A system for managing cryptographic keys and trust relationships in a secure shell (SSH) environment by mapping network servers, clients, and appliances and locating SSH keys and key pairs associated with each device. The system provides for mapping the network topology and all SSH keys and key pairs stored on network connected devices, and the creation of a master database of all devices, keys and key pairs, key types and encryption strength, and user accounts with which each key or key pair is associated. The mapping and database enable the effective management of SSH keys and key pairs, detection of errors and weakness, elimination of orphaned or outdated keys, correction of all deficiencies, and replacement of keys in accordance with policies set by the organization maintaining the network.

SSH is a protocol that leverages public key cryptography to authenticate and secure access among computers in a computer network. SSH secures Telnet-related operations. Telnet has traditionally been used for remote management of Unix, Linux, and Unix-like computers, routers, switches, firewalls, and other appliances and systems. It has also been used for automated connections between systems via scripting and batch processing. SSH Devices include SSH clients, SSH servers, and SSH-enabled computing appliances, entities, or virtual machines acting as SSH clients or SSH servers. Separate user accounts may also act as SSH Devices.
However, Telnet does not provide for the authentication of systems or the encryption of connections (for example, usernames and passwords are passed across a Telnet connection in clear text and can be intercepted by someone listening on the network). SSH secures Telnet connections by authenticating servers to which a user or system are connecting (ensuring they are not providing their username and password to the wrong system), encrypting the connection to the server (so that usernames and passwords are not intercepted), and optionally authenticating the client using public key cryptography as an alternative to usernames and passwords. File transfer protocol (FTP) has commonly been used along with Telnet to facilitate and is subject to the same security challenges. Consequently, protocols such as Secure FTP (SFTP) and Secure Copy (SCP) have been developed to be used alongside SSH and generally use the same public and private keys (Key Pairs) used for SSH for their security. References within this document to SSH also refer to SFTP and SCP.
In the SSH protocol, there is a client (the system or user that initiates the connection) and a server (the system to which a connection is requested and made). In the simplest configuration, a Key Pair is generated for an SSH server. The public key is used by one or more SSH clients to authenticate the SSH server. The SSH clients store the public key after the first connection with the SSH server, creating a trusted relationship known in which the stored key is known as a Known Host Key. Optionally, a Key Pair can be generated for an SSH client to authenticate the client to SSH servers using public key cryptography instead of usernames and passwords. The SSH servers to which the SSH client connects may store its public key, creating a trusted relationship in which the stored key is known as an Authorized Key.
Because administrators who manage the systems that act as SSH servers and clients can individually generate Key Pairs and distribute or store the public keys used for authentication, these Key Pairs and public keys have proliferated broadly in organizations. This phenomenon has effectively created untracked trusted relationships and access between systems (and users).
SSH is used in large network environments where thousands or tens of thousands of users, computers, and connected devices rely on it for secure authentication for mission critical applications. The resulting number of public and private keys used for authentication grows geometrically with the expansion of the network environment. Moreover, computing networks are not static. Users and devices are added, removed, change on a regular basis; authentication rights of users and devices are also modified regularly to correlate with organizational changes. Security policies of the organization maintaining the network environment may also be altered. Thus, the management of public-private key pairs in an SSH environment (SSH Key Pairs) is critical to establishing and maintaining security within the organization's network environment
There are five primary challenges that have emerged through the use and proliferation of SSH under the current state of the art. They include:
(1) No Inventory of SSH Key Pairs: Because administrators of a network computing environment are able to easily create and deploy SSH Key Pairs themselves, most organizations do not have a central inventory of them. They are consequently not able to monitor entitlements, whether proper key lengths are being used, whether weak-key formats remain in use (e.g. RSA1), or whether Key Pairs are regularly replaced, as is considered essential for a secure system. This creates a major security risk because SSH is the most commonly used method for root-level login to mission critical systems.
(2) Unaccounted for Known Host and Authorized Keys: Public keys stored and used by clients to authenticate servers (Known Host Keys) or by servers to authenticate clients (Authorized Keys) must be tracked because they represent explicit trust between and access to systems. If the wrong Known Host Key or Authorized Key is in place, an SSH system may unintentionally establish a connection with the wrong system or user, thus enabling a security breach. Most organizations have no inventory of their Known Host Keys or Authorized Keys. Consequently, mission critical servers may be trusting Public Keys assigned to systems or users that should not have been or should no longer be trusted. A prime example is the inadvertent continued validity of keys for individuals who have been re-assigned within, or terminated by, the organization maintaining the network environment.
(3) No Key Replacement: Best practices for secure management of authentication credentials dictate that cryptographic keys should be changed regularly to reduce the likelihood that an unauthorized person has gained access to a key and is able to intercept confidential communications or impersonate a person or system and perform unauthorized operations or gain unauthorized data access. Most organizations rarely, if ever, replace their SSH Key Pairs, even though system administrators with access to those Key Pairs may have been reassigned or terminated. Due to the mission critical nature of the systems where SSH is used, this creates a significant risk that an unauthorized user or system can access sensitive information or systems.
(4) Failed Key Replacement: In order to replace a Key Pair, all of its corresponding Known Host Keys or Authorized Keys must also be replaced prior to the replacement of the Key Pair. If a Key Pair is being used for automated batch operations (a very common practice) and all locations of the corresponding Authorized Keys and Known Host Keys are not properly updated when the Key Pair is replaced, it is likely that a mission critical system or process will fail because the new Key Pair will not be trusted. This is a likely scenario because organizations don't have accurate inventories of SSH Key Pairs and corresponding Authorized and Known Host Keys.
(5) Use of Weak Encryption Keys: The US National Institute of Standards (NIST) has recommended that organizations cease using cryptographic key pairs that are less than 2048-bits (256 bytes) in length due to the increased risk of factoring or brute-force attacks possible with smaller keys sizes. Many organizations continue using 1024-bit, 768-bit, and even 512-bit keys in their SSH environments because administrators are unaware of the risks rarely update Key Pairs, because tools to manage these vulnerabilities are not readily available, or because of the risk of a failed key replacement due to an incomplete inventory. This opens organizations to potential security breaches due to via a key factoring or brute force attack.
Thus, there is a clear need for an integrated system capable of addressing the shortcomings of the current practices prevalent for this important security mechanism. The system described provides such an integrated method and tool set, meeting the long-felt need for effective management of SSH Keys.

System for managing cryptographic keys and trust relationships in a secure shell (SSH) environment


A genetically engineered strain of Geobacter sulfurreducens exhibits improved function as a cathode biofilm compared to the wild type strain. The genetically engineered Geobacter sulfurreducens strain is capable of using carbon dioxide as a carbon source and electrical current as an energy source for producing a carbonaceous chemical using a reverse tricarboxylic acid pathway.

The economics of powering microbial metabolism with electrons derived from cathodes is rapidly improving as the cost of renewable sources of electricity declines. Many proof-of-concept studies have demonstrated the potential for microorganisms to convert carbon dioxide or waste streams into organic commodities with electrons derived from cathodes. However, the rates of electron transfer from cathodes into biofilms have been more than an order of magnitude lower than the rates of electron transfer in the reverse direction when biofilms produce electric current on anodes.
As the availability of renewable sources of electricity rises, feeding microorganisms electrons with an electrode is becoming an increasingly attractive possibility for the production of biofuels and other organic commodities, as well as for bioremediation of organic and metal contamination.
In many studies, H2 produced at the cathode functions as an electron shuttle between the cathode and microbes. Supplying H2 to microorganisms in this manner is a relatively old technology. There are well-developed models for the growth and metabolism of diverse anaerobes with H2 as the electron donor.
Less explored is the possibility of developing biofilms that directly accept electrons from cathodes. Direct electron transfer has several potential benefits over the production of H2, such as lower energy inputs, higher recovery of electrons in products, and the retention of the microbial catalyst as a biofilm. However, without a genetically tractable model microbial system that effectively grows on cathodes there has been no knowledge base of first principles to guide the design of cathode microbial catalysts.
Insights into electron transfer within cathode biofilms have recently been obtained through omics and electrochemical characterization of a multi-species oxygen-reducing biofilm enrichment known as the Marinobacter-Chromatiaceae-Labrenzia (MCL) biocathode. However, none of the microorganisms in the MCL biofilm has been recovered in pure culture, which has prevented definitive genetic and biochemical investigations into hypothesized electron transport mechanisms. Genetically tractable isolates are also required for the introduction of synthetic pathways to produce high value products. High recovery of electrons in such products is only possible under anaerobic conditions. Anaerobes that are genetically tractable and are also thought to directly accept electrons from cathodes include Geobacter sulfurreducens, G. metallireducens, Shewanella oneidensis, and Clostridium ljungdahlii. None of these microorganisms grows well on cathodes.

Microbial strain for electrosynthesis and electrofermentation


A blood vessel ultrasonic image measuring method capable of facilitating the positioning of an ultrasonic probe and acquiring sufficient positioning accuracy. Because of inclusion of an around-X-axis positioning step of causing a multiaxis driving device to position an ultrasonic probe such that distances from respective ultrasonic array probes to the center of a blood vessel are equalized, and an X-axis direction positioning step and an around-Z-axis positioning step of causing the multiaxis driving device to position the ultrasonic probe such that the image of the blood vessel is positioned at the center portion in the width direction of the first short axis image display area and the second short axis image display area, the positioning may be performed by using the positions in the longitudinal direction of the ultrasonic array probes relative to the blood vessel or the distances of the ultrasonic array probes to the blood vessel.

An ultrasonic array probe having a plurality of ultrasonic transmitters linearly arranged is used for measuring a diameter of a blood vessel under skin of a living body. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes an apparatus that uses and H-shaped ultrasonic probe made up of a first and second ultrasonic array probes in parallel with each other and a third ultrasonic array probe linking the intermediate potions thereof to measure a blood flow velocity, arterial vessel wall thickness and lumen diameter, etc., by positioning the third ultrasonic array probe in parallel with an arterial vessel. However, since the ultrasonic probe is positioned by manual operation of an operator, a lot of skill is required and, if a subject moves, it is problematically difficult to follow the movement.

Blood vessel ultrasonic image measuring method


A microrelay has a switching part which is pivotably suspended on a substrate and can be moved into two alternative switching states like a rocker, by electrostatic attraction through the use of suitably attached electrodes. The switching function is brought about by electrodes which are fastened to the substrate above the rocker being shorted by metallizations or contact electrodes on an upper side of the switching part.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrostatically operating microrelay, which can be used as a switch and which can be produced by the methods of micromechanics.
Electrostatic microswitches are ideally suited and distinctly superior to other semiconductor switches as far as attenuation and noise characteristics are concerned, in particular for applications in the radio-frequency range. A major advantage of switches of that type is that, apart from capacitive charging currents, powerless control of the switching contacts is possible. Electrostatic switches with a small switching time in a range below 100 xcexcs can only be realized by conventional methods if very great switching voltages can be accepted. It is generally the case with known ways of accomplishing the same that a compromise has to be made between the switching speed and the required switching voltage, since the rigidity of the resilient suspension of the switching element has the effect of requiring high switching voltages for high switching speeds. Battery voltages of at most 3 V are typically available, especially for use in cell phones. Switching voltages of at most 12 V are achievable by using voltage multipliers. Micromechanical switches are usually formed by micromechanically producible bars, at the end of which the switching contacts are disposed and which can be bent by electrostatic attraction through the use of electric potentials on suitably attached electrodes, in order to close the contacts. Electric voltages of typically 30 V and more are required in the case of switching times of 20 xcexcs. Therefore, those components are unsuitable for use in cell phones or other low-power applications.
In German Patent DE 41 13 190 C1 there is a description of an electrostatically actuated microswitch, in which an armature part constructed as a rocker has an armature spaced apart from a force electrode that is disposed on a base and is provided with two switching contacts on mutually opposite sides. When the device is actuated, those switching contacts alternately short two pairs of counterelectrodes provided as switches, which are disposed on the base.
In German Patent DE 198 23 690 C1 there is a description of a micromechanical electrostatic relay, in which a rib-shaped armature pivotably suspended in the region of a central pivot axis through the use of flexible bands is formed in an armature substrate. The armature forms an armature wing on each side of the pivot axis. The armature wing is in itself flexible and, in its inoperative state, is bent away from the base substrate, rolls on a base electrode and closes an associated contact when the device is actuated.
In German Patent DE 198 20 821 C1 there is a description of an electromagnetic relay which has a rocking armature with an armature plate, that is suspended in such a way that it can pivot transversely to the longitudinal direction of the armature plate through the use of two torsion springs, which are connected by a holding plate. The torsion springs and the holding plate provided for fastening the rocking armature are disposed in an inner recess of the armature plate.
In German Patent DE 42 05 340 C1 there is a description of a micromechanical, electrostatic relay in which an armature substrate within a frame carries a plate-shaped armature through the use of flexible supporting strips. In that way, an armature electrode provided on the armature is face-to-face with a base electrode and the armature is kept parallel to the base electrode through the use of the supporting strips and, when a voltage is applied between the armature electrode and the base electrode, comes to bear against the base electrode over its full surface area perpendicularly to the plane of the electrodes.
In a publication entitled xe2x80x9cMicromechanical Switches Fabricated Using Nickel Surface Micromachiningxe2x80x9d by P. M. Zavracky et al. in the Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems 6, 3-9 (1997), a description is given of micromechanical switches in which terminal contacts to be connected to one another in an electrically conducting manner are shorted through the use of a switching contact attached to a bar when the bar is bent toward the substrate by electrostatic force. That is accomplished by applying a voltage between the electrically conducting bar and a counterelectrode on the substrate.
In a publication entitled xe2x80x9cMicromechanical Relay with Electrostatic Actuationxe2x80x9d by I. Schiele et al. in Transducers ""97, 1997 International Conference on Solid-State Sensors and Actuators, Chicago, pages 1165-1168, a description is given of a microrelay in which, for closing the switch, a bar capable of bending is likewise electrostatically drawn toward the substrate and in which there is a T-shaped metallic lug on the bar for shorting the terminal contacts to be connected to one another in an electrically conducting manner. The lug is electrically insulated from the rest of the bar.
In a publication entitled xe2x80x9cDesign and Fabrication of Micro Mirror Supported by Electroplated Nickel Postsxe2x80x9d by Seok-Whan Chung et al. in Transducers ""95 Eurosensors IX, Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Solid-State Sensors and Actuators, and Eurosensors IX, Stockholm, pages 312-315, a description is given of a micromirror. The micromirror is suspended from torsion springs and can be electrostatically tilted.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a microrelay, which overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type and which is a component that can be used as a switch and achieves high switching speeds at a small switching voltage.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, an electrostatically operating microrelay, comprising a substrate, a switching part movably attached on the substrate and having a side facing away from the substrate, the switching part acting as a rocker moving between two alternative switching positions, a contact electrode attached on the substrate and having two parts provided with separate electrical terminals, a contact electrode attached to the switching part, an actuator electrode disposed at the switching part and two actuator electrodes attached on the substrate. The actuator electrodes attached on the substrate are disposed relative to the actuator electrode attached to the switching part to bring about a rocking movement of the switching part into another of the two alternative switching positions by alternately applying an electric potential to the actuator electrodes attached on the substrate. The contact electrode attached on the substrate is disposed at the side of the switching part facing away from the substrate, permitting the contact electrode attached to the switching part to short the two parts of the contact electrode attached on the substrate in one of the switching positions.
Thus, the microrelay according to the invention has a switching part which is pivotably suspended on a substrate and can be moved into two alternative switching states in the manner of a rocker by electrostatic attraction through the use of suitably attached electrodes. The switching function is brought about by electrodes which are fastened to the substrate above the rocker being shorted by metallizations on the upper side of the switching part.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a microrelay, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.


A physical host executes a virtual machine monitor (VMM) that instantiates a plurality of virtual machines (VMs). The VMM supports processing of a virtual link manager (VLM) that deploys and configures a plurality of Layer 2 virtual links sharing bandwidth of a Layer 2 physical link between the physical host and an access switch. The VMM communicates parameters of the plurality of virtual links with the access switch.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to data processing, and in particular, to data processing environments including virtual networks.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, "utility computing" refers to a computational model in which processing, storage and network resources, software, and data are accessible to client computer systems and other client devices (e.g., mobile phones or media players) on demand, much like familiar residential utility services, such as water and electricity. In some implementations, the specific computational resources (e.g., servers, storage drives, etc.) allocated for access and use by client devices are specified by service agreements between the utility computing provider and its customers. In other implementations, commonly referred to as "cloud computing," details of the underlying information technology (IT) infrastructure are transparent to the utility computing customers.
Cloud computing is facilitated by ease-of-access to remote computing websites (e.g., via the Internet or a private corporate network) and frequently takes the form of web-based resources, tools or applications that a cloud consumer can access and use through a web browser, as if the resources, tools or applications were a local program installed on a computer system of the cloud consumer. Commercial cloud implementations are generally expected to meet quality of service (QoS) requirements of cloud consumers, which may be specified in service level agreements (SLAs). In a typical cloud implementation, cloud consumers consume computational resources as a service and pay only for the resources used.
Adoption of utility computing has been facilitated by the widespread utilization of virtualization, which is the creation of virtual (rather than actual) versions of computing resource, e.g., an operating system, a server, a storage device, network resources, etc. For example, a virtual machine (VM), also referred to as a logical partition (LPAR), is a software implementation of a physical machine (e.g., a computer system) that executes instructions like a physical machine. VMs can be categorized as system VMs or process VMs. A system VM provides a complete system platform that supports the execution of a complete operating system (OS), such as Windows, Linux, AIX, Android, etc., as well as its associated applications. A process VM, on the other hand, is usually designed to run a single program and support a single process. In either case, any application software running on the VM is limited to the resources and abstractions provided by that VM. Consequently, the actual resources provided by a common IT infrastructure can be efficiently managed and utilized through the deployment of multiple VMs, possibly from multiple different utility computing customers.
The virtualization of actual IT resources and management of VMs is typically provided by software referred to as a VM monitor (VMM) or hypervisor. In various implementations, a VMM may run on bare hardware (Type 1 or native VMM) or on top of an operating system (Type 2 or hosted VMM).
In a typical virtualized computing environment, VMs can communicate with each other and with physical entities in the IT infrastructure of the utility computing environment utilizing conventional networking protocols. As is known in the art, conventional networking protocols are commonly premised on the well known seven layer Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model, which includes (in ascending order) physical, data link, network, transport, session, presentation and application layers. VMs are enabled to communicate with other network entities as if the VMs were physical network elements through the substitution of a virtual network connection for the conventional physical layer connection.
Disclosed herein are techniques for enhancing network communication in such virtual computing environments.

Network communications over shared links in a virtualized environment

International Business Machines Corporation


The preparation of 3-(R)acryloyloxy-2-hydroxypropyltrialkylammonium halide monomer is enhanced by carrying out the reaction in a media which is a non-solvent for the monomer, but is a solvent for the reactants.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for making 3-(2-substituted acryloyloxy)-2-hydroxypropyltrialkyl ammonium chloride and its isomer, 2-(2-substituted acryloyloxy)-3-hydroxypropyltrialkylammonium chloride, wherein the substituent is hydrogen or lower alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The quaternary salt 3-methacryloyloxy-2-hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride and its isomer 2-methacryloyloxy-3-hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride are generally referred to as MAHTAC.
MAHTAC is a cationic vinyl monomer which can be polymerized or copolymerized with a number of other vinyl monomers to produce polymers which are useful in antistatic, flocculation or sludge dewatering applications. If high molecular weight polymers are to be synthesized without gellation due to crosslinking, it is essential that the MAHTAC purity with regards to molecules with two or more vinyl groups be very high. It is also essential that the yield be high for economic viability.
A significant number of references detailing the synthesis of MAHTAC have appeared over the last 25 years. However, it appears that only limited production of this material has occurred and that it is not presently being manufactured commercially. It is likely that this production has not occurred because of low yields and/or low purity associated with the prior art.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,321,649; 3,329,706; and 3,428,617 teach that MAHTAC may be prepared by reacting methacrylic acid with an aqueous solution of glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride (GTAC). The reactions are carried out in a homogeneous aqueous solution. The product must be precipitated, extracted or recrystallized before it can be used to make useful polymers. This method also produces the hydrolysis product of GTAC which is present in the mixture as a methacrylate salt: EQU CH.sub.2 .dbd.C(CH.sub.3)COO--+(CH.sub.3).sub.3 NCH.sub.2 CH(OH)CH.sub.2 (OH)
Separation of this salt from the desired product is difficult but if it is not removed, polymers made from the MAHTAC will be amphoteric and have reduced effectiveness due to intramolecular charge neutralization. U.S. Pat. No. 3,329,706 describes a process which produces purified MAHTAC in only 93% yield with a melting point of 176.degree.-178.degree. C. We have confirmed their Example 1 and produced MAHTAC with 70% yield and a melting point of only 176.degree.-178.degree. C.
Japanese Kokai 73/34,116 and 77/73,817 teach the synthesis of MAHTAC by reacting glycidylmethacrylate with trimethylamine hydrochloride. The synthesis is carried out in solvents such as alcohols, dimethylsulfoxide or sulfolane. Reaction products are separated by crystallization through cooling or the addition of a solvent such as acetone or cyclohexane. The references report yields of 78% or less and a melting point range of 180.degree.-182.degree. C. Japanese 73/34,116 also describes a method of reacting methacrylic acid and epihalohydrin to form a product which is then reacted with trimethylamine. They report that the reaction is very slow, polymerization losses can not be avoided and trimethylamine escapes from the reaction system. This reference teaches away from the use of the method.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,397,227 and British Patent 1,140,520 teach that MAHTAC may be prepared by treating methacrylic acid simultaneously with epihalohydrin and trimethylamine in an inert, polar solvent. The products of this reaction are separated by precipitation through the addition of a non-solvent, crystallization through a cooling procedure, or by selective extraction. The drawback of this process is the low yield; less than 83% based on trimethylamine and even lower based on the epihalohydrin and carboxylic acid. A major by-product, 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride, which comprises more that 25% of the reaction product has been identified in duplications of the patent examples.
Polish Patent 119,898 relates to a process for making MAHTAC by reacting methylmethacrylate with 3-chloro-2-hydroxyproplytrimethylammonium chloride (CHPTAC) in dimethylsulfoxide. The process involves distillation and separation. One drawback of this process is that the solubility of CHPTAC in the reaction medium is low, which leads to low reaction rates unless the other reactant is present in very high concentrations.
British Patent 1,112,912 and Belgian Patent 688,940 teach a method of producing MAHTAC by reacting potassium methacrylate with 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride in solvents such as acetonitrile or ethanol. In their Example 1, the reaction is carried out in acetonitrile. Potassium chloride is reported to precipitate from the reaction medium and is filtered. Tan colored MAHTAC with a broad melting range of 173.degree.-180.degree. C. is isolated by distilling off the acetonitrile. The MAHTAC then had to be recrystallized from a mixture of isopropanol and ethyl acetate. We have attempted to duplicate the results of this Example without success. Since the concentrations of potassium methacrylate and CHPTAC are not specifically defined in the case, we carried out reaction at three different concentrations The first one assumed that 1 part was one gram, the second 0.5 grams and the third 0.2 grams. In all cases the reaction was heterogeneous. Potassium methacrylate (PMA) and CHPTAC are only sparingly soluble in acetonitrile. This limits their concentrations in the reaction medium and keeps the reaction rate low. The products also have low solubility. The solubilities, in decreasing order are: PMA>MAHTAC>CHPTAC>KCl. At no point was it possible to separate KCl leaving behind a MAHTAC solution. It was not possible to simply separate MAHTAC uncontaminated by the other salts. MAHTAC yields were measured to be less than 51.1% and even after recrystallization from 1:1 isopropanol and ethyl acetate the purity was only 58.2%. The reaction conditions are presented in Example 7. It is possible that the experiments in these patents may have been contaminated with water or another agent which yielded an unverifiable result.
None of the above processes produce a high purity product in high yield. It is desirable to have a process which does both economically.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a process for the preparation of 3-(2-substituted acryloyloxy)-2-hydroxypropyltrialkylammonium chloride monomers and their isomers, and more particularly, 3-methacryloyloxy-2-hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride monomer and its isomer wherein, for a given reaction time, the yield is higher than in current processes and the purity of the product is higher.
It is another object of this invention to provide a process wherein crystalline monomers having greater particle size and/or molecular weights can be obtained. Still other objects of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following detailed description and the claims.

Process for the production of substituted acryloyloxyhydroxypropyltrialkylammonium chloride


A system, method and computer program product are provided for supplying information relating to the hierarchical structure of a plurality of process models. A storage unit stores process controls for process models. A processor associates the process controls with corresponding ones of the process controls. A media file creator creates a media file which depicts, at the direction of a user, relational linkages of the process models based on the association of the process controls.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to software applications, and more particularly, to a system and method for interactive process management.
2. Related Art
Business models give the organization a common focus, help create the core processes that drive new business opportunities, and serve as a common language between business and technology experts. These processes define an organization's ability to execute its business plans and optimize its operations.
Heretofor, business process-modeling and process linkage tools and techniques have attempted to provide both a blueprint for analyzing how processes are related and executed as well as a road map for creating the most efficient processes for new business initiatives. However, process knowledge has not been disseminated in a user friendly fashion that is cost effective to maintain current, particularly with respect to processes that are not static, but dynamic in nature. As process information is collected, typically textual documents, graphic presentations, line of visibility process models, and chevron diagrams that articulate graphically processes, process relations, linkages and process scorecards and related process performance measurements for each of the processes are created. Preparing, maintaining and updating such a growing body of process information requires considerable resource allocation cost to a company.
Using conventional applications, displaying the process linkages in a world map format becomes more challenging as more is learned and added to the world map because the mass of interconnecting lines and linkage descriptions reduces readability. Most solutions segment the information into separate pieces. In addition, conventional mapping solutions can present only a step-by-step accounting of what occurs in the process.
Conventional process modeling tools are drawing tools such as Visio, PowerPoint and Proforma Provision. These tools let users diagram business processes and information systems. However, such drawing tools can address only a finite list of the many existing activities and new processes. Preparing process linkages documentation and keeping the documentation updated as additional information is learned takes a significant number of resources.
In addition, compliance with the requirements of new laws, such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, particularly for documentation of financial processes and internal controls that pass external auditors' scrutiny, has resulted in significant increases in expenditures for external audit, legal and consulting fees, not to mention the increase in man-hours for already overburdened financial staffs.
Given the foregoing, what is needed is a system, method and computer program product for interactive process management that can provide an end-to-end solution for depicting the full breadth of data related to processes and provides a set of functions supporting the definition of related process steps and the management of the execution across a variety of hardware and software platforms.

System and method for interactive process management

American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.


A theft tracking device includes a circuit board, a battery, a battery case, a housing, and an engagement part. The circuit board specifies a current position and transmits current position information regarding the current position specified through a wireless communication. The battery case houses at least a part of the battery. The housing houses the circuit board, the battery case and the battery housed in the battery case. The engagement part is provided by the housing, and engages with the battery case such that a first space of the housing in which the circuit board is located is separated from a second space of the housing that faces the battery.

Recently, it has been known to equip a theft tracking device to an object, such as a motorcycle and a navigation device, for tracking the object when the object is stolen. The theft tracking device transmits information on, a current position of the object when the object is stolen. Such a theft tracking device is, for example, described in JP2011-51376A.
The theft tracking device includes a circuit board and a back-up battery. The circuit board performs operations to specify a current position of the theft tracking device through a global positioning system (GPS), a vehicle information and communication system (VICS) or the like, and to transmit the information specified through a wireless communication. The back-up battery supplies electric power to the circuit board.
FIG. 9 illustrates a theft tracking device 100 for a motorcycle, as an example. The theft tracking device 100 includes a back-up battery (BUB) 102, a battery case 101, a circuit board 103, a housing body 110 and a housing cover 111. The battery case 101 has an opening at its bottom, and the BUB 102 is housed in the battery case 101. The battery case 101 is fixed to the circuit board 103 and is disposed in the housing body 110 in a state of being fixed to the circuit board 103.
In the theft tracking device 100, the housing body 110 has an opening for installing the components, such as the BUB 102, inside of the housing body 110. The opening of the housing body 110 is covered with the housing cover 111. In FIG. 9, the housing cover 111 is illustrated as transparent for a purpose of showing the inside of the housing body 110. Also in FIG. 10, the housing cover 111 is illustrated as transparent for the similar purpose.
In a case where a circuit board and a back-up battery are housed in the same housing body, if a battery liquid leaks from the back-up battery due to vibration of the motorcycle, the battery liquid will adhere to the circuit board.
If the battery liquid adheres to the circuit board, the circuit board may be corroded from a portion to which the battery liquid is adhered, resulting in a failure in operation of the circuit board.
To address such an issue, in the theft tracking device 100 of FIG. 9, the battery case 101 has the opening at its bottom, and the BUB 102 is received in the battery case 101 such that a bottom portion of the BUB 102 exposes from the bottom of the battery case 101. Further, the circuit board 103 is arranged above the battery case 101.
In such an arrangement, even if the battery liquid leaks from the BUB 102, the battery liquid accumulates on a bottom wall of the housing body 110. Further, even if the battery liquid accumulated jumps due to the vibration, it is less likely that the battery liquid accumulated on the bottom wall will reach the circuit board 103.
To further restrict the adhesion of the battery liquid to the circuit board 103, it is considered to cover the entirety, of the BUB 102, except for the end, with the battery case 101, as shown in FIG. 10. In this case, the end of the BUB 102 is not covered with the battery case 101 because the battery case 101 has an opening for installing the BUB 102 into the battery case 101.
Namely, the battery case 101 covers the bottom portion of the BUB 102. In such a case, however, the thickness of the housing body 110, such as a dimension in an up and down direction in FIG. 10, increases as compared with the housing body 110 in which the battery case 101 does not cover the bottom portion of the BUB 102 (e.g., FIG. 9). As a result, the overall size of the theft tracking device 100 is likely to increase.
As another example of restricting the adhesion of the battery liquid to the circuit board 103, a structure shown in FIG. 11 is considered. In the structure shown in FIG. 11, similar to a battery of a cell phone, the BUB 102 is attached to the outside of the housing body 110. Further, the battery case 101 is fixed to the housing body 110 to cover the BUB 102.
In such a case, however, the position of the BUB 102 will be easily found from the outside of the housing body 110. Therefore, the BUB 102 will be easily removed from the housing body 110 when the theft tracking device. 100 is stolen. As a result, the circuit board 103 will not perform properly.


This invention relates to Mn—Al magnetic powders of a high coercive force which are obtained from Mn—Al alloy vaporized by plasma arc discharging, and a manufacturing method thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to Mn—Al magnetic powders and a manufacturing method thereof, more particularly, Mn—Al magnetic powders of a high coercive force which are obtained from Mn—Al alloy vaporized by plasma arc discharging, and a method for manufacturing the magnetic powders.
2. Description of Related Art
Ferrite magnets or ferrites are generally produced as sintered products using technologies in the powder metallurgy field, and comprise iron oxide as their principal component and barium or strontium depending on their applications.
The ferrites are classified as dry process products using special binding powders and wet process products using water according to making-process, and also as isotropic type and anisotropic type according to the direction of magnetism.
Because of their low price, the ferrites have various applications including speakers, motors, health care equipments, tools for learning, tachometers, TVs, lead switches, watch movements and so on.
The most widely-used type of rare earth magnet is a neodymium magnet. The neodymium magnet is produced by sintering raw materials such as iron oxide, boron, and neodymium which is one of rare earth elements (17 elements: atomic numbers are #21, #39, and #59 to #71), and has a high value of energy product. Typically it has been used in the light, thin, short, and small cutting-edge product.
Japanese patent publication no. 1984-46008 discloses a rare earth magnet manufactured by sintering, and no. 1985-9852 discloses a method for manufacturing rare earth magnets by high speed quenching.
Rare earth magnets have the highest value of energy product (25˜50 MGOe) among the commercialized magnets.
However, the rare earth magnets tend to be vulnerable to corrosion as a shortcoming, since they comprise one or more of rare earth elements and iron which are relatively susceptible to oxidation. Therefore, a protective coating is needed to avoid the surface oxidation, which leads to a higher manufacturing cost.
It is an object of the invention to provide Mn—Al magnetic powders of a high coercive force which are obtained from Mn—Al alloy vaporized by plasma arc discharging, and a method for manufacturing the powders.
It is another object of the invention to provide Mn—Al magnetic powders of light weight and enhanced corrosion resistance, and a method for manufacturing the powders.

Magnesium—aluminium magnetic powder and method for making same

Abstract: The Mn—Al magnetic powders are produced by discharging a plasma arc to a compact which is formed by compacting a blend containing 20-60% by weight of Mn powder and 40-80% by weight of Al powder, collecting nanoscale Mn—Al particles after cooling the vaporized blend, and heat-treating the particles.

Abstract: According to the present invention, the Mn—Al magnetic powders of light weight and enhanced corrosion resistance are produced at a low cost.

Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials


A antenna system for generating and distributing power among a plurality of non-focused beams is provided The system comprises a reflector having a focal plane and a non-parabolic curvature configured to form the defocused beams. The curvature is configured to create a symmetrical quadratic phase-front in an aperture plane of the reflector. The system further comprises a plurality of feed antennas disposed in the focal plane of the reflector and configured to illuminate the reflector. Each feed antenna is configured to contribute power toward each of the defocused beams. The system further comprises a plurality of fixed-amplitude amplifiers, at least one of which corresponds to each feed antenna.

Many mobile satellite services (MSS) architectures utilize multiport amplifiers (MPA) to provide the high power required to meet capacity needs in the area that they cover. These architectures may employ parabolic reflectors fed with arrays that are defocused from the focal plane of the reflector. In this arrangement, each beam is formed by a limited number of feed elements in the array, as dictated by the MPA architecture, and each beam employs both amplitude and phase control of the array elements. These MPA architectures are complex and require feed components that are designed to operate in severe conditions with respect to power demands, thermal issues and passive intermodulation (PIM) challenges. With MPA architectures, the ability to transfer capacity among beams is limited, so therefore must be predetermined prior to manufacture.

Space segment payload architecture for mobile satellite services (MSS) systems


A method of gaming in a gaming system. The method includes selecting symbols for display at a plurality of subsets of symbol display positions by independently determining stopping positions of reels of symbols associated with the subsets of display positions, wherein at least one subset of symbol display positions is associated with two or more reels and upon two or more symbols being selected for the same symbol display position at least one symbol combination rule is applied to the two or more symbols to determine a resultant symbol for display, and evaluating the displayed symbols to determine whether to make an award.

The invention relates to a method of gaming, a gaming system and a game controller.
Many gaming machines are reel based ("slot") machines where a plurality of reels are spun to a stop with a set of symbols displayed to the player. The displayed symbols are then evaluated by the gaming machine based on the player's wager to determine whether they include any winning symbol combinations.
While such gaming systems provide players with enjoyment, a need exists for alternative gaming systems in order to maintain or increase player enjoyment.

Method of gaming, a gaming system and a game controller

ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED


A heat exchanging device includes a receptacle having a chamber for receiving a fluid medium, a housing received within the receptacle and having an outer peripheral wall arranged to allow the fluid medium to flow into the housing via the upper portion of the outer peripheral wall, and having an inner peripheral wall having a lower portion directed toward the lower portion of the receptacle. A circulating device may circulate the fluid medium to flow from the upper portion of the housing and then toward the lower portion of the receptacle. A coil is arranged to have a fluid material to flow in a direction opposite to that of the fluid medium, to allow the fluid medium to transmit and to release heat to the fluid material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat exchanging device, and more particularly to a heat exchanging device having a confined relatively smaller heat exchanging housing for increasing the heat exchanging effect for the heat exchanging device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical heat exchanging devices comprise an outer receptacle for receiving the water or the fluid material to be heated therein, and a paddling device for moving or paddling the water or the fluid material to flow through a heat exchanging housing or the like.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,263,748 to Jemal et al. discloses one of the typical heat exchanging devices comprising a rotary conveyor heat exchange device disposed within a housing, for pumping or circulating the water or the fluid material. However, the housing is disposed laterally or horizontally, such that the rotary conveyor heat exchange device may not be used to force the cold water downwardly toward the lower portion of the housing, or may not be used to circulate the water upwardly and downwardly within the housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,209 to Wasserman discloses another typical heat exchanging device comprising a number of tubes filled within the hollow interiors of a number of tires. However, the tires are not sealingly secured together, such that the tubes may also be communicated with the water or the fluid material received within an outer receptacle. The typical heat exchange device also may not be used to circulate the water or the fluid material upwardly and downwardly within the outer receptacle.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,123,147 to Pittman discloses a further typical heat exchanging device comprising a coil received within an outer receptacle. However, the coil is laterally or horizontally disposed within the outer receptacle, and also may not be used to circulate the water or the fluid material upwardly and downwardly within the outer receptacle.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional heat exchanging devices.


A heat dissipation assembly for dissipating heat from a CPU (60) mounted to a PCB (70) includes a heat sink (40), two wire clips (30), a fixing frame (20) secured to the heat sink, and a fan (10) attached to the fixing frame. Two grooves (402) are defined in the heat sink. Each clip has a central portion (302) received in a corresponding groove, and two arms (304) extending from the central portion. A hook (306) is formed at an end of each arm. An offset part is formed at the central portion, for limiting rotation of the clip in the groove. The fixing frame includes a top wall (212) and two side walls (202). Two cutouts (206) are defined in each side wall, corresponding to the grooves of the heat sink. Opposite ends of the central portion of each clip protrude out through corresponding cutouts of the fixing frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to heat dissipation assemblies, and particularly to heat dissipation assemblies which are conveniently assembled prior to transportation and use.
2. Related Art
Advances in microelectronics technology have resulted in electronic devices which process signals and data at unprecedented high speeds. During operation of many contemporary electronic devices such as central processing units (CPUs), large amounts of heat are produced. The heat must be efficiently removed, to prevent the system from becoming unstable or being damaged. Heat dissipation assemblies are frequently used to dissipate heat from these electronic devices.
Typically, a clip is used to attach a heat sink to an electronic device. The clip is usually integrally formed from a sheet of plastic or steel material. Examples of such heat sink clips are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,343,015, and Taiwan Patent Application No. 89216225. However, these clips are relatively wide, which requires more base material and thus increases costs. Furthermore, in use, the clip is conventionally disposed in a center of the heat sink. The clip occupies space that would otherwise be occupied by one or more extra heat dissipation fins or heat dissipation pins. Thus the heat dissipation capability of the heat sink is compromised.
Wire clips have been devised to overcome the above-described shortcomings. Examples of such heat sink clips are disclosed in Taiwan Patent Applications Nos. 87218992 and 87205513. In each disclosure, the clip forms part of an assembly that includes a heat sink. The clip is a separate part that must be individually packed and transported prior to assembly and use. This is inconvenient, and unduly inflates costs. Furthermore, in assembly, the procedure is unduly complicated, and operating space available for manipulation of the clip is limited. This is particularly inefficient for mass production runs.
Thus, an improved heat dissipation assembly which overcomes the above-mentioned problems is desired.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a heat dissipation assembly which is conveniently assembled prior to transportation and use.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a heat dissipation assembly having wire clips which are easily and inexpensively made, and which occupy minimal space on a heat sink of the heat dissipation assembly.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a heat dissipation assembly having a pair of wire clips which can securely attach a heat sink to an electronic package.
To achieve the above-mentioned objects, a heat dissipation assembly of the present invention is for dissipating heat from a central processing unit (CPU) mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB). The heat dissipation assembly comprises a heat sink, two wire clips, a fixing frame, and a fan attached to the fixing frame. Two grooves are transversely defined through fins of the heat sink. Each clip has a central portion received in a corresponding groove, and two arms extending from the central portion. A hook is formed at a distal end of each arm. An offset part is formed at the central portion, for limiting rotation of the clip in the groove. The fixing frame is secured to the heat sink, and comprises a top wall and two side walls depending from the top wall. Two cutouts are defined in a lower portion of each side wall, corresponding to the grooves of the heat sink. Opposite ends of the central portion of each clip protrude out through corresponding cutouts of the fixing frame. The clips are held in the heat sink prior to transportation and use of the heat dissipation assembly.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be drawn from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention together with the attached drawings, in which:


A stereoscope for viewing two stereoscopically complementary pictures which are positioned one above the other. The stereoscope includes a housing which has left and right front openings at the front of the housing and upper and lower rear openings at the back of the housing. A passageway leads from the left front opening to one of the rear openings and from the right front opening to the other rear opening. Optical elements, such as mirrors, are located within the passageways for directing a light image from one of the pictures through one of the rear openings to the left front opening and for directing a light image from the other picture through the other rear opening to the right front opening so that the observer sees the two images as superimposed and perceives the superimposed images as a single 3-dimensional picture.

The present invention is generally directed to a stereoscope for helping an observer to combine the images of two 2-dimensional photographs taken from two points of view to obtain the effect of depth
The development of stereoscopes has had a long history. One of the first stereoscopes did not require mirrors or prisms. The stereoscope was a box which had an aperture for each eye and a single aperture on the opposite side. The observer had to cross his or her eyes in order to perceive the two pictures as a single picture. This made stereoscopic viewing very difficult and resulted in considerable eye strain. Later stereoscopes employed various combinations of mirrors and lenses for viewing pictures taken with stereo cameras. The typical stereo camera has two lenses which are spaced 2.5 inches apart, which is the same spacing as for the average adult human eyes and takes two pictures at the same time. This close lense spacing limits the stereo effect to a relatively short distance. One recent stereo camera employs four lenses and prints are produced which do not require the use of a separate stereoscope. However, the quality of the pictures are not good because of a special plastic grating, (a flat stereoscope) which must be placed on the prints and the cost of print processing is considerably higher than for ordinary 35 mm. prints.
Conventional stereo viewers include lenses which cause the eyes to focus at infinity with no inward rotation. The pictures to be viewed are placed left and right. In order to see the stereograph, the pictures must be placed at a precise distance from the lenses. The position of the pictures must be adjusted for individual variations and eye spacing. Conventional stereoscopes are relatively complex optical devices which require adjustments for variations in eye spacing. These and other difficulties experienced with prior art stereoscopes have been obviated by the present invention.
It is, therefore, the principle object of the invention to provide a stereoscopic viewer for enabling an observer to obtain the effect of depth by combining images of two photographic prints taken sequentially from two points of view by a conventional camera, or at the same time from a pair of cameras.
Another object of this invention is the provision of a stereoscope which enables the observer to combine the images of two photographic prints and enables the observer to naturally converge and comfortably focus on the combined image at the normal distance for viewing photographs.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a stereoscopic viewer which does not require any adjustment for variations in the eye spacing and which can be used by children and adults.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a stereoscopic viewer which can combine the images of two photographs of the same scene taken from two points of view by positioning one photograph above the other.
A still further object of the invention is the provision of a stereoscopic viewer which is simple in construction, easy to manufacture and relatively inexpensive.
Another object of the invention is to provide a stereoscopic viewer for photographs taken by a conventional camera which is easy to use and which does not require any additional equipment.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a stereoscopic viewer for pairs of pictures for 3D viewing which are generated by "conceptual" cameras such as with artwork which is produced by artists and designers and computers.
With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.


In one embodiment, a system includes a first network, a second network, and a core network connecting the first network to the second network. The first network includes a first set of two or more network devices, wherein the first network has a first spanning tree associated therewith. Similarly, the second network includes a second set of two or more network devices, wherein the second network has a second spanning tree associated therewith, wherein the second spanning tree is separate from the first spanning tree.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to methods and apparatus for providing redundancy within physically separate networks through the use of separate spanning trees.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today, companies often have offices that are geographically dispersed. Each of these geographical locations typically supports a separate physical network. Each of these networks may provide access to data, applications, and other network resources. Such a network may be referred to as a "data center."
In order to support communication among multiple geographically dispersed networks, companies often support a single Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN). In order to support communication among the geographically dispersed networks, a single spanning tree generated via the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) is often deployed for the VLAN over the geographically dispersed networks.
With the increase of globally dispersed offices, the number of data centers is increasing. Unfortunately, the STP may not be reliable over a large number of hops and logical interfaces.


An implantable line having an elongated line body, a function conductor extending in the longitudinal direction of the line body, acting to implement a medical function of the line, whereby in addition to the function conductor, a field decoupling conductor which extends over at least a section of the length of the line body essentially parallel to the function conductor is provided, thereby reducing the coupling of the function conductor to an external field.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an implantable line having an elongated line body and a function conductor extending in the longitudinal direction of the line body, acting to implement a medical function of the line. Such lines are in particular stimulation electrode lines (hereinafter also referred to as "electrodes") of heart pacemakers or shock electrode lines of implantable defibrillators but also catheters containing an elongated conductive structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Medical implants such as the pacemakers and defibrillators mentioned above often form an electric connection inside the patient's body. Such a connection serves to measure electric signals and/or to stimulate body cells. This connection is often embodied as an elongated electrode. At the present time, electric signals are transmitted between the implant and the electrode contacts, which include but are not limited to tips, rings, HV shock coils and sensors with materials that are good conductors.
If a system comprising an implant and an electrode is exposed to strong interference fields such as EMI or MRI, unwanted malfunctions may occur, specifically resulting in heating of parts of the system or electric malfunctions (e.g., resets). The heating may cause damage to body tissues or even organs if the heated parts are in direct contact with the tissue. This is the case with the electrode tip in particular.
The cause of the unwanted malfunction is the interaction of the field with the elongated line structure of the electrode. The electrode acts as an antenna that receives energy from the surrounding fields. This energy on the lines being used therapeutically can be delivered by the antenna proximally to the implant or distally to the tissue via the electrode contacts.
The same problems also occur with other elongated conductive structures whose proximal end is not necessarily connected to an implant (e.g., in the case of catheters, temporary electrodes, etc.).

Device for reducing the fault susceptibility of elongated implants


The disclosed composite wood particulate products, adhesives contained in such wood particulate products, and methods of making the adhesive and the wood particulate products employ an aldehyde-free adhesive, and more specifically a formaldehyde-free adhesive. The aldehyde-free adhesive includes an inert additive that extends a resin, such as an isocyanate resin, and forms an evenly dispersed, less expensive polymeric adhesive admixture. The extender-filler of the resin is mixed with water to form a slurry. The slurry can then be mixed with a resin, like the isocyanate resin, to form the adhesive. Various rheology modifiers can be added, if desired, to the extender-filler or the slurry. The adhesive can be blended with wood particles to form a mat that is then pressed into a composite wood particulate product.

Composite wood particulate products, such as particleboard (PB), medium density fiberboard (MDF), and oriented strand board (OSB) can employ formaldehyde-free isocyanate adhesives instead of formaldehyde-containing adhesives such as phenol-formaldehyde, urea-formaldehyde and melamine-formaldehyde resins. Historically, none of these commercial composite wood particulate products manufactured with isocyanate adhesives employ fillers and/or extenders for any purpose.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Composite wood particulate products with aldehyde-free adhesives and methods for making same


A vibration damper with amplitude-selective damping force includes a cylinder containing a damping medium, a piston rod which is axially movable in the cylinder, and a piston assembly arranged for axial movement in the damping medium, the piston assembly being connected to the piston rod and dividing the cylinder into a working space around the piston rod and a working space opposite the piston rod, the piston assembly includes a piston body having connecting channels for opposite directions of flow between the working spaces, and valve disks which open the channels in respective opposite directions. A pilot assembly includes an axially movable shifting ring which controls a flow connection between the working spaces as a function of movement of the piston rod, and a pair of stop surfaces which limit axial movement of the shifting ring, wherein the stop surfaces are independent of the piston body and the valve disks.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to a vibration damper with amplitude-selective damping force which includes a cylinder containing a damping medium, a piston rod which is axially movable in the cylinder, and a piston assembly arranged for axial movement in the damping medium, the piston assembly being connected to the piston rod and dividing the cylinder into a working space around the piston rod and a working space opposite the piston rod. The piston assembly includes a piston body having connecting channels for opposite directions of flow between the working spaces, and valve disks which open the channels in respective opposite directions. A pilot assembly includes an axially movable shifting ring which controls a flow connection between the working spaces as a function of movement of the piston rod.
2. Description of the Related Art
A vibration damper with amplitude-selective or stroke dependent damping force is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,306. In the first design variant of this damper, a piston arrangement is provided, which comprises a lower and an upper valve, which are kept a certain distance apart by a spacer. The two sides of each of the two valves is equipped with damping valve disks and at least one nonreturn valve disk. A shifting ring, which is free to move axially back and forth, is installed between the two valves; depending on the direction in which the piston rod is moving, this ring comes to rest against one or the other of the two facing valve disks of the two valves and thus releases or blocks an annular gap between the valve disks and the inside wall of the cylinder. Each of the two valves is provided with a pilot cross section in the area of the nonreturn valve disk and another in the area of the damping valve disk; damping medium flows through these pilot cross sections at a rate which is a function of the position reached by the axially movable shifting ring. In the let-through position of the axially movable shifting ring, the throttling effects of the pilot cross sections in the valve disks are superimposed on each other and thus determine the damping force. This valve design seems comparatively complicated and expensive as a result of the large number of valve disks which are used. In addition, the manufacturing tolerances of the two pilot cross sections, which act in parallel, can have a negative effect on their functionality. The two valves, furthermore, must be equipped with piston rings; although these do not appear in the drawing, the expert knows that it is necessary to provide them, because the annular gap between the inside wall of the cylinder and the valve is considerably larger than the pilot cross section. Two piston rings not only represent a cost problem but can also cause undesirable variations in the damping force.
FIGS. 7-10 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,306 pertain to a variant in which the shifting ring is free to move between the top surface of a valve disk and a cup-shaped housing, which is clamped between a spring catch and the piston rod. In this variant, there are again two pilot cross sections, which go into effect when the axially movable ring is in the let-through position.
GB 2 328 999 describes an amplitude-selective vibration damper with a piston ring which is designed with freedom of axial movement in a groove in the piston. The disadvantage of this solution is that an individually dimensioned piston must be used for each damping force characteristic within the range of the amplitude-dependent damping force.

Vibration damper with amplitude-selective damping force


A resuscitation system for the administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation of asthma patients, and for teaching the cardiopulmonary resuscitation of asthma patients. The invention includes a deflatable bag and a gas flow channel connected with said bag, for connection with an indwelling endotracheal tube so that gas can flow from the bag into the patient and from said patient through said flow channel, an exhalation port in flow connection with said flow channel and an indicator mounted adjacent said system for detecting expiration flow and/or pressure within at least one of said flow channel and exhalation port to detect inadequacy in the expiratory component of ventilation during CPR and to train healthcare workers in the emergency ventilation of severe asthmatic patients in the field and emergency room.

This invention relates to medical resuscitated bags for ventilation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation and during patient transport and to cardiopulmonary resuscitation training systems.
The development of air trapping or auto-peep during patient ventilation with resuscitation bags operated by the hands of a nurse, respiratory therapist, or physician represents an important problem. A recent study published by the present inventors in Critical Care Medicine shows that severe air trapping is induced by these bags in patients with obstructive lung disease or asthma. This air trapping causes a rise in positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) in the chest. The pressure in the chest becomes more and more positive preventing blood flow back to the heart, this can result in a fall in cardiac output which can result in shock and severe patient injury and death. This is especially important when associated with blood volume depletion as with trauma or sepsis. In such a case any increase in PEEP within the chest can potentially decrease the resuscitation potential of a patient.
This rise in pressure is often insidious and occurs in slow incremental amounts with each breath until a new steady state is reached with substantial mean alveolar pressure and PEEP levels about which the operator is entirely unaware. The failure to achieve adequate cardiac output in this situation is often attributed to other causes and may be perceived as a generic "pulseless electrical activity" (PEA) for which inappropriate and potentially dangerous cardiac stimulating pharmacological therapy may be urgently applied by ACLS protocol. Failure to correct this hidden pressure build up within the chest cavity during CPR can result in resuscitation failure and death. This is likely to be one of the reasons that the death rate is so high in asthma patients resuscitated by the standard ACLS protocols used throughout the U.S. by emergency rooms and paramedic squads. The ACLS protocol calls for the patient to be bagged at a rate of one breath for every five compressions, which we have shown experimentally, causes severe air trapping and potentially life-threatening PEEP in a large population of patients. One of the present inventors is aware of at least two patients who died as a result of this problem when other doctors and healthcare workers, unaware of the development of Auto-Peep, attempted to apply ACLS protocol to patients who had advanced obstructive lung disease.
For these reasons there has been a long and critical need for a resuscitation bag system and method which can warn the operator when the patient has trapped air or Auto-Peep so that the ventilation rate or volume can be reduced to allow time for the patient to completely exhale. This will allow the pressure to fall within the chest to lower levels allowing sufficient blood return to the heart. In addition there has been a long and critical need for a system and method for providing hands on training of the clinical findings and significance of hyperinflation during CPR.
It is considered important that any new medical resuscitated bag have a low manufacturing cost, as most resuscitation bags are now disposable. The present inventors recognized that it is important that all bags provide an indicator of trapped air both in the field and in the hospital. For this reason it is considered desirable to provide an embodiment of the indicator which is inexpensive and disposable, so that comprehensive implementation is easily achieved.
The present invention comprises a simple resuscitation bag system including a bag having a port for connection to an oxygen source, a conduit with a terminal for connection with an indwelling endotracheal tube, a one way valve intermediate the bag and the terminal to prevent exhalation back into the bag, an exhalation port, and an indicator connected with said system which indicates when pressure and/or airflow from the patient is present after the inhalation has been completed. The indicator allows the recognition of trapped air during bagging so that survival in patients with obstructive lung disease or low blood volume can be improved during CPR. The pressure or flow indicator can be adjacent the bag or adjacent the connecting tubing between the patient and is preferably mounted adjacent with or is integral with the exhalation port. The indicator can be a simple pressure or flow sensing device such as a disposable pneumotachometer or other type of flow and/or pressure sensor as are well known in the art. The indicator is sized and configured to provide automatic visual or auditory indication of persistent airflow or pressure during exhalation so that the exhalation does not need to be stopped or any changes made by the operator to identify the presence of persistent flow which can indicate air which will be trapped if the bag in manually compressed before the exhalation process in completed. In the preferred embodiment the indicator is a simple disposable elastomeric member which is mounted adjacent the exhalation conduit of a resuscitation bag or endotracheal tube and which is positioned so as to be readily visible to the operator and which deforms in the presence of flow and/or pressure such that the presence of said deformation can be used to indicate the persistence of flow and/or pressure during exhalation after a manual inflation of the lungs by the bag system.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the indicator consists of an auditory port located through the side of the exhalation port to which a listening device such as a disposable esophageal stethoscope is connected. The esophageal stethoscope is comprised of a long flexible tube with a standard fitting, such as a Luerlok fitting, at one end and an earpiece at the other end, a design well known in the art. The earpiece is placed in the ear of the operator/rescuer. Gas flow is detected by the sound of gas flowing through the exhalation port and into the ambient environment. A small protuberance is located on the interior wall of the exhalation port and in proximity to the auditory port to enhance the level of sound. In a further improvement to this embodiment, a whistle is mounted on the interior of the exhalation port and in proximity to the auditory port. The whistle generates a sound in the human auditory range of frequencies as gas flows through it. Gas flow is then detected, after a manual inflation of the lungs by the bag system, by the sound generated by the whistle.
One reason that air trapping is poorly recognized in the field is that advanced cardiac life support education does not teach well the physiologic issues and clinical findings relating to this important adverse process. For example PDA is described as caused by the "5 Hs". However, the present inventor realized that a "6th H" (hyperinflation) should be included as one of them to teach paramedics, nurses, EMTs and physicians this important cause of hypotension and PDA during ventilation and CPR respectfully. In fact it is critical to include hyperinflation because it likely the most common unrecognized cause of PDA in patients with asthma or advanced COPD.
Upon this realization, a present inventor developed a system and method for teaching healthcare workers to recognize hyperinflation during resuscitation. This system and method is particularly useful when applied with the Bag system disclosed supra. Resuscitation manikins commonly known as "Annie" are in wide use for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and advanced cardiac life support training. These devices have a simulated pharynx and trachea, which connects with bilateral airways, which extend to two inflatable elastic bags which simulate the lungs. With the conventional Annie, these airways and trachea are wide open such that the "lungs" deflate at a relatively rapid rate so that the condition of expiratory obstruction is not simulated. The user, often learning how to manually ventilate a patient for the first time, can develop a false sense of the speed of exhalation and is not provided with any simulation which approximates the high risk and often fatal state of airway obstruction and hyperinflation associated with asthma (especially pediatric asthma). They become comfortable with bagging at conventional rates not recognizing the sever risk of hyperinflation in certain patient subgroups. Conventional Annie therefore may actually mislead these healthcare workers into a false understanding of the real complex physiology of bagging during resuscitation. In particular, with pediatric asthma it is easy to over inflate the smaller lungs so these patients are at grave risk so that the false sense of free exhalation provided by Annie is a dangerous deficiency. Indeed death from pediatric asthma and adult asthma after incubation is quite high and this would other wise seem surprising since asthma itself is generally a reversible disease.
According to the present invention a means for inducing airflow restriction and particularly expiratory airflow restriction is applied to at least a portion of the flow path intermediate the resuscitation bag and the "lungs" of the resuscitation manikin to reduce at least the rate of exhalation such that the rate of deflation at least one of the "lungs" is decreased to simulate resuscitation of a patient with asthma or advanced COPD. A fixed restrictor, or a restrictor which provides a variable and selectable degree of restriction to flow within the flow channel, can provide the flow restriction. The flow restrictor can be provided with along the tubing of the resuscitation bag intermediate the bag and the endotracheal tube-connecting member as a fixed member, or can be an accessory which is selectively engaged or attached with the flow path when simulation of airway obstruction is desired. In one embodiment the flow path along or adjacent the endotracheal tube can be provided with a flow restrictor. In the presently preferred embodiment the flow restrictor is provided along or adjacent at least one of the airways and preferably selectably restricts flow along one or both airways between one or both lungs and the resuscitation bag and is preferably hidden from the operators view so that the presence of airflow restriction The flow restrictor can be a provided by providing small diameter trachea and/or airways along their entire length, a region of narrowing in the diameter of the trachea and/or airways, and/or by providing an obstructing member such as a valve within or along the airway, which can be more restrictive during inhalation than exhalation. In one presently preferred embodiment the narrowing is constructed to dynamically enlarge during inspiration and reduce in size during exhalation. A fixed restrictor or a restrictor, which provides a variable and selectable degree of restriction to flow within the flow channel, can provide the flow restriction. In one embodiment the flow restrictor is at least one elastic ring, which compresses a segment of the flow channel. In another embodiment the restrictor is a fixed narrowing of a segment of the flow channel.
The provision of a manikin simulating the physiology of asthma with basic elastic or inelastic airway narrowing (as by the of a simple inelastic ring or elastic ring inserted in, mounted with and/or integral with the airflow path. Both narrow elastic airways, or a fixed narrowing or valve within the airways has the advantages of simplicity and low cost. For example, one low cost embodiment includes an elastic ring (such as a thin wall elastic silicone, poly-isoprene or latex rubber band ring of approximately 2-4 cm in width having a internal diameter in its resting state less than that of the airway) mounted along the airway. The band is mounted so that it can be selectively movable along the airway from a first position wherein the ring is mounted over rigid portion of the airway (so that no airway narrowing or restriction to airflow is provided) to a second position along a compressible portion which is compressed by the elastic force of the ring to narrow the compressible portion and provide elastic flow restriction which is greater during exhalation (when the internal pressure within the airway to elastically distend the ring is less) than during resuscitation bag or ventilator generated inspiration, when the internal airway pressure to distend the ring is greater).
In one the presently preferred embodiment the airflow restrictor is a balloon, which provides variable compression to at least a segment along the flow channel. Preferably two elastic balloons are provided, such as thin walled silicone balloons, each containing a soft collapsible segment of an airway. The balloons are selectively each connected to a separate air vent (which can for example be a pilot tube of the type used for endotracheal tube or tracheotomy tube cuffs). The air vents preferably are connected with a valve (which can for, example, be a syringe the type of valve activated by a luer tip of a syringe as are widely used with the pilot tubes of endotracheal tubes), the tube is further connectable and/or connected with a pump which can be used to selectively inflate the balloon (such as a syringe or, in another example, the hand bulb pump (with a valve) of the type commonly used for blood pressure cuffs). The valve, preferably selectively allows air to escape from the balloons after inflation but which can be closed to allow prolonged inflation as during manikin training sessions, which the present inventor calls "advanced ventilation life support" (AVLS) teaching adult and pediatric asthma resuscitation and ventilation. The pilot tube or vent can be a single tube which bifurcates containing at least one valve between the air vents and the pump so that the pump can selectively inflate one or both balloons to provide selective flow restriction to one or both airways. In another embodiment each vent is connectable with a separate or removable pump (such as a syringes). In one embodiment each with different pressure gauges so that each balloon can be readily inflated to the same or different pressures. In a further embodiment the lungs of the manikin are modified to simulate the effect of loss of elastic recoil of the lungs on the development of dynamic hyperinflation (air trapping) during CPR. An accessory set of replacement lungs with a low elasticity recoil ("emphysema lungs") is provided which can be applied to replace the more elastic lungs. This modification provides for the opportunity for teaching and improved recognition of the significance of expiratory time when ventilating patients with advance emphysema especially when combined with airway narrowing.
It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a portable manual bag for patient ventilations (and especially emergency ventilation in the field), which provides an indicator of air trapping during ventilation so that children and adults with asthma and/or advanced chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) have a better chance of survival during resuscitation and ventilation.
It is further the purpose of this invention to provide a resuscitation manikin for advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation training, which has a means to simulate the pathophysiology of asthma, emphysema, and airway narrowing (including elastic airway narrowing) so that healthcare workers can recognize air trapping during CPR to improve survivability of this group of patients.
It is further the purpose of the present invention to provide a resuscitation bag with an indicator of air trapping in combination with a resuscitation-training manikin having at least heightened airway resistance such that air trapping occurs during normal CPR rates of ventilation so that health care workers can learn to recognize air trapping during routine CPR training.


A carrier for transporting delicate devices (articles) expecially integrated circuits comprising a tube with a row of openings in its wall and separators attached to an elongated member wherein each separator fits into one of the openings thereby separating the interior of the tube into a row of spaces such that a device is positioned in each space and maintained out of contact with other devices. The separator may have one of several forms including a short wall or a stub. In one embodiment, the elongated member is a channel that straddles the tube in one position where the separators are inserted into the interior of the tube and in another position where the separators are withdrawn from the interior of the tube.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to shipping containers for integrated circuit devices and especially toward a carrier that has removable barriers, each barrier maintaining protective separation between the individual devices.
2. Relevant Art and Information Disclosure
Prior integrated circuit devices comprise a rectangular plastic, ceramic or aluminum block about the size of a postage stamp and a number of leads extending along a pair of opposite edges of the block. Wide spread practice has been to transport these devices in plastic tubes (carriers). having a generally cross sectional shape similar to the letter "A" such that a number of these devices are insertable into the tube with the leads straddling a central internal ridge.
Various modifications to the "A" frame carrier have been introduced over the years to resolve certain problems associated with shipping the device. One of the major problems with shipping devices in "A" frame carriers was that the leads rubbing against the central ridge would generate static electricity that would damage the device.
An early approach to resolving this problem was to coat the tube with an electrically conductive carbon based coating. However, this practice prevented the user from inspecting identifying indicia on the IC surface. U.S. Pat. No. 4,327,832 to de Matteo discloses an elongated window on the top surface of the "A" frame that permits the viewer to inspect the indicia of Integrated circuits devices stored in the tube.
Another approach to resolving this problem is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,350 to Yen for an "A" frame having a pair of indents extruded in the shoulder of the cross sectional profile of the tube which prevents the leads of the older style IC device from rubbing against the central ridge.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,778 to Boeckmann et al and 4,712,675 to Scholten et al disclose carriers of the type wherein pockets holding devices are molded into an elongated member. This approach does not provide the convenience of being able to feed serially the devices one at a time out of the end of the elongated member.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,679 to Lowe discloses a package for disks having removable separators wherein separators are removable one at a time and require that the package must be opened in order to gain access to the disks.
A more recently developed IC device is one in which the device is square and a larger number of leads are provided which are mounted on all four edges of the device. Additionally, the method of mounting the devices has changed with the advent of surface mount technology. In order to attach integrated circuits with a large number of leads to a flat mounting surface, "J" shaped leads are used which must be coplanar in order that all leads touch the surface simultaneously. These devices are also currently shipped in extruded plastic tube carriers. The problem with shipping the devices in these carriers is that the leads of neighboring devices come into contact with one another which results in bending the leads so that they are no longer coplanar. This results in rejection of otherwise good devices or the requirement to manually straighten the leads in an effort to reestablish coplanarity.

Compartmentalized carrier for integrated circuits


The systems and methods can provide continuous, efficient, accurate, non-contact, monitoring of one or more cardiorespiratory and/or behavior parameters associated with a subject in a defined environment using at least non-contact sensor data and provide feedback based on the determined parameters. The system can include one or more sensor modules disposed within defined environment(s). The system may further include one or more sensors disposed at a specific spatial location in the defined environment. The sensor(s) may include non-contact electric field sensor(s) configured to record non-contact sensor data related to one or more periods of stillness and/or movement of the subject. The system may further include one or more processors configured to determine cardiorespiratory respiratory parameters and/or behavior parameters using the non-contact sensor data. Because the systems and methods also allow for continuous collection of measurable variables, they can provide a high-throughput quantifiable record of the subject's physio-behavioral self.

Tracking cardiorespiratory parameters and behaviors of animals can provide predictive and diagnostic information, for example, of adverse clinical events, such as cardiovascular disease. However, most monitoring approaches can be expensive and impractical for large-scale studies, for example, that require monitoring rodent physiology. For example, current technologies for monitoring rodent physiology can require contacting sensors, separate airtight chamber environments that are separate from home cages, separate cages, and/or surgically invasive approaches. These approaches can therefore result in restraint of experimental design, increase in cost, and decrease of throughput.

Systems, methods and computer readable media for non-contact physio-behaviorial monitoring of a subject


A method for detecting defects in a computer program. The method steps include obtaining source code and a potential defect definition; identifying, based on the potential defect definition, a set of program objects associated with a potential defect in the source code; extracting an executable program slice having the potential defect from the source code; generating, by a processor, an abstracted model of the program slice by: modeling, using data abstraction, the set of program objects as data-abstracted variables, identifying, within the program slice, a set of control statements including predicates necessary for evaluating the set of control statements, modeling, using predicate abstraction, the predicates as predicate-abstracted Boolean variables, and creating, based on the data-abstracted variables and the predicate-abstracted Boolean variables, a finite state machine (FSM) model of the program slice; and identifying an error state of the FSM indicating an occurrence of the potential defect within the program slice.

With the advent of agile software engineering methodologies and rapid development lifecycles, software quality assurance has proven to be a daunting task. Quality assurance tools such as bug-checkers and software model checkers play an important role in maintaining software quality.
Model checking (MC) is a formal methods technique used for the verification of hardware and software systems. Model checking algorithmically verifies behaviors of a system against one or more pre-defined properties or defect types. These systems are commonly represented as finite-state machines (FSM). Systems may be abstracted as finite-state machines so they can be tested in a mathematical and concrete fashion whereas properties of the system are sometimes expressed in Linear Temporal Logic (LTL) or Computation Tree Logic (CTL) formulas. A Software Model Checker (SMC) may be used to perform algorithmic verification of the FSM.
In a software example, a bug-checking tool builds a model to represent a given software program. This model may be an abstraction depicting the behavior of the software program. An SMC may then check the model against a specification including pre-defined error conditions and program properties. Based on the specification, the SMC is able to verify whether the system satisfies a specified property (e.g., an error state). Due to the combinatorial nature of model checking algorithms, the memory and processing power required to complete an analysis of the model can increase exponentially with the number of states.

Efficient model checking technique for finding software defects


Network traffic information for nodes of a first logical hierarchy is stored at a monitoring device according to ranks of the nodes within the logical hierarchy as determined by each node's position therein and user preferences. At least some of the network traffic information stored at the network monitoring device may then be reported to another network monitoring device, where it can be aggregated with similar information from other network monitoring devices. Such reporting may occur according to rankings of inter-node communication links between nodes of different logical hierarchies of monitored nodes.

Today, information technology professionals often encounter a myriad of different problems and challenges during the operation of a computer network or network of networks. For example, these individuals must often cope with network device failures and/or software application errors brought about by such things as configuration errors or other causes. Tracking down the sources of such problems often involves analyzing network and device data collected by monitoring units deployed at various locations throughout the network.
Traditional network monitoring solutions group network traffic according to whether a network node is a "client" or a "server". More advanced processes, such as those described in co-pending patent application Ser. No. 10/937,986, filed Sep. 10, 2004, assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference, allow for grouping data by the role being played by a network node and/or by logical units (business units) constructed by network operators for the purpose of monitoring and diagnosing network problems. These forms of advanced monitoring techniques can yield very good results in terms of providing operators with information needed to quickly diagnose and/or solve problems.
With these advanced forms of network monitoring, however, come problems. For example, collecting and storing data for all logical groupings of nodes and inter-nodal communications paths in a network quickly becomes unmanageable as that network grows in size. Consequently, what are needed are methods and systems to facilitate centralized network monitoring for large, distributed networks.

Method and system for managing a distributed network of network monitoring devices