Method and apparatus for suppressed ion analysis in which a sample solution of analyte (e.g., anion) in an eluent of electrolyte counterions (e.g., sodium), is chromatographically separated. Then, the counterions are suppressed in a suppression zone and removed and used to convert the analyte ions to salt form in a salt-converting zone. The suppression and salt-converting zones may be contiguous or remote, and may be performed in devices of the membrane suppresser type. Thereafter, the salts or acids or bases formed from them (e.g., in membrane suppressor devices) are detected. Also, salt conversion can be performed using two ion exchange packed bed salt convertors in which one bed is on-line while the other is regenerated, followed by a reversal of flow.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus using ion chromatography (xe2x80x9cICxe2x80x9d) in which the suppressed analyte is converted to a salt prior to detection.
Ion chromatography is a known technique for the analysis of ions which typically includes a chromatographic separation zone using an eluent containing an electrolyte, and an eluent suppression stage, followed by detection, typically performed by a conductivity detector. In the chromatographic separation stage, ions of an injected sample are eluted from a separation column. In the suppression stage, electrical conductivity of the eluent electrolyte is suppressed but not that of the separated ions. In the first generation of ion chromatography, suppression or stripping of electrolyte used an ion exchange resin bed. In an improved form of suppression, a charged membrane in the form of a fiber or sheet is used in place of the resin bed. In sheet form, the sample and eluent are passed on one side of the sheet with a flowing regenerant on the other side of the sheet. The sheet comprises an ion exchange membrane partitioning the regenerant from the effluent of chromatographic separation. The membrane passes ions of the same charge as the exchangeable ions of the membrane to convert the electrolyte of the eluent to weakly ionized form, followed by detection of the ions.
One effective form of suppressor is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,999,098. In this apparatus, the suppressor includes at least one regenerant compartment and one chromatographic effluent compartment separated by an ion exchange membrane sheet. The sheet allows transmembrane passage of ions of the same charge as its exchangeable ions. Ion exchange screens are used in the regenerant and effluent compartments. Flow from the effluent compartment is directed to a detector, such as an electrical conductivity detector, for detecting the resolved ionic species. The screens provide ion exchange sites and serve to provide site to site transfer paths across the effluent flow channel so that suppression capacity is no longer limited by diffusion of ions from the bulk solution to the membrane. A sandwich suppressor is also disclosed including a second membrane sheet opposite to the first membrane sheet and defining a second regenerant compartment. Spaced electrodes are disclosed in communication with both regenerant chambers along the length of the suppressor. By applying an electrical potential across the electrodes, there is an increase in the suppression capacity of the device. The patent discloses a typical regenerant solution (acid or base) flowing in the regenerant flow channels and supplied from a regenerant delivery source. In a typical anion analysis system, sodium hydroxide is the eluent and sulfuric acid is the regenerant. The patent also discloses using water to replace the regenerant solution in the electrodialytic mode. In an improved form of membrane suppressor, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,360, effluent from the detector is recycled through the regenerant flow channels.
In Berglund, I., et al. Anal. Chem. 63: 2175 (1991), another multiple detector system is described. Here, conventional IC is performed using a first conductivity detector. The effluent from that detector is passed sequentially through cation exchange and anion exchange conversion zones. For anion analysis, the effluent from the first detector is in the usual IC form of HX (wherein X is the analyte anion) as it exits from the suppressor. Two different types of convertors are disclosed. In a sequential packed column form, the effluent first passes cation (sodium) exchange resin and then anion (hydroxide) exchange resin, resulting in sequential conversion first to NaX salt and thereafter to NaOH. A permselective membrane-type convertor is also disclosed for such sequential conversion. After conversion, the ion conductivity of the sodium hydroxide is measured in the second detector and compared to the ion conductivity of the first detector. The paper states that the data reveals peaks due to very weak acids hidden in the suppressed base line or overlapped with strong acid peaks. It further states that this method allows an estimation of the pK of the analyte peak and permits approximate quantitation without standards. Problems with that system include the following: (1) incomplete conversion of the acid form analyte to NaOH due to differences in ion exchange selectivity between hydronium and sodium, and analyte anion and hydroxide on the cation and anion exchange resins respectively; and (2) analyte band dispersion in the ion exchange columns must be compensated for when ratioing the signals from the two detectors. For weak acids, for example, it can be more of a problem, because there is less free hydronium ion available to exchange for sodium ion.
In PCT Publication WO 9418555, apparatus and methods are disclosed using IC principles in which different detectors provide useful comparative signals. Specifically, in one form of the apparatus, separating means, typically in the form of a chromatographic resin column, separates the analyte ions in the presence of an eluent comprising electrolyte. The effluent from the separating means flows through suppressor means for converting the electrolyte to weakly ionized form and the analyte ions to acid or base form. The suppressed effluent flows through a first detector for detecting the conductivity of the ionic species and generates a first signal. This portion of the system is conventional suppressed IC. The effluent from the first detector flows through a salt convertor for converting the analyte ions in acid or base form and to salt form. Then, the conductivity of the salt form of the analyte is measured in a second detector means and a second signal is generated. The first and second signals are analyzed to represent a defined relationship between the output signals.
In one embodiment of WO 9418555, the analyte ions in acid or base form are converted to their corresponding salts in a single conversion with salt-forming ions of opposite charge. For example, for analyte anions represented by xe2x80x9cXxe2x80x9d, and using Na+ ion, NaX is measured in the second detector means. This is referred to herein as the xe2x80x9csingle conversion mode.xe2x80x9d It discloses a salt convertor which minimizes dispersions which could skew peak ratios of the single conversion type. One disclosed single conversion convertor is an on-line microelectrodialytic ion source which supplies the salt-forming ion through a membrane. It includes a salt-forming ion source channel, a suppressor effluent flow channel and a permselective ion exchange membrane partitioning the two channels. The membrane includes exchangeable ions of the same charge as the salt-forming ions and is resistant to transmembrane passage of the ionic species. An electrical potential is applied between the ion source channel and suppressor effluent flow channel. The latter channel is in fluid communication with the effluent from the suppressor. In operation, the signal generated in the first conductivity detector for the acid or base form of the analyte is evaluated with the signal generated in the second ion conductivity detector for the salt form of the analyte to provide extremely useful information. Other disclosed single conversion convertors include the use of an ion exchange membrane barrier without electrolysis, but with external acid or base concentrations sufficient to overcome the Donnan barrier. Still other systems include the use of a porous membrane barrier using the application of current or differential pressure to drive the acid or base salt-forming ions into the suppressor effluent flow channel. Single conversion is also disclosed by flowing the suppressor effluent stream through an ion exchange medium such as a column of an ion exchange resin bed having exchangeable ions of opposite charge to the analyte ions.
WO 9418555 also discloses a xe2x80x9cdouble conversion modexe2x80x9d in which the analyte ions are twice-converted. In this instance, the analyte ion is converted to a salt of(a) the same type of counterion as in the single conversion mode, and (b) a common single ion of the same charge as the analyte ion by simultaneous ion exchange of the acid of base form of the analyte ions with the selected anion and cation. In one embodiment using a permselective membrane, the suppressor effluent flows in a central channel flanked by two ion source channels, one including anions and the other including cations. Permselective membranes separate the ion source channels from the suppressor effluent flow channel and include exchangeable ions of a type which permit transport of such cations and anions into the suppressor effluent flow channel to accomplish double conversion. In another simultaneous double conversion, the suppressor effluent flows from the first detector through ion exchange medium such as an ion exchange resin bed, including exchangeable anions and cations of the same type desired as in the permselective membrane. Sequential double conversion is also disclosed. In one embodiment, the suppressor effluent flows from the first detector sequentially through two ion exchange columns of opposite charge. For example, the first column includes a common, single ion of the same charge as the analyte ions so that a converted acid or base with a common anion or cation is formed in the first column which is passed to the second column for conversion to a salt, or the order of the columns may be reversed. Also, it discloses a permselective membrane system for the sequential double conversion embodiment.
Another attempt to convert suppressed chromatography effluent to a salt using a membrane suppressor in the chemical mode with countercurrent flow is disclosed in Yuan Huang, Shi-fen Mou, Ke-na Liu, J. Chromatography, A 832:141-148 (1999). In this approach, only enough regenerant solution was provided so that suppression was incomplete. However, it is difficult to control the background and noise. The device is extremely sensitive to both the regenerant flow rate and the eluent flow rate for a given regenerant concentration.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,455,233 discloses another approach to salt conversion, using an eluent with an acid or base with a co-ion of the same charge as the ions analyzed, in which the co-ions being in the hydronium or hydroxide form. In this approach, the electrolyte for anions is an acid and the eluent for the cation is a base. Both the eluent and the analyte are converted to salt form. Although the eluent has a lower conductivity in the salt form than the conductive form, the background in this approach can be as high as 100 US/cm. Such high backgrounds result in higher chromatographic noise. The above approach is generally not compatible with commonly used eluents for ion chromatography and require eluents that readily get converted to the salt form of lower background.
There is a need in suppressed chromatography for efficient systems to convert weakly dissociated analytes into salt form and to facilitate detection of such analytes or subsequent reaction products against a low background.
One aspect of the present invention relates to a method for suppressed ion analysis of a plurality of different analyte ions in a sample solution, each of the analyte ions being of a common charge, positive or negative. The method includes the following steps: (a) eluting the sample solution with an eluent, comprising electrolyte counterions of opposite charge to the analyte ions, through a separating medium effective to separate the analyte ions to form a separating medium effluent stream, (b) flowing the separating medium effluent stream through a suppression zone in which electrolyte counterions are removed to convert the electrolyte to weakly ionized form to form a suppressor sample effluent stream, and (c) converting the analyte ions in the suppressor sample effluent stream into salts in a salt-converting zone by reaction with salt-forming ions of opposite charge comprising the removed electrolyte counterions to form an analyte salt stream. Thereafter, the analyte salt or an acid or base formed from that product are detected.
In another aspect of the invention, the salt conversion is performed in a first packed bed salt convertor including an ion exchange medium with exchangeable cations or anions by reaction with ions of opposite charge to the analyte ions comprising to form a first analyte salt stream. At the same time, an at least partially exhausted second packed bed salt convertor is regenerated to salt-forming cations or anions. The analyte ions in the first analyte salt stream are detected. Then, flow through the first and second packed bed salt convertors is reversed so that the first one is being regenerated while a second analyte salt stream is formed in the second packed bed salt convertor. Then, the analyte ions in the second analyte salt stream are detected.
Another embodiment of the invention comprises apparatus for performing the above methods including (a) a chromatographic separator having an inlet and an outlet for separating said analyte ions in the presence of an eluent comprising electrolyte counterions of opposite charge to said analyte ions, and (b) a suppressor-salt convertor comprising a suppressor sample flow channel separated from a suppressor regenerant flow channel by a suppressor ion exchange membrane having an upstream and a downstream salt-forming zone portion, said suppressor sample flow channel having an outlet and an inlet communicating with said chromatographic separator outlet, said suppressor sample flow channel inlet and suppressor regenerant flow channel inlet being on the upstream side of each of said flow channels so that flow therethrough is in the same direction, the suppressor ion exchange membrane in the downstream salt-forming zone portion having exchangeable ions in the electrolyte counterion form serving to convert said analyte ions to salts of said electrolyte counterion.
In another apparatus according to the invention, the suppressor and salt convertor are remote from each other. The salt convertor has a regenerant flow channel inlet and analyte salt-forming flow channel inlet disposed near their upstream ends so that flow is in the same direction through both channels.

Suppressed chromatography and salt conversion system


A computerized bone motion tracking system according to one exemplary embodiment is configured to: provide a non-invasive means for accurate measurement and tracking of the motion of a bone using a volumetric ultrasound transducer and a three dimensional position measurement system; provide relative measurements of one bone relative to another bone of a joint; decompose relative joint motion into specific components; and measure joint instability and range of motion.

In the field of computer assisted surgery, it is often required to track a structure in a human body, such as a bone or an organ. In particular, in computer assisted orthopaedic surgery, the motion of bones is tracked with a three-dimensional (3D) position measurement system. This is typically carried out by attaching a marker to the bone invasively, by drilling pins or screws into the bone, creating holes and causing trauma to the tissue and structure. This can increase the risk of bone fracture, infection, and cause pain to the patient. Some examples of these intra-operative motion tracking systems can are described in U.S. Patent Application publication No. 20060250300 entitled 'RF system for tracking objects' and in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20050245821 entitled "Position Sensing System for Orthopedic Applications", each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Furthermore, such systems are not suitable for measuring the motion of a subject or patient outside of the operating room, when the patient is not under anesthesia. This is due to the invasiveness of current tracking systems, and the abovementioned factors. Normally, in the analysis of human movement, such as in gait analysis, the motion of the underlying bones is inferred by tracking the motion of the overlying skin. This is typically carried out by attaching markers to the skin using adhesive means, or straps, or by attaching markers to fitted clothes on the subject. While not invasive, this method has the disadvantage of being less accurate, because of the motion of the skin and other overlying soft-tissues such as muscle with respect to the bone surface.
Other methods for measuring in-vivo bone kinematics use live 2D projected fluoroscopy images and intensity-based three-dimensional to two-dimensional image registration techniques (see for example the article by Komistek et. al. entitled In Vivo Fluoroscopic Analysis of the Normal Human Knee, in CLINICAL ORTHOPAEDICS AND RELATED RESEARCH, Number 410, pp. 69-81, 2003). Komistek's method requires the construction of three-dimensional computer-aided design models from pre-operative segmented computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and to register these models to 2D fluoroscopic images using an optimization algorithm that automatically adjusts the pose of the model at various knee flexion angles to best match the anatomy on the projected live images. Disadvantages of such techniques are that large and expensive imaging apparatuses are required, and that they expose the patent to ionizing radiation. Moreover, these systems are not suitable for use in most surgical settings due to their size and complexity.
In the article entitled 'A system for ultrasound-guided computer-assisted orthopaedic surgery' by Chen et al, in Computer Aided Surgery, September/November 2005; 10(5/6): 281-292, a method for non-invasive localizing a bone of a patient using two-dimensional (ie B-mode) ultrasound (US) is presented. Chen's method includes the following points:                Preoperatively, a set of 2D freehand US images (e.g., a total of 2000 images) is acquired from the targeted anatomy along with their corresponding positional information on the US probe. These preoperative image data are used to construct a preoperative database that serves two main purposes:                    to construct a preoperative 3D volumetric representation of the patient's anatomy that can be used for surgical planning (stage no. 1 in FIG. 2),            to form a preoperative searchable image data-base for use by the registration process.                        Intraoperatively, the preoperative US volume is registered to the patient using intraoperative 2D US images.                    In the OR, the surgeon takes a few live US images of the targeted anatomy while the position of the US probe is tracked in real time by the camera system. These intraoperative US images are used to find the physical position of the patient during the surgery (see the lower left image in FIG. 2).            A mutual information-based registration algorithm is employed to find the closest match to the live image in the preoperative image database (stage no. 2 in FIG. 2).            It should be borne in mind that the same images searched for in the preoperative database are also the ones used to construct the preoperative US volume of the targeted anatomy. Assuming the closest matching image is actually the live image, we can register the preoperative 3D US volume to the live US image (the lower right image in FIG. 2) and thus to the patient for surgical guidance (stage no. 3 in FIG. 2).
In other words, Chen's method involves constructing a large database of a couple thousand localized 2D ultrasound images preoperatively, and comparing each one of these images (or a reduced subset thereof) to an intra-operative localized 'live' 2D image of the bone. If there is a good match between one of the 2D images in the database and the live 2D image, it is assumed that the live image was acquired in the same plane as the localized one in the database. Therefore, a fundamental requirement of Chen's method to accurately track the bone is that there must be a 2D image in the so-called preoperative database that has been acquired in the same acquisition plane that the intra-operative US image has been acquired in, otherwise the matching algorithm cannot accurately determine the location of the bone. Another drawback is that any patient motion occurring during the pre-operative acquisition of 2000 or so images will result in relative errors between the pre-op image slices in the database (i.e. volumetric errors in the preoperative 3D US Volume).

Perception Raisonnement Action en Medecine


The exploitation of rolling back a system configuration to a previous system configuration is prevented by querying the update status of the system and comparing the received response with an expected response. If the comparison indicates that the update version of the system is older than the expected update version, the system is determined to have been rolled back. Accordingly, appropriate action is taken, such as sending a warning to the system, stopping the system from operating, disabling selected features, disconnecting the system from a network, banning the system from future connections to the network, and/or installing an update. The query can include a request for update version numbers of updates, times when updates were applied, predetermined questions, and an indication of the system (e.g., machine serial number, unique ID value).

It is not uncommon for computing systems to be updated after installation. For example, a personal computer (PC) or game console (e.g., XBOX®) may contain software bugs and/or security issues needing resolution after purchase. To resolve these issues, software patches are typically provided to update systems. Hackers have been known to exploit software bugs and security flaws. A common practice among hackers it to roll back a system to a time prior to an update. For example, if a game system contains a software bug that allows game players to cheat, a patch can be issued that fixes the software bug. A hacker wanting to exploit the software bug can roll back the game system configuration to a time prior to the update, thus defeating the patch and allowing the hacker to cheat.

Prevention of exploitation of update rollback


The present application relates to the electrochemical extraction of lead (Pb) from a lead-containing material using a deep eutectic solvent. This is of particular use in the recycling of the lead-based materials that result from energy generation processes.

The lead acid battery is one of the most commonly used batteries in the world and is present in almost all petrol- and diesel-based motor vehicles. Lead acid batteries are also extensively used in the electric vehicle industry and as back-up energy systems for buildings such as hospitals. Due both to the toxicity of lead and its material value it is important that these batteries are recycled.
The recycling of lead batteries involves treatment of the paste and electrodes from the lead battery in order to separate the lead from the other battery components. This may involve physical separation techniques as well as chemical techniques such as hydrometallurgical processing, smelting and electrochemical processes. Electrochemical processes are preferred as they tend to result in extraction of lead in a purer form, with fewer impurities. Electrochemical processes also avoid the need for heating materials to very high temperatures, which is costly. Additional costs are also involved in the transport of spent lead acid batteries to centralised smelting facilities.
However, currently known electrochemical processes can be problematic as complex mixtures of chemicals are required to dissolve lead in a form suitable for treatment in an electrochemical cell. These chemicals are also very toxic as they are generally very concentrated acids and, thus, they are difficult to handle and require special safety precautions.
Lead(II) sulphate (PbSO4) and lead(IV) oxide (PbO2) are of vital importance in lead acid batteries. The charged lead acid battery has one electrode of Pb and one of PbO2, whilst the discharged battery has two electrodes of PbSO4. Thus, the ability to recycle PbSO4 and PbO2 from a spent lead acid battery is desirable.
Moreover, it is not only lead from lead acid batteries that require new methods for recycling. The emerging technologies of lead telluride thermoelectrics and lead perovskite solar cells show potential as key lead-based materials in the developing renewable energy landscape. These technologies, however, are often considered to be limited due to their reliance on toxic lead, and the subsequent risk of environmental damage when these devices reach the end of their working life. Currently there is no clear recycling technique for these materials. In the case of lead perovskite photovoltaics this is often considered to be one of the key limiting factors in their scale up and introduction to the marketplace. As lead is toxic the end of life issues for lead perovskite solar cells are pertinent. Three of the most commonly used and promising materials in the field of lead perovskite photovoltaics are CH3NH3PbI3 (MAPbI3), HC(NH2)2PbI3 (FAPbI3) and CH3NH3PbI3-XClX (MAPbI3-XClX). Through the safe and environmentally friendly recycling of lead perovskite solar cells, the issue surrounding the toxicity and pollution at the end of their working life can be overcome and these materials will be able to have a wider application in the marketplace.
Thus, there is a need for an improved process for recovering lead from the lead-based materials used in, for example, lead batteries and solar cells.

Electrochemical recycling of lead-based materials


A deposition apparatus including a crucible to receive the deposition material and in which a deposition material is evaporated; a linear deposition source having a sprayer to spray the evaporated deposition material; a first connection portion and a second connection portion spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval, the first connection portion and the second connection portion connecting the linear deposition source to the crucible at an upper surface of the crucible; and a heater in the crucible to apply heat to the deposition material, wherein the upper surface of the crucible has a first convex portion and a second convex portion successively formed between the first connection portion and the second connection portion.

1. Field
Embodiments relate to a deposition apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
An organic light emitting display device may be used to form a display apparatus for a mobile apparatus such as a smartphone, a tablet personal computer (PC), an ultra slim notebook computer, a digital camera, a video camera, a personal digital assistant (PDA) or an electronic/electric product such as an ultra slim profile television (TV). Thus, the organic light emitting display device has been in the limelight. The organic light emitting display device may be formed by using a deposition method whereby a deposition material is evaporated and generated gas molecules are adhered to a glass substrate to form a layer on the glass substrate.


Embodiments of the present invention provide a table graphics management method and apparatus. The table graphics management method includes: displaying a table on a display apparatus; detecting a control track for the table input by an input device; determining a moving direction of the control track according to the detected control track; and along the moving direction of the control track, transposing original information in the frames of the row that are sequentially arranged along the first dimension into the frames of the column that are sequentially arranged along the second dimension, and transposing original information in the frames of the column that are sequentially arranged along the second dimension into the frames of the row that are sequentially arranged along the first dimension, so as to acquire a transposed table; and displaying a transposed table on the display apparatus.

When an electronic text editing tool is used for writing a document, a user often inserts some tables as supplemental illustration. Because text content may be adjusted, a table may be adjusted when a document is being edited, such as according to a relevant specification or requirement. The adjustment may be as follows: the content of rows is converted into the content of columns, or the content of columns is converted into the content of rows, or a table header of rows or columns is cancelled. Currently, how to ensure the quick management of table graphics on the premise of unchanged content of a table in an electronic text editing tool becomes a difficulty of text editing.

Table graphics management method and apparatus


The present teaching concerns a recyclable co-extruded PE packaging film with a first laminate layer of at least 60 vol % HDPE and a second laminate layer of a hetero-phase polypropylene block copolymer with a polyethylene content of 5-30 wt. % and a melting point higher than 155° C., preferably higher than 160°, the thickness of the second laminate layer being less than 5 μm.

The packaging industry uses packaging films or packaging laminates, which are to exhibit different properties depending upon the application. Such packaging films or packaging laminates are usually multilayer plastic films, which are produced by an extrusion process, a co-extrusion process (in both cases by both a cast film and a blown film process) or a lamination process (joining individual layers by means of a laminating adhesive as well as by extrusion lamination), as well as mixtures thereof.
For reasons of recyclability, there is also an effort to produce pure packaging films or packaging laminates based on a single kind of plastic, for example packaging laminates made only of polyethylene or of a mixture of polyethylene-based plastics with plastics that are compatible regarding recyclability in acceptable low amounts.
A packaging laminate usually also has a sealing layer, so as to make a package, e.g., a bag, out of the packaging laminate by way of heat-sealing. A sealing layer is typically made of a polyolefin, usually polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE) of different densities, like LLDPE, LDPE, MDPE or HDPE, and also in the form of mixtures thereof, whereas different materials naturally also being usable for the sealing layer. For purposes of sealing, for example for purposes of producing a package such as a bag, the folded packaging laminate is compressed between two temperature-controlled sealing jaws. A packaging laminate is also compressed between temperature-controlled sealing jaws when containers are sealed with covering lids. The sealing medium then melts, whereby a bond between the neighboring sealing layers is formed after cooling. In doing so, it is naturally desirable to reduce the time for sealing as much as possible, since this can increase the throughput on a packaging machine. This can, e.g., be achieved with higher sealing temperatures, since the heat is conducted more rapidly from the outside to the inside at the sealing area. However the maximum possible sealing temperature naturally depends in particular on the material of the outermost layer of the packaging laminate facing the sealing jaw, particularly on the melting temperature of this material. HDPE has a melting point of about 130° C. for example. Assuming a minimum required sealing temperature of 80° C. (rather significantly above that), one realizes that the sealing range (the temperature range in which the sealing is to be accomplished) is narrow. This makes the processing more difficult on one hand and also reduces the achievable sealing times on the other hand.
One could overcome this by using materials having a higher heat resistance, e.g., a polyester (like PET), in the outermost layer. However, this is precluded by the fact that a packaging laminate made of PE materials with a PET layer cannot be recycled. Admixing polypropylene (PP) with the HDPE of the outer layer or a thin PP outer layer would increase the heat resistance, as for example mentioned in WO 2016/156293 A1, which also mentions that the recyclability is not adversely affected when at most 20 vol % of PP is used in the film. A mixture of HDPE with a cycloolefin copolymer (COC) would also increase the heat resistance and would still be acceptable from the viewpoint of recyclability if small amounts of COC were added. However COCs are expensive, which makes them rather uninteresting for use in packaging laminates, for which the costs play an important role.
It is known from the EP 2 409 836 B1 to use a polypropylene block copolymer having a high melting point greater than 160° C. in an outer layer of a polypropylene packaging laminate to prevent adhesion to the sealing jaws. In EP 2 409 836 B1 polypropylene is used as the material for the packaging laminate because a package, for example a bag, produced therewith is to be sterilized at 121° C., which excludes polyethylene as a material for a sterilizable packaging laminate because of its lower melting points.
Packaging films or packaging laminates usually undergo several processing steps in production, such as, for example, steps for joining different layers, printing, coating, etc., which can also take place at higher temperatures. In production, the packaging film or the packaging laminate passes through an entire manufacturing process, which also comprises repeated redirections over guide rollers, repeated winding on rollers, repeated changes of temperature, etc. In doing so, the packaging film or the packaging laminate is also subjected to different longitudinal strains, which can also sometimes be undesired. The register error can, for example, be increased by printing in a multicolor printing process due to undesired longitudinal elongation, which can impair the quality of the printed image. An elastic modulus (E-modulus), and along with it a high web stiffness, of the packaging film or the packaging laminate that is as high as possible, preferably in the processing direction, is thus desirable, since such elongations can then be reduced. A high E-modulus (a high web stiffness) was heretofore achieved by way of special materials in the packaging film or the packaging laminate and/or via additional manufacturing steps, such as, e.g., stretching.
In order to achieve a sufficient web stiffness of a PE film at 70° C., WO 2016/156293 A1 proposes placing a center layer of LLDPE or mLLDPE in between two HDPE outer layers and stretching the PE film in at least one direction. The stretching increases the stiffness sufficiently and simultaneously reduces the haze value, which is to be equated with improved transparency. However, stretching naturally requires an additional processing step, which increases the manufacturing cost.

Recyclable PE packaging film with improved stiffness


A platform for end point and digital content centric real-time shared experience for collaboration across endpoints is disclosed. In one embodiment, media centric collaboration terminals (MCCTs) are communicatively connected to one or more terminals selected from the group consisting of video communication terminals (VCTs), voice over Internet protocol (IP) communication terminals (VoCTs), remote servers, remote streaming clients and/or appliances, machines and gadgets (AMGs) via a communication network. Further, audio and/or video bridging of one or more audio and/or video streams originating from one of the MCCTs designated as a current host along with incoming audio and/or video streams from at least one of any remaining MCCTs designated as clients or the one or more terminals is enabled on the current host, via the communication network.

With continued globalization the need for personal and business interaction between people in real-time over long distances is steadily increasing and also demanding change in the nature of interaction especially with respect to content. Voice communication remains the primary mode for achieving communication. However, increasingly the voice communication is being supplemented by chat sessions including text, audio and video. Lately, there has also been an increasing usage of video conferencing for an improved quality of interaction using software applications like Skype™ to high end dedicated conferencing setups like in tele-presence. Such software also complements the voice and video communication with information sharing, bringing elements of collaboration into the experience.
Despite such advances, the interactions between people in real-time are primarily limited to increased effectiveness in communication with a degree of sharing content of interest between people located at different places. Such interactions have not been able to achieve a shared experience people get in real-time when they are located at the same place. In recent years, new products and services, such as Hangout™ from Google™ allow sharing of audio, video, and image content with video conferencing to enhance the collaboration experience. However, existing products and/or services offer centralized server based services where conferencing and collaboration functions are done on servers. This also requires the users to upload the content to the servers. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/763,739 describes a technique that does the conferencing and collaboration functions on the end point exploiting their increasing processing capacity and hence gives the user an option of not having to upload the contents to the servers. Thus, reducing overall latency and improving user experience. However, this technique offers limited flexibility and control both on the host and clients for collaboration given the pre-defined nature of content sharing as full or partial screen sharing.
Other features of the present embodiments will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Platform for end point and digital content centric real-time shared experience for collaboration


An electroabsorption semiconductor optical modulator includes a light absorption layer for generating a modulated light beam by absorbing an incident light beam. A well layer in the light absorption layer, accumulates charge carriers generated by the light absorption layer. The charge carriers are guided and released from the well layer upon receipt of an incident excitation light beam having a wavelength corresponding to the bandgap energy of the well layer. The incident light beam is modulated by changes in absorption coefficient in response to an externally applied voltage. The modulator responds to a high-intensity incident light beam at high frequency, free from deterioration of extinction characteristics, and has good transmission characteristics.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor optical modulator for use in an optical communication system requiring a high speed operation, and in particular to a semiconductor optical modulator having a function of guiding and releasing carriers accumulated in a light absorption layer by applying excitation light and a semiconductor optical device having such a semiconductor optical modulator and a semiconductor laser integrated on the same substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, enormous volumes of data in communications have been transmitted through high-performance information and communication instruments so that it becomes essential to popularize widespread optical communication networks using optical fibers. In the optical communication networks, high-speed semiconductor lasers or the like are used as key devices thereof, and semiconductor optical modulators are also used for modulating input light beams generated by the semiconductor lasers. Hereinafter, an assembly structure of a combination of semiconductor optical elements, including such as a semiconductor laser and a semiconductor optical modulator, integrated on the same substrate is called a xe2x80x9csemiconductor optical device.xe2x80x9d
Generally, in the intrinsic absorption of light in a semiconductor, electrons and holes are created from photons when the photon energy hxcexd is greater than the bandgap Eg. The intrinsic absorption edge corresponding to the long-wavelength side Eg of the intrinsic absorption band can be shifted toward a longer wavelength by application of a high electric field to the semiconductor, which is called xe2x80x9cFranz-Keldysh effectxe2x80x9d.
In an optical modulator using a semiconductor material, an absorption coefficient or refraction index can be significantly changed by the Franz-Keldysh effect or quantum confined Stark effect. In this case, each optical modulator shares the same type of material with each light-emitting device so that it can be integrated into a small high-efficiency modulator for external light. In addition, such an optical modulator has achieved a high speed operation in a certain modulation frequency band to a degree as achieved by a dielectric optical modulator.
In an electroabsorption type optical modulator, the amount of carriers comprised of pairs of electrons and holes (referred to as xe2x80x9celectron and hole pair(s)xe2x80x9d, hereinafter) generated by light absorption increases in accordance with incident light intensity. The electron and hole pairs form an internal electric field so as to cancel an externally applied electric field. The screening effect on the externally applied electric field increases with the intensity level of the incident light, and there is a correlation between the intensity level of the incident light and the change in the absorption coefficient.
FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing a conventional electroabsorption type semiconductor optical modulator 100. In FIG. 14, reference numeral 101 represents an n-conductivity type InP substrate, 102 an InGaAsP light absorption layer, 103 a p-conductivity type InP cladding layer, 104 a p-conductivity type InGaAsP contact layer, 105 a SiO2 insulating film, 106 a Ti/Au anode electrode, and 107 a Ti/Au cathode electrode. FIG. 15 is a schematic model showing an energy band of a portion near the light absorption layer 102. In FIG. 15, the bandgap energy is represented by E1 and the corresponding bandgap wavelength is represented by xcex1 (xcex1=hc/E1).
Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, the operation of the conventional semiconductor optical modulator 100 is described below. In the optical modulator 100, continuous wavelength light (hereinafter abbreviated as xe2x80x9cCW lightxe2x80x9d) is used as a high-intensity incident light beam Lin having a wavelength of xcex1, which is inputted into one facet, and a modulated output light beam Lout (xcex1 in wavelength) is outputted from the other opposed facet. At the same time, an external voltage is applied in the inverse direction between the anode electrode 106 and the cathode electrode 107 in the optical modulator 100. As shown in FIG. 15, the externally applied voltage causes the Franz-Keldysh effect by which the effective bandgap energy E1 of the light absorption layer 102 is reduced and the absorption coefficient with respect to longer wavelengths than the bandgap wavelength is increased. This change in absorption coefficient by the voltage application is used for the modulation of the light intensity.
In the conventional semiconductor optical modulator 100, however, when the incident light beam has an intensity of 20 mW or more, the carriers formed of the electron and hole pairs are accumulated in a well part of the light absorption layer 102. Such accumulated carriers screen and attenuate the electric field applied to the light absorption layer 102 according to Gauss"" law.
In order to reduce the carriers accumulated in the light absorption layer 102, a reverse bias voltage is applied between the anode electrode 106 and-the cathode electrode 107 so that the carriers drift toward the p-InP cladding layer 103 and the n-InP substrate 101. Such carrier release, however, needs a relaxation time of about 1 ns, leading to a relatively low response speed. Thus, the conventional device involves problems of a lower extinction ratio at high frequency, a distorted light waveform, and deteriorated transmission characteristics in the optical communication system that require a high speed performance of 40 Gbit/s or so.
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. It is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor optical modulator which can guide and release the accumulated carriers at high speed, respond at a high frequency of 100 GHz or more, preventing deterioration of an extinction ratio, and having a high resistance to an input light as well as good transmission characteristics, even when an incident light beam having an intensity of 20 mW or more is inputted.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor optical device including the above-mentioned semiconductor optical modulator which is monolithically integrated on the same substrate.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, the present invention provides a semiconductor optical modulator of an electroabsorption type for modulating an incident light beam by use of changes in absorption coefficient under application of an external voltage. The semiconductor optical modulator comprises: an input facet for receiving the incident light beam of a first wavelength to be modulated; an output facet, which is opposed to the input facet, for outputting a modulated light beam; a light absorption layer, which is formed on a semiconductor substrate, for absorbing the incident light beam and thereby generating carriers; a carrier accumulation portion for accumulating the generated carriers; and a carrier guide and release portion having a well layer formed in the light absorption layer, for guiding and releasing the accumulated carriers outside.
The carrier guide and release portion guides and releases the carriers accumulated in the well layer upon receipt of an incident excitation light beam, of a second wavelength which corresponds to bandgap energy of the well layer.
In this configuration, the carriers are guided and released through the well layer with receipt of the excitation light beam, which allows the semiconductor optical modulator to guide and release the accumulated carriers at high speed, to respond at high frequency, preventing deterioration of an extinction ratio, with good transmission characteristics, even when an incident light beam having an intensity of 20 mW or more is input.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a semiconductor optical device includes the semiconductor optical modulator having the above-mentioned basic structure and an excitation light generating semiconductor laser for generating the excitation light beam, wherein both of the optical modulator and semiconductor laser are integrated on the same substrate.
By this arrangement, the light source for generating the excitation light beam and the optical modulator are monolithically integrated on the same substrate so that the semiconductor optical device can be reduced in size and manufacturing cost.

Semiconductor optical modulator and semiconductor optical device


In an air-mat apparatus, air mat has four air bags, two of which have a plurality of air-jetting holes and two others of which have no holes. In a preferred embodiment, the bags having the air-jetting holes are arranged in a zigzag pattern while the remaining two bags are arranged in a comb-shaped pattern. Air ports for the bags having air-jetting holes are connected through flowrate-adjusting valves to an air-distributing valve, while the air ports of the bags having no holes are also connected to the air-distributing valve but not through the flowrate-adjusting valves. The arrangement permits two of the air bags to be inflated and deflated to a specific degree, and the other two air bags to be inflated and deflated to a different degree.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air-mat apparatus which make use of pressurized air to relieve elderly people, who have been long in bed, from bedsores.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is shown in FIG. 1, the conventional air-mat apparatus of such a type comprises air pump 30 for supplying pressurized air, an air mat 36, solenoid valves 34 connecting the air mat 36 to pump 30, and control circuit 35 for controlling solenoid valves 34. The air mat 36 comprises elongated air bags 31 arranged parallel to one another, and a zigzag air bag 32 having holes 32'. Zigzag air bag 32 is connected one of solenoid valves 34, and air bags 31 are connected to the remaining solenoid valves 34, respectively. Valves 34 are connected to air pump 30.
In operation, control circuit 35 controls solenoid valves 34, thus supplying the pressurized air from air pump 30 to air bags 31 and zigzag air bag 32, such that any two adjacent air bags 31 are alternately inflated, and the air is jetted outward through holes 32' of zigzag air bag 32. As air bags 32 are repeatedly inflated and deflated, they message the occupant of the air mat. Further, the air jetted outward through holes 32' of zigzag air bag 32 dries the clothes which the occupant wears, thus keeping the occupant's skin moderately dry.
Solenoid valves 34, however, cannot be controlled so precisely as to supply the pressurized air to the air mat 36 at a rate optimum to the physical conditions of the occupant of the air mat. The conventional air-mat apparatus is inevitably unable to relieve the occupant completely from bedsores. In particular, it is difficult with the conventional apparatus to adjust the supply of air to zigzag air bag 32 so as to maintain the occupant's skin properly dry.


A strain of Rhodococcus rhodochrous in which a gene coding at least part of a nitrile hydratase enzyme or any gene coding a protein involved in the transcription, translation or formation of at least part of the nitrile hydratase enzyme has been deactivated or rendered ineffective or a strain of Rhodococcus rhodochrous cultured under condition wherein the nitrile hydratase enzyme is been inhibited.

This invention relates to a microorganism capable of producing an enzyme to convert acrylonitrile to acrylic acid and to a method of culturing the microorganism.
Acrylic acid is an important starting material in the synthesis of a diverse range of polymers used in applications such as the production of paper, the production of potable water, in mining, and in the treatment of sewerage.
Traditionally acrylic acid is manufactured through gas-phase oxidation of propylene with the use of a chemical catalyst at high temperatures. This chemical conversion process is not selective and can result in a number of impurities being formed due to uncontrolled side reactions. Another drawback of a chemical catalysis process is the difficulty of subsequently recovering the catalyst and the purification of the final product which requires energy intensive distillation. For this reason, the application of a biocatalyst is considered an attractive option.
The applicant is aware of two processes for producing acrylic acid via direct fermentation using microorganisms.
A first fermentation process makes use of a renewable carbon source and produces lactic acid, 3-hydroxypropionic acid and glycerol. The process is carried out using naturally occurring microorganisms. The resulting product requires further processing (typically using engineered microorganisms) to produce acrylic acid.
A biosynthetic pathway suggested by Chu, et al., 2015 was designed for the production of acrylic acid from glucose. Use is made of a genetically engineered strain of Escherichia coli to produce 3-hydroxypropionic acid and then acrylic acid from glucose fermentation. The fermentation of glucose to 3-hydroxypropionic acid is followed by three enzymatic steps to produce an acrylic acid and CoA combination from which acrylic acid can be extracted.
A drawback of direct fermentation of glucose for the production of acrylic acid via a 3-hydroxypropionic acid route is that a very low acrylic acid titer is produced (0.12 g/L). This is due to the acrylic acid product being toxic to the microorganism and thus, after a low level of product has been produced, the microorganism is killed/deactivated
A second strategy (using a non-carbon-based source) is based on a biosynthetic pathway which employs a nitrilase to convert acrylonitrile to acrylic acid and ammonium acrylate. Nitrilases are enzymes available in mostly soil-inhabiting microorganisms like Rhodococcus rhodochrous.
In a study by Armitage, et al., 1999, Rhodococcus rhodochrous NCIMB 40757 or NCIMB 40833 was used to convert acrylonitrile to ammonium acrylate in aqueous solutions or vapour. These organisms use two separate metabolic pathways concurrently to produce acrylic acid from acrylonitrile. The first pathway relies on the microorganism's production of nitrilase to convert the substrate (acrylonitrile) directly into acrylic acid. The second pathway relies on the microorganism's production of nitrile hydratase and amidase to produced acrylic acid in a two-step process in which the acrylonitrile is converted to acrylamide (unwanted intermediate) by nitrile hydratase and the subsequently the acrylamide is converted to acrylic acid by amidase. Typically, this process produces a final ammonium acrylate product at a concentration of about 5.68 M after a reaction time of 6.7 hours with a residual acrylamide concentration of 0.023 M. In organisms where amidase is defective and nitrile hydratase is active, the acrylic acid product will be contaminated with acrylamide.
Another drawback of the use of the aforementioned organisms is that the nitrilase enzyme is inhibited at high concentrations of the substrate acrylonitrile and can only metabolise the substrate at concentrations between 125 mM and 17 5 mM.
It is an aim of the current invention to provide an organism which is capable of producing acrylic acid from an acrylonitrile substrate using a single metabolic pathway that is reliant on a single enzyme, and to provide a method of cultivating such an organism.


Method, apparatus, and computer readable medium for monitoring code injection in a computer is described. In some examples, at least one application programming interface (API) call configured to inject data into a process executing on the computer is intercepted. The data is parsed to identify instruction code to be performed by the process. The instruction code is compared with instances of predetermined instruction code to produce a score for the instruction code. The data is prevented from being injected into the process in response to the score satisfying a threshold score. The data may be allowed to be injected into the process in response to the score not satisfying the threshold score.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to computers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for monitoring code injection into a process executing on a computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
In computing, a "process" is generally a set of instructions ("code") being executed by a computer. A computer typically executes several different processes. A process may include one or more "threads". A thread is generally an individual task being performed by the process. Computer operating systems are typically multi-threaded such that multiple threads can execute concurrently.
Some operating systems support the injection of data into a process from a source outside of the process (generally referred to "injection"). For example, some MICROSOFT WINDOWS operating systems support application programming interface (API) functions for writing data to an area of memory dedicated to a process, e.g., the WriteProcessMemory function as defined in the WIN32 API. Such API functions can be used to inject code into a process ("code injection") with the intent that the process execute the injected code. Code injection can be used as a valid mechanism for modifying execution of a process. However, code injection can also be used to inject malicious code into a process in order to achieve various malevolent purposes, such as gaining information, privileges, or computer access without authorization. For example, code injection can be used to execute in a trusted process as a way to circumvent security software. Some mechanisms for dealing with malicious code injection involve alerting the user every time a code injection operation is requested, and allowing the user to accept or deny the proposed code injection. Such alerts, however, presuppose that the user is experienced enough to understand why the code injection is being request and whether to allow or deny such code injection. Less savvy users may be confused and/or frustrated by such alerts, which increases the chances that they will inadvertently allow malicious code to be executed by their computers.
Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for monitoring code injection into a process executing on a computer that overcomes the aforementioned deficiencies.

Method and apparatus for monitoring code injection into a process executing on a computer


The Messaging API Framework is an MQ Series gateway allowing distributed C++ applications to communicate with little effort. The system is designed with an object-oriented paradigm in mind, and seamlessly integrates MQ Series"" messaging technology. The application developers do not need to obtain any in-depth knowledge of MQ Series, rather, they can use it the same way they do any other C++ objects. More specifically, where MQ Series is to be used to allow communication between two end points, namely, a CORBA-based application in a CORBA environment, and a destination application, a layer of abstraction, or Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), built on top of MQ Series APIs is highly desirable to alleviate the burden of CORBA-based application programmers to handle the complexity of MQ Series programming. This layer could take the form of a framework. The Messaging API Framework of the present invention is intended to be such a layer. The framework is a self-contained module encapsulating the API""s needed by the CORBA-based application to use MQ Series. The Messaging API Framework provides a number of APIs, allowing the programmers to place a request, to poll for a request, to send a reply, to receive a reply, and to send a request and block for a reply. Distributed applications can also use this system to communicate with the mainframe applications. In its most preferred embodiment the Messaging API Framework also assures any MQ Series problems are tracked in a self-contained module through circular logging.

The invention is a method and framework for improving and simplifying communication and command between an application and a messaging system.
MQ Series Messaging System is a message-oriented middleware for providing exchange of messages and data on an enterprise wide basis. The MQ Series Messaging System is described in more detail in the following reference publications, the entire contents which are incorporated herein by reference:
MQSeries for AIX V5.0 Quick Beginnings
(.software.ibm.com/ts/mqseries/library/manuals/amqaac/AMQAAC01.HTM)
MQSeries Application Programming Guide
(.software.ibm.com/ts/mqseries/library/manuals/csqzal/CSQZAL01.HTM)
MQSeries Application Programming Reference
(.software.ibm.com/ts/mqseries/library/manuals/csqzak/CSQZAK01.HTM)
MQSeries Using C++
software.ibm.com/ts/mqseries/library/manuals/amqzan/AMQZAN01.HTM)
Some current systems are making use of CORBA technology, as a choice of strategic middle-ware deployment, which is distinct from the messaging technology provided by MQ Series. CORBA is a type of a distributed object system that is defined under the Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) specification produced by OMG. A CORBA-based distributed object system is a system running in the context of an Object Request Broker (ORB) implemented under the CORBA specification from the OMG, Revision 2.0, Revision 2.1, Revision 2.2 and Revision 2.3, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. For purposes of this application, programs compliant with CORBA Revision 2.3, 2.2, and 2.1, or later CORBA Revisions, by definition will be viewed as compliant with CORBA Revision 2.0. Unless otherwise specified, a generic reference to the CORBA Services specification will be presumed to be OMG""s CORBA Services Revision 2.0. Similarly, a CORBA-based application is an application which is able to run in a manner compliant with the CORBA Services specification and able to operate and interact in a CORBA-based environment.
For a programmer working in a CORBA environment, the only ways to bridge to MQ Series messaging in a neighboring environment are for an application developer to gain in-depth knowledge of MQ Series, use its"" complex API""s, and apply those concepts in coding in each and every application. This knowledge must be gained system wide and employed by any programmers wishing to access the MQ Series messaging environment. This represents a substantial investment in knowledge not directly related to the primary CORBA environment in which such programmers are working and hence is a relatively inefficient use of resources.
The present invention provides a method for communicating messages between a CORBA-based application on a local system and a remote destination application on a remote system using a CORBA-based Messaging API framework in combination with an MQ Series Messaging system.
In this method, the CORBA-based application uses C++ code to communicate at least one of a group of commands selected from poll request, receive reply, send reply, send request, and send request and block for reply to the CORBA-based Messaging API framework on the local system. The Messaging API framework encapsulates a set of application programming interfaces for interfacing with an MQ Series Messaging system, wherein the set of application programming interfaces comprises a poll request API, a receive reply API, a send reply API, a send request API, and a send request and block for reply API.
The Messaging API framework uses MQ Series compliant language to communicate the selected command to a Local Queue Manager on the local system. The Local Queue Manager manages a set of queues, wherein the set of queues comprises a local request queue, a local reply queue, a local dead-letter queue, and a local transmission queue and wherein the Local Queue Manager uses the local transmission queue to provide a local address for communicating with a remote request queue and a remote reply queue;
The Local Queue Manager interprets the selected command and modifies at least one of the set of queues managed by the Local Queue Manager in response to the selected command. The Local Queue Manager communicates with a Remote Queue Manager on the remote system using the local transmission queue to update at least one of a group of queues selected from the local request queue, the local reply queue, the remote request queue and the remote reply queue.
Like the Local Queue Manager, the Remote Queue Manager manages a set of queues, wherein the set of queues comprises the remote request queue, the remote reply queue, a remote dead-letter queue, and a remote transmission queue and wherein the Remote Queue Manager uses the remote transmission queue to provide a remote address for communicating with the local request queue and the local reply queue.
The Remote Queue Manager communicates information regarding the updated queue to the remote destination application on the remote system in response to at least one command originating from the remote destination application.
Alternatively, the present invention provides a CORBA-based Messaging API framework for communicating between a CORBA-based application and an MQ Series Messaging System. The framework includes a set of application programming interfaces for interfacing with an MQ Series Messaging system encapsulated by the Messaging API framework, wherein the set of application programming interfaces includes a poll request API, a receive reply API, a send reply API, a send request API, and a send request and block for reply API. The Messaging API framework receives commands communicated by the CORBA-based application, using C++ code selected from the group of commands which comprises poll request, receive reply,, send reply, send request, and send request and block for reply. The Messaging API framework uses MQ Series compliant language to communicate such commands to the MQ Series Messaging System. The Messaging API framework uses MQ Series compliant language to receive responses to such commands from the MQ Series Messaging System. The Messaging API framework communicates the responses to the CORBA-based application.


Various embodiments are described which can serve to mitigate interference between the control channel signaling of adjacent sectors/cells. Potentially, these techniques may have the benefit of reducing the system resource drain caused by control channels, particularly control channels in high frequency-reuse, OFDMA systems. A transmitting device (101) transmits primary control channel information to a plurality of user devices (102). The primary control channel information includes an indication that a first OFDMA resource region (e.g., 320 or 330) is assigned to at least one user device of the plurality of user devices. The transmitting device correspondingly transmits secondary control channel information to the at least one user device using the first OFDMA resource region.

Currently, standards bodies such as 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) are developing standards specifications for E-UTRA (Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access) systems. (3GPP may be contacted via http://www.3gpp.org/.) At present, OFDMA is a strong candidate for 3GPP Evolution downlink technology, and a frequency reuse factor of '1' is being considered. However, with such a frequency reuse plan, a control channel in one sector or cell may experience interference from various channels in other sectors or cells. This could result in significant performance degradation at sector/cell edges. To achieve the necessary level of reliability, the common control channels of such high reuse systems are expected to consume a relatively large amount of the systems' limited bandwidth and power. Accordingly, it would be desirable to have an improved method and apparatus for conveying control channel information, which could reduce the drain on system resources, particularly for high-reuse OFDMA systems.
Specific embodiments of the present invention are disclosed below with reference to FIGS. 1-4. Both the description and the illustrations have been drafted with the intent to enhance understanding. For example, the dimensions of some of the figure elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements, and well-known elements that are beneficial or even necessary to a commercially successful implementation may not be depicted so that a less obstructed and a more clear presentation of embodiments may be achieved. In addition, unless specifically indicated, the order and grouping of signaling is not a limitation of other embodiments that may lie within the scope of the claims
Simplicity and clarity in both illustration and description are sought to effectively enable a person of skill in the art to make, use, and best practice the present invention in view of what is already known in the art. One of skill in the art will appreciate that various modifications and changes may be made to the specific embodiments described below without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the specification and drawings are to be regarded as illustrative and exemplary rather than restrictive or all-encompassing, and all such modifications to the specific embodiments described below are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Method and apparatus for conveying control channel information in OFDMA system


A method and system of signature verification that includes receiving a signature-in-question, extracting at least one of an image of the signature-in-question and a trajectory of the signature-in-question from the received signature-in-question, accessing a reference signature, extracting at least one of a reference image and a reference trajectory from the accessed reference signature, comparing the at least one of the image of the signature-in-question and trajectory of the signature-in-question to the at least one of the reference image and reference trajectory, and determining whether signature-in-question is authentic based on the comparison.

Signature verification is a technique used by various entities such as, e.g., banks, to validate the identity of an individual. Signature verification may be used to compare signatures in bank offices with signatures captured in bank branches. An image of a signature, or an actual signature of, e.g., a bank customer, may be visually inspected or instead fed into signature verification software to be compared to the signature image on file in the bank office. Signature verification software is a type of software that compares signatures and checks whether one of the signatures is authentic. This saves time and energy, helps decrease human error during the signature verification process, and lowers chances of signature fraud.

Methods and systems for signature verification


Embodiments of the present disclosure describe both mechanically-operated and electrically-operated, locally-actuated partial stroke testing devices and systems for testing operation of an emergency isolation valve.

Partial stroke testing (PST) is a method used in a process control system to allow testing of a selected percentage of possible failure modes of an emergency isolation valve (EIV) without completely physically closing the valve. Generally, PST is performed via a computer control system where the system communicates with an EIV to partially close the valve and then open the valve. The purpose of PST is to determine whether an EIV is operating properly to ensure safe operation of an industrial process in the event that an emergency requires closing of the EIV. PST is common in the oil, gas, petrochemical, and power industries, and numerous computer based control systems with PST capability.
Generally, computer based PST systems are operated remotely and have relatively complicated designs, including complex wiring, multiple input/output lines, voluminous documentation, full stroke/complex calibration, and numerous design components such as boosters. Furthermore, some computer based PST systems may be sensitive to air quality, and online replacement may not be an option due to requirements of full stroke for accurate positioner calibration. Moreover, some systems may have continuous air consumption and power consumption during operation and further may have additional height requirements to a valve thus requiring more space for installation.

Locally-actuated partial stroke testing system


A method for manufacturing an ink jet head having a discharge opening for discharging ink and an ink passage communicated with the discharge opening, includes the step of forming the discharge opening by performing a cutting operation along a portion where the discharge opening is to be formed, while maintaining the ink passage in a pressurized condition by filling the ink passage with fluid. Another method includes the step of cleaning an ink passage by introducing liquid and gas into the ink passage alternately; and an ink jet apparatus comprising such an ink jet head, and a member for holding the ink jet head.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an ink jet recording head for performing recording by discharging ink. The present invention also relates to an ink jet recording head manufactured by such a method. Further, the present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus on which such an ink jet recording head can be mounted.
2. Related Background Art
As an example of ink jet recording heads, there is an ink jet recording head in which ink passages communicating with corresponding discharge openings are formed in a substrate. Normally, energy generating means for generating energy employed to discharge ink are disposed on a surface of the substrate in correspondence with the ink passages. Further, generally, a common liquid chamber communicating with the ink passages is provided to reserve the ink therein. In this specification, the ink passages and the common liquid chamber are referred to as "ink passages" generally. The energy generating means may be an electro-thermal conversion element or piezo-electric element which is one part of the thermal energy generating means. The substrate may, for example, be a silicon wafer.
Conventionally, methods for manufacturing such an ink jet recording head are generally divided into two groups. In the first group of methods, a negative type photosensitive resin layer is laminated on a substrate on which energy generating means are disposed, and a portion of the photosensitive resin layer corresponding to walls of a common liquid chamber and ink passages is exposed and then is developed. As a result, the resin corresponding to the partition walls between the ink passages and the like remains, but the resin corresponding to the ink passages and the common liquid chamber is removed. Thereafter, for example, a top plate or lid plate having an ink supply port in correspondence with the common liquid chamber is arranged on the partition walls. Finally, the assembly (substrate, lid plate and the like) is cut by a cutting blade while pouring a cutting liquid along a portion where discharge openings are to be formed, thereby forming a discharge opening surface (surface in which discharge opening are formed). The cutting blade may be a cutting blade used to cut the silicon wafer in a semi-conductor manufacturing process.
In the second group of methods, a positive type photosensitive resin layer is laminated on a substrate on which energy generating means are disposed, and a portion of the photosensitive resin layer corresponding to walls of a common liquid chamber and ink passages is exposed and then is developed. As a result, the resin corresponding to the partition walls between the ink passages and the like is removed, but the resin corresponding to the ink passages and the common liquid chamber remains. Thereafter, another resin is poured to cover the remaining resin and then is cured. After curing, the resin and the substrate are cut along a portion where discharge openings are to be formed, thereby forming a discharge opening surface, and by removing the remaining resin, the discharge openings and the ink passages are formed.
When manufacturing an ink jet recording head by the above-mentioned methods, since swarf often enters into the ink passages and/or the remaining resin is not removed completely by the resin removing process, so that some partly remains in the ink passages, the ink passages must be sometimes cleaned. The cleaning operation is normally performed by introducing a washing liquid into the ink passages from the ink supply port. The washing liquid may be organic solvent such as acetone, isopropyl alcohol or the like, alkali solition such as sodium hydroxide solution, detergent solution, or pure water including carbon dioxide bubbles therein.
The above-mentioned conventional ink jet recording head manufacturing methods have the following drawbacks:
(1) In the first group of methods, since the ink passages have already been opened, when the discharge openings are opened by the cutting operation, the cutting liquid including the swarf enters into the ink passages so that the swarf may sometimes accumulated on and adhere to the ink passage walls, the common liquid chamber walls and/or the surfaces of the energy generating means. Although such deposits should have naturally been removed by the cleaning process, it is not always removed completely. Further, once the ink passages are dried to solidify the remaining deposit, it is further difficult to remove the remaining deposit. If the deposits remain on the ink passages and the like, it is feared that the deposits will separate from the walls thereby to clog the discharge openings during the use of ink jet recording head. If the deposits adhere to the surface of the energy generating means, the unstable or poor ink discharge will occur.
(2) In the second group of methods, even when the cleaning process is performed, it is difficult to prevent the resin remnants which are to be removed from remaining on the walls of the ink passages (particularly, in the corners of the passages). If the resin remnants remain on the ink passages and the like, it is feared that the remnants will separate from the walls thereby to clog the discharge openings during use of the ink jet recording head. Incidentally, the reason why it is difficult to completely clean the ink passages is considered that the ink passages and the discharge openings are very small so as to have high hydrodynamic resistance and thus the flowing speed of the washing liquid cannot be great.


A synchronized rectification circuit and a switching power supply device having little power loss with respect to a wide range of input voltages and having a high efficiency, comprising first and second switch elements, first and second capacitors connected with each other capable to equalize held voltages thereof in response to sift of an input AC voltage to intermediate voltage (for example 0V), a first driving circuit for turning on a switch element according to the held voltage changed in response to shift the input AC voltage to 0V from a negative polarity voltage and turning off the switch element earlier than a time where the input voltage shifts to the negative polarity voltage from 0V, and a second driving circuit to drive a switch element in the same way but in reverse phase.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a switching power supply device for converting a DC voltage to a desired voltage and supplying the same to an electrical apparatus, more particularly relates to technology for synchronized rectification of the same.
2. Description of the Art
A synchronized rectification type switching power supply device is a switching power supply device which uses field effect transistors etc. as rectifiers in place of the usual diodes configuring the rectification circuit and is employed for the purpose of reducing loss by reducing a forward direction voltage drop.
Below, there is described a synchronized rectification type switching power supply device of the art disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication (A) No. 2003-189608 with reference to the attached drawings.
FIGS. 1A to 1F are diagrams for explaining an example of the synchronized rectification type switching power supply device of the art, in which FIG. 1A is a circuit diagram, and FIGS. 1B to 1F are timing charts of portions of it. In the timing charts, FIG. 1B shows an output voltage of a transformer, FIG. 1C shows a gate voltage of an NMOS transistor Q100, FIG. 1D shows the gate voltage of an NMOS transistor Q200, FIG. 1E shows a drain current Id of the NMOS transistor Q100, and FIG. 1F shows a drain current Id of the NMOS transistor Q200.
The switching power supply device shown in FIG. 1A employs the technology of synchronized rectification using current doubler output. In this switching power supply device, when there is no output of the transformer, that is, in a commutation state, energy is released from a filter inductor L10 and the current commutes. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D, the NMOS transistors Q100 and Q200 are turned off. Accordingly, the commutation current is output through parasitic diodes between drains and sources of the NMOS transistors Q100 and Q200. Therefore, a loss at the time of the commutation (commutation loss) is large.
FIGS. 2A to 2F are diagrams for explaining another example of a synchronized rectification type switching power supply device of the art, in which FIG. 2A is a circuit diagram, and FIGS. 2B to 2F are timing charts of different parts. In the timing charts, FIG. 2B shows an output voltage of a transformer, FIG. 2C shows a gate voltage of an NMOS transistor Q100, FIG. 2D shows a gate voltage of an NMOS transistor Q200, FIG. 2E shows a drain current Id of the NMOS transistor Q100, and FIG. 2F shows a drain current Id of the NMOS transistor Q200.
In the switching power supply device shown in FIG. 2A, in comparison with the switching power supply device shown in FIG. 1A, an auxiliary winding, a voltage restriction circuit for restricting gate voltages of the NMOS transistors Q100 and Q200 based on the output signal the auxiliary winding and a discharge circuit are added. Due to this, as shown in FIGS. 2C and 2D, the NMOS transistors Q100 and Q200 are turned on even when there is no output of the transformer, so the above commutation loss is suppressed.
In the switching power supply device shown in FIG. 2A, however, when the input voltage with respect to the transformer widely fluctuates, the voltage restriction circuit is provided for restricting the drive peak voltage to a gate destruction voltage or less, and the drive voltage is clamped to the predetermined restricted value by this. Accordingly, a drive loss of that amount occurs.
Further, at the time of the input of a low voltage, the drive voltage becomes lower than the clamp voltage during the commutation period when there is no transformer output, and the ON resistances of the NMOS transistors Q100 and Q200 increase, therefore the commutation loss increases. For example, a time T5 to T7 of FIG. 2E is the commutation period. At the time T5, the drain current Id of the NMOS transistor Q100 abruptly drops, but in actuality, energy cannot be sharply released from the inductor part, therefore the drain current in the time T5 to T7 remains as a current having a magnitude near the peak current in a time T4 to T5 (see FIG. 9C). On the other hand, as seen in FIG. 2C, in the time T5 to T7 (commutation period), a drive voltage relatively small in comparison with the clamp voltage in the time T4 to T5 (drive period) is supplied to the gate of the NMOS transistor Q100, therefore, in the time T5 to T7 (commutation period), the commutation loss becomes large due to the increase of the ON resistance of the NMOS transistor Q100 and the actually maintained large current together.

Synchronized rectification circuit and switching power supply device


A seawater desalination method of the present invention includes the steps of: obtaining ultrafiltration membrane-treated water by subjecting seawater (2) to an ultrafiltration membrane treatment; obtaining membrane bioreactor-treated water by subjecting organic wastewater (1) to a membrane bioreactor treatment; obtaining mixed water by mixing the ultrafiltration membrane-treated water and the membrane bioreactor-treated water; obtaining ultraviolet irradiation-treated water by subjecting the mixed water to an ultraviolet irradiation treatment; and subjecting the ultraviolet irradiation-treated water to a reverse osmosis membrane treatment.

In recent years, there has been a demand for conversion of seawater into freshwater by desalination in large coastal cities in arid or semi-arid regions where it is difficult to constantly secure water resources. For the seawater desalination, evaporation techniques implemented in large-scale plants in high-temperature regions, and membrane techniques using a reverse osmosis membrane for desalination, have been commercialized. In recent years, seawater desalination using membrane techniques has been drawing attention by virtue of its high desalination efficiency and the like.
For such seawater desalination by membrane techniques, the following methods have been proposed: a method aimed at preventing treatment efficiency from decreasing due to entrance of contaminants such as polymers into a reverse osmosis membrane, the method consisting of treating seawater with an ultrafiltration membrane or a low-pressure reverse osmosis membrane, and then desalting the seawater using a reverse osmosis membrane; and a method aimed at improving energy efficiency by decreasing the salt concentration of seawater entering a reverse osmosis membrane, the method consisting of mixing seawater with river water or membrane bioreactor-treated water, and then desalting the seawater using a reverse osmosis membrane (see Patent Literature 1, for example). However, with these conventional methods, it is not possible to suppress occurrence of biofouling which is caused, for example, on the surface of a reverse osmosis membrane by microorganisms and the like. Accordingly, there is observed a tendency that the permeation performance or the separation performance of the reverse osmosis membrane is significantly deteriorated as a result of the reverse osmosis membrane being used continuously for long years. Meanwhile, in water treatments including but not limited to seawater desalination, approaches to suppress biofouling by addition of bactericides or by an ultraviolet irradiation treatment have also been made (see Patent Literature 2, for example). However, it has been found that in the case of the methods mentioned above, the effect of an ultraviolet irradiation treatment is not sufficiently obtained because of high turbidity of the water to be treated, and the activity of microorganisms is consequently restored in the reverse osmosis membrane treatment.


A hosted service monitoring system detects abuse of a hosted service by monitoring user actions over a period of time. The system will identify an entity, which is a subset of the user actions that share one or more features in common. The system will also identify feature statistics to measure how often the features are associated with the user actions in the entity. The system will project the feature statistics to a vector and use the vector to generate an anomaly score for the entity. The system will determine that the entity is associated with an automated initiator if it generates an anomaly score that exceeds a threshold. Upon determining that the entity that is associated with an automated initiator, the system will cause the hosted service to take an action that will block the automated initiator from accessing the hosted service.

Detecting abusive behavior in hosted services, such as actions initiated by bots, automated downloader programs, website scrapers, viruses, denial-of-service attackers is a significant problem. This document describes a new technology that is directed to detecting and stopping attacks and other abusive behavior by automated initiators against hosted services.
Many organizations provide services to a variety of users through a computer network such as the Internet or an intranet. Examples of such network-based services include electronic mail and other messaging services, cloud-hosted data file storage and management, document sharing and collaboration services, online calendars, mobile device applications, social networking applications, and online audio and/or video streaming services.
As the demand for hosted services increases, it becomes an increasingly challenging task for an organization to detect and prevent attempts to misuse hosted services. For example, an email service provider will typically not want users to use their hosted email service to send spam email or phishing messages. Social media websites may want to prevent third parties from automatically mining the sites for data, or from hijacking the sites with malicious posts. Video sharing sites may want to prevent third party bots from automatically viewing videos to falsely increase video view counts. Online gaming services may desire to prevent bots from seeking and obtaining resources that typically require an individual player's time using the service to obtain. Ticket selling system operators may seek to prevent bots from automatically purchasing a significant number of available tickets for an event before actual attendees can complete their purchase requests.
As third parties automate the process of spamming, hijacking, scraping or otherwise abusing online services, it becomes even more challenging to detect and stop that activity. The detection of abuse in hosted services is therefore a significant technical challenge for many organizations.
This document describes methods and systems that are directed to detecting abusive actions by automated initiators of hosted services so that the hosted services can prevent those actions from causing harm to the service and its genuine users.

Method and system for detecting abusive behavior in hosted services


The present invention relates to a hydraulic fluid composition containing a base oil (A), an antioxidant (B) including an amine-based antioxidant (B1) and a phenol-based antioxidant (B2), and a succinimide-based compound (C), wherein the hydraulic fluid composition satisfies the following requirement (I); and is to be used for hydraulic equipment which is equipped with at least one of a wet type brake and a wet type clutch and which is selected from a construction machinery, a general industrial machinery, and a power generator, and in which a working pressure is 30 MPa or more. The hydraulic fluid composition is not only excellent in wear resistance and an effect for suppressing the sludge formation but also excellent in a braking performance or a clutch performance, even when used under a high-pressure condition.

Hydraulic equipment to be mounted on a construction machinery, such as a hydraulic excavator, a crane, a wheel loader, and a bulldozer, is required to be operated at a high pressure, a high temperature, or a high speed, or under a high load.
For that reason, a hydraulic fluid composition which is used in the hydraulic equipment for construction machinery is demanded to have wear resistance or oxidation stability such that even when used at a high pressure, a high temperature, or a high speed, or under a high load over a long period of time, it does not impair performances of the hydraulic equipment.
In particular, a hydraulic fluid composition which is used for hydraulic equipment where a working pressure becomes 30 MPa or more is liable to promptly cause deterioration in oxidation stability or lubricating performance and is liable to generate a harmful effect, such as sludge formation and operation failure.
For example, PTL 1 discloses a hydraulic fluid composition in which an amine-based antioxidant, a phenol-based antioxidant, and a phosphate are contained in predetermined proportions in a polyolefin having a predetermined kinematic viscosity as a hydraulic fluid composition to be used for hydraulic equipment in which a working pressure is 30 MPa or more, such as a construction machinery.
In accordance with PTL 1, it is disclosed that the foregoing hydraulic fluid composition is excellent in oxidation stability and lubricating performance under a high pressure, effectively prevents early deterioration, sludge formation, or the like because of pressure elevation, and can be used over a long period of time.

Abstract: Requirement (I): A static friction coefficient (μs) after 1,000 cycles, as measured in conformity with the SAE No. 2 test described in JCMAS P 047:2004, is 0.100 to 0.162.


A method and apparatus for receiving persistent data into a running system. Metadata comprising a description of the known and/or unknown data model structure of the persistent data is used to establish a storage format and location for the persistent data, during runtime of the system. New transforms are created for data structures unknown to a running system.

Persistence is a property related to programming languages by which created objects continue to exist and variables continue to retain their values between runs of a program. Persistence allows data to have lifetimes that vary from transient to indefinite. Thus, persistence is particularly important in internet-programming languages, object-oriented databases, and data warehousing. Persistent programming languages offer an alternative to applications that require more than traditional database support.
Persistence in a programming language, the Java language for example, allows all kinds of objects to have the same available lifetimes. An orthogonally persistent variant of the Java platform, Persistent Java (PJava), simplifies the task of developers if a Java application involves objects constructed at runtime, and those objects are needed during more than one invocation of the application. But orthogonal persistence in PJava does not address all applications, such as applications for which a relational data model and structured query language are important.
Further developments have attempted to broaden the types of data and objects that may be given persistence. Within the Java environment, extensions have been added to PJava to provide limited transparent access to legacy data such as files and relational data systems. Java data base manager (JDBM) is a transactional persistence engine for Java. JDBM can store a mix of objects, and updates are done in a transactionally safe manner. JDBM also provides scalable data structures to support persistence of large object collections.
Java "Reflection" is a mechanism that allows Java to map "runtime type information" of objects during program execution. A class library deciphers the properties and methods of unknown objects during runtime. The Reflection mechanism, however, is limited to the Java environment.
The need to impart persistence to diverse types of objects has resulted in information organization structures, or "metadata." Meta Content Framework (MCF) is a structure description language. An MCF database is a set of directed labeled graphs (DLGs) including a set of labels (property types), a set of nodes, and a set of arcs (properties). Nodes can represent items such as web pages, images, subject categories, sites, people, places, and events. DLGs seek to attach properties to nodes and property types thereby allowing MCF to be its own data schema definition language.
The Object Management Group's Meta Object Facility (MOF) is a specification for describing and defining metadata. The Common Warehouse Metamodel (CWM) provides a common meta-model with syntax and semantics for dynamic data warehousing operations. Both MOF and CWM focus on compile-time models of data and metadata from which interfaces and code are derived. Changes to compile-time models of data and metadata require restarting the host system.
Microsoft Repository has a relational database for storing object properties and relationships. The engine manages the database and provides basic functions of data storage and retrieval. The technology may be used for defining compile-time, but not runtime, data models for software development.
Traditionally, a software component's persistent data model must be known at system compilation time. Those elements of the model (e.g., entities, relationships, attributes, and values) must be well defined so that the appropriate data access and storage schemes can be developed for each software component prior to system runtime. Any changes to a component's data model, as well as introduction of new components into the system, typically require placing the system into an inactive state while the new data models are incorporated. This incorporation may include recompilation of existing system components or introduction of new system components involved in the system's overall data management scheme. This results in a maintenance cycle with undesirable human intervention. The system must be taken out of service, necessary coding and testing must be performed, and the system has to be restarted.
Specifically, when an object is first made persistent in a store, the class of the object including the bytecodes is also made persistent and the object bound to the persistent instance of the class. When changes are made to source code in the file system, and the code is recompiled generating a new class file, the changes have no effect on the behavior of the objects in the persistent store. Modifying the class in the persistent store requires the additional step of inactivating the system, and repairing the class in the persistent store, or deleting the persistent store and recreating it from scratch. In a high availability environment, this is usually unacceptable. What is needed is seamless integration of new persistent data models without compromising the availability of the running system.