An adjustable gas block for a gas operated firearm is provided that offers the user a means by which the volume of gas being directed to the host rifle's operating system can be adjusted. The adjustable gas block provides two positions of adjustment, with the position of use being selected based on whether or not a back pressure increasing device, such as a noise suppressor or a silencer, is mounted on the firearm. A first position provides the optimal volume of gas into the gas operating system for it to operate properly based on its factory configuration and in the absence of a back pressure increasing device. A second position is available for use when the back pressure is increased due to the presence of a back pressure increasing device. The second position exposes a port through which a portion of the volume of gas from the barrel is vented into a secondary chamber prior to being released into the atmosphere. By venting a portion of the gas into a secondary chamber, the amount of gas received by the operating system is reduced to a volume that is substantially equal to the volume of gas that would be received by the operating system in the absence of a back pressure increasing device. No tools are required to select either of the positions provided by the gas block.

1. Field of Invention
This present invention generally relates to autoloading firearms, specifically to gas blocks for autoloading firearms which facilitate user adjustment to change the volume of gas that flows between the barrel and the operating system.
2. Description of the Related Art
The need to regulate the flow of gas between the barrel and operating system of a firearm has been a concern since the invention of autoloading firearms. Gas is generated during the combustion of gun powder present in the cartridges used in firearms. This gas expands violently to push the bullet out of the firearm's barrel. These expanding gases are also utilized as a means to operate the action of the host firearm. In modern firearms, the preferred method of facilitating the function of an autoloading weapon is as follows. A hole, or gas port, is placed through the barrel, generally on the top. Location of the gas port varies between operating systems and gas port size is chosen to allow a broad range of ammunition to be utilized while guaranteeing the reliable function of the host firearm. Unfortunately, due to varying lengths of barrels, ammunition variance, and other factors, it is very difficult to choose a gas port size which universally works under all conditions. A popular way of compensating for these problems is to incorporate an adjustable gas block into the operating system.
Traditionally, adjustable gas blocks have been used with autoloading rifles as a means to collect, restrict, and direct the flow of gas from the barrel into the gas operating system. By controlling the amount of gas directed into the operating system, reliable operation of the host firearm is ensured while also ensuring that recoiling parts are not actuated with undue force resulting in malfunctions or premature wear and breakage of parts.
In response to military request and an increased interest in both civilian and police markets, recent firearm designs have incorporated adjustable gas blocks designed to be used in conjunction with noise suppressors or silencers. Noise suppressors provide a means to redirect and expand the gases generated from the discharge of a firearm so that the resulting flash and sound generated by the firearm is minimized or eliminated. As a result, back pressure is generated, forcing more gas into the firearm's operating system. This extra gas, or back pressure, increases the firing rate of a weapon when operating at full auto, fouls the weapon leading to premature malfunction, can cause a variety of feeding and extraction problems, and causes premature wear on the reciprocating parts of the operating system. As a result, regulating the flow of gas into a firearm's operating system and optimizing that flow for use with and without a noise suppressor has become a primary purpose of modern adjustable gas blocks.
Prior art adjustable gas blocks can, in general, be characterized by the design disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,748,662. Common in the prior art is the use of an oversized gas port located on the barrel which is in communication with the gas block and gas operating system of the host firearm. The adjustable gas block is provided with an indexing means that also turns a gas cylinder, or analogous structure. The gas cylinder has a series of openings, or ports, of differing size such that, when different ports are aligned with the port of the barrel, the flow of gas from the barrel into the operating system is thereby regulated. By rotating the gas cylinder with the provided indexing means, the user is able to select the most appropriate gas flow setting based on the ammunition being used, use of a rifle grenade or the presence of a noise suppressor.
Prior art designs typically rely on the use of tools to adjust the position of the gas cylinder, an inconvenient requirement for civilian, law enforcement and military users alike. Further, many prior art designs are subject to carbon build up between the rotating gas cylinder and the gas block housing. The carbon build up can cause the gas cylinder to become locked up, making rotation very difficult without frequent maintenance. In consideration of these and other deficiencies found in the prior art, a new manner of constructing and operating an adjustable gas block is needed.

Adjustable gas block for a gas operated firearm


A new and distinct Echinacea plant named ‘Secret Love’ characterized by enlarged disc florets forming an anemone-type inflorescence, red disc and ray florets, a medium sized, mounding habit with good stem count and branching, and excellent vigor.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea and given the cultivar name 'Secret Love'. Echinacea is in the family Asteraceae. This new cultivar is a fifth generation seeding originating from a planned breeding program using Echinacea paradoxa (an unpatented plant) as the seed parent in the original cross and Echinacea purpurea 'Ruby Giant' (an unpatented plant) as the pollen parent. The exact parents of this selection are unknown, unnamed, proprietary plants.
Compared to Echinacea 'Hot Papaya' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,022), the new cultivar has inflorescences that are red rather than orangey red. The new cultivar has a shorter habit and the inflorescences are smaller with shorter and tighter disc florets.
Compared to the photo of Echinacea 'Eccentric' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,979) viewed online, the new cultivar has shorter ray florets.
Compared to Echinacea 'Cinnamon Cupcake' (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/573,341), the new cultivar is taller.
This new Echinacea cultivar is distinguished by:                1. enlarged disc florets forming an anemone-type inflorescence,        2. red disc and ray florets,        3. a medium sized, mounding habit with good stem count and branching, and        4. excellent vigor
This new cultivar has been reproduced only by asexual propagation (division and tissue culture). Each of the progeny exhibits identical characteristics to the original plant. Asexual propagation by division and tissue culture using standard micropropagation techniques with terminal and lateral shoots, as done in Canby, Oreg., shows that the foregoing characteristics and distinctions come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding propagations. The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.


Insert nut for a screw nut joint of the type which comprises a substantially rectangular block, of which the short side substantially corresponds to the width of the outer groove portion in a T-formed groove, which outer groove portion is delimited by side flanges in a profile or the like and which inner groove portion is expanded relative to the outer groove portion. The long side of the insert nut substantially corresponds to the width of the inner groove portion, and which nut by rotation can be transversally positioned and be brought into contact with the underside of the side flanges of the groove. The nut is designed with a substantially quadratic shoulder section, which is arranged concentric with the threaded hole of the nut, and with substantially the same width as the short side of the nut. The shoulder section is intended to cooperate with the side edges of the outer groove portion, and it is divided in the vertical direction in a lower quadratic portion and an upper quadratic portion designed with two diametrically opposed rounded corners.

The present invention relates to an insert nut for a screw nut joint of the type which comprises a substantially rectangular block, of which the short side substantially corresponds to the width of the outer groove portion in a T-formed groove, which outer groove portion is delimited by side flanges in a profile or the like and which inner groove portion is expanded relative to the outer groove portion, whereby the long side of the insert nut substantially corresponds to the width of the inner groove portion, and which nut by rotation can be transversally positioned and be brought into contact with the underside of the side flanges of the groove.
Insert nuts and screw nut joints of the above-described type are prior known through for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,116,161 and FR 2132645. Both cases are related to so-called parallelogram nuts, which after insertion in the groove can be rotated to a transverse position and maintain in that transverse position during tightening of the screw. Often, the insert nut is hidden by the part in which the screw is arranged and it is difficult to know with certainty that the nut has reach its optimal locking position. During displacement of the nut along the groove, the screw can rotate, whereby the nut to a certain extent can be part of this rotation and be forced out of its locking position. A similar type of nut can also be found in EP 0 478 928, although the document focuses on the threads of the nut, which threads are partly incomplete so that the screw during tightening in the nut is cutting threading for a more reliable locking of the screw in the nut.
Further, the document U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,355 describes a device at an insert nut, which device can hold the nut in position when the screw is screwed into the nut, so that the nut does not lose its position in the groove. The design that is being described to solve this holding is complicated, especially regarding manufacturing, as it comprises several parts which are intended to cooperate with each other.
The object of the present invention is to provide an insert nut which nut during rotation of the screw is always brought into its optimal, transverse position. Another object of the invention is to provide an insert nut that maintains in its transverse position, even when the nut is displaced along the groove.
These objects have been solved in that the nut is designed with a substantially quadratic shoulder section, which is arranged concentric with the threaded hole of the nut, and with substantially the same width as the short side of the nut, which shoulder section is intended to cooperate with the side edges of the outer groove portion, and that the shoulder section is divided in the vertical direction in a lower quadratic portion and an upper quadratic portion designed with two diametrically opposed rounded corners.


Novel radiolabeled cholecystokinin-A (CCK-A) antagonists have been developed which, after intravenous injection, localize in the pancreas as a result of specific binding to CCK-A receptors. These tracers, when labeled with appropriate radiohalogens, are useful as commercial diagnostic imaging radiopharmaceuticals and radiotherapeutic drugs.

Noninvasive, nuclear imaging techniques can be used to obtain basic and diagnostic information about the physiology and biochemistry of a variety of living subjects including experimental animals, normal humans, and patients. These techniques rely on the use of sophisticated imaging instrumentation which is capable of detecting radiation emitted from radiotracers administered to such living subjects. The information obtained can be reconstructed to provide planar and tomographic images which reveal the distribution of the radiotracer as a function of time. Use of appropriately designed radiotracers can result in images which contain information on structure (low resolution), function, and most importantly, physiology and biochemistry of the subject. Much of this information cannot be obtained by any other means. The radiotracers used in these studies are designed to have defined behaviors in vivo which permit the determination of specific information concerning the physiology or biochemistry of the subject or of the effect that various diseases or drugs have on the physiology or biochemistry of the subject. Currently, radiotracers are available for obtaining useful information concerning such things as cardiac function, myocardial blood flow, lung perfusion, liver function, brain blood flow, regional brain glucose, and oxygen metabolism. A major effort has been made over the past 30 years to develop radiotracers to image the pancreas with little success (see Tothill, p., Heading, R.C., Shearman, D.J.C. In: Radiopharmaceuticals and Labelled Compounds, proceedings of a symposium, Copenhagen, March 1973, 1:26-30).
A variety of radiotracers have been proposed for pancreatic imaging including compounds labeled with either positron or gamma emitting nuclides. For imaging, the most commonly used positron emitting radiotracers are .sup.11 C, .sup.18 F, .sup.15 O, and .sup.13 N, all of which are accelerator produced, and have half-lives of 20, 110, 10, and 2 min respectively. Since the half-lives of these radionuclides are so short, it is only feasible to use them at institutions which have an accelerator on site for their production, limiting their use to approximately 25 medical centers in the U.S. and only about 50 throughout the world. Several gamma emitting radiotracers are available which can be used by essentially any hospital in the U.S. and in most hospitals throughout the world. The most widely used of these are .sup.99m Tc, .sup.201 T1, and .sup.123 I. .sup.201 T1 is a monovalent cation which is used for measuring myocardial blood flow. Both .sup.99m Tc and .sup.123 I can be incorporated into a variety of radiotracers and are widely used in most modern hospitals. .sup.99m Tc is generator produced, has a 6 hour half life, and emits a 140 keV gamma photon which makes this radionuclide photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) cameras. .sup.99m Tc is a transition metal which forms a wide variety of complexes with molecules containing coordinating ligands (e.g. molecules with free thiol, amine, carboxyl functional groups). .sup.99m Tc labeled compounds have been developed for many diagnostic imaging applications, such as functional studies (e g. cardiac, renal, liver) and perfusion studies (myocardial, brain, lung). The design of these tracers is complicated and not relevant to the present invention.
.sup.123 I is also nearly ideal for use with planar and SPECT cameras. It is accelerator produced, has a 13 hour half-life, and emits a 159 keV gamma photon which is efficiently detected by both planar and SPECT cameras. The most important advantage .sup.123 I has as a radiotracer for imaging applications is its ability to form covalent bonds with carbon which, in many cases, are stable in vivo and which have well understood effects on physiochemical properties of small molecules.
In the past few years, one of the most active areas of nuclear medicine research has been in the development of receptor imaging radiotracers. These tracers bind with high affinity and specificity to selective hormone and neuroreceptors. Successful examples include radiotracers for imaging the following receptors: estrogen, muscarinic, dopamine D1 and D2, and opiate. These tracers are useful for obtaining information on receptor distribution and concentration as well as on regional blood flow. Most of this work has focused on positron emitting radiotracers. However, .sup.123 I has been used to label small molecules to yield several radiotracers useful for receptor imaging; successful examples include 3 iodoquinuclidinyl benzilate and iodo-dexetimide for muscarinic receptors, iodo estradiol for estrogen receptors, and (S)-3-([.sup.125 I]-iodo-N-[(1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)]methyl-2-hydroxy-6-methoxybenzamide for dopamine-D2 receptors.

Gamma emitting, CCK-A antagonists for pancreatic imaging


A photovoltaic power system includes module strings each having photovoltaic modules connected in series. The power system further includes a generator terminal box having DC converters. The power system further includes a generator main connection line and an AC inverter. Each module string is electrically connected to a respective one of the DC converters for the module string to provide a DC voltage generated by the photovoltaic modules of the module string to the respective DC converter. The DC converters output a combined DC voltage based on the DC voltages from the module strings to the AC inverter via the generator main connection line for the AC inverter to transform the combined DC voltage into an AC voltage. The generator terminal box and the AC converter are spatially separate from one another.

DE 199 19 766 A1 and DE 101 36 147 B4 describe photovoltaic power systems such as the photovoltaic power system subject of the Technical Field.
A typical photovoltaic power system includes photovoltaic modules (e.g., solar cells), DC ("direct current") voltage converters (i.e., DC/DC converters), and an AC ("alternating current") inverter. Sets of the photovoltaic modules are connected in series and form module strings. Each photovoltaic module converts sunlight into a DC voltage. Each module string generates a combined DC voltage from the DC voltages of the photovoltaic modules in the module string. The module strings provides their combined DC voltages to respective ones of the DC voltage converters. The DC voltage converters match the voltage amplitudes of the combined DC voltages with the AC inverter. The DC voltage converters output the matched combined DC voltages to the AC inverter for transformation by the AC inverter into an AC voltage. The AC voltage from the AC inverter can be fed into the network of a local energy supplier.
Larger photovoltaic power systems include a generator terminal box. Individual connection lines of the module strings are brought in the generator terminal box and connected together with a generator main connection line. The generator main connection line directly leads to an AC inverter. In addition to required connecting terminals, the generator terminal box can include string fuses, string diodes, and/or a string monitoring capability.
Typically, the DC voltage converters are designed either to be subordinate to the module strings (as indicated in DE 101 36 147 B4) or components of the AC inverter (according to the representation of DE 199 19 766 A1). As will be explained with the aid of the drawings that follow, such known arrangements have various drawbacks which are minimized by the present invention.


An interface between a memory tester and a memory includes, in order, an inverter and digital line driver, a short section of coaxial cable, an impedance matching resistor, a level shifter (which may be omitted if the tester and the memory operate at a common voltage), an analog line driver, a long section of coaxial cable, and a final impedance matching resistor. Very high frequency memory interrogation is supported.

The memory of a computer is often subjected to a hostile environment: neutrons, gamma radiation, heat, shock, and the like. It is important to know how well the memory has retained its information. It is therefore important to be able to test the memory after it has failed. The tester, however, should not be in the hostile environment. The partially damaged memory is therefore removed from the hostile environment and plugged into the tester in a benign environment.
This test method is not entirely satisfactory. For one thing, it is necessary for some one or some thing to enter the hostile environment in order to remove the memory, and this is, by definition, unsafe. For another, the tester can determine which bits of the memory have undergone permanent damage, but temporary damage evaluation is beyond its capability. For a third, the tester is unable to determine exactly what the status of each of a fairly large number of bits is, microsecond by microsecond, as an environmental assault (such as, for example, a shock wave) passes through the memory.
It is possible to place the tester at a remote location, so that it will not be subjected to the same hostile environment or assault, and to test the memory as the assault passes through the memory. However, a long cable must then be extended from the memory to the tester, and this causes problems in itself. The output signals of the typical computer memory were never intended to be sent over great distances, but only to the next chip, or to the next circuit board at the most. The output signals are therefore degraded in and by the cable, and the tester cannot extract as much meaningful information as is desired.

Real time, hostile environment, memory tester interface


A pneumatic fixing machine has a piston (30) sliding within a cylinder (33), a first valve (5) movable between opening (L) and closing (D) positions, in correspondence of which the first valve connects an inlet portion (33a) of the cylinder (33) with either a feed of pressurized fluid or with an external outlet, respectively. A second valve (2) is operated by a trigger (7), the second valve being movable between an occlusion position (M) and a passage position (L) to either connect a first duct (9) and a base portion (5a) of the first valve (5) with the feed of pressurized fluid or with an external outlet. The machine (1) has a third valve (3) movable between a position of obstruction (N) and a crossing position (Q) to either cut off or to open a flow connection between the duct (9) and the first valve means (5), respectively, and a fourth valve (4) operated by the trigger (7), the fourth valve being movable between a block position (S) and a transit position (T), to either obstruct flow or allow free flow between the cylinder (33) and the third valve (3).

There are known machines as staplers e/o riveting compressed air machines provided with valves and control and regulation means allowing the single hit or automatic repetition operation or the release of a single fixing mean, for instance a metallic staple, a pin, a nail, etc., or the release of a plurality of such fixing means in sequence, with different timing.
The actuating of the two different modalities is generally obtained by partially or completely, up the stop, pressing the trigger of the utensil or pressing two separate triggers or pushers.
Such trigger or pusher, in fact, subsequently crushes two separate command pivots placed side by side, that act on respective pneumatic valves.
Typically, partially pressing the trigger, is obtained the single hit operating, and the automating working pressing it to the stop of the stroke.
A disadvantage of such type of operation consists in the excessive sensibility and attention required to the operator for pressing the trigger, in order to avoid to unintentionally and unawares operate the automatic operation rather than the single hit.
They are also known staplers machines in which the trigger commands only the automatic operation of the machine that can be inhibited to have the single hit through the operation of a pusher or button, that it operates an opportune pneumatic circuit.
In this case, the disadvantage resides in the discomfort of employment of the machine, because the operator is forced, to get the single hit, to press the trigger with the index and contemporarily the button with the thumb of the same hand, by realizing a non optimal handling and, therefore, inadequate firm and sure of the utensil.
In the known stapler machines, the fixing means are hammered in the piece to be worked through a beating blade, that is powered by an compressed air piston.
The piston is brought then in the initial position through the opening e/o closing of opportune valves or other pneumatic organs, typically distributors or exchangers automatically or manually commuted.
A drawback of such known machines consists in their structural and constructive complexity, that comprises numerous parts and components, resulting therefore expensive to build and to assemble.


The present invention provides a system and method for measuring downhole parameters within a SAGD system. The system includes one or more downhole sensors that are positioned at least within a heel portion of a long production tubing string. Positioning the system within the long production tubing string avoids pulling the sensors to surface each time that the short production tubing string is worked over. The system comprises a ported sub that is threadably connected as part of the long production tubing string. When the tubing string is in a desired position, the ported sub is near the heel portion of the production well. The system further comprises a pumpable sleeve that carries the instrument line downhole into the ported sub. When the pumpable sleeve lands in the ported sub, the instrument line detects information regarding downhole parameters at the heel portion of the production well.

Oil production companies extract heavy oil by surface mining or various known in situ techniques. Heavy oil is used herein to refer to oil and/or bitumen that are trapped within oil sands and other forms of petroleum hydrocarbons that demonstrate high viscosities under normal reservoir conditions. One known in situ technique is steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD).
In a typical SAGD project, two parallel wellbores are drilled from respective surface wellheads into a target reservoir that contains the heavy oil. The target reservoir can be multiple hundreds of meters below the surface. The two wellbores deviate from a generally vertical orientation through a turn section and then the paired wellbores extend substantially horizontally though the targeted reservoir. The section of the wellbore that includes the turn section may be referred to as the heel of the wellbore. The end of the horizontal section that is furthest from the wellhead may be referred to as the toe of the wellbore. The horizontal sections of the two wellbores are typically separated by a several meters, for example around 5 meters, with an upper horizontal wellbore section and a lower horizontal wellbore section.
The wellbores may then be completed with various types of casing and liners to form two completed wells.
Steam is injected into the wellhead that terminates in the upper horizontal wellbore within the target reservoir for thermally mobilizing the heavy oil. This well may be referred to as the injection well. The steam exits the injection well and decreases the viscosity of the heavy oil in the surrounding target reservoir. The less viscous hydrocarbons are then mobilized and flow, under gravity, into the lower well. The lower well is referred to as the production well. The production well typically includes an artificial lift system to pump the collected hydrocarbons, gas, produced water and condensed steam up to surface. The artificial lift systems typically include a downhole pump that is located at or near the heel of the production well.
Within the injection well and the production well, further substantially parallel strings of tubulars may be included. For example, a long tubing string may extend from the wellhead to terminate at or near the toe of the well. The long string provides unrestricted access to the toe of the well. Additionally, a short tubing string may extend from the wellhead and terminate at or near the heel of the well. In this arrangement, steam can be introduced into the toe of the injection well by an injection long tubing string and steam can be introduced in the heel of the injection well by an injection short tubing string. Steam may also be circulated between the long and short injection strings. Similarly, there can be a long production tubing string and a short production tubing string. Typically, the long production string and the short production strings are used to circulate steam within the injection well during start up, which is prior to an injection and production phase.
Some target reservoirs are deep enough below the surface and have sufficient reservoir pressure to produce heavy oil in a free-flowing phase that does not require a downhole pump. In these reservoirs, operators may use a concentric arrangement of the long producing tubing string positioned within the short production string. This concentric arrangement may be used until such time that the reservoir pressure decreases and an artificial lift system is required. At this point, the long production string may be pulled up hole and then reinserted in the parallel arrangement described above and the short string may also be pulled uphole to add the artificial lift system.
Operators of SAGD projects typically detect and measure various downhole parameters, such as pressure and temperature, within the injection well and/or the production well. Some of the known techniques and sensory apparatus for obtaining information regarding the downhole parameters include, but are not limited to: use of blanket gas; bubble tubes; various types of mechanical, electromagnetic and strain gauges; mineral insulated thermocouples; fiber optic cables which may act as sensors; fiber optic cables which may include further separate sensors; or combinations thereof. The information regarding the downhole parameters may be obtained from both of the heel and the toe of the production well.
The measured downhole parameters are used to assist in the operation of the downhole pump within the production well. For example, a pressure sensor that detects changes in a head pressure of a fluid column above the heel of the production well and can provide an indication as to the fluid levels within the production well. If the artificial lift system's pump output is too high, then the fluid levels within the production well may decrease, which may ultimately cause the downhole pump to burnout. Furthermore, if the pump output is too high that may cause the cold point between the injection well and the production well to creep downwards towards the production well. This creep may increase the changes of a steam flash, which can damage the production liner within the production well.
To obtain the measured information regarding the downhole parameters, an instrument line that includes one or more sensors can be inserted into the long production tubing string for detecting and measuring downhole parameters at the toe of the production well. Measurements from the heel of the production well provide pressure and temperature data that is captured in close proximity to the artificial lift system. The sensors for capturing downhole parameter measurements from the heel of the production well are typically externally connected to the outer surface of the short production tubing. However, for various reasons, the short production tubing string often requires one or more work-over procedures. For example, the short production tubing string may have to be pulled out of the production well because downhole pumps often require replacement and maintenance. In order to perform such replacement and maintenance, the downhole pump portion must be pulled up to surface and this work-over procedure can often times damage the sensors that are externally fixed on the short production tubing. Furthermore, the externally connected sensors require external connectors for securing the sensors to the outer surface of the short production tubing string. The external connectors often also get damaged and require replacement during any work over of the short production tubing string.

System for measuring downhole parameters and a method of using same


According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a power transmitter and controlling circuitry. The electronic apparatus is connectable with a first wireless communicator conforming to a first wireless communication scheme. The power transmitter supplies power to one or more apparatuses at one of a first beam pattern and a second beam pattern. The control circuitry sets a first power supply period on a first condition that the first power supply period is prohibited to overlap with a communication period of the first wireless communicator if the power is supplied at the first beam pattern, and sets a second power supply period on a second condition that the second power supply period is allowed to at least partially overlap with the communication period if the power is supplied at the second beam pattern.

Wireless power supply is a technique of achieving power transmission, without any cable, through electromagnetic induction, magnetic field resonance, radio waves or the like. The wireless power supply negates the need of physical connection between devices. Accordingly, the convenience is high. Furthermore, the risks of electric leakage and electric shocks are reduced. Accordingly, the safety can be secured. Because of these advantages, the wireless power supply has been becoming widespread, specifically in mobile and vehicle-mounting fields.
Various schemes for wireless power supply have been developed. There is an object to realize efficient power supply schemes that achieve reduction in charge time, increase in transmittable power, and a high transmission efficiency.
In a case of microwave power supply as wireless power supply, coexistence with WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) that uses a microwave band is required. For example, in a frequency band higher than the WLAN, the microwave power supply is performed through non-modulated wave, i.e., continuous waves (CWs). Unfortunately, even if a band different from the WLAN band is used, there is a possibility that high-power transmission interferes with the WLAN in a close frequency band.

Electronic apparatus, system and power supply method


There are provided a display apparatus and a display method, with which compressed image data that is to be decompressed can be transmitted to the display apparatus in an environment in which a transmission capacity is not always secured, and good image display is realized. An example of the display apparatus is an active matrix display apparatus formed by using thin-film transistors formed on an insulating substrate. In the active matrix display apparatus, a circuit that receives an image data signal from an external system via a non-contact transmission path and amplifies the image data signal, a circuit that processes the image data signal, and a memory circuit that stores the processed image data are integrated on the insulating substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a structure of a display apparatus using thin-film transistors that are formed by making use of a crystalline semiconductor thin film that is formed on an insulating substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
An active-matrix flat-panel display using thin-film transistors is known as a display apparatus for OA equipment, etc., which displays image information and character information. In recent years, with a development of multi-media communication technology, a function-integrated display that is called "system-on-panel" has attracted attention as a next-generation display. This new type of display has a small size and light weight for personal use, and has high resolution and high image quality. In addition, peripheral functional components, such as driver circuits, a memory circuit, a DA converter circuit and an image processing circuit, which relate to image display, are integrated on the display panel.
This display apparatus for use in personal computers, etc., however, adopts a display scheme wherein an image signal, which is obtained by decompressing compressed data, is received and displayed. To be more specific, a system apparatus such as a personal computer, which is constructed separately from the display panel, decompresses compressed data that relates to an image to be displayed, thereby generating bitmap data. The bitmap data is stored in a video memory within the system apparatus. The bitmap data corresponding to each display bit, which is stored in the video memory, is successively transmitted from an LCD (liquid crystal display) controller within the system apparatus to the display apparatus. On the display apparatus side, the transmitted data is latched on a line-by-line basis, and the data is output from a data driver circuit. Thus, an image is displayed on a line-by-line basis.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a liquid crystal display apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof. A display apparatus 100 includes a pair of transparent substrates 121 and 122 formed of, e.g. glass plates, a liquid crystal layer 123, a plurality of pixel electrodes 124, scan lines 125, signal lines 126, a counter-electrode 127, and a plurality of thin-film transistors 130. As is shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, the liquid crystal layer 123 is disposed between the paired transparent substrates 121 and 122. The plural pixel electrodes 124, which are disposed in a matrix in row and column directions, and the plural thin-film transistors 130, which are connected to the associated pixel electrodes 124, are provided on one of the transparent substrates, 122. Each pixel electrode 124 and each thin-film transistor 130 are connected to the associated scan line 125 and signal line 126. Each scan line 125 is connected to a scan line drive circuit 141, and each signal line 126 is connected to a signal line drive circuit 142. The scan line drive circuit 141 and signal line drive circuit 142, which are formed on the substrate 122, are connected to the LCD controller 143 within the system apparatus 145, which is connected to the display apparatus 100 via a transmission line 144 that is formed of a signal cable. The scan line drive circuit 141 receives a vertical scan control signal YCT from the LCD controller 143, and the signal line drive circuit 142 receives a pixel video signal Vpix as bitmap data, and a vertical scan control signal XCT from the LCD controller 143.
In the above-described structure, if the definition and the number of colors of an image to be displayed increase, the amount of transmission data, such as pixel video signals Vpix, increase accordingly. On the other hand, since the refresh rate for image display is constant, the clock frequency of the transmission line 144, which is formed of the signal cable, needs to be increased in accordance with the increase in amount of data. If the frequency of the transmission line 144 increases, there arises such a problem that undesirable electromagnetic radiation occurs from the transmission line and noise is produced in the external apparatus due to electromagnetic interference (EMI). To solve this problem, a technique of reducing EMI by differential driving with low voltage, which is known as LVDS (Low Voltage Differential Signaling), has been adopted. An example of this technique is disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2002-176350.
In the above-described structure wherein the display apparatus 100 and the LCD controller 143 that is provided in the system apparatus 145 are connected via the transmission line 144 that is composed of the signal cable, special consideration needs to be paid to the design of the transmission line in order to reduce EMI from the transmission line. In a desktop computer, for instance, the LCD controller 143 and display apparatus 100 need to be connected by a dedicated shield cable that is designed to prevent unnecessary radiation. In a notebook computer, the display apparatus 100 and LCD controller 143 are disposed in a single casing and they are connected by a short flexible cable. That is, in this technique, it is necessary that the transmission line between the LCD controller 143 and display apparatus 100 be designed to have a data transmission rate enough to transmit image data that is to be displayed. Hence, in order to display an image on the display apparatus 100, there is no choice but to dispose the LCD controller 143 near the display apparatus 100. It is thus difficult to use the computer in such a way that the light-weight display apparatus alone is moved and made to display an image at a place where image display needs to be performed.
This type of display apparatus, however, is not adaptable to such a future ubiquitous computing environment that computers are used anywhere, anytime. The anywhere, anytime use means that the transmission line with a sufficient performance is not always secured.
As stated above, there is such a problem that the display apparatus 100 that requires a very high clock frequency for transmitting bitmap data is not easily adaptable to the environment, such as a wireless transmission system, where a sufficient transmission capacity is not always secured.
An object of the present invention is to provide a display apparatus wherein, for example, compressed image information, which is to be decompressed subsequently, can be transmitted to the display apparatus in such an environment where a sufficient transmission capacity is not always secured, and good image display is enabled.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a structure of a thin-film transistor for realizing a display apparatus that meets the above demand at low cost.

Image display apparatus using thin-film transistors

Advanced LCD Technologies Development Center Co., Ltd.


A traveling apparatus is provided. The traveling apparatus includes: a driver configured to independently drive two wheels disposed in parallel; a chassis configured to connect the two wheels; a detector provided in the chassis configured to detect a posture angle of the chassis, rotating speed of the two wheels being set respectively based on information on the detected posture angle; and an empty vehicle controller configured to control a posture of a vehicle to stand the vehicle independently in a state of no rider on board. The empty vehicle controller limits or controls the posture angle at the start of the posture control of the vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a traveling apparatus that is suitable for use in the case where posture control is performed on a parallel two-wheeled vehicle to stand the vehicle independently and a method of controlling the parallel two-wheeled vehicle. Specifically, in the case where the vehicle is in an empty state and in a transition state between the empty state and a riding state, an unnecessary behavior of the vehicle can be prevented so that a rider easily gets on and drops off the vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,091, for example, discloses a parallel two-wheeled vehicle of related art, in which posture control of the vehicle is performed by detecting an inclination of the vehicle using a plurality of gyroscopes.
In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-006435 discloses a vehicle in which both posture control and travel control are stably performed against a load weight change.
However, in the above-described patent references, there is no description about the technology to stably operate the vehicle when the vehicle is in the empty state and in the transition state between the empty state and the riding state.

Traveling apparatus and method of controlling parallel two-wheeled vehicle


An overdrive apparatus applied to a display system is provided. The overdrive apparatus includes an indication unit, an access circuit and a plurality of memories. The indication unit provides an indication signal corresponding to a scan line of an image frame. The access unit reads a first overdrive table from a first memory among the memories, and loads a second overdrive table to a second memory among the memories according to the indication signal. The first overdrive table and the second overdrive table respectively correspond to a first region and a second region of the image frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to an overdrive apparatus and associated method applied to a display system, and more particularly to overdrive apparatus and associated method that provides different overdrive tables for different scan lines of an image frame through a simple memory arrangement.
2. Description of the Related Art
A display system, e.g., an LCD display system, is one of the most essential human-machine-interfaces (HMI) in modern electronic systems. It is therefore a research and development target for electronic manufacturers as to how to provide a display system with lower cost and higher performance.
A display system comprises several display units arranged as a plurality of scan lines. When displaying a frame of an image signal, display units on a same scan line respectively correspond to pixels of a same horizontal line in the frame. For example, each display unit displays different color levels of a primary color (e.g., red, green or blue) to indicate a component of the three primary colors.
Based in timing requirements of image display, the display system in sequence updates frames, e.g., updating an f frame to an (f+1) frame. To update a frame, the display system one after another updates the scan lines; that is, the display system updates a first scan line, and a second scan line after having updated the first scan line, and so on. When updating a scan line, a color level C(f), corresponding to one of the display units, of the f frame is updated to a color level C(f+1) of the (f+1) frame according to content of the image data. However, since a response time of the display unit is relatively slower in updating the color levels, it is often that the color level C(f) cannot be updated to C(f+1) in time.
To enhance the response time of the display unit, an overdrive technique is adopted in driving the display system. With overdriving, the display unit is driven to change the color level from C(f) to (C(f+1)+dC) instead of to C(f+1). For example, when the color level C(f+1) is greater than the color level C(f), the color level dC is predetermined to be greater than 0. Therefore, when the display unit is driven to the higher color level (C(f+1)+dC), the desired color level C(f+1) is more quickly achieved. Similarly, when the color level C(f+1) is smaller than the color level C(f), the color level dC is predetermined to be smaller than 0. Therefore, when the display unit is driven to the lower color level (C(f+1)+dC), the desired color level C(f+1) is more quickly achieved. In actual practice, the value of color level dC is obtained from an overdrive look-up table. For example, the overdrive table determines a positive/negative signal and values of the color level dC according to combinations of the color levels C(f) and C(f+1).
In many applications, timing requirements for updating different scan lines may vary. In certain applications, although the display system still updates the scan lines one after another when updating a frame, an updated frame is only displayed to viewers when all scan lines in the frame are updated. For example, in some three-dimensional applications, the display system alternately displays left frames and right frames with a display panel in conjunction with shutter glasses. When the display panel displays the left frames, the glasses open up for the left eye and shield the right eye to present the left frames to the left eye; when the display panel displays the right frames, the glasses at the same time open up for the right eye and shield the left eye to present the right frames to the right eye. Accordingly, the user perceives a three-dimensional image.
However, in the above three-dimensional application, the display system can only present a completely updated frame to the user (with opening and shutting of the glasses) to prevent undesirable effects caused by mixing the left and right frames. That is to say, timing requirements for updating different scan lines are different. When a last scan line of the frame is updated, the entire frame is updated and ready to be presented, and so the last scan line needs a relatively faster response time since it is given a smallest time period from being updated to being presented. In comparison, other scan lines have longer periods from being updated and to being presented and can thus be given with relatively slower response times. For example, a first scan line may have a slowest response time, a second scan line may have a second slowest response time, and so forth. Thus, a last scan line is allowed with a smallest time period and thus needs a fastest response time.
Therefore, to accommodate applications of different response times for different scan lines, the overdrive technique needs to provide different overdrive tables for the different scan lines.

Overdrive apparatus and associated method for display system


Access Panels for electronic devices are disclosed herein. An example electronic device disclosed herein includes a housing having an opening to access a card holder and an access panel coupled to the housing to cover the opening. The access panel slides and rotates relative to the housing when the access panel moves between an open position to allow access to the opening and a closed position to cover the opening. A first biasing element has a first end attached to the access panel and a second end attached to the housing and biases the access panel laterally relative to the housing. A second biasing element is coupled to the access panel to cause the access panel to rotate in a first rotational direction relative to the housing.

Electronic devices, including portable electronic devices, have gained widespread use and may provide a variety of functions including, for example, telephonic, electronic messaging and other personal information manager (PIM) application functions, digital cameras and the like. Portable electronic devices include, for example, several types of mobile stations such as simple cellular telephones, smart phones, wireless personal digital assistants (PDAs), and laptop computers with wireless 802.11 or Bluetooth capabilities.
Known electronic devices often employ a card holder to receive a Subscriber Identification Module card, a memory card (SD card) and/or other smart card(s). For example, electronic devices such as, for example, portable electronic devices often connect to a network (e.g., a mobile network). These devices often employ a SIM card to identify a subscriber for network access and authenticate the subscriber to a network such as a mobile network.
Such cards may be removed and/or coupled to an electronic device. To protect a card holder or card socket (e.g., a card reader) of the electronic device from damage, a housing of the electronic device often employs an access panel or door. However, known panels or doors are often removed or decoupled from the electronic device and/or are retained to the electronic device via a tether (e.g., retaining chain) when the panel or door is detached from the housing to access the card holder. Such known panels and doors are often lost or damaged when remove or decoupled from the electronic device.


The invention relates to compounds of formula (I):

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is an evolutionarily conserved serine/threonine kinase and functionally regulates a diverse range of cellular activities. The target of rapamycin (TOR), mammalian TOR (mTOR), also known as the FKBP-12-rapamycin associated protein (FRAP) or rapamycin and FKBP target (RAFT)1 and rapamycin target (RAPT) controls diverse cellular processes ranging from protein translation in response to amino acids or growth factors, autophagy, metabolism, inflammation, lipid synthesis and cytoskeletal rearrangements. Within the cell, mTOR exists as two distinct protein complexes known as mTORC1 (mTOR, RAPTOR, mLST8, PRAS40 and DEPTOR) and mTORC2 (mTOR, RICTOR, mLST8, mSIN1 and PROTOR) each complex consisting of the protein kinase domain, mTOR and complex specific accessory proteins. Both complexes share two common components; mLST8 and Deptor but other components are distinct. mTORC1 uniquely consists of PRAS40 and Raptor whilst mTORC2 requires Rictor, Protor and Sin1. mLST8, Raptor, Rictor and Sin1 are critical for complex assembly and/or link mTOR kinase to its substrate
Upstream and downstream effectors of mTORC1 have been characterised much more extensively than for mTORC2. mTORC1 is activated by insulin, amino acids and repressed by AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). mTORC1 can promote mRNA translation and protein synthesis via two substrates; ribosomal protein S6 kinases (S6Ks) and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein (4E-BP)1. In addition, mTORC1 represses autophagy, regulates glucose metabolism and mitochondrial function. mTORC1 has been confirmed as a central regulator of longevity as the allosteric mTORC1 inhibitor, rapamycin has been shown to extend lifespan in yeast, nematodes, fruit flies and mice (reviewed in Johnson et al., 2013).
The downstream substrates and signalling pathways for mTORC2 have not been fully elucidated. mTORC2 inhibits FOXO3A via S6K1 and AKT leading to increased longevity and regulates actin cytoskeleton assembly. Rictor and Sin1 are the two unique, essential mTORC2 components and Sin1 phosphorylation disassociates Sin1 from the complex suppressing mTORC2 kinase activity (Liu et al., 2013).
mTOR has been implicated in age-related pathologies and is considered a master regulator of cell growth and metabolism in response to nutrient cues. Rapamycin (Sirolimus) inhibits mTORC1 by binding to an abundant, intracellular protein, FKBP12 (FK506-binding protein) and disrupting the interaction between mTOR and raptor to decrease activity. Rapamycin does not directly inhibit mTORC2 but chronic exposure under some circumstances can lead to mTOR sequestration from mTORC2, inhibiting mTORC2 complex assembly. In addition to rapamycin, two mTOR compounds with the same mechanism of action are approved for clinical use, everolimus and temsirolimus for renal cell carcinoma and organ transplant rejection. Small molecule, dual inhibitors of mTORC1 and mTORC2 are in clinical development for a diverse range of oncology indications.
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation leading to structural distortion of lung architecture resulting in impaired gaseous exchange and death due to respiratory failure. Emerging evidence suggests cellular metabolic reprogramming may contribute to the pathogenesis of IPF including the observation of reproducibly increased 18fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) pulmonary uptake in honeycombed lesion (Groves et al., 2009) elevated lung lactic acid levels promoting activation of the central profibrotic mediator, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β (Kottmann et al., 2012) and metabolic changes associated with fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transdifferentiation (Bernard et al., 2015). Energetic adaption maybe modulated by mTOR. In addition, inhibition of class I PI3k and mTOR has been shown to arrest fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition in cells and tissue derived from patients with IPF (Mercer et al., 2015). mTOR is a critical effector of TGF-β in fibroblasts (Rahimi et al., 2009) and TGF-β has been implicated in diversefibrotic conditions affecting the lung, kidney, skin and liver (for a review see Nanthakumar et al., 2015). More recently, TGF-β was shown to promote cardiac fibrosis (Khalil et al., 2017). Myofibroblasts are considered the primary pathogenic cell type during the development of a fibroproliferative response and subsequent organ fibrosis. Comparative studies using control and fibrotic myofibroblasts revealed aberrant translational regulation with dysregulated mTOR activity in disease-derived cells (Larsson et al., 2009).
Currently, two drugs are approved for the treatment of IPF, Esbriet (pirfenidone) and Ofev (nintedanib) but not all patients qualify for these treatments depending on the severity of decline in lung function. Both drugs are associated with significant side effects and tolerability issues. The mechanism of action for Esbriet remains unknown and patients are titrated with increasing doses but many patients fail to tolerate the recommended clinical dose. Clinical data to date suggests both drugs slow disease progression.

Abstract: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, L and A are as defined in the description and claims, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof having mTOR kinase inhibitor activity. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions including a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and to the use of a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in therapy, including in the treatment of a disease or condition for which an mTOR kinase inhibitor activity is indicated, and in particular the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

GLAXOSMITHKLINE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT LIMITED


A red color toner for electrophotography comprising a binder resin and a colorant component comprising C.I. Pigment Red 48:1, or C.I. Pigment Red 48:1 and a second red pigment which may be C.I. Pigment Red 122 or C.I. Pigment Red 57:1, or C.I. Pigment Red 48:1 and a yellow pigment which may be C.I. Pigment Yellow 97 or C.I. Pigment Yellow 12. The colorant preferably is present in an amount between about 1% and about 20% by weight of the binder resin.

The present invention relates to a red color toner that is capable of high-chroma reproduction of red-color images produced with a variety of writing instruments and materials.
Color recording in electrophotography can be accomplished by the following two methods: full-color copying which is designed to reproduce the colors of an original by the combination of toners having the three primary colors for substractive mixing, that is, magenta, yellow and cyan; and monochromatic (flat-color) copying which employs a black color and at least one non-black color to record part or all of the original in separate colors.
Originals may be multi-colored and can only be reproduced by full-color copying; among such originals are color photos, painted pictures, and full-color drawings. The other type of originals employs a black color and one or more other colors and included within this category of originals are black-colored originals, containing seal impressions, stamp marks, sentences, illustrations, corrections and underlines. The second type of originals is more frequently used and those containing red colors find the most frequent use. The red-color images produced in such originals have different shades depending upon the writing instruments and material used, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in which (1) refers to a vermillion inkpad for impressing a seal, (2) and (7) a marking pen, (3), (4), (5), (11) and (13) a ball-point pen, (8) a stamp, (9) an oily ink felt pen, (10) a chart drawing ink, (6), (12), (15) and (16) a felt pen, and (14) a water-based ink.
However, red images on originals having such a broad spectrum of shades cannot be satisfactorily reproduced with the full-color toners conventionally employed in full-color copying. For instance, high-chroma red colors cannot be reproduced even if the magenta toner described in Unexamined Published Japanese Patent Application No. 27228/1974 is used in combination with the yellow toner described in Unexamined Published Japanese patent Application No. 17023/1977. No red color toners have been known, either, that are successfully used in flat-color copying.


A truck for preventing damage thereto when attached to a skate board and negotiating and contacting a curb. A body attaches to the skate board and an axle extends rotatably through the body and terminates in a pair of wheels, respectively. A roller is rotatably positioned in the body and has the axle extend rotatably therethrough so as to prevent damage to the axle when the truck negotiates and contacts the curb, by virtue of the roller contacting the curb and rotating relative to the axle as the truck negotiates the curb.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a truck for a skate board. More particularly, the present invention relates to a truck for preventing damage thereto when attached to a skate board and negotiating and contacting a curb.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous innovations for skate board truck assemblies have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention.
A FIRST EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 2,653,821 to Ware teaches a roller skate structure comprising a frame arranged for connection at its upper side to a shoe or the like, a wheel axle support bracket, strut means interconnecting the support bracket and frame, and action screw interconnecting the frame and support bracket, said action screw being pivotally shiftable in respect to the frame and in respect to the support bracket, a member encircling the action screw adjacent the upper end thereof and removably connected to the frame for connecting the action screw to the frame, and means connected to the action screw adjacent its lower end for connecting the action screw to the support bracket.
A SECOND EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,109,925 to Williams teaches a skateboard truck that includes an axle assembly which is quickly detachable from the truck mounting paid by means of a tension bolt fitting within a slotted bracket in the mounting pad for quick detachment therefrom. The skateboard truck assembly Is provided with tension screw assembly that is mounted at a less than 45 degree angle with respect to the skateboard and includes adjusting means for adjusting the pivot axis of the assembly with respect to the skateboard totally independent of the adjustment of the tension in the assembly. A safety bracket includes a base portion with an arm having a cylindrical bore for receiving the cylindrical outer end of the tension bolt for reducing the stress on the board or tension bolt during the steering of the skateboard.
A THIRD EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,251,087 to Hansen teaches a truck apparatus for skate and skateboard devices including an elongated kingpin, means for affixing the upper end of the kingpin to the bottom of a load carrying platform at a selected angle and having a member disposed midway along the length of the kingpin and a friction surface and stop means, a wheel axle carriage assembly pivotally affixed to the lower end of the kingpin and adapted to rotate about the axis of the kingpin and having a second friction surface and stop lugs, a resilient drag sleeve and turn restoring element compressively disposed between the first and second friction surfaces, and a lock nut for selectively urging the carriage assembly toward the mid-portioned member so as to compress the drag sleeve between the first and second friction surfaces with a predetermined compression force such that the carriage assembly may be resistively and partially resiliently rotated about the axis of the kingpin within a range determined by the interaction of the stop lugs and the stop means and with a degree of freedom determined by the compression of the drag sleeve.
A FOURTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,874 to Schouten et al. teaches a roller board apparatus, such as a skateboard, having an elongated user support platform and front and rear rigid, curve axles mounted transversely across one side of the platform adjacent the front and rear ends, respectively. The axles curve symmetrically outwardly away from the platform surface to which they are attached and respectively include a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted therealong, thereby creating, in essence, an arc of wheels. Resilient, rubber, wedge shaped spacers are positioned between each end of the axles and the platform, for the primary purpose of causing the axles to angle outwardly away from one another so as to provide stability to the board. The spacers resiliency permit the angle at which each angle sits with respect to the horizontal to be selectively chaned. Different angles produce different riding characteristics. Among those different ride characteristics is included characteristics which accurately simulate the ride characteristics experience when surfing or snowboarding.
A FIFTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,302 to Smith teaches a skateboard truck assembly that includes a skateboard, a mounting plate, which is used to mount the truck assembly to the underside of the board, a mounting bracket to bridge the truck assembly to the mounting plate and an axle assembly, which includes axle rods, axle hubs and two wheels. The axle assembly is generally arcuate in shape and includes a lower surface with a more pronounced arcuate design and a central arched section. Each axle rod extends outwardly from the central arched section and slopes down to a terminus point adjacent to the inside portion of the wheel where the axle rod flares relative to the size of the axle hub to conform to the interior sidewall of the wheel and the underside of the flared axle rod coincides in substantial aligned relation with the corresponding wheel tread.
A SIXTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,987 B1 to Smith teaches an improved skate or skateboard truck which incorporates precision steering and rocking components for consistency and accuracy during maneuvers and a method for removing or replacing worn or broken axles. A yoke containing the truck""s axle includes a central body portion into which a precision ball socket has been machined. It is jointed by a spherical component for the yoke to pivot around. It is also fitted with a precision ball pivot pin opposite the socket which will act as the associate pivotal and rocking mechanism for the truck assembly. The base is comprised of a central body into which a stud is secured for mounting the yoke and a pocket has been machined for containing a precision ball socket to accept the associate ball pivot pin. A slotted configuration situated at each end of the yoke can be compressed with screws to allow the axle to be removed or replaced.
A SEVENTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. Application Publication No. US2002/0011713 A1 to Kirkland teaches a truck assembly for a skateboard that includes an axle housing, a base, and a kingpin connecting the axle housing and base. The kingpin holds the axle housing and a base surface of the base a predetermined distance apart. The truck further includes a turning mechanism between the axle housing and base, around the kingpin. The turning mechanism includes opposed cam surfaces that are angled along the axis of the kingpin and an elastomeric bushing so that rotating the axle housing about the kingpin pushes the cam surfaces apart, against the compression pressure of the elastomeric bushing. The elastomeric bushing may be located within a coiled spring. The truck assembly additionally includes an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the pressure against the bushing. The adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment surface on the base of the truck assembly with two or more adjustment pints, each a different distance from the base surface along the direction of the kingpin. An adjustment ring surrounds the kingpin, between the base surface and the turning mechanism. The adjustment ring includes adjustment lobes that engage the adjustment surface on the base.
It is apparent that numerous innovations for skate board truck assemblies have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.
ACCORDINGLY, AN OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a truck for preventing damage thereto when attached to a skate board and negotiating and contacting a curb that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.
ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a truck for preventing damage thereto when attached to a skate board and negotiating and contacting a curb that Is simple to use.
BRIEFLY STATED, STILL ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a truck for preventing damage thereto when attached to a skate board and negotiating and contacting a curb. A body attaches to the skate board and an axle extends rotatably through the body and terminates in a pair of wheels, respectively. A roller is rotatably positioned in the body and has the axle extend rotatably therethrough so as to prevent damage to the axle when the truck negotiates and contacts the curb, by virtue of the roller contacting the curb and rotating relative to the axle as the truck negotiates the curb.
The novel features which are considered characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawing.

Truck for preventing damage thereto when attached to a skate board and negotiating and contacting a curb


Provided is a medical system comprising a medical device, a feature sensor and a logic controller or processor wherein the logic controller is configured to monitor or control an operation of the medical device in response to the input of the feature sensor. Also provided is a method of monitoring or controlling an operation of a medical device by a logic controller through a plurality of sensors. Further provided is a method of minimizing or preventing tissue sticking of an electrosurgical device during a medical procedure on a patient.

A variety of electrosurgical instruments include a tissue cutting element and one or more elements that transmit radiofrequency energy to tissue to coagulate or seal the tissue. These electrosurgical instruments may often face the challenge of blood and tissue sticking while performing electrosurgical operations. Once the sticking builds up, it will significantly affect the effectiveness of the electrosurgical operations of these electrosurgical instruments.
Accordingly, there is an ongoing need for improved devices and methods for more efficient electrosurgical operations.


A thermally-insulated pipeline for the transportation of a cryogenic liquid, comprising three coaxial pipes formed of sections, one inner pipe made of a material having a low thermal expansion coefficient, a middle pipe and an outer pipe made of steel. The pipes are linked by linking parts which join sections of each respective pipe and take up the loads produced by thermal expansion or contraction when the pipes change temperature. The linking parts that join the inner pipe and the middle pipe are separated from the linking parts that join the middle and outer pipe, so that a thermal bridge cannot form between the inner pipe and the outer pipe.

1. Field of the Invention
The technical scope of the present invention is that of pipelines for the transportation of very low temperature fluids, and in particular for the transportation of liquefied natural gas under ground, above-ground, or under the sea.
2. Description of the Related Art
Patent FR-2748545 describes a pipeline for the transportation of liquefied natural gas comprising two coaxial pipes. This type of pipeline has thermal insulation properties but also suffers from drawbacks. Indeed, the contraction of the inner pipe (by around 1 m for a pipe of a length of 4,000 m) requires the use of a steel linking part between the two pipes placed before the end of the straight part of the pipeline, such a linking part creating a thermal bridge and resulting in:                a deterioration in the thermal efficiency of the assembly,        a lowering in the temperature of the external pipe, thereby embrittling it and making it sensitive to impacts and concentrations of stress.
Moreover, the use of a simple external wall cannot be considered sufficient in terms of reliability.

Pipeline for the transportation of liquefied natural gas


The comprehensive pharmacologic therapy for treatment of obesity including Cysteine is a procedure which involves the administration of a desired therapeutic range of Diethylpropion and/or Phentermine in combination with a SSRI medication and nutritional supplementation for brief and long durations which may be 12 months or more. The preferred procedure involves the administration of drugs in combination which are identified as: Citalopram (Celexa) and Phentermine; Citalopram (Celexa) and Diethylpropion; Citalopram (Celexa), Phentermine, and Diethylpropion. In addition nutritional supplementation such as a multivitamin, 5-Hydroxytryptophan, Cysteine, vitamin B6, vitamin C, Tyrosine, Calcium, and Lysine may be used to enhance the performance of the weight loss treatment program.

Research has identified that long term use of medications for treatment of obesity in patients has resulted in many problems. The two most significant problems encountered by patients using medications to assist in weight loss, assuming the absence of irreversible side effects from the medications, are that:
The medications stop working during therapy where at least 40% to 50% of patients quit losing weight (plateau) on an average of 3.3 months into therapy; and 5% to 8% of patients who receive drug therapy for weight problems experience the complication where the medications fail to assist in appetite suppression where the patient therefore does not lose significant weight.
In the past long term treatment, defined as treatment longer than 3 months to many years, with medications, has raised safety issues including, medication intolerability by the patient, medication side effects and most important ineffectiveness of the drugs or the cessation of benefit of the drugs which in turn causes the patient to fall out of appetite suppression and terminate weight loss.
A weight loss procedure using SSRI medication is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,895. The potential for patients to obtain goal weight loss under the process of U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,895 is low, and the failure of the drugs to provide a desired level of performance is at the heart of the problem.
In the past obesity or weight management procedures, as noted in U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,895, implement a single dosing schedule of SSRI medication for a patient. A single dosing schedule of SSRI medication is not optimal for a desired level of weight loss performance. Individuals frequently fail to lose a desired amount of weight when alternative doses of medication are unavailable.
Second, patients receiving treatment for weight loss through the use of medication frequently experience complications such as a cessation of performance of the medication due to a xe2x80x9cnutritional deficiencyxe2x80x9d. Frequently it is difficult to predict which patients are likely to experience unacceptable performance of weight loss medication due to xe2x80x9cnutritional deficienciesxe2x80x9dassociated with calorie deficit""s.
It is also problematic to predict the outcome of medication treatment upon individuals receiving Norepinephrine medications such as Phentermine and/or Diethylpropion. These medications have unique chemical properties making the outcome of treatment of patients uncertain. In addition not all medications function to assist in weight loss. In the past SSRI (selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) medications which have been used in weight loss include Fluoxetine Hydrochloride (Prozac), Sertraline (Zoloft), Fluvoxamine Maleate (Luvox), and Trazodone Hydrochloride (Desyrel).
The treatment programs for obesity as known also teach away from the use of alternative dosing procedures to effectuate weight loss. Specifically U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,895 teaches that an SSRI medication never needs to be raised to improve the anorexiant effect of weight loss and that the SSRI medication level administered to a patient may be raised to assist in the treatment of coexisting conditions such as depression.
It is therefore desirable to have a weight loss treatment program for a patient which provides for an effective therapeutic range of available medication to enhance desired weight loss. It is also desirable to provide a weight loss program which minimizes the percent of individuals who do not initially respond to the medication treatment regime or who cease to continue to receive the beneficial effects of the weight loss program following the initiation of the medication treatment due to nutritional deficiencies. These and other problems are solved by the disclosed Comprehensive Pharmacologic Therapy For Treatment Of Obesity.
A problem has been known in the past where drugs which work on norepinephrine stop working after a period of time when used in treating patients for weight loss. As stated in Wurtman et. al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,312.
Indirect-acting sympathomimetic amines (such as Phentermine) function by releasing stored norepinephrine from sympathetic nerve endings. The major problem with their use is that after a few doses, they often stop functioning, i.e., tachyphylaxis sets in. Tachyphylaxis is known to be associated with partial depletion of the norepinephrine in the nerve endings, leading to the supposition that there are releasable and non-releasable pools of norepinephrine and that when the drugs cease functioning, it is because the releasable pools have been severely depleted.
The chemical pathway involved is:
Dopa, doparnuie, norepinephrine, and epinephrine are known as xe2x80x9ccatecholaminesxe2x80x9d. Chemically the enzyme xe2x80x9cTyrosine Hydroxylasexe2x80x9d limits the rate of formation of catecholamines. Another problem as known is to identify a way to increase the amounts of Tyrosine Hydroxylase or it""s activity in a patient receiving treatment for obesity. No procedure is known which uses a dietary precursor approach to increase amounts of Tyrosine Hydroxylase and it""s activity in a patient receiving treatment for obesity. No procedure is known to increase catecholamine levels in a patient by providing the precursor needed for the formation of Tyrosine Hydroxylase.
Catecholamine formation is regulated by a feed back loop involving norepinephrine and Tyrosine Hydroxylase. In this loop norepinephrine binds to each of the four legs of the Tyrosine Hydroxylase enzyme and through the mechanism of phosphorylation the norepinephrine deactivates Tyrosine Hydroxylase into a new chemical known as xe2x80x9cphosphorylated Tyrosine Hydroxylasexe2x80x9d. In the process the body begins to synthesis more Tyrosine Hydroxylase.
A complication in the treatment of patients for weight loss is that drugs which are given to increase the levels of intersynaptic norepinephrine lead to increased phosphorylation of Tyrosine Hydroxylase which, in turn, causes increased synthesis of Tyrosine Hydroxylase and depletion of critical precursors. The net effect of drugs which cause increased intersynaptic levels of norepinephrine for a patient is the depletion of precursors need in the synthesis of Tyrosine Hydroxylase leading to the xe2x80x9ctachyphylaxisxe2x80x9d.The provision to a patient of the precursor Tyrosine with co-factors vitamin C, calcium, and vitamin B6 will not prevent or reverse the tachyphylaxis induced by drugs which cause increased levels of intersynaptic norepinephrine.
The invention embodies the use of Phentermine and/or Diethylpropion with an SSRI medication, Citalopram. The SSRI medication is used in an xe2x80x9ceffective therapeutic rangexe2x80x9d to provide optimal results. The treatment enables individuals to have a much higher expectation of weight loss to achieve a desired weight than the previous known treatments. The method of weight loss enables individuals to lose weight optimally and safely. With treatment, as individuals lose weight other diseases or illnesses caused by or associated with weight problems get markedly better or resolve completely. These illnesses and/or diseases are identified as type II diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, orthopedic problems, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, migraine headaches, PMS, chronic pain states, fibromyalgia, insomnia, sleep apnea, impulsivity, obsessive compulsive disorder, and myoclonus. Duration of treatment may be long term, or for life if needed, to reduce weight and maintain weight loss as desired by an individual.
The treatment of a patient for weight loss may include the use of Cysteine with precursors Tyrosine, 5-Hydroxytryptophan, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and calcium. Use of the precursors and co-factors of Cysteine generally insures that adequate direct precursors are available to increase catecholamine levels for a patient prolonging the effectiveness of medication therapy.
An advantage of the present invention is the provision of a comprehensive pharmacologic therapy for treatment of obesity of relatively simple and inexpensive design which fulfills the intended purpose of appetite suppression to enable weight loss without fear of injury to persons.
Another principal advantage of the present invention is the provision of a comprehensive pharmacologic therapy for treatment of obesity which is easy for patients to initiate and continue to effectuate weight loss.
Still another principal advantage of the present invention is the provision of a comprehensive pharmacologic therapy for treatment of obesity which is effective for all patients attempting to lose weight.
Still another principal advantage of the present invention is the provision of a comprehensive pharmacologic therapy for treatment of obesity which continues to function to enable patient weight loss following the initiation of therapy by an individual.
Still another principal advantage of the present invention is the provision of a comprehensive pharmacologic therapy for treatment of obesity which promotes appetite suppression while simultaneously maintaining nutritional balance for an individual.
Still another principal advantage of the present invention is the provision of a comprehensive pharmacologic therapy for treatment of obesity which minimizes risk of undesirable side effects for a patient.
Still another principal advantage of the present invention is the provision of a comprehensive pharmacologic therapy for treatment of obesity which may be used long term defined as a period of time exceeding three months.
Still another principal advantage of the present invention is the provision of a comprehensive pharmacologic therapy for treatment of obesity which minimizes risk of medication intolerability for a patient.
Still another principal advantage of the present invention is the provision of a comprehensive pharmacologic therapy for treatment of obesity which minimizes medication side effects and/or complications for a patient.
Still another principal advantage of the present invention is the provision of a comprehensive pharmacologic therapy for treatment of obesity which assists in empowering a patient to achieve a desired goal weight through monitored, healthy, and controlled weight loss.
Still another principal advantage of the present invention is the provision of a comprehensive pharmacologic therapy for treatment of obesity which is flexible to a patient""s needs through the provision of an effective therapeutic range of weight loss medication.
Still another principal advantage of the present invention is the provision of a comprehensive pharmacologic therapy for treatment of obesity which minimizes risk of nutritional deficiency for a patient.
Still another principal advantage of the present invention is the provision of a comprehensive pharmacologic therapy for treatment of obesity which simultaneously treats other diseases or obesity related illnesses such as type II diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, orthopedic problems, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, migraine headaches, PMS, chronic pain states, fibromyalgia, insomnia, sleep apnea, impulsivity, obsessive compulsive disorder, and/or myoclonus.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a comprehensive pharmacologic therapy for treatment of obesity which includes the regulated prescription of an SSRI medication namely, Citalopram in an effective therapeutic range for a patient to effectuate weight loss.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a comprehensive pharmacologic therapy for treatment of obesity which includes the regulated prescription of Phentermine in an effective therapeutic range for a patient to effectuate weight loss.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a comprehensive pharmacologic therapy for treatment of obesity which includes the regulated prescription of Diethylpropion in an effective therapeutic range for a patient to effectuate weight loss.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a comprehensive pharmacologic therapy for treatment of obesity which includes the consumption of 5-Hydroxytryptophan by a patient in an effective therapeutic range to assist in avoiding nutritional deficiencies and effectuating weight loss.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a comprehensive pharmacologic therapy for treatment of obesity which includes the consumption of Lysine by a patient in an effective therapeutic range to assist in avoiding nutritional deficiencies and effectuating weight loss.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a comprehensive pharmacologic therapy for treatment of weight loss which includes the consumption of vitamin B6 by a patient in an effective therapeutic range to assist in avoiding nutritional deficiency and effectuating weight loss.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a comprehensive pharmacologic therapy for treatment of obesity which includes the consumption of vitamin C by a patient in an effective therapeutic range to assist in avoiding nutritional deficiency and effectuating weight loss.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a comprehensive pharmacologic therapy for treatment of obesity which includes the consumption of Tyrosine by a patient in an effective therapeutic range to assist in avoiding nutritional deficiency and effectuating weight loss.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a comprehensive pharmacologic therapy for treatment of obesity which includes the consumption of a multi-vitamin by a patient to assist in avoiding nutritional deficiency and effectuating weight loss.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a comprehensive pharmacologic therapy for treatment of obesity which includes the consumption of calcium by a patient in an effective therapeutic range to assist in avoiding nutritional deficiency and effectuating weight loss.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a comprehensive pharmacologic therapy for treatment of obesity which includes the consumption of Lysine in an effective therapeutic range to assist in avoiding nutritional deficiency and effectuating weight loss.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a comprehensive pharmacologic therapy for treatment of obesity which involves consumption of citalopram by a patient for an initial six (6) day period of time at an initial dosage level where the dosage level may be subsequently modified after the initial six (6) day period of time to maximize likelihood of success of weight loss by a patient.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a comprehensive pharmacologic therapy for treatment of obesity which involves the monitoring of a patients weight loss progress through calculation of xe2x80x9clow weight lossxe2x80x9d as defined by a patient weight at a previous visit added to a patient current weight then divided by two (2) followed by multiplication by 10 and then less the current patient weight, less the patient weight at the previous visit, then multiplied by 3,500 and then divided by the number of days between the previous visit and the date of the current weight for the provision of a first sum; calculating a second sum by multiplying a patient goal weight times ten then divided by 0.8928; and comparing the first sum to the second sum where low weight loss occurs when said first sum is larger than said second sum.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of Cysteine to a patient receiving treatment for weight loss to reverse the undesirable effects of tachyphylaxis due to the use of a drug which increases intersynaptic norepinephrine levels.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of Cysteine to a patient receiving treatment for weight loss to reverse the undesirable effects of non-responsiveness to ongoing drug therapy.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of Cysteine to a patient receiving treatment for weight loss to reverse the undesirable effects which may arise where the patient has a history of exposure to toxins both in and out of the work place.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of Cysteine to a patient receiving treatment for weight loss to reverse the undesirable effects of fat stores becoming saturated with fat-soluble toxins which may leach into a patient""s system.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of Cysteine to a patient receiving treatment for weight loss to reverse undesirable effects which may occur due to leaching of fat-soluble toxins such as skin eruptions and depletion of the catecholamine system, where depletion of the catecholamine system may in turn cause tachyphylaxis.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of Cysteine to a patient receiving treatment for weight loss where Cysteine is provided upon initiation of treatment in order to prevent a nutritional deficiency and to maintain the optimal functioning of all of the patients biological systems.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of Cysteine to a patient receiving treatment for weight loss where Cysteine is provided to patients who are not responding to treatment with catecholamine drugs, to effectuate weight loss, or in any other setting where the catecholamine system of the patient is not functioning properly.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of Cysteine to a patient receiving treatment for weight loss where Cysteine is provided to prevent and reverse tachyphylaxis caused from use of catecholamine drugs.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of Cysteine to a patient receiving treatment for weight loss where Cysteine is provided to maintain the proper functioning of the glutathione system for the patient.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of Cysteine to a patient receiving treatment for weight loss where Cysteine is provided to keep the catecholamine system of the patient functioning properly when the patient has a history of exposure to toxins.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of Cysteine to a patient receiving treatment for weight loss where Cysteine is provided to help the catecholamine system to function properly in combination with the serotonin system.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of Cysteine to a patient receiving treatment for weight loss where Cysteine is provided to insure that the body of the patient continues to produce optimal levels of Tyrosine Hydroxylase for proper function of the catecholamine system.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of Cysteine to a patient receiving treatment for weight loss where Cysteine is provided to alleviate undesirable symptoms encountered by patients, once a drug which causes increased levels of norepinephrine in the synapse is terminated.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of Cysteine to a patient receiving treatment for weight loss where Cysteine is provided to restore appetite suppression in patients in weight loss where the patient has experienced problems using the precursors and co-factors of Tyrosine and/or 5-Hydroxytryptophan.

Comprehensive pharmacologic therapy for treatment of obesity including cysteine


A lightweight composite article with controlled biodegradation includes a fibrous substrate and one or more additives applied to the fibrous substrate to control the rate of biodegradation of the composite article. The composite article has a weight of less than about 57 grams per square meter, and a biodegradation within a range of from about 30 days to about 150 days. In some embodiments, the additives include one or more of water repellent, antimicrobial agent and biodegradable binder.

This invention relates in general to composite articles and in particular to a lightweight composite article with controlled biodegradation that may be used, for example, as a mulch in the agriculture, horticulture and/or forestry industries.
Plastic mulches are widely used in numerous agricultural applications to control weeds, retain moisture in the soil and increase soil temperature to facilitate plant growth and to increase crop quality and yield.
Some characteristics of a mulch may include having sufficient mechanical strength so that they may be used in commercial farming operations with heavy duty equipment, resistance to stresses caused by weather (rain, sun, wind, etc.), puncture resistance to growing weeds, sufficient wet strength, moisture retention and/or ultraviolet light absorption. Another characteristic is the ability of the mulch to be tilled into the soil by agricultural equipment at the end of the growing season.
A wide variety of mulch products have been developed. Traditionally, agricultural mulch films have been predominantly comprised of either low or high density polyethylene because they are relatively inexpensive and more resistant to severe weather conditions than other materials. However, these materials are not considered biodegradable so they are removed and land filled at the end of the growing season.
To address the biodegradability problem some mulches are made from paper. However, paper alone generally degrades too quickly, does not retain sufficient ground moisture or lacks sufficient strength to be used in commercial agricultural operations. Mulches have also been produced from paper coated with various polymer materials to increase their strength and slow their degradation rate, but the coated paper mulches have not been totally successful.

Lightweight composite article with controlled biodegradation

University of Maine System Board of Trustees