Nano-encapsulated photosensitizers and their use in the treatment of tumors and/or imaging is described. Preferably, the photosensitizers are encapsulated in a calcium phosphate nanoparticle (CPNP). Encapsulating the PS in a CPNP increases the half-life of the PS, increases absorption of the PS into the target cell tissue, increases the photostability of the PS, increases the photoefficiency of the PS, increases in vivo retention of the PS, or combinations thereof, ultimately making it a highly efficacious agent for use in photodynamic therapy, imaging target tissues, vessels, or tumors, and/or detecting or locating tumors.

Pancreatic, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, brain cancer, and ovarian cancer remain some of the most difficult cancers to treat. As an example, pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer related deaths (ACS). In 2008 an estimated 37,680 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and 34,290 will die from the disease (ACS). The high rate of mortality for pancreatic cancer is mainly attributed to the tendency for late diagnoses as symptoms may not occur until the disease has metastasized as well as the lack of effective systemic therapies. This leaves surgery as an option in only 10-20% of pancreatic cancer patients and chemotherapy and radiation as the main therapeutic measures. Of those who are surgical candidates, less than 40% of the surgeries are curative, with most experiencing either recurrent pancreatic tumors or tumors that have metastasized to the liver. Both radiation and chemotherapy treatment options result in severe side effects that affect the patient's quality of life and many times fail to provide significant improvement in the disease. The standard chemotherapy treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer, gemcitabine, most commonly causes side effects of nausea, pain, fatigue, increased susceptibility to infection, renal toxicity and liver toxicity. The effectiveness of gemcitabine can also be limited by drug efflux mechanisms in tumor cells resulting in incomplete tumor responses. Although many clinical trials have been undertaken, gemicitabine has remained the standard of treatment for pancreatic cancer for the past decade. There is a clear need for improved therapies that have better efficacy and reduced side effects in the treatment of pancreatic cancer and other difficult to treat cancers.
The reaction achieved with Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) combines three individually non-toxic components, the photosensitizer, light and tissue oxygen to selectively destroy tissue. For tumor types other than skin cancer, PDT treatment involves an intravenous injection of photosensitizer, which is allowed to circulate within the body for a period of time to accumulate within the tumor site. This is followed by irradiation of the tumor site with light, most conveniently a laser, at the wavelength corresponding to the excitation maxima of the photosensitizer that was used. The light excites the photosensitizer to interact with tissue oxygen creating singlet oxygen species. The singlet oxygen species can then damage tumor cells directly, or via conversion to other reactive oxygen species, not limited to superoxide, hydroxyl radicals, peroxynitrates, hydrogen peroxide, and lipid peroxides. In this way, the localization of photosensitizer to tumor tissue, tissue oxygenation and dose of light are all critical factors in the outcome of PDT. Although PDT is currently approved for the treatment of esophageal cancer, lung cancer and skin cancers in the U.S. it is still limited in use due to short lifetimes of photosensitizers, an inability to penetrate sufficient light through tissue, and an inability to preferentially target cancerous tissues with photosensitizers (Allison, R. R., Bagnato, V. S., Cuenca, R., Downie, G. H., and Sibata, C. H. (2006) The future of photodynamic therapy in oncology. Future Oncol. 2: 53-71.).
Although several clinical trials are underway, Photofrin is the only FDA-approved photosensitizer for PDT cancer treatment. While Photofrin provides several advantages for the treatment of esophageal cancer, lung cancer and Barrett's esophagus, it still suffers from a short half-life and a lack of effective tumor localization. This results in suboptimal efficacy as well as systemic photosensitivity side effects. The development of the "second generation" photosensitizers which are now in clinical trials has focused on compounds with decreased photosensitivity reactions. However, these "second generation" photosensitizers as well as Photofrin, have maximum excitations at wavelengths less than 700 nm. This limits the tissue depth that current photosensitizers can be effectively used at since lower wavelengths have limited tissue penetration due to absorption by endogenous chromophores. For these and other reasons, there is a need for the present invention.

In vivo photodynamic therapy of cancer via a near infrared agent encapsulated in calcium phosphate nanoparticles


A composition consisting essentially of a polyvinylidene fluoride polymer or copolymer having distributed substantially uniformly therethrough elastomeric particles, said elastomer being capable of absorbing hydrocarbons and fixing them in the composition and being present in an amount sufficient to increase the elongation and flexibility of the composition in the presence of hydrocarbons and shaped articles made therefrom.

The present invention concerns the improvement of the properties of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and, more particularly, of its flexibility, on contact with hydrocarbons. This improvement is contributed by incorporating an elastomer into the PVDF. By "PVDF" is meant not only the homopolymer, but also the copolymers obtained by copolymerization of at least 70% by weight of vinylidene fluoride with another fluorinated monomer. However, the homopolymer is preferred.
PVDF is a semicrystalline polymer whose essential mechanical, electrical, thermal, permeability and chemical resistance properties depend on its crystallinity. However, after the PVDF is placed in service this crystalline state is the cause of the low elongation at breakpoint and of stretching at the flow threshold. These drawbacks prevent the use of PVDF in a certain number of applications and, in particular, in the use of PVDF pipes for use with hydrocarbon streams.
In order to remedy the drawbacks cited, it has been proposed to graft a nonfluorinated ethylene compound to the PVDF homopolymer or to copolymerize it with the vinylidene fluoride. Although the drawbacks noted are diminished, they are unfortunately compensated for by a loss of other soughtafter properties of the PVDF.
In the special application of PVDF to the transport of hydrocarbons, such as, for instance, the pipes serving for the extraction of petroleum products, it has been proposed as in French application (FR.A) 2,560,884 to incorporate liquid plasticizers into the PVDF; a plasticizer, for instance, of the polyester type. This technique makes it possible to improve the elongation at the flow threshold of the PVDF and consequently to fabricate petroleum hose without the risk of breaking and processing a sufficient flexibility. With this pipe operating several years the hydrocarbons extract and carry away the plasticizer, an then one observes that the PVDF has lost its flexibility, resulting in the breaking of these pipes under high bending or stress.

Polyvinylidene fluoride compositions and products made therefrom


A combined trigger and concealing device for an automatic fire protection sprinkler includes a first plate attached to a second plate by a heat fusible material. Each plate is formed with an aperture which receives an actuator depending from the bottom of the sprinkler. The trigger device depends a preselected distance from the bottom of the sprinkler body and includes a cover which has an outer dimension which conceals the internal components of the sprinkler from view. The cover includes openings and is dimensioned and positioned to permit heat energy to be received by the inner and outer surface of the trigger device. Conduction of heat energy from both the inner and outer surface of the trigger device permits the heat fusible material to be expeditiously raised to the preselected separation temperature. This construction minimizes response time of the sprinkler while maintaining a highly aesthetic appearance.

The present invention relates to fire protection sprinklers used in automatic fire extinguishing systems for buildings and the like, and in particular, relates to concealed automatic sprinklers having a triggering element used to initiate opening of the fluid flow orifice of the sprinkler.
Sprinklers have long been used in automatic fire extinguishing systems in order to controllably disburse a fluid to suppress or extinguish a fire in a designated area. Typically, the fluid utilized in automatic fire extinguishing systems is water, however systems have also been developed to disburse other fire extinguishing fluids. In one common design, sprinklers include a solid metal base with an inlet connected to a pressurized supply of water or other fire extinguishing fluid, and a deflector which alters the trajectory of the water in an optimum pattern when discharged from the base outlet orifice. In many conventional sprinklers the deflector is fixedly spaced from the outlet by a pair of rigid arms and mounted on a boss joining the arms. A trigger element is positioned between the deflector boss and the outlet orifice closure seal.
In another common recessed, pendant version of the sprinkler, the deflector is movable and stored proximate to the base. A housing extends around the deflector and sprinkler body and forms a recess up into the ceiling in which the sprinkler is located. A fluid seal, also positioned within the interior of the sprinkler, is maintained in the closed position by a pair of levers or actuators depending below the bottom of the sprinkler body. The levers are held in an inwardly biased or closed position by a trigger mechanism which is thermally responsive in the temperature range indicative of a fire. The trigger mechanism is commonly a thermally sensitive fusible link. Thus, under normal temperatures, the presence of the thermally sensitive fusible link prohibits fluid flow from the sprinkler. When the temperature within the designated area rises to a preselected value due to a fire, the fusible link separates, causing the levers to move in an outward direction and thus permits downward movement of the deflector plate from the interior of the sprinkler to a preselected distance within the interior of the designated area. The separation of the fusible link also opens the fluid seal, thereby enabling pressurized water to travel through the sprinkler and into the designated area in order to suppress or extinguish a fire.
The prior art has advanced fusible link trigger mechanisms which also function to conceal the bottom outlet of the sprinkler. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,596,289 issued to Johnson discloses a combined trigger element and concealing mechanism having two complementary strut retaining members which maintain the fluid seal in a closed position. The outer surfaces of these strut retaining members are joined by a heat fusible material which is covered by a heat conductive cover. In this design, the bottom outlet of the sprinkler is entirely enclosed by the combined trigger and concealing mechanism. In a similar design, U.S. Pat. No. 3,783,947 issued to Dix et al. advances a combined cover and trigger mechanism having a cover member which completely encloses the open portion of the bottom of the sprinkler. The cover member is attached to a lever in operational contact with a strut. This strut maintains a fluid seal in the closed position under normal temperatures. The cover member is attached to the interior surface of the sprinkler body by a heat fusible tab. When this heat fusible tab is exposed to a preselected temperature, its thermal degradation causes the release of the cover member which in turn imparts movement of the lever mechanism, and hence actuates the strut to thereby open the fluid seal.
In both of these designs, the cover mechanism entirely encloses the bottom of the sprinkler, with the heat fusible material being located on the interior surface of the cover. When the temperature is elevated due to the presence of a fire in the designated area, the thermal energy issued from the fire is constrained to pass in an upward direction from the outer surface of the cover member towards the heat sensitive compound. Since the cover member completely encloses the bottom region of the sprinkler, the inner surface of the cover member and the heat sensitive agent remains at ambient or near ambient conditions until thermal energy penetrates the cover member and reaches the heat sensitive agent. As a consequence of the prior art combined trigger and concealing mechanisms, the responsiveness of the sprinkler to which they are attached is often reduced. That is, when a fire occurs in the designated area, the temperature of the room may be at the preselected temperature at which the sprinkler is to be actuated. However, because conduction is forced to occur in only one direction, there is a time gap between the achievement of a particular room temperature and the actuation of the sprinkler. Delayed actuation of a sprinkler in the presence of a fire is unacceptable because such delay may provide a sufficient time period for which the fire to spread outside of the designated area.
Consequently, there exists a need for a responsive and reliable combined trigger and concealing device which overcomes the difficulties encountered by the prior art.


A semiconductor device of an embodiment includes: a silicon carbide substrate including first and second principal surfaces; a first conductive-type first silicon carbide layer provided on the first principal surface of the silicon carbide substrate; a second conductive-type first silicon carbide region formed on a surface of the first silicon carbide layer; a first conductive-type second silicon carbide region formed on a surface of the first silicon carbide region; a second conductive-type third silicon carbide region formed on the surface of the first silicon carbide region; a gate insulating film continuously formed on the surfaces of the first silicon carbide layer, the first silicon carbide region, and the second silicon carbide region; a first electrode formed of silicon carbide formed on the gate insulating film; a second electrode formed on the first electrode; an interlayer insulating film for covering the first and second electrodes; a third electrode electrically connected to the second silicon carbide region and the third silicon carbide region; and a fourth electrode formed on the second principal surface of the silicon carbide substrate.

Silicon carbide (hereinafter, also referred to as SiC) is expected as a material of a next-generation power semiconductor device. The SiC has excellent physicality such as a three-fold band gap, approximately ten-fold breakdown field strength, and an approximately three-hold thermal conductivity as compared to Si. By utilizing such characteristics, the power semiconductor device capable of operating at a high temperature with an extremely low loss may be realized.
There are various types of high blocking voltage semiconductor devices utilizing such characteristics of the SiC. A double implantation MOSFET (hereinafter, referred to as DIMOSFET) in which a p-well and a source region are formed by ion implantation is known as one of them.
Since a planar process capable of forming a channel with high accuracy by the ion implantation is used, the DIMOSFET is easily manufactured. Also, since gate driving is voltage-controlled, power of a drive circuit may be made small, and this is the excellent device also applicable to concurrent motion.
However, the device obtained by using the SiC has high metal contact resistance in a source and drain region in general, and this impedes device characteristics. In order to solve this problem, technology to form a low-resistance silicide film by annealing at a high temperature of 800 to 1000° C. by bringing metal such as nickel into contact with the SiC is reported.
On the other hand, a gate electrode is formed of doped polysilicon, and a contact forming temperature of a polycilicon electrode and a pad electrode is lower than the contact forming temperature of the source drain region and it is necessary to separately perform contact anneal of both, so that the process is complicated.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same


A lighting device, comprising a housing and at least one mounting clip. The housing comprises an electrical connection region engageable in an electrical receptacle. The mounting clip is pivotable from a first position, where an end region of the mounting clip does not extend beyond a periphery of the housing, to a second position, where the end region extends beyond the housing periphery. Also, a lighting device, comprising a housing, a trim element and at least one mounting clip. The mounting clip is pivotable, such that if the mounting clip is in a second position and then the trim element is rotated, the mounting clip will pivot to a third position, where the mounting clip engages the housing such that the trim element is biased toward a ceiling or other structure in which the lighting device is mounted. Also, methods of installing housings and/or trim elements.

A large proportion (some estimates are as high as twenty-five percent) of the electricity generated in the United States each year goes to lighting. Accordingly, there is an ongoing need to provide lighting which is more energy-efficient. It is well-known that incandescent light bulbs are very energy-inefficient light sources—about ninety percent of the electricity they consume is released as heat rather than light. Fluorescent light bulbs are more efficient than incandescent light bulbs (by a factor of about 10) but are still less efficient than solid state light emitters, such as light emitting diodes.
In addition, as compared to the normal lifetimes of solid state light emitters, e.g., light emitting diodes, incandescent light bulbs have relatively short lifetimes, i.e., typically about 750-1000 hours. In comparison, light emitting diodes, for example, have typical lifetimes between 50,000 and 70,000 hours. Fluorescent bulbs have longer lifetimes (e.g., 10,000-20,000 hours) than incandescent lights, but provide less favorable color reproduction.
Another issue faced by conventional light fixtures is the need to periodically replace the lighting devices (e.g., light bulbs, etc.). Such issues are particularly pronounced where access is difficult (e.g., vaulted ceilings, bridges, high buildings, traffic tunnels) and/or where change-out costs are extremely high. The typical lifetime of conventional fixtures is about 20 years, corresponding to a light-producing device usage of at least about 44,000 hours (based on usage of 6 hours per day for 20 years). Light-producing device lifetime is typically much shorter, thus creating the need for periodic change-outs.
Accordingly, for these and other reasons, efforts have been ongoing to develop ways by which solid state light emitters can be used in place of incandescent lights, fluorescent lights and other light-generating devices in a wide variety of applications. In addition, where light emitting diodes (or other solid state light emitters) are already being used, efforts are ongoing to provide light emitting diodes (or other solid state light emitters) which are improved, e.g., with respect to energy efficiency, color rendering index (CRI Ra), contrast, efficacy (lm/W), and/or duration of service.
In addition, there is an ongoing need to make lighting devices, including lighting devices comprising conventional light emitters (e.g., incandescent light bulbs, fluorescent light bulbs, etc) and/or solid state light emitters, in which the components of the lighting devices are held together more securely, in which the lighting device dissipates heat more effectively, and/or which are more energy efficient.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Lighting devices and methods of installing light engine housings and/or trim elements in lighting device housings


Embodiments described herein provide approaches for detecting anomalies in electronic communications. Specifically, a set of response metrics is obtained from each of a plurality of communications. Each of the plurality of communications is part of a communications batch. Based on an aggregation of the response metric over the plurality of communications, a response metric value for one or more of the set of response metrics is computed. This response metric value is compared to a predicted metric value corresponding to the response metric. Based on this comparison, it is determined whether the response metric value is anomalous. If the response metric value is anomalous, a remediation activity is performed.

In the information technology environment of today, the dissemination of data is becoming increasingly important. Mediums for such communications can include email, text message, social media posts, and/or the like. However, as more and more communications are delivered electronically, there is an increased importance that the communications that are delivered are delivered in a manner that is both efficient and effective.
One area in which this may apply is in the area of electronic marketing, particularly email marketing. Solutions that are currently available for managing an email marketing campaign generally fall into two categories. Execution engines are focused on the execution of the campaign itself and provide tools for setting up mailings based on customer lists and staging the sending of those emails. The second type of solutions are focused on pre-campaign planning. These solutions generally work to identify the groups of customers that are most likely to respond to a given email. As such, these solutions are usually considered to be strategic tools to help the marketer maximize the value of the money spent on the campaign by improving targeting of customers prior to launch.

Automatic detection of anomalies in electronic communications

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition when used for inhibiting a herpesviridae infection and/or providing relief from a herpesviridae infection in a subject. The composition includes an effective amount of an extract from a plant in the Asteraceae family.

For many viruses, the prevalence of infection in the general population is very high. Viruses of the herpesviridae family, such as herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus and Epstein Barr virus, are all viruses that infect a large proportion of the population on a regular basis. In some cases, the majority of the population will be infected during their lifetime.
For example, in the case of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), the virus infects 40 to 60% of teenagers and young adults, and over 90% of the population by 60 years of age. This virus commonly infects the circumoral regions, both inside and outside the mouth. The natural course of the illness ranges from 10 days to 4 weeks, dependent on the extent of infection and the host status. Common clinical manifestations of HSV-1 infection are primary herpetic stomatitis and recurrent herpes labialis.
Herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2) is the commonest causal agent for herpetic genital infections. It is estimated that 10% of the population in Western countries have genital herpes, but that only 20 to 25% of infected individuals are aware of their condition.
Herpes Zoster is a recurrent infection of the varicella-zoster virus (chickenpox virus) and has an incidence of 0.4 to 1.6 cases per 1000 among healthy people less than 20 years of age, rising to an incidence of 4.1-11.0 per 1000 for people greater than 80 years of age. The virus causes a wide range of problems affecting the skin and the eye. After the initial infection (chicken pox), the virus lays dormant in nerve cells and then becomes reactivated as a result of many factors such as aging, stress, suppression of the immune system, and certain medications.
Oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL) is an oral mucosal disease. It is due to infection by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and occurs most commonly in subjects who are immunocompromised, particularly those infected with HIV.
For most of these viruses, there is no effective treatment once infection has occurred. Oral and/or topical antivirals such as acyclovir, famciclovir and valcicovir are often prescribed with herpes simplex and herpes zoster infections, or for the treatment of oral hairy leukoplakia. However, the efficacy of such agents is often limited. In addition, such agents often require an extended treatment regime and the timing of commencement of treatment can determine its efficacy. For example, in the case of HSV-1 and HSV-2 lesions, it is recommended that treatment is started within 1 hour of prodrome, while for Herpes Zoster, treatment should be started within 72 hours of signs of rash.
The current treatment of herpesviridae infections is inadequate for many reasons. Accordingly, there is a need for new compositions and methods that have the capacity to inhibit such infections.
The present invention relates to the use of extracts from plants in the Asteraceae family to inhibit infection by viruses in the herpesviridae family, and the use of the extracts to provide relief from such infections.
A reference herein to a patent document or other matter which is given as prior art is not to be taken as an admission that that document or matter was known or that the information it contains was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of any of the claims.

Composition and method for inhibiting herpesviridae infections


A microphone assembly having a housing, a transducer, and an electronic circuit. The housing has an opening, and the transducer is disposed within that opening. The electronic circuit covers the opening such that the transducer is surrounded by at least the electronic circuit and the housing. The electronic circuit includes a substrate and an amplifier for amplifying the electrical signal into an amplified electrical signal which is coupled to a connection means. The connection means provides a direct electrical connection between the electronic circuit and a receiver. The amplifier is mounted on the substrate and disposed on a side of the substrate of the electronic circuit facing the transducer. The receiver is disposed on a side opposite the side and outside the housing.

The invention relates to a microphone for a hearing aid, the microphone comprising a housing with entrance means for letting pass sound waves into the housing, transducer means for converting the sound waves into an electrical signal, amplifier means for amplifying this electrical signal and connecting means for connecting the amplifier means with the terminals of a battery and for coupling the output signal of the amplifier means to a receiver. Such a microphone for example is disclosed in EP-A-0802700.
This invention also relates to a hearing aid including a body accommodating a microphone of the above type, a battery and a receiver.
Although hearing aids nowadays are much smaller than some years ago, while also the reliability and the sound quality have been improved, there still are some disadvantages that have to be overcome. Such disadvantages are for example the number of wires necessary to connect the microphone, amplifier, receiver and battery. These wires can influence negatively the reliability of the hearing aid and make the production thereof expensive. The wires are also at least part of the cause of interference by cellular phones and other radio frequency sources. Thus expensive solutions to prevent such interference are required. Another disadvantage is the size of the state of the art hearing aids, which is still too large to fit all ears with a Completely In the Canal (CIC) hearing aid.
In the state of the art hearing aids the microphone generally is an electret microphone with integrated CMOS or J-FET buffer. The amplifier comprises one or more discrete components and integrated circuits mounted on a hybrid printed circuit board. The receiver generally is a balanced armature receiver.
EP-A-0802700 describes a microphone, the housing of which includes a differential preamplifier.
DE-A-19545761 describes a proposal to integrate an A/D converter in a microphone for a hearing aid, while U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,087 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,689,819 propose to integrate the power amplifier in the microphone of a hearing aid.


A technology of digital watermarking for binary images (including documents) is provided, which is capable of adjusting the amount of information to be embedded while avoiding the deterioration of image quality as far as possible. The watermark information is inserted by giving the standard for judgment of modification and the order of preference for modification according to the characteristic properties of the human visual sense for binary images and performing modification on pixels sequentially in the descending order of preference.

The present invention relates to a technology of digital watermarking for binary images which is designed to embed arbitrary information in binary images and detect it.
Digital watermarking for binary images is a technology of inverting the luminance value of some pixels at specific positions where modification does not stand out so conspicuous in the digital data of binary images such as documents, tables, and maps, thereby embedding information such as copyright ID in them to protect the copyright of binary images.
The method for embedding information in binary images should meet the following requirements from the practical point of view.
(1) It should be applicable to not only documents consisting solely of characters but also general binary images.
(2) It should be able to embed digital watermarks without being perceived unless watermarking consists of a large amount of information. Alternatively, it should be able to embed digital watermarks without interfering with the recognition of images even though they are perceivable.
(3) It should produce the digital watermarks (embedded information) that can be normally detected from printed paper as well as any images which have been enlarged or reduced.
(4) It should be able to control the amount of information to be embedded.
Among technologies of watermarking for binary images consisting solely of characters, there is known one which is designed to conceal information by subtly changing the character space or line space. See the document 1, S. H. Low, N. F. Maxemchuk, J. Brassil, and L. O'Gorman: "Document Marking and Identification Using Both Line and Word Shifting", INFOCOM vol. 2, pp. 853-860 (1995), for example.
Among conventional watermarking technologies applicable to general binary images, there is known one which is designed to write a special pattern (corresponding to watermarking information) directly in the blank space of background. See the document 2, M. Bern, J. Breidenbach, and D. Goldberg: "Trustworthy Paper Documents", LNCS 2147, pp. 1-12 (2001), for example. Moreover, the document 3 is known, which discloses another method of inserting watermarking information by making minute changes only in the edge of an image where modification is less conspicuous than that in the flat part of an image, N. Kobori, M. Iwakiri, and K. Matsui: "One technology for digital watermarking by pixel distribution applicable to binary cartoons", Journal of the Information Processing Society of Japan, vol. 42, No. 3, pp. 596-598 (2001).

Method of watermarking for binary images


Methods and systems are provided for downhole analysis of formation fluids by deriving fluid properties and associated uncertainty in the predicted fluid properties based on downhole data, and generating answer products of interest based on differences in the fluid properties. Measured data are used to compute levels of contamination in downhole fluids using an oil-base mud contamination monitoring (OCM) algorithm. Fluid properties are predicted for the fluids and uncertainties in predicted fluid properties are derived. A statistical framework is provided for comparing the fluids to generate, in real-time, robust answer products relating to the formation fluids and reservoirs thereof. Systematic errors in measured data are reduced or eliminated by preferred sampling procedures.

Downhole fluid analysis (DFA) is an important and efficient investigative technique typically used to ascertain the characteristics and nature of geological formations having hydrocarbon deposits. DFA is used in oilfield exploration and development for determining petrophysical, mineralogical, and fluid properties of hydrocarbon reservoirs. DFA is a class of reservoir fluid analysis including composition, fluid properties and phase behavior of the downhole fluids for characterizing hydrocarbon fluids and reservoirs.
Typically, a complex mixture of fluids, such as oil, gas, and water, is found downhole in reservoir formations. The downhole fluids, which are also referred to as formation fluids, have characteristics, including pressure, live fluid color, dead-crude density, gas-oil ratio (GOR), among other fluid properties, that serve as indicators for characterizing hydrocarbon reservoirs. In this, hydrocarbon reservoirs are analyzed and characterized based, in part, on fluid properties of the formation fluids in the reservoirs.
In order to evaluate and test underground formations surrounding a borehole, it is often desirable to obtain samples of formation fluids for purposes of characterizing the fluids. Tools have been developed which allow samples to be taken from a formation in a logging run or during drilling. The Reservoir Formation Tester (RFT) and Modular Formation Dynamics Tester (MDT) tools of Schlumberger are examples of sampling tools for extracting samples of formation fluids for surface analysis.
Recent developments in DFA include techniques for characterizing formation fluids downhole in a wellbore or borehole. In this, Schlumberger's MDT tool may include one or more fluid analysis modules, such as the Composition Fluid Analyzer (CFA) and Live Fluid Analyzer (LFA) of Schlumberger, to analyze downhole fluids sampled by the tool while the fluids are still downhole.
In DFA modules of the type mentioned above, formation fluids that are to be analyzed downhole flow past sensor modules, such as spectrometer modules, which analyze the flowing fluids by near-infrared (NIR) absorption spectroscopy, for example. Co-owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,476,384 and 6,768,105 are examples of patents relating to the foregoing techniques, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Formation fluids also may be captured in sample chambers associated with the DFA modules, having sensors, such as pressure/temperature gauges, embedded therein for measuring fluid properties of the captured formation fluids.
Drillstem testing (DST) is downhole technology utilized for determining reservoir pressure, permeability, skin, or productivity of hydrocarbon reservoirs. Downhole pressure measurements are used in reservoir characterization and DST string design gives reservoir information from multiple zones on the same test for reservoir modeling. As a technical solution, DST is one conventional method to test for compartmentalization in exploratory wells. However, in deepwater or similar settings, DST can be uneconomical with the cost often being comparable to the cost of a new well. Furthermore, DST, in certain applications, could have environmental effects. As a consequence, DST, in some instances, is not a preferred approach for characterizing hydrocarbon reservoirs.
Currently, compartments in hydrocarbon reservoirs are identified by pressure gradient measurements. In this, pressure communication between layers in geological formations is presumed to establish the existence of flow communication. However, characterization of reservoirs for compartmentalization based solely on pressure communication poses problems and unacceptable results are often obtained as a consequence. Furthermore, hydrocarbon reservoirs also need to be analyzed for fluid compositional grading.

System and methods of deriving fluid properties of downhole fluids and uncertainty thereof


Disclosed are various approaches to anticipating future resource consumption based on user sessions. A message comprising a prediction of a future number of concurrent user sessions to be hosted by a virtual machine within a predefined future interval of time is received. It is then determined whether the future number of concurrent user sessions will cause the virtual machine to cross a predefined resource threshold during the predefined future interval of time. Then, a message is sent to a first hypervisor hosting the virtual machine to migrate the virtual machine to a second hypervisor.

Computer virtualization relates to the creation of a virtualized version of a physical device, such as a server, a storage device, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or other computing resources. For instance, a virtual machine (VM) is an emulation of a computer system and can be customized to include, for example, a predefined amount of random access memory (RAM), hard drive storage space, as well as other computing resources that emulate a physical machine. As virtual machines resemble physical computer architectures, virtual machines can provide the equivalent functionality of a physical computer. As such, virtual machines can be executed remotely, in a data center for example, to provide remote desktop computer sessions for employees of an enterprise. Many enterprises have now moved away from offering purely physical desktops for personnel, instead utilizing virtual machines that provide virtual desktop sessions using remote resources.
A remote desktop session host (RDSH) is a computer system configured to provide virtual desktops or remote applications to users through a remote desktop application. Examples of RDSH systems include MICROSOFT® TERMINAL SERVICES, MICROSOFT REMOTE DESKTOP SERVICES, and CITRIX XENAPP®. For example, an RDSH system may allow for multiple users to concurrently connect to the RDSH system using a remote desktop application and interact with a graphical desktop environment, such as the WINDOWS® desktop. Each user could use the graphical desktop environment to execute applications installed on the RDSH system and save files to or edit files stored on the RDSH system. The RDSH system can prevent users from accessing files stored by others using operating system and filesystem permissions. As another example, the RDSH system may allow for multiple users to execute published applications. Published applications are hosted by and executed by the RDSH system. However, the user interface for the published application is rendered in a window within the local desktop environment of the client device, allowing for remotely executed applications to appear to behave largely like local applications.
An RDSH system can be implemented using a VM. For example, a VM with a version of MICROSOFT WINDOWS SERVER® installed may be configured to host MICROSOFT REMOTE DESKTOP SERVICES. Depending on the number of users to be supported and the types of applications provided, multiple VMs may be used to provide an RDSH system.

Anticipating future resource consumption based on user sessions


In one embodiment, an opto-electronic package includes a substrate, a cavity, mounting pads and transverse walls interspersed along the cavity, pads separated by transverse walls, and transverse walls being lower than cavity-defining walls; and LED dice mounted to the pads. In another embodiment, a system is disclosed for backlighting an LCD screen. The system includes an opto-electronic package having a substrate; LED dice mounted to the substrate; an encapsulant disposed over LED dice; and a light guide having an input portion to receive light provided by LED dice, the input portion in attachment to encapsulant, and an output portion configured to transmit light to LCD screen. In yet another embodiment, a method of manufacturing an opto-electronic package includes: fabricating a substrate; attaching LED dice to the substrate; electrically connecting each LED dice to an outer portion of the substrate; and disposing encapsulant over the LED dice.

In order to produce white light for small screen LCD backlighting, it is now common to position red LED dice, green LED dice and blue LED dice together in one package. Various configurations of red, green and blue LED dice which attempt to address problems concerning light mixing and thermal management. There are well known problems with producing a well-mixed white light from a combination of red, green and blue LED dice within a constrained space. There is the problem of heat sinking and heat dissipation for light sources in the LCD display. There is also the problem of mixing multiple-colored light sources to provide a uniform color and a uniform luminance for the LCD backlighting. Furthermore, there are the issues with respect to minimizing the hot spot area and increasing the active area on the LCD.
Referring to FIGS. 12A, 12B, 13A and 13B, there is shown a side emitting LED package 5. In FIGS. 12A and 12B, there is shown a light guide plate 10 coupled to side emitting LED package 5. There are several disadvantages of this typical backlighting configuration. Generally, color mixing is not optimum due to the wide pitch between adjacent LED packages 5 so as to cause dark spots 15, which in turn cause hot spots and reduce the active area for the LCD.
Side emitting LED die 20, which is also referred to as LED chip 20, is positioned within package 5 and electrically and thermally connected to the surrounding environment by an electrical and heat conductor 25 together with a wire connector 30 to the top portion of LED chip 20. As such, heat generated by LED die 5 is dissipated through an electrical and heat conductor 25. This is not an optimum configuration to effectively dissipate heat to the ambient atmosphere. This sub-optimum configuration is due to the relatively long heat path provided by electrical and heat pathway, which causes a relatively high amount thermal resistance.
Light 35 is produced by LED die 20 within each LED package 5. A cavity 40 is provided within each of LED packages 5 and each cavity 40 contains a single LED die 20. This configuration allows combinations of side emitting LED packages 5 which together provide a relatively small range of colors. The range of colors is limited in that each LED die 20 emits a single color of light 35, and LED dice 20 are disposed relatively far apart from one another along light guide 10.
Thinner light guides and smaller product packages are necessary for thinner LCD displays. In order to provide a the largest possible aperture opening in a high quality LCD screen, product thickness and height should be reduced to dimensions as small possible with improved light coupling with the light guide. In order to provide good color mixing, red, green and blue LED dice should be placed close to each other while simultaneously providing an efficient heat path to ambient temperature.

Opto-electronic package, and methods and systems for making and using same


A rotary latch having a pivoting handle mounted in the recess of a mounting plate includes a turn-key member that rotates within the handle's free end, and the turn-key member is mechanically linked to a catch rod where rotation of the turn-key member results in a corresponding rotation of the catch rod. As a result of the rotation of the turn-key member, the catch rod has two positions—a “lock” position that does not engage a swiveling trip lever, and an “unlocked” position that engages the swiveling trip lever. When the turn-key member rotates the catch rod into the unlocked position, an actuation/pivoting of the handle about the pivot pin rotates the free end of the handle away from the mounting plate recess to linearly displace the catch rod. The linear displacement of the catch rod causes it to come into contact with and pivot the arm of a swiveling trip lever. The trip lever arm, when rotated by the catch rod, rotates an adjacent kicker journaled on the mounting plate's rear surface. The kicker includes a kicker pin that is engaged by the swiveling trip lever, causing the release kicker to rotate and push a guard rotary. The guard rotary protects a capture rotary from opening, where the capture rotary retains a lock bar. However, when the release kicker pushes the guard rotary against the bias of a dedicated spring, the capture rotary can rotate freely and open outward to release the captured lock bar.

The present invention is directed generally to mechanical latching mechanisms, and more particularly to a rotary latch for a door (such as a vehicle door) or container that captures and releases a traverse (i.e., vertical) latching member to regulate access to a space such as a vehicle compartment door or a heavy storage box, or other latch release application. The release of the bar is accomplished by actuating a pivoting handle mounted on the housing, wherein the handle includes a turn-key member to lock and unlock the latch device.


In an aspect, an organic light-emitting device including a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, and an organic layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the organic layer includes a light-emitting layer which emits light in a visible spectrum and light in a non-visible spectrum is provided.

1. Field
This disclosure relates to an organic light-emitting display panel for outputting an image including a security signal, and an identification card including the display panel.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Electronic identifications, such as an electronic passport in which the appearance of a person is displayed as a digital image instead of a photograph by using an organic light-emitting display (OLED) panel have been developed. Counterfeiting or tampering with electronic identifications, such as an electronic passport, may be possible by changing an OLED panel in a manner similar counterfeiting or tampering with a typical identification card by changing a photo. Therefore, security techniques for preventing the counterfeiting or tampering with electronic identifications have been investigated.

Organic light-emitting device for outputting image and security pattern, and display panel including the same


A method and device are provided for determining a intraperitoneal volume during peritoneal dialysis. The method and device can be used in conjunction with a dialysis machine wherein a first circuit peritoneal solution from a patient's peritoneal cavity is carried past one side of a semipermeable membrane and dialyzing fluid in a second circuit is carried past the other side of the membrane. The concentration of an endogenous substance (which during peritoneal dialysis passes through the peritoneum into the peritoneal cavity) is measured during the treatment. The intraperitoneal volume is calculated from the measured variation in concentration of the endogenous substance in the peritoneal solution. Preferably, the endogenous substance is albumin. The concentration of the endogenous substance preferably is measured at two successive times. After the first measurement, a predetermined volume of fluid ΔV is withdrawn from or added to the first circuit.

In continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis ("CAPD"), dialysate is instilled into the peritoneal cavity, i.e., the patient's abdominal cavity, via a permanently implanted peritoneal catheter. The dialysate remains in the abdominal cavity for several hours. At the end of this cycle, the dialysate is drained. The exchange of fluid and dissolved substances between the blood in the peritoneal capillaries and the dialysate may result in adequate elimination of substances usually eliminated with the urine.
Known devices for so-called continuous flow peritoneal dialysis ("CFPD") have a dialyzer that is divided into first and second compartments by a membrane. The first compartment is in communication with the peritoneal catheter via a first sterile circuit, while the second compartment is in communication with a device for delivering dialyzing fluid via a second circuit. The circuits are separated from one another by the membrane of the dialyzer. During CFPD, peritoneal solution from the peritoneal cavity is carried past one side of the membrane, while dialyzing fluid is carried past the other side of the membrane. Exchange of materials between the peritoneal solution and the continuously delivered fresh dialyzing fluid takes place at the membrane. At the same time, toxins on the membrane are removed from the peritoneal solution and, vice-versa, substances resorbed by the patient, such as glucose, are restored.
Owing to the exchange of materials, the concentration gradient of the toxins and the osmotic gradient of the solution in the peritoneal cavity, are maintained relative to the environment, so that a steady secretion of fluid over the peritoneum takes place in the peritoneal cavity. This may result in a practically unlimited increase in fluid in the peritoneal cavity. The aforementioned increase in fluid is also called patient's ultrafiltration.
Therefore, determination of the intraperitoneal volume, i.e., the volume of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, is essential for protection of the patient against "overfilling." If the intraperitoneal volume is known, the excess fluid can be removed from the first circuit through the membrane of the dialyzer. The known CFPD devices have an ultrafiltration means for this purpose.
The intraperitoneal volume may be determined empirically or by a drain in the patient. EP A 0,149,001 describes a peritoneal dialysis device in which the ultrafiltration rate is controlled as a function of the intraperitoneal volume, so that "overfilling" of the patient is precluded. Ultrafiltration control is based on measurement of dilution. The peritoneal dialysis device comprises a closed circuit, in which dialyzing fluid circulates and to which a substance is added from outside whose secretion and resorption rate is negligible during the entire duration of treatment. The concentration of this substance in the peritoneal solution continuously decreases with increasing volume. During treatment the concentration is measured and compared with the initial concentration at the start of treatment. When a difference between the measured concentration and the initial concentration is detected, the ultrafiltration means withdraws fluid from the peritoneal cavity until the initial concentration in the dialyzing fluid has been reestablished.
A drawback with the device disclosed in EP A 0,149,001 is that an exogenous substance must be added to the dialyzing fluid. Hence, incompatibilities cannot be ruled out. Further secretion or resorption of the substance may result in defective control of the ultrafiltration rate.

Method for determining the intraperitoneal volume and device for peritoneal dialysis


A memory system that includes a plurality of memory arrays having memory cells characterized by a variable write time. The memory system also includes a memory bus configured to receive write commands, and a plurality of data buffers configured to communicate with the memory arrays. The memory system further includes an address buffer configured to communicate with the memory arrays to store the write addresses. A mechanism configured to receive a write command and to split a data line received with the write command into a number of parts is also included in the memory system. The parts of the data line are stored in different data buffers and the writing of the parts of the data line to memory arrays at the write address is initiated. The write command is completed when write completion signals specifying the write address have been received from all of the memory arrays.

The present invention relates generally to computer memory, and more specifically, to improving the write bandwidth in a memory characterized by a variable write time.
Conventional memories such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and static RAM (SRAM) are characterized by a deterministic time required to perform standard operations such as a write or a read. This influences the design of the memory system, in that, knowing the sequence of write and read accesses to the memory is sufficient to knowing when each access will be completed. There are however, various possible causes of variability in the write time of a memory technology or system. For example, a phase change memory (PCM) device capable of storing multiple bits per memory cell uses iterative write techniques, which may or may not succeed and for which the time required to succeed is non-deterministic. Iterative write techniques (commonly referred to as "write-and-verify") are used with PCMs in order to allow a controller for the memory to store a desired value with an increased accuracy, since the read operations offer a feedback mechanism that can be used to reduce errors in the writing process. Storage devices where iterative write techniques are utilized are often characterized by variable write times because the number of iterations required to perform a write may vary between memory cells. This variable nature of the write mechanism has an impact on write bandwidth if a conventional implementation designed for deterministic memories is used for the memory system.
Another example where the time to perform a write may vary between memory cells is in the case of a memory system where the maximum total power is bounded and there are several independent memory sub-arrays. In this case, each sub-array may take an unpredictable amount of time to write because it may not be allowed to write until the power budget occupation allows it.

Write bandwidth in a memory characterized by a variable write time


A seed feeding apparatus includes a feed assembly with a V-shaped groove with at least one moving wall and a pocket formed by the walls of the groove and a pocket plate configured to substantially conform to the groove. The pocket plate is located such that the moving wall moves upward at the pocket. Seeds are received and form a pile in the pocket. As the moving wall moves, seeds fall from the pile to the bottom of the groove with sides of the seeds bearing against the walls of the groove such that the seeds are aligned in single file along the bottom of the groove and move upward over the upper edge of the groove and then fall out of the groove one at a time at a constant rate into a furrow.

Seeding implements typically include a seed supply system that takes seed from a storage container and conveys the seed to a furrow made in the ground surface by a furrow opener of the implement.
When seeding, it is desired to plant the seeds to obtain a selected plant population with a selected number of plants growing in a given area, such as X plants per square meter. In order to obtain this desired plant population, a seeding rate is determined, commonly in units of weight per given area, such as pounds per acre. For any seed variety, a pound of seed will contain approximately a known number of seeds. The number of seeds per pound will of course vary, depending on seed size, density of the seed, moisture content, and like variable characteristics of the sample compared to the seed standard, but for a great many seeds, typically small seeds such as wheat, barley, canola, using a rate in pounds per acre provides satisfactory plant populations.
The germination rate of the seed will also be determined to determine what percentage of the seeds being sown are viable and will grow into a plant. Such germination rates can vary considerably, and so where germination rate is lower, an increased application rate will be required.
Ideally, the plants will be evenly distributed along the furrow so that each plant has the same optimum space for growth. Evenly spaced plants provide maximum yields, and mature evenly. Uneven spacing also wastes seed, which is becoming increasingly expensive. The benefits of along-the-row seed separation uniformity are well known and practiced on row crop planters for crops such as corn and sunflowers, where singulator mechanisms have been developed to drop seeds into a furrow one at a time at constant intervals in order to provide uniform seed spacing in the furrow.
Such row crop planters typically plant fairly widely spaced parallel rows of seed, for example 24 inches or 36 inches apart. Conventional row crop planters have typically included a number of spaced apart seeding assemblies, each with a storage container to carry seed, and a furrow opener. A singulator type metering device at the bottom of the storage container takes seeds one at a time and drops them into the furrow created by the furrow opener.
In conventional solid seeding implement, the row spacing is much reduced, typically 6-12 inches between rows. Conventionally a single container extends across the width of the seeder above the furrow openers, and metering devices, such as a rotating feed wheels, are provided in the bottom of the container above each furrow opener to meter seed from the container to the furrow opener.
While it is contemplated that many solid seeded crops could also benefit from increased uniformity of seed spacing, the rows are much closer together and providing conventional singulating technology, which often include vacuum pick ups, on each furrow opener would be too complex and too expensive to be warranted. These conventional singulating systems are quite time consuming to adjust and to clean out when changing seeds and also do not readily adapt to a variety of seed sizes and spacing requirements that are encountered in solid seeded crops where seeds can be quite large as in wheat seeded at 100 pounds per acre, or quite small as in canola seeded at 4 pounds per acre.
Air seeders have become increasingly popular for all kinds of seeding. In air seeders, the seed is stored in a central bulk tank and then carried by an air stream to furrows made by furrow openers of the air seeder. In the majority of conventional air seeders, typically used for solid seeded crops, seed is metered from the tank into a distribution network of tubes and manifolds that divide the air stream eventually into a separate tube for each furrow opener. Sufficient seed is metered into the air stream to provide the desired seeding rate across the width of the air seeder. The distribution network is designed such that the air stream, and the seeds carried in the air stream, are divided substantially equally so that about the same amount of seed is delivered to each furrow opener, at least within a satisfactory range of variation.
The quantity of seed directed to each row will vary within a range that is considered acceptable, but still can be significant. There is also some degree of seed damage caused by the impact of seeds within the manifolds used to divide the air stream.
It is also known to meter seed from the tank directly into a separate tube for each furrow opener, and to carry the seed from the tank to the furrow opener with an air stream through each tube. Improved uniformity of seed distribution between rows, and reduced seed impact and resulting damage is thus achieved. Due to differences in individual seed friction within a tube, chance contacts within the delivery tube and air pulsing effects, the accurate metering rate will, however, not yield an even seed spacing when the seed exits the tube into the furrow even if the seed is singulated into the leading end of the tube.
Air seeders have also been developed for singulating seeds. Seed is pneumatically conveyed through tubes on demand to small secondary storage chambers above the individual furrow openers, and the seed in the secondary chambers is then metered to the furrow through a singulating mechanism. This type of distribution system is typical on newer row planters for corn, sunflowers, and the like. These singulating mechanisms are substantially the same as the conventional singulating mechanisms described above and have the same time consuming adjustment and clean out and also do not readily adapt to a variety of seed.


A method of plating on a glass substrate allowing an electroless plating film with good adhesiveness to be formed by chemically bonding a silane coupling agent in a state of simple adhesion or hydrogen bond to the surface of the glass substrate through dehydration condensation reaction, and a method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium using the plating method. In the plating method, electroless plating is performed on a glass substrate after sequentially conducting at least the adhesion layer formation that forms an adhesion layer using a silane coupling agent solution, catalyst layer formation, a catalyst activation, and a drying that chemically bonds the silane coupling agent in the adhesion layer to the surface of the glass substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method of plating on a glass substrate and a method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium using the method of plating. The method of plating is useful in particular for the formation of an electroless plating film on a glass substrate for a magnetic recording medium installed in a hard disk drive.
2. Description of the Related Art
In magnetic recording media (hard disks: HDs) installed in hard disk drives (HDDs) used in external storage devices of computers, a glass substrate exhibiting superior flatness and strength than an aluminum alloy substrate has become more popular to meet demands for large storage capacity suited to installation in AV appliances, and for higher recording density on decreased diameter HDs.
An aluminum alloy substrate normally has a NiP plating film formed on it by means of an electroless plating method. For a glass substrate, on the other hand, forming a plating film on it with satisfactory adhesiveness by means of the electroless plating method, has been technologically difficult.
A technique may be possible, in which an adhesion layer is formed on a glass substrate by sputtering. According to this technique, the adhesive layer is composed of a layer containing titanium or chromium that exhibits relatively good adhesion with glass in the metallic substances. On the adhesion layer, a desired film is laminated. The technique, however, requires repetition of processing for each of multiple laminations, and therefore finds difficulty in cost reduction as compared with a plating method, which allows batch processing. Thus, the technique is not suited to form a thick film. In particular, a perpendicular magnetic recording medium, which is a subject of active development, needs a relatively thick layer, a soft magnetic underlayer having a thickness of 0.3 to 3.0 μm. Such a thick layer can only be obtained at high cost when deposition is performed by a sputtering method.
A method to form a plating film on a surface of a glass substrate by means of an electroless plating method has been proposed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-163743, in which an adhesion layer is formed of a silane coupling agent and an electroless plating film is formed on the adhesion layer.
In this method, the ethoxyl group or methoxyl group in the silane coupling agent becomes a silanol group when the silane coupling agent dissolves in water, and the silanol group bonds through the hydrogen bond to the hydroxyl group or silanol group generated by activation of the surface of the glass substrate. After a dehydration treatment is performed, adhesion through a firm chemical bond is accomplished. Consequently, a plating film with good adhesiveness is yet obtained on a smooth substrate surface without utilizing an anchoring effect by surface coarsening as in a sensitization-activation method.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H8-39728 discloses a method in which a silane coupling agent solution is applied to a glass epoxy substrate for a printed wiring board and dried. The substrate then is plated with a metal in the presence of a metallizing catalyst.
In the above-described method using the adhesion layer of silane coupling agent, it is important that the state of combination between the hydroxyl groups on the glass substrate and the silanol groups of the silane coupling agent is a chemical bond. The existence of a portion not chemically bound, but in a simple adhesion of a hydrogen bond, has been found to cause poor adhesion, blisters, and peeling of the plated film. The state of combination can be made into chemical bonds in some extent by an activation treatment on the surface of the glass substrate, but it is difficult to entirely establish chemical bonding.

Method of electroless plating on a glass substrate and method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium using the method of electroless plating

Fuji Electric Device Technology Co., Ltd.


A software-based decision engine implements a comparative or opportunity based decision making methodology. A user selects or provides options and influencing factors. The importance of each influencing factor, and the reason for each factor's importance, is obtained. Each factor for each option is weighted, and any extra effort associated with a particular option is assessed. Resources and on-line links may be provided to assist in weighting factors. The factors may be pre-weighted based on quantifiable information. The options are ranked and displayed in a scorecard format, wherein the importance, reason and weight behind each factor of each option is displayed to the user, providing the user with quantifiable knowledge that he/she has made the best decision based on all available options and associated factors. Steps for developing an action plan to make a chosen option a reality may also be provided.

Decisions are an inevitable part of life, and many have critical impact. Decisions are made every day, some with great thought and others spontaneously. Virtually all, however, are in our control and have an effect on the direction our lives take, as well as an impact on the world around us. Therefore, for every decision-making situation, it is important to make the most informed decision possible with all of the information available at that moment for that situation.
In April 2001, the present inventor filed parent application Ser. No. 09/834,779 directed to a software-based methodology for personal use in life decision making. The methodology incorporated an algorithm, subsequently named "Weighted Inverse Perspective" (WIP), whereby users are encouraged to answer each question of the decision-making process with free expression, which then drives the questions in the following steps. The WIP algorithm captures the human element in the process of decision making by equally focusing on the factors that make up the situation, along with the reasons and driving forces behind those factors and the overall impact on each possible outcome. Upon completion of the process, the user has exhausted and uncovered all obstacles and supporting factors for the given situation, documented all possible perspectives from the outside-in, and has been guided to reach inside themselves to develop creative solutions for overcoming obstacles that can be effectively implemented.
Since the filing of the parent application, the present inventor has continued research and development, focusing on comparative- and opportunity-based aspects of the decision-making process. In particular, in consumer-oriented decisions, such as deciding which product to buy or deciding which clinical treatment path to take, for example, consumers often experience "buyer's remorse" after a purchase is made or course of treatment decided on. This is often the result of a decision made without full consideration being given to all available options and factors associated with those options. For such decision-making scenarios, there is a need for a mechanism or methodology that empowers consumers in their decision process and allows them to move forward with a purchase or other conclusive decision with confidence and knowledge that they have "sold themselves" based on a complete analysis of the information at hand.


The invention relates to a method of calibrating a connecting rod arrangement comprising a crankshaft eye and a connecting rod eye. In order to achieve the best possible parallelism between the connecting rod eye and the crankshaft eye a controlled energy input occurs in at least one predefined surface area of the connecting rod, so that outside a neutral axis a local structural change and thus a tension in the connecting rod occurs.

In the following, the invention will be described on the basis of a refrigerant compressor, for example as used in domestic refrigerators and freezers. Such a compressor should work in a substantially maintenance-free manner and still have a good efficiency.
This requires the lowest possible friction between the mechanical components of the compressor. In this connection, the friction is not only influenced by the relative movement of the sliding and rotating components, but also by jamming effects occurring from the sum of shape and position deviations.
A sufficient tightness when the piston moves in the cylinder, for example, requires a very accurate adaptation of the piston to the cylinder. Further, the piston must move as exactly as possible along the axis of the cylinder. As soon as an angle error occurs, the piston moves in the cylinder in an unbalanced manner, so that increased friction and increased wear occur. Finally, leakages may occur in the compressor, which will further reduce the efficiency.
A substantial reason for the occurrence of such angle errors is the lack of parallelism between the two connecting rod eyes of the connecting rod. With the manufacturing methods used until now, it has not been possible to obtain an axis parallelism of 2 μm or less in relation to a length of 20 mm. Previously, a relatively expensive subsequent mechanical treatment would be required to obtain a higher accuracy. However, this subsequent mechanical treatment will change the tribologic properties of the connecting rod arrangement, in particular the wear resistance.
DE 10 2006 028 617 B3 discloses a connecting rod arrangement that has a rotating joint between the crank eye and the connecting rod eye. This rotating joint permits a slewing movement of the crank eye in relation to the connecting rod eye, so that angle errors are equalised. However, the manufacturing of such a connecting rod arrangement is relatively expensive. The additional bearing causes the connecting rod arrangement to have a relatively large weight, which is disadvantageous with regard to heavy vibrations. The bearing may also permit a play between the connecting rod eye and the crank eye, which further deteriorates the efficiency.

Method of calibrating a connecting rod arrangement and connecting rod arrangement


A device and device for manufacturing loops of steel employed in continuous-operation presses to manufacture single-layer or multiple-layer webs of material. To equalize the tension in the ends of a strip before they are welded together to form a loop and to increase the strength of the weld, the strip (10) is laid over drums (2 and 3) and its ends secured in grippers (13) that travel across the drums' axes (4 and 5). The strip is tensioned to a prescribed tension. The tension is maintained while the ends (11 and 12) of the strip are secured by transverse tensioning arms. The tension is released by moving the movable axis to an operating distance. The strip is cut with a blade, the ends of the strip are ground parallel, and are welded together to form a loop.

The invention concerns a method of manufacturing bands or loops of steel with a device including two separate drums with parallel axes, one of the axes stationary and the other transversely variable.
Loops of steel are preferably manufactured from a coil or from several sheets welded together. Once the coil has been uncoiled or the several sheets welded into strips, the length of the desired loop is marked on the tensioned strip with a measuring tape and square and the strip cut with manual or mechanical shears. The strips can be up to 30m long or longer. At such lengths the longitudinal edges will have tolerances of 5 mm due to the measuring tape's imprecision, to discrepancies in angular measurement, and in particular to inherent distortions in the extended but not tensioned strip.
The accordingly trimmed strip is now welded together into a loop. The strip is wrapped loose around two drums and its ends aligned and secured on a welding surface with the transverse edges in contact or slightly apart depending on what kind of welding is employed- The ends of the strip remain tensioned on the surface during the welding process.
The welded loop is ejected straight. The axis of one drum remains stationary while the other is displaced by an all purpose piston-and-cylinder mechanism until the tension on the loop is approximately 50 N/mm.sup.2. The tensioned loop is now turned several times around the powered drum. Due to the aforesaid considerable tolerances in the longitudinal edges of the extended strip and to its being welded without being uniformly tensioned, the loop may to run off the drums. To prevent this from occurring, one end of the variable drum is tensioned until the strip travels straight. In this state, in which the tensions in the strip are unequal and the axes of the drums are not parallel, the deviation from the straight is measured during one revolution of the strip.
Such strips are controlled in application by sensing the longitudinal edge of the strip and briefly and alternately adjusting the variable drum axis to keep the strip from running off the drum. The strip's inherent uneven tension has additional control tensions imposed over it. It is precisely the uncompensated tension at both edges that decreases the life of such a loop.

Method of and device for manufacturing bands of steel


Provided are methods for isolating biomolecules, such as nucleic acids and proteins, from a sample using a silica-containing surface and/or a high salt, low pH buffer.

The increased use of DNA, RNA, and proteins in a wide variety molecular biology applications has created a need for fast, simple and reliable methods and reagents for isolating DNA, RNA, and proteins. In many applications, collecting a biological sample and subsequent analysis thereof would be substantially simplified if biomolecules contained within the sample, e.g., DNA, RNA, and proteins, could be co-isolated from a single sample. This co-isolation is especially important when the sample size is small, such as in biopsy, that it precludes its separation into smaller samples to perform separate isolation protocols for DNA, RNA, and proteins.
There are known methods for isolating DNA, RNA, and proteins from biological samples. An important limitation of known methods is that large samples volumes may be needed, e.g., so the sample can be split to perform separate isolations of the biomolecules, e.g., DNA, RNA, and protein. Further disadvantages of known methods include that a prolonged time may be required for isolation, particularly when various biomolecules require separate isolation. Other drawbacks of known methods include the use of toxic solutions, e.g., phenol, low yield of the nucleic acid or protein, a limited number and size of samples that can be processed, and the potential for contamination, such as protein contamination in nucleic acid fractions. High cost of equipment, e.g., ultracentrifuges, can be a further limitation of particular known methods.
The present methods and compositions, e.g., kits, involve a buffer chemistry to bind one or more biomolecules to a silica-containing surface, e.g., glass fiber membranes. The present methods and conditions bring about the binding of both nucleic acids and proteins on a silica-containing surface, e.g., borosilicate glass fibers, silicon dioxide, or silica-coated magnetic beads. Accordingly, provided herein are simple and effective methods and products for the co-isolation of DNA, RNA, and proteins from a single sample for subsequent use in molecular biology, biotechnology, clinical research and other applications.

Methods for co-isolation of nucleic acids and proteins


A display device includes a substrate with a major surface and a cover opposing the substrate. An array of light emitting pixels is disposed over a generally central portion of the major surface, and interposed between the substrate and the cover. A seal is disposed over a peripheral portion of the substrate, and interposed between and interconnecting the substrate and the cover. Between the seal and the substrate, a lower insulation layer, an upper insulation layer, and a structure located between the lower and upper insulation layers and including at least one metal layer. The upper insulation layer includes an uneven top surface. A contour of the uneven top surface of the upper insulation layer may conform with or follow that of the top uneven surface of the structure. The seal contacts and is bonded to the uneven top surface of the upper insulation.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to flat panel display devices and methods of manufacturing flat panel display devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, an upper substrate and a lower substrate of a display device are combined using a sealing material. In combing of the upper substrate and the lower substrate, a laser may be irradiated from a laser generating device into a sealing region corresponding to a peripheral region of the display device. While the laser is irradiated into the sealing region, the phase of the sealing material may be changed from solid to liquid. Then, the phase of the sealing material may be changed from liquid to solid after predetermined time. The upper and the lower substrates may be combined in accordance with the phase change of the sealing material. To ensure proper adhesion strength between the lower and the upper substrates in the sealing region, the conventional display device may include the sealing material as well as an additional insulation layer or a metal layer disposed in the sealing region. However, in the conventional display device, the sealing material may be positioned on a level surface of the insulation layer or the metal layer, so the lower and the upper substrates may be easily separated by external impact and the like.

Display devices and methods of manufacturing display devices


An apparatus including a surface heater, the surface heater including a substrate having a surface formed of an electrically insulating material, heating element attached to the surface of the substrate by sintering predetermined powder including lanthanide oxide powder, and a power supply unit configured to supply electricity to the heating element wherein a manufacturing method of the surface heater includes baking the predetermined powder at a baking temperature of 900° C. or lower.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a surface heater using a heating element, which generates heat by electricity, an electric range having the same, and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a cooktop is a cooking apparatus which heats a container mounted on the upper surface thereof to heat food contained in the container. Cooktops are divided into gas ranges which directly generate flame using gas, and electric ranges which heat a container and/or food mounted on a substrate using electricity.
Conventionally, a heating element is formed by applying a paste containing a metal material, such as Ag—Pd, and glass frit to the rear surface of a substrate formed of glass or stainless steel and then sintering the same. A plate-shaped heater which generates heat by supplying electricity to such a heating element has been known.

Surface heater, electric range having the same, and manufacturing method thereof


A bill processing machine according to the present invention includes a control portion that controls a pair of first and second sensor units. The control portion performs: a first process in which first and second reflected lights of one face of a bill are detected sequentially by first and second reflection sensors of the first sensor unit, respectively; a second process in which third and fourth reflected light of an other face of the bill are detected sequentially by first and second reflection sensors of the second sensor unit, respectively; and a third process in which first and second transmitted lights in one direction of the bill are detected by the first and second reflection sensors of the first sensor unit, respectively, and third and fourth transmitted lights in an other direction of the bill is detected by the first and second reflection sensor of the second sensor unit, respectively. The control portion makes timing of detecting the first reflected light by the first reflection sensor of the first sensor unit in the first process agree with timing of detecting the fourth reflected light by the second reflection sensor of the second sensor unit in the second process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bill processing machine in which a reduction in cost is achieved.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-007684, filed Jan. 16, 2009, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of Related Art
A bill pattern detector is provided in a bill processing machine. A CCD sensor is provided on both sides of the bill that is being conveyed in the bill pattern detector. The bill pattern detector performs recognition of bills with high accuracy by detecting in fine detail transmitted data of the bill pattern and reflection data of both sides of the bill pattern (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2004-355264).
In the bill pattern detector, generally as the number of pixels used for reading the bill pattern increases, recognition with greater accuracy can be expected. However, on the other hand, in addition to the device becoming more expensive, the pattern reading time and the time required for recognition increase, and memory usage also increases.
Therefore, in a bill pattern detector that is to be used in a bill processing machine in which an increase in the number of bills processed per unit time is desired, there is naturally a limit in the recognition by a sensor with many pixels. Therefore, it is required to see how it is possible to enable better recognition in a bill pattern detector with few pixels.


A self-cleaning plate shaped device for use in an automotive rear view mirror. The device preferably includes a mirror and a vibrator disposed on the mirror for propagating oscillations in the mirror substantially entirely parallel to the plane of the mirror. The vibrations remove foreign substances from the mirror. The mirror also includes a heater disposed on the back of the mirror for distributing heat substantially entirely throughout the mirror. When the mirror is heated by the heater, a moisture blur or the like are evaporated quickly and removed from the reflecting surface of the mirror. Further, frost, ice and the like is melted into water drops, and removed from the reflecting surface of the mirror due to the vibration of the mirror by the vibrator.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a self-cleaning plate shaped device which, for example, can be utilized to remove foreign substances from a plate member such as an automotive rear mirror.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 59-8548 published on Jan. 17, 1984 discloses a conventional cleaning device for an automotive rear view mirror (see FIG. 14). The cleaning device preferably includes a plate member 1 which is a rear-view mirror for an automobile. A piezoelectric vibrator 2 is affixed to the plate member 1. An oscillator 3 is electrically connected to the vibrator 2 in order to supply A.C. power. When the plate member 1 is oscillated by the vibrator 2, water droplets on the plate member 1 are removed. The water droplets drip off or are atomized into a spray.
Japanese utility model laid-open patent publication No. 59-40145 published on Mar. 14, 1984 discloses another conventional cleaning device. (see FIG. 15). In this device, a heater 4 is affixed to a plate member 1 in order to heat the plate member 1. When the plate member 1 is heated by the heater 4, water drops on the plate member 1 are evaporated due to the electric power supplied across the terminals 5 and 6.
The vibrator 2 of Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-8548 can remove the water drops relatively quickly, but it cannot generate enough heat for melting and removing frost and ice on the plate member 1. On the other hand, the heater 4 of Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-40145 can remove water drops, frost and ice, but the heater 4 requires a relatively long time.


A method and system for determining an irradiation dose. The method for determining the irradiation dose includes determining a pixel having a biological feature in a region of interest in a radiotherapy simulated locating image by using a retrospective label; extracting a local radiomics feature based on the pixel having the biological feature, in which the local radiomics feature includes a grayscale histogram intensity, a tumor shape feature, a textural feature, a Laplacian of Gaussian filtering feature, and a wavelet feature; acquiring the local radiomics features to be measured; identifying a positive region having the local radiomics features to be measured based on the local radiomics features; performing three-dimensional reconstruction for the peripheral boundary of the positive region to determine a three-dimensional image.

Radiotherapy, surgical treatment, and medical chemotherapy are called three major means for oncotherapy. Statistics show that about 65% of patients need to be subjected to radiotherapy during oncotherapy. Some types of cancers (such as early nasopharyngeal carcinoma, lung cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer) can be cured by radiotherapy, and the contribution of radiotherapy to tumor curing is 40%.
The general procedure for radiotherapy is as follows:
Step 1, as shown in FIG. 1, is simulated locating, i.e., medically imaging a patient under a condition of a fixed posture.
Step 2, as shown in FIG. 2, is treatment plan design for radiotherapy, i.e., transmitting the image of the previous step to a treatment planning system (TPS) software; simulating an incident angle, a shape, and energy of X ray on this software, and calculating an irradiation dose through the software; simulating the distribution of expose doses of a tumor and organs at risk surrounding it in the patient after radiotherapy implementation; and performing statistical quantitative evaluation in a dose-volume histogram form.
Step 3, plan implementation, i.e., submitting the above radiotherapy plan to a medical linear accelerator for implementation after it is confirmed by both a radiotherapy doctor and a radiological physicist, in which as shown in FIG. 3, before the implementation, firstly the patient is fixed again on a medical linear accelerator treatment table by means of the same fixing device according to the posture used in "Step 1, simulated locating", i.e., "positioning"; then activating a imaging system integrated with the medical linear accelerator, i.e., the CBCT imaging system pointed by a white arrow in FIG. 3, which executes fast imaging of the treatment site of the patient in a time period of about 2 minutes under the circumstance that the patient does not leave the treatment table; subsequently conducting image registration between the image of fast imaging and the patient image used in "Step 2, treatment plan design for radiotherapy", and moving the accelerator treatment table utilizing the posture changes revealed by the registration result, such that the patient's posture is restored to the same posture as that used in "Step 1, simulated locating" and "Step 2, treatment plan design for radiotherapy", as shown in FIG. 4; and finally, calling the radiotherapy plan of the patient to implement radiotherapy for the patient.
For an existing radiotherapy planning method, as described in "Step 2, treatment plan design for radiotherapy" mentioned above, the designing process of the existing radiotherapy plan is formulated under the guidance of anatomical imaging and functional imaging. The anatomical imaging (e.g., CT and MRI) reflects anatomical structures and locations of tumors and normal tissues in the patient, and the functional imaging (e.g., f-MRI, PET, SPECT, etc.) reflects partial biological features in the patient's tumor. By using the anatomical imaging and functional imaging as references, the irradiation field parameters (including shape and intensity of the ray) are adjusted during the pan designing process, so as to simulatedly calculate the dose distribution in the patient and thus complete the plan designing.
As described in "Step 2, treatment plan design for radiotherapy" mentioned above, the formulation process of the existing radiotherapy plan makes reference to the anatomical imaging (e.g., CT and MRI) and the functional imaging (e.g., f-MRI, PET, SPECT, etc.), the limitation of which is reflected in that:
When the radiotherapy plan is formulated under the guidance of the anatomical imaging, the anatomical imaging can only reflect the positions and structures of the tumor and surrounding normal tissues, and cannot reflect biological function information (such as the glucose metabolic level, the hypoxia level, and angiogenesis conditions in the tumor, the magnitude of complications risk in normal tissues, and the like); while for the biological features of the tumor or normal tissues in the human body, on one hand they largely determine the success or failure of radiotherapy (for example, for a hypoxic region in the tumor, the existence of the hypoxic region has direct correlations with distant metastases of the tumor and poor prognosis, and a large number of studies have confirmed that tumor cells in the hypoxic region are resistant to radioactive rays, so that if no high-dose irradiation is conducted, the tumor may not be effectively killed; also for example, as shown in FIG. 5, no volume reduction occurs as seen from the CT anatomical structure of the tumor region indicated by the white arrow, but the CT perfusion functional imaging shows that the blood flow volume is reduced, which means that the tumor-reactive cells have been significantly reduced, and the actual treatment is effective; and also for example, if no targeted protection is performed on a normally functioning lung which is prone to radiation pneumonitis, the patient may have fatal radiation pneumonitis after subjected to the radiotherapy), and on the other hand, there are significant differences among individuals, and there may be huge differences in biological features between two patients with the same type of tumor (for example, after a same irradiation dose of radiotherapy is implemented, the tumor in a radiation-sensitive patient is regressed significantly, while the tumor in a radiation-resistant patient do not change or even proliferate, so that it is essential and necessary to let factors capable of reflecting biological function information to participate in the setting process of the radiotherapy plan.
When the radiotherapy plan is formulated under the guidance of the functional imaging, although the functional imaging reflects specific biological function information (such as glucose metabolism conditions, hypoxia conditions, and angiogenesis conditions in the tumor, and angiogenesis conditions in the tumor, the magnitude of complications risk in normal tissues, and the like), it has many limitations, including:
(1) The location and anatomical information cannot be accurately reflected. The f-MRI, PET and SPECT images, while reflecting the biological functions of some regions, cannot accurately reflect the accurate anatomical location of the region, and the functional region can be directed to the corresponding anatomical position only through image fusion of these images with an anatomical image (i.e., overlaying of the two kinds of images), and as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the highlighted region in FIG. 8 is a region with a specific biological function, such as a tumor region having glucose hypermetabolism or a hypoxic tumor region; but such a "directed to" is often less accurate, as its accuracy is completely dependent on the image fusion algorithm, and images of different modalities often have problems such as distortion and inconsistent scale, and thus no truly one-to-one correspondence can be achieved.
(2) The cost of functional imaging is very expensive, ranging from more than 1,000 yuan per time (SPECT) to nearly 10,000 yuan per time (PET, a non-medical insurance reimbursement item, completely at people's own expense), so that it is difficult to carry out among most patients and cannot benefit more patients.
(3) Functional imaging such as PET and SPECT require injecting radioisotopes into the patient's body, which brings additional radiation to the patient, and in turn brings the limitation that the total number of functional imaging scans subjected by the same patient during the treatment course should not be too many (usually the patient only subjected to the functional imaging scan once before the radiotherapy begins, and at most subjected to the functional imaging scan once again after the radiotherapy, that is the patient is subjected to the functional imaging scans for 2 times before and after in total.
(4) One type of functional imaging can only reveal one biological function feature. For example, 18F-FETNIM PET can reveal the hypoxic region in the tumor, and thus promote that it is appropriate to increase the irradiation dose in this region during the treatment planning process, but 18F-FETNIM PET can only reflect such a feature of "tumor hypoxia" and cannot explain other biological function features such as angiogenesis, glucose metabolism in the tumor, and currently there is no tracer agent that can display multiple functional features at the same time after injected into the human body.
In view of the above existed problems, a method for identifying where is tumor and where is non-tumor by extracting local radiomics features is studied abroad. For the region which is identified as a tumor, a higher irradiation dose is given in the radiotherapy course, and for the region which is identified as non-tumor, a relatively lower prophylactic irradiation dose is given. However, since the biological features at different locations in tumor region are inhomogeneous, if homogeneous irradiation doses are given to the tumor region and the non-tumor region, the tumor cells cannot be completely killed in the tumor region. Therefore, being unable to give respective irradiation doses to tumors with different biological features in the tumor region may affect the therapeutic effect of radiotherapy.

Method and system for determining irradiation dose

Tumor Hospital of Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute