The present invention concerns compositions and methods for the treatment of disorders characterized by the over-expression of an LIV-1. More specifically, the compositions include DNA and amino acid sequences of an LIV-1, antibodies to an LIV-1, and methods for the treatment of a mammal susceptible to or diagnosed with cancer wherein an LIV-1 is overexpressed.

Breast cancer is a common and devastating form of cancer, affecting millions of women per year throughout the world. Many breast tumors are estrogen sensitive and frequently treatable with compounds that interfere with estrogen binding to estrogen receptors (ERs) expressed on the breast tumor tissue. Detecting the level of ER expression and sensitivity to estrogen stimulation is useful for determining that antihormone-type chemotherapy may succeed in a particular patient.
The overexpression of estrogen-inducible genes, pLIV-1 and pLIV2 (also designated pS2), occurs in some breast tumors which also express the estrogen receptor, (Manning D. L. et al. European J. Cancer 29A(10): 1462-1468 (1993): Manning. D. L. et al., European J. Cancer 30A(5):675-678 (1994); Manning. D. L. et al. Acta Oncologica 34 (5):641-646 (1995); Manning, D. L. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,693,465). Expression of pLIV-1, but not pS2, is associated with metastasis of breast cancer cells to regional lymph nodes (Manning et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,465).
In addition, the pathogenesis of various human malignancies, including breast cancer, is affected by proto-oncogenes that encode growth factors and growth factor receptors. Human ErbB2 gene (erbB2, also known as her2, or c-erbB-2), which encodes a 185-kd transmembrane glycoprotein receptor (ErbB2, also known as HER2 or p185HER2) related to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), is overexpressed in about 25% to 30% of human breast cancer (Slamon et al., Science 235:177-182 [1987]: Slamon et al. Science 244:707-712 [1989]).
Several lines of evidence support a direct role for ErbB2 in the pathogenesis and clinical aggressiveness of ErbB2-overexpressing tumors. The introduction of ErbB2 into non-neoplastic cells causes their malignant transformation (Hudziak et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:7159-7163 [1987]; DiFiore et al., Science 237:78-182 [1987]). Transgenic mice that express ErbB2 develop mammary tumors (Guy et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:10578-10582 [1992]). ErbB2 overexpression is commonly regarded as a predictor of a poor prognosis in humans, especially in patients with primary disease that involves axillary lymph nodes (Slamon et al. [1987] and [1989], supra: Ravdin and Chamness, Gene 159:19-27 [1995]; and Hynes and Stern, Biochim Biophys Acta 1198:165-184 [1994]).
Antibodies directed against human erbB2 protein products (anti-ErbB2 antibodies) and against proteins encoded by the rat equivalent of the erbB2 gene (neu) (anti-neu protein antibodies) down-modulate cell surface expression of p185 on B104-1-1 cells (NIH-3T3 cells transfected with the neu proto-oncogene) and inhibit colony formation of these cells, Drebin et al., Cell 41:695-706 (1985). Biological effects of anti-neu protein antibodies are reviewed in Myers et al., Meth. Enzym. 198:277-290 (1991). See also WO94/22478 published Oct. 13, 1994.
The anti-ErbB2 antibody, 4D5, exhibited anti proliferative effects on the SKDR3 human breast tumor cell line, inhibiting cellular proliferation by approximately 56%, and sensitizing p185erbB2 -overexpressing breast tumor cell lines to the cytotoxic effects of TNF-α. See Hudziak et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 9(3):1165-1172(1989). See also WO89/06692 published Jul. 27, 1989. The anti-ErbB2 antibodies discussed in Hudziak et al. are further characterized in Fendly et al. Cancer Research 50:1550-1558 (1990); Kotts et al. In Vitro 26(3):59A (1990): Sarup et al. Growth Regulation 1:72-82 (1991): Shepard et al. J. Clin. Immunol. 11(3): 117-127 (1991): Kumar et al. Mol. Cell. Biol. 11(2):979-986 (1991); Lewis et al. Cancer Immunol. Immunother. 37:255-263 (1993); Pietras et al. Oncogene 9:1829-1838 (1994); Vitetta et al. Cancer Research 54:5301-5309 (1994); Sliwkowski et al. J. Biol. Chem. 269(20):14661-14665 (1994): Scott et al. J. Biol. Chem. 266:14300-5 (1991); and D'souza et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 91:7202-7206 (1994).
ErbB2 overexpression is also linked to sensitivity and/or resistance to hormone therapy and chemotherapeutic regimens, including CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluoruracil) and anthracyclines (Baselga et al., Oncology 11(3 Suppl 1):43-48 [1997]). Despite the association of ErbB2 overexpression with poor prognosis, the odds of HER2-positive patients responding clinically to treatment with taxanes were greater than three times those of HER2-negative patients (Ibid), rhuMab HER2 was shown to enhance the activity of paclitaxel (TAXOL®) and doxorubicin against breast cancer xenografts in nude mice injected with BT-474 human breast adenocarcinoma cells, which express high levels of HER2 (Baselga et al. Breast Cancer, Proceedings of ASCO, Vol. 13. Abstract 53 [1994]).
Because breast and other cancers pose constant threats to health, there is a continuing need to develop treatments for cancers by using methods that target cancer cells without simultaneously harming large numbers of non-cancerous cells, thereby limiting adverse side effects associated with traditional cancer chemotherapy.

Compositions and methods for treatment of cancer


A fixing structure for fixing a display panel is disclosed. The fixing structure includes a bezel and a cover. The bezel includes a frame, a first bending portion bent from a side of the frame, and a first hooking portion connected to an end of the first bending portion. The cover and the bezel cover the display panel together. The cover includes a board, a first curved portion bent from a side of the board, and a first hook component connected to an end of the first curved portion and installed inside the frame and the first bending portion. The first hook component engages with the first hooking portion and fixes a side of the display panel on the side of the first curved portion as the bezel combines with the cover.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fixing structure for fixing a display panel, and more specifically, to a fixing structure for fixing a display panel with small space, easy assembly and assembly strength.
2. Description of the Prior Art
With the rapid development of technology, light, power-saving, and portable intelligent information products play increasingly important roles in our lives. For example, the flat display module is an important component of these products. The LCD display module has the advantages of low power consumption, small volume and no radiation pollution, thus the LCD display module has been widely utilized in notebooks, PDAs, cell phones and other portable information products. In addition, the LCD display module is gradually replacing CRT monitors and traditional TVs. In tradition, a bezel of a display device is often made of metal material or plastic material with quite weight and thickness for consideration of assembly strength, which affects light-weight and small-size development of the display device. Therefore, there is a need to provide a thinner fixing structure that can more firmly fixing the display panel to meet the light-weight and small-size requirements of consumer products.

Fixing structure for fixing a display panel and display device therewith


The present invention is a graphical user interface and method of operation for searching, and selecting items from, a database. The invention provides a convenient mechanism to thoroughly search a database for useful items. The invention runs in the background, dynamically annotating the active part of a main application's user interface with an indicator, to show a user of a main application that useful items may be available in a database. The trigger for initially activating the mechanism for searching and selecting in a main application is the same as the trigger for activating another round of searching the database, thus minimizing the diversion of a user's attention away from the main application. A user may select an item from the database for use in the main application. This might involve inserting a word into text with a word processor; the items may be words, and the database may be a thesaurus or dictionary, for example. Other examples are utilizing an image with a graphics application, or placing an order to buy an item with a purchasing application. One aspect of the present invention is a method for searching, and selecting items from, a database. Another aspect of the present invention is a system for executing the method of the present invention. A third aspect of the present invention is as a set of instructions on a computer-usable medium, or resident in a computer system, for executing the method of the present invention.

Many approaches have been proposed to retrieving information and displaying it to a computer user. Examples include U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,006 (Medl, et al., Mar. 27, 2001), which relates to the use of hyperlinks that enable recall of help functions. "Elements of a user interface for an application program are predefined as help functions by the programmer or developer . . . . Upon selection of a highlighted hyperlinked element, a help window appears providing definitions, functional instructions, etc." Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 6,233,571 (Egger, et al., May 15, 2001), which relates to computerized research tools for locating legal opinions, patents and related documents, and how relationships among such documents may be detected and displayed. Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,221 (Crawford, et al., Jul. 15, 1997), which discloses a "reverse electronic dictionary;" the user enters one or more search words which are thought to exist in the definition of the word that is sought. Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 6,044,365 (Cannon, et al., Mar. 28, 2000), which relates to indexing and retrieving images, sounds, and text, used in greeting cards, invitations, announcement cards, and the like; a user inputs key words describing graphic and sound files to be retrieved.
However, the above-mentioned examples address substantially different problems, and thus are significantly different from the present invention.
In the past, thesaurus functions have been added to word processor applications. One example is Microsoft's WORD, in which a user may look up words in a thesaurus. A user may find the thesaurus function through menus at the top of the screen, or a user may find the thesaurus function by pointing to a word in the text, clicking the right mouse button, and then selecting a "synonyms" option.
Another example is Corel's WORDPERFECT; again, a user may find the thesaurus function in a menu at the top of the screen. Corel's WORDPERFECT also contains a feature called "Prompt-As-You-Go." Depending on the position of the insertion point on the screen, a suggested correction may be displayed in a small box at the top of the screen; or a correctly spelled word in the text may be echoed in the small box at the top of the screen, and a user may activate a drop-down list of synonyms at the top of the screen. However, this list does not allow further access to words beyond those in the list.
The above-mentioned thesaurus examples involve a significant diversion of a user's attention away from the main application. The activation trigger is at the top of the screen. The process for looking up words in the thesaurus is different from the thesaurus-activation process in the word processor; this causes an unnecessary distraction for the user. The above-mentioned thesaurus examples lack visual cues in the active part of the screen, to invite a user to take advantage of the thesaurus function.
Thus there is a need for systems and methods that allow a user to thoroughly search a database for items to utilize in a main application, while minimizing the diversion of a user's attention away from the main application. There is also a need for an effective visual cue, to show a user of a main application that useful items may be available in a database.

Integrated user interface mechanism for recursive searching and selecting of items

International Business Machines Corporation


The present disclosure relates to a foldable electronic device. The foldable electronic device may include a shaft bracket, a first housing and a second housing, a flexible panel and a guiding member. The shaft bracket may include a base plate, a first side plate and a second side plate. The base plate, the first side plate and the second side plate may define an accommodation space. The flexible panel may include a first region, a middle region and a second region integrated together. The middle region may be arranged corresponding to the base plate of the shaft bracket. The guiding member may be arranged between the middle region of the flexible panel and the shaft bracket, and may be configured to apply a guiding force towards the accommodation space of the shaft bracket to the middle region of the flexible panel.

A flexible panel represents a trend in future mobile electronic products. Some literatures have described that a flexible panel being applied to an electronic device to form a foldable electronic device, thus the electronic device may have a changeable form, thereby improving portability of the electronic device. For one type of foldable electronic device, when in the folded state, the flexible panel is located inside the electronic device. In order to facilitate folding of the flexible panel, an accommodation space needs to be reserved at the middle position inside the electronic device. The middle position of the flexible panel is located in the accommodation space after the flexible panel is folded. The middle position of the flexible panel cannot be fixed, otherwise a switch between the folded state and the unfolded state may be hindered. However, in the initial stage of a process during which the flexible panel switches from the unfolded state to the folded state, a movement trend of the middle position of the flexible panel is not definite. The middle position of the flexible panel may be very likely to bend and deform along a direction away from the accommodation space, which may left a force experienced by the flexible panel unpredictable and the flexible panel may further be damaged.

GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.


Electrical components and associated processes for enhancing automated test of a system by permitting automated generation and application (injection) of real-world stimuli applied to the system under test without the need for manual intervention. Electrical components of the present invention intercede in the exchange of signals and power over various signaling paths within a system under test. Under programmable control by methods of the invention, the electrical components of the present invention may simulate any desired real-world stimulus on any signal path associated with the system under test. Automated test procedures associated with the electrical components may then automate all phases of a test procedure including setup of the test environment, application of real-world stimuli, verification of operation of the system under test and cleanup and recovery following performance of the automated test sequence.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to automated testing systems and more specifically relates to circuit structures and systems for improved automated testing of electrical interfaces in systems under test.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In electronic systems it is common for components within a system to be interconnected via electronic signal buses. Signals are exchanged among the various components of a system through such electronic buses. For example, in a computer storage subsystem, a storage controller within the storage subsystem may be coupled to host computers via an I/O interface bus and may be coupled to other components within the storage subsystem via internal electronic signal buses. Further, components within such a storage subsystem may be coupled to power supply signal paths to receive electrical power during normal operation.
When testing such systems in a manufacturing environment it is important to test the various interface bus connections and power supply connections to verify proper operation of the subsystem in response to various common operating environments and common failure modes. For example, if the operation of a subsystem is specified to behave in a certain respect in response to changes in power status or loss of power, it is important to simulate such a loss of power and verify the proper operation of a system. For example, it may be important to verify proper operation of the subsystem in response to sensing connection and disconnection of various components within the subsystem. Still more specifically, with regard to a storage subsystem, it may be important to verify operation of the system in response to power failure, removal or insertion of disk drive storage units, host interface bus failures, and other common failure modes of a storage subsystem.
It is also generally known in the art to automate the process of testing manufactured devices by applying external stimuli to the subsystem and verifying proper response of the subsystem in response to the various stimuli. Such automated test systems generally use a computer system programmed with an automated test sequence application. The automated test application follows a sequence of commands to perform certain desired tests on the system under test. The commands may be provided to the test application as, for example, scripts of commands to be interpreted by the test application. The commands instruct the test application to generate sequences of test data for testing normal operation of the system under test. The test application then cooperates with other elements in the host system to communicate the desired test data to the system under test and verifies proper operation of the system under test in response to the generated test data.
In addition to testing proper operation of the subsystem in response to programmable sequences of test data, failure modes as noted above often involve changes to the xe2x80x9creal-worldxe2x80x9d environment in which the system under test is functioning. Simulating such failure modes typically requires manual intervention in the testing process. For example, to verify proper operation of a system under test in response to loss of power, manual intervention is typically required to remove power supplied to the system under test. The test application then verifies proper operation of the system under test in response to the manually generated stimulus. Or, for example, in the case of automated testing of a storage subsystem, manual intervention may be required to remove or insert a disk drive to verify operation of the subsystem in response thereto.
It is generally a problem to require manual intervention in a testing process. Manual intervention introduces a probability of human error in the automated testing process and also slows the automated testing process when manual intervention is required. It is therefore evident from the above discussion that a need exists for improved automated testing procedures and systems to reduce or eliminate reliance on manual intervention for testing operation of a system in response to xe2x80x9creal-worldxe2x80x9d stimuli.
The present intervention solves the above and other problems, thereby advancing the state of the useful arts, by providing enhanced systems and methods to automate simulation of xe2x80x9creal-worldxe2x80x9d environmental conditions and to verify response of the system under test in response to such real-world stimuli. In general, the present invention provides electrical components (also referred to herein as switching devices) designed to intervene in the normal exchange of signals and power over interface buses and power signal buses within a system under test. These switching devices are coupled through a standard communications interface to the automated testing subsystem operable to perform automated testing on the system under test. The automated testing system is then adapted to command the electrical components to simulate real-world conditions without the need for human intervention. The automated test system may thereby generate real-world stimuli automatically and verify proper operation of the system under test in response thereto.
These enhanced systems and processes of the present invention serve to centralize control of real-world interfaces to be driven by a single test application. Through the communications interface with the enhanced components, a common software interface may be used by the automated test application to control all real-world interfaces in the automated test sequence. This test architecture therefore allows an automated test application to control all phases of a test sequence including setup of the test environment, verification of the system operation and recovery or cleanup of environmental conditions following the test sequencexe2x80x94all without requiring manual intervention. Eliminating the need for manual intervention also enables continuous (i.e., 24xc3x977) test operation to thereby improve productivity of a test function. Furthermore, this enhanced automated test architecture is easily expandable to utilize new, previously unknown real-world interfaces by providing other variants of switching device to intercept and inject signals associated with the interfaces.
A feature of the invention therefore provides an apparatus for enhanced automated testing of a system under test, the apparatus comprising: an automated test system for applying stimuli to the system under test and for verifying proper operation of the system under test in response to the stimuli; a switching device for controllably applying stimuli to the system under test; and a communication medium coupling the automated test system to the switching device to enable control of the switching device by the automated test system.
Another aspect of the invention further provides that the switching device comprises: a logic level switching device to switch logic signals within the system under test as the stimuli thereto.
Another aspect of the invention further provides that the switching device comprises: a power relay switching device to switch power signals within the system under test as the stimuli thereto.
Another aspect of the invention further provides that the communication medium is a serial interface.
Another aspect of the invention further provides that the communication medium is a network communication medium.
Another aspect of the invention further provides that the system under test is a storage subsystem including a storage controller, a storage device and an interface bus and such that the switching device comprises: a logic level drive device coupled to the interface bus between the storage controller and the storage device to simulate signals exchanged there between via the interface bus.
Another aspect of the invention further provides that the logic level drive device further comprises: a storage device present signal path to simulate removal and insertion of the storage unit.
Another aspect of the invention further provides that the system under test is a storage subsystem including a storage controller, a power supply device and a power bus and such that the switching device comprises: a power relay drive device coupled to the interface bus between the storage controller and the storage device to simulate power signals exchanged there between via the power bus.
Another aspect of the invention further provides that the power relay drive device further comprises: a power signal path to simulate removal and application of power signals from the power supply device to the storage controller.
Another aspect of the invention further provides that the power supply device is a battery power supply device.
Another feature of the invention provides a method for testing a system under test comprising the steps of: detecting a need for a real-world stimulus to be applied to the system under test; and providing the real-world stimulus without manual intervention.
Another aspect of the invention further provides that the step of detecting includes the step of: interpreting a test command requesting generation and application of the real-world stimulus.
Another aspect of the invention further provides that the step of providing includes the steps of: generating the real-world stimulus without manual intervention; and applying the real-world stimulus to the system under test without manual intervention.
Another aspect of the invention further provides that the step of providing includes the step of: controlling a driver element to controllably generate the real-world stimulus and to controllably apply the generated real-world stimulus to the system under test.
Another aspect of the invention further provides that the step of controlling includes the steps of: determining a signal type associated with the real-world stimulus such that the driver element corresponds to the signal type.
Another aspect of the invention further provides that the signal type is a logic signal and such that the driver element is a logic level driver element.
Another aspect of the invention further provides that the signal type is a power signal and such that the driver element is a power relay driver element.
Another feature of the invention provides an apparatus for enabling automated testing of a system under test by a test system, the apparatus comprising: a signal driver element including: means for coupling the driver element to a signal path of the system under test; communication means for communicating between the signal driver element and the test system; and signal means for controllably intercepting and injecting signals on the signal path in response to requests received from the test system via the communication means.
Another aspect of the invention further provides that the signal path is a logic signal path and such that the signal means controllably intercepts and injects logic signals on the signal path.
Another aspect of the invention further provides that the signal path is a power signal path and such that the signal means controllably intercepts and injects power signals on the signal path.

Methods and systems for enhanced automated system testing


This invention relates to an arrangement for sealing off a fluid-filled, stationary pressurized compartment from an endlessly circulating, impermeable belt of a machine for producing and/or refining a paper, paperboard, tissue or other fibrous web with the help of at least one seal of the pressurized compartment, whose contact pressure toward the belt is variable, wherein the belt is pressed by the pressurized compartment against a co-driven support element and the fibrous web runs alone or jointly with one or more function belts between the belt and the support element. The sealing is improved in this case, while producing as little leakage and wear as possible, in that the contact pressure of the seal is controlled as a factor of the drive power and/or the drive torque channeled into the belt and/or as a factor of the leakage of fluid through the gap between the seal and the belt and/or as a factor of the pressure of the fluid in the pressurized compartment.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an arrangement for sealing off a fluid-filled, stationary pressurized compartment from an endlessly circulating, impermeable belt of a machine for producing and/or refining a paper, paperboard, tissue or other fibrous web with the help of at least one seal of the pressurized compartment, whose contact pressure toward the belt is variable, wherein the belt is pressed by the pressurized compartment against a co-driven support element and the fibrous web runs alone or jointly with one or more function belts between the belt and the support element.
2. Description of the Related Art
Seals of this type are subject to very high wear.
To limit the wear it is desirable for there to be an at least slight leakage of the fluid between the seal and the belt for lubrication. However, to avoid impairing the machine or the fibrous web this leakage should not exceed a certain amount.
The sealing effect is also influenced in this case by faults or swellings which run together with the belt or the fibrous web through the sealing gap.
What is needed in the art is to improve the sealing effect while producing as little leakage and wear as possible.


Systems and methods for determining a functional relationship between pairs of cellular constituents are provided. A plurality of datasets is received. Each dataset represents an experimental condition and comprises measurement data for a plurality of cellular constituents from each of a plurality of organisms. Each respective dataset is represented by correlation coefficients. Each correlation coefficient for a respective dataset in the plurality of datasets represents a correlation between abundance measurement data for a pair of cellular constituents across the dataset. The plurality of correlation coefficients that represents a first dataset in the plurality of datasets is clustered, thereby determining their order. This order is applied to each remaining dataset thereby forming a plurality of correlation matrices. When a conserved area in the plurality of matrices is identified, the functional relationship between the first cellular constituent and the second constituent is determined to be present.

Cellular constituent abundance data from microarrays and, more generally, functional genomics, has become an important tool in life sciences as well as medical research. Cellular constituents are individual genes, proteins, mRNA expressing genes, and/or any other variable cellular component or protein activities such as the degree of protein modification (e.g., phosphorylation), for example, that is typically measured in biological experiments (e.g., by microarray) by those skilled in the art. Significant discoveries relating to the complex networks of biochemical processes underlying living systems, common human diseases, and gene discovery and structure determination can now be attributed to the application of cellular constituent abundance data as part of the research process. See, for example, Hughes et al., 2000, Cell 102, 109; Karp et al., 2000, Nat. Immunol. 1, 221; Schadt et al., 2003, Nature 422, 297; Eaves et al., 2002, Genome Res. 12, 232, and Shoemaker et al., 2001, Nature 409, 922, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Cellular constituent abundance data have also helped to identify biomarkers, discriminate disease subtypes and identify mechanisms of toxicity. See, for example, DePrimo et al., 2003, BMC Cancer 3, 3; van de Vijver et al., 2002, N. Engl. J. Med. 347, 1999; van't Veer et al., 2002, Nature 415, 530; and Waring et al., 2002, Toxicology 181-182, 537, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
The use of cellular constituent abundance data from sources such as microarrays as a tool to identify genes responsible for traits, including common human diseases, continues to prove to be difficult. Elucidating hundreds or even thousands of genes whose expression changes are associated with a disease state does not directly lead to the identification of the key drivers involved in the disease processes. Subsequent validation of candidate genes identified from gene expression experiments is presently a hit-or-miss and time consuming process. This validation typically involves gene knock outs/ins, transgenic construction, siRNA studies, drug treatments targeting candidate genes, time series experiments, and/or the development of specific assays intended to test hypotheses generated from gene expression experiments. These validation methods do not easily lend themselves to high-throughput processes and can often take as long as eighteen months to complete. Developing methods that allow for the objective, data driven identification of the key drivers of common human diseases would significantly enhance the utility of cellular constituent abundance measurement experiments in the target discovery process. More generally, such methods would also provide a framework for elucidating genetic networks.
Cellular constituent abundance data has recently been combined with other experimental data to allow for the more immediate identification of key drivers for complex disease traits. See, for example, Schadt et al., 2003, Nature 422, 297; Brem et al., 2002, Science 296, 752; and Klose et al., 2002, Nat. Genet. 30, 385, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. One such technique involves treating cellular constituent abundance data (e.g., gene expression data) as a quantitative trait in segregating populations. In such a method, chromosomal regions controlling the level of expression of a particular gene are mapped as abundance quantitative trait loci (eQTL). Abundance QTL that contain the gene encoding the mRNA (cis-acting eQTL) are distinguished from the other (trans-acting) eQTL, and those cis-acting eQTL that co-localize with chromosomal regions controlling a disease (clinical) trait (cQTL) are identified. The identification of a common chromosomal location for both cis-acting eQTL and a cQTL is used to nominate susceptibility loci for the disease trait. See, for example, Karp et al., 2000, Nat. Immunol 1, 221; Schadt et al. Nature 422, 297; and Eaves et al., 2002, Genome Res. 12, 232, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Overall, the development and widespread use of microarray technology in various scientific and medical disciplines has generated large amounts of abundance data for cellular constituents from numerous organisms. Also, the genome sequences of humans and several model organisms have established a nearly complete list of the genes required to enact cellular, developmental, and behavioral processes in these organisms (Goffeau et al., 1996, Science 274, 546; Myers et al., 2000, Science 287, 2196; Lander et al., 2001, Nature 409, 860; and Venter et al., 2001, Science 291, 1304, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). The next major challenges in genomic research is to elucidate the functions of the large fraction of cellular constituents whose functions are currently unknown and to discover how these cellular constituents interact to perform specific biological processes. DNA microarray experiments provide a first step towards the goal of uncovering the function of cellular constituents on a global scale. Cellular constituents are often co-regulated. For example, genes that encode proteins that participate in the same pathway or are part of the same protein complex often exhibit similar transcription or expression patterns. Clusters of cellular constituents with related functions also often exhibit expression patterns that are correlated under large numbers of diverse conditions in DNA microarray experiments (Eisen et al., 1998, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 95, 14863; Hughes et al., 2000, Cell 102, 109; Kim et al., 2001, Science 293, 2087; and Segal et al., 2003, Nature Genet. 34, 166, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety). Such co-regulations are often broadly regarded as interactions. Identifying the interactions between cellular constituents is critical to understanding the biology behind such data. See, for example, Stuart et al., 2003, Science 302, 249, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. These interactions, especially those that are highly conserved across experimental conditions and genetic backgrounds, provide critical information in revealing the most highly conserved and functionally important cellular constituents that may serve as drug targets.
Existing methods in the art for identifying the critical interactions between cellular constituents are often highly convoluted and inefficient. Such methods are also often impractical to apply to different systems. The results from the existing methods are often difficult to interpret. What is needed in the art are efficient and effective systems and methods for processing the available abundance data of cellular constituents.

Computer systems and methods for identifying conserved cellular constituent clusters across datasets


A method is disclosed and includes determining at least one of a height field and an orientation field of a fiber-reinforced structure. The fiber-reinforced structure includes a plurality of fiber portions and a polymer matrix. The method includes generating a reaction-diffusion representation of the fiber-reinforced structure. The reaction-diffusion representation indicates a concentration of at least one of the polymer matrix and the plurality of fiber portions. The method includes designating a reference fiber deposition path based on the reaction-diffusion representation. The method includes generating a continuous fiber deposition path based on the reference fiber deposition path. The method includes transmitting a signal representing the continuous fiber deposition path to a deposition device, the deposition device using the continuous fiber deposition path to deposit a fiber of the fiber-reinforced structure.

Fiber-reinforced structures, such as carbon fiber-reinforced plastics, are ubiquitous in various industries, such as the automotive industry. Fiber-reinforced structures are often incorporated in various systems, devices, and apparatuses due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, high directional strength, high corrosion resistance, low thermal conductivity, low coefficient of thermal expansion, and high impact strength. During a manufacturing process of a fiber-reinforced structure, the placement and orientation of a plurality of fibers may be determined using a topology optimization process. However, conventional manufacturing processes of fiber-reinforced structures do not provide for the placement and orientation of a single fiber. Accordingly, a need exists for systems, methods, and devices that provide for the manufacture of a fiber-reinforced structure having a single fiber.

Devices, systems, and methods for generating a single fiber path of a composite material

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.


A two piece fiber reinforced composite wheel includes a molded inner rim portion defining an outboard engagement surface and a molded outer rim portion defining an inboard engagement surface. The inner and outer rim portions are conformed so as to interlock together and are adhesively bonded. The inner and outer rim portions engage forming a plurality of spoke sections having substantially box shaped cross sections. The spoke sections are further connected with fasteners.

The present invention relates generally to automobile wheels, and more particularly to injection molded plastic composite automobile wheels.
The automotive industry has increasingly been motivated to provide automobiles with decreased mass. A general trend toward more fuel efficient vehicles has influenced automobile manufacturers to develop more economical, light weight vehicle components. In order to produce vehicles which are lighter and less expensive there has been a strong movement in the automotive industry to develop vehicle body components which have been molded from plastic.
The present invention recognizes that the cost of an automobile can be reduced by minimizing the weight of its wheels. The cost of a lightweight automobile is relatively low because, among other things, a lightweight automobile can be propelled by a relatively small fuel-efficient power plant. Additionally, certain lightweight materials happen to be inexpensive, and easy to manufacture.
Furthermore, the present invention recognizes that still further weight and cost savings would accrue from using plastic composite as the material for the wheels. More particularly, the reduced weight of plastic wheels may make it possible to incorporate a comparatively simplified, cost effective, lighter weight suspension system because of the less unsprung wheel mass.
Although plastic compostite wheels represent substantial benefits, they also present a common drawback of having decreased structural strength. More specifically the compression strength generally is reduced from conventional steel or alloy wheel rims. In order to overcome this problem, it is necessary to provide a reinforced plastic wheel capable of increased structural strength.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a two piece structural fiber reinforced composite wheel.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a lightweight automobile wheel that has radial spoke sections that have substantially box shaped cross sections.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight automobile wheel that meets wheel durability and serviceability requirements under heavy structural loading.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight automobile wheel which is simple in structure, inexpensive to manufacture and refined in appearance.
These and other objects of the present invention are obtained by providing a lightweight automobile wheel which includes an outboard unitary composite wheel rim which defines an inboard oriented engagement surface. Additionally, the wheel includes an inboard unitary composite wheel rim that defines an outboard oriented engagement surface which is formed for mating with the inboard oriented engagement surface.
In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of fasteners are engaged with the rims within the spoke sections for holding the rims together. The rims are also held together by an adhesive. The inboard composite wheel rim and the outboard composite wheel rim engage such that the adhesive provides an air tight seal between the two rims making it suitable to accept a tire. The spoke sections join at a central disc-shaped portion having apertures suitably incorporated to engage a wheel hub member. Reinforcing wall portions are incorporated in the spoke sections for structural support.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood however that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Full off-set two-piece fiber reinforced composite wheel using spoke or web area box sections


A modular wallcovering display rack for providing a convenient and cost effective means of displaying wallpaper samples and the like to potential customers is disclosed. The wallcovering display rack is fabricated in modular form so that it may adapted to fit various store configurations and is also easily expandable. The wallcovering display rack comprises a plurality of vertically stacked, inclined shelves upon which individual sheets of wallcovering samples may be placed for display. Vertical columns support the shelves and house fluorescent lights which provide a soft, even illumination of the wallcovering samples. An individual wallcovering sample can be easily removed from the wallcovering rack for closer inspection. The ease of removal also facilitates rapid sample changes to reflect updates in inventory. Each vertical support column has an array of pockets positioned in alignment with and adjacent the stack of shelves. Each pocket may contain a plurality of wallcovering take-home samples of the type displayed in the adjacent shelf. A customer may remove and keep a take-home sample from the pocket for use in deciding upon a particular wallcovering.

As is well known, wallcoverings, such as wallpaper, are typically marketed to customers via sample books which comprise a collection of various samples of wallcoverings from a particular manufacturer. By manually paging through such sample books a customer/purchaser is given an opportunity to choose a particular wallcovering according to the customer's own tastes and desires. Although such sample books have proven generally suitable for their intended purpose, they possess inherent deficiencies which detract from their overall effectiveness in the marketplace.
In this regard, the use of such prior art sample books limits the number of wallcoverings that can be displayed at any given time to essentially the one wallcovering visible on the open page of the sample book. As such, the customer must view the samples essentially one at a time by manually turning pages within the prior art wallcovering sample book. This makes comparisons difficult and is an extreme inconvenience when attempting to decide between several different wallcoverings.
The use of such prior art wallcovering sample books also limits viewing of the samples essentially to a single customer. It is virtually impossible for several customers having different wallcovering needs to utilize a single sample book simultaneously.
Further, the prior art wallcovering sample books are typically heavy and awkward to manipulate. This is a problem since it is often desirable to carry one or more sample books to a different location in order to observe particular samples under specific lighting conditions or next to another sample or object. Also, the size and weight of the sample book makes moving the same extremely inconvenient and may require the aid of a sales person.
In addition, frequently the customer desires to take a sample of a wallcovering off premises so that the sample may be viewed in the environment in which it is to be used in order to judge the aesthetic compatibility of the sample to its environment. This entails transporting the sample book from the retail outlet to the location where a new wallcovering is desired. Removal of the sample book from the retail outlet reduces that outlet's marketing effectiveness and incurs the risk that the sample book may be damaged or not returned.
As such, although the prior art sample book has recognized to a limited extent the problem of providing customers with a means of viewing various wallcovering samples and the problem of providing a means of viewing a desired wallcovering sample in the environment in which it is to be used, the proposed solutions have to date been ineffective in providing a satisfactory remedy.


The present invention provides a compound of general formula (I) (wherein, R1, X, p and q are as described in the present description and claims), or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutical composition containing that compound.

Type 2 diabetes is a type of lifestyle disease for which the number of patients with this disease has continued to increase in recent years. A prolonged hyperglycemic state gradually destroys microvessels throughout the body, resulting in the risk of causing serious damage to various organs including the oculus and kidney. These types of serious damage are referred to as diabetic complications, and among these, preventing the onset and inhibiting the progression of the three major diabetic complications consisting of diabetic neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy and diabetic nephropathy are becoming important issues.
Although the prevention of onset and inhibition of progression of diabetic complications are foremost based on the control of blood glucose level, increases in the activity of VAP-1 (vascular adhesion protein-1, also referred to as semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO)) in blood and the correlation thereof with plasma glycosylated hemoglobin levels has been observed in diabetes patients in recent years. This enzyme, which is selectively located in vascular tissue, catalyzes deamination of methylamine and aminoacetone, respectively producing formaldehyde and methylglyoxal in addition to H2O2 and ammonia. Since each of these substances has cytotoxicity, increases in VAP-1 in blood are attracting attention as one of the causes of the onset of inflammatory diseases or diabetic complications (see, for example, Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2).
Various VAP-1 enzyme inhibitors have been reported thus far. A compound of the following formula:
is described to have VAP-1 inhibitory activity and being useful for the prevention and/or treatment of VAP-1-associated diseases including various types of inflammatory diseases and diabetic complications, and particularly diabetic nephropathy or diabetic macular edema (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Moreover, a compound of the following formula:
is described to have VAP-1 inhibitory activity and being useful for the prevention and/or treatment of VAP-1-associated diseases including various types of inflammatory diseases and diabetic complications, and particularly diabetic nephropathy or diabetic macular edema (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
On the other hand, it has also been reported that expression of VAP-1 increases in the liver of patients with chronic liver disease, that soluble VAP-1 concentration in serum and expression of VAP-1 in the liver of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease increase in comparison with that of patients not having non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and that there is a correlation between soluble VAP-1 concentration in serum and the severity of fibrosis based on liver biopsies performed on patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 3). On the basis thereof, in addition to the aforementioned diabetic complications, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and particularly non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, is expected to be prevented, alleviated and/or treated by inhibiting VAP-1.


Food container is provided having a first body portion and a second body portion. The first body portion and the second body portion are joined together to define an interior of the container and a mouth to the interior. The first body portion has a first flap moveable between an open position and a closed position, and the first flap includes a foldable support formed therein to hold a receptacle when in the open position. The second body portion has a second flap moveable between an open position and a closed position, and the second flap includes a tab to engage the first flap in the closed position to form a lid across the mouth of the interior. A blank for forming the food container from a sheet of blank material is also provided.

1. Field of the Disclosed Subject Matter
The present disclosed subject matter relates to a food container for packaging and serving of food items, such as chicken nuggets, french fries, and other bite-size foods. Particularly, the present disclosed subject matter is directed to a container for holding food items, wherein the container has a lid moveable between open and closed positions. With the lid in the closed position, the container serves as a secure and reliable packaging carton, although the lid can be configured to allow for venting of hot food items if desired. In the open position, the lid provides a support for a receptacle containing a condiment or the like for dipping of food product contained within the container.
2. Description of Related Art
A variety of food items, such as french fries, onion rings, chicken nuggets, popcorn shrimp, and other bite-size foods, are often served from small paperboard containers. These food containers can be pouch-shaped, such as commonly used for french fries, or can be box-shaped and have a lid to contain the food item, such as deli items or the like.
A number of food products are often dipped into sauces or condiments, such as ketchup, mustard, or mayonnaise, before consumption. Many food service establishments provide bulk containers of these condiments and small paper or plastic cups into which the condiment can be dispensed. Alternatively, the condiments may come prepackaged in a sealed container.
If the food product is consumed by a person while seated at a table, the condiment containers can be placed on the table. However, if a person wishes to walk with the container or to eat the food product while driving a vehicle, the use of a condiment becomes more difficult. Both the condiment cup and food container must be held in one hand while the other hand grasps an item of food and dips it in the condiment.
Various attempts have been made to address this problem by providing food containers with compartments for holding a condiment. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,957 to Yocum and U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,429 to Cordle show containers having interior pockets that can be filled with condiments. However, pockets such as these can be inadvertently squeezed, leading to condiment spills either into the container or onto the user. These pockets also make the containers more difficult to assemble and more costly to produce. U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,364 to Shaw and U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,631 to Berger show complex folding shelves formed separately from a container and glued or otherwise attached to the container for supporting a condiment receptacle. Such attachments also add to the cost of the container and are more difficult to assemble. In addition, these known techniques do not securely retain a condiment receptacle when the food container is carried by a user or balanced in a moving vehicle. Additional containers that attempt to address these and other problems are provided in U.S. Pat Nos. 6,053,403; 6,216,946; and 6,561,414 to Cai, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
It is also known that certain, food items, such as fried chicken, emit moisture or water vapor along with latent heat stored in the food due to cooking and heating. Some of this latent heat and moisture can condense on and be reabsorbed by the food item itself, making the food item soggy, less crispy, and tough to eat. Also, the water vapor can condense on the interior surfaces of the container and drip down towards the bottom of the container for the bottom pieces of the food item to absorb. If air circulation adjacent to and around the food item is poor, the water reabsorption by the food item increases since the latent heat and the resultant water vapor is further prevented from circulating away from the food item. Further, if air from inside the container not allowed to be exchanged with the air from outside the container, condensation of the water vapor on the inside of the container is more likely. Even if a small amount of water vapor escapes from the food item and condenses, or is prevented from circulating away from the food item, this amount can be enough to make the food item undesirable.
It therefore is desirable to provide a food container with a condiment holder that is integrally formed with a food container and capable of securely retaining a condiment receptacle even when the food container is carried or jarred, along with a secure lid to contain the food item and keep the food item warm yet allow sufficient venting to prevent the food item from becoming soggy or otherwise undesirable.

Container having a foldable support and lid


Disclosed is an axial fan (1) rotating in a plane (XY) about an axis (2) having a central hub (3) and a plurality of blades (4), which have a root (5) and a tip (6). The blades (4) are delimited by a concave leading edge (7), whose projection in the fan plane of rotation (XY) is defined by two circular arc segments, and a convex trailing edge (8), whose projection in the fan plane of rotation (XY) is defined by one circular arc segment. The blades (4) are made from sections with aerodynamic profiles relatively extending in the direction of their centre line, providing good flow rate and air pressure relative to the overall dimensions of the fan.

Fans of this type must satisfy various requirements, including: low noise level, high efficiency, compactness, capacity to achieve good pressure and flow rate values.
Patent EP-O 553 598, by the same Applicant, presents a fan with blades delimited at the leading edge and trailing edge by two curves which are two circular arcs when projected in the fan plane of rotation.
Fans constructed in accordance with said patent provide good efficiency and low noise, but have limits as regards the possibility of achieving high pressure values, since the blades are made with profiles whose centre line is relatively short compared with the blade radial extension.
Moreover, fans constructed in accordance with the above-mentioned patent have a limited axial dimension, but a relatively large diameter.
For the exchanger units of heating and/or air conditioning systems for the interior of motor vehicles the overall dimensions of the fan must be limited, which means that the diameter must also be limited, whilst good air flow rates are required with high pressure and low noise.
For these reasons, in the above-mentioned exchanger units centrifugal fans are often used, which may have a relatively small diameter, but with a rather large axial dimension.


According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided an apparatus comprising a cleaning unit with a blade holder that rotates about a pivot point, the cleaning blade is coupled to the blade holder and is positioned to chisel excess toner from a photoreceptor surface. Geometrical changes produce a blade having a plurality of slanted surfaces at the working end of the blade one at an obtuse angle, in the range of 93 degrees to 97 degrees, and a second at an acute angle that forms an offset point between the cleaning edge and the intersection of the two angles. A double cut allows for improvement in the cleaning tip stiffness using the first cut, while the second cut increases the contact width and improves the pressure distribution at the working edge.

This disclosure relates in general to copier/printers, and more particularly, to cleaning residual toner from an imaging device surface with cleaning blades and the like that have a plurality of sloping surfaces to increase blade life and reliability.
In a typical electrophotographic printing process, a photoreceptor or photoconductive member is charged to a uniform potential to sensitize the surface thereof. The charged portion of the photoconductive member is exposed to a light image of an original document being reproduced. Exposure of the charged photoconductive member selectively dissipates the charges thereon in the irradiated areas. This process records an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive member corresponding to the informational areas contained within the original document. After the electrostatic latent image is recorded on the photoconductive member, the latent image is developed by bringing a developer material into contact therewith. Generally, the developer material comprises toner particles adhering triboelectrically to carrier granules. Toner particles attracted from the carrier granules to the latent image form a toner powder image on the photoconductive member. The toner powder image is then transferred from the photoconductive member to a copy sheet. Heating of the toner particles permanently affixes the powder image to the copy sheet. After each transfer process, the toner remaining on the photoconductor is cleaned by a cleaning device.
Blade cleaning is a technique for removing toner and debris from a photoreceptor or photoconductive member. In a typical application, a relatively thin elastomeric blade member is supported adjacent to and transversely across the photoreceptor with a blade edge that chisels or wipes toner from the surface. Toner accumulating adjacent to the blade is transported away from the blade area by a toner transport arrangement or by gravity. Blade cleaning is advantageous over other cleaning systems due to its low cost, small cleaner unit size, low power requirements, and simplicity. The contacting edge of a cleaning blade has the most influence on blade life and reliability. The bulk of the blade is basically a beam to support the cleaning edge and transmit forces to load the blade against the cleaning surface. The cleaning edge is obviously important for removal of particles from the cleaning surface, but it must also withstand cyclic stresses induced by starts and stops of the cleaning surface and printing/environmental conditions that generate high friction. Success of the blade is determined by how long it retains enough of the original cleaning edge shape to maintain a functional cleaning seal against the cleaning surface. In addition to the stress, photoreceptor surface coatings while improving photoreceptor life typically result in far higher blade wear rates due to friction. Frictional forces cause the blade to stick and slip or chatter as it rubs against the photoreceptor surface. As the blade rubs over the photoreceptor, the blade sticks to the photoreceptor because of static frictional forces. This stick-slip interaction or chatter is a significant cause of blade failure and very disruptive of the printing process. A lubrication film or lubricating particles between the rubbing surfaces reduces the intensity of the stick-slip (chatter) generated by the relative motion, but adverse interactions with other electrophotographic systems may occur.
Cleaning blades are typically designed to operate at either a fixed interference or fixed blade load as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,208,639 which is included herein by reference. Because of blade relaxation and blade edge wear over time, part and assembly tolerance, and cleaning stresses from environmental conditions and toner input, the cleaning blade is initially loaded to a blade load high enough to provide good cleaning at extreme stress conditions for all of the blade's life. However, a higher blade load than required for nominal stress conditions causes the blade and charge retentive surface to wear more quickly. Current blade designs fail to control both the stiffness of the cleaning tip and pressure distribution that impact blade life and reliability.
For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification there is need in the art for apparatus, and/or methods that increase the reliability of cleaning blades by changing the geometry of the portion of the blade that interacts with the surface to be cleaned.

Cleaning edge modification for improved cleaning blade life and reliability


A liquid dispenser pump including a pump housing, a piston movable within the pump housing, a seal including a resilient wall disposed about the piston, and a reinforcement member for urging the resilient seal wall outwardly into fluid-tight engagement with the pump housing.

A great many types of liquid dispenser pumps are known in the prior art. Some of these pump arrangements have been designed specifically for use in dispensing liquid soaps and the like. The dispenser pumps may be actuated directly by hand or through a suitable intermediate mechanism. Soap dispensers employed for institutional use have commonly been wall mounted and incorporate cabinets with refillable reservoirs used to supply the pump mechanism which routinely is part of the cabinet.
A relatively more recent development has been to employ wall mounted cabinets which are essentially holders for a disposable bottle or other container having all or part of a pump mechanism fixedly attached thereto. When empty, the container and that portion of the pump affixed thereto are discarded.
Throw-away, non-refillable container and pump combinations are particularly appropriate and useful to prevent contamination of the soap or other liquid to be dispensed and to insure that the liquid being dispensed is of a particular type and character. For example, hospitals and other health care facilities often wish to make certain that a disinfectant-type of soap is always being dispensed from a dispenser. If the dispenser were refillable this would not necessarily be the case. Also, of course, there is always the possibility of contamination if refilling is permitted. Hospitals and other health care facilities are in fact increasingly requiring the use of bags or other collapsible containers having affixed thereto a disposable pump mechanism which does not allow the intrusion of ambient air during the dispensing process.
It will be appreciated that a disposable pump must be inexpensive as well as suitable for its intended purpose. Materials costs are of course a factor as are simplicity of pump design and ease of assembly. Many of the existing disposable pump constructions are characterized by their relatively high cost and complexity and it is an object of the present invention to provide a pump for liquid soap and the like which is simple, reliable in operation, and inexpensive in construction.


An intake manifold may include a manifold inlet connected with an intake line into which fresh air flows and a recirculation line into which exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) gas flows; a manifold pressure sensor for measuring pressure of fluid flowing through the manifold inlet; and a sensor housing fluidly communicating with the manifold inlet and including a mounting space in which the manifold pressure sensor is mounted.

Recently, as environmental problems have become an important issue, interest in methods of efficiently processing exhaust gas of the vehicle has increased. Nitrogen oxide (NOx) included in exhaust gas is considered as main air pollutants, and a number of researches are being conducted to reduce emission of NOx.
An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system mounted in a vehicle reduces noxious exhaust gases of the vehicle. Generally, the amount of NOx in the exhaust gas is increased in an oxygen rich air mixture, and the air mixture is combusted well. Therefore, the exhaust gas recirculation system reduces the amount of NOx in the exhaust gas as a consequence of a part (e.g., 5-20%) of the exhaust gas being recirculated to the air mixture in order to reduce the oxygen ratio in the air mixture and so hinder combustion.
An LP-EGR (low pressure EGR) system is one of the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems. The LP-EGR system recirculates the exhaust gas passing through the turbine of the turbocharger to an intake path of an upstream side of the compressor.
However, the exhaust gas recirculated by the EGR system has high temperature and humidity. Therefore, condensed water is generated in an intake manifold when high temperature and humidity recirculated exhaust gas and the external air having a low temperature are mixed. The condensate water has very high acidity by various material included in exhaust gas.
If the condensate water flows into a cylinder of an engine, combustion of the engine becomes unstable. And various parts (i.e., compressor wheel, or compressor housing, and so on) are corroded by the condensate water having high acidity.
Further, a manifold absolute pressure sensor (MAP sensor) for measuring pressure of external air flowing into the intake manifold is mounted in the intake manifold, condensed water is frozen in surface of the manifold pressure sensor when temperature of external air is very low such cold weather.
As such, when the condensed water is frozen in the surface of the manifold pressure sensor, a pressure aperture for measuring pressure of external air formed in the manifold pressure sensor is blocked, thereby accuracy of pressure measured by the MAP sensor is deteriorated or there is a case that pressure of external air cannot be measured.
Further, when the parts (i.e., compressor wheel, or compressor housing, and so on) is frozen by freezing of condensed water, temperature of external air measured by the MAP sensor is distorted.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Intake manifold and engine having the same


An improved outrigger device for a T-Top equipped motorboat that permits the outrigger thereof located above the T-Top to be moved from a stowage position to a trolling position and vis versa by an occupant of the boat standing in the shelter of such T-Top includes a tubular member having an upper end portion and a lower end portion joined integrally to a central portion that extends through such T-Top with its upper end portion positioned above the T-Top and its lower end portion positioned below it. A tubular outrigger having a bottom end portion and an elongated fishing line support portion extending upwardly from the bottom end portion is rotatably journalled in the tubular member. A locking unit is associated with the lower end portion of the tubular member to prevent the bottom end portion of the outrigger from rotating in the tubular member.

1. Field of the Invention
This application relates broadly to fishing equipment. More particularly, it concerns outrigger systems for use in association with motor boats, especially the center console type fitted with so-called T-Tops.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In sportsfishing operations, a conventional procedure is to troll fishing lines astern of the fishing boat from outrigger devices that hold the lines spaced apart a sufficient distance to prevent them from becoming entangled with one another due to the movement of the boat or the action of the sea
Typically, each outrigger device includes an elongated tubular unit, e.g., 10-30 ft. long, having its inboard end fastened in some manner to the fishing boat so that it can be moved from a stowage position while the boat is not actually engaged in fishing, i.e., underway to or from the fishing grounds, to a trolling position while the boat is engaged in fishing.
On large, offshore type sportsfishing boats, the outrigger devices are typically of the tubular, cabletrussed, mast type pivoted by their inboard ends upon a vertical portion of the cabin or other boat superstructure and have associated boom elements to enable the outrigger to be firmly held in the stowage or trolling position while permitting easy movement between such separated positions (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,050).
On smaller fishing boats, often powered by outboard motors, the outrigger devices are less complicated than the tubular mast type used on the offshore, sportsfishing boats. Typically, such outriggers comprise only a single piece of tubing, often tapered, pivoted by the inboard end to the gunwale or equivalent horizontal surface of the boat (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,008,259).
One style of the smaller fishing boats that is very popular with sportfishermen, because the layout of such boats provides a large area of cockpit sole for use by boat occupants during fishing, is the so-called "center console" type. This style of fishing boat is frequently equipped, either as original equipment or as a retrofit, with a superstructure for protection against sun and weather, called T-Tops, because they consist of canopy top held aloft typically with upright tubular supports fixed to the center console.
When used for fishing, T-Top style boats are frequently equipped with outriggers. Prior to this present invention, such outriggers have been structured in a manner that has required the boat occupants to reach over the top of the T-Top in order to manipulate the outriggers to move them from a stowage to a trolling position, or vis versa. This typically requires such person to stand on the gunwale or like superstructure of the boat in a relatively unsafe position, particularly if the boat is operating in rough sea conditions. In spite of the obvious shortcoming of the existing forms of outrigger devices for T-Top style boats, boat operators have continued to abide with them due to lack of better systems.
In addition to T-Top motorboats, other motorboats having various types of tops, canopies or the like have been equipped with outriggers in an manner that has required boat occupants to reach over the top or like covering in order to manipulate the outriggers. The present invention addresses this problem and provides the art with new forms of outrigger devices for use with T-Top or other covered motorboats that eliminate such problem. For the sake of brevity in disclosing and claiming the invention, the text will refer specifically to T-Tops and T-Top motorboats, but it is to be understood that the invention is capable of use with other types of motorboats and that use of the invention on such other motorboats is intended to be covered.