Disclosed is a gyro sensor, which comprises a primary base plate (1) and a support base plate (2) which are superimposed on one another. The primary base plate (1) is provided with a driven mass body (11) to be driven in such a manner as to be vibrated in a direction intersecting with a surface of the support base plate (2), and a detection mass body (12) coupled with the driven mass body (11) through a drive spring (13) and adapted to be displaceable in a plane along the support base plate (2). Two detection springs (15) extending in the arranging direction of the driven mass body (11) and the detection mass body (12) are connected, respectively, to opposite side of the detection mass body (12), and the other ends of the detection springs (15) are connected together through a coupling segment (16). A fixing segment (17) provided at a longitudinally intermediate portion of the coupling segment (16) is fixed to the support base plate (2). A member formed by integrating the driven mass body (11) and the detection mass body (12) through the drive spring (13) is supported relative to the support base plate (2) by the detection springs (15) in a cantilever manner.

In late years, a gyro sensor has been increasingly used in various systems and apparatuses, such as a suspension or airbag control system for automobiles, an inertial navigation system for airplanes and a blurring-correcting apparatus for cameras. This type of gyro sensor is operable, when an angular velocity due to an external force acts on a mass body which is being vibrated at a predetermined movement velocity, to measure a resulting Coriolis force so as to determine the angular velocity. Specifically, the Coriolis force is proportional to a vector product of the angular velocity caused by the external force and the movement velocity of the mass body, and thereby a value corresponding to the angular velocity can be derived from the measured Coriolis force and the known movement velocity of the mass body.
For example, as this type of gyro sensor, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-194545 discloses a gyro sensor provided with MEMSs and prepared through a semiconductor production process. The gyro sensor disclosed in the Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-194545 is provided with a mass body to be driven in such a manner as to be vibrated in a Z-direction perpendicular to the surface of a drawing, and designed to measure an angular velocity acting in an X-direction which is one of the directions along the surface of the drawing. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 35, the gyro sensor comprises a rectangular frame-shaped driven mass body (first mass body) 62, a detection mass body (second mass body) 63 disposed on the inward side of the driven mass body 62, four first springs 64 attached, respectively, to the central portions of four edges of the driven mass body 62 and fixed to a support base plate (not shown), and four second springs 65 extending in the X-direction to connect between opposite ends of each of right and left edges of the driven mass body 62 and corresponding upper and lower edges of the detection mass body 63. Each of the upper and lower edges of the driven mass body 62 is provided with a driving electrode 66 to be applied with a drive voltage so as to vibrate the driven mass body 62 and the detection mass body 63 in the Z-direction. Further, each of the right and left edges of detection mass body 63 is provided with a horizontal detection electrode 67 for detecting a Y-directional displacement of the detection mass body 63 in accordance of change in electrostatic capacitance.
Thus, when an X-directional angular velocity acts on the driven mass body 62 under the condition that a drive voltage is being applied to the driving electrode 66 to continuously vibrate the driven mass body 62 and the detection mass body 63 in the Z-direction, the driven mass body 62 is displaced in the X-direction. The detection mass body 63 is connected to the driven mass body 62 through the second springs 65 extending in the X-direction. Thus, in conjunction with the X-directional displacement of the driven mass body 62, the detection mass body 63 is also displaced in the X-direction. Then, the second spring 65 is bent due to a Coriolis force generated in the detection mass body 63, and thereby the detection mass body 63 is displaced in the Y-direction. This Y-directional displacement of the detection mass body 63 can be measured based on an output of the horizontal detection electrode 67. Therefore, the Coriolis force can be calculated using the Z-directional vibration given to the driven mass body 62 and the output of the horizontal detection electrode 67, so as to allow a value corresponding to the angular velocity to be derived.
The Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-194545 also discloses other arrangements, wherein one arrangement is designed such that the four first springs 64 are attached, respectively, to four corners of the driven mass body 62, and another arrangement is designed such that one end of each of the second springs 65 is fixed to the support base plate instead of the first springs 64, and the driven mass body 62 and the detection mass body 63 are connected to one another through the first springs 64. As the arrangement designed to fix one end of each of the second springs 56 to the support base plate, the Publication discloses one type in which the other end of the second spring 56 is connected to the detection mass body 63, and another type in which the other end of the second spring 56 is connected to the driven mass body 62.
In the gyro sensor disclosed in the Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-194545, the driven mass body 62 and the detection mass body 63 are constrained from four sides by the first springs 64 and the second springs 65. Further, each of the driven mass body 62 and the detection mass body 63 is made from a semiconductor substrate, and the support base plate to be joined with the first springs 64 or the second springs 65 is typically made using a glass substrate. Thus, a thermal stress will be generated in the first springs 64 or the second springs 65 due to the difference between respective thermal expansion coefficients of the semiconductor substrate and the glass substrate causes, which leads to change in resonance frequency of the gyro sensor. The change in resonance frequency of the gyro sensor inevitably causes variation in detection value. Therefore, the gyro sensor disclosed in the Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-194545 involves a problem about a relatively large temperature dependence of a detection value.

Gyro sensor and sensor apparatus using same


Disclosed is a method for making a substrate coated with an adhesive, comprising applying an electron beam modifiable adhesive layer onto a repeatably reusable transfer surface, irradiating the adhesive layer with an electron beam to chemically modify the adhesive layer, and transferring the irradiated adhesive layer to a substrate. Also disclosed is an adhesive coated web, comprising a substrate having at least one component susceptible to electron beam radiation degradation having no electron beam radiation modification and an adhesive layer having an electron beam modified composition and having no chemical, thermal, or ultraviolet crosslinking agent.

This invention relates to a method for making an article having an irradiated adhesive on a radiation degradable substrate where the substrate has no substantial degradation. More specifically this invention relates to a drum transfer method for adhesive irradiation by electron beam.
Adhesives, including pressure-sensitive adhesives, and heat activatable adhesives are well known in the art for bonding to a variety of materials such as metals, painted surfaces, plastics, and the like. Adhesives are designed to meet various requirements by balancing their viscous and elastic properties to result in a balance of shear, peel, and tack properties. Pressure-sensitive adhesives generally adhere with light pressure and are tacky at the use temperature. Heat activatable adhesives may adhere with light pressure and be slightly tacky at the use temperature, or may require elevated temperatures or pressures to adhere to another material.
Crosslinking occurs when a polymer, that may be of a low molecular weight, is subjected to ionizing radiation that links the polymer chains together and increases the effective molecular weight. Adhesives can be crosslinked to obtain the desired balance of properties.
Briefly, the present invention provides a method for making a substrate coated with an adhesive, comprising: applying an electron beam modifiable adhesive layer onto a repeatably reusable transfer surface; irradiating the adhesive layer with an electron beam to chemically modify the adhesive layer; and transferring the irradiated adhesive layer to a substrate. In one embodiment, the adhesive is applied to a release surface before applying the adhesive to the repeatably reusable transfer surface.
In another aspect, the present invention provides an adhesive coated web, comprising: a substrate having at least one component susceptible to electron beam radiation degradation selected from the group consisting of cellulose-based non-woven fabrics, cellulose-based woven fabrics, paper, polyisobutylene films, polypropylene films, polypropylene-based nonwovens, polytetrafluoroethylene films, vinyl films, and combinations thereof, having no electron beam radiation modification; and an adhesive layer attached to the substrate and in contact with a radiation degradable component of the substrate, the adhesive having an electron beam modified composition and containing no substantial quantity of chemical, thermal, or ultraviolet crosslinking agent. The adhesive is selected from the group consisting of acrylics, natural rubbers, polybutadienes, polyisoprenes, styrene/butadiene copolymers, styrene/isoprene copolymers, and silicones.
This invention also provides a new adhesive coated web having a substrate having at least one component susceptible to electron beam radiation degradation having no electron beam radiation modification, and an adhesive layer having an electron beam modified composition wherein the electron beam modified adhesive layer has an electron beam modification profile selected from the group consisting of an increasing degree of crosslinking through the adhesive thickness from a surface toward the substrate, a substantially uniform degree of crosslinking through the adhesive thickness, a decreasing degree of crosslinking through the adhesive thickness, and a peak level of crosslinking within the adhesive between the surface and the substrate; and wherein the resulting construction flexibility is not substantially different from the construction flexibility of a similar adhesive coated web having had no electron beam modification. In essence, any possible electron beam modification profile can be achieved with the present invention without degrading the substrate.
Another embodiment of the present invention includes a new adhesive coated web having an electron beam modified adhesive layer and a substrate that has a different release characteristic on each major surface.
As used herein:
xe2x80x9cradiation degradablexe2x80x9d describes a material the durability or flexibility of which decreases due to exposure to electron beam radiation at a dose and accelerating potential needed to achieve a desired modification of an electron beam modifiable adhesive layer;
xe2x80x9celectron beam modifiablexe2x80x9d means susceptible to chemical changes resulting from electron beam irradiation, for example forming free radicals, chemically activating a skin layer, crosslinking, curing, increasing or decreasing the molecular weight of a polymer, polymerizing oligomers or monomers, and the like; thus, an electron beam modification of a material would include changes such as, for example, embrittlement, crazing, cracking, formation of a skin layer, bond sission, and formation of degradation species such as oxides;
xe2x80x9cstructured surfacexe2x80x9d means a surface having a multiplicity of recessed structures, features or convolutions made by any process, including electroforming, embossing, etching, molding, machining, or sandblasting, the average depth of which is between 1 and 2000 micrometers (xcexcm) over the majority of its area, but preferably over 75% or more of its area and more preferably over 90% or more of its area, which may or may not also comprise occasional larger recessed structures.
It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a method of making electron beam modified adhesive layers on radiation vulnerable substrates while not exposing the substrate to electron beam energy. This permits manufacturing constructions having the advantages inherent in the electron beam process, with various electron beam modification profiles, without the adverse effects on the substrate associated with electron beam energy, and without the use of a carrier material.


A method and a system for a comprehensive analysis of low frequency oscillation. The method includes: firstly, initiating a wide area measurement system WAMS (71) to perform real-time monitoring; transmitting real-time low frequency oscillation information to a dynamic early-warning system (72) periodically; then converting the low frequency oscillation information received by the dynamic early-warning system (72) into an input file for stability calculation with small disturbance, and performing related calculation; finally, transmitting the calculated result back to the wide area measurement system WAMS (71) and a human-machine system interface for output. The system includes: the wide area measurement system WAMS (71), the dynamic early-warning system (72), a system for stability calculation with small disturbance (73) and an output system (74).

In a modern power system, with the increasing scale of interconnected power grid, the capacity of the remote power transmission is increasing, the low frequency oscillation of the power grid in China occurs frequently. How to perform online real-time measurement and identification on low frequency oscillation rapidly and accurately with a small disturbance analysis method is a critical issue to be addressed in the large scale interconnected power grid. A traditional and classical method for analyzing low frequency oscillation is a method for analyzing eigenvalues with a small disturbance. For an anticipated operation mode of a system, information including low frequency oscillation sub-groups, oscillation relationship, and correlation factors, etc., is derived from an analysis of eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a status equation of operating points. The method for analyzing stability with small disturbance generally makes an offline analysis. However, the oscillation mode of the power system typically varies with a varying operation condition thereof, so accurate online calculation can not be guaranteed from an offline derived result.
A Wide Area Measurement System (WAMS) is a means to monitor the dynamic process of a power system. It can measure variables which are closely related to the transient electromechanical process of a generator rapidly, such as the internal potential, power angle, angular velocity, bus-bar voltage, etc., of the generator, and transmits the information to a centralized station in time to provide the possibility of performing an online analysis and control for the low frequency oscillation. Currently, however, the WAMS in operation and documents concerning WAMS based detection of low frequency oscillation are only limited to a dynamic monitoring function. That is, dynamic curves of a power grid for the voltage relative phase angle, frequency and power are monitored continuously, to real-time calculate and analyze the spectrum of the dynamic curves. Upon detection of presence of a relatively-strong weak damping oscillation component in the range of 0.2 to 2.5 Hz, warning information is transmitted to a dispatching operator, an abnormal zone is marked on a regional map of the power grid, and a data platform is triggered to record current real-time data at a high speed. However, it is impossible to install Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) at all the nodes of a power system in view of the cost. Typically, an oscillation characteristic of power at an outlet port of a line or station is derived with the WAMS monitoring function, and therefore it is impossible to determine which specific ones of generators give rise to oscillation. That is, no control measure can be taken against oscillation due to absence of further analytical information of a low frequency oscillation mechanism.

Method and system for a comprehensive analysis of low frequency oscillation


Method and apparatus for linearizing the performance of electrical transformers using negative feedback. Two circuits are disclosed which use an operational amplifier to compensate a three-winding transformer, yielding an improved low-end frequency response, reduced harmonic distortion, and substantially resistive input and output impedances.

The use of transformers in electrical systems is well known in the art. Transformers are commonly used to provide galvanic isolation for wires carrying signals over substantial lengths. The operating range over which a conventional transformer is capable of providing linear, distortionless, and unattenuated signal transfer, however, is limited by the magnetic saturation of the transformer's core. Saturation occurs when a transformer is driven to induce a net flux density higher than its core can support. It is known from transformer theory that flux density is proportional to the ratio of winding voltage to frequency. Thus a transformer will tend to saturate at higher voltages and lower frequencies.
In audio applications, for instance, the limitations attributable to core saturation are particularly apparent in the performance of commercially available miniature transformers at lower signal frequencies. One known alternative for improved low-end frequency performance is to use a larger transformer. In applications where space is at a premium, such an alternative is often not a viable one. Moreover, larger transformers are heavier and costlier.
Another alternative is to avoid transformer coupling altogether. Transformerless systems, however, lack the advantages of galvanic isolation and are thus more susceptible to damage from connection faults, for instance, as where signal wires are accidentally shorted to nearby sources of DC current. Transformerless systems are also more susceptible to electro-static discharge (ESD) and interference from other signal sources, and provide less common mode rejection.
The present invention provides a transformer compensating circuit which improves the linearity of transformer operation. The low-end frequency response is markedly improved while harmonic distortion is reduced. Moreover, input and output impedances are also linearized.

Compensation circuit for transformer linearization


Embodiments of the invention are directed to compositions and methods related to immunogenic compositions comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 and amyloid oligomer specific antibodies that specifically bind an oligomer comprising such a peptide.

I. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of this invention are directed generally to biology and medicine. In certain aspects, embodiments are directed to compositions and methods related to amyloid oligomers and amyloid oligomer specific antibodies, particularly mouse monoclonal antibodies.
II. Background
Many biological functions come about, at least in part, due to the ability of proteins to adopt various sequence-dependent structures. However, certain protein sequences can sometimes form aberrant, misfolded, insoluble aggregates known as amyloid fibrils. These amyloid fibrils are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of various amyloid diseases of genetic, infectious and/or spontaneous origin, including spongiform encephalopathies, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), type II diabetes, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Huntington's disease, possibly macular degeneration, various prion diseases and numerous others. In at least some of these amyloid diseases, amyloid fibrils lead to the development of amyloid plaques.
Amyloid peptides are the principal constituent of amyloid plaques. In the case of Alzheimer's disease, the peptides are termed Aβ or β-amyloid peptide. Aβ peptide is an internal fragment of 39 to 43 amino acids of amyloid precursor protein (APP). Several mutations within the APP protein have been correlated with the presence of AD. See, for example, Goate et al., Nature, (1991) 349:704 (valine to isoleucine); Chartier Marian et al., Nature (1991) 353:844 (valine to glycine); Murrell et al. Science (1991) 21:97 (valine to phenylalanine); Mullan et al., Nature Genet. (1992) 1:345 (a double mutation changing lysine 595-methionine 596 to asparagine 595-leucine 596). Such mutations are thought to cause AD by producing an increased or altered processing of APP to Aβ. In particular, the processing of APP resulting in accumulation of the longer forms of Aβ, for example, Aβ1-42 and Aβ1-43 is thought to be important in the cause of AD. Mutations in other genes, such as the presenilin genes PS1 and PS2, are thought to indirectly affect processing of APP resulting in production of the long form of Aβ. See, for example, Hardy, TINS (1997) 20:11.
It is believed that cytotoxic amyloid-beta peptide aggregates disrupt the integrity of cell membranes and elaborate reactive oxygen intermediates, thereby giving rise to elevations in cytosolic calcium and eventual cell death. Cell surface receptors for amyloid-beta peptide may also activate signal transduction mechanisms.
European Patent Publication EP 526,511 (McMichael) and PCT International Patent Publication WO/9927944 (Schenk) have described the administration of Aβ to patients for the treatment or prevention of Alzheimer's. However, although active immunization of Aβ to transgenic mice produces apparent benefits, the extension of this approach to AD patients has resulted in undesirable inflammation of the central nervous system in some of the subjects. See Hardy, D. J. Selkoe (2002) Science 297:353-356. Soluble Aβ includes Aβ monomers as well as aggregations of such monomers referred to as prefibrillar aggregates. These prefibrillar aggregates lead to the development of amyloid fibrils.
Soluble Aβ content of the human brain is better correlated with the severity of AD than is the accumulation of amyloid plaques. See, for example, Y. M. Kuo et al. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271:4077-4081; C. A. McLean et al. (1999) Annals of Neurology 46:860-6; L. F. Lue et al. (1999) American Journal of Pathology 155:853-862. In addition, recent reports suggest that the toxicity of Aβ and other amyloidogenic proteins lies not in the soluble monomers or insoluble fibrils that accumulate, but rather in the prefibrillar aggregates. See, for example, Hartley et al. (1999), Journal of Neuroscience 19:8876-8884; Lambert et al., PNAS (1998) 95:6448-53; and Bucciantini et al., Nature (2002) 416:507-511; and Hartley et al. Nature (2002) 418:291. Taken together, these results indicate that the prefibrillar aggregates may be more pathologically significant than other forms of the amyloid peptides and therefore may be a more desirable target in the prevention or curing of amyloid diseases such as AD.
PCT International Patent Application PCT/US2003/028829 (WO 2004/024090, US 2011/0200609) entitled "Monoclonal Antibodys And Corresponding Antibodies Specific For High Molecular Weight Aggregation Intermediates Common To Amyloids Formed From Proteins Of Differing Sequence" (Kayed and Glabe) describes compositions of matter comprising one or more conformational epitopes found on amyloid peptide aggregates, antibodies to such epitopes and methods for making and using the compositions, epitopes and/or antibodies. The compositions described in PCT/US2003/028829 include synthetic or isolated compositions that contain or consist of certain conformational epitopes found on peptide aggregates (e.g., toxic peptide aggregates) present in human or veterinary patients who suffer from, or who are likely to develop, amyloid diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's Disease). The invention described in PCT/US2003/028829 also includes methods for using such compositions in the detection, treatment and prevention of diseases in humans or animals and/or in the testing and identification of potential therapies (e.g., drug screening) using such antibodies. The entirety of PCT International Patent Application PCT/US2003/028829 is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
There remains a need for the development of agents that bind or inhibit, directly or indirectly, toxic forms of amyloid (e.g., cytotoxic amyloid-beta peptide aggregates or protofibrils) providing for diagnosis and treatment of amyloid diseases.

The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System


Method and system for determining the real-time flow into a wastewater pump station using analog level sensing technologies. An Accurate Level Generator mechanism supplies an accurate mean value out of multiple readings for each level used to calculate the volume between levels. Two consecutive levels are used to calculate the volume between them using an Accurate Flow Calculator and the time it took to get from one level to the other. A Real Time Inflow Calculator adds results regarding the pumps in operation and overflow events, which are ways for the water to exit the pumping station. At a water level approaching where the pumps start or stop, or when abnormal events occur, a Predictive Abnormal Event Adjuster replaces the highly probable abnormal Real Time Inflow Result by a more stable and possible value, which is the last one calculated plus its variation over time.

A wastewater pump station has a well in which sewage water enters from a pipe and is pumped out through one or more pumps. In pump stations equipped with constant speed pumps, analog and digital level sensing technologies are used to start and stop the pumps at predetermined levels, resulting in filling cycles and pumping cycles. Ideally, the distance between these water levels is maximized in order to minimize the wear of the pumps caused by pump startup stress. Volumetric flow meters use these predetermined levels and the volume of water between them to generate the average flow rate during the time it takes to go from one level to the next. This means the flow rate can only be calculated when known levels are reached, which can take seconds to hours. Therefore, the value generated by the volumetric flow meter is always an average of old data.
Pump station flow meters, or the like, are well known in the patented prior art, such as the U.S. Pat. No. 4,127,030 by Martin, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,455,870, 4,669,308 and 4,821,580 by Jorristma, U.S. Pat. No. 4,467,657 by Olson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,797 by Free et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,343 by Hon, U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,666 by Adney, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,313,842 and 5,385,056 by Marsh et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,597,960, 5,831,174, 6,990,431 and 2004/0260514 by Beaudoin, U.S. Pat. No. 8,740,574 and 2011/0076163 by Saukko, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,956,125, 9,464,925, and 2009/0202359 by Duncan et al. All these patent documents use level measurements in some way to calculate volumes for volumetric flow meters or for workload efficiency. All of them assume the levels used in their formulas, methods, processes or apparatus represent the exact levels with no coefficient of error possible. Some of these patents analyze the resulting flow by comparing it to other flow results, but none of them do that at the beginning of the process by analyzing the raw level values used to calculate the flow results. None of them mention the accuracy of the level measurements that are used to calculate their flow rates or the error resulting from variation within these level measurements, therefore no previous invention describes an apparatus able to increase the accuracy of the level measurements substantially enough to increase the flow rate calculated by the previously mentioned inventions.
Volumetric flow technology is popular because it is simple and inexpensive to install and use, but its accuracy is highly variable because it is proportional to the distance between the levels. Pump operation is based on a signal received from a level sensing apparatus. The level sensing apparatus generates a signal when a predetermined level is assumed to be reached. In reality, the size of the waves on the surface of the water in the well highly influences this signal. The top of a wave will trigger the start of a pump before the average surface of the water reaches the predetermined start level and the bottom of a wave will trigger the stop of a pump before the average surface of the water reaches the predetermined stop level. So, the accuracy of a volumetric flow meter is determined by the following equation:
      Flow                          Accuracy                          Error    =            Instantaneous                                      Level                                      Accuracy                                            Distance                                                                          between                                                                          levels                                                            used                                                                          to                                                                          calculate                                                                          flow
If the waves are ½ inch and the distance between levels at which pumps start or stop being 20 inches, the flow accuracy error is 2.5% (0.5/20). If the waves are ½ inch and the distance between levels is 2 inches, the flow accuracy error is 25% (0.5/2). Reducing the distance between the levels used to calculate the flow in the station greatly increases the error of the flow calculated to a point when it becomes meaningless. In the above example, if the accuracy of the level used in the flow calculation is 0.05 inches, then the accuracy of the flow meter with 2 inches between calculation levels will be 2.5% (0.05/2). There is therefore a need in this field for a process that can reduce the error related to the level value used by the volumetric flow calculation.
Multiple types of flow technologies can generate real time flow rate in the station but only the following technologies are rugged enough to work properly for a long period in wastewater: magnetic, ultrasonic and open channels. The problems with these technologies and their multiple variations are their cost of acquisition and installation, which are very high when the physical restrictions allow their installation. This is why most of the wastewater pump stations do not have any real-time flow technology.
Averaging and statistical equations have been used to average multiple values in order to improve the output of some level sensing technologies, but it has never been used with time stamped values in order to get the most probable level generated by any level sensing technology for a specific time.
Real time flow means generating a flow value that is as close to the time at which it is used as it is technically possible to do so accurately. To get closer to a "real time" value, the distance between the levels at which the pumps operate is fragmented into multiple smaller intermediate levels so multiple volumetric flow calculations can be executed during each cycle. Doing this using multiple float switches or electrodes or even analog level sensing devices set to specific levels have their own problems.                a. If the level of the water stays for a long time between two known levels, even if they are small, then the resulting flow calculated will still be the average of old data. The solution to this problem is to use a timer instead or with preset levels. This guarantees that the values generated by the volumetric flow meter are young enough to be called real-time.        b. The accuracy of the real-time flow value is inversely proportional to the distance between the levels used to calculate the flow rate, as explained previously.
Similar problems can occur with other types of sensors like pressure based level sensors. The pressure values are affected by the fall of the sewage water and debris into the well of the station or abnormal behavior of the pumps themselves. This means the sensor's instant value might not represent the actual average surface water level, which could generate sizable errors in the results. Bouncing radio waves can generate the same kind of error for ultrasonic level sensors, so the same averaging mechanism is required to improve accuracy.
There is thus a need for a method and system for accurately calculating real-time instant volumetric inflow into a wastewater pump station.
Another common issue in the field of wastewater pump stations relates to pump management. Wastewater pump stations with constant speed pumps of different maximum flow rates use different schemes to operate the pumps. The most popular sequence of operations is to alternate the number of starts evenly between the pumps in order wear them evenly. When the flow rate of the pump in operation is lower than the flow rate of the water entering the pump station, one or more additional pumps are activated and run until the water level is reduced to a normal operating level. Running multiple pumps at once is quite inefficient, as for example running two pumps at once requires 100% more energy than one pump while only pumping 50% more water. Further, as the different pumps operate at different flow rates, even though the pumps may have the same number of starts, their run times vary significantly. This leads to the pumps wearing out at different rates.
Another less used method of pump management is based on alternating which pump is activated depending on the time of day. For example, the pumps can be programmed to switch at noon, at midnight or at a different time of day. However, by using this method, both the number of starts of each pump and the run times of each pump will vary due to their different operational flow rates. As such, this method is not efficient and once again leads to pumps wearing out at different rates.
Thus, there is a need for a method of pump management that promotes efficiency by aiming to balance both the number of starts and run times of each pump, as well as by minimizing the number of times multiple pumps must operate simultaneously.


The invention relates to a process for making a polyolefin fiber. The process comprises the steps of providing at least one polyolefin tape; twisting or folding the at least one polyolefin tape longitudinally to obtain a precursor fiber and exposing the precursor fiber under tension to a temperature within the melting point range of the polyolefin for a time sufficient to at least partly two or more parts of the precursor fiber. The invention also relates to the fiber obtainable thereby.

Polyolefin fibers are typically made by spinning a fluid composition comprising polyolefin from an extrusion die. Polyolefin fibers made in this way may be made into a multifilament yarn by e.g. twisting a plurality of fibers. Polyolefin fibers may also be used as a precursor for making further products, including a monofilament-like fiber. One way of doing this is to fuse a plurality of precursor polyolefin fibers into one final product. In EP 0740002 B1, a process for making a fishing line from yarns of filamentous materials is described, wherein a braided, twisted, or twisted and plied fishing line made from yarns of gel spun polyolefin filaments, is exposed to a temperature within the melting point range of said polyolefin for a time sufficient to at least partially fuse adjacent filaments while stretching said line at a stretching ratio within the range from 1.01 to 2.5. The yarns applied in this process are continuous multi-filament yarns, more specifically such yarns made by so-called gel spinning of ultra-high molar mass polyethylene (UHMwPE), for example yarns commercially available under the names Spectra® or Dyneema®.
In the known processes, the yarn or the fiber is made from multiple fibers. Possible differences in the properties between the precursor fibers may affect the properties of the final product. Moreover, the parts of the final product which are originally the interfaces between the precursor fibers may have different properties from the other parts of the product.


A diagnosis support apparatus comprising: first inference means for performing inference concerning diagnosis using data collected under a first condition; second inference means for performing inference concerning the diagnosis using the data collected under the first condition and data collected under a second condition different from the first condition; third inference means for performing inference concerning the diagnosis using the data collected under the second condition; and integration means for integrating inference results of the first inference means, the second inference means, and the third inference means using a first weight, a second weight, and a third weight respectively corresponding to the first inference means, the second inference means, and the third inference means.

In the medical field, doctors perform the image diagnosis of performing diagnosis by interpreting medical images obtained by imaging apparatuses such as an X-ray CT apparatus and an MRI apparatus. When performing image diagnosis, in accordance with a radiogram interpretation request from a primary doctor, a doctor identifies the symptom of a lesion depicted in an image by comprehensively determining the findings (to be referred to as image findings hereinafter) obtained from the image and information (to be referred to as clinical information hereinafter) about various measurement values and cases. The doctor then compiles the process of reaching the diagnosis into a radiogram interpretation report to the primary doctor as the request source by using the image findings and clinical information. The medical image, image findings, clinical information, and the like will be collectively referred to as medical information hereinafter.
There has been developed a diagnosis support apparatus for supporting such image diagnosis. The diagnosis support apparatus has popularly presented information (to be referred to as support information hereinafter) for supporting diagnosis based on the output of an inference unit using a machine learning technique. In general, an inference unit is formed based on training data (to be referred to as learning data hereinafter) formed by a set of medical information and a correct answer (that is, support information). Then, a correct answer is inferred from medical information (to be referred to as additional data hereinafter) obtained at the time of the operation of the diagnosis support apparatus, and presented as support information. In this case, the apparatus is used on the assumption that the data distribution of pieces of medical information and correct answers and the relationship between medical information and a correct answer exhibit the same tendencies in the learning data and additional data. However, if the collection conditions are different between the learning data and additional data or depending on a lapse of time, data of different tendencies may be obtained. In this state, it is difficult to perform correct inference, and to present appropriate diagnosis support information.
To cope with this problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-529529 discloses a technique of updating an inference unit using data with which erroneous inference is performed in additional data. In addition, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2014-135066 discloses a technique of creating an inference unit for each of learning data collected in a plurality of facilities, integrating the results of the plurality of inference units in accordance with user settings, and presenting the thus obtained data as support information.
In the technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-529529, however, the inference unit is sequentially updated. Thus, if newly collected data exhibits a different tendency at different time, an inference result is unstable, and the inference unit may be updated all the time. In the technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2014-135066, the user needs to set a method of integrating the results of the inference units, thereby imposing a load on the user. Furthermore, since the user can set a method of integrating the results of the respective inference units, support information changes depending on the user settings. That is, an arbitrary operation by the user is unwantedly allowed.
As described above, the conventional techniques have a problem that when a diagnosis support apparatus in which learning data are formed under a given condition (for example, a given facility) is operated under another condition (another facility), it is difficult to smoothly operate the diagnosis support apparatus.
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problem, and provides a technique in which when a diagnosis support apparatus formed under a given condition is operated under another condition, the diagnosis support apparatus is smoothly operated.

Diagnosis support apparatus, control method for diagnosis support apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium


Concurrent recipient resolution and certificate acquisition. If a client-entered input data may be resolved without further client input, the server resolves the input data into a recipient entry that has an associated routing address. The server then transmits a response to the client that includes the associated full display name, routing address and certificate. If the server determines that the recipient entry cannot be resolved without further input from the client, the server identifies a number of possible recipient entries, and for each possible recipient generates a token, which is then communicated to the client. The server receives a subsequent request from the client identifying a selected one of the possible associated recipients using the associated token. The server then acquires a certificate associated with the selected recipient using the token, and then sends the certificate to the client.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to networking technology. More specifically, the present invention relates to the concurrent resolution and certificate acquisition for a given recipient.
2. Background and Related Art
Computing and networking technology has transformed the way we work and play. Networks have become so prolific that a simple network-enabled computing system may communicate with any one of millions of other computing systems spread throughout the globe over a conglomeration of networks often referred to as the "Internet". Such computing systems may include desktop, laptop, or tablet personal computers; Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs); telephones; or any other computer or device capable of communicating over a digital network.
In order to complete a transmission of a network message from one computing system to another, each computing system or corresponding user has an associated network or routing address. An example of a routing address is, for example, an e-mail address. In order to properly generate a network message that will be routed to the intended recipient, the network message will include the routing address corresponding to the intended recipient.
Due to the widespread interconnection of computing system and possibilities for their associated users to communicate, a user will often need assistance in order to find a routing address needed to deliver a network message to a desired recipient. One conventional help is to have display names associated with recipients. A display name may generally include text characters in any desired order, while a network address has text characters that tend to have a more restricted order. Accordingly, the display name may be expressed in a manner that is more intuitive to a human being. The user may select the display name as the intended recipient, while the network communication software automatically constructs the network message with the associated routing address.
Even with the use of display names, however, the user may still have difficulty finding a recipient. For example, in large organizations or personal contact lists, there may be multiple people with the same name. The display name may thus be similar for each of these various potential recipients. In order to find the appropriate recipients, many network communication packages incorporate ambiguous name resolution technology. This allows a user to enter a name that is different than, but is close to, the display name of the desired recipient. The user may then indicate that ambiguous name resolution is desired by, for example, selecting a "resolve names" function. The client then may search a local recipient database for recipient entries having similar corresponding display names. The user then selects the correct one of the resulting recipient entries. The associated routing address is then used as the destination address in the network message.
Alternatively, the client may transmit a resolution request to a server with the associated name to be resolved into a recipient entry. The server may search through an organizational or personal database to find one or more possible associated recipient entries. If only one possible associated recipient entry is found, the name is resolved, and the server downloads the associated recipient information (e.g., display name and/or routing address) to the client. If multiple possible associated recipient entries are found, then the server provides the potential matches to the client and allows the client to select which of the possible recipient entries is desired.
Over and above recipient resolution, it is sometimes desirable to ensure that the network message is transmitted in a secure fashion to the associated recipient. One way of securing the network message is to encrypt some or all of its contents. A computing system may use a certificate corresponding to the destination address to be sure the computing system encrypts the network message in a manner that may be decrypted at the destination computing system. Accordingly, the certificate corresponding to the destination computing system includes encryption information. In addition, the certificate includes validation information to allow the source computing system to determine that the certificate does indeed correspond to the destination computing system, and that the certificate has not expired and has not been revoked.
Conventionally, the recipient resolution and certificate acquisition operations are separate and distinct. Each is performed independently of the other. Nevertheless, what would be advantageous is a mechanism in which recipient resolution and certificate acquisition are performed in a manner that reduces network bandwidth and processor workload requirements.


This invention concerns a fluid purification device. The device has container, a nozzle and a removable filter element. The container is preferably a bottle and has at least partially flexible sidewalls so that it is collapsible from a first, operative condition into a second, inoperative condition. The nozzle is connectable to the container and defines a first fluid flow path along which fluid flows when, in use, filling the container and a second fluid flow path along which fluid flows when, in use, dispensing fluid from the container. The removable filter element is carried by the nozzle such that it is positioned in the first fluid flow path so that the fluid is filtered when filling the container and positioned outside the second fluid flow path so that the flow of fluid is unobstructed by it when dispensing fluid from the container. The invention also concerns a method of filtering a fluid.

This invention relates to a water purification device. In particular, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a collapsible drinking bottle including a filter element for filtering fluid when filling the bottle.
In recent years there has been an increase in the demand for bottled water. One of the reasons for this increase in demand is the public's lack of confidence in the water quality of public water management systems. For this reason it is common practice to buy bottled water instead of drinking water from a tap. This is not only common practice when travelling to other cities or countries but also in local environments. For example, many people prefer to filter their own household tap water before drinking it. This is typically done by purification devices installed directly on the water supply piping or tap, or by purification devices in the form of containers or jugs from which the filtered water is then dispensed as required.
A problem with the above devices for filtering water is that it is not suitable for use other than domestic use. The design of these purification devices do not allow them to be used on the move. To address this shortcoming, several attempts have been made to design a purification device which can be used when travelling or simply be taken with when leaving the house.
One purification device that has been suggested is a flexible bag which has a filter element for filtering water when filling it. Although the bag can be easily transported it is particularly challenging drinking from it. Without any rigidity to the sidewalls of the bag it is generally difficult to lift it to dispense water. As a result, water is often spilled when trying to drink or pour water from the bag.
Another purification device that has been proposed is in the form of a bottle including a removable cap that carries a filter device. While the bottle has rigid sidewalls which facilitates holding and lifting of the bottle, the drinking action required to dispense water from the bottle is unnatural. This is largely due to the fact that the filter element is located in the water flow path both when filling the bottle and when dispensing water therefrom. By locating the filtering element in the water flow path when dispensing water a pressure has to be applied to the nozzle in order to obtain a sufficiently high flow rate. As a result, a user is typically required to apply a negative pressure to the nozzle by sucking thereon in order to get a desired flow rate. Alternatively, a positive pressure could also be applied to the bottle in order to squirt a jet of water from the nozzle. A person familiar with this type of purification device will know that it is inconvenient to use seeing that it does not allow for a natural drinking action.
It is an object of this invention to alleviate at least some of the problems experienced with existing purification devices.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a purification device that will be a useful alternative to existing purification devices.


Ceramic products consisting principally of cordierite and a method for making them are provided, the method employing batches comprising a mineral component and a chemical component, the mineral component comprising clay and talc and the chemical component consisting essentially of a combination of the powdered oxides, hydroxides, or hydrous oxides of magnesium, aluminum and silicon. Ceramics made by extrusion and firing of the batches can exhibit low porosity, high strength and low thermal expansion coefficients.

The present invention relates to cordierite ceramics, and more particularly to cordierite ceramics produced by the firing of chemically modified mineral batches for such ceramics.
The production of cordierite (2MgO-2Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 -5SiO.sub.2) ceramics from mineral batches containing mineral sources of magnesium alumina, and silica such as clay and talc is well known. Such processes are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,864,919. The manufacture of thermal-shock-resistant cordierite honeycomb ceramics from clay/talc batches by extruding the batches and firing the extrudate to provide ceramics with very low thermal expansion coefficients along at least one axis, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,885,977.
The selection of mineral batch materials to be used in the production of cordierite ceramics by extrusion has been found to significantly affect the final properties of the resulting ceramics. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,280,845 describes the effects of varying the particle size and porosity of talc on the thermal shock resistance and porosity of the resulting cordierite ceramics.
It has been proposed to utilize extruded honeycomb materials composed of cordierite in rotary heat exchangers (regenerators) for gas turbine and other heat engines. For best performance as a regenerator, high strength in combination with low porosity and high thermal shock resistance are required. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,877,670 and 5,030,398 describe cordierite ceramics exhibiting improved characteristics for these applications, produced by utilizing mineral (talc and clay) batch components of small and carefully defined particle sizes. The products provided in accordance with these patents reportedly exhibit thermal expansion coefficients (CTE values) in the 5-12.times.10.sup.-7 /.degree.C. range, typically with total porosities of 25-35 volume percent.
While such ceramics represent an improvement in properties over extruded cordierite ceramics produced using more conventional mineral sources, still further improvements in these products, particularly with respect to thermal expansion, porosity and strength, would be desirable. This is because heat regenerators and other components exposed to continuous heating and cooling in normal use must exhibit exceptionally high thermal durability in order to insure that reasonable service life will be attained.
One of the problems with existing extruded cordierite ceramics is that they exhibit only limited thermal durability under repeated thermal cycling. Hence, when thermally cycled within and above the 600.degree.-800.degree. C. temperature range during exposure to hot flowing exhaust gases, these materials can demonstrate significant strength reductions, particularly in regions near the hot face of the regenerator subjected to the highest temperatures.
It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide improved cordierite ceramics, and a method for making them, such that the ceramics exhibit higher strength in combination with lower overall porosity, for the purpose of achieving improved durability in a high temperature thermal cycling environment.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a method which utilizes modified ceramic batch compositions to produce extruded cordierite ceramics with improved properties.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description thereof.

Batch compositions for cordierite ceramics


A processor is described which includes a first pipeline, a second pipeline, and a control circuit. The first pipeline includes a first stage at which instruction results are committed to architected state. The first stage is separated from an issue stage of the first pipeline by a first number of stages. The second pipeline includes a second stage at which an exception is reportable, wherein the second stage is separated from the issue stage of the second pipeline by a second number of stages which is greater than the first number. The control circuit is configured to inhibit co-issuance of a first instruction to the first pipeline and a second instruction to the second pipeline if the first instruction is subsequent to the second instruction in program order.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to the field of processors and, more particularly, to issue and retirement mechanisms in processors.
2. Description of the Related Art
Processors typically execute instructions in one or more pipelines. A first pipeline stage, referred to as the issue stage, is the stage at which a given instruction selected for issue. A second pipeline stage, referred to as the retirement stage or the graduation stage, is the stage at which the instruction commits its results to architected state. The retirement/graduation stage may also be that stage at which an instruction reports any exceptions that may have been experienced during execution, or a different stage may be used for this purpose.
To support precise exceptions: (i) the instructions prior to an instruction experiencing an exception update architected state prior to the exception occurring; and (ii) instructions subsequent to the instruction experiencing the exception do not update architected state prior to the exception occurring. If various pipelines in a processor have different lengths between issue and exception reporting or retirement/graduation, a mechanism is needed to ensure that precise exceptions are supported (assuming the architecture being implemented by the processor includes precise exceptions).

Inhibiting of a co-issuing instruction in a processor having different pipeline lengths


A power module substrate includes a ceramics substrate composed of Si3N4 having a top face. A metal plate composed of aluminum having a purity of 99.99% or more is joined to the top face of the ceramics substrate with a brazing filler metal which includes a melting-point lowering element interposed therebetween. A high concentration section is formed at a joint interface at which the metal plate is joined to the ceramics substrate, has an oxygen concentration greater than an oxygen concentration in the metal plate and in the ceramics substrate, and has a thickness of less than or equal to 4 nm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power module substrate, which is employed in a semiconductor device controlling a large amount of high voltage electrical current, a power module including the power module substrate, and a method for manufacturing the power module substrate.
This application is based on and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-129668, filed on May 16, 2008, Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-129669, filed on May 16, 2008, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-129670, filed on May 16, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
2. Background Art
Conventionally, in all of semiconductor elements, a power module is used for the power supply.
The amount of heat generated by the power module is relatively high.
Consequently, as a substrate on which the power module is mounted, a power module substrate is used in which a metal plate made of Al (aluminum) is joined to a ceramics substrate with an Al—Si system brazing filler metal interposed therebetween.
In addition, as a ceramics substrate, a substrate composed of AlN (aluminum nitride), a substrate composed of Si3N4 (silicon nitride), or a substrate composed of Al2O3 (alumina) is employed.
In addition, the metal plate is formed as a circuit layer, and a semiconductor chip that is a power element is mounted on the metal plate with a solder material interposed therebetween.
In addition, in order to improve the heat radiation efficiency, a structure in which a metal layer is formed by connecting a metal plate composed of Al or the like with a lower face of a ceramics substrate, and the entire power module substrate is joined to a heat radiation plate with the metal layer interposed therebetween has been proposed.
Conventionally, a technique of making the surface roughness of the ceramics substrate less than 0.5 μm to reliably obtain the joint strength between metal plates functioning as the circuit layer and the metal layer, and a ceramics substrate, has been known. Such technique is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. H3-234045.
However, when the metal plate is joined to the ceramics substrate, even if the roughness surface of the ceramics substrate is simply reduced, sufficient high joint strength is not obtained and there is a disadvantage in that the reliability thereof cannot be improved.
Even if, for example, a honing treatment is performed on the surface of the ceramics substrate by use of Al2O3 particles in a dry method and the roughness surface Ra thereof is made 0.2 μm, it was found that peeling may occur at an interface thereof in a peeling test.
In addition, even if the roughness surface Ra is made less than or equal to 0.1 μm by use of a polishing method, there is a case where peeling occurs at the interface as the same manner as described above.
Specifically, recently, in power modules, downsizing and reducing of thickness has been required, and the usage environment has become severe.
The power module is used under a usage environment in which, for example, heat stress is repeatedly generated.
In addition, recently, the amount of heat generated in an electronic component has tended to increase, so it is necessary to dispose a power module substrate on a heat radiation plate as described above.
In this case, since the power module substrate is rigidly fixed to the heat radiation plate, a large shear force is generated at a joint interface between the metal plate and the ceramics substrate when the substrate is subjected to thermal cycles.
As a result, improvement of the joint strength and reliability are further required.

Power module substrate, power module, and method for manufacturing power module substrate


Provided is a motor for a drone comprising: a rotary shaft; a stator including a hole in which the rotary shaft is disposed; a rotor disposed outside the stator; and a housing coupled to the stator, wherein the stator comprises a stator core and a coil wound around the stator core, wherein the stator core comprises an annular yoke coupled to the housing, teeth extending radially from the yoke, and a shoe disposed at one end of the teeth, wherein the teeth comprise protrusions projecting from the side surface thereof. As such, the present invention provides an advantageous effect of securing an air flow path for heat radiation to enhance a heat radiating effect while preventing water or foreign matter from flowing into the motor.

A drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle which includes a drone body with a plurality of propellers mounted thereon and which flies. The drone body includes a motor which drives the propeller. A rotor of the motor rotates due to an electrical interaction between a stator and the rotor such that the motor drives the propeller.
To increase power of the motor, the rotor may be disposed outside the stator. In the motor having such configuration, heat generated therein is very high. Accordingly, it is necessary to embody a heat dissipation structure which communicates an inside and an outside of the motor. However, since the motor is exposed by the heat dissipation structure, a danger is present that water or foreign substances may invade into the motor depending on a flying environment.
Also, high heat is generated by the stator on which a coil is wound. Accordingly, when the heat dissipation structure is spaced apart from the stator, there is a problem that a heat dissipation effect is not large.

Motor for drone and drone comprising same


Pipe useful for downhole and transport of hydrocarbon fuel such as oil and/or natural gas is provided that has a non-stick coating adhered to the pipe interior surface, said coating being at least about 50 μm thick and comprising at least two layers constituting an inner layer and an outer layer adhered to one another, each said layers containing polymer binder and fluoropolymer and being at least about 15 μm thick, the weight proportion of said polymer binder to said fluoropolymer in said inner layer and in said outer layer but being effective to maintain adhesion between said layers during pressurization and decompression upon said non-stick coating being exposed to the Autoclave Test and the proportion of said fluoropolymer in said inner layer and said outer layer being effective to protect said interior surface during exposure of said non-stick coating to the Acid Soak Test.

1. Field of the invention
This invention relates to pipes that convey hydrocarbon fuel from deposits within the earth and more particularly to coatings for the interior surface of such pipes.
2. Description of Related Art
U.S. Patent Publication 2006/0017281 discloses the corrosive environment to which oil pipes are exposed, especially in the conveying of oil from underground deposits in the earth. Such oil well pipes also face the problem of plugging with asphaltenes, paraffin waxes and scale present in the oil. This Patent Publication solves these problems with a lining for the interior surface of the oil pipe, wherein the exposed surface of the lining comprises perfluoropolymer. Typically, the lining is composed of a primer layer adhered to the interior surface of the pipe and an overcoat adhered to the primer, perfluoropolymer preferably being in both layers, so that upon baking, the perfluoropolymer in the overcoat melt bonds to the perfluoropolymer in the primer layer [0010]. The primer layer also contains heat-resistant polymer binder which enables the primer layer to adhere to the oil pipe interior surface [0030]. The overcoat is essentially free of any ingredient other than the perfluoropolymer to provide the best non-stick surface [0045]. The lining in the form of coatings on steel substrates are tested for paraffin, asphaltene, and scale depositions, adhesion, and salt water permeation. The salt water permeation test is carried out in an autoclave containing stratified contact fluids, and is heated at 251 ° F. (122° C.) and maintained at 1026 psi (70.8 MPa) for 29 days. At the conclusion of the autoclave exposure, the autoclave is cooled to 104° F. (40° C.) over a period of several hours, and then the remaining autoclave pressure is released at a rate of about 100/psi/min, after which the impedance of the coating is tested. Reduction in impedance indicates permeability for the coating.
Environmental conditions to which the interior of pipes, i.e. downhole pipe that conveys hydrocarbon fuel from deposits in the earth vary geographically. The expression "pipe" includes tubes and tubing, these sometimes being an alternate expression for pipe. In this regard, downhole pipe may be called tubes, while pipe for surface conveying of hydrocarbon fuel, including undersea conveying, is usually called pipe. The term "pipe" also includes casing, that is a tubular structure that supports a hole and keeps the surrounding ground from collapsing. Hydrocarbon fuel includes liquid fuel, most notably oil, and liquid/gas fuel mixtures, most notably, unrefined natural gas, and mixtures thereof present in the same deposit. The environmental conditions at some drilling locations are much more severe than at other locations. These more severe conditions can be present both in the downhole pipe and pipe used to convey the fuel to storage or refining, i.e. fuel flow pipe.
To address these more severe conditions, more stringent tests have been proposed for coatings to be used on the interior surface of such pipe, to qualify the coating for testing in actual service. These tests are described under Test Methods herein as the Autoclave Test and the Acid Soak Test. The Acid Soak Test tests the impermeability of the coating to concentrated acid and requires the coating to be rather thick, i.e. at least about 50 μm in order to protect the substrate from corrosion. The Autoclave Test is similar to the autoclave test disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication 2006/0017281, with two major differences. First, the pressurization is much greater and second, a rapid rather than gradual decompression is used. The higher pressurization forces the test fluids present in the autoclave to penetrate into the coating, and the rapid decompression, results in the penetrated (absorbed) fluids (vapor) rapidly exiting the coating. A non-stick coating based on fluoropolymer as providing the non-stick character needed to avoid paraffin, asphaltene, and scale depositions inevitably requires the coating to be multilayer, at least one inner layer for providing adhesion to the substrate and at least one outer layer for providing the non-stick character to the coating. One or more of the test fluids penetrates all these layers during the Autoclave Test. The problem arises that the rapid exiting of the absorbed vapor during rapid decompression tends to cause blistering arising from the trapping of vapor within the coating, i.e. the absorbed vapor is unable to rapidly permeate out of the coating. Typically, the blistering occurs within an inner layer or at the interface between the inner layer and the outer layer. This blistering, depending on its severity, i.e. blister size, represents points of potential corrosive attack and coating failure in actual service using the coated pipe. The greater the coating thickness, especially with regard to the outer layer, the more difficult it is for the vapor to escape from the coating, leading to blistering from vapor entrapment. The Acid Soak Test also has the ability to cause blistering in the non-stick coating, and both Tests can attack the adhesion between layers and between the non-stick coating and the substrate.
The need to pass both the Autoclave Test and the Acid Soak Test presents the problem of conflicting requirements for fluoropolymer based non-stick coatings. The coating needs to be thick to stop corrosion in the Acid Soak Test, but needs to be thin in order to avoid blistering of the coating in the Autoclave Test. Reasonable adhesion of the coating to the interior surface of the pipe must also be maintained during both Tests.


An apparatus of correcting belt-meandering for a secondary battery is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes i) upper and lower rollers configured to receive a base material therebetween, wherein the base material comprises positive and negative electrode materials and an insulating material interposed between the electrode materials and ii) a driver portion configured to rotate the upper and lower rollers such that the base material is transferred in a first direction during the rotation. The apparatus may also include i) a support portion configured to support shafts of the driver portion and the upper and lower rollers and ii) a transverse moving mechanism configured to move the support portion in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

1. Field
The described technology generally relates to an apparatus for correcting a belt-meandering for a secondary battery, and more particularly, to an apparatus that precisely corrects the meandering of a jelly roll wound at a high speed in a winding operation for a secondary battery.
2. Description of the Related Technology
A secondary battery is manufactured by winding, at a high speed, a positive electrode collector coated with a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode collector coated with a negative electrode active material, and an insulation film for insulating the two collectors from each other. According to a winding method in such a configuration, the winding of a base material including positive/negative electrode materials and two insulation films is performed by repeatedly performing stopping/winding with respect to a roller at a high speed.
In this instance, a meandering in a direction vertical to a transfer direction may be generated during the transfer of the base material according to a possible unequal coating of the positive/negative electrode materials, the vibration in winding or the degree of equipment. Such a meandering phenomenon causes a winding failure, and therefore, the quality of a final battery product generally degrades.

Apparatus for correcting belt-meandering for secondary battery


A method of performing a refresh operation of a memory device including a plurality of memory cells connected to a plurality of word lines. The method includes performing a table-based refresh operation on at least a first word line of the plurality of word lines in a first time period of a refresh cycle, and performing a detector-based refresh operation on at least a second word line of the plurality of word lines in a second time period of the refresh cycle. The first word line includes at least one memory cell predetermined to be a weak cell. The second word line includes at least one memory cell dynamically determined to be a weak cell.

This disclosure relates to a method of performing a refresh operation of a memory device, and more particularly to a memory device which may perform different types of refresh operations for same or different rows of the memory device, a method of performing a refresh operation of the memory device, and a system having the same.
The memory device may perform a refresh operation so as to prevent data stored in each of a plurality of memory cells included in the memory device from being lost by leakage. A cycle of a regular refresh operation periodically performed in the memory device is related to data retention time of a memory cell.
A refresh characteristic of a particular memory cell may be worse due to a specific operation of the memory device. Therefore, it is desirable to improve the refresh characteristic of the particular memory cell.

Memory device, method for performing refresh operation of the memory device, and system including the same

Samsung-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do


Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for generating location and size measurements for small scattered objects in a large medium are disclosed.

When analyzing the distribution pattern of an explosion, the explosive under investigation may be surrounded by mediums (e.g., fiber bundles) that are adapted to capture fissile fragments within a test arena. The explosion causes fissile fragments (e.g., metal objects) to be embedded inside the fiber bundles. These fiber bundles are then dismantled by hand to map the locations of fissile fragments from the explosion. However, dismantling the fiber bundles by hand is a costly and labor intensive process.

3D mapping with two orthogonal imaging views

L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems, Inc.


A leaf seal for sealing a shaft rotating about an axis, in particular in a gas turbine, includes a multiplicity of spaced-apart leaves (26) which are arranged in a concentric circle around the axis and are fixed in their position by welded connections produced by electron beam welding, the leaves (26), with their surfaces, being oriented essentially parallel to the axis. The welded connections of the leaves are improved by the leaves (26) being designed in such a way and being arranged in the leaf seal in such a way that they abut against one another at the side edges directly or via intermediate spacers (27) along at least one contact line (36) extending over a plurality of leaves (26), and by the welded connections being designed as welds directed along the at least one contact line (36) and oriented in axial direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of sealing in rotating machines, and more particularly to a leaf seal.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
A gas turbine includes a rotor, on which various stages with compressor blades and turbine blades are provided, and a stator housing. The rotor is mounted in bearings at each end of the rotor shaft.
The control of the gas flow inside the gas turbine is of paramount importance with regard to both the functionality and the effectiveness. Sealing techniques are used at various locations along the rotor shaft in order to reduce the axial gas flow along the shaft. This is especially important next to the bearings in order to prevent the oil which is used in the bearings from overheating due to the hot gases of the gas flow.
Two types of sealing techniques are traditionally used in this situation—usually alternatively, sometimes also in combination. These are labyrinth seals and brush seals.
Labyrinth seals have no metal-to-metal contact between the rotor and the stator; the sealing effect is therefore relatively small. However, they offer the advantage of low rotational friction and of a therefore virtually unlimited service life.
On the other hand, brush seals have higher friction losses on account of the friction between the bristle ends and the rotor shaft. This results in wear, which limits the service life of the seal. However, brush seals stem the axial gas flow more effectively, in particular in the case of higher axial pressure differences.
The use of these techniques for sealing in gas turbines has numerous restrictions. First, the axial pressure difference that they can withstand is still fairly low. In the case of the brush seals, this is due to the bristles, which have the same stiffness in the axial and circumferential directions: high pressures can cause the bristles to yield in the axial direction. The capability of the seals to allow a significant radial movement and to resist it is also low.
The design of a brush seal is often a compromise between the use of a supporting plate, which is intended to give sufficient axial support, and the non-restriction of the radial movement.
In order to avoid the disadvantages of the known brush seals, a leaf seal has been proposed in U.S. Pat. No. B1-6,343,792, this leaf seal performing the same function as either a labyrinth seal or a brush seal but having the advantages of both. Instead of the bristles, which are produced from wires of circular cross section, thin metal leaves are assembled in a certain arrangement (see, for example, FIG. 3 of U.S. Pat. No. B1-6,343,792 or FIG. 1 of the present application). The leaves, which are oriented with their surfaces essentially parallel to the axial direction, are much stiffer in the axial direction than in the circumferential direction. Thus the seal can withstand higher pressure differences without restricting their possibilities for allowing radial movements. The wide region on the rotor, which is swept by the tips of the leaves, provides the opportunity of producing a hydrodynamic force during operation, and this hydrodynamic force can separate the leaf tips from the shaft. In this way, a distance of a few microns can be produced and maintained, so that the wear, the friction heat and the friction losses can be reduced virtually to zero.
The basic design relates to a number of thin metal leaves which have a controlled air gap between them and are fastened at a predetermined angle to the radius. The air gap is a critical design parameter: it enables an air flow to occur in order thus to produce the hydrodynamic effect; however, it must not be so large as to allow an excessive axial air flow.
Two variants of leaf spring designs are possible: in the one variant, the leaves are blown downward, but in the other they are blown upward. In the variant having the leaves blown downward, there is a distance between the leaf tips and the shaft during the assembly and start-up, and this gap is reduced to very small values by the use of an air flow between the leaves. On the other hand, in the variant having the upward blowing, there is slight mutual influencing between the leaf tips and the shaft during the start-up, and a distance is produced when the shaft is accelerated. In both cases, the flow of the medium through the air gaps between the leaves is critical, as is the control of the seal's inside diameter, which is produced by the leaf tips.
The air flow through the leaves can be varied by using a front and a rear plate which leave a narrow gap free between the surfaces of the leaf stack and the plates (see abovementioned FIGS. 1 and 3). A careful design of these geometries makes it possible to control the upward or downward blowing effects. It may also be desirable to assist the downward blowing effect by an active pressure feed along the length of the leaves or inward from the front side or from the rear directions.
One of the other main advantages of the leaf seal concept is a greater tolerance of the radial movement than in labyrinth or brush seals. This requires a large distance there between the inside diameter of the front and rear end plates and the shaft.
Depending on the geometry selected for the seal and on the diameter of the shaft to be sealed, the number of leaves can be several thousand or many thousand. The accuracy with which said leaves can be produced, assembled and connected, in the course of which a reproducible air gap between each pair of leaves is ensured, is critical for the successful implementation of every possible seal design.
The joining method for fixing the leaves in their position could be a mechanical technique, such as clamping in place, welding, or brazing or any possible combination thereof. It is quite obviously important that a minimum disturbance of the leaves or of their relative positions occurs during the joining process.
Various joining methods have already been proposed in the abovementioned publication U.S. Pat. No. 1-6,343,792. In the exemplary embodiments pertaining to FIGS. 1 to 21 of that publication, the leaves, with their top transverse edge, are brazed in place in a housing. In the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 22 to 28, the leaves are fastened in curved segments by a known welding method, such as laser welding, electron beam welding (EBW) or TIG welding, the welding being effected in the radial direction from outside through the segment up to the top transverse edges of the leaves (see FIG. 25 and the description on page 20, lines 7-48). The distance between the leaves can be set in this case by positioning elements (FIGS. 22 to 24) embossed in the leaves, by separate spacers (FIG. 27A), or by integral spacers (FIG. 27B). With regard to the use of the electron beam welding, no further details are given in the publication.
Electron beam welding is a method which is available on an industrial basis for the development or production of devices assembled from components within a wide range of various alloys and geometries.
The nature of the heat input, focussed to a high degree, and the accuracy with which the method can be controlled make it especially suitable for the welding of leaves, with or without spacers, for leaf seals.
Electron beam welding involves the use of special equipment in order to generate the electron beam. This equipment includes a cathode in order to emit electrons, which are then accelerated down an evacuated column by means of high voltage and are focussed on the substrate as a narrow beam with accurately controlled energy and position.
The penetration depth of the beam changes with the beam energy and the density of the target material, but is normally within a range of a few 10 microns right up to a few millimeters. The material volume affected is quickly melted, and a fusion welded joint with the surrounding material is produced.
For the optimum use of electron beam welding, those surfaces of the parts (23a, b in FIG. 5 of the present application) to be connected to one another which are to be welded should be in close contact (joint 24), so that a weld 25 capable of bearing load is obtained. This is different from most welding methods (see FIG. 4 of the present application), in which an intermediate space 21 is normally required between the parts 20a, b to be connected as filling space for a filler material in order to produce a weld 22 capable of bearing load.
The lower values of the disturbance in the material which are to be encountered in electron beam welding and are inherent in the method make the method especially suitable for the welding of thin components such as leaves, which are especially susceptible to such disturbances.
One aspect of present invention proceeds from the application of electron beam welding in the production of leaf seals which are assembled from individual leaves, with or without separate spacers.
In this case, the leaves must be produced from a suitable material which can easily be welded by electron beam welding. The design of the leaves and the way in which they are put together must be carefully controlled in order to optimize the joining by means of electron beam welding.
In particular, other aspects of the present invention start from the fact that successful electron beam welding is based on close contact between the surfaces to be connected in order to minimize the disturbances occurring during the welding. This close contact is not ensured in the joining technique as disclosed in publication US-B1-6,343,792. The welding there is effected in the radial direction from outside through the curved segment-shaped holding element and includes the top transverse edges of the leaves, which, on account of their arrangement in a circle, are relatively far apart. For the abovementioned reasons, such a configuration of the welding process involves considerable disadvantages for the application of electron beam welding.

Leaf seal and method of producing a leaf seal


Dynamically collecting data pertaining to a program execution. A method can include monitoring execution of the program in a plurality of threads and, responsive to identifying an exception triggered by the program execution in a first of the plurality of threads, initiating at least one data collector to collect data exclusively relevant to the program execution in the first thread.

One or more embodiments disclosed within this specification relate to analysis of software applications.
When an application is executed by a processing system, data related to the application execution oftentimes is recorded into a log file as log file entries. These log file entries can indicate errors that occur during the application execution. Accordingly, the log file can be analyzed in order to determine the source of an error and a potential corrective action that may be implemented in the application to prevent future occurrences of the error.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


Novel constructs in plasmids are provided for evaluating the efficiency of expression and secretion of structural genes. The constructs provide for transcriptional and translational regulatory regions, a signal sequence and structural gene, which also may be readily excised and substituted, so as to allow for mixing and matching of regulatory regions, signal sequences and genes to evaluate regions for use in the expression of a desired peptide. Particularly, synthetic regions are provided which may be used with other synthetic regions or wild-type regions.. Plasmids are provided for screening Bacillus genomic sequences for regulatory regions, particularly promoters employing a structural gene secreting an enzyme which can produce a product which allows for visual detection.

In the use of genetic manipulation techniques in microorganisms, the genus Bacillus has, after E. coli, in recent years also formed the subject of extensive investigation. See, for example, Dubnau, in Experimental Manipulation of Gene Expression, Academic Press, (1983) 33-51 and Doi, Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (1984) 2:126-155. Bacilli have now been used for a long time in the fermentation industry. Bacilli offer numerous advantages, such as good growth on inexpensive base materials, and in contrast to E. coli, do not produce any endotoxins. Furthermore, Bacilli are capable of secreting proteins into the growth medium, in particular, certain types of enzymes such as proteases and amylases, frequently produced in large amounts by Bacilli. These enzymes may be relatively inexpensively and conveniently isolated from the fermentation medium.
Because of the attractiveness of Bacilli as a host for the production of homologous or heterologous peptides, it is of substantial commercial interest to be able to make use of particular sequences associated with transcriptional and translational regulation, which would allow for efficient expression and secretion of the peptides of interest. There is, therefore, substantial interest in ways for isolating and analyzing these sequences from Bacillus or other sources, which would allow for the efficient screening of the sequences.

Regulatory region cloning and analysis plasmid for bacillus


System for managing a vehicle compressor, wherein the compressor (C) is driven in rotation by a vehicle engine (E). The system varies a stop pressure threshold (cut-off threshold) of the compressor as an inverse function of a compressor speed of rotation. The compressor speed of rotation is directly proportional to the vehicle engine speed of rotation (E).

Field of the Invention
The present invention refers to the field of the systems for managing vehicle compressors, which generally equip vehicles having a pneumatic braking system and/or pneumatic suspensions.
State of the Art
The vehicle compressor is generally controlled by a pressure sensor which measures the pressure of the compressed air within suitable accumulation tanks.
The calibration of the cut-off value, namely the pressure value measured in the tanks that determines the compressor stopping, is crucial in relation to the dimensions of the tanks, in order to cope with all the needs of the case, namely, for example, the need of lifting the suspensions, of activating an additional axle or of performing numerous braking repetitions.
A high number of pneumatic activations and an intense use of the pneumatic system may bring to determine a very high cut-off threshold.
Thus, in general, the cut-off value is identified at the planning stage.
Problems connected to the overheating of the compressor head when the vehicle engine runs at a high speed are known in the art.
The compressor, indeed, is mechanically connected to the internal combustion engine and takes from the latter the energy that is necessary to compress the air.
The energy absorption by the compressor is proportional to the number of revolutions per minute at which it is driven in rotation. This means that the activation of the compressor when the vehicle travels at a high speed, namely with a high engine speed, determines the maximum possible energy absorption by the compressor which tends to recharge the tanks in a very short time. This results in an overheating of the compressor head and in an overall worsening of the system engine/compressor, since the engine is asked to face by itself a high air resistance and since there is also a reduction of the volumetric efficiency of the compressor.
When the head of the compressor becomes particularly hot, the lubricating oil, which is generally in common with the internal combustion engine, tends to burn, worsening the performance of the compressor itself and of the post-treatment system of the compressed air. Moreover, the oil itself may leak, due to the high temperatures, and contaminate the post-treatment system of the compressed air and the whole compressed air circuit.
Furthermore, at the planning stage, it is necessary to appropriately dimension the pipes of the compressed air, in order to cool the air that passes through the post-treatment system. This means that suitable heat exchange elements and particularly long pipes for compressed air have to be provided, in order to take into account the temperature of the air sent by the compressor, also at the highest speed of rotation.
Furthermore, the stress of the elements forming the compressor is influenced by the back pressure in output from the compressor itself, thus with a high speed of rotation, such stress increases, increasing the wear of the compressor increases.


An apparatus may include a housing including an entrance aperture, to receive an ion beam. The apparatus may include an exit aperture, disposed in the housing, downstream to the entrance aperture, the entrance aperture and the exit aperture defining a beam axis, extending therebetween. The apparatus may include an electrodynamic mass analysis assembly disposed in the housing and comprising an upper electrode assembly, disposed above the beam axis, and a lower electrode assembly, disposed below the beam axis. The apparatus may include an AC voltage assembly, electrically coupled to the upper electrode assembly and the lower electrode assembly, wherein the upper electrode assembly is arranged to receive an AC signal from the AC voltage assembly at a first phase angle, and wherein the lower electrode assembly is arranged to receive the AC signal at a second phase angle, the second phase angle 180 degrees shifted from the first phase angle.

Ion implantation is a process of introducing dopants or impurities into a substrate via bombardment. Ion implantation systems ("ion implanters") may comprise an ion source and a substrate stage or process chamber, housing a substrate to be implanted. The ion source may comprise a chamber where ions are generated. Beamline ion implanters may include a series of beam-line components, for example, a mass analyzer, a collimator, and various components to accelerate or decelerate the ion beam.
A useful function of an ion implanter beamline is to separate ions of different masses so that an ion beam may be formed having the desired ions for treating the work piece or substrate, while undesirable ions are intercepted in a beamline component and do not reach the substrate. In known systems, this mass analysis function is provided by an analyzing magnet, which component bends a beam of ions that all have the same energy in a curve whose radius depends on the ion mass, thus achieving the required separation. Magnets of this kind, however, are large, expensive and heavy and represent a significant fraction of the cost and power consumption of an ion implanter.
For relatively lower energy ion implantation, such as energy below approximately 50 keV, compact ion beam systems have been developed. These ion beam systems may include a plasma chamber acting as ion source, and placed adjacent a process chamber, housing the substrate to be implanted. An ion beam may be extracted from the plasma chamber using an extraction grid or other extraction optics to provide an ion beam to the substrate, with a desired beam shape, such as a ribbon beam. In these latter systems, mass analysis may be omitted because of size/space considerations for installing a magnetic analyzer, as discussed above, as well as cost. Thus, the use of such compact ion beam systems may be limited to applications where purity of implanting species is not a strict requirement.
With respect to these and other considerations, the present disclosure is provided.

Apparatus, system and techniques for mass analyzed ion beam


In an embodiment, systems and methods disclosed herein relate to a mobile mixed reality platform that enables users in different physical locations in a building, city, state, or across the world to interact in a shared virtual environment during an interactive session. This virtual environment enables the sharing and generation of virtual elements such as documents and three-dimensional models, and immerses the users in the environment with wearable technology so that the users have an experience that mirrors real-time interactions in situations including professional meetings, training, and other interactions that involve parties from different physical locations who desire to have a shared, immersive, virtual environment for interaction.

Virtual (VR) reality is the term used to describe computer-generated simulations of three-dimensional actors and environments generated by equipment configured to render the three-dimensional representations and VR has been employed in gaming and for simulation and training purposes. These VR systems may allow users to interact in gaming environments to score points, advance in rank, or engage in simulations such as flight simulation, racecar driving, downhill skiing, or other activities.

Extended mixed multimedia reality platform


A wax pattern is built up on the surface of the other end of a post comprising pure titanium. The wax pattern is used to produce a casting mold. While the casting mold is kept at a predetermined temperature, a crystallized glass having a thermal expansion coefficient falling within the range of .+-.5.times.10.sup.-7 with respect to that of pure titanium is melted and cast in the mold. The resultant mold product is heated and crystallized to obtain a dental prosthesis. A post comprising pure titanium is chemically bonded to a core comprising the crystallized glass. This invention provides a dental prosthesis which is easy to manufacture and nontoxic to the human body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dental prosthesis and, more particularly, to a dental prosthesis which is easy to manufacture and nontoxic to the human body.
In addition, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing the dental prosthesis.
2. Description of the Related Art
Dental prosthesis have been used to restore diseased and missing teeth. As a conventional dental prosthesis, a porcelain such as VITADUR (manufactured by VITA Co. Ltd.) or DUCERAM (manufactured by DUCERA Co. Ltd.) is built up on a post comprising a base metal (e.g., a nickel-cobalt alloy or a cobalt-chromium alloy), a noble metal (e.g., gold or platinum), or an alloy of the base and noble metals, and the resultant body is calcined and heated to obtain a metal fused porcelain crown as a so-called metal bond.
However, in a conventional metal fused porcelain crown, the porcelain must be repeatedly built up on the post to modify the shape until a desired shape is obtained. The manufacture each dental prosthesis consumes therefore much of time.
The most frequently used base metal as a metal constituting the post has a high ionization tendency, and metal ions tend to be eluted. Even if an alloy containing a noble metal is used, a galvanic action between the heterogeneous metals occurs in the oral cavity, so that metal ions tend to be eluted. It is known that the eluted metal ions cause allergic diseases to specific people.