High dynamic range imaging includes first image data captured using a first image sensor and a first exposure time, using a rolling shutter such that different lines within the first image data are captured at different times. Two or more instances of second image data are captured using second image sensors and second exposure times that are shorter than the first exposure time. The second image data are captured using a rolling shutter, and overlap at least in part with the first image data. A line of the first image data has a corresponding line in each instance of second image data, and the corresponding instances of second image data are captured at different second capture times. For a line in the first image data, the corresponding line from the instance of second image data is selected to be merged with the line in the first image data.

The present invention relates to image sensors, and more specifically to imaging devices with arrays of image sensors that may be used to produce High Dynamic Range (HDR) images.
Image sensors are commonly used in electronic devices such as cellular telephones, cameras, and computers to capture images. In a typical arrangement, an electronic device is provided with a single image sensor and a single corresponding lens. In certain applications, such as when acquiring still or video images of a scene with a large range of light intensities, it may be desirable to capture HDR images. In HDR images, highlight and shadow detail can be retained that would otherwise be lost in a conventional image.
A common type of image sensor is a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor. In a CMOS sensor, photoelectric conversion elements of pixels perform photoelectric conversion for accumulating charges according to incident light amounts, and output electrical signal corresponding to the accumulated charges.
A CMOS sensor typically has an electronic shutter function. The electronic shutter function starts exposure by resetting photoelectric conversion elements of pixels, and ends exposure by reading out charges accumulated on the photoelectric conversion elements. In this manner, since the start and end of exposure are controlled by only the function of the image sensor, an exposure time from a low-speed shutter to a high speed shutter can be accurately controlled.
HDR typically works by merging a short exposure and a long exposure of the same scene, making the CMOS sensor suitable for an HDR image capture setup. Sometimes, more than two exposures can be involved. Since multiple exposures are captured by the same sensor, the exposures are captured at different times, which causes temporal problems in terms of motion blur.
One way to address this problem involves placing two image sensors very close to each other (similar to the setup of stereo camera, although with much shorter distance between the sensors as no disparity is required). In such a setup, one sensor is configured for long exposure, and the other sensor is configured for short exposure. The long exposure image and the short exposure image are then merged to create an HDR image. The captures are synchronized in time so that the merge into an HDR image can work more smoothly.
A further problem is that CMOS sensors generally use a rolling shutter operation (sometimes often referred to as a "focal plane shutter" operation). With the rolling shutter operation, charges on pixels are reset by sequentially scanning a plurality of two dimensionally arranged pixels for each line. Then, after an elapse of a predetermined exposure time, the pixels are sequentially scanned for each pixel to read out accumulated charges and to output signals. This sequential scanning causes different rows of the sensor to be read out at different points in time. Because of this, when merging a row in the long exposure image with a corresponding row in the short exposure image, problems with motion blur will still occur due to the rows being read out at different points in time. For at least these reasons there is a need for better methods of creating HDR images.


Disclosed is a security monitoring method determining whether a trespasser is detected and a position of the trespasser in a set security space and monitoring sound generated at the position of the trespasser by using an acoustic image generated from acoustic signals generated by an acoustic generating device and an acoustic measuring device in an array type. An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a security monitoring system including: an acoustic generating device that generates acoustic signals; a plurality of acoustic measuring devices that receive the acoustic signals; and an acoustic image processing device that generates an acoustic image using a beamforming algorithm from the acoustic signals received in the plurality of acoustic measuring devices and determines a position of a trespasser by comparing the acoustic image after the trespasser is detected with the acoustic image before the trespasser is detected.

A security monitoring system is a field that has been researched for a long period of time. Recently, an intelligent security system technology has been actively researched. As the related art, there are a security camera type, an infrared (IR) type, an ultrasonic type, an acoustic measurement type, or the like.
The first related art, U.S. Pat. No. 7,535,351 (Acoustic intrusion detection system) discloses a technology of detecting whether the trespassers are intruded by comparing and sensing the difference between a magnitude and a phase of a sound wave generated from the trespassers and a magnitude and a phase of a sound wave before the intrusion of the trespassers by generating acoustic in an audible frequency domain from a bipolar emitter and disposing a pair of detectors in an acoustic offset null of the bipolar. The related art is restrictively used in a specific security zone to detect only whether the trespassers are intruded but it cannot monitor positions or movements of the trespassers.
The second related art, Korean Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-0055340 (System and method for intrusion sensing and alarm using ultrasonic wave for vehicle) discloses a technology of detecting an intrusion of a vehicle by using an ultrasonic wave. The related art is a technology relating to a system and a method for intrusion sensing and alarm using ultrasonic wave for vehicle that digitally modulates an ultrasonic wave and reduces erroneous detection due to echo or noise from the outside to improve detection precision, which may solve malfunction due to an ultrasonic wave from other vehicles. However, the related art may degrade power efficiency according to the use of an ultrasonic wave and may lead to errors such as generating intrusion signals regardless of whether the trespassers are intruded when an ultrasonic waveform is distorted due to objects or conditions in any space.
The third related art, Korean Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-0025148 (Apparatus and method for security using an environmental sound) discloses a technology of monitoring whether abnormality occurs in places to be monitored by using environmental sound generated according to environment of predetermined places to be monitored. The related art discloses a method of disposing a detector in the predetermined places to be monitored to allow a feature extractor to extract predetermined characteristics from an acoustic signal, allowing an abnormality occurrence determination unit to compare the extracted features with an environmental acoustic reference model stored in a memory to determine whether abnormality occurs in the predetermined places, and if so, allowing an alarm output unit to generate an alarm signal so as to issue an alarm to a supervisor. The related art may not operate the monitoring device at the time of the intrusion of trespassers since the environmental sound is not changed when trespassers or intrusion objects are calmly intruded.

Security monitoring system using beamforming acoustic imaging and method using the same

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE

GWANGJU INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


Processes and apparatus for analyzing fluid properties of a stream are described. The processes utilize a simulated moving bed system and a rotary valve. The processes involve sending a portion of the pump-around stream to a side chamber where the moisture content of the adsorbent in the side chamber or one or more fluid properties of the stream or both are measured using an analyzer specific to each fluid property.

Continuous separation processes are commonly used for the selective adsorption of para-xylene from a mixture of C8 aromatics. Generally, the processes use a solid adsorbent that preferably retains the para-xylene in order to separate the para-xylene from the rest of the mixture. Often, the solid adsorbent is in the form of a simulated moving bed, where the bed of solid adsorbent is held stationary, and the locations at which the various streams enter and leave the bed are periodically moved. The adsorbent bed itself is usually a succession of fixed sub-beds or modules. The shift in the locations of the liquid input and output in the direction of the fluid flow through the bed simulates the movement of the solid adsorbent in the opposite direction. Moving the locations of the liquid input and output is accomplished by a fluid tracking device known generally as a rotary valve which works in conjunction with distributors located between the adsorbent sub-beds. The rotary valve accomplishes moving the input and output locations through first directing the liquid introduction or withdrawal lines to specific distributors located between the adsorbent sub-beds. After a specified time period, called the step time or hold period, the rotary valve advances one index to the next valve position and redirects the liquid inputs and outputs to the distributors immediately adjacent and downstream of the previously used distributors. Each advancement of the rotary valve to the next valve position is generally called a valve step, and the completion of all the valve steps is called a valve cycle. In one commercial process, the step time is uniform for each of the valve steps in a valve cycle, and is generally about 60 seconds or so. A typical process contains 24 adsorbent sub-beds, 24 distributors located between the 24 adsorbent sub-beds, two liquid input lines, two liquid output lines, and associated flush lines.
The principle liquid inputs and outputs of the adsorbent system consists of four streams, which are the feed, the extract, the raffinate, and the desorbent. Each stream flows into or out of the adsorbent system at a particular flow rate, and each rate is independently controlled. The feed, which is introduced to the adsorbent system, contains the para-xylene that is to be separated from the other components in the feed stream. The desorbent, which is introduced to the adsorbent system, contains a liquid capable of displacing feed components from the adsorbent. The extract, which is withdrawn from the adsorbent system, contains the separated para-xylene, which was selectively adsorbed by the adsorbent, and the desorbent liquid. The raffinate, which is withdrawn from the adsorbent system, contains other C8 aromatic components of the feed that are less selectively adsorbed by the adsorbent, and desorbent liquid. There also may be associated flush streams introduced to and withdrawn from the adsorbent system. The four principal streams are spaced strategically throughout the adsorbent system and divide the sub-beds into four zones, each of which performs a different function.
Zone I contains the adsorbent sub-beds located between the feed input and the raffinate output, and the selective adsorption of the para-xylene takes place in this zone. Zone II contains the adsorbent sub-beds located between the extract output and the feed input, and the desorption of components other than the para-xylene takes place in this zone. Zone III contains the adsorbent sub-beds located between the desorbent input and the extract output, and the para-xylene is desorbed in this zone. Finally, Zone IV contains the adsorbent sub-beds located between the raffinate output and the desorbent input. The purpose of Zone IV is to prevent the contamination of the para-xylene with other components.
The common method used to monitor the moisture content of the adsorbent chambers has been to monitor the feed, desorbent, extract and raffinate stream moisture content as bulk fluids. Injection of a specific quantity of water to the desorbent is done to maintain the moisture level as some of the water is not returned when the extract and raffinate are purified and the desorbent in these streams is recycled back to the adsorbent chamber. However, the use of a bulk liquid moisture analyzer on only specific operating regions can only give general guidelines on the moisture in the bulk liquid. It does not allow measurement of the bulk liquid moisture content in all operating regions. More importantly, it does not allow measurement of the moisture content on the adsorbent in the adsorbent chamber.
Another common practice in the industry is to determine the compositional profile of the para-xylene simulated moving bed separation process either by on-line gas chromatography analysis, or by off-line laboratory analysis. The on-line gas chromatography analysis typically requires about 10 minutes per analysis, which is considerably greater than the usual step time of the rotary valve. Therefore, only selected valve positions can be sampled and analyzed. Generally, only Zone II near the extract output and Zone IV near the desorbent input are sampled and analyzed. The data provided by this on-line gas chromatography procedure is useful for detecting some process upsets, but unfortunately analyzing the composition of only two valve positions provides limited information regarding the performance of the separation process and is only minimally useful for precise separation process control.
A more thorough determination of the compositional profile of the para-xylene simulated moving bed separation process is accomplished using off-line laboratory gas chromatography analysis to determine the values of the concentrations of the components in the samples for each valve position in a valve cycle. The measured concentrations are then plotted versus their relative valve positions to form what is generally called a pump-around profile. Using the pump-around profile, the recovery purity of the para-xylene can be calculated and the degree of optimization of the separation may be assessed. From this, for example, needed changes in the step time and/or liquid stream flow rates may be determined and implemented. The drawbacks to assessing the separation process in this fashion are the time delay between sampling and delivery of the analytical results, where the latter are used to determine whether or what process changes should be made; the labor involved to manually collect the stream samples; and the personal exposure of the operator manually collecting the stream samples from the process. Since the analysis is performed off-line, the time delay may be from one to several days long and can lead to plant disruption. Because of these drawbacks, refiners generally only perform this procedure about once every six months or if there is a problem with the separation process.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide processes for determining the moisture content of the adsorbent and the pump-around profile of these systems to provide rapid and frequent analysis of the fluid properties with low system maintenance, requiring minimal operator time and labor, and without plant disruption.

Side chamber process monitor for adsorptive separation process


An edible plastic dispersion not having a continuous fat phase, including at least two condensed phases, at least one of which is continuous, the dispersion comprising a first gel-forming composition and a second gel-forming composition containing 1-8 times the critical concentrations of a gelling starch having a rheological property in an aqueous dispersion characterized by a one-half G'.sub.max value at no more than about 7,250 seconds when prepared at a concentration to yield a log G'.sub.max value of 5.0 at 15,000 seconds at 11.degree. C. provided that the aqueous dispersion of the gelling starch is initially prepared at 0 to 40.degree. C.

Edible dispersions with a plastic rheology usually have a high fat content. Often the fat is present as a continuous fat phase. Well-known edible, plastic dispersions are, for example, butter and margarine.
Many attempts have been made to find a replacement for fat in edible products. One reason why such a fat replacer is desirable is the wish to reduce the caloric content of the food product and other dietetic considerations while at the same time lower production cost, in particular by reducing raw material cost. If both goals are achieved a resulting product must still have consumer acceptable flavor, mouthfeel and long shelf life.
One proposal as a fat substitute has been the use of a non-caloric gaseous or solid material such as air or silica. Other proposed fat replacers include substances that are physically similar to triglycerides but that cannot be digested by the human body, such as waxes, e.g., jojoba oil, and sucrose poly fatty acid esters. See, for example, JAOCS 63(3) (March 1986), 278-288. The results of these approaches have thus far been less than satisfactory. One of the problems with the indigestible physical analogues of triglyceride fat is that the material is only available in limited quantities, and the material cost is high. The gaseous and solid materials referred to above can be used to replace only a small part of the fat. At higher inclusion levels these fat extenders severely affect the properties of the resulting product.
A substance that has been widely applied as a fat extender is water. This use of water has, for example, led to the introduction of the so-called halvarines: a substitute for butter and margarine containing only about 40% instead of the usual 80-85% fat. However, as with air, for example, water can also be employed only to a limited extent before adverse effects on the product properties are observed. To overcome this disadvantage it has been suggested that water should be used in combination with thickening agents, and in particular with gelling agents. This approach has led to substantial improvements of such products with substantially reduced fat content like halvarine.
However, with these approaches it has been possible to replace only part of the fat of edible plastic dispersions. When only thickening agents are employed in combination with the water, a still essentially liquid system that does not retain its shape is obtained. The use of gelling agents in such liquid systems was observed to produce aqueous gels having elastic or brittle properties rather than being plastic. Thus, the thickened gelled aqueous systems were used in edible plastic dispersions only as fat extender to replace part of the fat. To maintain the required plastic rheology of the product, the use of a not negligible amount of fat, usually constituting the continuous phase of the edible plastic dispersion, was still necessary.
Although it has been stated in the art that certain gelled aqueous system have plasticity and spreading characteristics such that they can be used by themselves as spreads, e.g., for bread, to replace butter or margarine, in practice these systems were not found to be satisfactory. The gels were too elastic or brittle to be acceptable as a replacement for a plastic product. Moreover, the organoleptic properties of the products usually were poor.
Plastic Dispersions having relatively good plastic rheology are described in Cain et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,193 issued on Sept. 11, 1990. These edible plastic dispersions do not have a continuous fat phase and include at least two condensed phases, at least one of which is continuous. The compositions contain (a) one gelling agent selected from the group of gelatin, kappacarrageenan, iota-carrageenan, alginate, agar, gellan, pectin and mixtures thereof and, (b) a second gelling agent selected from the group of a gelling starch, denatured whey protein, denatured soy protein, microcrystalline cellulose and mixtures thereof and one gelling agent is different from the other gelling agent.
It has been observed that these plastic dispersions can be quite slow gelling and take up to several weeks to gel set to a consistency which is useful for a resulting spread product. Some faster gel setting starches have been found to produce brittle or rubbery dispersions having off-flavors and poor mouthfeel. Further, some of such spreads have been seen to possess phase separation and lack stability on the shelf.

Edible plastic dispersion having a rapid gel-setting starch

Van den Bergh Foods Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.


A distinct cultivar of Delphinium plant named xe2x80x98Coral Sunsetxe2x80x99, characterized by its upright plant habit; freely flowering habit; and double light red-colored flowers.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Delphinium elatum cultivar Coral Sunset.
The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Delphinium plant, botanically known as Delphinium elatum, and hereinafter referred to by the name xe2x80x98Coral Sunsetxe2x80x99.
The new Delphinium was discovered by the Inventor in 1999 in a controlled environment in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands, as a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Delphinium elatum cultivar Princess Caroline, not patented. The new Delphinium was selected by the Inventor on the basis of its unique light red-colored flowers.
Asexual reproduction of the new Delphinium by cuttings in a controlled environment in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands, since 2000, has shown that the unique features of this new Delphinium are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.
Plants of the cultivar Coral Sunset have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of xe2x80x98Coral Sunsetxe2x80x99. These characteristics in combination distinguish xe2x80x98Coral Sunsetxe2x80x99 as a new and distinct cultivar:
1. Upright plant habit.
2. Freely flowering habit.
3. Double light red-colored flowers.
Plants of the cultivar Coral Sunset differ from the parent cultivar, Princess Caroline and other Delphinium cultivars known to the Inventor in its unique flower coloration. In addition, compared to plants of the cultivar Princess Caroline, plants of the new Delphinium are shorter than plants of the cultivar Princess Caroline.


An improved faucet connector has a flexible braided metal hose assembly with a water supply fitting assembly at one end and a universal faucet fitting assembly at the other end to readily connect a faucet to a water supply pipe, tubing, or shutoff valve in an efficient, safe, and structurally sound manner.

This invention pertains to plumbing equipment and, more particularly, to fittings for use with faucets.
In the past, sinks, wash basins, or other appliances were installed, by using a pipe such as a copper pipe which was suitably bent for attachment to the end of a water distribution pipe and the water supply intake of the appliance. The plumber or other installer had to make precise measurements, cut the copper pipe accordingly, shape it and finally connect it by welding. Such tasks were burdensome, cumbersome, and slow and not readily adaptable for do-it-yourself amateurs and most homeowners.
Flexible pipes have been used for connecting a sanitary appliance to a distribution network. Conventional flexible pipes have a copper tubular structure comprising corrugated walls which enable the pipe to be manually bent to the position of the fluid intake on the appliance as well as to the end of the distribution pipe. However, in order to be flexible, this type of tube has an extremely thin fragile metallic wall, which often cracks upon repetitive bending or flexing. Such cracks cause water leaks from the pipe.
The connections of appliances supplied with water using conventional metal pipes have the drawback of transmitting vibrations from the sink or other appliance, when the faucet is turned on, to the supply pipe. The use of a faucet of poor quality on the appliance produces vibrations which can be transmitted to the entire house, or to adjacent apartments and possibly even through the whole building. The connector can also serve to reduce the flow noises associated with plumbing lines.
Rigid supply tube assemblies have been used for many years in the plumbing market with a nosepiece and a rigid body. Typically, a plumber would cut the rigid supply assembly to the required length and bend the rigid or semi-rigid tube into place. This process requires a good deal of skill and most homeowners could not do it by themselves.
Conventional corrugated supply line assemblies have corrugated tubes and were introduced after the rigid supply tube assembly. Corrugated supply line parts allow some degree of flexibility during installation and some supply lines incorporate the use of a flexible head or nosepiece. The flexible head is typically composed of rubber or plastic. The purpose of the nosepiece is to provide a seal against a faucet inlet. The flexible head can be made for specific applications or customers. The body of the corrugated supply assembly allowed some flexibility, but still many homeowners had trouble doing-it-themselves. If the corrugated supply assembly is bent into one position, then bent again to correct a mistake in the alignment, it work-hardens the tubing. Usually, two or three bends work-hardens the tubing to its failure point. The supply tube assembly often splits and forms a hole between one or more of its corrugations causing water leaks.
When a flexible nosepiece is tightened to a faucet, the faucet leaves an impression on the surface of the nosepiece. If it is necessary at some later date to replace the faucet or disconnect the supply, it would be almost impossible to line up the impression a second time and the misalignments can cause a leak.
The next products that entered the market were polyvinyl chloride (PVC) hoses. PVC hoses consists of a flexible vinyl hose with two attached fittings. They are attached to the faucet base by means of a nut using a washer, o-ring, or plastic head. The other end of the PVC hose is attached to a supply valve or supply pipe using a washer or o-ring.
Polybutylene tube supplies are very similar to the traditional rigid supply tube but offer flexibility and a one-piece design.
Plastic and rubber fittings, gaskets, and nosepieces often fail, leak, or otherwise degrade over time with heat and pressure.
Although a hose can be longitudinally extensible for accommodating an internal excess pressure, the flow rate will be reduced if the diameter is decreased. It is important that the flow rate be uniform. It is, therefore, desirable that a connection of this type be dimensionally stable, irrespective of the internal pressure.
One useful type of flexible hose is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,159,027. The hose offers flexibility and reliability not found in either PVC or polybutylene hoses and can be equipped with a washer to seal the connection to the faucet base.
The plumbing wholesale trade, however, prefers bulk packaging with washers individually attached to the connectors. This step can involve a great deal of added cost for the handling, the washer and the cap.
Over the years various types of hoses and faucet connectors have been suggested. These prior art hoses and faucet connectors have met with varying degrees of success.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide an improved faucet connector assembly which overcomes most, if not all, of the preceding problems.


Inner and outer hexoctahedrons respectively showing complete background and complete background are defined by combining triangular pyramids centered on a background representative color on RGB space. Key value is calculated by changing identification function parameters depending upon which of triangular pyramids constituting the hexoctahedron each pixel of the image belongs to. As a result, an improved foreground image for composite is obtained.

The present invention relates to a chroma-key processing method and system for processing color image of various modes in the form of RGB numerical data into composite with another color image.
According to chroma-key technique used in producing a video image, a foreground object to be composited is placed in front of a background panel painted in monochrome, typically in blue, and is shot by a camera as material with blue background (hereinafter referred to as blue-back material). The shot image is variously processed into an image with key signals of blue portions being 0% and of foreground portions being 100%. The image with the key signals is supplied to a switching unit in a conversion system with a background different from that of the blue-back material to obtain a composite image. If the key signals have only binary states of either 0% or 100%, a contour of the foreground object after composite may become unnatural. In order to overcome the problem, conventionally a so-called soft chroma-key system is used to allow transitional values between 0% and 100%. According to the conventional soft chroma-key technique, key signals are generated in terms of distance on chromaticity diagram which can be quantitatively representative of hue and color saturation among three color attributes of hue, color saturation and color value. According to the Japanese Patent 1st publication No. 62-66791, data of RGB (Red, Green and Blue) three primary colors on a foreground image are converted into data (X, Z) on two-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system, using conversion equations: ##EQU1## where .phi. is an angle of hue of the background color to B-Y axis on chromaticity diagram. The values of X and Z obtained from the above equations are used to obtain value k of key signal: EQU k=X-aZ.sup.2
where a is an adjustable parameter. In reality, the value k is further used with variable gain k, and offset ko to obtain value k' as value of key signal: EQU k'=(k+k.sub.o)k.sub.g
According to this technique, data pairs of X and Z will draw a parabola with a focus and a directrix being respectively on the X and Z axes of a chromaticity diagram when the value k' becomes constant.
However, the orthogonal coordinate of X and Z in the prior art provides no information on color value and therefore cannot discriminate, for example, light blue from dark blue.
With the soft chroma-key system, the value of the key signal may take transitional value to process contour and semitransparent foreground. However, since such conventional system does not handle the build-up of the blue-back image based on a specific theory, extracted results may be often unnatural and/or any extra process step such as so-called "chroma cancel" which is inherently unnecessary may be required to improve apparent image quality.
In the case of division on chromaticity diagram by means of a single non-closing line, a foreground with colors of high and low saturations in combination cannot be processed by using a background with color of transitional saturation.
It has been proposed to determine parameters by cursor-pointing background positions on a screen, using a position pointer such as a mouse or tablet. However, this solution is limited to keying processing of a hard edge. Processing of dissolve portions of soft chroma-key with variable resistance cannot be intuitively manipulated.
According to the present invention, inputted RGB three primary color data are directly handled in three-dimensional space without mapping them over two-dimensional space such as a chromaticity diagram so as to use the data without loss of information quantity. Therefore, it is a function of 3 variables which determines the key value k of a key signal and it is expressed by a scalar field in RGB thee-dimensional space. This function is called an identification function.
When RGB data of foreground image taken by blue-back shooting are plotted in RGB three-dimensional space, pixels 1 of the background are distributed in a relatively small area near B axis as shown in FIG. 1. By contrast, pixels 2 of the foreground are distributed as several sets of banana-shaped areas at positions away from the pixels 1 of the background. Pixels on the boundary between pixels 1 and 2 are distributed substantially in an area of a triangle having its base and apex constituted by the banana-like distributed pixels 2 and the background pixels 1, respectively. In scalar field representative of key value k, it is ideal that there are the banana-like distributed pixels 2 by 100% and the background pixels 1 by 0% and that values gradually increase from the apex toward the base of the triangle.
The scalar field used to express identification function is defined by two hexoctahedrons 40 and 41 as shown in FIG. 2 with a shape suitable for distribution of the image data in RGB three-dimensional space, key value k being calculated which can smoothly express contour and/or semitransparent portions. Once key value k is determined, color of the pixel 2 of foreground portions related to background color such as semitransparent portions is converted to natural foreground color according to model induced from a theory of image composite.
Since the scalar field can be defined to include any arbitrary position on RGB three-dimensional space, restriction to background color is extensively reduced: and keying may be performed if there is no back color in the foreground color.
After chroma-key parameters have been set for hard edge, parameters for soft edge are specified for portions where even foreground may become transparent. Then, portions which are not to be transparent are repeatedly pointed by mouse or tablet on screen to set parameters for soft key.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in conjunction with the attached drawings.

Soft edge chroma-key generation based upon hexoctahedral color space


A production line for manufacture of a LCD device having a plurality of processing devices includes a production line shield being formed of a UV blocking material and positioned along a sealant forming device and an attaching device and between the sealant forming device and the attaching a device; and at least one work lamp that irradiates light in a band other than an ultraviolet band. A UV blocking lamp may be provided above the production line shield. Thus, a sealant is not prematurely hardened, so that the lower substrate is effectively bonded to the upper substrate, and a desired cell gap is maintained between the lower and upper substrates.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a production line for manufacturing a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, and more particularly, to a production line of an LCD device based on a liquid crystal dispensing method.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, ultra thin sized flat panel displays having a display screen with a thickness of several centimeters or less, and in particular, flat panel LCD devices, are widely used in monitors for notebook computers, spacecraft, and aircraft because such LCD devices have low power consumption because of a low driving voltage and are easy to carry.
Such LCD devices include a lower substrate, an upper substrate and a liquid crystal layer. A thin film transistor (TFT) and a pixel electrode are formed on the lower substrate. A light-shielding layer, a color filter layer and a common electrode are formed on the upper substrate, which is opposite to the lower substrate. Then, the liquid crystal layer is formed between the lower and upper substrates. In operation, an electric field is generated between the lower and upper substrates by the pixel and common electrodes, so that the alignment of molecules in the liquid crystal layer is driven by the electric field. Transmissivity of light through the liquid crystal layer is controlled with driving the liquid crystal layer, thereby displaying an image.
In manufacturing this LCD device, a vacuum injection method based on capillary phenomenon and pressure difference has been conventionally used to form the liquid crystal layer between lower and upper substrates. However, such a vacuum injection method has a problem in that it takes a long time to inject the liquid crystal due to the large sized display area, thereby reducing the productivity.
A liquid crystal dispensing method has been proposed to solve such a problem. A prior art method for manufacturing an LCD device based on the liquid crystal dispensing method will be explained with reference to FIG. 1A to FIG. 1D.
As illustrated in FIG. 1A, a lower substrate 1 and an upper substrate 3 are prepared. Although not shown in drawings, a plurality of gate and data lines are formed on the lower substrate 1. The gate lines cross the data lines to define pixel regions. A thin film transistor (TFT) is formed at each crossing point between the gate and data lines. A pixel electrode connected with the thin film transistor is formed in the pixel region.
A light-shielding layer is formed on the upper substrate 3 to prevent light from leaking out from the gate and data lines and the thin film transistor. Color filter layers of red(R), green(G), and blue(B) are formed on the light-shielding layer, and a common electrode is formed on the color filter layers. An alignment layer is formed on at least one of the lower substrate 1 and the upper substrate 3 to initially align molecules in a liquid crystal to be interposed between the upper and lower substrates 1 and 3.
As shown in FIG. 1B, a sealant 7 is formed on the lower substrate 1 and a liquid crystal 5 is dropped thereon, so that a liquid crystal layer is formed. A spacer (not shown) is spread onto the upper substrate 3 to maintain a cell gap between the upper and lower substrates 1 and 3.
In manufacturing an LCD device according to the vacuum injection method, the liquid crystal is injected between the substrates after bonding the substrates to each other. However, in manufacturing an LCD device according to the liquid crystal dispensing method, the lower and upper substrates 1,3 are bonded to each other after dispensing the liquid crystal 5 onto the substrates. Therefore, if a heat-hardening sealant is used as the sealant 7 in the LCD device according to the liquid crystal dispensing method, the sealant 7 may flow out of the substrate when it is heated. For this reason, a problem arises in that the liquid crystal 5 is contaminated. Accordingly, in the method of manufacturing the LCD based on the liquid crystal dispensing method, a UV-hardening sealant is used as the sealant 7 instead of a heat-hardening sealant.
Referring to FIG. 1C, the lower substrate 1 is attached to the upper substrate 3.
Referring to FIG. 1D, UV light is irradiated from a UV irradiating device 9 so that the sealant 7 is hardened, thereby bonding the lower substrate 1 and the upper substrate 3 to each other.
In manufacturing the LCD device based on the liquid crystal dispensing method, after attaching the lower substrate to the upper substrate, the sealant 7 formed on the lower substrate 1 is hardened in a UV irradiating process and the lower substrate 1 is bonded to the upper substrate 3. Accordingly, if the sealant formed on the lower substrate 1 is hardened before attaching the lower and upper substrates to each other, the lower substrate 1 is not bonded to the upper substrate 3 perfectly.
A production line of the LCD device based on the prior art liquid crystal dispensing method will be explained as follows.
First, the lower substrate having the TFT and the pixel electrode is loaded to a first loading device and then is moved to a sealant forming device and a liquid crystal dispensing device. Then the sealant and the liquid crystal layer are formed on the lower substrate. The upper substrate having the light-shielding layer, the color filter layer and the common electrode is loaded to a second loading device and is moved to a spacer scattering device, thereby forming a spacer on the upper substrate. The lower and upper substrates are moved to an attaching device and are attached to each other. After that, the attached substrates are moved to the UV irradiating device to harden the sealant, thereby bonding the lower and upper substrates to each other.
At this time, a cover is provided to an upper space of each device and a line between the devices. The cover is made of a transparent material for being watched by an operator. The top of the cover is opened so that dust generated during manufacturing the LCD device are discharged through the top of the cover. Also, a lamp is provided above the devices for manufacturing the LCD. If UV light is irradiated on the substrates through the cover and the upper space where the cover is not formed, the sealant may be hardened before arriving in the attaching device, so that the lower and upper substrates are not bonded perfectly.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a production line for manufacturing an LCD device that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An advantage of the present invention is to provide a production line for the manufacture of an LCD device, in which a sealant is not hardened until arriving in an attaching device.
Additional advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. These and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a production line of an LCD device according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention includes a production line shield being formed of a UV blocking material and positioned along a sealant forming device and an attaching device and between the sealant forming device and the attaching device; and at least one work lamp that irradiates light in a band other than an ultraviolet band.
If the work lamp is provided in the entire production line, the aforementioned problem is not generated. However, it has a problem in that an operator cannot watch process steps of a production line since the brightness of the work lamp is low.
Accordingly, in the production line according to the present invention, the work lamp is provided in an upper space from the sealant forming device to the attaching device, so that the UV light is not irradiated to a production line cover having an opened top.
In order to improve the brightness of the production line, an ordinary lamp is provided in the production line except for the UV blocking work lamp. Also, a production line cover of a UV blocking material is provided from the sealant forming device to the attaching device so as to prevent the UV light of the ordinary lamp from being irradiated to the sealant of the substrate.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

Production line of liquid crystal display device having shield of UV blocking material


A venting syringe plunger assembly for use with a syringe system allows for venting of gas from the syringe system during use. The plunger assembly includes a hollow outer sleeve having an interior surface, and an inner stem having an exterior surface. At least a portion of the inner stem is disposed within the outer sleeve so as to be movable (e.g., slidable) within the outer sleeve. A venting passageway is defined between the interior surface of the outer sleeve and the exterior surface of the inner stem. The plunger assembly also includes means for selectively moving the inner stem within the outer sleeve so as to selectively open and close the venting passageway.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present application is directed to devices for mixing and dispensing medical and dental compositions. More particularly, the application is directed to methods and devices for mixing and dispensing multi-part medical and dental compositions while permitting air or gas to be vented.
2. The Relevant Technology
Many modem formulations are packaged in two parts, often known as A and B components. Upon mixing, the A and B components typically undergo a chemical reaction which causes the resultant composition to "set up" or "cure" in some desired manner. In the dental field, for example, several two-part formulations currently enjoy wide use, such as glass ionomer cements and resinous luting cements. Dental impression materials are also typically made using A and B components.
In order to function properly, it is important that the A and B components of two-component systems be mixed together rapidly and thoroughly and in the right proportions. Failure to rapidly mix the components can result in loss of valuable working time with the resultant composition, and can impact the ability to obtain a thorough mix as the composition may begin to set up unevenly. Failure to mix thoroughly can result in a composition having less than optimum characteristics. For example, if a poorly mixed composition is used as a cement, it is possible that portions of the cement will fail to reach the chemical strength required for a long-term bond.
Problems of obtaining rapid and uniform mixing are often complicated by differences in the A and B components. It is often necessary to mix two liquids, while other times it is necessary to mix a powder with a liquid. Sometimes there are equal amounts of the A and B components, but in other cases there is more of one component than another. Additionally, the two components may have similar viscosities or widely differing viscosities. Components having greatly differing viscosities or other physical properties are typically harder to mix than components having similar physical properties.
One method employed for mixing multiple components has been simple mechanical mixing, through the use of a mixing bowl or pad and a stir instrument such as a spatula. This method tends to be somewhat messy and time consuming. It also is difficult at times to determine whether the mixing has been sufficiently thorough.
An alternative and generally superior system uses two syringes, and optionally a coupler between the two syringes. The distal end of each syringe is coupled to the coupler or directly to the other syringe. The components may be passed back and forth between the syringes in order to mix the components.
It is difficult in many instances to prevent formation of small air or gas bubbles in the mixed composition. With some components, an air or gas bubble may develop within the syringe during storage. In addition, gaseous products may be generated as a result of mixing some A and B components. Such entrapped air or gas bubbles, either within the separate syringes before mixing or within the mixed composition after mixing, can be detrimental.
It would be an advantage to provide a plunger assembly for use with a syringe system that would allow the user to vent air and/or gas bubbles when needed (e.g., before and/or after mixing).


A structure of a carrier is disclosed. The structure includes an upper frame; side frames in a pair formed downwardly from both sides of the upper frame; and center frames, each of which has one end connected to the central portion of the upper frame and the other end slantingly connected to the corresponding one of the side frames. Since the center frames are slantingly installed and support the upper frame and the side frames, the structure of the carrier has reduced weight and enables the maintenance of sufficient rigidity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the structure of a carrier, which does not have a lower frame, and has sufficient rigidity maintained through the center frames slantingly extended from the center of an upper frame to side frames, thereby having light weight and enabling the maintenance of sufficient rigidity.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a vehicle body forms the external appearance of a vehicle, and comprises a vehicle chamber, an engine room, a trunk, a fender, etc. The above vehicle body is divided into a front body, a central body, and a rear body in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
A carrier for assembling head lamps, a radiator, a condenser, and a bumper is installed on the front body.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional carrier for vehicles.
As shown in FIG. 1, a Front End Module (FEM) technique, which assembles head lamps, a radiator, a condenser, and a bumper with a vehicle body panel into one unit so as to improve assembly efficiency in manufacturing, reduces the number of components to be assembled, so as to shorten the time taken to assemble the carrier, and assures an assembling degree of the carrier, is applied to the carrier.
That is, the carrier 10 is generally divided into head lamp mounting portions 11 for mounting head lamps thereon, and a cooling module mounting portion 12 for mounting a cooling module thereon, such as a radiator and a condenser, on the front surface thereof.
The cooling module mounting portion 12 comprises an upper frame 13, a center frame 14 extended downwardly from the central portion of the upper frame 13 for mounting a horn speaker of the vehicle thereon, a lower frame 15 formed at the lower portion of the cooling module mounting portion 12 for mounting a bumper and a fog light thereon, and side frames 16, each of which has one end connected to the corresponding one of both ends of the lower frame 15 and the other end connected to the corresponding one of both ends of the upper frame 13.
The cooling module is fixedly connected to the lower frame 15 of the carrier 10. More specifically, a pair of connection plates 17 protrudes from the lower frame 15, and connection holes 18, into which protrusions of the cooling module are inserted, are respectively formed through the connection plates 17.
The head lamp mounting portions 11 are formed at both sides of the upper frame 13. One end of each of the head lamp mounting portions 11 is connected to the upper frame 13, and the other end of each of the head lamp mounting portions 11 is connected to the corresponding one of the side frames 16.
A hydride-type carrier, which is made of steel and plastic by molding, has recently been employed.
The weight of the carrier is generally 4.5˜5.5 kg. The carrier has a considerably heavy weight, thus lowering fuel consumption efficiency of the vehicle.
Further, since many raw materials are required to manufacture the carrier, when the costs of the raw materials are increased, the carrier has high production costs, thus causing a burden in the manufacture of the carrier.


A computer including at least two processors is used to preferably perform a secure data communication. Data containing a processor ID identifying one of the at least two processors provided for a first computer (computer 31) is transmitted from the first computer to a second computer (a node at the other party) (S91, S92). The second computer returns data containing the processor ID contained in the data transmitted in S91 and S92 and a public key certificate relating to the second computer. The first computer receives the data returned from the second computer, acquires, from the received data, the processor ID contained therein, and causes a processor (SPE1), which is identified by the processor ID, to process the received data. At this moment, the processing of the data is restricted according to a content of the public key certificate contained in the received data.

A conventional data communication protocol assumes that, when one computer includes only one processor, this one processor serves as a representative to communicate with another computer, and when one computer includes multiple processors, one of the multiple processors serves as a representative to communicate with another computer.
When two computers carry out a secure communication therebetween, usually, a user of one computer and a user of the other computer exchange public key certificates (electronic certificates) to carry out the secure communication, or the computers use the secure socket layer (SSL) (or transport layer security (TLS)), a client computer obtains a public key accompanying a public key certificate from a server computer, and then, they secretly share a common key generated on one of them, thereby realizing a secure data communication between the client and the server.

Data communication method, computer and information storing medium


This invention provides the compounds of formula (I):

Three types of opioid receptors, μ (mu), δ (delta) and κ (kappa) have been identified. These receptors may be indicated with combinations of OP (abbreviation for Opioid Peptides) and numeric subscripts as suggested by the International Union of Pharmacology (IUPHAR). Namely, OP1, OP2 and OP3 respectively correspond to δ-, κ- and μ-receptors. It has been found out that they belong to G-protein-coupled receptors and are distributed in the central nervous system (CNS), peripheries and organs in a mammal. As ligands for the receptors, endogenous and synthetic opioids are known. It is believed that an endogenous opioid peptide produces its effects through an interaction with the major classes of opioid receptors. For example, endorphins have been purified as endogenous opioid peptides and bind to both δ- and μ-receptors. Morphine is a well-known non-peptide opioid analgesic and has binding affinity mainly for the μ-receptor. Opiates have been widely used as pharmacological agents, but drugs such as morphine and heroin induce some side effects such as drug addiction and euphoria.
Meunier et al. reported isolation of a seventeen-amino-acid-long peptide from rat brain as an endogenous ligand for an orphan opioid receptor (Nature, Vol. 337, pp. 532-535, Oct. 12, 1995), and said receptor is now known as "opioid receptor-like 1 (abbreviated as ORL-1 receptor)". In the same report, the endogenous opioid ligand has been introduced as agonist for the ORL-1 receptor and named as "nociceptine (abbreviated as NC)". Also, the same ligand was named as "orphanin FQ (abbreviated as OFQ or oFQ)" by Reinscheid et al. (Science, Vol. 270, pp. 792-794, 1995). This receptor may be indicated as OP4 in line with a recommendation by IUPHAR in 1998 (British Journal of Pharmacology, Vol. 129, pp. 1261-1283, 2000).
International Patent Application Number (WO) 9429309 discloses a variety of spiro-substituted azacycle compounds, which are Neurokinin antagonists useful in the treatment of pain.
Also, International Patent Application Number (WO) 9825605 discloses a variety of spiro-substituted azacycle compounds, which are Chemokine receptor activity modulator antagonists.
Further, International Patent Application Number (WO) 0226714 discloses a variety of spiropiperidino compounds which show a binding affinity to a Nociceptin receptor.
Yet further, International Patent Application Number (WO) 03064425 discloses a variety of spiropiperidino compounds, which are ORL1 antagonists, for example, compound (i) below:

Compound (i) shows a potent activity in the dofetilide binding assay.
There is a need to provide new ORL1 antagonists that are good drug candidates. In particular, preferred compounds should bind potently to the ORL1 receptor and show functional activity as antagonists whilst showing little affinity for other receptors. They should be well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, be metabolically stable and possess favorable pharmacokinetic properties and less drug-drug interaction. They should be non-toxic and demonstrate few side-effects. Furthermore, the ideal drug candidate will exist in a physical form that is stable, non-hygroscopic and easily formulated.
In particular, it would be desirable to provide an ORL1 antagonist with reduced inhibitory activity at HERG potassium channel.

Alpha aryl or heteroaryl methyl beta piperidino propanoic acid compounds as ORL1-receptor antagonists

Abstract: or a pharmaceutically acceptable ester of such compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1 and R2 independently represent a hydrogen atom or the like;                R3 represents an aryl group having from 6 to 10 ring atoms or the like; X represents an oxygen atom, or the like; Y represents an oxygen atom or the like; and n represents an integer 0, 1 or 2.

Abstract: These compounds have ORL1-receptor antagonist activity; and therefore, are useful to treat diseases or conditions such as pain, various CNS diseases etc.


A remediation agent and process produces a treated water that meets discharge standards required by local regulations and generates stabilized waste which does not require further treatment prior to disposal. The composition of the treatment chemical is applicable to the treatment of industrial wastewaters and more specifically those from automobile production, metal finishing, metal processing, oil refineries, textiles, wood treatment, tannery, circuit board manufacturing, and other miscellaneous industrial waste streams from operations such as paints, coatings, adhesives, soap and detergents, chemicals, and food processing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a chemical composition and its use for remediation of waste streams including those from municipal and industrial sources containing high levels of contaminants such as fat, oil, grease, soluble and insoluble heavy metals, organic matter and inorganic matter. The composition includes natural minerals such as clay, zeolites, apatite, Dolomitic lime, fly ash, cement, coagulants, and flocculants which are either cationic, anionic or nonionic in nature.
2. Description of Prior Developments
Waste streams generally contain contaminants such as fat, oil, grease, heavy metals, organic substances such as phenolics, chlorinated compounds, and inorganics such as fluoride, sulfate, phosphate, cyanide, chromates, arsenic and selenium, at levels considered hazardous to the environment and which could pose a risk to public health. Such contaminants must be removed or their levels reduced to meet government discharge standards prior to discharging the waste into the environment.
Waste streams are generally treated by chemical, physical or mechanical means, or by combinations thereof. Techniques used in conventional wastewater treatment for removing emulsified soluble or floating oils, suspended solids, heavy metals, organic and inorganic matters basically involve several steps such as demulsification, oil skimming, metal precipitation, flocculation, and settling. Each step takes place in a separate tank and the entire treatment requires multiple adjustments of pH and the addition of acid, emulsion breakers (demulsifiers), lime/caustic, coagulants, and polymer solutions.
This conventional multi-step process is time consuming and has a high demand for equipment, i.e., it requires a number of treatment tanks equipped with agitators, pumps, liquid chemical dispensers and feed lines, chemicals, manpower, and energy. In each step, wastewater may be recirculated several times for retreatment to effect the maximum removal of contaminants, before it goes to the next step.
Moreover, the generated solid waste typically contains high levels of heavy metals and other hazardous substances which are usually leachable. The waste therefore requires further treatment to render the solid waste non-hazardous before it can be safely disposed. The cost of the disposal of hazardous waste is three to four times the disposal cost of nonhazardous waste.
The use of chemical agents for treating wastewater is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,956,117, 3,428,558, 3,968,036, 4,167,481, 4,517,094, 5,336,704, and 5,415,808. These earlier inventions, however, suffer from disadvantages relating to their limited applications, i.e., the chemical agents are not stand-alone products. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,956,117 discloses the use of cationic polymers for removal of oil; U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,428,558, and 5,415,808 disclose polymeric flocculants and their use in the removal of suspended particles; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,167,481 and 5,336,704 disclose chemical compositions for removal of metals; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,968,036 and 4,517,094 disclose methods for removal of organics.
None of these earlier inventions discloses a single agent or composition that is capable of simultaneous removal of contaminants such as oil and grease, suspended solids, heavy metals, and other organic and inorganic matter. Moreover, in most cases, prior treatment processes are also tedious and laborious such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,167,481 and 4,517,094 or those inventions wherein a conventional multi-step process is required when polymeric flocculants are used. Most importantly, these earlier inventions are not cost effective and generate solid wastes that are normally hazardous and must be further treated prior to disposal.
More recently, attention has been focused on the development of a single product system for treatment of waste streams, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,953,330, 4,332,693, 4,415,467, and 4,765,908. These products suffer from disadvantages due to non-versatility, i.e., they are generally applicable to a specific type of waste stream, e.g., oil, metals, or organic contaminated waste streams. Moreover, their manufacturing processes are complex, the compositions work in a narrow range of pH, they are slow to react with contaminants, and they produce solid waste that may not pass the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure test (TCLP) instituted by the US EPA. These products also do not work well in the presence of chelating and complexing agents, they usually require a pretreatment step to break the chelate or a post treatment step with a polishing agent, and they are costly to use on a commercial scale.
Accordingly, what is needed is an economical single treatment agent or chemical composition for remediation of waste streams, and more particularly industrial waste streams, which is capable of simultaneously and efficiently removing up to several thousand ppm of fat, oil, grease, suspended solids, soluble and insoluble heavy metals, and other organic and inorganic matters, resulting in treated water that meets discharge standards set by environmental authorities.
A further need exists for such a single treatment agent which leads to the formation of a fast settling floc that is easily dewatered.
A further need exists for a process that removes hazardous contaminants from a waste stream and isolates them in a stabilized non-leaching matrix.
A further need exists for such an agent and process which generates solid waste that does not require further treatment in order to pass the TCLP test and does not pose a hazard to the environment once disposed in a landfill.
A further need exists for such a composition that is very versatile and works effectively over a wide pH range of, e.g. 2-12, and has an uptake capacity that is independent of the presence of surfactants, detergents, hardness, and chelating/complexing agents.
A further need exists for such a composition which produces a non-slimy sludge which does not block or clog sludge filters such as filter presses.

Composition and process for remediation of waste streams


Machine-learning models and behavior can be visualized. For example, a machine-learning model can be taught using a teaching dataset. A test input can then be provided to the machine-learning model to determine a baseline confidence-score of the machine-learning model. Next, weights for elements in the teaching dataset can be determined. An analysis dataset can be generated that includes a subset of the elements that have corresponding weights above a predefined threshold. For each overlapping element in both the analysis dataset and the test input, (i) a modified version of the test input can be generated that excludes the overlapping element, and (ii) the modified version of the test input can be provided to the machine-learning model to determine an effect of the overlapping element on the baseline confidence-score. A graphical user interface can be generated that visually depicts the test input and various elements' effects on the baseline confidence-score.

One example of a machine-learning model is a recurrent neural-network, which can have one or more feedback loops to allow data to propagate in both forward and backward there-through. This can allow for information to persist within the recurrent neural-network. For example, a recurrent neural-network can determine an output based at least partially on information that the recurrent neural-network has seen before, giving the recurrent neural-network the ability to use previous input to inform the output.

Computer-based visualization of machine-learning models and behavior


An apparatus for isolating horizontal shocks, generated in high speed elevators by inaccurately aligned guide rails, from the elevator car body includes spherical shock absorbers for supporting the bottom side of the car body in a car sling and centering elements with cooperating guide pins connected between the top side of the car body and the car sling. The lower portion of the car body can, in the case of horizontal shocks, execute a rolling deflection movement on the spherical shock absorbers to absorb these shocks. This deflection movement takes place against a centering spring tension, which is produced by a centering device attached to the bottom side of the car body and a guide pin extending through a guide sleeve of the centering device which pin is moved by the car body into an inclined position. An elastic filler element produces a centering counterforce on the upper portion of the guide pin. The lower portion of the guide pin extends into a ball shaped body which is supported in a spherical tensioning device. The spherical tensioning device has a clamping and release device for releasing and limiting the deflection movements. The release takes place during the travel of the car and the limiting takes place prior to the end of the trip in order to assure a safe functioning of the door coupling apparatus and of the door unlocking mechanism.

The present invention relates to a apparatus for the damping of oscillations in elevator cars and, in particular, to an apparatus for attenuating horizontal shocks in elevator cars.
High speed elevators place high demands on the precision of the guide rail alignment for the elevator cars. An inaccuracy in the alignment, as well as bad rail joints, can cause intermittent and jerky lateral movement of the car body and, in this manner, reduce the ride comfort with respect to vibration and noise. Such lateral movement becomes increasingly noticeable at higher speeds since it is related to the square of the car velocity. It is generally known to provide vibration damping elements of a variety of types and at different points between the body of the car and the car suspension. This type of vibration damping requires a compromise between soft and hard damping, wherein the hard damping reduces the ride comfort and the soft damping can cause high lateral deviation, both with corresponding unpleasant ride consequences.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,682 shows an elevator system in which the lower portion of an elevator car is supported for horizontal movement in all directions on roller or sliding guides, and the upper portion is held in an intermediate position by means of damping elements between the car sling and the car The horizontal deviation of the lower portion of the car takes place against the spring tensions centering the car. In addition to the spring tensioning, a mechanical limit centering device is provided which consists of an operating cylinder and linkage.
The action of the mechanical centering device shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,682 can transmit noise and shocks to the car. The deviation of the lower portion of the car corresponds to the movement of a pendulum, so that every point on the lower end of the car moves on a circular path around the center of rotation of the upper end of the car. In turn, this motion has the consequence that, in particular, the peripheral points on the lower end of the car must make a corresponding vertical movement. In view of the rigid support in the vertical direction for sliding and rolling, undesirable effects result, such as for instance one sided lifting or canting of the elevator car. In addition, it is difficult to integrate a load measurement device in this type of car support.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,113,064 describes a similar car mounting device. The mechanical limiting of lateral movement is performed with an electromagnet which is attached to the car support and, on excitation, attracts a rubber supported plate mounted on the body of the car. The resultant frictional connection prevents a further horizontal deviation of the car. However, the required vertical movement compliance is only partially available. This mechanical limiting device makes a noticeable knocking noise and it is not contemplated that the device be actuated during the travel of the car.

Apparatus for damping oscillations in elevator cars


The invention is directed to a nystose crystal-containing powder that has excellent fluidity suitable for handling, and shows a suppressed powder-blown-up phenomenon. The nystose crystal-containing powder has a nystose content of 83 to 89 wt %; the powder has 0.2 to 18.6 wt % of gluconic acid relative to a total weight of nystose crystals contained in the powder; and the powder has a water content of 8 to 14 wt %.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nystose crystal-containing powder which has fluidity suitable for handling and shows a suppressed powder-blown-up phenomenon, and to a method for producing the same.
Background Art
Nystose is a tetrasaccharide where two molecules of fructose are bound to sucrose. Nystose is one of components contained in fructooligosaccarides.
Nystose has useful properties such as a property of hardly causing tooth decay, a property to be selectively assimilated by intestinal bacteria, and the like. Furthermore, because nystose has strong moisture-absorbing ability, it can be used as a food desiccant (Patent Document 1).
Usefulness of nystose such as these has attracted attention and, so far, there have been made studies on methods for producing nystose crystals with an object to obtain highly pure nystose crystals (Patent Documents 2 to 4). According to these methods, there are obtained highly pure nystose crystals having nystose purity of 95 to 99%.


A temperature controlled system according to the present invention includes a housing with a compartment defined therein that includes a heating assembly with a generally xe2x80x98Uxe2x80x99-shaped heating plate and corresponding heater. The heating plate is configured to evenly distribute heat to a medical item (e.g., a medical solution container, etc.) placed thereon, while a limit switch facilitates control of heater actuation in response to placement of a medical item on the heating plate. A controller facilitates entry of desired temperatures and controls the heating assembly based on a comparison of the desired temperature with a temperature of the medical item measured by a temperature sensor. The system housing may further include a storage compartment for receiving and retaining medical items prior to being heated within the heating compartment.

1. Technical Field
The present invention pertains to systems for heating medical items. In particular, the present invention pertains to a system for heating and maintaining medical solutions (e.g., bags or containers containing saline or intravenous (IV) solutions, antibiotics or other drugs, blood, etc.) at desired temperatures.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Various types of medical items require heating to a selected temperature prior to utilization in a medical procedure. In particular, medical items, such as intravenous (IV) fluid bags, are typically heated to precise temperatures to prevent thermal shock and injury from occurring during infusion of such IV fluid into a patient. In order to provide the necessary heated items for use in certain medical procedures, medical personnel typically utilize a warming system to heat items toward their operational temperatures.
The related art has provided several variations of warming systems for heating medical or other items to desired operational temperatures. For example, ovens may be disposed within operating rooms to heat items to desired temperatures. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,419,568 (Van Overloop) discloses a wet dressings heater having a base with side walls defining a cavity, and an insert connected to the base and defining at least one recess in the cavity for receiving wet dressings. A heater has an electrical heating element in close proximity to the insert recess for heating the wet dressings, while the temperature of the heating element is controlled in a desired temperature range for those wet dressings.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,495,402 (Burdick et al) discloses a warmer for heating wet dressings and other articles disposed within a heating and storage compartment. The articles are arranged within the compartment in stacked relation and disposed on a plate that is supplied with thermal energy from a heater. The plate includes a center aperture whereby a first thermal sensor is disposed in the aperture in contact with a bottommost article. Control circuitry is disposed beneath the plate to control the heater to maintain temperature of the bottommost article at a desired level based on the temperatures sensed by the first thermal sensor and a second thermal sensor responsive to heater temperature.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,576 (Bishop) discloses an intravenous fluid warmer having a cabinet structure to accommodate a plurality of intravenous fluid bags. A temperature sensor and pad of heating filaments are disposed within the cabinet structure, whereby the temperature sensor enables automatic temperature regulation of the pad of heating filaments to heat the intravenous fluid bags. The heating filaments are covered by a rubber layer to prevent melting of the bags during heating. A temperature indicator disposed on the cabinet structure permits a user to ascertain when a desired temperature is attained, whereby an intravenous fluid bag is removed from the intravenous fluid warmer via an opening defined in a side of the cabinet structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,986,239 (Corrigan, III et al.) discloses a conductive warmer for flexible plastic bags. The warmer includes a heat-conducting member of thermally conductive material having a plurality of fins which are parallel and spaced apart to define a plurality of bag-receiving compartments. The fins are connected to a back portion of the heat-conducting member to which a heating element is attached in a heat-exchanging relationship. The heating element conducts heat through the back portion and fins of the heat-conducting member to the bags.
The warming systems described above suffer from several disadvantages. In particular, ovens typically do not have a high degree of accuracy or control, thereby enabling use of items having temperatures incompatible with a medical procedure and possibly causing injury to a patient. Further, ovens or other warming systems employed in the operating room generally require a substantial time interval to heat items to desired temperatures. This either delays the medical procedure or requires the additional task or preheating the items well in advance of commencing the procedure. The Burdick et al and Bishop warmers employ heaters that generally contact a particular portion of an article being heated, thereby heating articles in an uneven manner and enabling formation of hot spots. Moreover, the Burdick et al, Bishop, Corrigan, III et al and Van Overloop warming systems employ a heating element covering a substantial portion of a conducting member, thereby increasing system costs and power usage. In addition, the above described systems do not control operation based on detection of the presence of items placed within the systems. This enables the systems to operate absent items placed therein, thereby needlessly consuming power and facilitating potential damage to system heating or other components.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to rapidly heat a medical item to a desired temperature in preparation for use of that medical item in a medical procedure.
It is another object of the present invention to heat a medical item to a desired temperature by uniformly distributing heat about the medical item, thereby avoiding creation of xe2x80x9chot spotsxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9ccold spotsxe2x80x9d.
Yet another object of the present invention is to directly measure a temperature of a medical item being heated to effectively control heating of the medical item to the desired temperature.
Still another object of the present invention is to automatically enable a heater in a warming system in response to the presence of the medical item within the warming system.
A further object of the present invention is to evenly distribute heat about a medical item within a warming system by conducting heat through a heating plate that at least partially surrounds the medical item.
Yet another object of the present invention is to facilitate loading of a plurality of medical items within a warming system housing for heating to desired temperatures prior to use in medical procedures.
The aforesaid objects may be achieved individually and/or in combination, and it is not intended that the present invention be construed as requiring two or more of the objects to be combined unless expressly required by the claims attached hereto.
According to the present invention, a temperature controlled system includes a system housing with a compartment defined therein. The compartment includes a heating assembly with a generally xe2x80x98Uxe2x80x99-shaped heating plate and corresponding heater. The heating plate is configured to evenly distribute heat to a medical item (e.g., a medical solution container, etc.) placed thereon, while a limit switch facilitates control of power to the heater. The limit switch is typically positioned near a bearing surface of the heating plate to enable a limit switch arm to directly contact medical solution containers placed on the heating plate. The limit switch facilitates heater actuation in response to placement of a medical item on the heating plate. A temperature sensor measures the temperature of solutions disposed within the housing compartment, and is preferably positioned on the limit switch arm to directly contact a medical solution container. A system controller facilitates entry of desired temperatures and controls the heating assembly based on a comparison of the desired temperature with the temperature measured by the temperature sensor. The controller includes a display for indicating the solution temperature. In one embodiment of the present invention, the system housing includes a heating compartment for heating medical solution containers and a storage compartment for receiving and retaining medical solution containers prior to being heated within the heating compartment.
Thus, the present invention overcomes the aforementioned problems and provides several advantages. For example, the warming system of the present invention distributes heat evenly to one or more medical items of varying shapes and sizes, thereby ensuring rapid and relatively uniform heating and the elimination of potential xe2x80x9chot spotsxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9ccold spotsxe2x80x9d for the items. Further, the warming system of the present invention provides a temperature sensor that directly measures the temperature of medical items disposed within the system, thereby providing an accurate temperature indication of those medical items and enhanced temperature control. Moreover, the present invention includes a switch to autonomously enable the heater in response to a medical item being disposed on the heating plate. This ensures that heating within the system only occurs when medical items are disposed on the heating plate so as to render the system energy efficient and promote longevity of the heating element.
The above and still further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of specific embodiments thereof, particularly when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals in the various figures are utilized to designate like components.

Medical solution warming system and method of heating and maintaining medical solutions at desired temperatures


Disclosed is a method and an apparatus for producing rapidly-solidified flake particles, which combines centrifugal atomization with metal substrate cooling. A stream of molten metal is disintegrated centrifugally into droplets by a rotating disk. Then the molten droplets are solidified as flake particles as soon as impinging upon the annular planar surface of a cooled rotating concave disk. The solidified flake particles are subsequently departed from the annular planar surface by the centrifugal force and collected in a chamber.

Since Dr. Duwez invented Splat Cooling process in 1960, rapid solidification technique has become a newly developed field in metallurgical engineering and a new route for promoting mechanical and physical properties of different kinds of alloys. The rapid solidification technique has the merits in refining of microstructure, extension of solubility limit, producing homogeneous concentration distribution, and formation of amorphous phase. Such characteristics give more freedom to alloy design, and achieve better mechanical and physical properties than conventional processes can ever do.
The purpose of rapidly-solidified powder metallurgy is to solidify molten metal at a high cooling rate (higher than 10.sup.2 K/sec) to form grain-like, flake-like, or strip-like metal particles. The metal particles are then pressed, sintered, and hot worked to produce final products. According to relevant researches, the quality of the rapidly-solidified powder has a great effect on the mechanical properties of the alloy products. Therefore, the manufacturing process of the rapidly-solidified powder is the very decisive step in the whole-process.
Many methods of producing rapidly-solidified powder have been developed. Basically, for achieving the highest cooling rate, each method needs to cause at least one dimension of the powder products as small as possible, so as to transfer heat to a cooling medium as soon as possible.
For example, the air atomization method utilizes air atomizing and air cooling. The powder product is sphere-like, with a cooling rate at about 10.sup.2-3 K/sec. Since the kinetic energy is mostly used in accelerating the molten metal, the energy used in atomizing is quite low, only about 2% to 4%.
Another example is the Alcoa Spray method developed by American Aluminum company (ALCOA), which uses air atomization and metal substrate cooling. Molten metal is atomized by air, and then sprayed upon the surface of a water cooled roller which rotates rapidly. Metal flakes attached on the roller are stripped off by brushes and gathered into a collector. The cooling rate is up to about 10.sup.5 K/sec. The flakes are disk-like, but often unflatten and overlapped. Similarly, the momentum transfer efficiency of air atomization used in this method is low.
Rapid Solidification Rate (RSR) technology developed by Pratt & Whitney Co., U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,873 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,343,750 represent utilize centrifugal atomization and helium cooling. Molten metal flows through a funnel onto a disk rotating at a high speed (about 24000 rpm). By centrifugal force, it is accelerated radially, and then atomized into drops after leaving the disk. The droplets are rapidly cooled by circulating helium atmosphere, and solidify to form sphere-like powder. The atomization efficiency of RSR is relatively high. However, the cooling rate of RSR is about 10.sup.5 K/sec. The RSR is expensive because it uses helium cooling.

Method for producing rapidly-solidified flake-like metal powder and apparatus for producing the same


A medicament containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by General formula (1):

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 11-051397, filed Feb. 26, 1999, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a medicament containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of sulfopyranosylacylglycerol derivatives and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, as an active ingredient.
2. Description of the Related Art
Sulfur-containing glycolipids contained in natural products derived from, e.g., algae and higher plants are known to have physiological activities.
For example, in a document of Ohta et al. (Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 46(4), (1998)), it is described that a specific sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol derivative derived from red algae, Gigartina tenella, exhibits not only inhibitory activities against DNA polymerases xcex1 and xcex2 of higher organisms but also an HIV-derived reverse-transcriptase inhibitory activity. The sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol derivative disclosed in the Ohta document is the one whose fatty acid that bonded, through ester-bond, at the C1 carbon atom of the glycerol is an unsaturated fatty acid having carbon atoms with 5 double bonds, and whose another fatty acid that bonded at the C2 carbon atom of the glycerol is a saturated fatty acid having 16 carbon atoms.
Furthermore, in a document of Mizushina et al. (Biochemical Pharmacology 55, 537-541 (1998)), it is described that a mixture of specific sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol derivatives derived from a pteridophyte exhibits inhibitory activities against a calf DNA polymerase xcex1 and a rat DNA polymerase xcex2, however, the mixture has no effect upon an HIV-derived reverse-transcriptase activity.
On the other hand, in a document of Sahara et al. (British Journal of Cancer, 75(3), 324-332 (1997)), it is described that a fraction of sulfoquinovosylmonoacylglycerols contained in an acetone extract from a sea urchin intestine exhibits anticancer activities in-vivo and in-vitro. However, the sulfoquinovosylmonoacylglycerol fraction for which Sahara found the anticancer activities principally contains sulfoquinovosylmonoacylglycerol having, bonded thereto through an ester-bond, a saturated fatty acid with 16 carbon atoms. In the sulfoquinovosylmonoacylglycerol fraction, sulfoquinovosylmonoacylglycerols whose acyl moiety is that of an unsaturated fatty acid, are contained only in an extremely small amount. In addition, Sahara et al. have not yet investigated on anticancer activities with respect to individual components contained in the sulfoquinovosylmonoacylglycerol mixture.
Furthermore, National Patent Publication No. 5-501105 describes that a sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol derivative has an anti-virus activity. More specifically, it discloses that the derivative has an anti-HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) activity, however it does not disclose that the derivative has DNA polymerase inhibitory activities and anticancer activities.
An object of the present invention is to provide a medicament containing a sulfopyranosylacylglycerol derivative as an active ingredient.
The present inventors found that specific sulfopyranosylacylglycerol derivatives have medicinal activities and achieved the present invention. The present invention provides a medicament containing, as an active ingredient, at least one compound selected from the group consisting of:
compounds represented by the following General Formula (1):
xe2x80x83wherein R101 represents an acyl residue of an unsaturated higher fatty acid, and R102 represents a hydrogen atom or an acyl residue of an unsaturated higher fatty acid; and
pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.

Administration of a sulfopyranosylacylglycerol to treat certain cancers

Abstract: wherein R101 represents an acyl residue of an unsaturated higher fatty acid, and R102 represents a hydrogen atom or an acyl residue of an unsaturated higher fatty acid, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, as an active ingredient.