A hydrant valve assembly including a spool member having at least one spool seal which is at times under extremely high pressure tending to cause the seal to be displaced from an associated recess, the spool member forming venting passages in the seal recess to alleviate seal pressure, the invention also including a new wet pipe design and a new collar design.

The present invention relates to yard hydrants and more particularly to a hydrant including a spool design which reduces the possibility of a spool seal being displaced from the spool.
A yard hydrant is installed on water systems to provide a frost resistant source of water remote from a heated building. An exemplary hydrant includes a hydrant valve, a dry pipe, a wet pipe and an activation handle. The hydrant valve includes both a valve housing and a spool member positioned within the housing. The housing forms an inlet or supply port, a drain port, and an opening to accept the spool and seals. The spool member forms an inlet opening or passage, an outlet opening and a passageway between the inlet and outlet openings. The hydrant valve is buried below the frost line and a water supply line runs below the frost line to the supply port.
The dry pipe is secured to the housing below the frost line and extends up to a comfortable operating position above ground level. The wet pipe is positioned within the dry pipe and is secured and sealed at a lower end to the spool member so that the member outlet opening opens into the wet pipe channel. The handle is mounted to the top end of the dry pipe via a collar and is linked to the upper end of the wet pipe for forcing the wet pipe and spool member secured thereto between open and closed positions via a lever handle action. The upper end of the wet pipe is also linked to a hydrant outlet spigot.
Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary collar 10 for mounting the handle (not illustrated) to a dry pipe 12 is typically generally cylindrical. To enable easy collar casting the cross section of a collar wall has a frusto-conical shape (i.e. is essentially cone shaped). The angled wall sides are required to allow necessary draft in a sand casting process. The collar 10 is mounted to the dry pipe 12 by sliding the collar 10 onto the top end of the dry pipe 12 and threading a locking set screw 14 through a threaded collar aperture 16 which is perpendicular to a central collar axis 18. The inner end 20 of the screw contacts an external surface 22 of the dry pipe 12 and clamps the pipe 12 between the inner end 20 and a point 26 on a facing portion 24 of the collar opposite the collar aperture 16. The handle is linked to the collar via a collar extension (not illustrated).
The hydrant valve is a 2-position, 3-way valve having closed and open positions. In the open position the spool member is positioned such that the inlet passage is closed to the drain port and is open to the housing inlet or supply port to supply water flow to the spool member outlet, the wet pipe and the hydrant outlet.
To turn off the hydrant, an operator causes the valve to assume the closed position by forcing the handle downward to force the wet pipe and spool member downward. In the closed position the spool member is positioned such that the inlet passage is closed to the supply port and is open to the drain port. This allows any water in the wet pipe to drain below the frost line, and prevents water from freezing within the hydrant in cold climates.
To provide watertight seals, the hydrant valve is equipped with elastic seals, typically elastomeric O-rings, which seal the inlet closed when the valve is in the closed position and seal the drain port closed when the valve is in the open position. To this end the housing includes an internal surface and the spool member includes an external surface. The external surface forms recesses for receiving the seals which seal between the internal and external surfaces and move along the internal surface as the valve is opened or closed.
To ensure that the valve is opened and closed as the activation handle is manipulated, the wet pipe is formed of a rigid metallic material which essentially does not bend under the force required to manipulate the valve even when the hydrant must be over 10 feet long.
Unfortunately, while the hydrant design described above does perform he basic functions required of a yard hydrant, the design does have several shortcomings. First, this hydrant design cannot be used with water systems which provide high supply pressure without the use of an expensive pressurereducing valve. Water system pressures have been climbing because high pressure is desirable for many reasons. For example, often high pressure is required to fight fires. In the industrial and agricultural industries, including irrigation, high pressure water systems are advantageous for rapidly supplying water. Often, water system pressure is not controlled by an end user but is rather controlled by a water utility. Water utilities are often required to supply high pressure water at lower elevations or geographically immediate locations to have any reasonable pressure available at high elevation or geographically remote locations. When a high pressure supply line is linked to a hydrant valve often the valve seals can be inadvertently forced from their recesses. For example, while a valve is opened the hydrant outlet may be blocked causing pressure to build within the wet pipe and valve. If the valve is closed prior to relieving the wet pipe pressure, the pressure in the wet pipe is placed on one of the seals during the closing process. This extreme pressure often causes the seal to become unseated.
While a seal may fortuitously find its way back into its recess, often the seal does not and the entire spool member has to be removed to reseat the seal. Typically the seal is lost in the drain. The reseating task is time consuming and in many cases is exacerbated in frigid weather.
Second, the metal wet pipe is relatively expensive and therefore objectionable as the pipe costs increase the overall costs of the yard hydrant.
Third, it should be appreciated from FIG. 1 that the collar 10 provides very little resistance to collar rotation generally and specifically about an axis from the inner end 20 to a contact point 26. This minimal resistance results in handle rocking and can affect the stroke length required to open and close the valve.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a new hydrant design which minimizes the possibility of unseated seals, which has a secure handle mounting collar, and which is relatively inexpensive.


A lithium-ion battery package can include flexible foil, a first conductor patch exposed on the flexible foil, a second conductor patch exposed on the flexible foil, a folded orientation of the flexible foil that includes a contact between the first conductor patch and the second conductor patch, and an expanded orientation of the flexible foil that includes a space between the first conductor patch and the second conductor patch. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.

Electrochemical cells include, for example, lithium-ion cells. Such cells can be repeatedly charged and discharged. Cycling of cells can be accompanied by gas generation. Where a cell is contained in a package, heating or generation of gas can make the package swell. Where a package is received by an electronic device or system, such an increase in volume may result in damage to the device or system. Various technologies and techniques described herein may address gas generation and optionally other aspects of electrochemical cell operations.


A system for processing a heterogeneous material includes a conduit for a pressurized fluid and a nozzle assembly in fluid communication with the conduit. The nozzle assembly includes a plurality of adjustable nozzles configured such that fluid streams passing through each nozzle intersect at an oblique angle after passing through the nozzles. At least one of the fluid streams comprises a heterogeneous material. A method of processing a heterogeneous material includes entraining heterogeneous particles into at least one fluid stream, passing the fluid stream through an adjustable nozzle, impacting the fluid stream with another fluid stream at an oblique angle to ablate the heterogeneous particles, and classifying the heterogeneous particles.

Heterogeneous materials, such as heterogeneous solid materials, occur naturally and may also be formed by man-made processes. For example, naturally occurring ores may include volumes containing a material of interest (i.e., a so-called "bearing fraction"), such as a metal or a mineral, mixed with volumes not containing the material of interest (i.e., a so-called "non-bearing fraction"). Recovery of the material of interest generally requires physical or chemical separation of the bearing fraction from the non-bearing fraction. Chemical separation may require reagents (e.g., cyanide, acids, carbonates), which may be expensive or raise environmental challenges.
As one example of a heterogeneous material, uranium is typically found in nature as uranium ore. Low-grade uranium ore may contain any form of uranium-containing compounds in concentrations up to about 5 lbs of U3O8 equivalent per ton of ore (about 2.5 kg of U3O8 equivalent per 1000 kg of ore, or about 0.25% uranium oxides by weight), whereas higher grade ore may contain uranium-containing compounds in concentrations of about 8 lbs of U3O8 equivalent per ton of ore (about 4.0 kg of U3O8 equivalent per 1000 kg of ore, or about 0.4% uranium oxides by weight), about 30 lbs of U3O8 equivalent per ton of ore (about 15 kg of U3O8 equivalent per 1000 kg of ore, or about 1.5% uranium oxides by weight) or more.
Uranium deposits may be formed in sandstone by erosion and redeposition. For example, an uplift may raise a uranium-bearing source rock and expose the source rock to the atmosphere. The source rock may then erode, forming solutions of uranium and secondary minerals. The solutions may migrate along the surface of the earth or through permeable subsurface channels into a sandstone formation, stopping at a structural or chemical boundary. Uranium minerals may then be deposited as a patina or coating around or between grains of the formation. Uranium may also be present in carbonaceous materials within sandstone. Uranium may be all or a portion of the cementing material between grains of the formation.
FIG. 1 shows a section photomicrograph of sandstone formations from the Shirley Basin in central Wyoming. As shown in FIG. 1, uranium-bearing sandstone 10 may include various constituents. In general, oversize material 12 may be defined as relatively large particles or fragments, such as homogeneous particles of host rock. Oversize material 12 may also be defined as particles larger than can be processed in a particular processing system. For example, in some sandstone 10, oversize material 12 may include cobbles and stones arbitrarily defined as material having an average diameter larger than about 0.25 inch (in.) (6.35 mm). Oversize materials 12 in sandstone 10 generally do not contain much uranium. Grains 14 may generally be defined as particles or fragments smaller than oversize material 12. Grains 14 may include particles having diameters from about 400-mesh (i.e., about 0.0015 in. or about 0.037 mm) to about 0.25 in. (6.35 mm), and may include quartz or feldspar. Grains 14 in sandstone 10 do not typically contain much uranium, but uranium may be formed around the grains 14 due to deposition. Fines may be generally defined as particles disposed among the oversize material 12 and the grains 14, and may include materials also found in the grains 14 and oversized material 12, such as uranium, quartz, feldspar, etc. Fines may cement the oversize material 12 and the grains 14 into a solid mass. Fines in uranium-bearing sandstone 10 (e.g., particles smaller than about 400-mesh) may include light fines 16 and heavy fines 18. Light fines 16 generally have a specific gravity up to about 4.0 with reference to water, whereas heavy fines 18 have a specific gravity greater than about 4.0. Uranium compounds are generally components of the heavy fines 18, but may also be a part of light fines 16 in the form of deposits on carbonaceous materials. For example, uraninite has a specific gravity from about 6.5 to about 10.95, depending on its degree of oxidation, and coffinite has a specific gravity of about 5.4. Both light fines 16 and heavy fines 18 may be bound to grains 14 in the sandstone 10. In the sandstone 10, the oversize material 12, grains 14, light fines 16, and heavy fines 18 may be combined into a single mass.
Uranium may conventionally be recovered through in-situ recovery (ISR), also known in the art as in-situ leaching (ISL) or solution mining. In ISR, a leachate or lixiviant solution is pumped into an ore formation through a well. The solution permeates the formation and dissolves a portion of the ore. The solution is extracted through another well and processed to recover the uranium. Reagents used to dissolve uranium of the ore may include an acid or carbonate. ISR may have various environmental and operational concerns, such as mobilization of uranium or heavy metals into aquifers, footprint of surface operations, interconnection of wells, etc. ISR typically requires particular reagents, which must be supplied, recovered, and treated. Because ISR relies on the subsurface transport of a solution, ISR cannot generally be used in formations that are impermeable or shallow.
Uranium may also conventionally be mined in underground mines or surface mines (e.g., strip mines, open-pit mines, etc.). During such mining activities, it may be necessary to process large quantities of material having a concentration of uranium too low for economic recovery by conventional processes. Such material (e.g., overburden) may be treated as waste or as a material for use in mine reclamation. Conventional mining may produce significant amounts of such low-concentration material, which may require treatment during or subsequent to mining operations. It would therefore be advantageous to provide a method of uranium recovery that minimizes or alleviates these concerns.

Devices, systems, and methods for processing heterogeneous materials


As disclosed herein, a video game apparatus has a base unit and an auxiliary memory unit connectable thereto. The base unit executes an application program to provide a video game and downloads a first application program and attribute data for executing the first application program to the auxiliary memory unit. The auxiliary memory unit executes the first application program downloaded from the base unit to provide a video game independently of the base unit. The auxiliary memory can also change attribute data, and the changed attribute data can then be received therefrom by the base unit and used to execute a second application program for providing a video game at the base unit.

This invention relates to a memory card device used as an auxiliary memory unit of information equipment, a video game apparatus having a function to store game data, etc. into an auxiliary memory unit, and a program providing medium.
A conventional memory card used in the state inserted into information equipment, etc. is caused to be of a configuration comprising an interface for connecting to the body of the information equipment and a non-volatile memory element for storing data.
FIG. 1A shows an example of the configuration of the main part of such a conventional memory card. This conventional memory card 80 comprises a control unit 81 for controlling its operation, a connector 82 for connecting to a terminal provided within a slot in the information equipment, etc., and a non-volatile memory 86 for storing data, wherein the connector 82 and the non-volatile memory 86 are connected to the control unit 81.
The control unit 81 is constituted by using, e.g., a microcomputer. Moreover, as non-volatile memory 86, a flash memory, e.g., an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), etc. is used. Moreover, there are also instances where, for a connection interface to the information equipment, etc., a microcomputer is used as a control unit for interpreting protocol.
FIG. 1B shows a control item in the control unit 81 of the conventional memory card 80.
As stated above, the conventional memory card comprises a body connection interface for connecting to the body of the information equipment, etc. and a memory interface for carrying out input/output of data with respect to the non-volatile memory.
Moreover, conventional video game apparatus as in the home TV game apparatus has a function to store game data, etc. into the auxiliary memory unit. The above-described memory card is used also as an auxiliary memory unit of such video game apparatus.
FIG. 2 shows an example of a conventional video game apparatus using a memory card as an auxiliary memory unit. A body 2 of this conventional video game apparatus (unit) 11 is accommodated within a substantially square casing, and is composed of a disc mounting portion 3 onto which an optical disc, which is a recording medium on which an application program of the video game is recorded, is loaded at the central portion thereof, a reset switch 4 for arbitrarily resetting a game, a power switch 5, a disc operation switch 6 for operating loading of the optical disc, and, e.g., two slot portions 7A, 7B.
Memory card 80 used as the auxiliary memory unit is inserted with respect to these slot portions 7A, 7B, and, e.g., the result, etc. of a game executed on video game unit 11 is sent from the control unit (CPU) 19 and is written into the non-volatile memory 86. In this case, plural operation units (controllers) (not shown) are also connected to the slot portions 7A, 7B so that plural users can carry out waging a war game, etc. at the same time.
As described above, the conventional memory card only comprises a body connection interface for connecting to the body of the information equipment, etc. and a memory interface for carrying out input/output of data with respect to the non-volatile memory. Namely, the conventional memory card only has a function as merely an auxiliary memory unit, and data stored in the non-volatile memory could not be utilized by the memory card alone.
In addition, the conventional video game apparatus can operate an application program only on the game apparatus body, and the game result, etc. can be stored into the memory card device used as the auxiliary memory unit. For this reason, the game result, etc. stored in the memory card could not be effectively reflected for a game executed at times subsequent thereto.
This invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a memory card device which can not only simply store data, but also download an application program to independently execute it, or to carry out cooperative operation while carrying out transmission/reception of its execution result between the memory card device and other information equipment.
Moreover, in order to solve problems as described above, another object of this invention is to provide a video game apparatus capable of downloading an application program of a video game into a memory card used as an auxiliary memory unit from the body of the video game unit, or taking therein the result of a game independently executed on its memory card to carry out cooperative operation to constitute a game executed at times subsequent thereto, etc., and a program providing medium for supplying the application program.
Namely, a memory card device according to this invention comprises a memory for storing data and an interface connecting to information equipment, and functions as an auxiliary memory unit of connected information equipment, the device comprising a program storage memory for storing a program, a control unit for controlling execution of the program, a display unit for displaying information in accordance with the program to be executed, an operation input unit for operating the program, and a power supply unit for supplying power utilized for executing the program.
Moreover, a video game apparatus according to this invention has a function of storing game data obtained by executing a game into an auxiliary memory unit, the apparatus comprising a program providing unit for supplying an application program, a communication control unit connected to a main bus to which a central processing unit of the video game apparatus body is connected, and a slot connected to the main bus through the communication control unit and adapted so that the auxiliary memory unit is detachably connected to the video game apparatus, wherein the central processing unit has a control function to download an application program from the program providing unit with respect to the auxiliary memory unit through the communication control unit.
Further, a video game apparatus according to this invention has a function of storing game data obtained by executing a game with respect to an auxiliary memory unit, the apparatus comprising a program providing unit for supplying an application program, a communication control unit connected to a main bus to which a central processing unit of the video game apparatus body is connected, and a common slot connected to the main bus through the communication control unit and adapted so that the auxiliary memory unit and a memory card unit are detachably connected to the video game apparatus, the auxiliary memory unit having a non-volatile memory for storing game data obtained when the video game apparatus body executes a game, the memory card device including a program memory for storing the downloaded application program, and a control unit for executing the downloaded application program independently of the video game.
Further, a memory card device according to this invention has an interface connectable to information equipment, the memory card device comprising a program storage memory for storing a program, a control unit for controlling execution of the program, a display unit for displaying information in accordance with the executed program, an operation input unit for operating the program, and a power supply unit for supplying power utilized for executing the program, wherein the program is downloaded into the program memory through an interface from the connected information equipment, and the program downloaded into the auxiliary memory unit and the program executed in the information equipment body are application programs which are different from each other.
Further, a program providing medium according to this invention provides an application program with respect to a video game apparatus (unit), wherein at least two different application programs are recorded with respect to the providing medium, and one of the at least two different application programs is an application program executed in the video game unit and the other one is an application program executed in a memory card unit connected to the video game unit.
In accordance with this invention, there can be provided a video game apparatus having a function to download an application program of a video game with respect to a memory card device (unit) capable of independently executing a program of downloaded application software or capable of carrying out cooperative operation while carrying out transmission/reception of its execution result between the memory card unit and other information equipment, and a memory card unit used as an auxiliary memory unit, or to take therein the result of a game independently executed on its memory card unit to carry out cooperative operation to constitute games executed at times subsequent thereto, etc.

Memory card device, video game apparatus, and program providing medium


A method for the manufacture of perfluorinated compounds is herein disclosed. In particular, the method is useful for the manufacture of perfluorooxyalkyl carboxylic acid salts which can be used as surfactants. The method envisages the fluorination or a fluoroformate of an alcohol comprising a —CH2OCH2-moiety at a temperature equal to or higher than 20° C. and allows obtaining high yields and selectivity.

Fluorinated surfactants have been long since used in emulsion polymerization process for the manufacture of fluoropolymers.
Traditionally, perfluorocarboxylic acid derivatives have been employed in said processes; however, due to environmental concerns related to the use of such compounds, fluorosurfactants comprising an oxygen-containing side chain have attracted increasing attention as emulsifiers. In particular, perfluorooxycarboxylates of general formula: RfO—CF2CF2—O—CF2—COOX, wherein Rf is a perfluoro(oxy)radical and X is an alkali metal cation or an ammonium cation have been considered.
Such perfluorooxycarboxylates were first disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,271,341 (E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS) Sep. 6, 1966. This document teaches a manufacturing method wherein tetrafluoroethylene epoxide is polymerized in the presence of a suitable free-radical forming compound (e.g. activated charcoal) at low temperature, resulting in polyethers having general formula: CF3CF2—O—(CF2CF2—O)n—CF2COF, with n being an integer from 0 to 10. Subsequent distillation affords various fractions differing from one another in their polymerization degree: corresponding acids or salts are obtained from the acyl fluoride derivatives by hydrolysis and, for salts, simultaneous or subsequent reaction with a base. Nevertheless, this process suffers from the disadvantage that a distribution of polyether surfactants is obtained, so that yields of single particular target compounds might be low and the separation Steps for isolating the same very burdensome.
Since then, a number of alternative methods for the manufacture of perfluorooxycarboxylates have been developed, for example those disclosed in EP 1164122 A (ASAHI GLASS CO LTD) Dec. 19, 2001, U.S. Pat. No. 7,053,237 (ASAHI GLASS CO LTD) Nov. 24, 2005, JP 2006321797 (ASAHI GLASS CO LTD) Nov. 30, 2006, EP 2058291 A (ASAHI GLASS CO LTD) May 13, 2009, WO 2007/140091 (3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY) Dec. 6, 2007, WO 2010/003931 A (SOLVAY SOLEXIS S.P.A.) Jan. 14, 2010 and WO 2011/003575 (SOLVAY SOLEXIS S.P.A.) Jan. 13, 2011
Some of such methods involve the fluorination of alcohols comprising at least one C—H bond and an ethereal oxygen atom; however, hydrocarbons containing functional hydroxyl moieties are generally unstable under conditions of traditional fluorination processes. Under such conditions, it is generally understood that compounds having hydroxyl groups decompose, with simultaneous release of HF and COF2, and subsequent formation of corresponding non-functional perfluorocompounds having one less carbon atom than the starting hydroxyl-containing compound. Therefore, such alcohols must be protected before fluorination, for example by conversion into esters of perfluorinated carboxylic acids or as esters of fluoroformic acid. Decomposition problems can be even more serious when the starting alcohol comprises a moiety of formula —CH2OCH2—, which is easily cleaved in the presence of HF developed in the course of the reaction.
In particular, EP 1164122 A discloses a process for producing fluorinated compounds wherein a primary hydrogenated alcohol is first converted into the corresponding ester, generally a partially fluorinated ester, as obtained by reaction with a (per)fluorinated acyl fluoride, and then subjected to fluorination in liquid phase. The so-obtained perfluorinated ester can be then thermally cleaved or decomposed with suitable agents, to obtain perfluorinated acyl fluoride corresponding to the starting hydrogenated alcohol.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 7,053,237 discloses a process for producing a fluorinated ester, wherein a primary hydrogenated alcohol is protected via transesterification and then subjected to fluorination in liquid phase.
However, the above described processes have the drawback that, in order to prevent decomposition of the reagents due to the reaction exothermicity, it may be necessary to operate under diluted concentrations both of fluorine and of the hydrogen-containing alcohol. Furthermore, to obtain a fully fluorinated product, a large excess of fluorine over the stoichiometrically required quantity, is needed. These conditions might negatively affect the reaction rate, yielding low productivity of the overall process.
Furthermore, as already mentioned, in order to reduce fluorine consumption, protection of the alcohol moiety as an ester is generally performed using suitable perfluorinated carboxylic acid derivatives, generally acyl fluorides, whose availability might be costly and induce further Steps for appropriate separation, recovery and reuse.
As an alternative, hydrogen-containing alcohols can be protected under the form of fluoroformates before being submitted to fluorination.
Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 3,900,372 (PHILLIPS PETROLEUM) Aug. 19, 1975 discloses a process for the production of perfluorinated organic compounds from hydrogen-containing alcohols. The process comprises protection of the hydroxyl moieties of the hydrogen-containing alcohol by reaction with carbonyl fluoride to yield corresponding hydrogen-containing fluoroformates. Said fluoroformates are then subjected to an electrochemical fluorination Step, and the resulting perfluorinated counterparts still possessing the fluoroformate functionality are subsequently cleaved by the action of fluoride ions under reacting conditions for yielding corresponding acyl fluorides. Further, it is known that perfluorinated fluoroformates can be converted into fluoroacyl fluorides with loss of carbonyl fluoride, easy to separate and recover.
However, electrochemical fluorination is a burdensome and energy-consuming procedure, which is generally less economically and industrially acceptable than fluorination with elemental fluorine. Furthermore, yields in electrochemical fluorination are known to be mostly moderate or even poor, especially if high molecular weight compounds have to be fluorinated.
Attempts to fluorinate with molecular fluorine certain fluoroformates were disclosed in GB 1226566 (MONTECATINI EDISON) Mar. 31, 1971; this document teaches a process for the preparation of certain perfluorinated polyethers wherein possible terminal groups of acidic nature, such as formate moiety, are eliminated. Conversion by severe heat treatment of a perfluorinated polyether having a fluoroformate terminal group into a fluoroacyl fluoride is also described.
According to WO 2011/003575, fluorinated compounds, in particular perfluorooxycarboxylates, can be obtained by:
A. converting an at least partially hydrogenated alcohol into corresponding at least partially hydrogenated fluoroformate compound;
B. reacting said at least partially hydrogenated fluoroformate compound with fluorine in the presence of at least one (per)haloolefin comprising at least one carbon-carbon double bond and having at least one fluorine or chlorine atom on either one of the carbon atoms of said double bond, to obtain a perfluorinated fluoroformate compound; andC. cleaving and hydrolysing the perfluorinated fluoroformate compound.
This method allows carrying out the fluorination Step under mild conditions, thereby achieving high yields and selectivity and complete fluorination of the starting alcohol without using large amounts of fluorine. In particular, this document teaches that, in the fluorination reaction, the reagents can be used even without solvents and that the temperature can be maintained in the range of −100 to +50° C., without observing decomposition of the reagents; in the examples, an acyl fluoride of a partially fluorinated cyclic ether which does not comprise a —CH2OCH2— moiety is submitted to fluorination at a temperature of at most 5° C. However, the Applicant has observed that, even in the presence of a (per)haloolefin, alcohols comprising —CH2OCH2— are still susceptible to degradation when the fluorination reaction is carried out at a lower temperature than 0° C.

Method for the manufacture of fluorinated compounds


Embodiments include apparatuses, methods, and systems including an electronic apparatus having a configurable sector cavity antenna integrated into a PCB. The configurable sector cavity antenna may include a first panel embedded within a first layer of the PCB along an edge of the first layer, and a second panel embedded within a second layer of the PCB along an edge of the second layer. The configurable sector cavity antenna may further include a fixed via wall to couple the first panel and the second panel along an inner edge of the first panel and the inner edge of the second panel, and a switchable via wall to selectively couple multiple interior points of the first panel and multiple interior points of the second panel. Other embodiments may also be described and claimed

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Mobile devices, such as mobile telephones, tablet computers, phablets, wearable devices, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, etc., typically include circuitry for electronic processing and for communication to transmit and/or receive signals. Such devices may also include one or more antennas used in the communication. Wearable devices may be smart mobile devices, e.g., smartwatch, fitness wristbands, which can be worn on a body as implant or accessories. A computing device may be a mobile device, a wearable device, or other devices used in computing. The designs of mobile devices and wearable devices often consider both practical functions and fashionable appearances. Antenna integration into mobile devices and wearable devices faces significant challenges in the design and the manufacturing and assembly process of such devices.

Antennas integrated into a printed circuit board


An image forming apparatus includes a first detection unit that detects an object in a first region, a second detection unit that detects an object in a second region larger than the first region, a control unit that, if the first detection unit detects an object in the first region, shifts the image forming apparatus from a power-saving state to a normal power state, a display unit that displays information indicating a state of the image forming apparatus, and a power control unit that, when the state of the image forming apparatus is an error state, supplies power to the display unit if the second detection unit detects an object in the second region and, when the state of the image forming apparatus is not the error state, supplies power to the display unit if the first detection unit detects an object in the first region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to control of an image forming apparatus that recovers to a normal power mode from a sleep mode using a human presence sensor.
2. Description of the Related Art
In these years, manufactures and users of single-function peripherals (SFPs) such as printers and multifunction peripherals (MFPs) having a plurality of functions are getting more environmentally conscious. Some of these apparatuses have a power-saving function, in which the apparatuses reduce the power consumption thereof by entering a sleep mode when the apparatuses are not being used.
Such an apparatus performs an operation for recovering from the sleep mode, in which the apparatus recovers to the normal power mode from the sleep mode when, for example, the apparatus has received a print job or the time has come. In addition, the apparatus recovers from the sleep mode when a user has come in front thereof to operate the apparatus and pressed a power-saving button for recovering to the normal power mode from the sleep mode.
Since the recovery from the sleep mode is not performed until the user presses the power-saving button and the operation for recovering from the sleep mode does not begin until the power-saving button is pressed, the user undesirably needs to wait for the establishment of the normal power mode in front of the apparatus.
Therefore, an apparatus capable of detecting whether or not there is a human body therearound using a sensor (hereinafter referred to as a human presence sensor) and automatically switching between the sleep mode and the normal power mode has been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-168588). Such an apparatus begins the operation for recovering from the sleep mode by detecting an approaching human body using the human presence sensor and enters the normal power mode before a user comes in front of the apparatus to operate the apparatus, and accordingly the user can comfortably use the apparatus essentially without waiting time.

Image forming apparatus, method for controlling the same, and program


A subterranean characterization and fluid sampling device includes a tool body, a probing module, and a permanent magnet. The tool body includes a fluid testing module configured to retain a fluid sample and an internal radio frequency coil disposed within the tool body and drivable to generate RF magnetic field B2. The probing module is coupled to the tool body and configured to withdraw the fluid sample from a formation and deliver the fluid sample to the fluid testing module. The probing module comprises an external antenna drivable to generate RF magnetic field B1. The permanent magnet induces static magnetic field B0. The permanent magnet is coupled to the tool body and external to the probing module.

Various types of formation and fluid evaluations are performed on oil and gas well before and during production operations. One type of formation evaluation is conducted with downhole nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) logging. NMR logging, a subcategory of electromagnetic logging, measures the induced magnet moment of hydrogen nuclei (protons) contained within the fluid-filled pore space of a formation. NMR can be used to measure the volume, composition, viscosity, and distribution of these fluids, for example. NMR logging is typically performed by specialized wireline or LWD (logging-while-drilling) NMR logging tools.
NMR logging tools are typically placed close to a wellbore wall to take NMR measurements. The tool body typically includes permanent magnets that generate a static magnetic field and an antenna or radio frequency coil for generating an RF magnet field and detecting the NMR data.

Dual zone nuclear magnetic resonance sensing device for subterranean characterization


An apparatus for determining the magnitude of heart muscle contractions has two ultrasonic transceivers, both of which are disposed in sonic alignment on selected points of the heart. A digital counter electrically interconnects the transceivers with a digital microprocessor. The counter determines a pulse transit time which corresponds to the difference in time between the transmission of a sonic pulse from the transmitter and the reception of the sonic pulse by the receiver. Immediately after determining each pulse transit time, the counter sends the transit time signal to the microprocessor, which first filters the signals to reject any signal which indicates a heart size that is unreasonably large or small. After filtering, the transit times are averaged in groups of a predetermined number and then converted to corresponding heart size measurements for storage and display.

It is well known that muscle contractions can be measured by attaching transducers to the muscle and detecting signals generated by the transducers that are proportional to the distance between the attachment points. One device that has been used for this purpose employs a transducer consisting of an elastic tube which is filled with a conductive fluid. To operate this device, the ends of the tube are sutured in tension to the muscle whose displacement or contraction is to be measured. As the muscle moves, the length of the tube changes and, consequently, the electrical resistance of the tube also changes. Unfortunately, such a device has the disadvantage that it must be sutured to the muscle. Thus, it is not able to respond well to very small displacements, or to displacements which occur within a short period of time. In addition, such devices are more prone to cause injury or trauma to the muscle during their attachment and removal.
Another device, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,937,212 to Fletcher et al., pertains to a miniature muscle displacement transducer. It senses muscle displacement or contraction utilizing a curved structural beam of high elastic compliance which is connected at its ends to two prongs. A sensitive strain gauge is bonded to the beam to generate an output that is directly related to changes in the beam curvature. As the muscle under observation expands and contracts, the prongs move and the beam curvature correspondingly experiences changes, which are detected by the strain gauge. No suturing is required with this apparatus. Instead, the pair of elongated prongs, which are oriented substantially parallel to one another and disposed in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the curved beam, have sharp tips that are insertable into the muscle. The transducer must be fabricated and calibrated, however, to correlate its output signal changes as a function of changes in beam curvature. Moreover, it measures lateral contractions, and due to parallel positioning of the elongated probes, is not well suited to measure displacement between opposite sides of the muscle, such as is required when measuring the ventricular muscle of the heart.
It is also well known that ultrasonic transducers can be attached to a muscle to measure the variations in distance between the transducers as an indication of the muscle's movement and activity. Such ultrasonic transducers provide increased sensitivity, and can detect very small changes in the relative positions of the transducers within very small increments of time. Thus, ultrasonic transducers are able to provide an effective real-time representation of muscle activity. Unfortunately, conventional methods using such crystal ultrasonic transducers require the tranducers be sutured to the muscle to assure the transducers are properly held in place. In addition, the transducers must be properly aligned so the ultrasound energy is adequately focused between the transmitter and receiver to provide useful and accurate muscle activity information. Other transducers using sonomicrometry (e.g. piezoelectric crystals) to detect variations in heart muscle movement, have attempted to solve the problem of maintaining alignment of the crystal transducers. Some have used various shaped crystals which have larger beam widths and greater sensitivity with which to overcome any misalignment. These devices, however, still require implantation in the epicardium using a securing ring. Such a device is disclosed in the article entitled "An Improved Transducer for Measurement of Cardiac Dimensions with Sonomicrometry" by Trigt et al., American Physiological Society, 1981.
Yet another genre of transducer is disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 383,205, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, which recognizes the need for a sonomicrometry system that can accurately measure heart contractions to monitor performance of the heart during cardiovascular surgery, and to warn immediately when a problem occurs. This invention provides for heart contraction monitoring without requiring suturing and prealignment of the transducers by attaching the sonic transducers to a transducer caliper for attachment to the heart muscle.
With specific regard to the heart muscle, the obvious desirability for relatively small sized transducers, unfortunately, is offset by the relatively low sound pressure levels produceable by these small transducers. Specifically, the generation and processing of meaningful electronic signals from low sound pressure levels is complicated. For example, the sound pressure level of the transmitted ultrasonic signal is on the order of one (1) microvolt. Furthermore, this signal undergoes significant attenuation as it crosses the heart and is occasionally undetected by the receiving transducer. Moreover, the detection problem is compounded by a relatively large amount of sonic background noise in the heart. Consequently, it is often the case that false detection signals are generated by the receiving transducer in response to noise, as opposed to a bona fide measurement transmission. These false signals are preferably rejected during the signal processing in order to present operators with more meaningful data. It will be understood, therefore, that given the inherent complexity of conditioning the relatively weak and often erratic heart measurement signals noted above, a signal processor is desired which can quickly perform relatively complicated signal processing of the signals generated by relatively small sized ultrasonic transducers. Relatively high degrees of processing speed and data flow rate are even more important in light of medically-based requirements for a high degree of heart size measurement accuracy, in addition to the requirement for a relatively large data flow. For example, it can be required that the transducer system suggested above produce 1000 heart size measurements per second, and that each measurement be accurate to within one-tenth of one millimeter. Accordingly, it will be understood that the speed and capacity of digital microprocessors make them attractive as signal processors for the kinds of sonomicrometry devices noted above.
In accordance with the discussion above, the present invention recognizes that a need exists to provide a heart contraction monitor which can process, store, and display a large number of measurements per unit time. The present invention also recognizes that a need exists to provide a heart contraction monitor which can recognize and reject heart size measurement signals that are unreasonably large or small. In addition, the present invention recognizes that a need exists to provide a heart contraction monitor which can control and monitor the pulsing of a sonic transducer system for measuring heart size. Finally, the present invention recognizes that a need exists to provide a heart contraction monitor which is relatively easy to operate and cost effective to manufacture.


The invention relates to a device for fixing an electrical connection terminal to a support having an opening extending between opposed front and rear faces, the device comprising: a bush for location within the opening of the support and provided with opposed front and rear ends between which extends a through-hole, the bush having a first deformation region configured for lateral expansion; a dowel configured for forced insertion into the through-hole so as to cause deformation of the bush, the dowel being provided with connection means engageable with a connector to facilitate the forced insertion of the dowel into the bush and to facilitate fastening of a terminal to the support; characterised in that the bush includes a second deformation region configured for axial contraction and lateral expansion upon forced insertion of the dowel in the bush.

The invention relates to a device for fixing an electrical connection terminal to a substrate.
Electrical equipment used in many different industries must be earthed, including for example, communications equipment on aircraft or signaling equipment on railways. This typically requires each item of equipment to be electrically connected by means of metal braids or earthing wires to a substrate such as the frame of the aircraft or a rail of railway. The ends of the metal braids or wires are received in terminals which are fixed to the substrate.
Fixing a terminal to a substrate may typically be carried out by means of a screw and a nut, the terminal being held tightly between the head of the screw and a surface of the substrate. In order to ensure good electrical contact between the terminal and the substrate, the surface of the substrate must be stripped of paint or other coating before the assembly of the screw and the nut. Once the assembly has been carried out, the stripped region of the support must be protected against corrosion. For the assembly of the screw and the nut, access is required to the two sides of the substrate during assembly.
EP 1 376 766 in the name of the applicant discloses a device for fixing an electrical connection terminal to a substrate comprising, for example, a railway rail. The device comprises a ring which is to be introduced into a cylindrical hole formed in the substrate, a socket for insertion into the ring and a screw for engagement with a threaded opening provided in the socket. When assembling the device, the ring is first positioned in the cylindrical hole in the substrate, and then a tensile force is exerted on the socket using a tool so as to introduce the socket into the ring with force, thereby causing radial expansion of the ring and locking of the ring in the hole. The screw is then screwed into the threaded opening in the socket, the terminal being held tightly between the head of the screw and the ring, thus making it possible to fix the terminal to the substrate and to establish electrical contact between the terminal and the substrate.
An advantage of this fixing device is that it does not necessarily require the surface of the substrate to be stripped beforehand in order to ensure good electrical contact between the terminal and the substrate. This is because the electrical contact is produced between the ring and the inner surface of the cylindrical hole which is made in the substrate. A further advantage with this fixing device is that it may be assembled without requiring both sides of the substrate to be accessible.
However, the paint or other coating on the surface of the substrate often cracks in the vicinity of the hole during or following the drilling process. These cracks expose the bear surface of the substrate to the elements which eventually cause corrosion in and around the hole. The corrosion can affect the integrity of the electrical and mechanical connection between the substrate and the connecting device. The front end of the ring is furnished with a radially extending flange arranged to bear against the front face of the substrate. If the connecting device is correctly installed, the flange should conceal any cracked paint surrounding the hole as it bears against the front face of the substrate. However, the connecting device is not always installed correctly in that the flange may not be pressed fully against the substrate as the tensile force is applied to the dowel. This leads to the creation of a gap between the flange and the substrate and therefore the cracked paint being exposed to the elements. Even when the connecting device is installed correctly and the cracks on the front face are concealed, this connecting device does not conceal the cracks on the rear face.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a connecting device and method of installation which addresses the shortcomings associated with known connecting devices by providing better protection against corrosion of the substrate.

Device for fixing an electrical connection terminal to a substrate


A frequency domain reflectometry-based bridged tap detection system for a telecommunication wireline employs a prescribed filtering operator, such as a xe2x80x98best-fitxe2x80x99 curve filter or a piecewise high pass filter bank, upstream of a Fourier processing operator, to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the digitized amplitude array of the swept frequency band. To fit the response tones within the dynamic range of the analog-to-digital converter that digitizes the response tones detected from the wireline, a signal conditioning circuit, comprised of a comb filter bank, envelope detector and compander, is installed between the test head and the input to the analog-to-digital converter.

The present invention is directed in general to wireline telecommunication systems, and more particularly to an enhancement of a frequency domain reflectometry (FDR)-based, energy reflection anomaly-locating mechanism of the type disclosed in the ""681 application, including the use of a precursor signal conditioning circuit for improving the performance of the FDR signal processing subsystem.
As described in the above-referenced ""681 application, telecommunication service providers are continually seeking ways to optimize the bandwidth and digital signal transport distance of their very substantial existing copper plant, which was originally installed for the purpose of carrying nothing more than conventional analog (plain old telephone service or POTS) signals. In addition to the inherent bandwidth limitations of the (twisted pair) copper wire medium, service providers must deal with the fact that in-place metallic cable plants, such as that shown at 10 in the reduced complexity network diagram of FIG. 1, linking a central office 12 with a subscriber site 14, typically contain one or more anomalies, such as but not limited to load coils (used to enhance the wireline""s three to four kilohertz voice response), and bridged taps 16, to which unterminated (and therefore reflective) lateral twisted pairs 18 of varying lengths may be connected.
Because these discontinuities cause a portion of the energy propagating along the wireline link to be reflected back in the direction of the source, at the high frequencies used for digital data communications (e.g., on the order of one MHz), such reflections can cause a significant reduction in signal amplitude, when (counter-phase) combined with the original signal, disrupting digital data service. To locate these reflection points, it has been conventional practice to employ interactive, time domain reflectometry (TDR), which relies upon the ability of a skilled technician to make a visual interpretation of a displayed TDR waveform, and thereby hopefully identify the bridged taps, and the lengths of any laterals that may extend therefrom. Because this process is subjective, it is imprecise and very difficult to automate.
In accordance with the invention disclosed in the ""681 application, shortcomings of a conventional TDR-based scheme for locating energy reflecting anomalies are obviated by stimulating the line with a linearly stepped frequency sinusoidal waveform, and analyzing the composite waveform response by means of frequency domain reflectometry, whose frequency bins represent distances that are integral multiples of delay, so that there is a one-for-one correspondence between the bins of a Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) and distances to the reflection points along the wireline.
The frequency domain reflectometry system of the ""681 application is diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 2 as comprising a processor-controlled test head 20 (such as may be installed in a central office, or included as part of test signal generation and processing circuitry of a portable craftsperson""s test set), coupled to an access location 21 of a line under test (LUT) 22 by means of a line-driver amplifier 24 and an input receiver amplifier 26. Line-driver amplifier 24 is coupled to the LUT 22 through source resistors 27, 28, each having an impedance equal to one-half the impedance (Zo) of the metallic line pair.
Coupled to the test head 20 is a control processor 30, that is programmed with an FDR test routine shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. 3. As shown therein, an initial tone generation function 31 generates a series of digitally created test signals, in particular a sequence of discrete frequency sinusoidal tones, to produce what is in effect a frequency-swept sinusoidal waveform. The swept frequency waveform may be varied in a linear, stepwise manner, for example beginning at minimum frequency such as 0 Hz and stepped in incremental frequency steps up to a maximum frequency. (Conversely, the frequency variation may begin at an upper frequency and proceed to a minimum frequency, without a loss in generality.) These tones are applied (via the line-driver amplifier 24 of FIG. 2) to the line under test 22.
As the frequency of the sinusoidal waveform is swept, the wireline""s response signal level at the test access point 21 is monitored (via the input amplifier 26), digitized by way of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 32, and stored in a signal measurement buffer (not shown). The amplitude of the measured signal response will exhibit a variation with frequency that is a composite of the fluctuations in impedance due to any reflection points along the LUT. In order to optimize the accuracy of the analysis, the response data may be selectively modified by a bandpass filter BPF 33, the center frequency of which is varied, or xe2x80x98slidesxe2x80x99, along the variation of frequency of the swept sinusoid being applied to the LUT. This filtering operation serves to remove any DC level and discontinuities that might cause spurious results, between start and end sample values of the data. The filtered data is then stored with each frequency step iteration, to produce a sampled amplitude array 34. A loss compensation function (LCF) may also be applied to the data set, to compensate the frequency response characteristic of the LUT for loss over distance and frequency.
The line under test can be characterized in terms of its resistance (R), inductance (L), capacitance (C), and conductance (G) parameters per unit length, which are available from tabulated industry-available sources for the type of wire. From these parameters, a frequency-dependent propagation constant xcfx84 can be derived as:
xcfx84=xcex1+jxcex2=((R+jwL)(G+jwC))1/2, where w=2Πf.
The real part of the propagation constant, xcex1(f), is the attenuation along the line per unit length. Since the envelope of a signal propagating along the line as a function of distance is attenuated by exe2x88x92xcex1(f)t, xcex1(f) can be determined.
The effect on the frequency response waveform is that amplitude decay is less pronounced for reflected signals propagating on shorter loops, since the shorter distance offsets the effects of the loss at high frequencies, due to the effects of xcex1(f). Since the actual length of the line under test is unknown, a compromise between the two extremes may be employed, to provide compensation for the overall frequency response waveform for all distances of interest.
In order to determine the coefficient of the exponential attenuation function in terms of frequency, it is necessary to reduce the number of degrees of freedom of the total loss function. Since the maximum frequency of the swept sinusoidal waveform is known, a priori, a loss compensation function based upon the mid frequency point of the sweep fmid=fmax/2 may be employed. As will be described in detail below with reference to the amplitude vs. frequency response diagram of FIG. 4, from this mid frequency, fmid, a corresponding resolution distance dmid is defined as:
dmid=Vp/4fmid
An xe2x80x98average lossxe2x80x99 value xcex7 can be derived as:
xcex7=exe2x88x92xcex1(fmid)dmid
The loss compensation function LCF can therefore be defined as:
LCF=exp((xe2x88x9221n(xcex7)/fmax)f).
This loss-compensated data is processed in accordance with a frequency analysis operator, such as Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) 35, which decomposes the composite line signal response into frequency bins associated with the individual reflectors"" frequency fluctuations.
Next, the Fourier transform-processed data is coupled to a tap decision operator 36, the output of which is coupled to a remote terminal unit 37. The tap decision operator employs a threshold established for the contents of the frequency bin data produced by the DFT, in order to distinguish between significant (useful) and spurious energy. The threshold employed may be is defined as:
Threshold(bin no.)=[(StartValuexe2x88x92EndValue)*exp(xe2x88x92bin no.*slope)]+EndValue.
The parameters StartValue, EndValue and slope are dependent upon the test head circuitry""s gain and swept bandwidth, and are empirically determined. A frequency bin is considered to contain significant energy, if its contents exceed the threshold for that bin number.
Any frequency bin whose contents exceed its threshold are subjected to waveform analysis of the type used in frequency domain reflectometry. For an arbitrary waveform v(t) that is the sum of two waveforms of some frequency fo, a minimum will occur in v(t) at some delay to of one waveform relative to the other. For a wireline cable plant, this occurs when a waveform vo propagating downstream along the wireline is combined with a waveform v1 reflected from an anomaly, such as a bridged tap and returning upstream along that wireline.
In general, the combination of these two waveforms can be expressed as:
v(t)=vo(t)+v1([txe2x88x92to])
v(t)=Vo sin (2Πfot)+V1 sin (2Πfo[txe2x88x92to]).
Since the downstream and upstream propagating waveform components have the same frequency, v(t) will have a local minimum due to destructive interference at some time delay to when the arguments of vo and v1 differ by Π radians. Namely,
xe2x80x83(2Πfot)xe2x88x92(2Πfo[txe2x88x92to])=Π.
Dividing this expression by 2Πfot and solving for to, yields:
to=1/2fo=To/2,
where the period To of the waveform is 1/2fo.
As shown in the decaying waveform amplitude vs. frequency diagram of FIG. 4, a null occurs at fo; nulls in v(t) also occur for frequencies fk, where fk greater than fo, and the arguments of vo and v1 differ by odd multiples of Π. If k is a positive integer, the nulls will occur when:
(2Πfkt)xe2x88x92(2Πfk[txe2x88x92to])=2Πfkto=(2k+1)Π.
Letting the period Tk=1/fk, then
2Πfkto=2Πto/Tk=2Π(To/2)/Tk=(2k+1)Π.
To/Tk=(2k+1)
Substituting To=1/fo, Tk=1/fk:
fk/fo=(2k+1),
or
fk=fo(2k+1), for k=0, 1, 2, . . .
The periodicity of the nulls can be seen by examining the difference in frequency between two adjacent nulls fm and fm+1.
From the foregoing, fm+1xe2x88x92fm=fo(2[m+1]+1)xe2x88x92fo(2m+1)=2fo, for m=0, 1, 2, . . .
This means that a linear sweep of a wireline having a single reflection point (e.g., bridged tap) will produce nulls in the frequency response at frequencies fo, 3fo, 5fo, 7o, etc., as shown in the amplitude vs. frequency response diagram of FIG. 4.
Denoting Fo as the repetition rate of the nulls for t=to in the frequency domain, then:
xe2x80x83Fo=1/(period of the null)=1/(fm+1xe2x88x92fm)=xc2xdfoΠ.
In general, the null repetition rate in the frequency domain Fn is given by: Fn=1/2fn, where fn is the lowest frequency at which a null occurs when the delay t=tn.
From the above relationships, Fo corresponds to to and, in general Fn corresponds to tn, and is the same as the round-trip delay of the signal from the wireline access location to the point of reflection and back. In order to determine the length of time required for the waveform to propagate to an impedance-mismatch reflection point, it may be observed that to is representative of the total time required for the downstream propagating waveform to be reflected back to the access location 21 at which the measurement is taken. This one-way delay ti=to. To determine the distance to this reflection point from the access location, the propagation velocity vp of the waveform along the wireline must be known.
In general, using xcex5r as the dielectric constant of the wireline insulation, c as the velocity of light in free space, and xcexcr as relative permeability, then the propagation velocity along the wireline may be expressed as: vp=c(xcex5rxcexcr)xe2x88x921/2.
Knowing the type of cable from industry available specifications allows the propagation velocity (typically on the order of ⅔ the velocity of light) to be readily determined.
The distance D from the access location to the location of the impedance mismatch reflection (e.g., bridge tap) may be given by the expression:
xe2x80x83D=tivp=vpto/2=Tovp/4.
Thus, D is proportional to To/4, which is one-quarter wavelength of the sinusoid waveform having a frequency fo. Substituting To=1/fo, yields D=vp/4fo.
Namely, the distance D is inversely proportional to frequency. This means that the minimum resolvable distance Dmin=vp/2fmax.
As pointed out above, the response waveform v(t) seen at the signal measurement point will contain components produced by a plurality of reflection points as:
v(t)=vo(t)+v1(txe2x88x92to)+v2(txe2x88x92t1)+v3(txe2x88x92t2)+ . . . vn(txe2x88x92tnxe2x88x921).
Since these components are associated in general with impedance discontinuities caused by physical characteristics in the wireline separated by varying distances from the source, the delays to, t1, . . . tnxe2x88x921, associated with these reflections will be mutually different, so that the values To/2, T1/2, . . . Tnxe2x88x921/2, and thus the frequencies fo, f1, . . . fnxe2x88x921, will be mutually different.
As fn is unique for each delay, then by identifying the various frequencies fn, the two-way delay times tn of a reflection from a wireline discontinuity may be readily determined. As pointed out above, once the time delay is known, the distance D to the impedance mismatch discontinuity (e.g., bridged tap) may be readily determined.
To determine the individual values of two-way delay time tn, a frequency response waveform a(f) produced by stimulating the wireline with a linearly swept sinusoidal waveform is formed of samples at discrete frequency steps of (fmax/N). For a radix-two buffer size of N points, the output of the DFT operation will yield values that are proportional to the magnitudes of the various null repetition rates Fk. If the maximum frequency fmax of the swept sinusoid waveform is 2fo, then the minimum resolution of the DFT is:
Minimum resolution=1/fmax=1/2fo=Fo=to (seconds).
Denoting the contents of frequency bin m as A(m) of the DFT of a(k), then the contents A(1) of the first frequency bin are the DC component of the swept response, while the bin m contains the magnitude of the null repetition rate (mxe2x88x921)Fo, for m=2, 3, 4, . . . N/2. Namely, the various energy bins of the response A represent the energy in a(f) associated with the different round trip time delays to, 2to, 3to, etc., and A(m) contains the magnitude of the waveforms delayed by (mxe2x88x921)to for m=2, 3, 4, . . . N/2. The contents of the bins are used to calculate distances from the wireline access location to the energy-reflecting anomalies. In particular, the distance DRP to a reflection point RP is determined by multiplying the one-way delay tRP by the velocity of propagation vp of the waveform. Namely, Dmxe2x88x921=(mxe2x88x921)tovp/2=[(mxe2x88x921)to]vp/2 for m=2, 3, 4, . . . N/2, so that there is a one-to-one correspondence between the bins of DFT and the distances to the reflection points along the wireline.
Although the FDR scheme described above works well for short to medium distance lines (e.g., up to wireline distances on the order of 15 Kft), it has been found that the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the processed response characteristic decreases dramatically for longer distances (e.g., on the order of 18 Kft and beyond).
In accordance with the invention, this longer distance-associated SNR reduction problem is successfully addressed by modifying the FDR processing mechanism disclosed in the ""681 application, to incorporate a prescribed precursor response filtering operator prior to the Fourier processing operation. As will be described, this precursor response filter may take the form of a precise curve-fitting operator or a piecewise high pass filter bank. In addition, the Fourier processing operator is implemented as a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) operator rather than a Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT). The FFT operator may in actuality comprise an inverse FFT operator (FFTxe2x88x921), since the input to this block is frequency data and its output is related to time (distance) data, and performing either of an FFT or an inverse FFT on the input data produces identical outputs.
The xe2x80x98best-fitxe2x80x99 curve-based precursor response filter of the first embodiment produces a response characteristic which very closely xe2x80x98fitsxe2x80x99 the decaying profile of the amplitude array along which ride the very small perturbations. This best fit profile is differentially combined with the original amplitude array to realize a set of more clearly delineated amplitudes along the swept frequency band, which are readily identified in the FFT to which the filtered data is applied.
The high pass filter bank of the second embodiment is formed of a pair of parallel high pass filters having Z-domain transfer functions associated with respectively different distance wireline segments. One of the filters detects discontinuities at relatively short to medium distances (e.g., on the order of distances up to 10 Kft from the wireline access location) associated with relatively low frequency components, while the other high pass filter detects discontinuities at relatively greater distances (e.g., on the order of distances from 10 Kft to 18 Kft and beyond from the wireline access location) associated with relatively high frequency components.
The outputs of the high pass filters are respectively coupled to associated FFT operators whose outputs are piece-wise combined to realize a composite characteristic that is effective to emphasize response components over the total distance of the two distance segments. A level-shifter may be used to provide for a relatively smooth coupling of the two FFT response characteristics.
Although each of the above embodiments enhances the ability of an FDR system of the type to extract very small amplitude signals particularly those of the higher frequency tones, and thereby locate energy reflection anomalies such as bridged taps along a relatively extended distance wireline, the ability to process such reduced amplitude response signals means that the signal processing system must have a very large dynamic range. This implies that the resolution of the analog-to-digital converter used to digitize the data values of the amplitude array must be relatively wide.
This dynamic range issue is handled by installing a signal conditioning circuit between the test head and the analog-to-digital converter. The signal conditioning circuit is comprised of a cascaded arrangement of a comb filter bank contains N band-pass filters, an envelope detector, and a compander. The envelope detector converts the output frequencies from the comb filter into DC levels corresponding to the amplitudes of the peaks of the tones. The compander increases the gain of higher frequencies, so that, given an exponentially decreasing input function, it produces a relatively linear output, with a more uniform representation in the input range of the analog-to-digital converter, as desired.

Detection of bridge taps by frequency domain reflectometry-based signal processing with precursor signal conditioning


A single hole single action aerosol can comprises, a can body having a lower portion and an upper portion, a valve housing, an inner sleeve having a suction tube and a plurality of plastic wings arranged around the suction tube, a detachable unit, a dip tube configured to discharge a mixture from the can body. The upper portion of the can body comprises a stem, an outer gasket, an inner gasket, a mounting cup, a spring and a nozzle. The inner sleeve having a chemical A and the can body having a chemical B. Further, the mixture configured to include chemical A and chemical B. Also, the inner sleeve is integrated with the suction tube for mixing the chemical A and chemical B and discharging the mixture from the can body with single action.

Aerosol spray is a type of dispensing system which creates an aerosol mist of liquid particles. This is used with a can or bottle that contains a liquid under pressure. When the container's valve is opened, the liquid is forced out of a small hole and emerges as an aerosol or mist. As gas expands to drive out the payload, only some propellant evaporates inside the can to maintain an even pressure. Outside the can, the droplets of propellant evaporate rapidly, leaving the payload suspended as very fine particles or droplets.
Typical liquids dispensed in this way are insecticides, deodorants, paints etc. An atomizer is a similar device that is pressurized by a hand-operated pump rather than by stored gas.
Modern aerosol spray products have three major parts: the can, the valve and the actuator or button. The can is most commonly made of steel or aluminum and may be made of two or three pieces of metal combined together. The valve is crimped to the rig of the can and design of the same determines the spray rate. The actuator is depressed by the user to open the valve; a spring closes the valve again when it is released. The shape and size of the nozzle in the actuator controls the spread of the aerosol spray. In other words, one of the most common type of aerosol containers includes a shell made of steel or aluminum, a valve, a "dip tube" which extends from the valve to the liquid product, and a propellant (a liquefied gas) under pressure. The liquid product is generally mixed with the propellant. When the valve is opened, this solution moves up the dip tube and out the valve. The propellant vaporizes as it is released into the atmosphere, dispersing the product in the form of fine particles.
Further, there are mainly two types of aerosol can i.e. one single component aerosol can and two component aerosol can
U.S. Pat. No. 7,204,392 discloses one of the advanced aerosol can which comprises of a body blank, a dome to accommodate a valve, an inwardly arched bottom, inner sleeve arranged at a disk, a tappet arranged at the inner sleeve to split-off the inner sleeve and the tappet being able to be actuated through the disk. The inner sleeve is connected via a spring cage with the disk, the spring cage having a spring-mounted release mechanism acting on the tappet. The tappet acting against a cover arranged at the can-side end of the inner sleeve and splitting it off when actuated, with a diaphragm being arranged between the tappet and the release mechanism. The diaphragm seals the inner sleeve at its bottom disk-side end hermetically against the contents of the pressure pack aerosol can. The purpose of this document is to provide absolutely tight unit formed by its inner sleeve against the contents of the pressure pack aerosol can.
Another improved pressurized dispenser for two-component aerosol systems is described in EP2013115B1. The disclosed system comprises of a cylindrical skirt, a valve disposed in a mandrel, a base and an inner sleeve arranged on the base, wherein the inner sleeve is provided with a cylindrical sleeve wall, a closure, a base element and a plunger, which is moveably disposed in the inner sleeve and whose end projects through the base element, and the base element has a guide for the plunger and a retaining portion, which extends through the base of the pressurized dispenser and is fixed to it, wherein the plunger cooperates with an actuation element arranged outside the pressurized container. The inner sleeve has at least one resilient zone for pressure balance between the interior of the dispenser and the sleeve space in the form of a heat sealing film, which has a material reserve in the form of a fold of material or a bulge which permits the heat sealing film to deflect inwardly into the interior of the inner sleeve under the influence of pressure from the exterior. The objective of the disclosed pressurized dispenser is to enable mounting of various parts on the inner sleeve easily and achieve reliable separation of the closure of the inner sleeve.
The single component aerosol can has not been discussed here for sake of brevity.
The aforesaid two-component aerosol cans and the existing single component aerosol cans consist of number of limitations and disadvantages. The traditional single component aerosol cans are not able to mix hardener and resin in a pressurized can and hence have limited performance. Further, the traditional way of using spray gun system or air compressor to mix 2 packs/2 parts/2 components of chemicals is tedious and difficult. In the existing two components aerosol cans the user is required to reverse the aerosol can upside down and press the mandrel at the bottom valve to break through or rupture the membrane of inner sleeve inside the can. Also, it is difficult for the user to determine whether the inner sleeve inside the can is ruptured upon pressing the bottom end and chemical contained within the can is discharged out properly or not. Due to this limitation, the user cannot be sure of obtaining the final result as a two-component product, of which one of the chemical inside the inner sleeve is not discharged properly to mix with other chemical in the can body. Further, the existing products requires direct filling into two different valves on dome and cone respectively.
Accordingly, there remains a need in the prior art to have an improved aerosol can which overcomes the aforesaid problems and shortcomings.
However, there remains a need in the art for an improved aerosol can which provides convenient method for mixing two-component chemicals and discharging the mixture with a one-hole aerosol can. Further, upon discharging of liquid, it simply indicates that the two chemicals inside the inner sleeve and the can body are mixed. Also, the improved aerosol can enables mixing of two packs or two parts or two components of chemicals inside a pressurized can.


A medical/veterinary procedure simulation apparatus includes a simulated mammalian body part. The simulated mammalian body part further includes one or more anatomical replications of mammalian tissue. The apparatus also includes an attaching substrate for fixedly attaching the simulated body part to a mammal or a model of the mammal. The apparatus further includes one or more sensors configured to provide a quantified measurement of one or more actions, pertaining to at least one medical procedure. The apparatus further includes a virtual reality system configured to receive one or more input signals from the one or more sensors. The virtual reality system is further configured to display at least one visual representation of at least one clinical procedure being performed on the one or more anatomical replications based on the one or more input signals from the one or more sensors.

Learning in medical and veterinary clinical skills frequently utilizes an apprenticeship model. The apprenticeship model has been a standard method for clinical education for decades and is aimed at providing hands-on experience to a learner. It is hoped learners encounter enough situations to ensure they become competent surgeons or medical practitioners. However, the standard apprenticeship model is limited in providing enough exposure, due to unavailability of varied cases to enhance skills, and in humans the unavailability of standardized patients who are willing to risk being treated by a learner. The standard apprenticeship model is also constrained by a specialization of a teacher or a mentor. Complications, arising out of these limitations, ultimately makes this a haphazard way to learn, and puts learners and patients at a disadvantage.
Simulation education offers valuable learning experiences that can be scheduled and observed; unlike in real life where clinical learning opportunities may not present when a student is available. Learners address critical thinking and hands-on skills, including knowledge-in-action, procedures, decision-making, and effective communication.
As clinical simulation in healthcare education continues to evolve, the use of standardized participants to improve skills, clinical care, and communication embodies this paradigmatic shift for training. High fidelity simulation has and will continue to play an important role in healthcare and veterinary care simulation, but in humans cannot take the place of direct human interaction.
Standardized participants with a wearable simulating device provide healthcare students and clinicians the opportunity to interact with a real person providing the most realistic simulation possible. The standardized participants are carefully recruited and trained to take on the characteristics of a real patient thereby affording the student an opportunity to learn and to be evaluated on learned skills in a simulated clinical environment.

Apparatus and method for simulated health care procedures in combination with virtual reality


The invention provides a nonmetal implant screw locking structure, which has the advantages of simple structure, novel design, simple production and processing, and convenient clinical operation. In addition, the structure of the invention can be used for orthopedic nonmetal implants such as the bone injury repair plate, spinal fusion cage, spinal fixation plate, posterior cervical single trapdoor plate, posterior cervical plate, lumbar anterior plate and lumbosacral plate, bringing good economic and social benefits gradually.

As everyone knows, the treatment of various bone fractures, bone defects or bone tissue degeneration shall promote bone growth and fusion, and orthopedic implants such as plates, connecting rods and screw systems are required. Many previous orthopedic implants are made of metal materials. These materials have many advantages: easy disinfection, good biocompatibility, and availability of necessary fixation strength to support or fix bone tissues. However, a metal material also has the disadvantages that its compression modulus is much higher than that of cortical bones, resulting in stress shielding, reducing the formation of new bones and causing osteopenia or osteoporosis, and there is the possibility of refracture. After bone repair, these implants no longer need to be retained during patients' activity time. The implants may be taken out, and some metal implants are also allowed to be retained in the body. When they are taken out, another operation is required, which will obviously eliminate a series of secondary operation risks: alleviate the patients' pain and discomfort, and reduce the chance of infection. New injuries caused by retreatment need to be recovered, and surrounding tissues are also stimulated while the implants are taken out.
At present, new researches have introduced newer methods and improved new materials, including nonmetal implants, which have been used to treat various bone fractures and bone defects and to promote bone fusion. These nonmetal implants can be retained in the body for a long time, some implants or parts of the implants are absorbed after a certain period of time, and there are new bones growing in. Also, since the elastic modulus of products made of nonmetal materials are very close to that of bones, the stress shielding for the growth of new bones is eliminated, the bone fusion and healing are accelerated, long-term retention in vivo without stress shielding leads to osteoporosis, so the nonmetal materials are more suitable for the fusion treatment of bone fractures, bone defects and degeneration. These new nonmetal materials have more significant advantages than metal materials. Of course, there are also aspects that need to be further improved. For example, the lower mechanical strength of nonmetal materials, the weak grasping force of nonmetal screws on bones and the lack of locking force of screws and plate products cannot meet the requirements for complete installation of product structure and stable fixation of bones.
Because of the above problems, the current applications of nonmetal materials in orthopedics are very limited. The invention improves the mechanical strength of materials by combination of different nonmetal materials on the basis of previous researches to meet the requirement for complete installation of nonmetal devices and improve their fixation strength of bones through different combinations of metal screws and nonmetal products with special design and surgical methods. Thus, the application prospect of nonmetal materials in orthopaedics is widened.
At present, the nonmetal implants available on the market are mainly locked by expansion, circlips or some metal materials. But such products are complex in processing, which increases the cost and adds to the patients' financial burden; moreover, the operation is cumbersome, the operation time is prolonged, and the risk of various surgical complications is increased.

Nonmetallic implant screw locking structure

Shanghai Reach Medical Instrument Co., Ltd.


A device for reinforcing vehicle fuel tank improves a structure of a rigid reinforcement pillar mounted in an enclosed fuel tank by maintaining stiffness of the reinforcement pillar in a state in which the fuel tank is under positive pressure and an engine negative pressure acts thereon as well as inducing breakage of the reinforcement pillar when a large impact applies, such as in the event of vehicle collision, thereby preventing a fused portion between upper and lower plates of the fuel tank from rupturing.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
In general, it is possible to meet regulations on emission of evaporation gas in a gasoline vehicle, since when an engine negative pressure acts on a fuel tank through a canister while an engine is driving, the evaporation gas in the fuel tank is collected in the canister and the evaporation gas collected in the canister enters the combustion chamber of the engine by the engine negative pressure to burn therein.
On the other hand, the evaporation gas in a fuel tank may not be properly collected in a canister in a hybrid vehicle, since an engine negative pressure due to the operation of an engine is unusable when only a drive motor is operated.
In order to solve this issue, the fuel tank of the hybrid vehicle is manufactured in an enclosed structure using a plastic material.
However, if the internal pressure of the fuel tank is increased due to an increase in outside air temperature, the fuel tank made of a plastic material may be deformed.
Accordingly, a rigid reinforcement member is installed in the fuel tank to prevent the deformation of the fuel tank.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an existing rigid reinforcement member installed in a fuel tank.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a reinforcement pillar 20 is connected between an upper plate 11 and a lower plate 12 of a fuel tank 10.
That is, the upper and lower surfaces of the reinforcement pillar 20 are integrally fused to the respective upper and lower plates 11 and 12 of the fuel tank 10 by thermal fusion or the like.
Particularly, in view of the fact that the reinforcement pillar 20 has to be manufactured in a structure in which it is able to break for absorption of an impact in the event of vehicle collision in accordance with safety regulations, a concave breakable part 22 is formed in the intermediate portion of the reinforcement pillar 20.
Therefore, when a large impact, such as an impact in the event of vehicle collision, is applied to the plastic-made fuel tank 10 made of a plastic material, the fuel tank 10 is deformed to absorb the impact while the breakable part 22 of the reinforcement pillar 20 is broken to absorb the impact.
However, we have discovered that if the stiffness of the reinforcement pillar 20 is greater than necessary, the breakable part 22 is not broken, and instead a fused portion between the upper plate 11 of the fuel tank 10 and the upper surface of the reinforcement pillar 20 or other fused portion between the lower plate 12 of the fuel tank 10 and the lower surface of the reinforcement pillar 20 is ruptured (torn), when a large impact, such as in the event of vehicle collision, is applied to the plastic-made fuel tank 10 made of plastic, which leads to a leakage of fuel in the fuel tank.
On the other hand, if the stiffness of the reinforcement pillar 20 is too weak, the breakable part 22 is easily broken by only negative pressure acting in the fuel tank, resulting in excessive deformation of the fuel tank.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the disclosure and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Device for reinforcing vehicle fuel tank


A protective cover mounting apparatus for a hermetic compressor for removably mounting a protective cover to protect electrical parts disposed on a terminal portion of a hermetic compressor casing comprises a pair of first protrusions respectively formed on two facing sides of the protective cover for protecting electrical parts disposed on a terminal portion of a hermetic compressor casing, a second protrusion formed on a side that is removed from the casing when the protective cover is mounted on the casing, a clamp pivotably disposed on the casing and including a pressing portion and a holding portion formed to correspond to the first and second protrusions. The protective cover can be easily mounted or separated since it is mounted or separated from the cover by simply pivoting the clamp until the holding portion is caught by the second protrusion and the protective cover can be firmly mounted on the casing as the pressing portion of the clamp presses the first protrusion of the protective cover towards the casing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a hermetic compressor, and more particularly, to a protective cover mounting apparatus for removably mounting a protective cover to a casing for protecting electrical parts disposed in the casing of the compressor.
2. Background of the Related Art
Conventionally, a hermetic compressor is disposed in appliances such as a refrigerator and an air conditioner employing a refrigeration cycle for compressing a refrigerant, and comprises a motor, a refrigerant compression unit for compressing a refrigerant using the force generated by the motor, and a casing. The casing covers the motor and the refrigerant compression unit. Electrical parts such as a relay and an overload protector for supplying power to the motor and controlling the rotation of the motor are disposed on the terminal portion outside the casing.
FIG. 1 shows an external part of the hermetic compressor 100 having the above-described structure. As shown, the hermetic compressor 100 comprises a casing 110, electrical parts 140, a protective cover 150, and a clamp 160. The electrical parts 140 include a relay 141 and an overload protector 143, and are disposed on the terminal portion 120 provided on the casing and connected to the terminal 125. The electrical parts 140 are connected to the external power through a cable (not shown).
The protective cover 150 protects the electrical parts 140 from external impulses and determinants by covering the electrical parts 140. The protective cover 150 has an inner space (not shown) and an opening for receiving the electrical parts 140.
On the outer circumference of the casing 110, a bracket 130 is formed alongside the outer border of the terminal portion 120. The bracket 130 is utilized for fixing the protective cover 150 to the casing 110 and has symmetrically aligned holes 131 on opposed ends of the bracket 130. The opposed arms of the clamp 160 are flexibly hooked in the holes 131 while the clamp 160 is mounted on the protective cover.
According to the conventional compressor 100 having the above-described structure, it is possible to removably mount the protective cover 150 on the casing 110 by hooking the clamp 160 in the bracket 130. However, it may be inconvenient to hook opposed ends of the clamp 160 in the symmetrically aligned holes 131 on the bracket 130 by the resilience of the clamp 160 itself. Moreover, when the protective cover 150 needs to be separated from the casing 110 for repairing or replacement of the electrical parts 140, it may not be easy to unhook the clamp 160 from the bracket 130.
An object of the invention is to solve at least the above-identified problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described hereinafter.
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to solve the foregoing problems by providing a protective cover mounting apparatus for a hermetic compressor which is improved for facile mounting and separating the protective cover requiring less strength, and also for firmly mounting the protective cover on the casing.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages are realized by providing a protective cover mounting apparatus for a hermetic compressor comprising a first protrusion formed on at least one facing side of the protective cover for protecting electrical parts disposed on a terminal portion of a hermetic compressor casing, a second protrusion formed on an outer surface of the protective cover, a clamp pivotably disposed on the casing and including a pressing portion and a holding portion formed to correspond to the first and second protrusions.
Accordingly, the protective cover can be easily mounted or separated since it is mounted or separated from the cover by simply pivoting the clamp, and the protective cover can be firmly mounted on the casing as the pressing portion of the clamp presses the first protrusion of the protective cover towards the casing.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the clamp comprises a clamp body with both ends being hinged on holes formed on the casing near the terminal portion, and the clamp body is formed of a resilient material and the pressing portion and the holding portion are formed by parts of the clamp body that are bent.
In addition, it is preferable that a part of the holding portion is further bent to form a handle, and the handle is formed to protrude outwardly past the outer end of the second protrusion when the holding portion is caught by the second protrusion during mounting.
Meanwhile, the protective cover mounting apparatus for the hermetic compressor according to another embodiment of the present invention may also be applied in the case of the electrical parts and the protective cover being integral.
Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Protective cover mounting apparatus for a hermetic compressor


A method for cloning an exon into a plasmid vector. Exons related to prostate cancer (PVT1 exon 9, PVT1 exon 4A or PVT1 exon 4B) and miRNAs (miR-1205 or miR-1207-3p) are transformed into the plasmid vector. The cloned exons or miRNAs are linearized and their concentrations quantified. Serial dilutions in conjunction with spectroscopy permit the construction of a standard curve that permits absolute quantification of the exons or miRNAs in a biological sample from a patient.

Prostate cancer is the most common non-cutaneous cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death for men in the U.S. African Americans have the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the world, with an annual average of 229 per 100,000 men for the period of 2006-2010, which represents about two-fold more than Caucasian Americans. Prostate cancer is also the leading cancer in terms of incidence and mortality in men from Africa and the Caribbean. Consequently, African ancestry is a very important risk factor.
Prostate cancer is a heterogeneous disease, with multiple risks factors. The specific reasons for poor outcomes from prostate cancer in males of African ancestry (MoAA) when compared to Caucasian males (CM) are not understood. However, it is widely believed that the causes of prostate cancer disparities are complex and multifaceted. Two potential reasons are frequently proposed to explain this profound disparity in prostate cancer: (1) MoAA present more often than CM with advanced incurable prostate cancer due to more limited access to health care; (2) prostate cancer is biologically more aggressive in MoAA than CM, and can be attributed to environmental and/or genetic risk factors.
The 8q24 human chromosomal region is one of the most important susceptibility genetic loci for prostate cancer. Several studies have identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in chromosome 8q24 as susceptibility markers for prostate cancer. The 8q24 chromosomal region has only one protein-coding gene, the well-known MYC oncogene implicated in different cancers, including prostate cancer. However, it also has a number of non-protein coding genes (such as PVT1) whose functional roles have not been thoroughly investigated yet.
In recent years, non-protein coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have received special attention because they have been identified in many studies as being important in cancer biology. Substantial progress has been made in understanding the role of small non-coding RNAs such as microRNAs (miRNAs) in the development and progression of cancers. However, studying the role of long non-coding RNAs (nncRNAs) in cancers appears to be more complicated. LncRNAs are defined as endogenous cellular RNAs that have a size of more than 200 nucleotides and that do not possess an extended open reading frame. PVT1 exon 9, PVT1 exon 4A and PVT1 exon 4B are overexpressed in aggressively tumorigenic prostate cancer cell lines and prostate tumor tissues. Additionally, several miRNAs (e.g. miR-1205, and miR-1207-3p) are also known for treating prostate cancer.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Plasmid vector for expressing a PVT1 exon and method for constructing standard curve therefor

Research Foundation of the City University of New York