A vertebral adjustment system configured to move individual vertebral bodies relative to the other vertebral bodies to thereby realign the spine. The system may include a frame, and a plurality of alignment devices coupled to the frame and to the individual vertebral bodies. By manipulated the alignment devices the vertebral bodies to which they are attached may be moved.

Spinal deformities of varying etiologies are well known. Such deformities include abnormal spinal curvatures, such as, for example, scoliosis, kyphosis, or other abnormal curvatures wherein natural alignment of the spine is altered. Specifically, scoliotic deformities can be separated into abnormal translation and/or rotation of the vertebrae in each of the coronal, transverse, and sagittal planes. Therefore, treatment of certain spinal deformities such as scoliosis may require addressing reduction of the abnormal curvature in each of the three spatial planes.
A number of methods and techniques have been used to reduce abnormal spinal curvatures. Several of these techniques have been based on anchoring a devise onto posterior elements of the spine. Such techniques may reduce the certain translational aspects of the deformity, but have little or no effect on the rotational aspects.
Additionally, pedicle screws have been used in the treatment of abnormal spinal curvatures. Such techniques are based on translation to align the spinal column, either by bending or rotating a fixation rod after the rod is engaged to the pedicle screws, or by forcing the pedicle screws into engagement with the rod. Other reduction techniques provide for derotation via the use of pedicle screws, but such derotation is usually implemented following placement of the fixation rod.

Vertebral adjustment systems for spine alignment


A receiver recovers local service data symbols from first Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) symbols in the presence of second OFDM symbols. The second OFDM symbols carry national broadcast data symbols and modulated on to the sub-carriers of the second OFDM symbols using a first modulation scheme. The first OFDM symbols carry the national broadcast data symbols and the local service data symbols from a local insertion pipe and modulated on to the sub-carriers of the first OFDM symbols using a second modulation scheme. The receiver comprises an OFDM detector which includes an equalizer to recover local service modulated sub-carriers of the second modulation scheme.

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is a modulation technique which has found much favour in communication systems, such as for example those designed to operate in accordance with the first and second generation Digital Video Broadcasting terrestrial standards (DVB-T/T2) and is also being proposed for fourth generation mobile communication systems which are also known as Long Term Evolution (LTE). OFDM can be generally described as providing K narrow band sub-carriers (where K is an integer) which are modulated in parallel, each sub-carrier communicating a modulated data symbol such as Quadrature Amplitude Modulated (QAM) modulation symbol or Quaternary Phase-shift Keying (QPSK) modulation symbol. The modulation of the sub-carriers is formed in the frequency domain and transformed into the time domain for transmission. Since the data symbols are communicated in parallel on the sub-carriers, the same modulated symbols may be communicated on each sub-carrier for an extended period, which can be longer than the coherence time of the radio channel. The sub-carriers are modulated in parallel contemporaneously, so that in combination the modulated carriers form an OFDM symbol. The OFDM symbol therefore comprises a plurality of sub-carriers each of which has been modulated contemporaneously with a different modulation symbol.
In the Next Generation for Hand held (NGH) television system it has been proposed to use OFDM to transmit television signals from base stations disposed throughout a geographical area. In some examples the NGH system will form a network in which a plurality of base stations communicate OFDM symbols contemporaneously on the same carrier frequency thereby forming a so-called single frequency network. As a result of some of the properties of OFDM, a receiver may receive the OFDM signals from two or more different base stations which can then be combined in the receiver to improve the integrity of the communicated data.
Whilst a single frequency network has advantages in terms of operation and improved integrity of the communicated data, it also suffers a disadvantage if data local to a part of the geographical area is required to be communicated. For example, it is well known in the United Kingdom that the national carrier, the BBC, broadcasts television news throughout the entire national network but then switches, at certain times, to "local news" in which a local news programme is transmitted which is specifically related to a local area within the national network. However, the United Kingdom operates a multi-frequency DVB-T system so that the insertion of local news or local content of any sort is a trivial matter because the different regions transmit DVB-T television signals on different frequencies and so television receivers simply tune to an appropriate carrier frequency for the region without interference from other regions. However, providing an arrangement to insert data locally in a single frequency network presents a technical problem.
A known technique for providing a hierarchical or multi-layer modulation scheme in a single frequency OFDM network is disclosed in US 2008/0159186. The hierarchical modulation scheme provides a plurality of modulation layers which can be used to communicate data from different data sources or pipes contemporaneously.

Transmitter and transmitting method for transmitting data via OFDM symbols in which the data is provided from a plurality of different data pipes


The present invention relates to an applicator for dispensing dentifrice for example, the mitt being formed from a folded and heat sealed strip packaged in a protective heat sealed pouch.

This invention relates generally to an applicator device and more particularly to a device in the nature of a treated mitt receiving a portion of the hand and having a protective cover removable to expose the treated portion of the mitt during use.
Applicator devices of the general type under consideration are used for applying medicament to various body portions and can be used, for example, for applying dentifrice to the teeth of the user or ointment to injured parts of the user. They can also be used for the hand applicator of other treating substances, such as shoe polish, when it is desirable that such substances not come into contact with the skin of the user.
Applicators of this type provide that the treating substance is not exposed until ready for use and for this reason a combination package is provided in which an inner portion of the package, contains the treating substance on its outer face, and the inner portion is protected by an outer portion of the package, which can be removed so that the inner portion can receive the hand portion of the user and so that the treating substance can be exposed.
In particular, the applicator mitt which forms the subject matter of this invention represents an improvement over U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,608,566, 3,608,708, 3,675,264 issued to the present inventor and copending application Ser. No. 9,053 owned by the present inventor. The first of these patents discloses an applicator mitt having an inner pouch and an outer cover, which is opened by means of a tear strip to expose the inner pouch; the second patent discloses an applicator mitt formed from continuous inner and outer webs; and the third patent discloses an applicator mitt adapted to protect additional hand portions during use. The copending application discloses a means of preventing inadvertent blocking or sealing of the inner pouch opening by providing a heat seal resistant material in this area.
With applicator mitts of the above type heat and pressure sealing the inner and outer cover component parts represents a preferred method of construction. However, the particular structural arrangement of the component parts of such devices with the exception of that disclosed in the copending application has not been such as to facilitate this kind of manufacture on a mass production basis.
The present applicator device solves these and other problems in a manner not revealed in the known prior art.
Thus, in a first aspect, there is provided an applicator mitt, preferably with a protective pouch, formed from a single sheet of material, the material being a laminate of a heat sealable substance and a substance suitable for use as the applicator portion, the sheet being longer in one direction and being folded in that direction such that the sides of the sheet are folded onto each other substantially in register and are heat sealed along at least part of the length in which they are in register, at least a finger tip being insertable between the seals.
The material may comprise a laminate of any suitable substances. The heat sealable layer is suitably a thermoplastic, such as EVA, and may be as thick or thin as required. In general, it is preferred that the heat seal be in the nature of a weld, so that the mitt retains its integrity in use.
It may also be desired not to seal completely along the edges so that it is easier to hold the edges apart for insertion of the relevant part of the hand. Thus, a flap could be left. It may also be desirable to leave an extended length of material extending as one of the folds, so as to protect any portions of the hand not in the mitt.
Thus, the invention also provides a mitt wherein the folded ends are not in register.
It will be appreciated that the mitts of the invention may be used for any purpose for which mitts are usually used, and may be any appropriate size. For example, they may only cover the finger tip, or may cover the whole hand. The required size will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art.
There is also provided a mitt having a non-weldable surface, preferably formed from a strip of laminate material heat sealable on one face, extending for the majority of the distance across the strip, at or near the opening, on the heat sealable side. Such an embodiment will generally provide that the opening of the mitt does not become sealed shut, so that the preferred position is between the terminus of the shorter end and the inner face of the longer end.
The term `non-weldable` is used to indicate a surface which is not subject to change, such as melting, at the temperatures used to effect the heat sealing. Thus, it may be a plastic, for example, such as polyester or polytertrafluoroethylene, the only requirement being that, in itself, it is not subject to heat sealing, although it is advantageous if other substances can be heat sealed to the non-weldable surface, especially as a peel seal.
However, where there is provided a pouch as described below, the non-weldable surface may be provided on the longer end away from the shorter end. In such a case, this is generally to prevent adhesion of the pouch at or near the mouth of the mitt. It may also be useful to seal the pouch over the non-weldable surface to provide a peel seal.
The non-weldable surface may be provided in any suitable manner, and may comprise removing the heat sealable layer in the appropriate area, for example, or adding a further layer. The further layer may be a substance like talc which can be sprayed or dusted on when the heat sealable layer is hot, to secure it in place. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the layer is a laminate providing a layer of non-weldable substance, such as paper or foil, backed by a heat sealable layer. The layer can then be heat sealed to the mitt.
There is further provided a mitt having at least one internal heat seal to divide the interior of the mitt into separate portions, at least one, and preferably more portions, being suitable to receive at least a finger tip. This is preferred for larger mitts to give controlled handling of the mitt in use. The divisions may give the effect of a glove, or there may be just one, for example, to accommodate two finger tips.
It is preferred to provide a pouch. Accordingly the present invention also provides an applicator mitt having an external surface, at least part of which is adapted as the applicator portion, the mitt being packaged in a pouch comprising first and second panels secured together such as to enclose at least the applicator portion of the mitt, characterised in that the panels, in at least one section, are secured by peel-sealing, such that peeling of the section allows the exposure for use of the mitt.
Preferably, the pouch is formed from a folded strip of material or, alternatively, from two overlying sheets of material. In general, the heat seal will extend around the periphery of the panels to enclose the mitt. It will be appreciated that no heat seal is required at the fold.
The heat seals are preferably located at or near the edges of the pouch both to save material and avoid being able to pull them apart by catching the exposed edges. However, the invention also extends to the situation where, for whatever reason, the seal is inward of the edge.
In particular, it is preferred that at least the peel sealed section has exposed edges, so that the pouch can be pulled open by gripping the edges.
It is also preferred that, in contrast to the mitt, the heat seals are all peelable, so that the pouch can be opened completely out, if necessary.
Thus, it is preferred that the material forming the pouch is a laminate of a heat sealable substance and a wear-resistant substance, the sides of the panels being substantially in register and being heat sealed therealong, or adjacent thereto, to enclose the mitt as defined.
There is no particular limitation in the term `wear-resistant`, other than to require that the exterior of the pouch serves to protect the mitt in a desired manner, such as to prevent wear and tear, or simply to provide protection from the environment. Accordingly, a thin plastic film may be adequate to provide a hermetic seal, for example. In general, the wear-resistant layer serves to provide a base to support the heat sealable layer and to prevent the pouch from rupturing before it is required for use.
It is also preferred that the ends of the mitt are not in register, and the panels of the pouch are heat sealed, preferably peel sealed, across the longer end of the mitt. This provides a useful tab to assist in opening the pouch.
As described above, it is also preferred that the longer end of the mitt comprises a non-weldable surface across which the panels are peel sealed.
In a preferred embodiment, one of the panels is welded to the exterior face of the longer end of the mitt. This allows the panel or joined panels to provide a guard for the finger or hand, in use, or to give purchase.
There is also provided a method for the manufacture of a packaged mitt comprising placing the mitt on a strip of material sufficiently large to wrap around the mitt, the mitt comprising a laminate of a heat sealable material and a wear resistant material, the mitt being in contact with the heat sealable material, and folding the strip over the mitt and heat sealing the resulting upper and lower surfaces of the strip around and away from the mitt. Alternatively, the method for manufacture can also comprise placing the mitt on a strip wider than the mitt and adding a second strip and heat sealing the resultant upper and lower surfaces of the strips around and away from the mitt.
In particular, it is preferred that the mitt is formed as a pair of mitts from a single strip of material as defined above, but wherein the two ends of the strip are folded in toward the centre of the strip to form the two mitts, the pair being placed on, and preferably peel sealed or welded to, the wrapping material which is then folded in from both sides and both edges peel sealed, preferably leaving a tab, across the portion of material between the two mitts.
More preferred is where the mitt and/or wrapping material, preferably both, are formed from an elongate or continuous strip of material, the edge or edges being folded in to form the mitt or protective pouch, and transverse cutting of the strip or strips defining the width of the mitt and/or pouch.
Thus, in one aspect, the present invention relates to an applicator for dispensing dentifrice for example, the mitt being formed from a folded and heat sealed strip packaged in a protective folded and heat sealed strip, preferably with one of the folds of the mitt protruding through the seal of the protective pouch to form a tab for opening the package.
Other preferred aspects and embodiments are as follows. In one, there is provided a packaged applicator mitt formed from two laminated elongated sheets, the first laminated sheet including a first ply of a non-woven fabric layer, and, as a second ply bonded thereto, a thermoplastic film, the second laminated sheet being wider than the first sheet and including, as a first ply, a support layer capable of being printed on, and, as a second ply bonded thereto, a thermoplastic film, the first laminated sheet being folded with the fabric layer out and a portion of the sides thereof weld sealed to form an inner pouch, the wider second sheet being folded around the pouch so formed with the backing printable layer out, and the sides thereof peel sealed to form an outer pouch, the non-folded open end of the outer pouch being peel sealed forming inner pouch sealed-in within the outer pouch. Alternatively, in lieu of folding, the second sheet can be formed from upper and lower sheets heat sealed at the otherwise folded end.
Preferably, a separate seal is provided intermediate and parallel to the side margins to divide the inner pouch into more than one compartment.
Also, it is preferred that the open ends of the inner pouch are offset.
In another aspect, there is provided a packaged applicator mitt formed from two laminated elongated sheets, the first laminated sheet including a first ply of a non-woven fabric layer, and, as a second ply bonded thereto, a thermoplastic film, the second laminated sheet being wider than the first sheet and including, as a first ply, a support layer capable of being printed on, and, as a second ply bonded thereto, a thermoplastic film, the first laminated sheet being folded with the fabric layer out and a portion of the sides thereof weld sealed to form an inner pouch, the wider second sheet being folded around the pouch so formed with the backing printable layer out, and the sides thereof peel sealed to form an outer pouch, an end of one fold of the outer pouch being weld sealed to an end of one fold of the inner pouch, the outer pouch becoming a handle when unpeeled from outside the inner pouch.
One fold of the outer pouch is preferably transversely heat welded to the longer open end of the inner pouch, affording a handle when unpeeled from outside the inner pouch.
This applicator mitt provides a disposable package unit having an improved sealing system which can be manufactured using a combination of sealing techniques, on a mass production basis.
This invention includes an inner pouch having a pair of overlying upper and lower panels each having an outer face and a heat sealable inner face, opposed side margins and opposed proximal and remote end margins, said panels being formed from a folded sheet to provide a common remote end margin, said upper panel being shorter than said lower panel to provide spaced proximal end margins, said side margins being heat sealed together for at least a portion of the length thereof and the spaced end margin of the upper panel being substantially free of attachment to the lower panel to provide a hand portion-receiving entry opening into said pouch, and to provide an outer pouch receiving said inner pouch.
It is an aspect of this invention to provide a separator strip having an upper face and a lower face, said lower face being heat sealed to the inner face of the lower panel and said strip being disposed in underlying relation to said inner pouch upper panel.
It is an aspect of this invention to provide that the lower panel is substantially longer than the upper panel to provide a gripping means which can be held between the uninserted hand portion and the palm of the hand.
Yet another aspect of this invention is to provide a separate seal intermediate and parallel to the side margin seals to divide the inner pouch into more than one compartment.
Another aspect of this invention is to provide that the inner pouch upper and lower panels are formed from a laminated plastic sheet including a first ply of non-woven fabric providing said outer face, a second ply of plastic film providing said inner face and a third ply of extrusion coating sandwiched between said first and second plies.
It is an aspect of this invention to provide an outer pouch receiving said inner pouch, said outer pouch including a pair of overlying upper and lower panels, each panel having an outer face and a heat-sealable inner face, opposed side margins and opposed proximal and remote end margins, said side margins being heat sealed together for at least a portion of the length thereof and the inner face of the upper panel being operatively transversely heat sealed to the inner face of the lower panel of the inner pouch adjacent said proximal end margin and the inner face of the lower panel being operatively transversely heat sealed to the outer face of the lower panel of the inner pouch adjacent said proximal end margin.
Yet another aspect of this invention is to provide that the outer pouch transverse heat seal adjacent said proximal end margin is spaced from said proximal end margin of said upper panel to provide a liftable tab.
Another aspect of this invention is to provide a separator strip having an upper face and a lower face, said lower face being heat sealed to the inner face of the inner pouch lower panel and another aspect to provide a separator strip having said upper face heat sealed to the inner face of the outer pouch upper panel.
It is another aspect of this invention to provide that the outer pouch upper and lower panels are formed from a folded sheet to provide a common remote end margin.
Yet another aspect of this invention is to provide that the outer pouch upper and lower panels are formed from separate sheets heat sealed transversely at the remote ends thereof.
Still another aspect of this invention is to provide that the outer pouch upper and lower panels are formed from a laminated plastic sheet including a first ply of peel seal plastic film providing said outer face, a second ply of printable film providing said outer face and a third ply of support film sandwiched between said first and second plies.
Another aspect of this invention is to provide a method of constructing an applicator mitt comprising the steps of dispensing a web of material having first opposed margins defining opposed side portions, said web having a longitudinal axis disposed intermediate said margin; folding said side margins inwardly towards the longitudinal axis to define folded margins, the first margins being disposed in spaced relation from said folded margins and said longitudinal axis; cutting said folded web transversely at spaced intervals along the length thereof to form a plurality of individual sections having spaced transverse margins defining the width thereof; heat sealing said transverse margins for at least a portion of the length thereof to form a pair of open ended pouches; and slitting said individual sections along said longitudinal axis to form two separate pouches each having an upper panel and a lower panel said upper panel being shorter than said lower panel.
It is still another aspect of this invention to provide a method comprising the further steps of dispensing a relatively narrow web of material, having opposed margins disposed laterally inwardly of said longitudinal margins of said first web, and heat sealing said first and second webs together prior to folding so that the first web side portions overlap said second web following the folding process.
Yet another aspect of this invention is to provide a method comprising the further steps of dispensing a relatively wider web of material having first opposed margins defining opposed side margins, said web having a longitudinal axis disposed intermediate said margins; depositing said pair of open ended pouches onto said relatively wider web at spaced intervals; folding said side portions of said wider web inwardly towards said longitudinal axis to define folded margins, the first margins being disposed adjacent said longitudinal axis whereby said open ended pouch is sandwiched between said spaced end margins; heat sealing the open ended pouch, between said open ends to said sandwiching portions of said wider web; cutting said folded web transversely at spaced intervals along the length thereof greater than the width of said open-ended pouches; heat sealing said transverse margins for at least a portion of the length thereof to provide an outer pouch encapsulating said open ended pouches; and slitting said encapsulating pouch and said encapsulated pouches along said longitudinal axis to form two separate composite pouches.
Still another aspect of this invention is to provide a method including the further steps of dispensing a relatively wider web of material having first opposed margins defining opposed side margins, said web having a longitudinal axis disposed intermediate said margins; depositing said pair of open ended pouches onto said relatively wider web at spaced intervals; depositing a second relatively wider web of material having first opposed margins defining opposed side portions; said web having a longitudinal axis disposed intermediate said margins, onto said first web whereby said open-ended pouch is sandwiched between said spaced end margins; heat sealing said open-ended pouches between said open ends to said sandwiching portion of said wider web; cutting said overlying webs transversely at spaced intervals along the length thereof greater than the width of said open-ended pouches; heat sealing said transverse margins for at least a portion of the length thereof to provide an outer pouch encapsulating said open-ended pouches, and slitting said encapsulating pouch and said encapsulated pouches along said longitudinal axis to form two separate composite pouches.
Another aspect of this invention is to provide applicator mitts which are relatively inexpensive to manufacture by mass production methods, and which are easy to use by a consumer.

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A method for forming a sensor is provided, together with a sensor formed according to the method. Photoresist material is deposited on a surface of the sensor, and is then patterned and etched to form an array of microlens structures. The structures are spaced close together in a predetermined pattern so that when a reflow process is performed, the structures melt and coalesce to form a barrier. The barrier defines a region for constraining or channeling the flow of reagent and analyte samples used in bio-optical sensors.

Bio-optical sensors detect photo-emissive chemical reactions between an analyte and a reagent. Improved bio-optical sensors have a number of different reagents to enable them to detect the presence/concentration of several analytes. During the manufacture of such sensors, it is necessary to locate and separate the reagents, and during their operation, it is necessary to guide the sample containing the analyte over the sensor sites.
The sites should be mechanically isolated. Suitable structures may be patterned and etch, either on the silicon of the sensor surface or by making trenches in the silicon itself. However, these methods currently require special technology, processing and equipment which add to the manufacturing cost.
When forming a structure on the surface of the sensor, materials such as polyimide are typically used because they provide good patterning and etching properties. While found in a research laboratory, these chemicals are not usually found in a production environment. The introduction of these materials requires a modification to normal production processes.


Such a substructure has vertically and horizontally running profiles which are fastened on a masonrywork wall, cross over one another and have holes. So that there is no need for dimensionally accurate installation, or for holes to be drilled into the profiles at the building site, in order to avoid displacement of a profile when the connection between the profiles is being loosened, both the vertically and the horizontally running profiles have slots, wherein the slots of the vertically running profile cross over the slots of the horizontally running profile, and at least one of the profiles has a channel-like cross section, it being possible for a plate which has a slot to be inserted into the channel, and fixed, at the crossover point of the profiles, the slot of said plate crossing over the slots of the vertically and of the horizontally running profiles and it being possible for the plate to be locked to the profiles by means of a locking component which passes through the crossing-over slots.

The invention relates to a façade structure according to the preamble of Claim 1.
Façade structures with a sub-structure formed from vertical and/or horizontal profiled supports are known, said sub-structure being located in front of a building wall or being anchored in a fixed manner in the ground or in the building wall. Façade panels made from ceramic material, preferably clay material, are secured to the sub-structure via panel holders.
The panel holders, as a rule, are H-shaped in cross section, that means they have an upwardly open U-shaped section receiving means and a downwardly open U-shaped section receiving means. The façade panels are inserted into the panel holders such that they engage in the upwardly open U-shaped receiving means with their foot fold and in the downwardly open U-shaped receiving means of the panel holder with their head fold.
It is known that the H-shaped panel holders are secured in the vertical profiled supports by means of screws. As a rule, the vertical profiled supports are realized as T-sections. Their rear flange faces the building wall and there is secured via corresponding supports to horizontal profiled supports of the sub-structure or directly to the wall. The front T-shaped flange is for screw-connecting the panel holders. To date there are three systems in practice in conjunction with the screw-fastening. In the one case, the securing flange of the T-section is unpunched. The panel holder is secured in the respectively selected position by means of drilling on site. In the other case, securing holes are already located in the securing flange in a grid arrangement in a vertical row of holes. This means that it is not possible to adjust the position of the panel holder in a stepless manner but simply within the grid spacing of the row of holes. In the case of the third system, an undercut false channel for the panel holders is realized on the front side of the securing flange of the vertical T-section. For securement, it is also necessary in this case for the securing hole to be drilled on site. The panel holder has to be threaded into the undercut false channel in each case from the upper or from the lower end, which makes the assembly more difficult.


A system for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface includes an entry well bore extending down from the surface. A plurality of slanted well bores extend from the entry well bore to the subterranean zone. Drainage patterns extend from the slanted well bores into the subterranean zone.

The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for the recovery of subterranean resources and, more particularly, to a slant entry well system and method.
Subterranean deposits of coal contain substantial quantities of entrained methane gas. Limited production and use of methane gas from coal deposits has occurred for many years. Substantial obstacles, however, have frustrated more extensive development and use of methane gas deposits in coal seams. The foremost problem in producing methane gas from coal seams is that while coal seams may extend over large areas of up to several thousand acres, the coal seams are fairly shallow in depth, varying from a few inches to several meters. Thus, while the coal seams are often relatively near the surface, vertical wells drilled into the coal deposits for obtaining methane gas can only drain a fairly small radius around the coal deposits. Further, coal deposits are not amenable to pressure fracturing and other methods often used for increasing methane gas production from rock formations. As a result, once the gas easily drained from a vertical well bore in a coal seam is produced, further production is limited in volume. Additionally, coal seams are often associated with subterranean water, which must be drained from the coal seam in order to produce the methane.
Horizontal drilling patterns have been tried in order to extend the amount of coal seams exposed to a drill bore for gas extraction. Such horizontal drilling techniques, however, require the use of a radiused well bore which presents difficulties in removing the entrained water from the coal seam. The most efficient method for pumping water from a subterranean well, a sucker rod pump, does not work well in horizontal or radiused bores.
As a result of these difficulties in surface production of methane gas from coal deposits, which must be removed from a coal seam prior to mining, subterranean methods have been employed. While the use of subterranean methods allows water to be easily removed from a coal seam and eliminates under-balanced drilling conditions, they can only access a limited amount of the coal seams exposed by current mining operations. Where longwall mining is practiced, for example, underground drilling rigs are used to drill horizontal holes from a panel currently being mined into an adjacent panel that will later be mined. The limitations of underground rigs limits the reach of such horizontal holes and thus the area that can be effectively drained. In addition, the degasification of a next panel during mining of a current panel limits the time for degasification. As a result, many horizontal bores must be drilled to remove the gas in a limited period of time. Furthermore, in conditions of high gas content or migration of gas through a coal seam, mining may need to be halted or delayed until a next panel can be adequately degasified. These production delays add to the expense associated with degasifying a coal seam.
The present invention provides a slant entry well system and method for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface that substantially eliminates or reduces the disadvantages and problems associated with previous systems and methods. In particular, certain embodiments of the present invention provide a slant entry well system and method for efficiently producing and removing entrained methane gas and water from a coal seam without requiring excessive use of radiused or articulated well bores or large surface area in which to conduct drilling operations.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a system for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface includes an entry well bore extending down from the surface. A plurality of slanted well bores extend from the entry well bore to the subterranean zone. Drainage patterns extend from the slanted well bores into the subterranean zone.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface includes forming an entry well bore and forming a plurality of slanted well bores from the entry well bore to the subterranean zone. The method also includes forming drainage patterns from the slanted well bores into the subterranean zone.
In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, a method for orienting well bores includes forming an entry well bore from the surface and inserting a guide tube bundle into the entry well bore. The guide tube bundle includes a plurality of guide tubes. The guide tubes are configured longitudinally adjacent to one another and include a first aperture at a first end and a second aperture at a second end. The guide tubes may also be twisted around one another. A method also includes forming a plurality of slanted well bores from the entry well bore through the guide tube bundle to a subterranean zone.
Embodiments of the present invention may provide one or more technical advantages. These technical advantages may include the formation of an entry well bore, a plurality of slanted well bores, and drainage patterns to optimize the area of a subsurface formation which may be drained of gas and liquid resources. This allows for more efficient drilling and production and greatly reduces costs and problems associated with other systems and methods. Another technical advantage includes providing a method for orienting well bores using a guide tube bundle inserted into an entry well bore. The guide tube bundle allows for the simple orientation of the slant well bores in relation to one another and optimizes the production of resources from subterranean zones by optimizing the spacing between the slanted well bores.


A CAM walker includes a removable collar assembly configured to engage a cast or other brace device being worn on a lower extremity received in the walker. The collar assembly includes portions, such as paddles, configured to be brought into engagement with the brace device sufficiently to inhibit anterior and posterior movement of the proximal end of the walker relative to the proximal end of the lower extremity received therein.

CAM walkers, that is, "Controlled Ankle Movement" walkers, are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. Among their purposes, such leg walkers immobilize the ankle joint, protect portions of the lower extremity, or otherwise treat or address a variety of conditions of the lower extremity.
While certain CAM walkers may include panels or portions to increase or decrease the leg height of such walkers, such designs suffer from various drawbacks and disadvantages. For example, adjustable-height walkers are often complex to manipulate or otherwise not suited to various lower extremity treatment protocols, such as when lower extremities are casted.
Devices which may be associated for use with rigid or semi-rigid casted lower extremities may also suffer from various drawbacks and disadvantages, including their limited application and disadvantageous offloading or other therapeutic characteristics.
Due to the limited adaptability and other drawbacks of CAM walkers of the current art, medical practitioners, hospitals, and other care centers are often required to "double up" on CAM walkers, or otherwise stock and make use of discreet CAM walkers for different treatment phases or lower extremity conditions, thereby causing excess inventory and wasteful inefficiency in the healthcare system in general, and to patients and care providers in particular.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to address the foregoing drawbacks and disadvantages with an improved leg walker, such as a Controlled-Ankle-Movement (CAM) walker.


A synthesis method for low-racemization impurity liraglutide comprises the following steps: performing synthesis to obtain a propeptide, coupling 2 to 5 peptides comprising Thr-Phe on the propeptide by using a solid-phase synthesis method; further, performing solid-phase synthesis to obtain a liraglutide resin; the liraglutide resin is cracked after modification, or the liraglutide resin is directly cracked, purified and frozen dry, so as to obtain the liraglutide. The provided liraglutide synthesis method effectively restrains or reduces the generation of racemization impurity D-Thr5 highly similar to a product property, which facilitates the purification of the coarse liraglutide, and the high yield of the liraglutide is ensured, thereby greatly reducing production costs; during the synthesis of the liraglutide, the syntheses between dipeptide fragments, tripeptide fragments, the tetrapeptide fragments and pentapeptide fragments and the Gly-resin or the syntheses between the combination of the dipeptide fragments, the tripeptide fragments, the tetrapeptide fragments and pentapeptide fragments and the Gly resin can be carried out at the same time, and accordingly the synthesis time is shortened to some extent.

With the development of society, global incidence of diabetes, which has a significantly increasing trend, was estimated to be 2.8% in 2000 and is expected to be 4.3% by 2025, and the number of diabetics will increase from 171 million in 2000 to 380 million in 2025. Diabetes is divided into gestational diabetes, specific diabetes, type I diabetes, and type II diabetes. Type II diabetes, also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes, is characterized by the fact that a human body itself can produce insulin, but cells are unable to respond to it, so that the effect of insulin is greatly compromised. There are many types of hypoglycemic agents for type II diabetes, including metformin, sulfonylureas, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, and the like. The GLP-1 receptor agonist is a hot topic in recent studies.
Liraglutide, one of human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogues, with an English name Liraglutide, is a drug developed by Novo Nordisk in Denmark for the treatment of type II diabetes, and its injection was approved under a trade name Victoza by the FDA on Jan. 25, 2010, and approved by the SFDA on Mar. 4, 2011. As a GLP-1 receptor agonist, Liraglutide can play a good role in lowering blood glucose level.
At present, liraglutide is synthesized mainly by using a gene recombination technology and a stepwise coupling method. The synthesis of liraglutide, when is performed by the genetic recombination technique, has a relatively high technical difficulty and a relatively high cost, and an intermediate GLP-1(7-37)-OH needs to be repeatedly purified by HPLC and then reacted with Na-alkanoyl-Glu(ONSu)-OtBu under a liquid phase condition. Moreover, since the N-terminus of GLP-1(7-37)-OH is unprotected and the side chain protective groups of GLP-1(7-37)-OH are completely removed, many impurities are produced and Liraglutide is difficult to purify. As well known to those skilled in the art, the synthesis of liraglutide, when is performed by the stepwise coupling method, comprises: performing a condensation reaction of a resin as a solid phase carrier with Fmoc-Gly-OH to obtain Fmoc-Gly-resin; condensing, by solid-phase synthesis, amino acids with N-terminal Fmoc protection and side chain protection in sequence according to a main-chain peptide of liraglutide, wherein lysine is used in a form of Fmoc-Lys(X)-OH (X is a side chain protective group of Lys) or Fmoc-Lys (N-ε-(N-α-Palmitoyl-L-γ-glutamyl))-OH and each condensation reaction is performed for 30 min to 35 min; cleaving a side chain of lysine in a liraglutide resin after modification or directly cleaving the side chain of lysine in the liraglutide resin; and purifying and lyophilizing to obtain liraglutide. Due to a long sequence of liraglutide and a high proportion of hydrophobic amino acids, in stepwise coupling, β-sheet is easily formed, resulting in severe shrinkage of the resin and prolongation of the reaction time, and further producing, among the crude peptide, more racemate impurity, namely, NH2—His-Ala-Glu-Gly-D-Thr-Phe-Thr-Ser-Asp-Val-Ser-Ser-Tyr-Leu-Glu-Gly-Gln-Ala-Ala-Lys(N-ε-(N-α-Palmitoyl-L-γ-glutamyl))-Glu-Phe-Ile-Ala-Trp-Leu-Val-Arg-Gly-Arg-Gly-COOH (D-Thr5 liraglutide; SEQ ID NO:1), which has a property very close to that of the product, and making purification difficult; in addition, the resin shrinks severely and the reaction is incomplete, resulting in a lower yield.
On the one hand, the racemate by-product has a structure very similar to that of liraglutide, making much difficulty in purification and separation of the crude peptide of liraglutide, and no good effect can be achieved from separation although various purification separation systems have been tried. If multiple separations are performed, it can be foreseen that the separations will result in significant loss of the product. On the other hand, the racemate impurities have an adverse effect on the quality of the drug, namely, not only affecting stability and efficacy of the drug, but also being harmful to human health. Therefore, in the preparation process of synthesizing liraglutide, the production of racemate by-product should be minimized.
The main chain of liraglutide comprises 31 amino acids, and there are many forms of synthesis by fragment method, but only an appropriate fragment synthesizing method can ensure the production of less racemate by-product, and reduce the complexity of synthesis process, while guaranteeing the yield and purity of liraglutide. Through long-term experiments, inventors have surprisingly found that the synthesis of liraglutide using a method of the present disclosure allows a greatly reduced production of racemate impurity of liraglutide, namely, NH2-His-Ala-Glu-Gly-D-Thr-Phe-Thr-Ser-Asp-Val-Ser-Ser-Tyr-Leu-Glu-Gly-Gln-Ala-Ala-Lys(N-ε-(N-α-Palmitoyl-L-γ-glutamyl))-Glu-Phe-Ile-Ala-Trp-Leu-Val-Arg-Gly-Arg-Gly-COOH (D-Thr5 liraglutide; SEQ ID NO:1), the method is simple and the yield will not be lowered.

Synthesis method for liraglutide with low racemate impurity


A system and method for performing integrated testing of a virtual space are disclosed. For performing the integrated testing, test inputs simulating virtual space actions by users may be obtained for one or more test cases. Responsive to such test inputs being obtained, one or more test commands may be generated for testing virtual space functionalities implemented on client computing platforms and for testing server components being executed on one or more virtual space servers to facilitate user participation of the virtual space. The generated test commands may be executed and test results may be obtained. The obtained test results may be compared with expected results corresponding to the test cases for verification.

Systems that provide functionality testing for software being executed on client computers are known. In those systems, user inputs may be simulated to test software features and test results may be compared with expected outcomes predefined by testers or software developers. Typically, such testing is performed by executing test cases through test engines provided by those systems. In some of those systems, graphic user interface(GUI) of the software may be tested by simulating user inputs to the GUI, capturing screen images of the GUI, recognizing GUI behaviors in response to the simulated user inputs, and comparing the recognized GUI behaviors with predefined GUI behaviors corresponding to the simulated user inputs.
Systems that provide server side testing are also known. Typically, such server side testing is performed by executing test scripts to invoke services provided by the server, obtaining testing results from the server, and comparing the obtained test results with expected outcome predefined by the provider of the servers.

System and method for integrated testing of a virtual space


An oral vaccine formulation is provided for stimulation of an immune response in gut-associated lymphoid tissues. The formulation comprises an enzymatically degradable antigen in a hydrogel matrix. In ruminant species, the vaccine formulation, upon oral administration, is formed to pass through the rumen without substantial hydration and then into the post-ruminal portion of the digestive tract where the antigen is released for contact with the gut-associated lymphoid tissue.

This invention relates to a method for stimulating a mucosal immune response. More particularly, this invention relates to the use of hydrogels (water swellable, cross-linked polymers) as vehicles for delivering antigens to the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue of the gut.
Mucosal surfaces are the sites of entry of most infectious agents and hosts. Therefore, mucosal immunity is important as the first line of defense against infectious agents. It prevents attachment of pathogens to the mucosal epithelium, neutralizes viruses and bacteria toxins, and allows other aspects of the immune system to phagocytose and remove pathogens from the mucosal site. The mucosa-associated immune system functions to prevent the penetration of microbes into the internal regions of the body.
Direct application of antigens to a mucosal surface is the best way to induce a local immune response. However, this is not always possible or practical either because of the handling involved or because the toxicity of the antigens to the mucosal surface. Local immunity can also be induced by the stimulation of the common mucosal immune system (MALT), a network whereby all mucosal sites are linked to each other immunologically. When the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue of the gut or lung is exposed to an antigen, lymphocytes migrate to all other mucosal sites and produce antibodies. A population of memory lymphocytes is also induced which provides antibodies at a later time in response to the antigen.
The greatest accumulation of lymphoid tissue in MALT and in the body is the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) located in the intestines. These lymphoid tissues contain functional T and B lymphocytes and antigen-presenting accessory cells. In contrast to the systemic lymphoid tissues of the body, the B lymphocyte population of GALT includes a significant population of cells which are committed to the synthesis of IgA class antibodies. This antibody type is not effectively induced through conventional intramuscular or subcutaneous immunization. The lymphoid tissue is separated from the lumen of the gut by a layer of epithelial cells which are interspersed with antigen-presenting accessory cells. These specialized cells actively internalize samples from the lumenal space, and pass the samples to the underlying lymphoid cells. Exposure of GALT to antigen compounds triggers the clonal expansion of specific B and T lymphocytes. The IgA committed B lymphoblasts migrate through the roesenteric lymph nodes resulting in enhanced immune responses in all mucosal sites including the intestine, lung, mouth, eye, mammary gland, and the genitourinary tract. Thus, stimulation of GALT by oral vaccines can result in the prevention of infectious diseases at a variety of mucosal surfaces.
Timely vaccination of livestock can be a critical aspect of effective farm management. Respiratory disease of viral and secondary bacterial etiology can spread rapidly through animal herds. Although stimulation of mucosal immunity can be achieved by intranasal administration or local injection into mucosal sites, such vaccination techniques typically require individual handling and restraint of each animal. Oral vaccination is a particularly cost effective way for livestock producers to vaccinate or treat a large number of animals at one time with minimal stress or labor. This is especially true when oral administration of the vaccine can be effected through ingestion by the animals during the course of feeding. Further, oral vaccines can be manufactured more cost effectively than parenterally administered vaccine formulations because of the fewer purification steps needed to generate an oral vaccine. Oral vaccination also offers the advantage of fewer side effects such as fever or other injection reactions.
In spite of the advantages deriving from use of oral vaccines, the use and efficacy of orally administered vaccines has been hampered by degradation of the vaccine as it passes through the digestive tract. Most antigenic compounds possess peptide bonds in their configuration that are readily decomposed and denatured by the gastric acidity and proteolytic enzymes of the gut. Drug delivery systems have been proposed to protect orally ingested antigenic compounds from enzymatic or hydrolytic degradation. These delivery systems involve coating the vaccine in gelatin capsules or other coatings that are not removed until passage into the intestine. Prior art also describes the use of biodegradable microspheres for delivering vaccines to the gut-associated lymphold tissues. These microspheres, being a maximum size of 10 micrometers in diameter, are directly taken up into the lymphold tissues to stimulate an immune response.
Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex costs the cattle industry in the United States over one hundred million dollars a year. Conventional vaccination strategies have not been successful in preventing the disease. Cattle are usually vaccinated at sale barns or at stock yards when they have already been stressed and exposed to a number of pathogens. A better time to vaccinate cattle is before they are sold, optimally when they are still in the pasture. This is typically not done due to the labor required to inject each animal individually. An efficient way to vaccinate the cattle in a pasture would be through feed or water. Recent studies have shown that it is possible to stimulate antibodies to P. haemolytica, the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia in cattle, by stimulating GALT in cattle with bacterial antigens.
However, bovine and other ruminant species present a greater challenge to oral vaccination because the administered antigen dose has four stomachs to traverse in route to the small intestine where GALT tissues are located. To be practical, orally dosed therapeutic agents for ruminant species must meet a number of design specifications. First, the dosage form must be easy to administer, easily swallowed and not be readily regurgitated by the animal. Secondly, in terms of release rate performance, the device must deliver a therapeutically effective dose accurately and reliably without a catastrophic failure or "dose dumping." Finally, the drug and delivery device must be cost effective.
Oral vaccines have not typically been used in cattle because the harsh environment of the rumen results in microbial digestion of any unprotected antigens. The rumen is the first of four stomachs present in ruminants. It functions by fermentation digestion by bacteria action to break down cellulose and other complex nutrients. Therefore, an oral vaccine for cattle must be protected while passing through the rumen in order to deliver an effective dose of antigen to GALT in the lower gastrointestinal tract.
In accordance with this invention, hydrogels have been found to be an effective delivery vehicle or matrix capable of protecting an antigenically active vaccine formulation while it passes through the rumen. A hydrogel is a water swellable, cross-linked polymer well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. See, for example, Dresback, U.S. Pat. No. 4,220,152, issued Sep. 2, 1980, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. The hydrogel dosage forms have been found to pass without substantial hydration through the rumen to become localized in the reticulum, where they are hydrated and concomitantly release the vaccine (antigenic composition) held in the hydrogel. The released vaccine is carried into the small intestine, without loss of antigenicity, where it makes contact with GALT to induce an immune response.
Additional objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.


Systems and method for displaying interactive content. The systems and method include a host device configured to receive register commands from a plurality of client devices, the register commands including arrangement information of the plurality of client devices. The host device registers the plurality of client devices with the host device. The host device is further configured to determine a position for each of the plurality of client devices based on the arrangement information, and transmit display instructions to the plurality of client devices to start display of respective portions of a whole presentation corresponding to the position of the client devices in a synchronized fashion.

In the past, large displays have been created by using a computer or electronic device to drive multiple displays into a single display matrix. This matrix requires specialized programming and electronics capable of driving all the displays in unison. Examples of such displays include electronic billboards and signs. However, these large displays were not intended for user interaction. As such, people would walk past such electronic displays and may not pay much attention to them.
Tablet computing devices such as Apple's iPad® have gained in popularity as the computing device of choice over traditional computers. These tablet devices have become increasingly popular because of their portability, weight, low power consumption, ease to set up, and ability to rapidly obtain media, e.g., via wireless connections to the Internet. In addition to the foregoing, tablet computing devices are fairly easy to use because of their intuitive user interfaces. Tablet devices have advantages over traditional electronic displays and offer features that the displays cannot provide. As such, tablet devices may be utilized in an advantageous manner to enrich a user's experience in advertising products and services.
Currently, existing displays and signs do not provide interactive features and content for users to engage with. There is thus a need to provide a user-approachable display system that allows users to explore additional content experiences.

Interactive synchronized multi-screen display


An end user application running on a local client computer is configured to store a collection of comment data for the electronic document. The comment data includes data representing a plurality of comment threads. Displays of comment data also include hints providing information about the content and context of previous and next comments outside of the currently viewed context of the document. When hints are used in combination with filtering of the comment data, a user can more quickly review comments based on a variety of filtering criteria. A comment map also can be provided as a spatial representation of the distribution of comments within a document. Such a comment map can be provided as a navigational aid for viewing the electronic document and reviewing comments. The comment map provides an additional way for a reviewer to quickly identify areas of a document which may require more review.

The availability of shared storage systems for electronic documents has increased the ability of computer end users to share and to collaborate in the creation of a variety of electronic documents. End users can cause electronic documents to be stored in shared storage systems on a computer network, such as the internet. End users can instruct such a shared storage system to allow electronic documents to be shared with other end users of the shared storage system. A shared storage system generally has an access control component in a file system that tracks, for each electronic document, the access rights that different end users have for the electronic document.
After an electronic document has been shared among two or more end users, the shared storage system manages access to the shared electronic document to ensure consistency of the electronic document, especially in the case of collaborative editing of, i.e., collaborative modifications to, the electronic document. A collaboration system manages collaborative modification by tracking which end users currently are using end user applications on client computers to access the same electronic document. The collaboration system typically is implemented as one or more computer programs executing on the server computer, and, in some implementations, may have components executing on the client computers.
An end user application running on a computer, for the purpose of modifying electronic documents, typically is configured to allow an editor to associate a comment with a location within the electronic document. Any single editor may add multiple comments to an electronic document. When the electronic document is shared, such comments can originate from multiple editors using multiple end user applications. As an electronic document has a larger number of comments from a larger number of users, navigation among comments within a user interface can be unwieldy.

User interface for navigating comments associated with collaboratively edited electronic documents


A vehicle suspension system that resiliently supports a suspended portion of a vehicle on a non-suspended portion while at the same time preventing pitch and roll that are caused by acceleration, deceleration and turning. The system includes a linear actuator such as a single-acting hydraulic cylinder interconnected through a control system with variable displacement pumps/motors and an accumulator. The accumulator is charged to apply enough pressure in the hydraulic system to support the suspended portion of the vehicle in static condition. The variable displacement pumps along with the controls sense the pressure changes occurring in the linear actuators to prevent movement thereby maintaining a normal, level position of the vehicle.

Since the advent of vehicles, attempts have been made to provide a suspension system for occupants and cargo carried by the vehicle that isolate the loads from the rough roads over which the vehicle travels. Also, and more recently with the advent of high speed vehicles, it is desirable to provide a suspension system which permits the vehicle to corner at relatively high rates while maintaining the vehicle in a essentially level position. It is also desirable during either acceleration or stopping to maintain the vehicle in an essentially level position. In terms of art, it is highly desirable to be able to control, if not avoid entirely, the roll and pitch that occurs as the vehicle maneuvers.
It is not only desirable to provide an active suspension system that functions to negate movements of the vehicle away from the level, but to provide a relatively comfortable system of suspension including damping of vibrations or movements between the suspended and non-suspended portions of the vehicle while providing a soft resilient ride for the passengers and cargo of the vehicle.
Lotus Motor Company has developed for their motorcars an active spring rate control which utilizes a hydraulic system with electrohydraulic servocontrol valves and hydraulic linear actuators that are controlled by a computer system responding to an accelerometer and gyrosensor mounted on the vehicle. Such system is necessarily complex and extremely expensive.
The object of this invention is to provide a practical means of providing an active suspension system that is less complex and expensive than other systems and one that provides an enhanced ride as compared to the damper controlled systems that are currently in production on vehicles.


A combination includes a dental handpiece and a prophy angle. The dental handpiece includes a nosecone threadably connected to the dental handpiece. The prophy angle includes a proximal body that matingly attaches to the nosecone. A plurality of elongated torque members are formed on each of the prophy angle proximal body and the nosecone. Each of the torque members is a male torque member or a female torque member and each male torque member formed on one of the prophy angle proximal body and the nosecone matingly couples with a female torque member formed on the other of the nosecone and the prophy angle proximal body. The prophy angle, including the plurality of elongated torque members formed on the prophy angle, is formed to also be attachable to a known standard doriot-style nosecone. Other specific features of the handpiece and prophy angle are also disclosed.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Dental prophylaxis angles, generally referred to as "prophy angles", are commonly used dental instruments providing rotation for dental tools such as brushes, prophy cups, or other receptacles used in polishing teeth. A prophy angle typically includes a housing having a neck and a head portion extending at approximately a 90° angle to the neck, which increases the ability of a dentist to access the varying teeth surfaces of a patient. A drive shaft may be located within the housing and attached to a driven gear in the head of the prophy angle.
Prophy angles are generally affixed to a handpiece, for powering and driving the prophy angle drive shaft. The handpiece may be powered by any number of sources, such as pneumatic, electrical, or batteries. Prophy angles are commonly manufactured from lightweight plastic to make them inexpensive enough to be disposable, thereby increasing overall sterility in the dental environment. An issue associated with making the prophy angles, and their constituent elements, such as the driven gear and drive shaft, from plastic is the ability of the handpiece to engage the drive shaft and the driven gear without excessive damage to the prophy angle.
A reduction in the number of component parts needed for constructing and assembling a prophy angle is desirable. In addition, designing the component parts to cooperatively operate with other component parts reliably and in an efficient manner is also desirable.
A standard well known doriot-style prophy angle includes a generally cylindrical or frustoconical inner wall that mates with a similarly-shaped nosecone of a handpiece. In addition, the doriot-style prophy angle typically includes a notched section that fits with a mating protrusion on the handpiece to key or orient the prophy angle with respect to the handpiece. For a handpiece having an angle-adjustable nosecone, the notched section and frictional forces may provide an unsatisfactory fixation force, between the prophy angle and the nosecone, not allowing the desired angle of the nosecone to be reliably locked and unlocked, during a procedure, because the prophy angle may slip/rotate with respect to the nosecone. Therefore, for a handpiece nosecone having an adjustable angle, providing an easy, quick, and reliable way of adjusting the angle and setting or locking the desired angle is desirable.


The present invention relates to a method for managing an execution of a composite service, the composite service comprising constituent services. The method comprises providing (101) first service complexity measures indicating a complexity related to executing a number of constituent services of the composite service by a first service execution node, providing (103) second service complexity measures indicating a complexity related to executing the number of constituent services of the composite service by a second service execution node, determining (105) a first total complexity measure upon the basis of the first service complexity measures, determining (107) a second total complexity measure upon the basis of second service complexity measures, and selecting (109) either the first service execution node or the second service execution node in dependency of at least one of: the first total complexity measure or the second total complexity measure for executing the number of constituent services of the composite service.

One of the emerging communication technologies for delivering multimedia services across fixed and mobile access networks is the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). The network architecture according to IMS comprises a service layer, control and connectivity layers, and an access layer. The control layer comprises call session control functions (CSCFs) forming central nodes for the provision of the SIP signaling (SIP: Session Initiation Protocol). The SIP protocol is one of the core technologies used by IMS for controlling the multimedia sessions combining voice and data streams.
A further core component of the IMS network architecture is the Service Capability Interaction Manager (SCIM) which was introduced in the 3GPP TS 23.002 standard as a function within a SIP Application Server domain of the IMS architecture. The role of the SCIM is that of a service broker in more complex service interaction scenarios which cannot be supported through the service filtering mechanism. The SCIM as proposed to the 3GPP uses an ISC interface to enable composite service behavior leveraging simpler service capabilities. In practical terms, a "capability" is a system component that may be used, presumably with other components, to implement a "service" that is packaged and delivered to end users of the network. For example, a group list server and a presence server may both be considered "capabilities" that are used to implement a sophisticated conferencing service. In this regard, an open issue in the 3GPP Release 9 specification is the orchestration of interaction between "capabilities" in the larger network which are represented as SIP Application Server instances.
SCIM can be implemented using service composition approach, where services, also called constituent services, may be aggregated to composite services. Composite services address complex user requirements that usually can not be covered by existing services. Hence, composite services offer added value in the form of new functionality compared to the sum of the functionality of their building blocks.
By way of example, some basic services and enablers may enable a weather forecasting service and a positioning data service. Both can be used individually, however combining them into a composite service that provides a location based weather forecast creates a new type of functionality with an added value. For this reason, composite services are often referred to as value added services. A location based service, in this example a location based weather forecast, may be created out of two existing components, namely an enabler that provides location information and a weather forecast service.
The exposure of these functions, such as SOA services (SOA: service oriented architecture), allows an application to individually discover them by querying a service repository and then individually bind these services. The process of discovering appropriate services as well as the far more complex logic for binding these services and making use of their functionality is implemented in the application itself. The developer of the application logic may consider and cover all eventualities at design time, e.g. faulty services, possibly a number of different technologies/formats, and a host of other issues that are not directly related to the actual end-user service, but rather to the usage of the enabling services.
The service composition functionality usually introduces an entity—the service composition engine—that takes care of this complexity for the application. In this scenario the application implements just its core logic, whereas the enabling functionality such as the "location-based weather forecast" is exposed by the composition engine as a single service that may be easily discovered and bound by the application. In the given example, the composition engine executes application logic in the form of the definition of the composite service "location-based weather forecast". This composite service describes the type of required services, so that the engine—in particular at run-time—may discover, bind and execute appropriate services. Composition functionality, consequently, allows for great flexibility e.g. in handling events such as a faulty enabler. In this case, the engine could bind an alternative service without any disruption of the end-user application.
A service composition may enable the decoupling of application logic and enabling further functions. By extracting parts of the logic from the application and implementing it in a formalized way with the help of a composition entity, i.e. engine, a number of advantages become possible. The application logic becomes easily reusable and adaptable, it also becomes easier to implement since it may make use of the event-driven facilities of the composition engine.
Decoupling of application logic and exposure of functionality as reusable services is clearly facilitated by component-based software development and modeling of the application functionality. On the one hand, software components or groups thereof already represent cleanly defined units of functionality i.e. good candidates for services. Consequently, understanding the application functionality based on its modeling is the basic requirement for defining aggregate application functionality in a composition.
Clearly, composition sessions may contain data. These data are usually manipulated by the process according to instruction in its composite service description, i.e. according to a wish of a composite service designer. The data is either directly manipulated by these instructions, e.g. assigning a value to a variable, or indirectly, e.g. as results of services invocations. Sometimes, this kind of composition session state data is also called "Shared State Data", because they represent the state shared between all services participating in a given composition session.
IMS was designed to deliver real-time, e.g. voice, and soft-real-time, e.g. SMS, services to customers. Accordingly, all nodes including SCIM should fulfill real-time or at least soft-real-time requirements, wherein, according to frequent customer requirements, a latency imposed by a SCIM node during an IMS call establishment may not exceed few dozens of milliseconds. However, with increased complexity of the composite services, the additional latency introduced by the SCIM may become a challenging issue. One of the main sources of additional latency is the invocation of constituent services. In this regard, latency is sum of time required by the constituent service to execute its internal logic and of the network latency between SCIM node and the constituent service. In networks with more then one SCIM node, the selection of the SCIM node for execution of composite service may also have an impact on a latency of a composite service.
Accordingly, there is a need for efficiently managing an execution of a composite service in a communication network in which service execution nodes, e.g. composition engines, are provided for executing constituent services of the composite service.

Managing an execution of a composite service