A flow cell for transporting fluid in a radiant energy field includes a cell structure having a tube extending therethrough including a radiant energy blocking portion integral therewith. In a particular embodiment, the cell structure includes one or more end caps having a protrusion extending therefrom, wherein the protrusion may be inserted into the tube to create a fluid seal, the end caps including open channels for transporting fluid and radiant energy therethrough, and the tube in the cell structure includes an efficient radiant energy transmission lining that is spaced from the end cap protrusions, thereby forming a gap volume in the flow cell open channel, which gap volume may be calibrated such that radiant energy losses may be standardized in respective flow cells transporting fluids having various indexes of refraction.

The present invention relates to flow cells generally, and more particularly to radiant energy flow cells for use in various analytical chemistry applications, such as spectrophotometry. This invention also relates to methods for fabricating such flow cells.
Numerous devices have been designed and implemented for use in preparing and testing samples in various environments, particularly in analytical chemistry applications. One such device is a flow cell, which may be used to transport samples to and through analytical instruments such as spectrophotometers for analysis purposes. Flow cells have typically been utilized to transport liquid samples, but other flowable sample types have also been implemented.
Most commonly, flow cells have been implemented to transport sample solutions through a volume disposed between a radiant energy source and an energy detector, which detector measures the relevant energy absorption or transmission through the sample solution. An example of such a detector is a spectrophotometer. Various analytical instruments then interpret the resultant energy xe2x80x9cfingerprintsxe2x80x9d or transmitted vs. absorbed wavelengths to decipher sample constituents.
To efficiently pass the energy through the sample solution, however, the flow cell walls typically use focusing optics such that energy impact upon the flow cell walls is minimized. Without such focusing optics, previous flow cell configurations called for the sample solvating fluid to have a higher index of refraction than materials commonly used in the flow cell walls. As a result, organic fluids were typically utilized as solvents in flow cell applications prior to the incorporation of focusing optics.
For several reasons, however, aqueous fluid carriers have been sought as a preferred alternative to such organic fluids. To implement a flow cell system utilizing an aqueous fluid, a material having an index of refraction less than that of water is needed for the respective flow cells. One such material is a perflourinated copolymer developed by DuPont of Wilmington, Del., under the trade name Teflon AF(trademark). Thus, analytical flow cells preferably include a layer of Teflon AF(trademark) or other low index of refraction material to allow efficient radiant energy propagation in spectrophotometry and photometry applications.
An additional issue encountered by current flow cell systems is the transmission of stray light through the cell to a photometric detector downstream therefrom. Generally speaking, stray light is light which is perceived by the photometric detector without first passing through the sample being analyzed. Such stray light is most often a result of light transmitting directly through transparent or translucent flow cell material without passing through the sample path. As stated above, flow cell systems are specifically designed to maximize internal reflection of photometric radiation through the flow cell to the detector. Such systems simultaneously attempt to minimize source light from entering directly into an end of the flow cell wall to correspondingly minimize stray light reaching the detector. On large scale systems, mechanical photomasking devices have been implemented to block at least incoming light from entering an end of the flow cell wall. As flow cell systems become ever smaller, however, such mechanical photomasking devices become extremely difficult to effectively block stray light while allowing sample radiant energy transmission to pass therethrough into the core of the flow cell.
Most flow cells in use today generally do not embody efficient and reliable designs. Many employ multi-sectional, multi-directional tubes which may cause xe2x80x9cdead flowxe2x80x9d zones, and may introduce an increased risk of fluid leakage. Other flow cell designs are undesirably complex, are difficult to implement in current analytical instrument geometries, or are excessively expensive to produce.
Accordingly, it is a principle object of the present invention to provide an improved means for exposing a sample solution to a radiant energy field used for analyzing sample composition.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved flow cell design yielding desired sample solution flow characteristics.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a flared-tube flow cell design which reduces flow turbulence through the flow cell.
It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide a flow cell having a calibrated gap volume for standardizing radiant energy losses among various fluids flowing through a radiant energy field.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an improved flow cell including an end cap having a substantially conical frustum portion which engages the flow cell to form a sealed fluid passageway.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved flow cell having end caps which are sized and configured to form high-pressure fluid seals when engaged with a flow cell body.
It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide end caps for a flow cell, wherein the end caps include passageways for fluid and radiant energy transport, and improved sealing means for sealing relationship with the flow cell.
It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide a flow cell having improved radiant energy transmission characteristics.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a flow cell having improved photomasking characteristics for minimizing or eliminating stray light received by the detector.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a flow cell having partially opaque walls for minimizing stray light transmission through such walls.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an improved flow cell for use in HPLC applications.
It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide a method for fabricating flow cells having improved sealing and fluid transport characteristics.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for fabricating flow cells utilizing extruded tubing.
By means of the present invention, an improved flow cell is contemplated for use in transporting sample fluids in radiant energy fields. Such a flow cell introduces a structure for improved fluid sealing and fluid flow characteristics.
One embodiment of the flow cell of the present invention preferably includes a cell structure having a first elongated tube disposed therein which forms a continuous passageway through the cell structure. The tube includes a radiant energy-blocking portion integral therewith for minimizing passage of stray light through the tube. Attached to the flow cell is at least one end cap that is sealingly engagable with the cell structure. The end cap preferably includes a substantially conical frustum portion extending outwardly therefrom. When assembled, the conical frustum portion preferably extends at least partially into the first open channel.
A first open channel within the first tube is preferably clad with one or more layers forming concentric tubes. Preferably, the innermost tube is a low index of refraction material such as perfluorinated copolymer. A second tube preferably comprising PEEK substantially concentrically surrounds the first tube. Preferably, a third tube comprising FEP substantially concentrically surrounds the PEEK tube, and is in intimate contact with an outer wall of the first open channel. As assembled, the conical frustum portion of the end caps preferably displace a portion of the FEP tube against the first open channel wall, thereby forming a fluid-tight seal between the FEP tube and the conical frustum portions.
Preferably, the end caps include one or more open channels for transporting the sample fluid and the radiant energy. In preferred embodiments, the radiant energy channels are in substantial alignment with the first open channel within the cell structure. The radiant energy channels and the fluid channels preferably merge such that the radiant energy may pass through the sample fluid.
At least one end of the innermost tube is preferably flared outwardly to more efficiently transport the radiant energy and sample fluid. The flared portion of the innermost tube is calibrated so that an internal dimension of the innermost tube may be reduced without significant radiant energy losses, and further enables a reduction in fluid flow turbulence. Such reduced flow turbulence increases the reliability of photometric sample analysis.
In another aspect of the present invention, a gap volume is provided between the first open channel within the cell structure and fluid channels within respective end caps. The gap volume is preferably and adjustably calibrated to define an appropriate volume such that radiant energy losses among various fluids having distinct indexes of refraction may be standardized.
The present invention also contemplates a method for determining sample composition through radiant energy interaction with the sample fluid utilizing the structural elements described above.

Flow cells utilizing photometric techniques


A method and an apparatus for automatically detecting the approximate percentage of humidity in predetermined types of lumber cut to specific lengths. A conveyor is provided for conveying individual pieces of cut lumber to a weighing station which consists of platforms on which individual pieces of lumber are conveyed. One or more weighing cells are associated with the platforms for detecting the weight of the piece of lumber thereon. A control circuit is connected to the weighing cell and also to sensors which detect a predetermined length of the lumber pieces and the cross-sectional dimension thereof, and receives information signals therefrom to identify and classify the individual lumber pieces in accordance with one or more reference signals related to selected humidity content weight(s) of the lumber pieces. The apparatus compares the apparent density with selectable density(ies) used as criterium for sorting.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for automatically detecting the approximate percentage humidity in predetermined types of lumber cut to specific lengths by weighing the lumber and analyzing information signals representative of specific characteristics of a piece of lumber and comparing it with one or more reference signals.
2. Description of Prior Art
There are many governmental and other regulations that demand that lumber be dried before it is utilized in a structure. The humidity in wood varies extensively in accordance with the regions where the trees are grown, the sap in the wood (i.e., pine, spruce, cedar), the nature of the soil where the tree grows, the proximity of the roots of the tree in relation to the water table, etc. All these factors affect the percentage humidity in lumber and cause resulting problems when the lumber is dried. In order to sufficiently dry lumber pieces that are very humid, the drying time of lots of such lumber is relatively long. The disadvantage of such long periods of drying is that the cost for drying the lumber increases as well as the heat loss of the drier. Also, the availability of the drier diminishes. A further disadvantage is that in a lot of lumber there are usually lumber pieces which are substantially less humid than others and therefore these are over dried causing these lumber pieces to twist and/or split, particularly in the ends thereof. Accordingly, this wood becomes inferior in quality and must be removed from the lot and sold at an inferior price. Also, the lumber needs to be reclassified resulting in extra labor costs.
The density of lumber and its weight for a given volume varies in two ways. Firstly, the density of the lumber varies depending on the type of sap in the wood or the wood type, and the density also varies according to the humidity or the water content of the lumber. It is also known that the variations due to the sap density in lumber varies in the order of 25 to 35% of the base weight of the lumber, and that the variations in the weight caused by humidity (water content) could be in the range of 30 to 170%. Since there is more variation in weight caused by humidity, the present invention has concerned itself with determining the humidity in the wood as a criteria for classification of the lumber prior to the drying of same.

Method and apparatus for detecting humidity in cut lumber

Centre de Recherche Industrielle du Quebec


The present disclosure provides a system, method, and apparatus for battery monitoring. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed method involves injecting at least one test signal into a battery, and receiving at least one response signal from the battery. In one or more embodiments, the response signal(s) comprises at least one reflected signal. The method further involves comparing, with at least one processor, the response signal(s) with at least one baseline signal to produce at least one comparison signal. Also, the method involves detecting, with at least one processor, at least one anomaly within the battery by using the comparison signal(s). Further, the method involves determining, with at least one processor, a location at least one anomaly within the battery by using the comparison signal(s).

The present disclosure relates to a monitoring system. In particular, it relates to an in-situ battery monitoring system.
Aircraft batteries are typically designed to have large capacities, with the more advanced chemistries based on Lithium-ion that enable higher energy densities with even higher charge/discharge characteristics than existing battery types, such as Nickel-metal-hydride or Nickel-Cadmium. This more reactive chemistry can lead to electrolyte instabilities, especially at elevated temperatures. The battery state of charge (SOC) is usually determined by the battery cell voltage (CV) and battery cell temperature, and may not completely reveal the current battery health and relative stability of the battery cells. The objective of the present disclosure is to use reflectometry to measure the relative in-situ radio frequency (RF) impedance behavior of the cathode-anode assemblies within the battery cells, in conjunction with temperature, CV, and SOC assessments to obtain a more complete, integrated-over time assessment of battery health. The goal is to identify the risk of a battery cell failure or short.


A network function (NF) entity in a communication network receives authentication data associated with a User Equipment (UE), determines the UE supports a blockchain registration procedure based on the authentication data, exchanges authentication messages with a Blockchain Roaming Broker (BRB) entity over a blockchain network interface, receives a blockchain authentication confirmation from the BRB entity, and registers the UE with the core network based on the blockchain authentication confirmation.

An ever-increasing consumer demand, improved technological advancements (e.g., hardware/software infrastructure), and industry collaboration has driven significant growth in modern telecommunication networks and continues to drive its evolution. Indeed, each iteration or "next generation" of network capabilities, e.g., represented by standards promulgated by a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), interconnects more devices, improves network bandwidth, increases data-rates, and so on. For example, a transition from 3rd Generation (3G) networks to 4th Generation (4G) networks introduced new network services and connected mobile devices to third party data networks such as the Internet. More recently, a transition is underway from existing 4G networks to new 5G networks, which includes a new service-oriented architecture for provisioning network services/resources in a dynamic, scalable, and customizable fashion (e.g., micro-services, network functions virtualization (NFV), etc.). This service-oriented architecture, which employs network slices, creates new opportunities to develop scalable roaming security mechanisms in the context of roaming registration and/or roaming session management in order to natively support virtual, stateless, statistic, and dynamically mobile workloads and improve overall UE mobility in 5G networks.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Securing communications for roaming user equipment (UE) using a native blockchain platform


A multiport fluid flow control valve, particularly for use in a regenerative incinerator system for treating process emissions to remove volatile organic combustibles (VOCs). A valve housing has at least three main conduit connection openings. A butterfly valve element rotatable within the housing on a valve element axis has at least two radially-extending rectangular wings such that different pairs of the main conduit connection openings are in deliberate fluid communication depending on the position of the valve element. To accommodate thermal expansion, there is a gap between the peripheries of the valve element wings and an inner surface of the valve housing. Leakage across this gap is prevented by a valve element structure which cooperates with a portion of the valve housing inner surface to define a plenum. The plenum is either pressurized or forcibly vented. In one form, the structure which cooperates to define a plenum comprises a U-shaped channel element on the peripheries of the wings. In another form, the structure which cooperates to define a plenum includes a pair of spaced parallel plates fastened to a shaft extending along the valve element axis. For pressurizing or venting the plenum there is a minor conduit, which may take the form of either ports on the valve conduit or a hollow shaft extending along the valve element axis, as examples.

The present invention relates generally to incinerator systems for the abatement of process emissions and, more particularly, to a valve for the control of fluid flow to and from a regenerative incinerator.
Process emissions often contain combustible contaminants that, if released to the atmosphere, have the potential of polluting the environment. More particularly, noxious fumes, waste gas or process emissions generally contain contaminants in the form of volatile organic combustibles (VOCs).
However, the amount of combustible material contained in these emissions is generally below the concentration required to ignite or propagate a flame at ambient temperature. Accordingly, incinerators are employed to treat the process emissions by increasing the temperature of such process emissions to a temperature above the ignition temperature of the contaminants therein so as to oxidize the contaminants.
For increased efficiency, a regenerative incinerator may be employed, which has two or more regenerative beds, connected to a common combustion chamber. Each regenerative bed is filled with a solid packing, such as a multiplicity of heat retaining ceramic rings. In the case of a two-bed regenerative incinerator, gas flow is such that hot gas from the combustion chamber heats one incinerator bed while the other regenerative bed is used to preheat incoming process emissions. Gas flow through the regenerative beds is periodically alternated so that the one regenerative bed then preheats incoming process emissions, while the other regenerative bed is heated by hot gas from the combustion chambers. Regenerative preheating increases the overall efficiency of the incinerator by minimizing the amount of fuel required to raise the process emissions to ignition temperature.
It will be appreciated that a suitable valving arrangement is required to alternate the gas flow and thus the functions of the two (or more) regenerative beds. It will further be appreciated that demanding requirements are placed on flow control valves in a regenerative incinerator application. The valves must be relatively large to handle a high volume of gas flow, and further must operate over a typical incinerator temperature range of 50.degree. F. to 1,000.degree. F. (10.degree. C. to 538.degree. C.).
By way of more particular example, such regenerative incinerators are disclosed in Houston U.S. Pat. No. 3,870,474, entitled "Regenerative Incinerator Systems for Waste Gases"; Houston U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,422, entitled "Incinerator Valve"; and Houston U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/067,665, filed May 26, 1993, entitled "Two Bed Thermal Regenerative Fume Incinerator", the entire disclosures of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference.
The above-incorporated Houston U.S. Pat. No. 3,870,474 discloses a three-bed regenerator system employing three-way valves. The system is such that each bed, at different times, is a feed bed, a purge bed and an exhaust bed. The above-incorporated Houston U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,422 discloses a three-bed regenerative incinerator system employing simple butterfly valves which are either open or closed. The above-incorporated Houston application Ser. No. 08/067,665 discloses a two-bed regenerative incinerator which employs a four-way valve to reverse the flow through the two beds.
A problem which materially affects the effectiveness of such regenerative incinerators is leakage of untreated process emissions past the relatively large flow control valves required for control of fluid to and from the regenerative beds. For example, the two-bed regenerator disclosed in the above-incorporated application Ser. No. 08/067,665 has a single four-way valve to alternately control the flow to and from the two regenerative beds. The four-way valve has two interior spaces defined on either side of a two-position butterfly valve element. When the butterfly valve element is in either of its two positions there is untreated fluid in one interior space within the valve and treated fluid in the other interior space within the valve. Leakage of untreated fluid through the valve into the interior space with treated fluid seriously compromises the effectiveness of the incinerator system, and decreases purity of the incinerator exhaust emission.
Another problem is that, during the relatively short interval when the butterfly valve element is being operated and moving between the two valve positions, an inlet conduit containing untreated gas may be directly connected to an outlet conduit which should contain only treated gas. This can also seriously decrease the purity of the incinerator exhaust emission.
In the above-incorporated Houston U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,422, as well as in Houston U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,041, it is disclosed that a simple two-way on/off butterfly valve can be made leakproof by an annular plenum on the rim of the disk or flapper within the valve, and either pressurizing or purging the annular plenum. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,000,422 and 5,217,041 disclose specific structures to define the plenum and to provide fluid communication with the plenum.
As another example, block and bleed valve arrangements have two main valves with a bleed valve in between. This has been used to eliminate the effect of valve leakage. However, with a multiport valve, such an arrangement is impractical.
Yet another example of a known valve arrangement which has better leakage characteristics is a ball valve with associated venting. However, for pipes over four inches in diameter, ball valves typically are not large enough to adequately function as incinerator control valves, or cannot be feasibly constructed of materials able to operate over a typical incinerator temperature range of 50.degree. F. to 1,000.degree. F. (10.degree. C. to 538.degree. C.), or both.

Multiport valve including leakage control system, particularly for a thermal regenerative fume incinerator


A rubber ring coupling apparatus for coupling rubber rings with an object includes a ring cartridge and expansion elements. A rubber ring is held in an expansion opening located in the ring cartridge. The expansion elements are disposed into the rubber ring and expanded along expansion slots formed in the ring cartridge. Then the object is inserted into the rubber ring and the expansion elements are withdrawn from the rubber ring to let the rubber ring couple with the object. Thereby assembly labor cost and time may be reduced.

This nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 91212675 filed in TAIWAN on Aug. 15, 2002, which is(are) herein incorporated by reference.
The invention relates to a rubber ring coupling apparatus for objects that require coupled rubber rings, such as paper feeding rollers and shock absorption devices.
In paper feeding mechanisms, a rod coupled with rubber rings is often used to convey paper and turn pages. Objects coupled with rubber rings are also widely used in shock absorption systems to reduce impact. Moreover, rollers coupled with rubber rings generally have greater durability. Because the rubber rings are useful in many applications, coupling rubber rings on objects also becomes an important process in many devices.
At present, coupling rubber rings on an object is mostly a manual process. Hand tools have to be used to expand the diameter of the rubber ring in order to couple the expanded rubber ring with the required object.
The manual process for coupling rubber rings is tedious and time-consuming. It is also difficult to install the rubber rings precisely on the required location of an object. Therefore to design a rubber ring coupling apparatus to save manpower and process time is an important issue yet to be resolved.
The primary object the invention is to provide a rubber ring coupling apparatus that has a mechanism to couple rubber rings to a required object to save manpower and process time.
Another object of the invention is to couple rubber rings on desired positions of a required object.
The rubber ring coupling apparatus of the invention aims at coupling rubber rings to an object. The apparatus includes a sliding platform and an expansion mechanism. The sliding platform includes ring cartridges and a track. The ring cartridges are mounted onto the platform. Each ring cartridge has expansion slots and an expansion opening. The expansion slots communicate with the expansion opening and are located in different directions around the expansion opening. A rubber ring may be held in the expansion opening. The expansion mechanism is movable on the sliding platform along the track, and includes at least two movable expansion elements.
When in use, the rubber ring is disposed in the expansion opening. The expansion mechanism is moved relative to the ring cartridge, and in the mean time the expansion elements are moved into the expansion opening that holds the rubber ring. Then the expansion elements may be moved in the expansion slots to expand the rubber ring, and the object to be coupled may be inserted into the expanded rubber ring. Thereafter, the expansion elements may be withdrawn and the rubber ring may couple with the object.
The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.


A watering device for animals includes a cylindrical container with an open top and surrounding lip around the open top. A closure member for the open top includes a disc which is flat with a surrounding skirt extending along the sides of the container. The skirt has holes to allow the escape of air trapped under the closure member. The closure member carries a downwardly extending guide member on the under surface which carries a float and which is guided for movement in a vertical direction. The float is located under the water surface so that depression of the closure member and the float do not significantly alter the water depth. The float keeps the closure member up against the lip thus fully closing the container. The animal depresses the closure to a level under the water surface to access the water for drinking. If the water level falls, the downward pressure for the animal to access the water engages a valve to refill the container. The natural tendency of the animal is to maintain the water level at a required level below the top. This arrangement reduces the tendency of the animal to spoil or spill the water.

This invention relates to an animal watering device for supplying drinking water to an animal.
Animals such as beef and dairy cattle of course require to receive drinking water while they are generally confined to a pen or other location where they cannot access water at will.
Various designs of water dispensing device have been provided from the very simple open trough to various forms of drinking cups. Most animals of this type are sufficiently intelligent to actuate various forms of valve to dispense water into a trough or cup from which the water can be drunk.
In many cases animals confined to a pen tend to alleviate boredom by licking at a water dispenser or generally playing with the water dispenser leading to dispensing of excess amounts of water and spillage. Such excess water is of course disadvantageous in that it increases the amount of water required, and since the excess water falls to the floor in spillage or passes through the animal and requires an increased amount of clean up.
Particularly cattle who are often supplied with drinking water in a drinking cup or fountain with a flap valve or nose button, the open accessibility of the water encourages the animal to lick at the device tending to spill or spread water around the device. This excess water constantly dripping around the area of the drinking fountain can lead to corrosion of metal and concrete parts and can spoil bedding and feed.


A model-pair is selected to recognize spoken words in a speech signal generated from a speech, which includes an acoustic model and a language model. A degree of disjointedness between the acoustic model and the language model is computed relative to the speech by comparing a first recognition output produced from the acoustic model and a second recognition output produced from the language model. When the acoustic model incorrectly recognizes a portion of the speech signal as a first word and the language model correctly recognizes the portion of the speech signal as a second word, a textual representation of the second word is determined and associated with a set of sound descriptors to generate a training speech pattern. Using the training speech pattern, the acoustic model is trained to recognize the portion of the speech signal as the second word.

Automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems are used for machine understanding of human speech. The idea is for the machine to understand words and sentences spoken by a human user in a natural language, and then cause some machine operation to occur as a result of that understanding.
A natural language is a written or a spoken language having a form that is employed by humans for primarily communicating with other humans or with systems having a natural language interface.
Natural language processing (NLP) is a technique that facilitates exchange of information between humans and data processing systems. For example, one branch of NLP pertains to transforming human readable or human understandable content into machine usable data. For example, NLP engines are presently usable to accept input content such as a newspaper article or human speech, and produce structured data, such as an outline of the input content, most significant and least significant parts, a subject, a reference, dependencies within the content, and the like, from the given content.
Another branch of NLP pertains to answering questions about a subject matter based on information available about the subject matter domain. This is the branch of cognitive analytics, and is also referred to as a Question and Answer system (Q and A system). Cognitive analytics is the process of analyzing available information or knowledge to create, infer, deduce, or derive new information.
The illustrative embodiments recognize that regardless of how human speech is recognized and understood, most ASR systems use a language model and an acoustic model to identify the words being spoken. A language model provides probabilistic indications that a series of words are found together for a particular subject-matter domain. In other words, a language model provides the probability that n words—arranged as they are in a given circumstance—are likely or unlikely to appear in the information in a given language and pertaining to a given subject-matter domain.
For example, two words—"thoracic" and "surgery" are likely to appears in the arrangement "thoracic surgery" in the subject-matter domain of medical sciences, but are unlikely to appear in that arrangement the subject-matter domain of kindergarten learning. Thus, a user may have actually spoken "thoracic surgery" in a medical context, and the ASR system may have recognized the words correctly; but if the context was kindergarten learning, the user may have spoken something else which the ASR system recognized incorrectly as thoracic surgery.
In this manner, using a language model, the semantic meaning of a several words together can be determined from a subject-matter domain. The following expression shows an n-gram language model that determines the probability that n words, w, are in a correct sequential order for a given domain (for two word sequences, the language model is called a bi-gram)—
      P              (                        w          n                |                  w                      n            -            1                              )        =            P                    (                              w                          n              -              1                                ,                      w            n                          )                    P                    (                  w                      n            -            1                          )
An acoustic model determines a probability that a given audio signal includes a series of words of human speech, the probability of phones (a phonetically distinct sound in a speech) given a signal, and recognizes the spoken words from the signal using these probabilities. The following expressions represent a general purpose acoustic model—
      P              (              words        |        signal            )        =                    P                          (          words          )                                  P                          (                      signal            |            words                    )                            P                    (        signal        )            P(signal|words)·P(phones|word)P(signal|phone)
The probability of phones given a word is traditionally calculated by a Markov Model (MM) where the probability of a signal given a phone from a Hidden Markov Model (HMM). Acoustic models can be a combination of HMMs and deep learning algorithms.
Most ASR systems use a language model and an acoustic model to recognize the speech. The illustrative embodiments recognize that presently, in ASR systems, the language model and the acoustic model become disjoined (or, disjointed) from each other. A model is disjointed from another model when given the same speech input the two models recognize different words in the speech. The illustrative embodiments further recognize that as the language models and acoustic models are trained over a domain, the models become progressively more disjointed over time with more training.
The illustrative embodiments recognize that the disjointedness between a language model and an acoustic model can be measured in terms of the number of differences in the words recognized by two models. For example, if the language model and the acoustic model recognize all the words identically, the two models are not disjointed, or disjointed by zero degrees or units on a scale of disjointedness. The scale can be chosen in any suitable manner, e.g., a scale of 1-5, 1-100, 0-9, none-low-medium-high-extreme, and so on.
Conversely, if the language model and the acoustic model recognize none the words identically, the two models are completely disjointed, or disjointed by the maximum degree or units on the scale of disjointedness. If the language model and the acoustic model fail to recognize some of the words identically, the two models are disjointed by some degree or units on the scale of disjointedness.
The illustrative embodiments recognize that the disjointedness of a language model and an acoustic model for a given domain is undesirable. Perfect synchronization (no disjointedness) between a language model and an acoustic model, over time and for a domain, would be ideal. Preferably, if a language model and an acoustic model are disjointed to an acceptable degree, the disjointedness should not expand or increase over time, with new inputs and training in the domain. Preferably, the disjointedness should shrink from a present level or at least stay steady at an acceptable level.

Deep language and acoustic modeling convergence and cross training

International Business Machines Corporation


A clock reconstruction mechanism for synchronous TDM communications traffic transported over asynchronous networks such as Ethernet networks. The invention is applicable to edge switches in Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) that transport legacy TDM traffic using a Circuit Emulation Services (CES) module whereby TDM traffic is encapsulated and transported across the Ethernet network where it is de-encapsulated and clocked out to the destination. The mechanism encapsulates the input TDM data stream into Ethernet packets and inserts a network timestamp within the packet. At the destination CES, a local timestamp is generated for each received packet as it is received. The network timestamp is extracted and input along with the local timestamp to a Digital Time Locked Loop (DTLL) which is operative to accurately reconstruct the original transmit TDM clock. The filter in the DTLL performs a Least Squares Regression (LSR) algorithm and Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) filter algorithm to generate a clock control signal for adjusting the clock generated.

The growth in demand for telecommunication services is increasing at an ever-quickening pace. The majority of the demand is being driven by the explosion in the use of the Internet and a steady stream of new applications being introduced which further increase the demand for increased bandwidth. Currently, a large portion of the Internet traffic is still carried by circuit switched transport facilities. In the case of Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs), most of the traffic is transported over SONET/SDH based networks most of which were originally resigned for voice traffic. With time, more and more customers are using the networks for transporting data rather than voice.
The requirements for networked communications within the user community have changed dramatically over the past two decades. Several notable trends in the user community include (1) the overwhelming domination of Ethernet as the core networking media around the world; (2) the steady shift towards data-oriented communications and applications; and (3) the rapid growth of mixed-media applications. Such applications include everything from integrated voice/data/video communications to the now commonplace exchanges of MP3 music files and also existing voice communications which have begun to migrate towards IP/packet-oriented transport.
Ethernet has become the de facto standard for data-oriented networking within the user community. This is true not only within the corporate market, but many other market segments as well. In the corporate market, Ethernet has long dominated at all levels, especially with the advent of high-performance Ethernet switching. This includes workgroup, departmental, server and backbone/campus networks. Even though many of the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the market today still base their WAN-side communications on legacy circuit oriented connections (i.e. supporting Frame Relay, xDSL, ATM, SONET), their back-office communications are almost exclusively Ethernet. In the residential market, most individual users are deploying 10 or 100 Mbps Ethernet within their homes to connect PCs to printers and to other PCs (in fact, most PCs today ship with internal Ethernet cards) even though the residential community still utilizes a wide range of relatively low-speed, circuit-oriented network access technologies.
The use of Ethernet, both optical and electrical based, is increasing in carrier networks due to advantages of Ethernet and in particular Optical Ethernet, namely its ability to scale from low speeds to very high rates and its commodity-oriented nature. With the rapid increase in the demand for user bandwidth, and the equally impressive increase in the performance of Ethernet with the LAN environment, the demand for Metropolitan network performance is rapidly increasing. In response, there has been a massive explosion in the amount of fiber being installed into both new and existing facilities. This is true for both the corporate and residential markets.
A problem arises, however, how to transfer legacy TDM traffic over an asynchronous Ethernet network and particularly, how to extract and reconstruct the TDM clock from the received data at the other side. It is important that the clock used at the receive side be traceable to the clock used at the transmitter. The clock at the transmitter side can be provided from an external source, a clock distribution network or from SONET/SDH equipment.
One prior art solution is to break the TDM traffic into several channels and convert the voice data to IP packets using DSP algorithms and then switch this IP traffic over the network. This approach, however, does not address transporting TDM traffic over asynchronous Ethernet networks.
Other schemes attempt to recover the TDM clock by maintaining a buffer and a pointer whereby if the slave clock is following the master clock, the pointer is designed to stay in the mid point of the buffer. Deviations of the slave clock from the master clock cause the pointer to move away from the mid point of the buffer. The location of the pointer is monitored and suitable action taken if it is detected to have moved.
A disadvantage of this scheme, however, is that the jitter and wonder generated is relatively high and typically does not meet common carrier telecommunication standards. In addition, the scheme cannot track the master clock in the event a large number of packets are lost. The scheme is overly sensitive to lost and erroneous packets.

Clock reconstruction for time division multiplexed traffic transported over asynchronous ethernet networks


A method for reconstructing an image of an object utilizing a computed tomographic (CT) imaging system is provided. The CT system includes a radiation source and a multislice detector array on a rotating gantry, with the radiation source configured to project a beam of radiation through an object and towards. the multislice detector array. The multislice detector array is configured to sense attenuation of the radiation passing through the object. The method for reconstructing an image includes helically scanning an object with a computed tomographic imaging system to acquire a plurality of views of projection data at a plurality of gantry angles and a plurality of cone angles, generating a plurality of cone angle dependent weights that are inversely correlated to an absolute value of a cone angle, and weighting the projection data using the cone angle dependent weights.

This invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for computed tomographic (CT) image reconstruction, and more particularly to weighting of data collected in a CT system.
At least one known computed tomography (CT) imaging system uses an in creased table speed to reduce scan time. An increased table speed reduces the quantity of data samples acquired along a plurality of helical trajectories within an image reconstruction space. A reduction in the quantity of data samples combined with a plurality of cone beam effects may produce an image with decreased image quality.
In one aspect, a method for reconstructing an image of an object utilizing a computed tomographic (CT) imaging system is provided. The CT system includes a radiation source and a multislice detector array on a rotating gantry, with the radiation source configured to project a beam of radiation through an object and towards the multislice detector array. The multislice detector array is configured to sense attenuation of the radiation passing through the object. The method for reconstructing an image includes helically scanning an object with a computed tomographic imaging system to acquire a plurality of views of projection data at a plurality of gantry angles and a plurality of cone angles, generating a plurality of cone angle dependent weights that are inversely correlated to an absolute value of a cone angle, and weighting the projection data using the cone angle dependent weights.
In another aspect, a computed tomographic (CT) imaging system for reconstructing an image of an object is provided. The computed tomographic (CT) imaging system includes a radiation source and a multislice detector array on a rotating gantry, with the radiation source configured to project a beam of radiation through an object and towards the multislice detector array. The multislice detector array is configured to sense attenuation of the radiation passing through the object. The imaging system is configured to helically scan an object with a computed tomographic imaging system to acquire a plurality of views of projection data at a plurality of gantry angles and a plurality of cone angles, generate a plurality of cone angle dependent weights that are inversely correlated to an absolute value of a cone angle, and weight the projection data using the cone angle dependent weights.
In still another aspect, a computer for collecting computed tomography (CT) scan data is provided. The computer is programmed to helically scan an object with a computed tomographic imaging system to acquire a plurality of views of projection data at a plurality of gantry angles and a plurality of cone angles, generate a plurality of cone angle dependent weights that are inversely correlated to an absolute value of a cone angle, and weight the projection data using the cone angle dependent weights.

Methods and apparatus for weighting of computed tomography data

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC


A method for assessing electrocardiogram signal quality, the method comprising: receiving heart beat analysis data by processing electrocardiogram data acquired from an electrocardiogram monitoring device; extracting position information and width information of a QRS complex in the heart beat analysis data; extracting an RR interval signal between two adjacent QRS complex signals; performing QRS complex signal cancellation processing on the RR interval signal to obtain an RR interval signal for which the QRS complex signal is removed; filtering the processed RR interval signal without the QRS complex signal, and performing envelope calculation on the filtered signal to obtain the average power of a noise signal of the RR interval signal for which the QRS complex signal is removed; obtaining a signal quality evaluation index according to the average power of the noise signal and the power of the QRS complex signal.

In 1908, Einthoven began to use electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor electrophysiological activities of a heart. At present, noninvasive ECG examination has become one of important methods for diagnosis and screening of heart diseases in clinical cardiovascular field. ECG examination can be divided into several categories such as resting ECG, ambulatory ECG and exercise ECG according to clinical application.
ECG is an important measure for observation, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular patients, and can monitor whether there is arrhythmia, a frequency of heart beat and the like in real time, and thus, timely and effective measures can be taken according to ECG activities. Although most of ambulatory ECG analysis software in the market can automatically analyze data, in clinical work, a signal quality during ECG detection and recording has a great influence on an accuracy of final output results.
In traditional signal quality evaluation methods, it is generally judged by time characteristics of a QRS sequence and a power spectrum of whole signals. It is difficult to obtain a real estimation in heart beat activities under various pathological states by judging the time characteristics of the QRS sequence. The power spectrum judgment method according to the whole signals is based on frequency characteristics. However, due to an overlap between a frequency spectrum of a large amount of noise and a frequency of a QRS complex signal itself, this judgment method is easily affected by heart rate and pathological QRS waveforms.

Method for assessing electrocardiogram signal quality


Polyisobutene is prepared by cationic polymerization of isobutene and/or isobutene-containing hydrocarbons in the liquid phase in the presence of a complex of BF3 and at least one cocatalyst which is preferably chosen from oxygen-containing compounds, the BF3/cocatalyst complex being produced in situ by adding BF3 and cocatalyst to a reaction stream, wherein BF3 and oxygen-containing cocatalyst are added to the reaction stream via a common binary nozzle comprising an outlet for BF3 and an outlet for the oxygen-containing cocatalyst. The invention also describes a binary nozzle having a centrally arranged outlet for the catalyst.

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of polyisobutene and to a binary nozzle formed for the process.
High molecular weight polyisobutenes having molecular weights of up to several 100,000 dalton have long been known. These polyisobutenes are in most cases prepared with the aid of Lewis acid catalysts, such as aluminum chloride, alkyl aluminum chlorides or boron trifluoride, and in most cases have less than 10 mol % of terminal double bonds (vinylidene groups) and a broad molecular weight distribution, characterized by a dispersity of from 2 to 5. The dispersity D is defined as the quotient formed by the weight-average molecular weight Mw divided by the number-average molecular weight Mn (D=Mw/Mn).
The highly reactive polyisobutenes which as a rule have average molar masses of from 500 to 5000 dalton and preferably contain more than 60 mol % of terminal vinylidene groups must be distinguished from these conventional polyisobutenes. In the context of the present application, terminal vinylidene groups or terminal double bonds are understood as meaning those double bonds whose position in the polyisobutene macromolecule is described by the formula
where R is a polyisobutene radical shortened by two isobutene units. The type and proportion of double bonds present in the polyisobutene can be determined with the aid of 13C-NMR spectroscopy.
Such highly reactive polyisobutenes are used as intermediates for the preparation of additives for lubricants and fuels, as described, for example, in DE-A 27 02 604. The terminal vinylidene groups have the highest reactivity, whereas the double bonds present further toward the interior of the macromolecules have, depending on their position on the macromolecule, only little, if any, reactivity in the customary functionalization reactions. The proportion of terminal vinylidene groups in the molecule is therefore the most important quality criterion for this type of polyisobutene.
Highly reactive polyisobutenes are prepared by BF3-catalyzed, cationic polymerization of isobutene. The actual catalyst is a complex of boron trifluoride and at least one compound capable of forming a complex with BF3. This compound is as a rule selected from oxygen-containing compounds having at least one divalent oxygen atom, e.g. water, alcohols, ethers and carboxylic acids, and is referred to as a cocatalyst.
Further quality criteria for polyisobutenes are their average molecular weight and the molecular weight distribution (also referred to as dispersity) of the macromolecules contained in the polyisobutene. In general, polyisobutenes having average molecular weight (Mn) of from 500 to 50,000 dalton are desirable. Molecular weights of from 500 to 5000, preferably from 600 to 3000, in particular from 700 to 2500, dalton are preferred for the preparation of polyisobutenes used as fuel additives, owing to their better activity.
Furthermore, a narrow molecular weight distribution of the polyisobutene molecules is desirable in order to reduce the proportion of undesired, relatively low molecular weight or high molecular weight polyisobutenes in the product produced and thus to improve its quality.
EP 0 481 297 A2 discloses a process for the preparation of polyisobutene. Isobutene and/or isobutene-containing hydrocarbons are prepared in the presence of a polymerization catalyst which consists of complex of BF3 and of an alcohol. The complex is prepared separately from the polymerization reaction by introducing BF3, passing it as a gas or forcing it into the respective alcohol, if required in an inert solvent, and then feeding it to the polymerization of the isobutene. It has also been proposed to feed in additional complexing agent in a separate stream or in the solvent, in the isobutene or in the isobutene-containing hydrocarbons. However, the boron trifluoride complex catalyst is always prepared in a separate reaction and is therefore expensive. Owing to the exothermic nature of the complex formation, cooling apparatuses are additionally required.
EP 0 628 575 A1 describes a process for the preparation of highly reactive polyisobutenes. The polymerization takes place at from 0xc2x0 C. to xe2x88x9260xc2x0 C. in the presence of boron trifluoride and secondary alcohols of 3 to 20 carbon atoms. In addition to a separate preparation of the boron trifluoride complex with subsequent introduction into the reaction stream, production of the complex in situ is also proposed. For this purpose, the relevant secondary alcohol, if required together with a solvent and together with the isobutene, is fed into the polymerization apparatus and boron trifluoride is dispersed in the required amount in this mixture of the reactants, in which it reacts with the alcohol to give the boron trifluoride complex catalyst.
In the prior art process comprising in situ preparation of the boron trifluoride complex catalyst, the setting of a specific ratio of BF3 to complexing agent (referred to below as cocatalyst) in the reaction mixture is problematic. Variations in the concentration of BF3 or cocatalyst lead to variations in the catalyst activity and hence to variations in the molecular weight of the polyisobutenes prepared. The variations in the molecular weight and the resulting nonuniformity of the product (which is reflected in an increased dispersity value) adversely affect the product quality.
It was an object of the present invention to provide a process for the continuous preparation of polyisobutene by cationic polymerization of isobutene and/or isobutene-containing hydrocarbons in the liquid phase in the presence of a complex of BF3 and a cocatalyst, the BF3/cocatalyst complex being produced in situ by adding BF3 and cocatalyst to a reaction stream, in which more precise control of the course of the reaction in the reactor is possible.
We have found that this object is achieved, in a process of the generic type, by adding BF3 and cocatalyst via a common binary nozzle having an outlet for BF3 and an outlet for the cocatalyst.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a process for the continuous preparation of polyisobutene by cationic polymerization of isobutene and/or isobutene-containing hydrocarbons in the liquid phase in the presence of a complex of BF3 and at least one cocatalyst which is preferably selected from oxygen-containing compounds, the BF3/cocatalyst complex being produced in situ by adding BF3 and cocatalyst to a reaction stream, wherein BF3 and oxygen-containing cocatalyst are added to the reaction stream via a common binary nozzle having an outlet for BF3 and outlet for the oxygen-containing cocatalyst.
In the novel process, the outlet orifices of the binary nozzle for boron trifluoride and cocatalyst are preferably arranged spatially directly adjacent to one another.
In contrast to the process of EP 0 628 575 A1, boron trifluoride and oxygen-containing cocatalyst are fed directly into the reaction mixture, also referred to below as reaction stream, and this is effected both separately from one another and separately from the feed of fresh isobutene or isobutene-containing hydrocarbons. If it is liquid under reaction conditions, the cocatalyst can fed in as such, otherwise it can be fed in as a liquid solution in an inert solvent.
According to the invention, the binary nozzle is preferably arranged in the polymerization reactor upstream of the inflow of the isobutene or of the isobutene-containing hydrocarbons, i.e. of the point at which isobutene or the isobutene-containing hydrocarbon mixture is introduced into the polymerization reactor. As a result of this arrangement, in each case fresh catalyst is produced at the point of the highest monomer concentration of the reactor, at and downstream of the isobutene inflow. This is particularly true if the addition of BF3 and oxygen-containing cocatalyst is arranged adjacent to the isobutene inflow. In this arrangement, the fresh isobutene or the isobutene-containing hydrocarbons preferably flows in a flow cone generated by the BF3 and cocatalyst inflow. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the binary nozzle is arranged in the reactor so that its outlet orifices point in the direction of flow of the reaction mixture, i.e. in the direction of the flow of the reaction stream, in order to ensure the formation of a flow cone of BF3 and cocatalyst inflow in the direction of the isobutene inflow. The novel binary nozzle can of course also be arranged at another point in the reactor. The use of a plurality of binary nozzles is likewise possible and frequently advantageous.
As a result of the arrangement of the binary nozzle, which arrangement is preferred according to the invention, a local concentration of BF3 and cocatalyst which is sufficient for complex formation is produced. At the same time, there is a rapid distribution within the reaction stream, with the result that the heat of reaction is removed. An excess concentration of uncomplexed BF3 in the reaction stream is likewise avoided. The danger of a shift of double bonds in the polymer owing to a high local catalyst concentration is prevented, as well as the variation of the molecular weight.
If the binary nozzle has a central outlet for BF3 and an annular outlet, arranged around the central outlet, for the oxygen-containing cocatalyst, a flow cylinder of cocatalyst forms, at least briefly, downstream of the binary nozzle, into which flow cylinder the BF3 is introduced. The catalyst complex forms, rapid thorough mixing of the components and distribution of the resulting boron trifluoride complex within the reaction stream taking place.
A narrow molecular weight distribution and a high proportion of terminal vinylidene groups in the polymer is furthermore supported if the reaction stream has turbulent flow in the region of the addition of BF3 and cocatalyst and of the inflow of isobutene and/or isobutene-containing hydrocarbons. Measures for generating turbulent flows are known to those skilled in the art.
The novel process is a continuous process. Measures for the continuous polymerization of isobutene in the presence of catalysts comprising boron trifluoride and at least one cocatalyst in inert organic solvents to give polyisobutene are known per se. In a continuous process, a part of the reaction mixture formed in the polymerization reactor is discharged continuously. Of course, an amount of starting materials, in this case isobutene or an isobutene-containing hydrocarbon, corresponding to the discharge is fed continuously to the polymerization reactor. The ratio of the amount of material present in the polymerization reactor to the amount which is discharged is determined by the circulation/feed ratio which, in the continuous polymerization of isobutene to give polyisobutene, is as a rule from 1000:1 to 1:1, according to the invention preferably from 500:1 to 5:1, and in particular from 50:1 to 200:1 v/v. The average residence time of the isobutene to be polymerized in the polymerization reactor can be from 5 seconds to several hours. Residence times of from 1 to 30, in particular from 2 to 20, minutes are particularly preferred.
The polymerization of the isobutene is effected in the reactors customary for the continuous polymerization, such as stirred kettles, tubular reactors, tube-bundle reactors and loop reactors, loop reactors, i.e. tube(-bundle) reactors having stirred kettle characteristics, being preferred. Tubular reactors having tube cross-sections which lead to turbulence in certain regions are particularly favorable here.
The novel process is carried out as a rule at a polymerization temperature of from xe2x88x9260xc2x0 C. to +40xc2x0 C., preferably below 0xc2x0 C., particularly preferably from xe2x88x925xc2x0 C. to xe2x88x9240xc2x0 C., especially from xe2x88x9210xc2x0 C. to xe2x88x9230xc2x0 C. The heat of polymerization is dissipated accordingly with the aid of a cooling apparatus. This may be operated, for example, with liquid ammonia as coolant. Another possibility for removing the heat of polymerization is by evaporative cooling.
The heat liberated is removed by evaporating the isobutene and/or other readily volatile components of the isobutene feedstock or by evaporating any readily volatile solvent. Preferably, the novel polymerization process is carried out under isothermal conditions, i.e. the temperature of the liquid reaction mixture in the polymerization reactor has a steady-state value and changes only slightly, if at all, during the operation of the reactor.
The concentration of the isobutene in the liquid reaction phase is as a rule from 0.2 to 50, preferably from 0.5 to 20, % by weight, based on the liquid reaction phase. In the preparation of polyisobutenes having a number average molecular weights Mn of from 500 to 5000 dalton, in particular an isobutene concentration from 1 to 20, particularly preferably from 1.5 to 15, % by weight is employed. In the preparation of polyisobutenes having a number average molecular weight Mn above 5000 dalton, an isobutene concentration of from 4 to 50% is preferably employed.
The isobutene conversion can in principle be established as desired. However, it is self-evident that, at very low isobutene conversions, the cost-efficiency of the process is doubtful, whereas at very high isobutene conversions of more than 99% the danger of double bond shifts becomes greater and greater and shorter reaction times and improved heat removal are required. For these reasons, the isobutene conversion is usually taken to values of from 20 to 99%. Isobutene conversions of from 70 to 98% are particularly preferred. As described in WO 96/40808, the process can also be carried out in two or more stages. A two-stage process in which the residual isobutene of the main reactor reacts to about 0.5% in the downstream reactor is a preferred procedure for the novel process.
Both isobutene itself and isobutene-containing C4 hydrocarbon streams, for example C4 fractions, C4 cuts from isobutene dehydrogenation, C4 cuts from steamcrackers and FCC crackers (FCC: Fluid Catalyzed Cracking), are suitable as feedstocks for the novel process, provided that they have been substantially freed from 1, 3-butadiene contained therein. C4 hydrocarbon streams suitable according to the invention contain as a rule less than 500, preferably less than 200, ppm of butadiene. The presence of 1-butene and cis-and trans-2-butene is substantially noncritical for the novel process and does not lead to selectivity losses. Typically, the concentration in the C4-hydrocarbon streams is from 40 to 60% by weight. For the use of C4 cuts as feedstock, the hydrocarbons other than isobutene assume the role of an inert solvent. The isobutene feedstock may contain small amounts of contaminants, such as water, carboxylic acids or mineral acids, without critical declines in yield or selectivity occurring in the polymerization. This results in a lower alcohol/ether consumption, which changes the abovementioned molar ratios in favor of BF3. It is expedient to avoid an accumulation of these impurities in the plant, by removing such pollutants from the isobutene-containing feedstock, for example by adsorption on solid adsorbents, such as active carbon, molecular sieves or ion exchangers.
Solvents or solvent mixture which are inert to the reagents used are suitable for the novel process. Suitable solvents are, for example, saturated hydrocarbons, such as butane, pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, e.g. n-hexane, i-octane, cyclobutane or cyclopentane, halogenated hydrocarbons, such as methyl chloride, dichloromethane or trichloromethane, and mixtures of the abovementioned compounds. Before they are used in the novel process, the solvents are preferably freed from impurities, such as water, carboxylic acids or mineral acid, for example by adsorption on solid adsorbents, such as active carbon, molecular sieves or ion exchangers.
Expediently gaseous boron trifluoride is used as a raw material for the preparation of the boron trifluoride complexes, it being possible to use technical-grade boron trifluoride still containing small amounts of sulfur dioxide and SiF4 (purity: 96.5% by weight), but preferably high-purity boron trifluoride (purity: 99.5% by weight).
Suitable cocatalysts are as a rule oxygen-containing compounds which preferably have at least one divalent oxygen atom. Suitable oxygen-containing compounds in addition to water are organic compounds of up to 30 carbon atoms. Examples of these are C1-C30-alkanols and cycloalkanols, C2-C10-diols, C1-C20-carboxylic acids, C4-C12-carboxylic anhydrides and C2-C20-dialkyl ethers. Preferred among these are monohydric alkanols of 1 to 20, in particular 1 to 4, carbon atoms, which if required can be used together with the C1-C20-dialkyl ethers. According to the invention, molar ratios of boron trifluoride to oxygen-containing compound in boron trifluoride complex catalysts are preferably from 1:1 to 1:10, in particular from 1:1.1 to 1:5, especially from 1:1.2 to 1:2.5. The BF3 concentration in the reactor is varied as a rule in the range from 0.01 to 1, in particular from 0.02 to 0.7, especially from 0.03 to 0.5, % by weight, based on the liquid reaction phase.
In the novel process, the oxygen-containing compound in the boron trifluoride complex catalyst particularly preferably comprises at least one monohydric, secondary alcohol A of 3 to 20 carbon atoms. Examples of suitable secondary alcohols are the following: isopropanol, 2-butanol and furthermore sec-pentanols, sec-hexanols, sec-heptanols, sec-octanols, sec-nonanols, sec-decanols and sec-tridecanols. In addition to monohydric secondary alcohols, (poly)etherols of propene oxide and of butene oxide can also be used according to the invention. 2-Butanol and in particular isopropanol are preferably used.
The polyisobutene prepared by the novel process generally contains more than 80 mol % of terminal vinylidene groups and has an average molecular weight of from 500 to 50,000, preferably from 500 to 5000. In particular, polyisobutenes having an average molecular weight of from 800 to 3000, particularly preferably from 900 to 2500, dalton can be specifically prepared by the novel process. The dispersity Mw/Mn is preferably not more than 1.6.
For working up, the reaction discharge is expediently passed into a medium with deactivates the polymerization catalyst and thus stops the polymerization. For example, water, alcohols, acetonitrile, ammonia or aqueous solutions of mineral bases or carbonates can be used for this purpose. Beforehand, the catalyst can also be separated off from the reaction stream according to WO 99/31151 and recycled to the polymerization reaction. For example, the boron trifluoride complex catalyst separated off in this way can be recycled to the polymerization reaction together with the cocatalyst via the novel binary nozzle.
When separating off the catalyst from the reactor discharge, it is advisable beforehand to reduce the isobutene concentration in the discharge to below 2, preferably 1, in particular below 0.5, % by weight, based on the discharge. For this purpose, the polymerization process is preferably carried out in two stages. This second polymerization stage is preferably operated at the same temperature as the first polymerization stage or at a lower polymerization temperature than the first polymerization stage. As a rule, the temperature difference is from 0 to 20, preferably from 0 to 10, Kelvin.
The further working up is carried out in a conventional manner. If necessary after one or more washes to remove catalyst, the polyisobutene is freed from unconverted isobutene, solvent and oligomers by distillation and can be removed from the distillation column as a bottom product.
The novel process permits very precise and rapid control of the isobutene polymerization, which leads to a narrower molecular weight distribution and a higher content of terminal vinylidene groups in the polymer. The energy liberated during the formation of the boron trifluoride complex is removed in the reaction stream, with the result that additional cooling in the catalyst feed is dispensed with. Producing the boron trifluoride complex catalyst directly in the reaction stream of the reactor furthermore dispenses with the apparatuses required in the case of the use of a BF3 complex prepared beforehand, for the preparation and storage of said complex.
Polyisobutenes having a narrow molecular weight distribution, characterized by a dispersity Mw/Mn of xe2x89xa62.0, preferably xe2x89xa61.8, in particular xe2x89xa61.6, and a high proportion, i.e. xe2x89xa760%, in particular xe2x89xa770%, of the terminal vinylidene groups, can be prepared by the novel process. The number average molecular weight of the polyisobutene thus prepared (determined by means of gel permeation chromatography against commercial polyisobutene standards) is preferably from 500 to 5000, in particular from 600 to 2000, dalton. It is of course also possible to prepare higher molecular weight polyisobutenes, i.e. having a number average molecular weight of from 5000 to 50,000 dalton and a comparably high terminal vinylidene group content and a comparable dispersity by the novel process.
The present invention furthermore relates to a binary nozzle suitable for the novel process. This binary nozzle has an outlet for BF3 and an outlet for oxygen-containing cocatalyst, the outlet for BF3 being in the form of a central, preferably circular or ellipsoidal orifice and the outlet for oxygen-containing cocatalyst being arranged in an annular manner around the outlet for BF3. The outlet provided for the cocatalyst may be, for example, in the form of an arc-shaped orifice which may be interrupted by one or more webs. The outlet provided for the cocatalyst may also be formed by a plurality of slots or orifices in the form of radially arranged arcs or arc segments. Preferably, the area of the outlet orifice for the catalyst is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the cocatalyst feed in the binary nozzle.
In an advantageous embodiment, a radial distance is provided between the outlet for BF3 and the outlet for oxygen-containing cocatalyst. The dimensioning of the radial distance depends on the dimensions and the type of reactor and on the conditions in the reaction stream, for example the flow rate, and can be determined by those skilled in the art by means of corresponding tests.

Method for the production of highly reactive polyisobutenes


The symmetrical properties of a group of vertices are leveraged to reconstruct the group using vertex data for a subset of the vertices and a set of control data. The subset of vertices is symmetrical to one or more other subsets of vertices in the group, and the control data includes information to reconstruct the one or more other subsets using the vertex data for the first set of vertices and symmetrical characteristics of the group. In some embodiments, reconstruction is performed using a geometry shader in a graphics processor to compute the additional vertices.

The present invention relates in general to computer graphics, and in particular to the use of the symmetrical characteristics of a set of vertices in rendering.
Many computer generated images are created by mathematically modeling the interaction of light with a three-dimensional (3D) scene from a given viewpoint and projecting the result onto a two-dimensional (2D) "screen." This process, called rendering, generates a 2D image of the scene from the given viewpoint and is analogous to taking a digital photograph of a real-world scene.
As the demand for computer graphics, and in particular for real-time computer graphics, has increased, computer systems with graphics processing subsystems adapted to accelerate the rendering process have become widespread. In these systems, the rendering process is often divided between a computer's general-purpose central processing unit (CPU) and a graphics processing subsystem. Typically, the CPU performs high-level operations, such as determining the position, motion, and collision of objects in a given scene. From these high-level operations, the CPU generates a set of rendering commands and data defining the desired rendered image (or images). Rendering commands and data can define scene geometry by reference to groups of vertices. Groups of points, lines, triangles and/or other simple polygons defined by the vertices may be referred to as "primitives." Each vertex may have attributes such as color, world space coordinates, texture-map coordinates, and the like. Rendering commands and data can also define other parameters for a scene, such as lighting, shading, textures, motion, and/or camera position. From the set of rendering commands and data, the graphics processing subsystem creates one or more rendered images. In a given image to be rendered, groups of vertices may be symmetrical to one another. Similarly, primitives (or subparts thereof) may be symmetrical to one another, as well.
Graphics processing subsystems typically use a stream, or pipeline, processing model, in which input elements are read and operated on successively by a chain of processing units. The output of one processing unit is the input to the next processing unit in the chain. A typical pipeline includes a number of processing units, which generate attribute values for the 2D or 3D vertices; create parameterized attribute equations for points in each primitive, and determine which particular pixels or sub-pixels are covered by a given primitive. Typically, data flows one way, "downstream," through the chain of units, although some processing units may be operable in a "multi-pass" mode, in which data that has already been processed by a given processing unit can be returned to that unit for additional processing.
The data sent to the graphics processing subsystem typically defines a set of vertices to be used in rendering the final image. However, the speed at which the entire set of vertices can be rendered through the pipeline may be limited by the available bandwidth to the GPU. Many computer graphics applications require complex, detailed models. As rendered scenes become more complex, they typically include a larger number of vertices. Due to the complexity of managing all vertices in a scene, more vertex data than is strictly necessary is typically sent through the pipeline. Processing bottlenecks can occur, for instance, if the system design does not provide sufficient bandwidth to communicate all of the vertices through various stages of the pipeline.
It is therefore desirable to send less vertex data through select parts of graphics pipeline, in order to decrease wasteful rendering operations, reduce the bandwidth requirements for communicating vertices and associated attributes, and improve rendering performance.

Utilization of symmetrical properties in rendering


An apparatus for providing skin care information, the apparatus including: an electrode unit supplying a voltage to a user's skin and detecting a current signal in the user's skin; a measurement control unit measuring the user's skin moisture content and sweat gland activity by using the detected current signal; a data calculation unit deriving skin moisture content information by using the skin moisture content and the sweat gland activity, and generating skin care information corresponding to the skin moisture content information; and an information provider providing the user with the generated skin care information is provided.

1. Field
Embodiments relate to a method, apparatus, and medium for providing skin care information, and more particularly, to a method, apparatus, and medium for providing skin care information, which can provide a user with more accurate skin care information via skin moisture content excluding a sweat gland activity by measuring an activity of a sweat gland corresponding to a sweat path when measuring the skin moisture content in a stratum corneum, and thereby estimating stress or an effect when the sweat gland activity affects the skin moisture content, and calculating the skin moisture content.
2. Description of the Related Art
As many people become interested in beauty, an interest in skin care has also increased. A desire for a healthy skin affects not only beauty-related businesses, but also affects the growth of medical-related businesses since people need to protect their skin from ultraviolet rays that have become stronger due to the destruction of the ozone layer, and various types of pollutions.
Skin is an organ of the integumentary system made up of multiple layers of epithelial tissues. Main functions of skin are protecting against pathogens, waterproofing, temperature regulation, insulation, and the like. One of the most critical elements to enable the proper performance of the functions of skin is moisture content in a stratum corneum. The moisture content in the stratum corneum is generally called a skin moisture content. When maintaining a particular moisture content in the stratum corneum, it is possible to perform basic functions of skin such as protecting against harmful substances like pathogens, and preventing excessive evaporation of skin moisture. In view of skin care, the skin moisture content is also considered as an essential element. Accordingly, fundamental to skin care is skin moisture management.
According to a conventional art, an electrical measurement method, an optical measurement method, and a method using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are included in a method of measuring skin moisture content. The electrical measurement method is widely used. More specifically, a method of measuring the skin moisture content by measuring susceptance, i.e. an alternating current (AC) component of admittance, of three electrodes using a sinusoidal wave of low frequency is generally used.
Although each skin portion has a different density, a sweat gland corresponding to a sweat path exists in the stratum corneum. Since the sweat gland contains a great amount of moisture, the sweat gland may affect the measurement of the skin moisture content. Thus, an apparatus for providing skin care information, which can reduce an effect of a sweat gland wherever skin moisture content is measured and which can accurately measure skin moisture content in only a stratum corneum when measuring the skin moisture content to provide a user with the user's skin state, is required.

Apparatus for providing skin care information by measuring skin moisture content and method and medium for the same


Polyvinyl acetal resin, use thereof as an adhesion promoting additive, method of producing same, and adhesive composition comprising same. An acrylate- or methacrylate-substituted polyvinyl acetal resin of formula I: ##STR1## wherein the weight percentages of the X, Y and Z groups are variable, R is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and. R.sub.1 is hydrogen atom or a methyl group, is described.. The resin of formula I is produced by acrylating or methacrylating a polyvinyl acetal resin of formula II: ##STR2## in which the weight percentages of the X', Y' and Z' groups are variable, particularly in the range 68 to 88% X, 6 to 19% Y' and 1 to 26% Z.. The compounds of formula I are used to promote adhesion of acrylate or methacrylate ester based adhesive compositions to polyester plastic substrates.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a substituted polyvinyl acetal resin, to use thereof as an additive for promoting adhesion of acrylate or methacrylate ester based products to polyester plastic substrates, and to a method of producing such an additive. The invention also relates to an adhesive composition for use on polyester plastic substrates.
2. Description of the Related Art
Adhesion of acrylate or methacrylate compositions to plastic substrates has long been a problem. Many approaches to overcoming this problem have been undertaken. The first approach concerns the alteration or modification of the plastic surface prior to application of the composition by, for example, etching with, for example, haloacids (U.S. Pat. No. 2,801,447, L. E. Wolinski), flame treatment (E. F. Buchel, British Plastics 37 (1964) p142), corona discharge treatment (J. C. Von der Heide & H. L. Wilson, Modern Plastics 38 9 (1961) p199), solvent treatments (R. M. Herman, Modern Plastics 39 5 (1962) p153) and high energy radiation treatments (Practising Polymer Surface Chemistry. D. Dwight, Chemtech. (March 1982) p166). Other approaches include the use of additives, for example, polyvinylacetate has been proposed for use as an additive with ultraviolet light curing acrylate or methacrylate compositions in U.S. Pat. No. 3996394, E. B. Harris.


A method of making a carbon nanotube structure includes providing an array of substantially aligned carbon nanotubes, wetting the array with a liquid, and evaporating the liquid to form the carbon nanotube structure having a pattern in the carbon nanotube array. The structure is preferably a carbon nanotube foam.

The present invention relates generally to the field of carbon nanotubes and specifically to carbon nanotube foams.
Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) have been produced by several different methods, including chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and laser ablation. These nanotubes are either grown as a layer of aligned nanotubes or as intertwined, randomly oriented bundles of nanotubes.
Carbon nanotubes have many potential applications due to their mechanical, electrical and electronic properties. However, the difficulty in assembling the nanotubes into desired complex architectures and patterns hinder some of these applications.

Carbon nanotube foam and method of making and using thereof


The invention relates to a method for the production of a rigid PIR foam composite containing man-made vitreous fibres (MMVF), the method comprising: providing MMVF, wherein at least 50% of the fibres by weight have a length of less than 250 μm; providing a polyol component; mixing the MMVF and polyol component in a ratio such that the amount of MMVF is at least 10% by weight based on total weight of polyol component; emulsifying pentane with the mixture of polyol component and MMVF; inducing foam formation by addition of a further component which comprises isocyanate.

It is known to provide rigid polyisocyanurate (PIR) foams for uses such as building insulation. Such foams are conventionally manufactured by the provision of a polyol component and an isocyanate component, one or both of these components optionally containing other ingredients such as surfactants, catalysts, etc., blending a blowing agent, often pentane, with the polyol component or the isocyanate component (usually the polyol component) and mixing the two in order to induce foaming.
It would be desirable to be able to improve the production efficiency of such methods, especially to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the step of mixing the pentane blowing agent with the polyol component.
Such pentane-blown PIR foams are commonly characterised by their lambda value, which is a measure of their thermal conductivity. A lower value of lambda is beneficial as it signifies lower thermal conductivity and consequently good insulation properties. Pentane-blown PIR foams can exhibit good insulation properties when first formed but there is a tendency for their insulation properties to deteriorate over time, either on storage or when in position for use. Namely, the value of lambda tends to increase. It would be desirable to be able to provide pentane-blown PIR foams which exhibit reduced deterioration in lambda value over time.
WO 2010/054317 describes a pentane-blown PIR foam. However, the method disclosed will suffer from the problem that polyols are difficult to mix with pentane owing to pentane's poor miscibility with polyols. This problem can be overcome by the addition of man-made vitreous fibres, according to the first aspect of the invention as described below.

Polyisocyanurate foam composites and their production and use


A technique is provided in which a soft landing system is used for connecting upper and lower assemblies in a wellbore. The soft landing system cushions the engagement of an upper well assembly with a lower well assembly and facilitates the controlled engagement of control line connectors. The controlled engagement limits or avoids damage to the control line connectors in well completion operations performed in two or more stages.

Many types of wells, e.g. oil and gas wells, are completed in two or more stages. For example, a lower completion assembly may be moved downhole initially on a running string. After deployment of the lower completion assembly at a desired location in the wellbore, an upper completion assembly is deployed downhole and engaged with the lower completion assembly.
Many well completions incorporate one or more control lines, such as optical, electrical or fluid control lines, to carry signals to or from components of the downhole completion. The completion of wells in two or more stages, however, can create difficulties in forming dependable and repeatable control line connections between adjacent completion assemblies.
The use of control lines may be complicated further by certain components utilized in the downhole completion as well as certain conditions found in the downhole environment. For example, during landing of the upper completion assembly into the lower completion assembly, control line connectors can be placed at risk.
Control lines and control line connectors can be more fragile and susceptible to damage during engagement of the upper and lower completion assemblies. The upper completion assembly, for example, can comprise relatively large components having substantial weight. The size and weight of the upper completion assembly creates difficulties in achieving sufficient control over movement of the assembly to ensure the connection of control lines without causing damage.


Device for concentrating and harvesting sunlight comprising: A panel having rigid layer having a patterned electrical circuit thereon. An array of sunlight concentrating and harvesting units, each unit being formed by at least one rigid element and a portion of the rigid layer; and including: a rigid optical concentrating element, a photovoltaic cell sandwiched within the panel for converting sunlight into electrical energy, and an electrical conductor. The electrical conductor being the primary heat sink for the photovoltaic cell, the photovoltaic cell being primarily cooled via conduction. The electrical conductor and the optical concentrating element being dimensioned and arranged within the unit such that the electrical conductor does not materially impede transmission of sunlight to the photovoltaic cell. The electrical conductor transmitting electrical and thermal energy received from the photovoltaic cell away from the unit.

One way to harvest solar energy is to use concentrated solar power systems such as concentrated photovoltaic systems that employ optical components to concentrate solar energy (sometimes to great degrees) onto photovoltaic cells. Compact optical systems and components for concentrating solar energy have been developed over the years. Some of these designs comprise a two-stage solar concentrator or collector in which a light focusing layer is optically coupled to a light redirecting layer. The redirecting layer includes a light-guide that guides the sunlight laterally within the light-guide towards a solar collector by total internal reflections with almost no loss of energy. Several examples are shown in United States Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0019942, entitled "Light-Guide Solar Panel and Method of Fabrication Thereof" which is assigned to the applicant of the present application.
One of the difficulties with concentrated photovoltaic systems is that a relatively significant amount of heat (thermal energy) is generated at the photovoltaic cell, which can reduce the efficiency of light-to-electricity conversion by the cell, and should be removed from the cell during operation of the device. In order to transfer this heat away from the cell, conventional concentrated photovoltaic systems typically have the photovoltaic cell on an outer surface of the device, attached a large heat sink. While such designs are adequate for their intended purpose, improvements in this area may nonetheless be desirable.

Sunlight concentrating and harvesting device


An allograft interspinous spacer for implantation into an interspinous space located between spinous process of adjacent vertebrae. The spacer preferably includes a body, a core and a plurality of deployable retainers. The body may be operatively associated with the plurality of deployable retainers. In use, after the body has been inserted into the interspinous space, the plurality of retainers is deployed so that they prevent migration of the spacer. The core is preferably sized and configured to be inserted and/or moved into operatively engagement with the body to deploy the plurality of retainers.

A human vertebra has a rearwardly projecting portion known as a spinous process. Bending of the spine can cause the spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae to move toward each other. This may, in some people, constrict the space in the spinal canal and foramina and, thus, may cause pain. Such constriction, which is known as stenosis, can be treated by the implantation of an interspinous spacer into the space between adjacent spinous processes.
Current interspinous spacers are typically constructed of separate pieces which require insertion from opposite sides of the spine, in a posterior approach, and necessitate rather large incisions, cutting both left and right thoracolumbar fascia as well as stripping the multifidus muscles from their attachments.
It is desirable to provide an interspinous spacer for implantation between spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae which can be laterally inserted in a first configuration through a single opening in a minimally invasive approach and which may then be deployed to a second configuration to maintain the spacer in position between the adjacent spinous processes.
In addition, current interspinous spacers are typically constructed from a metallic material such as, for example, titanium or a titanium alloy, or a polymer. However, in some cases of fractured or otherwise damaged bones, bone grafts may be used to repair or otherwise treat a damaged area. In the United States alone, approximately half a million bone grafting procedures are performed annually, directed to a diverse array of medical interventions for complications such as fractures involving bone loss, injuries or other conditions necessitating immobilization by fusion (such as for the spine or joints), and other bone defects that may be present due to trauma, infection, or disease. Bone grafting involves the surgical transplantation of pieces of bone within the body, and generally is effectuated through the use of graft material acquired from a human source. Human graft material is primarily utilized due to the limited applicability of xenografts, e.g., transplants from another species.
Some orthopedic procedures involve the use of allografts, which are bone grafts from other human sources (normally cadavers). Allografts, for example, are placed in a host bone and serve as the substructure for supporting new bone tissue growth from the host bone.
Manufacturing a bone-derived spacer however has its difficulties. For example, the various bones of the human body such as the femur (thigh), tibia and fibula (leg), humerus (upper arm), radius and ulna (lower arm) have geometries that vary considerably. The lengths of these bones are varied, as well as the shape of the cross section of each type of bone and the shape of any given bone over its length. In addition, the wall thickness may vary in different areas of the cross-section of each bone. Thus, the use of any given bone to produce a spacer or a component of a spacer may be a function of the donor bone's dimensions and geometry. Machining of bones, however, may permit the production of a spacer or a component of a spacer with standardized or custom dimensions.
Thus, it is desirable to provide a safe and effective interspinous spacer that can be manufactured from bone, laterally insertable via a minimally invasive surgical technique and once positioned, deployable to maintain the interspinous spacer in position.