A super-frame for transmission in an optical communications system comprises two or more data frames and a parity frame. All frames in the super-frame have been encoded in accordance with a first Forward Error Correction (FEC) scheme. The parity frame is computed over the two or more data frames (prior to or concurrently with or after encoding via the first FEC scheme) according to a second FEC scheme. At a receiver, the super-frame is decoded in accordance with the first FEC scheme to generate a set of FEC decoded frames in which residual errors are clustered, that is, are non-Poisson. The second FEC scheme, which is particularly suited or designed to correct the clustered non-Poisson residual errors, is used to correct the residual errors.

In the field of data communications, it is well known that data can be lost or corrupted during transmission between a sender and a receiver. Typically, the reliability of the communications network is characterised by the Bit Error Ratio (BER), which measures the ratio of erroneously received bits (or symbols) to the total number of bits or symbols transmitted.
Various known methods are used to detect and correct data transmission errors, and thereby minimize the BER. These techniques normally fall into one of two categories, namely Automatic Resend Request (ARQ) and Forward Error Correction (FEC).
Automatic Resend Request (ARQ) techniques involve processing data at the receiver to detect erroneous or missing data. If such transmission errors are detected, an ARQ message is sent to request that the transmitter re-send the erroneous or missing data. In most packet networks any packet that has errors (CRC failure) at an intermediate node is deleted and not forwarded. These techniques suffer limitations in that they produce a large amount of control messaging between the transmitter and the receiver, and they require the transmitter to store in memory all of the data that it has transmitted, until the receiver confirms that the data has been successfully received. In high speed communications systems, the required memory in the transmitter becomes undesirably large, and the control signalling consumes an undesirably high amount of network resources. In addition, the round-trip delay experienced in sending an ARQ message and receiving a resent packet, can be undesirable in some applications.
Forward Error Correction (FEC) techniques involve processing the data prior to transmission, to generate parity (or check) symbols that may be used at the receiver to detect and correct erroneously received data. Well known FEC schemes include, but are not limited to, Turbo codes, Low-Density Parity Check (LDPC) codes, Block Turbo codes, Reed Solomon codes and BCH codes. For example, by adding T check symbols to a data frame being transmitted, a Reed Solomon code can detect up to T erroneous symbols in the receiver, and correct up to T/2 erroneous symbols in the received frame. An assumption of Reed Solomon encoding is that the errored symbols in the frame follow a Poisson distribution, that is, the probability that any given symbol is erroneous is equal to that of every other symbol, and is independent of any other symbol. As is known in the art, FEC techniques have an advantage that they avoid the need for storing and resending packets, and so avoid the above-noted problems associated with ARQ, but at a cost of increased overhead.
It is desirable to minimize the overhead, and have a very high noise tolerance, which has lead to the use of iterative sparse-graph FEC techniques such as Turbo codes and LDPC codes. However, these techniques suffer from a problem in that a decoded frame may contain residual errors that cannot be corrected by the selected FEC scheme. This problem may arise due to either channel effects (such as cycle slips) or limitations of the FEC algorithm itself, and normally affects a minority of the frames comprising a given signal. However, even when most of the frames are correctly decoded, a small number of decoded frames with significant residual errors can raise the BER of the signal as a whole. Within limits, the error-correction performance of iterative FEC techniques can be improved by increasing the number of iterations implemented by the decoder. However, there is a lower limit to the BER that can be achieved by these techniques, which cannot be further reduced by additional iterations. This lower limit is referred to as an "error floor". In the case of Turbo codes and LDPC codes, for example, error floors in the range of 10−4 to 10−10 are often encountered, which is unacceptably high for many users of optical transmission systems. Code designs that maximize error correction performance at high noise levels (low signal to noise ratio (SNR)) often raise the error floor. For high speed optical communications systems, hardware implementations of the FEC decoder are required, but this also raises the error floor.
Y. Miata et al. "Efficient FEC for Optical Communications using Concatenated Codes to Combat Error-floor", OFC/NFOEC 2008, describes the use of concatenation of a Reed Solomon code with an LDPC code to effectively eliminate error floors. This technique assumes that the errors remaining after the LDPC decoding step are small enough in number and follow a close enough approximation to a Poisson distribution that the Reed Solomon code will be capable of correcting them. However, in an optical communications system, cycle slips during carrier recovery can cause error bursts that are challenging for the FEC to correct. Under these conditions, the errored symbols remaining after the LDPC decoding are often too numerous and/or sufficiently non-Poisson that the concatenated Reed Solomon decoding provides very little real benefit.
J. Nonnenmacher et al. "Parity-Based Loss Recovery for Reliable Multicast Transmission", IEEE/ACM TRANSACTIONS ON NETWORKING, VOL. 6, NO. 4, August 1998 describes techniques which combine Forward Error Correction and Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) to achieve scalable reliable multicast transmission. packet system. In this arrangement, packets are held in an ARQ buffer, and a parity packet is sent so that it can be used to recreate a missing packet without having to request retransmission of that missing frame. This arrangement allows a missing or dropped frame to be recovered at a receiver, and so reduces the number of re-transmission requests received by the multicast root node. However, a large ARQ buffer is still required in the root node, because the need to re-transmit lost packets is not eliminated entirely.
Techniques for data recovery that overcome limitations of the prior art remain highly desirable. In particular, it is desirable to have an error correction scheme for high speed optical transmission systems that has both very strong noise performance and a very low error floor.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for applying wireless resources in order to control inter-cell interference in a heterogeneous network system. The method for applying wireless resources provided by the present invention generates an almost blank subframe (ABS) pattern on the basis of the type of data transmitted from at least one of a first base station and a second base station, applies a non-ABS or an ABS to wireless resources of the first base station according to the generated ABS pattern, and performs data communication by using the wireless resources to which the ABS has been applied.

Recently, research has been conducted on pico cells for distributing the load of a macro cell in the 3GPP. The heterogeneous network environment where macro and pico cells coexist has come into the spotlight because it offers the possibility of improving system performance in comparison with the legacy macro cell environment.
The 3GPP has proposed an enhanced Inter-Cell Interference Coordination (eICIC) (or time-domain ICIC) technique for balancing the load between the macro and pico cells more effectively.
Since it is typical that a pico cell with low transmission power has a short antenna in comparison with the macro cell, it is difficult to balance the load between the macro and pico cells efficiently, especially when using an eNB-UE association rule (rule for the eNB with the highest signal strength to serve the UE).
That is, if the UEs select the cell with the highest Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) as their serving cell, a certain UE may connect to the macro cell even when a pico cell is the best cell. Such a UE is likely to cause interference within the pico cell and thus degrade total network throughput. Also, if the number of UEs connected to the macro cell is much smaller than the number of UEs connected to the pico cell, this is very inefficient in view of resource utilization.
In order to solve the above problems, the eICIC uses a Cell Range Expansion (CRE) technique for providing the UE with criteria for handover between macro and pico cells. That is, the eICIC is designed such that the UE selects the pico cell from which the signal strength is greater than a value acquired by reflecting a CRE bias (unit: dB) to the signal strength from the macro cell as the serving cell of the UE in order to improve the load balancing effect.
However, the UEs that have connected to the pico cell due to the CRE bias may suffer interference from the macro cell because the RSRP from the macro cell is still stronger than that of the pico cell.

Method and apparatus for applying resources in heterogeneous network system


Conductive through vias are formed in electronic devices and electronic device carrier, such as, a silicon chip carrier. An annulus cavity is etched into the silicon carrier from the top side of the carrier and the cavity is filled with insulating material to form an isolation collar around a silicon core region. An insulating layer with at least one wiring level, having a portion in contact with the silicon core region, is formed on the top side of the carrier. Silicon is removed from the back side of the carrier sufficient to expose the distal portion of the isolation collar. The core region is etched out to expose the portion of the wiring level in contact with the silicon core region to form an empty via. The via is filled with conductive material in contact with the exposed portion of the wiring level to form a conductive through via to the wiring level. A solder bump formed, for example, from low melt C4 solder, is formed on the conductive via exposed on the carrier back side. The process acts to make the conductive via fill step independent of the via isolation step.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrically interconnecting via structures and methods of making same in material, such as, semiconductor material. More particularly, the present invention relates to conductive through via structures and processes for making same in electronic device structures, such as in semiconductor wafers, chips, components and the like, and in electronic device carriers for such semiconductor wafers, chips, components and the like.
2. Background and Related Art
In the packaging of electronic devices, such as, semiconductor chips or wafers, device carriers are used to interconnect the devices. Where electronic devices are connected to another level of packaging, the carriers typically require conductive vias extending through the carrier to connect the devices to the next level of packaging.
Electronic device carriers may be fabricated from a variety of different materials, such as, glass, ceramic, organic and semiconductor materials or combination of these and other materials in single or multiple layers.
Electronic device carriers made of semiconductor material, such as, silicon, offer a number of advantages in packaging, such as ease of manufacturing and reliability. One of the difficulties with fabricating conductive vias in carriers, such as silicon, is forming vias that are reliable. In this regard, a number of processing factors and limitations act to create difficulties in achieving reliable conductive through vias.
The typical prior art approach to creating conductive vias in semiconductor carriers, such as silicon, use what might be called a "vias first" approach. The general steps in such an approach are etching the vias, forming insulation layers on the via walls and metallization. When a "blind via" approach is used, the vias are not etched through the wafer layer so that a "through via" is rendered only after the carrier is suitably thinned to expose the via bottoms. An example of such an approach may be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,998,292.
There are, however, a number of difficulties with this type of approach.
One difficulty is that this approach requires that the insulation and subsequent metallization must typically completely fill each via, if any wiring layers are to be added to the top. In addition, completely filling vias in silicon carriers without leaving voids is problematic, particularly in deep vias. Formation of the insulation layers on the via walls is typically done through thermal oxidation. Filling the via with metal after thermally oxidized passivation effectively initiates the back end of line (BEOL) process. On the other hand, where passivation is accomplished by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) after BEOL processing, it is difficult to completely cover the walls with oxide in the lower levels of deep vias, particularly around the region of generally intersecting vertical and bottom surfaces, since CVD is not fully conformal.
As a result, any exposed silicon may result in metal contamination of the silicon carrier during subsequent front end of line (FEOL) thermal processing steps where the via has been filled with metal, such as Cu.
Moreover, filling insulated vias in the silicon carrier with metal using standard methods, such as plating, for large aspect ratios (e.g. greater than 10:1) tends to lead to plating inclusions and voids which may trap solution causing them to rupture in high-temperature FEOL processing steps.
Another difficulty with creating vias in silicon carriers is that the anisotropic etch of the vias varies both in rate and in maximum depth attainable inversely with size of the feature to be etched. Thus, the ultimate thickness of the carrier is somewhat determined by the feature size. Larger features, such as vias and silicon, can be etched deeper, but they also require thicker metallization to completely fill them. Depending upon the CTE mismatch of metal used to fill the vias and silicon, large stresses can build up in the vias leading to plastic deformation of the metal and/or cracking of the silicon carrier, both of which result in reliability problems.

Conductive through via process for electronic device carriers

International Business Machines Corporation


A voltage regulator system is provided, which receives a first voltage and produces a regulated voltage. Such a device does not include any transistor supporting the first voltage, but does include transistors supporting at most a second voltage lower than the first voltage and includes division means, which include a first transistor connected in series with at least one second transistor, which division means receive the first voltage and generate the regulated voltage.

Integrated circuits have traditionally operated with a standard power supply of around 5 V. However, the growing need to reduce the size of integrated circuit-based electronic systems has led the designers of such circuits to reduce the standards for lithography and therefore for the power supply of transistors. Thus, transistors powered at 3 V or 1.8 V, for example, are used today.
However, it takes time to standardise supply voltages, and reducing the supply voltage is not given the same priority in all applications of the electronics industry. Therefore, currently, in an MOS integrated circuit, there are generally two voltages and two types of associated transistors. The inputs/outputs of these circuits are powered at a higher voltage than that powering their core. Thus, the input/output transistors are called "high-voltage transistors" and the core transistors are called "low-voltage transistors". The low-voltage transistors are smaller and can therefore be more densely integrated.
Two categories of electronic circuits are currently differentiated:
in the first category, the circuit includes, for its inputs/outputs, transistors powered at 5 V (called 5-V transistors) and, for its core, transistors powered at 3 V (called 3-V transistors);
in the second category, the circuit includes, for its inputs/outputs, transistors powered at 3 V and, for its core, transistors powered at 1.8 V (called 1.8-V transistors).
The 3-V or 1.8-V transistors of these circuits cannot reliably support the voltage supply of 5 V. Indeed, a 3-V transistor can support a maximum voltage of 3.6 V applied between its various components: drain, source, gate and case. Similarly, a 1.8-V transistor can support a maximum voltage of 2 V applied between its various components.
The circuits of the second category are made according to a newer and more precise technology (with patterns of approximately 0.18 μm) and are therefore more efficient than the circuits of the first category.
As the power supply of all of the circuits (first and second categories) is generally 5 V, it is suitable to use voltage regulators (also called voltage regulator systems) providing other voltage supplies (3-V and 1.8 V).
Thus, for a circuit of the first category, a 5V-3V voltage regulator is used, made with 5-V transistors integrated into the circuit, and enabling a voltage of 3 V to be provided from the 5-V power supply. This regulator is easy to produce because a circuit of the first category includes 5-V transistors at the level of its inputs/outputs. Indeed, the same technology and the same process steps can be used to produce both the 5-V transistors of the regulator and those of the inputs/outputs.
However, for a circuit of the second category, it is necessary to have two voltage regulators: a first 3V-1.8V regulator that is easy to produce so that it is integrated into the circuit (due to the presence of the 3-V circuit at the level of the inputs/outputs of the circuit), and a second 5V-3V regulator. This second regulator is not as easy to produce as the 3V-1.8V regulator due to the absence of the 5-V transistor at the level of the inputs/outputs.
A first known solution for producing the second 5V-3V regulator in a circuit of the second category consists of integrating, at the level of the inputs/outputs of the circuit, 5-V transistors so as to produce an integrated regulator such as that used for the circuits of the first category. However, to provide both 5-V transistors (of the regulator) and 3-V transistors (of the remainder of the inputs/outputs) in the inputs/outputs of such a circuit, it is necessary to implement a mixed technology that is expensive and involves a large number of process steps (compared with a single technology).
A second known solution is to use a 5V-3V regulator outside the circuit and produced through 5-V transistors. However, this technique is also expensive and bulky because the regulator is not integrated into the circuit.

High-voltage regulator system compatible with low-voltage technologies and corresponding electronic circuit


The invention provides a method and a system for moving an element, e.g. a rudder of a ship or a wheel of a vehicle. The element is moved by a hydraulic fluid. According to the invention, an operator indicates a desired movement, and in accordance with the desired movement, at fluid is provided from at least three fluid providers each providing a share of the fluid in parallel streams and only considering the desired movement not the shares provided by the other fluid providers. The invention allows continuation of a steering task even if one fluid provider is disabled, and the invention allows the continuation even without having to notice that one provider is disabled. Accordingly, the invention provides an improvement and simplification relative to the known hydraulic steering systems.

The control system according to the present invention may be used in general for controlling operation of a machine. In the following, the invention will, however, be exemplified by reference to a steering system.
Ships and vehicles, and in particular off-highway machinery such as wheel loaders, excavators, dozers, articulated vehicles, tractors, harvesters and similar heavy duty machines often operate with hydraulic, electro-hydraulic, and electric steering systems. Typically, the steering system receives a desired input to indicate a desired angular movement of the ship or vehicle. The input could be provided via input means such as a joystick or a steering wheel, or the input could be derived from a GPS system or similar system for positioning and tracking. The input is converted into a signal for an actuator, e.g. a hydraulic cylinder, which moves a steered element, e.g. a wheel of a vehicle or a rudder of a ship. Steering systems are disclosed e.g. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,668,967 and in EP0856453.
In a fully hydraulic steering, the actuator is typically supplied with a hydraulic flow via a steering unit which is connected to the steering input means. The steering unit often comprises a spool which is moved based on the position of the input means. The spool opens or closes a path from a source of a hydraulic fluid under pressure to one out of two hydraulic ports of the actuator. A fluid flow into one of the ports and out or the other port forces the actuator to move in one direction and a fluid flow in an opposite direction forces the actuator to move oppositely, e.g. right or left. Typically, the input means is a steering wheel or a joystick. The input means is movable between a centre set-point and set-points on opposite sides of the centre set-point, e.g. corresponding to a right turn or a left turn.
In steering systems and other control systems, reliability is important. An incorrect electrical signal or fluid flow may cause wrong steering and thus be dangerous. In order to increase reliability, several control systems are sometimes connected in parallel. If one system faults, another one will take over. This, however, requires fault detection and switching between parallel systems.


Systems and methods are provided for communication via address modulation on an communication channel. A first processing component is configured to produce a plurality of data packets. Each data packet has an associated address from a plurality of available addresses. The system further comprises a plurality of addressable entities, with each of the addressable entities being represented by a proper subset of at least two of the available addresses. A second processing component is configured to apply at least one conditioning process to the series of data packets. The first processing component is configured to select an address for each packet from the subset of available addresses representing the addressable entity associated with the packet as to communicate data between the first processing component and the second processing component.

The Advanced Television Systems. Committee (ATSC) published a Digital Television Standard in 1995 as Document A/53, hereinafter referred to simply as "A/53" for sake of brevity. A/53 describes vestigial-sideband amplitude modulation of the radio-frequency carrier wave using an eight-level modulating signal, which type of over-the-air DTV broadcasting is called "8-VSB". Efforts have been made to provide for more robust transmission of data over broadcast DTV channels without unduly disrupting the operation of so-called "legacy" DTV receivers already in the field. Robust transmission of data for reception by mobile and hand-held receivers is provided for in a Candidate Standard: ATSC Mobile DTV Standard published in June 2009, referred to hereinafter simply as "A/153" for sake of brevity, and incorporated herein by reference. A/153 is directed to transmitting ancillary signals in a time division multiplexing arrangement with 8-VSB DTV signals, which ancillary signals are designed for reception by mobile receivers and by hand-held receivers. The ancillary data employ internet protocol (IP) transport streams.


A load monitoring system (14) is provided for a mobile work platform that includes an operator platform (6), a base (2) and a lift mechanism (5) for lifting the operator platform relative to the base. The load monitoring system includes a load cell (12) for monitoring the load on the operator platform (6) and a control device (16) for controlling operation of the work platform, wherein the control device (16) is constructed and arranged to sense and monitor both static and dynamic loads on the operator platform.

Mobile work platforms typically include a cage or platform that is designed to receive one or more human operators. The cage is mounted on a lift mechanism, such as a hydraulic boom or a scissor lift mechanism, that allows its height to be adjusted. The mobile work platform also includes a wheeled or tracked chassis, which allows it to be moved easily to a desired location. Various types of mobile work platform are available, including self-propelled, self-drive, trailer and vehicle-mounted platforms.
A load monitoring system is generally included to provide cage overload protection. Cage overload protection is required on mobile elevating work platforms as defined by European standard EN280:2001 Amendment 1. European standard EN954 is cited by EN 280 and describes the requirements for safety switches in electrical systems providing overload protection. EN954 Category 3 requires that common mode faults resulting from damage to the protection system are taken into account, if the probability of such a fault occurring is significant.
The main requirement of the aforesaid standards is that the load monitoring system monitors the static load and either provides an alarm or restricts operation of the work platform if the static load exceeds a predetermined limit. During operation of the work platform the dynamic load on the cage may increase or decrease depending on the acceleration of the operator cage. To avoid unintentional activation of the control system whenever the dynamic load exceeds the predetermined limit, the overload protection system is generally disabled during operation of the work platform. The static load safety limit is therefore set at a relatively low level to provide a safety margin that is sufficient to ensure that dynamic loads encountered during normal operation of the work platform do not jeopardise its stability.
Although the aforesaid safety standards provide a good degree of protection when the work platform is being operated correctly, dangers can still arise through careless or inattentive use. For example, when the work platform is being operated in the vicinity of an overhead obstruction, there is a danger that the operator platform may be driven into the obstruction by operation of either the lift mechanism or the drive mechanism for the wheels or tracks. This may endanger a human operator occupying the platform. A load monitoring system of the type described above would provide no protection in such a situation, as it would be disabled during operation of the lift mechanism or the drive mechanism.


A hammer adapted to its head and handle at least with a resilient swivel pivoted joint so to swing with the swivel point as the pivot in the same direction as that of the striking to release the counter force instantaneously generated as the hammer strikes a work piece, so to avoid hurting the user""s fingers and limbs.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a hammer having a resilient swivel pivoted joint, and more particularly, to a hammer that has a resilient swivel pivoted joint that swings with at a pivot of the resilient swivel pivoted joint, to release a counter force instantaneously created as the hammer strikes an object, so to avoid possible injury to a user of the hammer.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
A conventional hammer usually has a handle and a head rigidly incorporated to each other, or has a flexible member inserted in a structure where the head and the handle axially penetrate through the structure to be incorporated into each other. In either case, the instantaneous counter force created when the hammer strikes an object will be transmitted back to the handle. As a result, particularly in intensive and heavy strikes, one could easily get his fingers and arm hurt.
The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a hammer having at least a resilient swivel pivoted joint, so that the hammer head swings at the swivel point in the same direction as that of the striking to release the counter force instantaneously generated as the hammer strikes a work piece, so to avoid hurting the user""s fingers and limbs.

Hammer with resilient swivel pivoted joint


A cooling system for an engine includes a coolant tank, a heat exchanger, and a drain valve. The coolant tank holds a fluid coolant and is coupled with a tank conduit through which the coolant flows from or to the coolant tank. The heat exchanger is fluidly coupled with a supply conduit. The drain valve is fluidly coupled with the coolant tank by the tank conduit and with the supply conduit. The drain valve is fluidly coupled with a drain conduit that directs the coolant out of the cooling system and alternates between a closed position and an open position. The drain valve prevents the coolant from flowing out of the cooling system through the drain conduit when in the closed position and permits the coolant to flow from the heat exchanger and out of the cooling system through the drain conduit when in the open position.

The subject matter described herein relates to cooling systems, such as cooling systems for engines.
Known vehicles include cooling systems that reduce temperatures of engines in the vehicles to prevent the engines from overheating. For example, rail vehicles such as diesel engine locomotives and other vehicles may include cooling systems that cool the engines when the engines are operating to move the vehicles. Some known cooling systems include tanks that hold a liquid coolant and radiators that are fluidly coupled with the tanks. For example, radiators of a diesel engine may be coupled with a tank by one or more hoses.
In order to cool the engine, the coolant is pumped from the tank, by or through the engine, and to the radiator. More specifically, from the tank, the coolant flows by or through the engine, where thermal energy generated by the engine is transferred to the coolant. In certain operational modes, the coolant is passed to the radiator, where thermal energy of the coolant is transferred to ambient (e.g., air passing through the radiator). The coolant may return to the tank. Due to changing temperatures, degradation, and other causes, one or more components and/or interfaces of the cooling system can be damaged. For example, hoses can crack and seals between the hoses and the tank or radiator can be compromised by freezing and thawing of coolant. The cracks and/or compromised seals may allow coolant to leak from the cooling system and not flow through the cooling system to cool the engine.
In some know locomotives, the cooling system is tested for leaks using a "squeeze test." During the squeeze test, an operator opens a vent to the radiators of the cooling system and fills the radiators and cooling system with more coolant. The operator closes the vent, and the cooling system is activated to pump the coolant throughout the cooling system. The operator then visually inspects for leaks around or below the cooling system.
The vents used by the operators to fill the cooling system with coolant are not easily accessible. The vents may be located above the radiators at the top of the locomotive cab, which can be four meters high or higher. As a result, the operator may need to be lifted above the locomotive by a crane or other device to reach the vent. As not all repair stations for locomotives have such cranes, some repair stations may be unable to perform the squeeze test to check for leaks in the cooling system. Moreover, lifting and lowering the operator takes additional time.
It may be desirable to have a cooling system and a method for providing a cooling system for an engine that more easily accessible by operators and/or reduces the time required to inspect for leaks of the cooling system.

Cooling system for an engine and method of providing a cooling system for an engine


In a vehicle with a driving power source (an engine, a motor generator, or a similar component) to output driving power for running to a driving wheel, in a case where a restart is requested on the driving power source in an accelerator-on state after a stop operation is performed on the driving power source (a hybrid system) during running of a vehicle, the driving power corresponding to an accelerator position at the time of restart request is not directly output. Instead, the driving power is output to the driving wheels while being gradually increased. This reduces deterioration of drivability in recovery of the driving power.

As a vehicle such as an automobile, a vehicle that employs only an engine such as a gasoline engine and a diesel engine (an internal combustion engine) as a driving power source for running (a conventional vehicle) is generally known. Recently, a hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle (EV), a fuel cell vehicle, or a similar vehicle has been developed and put to practical use as a vehicle that promotes environment protection.
Among these vehicles, the hybrid vehicle includes an engine and an electric motor (for example, a motor generator or a motor). The electric motor is driven by electric power generated by an output from the engine and electric power stored in a battery (an electric storage device). The use of one of or both of the engine and the electric motor as a source for driving power for running ensures running the hybrid vehicle.
The hybrid vehicle includes a power switch to change between start and stop of a hybrid system (a driving power source). When, for example, the power switch is operated with a brake pedal operated, the hybrid system starts. If the power switch is operated during running of the vehicle, the hybrid system stops.
Note that, in a hybrid vehicle, there is the following technique described in Patent Literature 1 as a technique for starting or stopping a hybrid system. In the technique described in Patent Literature 1, when a vehicle start/stop switch is operated to an engine stop position (Off position or Ready-Off) while the vehicle is running at a high speed, an engine stop is prohibited. By so doing, the amount of discharge of a battery does not exceed an upper limit discharge amount. Thus, the battery is protected.


The teachings are directed to an intragastric device comprising a flexible and expandable bladder having a predetermined shape upon expansion for contacting the antrum of the stomach of a subject. The device is designed to avoid passage of any part of the device beyond the pylorus and lower esophageal sphincter while the bladder is expanded during use. In these embodiments, the bladder can contain a high specific gravity material when expanded; wherein, the high specific gravity material contributes to an in vivo specific gravity of the device that ranges from about 1.2 g/ml to about 2.1 g/ml and functions to direct the device to the pyloric antrum of the subject during use of the device. Moreover, these embodiments can include a filling material comprising a biocompatible fluid component and a hydrogel component to make the device substantially leakproof and contribute to the in vivo specific gravity of the device.

1. Field of the Invention
The teachings provided herein are directed to a high specific gravity intragastric device, a method for delivering the device in a subject, and a method for treating obesity in the subject.
2. Description of the Related Art
Obesity is a worldwide problem that needs an effective remedy. More than one third of the adult population of the United States, for example, is considered to be obese, and, it's estimated that 27% of men and 38% of women are obese in Europe. A person can be considered "obese" if their body mass index (BMI) is greater than 30 kg/m2, where the BMI can be defined as the person's weight in kg divided by the person's height in m2. In fact, a person is considered "morbidly obese" if their BMI is greater than 35 kg/m2. Unfortunately, approximately 23 million of the 72 million adults in the US are morbidly obese.
The problem is that obesity is linked to numerous chronic health conditions that include, for example, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, sleep apnea, type-2 diabetes, and heart disease. In addition to an obviously decreased life expectancy, obesity-associated conditions significantly increase the length of hospital stays, and make a substantial impact on overall healthcare costs, to the extent that, in late 2005, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that about 27% of all health care costs in the US are due to inactivity and excess body weight. The same year, Medicare estimated a 35% increase in costs for obese patients over the age of 70 than their non-obese counterparts. And, it's not just a cost issue for healthcare providers and insurers—it can get very personal to the obese individual. For example, there are many adverse psychosocial aspects of obesity that include alterations in feelings of well-being, a reduced quality of life, a lower income earning potential, and the social stigmatization that is commonly realized with obesity. Moreover, the decrease in lifespan associated with obesity is comparable to the effects of smoking, where a BMI greater than 25 is correlated to a reduction in lifespan by 2-4 years in persons in the age range of 30-35. A BMI above 40 has been shown to reduce lifespan by 8-10 years. Vascular disease relating to heart attacks and strokes, hypertension, and type-2 diabetes, are common causes of health conditions and mortality among the obese. Obesity is an epidemic, and society remains overwhelmed and cannot effectively deal with this serious, growing threat to the Nation's health.
Currently, a common belief is that dieting and exercise is the only true answer. Although certainly effective beyond dispute, one problem is that diet and exercise have not been the answer for most patients. Failure rates are high, and few patients actually lose enough weight to produce meaningful health benefits. One answer to the problem has been obesity surgery, acclaimed as being the most effective intervention available in the US and including, for example, restrictive, malabsorptive, and combination techniques. One problem with such surgeries is that that are currently indicated only for patients with a BMI greater than 35 kg/m2. Another problem is that the costs are high, easily exceeding $20,000. As such, the public and healthcare community has been slow to adopt obesity surgery for several reasons such as, for example, a lack of insurance. Other reasons include a fear of the procedure, as well as patient and provider attitudes regarding obesity. There were 220,000 obesity surgeries in the US in 2008, and the rate of growth is over 30% per year, representing less than 2% of all obese US persons that could quality for this procedure, showing that other methods are clearly needed. Accordingly, new and effective procedures that are less costly and less invasive would be appreciated by those of skill in the art.
Currently, intragastric implant devices are used to avoid obesity surgeries. These devices are typically free floating intragastric balloons that reside in the upper stomach and have volumes ranging from about 400 cc to about 800 cc. These devices are known for creating a feeling of "fullness," increasing the time it takes to digest a meal, and having a treatment period of 6 months or less. Unfortunately, the treatment period is limited by a number of factors that include, for example, (i) expansion of the stomach around the balloon which re-establishes the normal gastric clearance and removes the feeling of fullness experienced by the patient; (ii) leakage of the balloon creating a loss of volume; and (iii) complete failure of the balloon itself. Such large devices also have some post-placement effects that can include, for example, gastric wall contractions that create repeated episodes of projectile vomiting, early explant of the device, and life-threatening gastric perforations in some cases. Another less serious problem, although embarrassing, is a noticeable bad breath, a condition induced by the growth of plaque on the larger current intragastric devices resulting in halitosis. The use of proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs, commonly prescribed for use with the current, state-of-the-art larger balloons to decrease side-effects, adds to the bad breath issue, and it also adds cost to the treatment, as well as additional risk to the patient from overmedication. Other devices have been suggested for use in the lower, more muscular portion of the stomach known as the pyloric antrum to help control appetite. The objective of placing a device in the lower stomach is to increase distention of the antral walls during meals. Inducing an antral wall distention helps induce early feelings of fullness or gastric discomfort, leading to consumption of less volume and reduced caloric intake levels. These devices have been limited to having some sort of anchoring means, such as a tail that extends past the pylorus, an anchoring flange, or some mechanism of fastening to gastrointestinal tissue.
Each of the antrum-based devices have problems that generally either relate to adverse consequences from having (a) a portion of the device that passes through the pylorus and into the duodenum; and/or, (b) a fixation means to prevent migration in the stomach. Problems from (a) can include, for example, a retraction and entanglement of a tube that extends into the duodenum, as well as providing a means for infectious materials, such as a virus or bacteria normally destroyed by stomach acids, to enter the small intestine. Problems from (b) can include blockage of the pylorus and interruption of the otherwise normal stomach functions. Other problems from both (a) and (b) can include, for example, the formation of ulcers due to tissue irritation. As a result, these antrum-based devices under development have not been accepted by the medical community.
As can be seen from the above description of the problems and the state-of-the-art practices in the field of intragastric devices, a person of skill in the art would appreciate a gastric implant that (i) is more affordable for patients; (ii) is less feared by patients than obesity surgery; (iii) functions in the antrum region of the stomach to avoid limited treatment times associated with stomach expansion around current intragastric balloons; (iv) avoids passage of any part of the device past the pylorus to avoid retraction and entanglement in the stomach, ulcers, and passage of infectious materials into the duodenum; (v) is free floating in the stomach to avoid problems associated with fixation of the device, as well as promote normal gastric function; and, (vi) can be at least substantially leakproof when compared to state-of-the art intragastric balloons.

High specific gravity intragastric device


A knife sharpening device contains: a main whetstone portion and a sub whetstone portion. The main whetstone portion includes a bevel seat, two stopping protrusions, at least one first support piece, at least one second support piece, and a main sharpening block. The bevel seat has a tilted face, the at least one first support piece, the at least one second support piece, the main sharpening block, and the sub whetstone portion. The sub whetstone portion includes at least one sub sharpening block, an auxiliary sharpening face, and a concave wall. Each sub sharpening block has the auxiliary sharpening face defined on a front surface thereof and corresponding to the main sharpening block of the main whetstone portion, and the concave wall is defined below the auxiliary sharpening face.

A knife is sharpened by a whetstone or a wheeled knife sharpening device. However, a user cannot control a sharpening angle and an operating force exactly if using the whetstone to sharpen a knife, and the user will be hurt easily.
The wheeled knife sharpening device contains at least one grinding wheel and a recess for placing a knife and corresponding to the at least one grinding wheel, such that the at least one grinding wheel sharpens the knife. Nevertheless, the wheeled knife sharpening device cannot sharpen the knife sharply after a period of using time.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.


A thermal image transfer recording system comprises a sublimation type thermal image transfer recording medium in combination with an image receiving medium comprising a substrate and a dye receiving layer formed thereon, which comprises, as the principal components, (1) a vinyl chloride-based resin containing active hydrogens and (2) an isocyanate compound.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a thermal image transfer system, comprising a sublimation type thermal image transfer recording medium in combination with an image receiving medium comprising a substrate and a dye receiving layer formal thereon, the dye receiving layer comprising, as the principal components, a vinyl chloride-based resin containing active hydrogens and an isocyanate compound.
2. Discussion of Background
Recently the demand for full color printers is increasing year by year. Typical recording methods for full color printers now available include the electrophotographic method, the ink-jet method, and the thermosensitive image transfer method. Of these methods, the thermosensitive image transfer method is most widely employed because of its advantages over the other methods in that the maintenance is easy and the operation is noiseless.
In the thermosensitive image transfer recording method, a solidified color ink sheet and an image receiving sheet are employed, and a color ink is transferred imagewise from the ink sheet to the receiving sheet by the thermal fusion or the sublimation of the ink, under the application of thermal energy by laser beams or a thermal head which is controlled by electric signals.
Thus, the thermosensitive image transfer recording method can be roughly classified into two types, a thermal fusing image transfer type and a sublimation image transfer type. The sublimation image transfer type is advantageous over the thermal fusing type in that halftone can be obtained without difficulty and image gradation can be controlled as desired. These benefits exist because a sublimable dye is in principle sublimated in the form of independent molecules in such an amount as to correspond to the amount of thermal energy applied thereto, for instance, through a thermal head. Therefore, the sublimation image transfer type is considered the most suitable for color printers.
As the sublimation image transfer recording method, there have been known (i) an n-times use mode recording method in which the running speed of the image receiving sheet is made n (n>1) times the running speed of the ink sheet when images are recorded, (ii) an area-sequential recording method which uses a line head and (iii) a line-sequential recording method which uses a serial head as a thermal head.
Hitherto, there has been employed, in the sublimation-type thermal image transfer recording method, an image receiving sheet which consists of a substrate (paper, synthetic paper, plastic film, etc.) and a dye receiving layer formed thereon containing as its main component a thermoplastic resin, such as polyester resin, which can be well dyed with a sublimation-type dye.
The above image receiving sheet, however, cannot be smoothly released from the ink sheet after the thermal image transfer recording is completed. Especially, when the n-times use mode recording method is employed, the ink sheet and the image receiving sheet are strongly frictionized each other when images are recorded, so that these two sheets tend to stick to each other or to be damaged.


Systems and methods for virtual machine memory migration by storage are provided. A method includes receiving a request to migrate a virtual machine from a source host to a destination host. The method further includes mapping, by the source host, a memory of the virtual machine to a storage device accessible over a network by the source host and by the destination host. The method further includes caching, by the source host, a portion of a state of the virtual machine. The method further includes issuing a synchronization command to synchronize the portion of the state of the virtual machine with the storage device. Responsive to determining that a time period to complete the synchronization command is below a threshold time period, the method further includes stopping the virtual machine on the source host. The method further includes starting the virtual machine on the destination host.

A virtual machine (VM) is a portion of software that, when executed on appropriate hardware, creates an environment allowing the virtualization of an actual physical computer system. Virtualization permits multiplexing of an underlying host computer between different virtual machines. The host computer typically allocates a certain amount of its resources to each of the virtual machines. Each virtual machine can then be able to use the allocated resources to execute applications, including operating systems (referred to as guest operating systems (OS)). The software layer providing the virtualization is commonly referred to as a hypervisor and is also known as a virtual machine monitor (VMM), a kernel-based hypervisor, or a host operating system. The hypervisor usually emulates the underlying hardware of the host computer, making the use of the virtual machine transparent to the guest operating system and the user of the computer. A VM may have a virtual processor, virtual system memory, virtual storage, and various virtual devices.
Virtual machines may be migrated between a source host computing platform ("the source host") and a destination host computing platform ("the destination host") connected over a network, which may be a local-area network or a wide area-network that may include the Internet. Migration permits a clean separation between hardware and software, thereby improving facilities fault management, load balancing, and low-level system maintenance.
One method of migrating virtual machines between a source host and a destination host over a network is to suspend the source VM, copy its state to the destination host, boot the copied VM on the destination host, and remove the source VM. This approach has been shown to be impractical because of the large amount of down time users may experience. A more desirable approach can be to permit a running source VM to continue to run during the migration process, a technique known as live migration. Live migration typically permits a running VM to be moved between different physical machines without disconnecting a running client or application program. For a successful live migration, memory, storage, and network connectivity of the VM should be migrated from the source host to the destination host. While the VM on the source host is running, its memory can be copied to another physical machine. Memory on the source VM can change during the memory copy process. If the memory of the source VM changes, the changed memory can be copied to the other physical machine. When a rate of change of the memory is below a threshold, the VM on the source can be suspended and the state of the suspended VM, including memory, storage, and network connectivity, can be copied to the other physical machine.
The time between suspending the VM on the source host and resuming the VM on the destination host is known as "down-time." A down-time of a live migration employing previous techniques may be lengthy—especially for migration between geographically remote hosts—and is approximately proportional to the size of memory and applications running on the source VM.

Virtual machine memory migration by storage


Methods for the synthesis, isolation, and purification of procyanidin B2 are disclosed. The synthetic methods utilize epicatechin as a starting material and produce procyanidin B2 in high yields. The isolation methods extract procyanidin B2 from a sample of bark powder from plant matter of the genus Uncaria. The isolated and/or synthesized procyanidin B2 is used to treat amyloid disease, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease as well as improve cognitive performance and increase learning and memory in Alzheimer's patients. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the synthesized and/or isolated procyanidin B2 are also disclosed.

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the accumulation of a 39-43 amino acid peptide termed the beta-amyloid protein or Aβ, in a fibrillar form, existing as extracellular amyloid plaques and as amyloid within the walls of cerebral blood vessels. Fibrillar Aβ amyloid deposition in Alzheimer's disease is believed to be detrimental to the patient and eventually leads to toxicity and neuronal cell death, characteristic hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. Accumulating evidence implicates amyloid, and more specifically, the formation, deposition, accumulation and/or persistence of Aβ fibrils, as a major causative factor of Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. In addition, besides Alzheimer's disease, a number of other amyloid diseases involve accumulation of Aβ fibrils, including Down's syndrome, disorders involving congophilic angiopathy, hereditary cerebral hemorrhage of the Dutch type, and inclusion body myositosis.
Parkinson's disease is another human disorder characterized by the formation, deposition, accumulation and/or persistence of abnormal fibrillar protein deposits that demonstrate many of the characteristics of amyloid. In Parkinson's disease, an accumulation of cytoplasmic Lewy bodies consisting of filaments of α-synuclein/NAC (i.e., non-amyloid component) are believed important in the pathogenesis and as therapeutic targets. New agents or compounds able to inhibit α-synuclein/NAC formation, deposition, accumulation and/or persistence, or disrupt pre-formed α-synuclein/NAC fibrils (or portions thereof) are regarded as potential therapeutics for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
A variety of other human diseases also demonstrate amyloid deposition and usually involve systemic organs (i.e., organs or tissues lying outside the central nervous system), with the amyloid accumulation leading to organ dysfunction or failure. These amyloid diseases (discussed below) leading to marked amyloid accumulation in a number of different organs and tissues are known as systemic amyloidoses. In other amyloid diseases, single organs may be affected, such as the pancreas in 90% of patients with type 2 diabetes. In this type of amyloidosis, the beta-cells in the islets of Langerhans in pancreas are believed to be destroyed by the accumulation of fibrillar amyloid deposits consisting primarily of a protein known as islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP). Inhibiting or reducing such amyloid accumulation is believed to lead to new effective treatments for type 2 diabetes. In Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's and "systemic" amyloid diseases, there is currently no cure or effective treatment, and the patient usually dies within 3 to 10 years from disease onset.

Isolation, purification and synthesis of procyanidin B2 and uses thereof


A torque transmitting and torsion damping apparatus includes a torsion damper and a friction clutch between a first inertia body and a second inertia body that is supported by said first inertia body for relative rotation. The torsion damper include a drive plate assembly for rotation with the first inertia body, a damper hub for rotation with the second inertia body and spring assembly disposed between the drive plate assembly and the damper hub. At radially inward rivet pins and radially outer projections, the drive plate assembly is fixedly attached to the first inertia body, thereby providing split torque transmission from the first inertia body to the drive plate assembly.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,970 (issued Mar. 1, 1988 to Reik et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,710 (issued Jan. 2, 1990 to Reik et al.), and JP-B 6-97060 (published Nov. 30, 1994) disclose a torque transmitting and torsion damping apparatus. This known apparatus comprises a torsion damper disposed between coaxial first and second inertia bodies, which rotate about an axis with limited relative rotation to each other. The torsion damper include a drive plate assembly and a coupling using rivet pins for connecting a portion of the drive plate assembly in the neighborhood of the outer periphery thereof to the first inertia body. According to this known connection between the first inertia body and the drive plate assembly of the torsion damper, the rivet pins bear stress during transmission of torque. This involves the potential problem that the structural strength accomplished by the first coupling may drop below a satisfactory level under severe operating conditions.
An object of the present invention is to provide a torque transmitting and torsion damping apparatus employing a torsion damper, which provide sufficiently high and stable structural strength between a drive plate assembly of the torsion damper and the adjacent inertia body.

Torque transmitting and torsion damping apparatus with torsion damper


The present invention is directed to small molecule inhibitors of the IgE response to allergens, which are useful in the treatment of allergy and/or asthma or any diseases where IgE is pathogenic. This invention also relates to benzimidazole molecules that are cellular proliferation inhibitors and thus are useful as anticancer agents.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to small molecule inhibitors of the IgE response to allergens that are useful in the treatment of allergy and/or asthma or any diseases where IgE is pathogenic. This invention also relates to small molecules that are proliferation inhibitors and thus they are useful as anticancer agents.
2. Description of the Related Art
Allergies and Asthma
An estimated 10 million persons in the United States have asthma, about 5% of the population. The estimated cost of asthma in the United States exceeds $6 billion. About 25% of patients with asthma who seek emergency care require hospitalization, and the largest single direct medical expenditure for asthma has been inpatient hospital services (emergency care), at a cost of greater than $1.6 billion. The cost for prescription medications, which increased 54% between 1985 and 1990, was close behind at $1.1 billion (Kelly, Pharmacotherapy 12:13S–21S (1997)).
According to the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, asthma accounts for 1% of all ambulatory care visits, and the disease continues to be a significant cause of missed school days in children. Despite improved understanding of the disease process and better drugs, asthma morbidity and mortality continue to rise in this country and worldwide (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 1991, publication no. 91-3042). Thus, asthma constitutes a significant public health problem.
The pathophysiologic processes that attend the onset of an asthmatic episode can be broken down into essentially two phases, both marked by bronchoconstriction, that causes wheezing, chest tightness, and dyspnea. The first, early phase asthmatic response is triggered by allergens, irritants, or exercise. Allergens cross-link immunoglobulin E (IgE) molecules bound to receptors on mast cells, causing them to release a number of pre-formed inflammatory mediators, including histamine. Additional triggers include the osmotic changes in airway tissues following exercise or the inhalation of cold, dry air. The second, late phase response that follows is characterized by infiltration of activated eosinophils and other inflammatory cells into airway tissues, epithelial desquamonon, and by the presence of highly viscous mucus within the airways. The damage caused by this inflammatory response leaves the airways "primed" or sensitized, such that smaller triggers are required to elicit subsequent asthma symptoms.
A number of drugs are available for the palliative treatment of asthma; however, their efficacies vary markedly. Short-acting β2-adrenergic agonists, terbutaline and albuterol, long the mainstay of asthma treatment, act primarily during the early phase as bronchodilators. The newer long-acting β2-agonists, salmeterol and formoterol, may reduce the bronchoconstrictive component of the late response. However, because the β2-agonists do not possess significant antiinflammatory activity, they have no effect on bronchial hyperreactivity.
Numerous other drugs target specific aspects of the early or late asthmatic responses. For example, antihistamines, like loratadine, inhibit early histamine-mediated inflammatory responses. Some of the newer antihistamines, such as azelastine and ketotifen, may have both antiinflammatory and weak bronchodilatory effects, but they currently do not have any established efficacy in asthma treatment. Phosphodiesterase inhibitors, like theophylline/xanthines, may attenuate late inflammatory responses, but there is no evidence that these compounds decrease bronchial hyperreactivity. Anticholinergics, like ipratopium bromide, which are used in cases of acute asthma to inhibit severe bronchoconstriction, have no effect on early or late phase inflammation, no effect on bronchial hyperreactivity, and therefore, essentially no role in chronic therapy.
The corticosteroid drugs, like budesonide, are the most potent antiinflammatory agents. Inflammatory mediator release inhibitors, like cromolyn and nedocromil, act by stabilizing mast cells and thereby inhibiting the late phase inflammatory response to allergen. Thus, cromolyn and nedocromil, as well as the corticosteroids, all reduce bronchial hyperreactivity by minimizing the sensitizing effect of inflammatory damage to the airways. Unfortunately, these antiinflammatory agents do not produce bronchodilation.
Several new agents have been developed that inhibit specific aspects of asthmatic inflammation. For instance, leukotriene receptor antagonists (ICI-204, 219, accolate), specifically inhibit leukotriene-mediated actions. The leukotrienes have been implicated in the production of both airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction.
Thus, while numerous drugs are currently available for the treatment of asthma, these compounds are primarily palliative and/or have significant side effects. Consequently, new therapeutic approaches which target the underlying cause rather than the cascade of symptoms would be highly desirable. Asthma and allergy share a common dependence on IgE-mediated events. Indeed, it is known that excess IgE production is the underlying cause of allergies in general and allergic asthma in particular (Duplantier and Cheng, Ann. Rep. Med. Chem. 29:73–81 (1994)). Thus, compounds that lower IgE levels may be effective in treating the underlying cause of asthma and allergy.
None of the current therapies eliminate the excess circulating IgE. The hypothesis that lowering plasma IgE may reduce the allergic response, was confirmed by recent clinical results with chimeric anti-IgE antibody, CGP-51901, and recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody, rhuMAB-E25. Indeed, three companies, Tanox Biosystems, Inc., Genentech Inc. and Novartis AG are collaborating in the development of a humanized anti-IgE antibody (BioWorld® Today, Feb. 26, 1997, p. 2) which will treat allergy and asthma by neutralizing excess IgE. Tanox has already successfully tested the anti-IgE antibody, CGP-51901, which reduced the severity and duration of nasal symptoms of allergic rhinitis in a 155-patient Phase II trial (Scrip #2080, Nov. 24, 1995, p.26). Genentech recently disclosed positive results from a 536 patient phase-II/III trials of its recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody, rhuMAB-E25 (BioWorld® Today, Nov. 10, 1998, p. 1). The antibody, rhuMAB-E25, administered by injection (highest dose 300 mg every 2 to 4 weeks as needed) provided a 50% reduction in the number of days a patient required additional "rescue" medicines (antihistimines and decongestants), compared to placebo. More recently, Dr. Henry Milgrom et. al. of the National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver, Colo., published the clinical results of rhuMAB-25 in moderate to severe asthma patients (317 patients for 12 weeks, iv injection every two weeks) and concluded that this drug is "going to be a breakthrough" (New England Journal of Medicine, Dec. 23, 1999). A Biologics License Application (BLA) for this product has been submitted to the FDA in June, 2000 jointly by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Tanox Inc., and Genetech, Inc. The positive results from anti-IgE antibody trials suggest that therapeutic strategies aimed at IgE down-regulation may be effective.
Cancer and Hyperproliferation Disorders
Cellular proliferation is a normal process that is vital to the normal functioning of most biological processes. Cellular proliferation occurs in all living organisms and involves two main processes: nuclear division (mitosis), and cytoplasmic division (cytokinesis). Because organisms are continually growing and replacing cells, cellular proliferation is essential to the vitality of the healthy cell. The disruption of normal cellular proliferation can result in a variety of disorders. For example, hyperproliferation of cells may cause psoriasis, thrombosis, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, smooth muscle neoplasms, uterine fibroid or fibroma, and obliterative diseases of vascular grafts and transplanted organs. Abnormal cell proliferation is most commonly associated with tumor formation and cancer.
Cancer is a major disease and is one of the leading causes of mortality both in the United States and internationally. Indeed, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. According to the National Institute of Health, the overall annual cost for cancer is approximately $107 billion, which includes $37 billion for direct medical costs, $11 billion for indirect costs of lost productivity due to illness and $59 billion for indirect costs of lost productivity due to premature death. Not surprisingly, considerable efforts are underway to develop new treatments and preventative measures to combat this devastating illness.
Currently, cancer is primarily treated using a combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy involves the use of chemical agents to disrupt the replication and metabolism of cancerous cells. Chemotherapeutic agents which are currently being used to treat cancer can be classified into five main groups: natural products and their derivatives; anthacyclines; alkylating agents; antiproliferatives and hormonal agents.
One embodiment of the present invention discloses benzimidazole compounds that modulate IgE and inhibit cell proliferation. Benzimidazole compounds are known in the prior art, for example in European Patent No. 719,765 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,821,258. Both references, however, disclose compounds that contain an active ingredient that acts on DNA, and are structurally different from the benzimidazole derivatives of the current invention. The compounds of the prior art alkylate DNA and there is no suggestion in the references that the disclosed benzimidazole compounds modulate IgE or inhibit the cell proliferation. Further, the compounds described in both references are described as anticancer, antiviral or antimicrobial agents. The anti-allergy or anti-asthma properties of the benzimidazole compounds of the current invention have not previously been recognized. Further, in describing the anticancer properties of benzimidazole compounds, these references disclose chemotherapeutic agents that are DNA alkylating agents. The inhibition of cell proliferation using compounds of the present invention is not disclosed.

Benzimidazole compounds for modulating IgE and inhibiting cellular proliferation


The invention relates to a folding-top covering for a folding top of a vehicle, which is stretched onto a supporting folding-top structure and which comprises two releasably interconnected folding-top covering portions, arranged one behind the other along the length of the vehicle and which are joined in a plane of width of the folding top by being connected to a connecting element by a strip-shaped fastening portion. When the folding-top covering is damaged, the particular folding-top covering portion can be simple and economically exchanged. The folding-top covering is divided along a bow of the folding top and the strip-shaped fastening portion of the folding-top covering parts is clamped to the bow.

The invention relates to a folding-top covering for a folding top of a vehicle. The covering is stretched onto a supporting folding-top structure and comprises two releasably interconnected folding-top covering portions arranged one behind the other along the length of the vehicle and which portions are joined in a plane of width of the folding top by being connected to a connecting element by a strip-shaped fastening portion.
A folding-top covering divided in a plane of width of a folding top is known from German Utility Model No. 82 05 999.3. Because the covering is divided into two portions, when damage occurs to the covering material affecting only one part of the folding-top covering there is the possibility of exchanging only the damaged folding-top covering portion.
In comparison with an exchange of the entire folding-top covering, this would make it possible to achieve considerable savings in terms of repair costs.
However, if one of the folding-top covering portions were exchanged, the slide fastener serving as an easily releasable connecting element would also have to be exchanged, since it is subjected to a relatively high tear-out stress. This also requires that the two top portions have fastener tapes coordinated exactly with one another in terms of their meshing engagement. Also the two fastener tapes of the slide fastener are each stitched firmly to a fastening portion of the associated folding-top covering portion in order to obtain a proper sealing and at the same time a tension-resistant joining connection.
To exchange the slide fastener, therefore requires a time-consuming separating operation and a necessary stitching operation. Such an exchange thus goes beyond the facilities of a conventional specialized motor-vehicle repair shop in terms of equipment stock.
For the reasons explained, the object on which the invention is based, is to improve a releasable connection between two folding-top covering portions of a folding top, to the effect that it is possible to exchange one of the folding-top covering portions of the folding top relatively quickly and cost-effectively by customary workshop means.
According to the invention, the solution for achieving this object is obtained by having the folding-top covering divided along a bow of the folding top and provided with a strip-shaped fastening portion clamped to the bow. Thus the bow, in addition to performing its supporting function for the folding-top covering, also retains the two folding-top covering portions. The retention function ensures that the bow is supported transversely at the folding-top covering, with the result that, when the folding-top covering is stretched, the bow is properly positioned in the longitudinal direction of the folding-top covering.
Since the fastening portions are connected to the bow by means of clamping devices, the clamping advance of which can be exerted via conventional tensioning screws or the like, it is possible for the folding-top covering portions to be exchanged by means of a simple tool.
An especially easy joining connection of the folding-top covering portion to the bow is obtained if the folding-top material is pressed between a circumferential face of the bow and a corresponding clamping rail over its entire fastening length.
The screw-fastening means of the clamping rail can be used as tensioning screws. The fastening strip can rest as a surface seal against the clamping face of the bow.
So that cylindrical tube form of the bow can be preserved, the clamping rail can be designed as a clamping shell which partially surrounds the circumference of the bow.
With the clamping shell surrounding approximately half the bow circumference, a clamping fit of the fastening strips is obtained, which is secure against tearing out while at the same time justifiable clamping forces are maintained.
To prevent a portion of the folding-top covering portion that is looped around the longitudinal edge of the bow shell from wearing through, the longitudinal edge of the shell (as seen in cross-section) should be rounded with as uniform a radius as possible. Preferably, the two fastening strips are held with a joint clamping fit, since only a single clamping rail is then required.
Since the rear-wall part of a folding-top covering of convertible folding tops undergoes relatively high wear, especially because of the flexible window panes arranged in it, it is to be considered particularly expedient to divide the folding-top covering along the corner bow of the folding top so that all window panes are located in one portion of the top-covering. As regards a folding top, saddle-mounted on the vehicle body, it would be possible for the folding-top covering to be divided over the entire length of the corner bow, if the corner bow were secured pivotably to the vehicle body via brackets offset towards the interior. Then the corner bow could extend along the circumferential contour of the folding top in the side-wall region too.
In contrast to this, where folding tops retractable into an associated folding-top box are concerned, it is necessary for a length portion of the bow flanks (a portion is located near the folding joints) to be movable in relation to the folding-top covering.
To obtain this movability, the roof division of the folding-top covering along the corner bow merges into a longitudinal portion in the side-wall region of the folding top.
Sealing is preferably obtained in the longitudinally divided joining region of the folding-top covering by virtue of a generous height overlap of the two folding-top covering portions, since there is no need for any additional connection between the corresponding folding-top covering portions. Under the influence of longitudinal tensioning forces in the folding-top material in the overlap region, the folding-top covering portions rest sealingly on one another. In order to stabilize a lower closing edge of the outer folding-top covering portion, a pull band made of rubber or the like can be provided.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Folding top covering for a folding top of a vehicle


A forward folding agricultural implement frame has a center frame with pivotally connected wings that fold forward for storage and laterally for use. A pair of draft links connects the wings to a telescopic hitch that extends forward from the center frame. A pivot pin operably mounted to a forward portion of the telescopic hitch defines a generally vertical pivot axis. A pivot link is connected to the pivot pin to pivot about the generally vertical pivot axis. The pivot link having a first portion on one side of the pivot pin and a second portion on an opposite of the pivot pin from the first portion. The draft links are pivotally connected to the first and second portions of the pivot link. When the wings are flexed in opposite directions (or when one wing is neutral and the other wing is flexed), the pivot link will permit opposite relative movement of the draft link ends relative to the inner hitch, which reduces internal stress and prevents permanent strain of the components.

As the power of tractors and agricultural efficiency has increased, agricultural implements, such as planters have increased in span, or width, to accommodate larger numbers of individual row units. Large planters generally include a main frame having a forward hitch assembly for drawing by a tractor and left and right wing sections pivotally attached to a portion of the main frame. The pivoting wing connections allow the wings to fold relative to the main frame for transport and storage of the planter. Early planters pivotally displaced the wings vertically to reduce planter width and to provide clearance for transport through narrow spaces. However, as the size of planters has increased, planter wings are generally folded in a forward direction to accommodate longer planter wings or wing sections. This evolution has necessitated the incorporation of telescoping hitch assemblies and specific folding functions to accommodate planter wings of increased length. Examples of such forward folding planter frames are shown and described in Bachman, U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2014/0000919 and Kinzenbaw, U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2013/0233580, the contents of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
According to current designs, a central frame is supported by wheels. Wings that are used to support agricultural equipment are pivotally connected to the central frame. Each of the wings is adjustable between a work position where it extends laterally from the central frame and a transport position wherein it is folded forward. A telescoping hitch extends forward from the central frame and is used to connect the implement to a towing vehicle, such as a tractor. Draft links connect the front (or inner) portion of the telescoping hitch with the wings. These draft links are pinned directly to the inner hitch on opposite sides of the hitch. According to one feature of these implements, a means is provided to apply a downward force between the center frame and wings in order to adjust the weight distribution on the wings. When the wings are pivoted downward relative to the central frame in the extended working position, they tend to pull the draft links, and therefore the front portion of the telescoping hitch, rearward towards the central frame; and when the wings are pivoted upward, they tend to push the front portion of the telescoping hitch forward towards the towing vehicle. This upward and downward pivoting of the wings can occur either because of applying weight distribution forces on the wings, or as a result of natural flexing of the wings as they move across uneven ground. When the wings flex in opposite directions, they work against each other, this can cause excess stress and ultimately permanent strain in the components.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved forward folding implement frame. The current invention relates to an improvement of a forward-folding implement frame that allows for a degree of movement between the draft links and the hitch without excess stress load on the frame such as might cause flexing and strain in the frame.

Front fold implement frame with pivotal draft link connection


A subassembly to aid in changing the interface unit for an automatic test system. The disclosed embodiment shows an automatic test system with a handler and a tester. The interface unit is a device interface board (DIB). The subassembly allows the DIB to be easily accessed, yet can be properly aligned to the test system. No special tools are required to change the DIB.

This invention relates generally to manufacture of semiconductor devices and more particularly to interface units used to interface a test system to a device under test.
In the manufacture of semiconductor devices, the semiconductor devices are usually tested at least once during the manufacturing operation. The results of the testes are used to control further processing in the semiconductor manufacturing operation. The testing might be used to separate properly operating devices from devices that fail to operate properly. However, testing can also be used to feed back data to other stages in the manufacturing operation to make adjustments that increase the yield of properly operating devices. In other instances, the test results are used to sort devices into performance categories. For example, a device might operate at data rates of 200 MHz, but not operate at data rates of 400 MHz. Following testing, the device might be classified as a 200 MHz device and sold at a lower price than a 400 MHz device.
A testing stage might also be used to make physical changes to the device under test. Many semiconductor devices with memories contain redundant elements. If defective memory cells are discovered during testing, the semiconductor device might be sent to a repair station, such as a laser repair station, where connections on the device are rearranged to disconnect the faulty cells and connect redundant elements in their places.
Testing is generally performed by Automatic Test Equipment (ATE). A tester contains the circuitry that generates and measures the electrical signals needed to determine if the device is properly functioning. A separate material handling device moves the semiconductor devices to the tester. A material handling device is often called a xe2x80x9chandlerxe2x80x9d when the semiconductor devices are being tested after they have been packaged. A material handling device might alternatively be called a xe2x80x9cproberxe2x80x9d, which is used when the semiconductor devices are tested while still on a wafer. In general, the tester and the material handling device are assembled into a work cell, with the specific characteristics of the tester and material handling device being selected based on the type of devices that are to be tested.
To allow the tester to make connections to many different types of devices, an interface unit is used. Often, the interface unit has many compliant probes or contacts. The material handling device presses the devices to be tested against these probes or contacts so that electrical signals can move between the device under test and the tester. For testing packaged parts, the interface unit is often called a xe2x80x9cdevice interface boardxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cDIBxe2x80x9d.
The present invention is, in its preferred embodiment, used in connection with a material handling unit for moving packaged parts to a DIB. Therefore, the description of the preferred embodiment that follows uses a packaged part handler with a DIB as an example.
The layout of the contacts on the interface unit must line-up with the test points on the devices being tested, a different interface unit is usually required for each type of semiconductor device being tested. Because a semiconductor manufacturer will generally want to use a work cell to test different kinds of semiconductor devices, the interface unit is made a separate part from the material handling unit or the tester. In this way, the work cell can be reconfigured to test whatever kinds of parts the semiconductor fab is producing.
For example, a DIB is usually attached to a material handling unit with screws that can be removed to remove the DIB. Once the DIB is attached to the material handling unit, the tester, or at least a test head portion of the tester, is then pressed against the material handling unit. Spring pins or other form of compliant contacts make electrical connection between the DIB and the tester.
In manufacturing semiconductors, it is desirable that the equipment in the fabrication facility be in service as much as possible. Taking equipment out of service, even to make routine adjustments to the equipment, can reduce the cost effectiveness of the entire manufacturing operation. For that reason, it is desirable that the process of changing a DIB in a test work cell be done as quickly as possible. Finding special tools to attach or detach a DIB is therefore a disadvantage.
In some prior art ATE, clamps, cams or the like are used to hold the DIB to the handler. In this way, a DIB can be removed and a new one can be installed without the time needed to remove screws. However, significant time is still required to change a DIB.
The DIB is located between the tester and the handler. To access the DIB, the tester must be moved. To allow for access to the DIB, most testers are mounted on devices called a xe2x80x9cmanipulator.xe2x80x9d The manipulator allows the tester to be aligned with the handler. Considerable flexibility in positioning the tester is possible with most manipulators. To provide access to the DIB, the manipulator can swing the test head out the way.
But, once a new DIB has been installed, the tester must be re-aligned with the handling device and then reconnected to it. The process of aligning the tester and handler and connecting them together is sometimes called xe2x80x9cdocking.xe2x80x9d Un-docking and re-docking the tester and handler during a DIB change can still take a significant amount of time, even when a clamp, cam or similar device holds the DIB to the handler instead of screws.
In addition, a traditional DIB changing operation exposes sensitive and easily damages parts of the tester and the handler. For example, spring pins making electrical connection between the tester and the DIB might be damaged.
Further, special training is sometimes needed to ensure that the operator properly installs the DIB. If not properly installed, damage to the tester, handler or DIB might occur and the semiconductor manufacturing operation might be disrupted.
With the foregoing background in mind, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved way to change an interface unit in a semiconductor manufacturing facility.
The foregoing and other objects are achieved in which an ATE work cell is equipped with a changer for an interface unit between a tester and a material handling unit. The changer allows the interface unit to be changed with only a small amount of separation between the material handling unit and the tester.
In one aspect, the invention allows an interface unit, such as a DIB, to be easily installed. The changer guides the interface unit into course alignment through translation in a direction parallel to the mating interface between the material handling unit and the tester. Then, the interface unit moves in a direction perpendicular to the mating interface, with fine alignment in a direction within the plane being provided by alignment features that operate as the interface unit moves perpendicular to the mating interface.
In another aspect, the invention allows an interface unit to be easily removed. The interface unit moves perpendicular to the mating interface to disengage from alignment features. Then, the interface unit moves perpendicular to the mating interface to a position where it can be easily removed by a human operator.

Semiconductor test system with easily changed interface unit


A sanitary washing apparatus having a bidet washing function for jetting water at private parts of a female user, the apparatus includes: a nozzle including a jetting port configured to jet water; a swirling chamber and a communication channel for jetting water as a hollow-conic-shape liquid film flow at the private parts of the female user from the jetting port; and a fluid squiring device for generating an intermittent granular flow of granular water balls so as to fill inside the liquid film before the liquid film flow impinges on the private parts.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments described herein relate generally to a sanitary washing apparatus having a bidet washing function for jetting water at the private parts of a female user.
2. Background Art
Sanitary washing apparatuses installed on warm water washing toilet seats are intended to squirt water at the private parts of a user from a nozzle to wash away dirt attached to the private parts and their vicinity. For men, the private parts to be washed are only the anus. For women, the private parts to be washed include the vaginal opening and urethral opening in addition to the anus.
The dirt attached to the anus and its vicinity is attached to the anus and its vicinity during defecation and washed within a relatively short time after attachment. The dirt in this case is washed in the state of being attached during defecation. Hence, the washing area is relatively narrow and limited to the close vicinity of the anus. Furthermore, even if water is squirted at the anus and its vicinity with a strong water force to some extent, the squirt with the strong water force is acceptable to users as long as it ensures sufficient washing power. Hence, typically, in washing the dirt attached to the anus and its vicinity, water with a relatively strong water force is squirted at a relatively narrow washing area.
On the other hand, in washing the woman's delicate area such as the vicinity of the vaginal opening and the vicinity of the urethral opening, the situation is different from that of washing only the vicinity of the anus. That is, it cannot be addressed by squirting water with a relatively strong water force at a relatively narrow washing area. This results from the diversity in the properties of the dirt attached to the woman's private parts and in the timing of the dirt being attached to the woman's private parts.
Specifically, excrements from the human body, such as urine, menstrual blood, and vaginal discharge ejected from the vaginal opening, are all liquid. On the other hand, there are significant differences in their properties, particularly in the viscosity, which significantly affects the performance of washing with water. For instance, urine and vaginal discharge during pregnancy have very low viscosity. On the other hand, typically, vaginal discharge around the ovulatory period has high viscosity. Furthermore, discharge of such excrements from the human body is not necessarily limited to during being seated on the toilet seat. Vaginal discharge and menstrual blood are ejected from the human body independently of time and place. These excrements are ejected from the vaginal opening, and then attached to the skin therearound. In particular, during menstruation, menstrual blood may be spread widely, oxidized by exposure to air, and clotted on the skin surface.
Thus, the type and state of the dirt to be removed by the sanitary washing apparatus are diverse. Hence, for the woman's delicate area, there is demand for expanding the washing area in view of the type and state of the attached dirt. Thus, as a technique for expanding the washing area, there is proposed a human body washing apparatus capable of jetting spirally swirled water from the jetting port of a nozzle (JP-A-2001-090155 and JP-A-2001-090151). By jetting spirally swirled water, the washing range can be adjusted in accordance with the degree of swirling. However, such jetting generates a hollow water flow having a film-like outer periphery. Thus, washing is insufficient in the hollow portion inside the hollow-conic shape.
On the other hand, there is proposed a sanitary washing apparatus capable of compensating for the insufficient washing of the hollow portion (JP-A-2007-100370). In this sanitary washing apparatus, a water flow is jetted also to the hollow portion inside the spirally swirling flow. Thus, while ensuring a wide washing area by the swirling flow, a water flow is added also to the hollow portion. However, in the sanitary washing apparatus described in JP-A-2007-100370, a continuous water flow is additionally jetted to the hollow portion inside the swirling flow. Hence, the washing pressure is high in the central portion of the washing area. This may apply unnecessarily strong stimuli to the woman's delicate area.
Furthermore, there is proposed a private parts washing apparatus capable of varying the washing area by varying the state of interference between the axial jet flow and the tangential jet flow (JP-A-2001-090154). In the private parts washing apparatus described in JP-A-2001-090154, a continuous water flow is jetted in the axial direction. Hence, the water pressure may become too high in the central portion of the washing area.
On the other hand, there is proposed a jetting apparatus capable of jetting water fragments in a swirling state (Japanese Patent No. 3848886). If such water fragments are jetted, the water fragments may drift in air and scatter to the outside of the desired washing area. Then, the drifted water may be attached to the thigh of the user seated on the toilet seat, and the user may feel discomfort.


Aircraft pitch control systems and methods are disclosed. An aircraft pitch control system (28) comprises a movable horizontal stabilizer (24) and an elevator (26) movably coupled to the horizontal stabilizer. The elevator is electronically geared to the horizontal stabilizer.

The horizontal stabilizer on an aircraft is typically a movable aerodynamic surface located in an aft portion of the aircraft and that is used to provide longitudinal (pitch) stability and control for the aircraft. In order to set the pitch angle of the aircraft, the horizontal stabilizer can be trimmed (actuated) such that it selectively produces positive or negative lift, or is neutral. Conventional horizontal stabilizers can be moved about an axis running parallel to the aircraft lateral axis, so that they can be trimmed over a predetermined angular range. The magnitude and direction of the aerodynamic force (i.e., positive lift or negative lift) that is produced can be varied by varying the incidence angle of the horizontal stabilizer.
A horizontal stabilizer must be sufficiently large to produce the desired aerodynamic effect at various operating conditions (e.g., flap configurations, speeds, etc.) of an aircraft. The size of the horizontal stabilizer of an aircraft affects the amount of drag that it produces during flight and also affects the overall weight of the aircraft.

Aircraft pitch control system with electronically geared elevator


A positive electrode active material according to an aspect of the present invention for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries contains a lithium transition metal composite oxide that has a compound in contact with its surface, the compound containing a rare earth metal and silicic acid and/or boric acid. A positive electrode according to an aspect of the present invention has a positive electrode collector and a positive electrode mixture layer formed on at least one surface of the positive electrode collector. The positive electrode mixture layer contains a positive electrode active material, a binder, and a conductive agent. The positive electrode active material contains a lithium transition metal composite oxide that has a compound in contact with its surface, the compound containing a rare earth metal and silicic acid and/or boric acid.

The rapid development of mobile information terminals such as cellphones, laptops, and smartphones into smaller and lighter ones in recent years has led to the demand for higher-capacity batteries as power supplies for driving them. Lithium-ion batteries, which charge and discharge through the movement of lithium ions between positive and negative electrodes, are widely used as power supplies to drive such mobile information terminals because of their high energy density and high capacity.
The above mobile information terminals are going to be higher power consumption due to their advanced video playback, gaming, and other features, leading to strong demand for higher capacities. Examples of measures to increase the capacity of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery include increasing the capacity of the active material and increasing the quantity of the active material per unit area. Another way is to increase the charge voltage of the battery, but increasing the charge voltage of a battery disadvantageously makes the electrolyte more decomposable. In particular, storage or repeated charge-discharge cycles of such a battery at high temperatures affects the discharge capacity.
As a solution to this, PTL 1, for example, proposes allowing the presence of a group-3 element on the surface of particles that provide a matrix for the positive electrode active material to reduce the damage to charged storage characteristics associated with the decomposition reaction of the electrolyte that occurs at the boundary between the positive electrode active material and the electrolyte when the charge voltage is increased.
This technology disclosed in PTL 1, however, did not produce sufficient low-temperature discharge performance, although the publication mentions it reduces damage to charged storage characteristics.

Positive electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, method for producing the same, positive electrode for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries incorporating the positive electrode active material, and nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery incorporating the positive electrode