A mat lock pin for releasably holding together overlapping mats has an outer body and a rotor rotatably held within the outer body. The outer body is sized and shaped so as to snugly fit within aligned holes in overlapping mats, and is shaped so as to be non-rotational within the holes. The rotor has a central stem and a foot at each end. When the mat lock pin is in place extending through holes in overlapping mats, the rotor feet are at the outermost surfaces of the mats. Rotation of the rotor brings angled surfaces on the rotor feet to bear against the outermost mat surfaces, generating an axial force forcing the mats together. The axial forces forcing the mats together are carried by the rotor, permitting the outer body to be made of relatively low strength, and low cost, material.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to apparatus used in connection with the formation of mat surfaces used in various settings. More specifically, this invention relates to a device, namely a mat lock pin, used to connect mats or mat features to one another, to form a structural, load-bearing surface, commonly used for roadways, work locations, etc.
2. Related Art
Relatively large, load bearing mats are used in a number of industrial settings to provide a firm surface for machinery, vehicles, etc. While various materials are used to build the mats, in many cases such mats are made of rigid polymeric plastic materials. There is a limit to the size in which such mats can be made, so in order to create a relatively large surface a number of such mats must be joined together. Since the mats are reusable, it is desirable to join the mats in a releasable fashion. The mats are frequently made with lips along one or more edges. Such lips, referred to herein as "mat features" (which may take various other configurations) are overlapped, and holes in the lips of adjacent mat features can be aligned.
It can be appreciated that the mat lock pin must sustain both lateral forces (that is, from the mats tending to move away from one another within the same plane, generally substantially horizontal) and axial forces, which are needed to force the mat features together (literally "squeeze" the mat features together). FIG. 1A is a simple schematic showing the general directions of the lateral (denoted as "L") and axial (denoted as "A") forces as those terms are used in this patent application.
Known prior art fastening devices, for example that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,831 (the '831 patent), do provide both lateral and axial forces, but do so in a different manner than the instant invention. In particular, known prior art fastening devices as disclosed in the '831 patent rely on the body of the fastening device (called a "pin body" in that patent), in conjunction with a footed rod (extending through the pin body) to provide the required axial joining force. This requires that the pin body be of sufficient strength to carry the axial force, resulting from a combination of the size (namely, the cross sectional area) and strength of the material forming the pin body. Suffice to suggest that this prior art design requires a pin body of high strength, resulting from a relatively large cross sectional area and a relatively high strength material. Both of these attributes result in a relatively high cost for the pin body component of the fastening device. In addition, the dimensional requirements for the pin body result in the rod (which extends through the pin body) being limited as to its cross sectional area, therefore a relatively high strength (and high cost) material must also be used for that element of the fastening device to yield the required axial strength.
The present invention addresses certain of the limitations of the known prior art fastening devices.


An outboard engine system includes: an engine; a casing to which the engine is removably mounted at an upper portion; a torque converter; a vertically arranged output shaft connected to a crankshaft via the torque converter; a horizontally arranged propeller shaft provided below the output shaft; and a forward-reverse shifting gear mechanism for providing a connection between the output shaft and the propeller shaft. The casing includes: casing main sections for housing the output shaft, the propeller shaft, and the forward-reverse shifting gear mechanism; and distance members removably jointed to the upper end of the casing main sections so as to house the torque converter. Both the casing main sections and the distance members are configured to be able to removably mount the engine. Thus, the casing having the main sections can be used in both an outboard engine system with a torque converter and an outboard engine system without a torque converter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improvement of an outboard engine system, including: an engine; a casing to which the engine is removably mounted at an upper portion; a torque converter; a vertically arranged output shaft connected to a crankshaft via the torque converter; a horizontally arranged propeller shaft provided below the output shaft; and a forward-reverse shifting gear mechanism for providing a connection between the output shaft and the propeller shaft.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such an outboard engine systems is already known as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,407,600.
The outboard engine system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,407,600 has a casing which can be used only in an outboard engine system with a torque converter, and cannot be used in an outboard engine system without a torque converter. Therefore, if the outboard engine system does not have a torque converter, a different casing corresponding to the system is required. That is, depending on the presence or absence of a torque converter, an exclusive casing is prepared for each system. Thus, in both systems, it is difficult to reduce the cost.


A circuit board including a substrate, a conductive pattern and a solder mask layer is provided. The conductive pattern includes a pad, a tail trace and a signal trace. The tail trace connects with the edge of the pad and the signal trace connects with the edge of the pad. An angle between a portion of the signal trace neighboring the pad and the tail trace is larger than 0 degree and smaller than 180 degree. The solder mask layer is disposed on the substrate and covers a portion of conductive pattern. The solder mask layer has an opening exposing the whole pad.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a circuit board and a chip package structure, in particular, to a circuit board having a pad of a non-solder mask defined configuration and a chip package structure.
2. Description of Related Art
The flip chip bonding technology disposes a plurality of chip pads on an active surface of a chip mainly in an area array manner and forms a plurality of bumps on the chip pads respectively. Next, the chip is flipped so that the bumps on the chip are electrically and mechanically connected to a plurality of pads on a chip carrier respectively.
The configuration of the pad on the chip carrier can be generally classified into two categories, that is, solder mask defined (SMD) and non-solder mask defined (NSMD) according to whether the solder mask covers the pad or not. Herein, NSMD is also referred to as pad defined. To the NSMD pad, as the opening of the solder mask layer exposes the pad entirely, the pad cannot be fixed on the substrate of the chip carrier via the solder mask layer and is easy to be peeled off.

Circuit board having pad and chip package structure thereof

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.


An integrated circuit is described. This integrated circuit may include an input connector, coupled to a signal line, that conveys an input signal corresponding to encoded data, where the encoded data is encoded using a BMC, and the input signal may have different rise times and fall times. Moreover, the integrated circuit may include a recovery circuit, coupled to the input connector, that outputs the data based at least in part on a first threshold and a second threshold, where the output data may include data values with equal half-bit periods and variable frequency. Note that the recovery circuit may implement a state machine corresponding to the data.

The USB power delivery standard is part of the USB standard. This power delivery standard defines a power-supply interface via a USB cable. Notably, the USB power delivery standard allows a source and a sink end of a power supply to negotiate power-supply information and activity using a communication protocol based on a BMC technique.
The BMC technique is an information transmission technique that is widely used, e.g., in the transmission of audio signals. BMC is a type of encoding for binary data streams in which data and clock signals are combined to form a single two-level self-synchronizing data stream. It was developed to address the known difficulty in traditional digital signals. Notably, the use of BMC enables clock and data recovery by ensuring that there is at least one transition on the channel for each unit interval. In addition, BMC-coded signals have a zero average DC-offset voltage, because the signal is high and low for equal amounts of time.
USB is the current standard charging format for many handheld electronic devices. There are three standard sizes of USB connectors: standard for desktops or portable equipment; mini for mobile equipment; and micro for smart devices and tablets. In addition to charging electronic devices, USB is also capable of five speeds of data transfer: low, full, high, superspeed, and superspeed+. Unlike data buses such as Ethernet, USB has direct connections, which means that a host electronic device has downstream facing ports that connect to the upstream ports of electronic devices.
Moreover, note that USB is a single-ended communication system that can also deliver up to 100 Watts of power. Consequently, the definition of what is ground on one side of a USB cable or the other is highly variable, because of the voltage drop of the USB cable.
Furthermore, there is also no guarantee that the current in a USB cable does not suddenly change. For example, the current can suddenly change even when communication is occurring. This requires a long rise and fall time on data transitions in order to eliminate the chance of radiation. Consequently, duty cycles may change for some or all of the bits. While there is margin support in the USB specification if the duty cycles change too much, it is very low.
Additionally, in order to satisfy the need to exchange information when negotiating power contracts between electronic devices, existing USB standards have added a second data communication pair inside a USB cable. Unfortunately, adding signal lines into the USB cable has resulted in a problematic communication standard that is often barely able to get data from one end to the other at acceptable data rates. For example, the line quality is typically poor because of reflections, impedance mismatch, random effects, etc. Moreover, the transmitters and the cables are usually poorly controlled, which may severely impact the quality of the incoming signals. Furthermore, the specification is written in a way that allows communicators to be incoherent on their time base, which results in time-base uncertainty.
Wide-spread adoption of USB for charging and communication has resulted in a large number of vendors entering the market. However, the electronic devices provided by some of the vendors are poorly designed, which can compound signal-quality issues. Moreover, many of these electronic devices include poorly controlled connectors for USB cables from third-party sources, which further impacts the incoming-signal quality.
Compounding the aforementioned challenges, BMC data with disparate rising and falling edge rates can cause edge-detection results to be asymmetrical, which may make differentiating between the unit intervals representing 1s and between the unit intervals representing 0s more difficult to determine with a single midcell-to-end-of-cell threshold.


Embodiments relate to a system, computer program product, and method for determining missing values in respective data records with an explanatory analysis to provide a context of the determined values. Such method includes receiving a dataset including incomplete data records that are missing predictors and complete data records. A model is trained with the complete data records and candidate predictors for the missing predictors are generated. A predictor importance value is generated for each candidate predictor and the candidate predictors that have a predictor importance value in excess of a first threshold value are promoted. Respective promoted candidate predictors are inserted into the respective incomplete data records, thereby creating tentative data records. The tentative data records are injected into the model, a fit value is determined for each of the tentative data records, and a tentative data record with a fit value exceeding a second threshold value is selected.

The present disclosure relates to determining missing values in data records, and, more specifically, to providing the missing values in the respective data records with an explanatory analysis to provide the context of the provided values.
Many known cognitive systems, including machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) platforms, are built through end-to-end human intensive tasks that require highly skilled individuals to build the models and place them into production. The data gathering process for the information that will be used to build the respective models typically requires the respective builders to be fully familiar with the details of the initial datasets, including the quality, quantity, and completeness of the data. In some instances, the data records identified by the builders are incomplete with respect to maintaining a complete set of data therein. There are a number of known reasons for the missing values, including, improper transfer of data, record corruption, and non-collection of the data. Prior to using the affected data records for model building and prediction generation, at least one known mechanism for determining values for the missing data includes manually imputing the missing data values prior to proceeding with model building and prediction. In addition, there are a number of imputation methods that provide varying results.

Explanative analysis for records with missing values

International Business Machines Corporation


An image forming apparatus includes a head mounting portion for mounting an ink jet recording head for discharging ink liquid having a coloring material from an ink discharge port. Also included is a process liquid storing member for storing a process liquid for condensing the coloring material in the ink liquid. A process liquid supply roller is arranged immersibly in the process liquid stored in the process liquid storing member. The process liquid supply roller does not contact a recording surface of the recording medium. A process liquid coating roller coats the recording surface with the process liquid supplied through the process liquid supply roller, the process liquid coating roller being provided so that a peripheral surface of the process liquid coating roller is contactable with the recording surface upstream of a conveyance direction of the recording medium with respect to the head mounting portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image formation apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to an image formation apparatus preferably suitable for use of an ink jet recording method. Here, in this respect, recording includes the application of ink (printing) or the like for all the ink supporting members to receive it, such as cloths, threads, papers, sheet materials. The recording apparatus includes every kind of information processing apparatus or printer serving as the output equipment thereof. The present invention is applicable to recording by use of such apparatuses.
2. Related Background Art
The ink jet recording method is to cause droplets of recording liquid to fly and apply them to paper or other recording media for recording.
Generally, however, the main component of ink used for the conventional ink jet recording is water. It also contains water soluble high-boiling point solvents, such as glycol, to prevent ink from being dried or clogging of discharge ports, among other purposes. Therefore, when recording is performed on an ordinary paper using such ink, a sufficient fixation is not obtainable in some cases, and uniform images are not formed sometimes, either, presumably due to uneven distribution of loading material and sizing agent on the surface of a recording paper. Particularly when it is attempted to form color images, colors often spread on the boundaries of images of different colors or mixed unevenly because ink of plural kinds of colors are superposed one after another before each of them is fixed on the paper, thus making the provision of satisfactory images impossible.
Therefore, with a view to solving such problems, there is proposed a method, in which before recording ink is discharged, liquid is applied to a recording medium as a processing liquid that makes a good formation of images possible.
For example, a method is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 5-202328, wherein there are used an ink component containing at least chemical dyeing agent having at least one carboxyl group, and a polyvalent metallic salt solvent, and then, the ink component is used to obtain good images on a recording medium subsequent to having applied the polyvalent metallic salt to the recording medium.
Also, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 61-75870, there are disclosed an image formation method, a processing liquid, and an ink component used therefor in order to obtain images in good condition.
Then, a method is disclosed in the embodiments of patents filed with the Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application Nos. 5-202328 and 61-75870 to apply the processing liquid to a recording medium by use of a roller before recording is performed by use of an ink jet recording head.
Both of the method and technique thus disclosed are to use an application roller having a length more than the width of a recording medium for the application of the processing liquid to the recording medium in its width direction at a time.
In this method, that is, an application roller having a length more than the width of a recording medium is used for applying the processing liquid in the width direction of the recording medium at a time, the application roller is interlocked with the feeding operation of the recording medium to carry out an overall application of the processing liquid. As a result, although this method is effective, there are still encountered the problems given below.
(1) The application of processing liquid is performed even when a recording medium is not pinched by a pair of rollers. Therefore, the processing liquid is carried on all over the rollers, and when the recording medium is pinched by the rollers, the processing liquid is also applied around to the backside of the recording medium. Hence, not only the processing liquid is used wastefully, but also, it is transferred again to the platen, causing stains together with ink mist.
(2) The location where the processing liquid is applied and the portion where the image data are actually recorded by use of ink are physically apart from each other. As a result, it takes time before the image data are recorded after the processing liquid has been applied. Therefore, the processing liquid is caused to be overly permeated or volatilized, and the degradation of image quality ensues depending on the conformity of the processing liquid and ink containing coloring materials.
(3) When an image is formed by use of ink discharged from a recording head on a jointed portion of processing liquid on the surface of the recording medium (paper), the elapsed time becomes different since the processing liquid has been applied to the locations before and after such joint portion thereof. Therefore, despite ink is discharged simultaneously on the recording medium in the locations before and after such jointed portion, the degrees of permeation of the processing liquid differ before and after the jointed portion on the recording medium. As a result, there occurs difference in the surface density of the effective components that cohere the coloring materials contained in ink on the surface of the recording medium, thus causing the degrees of cohesion of such materials to vary. Consequently, unevenness is brought about in the images to be formed.
(4) The length of the roller should be made more than the width of a recording medium. This presents itself one factor that may hinder making the apparatus smaller.
Also, there are the following problems encountered in using the method, in which the processing liquid is being applied to a recording medium continuously by means of roller or the like that is in contact with the recording medium:
(1) If the processing liquid is applied, preceding ink discharges, to an OHP sheet or the so-called coated paper, that is, a recording medium having an ink receiving layer already formed on its base material, the recorded image is often degraded due to the influence of excessive amount of processing liquid because such medium is prepared in anticipation of the event that ink is directly impacted on the aforesaid ink receiving layer.
(2) When idle rotation is performed to feed or exhaust a recording medium, an excessive amount of processing liquid is applied to the platen unit arranged below the processing liquid application unit, when the processing liquid is applied by use of this unit without presence of any recording medium. As a result, the platen is stained by the adhesion of ink mist, and then, such stain is transferred again to the processing liquid application unit, thus inviting the adhesion of stains to the recording medium or the volume of processing liquid becomes short of the amount good enough to be applied to the anticipated sheet numbers of recording medium.
(3) The apparatus is used as a printer output of a computer or the like, and particularly when a large quantity of data should be transferred for the formation of highly precise color images, for example, there often occurs an interruption of image formation for a long time despite it is still in process because of such data transfer from the computer. Then, if means for applying processing liquid is left intact during such period of interruption, the processing liquid is applied to the recording medium more than necessary to cause the recorded image to be disturbed.
(4) When any defective feed of a recording medium such as the so-called jamming takes place, it is difficult to remove the recording medium if means for applying processing liquid should be left in contact with the recording medium, and the processing liquid is applied wastefully eventually.
Also, the method, in which a processing liquid retainer is provided separately from a recording ink retainer for the intended use, the problems are encountered with respect to refilling the processing liquid as given below.
In other words, even if recorded images become degraded due to the short supply of processing liquid, it is often difficult for the operator to grasp such cause of quality degradation, depending on the contents of the recorded images, because the processing liquid is essentially colorless and transparent in many cases. To enable him to know such causes brought about by the shortage of processing liquid, there is a need for the provision of independent means dedicated to serving such purpose for sensing the remains of processing liquid. The provision of a means of the kind naturally hinders making the apparatus smaller and its operation simpler to let the operator understand it easily.
The present invention is designed to solve the problems described above. It is an object of the invention to provide an image formation apparatus capable of obtaining high quality images with an enhanced formation process of inked images adhering to a recording medium to which processing liquid has been applied.
It is another object of the invention to provide an image formation apparatus having application means for applying processing liquid, while keeping such means in contact with a recording medium, the apparatus being arranged to apply the processing liquid only in a required quantity efficiently, and also, to avoid any hindrance that may result in making the apparatus smaller.
It is still another object of the invention to provide an image formation method and an apparatus using such method to make it possible to apply processing liquid in an appropriate quantity as required.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an image formation apparatus capable of obtaining uniform quality of recorded images without any unevenness in them by preventing the jointed portion of applied processing liquid from being placed on the area for an image to be recorded on the surface of a recording medium even when the degrees of permeation of processing liquid differ on the recording medium due to the difference in the elapsed time since the processing liquid has been applied to the locations before and after such jointed portion of the applied processing liquid on the surface of the recording medium, thus making the surface density of the effective components evenly formed for cohering the coloring materials in ink on the recording medium, as well as for regulating the degrees of the cohesion of coloring materials.
It is still a further object of the invention to provide an image formation apparatus capable of obtaining uniform images without any unevenness in them by preventing the jointed portion of processing liquid from being placed on the area of an image to be recorded on the surface of a recording medium even when the difference takes place in the surface density of the processing liquid due to the difference in the elapsed time since the processing liquid has been applied to the locations before and after such jointed portion of the applied processing liquid, thus making the surface density of effective components evenly formed for cohering the coloring materials in ink on the recording medium, as well as for regulating the degrees of the cohesion of the coloring materials.
It is another object of the invention to provide an image formation apparatus capable of securing processing liquid in a quantity sufficient enough at all the time so as to prevent the quality of recorded images from being degraded.
It is still another object of the invention to provide an image formation apparatus, including a carriage for moving an ink jet recording head relatively with respect to a recording medium to discharge ink containing coloring materials from the ink discharge ports; processing liquid application means for applying to the recording medium the processing liquid that coheres the coloring materials in ink, this processing liquid application means being arranged to be in contact with the recording medium and apply the processing liquid to the recording medium before ink to be discharged from the recording head of the ink jet recording head; here, the processing liquid application means being mounted on the aforesaid carriage.
It is still another object of the invention to provide an image formation apparatus that forms images on a recording medium by discharging ink containing coloring materials onto the recording medium, including processing liquid application means for applying the processing liquid that coheres the coloring materials in ink to a recording medium, while being in contact therewith before the ink is discharged onto the recording medium; and means for switching over modes for selectively setting the recording medium and processing liquid application means to be in contact with or apart from each other.
It is an object of the invention to provide a method for forming images using processing liquid application means for applying the processing liquid that coheres the coloring materials in ink to a recording medium, while being in contact therewith, before the ink is discharged onto the recording medium, including the step of selectively setting the recording medium and processing liquid application means to be in contact with or apart from each other.
It is another object of the invention to provide an image formation apparatus using an ink jet recording head for recording by discharging ink from the discharge ports onto a recording medium, including processing liquid supply means for supplying the processing liquid that coheres the coloring materials in ink; processing liquid application means for applying the processing liquid to an area of the recording medium before images to be recorded on it, here, the distance between the discharge port of the discharge port array on the uppermost stream side in the feeding direction of the recording medium, and the application point of the processing liquid application means to the recording medium being set at integral times the feeding pitch of the recording medium.
It is still another object of the invention to provide an image formation apparatus using an ink jet recording head for recording by discharging ink from the discharge ports onto a recording medium, including processing liquid supply means for supplying the processing liquid that coheres the coloring materials in ink; processing liquid application means for applying the processing liquid to an area of the recording medium before images to be recorded on it; recording medium feeding means capable of setting the feeding pitch of the recording medium at plural steps, here the distance between the discharge port of the discharge port array on the uppermost stream side in the feeding direction of the recording medium, and the application point of the processing liquid application means to the recording medium being set at integral times at least one feeding pitch of the plural feeding pitches of the recording medium.
It is still another object of the invention to provide an image formation apparatus using an ink jet recording head for recording by discharging ink from the discharge ports onto a recording medium, including processing liquid supply means for supplying the processing liquid that coheres the coloring materials in ink; processing liquid application means for applying the processing liquid to an area of the recording medium before images to be recorded on it; and processing liquid carrier means for carrying the processing liquid to the application point of processing liquid application means on the recording medium, here the distance for the processing liquid to be carried being set at integral times the feeding pitch of the recording medium.
It is still another object of the invention to provide an image formation apparatus using an ink jet recording head for recording by discharging ink from the discharge ports onto a recording medium, including processing liquid supply means for supplying the processing liquid that coheres the coloring materials in ink; processing liquid application means for applying the processing liquid to an area of the recording medium before images to be recorded on it; processing liquid carrier means for carrying the processing liquid to the application point of the processing liquid application means on the recording medium; and recording medium feeding means capable of setting the feeding pitch of the recording medium at plural steps, here the distance for the processing liquid to be carried being set at integral times at least one feeding pitch of the plural feeding pitches of the recording medium.
It is another object of the invention to provide an image formation apparatus using an ink jet recording head for recording by discharging ink from the discharge ports onto a recording medium, including processing liquid supply means for supplying the processing liquid that coheres the coloring materials in ink; processing liquid application means for applying the processing liquid to an area of the recording medium before images to be recorded on it while being rotatively in contact with such area, here the rotational direction of the processing liquid application means being opposite to the feeding direction of the recording medium.


In some developing interconnect technologies, such as chip-to-chip optical interconnect or metal waveguide interconnects, misalignment can be a serious issue. Here, however, a interconnect that uses an on-chip directional antenna (which operates in the sub-millimeter range) to form a radio frequency (RF) interconnect through a dielectric waveguide is provided. This system allows for misalignment while providing the increased communication bandwidth.

Turning to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a conventional interconnect system 100 can be seen. In this system 100, integrated circuits (ICs) 102 and 104 communicate with one another over a communication channel 106. Typically, this communication channel 106 is part of a backplane and is generally a trace (or several metal traces). A problem with this arrangement is that the physical limit for data rates or data transmission is being reached. As a result, several different types of communications links have been or are being developed: optical and wireless links. Each of these developing technologies employs the use of a transmission medium, namely an optical fiber for optical links and a metal waveguide for wireless links. Each of these two technologies, however, have issues related to misalignment.
In FIG. 2, an example of an interface between an IC 202 and optical fiber 204 can be seen. In order to provide a communication link, the IC 202 generally includes an on-die light emitting diode (LED) or photodiode 210, which has an optical axis 206. Usually, the LED 210 (on the transmitter side) is a laser diode, which has a particular wavelength or frequency, and the optical fiber 204 is dimensioned to accommodate the wavelength of the light emitted from LED 210. Typically, the optical fiber 204 is a monomode fiber to improve bandwidth, which has a diameter that is related to the wavelength of the light emitted from LED 210. For example, for near infrared (i.e., wavelength between about 0.7 μm and about 3 μm), a monomode optical fiber will generally have a diameter between about 8 μm and about 10 μm. Thus, a misalignment (of even a few microns) between the optical axis 208 of the optical fiber 204 and the optical axis 206 of the LED (or photodiode) 210 may result is a poor interconnect or no interconnect. Therefore, precision machining or other more exotic micro-optical structures would generally be necessary. The same would also be true for metal waveguides; namely, precision machining would generally be necessary for proper alignment. Metallic waveguides for sub-millimeter waves are also quite lossy substantially limiting the distance over which the waveguides would work.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved interconnect system.
Some other examples of conventional systems are: U.S. Pat. No. 5,754,948; U.S. Pat. No. 7,768,457; U.S. Pat. No. 7,379,713; U.S. Pat. No. 7,330,702; U.S. Pat. No. 6,967,347; and U.S. Patent Pre-Grant Publ. No. 2009/0009408.

Chip to dielectric waveguide interface for sub-millimeter wave communications link


The method and system disclosed herein reduces total bandwidth requirement for communication in a voice over Internet protocol application. Sample [101] and convert [102] the analog input audio signal into digital signals and derive sampled frames [103]. Compute spacings of order statistics [104]. Measure the entropy for each of the sampled frames [105]. Set a threshold for entropy [106]. Mark the audio frames as active speech frames or inactive speech frames [107]. Mark an audio frame as an' inactive speech frame when the entropy is greater than the threshold, and mark the audio frame as an active speech frame when the entropy is lesser than the threshold [107]. Transmit only the active speech frames [108].

This invention in general relates to a method for reducing the total bandwidth requirement for voice-enabled applications over the Internet and specifically relates to a method of separating speech signal from non-speech signal.
Given the rapid growth in Internet traffic, there is a shortage in the bandwidth available for the transfer of data for voice over IP applications. Speech signals consist of non-speech segments and speech segments. Non-speech segments do not contribute to comprehension and may contain noise or disturbances which are undesirable, and may cause deterioration. However, all segments, speech or otherwise, demand bandwidth for transmission. Moreover, in the context of speech recognition, segmentation of the input speech stream into "speech" and "non-speech" is the precursor to applying recognition algorithms.
Bandwidth optimization is achieved by speech compression using low bit rate codecs integrated with Voice Activity Detection (VAD). Further optimization is usually achieved by the following two methods. In the first method, VAD scheme, usually based on energy and zero-crossing methods, is embedded in codecs. Examples are G.729, Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), Adaptive Multi Rate (AMR), G.722 and 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). In the second method, VAD scheme may not be embedded in the codec block. Selecting talk spurts and avoiding codec processing of non-speech segments at the transmitter has the additional advantage of reducing the computational load on the codec itself. This is particularly significant as the number of streams grows. In such a setup, VAD coding is independent of the speech code. Portability across codecs is an added advantage since one can use any codec after applying a stand-alone VAD that removes the non-speech part of the stream.
There is an unmet market need for a method and a system that effectively removes the non-speech component in a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) based communication system.


A jet pump structure for a fuel tank having first and second chambers therein includes first, second and third fuel pipes all of which are connected to a vacuum chamber provided within the fuel tank. The first pipe returns oversupplied fuel into the vacuum chamber, the second pipe transfers fuel stored in the first chamber into the vacuum chamber, and the third pipe receives the fuel from the first and second pipes. A silencer unit is connected to the third pipe for receiving the fuel from the third pipe and discharging the fuel into the second chamber. A flow guide member is provided within the first pipe receives the oversupplied fuel and forms same a swirl flow. The swirl flow is ejected from the first pipe to provide a vacuum the vacuum chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a jet pump structure for a fuel tank installed in a vehicle such as an automobile vehicle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a jet pump structure for a fuel tank having first and second fuel chambers therein, wherein fuel stored in the first chamber is effectively transferred to the second chamber using jet swirl flows of return fuel which has been oversupplied to an engine.
2. Description of the Background Art
Recently, there has been a large demand for effective layout of a fuel tank so as to enlarge so-called utility space particularly in a passenger car. To satisfy this demand, there has been a type of the fuel tank which straddles the driving system components or the exhaust system components.
For example, Japanese Utility Model Publication (Jikkai Sho) 57-109921 discloses a fuel tank structure having a bottom wall which projects inwardly so as to avoid interference between the tank bottom wall and other functional parts.
In this type of the fuel tank, however, since a main fuel chamber and an auxiliary fuel chamber are formed at its lower section by the inward projection of the bottom wall, it is necessary to provide an arrangement which prevents the fuel remaining within one of the chambers from not being used. For example, a fuel feed pipe could be bifurcated into the main and auxiliary chambers through a switching valve such that when the fuel stored in the main chamber runs out, the switching valve is actuated to supply the fuel in the auxiliary chamber to the engine.
However, that structure requires the switching valve and other units such as a liquid level gauge and a control unit for actuating the switching valve automatically, which is very costly and complicated.


The present invention relates to a towed wireless network communications subsystem for use in flight by a towing aircraft. The towed wireless network communications subsystem includes an aerodynamic enclosure having a tether attachment and configured to be towed by the towing aircraft. A directional antenna is disposed on the aerodynamic enclosure and is capable of forming one or more directional communications beams within a wireless network. A communications device is disposed in the aerodynamic enclosure and is coupled to the directional antenna(s). The communications device is configured to relay communications data between the towing aircraft and the wireless network.

In airborne communications applications, communications equipment is used to send and receive communications signals. Typically, antennas are located on the outer fuselage of an aircraft while other communications equipment is located inside the aircraft. An antenna (e.g., a radio antenna or optical aperture) provides a means for the radiation of an electromagnetic communications signal from the aircraft, for the reception of electromagnetic communications signals directed toward the aircraft, or both.
An antenna (or group of antennas) can have both a field of view and a field of regard. Field of view (FOV) is the area which is visible to the antenna at a given instant in time. Field of regard (FOR) is the area over which an antenna can communicate. For example, a steerable directional antenna may have a relatively small FOV (e.g., a narrow beamwidth), but may be pointable in different directions to provide a large FOR. A 100% FOR corresponds to full spherical coverage, or a spherical angle coverage area of 4π steradian.
Depending on where antennas are positioned on an aircraft, differing FOR can be obtained. For example, an antenna positioned on the underside of an aircraft can theoretically provide hemispherical (50%) FOR, in that it could theoretically be able to communicate with any object below the plane of the aircraft. In practice, however, the achieved FOR for such an antenna is typically much less than the full hemisphere. Practical limitations include obstructions, such as other portions of the aircraft structure, difficulty in providing antenna operation at small angles relative to a surface on (or in) which the antenna is mounted, and obstruction by the aircraft due to maneuvering. Accordingly, actual FOR achieved by a single antenna is often substantially less than hemispherical (e.g., 45% or less, or even 25% or less).
Conventionally, to provide an aircraft with an overall 100% FOR, six or more antenna/apertures located strategically on the outer fuselage of the aircraft are used. Unfortunately, each of these antenna/aperture installations affects the aircraft's performance and cost. Positioning of antennas on an airborne platform can be challenging, as the location of the antennas on the fuselage is often constrained by a number of factors. These factors can include aerodynamic considerations, access consideration, cabling considerations, and the like. Accordingly, in many applications it is not possible to provide an adequate number of antennas in adequate positions to provide a full or nearly full FOR in an aircraft communication system.

Towed network communications subsystem for in flight use by towing aircraft


An oral care implement having a dispenser containing oral care material and a moisture impermeable barrier. An oral care implement comprising: a handle; a head connected to the handle, the head comprising at least one tooth cleaning element extending from a face of the head; a dispenser containing an oral care material positioned on the head, the dispenser being degradable when subjected to moisture; a removable barrier attached to the head so as to create a chamber between an inner surface of the removable barrier and a portion of the head, the removable barrier being constructed of a moisture impermeable material; and wherein the dispenser is disposed within the chamber.

The advantages of good dental hygiene are well known. Often, however, people either forget their toothbrushes when traveling or do not carry their toothbrushes outside of the home. Hotels, health care facilities, nursing homes, hospitals, daycare facilities, schools, airlines, etc. have a need for single use disposable or limited multiple use toothbrushes that may be economically supplied to and discarded by individuals without a toothbrush, a dentifrice and/or a water supply. Such toothbrushes could be used in vending machines or distributed in large quantities for simple, portable use from anywhere.
Various types of disposable, limited use or portable toothbrushes are known in the art. For example, some toothbrush systems have attempted to meet some of these needs by providing toothpaste within the toothbrush itself, through an integrated channel, for distribution through the toothbrush and around the bristles. This approach tends to be economically inefficient due to added manufacturing costs. In addition, the toothpaste in some of these integrated channel toothbrushes has a tendency to become dry, hard and stale. Furthermore, these toothbrushes require water in order for the toothpaste to have maximum effectiveness and for the user to clean up after a tooth brushing session.


A vehicle side body structure can secure a vibration-damping property of a body regardless of design specification by including a rear wheel house including a wheel house outer and a wheel house inner; a side sill extending forward from a front end of the wheel house outer; and an outer reinforcement extending in a vertical direction along a door opening edge from an intermediate portion in a front-rear direction of the wheel house outer. The wheel house outer includes: an outer overhang overhanging outward; and an outer flange extending upward from an inner end of the outer overhang. A reinforcing member is provided to cooperate with the outer overhang and the outer flange so as to define a closed cross section in a substantially triangular shape. The reinforcing member couples a rear end of the side sill and a lower end of the outer reinforcement.

Conventionally, in order to secure a vibration-damping property of a body, rigidity of a body frame member that constitutes a portion around a door opening is increased.
In general, the portion around the door opening that is formed on a side portion of a vehicle is provided with: a rear wheel house configured to include a rear wheel house outer and a rear wheel house inner; a side sill that extends forward in the body from a front end of the rear wheel house outer; a pillar outer member that extends in a body vertical direction from an intermediate portion in a body front-rear direction of the rear wheel house outer; and the like.
A vehicle side structure in Patent document 1 includes: a rocker (also referred to as the side sill) that extends in the body front-rear direction; a rocker outer reinforcement that reinforces an outer portion in a vehicle width direction of this rocker; a quarter pillar that extends in the body vertical direction from a position behind the rocker; a quarter pillar reinforcement that reinforces this quarter pillar; and a reinforcing member that couples the rocker outer reinforcement and the quarter pillar reinforcement and cooperates with the rear wheel house inner to define a closed cross section in a substantially rectangular shape.


An apparatus and method for training a landmark detector receives training data which includes a plurality of positive training bags, each including a plurality of positively annotated instances, and a plurality of negative training bags, each including at least one negatively annotated instance. Classification function is initialized by training a first weak classifier based on the positive training bags and the negative training bags. All training instances are evaluated using the classification function. For each of a plurality of remaining classifiers, a cost value gradient is calculated based on spatial context information of each instance in each positive bag evaluated by the classification function. A gradient value associated with each of the remaining weak classifiers is calculated based on the cost value gradients, and a weak classifier is selected which has a lowest associated gradient value and given a weighting parameter and added to the classification function.

The present invention relates to training a landmark detector using training data with noisy annotations.
In object detection, such as landmark detection, one of the biggest obstacles is obtaining accurate annotations. A landmark is defined as a distinct and unique anatomical structure useful for other tasks, such as image registration. Some anatomical structures that constitute landmarks include the lung apex, liver top, and tracheal bifurcation. Obtaining annotations can often be a very tedious and/or error prone task. Typically, to facilitate accurate landmark detection, a large amount of accurately annotated training data is needed. Training of landmark detectors is important in accurately finding the positions of anatomical landmarks in medical images and medical volumes.
To properly train a landmark detector to accurately detect landmarks, accurate annotations of landmark locations within training data is necessary. For example, a domain expert may provide accurate annotations by accurately indicating ground truth positions within training data images and volumes. On the other hand, novice annotators may provide noisy annotations that may be within a tolerable distance from ground truth positions. Thus, during training of landmark detectors using a mixture of annotated training data from both experts and novice annotators, there may be a mixture of both accurate annotations providing positive training samples, and noisy annotations that only provide a rough indication of where the positive training samples are actually located.

Method and system for training a landmark detector using multiple instance learning


The ink jet receiving sheet of the invention comprises a support and at least one ink receiving layer, characterized in that said ink receiving layer comprises a high boiling organic solvent and a non-ionic surfactant dispersed in a hydrophilic binder as additives to improve black density of the resulting image.

The invention relates to an ink receptor for ink jet printers, and more particularly, to ink receptor containing a combination of a high boiling organic solvent and a non-ionic surfactant as additives to improve black density of the resulting image.
Ink jet printing has become increasingly popular, particularly for so-called xe2x80x9cdesk-top publishingxe2x80x9d, because of its capability to produce small volumes of printed matter from digital input at high throughput speeds. Recent equipment developments have led to the introduction of multi-color ink jet printers that integrate colored graphics and text. To some extent, however, the applications of ink jet printing have been limited due to the demanding requirements the ink receptors must meet in order to provide high quality text and graphics.
One of the factors influencing the image quality of an ink jet image is the capacity to correctly reproduce black areas of the image. The ink-jet printers currently available on the market adopt two different techniques for obtaining black color. A first technique uses an ink based on a black pigment, such as, for example, carbon black, dispersed in a proper solvent. The second one uses the combination of the three primary colors (cyan, magenta and yellow).
The black density of the resulting image on the ink-jet receptor is strongly dependent upon the above technique and the kind of receptor. Up to now, good results have been obtained with the optimization of a receptor to a specific technique.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,866,268 discloses an ink jet receptor comprising an ink receiving layer based on a cellulose derivative which is able to give a good black density on images obtained with a Hewlett Packard DeskJet 660C (using the black pigment technique).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,722 discloses an ink jet receptor comprising an ink receiving layer comprising a combination of a cellulose derivative and a fluorinated non-ionic surfactant which is able to give a good black density on images obtained with a Hewlett Packard DeskJet 850 (using the black pigment technique).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,603 discloses an ink jet receptor comprising an ink receiving layer comprising a combination of a cellulose derivative, a fluorinated non-ionic surfactant and an alkanolamine metal chelate which is able to give a good black density on images obtained with an Epson Color Stylus (using the color combination technique).
However, it has been experienced that an ink jet receptor optimized for the black pigment technique does not give similar results with the color combination technique and viceversa. Thus, there is a need for improved ink receptors that show good black density when using both the above mentioned techniques.
The ink jet receiving sheet of the invention comprises a support and at least one ink receiving layer, characterized in that said ink receiving layer comprises a high boiling organic solvent and a non-ionic surfactant dispersed in a hydrophilic binder as additives to improve black density of the resulting image.

Ink-jet print receiving sheet comprising a high-boiling organic solvent and an aionic surfactant


An image forming apparatus that is capable of accessing a removable storage medium and automatically starting an operation of calibration thereof without waiting for a user to input a job, on an as-needed basis, when a storage medium is mounted therein. A printer engine performs an image forming operation according to data read from the medium, and a controller executes calibration of the printer engine. The controller detects whether or not the medium is inserted, and determines attributes of data stored in the medium. Based on a result of determination, the controller causes the calibration to be selectively started.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that is capable of accessing a removable storage medium and a method of controlling the image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A printer or multifunction peripheral that expresses colors using color toner or the like is required to perform the calibration of a printer engine so as to perform faithful color reproduction. Particularly, most products which include a printer engine that performs image formation on a medium by an electrophotographic process have a calibration function because the degree of adherence of toner of each color to the medium varies depending on the temperature and humidity of the surrounding environment and conditions of a photosensitive member within the engine.
Hereafter, a description will be given of an example of a procedure of execution of the calibration of the printer engine that employs the electrophotographic process. First, images for density measurement, each of which is called a patch, are formed on an intermediate transfer member of the engine. Assuming cases of several levels of output density, there are formed a plurality of patches in which toner is attached in amounts associated with the respective levels of the patch density. Next, color measurement is performed on the patches by a sensor equipped in the engine, and the differences between the patch densities for realizing the best color reproduction and the actually measured patch densities are calculated. The calibration is accomplished by adjusting laser intensity and controlling printer engine operations including image processing such that the differences are minimized.
The printer or multifunction peripheral that has just been calibrated is adjusted to a state in which the printer engine is capable of reproducing colors with the utmost accuracy. Then, as the number of printed sheets increases thereafter, the printed colors gradually come to deviate from those obtained immediately after the calibration. In a case where a highly accurate color reproduction is demanded of printout, it is desirable to execute printing immediately after the calibration.
However, in general, the calibration is performed only with a predetermined frequency specific to each product of the printer or multifunction peripheral, and when a highly accurate color reproduction is demanded of printout, the engine is not always in a state capable of performing the best color reproduction. To solve this problem, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-227684 discloses a technique in which the calibration is automatically started when a print job is input by a user from a host computer.
In the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-227684, if a specific print mode is set, it is possible to forcibly perform the calibration when a print job is input, and hence when a printing operation is started, the engine is ready for performing the best color reproduction.
The method of inputting a print job to a printer or multifunction peripheral includes conventionally proposed methods described hereafter.
For example, in the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-227684, a user of a network-connected or serial-connected host computer selects a file, and then inputs a print job for printing the file to a printer or multifunction peripheral. In this case, it takes several tens of seconds or several minutes before the calibration of the printer or multifunction peripheral to which the print job is input is completed after the calibration is started when the user selects the printer or multifunction peripheral.
Further, there has also been proposed a method in which a user of a printer or multifunction peripheral, which is equipped with a unit adapted to recognize a removable memory device inserted therein, designates one of files stored in the inserted memory device, and inputs the selected file to the printer or multifunction peripheral. This method is applied to printers or multifunction peripherals having a so-called memory direct printing function.
Particularly, in recent years, there is an increasing demand for memory direct printing which is configured to be performed by inserting into a printer a memory card storing images captured by a digital camera. Further, it becomes popular to store and carry electronic document files in a memory card or a USB flash memory, and it is also envisaged to use memory direct printing for printing out such office documents under circumstances where no computer is available.
However, even in the case of using memory direct printing, a print job is input after the user selects a file. Therefore, timing of starting the calibration is the same as in the case where the print job is input from the network-connected or serial-connected host computer. Therefore, the user performing memory direct printing is required to wait for several tens of seconds or several minutes before the calibration is completed after inputting the print job.

Image forming apparatus connectable to a portable storage medium, method of controlling the same, and storage medium


A universal tool for inspecting and processing plastic pipe includes a cylindrical chamfering element with a cylindrical wall and a pipe-receiving opening therein terminating in a base ring, the base ring carrying a tapered pin having an axis parallel to the axis of the cylindrical chamfering element, the wall of the chamfering element having a slot therein proximate the tapered pin and a four-edged cutting element mounted on the outer surface of the cylindrical wall and having one edge of the cutting element protruding through the slot in proximity to the tapered pin, the pipe to be chamfered being forced into contact with the cutting edge by axial pressure on the chamfering element and rotation thereof, an ovality-gage being carried by the chamfering element and being arcuatley rotatable, at the end of the arc rotation of the gage causing rotational forces to be applied to the chamfering element, i.e., the ovality-gage acting as a handle for the chamfering element. The ovality-gage may be separated from the chamfering element and utilized alone or in combination with a coupled second ovality-gage for checking the ovality of pipes of different nominal diameters. A wall thickness gage is carried by the ovality tool whether it is alone or in combination with a chamfering element or a dual ovality-gage.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to tools for incoming inspection and installation of plastic pipe, particularly for fluid transmission.
2. Prior Art
The days of cast-iron pipe, with rigid dimensions, have passed in fluid distribution systems for utilities, such as heating gas distributors. Today, plastic pipes are universally used. They are cheaper, can be joined by simple heating techniques and deteriorate at a much slower pace than metal pipes. However, plastic pipes are much less rigid than cast-iron pipes and when wound, as they are, into large coils for transportation and storage, they tend to become oval, rather than circular, in cross-section. If the ovality of a pipe becomes excessive, it cannot be joined with another pipe in the course of installing a distribution network. Since thousands of feet of pipe may be involved in an installation, unusable pipe results in an unnecessary and unacceptable expense. Thus, the burden is shifted to the incoming inspection and quality control departments of producers and large scale users of plastic pipe. Ovality and wall thickness must be checked before the pipe is sent out into the field and at the time a joinder to another pipe is attempted in the field.
Further, with the use of electrical heating elements to couple pipes together it is necessary that the edge of the pipe be chamfered so that it slips easily inside the coupler or fitting which joins it to the next pipe.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a single tool which can be used to perform multiple functions on plastic pipes both at the receiving and storing point and in the field.


Labor of photographing images of an object can be reduced in a case where the images of the object viewed from a viewpoint moving along with an orbit are displayed. Image obtaining means of a display control system obtains a plurality of image data pieces generated by photographing an object from a plurality of photographing positions that are different from one another in photographing directions. Information obtaining means obtains photograph information relating to the photographing positions of the respective image data pieces in a three-dimensional space based on the image data pieces. Image selecting means selects some of the image data pieces based on the photograph information of the respective image data pieces and orbit information relating to an orbit of a viewpoint that moves while changing a viewing direction in the three-dimensional space. Display control means displays, on display means, the image data pieces selected by the image selecting means in an order according to the orbit.

A technique for accurately presenting condition of an object by shooting the object from various positions has been known. For example, Patent Literature 1 describes serially photographing by a camera an object on a turn table that turns at a predetermined speed, and displaying a video photographed by the camera on a display unit.

Display control system, display control device, display control method, and program


A job scheduling system includes a primary job scheduler and a secondary scheduling gatekeeper. The primary job scheduler provides primary scheduling primitives. The primary job scheduler is configured to activate a first job on an activation date determined based on a primary scheduling definition of the first job, and execute a secondary scheduling gatekeeper to evaluate whether a target program associated with the first job is executed during the activation. The gatekeeper provides enhanced scheduling primitives that include scheduling primitives not in the primary scheduling primitives. The gatekeeper is configured to evaluate a secondary scheduling definition of the first job to determine whether the first job should continue to execution and return the enhanced scheduling result to the primary job scheduler. The secondary scheduling definition is configured using the set of enhanced scheduling primitives. The system causes the execution of the target program based on the result.

In enterprise computing environments, computing departments typically have programs (e.g., batch processes) that need to be executed on a regular basis. For example, a payment processing network may execute a batch process for transmitting transaction data summary files to or from an issuer on a daily basis. Automation of such batch processes is typically performed by a conventional job scheduler, which can be configured to execute a target program at a particular date, time, or at a particular frequency. For example, an administrator may configure a job definition for this file transfer process. The job definition may define, for example, a location of an executable program (the target program), a server on which to execute that target program, and a schedule defining when to run that target program (e.g., daily at midnight, weekly on Thursdays at nine p.m., and so forth).
Conventional job schedulers provide a set of native scheduling primitives with which administrators use to configure job schedules. Example scheduling primitives may include, for example, calendar frequency primitives (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly), date primitives (e.g., June 1), and time primitives (e.g., 0900, 11:00 am-2:00 pm). However, some batch processes may require schedule timing that may not be possible with a particular job scheduler's native scheduling primitives.
Accordingly, a scheduling gatekeeper is needed that can supplement the native scheduling primitives of a conventional job scheduler and allow more refined job scheduling.

Flexible computing job scheduling systems and methods


A plant imitating device includes a body having a compartment and an opening in communication with the compartment. A driving unit is mounted in the compartment and includes a transmission member. A plant imitating unit is mounted in the compartment and includes an end facing the opening of the body. The plant imitating unit is engaged with the transmission member by a mounting portion. The plant imitating unit is movable relative to the transmission member. A control unit is electrically connected to the driving unit. The control unit controls the driving unit to cause the end of the plant imitating unit to move beyond the body via the opening. Thus, the end of the plant imitating unit gradually extends beyond the opening to imitate the growth of a plant.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plant imitating device and, more particularly, to a plant imitating device that can imitate the growth of a plant.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many busy modern people suffer from diseases of civilization, such as melancholia and anxiety disorder, due to the imbalance of body and mind resulting from stress in work and daily life. People choose some ways to obtain physical and mental relaxation, such as by implanting plants. However, busy as they are, they can not spend enough time and energy to take care of the plants. The plants die easily, failing to soothe the feeling and failing to provide distraction from boredom.
Due to the improvement in technology, mechanical systems imitating plants have been developed to avoid the above disadvantages. The literatures of plant ecology are gathered first to know the characteristics of the plants, such as the shapes and actions. Then, various detecting elements (such as sound control type or touch control type) are selected according to the characteristics of the plants to provide interaction between the plants and the user. However, conventional plant imitating devices currently available in the market can only imitate swaying of the plants, which is monotonous and fails to provide entertainment.
Thus, a need exists for an improved plant imitating device providing entertainment in addition to imitating the plant.

National Pingtung University of Science and Technology


A chucking-type parts-feeding apparatus comprises a device for chucking an individual part, which is disposed adjacent an end of a parts-feeding passageway, and a device connected with the chucking device for shifting the individual part held in the chucking device towards a predetermined location apart from the parts-feeding passageway. The apparatus further comprises either a device connected with the chucking device for shifting the individual part held in the chucking device in the direction in which the part comes out of the parts-feeding passageway or an opening formed in the parts-feeding passageway for allowing the part to pass through the opening as the chucking device is moved towards the predetermined location.

The present invention relates to a chucking-type parts-feeding apparatus which delivers individual parts to a chucking device held on standby mode for holding each part before eventually feeding these parts to an objective position.
To the best of the inventor's knowledge, there is no prior art exactly corresponding to the chucking-type parts-feeding apparatus proposed by the present invention. However, actually, there are a variety of parts-feeding systems for delivering designated parts to an objective location by operating a chucking device for grasping them.
Generally, any of those prior art devices causes a chucking device to gain access to designated parts or causes those parts to be delivered to the chucking device, and therefore, it generates problems in the relative positional relationship between the delivered parts and the chucking device because of much difficulty to correctly determine this relationship. Furthermore, any of those prior art device also generate critical problems when the chucking device inclines or stands upright because those parts received by the chucking device are subject to displacement as a result of inclined posture of the parts themselves, thus making it quite difficult to correctly chuck them at an upright position.


A conversation attendant and assistant platform implements a method of receiving by a computer a plurality of messages in a plurality of conversations via one or more messaging applications. The platform tags each message of the plurality of messages with a message cohort and an amelioration action, and assigns a risk to the given message based on the message cohort. The platform also determines a user context of a user of the computer, and, in response to factors including the user context and the risk, assigns a concern level to the given message. The platform accumulates and summarizes the given message along with other messages in a conversation of the given message. In case the concern level exceeds a threshold, the platform selects one or more delivery channels for surfacing a summary of the conversation and surfaces the summary via the one or more delivery channels.

The present invention relates to electronic communication, and more specifically, to messaging in a collaborative environment.
Online messaging applications and collaborative development environments are fundamentally changing the way people interact with one another, share information, and communicate. Applications (or apps) such as WHATSAPP, VIBER, SLACK, FACEBOOK MESSENGER, TRELLO, WECHAT, and VINE are a few of the present day examples of messaging applications found on many smartphones, tablets, and computers that offer messaging and facilitate electronic exchange of text, images, audio, and video. WHATSAPP is a trademark of WHATSAPP, Inc. VIBER is a trademark of Viber Media S.A.R.L. SLACK is a trademark of Slack Technologies, Inc. FACEBOOK MESSENGER is a trademark of Facebook, Inc. TRELLO is a trademark of Trello, Inc. WECHAT is a trademark of Tencent Holdings, Ltd. VINE is a trademark of Twitter, Inc.
Limitations in human attention may make it difficult for a user to keep abreast of all the notifications, messages, images, audio, and video that may be received, resulting in information overload. There may be serious implications as a result of such information overload. As an example, consider the scenario where a user is engaging with several messaging applications over a number of modalities, while also performing critical tasks in response to received messages. A deluge of messages and data can be difficult to keep abreast of and process. Vital information that may impact the user could be missed or overlooked.
Presently, a leading messaging application has over 1 billion monthly active users, and it has been reported that 6 out of the top 10 mobile apps are messaging apps. Messaging apps dominate other kinds of apps in terms of sessions. The "Slack" messaging application platform is changing how enterprises communicate, facilitating communication among teams into channels, where text-like messages can be viewed by all team members. In such collaborative environments where multiple and geographically dispersed teams work together, a user may easily be overloaded with information and content so as to be unable to prioritize or define needed actions. Such scenarios can lead to miscommunication, poor prioritization, and in some situations a deleterious impact on business operations.

Conversation attendant and assistant platform


A magnetoelectric effect material includes as a primary component, a polycrystalline oxide ceramic containing at least Sr, Co, and Fe. In the polycrystalline oxide ceramic, the crystal c-axis is oriented in a predetermined direction, and the degree of orientation of the c-axis is 0.2 or more by a Lotgering method. A component substrate is formed of this magnetoelectric effect material.

In recent years, attention has been paid to a ferromagnetic dielectrics (multiferroics) material which simultaneously has ferromagnetism and ferroelectricity and which exhibits a composite function, and research and development on this material has been aggressively carried out.
This ferromagnetic dielectric material has been known as a material having a so-called magnetoelectric effect in which when a magnetic field is applied, by induction of spiral magnetic ordering, the ferroelectricity is exhibited, so that the electric polarization is generated, or the electric polarization and/or the dielectric constant is changed, and in which when an electric field is applied, the magnetization is generated or is changed.
Since the ferromagnetic dielectric material can generate by the magnetoelectric effect described above, the change in magnetization by application of an electric field and the change in electric polarization by application of a magnetic field, this ferromagnetic dielectric material is expected to be applied to various ceramic electronic components, such as a variable inductor in which the magnetization is changed by application of an electric field, a variable magnetic device for a writing head of a memory medium, a magnetic sensor detecting magnetism, and a nonvolatile memory.
In particular, research and development of ferromagnetic dielectric materials exhibiting a "gigantic magnetoelectric effect" in which the electric polarization is significantly changed by application of a magnetic field has been actively carried out.
For example, Patent Document 1 has proposed a multiferroic element in which by application of an external magnetic field to a multiferroic solid material simultaneously having ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism that has a spin structure, the spin direction of which is rotated so as to be along the outer side of a corn (apex angle α of the top of the corn is in a range of 0°<α≤90°, the direction of the electric polarization approximately orthogonal to the external magnetic field described above is controlled.
In this Patent Document 1, by the use of MCr2O4 (M=Mn, Fe, Co, or Ni) as the ferromagnetic dielectric material (multiferroic material), the electric polarization is generated in an ultralow temperature region of approximately 26K by application of a magnetic field, and an electric polarization of 2 μC/m2 is obtained at approximately 5K.
In addition, Patent Document 2 has also proposed a multiferroic element which is formed of a multiferroic solid material containing iron oxide as a primary raw material and simultaneously having ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism and which is designed to induce a current by application of a weak external magnetic field of 300 Gauss or less.
This Patent Document 2 has disclosed that when a ferrite compound of Ba2Mg2Fe12O22 is used as the ferromagnetic dielectric material (multiferroic material), and a low magnetic field of 300 Gauss (0.03 T) is applied thereto, a current flows at −268° C. (5K) corresponding to the application of an alternating magnetic field, and positive and negative electric polarizations are also alternately generated.
In addition, Patent Document 3 has proposed a magnetoelectric effect material which is formed of an oxide ceramic as a primary component represented by a general formula of (Sr1-αBaα)3(Co1-βBβ)2Fe24O41+δ (in the formula, B represents at least one type of element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Zn, Mn, Mg, and Cu, and α, β, and δ satisfy 0≤α≤0.3, 0≤β≤0.3, and −1≤δ≤1, respectively) and which exhibits a magnetoelectric effect in a temperature range of 250K to 350K and a magnetic field range of 0.05 T (tesla) or less.
According to this Patent Document 3, when a ferromagnetic dielectric material having a hexagonal Z-type crystal structure represented by the above general formula is used, and when sweeping is performed in a magnetic field range of −0.05 to +0.05 T, a ferromagnetic dielectric material is obtained which has an electric polarization of 1.0 to 9.5 μC/m2 and a magnetoelectric coupling factor of 100 ps/m to at most 470 ps/m at approximately room temperature and in a magnetic field range of 0.05 T or less.
Patent Document 1: International Publication No. 2007/135817 (claims 1 and 3, Paragraph No. [0031], FIG. 7, and the like)
Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-224563 (claims 1 and 3, Paragraph No. [0032], FIG. 7, and the like)
Patent Document 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-1396 (claim 1, Paragraph Nos. [0010] and [0061], Table 3, FIG. 3, and the like)

Electromagnetic effect material and ceramic electronic component


Some embodiments of a medical device anchor system include an anchor device that secures a medical instrument (such as a catheter or the like) in place relative to a skin penetration point using subcutaneous anchors. In some implementations, the medical instrument can be coupled to the anchor device using a snap-lock cap mechanism.

Venous, arterial, and body fluid catheters are commonly used by physicians. For example, such catheters may be used to gain access to the vascular system for dialysis, for introducing pharmaceutical agents, for nutrition or fluids, for hemodynamic monitoring, and for blood draws. Alternatively, catheters can be used for drainage of fluid collections and to treat infection. Following introduction into the patient, the catheter is secured to the patient. In some instances, the catheter is commonly secured to the patient using an adhesive tape on the skin or by suturing a catheter hub to the patient's skin. In other circumstances, the catheter may be secured to the patient using a subcutaneous anchor mechanism (such as an anchor sleeve or other device equipped with anchors for securing into a subcutaneous region under the skin).

Systems and methods for anchoring medical devices


A portable terminal holder includes a supporting part, a plug, and a holding part. The supporting part includes a bottom part and a back part, where the back part bends and extends from an edge of the bottom part, the bottom part is configured to bear a frame of a portable terminal, and the back part is configured to bear a back of the portable terminal. The plug bends and extends from the bottom part, the plug and the back part extend in a same direction relative to the bottom part, a spacing is provided between the plug and the back part, the plug is configured to be inserted into a socket provided on the frame of the portable terminal, and the plug and the supporting part jointly position the portable terminal.

Smartphones and tablet computers become increasingly popular. Using a tablet computer for learning and entertainment on public transportation vehicles such as a subway and a bus has become a trend. However, as a frame of the tablet computer is getting narrower, it is prone to cause a misoperation when the tablet computer is held by hand. When a subway or a bus starts and stops, there is quite large inertia, and people cannot hold onto a handrail when operating a tablet computer with both hands, which causes a quite high potential risk to physical safety. Moreover, it is difficult to hold the tablet computer with one hand.


A system identifies a first document that includes a number of first images, identifies a second document that includes a number of second images, and forms a cluster based on a relationship between the first document and the second document. The system identifies a first caption associated with one of the first images, identifies a second caption associated with one of the second images, selects the one of the first images or the one of the second images as a representative image for the cluster based on the first caption or the second caption, and associates the representative image with the cluster.

1. Field of the Invention
Systems and methods consistent with the principles of the invention relate generally to information retrieval and, more particularly, to selecting an image to present in connection with search results relating to a news search.
2. Description of Related Art
The World Wide Web ("web") contains a vast amount of information. Search engines assist users in locating desired portions of this information by cataloging web documents. Typically, in response to a user's request, a search engine returns links to documents relevant to the request.
Search engines may base their determination of the user's interest on search terms (called a search query) provided by the user. The goal of a search engine is to identify links to relevant results based on the search query. Typically, the search engine accomplishes this by matching the terms in the search query to a corpus of pre-stored web documents. Web documents that contain the user's search terms are considered "hits" and are returned to the user.
In the case of news documents, users may find it beneficial to see an image in association with the news documents. Oftentimes, however, news documents include multiple images some of which may not be related to the topic of the news documents. This makes it difficult to automatically select appropriate images for the news documents.


The present invention relates generally to compounds providing antibacterial therapeutic agents and preparations, and related methods of using and making antibacterial compounds. Antibacterial compounds of the present invention include chalcone, alkylpyrimidine, aminopyrimidine and cyanopyridine compounds and derivatives thereof exhibiting minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) similar to or less than conventional antibacterial compounds in wide use.

The emergence of resistant bacterial strains without the increased development of new antibiotic structure classes constitutes a serious medical crisis. Brown, E. D.; Wright, G. D. Chem. Rev. 2005, 105, 759-774; Coates, A.; Hu, Y.; Bax, R.; Page, C. Nat. Rev. Drug Discovery 2002, 1, 895-910. Infection with the common pathogen Staphylococcus aureus has been estimated to double the cost, length of stay, and the even death rate in New York City hospitals. Rubin, R. J.; Harrington, C. A.; Poon, A.; Dietrich, K.; Greene, J. A.; Moiduddin, A. Emerging Infectious Diseases 1999, 5, 9-17. Designing antibiotics that treat bacterial infections is a constant struggle for synthetic chemists and biologists because bacteria have an extraordinary ability to adapt and develop resistance to new antibacterial agents. For example, the most recent antibiotic, Linezolid, was released on the market in 2000, only to have cases of Linezolid-resistant bacteria reported the following year. This was alarming news, because Linezolid is a member of the oxazolidinone family, a structure class that had never previously been used as a scaffold for antibacterial agents. This development underscores the need for the discovery of new structural scaffolds with antibacterial activity.
Combinatorial chemistry continues to play an important role in advancing the chemical biology and drug discovery fields. Navre, M., Application of combinatorial chemistry to antimicrobial drug discovery. Expert Opin. Invest. Drugs 1998, 7, 1257-1269; Seneci, P.; Miertus, S., Combinatorial chemistry and high-throughput screening in drug discovery: Different strategies and formats. Mol. Diversity. 2000, 5, 75-89. One of the main advantages of combinatorial chemistry is the ability to generate a large, diverse library of compounds using a minimum amount of reagents in a relatively short amount of time. Because a combinatorial approach can generate a large number of compounds, this makes it ideal for probing and studying biological targets.
Solid-phase chemistry has taken on a major role in advancing combinatorial chemistry. Ganesan, A., Recent developments in combinatorial organic synthesis. Drug Discovery Today 2002, 7, 47-55; Balasubramanian, S., Solid phase chemical technologies for combinatorial chemistry. J. Cell. Biochem. 2001, 28-33; Bannwarth, W., Solid phase chemistry. Linkers for solid-phase organic synthesis (SPOS) and combinatorial approaches on solid support. Methods Princ. Med. Chem. 2000, 9, 47-98. Traditional solid phase techniques employ hydrophobic polymeric supports, such as polystyrene beads. Yu, Z. R.; Bradley, M., Solid supports for combinatorial chemistry. Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol. 2002, 6, 347-352. Although these solid supports offer advantages, including rapid and easy compound purification, there are some disadvantages. The hydrophobic nature of polystyrene beads is not compatible with many reactions that require the use of aqueous or certain polar solvents. Recently, the implementation of small molecule macroarrays in combinatorial chemistry has lead to an improved ability to perform both on- and off-support biological assays. Blackwell, H. E., Hitting the SPOT: small-molecule macroarrays advance combinatorial synthesis. Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol. 2006, 10, 203-212; Bowman, M. D.; Jacobson, M. M.; Blackwell, H. E., Discovery of fluorescent cyanopyridine and deazalumazine dyes using small molecule macroarrays. Org. Lett. 2006, 8, 1645-1648; Bowman, M. D.; Jacobson, M. M.; Pujanauski, B. G.; Blackwell, H. E., Efficient synthesis of small molecule macroarrays: optimization of the macroarray synthesis platform and examination of microwave and conventional heating methods. Tetrahedron 2006, 62, 4715-4727; Lin, Q.; Blackwell, H. E., Rapid synthesis of diketopiperazine macroarrays via Ugi four-component reactions on planar solid supports. Chem. Commun. 2006, 2884-2886.
Solid phase synthesis requires a linker to attach or "link" a synthesized substrate to an insoluble support. A variety of linkers have been used in solid phase synthesis, with two of the most widely used being the Wang and Rink linkers. James, I. W., Linkers for solid phase organic synthesis. Tetrahedron 1999, 55, 4855-4946. These two acid labile linkers are advantageous for synthesis because they can be cleaved with relatively mild acids in a short period of time.
Small molecule macroarrays can be traced back to the origins of the SPOT-synthesis technique. Frank, R., Spot-Synthesis—an Easy Technique for the Positionally Addressable, Parallel Chemical Synthesis on a Membrane Support. Tetrahedron 1992, 48, 9217-9232. Frank originally designed the SPOT-synthesis technique for the construction of peptide libraries as an alternative to standard solid phase peptide synthesis approaches (i.e. the use of polystyrene beads). Using the SPOT technique individual polypeptides can be synthesized in a spatially addressed format, and the resulting polypeptide arrays can be used in a variety of on support biological assays.
The generation of small molecule macroarrays involves the use of a planar cellulose support for library construction. This cellulose support is readily accessible laboratory filter paper, an inexpensive alternative to other solid-phase supports. A variety of organic compounds can be used as building blocks for constructing arrays of small molecules. Recently, Blackwell et al. has constructed small molecule macroarrays utilizing multi-component reactions, and microwave irradiation to construct libraries of heterocylces, chalcones, diketopiperazines, and fluorescent cyanopyridine and deazalumazine dyes. Bowman, M. D.; Jeske, R. C.; Blackwell, H. E., Microwave-accelerated SPOT-synthesis on cellulose supports. Org. Lett. 2004, 6, 2019-2022; Lin, Q.; O'Neill, J. C.; Blackwell, H. E., Small molecule macroarray construction via Ugi four-component reactions. Org. Lett. 2005, 7, 4455-4458; Bowman, M. D.; Jacobson, M. M.; Blackwell, H. E., Discovery of fluorescent cyanopyridine and deazalumazine dyes using small molecule macroarrays. Org. Lett. 2006, 8, 1645-1648; Bowman, M. D.; Jacobson, M. M.; Pujanauski, B. G.; Blackwell, H. E., Efficient synthesis of small molecule macroarrays: optimization of the macroarray synthesis platform and examination of microwave and conventional heating methods. Tetrahedron 2006, 62, 4715-4727. Small molecule macroarrays have advantages over traditional solution-phase synthesis, as several hundred compounds can be synthesized in high purity and screened for biological activity in a few days using a minimal amount of reagents, for example as illustrated in FIG. 1.
Application of a combinatorial approach to the identification of antibacterial agents permits the generation of diverse arrays of compounds that can be screened for antibacterial activity. Several new antibacterial agents have been identified in combinatorial libraries using a variety of screening techniques, including pyrrolidine bis-cyclic guanidines, hydrazinyl urea-based compounds, benzopyrans, thymidinyl derivatives, and natural product derivatives, and certain 1,3-diphenyl-2-propen-1-ones (chalcones). Hensler, M. E.; Bernstein, G.; Nizet, V.; Nefzi, A., Pyrrolidine bis-cyclic guanidines with antimicrobial activity against drug-resistant Gram-positive pathogens identified from a mixture-based combinatorial library. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2006, 16, 5073-5079; Nicolaou, K. C.; Roecker, A. J.; Barluenga, S.; Pfefferkorn, J. A.; Cao, G. Q., Discovery of novel antibacterial agents active against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from combinatorial benzopyran libraries. Chembiochem 2001, 2, 460-465; Sun, D.; Lee, R. E., Solid-phase synthesis development of a thymidinyl and 2′-deoxyuridinyl Ugi library for anti-bacterial agent screening. Tetrahedron Lett. 2005, 46, 8497-8501; Shi, S.; Zhu, S.; Gerritz, S. W.; Esposito, K.; Padmanabha, R.; Li, W.; Herbst, J. J.; Wong, H.; Shu, Y. Z.; Lam, K. S.; Sofia, M. J., Solid-phase synthesis and anti-infective activity of a combinatorial library based on the natural product anisomycin. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2005, 15, 4151-4154; Ansari, F. L.; Nazir, S.; Noureen, H.; Mirza, B., Combinatorial synthesis and antibacterial evaluation of an indexed chalcone library. Chem. Biodiv. 2005, 2, 1656-1664.
Chalcones are small molecule natural products found in a variety of plants that exhibit a wide range of biological activities. Kromann, H.; Larsen, M.; Boesen, T.; Schonning, K.; Nielsen, S. F., Synthesis of prenylated benzaldehydes and their use in the synthesis of analogues of licochalcone A. Eur. J. Med. Chem. 2004, 39, 993-1000; Jun, N.; Hong, G.; Jun, K., Synthesis and evaluation of 2′,4′,6′-trihydroxychalcones as a new class of tyrosinase inhibitors. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2007, 15, 2396-2402; Lawrence, N. J.; Patterson, R. P.; Ooi, L.-L.; Cook, D.; Ducki, S., Effects of a-substitutions on structure and biological activity of anticancer chalcones. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2006, 16, 5844-5848; Modzelewska, A.; Pettit, C.; Achanta, G.; Davidson, N. E.; Huang, P.; Khan, S. R., Anticancer activities of novel chalcone and bis-chalcone derivatives. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2006, 14, 3491-3495.
Certain chalcones exhibit antimicrobial activity. Sivakumar, P. M.; Seenivasan, S. P.; Kumar, V.; Doble, M., Synthesis, antimycobacterial activity evaluation, and QSAR studies of chalcone derivatives. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2007, 17, 1695-1700; Gafner, S.; Wolfender, J.-L.; Mavi, S.; Hostettmann, K., Antifungal and antibacterial chalcones from Myrica serratia. Planta Med. 1996, 62, 67-9. Naturally-occurring chalcones (shown below) are generally lipophilic and have moderate antibacterial activity. There have been solution-phase synthetic efforts directed at improving the antibacterial activity of naturally-occurring chalcones by increasing their water solubility. Nielsen, S. F.; Boesen, T.; Larsen, M.; Schonning, K.; Kromann, H., Antibacterial chalcones-bioisosteric replacement of the 4′-hydroxy group. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2004, 12, 3047-3054; Nielsen, S. F.; Larsen, M.; Boesen, T.; Schonning, K.; Kromann, H., Cationic chalcone antibiotics. design, synthesis, and mechanism of action. J. Med. Chem. 2005, 48, 2667-2677.

Chalcones should thus be a useful scaffold for making and assessing small molecules for antimicrobial activity. Furthermore, chalcones are adaptable to macroarray methods due to their relatively straightforward synthesis. The key feature of combinatorial chemistry—the speed at which a large number of diverse compounds can be generated—can be applied to the rapid discovery of new lead structures for use as antibacterial agents. The generation of small molecule macroarrays can streamline the process for generating diverse small molecule libraries with potential antibacterial activities, and can be used to identify novel antimicrobial agents, including antibacterial agents.
Backwell et al. WO 2008/016738 (published Feb. 7, 2008) have reported making chalcone-based small molecule macroarrays including chalcones, and cyanopyridine and methylpyrimidine derivatives of chalcones and the screening of the compound libraries made for antibacterial activity. These macroarrays employed planar cellulose membranes derivatized with a Wang-type linker. See: Bowman, et al. Tetrahedron 2006.
Bacterial cellular membranes have been identified as a possible target of antibacterial agents. Bacterial membranes are composed mostly of negatively charged phospholipid, phosphatidylglycerol. In contrast, eukaryotic cellular membranes comprise two different phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin. Zasloff, M., Antimicrobial peptides of multicellular organisms. Nature 2002, 415, 389-395. The differences in the composition of bacterial and eukaryotic membranes represent a unique structural difference that may be exploited as an antibacterial target. This is shown in the effectiveness of certain antimicrobial peptides, which are inherently present in humans, termed host-defense peptides. Host-defense peptides are short peptides (12-50 amino acids) that are found in a variety of living organisms including humans, and there have been synthetic examples of mimicking host-defense peptides for use as a potential antibacterial therapeutic. Schmitt, M. A.; Weisblum, B.; Gellman, S. H., Unexpected relationships between structure and function in alpha-, beta-peptides: antimicrobial foldamers with heterogeneous backbones. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 6848-6849; Epand, R. F.; Raguse, T. L.; Gellman, S. H.; Epand, R. M., Antimicrobial 14-Helical beta-Peptides: Potent Bilayer Disrupting Agents. Biochemistry 2004, 43, 9527-9535; Schmitt, M. A.; Weisblum, B.; Gellman, S. H., Interplay among Folding, Sequence, and Lipophilicity in the Antibacterial and Hemolytic Activities of alpha/beta-Peptides. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 417-428. Most of these amphipathic peptides contain structural features that are believed to contribute to their antibacterial activity, including regions of positively charged amino acid residues (for attraction to negatively charged bacterial membranes), and regions of hydrophobic amino acid residues (for insertion and subsequent disruption of the membrane).
Peptoids, or N-substituted glycine oligomers, are possible alternatives to antimicrobial peptides because they are resistant to proteolytic degradation and diverse libraries with a variety of sidechains can be generated using commercially available amines.
The present invention relates to additional methods for synthesis of small molecule macroarrays of chalcones and derivatives thereof and screening of such arrays for useful biological activities, including therapeutic activities and particularly antimicrobial activities. The invention relates in a second aspect to methods for covalently linking amino acids, peptides and/or peptoids to the chalcones and chalcone derivatives of such macroarrays to expand the potential for new antimicrobial compounds. The invention additionally relates to novel chalcones and chalcone derivatives exhibiting antimicrobial, particularly antibacterial activity.

Antibacterial small molecules and methods for their synthesis