a liquid crystal panel has voltage levels corresponding to only the number of gradations in brightness for being displayed on a display panel, e.g., 16 gradations.
That voltage is latched through the analog gate 100 in accordance with a timing signal Rpw(i). In this case, the gate 100 holds the voltage As at the rise of the timing signal Rpw(i). Since the pulse width of the above timing signal Rpw(i) is changed depending on the gradation information, the voltage at the analog gate 100 is changed. Thus, it is possible to display the gray scale.
In the above scheme, especially when the display panel is driven, the smaller circuit is available, as compared with any other scheme. However, the number of gradations in brightness become more than or equal to 16 and the duty ratio of the drive becomes small. That is, when the number of scanning lines increases, the drive time per gradation becomes short, and thus the analog gate 100 needs to be operated at high speed. As a result, not only the power consumption of the circuit increases, but also the noise from the timing signal Rpw(i) as the output signal of the level shifter 103 is superimposed on the output of the analog gate 100. As a result, the display of the display panel becomes nonuniform, and further a fixed noise pattern is generated.

Display and the method of driving the same


An oral antiparkinson drug delivery system consisting of carbidopa and levodopa in immediate and sustained release compartments provides a significant clinical advantage over currently available carbidopa-levodopa preparations.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an improvement in the treatment of Parkinson""s disease and related disorders. More specifically, the present invention introduces novel formulations of the combination carbidopa and levodopa, the current mainstay of therapy.
2. Background and Prior Art
Parkinson""s disease is associated with the depletion of dopamine from cells in the corpus striatum. Since dopamine does not cross the blood brain barrier and cannot therefore be used to treat Parkinson""s disease, its immediate precursor, levodopa, is used instead because it penetrates the brain where it is decarboxylated to dopamine. But levodopa is also decarboxylated to dopamine in peripheral tissues and consequently only a small portion of administered levodopa is transported unchanged to the brain. This reaction can be blocked by carbidopa which inhibits decarboxylation of peripheral levodopa but cannot itself cross the blood brain barrier and has no effect on the metabolism of levodopa in the brain.
The combination of carbidopa and levodopa is considered to be the most effective treatment for symptoms of Parkinson""s disease (The Medical Letter, 35:31-34, 1993). Nevertheless, certain limitations become apparent within two to five years of initiating combination therapy. As the disease progresses, the benefit from each dose becomes shorter (xe2x80x9cthe wearing off effectxe2x80x9d) and some patients fluctuate unpredictably between mobility and immobility (xe2x80x9cthe on-off effectxe2x80x9d). xe2x80x9cOnxe2x80x9d periods are usually associated with high plasma levodopa concentrations and often include abnormal involuntary movements, i.e., dyskinesias. xe2x80x9cOffxe2x80x9d periods have been correlated with low plasma levodopa and bradykinetic episodes.
In an effort to reduce the occurrence of xe2x80x9cwearing offxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9con-offxe2x80x9d phenomena, a controlled release oral dosage combination was introduced with claims of slow and simultaneous release of carbidopa and levodopa from the formulation (U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,755 issued Feb. 13, 1990). Data from clinical trials cited in the patent indicate that effective antiparkinson effects were achieved with fewer daily doses of the controlled release form as compared with the conventional combination.
Nevertheless, there remains a significant flaw in the therapeutic application of controlled release carbidopa-levodopa; that is the considerable delay in onset of action. Mean time to peak concentration in healthy elderly subjects was found to be two hours for controlled release carbidopa-levodopa and only 0.5 hours for the conventional form (Physicians Desk Ref., 47th Ed., p. 976, 1993). A controlled release dosage form that could also provide rapid onset of action, at least equivalent to that of conventional carbidopa-levodopa would have an obvious clinical advantage over current therapy.
The strategy proposed in the present invention is it to formulate oral dosage forms containing both immediate release carbidopa-levodopa and controlled release carbidopa-levodopa. Ingestion would provide rapid onset antiparkinson activity via the immediate release component followed by sustained therapeutic activity from the controlled release component.
It is the purpose and principal object of this invention to provide an improved method for the treatment of Parkinson""s disease by using novel formulations of the combination carbidopa-levodopa which a) are effective in preventing the symptoms of Parkinson""s disease and yet which b) act rapidly avoiding significant onset delay common to the standard controlled release therapy.
The present invention concerns a method for treating Parkinsons""s disease using an oral dosage formulation comprising an immediate release layer of 10-25 mg of carbidopa and 50-200 mg of levodopa and a sustained release layer of 25-75 mg of carbidopa and 100-400 mg of levodopa whereby, following administration, carbidopa and levodopa are available for rapid and sustained therapeutic action.
An oral dosage formulation in the present method can be further characterized by a sustained release core depot of carbidopa-levodopa overcoated by an immediate release layer of carbidopa-levodopa.
Another aspect of the orally administering the dosage comprises administering a multilayer tablet comprising at least one layer of sustained release carbidopa-levodopa adjacent to at least one layer of immediate release carbidopa-levodopa. If desired, the layers in tablet are separated by an excipient layer.
Another aspect of the invention therefore concerns a pharmaceutical composition in oral dosage form for treating Parkinson""s disease, which comprises a combination of an immediate release portion of a combination of carbidopa and levodopa and a sustained release portion of a combination of carbidopa and levodopa and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle. The composition is effective in treating Parkinson""s disease. The dosage form is such that carbidopa and levodopa are available for immediate and sustained therapeutic action upon administration. The pharmaceutical composition can be in a dosage form that comprises a sustained release core portion of carbidopa and levodopa overcoated by an immediate release layer of carbidopa and levodopa. The pharmaceutical composition can also be in a dosage form that comprises a multilayer tablet which comprises at lease one layer of sustained release carbidopa-levodopa adjacent to at least one layer of immediate release carbidopa-levodopa.
In the pharmaceutical composition, in dosage form, an immediate release portion comprises about 10-25 mg of carbidopa and 50-200 mg of levodopa and a sustained release portion comprises about 25-75 mg of carbidopa and 100-400 mg of levodopa. The pharmaceutical composition in dosage form can comprise a sustained release core portion of carbidopa-levodopa overcoated by an immediate release layer of carbidopa-levodopa. The pharmaceutical composition in the dosage form can comprise a multilayer tablet of at least one layer of sustained release carbidopa-levodopa adjacent to at least one layer of immediate release carbidopa-levodopa.
The novel oral dosage formulations of the present invention each contain immediate release and controlled release components of the antiparkinson agents carbidopa (5-200 mg) and levodopa (25-600 mg). The conventional immediate release combination of carbidopa-levodopa reaches peak plasma concentrations in 30 minutes whereas the onset of the controlled release component is two hours followed by prolonged release over a four- to six-hour period.
The usual daily therapeutic dose of levodopa, when administered with carbidopa, is 300 to 750 mg and the dose of carbidopa approximately 75 mg per day but the latter is apparently devoid of adverse effects even at doses of 400 mg per day (J. E. Ahlskog, Hosp. Form., 27:146, 1992). Although the optimum daily dosage of carbidopa-levodopa must ultimately be determined by titrating each patient, a preferred range for twice daily maintenance therapy may include immediate release of 10-25 mg carbidopa and 50-200 mg levodopa and sustained release of 25-75 mg carbidopa and 100-400 mg levodopa.
Specific examples of these formulations are cited below. The amount and excipients listed can be changed through methods known to those skilled in the preparation of immediate and sustained release dosage forms. Some of these methods are available in Remington""s Pharmaceutical Sciences, 17th Ed., 1985, a standard reference in the field.

Treatment of Parkinson""s disease and related disorders by novel formulations of the combination carbidopa-levodopa


A porous weave of bioabsorbable filaments having an open mesh configuration is formed into an oblate shape having dimensions greater than the esophageal opening and gastric outlet of a stomach. The resulting prosthesis is deployed in the stomach and is of a size to be retained in the proximate portion thereof for exerting pressure on the upper fundus. The prosthesis limits the amount of food that may be held within the stomach, and exerts pressure on the fundus to create a sensation of being full, resulting in weight loss.

The present invention pertains to a resilient, flexible, compressible, biocompatible prosthesis insertable into the stomach to effect weight loss over a controlled period.
The incidence of obesity and its associated health-related problems have reached epidemic proportions in the United States. See, for example, P. C. Mun et al., xe2x80x9cCurrent Status of Medical and Surgical Therapy for Obesityxe2x80x9d Gastroenterology 120:669-681 (2001). Recent investigations suggest that the causes of obesity involve a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, psycho-behavioral, endocrine, metabolic, cultural, and socioeconomic factors. Severe obesity is frequently associated with significant comorbid medical conditions, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, gallstones, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, pulmonary hypertension, and sleep apnea.
Estimates of the incidence of morbid obesity are approximately 2% of the U.S. population and 0.5% worldwide. Current treatments range from diet, exercise, behavioral modification, and pharmacotherapy to various types of surgery, with varying risks and efficacy. In general, nonsurgical modalities, although less invasive, achieve only relatively short-term and limited weight loss in most patients. Surgical treatments include gastroplasty to restrict the capacity of the stomach to hold large amounts of food, such as by stapling or xe2x80x9cgastric banding.xe2x80x9d Other surgical procedures include gastric bypass and gastric xe2x80x9cballoonsxe2x80x9d which, when deflated, may be inserted into the stomach and then are distended by filling with saline solution.
The need exists for cost effective, less invasive interventions for the treatment of morbid obesity.
The present invention provides a novel system for treatment of morbid obesity by use of a bioabsorbable gastric prosthesis placed in the stomach through a minimally invasive procedure. The prosthesis takes up space in the stomach so that the stomach can hold a limited amount of food, and preferably exerts pressure on the upper fundus to create a sensation of being full. The material of the prosthesis can be selected to degrade over a predetermined period and pass out of the patient without additional intervention.
In the preferred embodiment, the prosthesis is a porous weave of bioabsorbable filaments having an open mesh configuration. The prosthesis can be formed from a cylindrical stent, such as by reverting the ends of the cylinder and joining them at the center. The filaments preferably have memory characteristics tending to maintain an oblate shape with sufficient resiliency and softness so as not to unduly interfere with normal flexing of the stomach or cause abrasion of the mucus coat constituting the inner lining of the stomach. The prosthesis may be free floating in the stomach, but is shaped so as to be biased against the upper fundus, or it may be tacked in position adjacent to the fundus by bioabsorbable sutures.

Intragastric prosthesis for the treatment of morbid obesity


A method and circuit arrangement for the sensor-less detection of the angle of rotation of a synchronous machine without a damper is disclosed. According to the disclosed method and circuit arrangement, measuring signals are used which correspond to voltage jumps or pulses generated by a rectifier and the measuring data obtained are provided to a calculating device which calculates the position of the rotor from the dependence of the stator reactance, whereby premagnetization is set when the synchronous machine is started and a measurement is made on each field weakening and strengthening effect. The advantage of the invention resides in both its high precision and the fact that no additional analog current sources are needed to locate the magnet wheel. In addition, the magnet wheel can be located at any load.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and circuit arrangement for the sensor-less detection of the rotational angle of a damper-less synchronous machine, that is preferably excited by a permanent magnet and supplied by a rectifier.
2. Description of the Related Art
Because of progress in the areas of magnetic materials, power electronics and information electronics, synchronous machines excited by a permanent magnet are increasingly achieving importance in areas such as propulsion technology. They are distinguished over asynchronous machines in that they utilize simpler technical control structure and have increased efficiency due to very small rotor losses.
There is the necessity for a mechanical transmitter for detecting the magnet wheel position for executing control algorithms in a dynamically high-quality, field-oriented or magnet wheel-oriented control method. It is therefore the goal of many research activities to replace the mechanical transmitter by mathematical models or by utilizing physical effects.
Various methods for determining the position of a magnet wheel of a permanent magnet-excited synchronous machine are known.
Such a method is described in "Algorithms zur rechnerischen Erfassung der Polradlage einer permanentmagneterregten Synchronmaschine ohne Lagegeber" ["Algorithms for Calculated Detection of the Magnet Wheel Position of a Permanent Magnet-Excited Synchronous Machine without a Position Transmitter"] by M. Schroedl and T. Stefan, in the Proceedings (pp. 48 to 54) of the ETG/VDE Conference "Antriebssysteme fur die Gerate- und Kraftfahrzeugtechnik" ["Propulsion Systems for Apparatus and Motor Vehicle Technology"], held in 1988 in Bad Nauheim, FRG. There, the detection of the magnet wheel position of a full pole machine is performed by evaluating the induced voltage. Starting at a certain mechanical revolutions per minute (rpm), a permanent magnet-excited rotor can be used as a transmitter, because a voltage area indicator induced in a stator coil is generally connected with the wanted rotor position in an unambiguous way. In this case, it is permissible to allow non-sinusoidal induction distribution in the air gap. This induced voltage area indicator can be calculated from the terminal voltages, taking into consideration the ohmic and inductive voltage drops.
In this respect, it is disadvantageous that this evaluation can only take place starting from defined minimum rpm, because the amount of the induced voltage area indicator decreases proportionally with the rpm.
The chapter "Detection of the Rotor Position of a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine at Standstill" by M. Schr/e,uml/o/ dl, contained in the Proceedings, published in connection with the International Conference on Electrical Machines in Pisa, Italy, in 1986, reports another method.
In this method, the varied magnetic saturation caused by the permanent magnets is measured by means of electrical measurement signals. Because this type of measurement is reproducible, the rotor position can be exactly determined. The knowledge of the polarity of the magnets required for executing this measurement can be obtained by changing the magnetic operating point and measuring its effect on the impedance. In this case, the rotor position can also be determined with the machine stopped.
The disadvantage of this method lies in that the measuring process becomes very expensive because of the requirement for an additional analog current source.
The dissertation of H. Vogelmann, "Die permanenterregte umrichtergespeiste Synchronmaschine ohne Polradgeber als drehzahlgeregelter Antrieb" ["A Permanently Excited, Frequency Converter-Supplied Synchronous Machine without a Magnetic Wheel Transmitter as an Rpm-Controlled Drive"] (Karlsruhe University, FRG, 1986) also deals with a method for detecting the magnet wheel position.
In this case, a relatively high-frequency current, generated by means of the frequency converter, is superimposed as a test current on the actual useful signal. The basic idea here is that an electrical alternating signal connected in a defined (area indicator) direction in general also causes a reaction in the orthogonal direction because of the various inductivities in the longitudinal and crosswise axes. Such coupling does not occur only in the case where the alternating signal is applied exactly in the longitudinal or crosswise direction of the rotor. This results in a criterion, showing whether the signal is applied in the wanted defined direction or not. A prerequisite for obtaining exact measurement results is a permanent magnet-excited synchronous machine, having a salient pole characteristic, i.e., with dissimilar inductivities in the longitudinal and crosswise directions, such as with flux-concentrating devices.
The majority of permanent magnet-excited synchronous machines, however, are not produced as flux-concentrating types, but with a constant air gap and magnets glued on the rotor surface. This is a simpler construction technique and permits air gaps of approximately 1 Tesla, when high-quality samarium-cobalt or neodymium-iron magnets are used.
Thus, there is the disadvantage in the above-mentioned detection methods in that useful results are only obtained with machines having definite salient pole characteristics.

Method and circuit arrangement for sensor-less detection of the rotational angle of a damper-less synchronous machine, preferably excited by a permanent magnet, and supplied by a rectifier


A method of accelerated remediation or bioremediation of contaminated material such as manure-contaminated material is provided comprising generating a treated contaminated material entraining air stream at a velocity sufficient for entraining the contaminated material therein. The contaminated material is entrained in the air stream and is then microenfractionated to form a microenfractionated contaminated material. Finally, the microenfractionated contaminated material is treated with a least one chemical amendment and/or one biological amendment thereby facilitating the accelerated remediation or bioremediation. The chemical amendment can comprise either a chemical oxidizing agent, a chelating agent, or a metallic reducing agent. The preferred metallic reducing agents are zero valent iron, zero valent zinc, zero valent tin, zero valent manganese and zero valent aluminum.

The present invention relates to a method for the remediation of manure-contaminated material, and more particularly to a method for the remediation of manure-contaminated material treated with chemical amendments. It also relates to producing an enriched fertilizer from the remediated manure-contaminated material.
There are known processes for treating manure-containing soil. U.S. Pat. No. 3,939,280, for example, is directed to a process for treating poultry manure with acid, formaldehyde and urea to obtain a pathogen-free product suitable as feedstuff for ruminant animals.
As stated in U.S. ""208, poultry manure has been utilized for centuries as a soil enriching material because it contains an advantageous mixture of organic protein, inorganic nitrogen, fiber and minerals. The disposal of this material, which is collected in large quantities, poses a serious problem to the poultry industry. It is customary to remove the accumulated poultry manure periodically from under the cages and transport it to a disposal area some distance away. After drying and composting the poultry manure for a period of days or weeks, it is then used as a landfill, or it is sold as a soil builder. A major use of poultry manure at the present time is as a soil enriching agent, based on its inherent phosphorus content.
According to the U.S. ""280 invention, there is provided a process which comprises four critical steps. In step 1, to the poultry manure as collected in the poultry raising operation, there is added an amount of acid capable of adjusting the pH of the poultry manure to be less than 7.0, preferably about 5.5 to 6.0. Formaldehyde, or a substance that releases formaldehyde, such as paraformaldehyde, is added in step 2 and is mixed in the poultry manure, before or after step 1, to kill the bacteria present therein. As the third critical step in the process, there is added from about 1 to about 20 weight percent of urea, preferably about 2 to 10 weight percent, based on the weight of poultry manure, calculated as having zero percent moisture. The final critical step of the process is drying the product of step C to a condition suitable for storage, packaging and use, generally to a moisture content of less than 15 weight percent, preferably about 10.+xe2x88x92.5 weight percent. This final drying is conducted at a temperature below the melting point of urea, i.e., 132.degree.C.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,928,403 relates to treating poultry manure in the growing location with alum in an amount of from about 0.15 to about 9.25 pounds per bird raised. The alum-treated manure may also be used as an agricultural fertilizer.
The invention of U.S. ""403 is predicated on the discovery that treatment of poultry litter with the aluminum sulfate compound, alum, dramatically reduces ammonia volatilization from the litter. Results also indicate that alum, ferrous sulfate and calcium hydroxide effectively precipitate soluble phosphorus when added to litter, thereby reducing soluble phosphorus levels. Poultry litter is composed of a mixture of bedding material, manure, spilled food and feathers.
A need therefore exists for a method of remediation which will overcome problems associated with the above described prior art methods.
Applicants have met the above-described existing needs and have overcome the above-described prior art problems through the invention set forth herein.
Accordingly, a method is hereby provided for remediating manure-contaminated material. The method of the present invention comprises providing a mass of manure-contaminated material including in situ-formed bacteria and nitrogen-containing materials. The mass of manure-contaminated material is acidified to a pH of not more than about 7.0 without (a) destroying a substantial portion of said active bacteria, and/or (b) without liberating a substantial portion of said nitrogen-containing materials. Then, the acidified manure-contaminated material is particularized, preferably microenfractionated, as hereinafter described. The particularized, acidified manure-contaminated material is treated with at least one chemical amendment to form a treated particularized manure-contaminated material. Preferably, the microenfractionated, acidified manure-contaminated material is treated with at least one nutrient.
Preferably, acidifying of the mass of manure-contaminated material comprises neutralization. The mass of manure-contaminated material is preferably acidified with sulfuric acid and/or phosphoric acid and/or citric acid.
In a preferred form of this invention, the average size of the particularized, acidified manure-contaminated material is substantially reduced. Moreover, when the mass of manure-contaminated material undergoes microenfractionation, the average size of the particularized, acidified manure-contaminated material is substantially reduced as hereinafter described. Furthermore, the average surface area of the particularized, acidified manure-contaminated material is substantially increased. And, when the mass of manure-contaminated material undergoes microenfractionation, the surface area of the particularized, acidified manure-contaminated material is substantially increased as hereinafter described.
The amount of active bacteria, which is present in the mass of acidified manure-contaminated material, is substantially increased as compared to the amount of active bacteria which is present in said mass of manure-contaminated material. And, the amount of nitrogen-containing materials which are present in said mass of acidified manure-contaminated material as compared to the amount of nitrogen-containing materials which are present in said mass of manure-contaminated material.
Preferably, the chemical amendment comprises at least one nutrient. Additionally, the chemical amendment can be configured to activate the active bacteria so that subject method will proceed more expeditiously. Thus, in a preferred embodiment of this invention, the treated particularized manure-contaminated material comprises a fertilizer.
In one form of the invention, a method of using an apparatus is provided for the accelerated remediation of treated contaminated material. Treating of the contaminated material with at least one chemical amendment, with or without at least one biological amendment, can occur prior to, and/or during, and/or subsequent to, microenfractionating of the contaminated material. The chemical amendment can be at least one chemical reducing agent with or without at least one chemical oxidizing agent. For example, a contaminated material can be treated with at least one chemical amendment comprising a chemical reducing and/or oxidizing agent to form a treated contaminated material prior to microenfractionation of thereof. Then, an air stream is generated at a velocity sufficient for entraining the treated contaminated material therein, and the treated contaminated material is entrained in the air stream, and the treated contaminated material is microenfractionated under conditions sufficient to form a microenfractionated treated contaminated material such that subsequent accelerated remediation is provided under conditions sufficient for conducting said accelerated remediation. Alternatively, the chemical amendment(s) can be added during, or subsequent to, microenfractionating of the contaminated material. In any of the above-described methods, the accelerated remediation of the treated contaminated material can be facilitated.
The chemical amendment can also comprise at least one chemical reducing agent which is in the form of a liquid or a solid, preferably an aqueous solution, which is capable of acting as a chemical reducing agent for remediation or bioremediation purposes, particularly in the microenfractionation of contaminated materials of the present invention. These types of chemical amendments are particularly useful in the dehalogenation of halogenated hydrocarbons such as the difficult to remediate chlorinated hydrocarbons.
The chemical amendment of this invention can comprise a chemical reducing agent. Preferably, the chemical reducing agent comprises a metallic reducing agent. Preferably, the metallic reducing agent comprises a zero valent metallic compound. More preferably, the metallic reducing agent is a zero valent metallic compound comprising iron, zinc, tin, aluminum, manganese or other similar zero valent metallic compounds. Most preferably, the chemical reducing agent comprises a zero valent iron compound.
An activating agent can also be added to the chemical reducing agent to make the remediation with the chemical reducing agent more effective and/or efficient. Such activating agents are typically acidic activating agents, preferably organic acid acidic activating agents such as acetic acid, or inorganic acidic materials such as hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, or nitric acid. Other acidic activating agents may include aliphatic alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acids of the type RCHOHCOOH and the corresponding beta-hydroxycarboxylic acids RCHOHCH2COOH, complexing agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), nitrolotriacetic acid (NTA) and diethylenediamine-pentaacetic acid (DPTA) and amines, hydroxyl containing amines such as mono-, di- and triethanolamine and diamines, triamines, polyamines having complexing properties. Exemplary alpha- and beta-hydroxy carboxylic acids are glycolic acid, lactic acid, glyceric acid, xcex1,xcex2-dihydroxybutyric acid, xcex1-hydroxy-butyric acid, xcex1-hydroxy-isobutyric acid, xcex1-hydroxy-n-valeric acid, xcex1-hydroxy-isovaleric acid, xcex2-hydroxy butyric acid, xcex1-hydroxy-isobutyric acid, xcex2-hydroxy-n-valeric acid, xcex2-hydroxy isovaleric acid, erythronic acid, threonic acid, trihydroxy-isobutyric acid and saccharinic acids and aldonic acids, such as gluconic acid, galactoni acid, talonic acid, mannonic acid, arabonic acid, ribonic acid, xylonic acid, lyxonic acid, gulonic acid, idonic acid, altronic acid, allonic acid, ethenyl glycolic acid, and xcex2-hydroxy-isocrotonic acid. Also useful are organic acids having two or more carboxylic groups, and no or from one to ten hydroxyle groups, such as oxalic acid, malonic acid, tartaric acid, malonic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, and citric acid, ethyl malonic acid, succinic acid, isosuccinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, suberic acid, azelaic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, glutaconic acid, citramalic acid, trihydroxy glutaric acid, tetrahydroxy adipic acid, dihydroxy maleic acid, mucie acud, mannosaccharic acid, idosaccharic acid, talomucie acid, tricarballylic acid, aconitic acid, and dihydroxy tartaric acid.
The chemical amendment can also comprise at least one chemical oxidizing agent which is in the form of a liquid or a solid, preferably an aqueous solution. Preferably, the chemical oxidizing agent can comprise a peroxide, a permanganate, a nitrate, a nitrite, a peroxydisulfate, a perchlorate, a sulfate, chlorate, a hypochlorite, an iodate, a trioxide, a peroxybenzoic acid, an oxide, an iodic acid, a nitric acid, a periodic acid, a peracetic acid, a hydantoin, a triazinetrione, a hydroxide, a percarbonate, a superoxide, an isocyanate, an isocyanic acid, a bromanate, a biiodate, a bromate, a bromate-bromide, a molybdic acid, a dichromate, a chromate, a periodate, a chlorite, an iodate, or a perborate. More preferably, the chemical amendment can comprise any one of the following: aluminum nitrate, ammonium dichromate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium peroxydisulfate, ammonium permanganate, aquaquant sulfate, ammonium perchlorate, microquant sulfate, ammonium peroxydisulfate, spectroquant nitrate, barium bromate, barium chlorate, barium nitrate, barium perchlorate, barium permanganate, barium peroxide, cadmium nitrate, 1-bromo-3chloro-5,5 dimenthylhydantoin, bismuth nitrate, calcium hypochlorite, calcium iodate, calcium nitrate, ceric ammonium nitrate, ceric sulfate, calcium chlorate, calcium chlorite, calcium hypochlorite, calcium perchlorate, calcium permanganate, calcium peroxide, cerous nitrate, chloric acid, chromium trioxide, chromium nitrate, cobalt nitrate, copper chlorate, cupric nitrate, halane (1,3, dichloro-5,5dimenthylhydandoin),3-chloroperoxybenzoic acid, cobalt nitrate, ferric nitrate, hydrogen peroxide, guanidine nitrate, iodic acid, lanthanum nitrate, lead dioxide, lead nitrate, lead oxide, lead perchlorate, lithium nitrate, lithium perchlorate, lithium hypochlorite, lithium chlorate, lithium peroxide lithium, perchlorate, magnesium bromate, magnesium chlorate, magnesium peroxide, magnesium nitrate, mercuric nitrate, mercurous nitrate, mercurous chlorate, manganese dioxide, mono-(trichloro)-tetra-(monopotassium dichloro)-penta-xcex1-triazinetrione, magnesium perchlorate, nitric acid, nickel nitrate, mercurous nitrate, periodic acid, peracetic acid, perchloric acid solutions, Class II and III (depending upon centration), potassium peroxide, potassium superoxide, potassium biiodate, potassium bromate, potassium bromate-bromide, phosphomolybdic acid, phenylmercuric nitrate, potassium hydroxide, potassium iodate, potassium dichromate, potassium nitrate, potassium nitrite, potassium chromate, potassium dichloro-xcex2-triazinetrione (potassium dichloroisocyanate), potassium dichromate, potassium chlorate, potassium percarbonate, potassium nitrate, potassium perchlorate, potassium periodate, potassium permanganate, potassium persulfate, silver peroxide, sodium bromate, sodium carbonate peroxide, sodium dichloro-xcex2-triazinetrione (sodium dichloroisocyanate) silver nitrate, silver oxide, silver perchlorate, sodium chlorite, sodium chlorate, sodium nitrate, sodium iodate, sodium dichromate, sodium nitrate, sodium perborate, sodium perborate (anhydrous) sodium perchlorate, sodium percarbonate, sodium perchlorate monohydrate, sodium periodate, sodium nitrite, sodium persulfate, sodium permanganate, sodium peroxide, strontium nitrate, strontium perchlorate, strontium peroxide, thorium nitrate, trichloroisocyanic acid, zinc nitrate, thallic nitrate, uranyl nitrate, urea peroxide, yttrium nitrate, zinc bromanate, zinc chlorate, zinc permanganate, and zinc peroxide.
The contaminated material can comprise nitrated and/or chlorinated hydrocarbons including nitrated and/or chlorinated polycyclic materials, nitrated and/or chlorinated heterocyclic materials, and nitrated and/or chlorinated aliphatic materials. Exemplary contaminated compounds include chlorinated pesticides, TNT, and RDX.
Preferably, the accelerated remediation reaction is conducted aerobically or abiotically, and more preferably by an in situ abiotic process. The reaction can also be conducted methanogenically.
Generally, the means for generating a treated contaminated material entraining air stream at a predetermined velocity comprises an elongate drum having a longitudinal axis, first and second end portions, and a center portion. The drum is rotatable about its longitudinal axis at a predetermined rotational speed, and means extending outwardly from the drum are provided for generating the treated contaminated material entraining air stream. Preferably, the treated contaminated material entraining air stream comprises a plurality of air currents, and the air current generating means comprises a plurality of paddles extending outwardly from the cylindrical outer surface of the drum. Typically, each paddle comprises a base portion connected to the drum, and a blade portion. Each blade portion has a major surface oriented for generating at least one the air current having a sufficient velocity for entraining and transporting treated contaminated material upwardly of the rotating drum when the drum is rotated at the predetermined rotational velocity.
The treated contaminated material entraining air stream preferably comprises a plurality of intersecting air currents. Each of the intersecting air currents has a sufficient velocity for entraining and transporting a portion of the treated contaminated material upwardly of the air stream generating means. More specifically, the means for generating a plurality of intersecting air currents comprises a plurality of end paddles extending radially outwardly from the first and second end portions of the drum. Each end paddle can comprise a base portion connected to the drum and a blade portion. In this instance, the blade portion has a major surface oriented relative to the drum for generating an air current directed upwardly of the drum and transversely toward the center portion of the drum when the drum is rotated at the predetermined rotational speed. It also has a plurality of center paddles extending radially outwardly from the center portion of the cylindrical outer surface. Each center paddle comprises a base portion connected to the drum, and a blade portion having first and second major surfaces. The first and second major surfaces are oriented relative to the drum for generating an air current directed upwardly and rearwardly of, and transversely toward the first and second end portions of the drum respectively when the drum is rotated at the predetermined rotational speed. In use, the air currents generated by the end and center paddles intersect and combine to form the treated contaminated material entraining air stream for microenfractionating the treated contaminated material.
In a preferred embodiment, the treated contaminated material entraining air stream comprises a vortex-type air stream which transports the entrained treated contaminated material in a generally circular path. In this case, the end and center paddles can extend radially outwardly from the drum so that they are arranged in a plurality of helical longitudinal row. Also, the drum can further comprise first and second transition portions disposed between the center portion and the first and second end portions respectively. The first and second transition portions of the drums having a plurality of end paddles and a plurality of center paddles extending radially outwardly therefrom.
In another form of the invention, a method of accelerated remediation of treated contaminated material is provided. This method comprises the steps of (a) treating the treated contaminated material with chemical biological amendments for facilitating accelerated remediation thereof, (b) providing an entraining air stream having a sufficient velocity for entraining the treated contaminated material therein, (c) entraining the treated contaminated material in the air stream, (d) microenfractionating the treated contaminated material, and (e) discharging the microenfractionated treated contaminated material from the air stream so that the treated contaminated material will be acceleratedly remediated. The microenfractionating step preferably comprises homogenization and aeration of the treated contaminated material. The entraining air stream preferably comprises providing an entraining air stream including a plurality of upwardly and transversely flowing, intersecting air currents, and more preferably comprises a vortex-like entraining air stream. Typically, the step of providing an entraining air stream includes the step of rotating a drum assembly at a rotational speed sufficient for generating the entraining air stream. The drum assembly can include means for generating this plurality of intersecting air currents when the drum assembly is rotated.
In one preferred method, the treated contaminated material is contaminated with a hydrocarbon material, and the accelerated remediation of the treated contaminated material comprises accelerated chain scission of the hydrocarbon material. In another case, when the treated contaminated material is contaminated with hydrocarbon material, the accelerated remediation, typically employing chemical reduction. If the hydrocarbon contaminant is halogenated, a halogen will also be produced. A further instance is where the treated contaminated material is contaminated with hydrocarbon material, and the accelerated remediation comprises reduction of the total hydrocarbon material in the treated contaminated material.
In general, at least about 70%, preferably at least about 80%, more preferably at least about 90%, and most preferably at least about 95% of the accelerated remediation of the treated contaminated material is completed within 150 days, preferably within 120 days, more preferably within 90 days, and most preferably within 60 days. Moreover, the volume of treated contaminated material which is acceleratedly remediately treated by the method of the present invention is generally at least about 1500 cubic yards, preferably at least about 2000 cubic yards more preferably at least about 2500 cubic yards, most preferably at least about 3000 cubic yards, per day per apparatus. This is particularly significant in the case of chlorinated contaminates since most prior art systems cannot remediate these compounds even after years of trying to treat same.
The method of the subject invention produces high surface area treated contaminated microenfractionated material. The surface area of the treated contaminated non-microenfractionated material can be increased, after the microenfractionating step, as compared to the surface area of the treated contaminated non-microenfractionated material, by a factor of at least about 1xc3x97106, preferably at least about 2xc3x97106, more preferably at least about 3.5xc3x97106, and most preferably at least about 5xc3x97106. More specifically, the subject method can further include the step of discharging the microenfractionated treated contaminated material from the air stream and redistributing it throughout a soil matrix. In this manner, the surface area of the microenfractionated treated contaminated material is substantially increased. This is especially important when dealing with clay type soils.
Most prior art remediation processes cannot be conducted at ambient temperatures below 10 degrees C. However, when the method of the subject invention is employed, the aforementioned high degree of accelerated remediation can be maintained at an average ambient temperature which is not more than about 10 degrees C., preferably not more than about 7 degrees C., more preferably not more than about 3 degrees C., and most preferably not more than about 1 degree C.
One reason why the accelerated remediation of this invention can be conducted at the low ambient temperature conditions described in the preceding paragraph herein, is that the subject reaction is generates a more substantial amount of exothermic heat than known prior art remediation processes. Thus, the accelerated remediation is preferably conducted at an exothermic temperature measured within the contaminated material of at least about 5 degrees, and more preferably at least about 10 degrees, higher than an average ambient air temperatures of from about zero up to about 10 degrees C.
As for the treatment of the contaminated material with the chemical amendments, it is preferred that they are dispersed throughout the redistributed microenfractionated treated contaminated material thereby facilitating accelerated remediation.
Other preferred embodiments of the subject method include (a) locating an impervious undercover below the treated contaminated material prior to the microenfractionating step thereby preventing the chemical amendments from leaching into soil underlying the treated contaminated material, and (b) a cover over the microenfractionated treated contaminated material, the cover allowing substantial solar radiation to pass therethrough and into the microenfractionated treated contaminated material, thereby facilitating the accelerated remediation and preventing moisture from soaking the microenfractionated treated contaminated material and to prevent moisture evaporation from the microenfractionated treated contaminated material.

Method for accelerated remediation of manure-contaminated material


Wallboard and facing paper that provides increased mold resistance at lower biocide loadings. The biocide is: (a) an n-alkyl isothiazolinone such as octylisothiazolinone (OIT), a monohalo and dihalo substituted n-alkylisothiazolinone such as chloromethylisothiazolinone (CMIT) or dichlorooctylisothiazolinone (DCOIT), 3-iodo-2-propynyl-butylcarbamate (IPBC), chlorothalonil, methylene-bis-thiocyanate, or mixtures of two or more thereof; or (b) carbendazim and a second biocide selected from 3-iodo-2-propynyl-butylcarbamate (IPBC), diiodomethyltolylsulfone (DIMTS), sodium pyrithione, octylisothiazolinone (OIT), dichlorooctylisothiazolinone (DCOIT), and chlorothalonil.

Fungal growth is a serious threat to human health, and the potential costs for remediation or replacement of contaminated building materials are astronomical. Fungal spores, released from surface growth, are well-recognized as allergens, and additional concerns have been raised due to toxic byproducts of at least one species. According to recent studies by Gorny et al. (Appl. Environ. Microbiol., July 2002, p. 3522-3531), occupant exposure to various health problems, including those referred to as "sick building syndrome," is increasing. Further concern is being raised by human allergic responses, similar to that observed with fungal spores, to fungal fragments that can be released at much lower humidity levels (as low as 20%).
Paper and paperboard used in those building materials have been observed as the sites for such fungal growth. Typical moisture in paper, paperboard, and building materials is sufficient to maintain growth. The cellulose of the paper and paperboard, along with the residual contaminants within the fiber web, offer a sufficient food source that is enhanced by other building product components such as starch binders.
Since fungi can grow in temperatures from as low as 40° F. to as high as 130° F., most indoor conditions, as well as a large segments of outdoor conditions, will easily allow their growth. Although efforts have been made to use careful construction practices and humidity control to limit fungal growth, fungi contamination problems have been observed in regions such as the Northeast U.S. where relative humidity rarely exceeds recommended maximums, and building materials were not exposed to the weather. Atmospheric fungal spores provide sufficient inoculation of fungi to the materials, and added moisture from condensation or water damage makes the threat of fungal contamination more likely.
Homeowners typically see fungal growth in closets, along baseboards and on bathroom walls; removal of installed panels may reveal hidden growth on the backside. Areas with even minor water damage or condensation are often heavily contaminated. Growth is visible as dark green or black spots that can grow to a complete covering of the affected area. Many after-market treatments, usually based on chlorine bleach, lighten the spots. Such treatments tend to damage the paint or coating after multiple treatments and do not prevent return of fungi.
Gypsum panels are used for drywall building products and are in heavy use for residential, educational, and commercial buildings. Gypsum panels are used primarily for interior wall and ceiling construction, and some specialty panels are used in exterior applications. Even though fungal contamination can come from the gypsum core, made of calcium sulfate hemihydrates, the primary location for fungal growth on gypsum panels is the facing paper that covers each side of the gypsum core. Once installed, gypsum panels can make treatment and/or remediation extremely difficult and expensive, as fungal contamination may be enclosed and inaccessible.
Current methods used to render gypsum board mold-resistant per industry metrics generally require the use of high levels of antimicrobial agents in the cellulose-based facing paper. Also, fixatives, such as cationic fixatives, are generally needed to enhance the efficacy of the antimicrobial when it is added to the wet-end of the paper-making process. In addition, antimicrobials sometimes also need to be added to the gypsum core to further enhance mold-resistance. The use of high antimicrobial loadings in gypsum board is commercially undesirable for a number of reasons, cost being the primary consideration. In addition, production difficulties often arise when attempting to use high levels of antimicrobials.
Thiabendazole, zinc pyrithione, and diiodomethyltolylsulfone (DIMTS) have been applied commercially in mold-resistant paper facers for use in gypsum board. Thiabendazole (TBZ) and zinc pyrithione (ZPT) have been replaced predominately by DIMTS and the technology described in US20060169431A1, which is incorporated herein by reference. Commercially practiced loadings for DIMTS-treated paper used for gypsum wallboard are generally on the order of 700-1000 ppm. Sodium pyrithione, a highly water-soluble antimicrobial, is sometimes used to treat the gypsum core of mold-resistant wallboard.
A continuing need exists for wallboard materials that provide enhanced mold resistance and that require lower biocide loadings.


An ejector mechanism (10, 110, 210) is disclosed for use with a connector apparatus which includes a housing (12, 112, 212) into which an IC pack is loaded and from which it is ejected. The three part ejector mechanism also includes a one-piece eject lever (14, 114, 214) and a one-piece actuator (16, 116, 216). The eject lever is pivotally mounted on the housing for ejecting the IC pack from the housing. The actuator is movably mounted within an integrally molded channel (34, 138, 234) on the housing and is engageable with the eject lever to effect actuation thereof. Complementary interengaging portions of the housing, the eject lever and the actuator cooperate to effect the relative movements therebetween without the need of extraneous components.

Header connectors are used with memory cards or IC packs and are provided with various attachments, such as means for facilitating ejection of the IC pack or memory card for replacement or temporary removal. The header connector is used for interconnecting terminals and internal circuitry of the IC pack or memory card to the traces of a substrate such as for a main electronic unit. The IC pack is inserted into the header connector and is extracted therefrom as needed. The extraction force of the IC pack, i.e. the force between the respective terminal pins on the header connector and the respective terminals of the IC pack, is relatively high due to the tight fit required to obtain a good electrical interconnection between the terminals. These terminals typically are disposed at a high density which increases the extraction forces further. Often, when an IC pack is to be extracted from a header assembly, the card is grasped by a user and pulled out.
Consequently, a variety of ejecting mechanisms have been incorporated in various connector apparatus for facilitating ejecting an IC pack from a header connector. One of the problems with prior ejecting mechanisms is that they typically consist of multi-piece designs including springs, cams and sliders and either are costly to assemble or require special features on the card or header assembly. There is a definite need for a simple, low cost, easy to assemble IC pack ejector mechanism of the character described.
This invention is directed to solving the above problems and satisfying the need for a very simple and low cost ejecting system of the character described.

Ejector system for an IC pack connector apparatus