A video system, comprising includes a video reproduction device that retrieves a predetermined subset of video and audio data from a server. The video reproduction device then starts reproduction of the video and audio data based on the predetermined subset of video and audio data. The predetermined subset of video and audio data includes sufficient data to cause the video reproduction device to determine that all of the video and audio data has been received and that reproduction can be started.

The present disclosure relates to an image processing apparatus which performs image processing and an image processing method.
In movie-related environments, along with the progress of digital technology, for example, films are being changed to digital signals and movies are being produced using video equipment and being exhibited at theaters using projectors or the like. In order to realize such digital cinema, data compression techniques, encryption techniques for copyright protection, and the like are being used.
In addition, a movie using the digital cinema is exhibited at a theater with a method in which a movie distributor generates a predetermined format of data and provides the data to each theater and the provided data is reproduced by a reproduction device in each theater.
As the data format provided from a movie distributor to each movie theater, a format called Digital Cinema Package (DCP) is being widely used. The DCP is a data format defined by the specification proposed by an industry standards organization, Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI).
In the related art of digital cinema systems, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-231611 discloses a technique in which an urgent level is determined on an item, which does not satisfy exhibition requirements, among confirmation items set in advance for exhibition; and the properties of a reproduction on a management window are switched in accordance with the urgent level.
In digital cinema systems, a reproduction device having a local storage is arranged for each auditorium (screen). The reproduction device receives movie content distributed from a higher-level server through the network, stores the movie content in the local storage, and reproduces the movie content stored in the local storage.
In this case, with digital cinema systems of the related art, it is difficult for a reproduction device to start the exhibition of movie content until all the data of the movie content is stored in a local storage.
Since the size of movie content is usually of the order of several hundreds of GB, a long time, for example, at least an hour or longer is taken to download all the data of movie content onto a local storage of a reproduction device through the network.
On the other hand, in theaters, such as cinema complex, where plural auditoriums are arranged in the same facility, there may be a request to change an auditorium during an intermission. In this case, it is necessary that a reproduction device provided in another auditorium newly acquire data of movie content.
However, as described above, in the related art, it is difficult to reproduce a movie until all the data of the movie content is stored in a local storage. Therefore, it is difficult to adopt a manner in which, for example, an auditorium is changed abruptly and a reproducing device of another auditorium acquires data of movie content during an intermission of about several tens of minutes to reproduce the movie on time.
As described above, in the related art, it is difficult to change an auditorium in a short period of time and reproduce a movie, which is inconvenient for creating an exhibition schedule.

Image processing apparatus and image processing method


Non-peptidic RXD analogues are provided that inhibit biological cellular and molecular interactions which are dependent on RXD recognition, wherein X is one of the amino acid residues G, E, Y, A or F. In particular, RGD surrogates are provided having no sequence of .alpha.-natural amino acids and comprising a guanidino and a carboxyl terminal groups spaced by a chain of 11 atoms, at least 5 of which are carbon atoms. The compounds inhibit cell adhesion and are useful for the treatment of several pathological disorders, e.g., thrombosis, autoimmune diseases, metastasis, allergy, host-graft reactions and inhibition of scar tissue formation.

The present invention relates to novel non-peptidic compounds having terminal guanidino and carboxyl functional groups, to their preparation and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising them for treatment of several pathological disorders.
The ability of various cell types to adhere to and to interact with other cells or with components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), is essential for maintaining cell functions and tissue integrity via signalling between and within the communicating cells (Springer, 1990; Hynes, 1992; Shimizu et al., 1991). Cellular interactions with soluble or insoluble components of the plasma, the interstitial matrix or the ECM, are carried out primarily via a family of cell-surface receptors designated integrins that are present on most cell types, including lymphocytes, tumor cells and platelets (Ruoslahti, 1991; Hynes, 1992).
The integrins are heterodimeric molecules consisting of an alpha (.alpha.) and a beta (.beta.) subunits which are non-covalently linked. Eleven .alpha. and six .beta. subunits have been identified. The pairing of .alpha. and .beta. subunits exhibits high fidelity in certain tissues and cell types but degenerates in other cases.
The integrins play an important role in integrating the ECM outside the cell with the actin-containing cytoskeleton inside the cell. They are two-headed: the extracellular portion is responsible for the binding of adhesive proteins, in many cases recognizing the RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) sequences within these ligands, and the intracellular portion interacts with elements of the cytoskeleton.
The target epitope of several integrin receptors is the RGD sequence, a cell adhesion motif shared by several matrix-associated adhesive glycoproteins, such as fibronectin (FN), vitronectin (VN), fibrinogen, thrombospondin, and von Willebrand factor (Yamada & Kennedy, 1984; Hynes, 1992; Ruoslahti, 1988; D'Souza et al., 1991a).
The best characterized of these proteins is fibronectin, a large and abundant glycoprotein of extracellular matrices and plasma, which serves as a prototype cell adhesion molecule. Fibronectin is a multifunctional protein that supports cell attachment and spreading in eukaryotes and also mediates bacterial cell adhesion. It binds to numerous cell surface and matrix constituents including glycosaminoglycans, heparin, proteoglycans, fibrin and collagen, and triggers a variety of cellular responses (Hynes, 1990).
The tripeptide Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) was identified as the minimal sequence within the central cell binding domain of fibronectin that mediates cell attachment. The RGD sequence is recognized by several receptors, including the .alpha.IIb.beta.3 (also designated GPIIb-IIIa), .alpha.3.beta.1, .alpha.5.beta.1 (also designated VLA-3 and VLA-5 integrins, respectively) and most of the .alpha.v-containing integrins (Hynes, 1992; Elices et al., 1991; Shimizu et al., 1990). Following cell activation, these receptors mediate RGD-dependent cell-matrix adhesion or cell aggregation (Philips et al., 1991; D'Souza et al., 1991a; Adler et al., 1991). When present in solutions, peptides containing the RGD sequence compete with fibronectin and other RGD-containing matrix proteins for binding to their respective integrin receptors and prevent cell adhesion (Springer, 1990; Ruoslahti and Giancotti, 1989). When immobilized on a surface, short synthetic RGD peptides mimic fibronectin cell-binding properties, but their affinity to their corresponding integrin is about 10.sup.2-10.sup.3 lower than that of the native ligands (Humphries, et al., 1986).
The RGD motif is not restricted to fibronectin and in fact it is present within more than hundred proteins. In some proteins, cell adhesive activity has been ascribed to the RGD sequence, whereas in most others the RGD sequence appears to be functionally silent. It was found to be a common motif in cell adhesion molecules and it plays a crucial role in platelet aggregation, the immune response, in cancer metastasis, cell migration to tissues, infection of microbial pathogens, gastrulation in Xenopus and Drosophila embryos. Several proteins, which were found to have the sequence RGD expressed on their surface, promote cell attachment in vitro for no apparent physiological reason, also indicating the generality of this binding.
The functional activity of RGD peptides was demonstrated with a variety of cell types. It is particularly significant that RGD peptides are capable of inhibiting the binding of fibrinogen and other related proteins to platelets (small enucleated blood cells), and inhibit platelet aggregation, the cell-cell interaction critical for thrombus formation. This observation indicated that RGD peptides could function as antithrombotic agents.
European Patent Application published under No. EP 410539 describes fibrinogen receptor antagonists which are small cyclic hexapeptides containing the RGD sequence and are claimed to be useful in inhibiting platelet aggregation. European Patent Application published under No. EP 406428 describes synthetic cyclic peptides containing the RGD sequence which are cell adhesion inhibitors useful as platelet aggregation inhibitors and tumor metastasis suppressors. European Patent Application published under No. EP 394326 describes synthetic peptides which incorporate the sequence RGD in a conformationally stabilised form and which may be utilized either for inhibiting binding of adhesion proteins, e.g. vitronectin, or for promoting cell adhesion, e.g. in vivo uses such as coating of medical devices, including prostheses and implants, or in vitro uses in coating of substrates such as cell culture substrates. European Patent Application published under No. EP 384362 describes modified peptides useful as inhibitors of protein-platelet adhesion, cell-cell adhesion and platelet aggregation. International Application published under No. WO 9011297 describes adhesion peptides comprising a biologically active site which is a cell attachment promoting binding site containing the RGD sequence, and a hydrophobic attachment domain, useful for facilitating the attachment of the peptide to solid substrates, e.g., in coating of prosthetic devices to be implanted.
The physiological roles of RGD-mediated recognition may extend beyond these biological processes. Pathogenic microorganisms may adhere to RGD-containing ECM glycoproteins. Thus, Trypanosoma cruzi adheres to fibronectin and peptides modeled from the fibronectin RGD cell attachment domain were shown to inhibit T. cruzi infection (Ouaissi et al., 1986).
Interestingly, several non-ECM related proteins contain the RGD or RGD-like molecules. Among these, the RGD sequence is also found in the transactivation (tat) factor of human immunodeficiency virus type-I (HIV-1). The protein which regulates the viral replication also induces other manifestations of the disease, e.g., Kaposi sarcoma. Soluble tat was shown to bind to several integrins in an RGD-dependent manner (Vogel et al. 1992).
Peptides containing RAD, RED, RFD and RYD sequences were postulated to interfere with immune functions unrelated to integrins. The RADS, RFDS and RYDS sequences have been postulated to constitute functional adhesiotopes of the CD4 or MHC-I and II molecules, respectively (Mazerolles et al., 1990). Human HLA-DR antigen, present on antigen presenting cells, contains the sequence RYDS and is recognized by the T-cell CD4 antigen. Interference with the CD4-HLA-DR interaction might result in incomplete T cell activation.
Synthetic peptides derived from the human major histocompatibility complex class II antigens (MHC-II) containing the peptide RFDS, and a peptide derived from the immunoglobulin-like amino-terminal domain of the T cell CD4 molecules containing the RADS peptide, were shown to exhibit specific inhibitory effect on antigen-induced HLA class-II-restricted T cell proliferative responses and antibody synthesis (Mazerolles et al, 1988).
The RYDS sequence-has been shown to mimic the RGD cell binding domain of fibrinogen. RYD sequence is comprised as essential part of a CDR-3 (complementarity-determining region) of a monoclonal antibody specific for the binding site of the platelet integrin GPIIb-IIIa, specific for FN, fibrinogen, vitronectin etc. A 12-mer peptide derived from this CDR-3, containing the RYDS site, inhibited RGD-dependent fibrinogen binding to its GPIIb-IIIa receptor (Taub et al., 1989). Streptavidin RYD-sequence has also been shown to mimic the RGD sequence and mediate RGD-dependent cell binding and adhesion of the protein (Alon et al., 1990). Recently, REDV sequence of the alternatively spliced cell-binding domain of FN has been shown to be involved in FN-binding to its non-RGD dependent integrin receptor, .alpha.4.beta.1 (Mould et al., 1991).
Moreover, the inverted peptide Ser-Asp-Gly-Arg containing the DGR sequence was shown to inhibit spreading of BHK cells and chick embryo fibroblasts on vitronectin-coated substrates and on fibronectin-coated substrates. DGR-containing sequences have been suggested to comprise part of the ligand-binding pocket in integrins, implicated in RGD recognition. At any rate, they may interact with RGD-sequences on adhesive proteins and block or inhibit their interactions with integrins (Yamada and Kennedy, 1987).
The use of peptidic RGD analogues presents several drawbacks, mainly the cleavage of the peptidic bond by proteolytic enzymes in vivo. It would therefore be of great advantage to derive functional mimetics resistant to proteolytic digestion to be used as useful tools for interfering with biologic interactions dependent on RGD recognition, such as integrin-mediated cell functions.

Non-peptidic surrogates of the Arg-Gly-Asp sequence and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them


A method and circuit for operating a fluorescent lamp having a starter with power supplied by a battery by generating an alternating current from energy supplied by the battery; supplying the alternating current as a starting current to the lamp for a selected period of time; and, at the end of the selected period of time, generating a direct current from the alternating current and supplying the direct current to the lamp in place of the alternating current.

The present invention relates to power supplies for fluorescent lamps, and particularly for emergency operation of fluorescent lamps under battery power in the event of failure of a primary power supply.
While the provision of a battery back-up system for incandescent lamps is a relatively simple matter, emergency operation of fluorescent lamps under battery power poses certain difficulties, including those associated with the special starting requirements of fluorescent lamps.
It is known that a fluorescent lamp can be operated under battery power by supplying the lamp with a high frequency current derived from the battery by an inverter and supplied to the lamp via a ballast capacitor. A switching device is required to switch the circuit from a start mode to an operating mode. In the operating mode, the lamp continues to be supplied with alternating current and, because of the operating characteristics of fluorescent lamps, and particularly their negative resistance characteristic, the power supplied to the lamp during the operating mode cannot be reduced significantly, so that a fluorescent lamp could be operated for only a short period of time under battery power.
An alternative approach to battery powered operation is to convert the converter output into a full wave rectified current which is applied to the lamp. This would permit the lamp, after starting, to be operated at a reduced power level. However, it is difficult to start a fluorescent lamp with rectified current, particularly if the fluorescent lamp has an integral preheat starter.

Emergency lighting ballast for compact fluorescent lamps with integral starters


A process is provided for enhancing reproductive performance in a companion animal such as a dog or cat by feeding the animal a diet including omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in a ratio of from about 3.5:1 to about 12.5:1. When an animal is fed the diet of the present invention, the essential fatty acid status in the animal is maintained, and litter size is maintained through subsequent parities.

This invention relates to a process for enhancing canine and feline reproductive performance, and more particularly, to a diet for administration to companion animals such as dogs or cats during their reproductive years which includes beneficial amounts of essential fatty acids in a desired ratio to maintain proper essential fatty acid status and to enhance and maintain reproductive performance.
Reproductive performance (i.e., live litter size) in female dogs typically declines following the third parity. Nutrition has been consistently indicated as a contributing factor in bitch reproductive performance. However, the reference to nutrition has generally been restricted to vague recommendations that a high quality food with ample energy is sufficient for reproduction. Little effort has been directed towards defining xe2x80x9cqualityxe2x80x9d or to distinguish sufficient diets from more comprehensive diets with regard to reproduction.
Cats have also been shown to exhibit a decline in reproductive performance in subsequent parities. A few studies in companion animals including the dog and cat have reported reproductive improvements due to the presence of trace minerals in the diet such as manganese, zinc and copper. However, the mechanism(s) of the effect remains unclear.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a method of providing proper nutrition to companion animals during their reproductive years to maintain reproductive performance.
The present invention addresses that need by providing a diet for companion animals such as dogs and cats containing an effective amount of essential fatty acids to maintain essential fatty acid status and to enhance and maintain reproductive performance.
By xe2x80x9cessential fatty acid statusxe2x80x9d, it is meant the relationship between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids relative to omega-7 and omega-9 fatty acids present in the animal. More specifically, the essential fatty acid status, or EFA index, represents the sum of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids divided by the sum of omega-7 and omega-9 fatty acids. It has been found that in dogs, with each subsequent parity, the essential fatty acid status of the bitch declines due to a depletion of selected omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. It has also been found that cats demonstrate a decline in essential fatty acid status with each subsequent parity.
By xe2x80x9cenhanced reproductive performancexe2x80x9d, it is meant that overall reproductive performance, including increased live births and decreased still births is improved relative to reproductive performance observed with companion animals fed other diets.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a process for enhancing reproductive performance in a companion animal is provided comprising feeding the animal a diet including omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, where the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids of from about 3.5:1 to about 12.5:1. The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids is more preferably, from about 5:1 to about 10:1, and most preferably, from about 5:1 to about 8:1.
It is preferred that at least fifteen percent of the total fatty acids in the diet are omega-6 fatty acids. It is also preferred that at least two percent of the total fatty acids in the dietary composition are omega-3 fatty acids. Preferably, the diet comprises from about 2.5 to 7.5% by weight omega-6 fatty acids and from about 0.3 to 1.5% by weight omega-3 fatty acids, on a dry matter basis.
Where the animal is a dog, the diet preferably comprises from about 22 to 44% by weight protein and about 10 to 30% by weight fat. More preferably, the diet comprises from about 25 to 35% by weight protein and about 15 to 25% by weight fat. Where the animal is a cat, the diet preferably comprises from about 30 to 45% by weight protein and about 10 to 30% by weight fat. More preferably, the diet comprises from about 32 to 42% by weight protein and from about 15 to 28% by weight fat.
When an animal is fed the diet of the present invention, it has been found that the decline in reproductive performance is attenuated in subsequent parities. It has also been found that animals fed the diet of the present invention maintained a better essential fatty acid status. In addition, the animals which exhibited a better essential fatty acid status also demonstrated improved reproductive performance, including an increased number of live births and increased number of neonates at weaning.
Accordingly, it is a feature of the invention to provide a diet for companion animals such as dogs and cats which maintains essential fatty acid status and attenuates the decline in reproductive performance by providing an effective amount of essential fatty acids in the proper ratio in the diet of the animal. This, and other features and advantages of the present invention, will become apparent from the following detailed description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

Process for enhancing canine and feline reproductive performance


This disclosure provides compositions of vitamin B12, and methods of treatment or amelioration of a disease associated with vitamin B12 deficiency. The composition can take the form of a solid, semi-solid, gummy, or chewable lozenge. The composition can also take the form of a troche, a candy, a wafer, an orally disintegrating tablet, a sublingual tablet, a buccal tablet, a buccal patch, an oral dissolvable film, an aerosol or spray, a lip balm, and chewing gum.

Vitamin B12, otherwise known as cobalamin, is the largest and most structurally complex of the eight water-soluble B vitamins. Vitamin B12 is a class of cobalt and corrin ring molecules that possess vitamin activity. The sixth coordination site of the corrin ring is either a cyano group (—CN), a hydroxyl group (—OH), a methyl group (—CH3) or a 5′-deoxyadenosyl group, creating four forms of vitamin B12, including, cyanocobalamin, hydroxocobalamin, methylcobalamin, and adenosylcobalamin.
Vitamin B12 is synthesized by microbes, but not by humans or plants. Gastrointestinal absorption of vitamin B12, from food or supplements, depends on the presence of sufficient intrinsic factor and calcium ions. Adenosylcobalamin and methylcobalamin are the active forms of vitamin B12 in humans. Vitamin B12 deficiency may result from intrinsic factor deficiency (pernicious anemia), partial or total gastrectomy, or diseases of the distal ileum, intestinal problems and nerve damage, etc. Conditions that make people vulnerable to vitamin B12 deficiency include: Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, advanced age (>65 years), chronic intestinal inflammation, intestinal surgery, food moving too quickly through the intestine, strict vegetarian diets, excessive alcohol consumption for longer than 2 weeks, long-term use of acid reducing drugs, or drug-therapy associated with anemia.
Vitamin B12 has also been used in the treatment of IgE-mediated allergic diseases, such as allergic rhinitis and asthma. Oral ingested vitamin B12 is ineffective in the treatment of allergic disease, possibly due to liver metabolism.
Cyanocobalamin (Crystamine, Cyomin, Crysti 1000, Nascobal®) is the most widely sold analogue of vitamin B12. Cyanocobalamin is available in injectable (subcutaneous or intramuscular) and oral forms and has the advantage of having a stable shelf life at standard temperature and pressure (STP). Nascobal®, an intranasal gel formulation of cyanocobalamin, has been clinically shown to maintain adequate serum levels of vitamin B12. The nasal gel can be self-administered through a nasal delivery system that avoids the discomfort of intramuscular injections of B12.
Since vitamin B12 is very large, orally ingested cyanocobalamin is improperly digested and only small amounts of the vitamin get absorbed by the host. The drawback of the injectable form is that it is invasive, expensive, and inconvenient. Hence, there is a need for more effective forms of vitamin B12 that can be absorbed more easily to ameliorate conditions associated with vitamin B12 deficiency.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A microscope includes a microscope main unit including a stage on which a specimen is to be placed; and a light source provided on the microscope main unit and emitting illumination light for illuminating the specimen. The microscope also includes a main power supply operable to be turned on and off; a sensor that senses the presence or absence of a subject in a front or side area of the microscope main unit; a determining unit that determines based on a result of the sensing whether the subject moves; and a control unit that turns on the light source when the main power supply is turned on, maintains the light source in an ON state when the determining unit determines that the subject moves, and turns off the light source when the determining unit determines that the subject does not move and a predetermined period of time passes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microscope and a method for controlling the microscope, and more particularly, to a microscope having a light source that emits illumination light for illuminating a specimen, and a microscope control method for controlling a light source that emits illumination light for illuminating a specimen.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been a microscope that has a sensor of a light-reflecting type attached to a mirror tube, and turning on and off a light source that emits illumination light. When the sensor senses an observer, the microscope turns on the light source, and when the observer moves away from the sensor and cannot be sensed by the sensor, the microscope turns off the light source. In this microscope, since the light source is off while there is not an observer observing a specimen, specimens are not damaged by illumination light, and electric power is not wasted (see Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 07-318807, for example).
There also has been a microscope that includes electric devices such as an electric stage, an electric revolver, and a light source, an electric control device for controlling the electric devices, and an operation switch for controlling the electric devices. The electric control device includes an operation checking timer. If the electric devices are not operated over a predetermined period of time, the light source is turned off. In this microscope, since the light source is turned off, if the electric devices are not operated over the predetermined period of time, specimens are not damaged by illumination light, and electric power is not wasted (see Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2006-195274, for example).

Microscope with motion sensor for control of power supply and light source


The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions include a novel nucleotide sequence for regulatory elements from Eupatorium Vein Clearing Virus. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the regulatory element sequences disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises transforming a plant or plant cell with a nucleotide sequence operably linked to one of the regulatory elements of the present disclosure.

Expression of heterologous DNA sequences in a plant host is dependent upon the presence of an operably linked regulatory element that is functional within the plant host. Choice of the regulatory element sequence will determine when and where within the organism the heterologous DNA sequence is expressed. Where expression in specific tissues or organs is desired, tissue-preferred regulatory elements may be used. Where gene expression in response to a stimulus is desired, inducible regulatory elements are the regulatory element of choice. In contrast, where continuous expression is desired throughout the cells of a plant, constitutive promoters are utilized. Additional regulatory sequences upstream and/or downstream from the core regulatory element sequence may be included in the expression constructs of transformation vectors to bring about varying levels of expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a transgenic plant.
Frequently it is desirable to express a DNA sequence constitutively in a plant. For example, increased resistance of a plant to infection by soil- and air-borne pathogens might be accomplished by genetic manipulation of the plant's genome to comprise a constitutive regulatory element operably linked to a heterologous pathogen-resistance gene such that pathogen-resistance proteins are produced in the desired plant tissue.
Alternatively, it might be desirable to inhibit expression of a native DNA sequence within a plant's tissues to achieve a desired phenotype. In this case, such inhibition might be accomplished with transformation of the plant to comprise a constitutive promoter operably linked to an antisense nucleotide sequence, such that expression of the antisense sequence produces an RNA transcript that interferes with translation of the mRNA of the native DNA sequence.
Genetically altering plants through the use of genetic engineering techniques and thus producing a plant with useful traits requires the availability of a variety of promoters. An accumulation of promoters would enable the investigator to design recombinant DNA molecules that are capable of being expressed at desired levels and cellular locales. Therefore, a collection of constitutive promoters would allow for a new trait to be expressed at the desired level in the desired tissue. Thus, isolation and characterization of constitutive regulatory elements that may serve as regulatory regions for expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences of interest in a measured constitutive manner are needed for genetic manipulation of plants.

Plant regulatory elements and methods of use thereof


An image capturing system includes an image capturing apparatus, a first light emitting unit, a second light emitting unit having a light coverage smaller than a light coverage of the first light emitting unit, and a control unit configured to perform control according to whether a predetermined optical accessory for the first light emitting unit is present in such a manner that, when focus detection is performed in the image capturing apparatus, one of the first light emitting unit and the second light emitting unit is used as a light emitting unit that emits assist light for the focus detection.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image capturing system that applies assist light to an image sensing field to detect focus, an illumination apparatus of the image capturing system, and a method for detecting focus in the image capturing system.
Description of the Related Art
There is a known technique in the related art for autofocusing (AF) in an image capturing apparatus while applying assist light (hereinafter referred to as AF assist light). Examples of a method for applying AF assist light include applying patterned LED light from an LED light source and applying flash light from a discharge tube of an illumination apparatus.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-139664 discloses a technique for controlling driving of a lens using the result of focus detection having higher reliability of the result of focus detection using flash assist light and the result of focus detection using LED assist light.
Although LED assist light is effective for low-contrast subjects because it is applied in a pattern, its coverage is limited as compared with flash assist light. In contrast, flash assist light has wide coverage and is therefore effective for a wide range in a photographing frame but is ineffective for low-contrast subjects. Thus, the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-139664 aims at enhancing AF accuracy in consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of the methods of radiation.
In photographing using an illumination apparatus, such as a flash unit, an optical filter and so on (hereinafter referred to as optical accessories) are sometimes disposed in front of a light emitting unit of the flash unit. Examples of the optical accessories include a color filter for adjusting the color temperature of radiated light to match the color of the subject to the color of the background (changing the chromatic characteristics of the light) during photographing under the light of an incandescent lamp (tungsten), a diffuser for scattering radiated light to attain soft lighting, with the light emitting unit oriented to the subject, and a wide panel that increases light distribution to cope with wide angle lenses.
The technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-139664 does not allow for control of AF assist light when such optical accessories are used.

Image capturing system in which optical accessory is placeable in front of light emitting unit, illumination apparatus in which optical accessory is placeable in front of light emitting unit, and method for detecting focus


A heat sink assembly for mounting an LED module to a surrounding main heat sink member is disclosed. The heat sink assembly has a first plate with inner and outer faces and a peripheral edge. The assembly further includes a second plate that is movable with respect to the first plate and has inner and outer faces and an inwardly-tapered peripheral camming surface. Also included in the assembly is an expandable ring sandwiched between the first and second plates. The ring has an inward peripheral edge that engages the camming surface and an outward heat-transfer surface. The ring is expandable beyond the peripheries of the first and second plates. The heat sink assembly also has a sandwiching-device that adjustably interconnects the first and second plates such that sandwiching of the ring facilitates heat-transfer engagement of the heat-transfer surface with the main heat sink member.

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) offer exciting benefits in the field of lighting apparatus. There is a strong trend in the industry to replace conventional incandescent light sources with LED units. Among the advantages offered by LED modules is increased flexibility of use. LED modules generally comprise an array of LED units each unit including a reflector (and optionally a refractor) and an LED. The assembly is durable and long-lasting. This arrangement further allows much smaller packages of such light sources which translate into much lower material usage within fixtures containing such sources. Another significant advantage of LEDs is that they yield reliable light with low-power consumption. Further, a solid package of LEDs may be positioned to focus light as might be required.
One of the main hurdles to using LEDs in certain applications is the management of the heat generated by the LED modules. Generally, LEDs themselves create little heat because of their high efficiency as measured by light output per unit power input. There are, however, LEDs that, due to their higher operating currents, may generate considerable more heat than traditional LED modules. Other power-related components within the lighting fixture may also create significant heat. LED performance, and the performance of other power-related components, is directly related to the amount of ambient heat within the housing of a lighting fixture. High levels of heat in a lighting fixture compromise the functionality and life of certain components that are highly susceptible to heat, including LED modules, ballasts, capacitors and other power-related components. The concern of heat is even more pronounced where LEDs are mounted in a confined space or more than one LED package is used. In such circumstances, it is especially crucial to manage the heat created by the LED module for optimal performance and to protect the overall life of the fixture.
It is known in the art to use a heat-dissipating structure, such as an aluminum plate, for mounting an LED module. This approach has a significant disadvantage in that the plate is generally welded to the housing. Welding of a heat-dissipating structure to the interior of a housing typically causes undesirable distortion of the housing. Alternatively, the heat-dissipating structure may be forced into the housing. This is undesirable because assembling a heat-dissipating structure in this manner typically requires the application of over two tons of force; consequently, the interior of the housing may be significantly damaged during assembly. Further, the application of such tremendous force makes it nearly impossible in the future to remove the heat-dissipating structure for access to the housing.
The relative permanency of traditional heat-dissipating structures within a lighting apparatus housing makes it much more difficult, costly and time-consuming to perform routine maintenance. These problems are only exacerbated in certain lighting fixtures that utilize more than one LED module. For example, in a bollard lighting fixture, it may be desirable in some circumstances to provide two LED modules, one being mounted in the upper portion of a tubular housing and the other in the lower portion of the housing. Where two heat-dissipating plates are welded to the housing, this would significantly impair one's ability to enter the housing for routine maintenance. There is, therefore, a need for lighting apparatus including an LED module where the LED is mounted on a heat-dissipating structure that is easily removable, thereby allowing access to the interior regions of the lighting fixture.

Method and apparatus for mounting an LED module to a heat sink assembly


In an idling adjusting method for the engine of a vehicle, an intake air quantity for the engine is adjusted independent of a flow rate control device so that a revolution number correcting signal or a signal related thereto is within a predetermined value, by providing a reference signal generating device which outputs a reference control signal necessary for maintaining a target engine revolution number, a correction signal generating device which generates a revolution number correction signal in the direction to reduce the deviation between an actual engine revolution number of engine and the target engine revolution number and the flow rate control device which controls the intake air quantity for the engine so as to increase or decrease by receiving the reference control signal and the revolution number correction signal, wherein the reference control signal is changed dependent on atmospheric pressure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of adjusting idling revolution in the engine of a vehicle by the feed-back control of the idling revolution.
2. Discussion of Background
Description will be made as to a conventional idling adjusting method with reference to FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, a reference numeral 1 designates an engine and a numeral 2 designates an intake air pipe. A throttle valve 3 is provided in the intake air pipe 2, and a by-pass passage 9 is connected to the intake air pipe 2 so as to by-pass the throttle valve 3 between the upstream side of the throttle valve 3 and the downstream side of it. The by-pass passage 9 comprises a main by-pass passage 91 and an auxiliary by-pass passage 92 which are arranged in parallel to each other. The main by-pass passage 91 includes an intake air control valve which controls the sectional surface area of the main by-pass passage. The intake air control valve may be a solenoid valve 8 having a linear characteristic. An adjusting screw 4 is provided in the auxiliary by-pass passage 92 so as to adjust an air quantity in the auxiliary by-pass passage by adjusting the sectional surface area of the passage. The solenoid valve 8 is to be controlled and driven by an output from a driving unit 7.
A gear wheel 41 is attached to a rotary shaft in the engine 1 so that the gear wheel 41 is rotated in association with the revolution of the engine 1. The revolution of the gear wheel 41 is detected by a revolution number sensor 42. An engine revolution number n.sub.E detected by the revolution number sensor 42 through the revolution of the gear wheel 41 is output to an error amplifying device 61. The error amplifying device 61 also receives a target revolution number n.sub.T from a target revolution number generating device 5, and it generates an error .DELTA.n of the signal n.sub.T to the signal n.sub.E so as to output the error signal to a revolution number adjusting device 62.
The target revolution number generating device 5 is to generate a predetermined target revolution number signal n.sub.T in response to various conditions such as a temperature of engine, or to generate a target non-load revolution number signal n.sub.T at the time of warming-up of the engine. The revolution number adjusting device 62 is to receive the output of the error amplifying device 61 and to output a revolution number correction signal Sc in the direction which will eliminate the error .DELTA.n by a proportional action, an integral action or a derivative action.
A reference controlled quantity output circuit 11 outputs a reference control signal S.sub.T indicative of a reference controlled quantity (a fixed value) so that the engine revolution number n.sub.E approaches the target revolution number n.sub.T. The reference control signal S.sub.T of the reference controlled quantity output circuit 11 and the output signal S.sub.c of the revolution number adjusting device 62 are added in an adder 13, and the adder 13 outputs a signal obtained by an adding operation. The output S.sub.T +S.sub.c of the adder 13 is supplied to a limiter 12. The limiter 12 outputs a signal in which the output signal S.sub.T +S.sub.c is limited in a predetermined range. The output of the limiter 12 is supplied to the driving unit 7, and the driving unit 7 supplies a driving signal to the solenoid valve 8 so that it is operated with a duty cycle in response to the input signal. The solenoid valve 8 is controlled by the driving signal so that a cross-sectional area of the by-pass passage 9 is increased or decreased so that an air quantity passing therethrough is increased or decreased.
The operation of the conventional idling adjusting method will be described.
When an error .DELTA.n of revolution number takes place, the revolution number adjusting device 62 is actuated, and it generates a revolution number correction signal S.sub.c. The revolution number correction signal S.sub.c has a tendency to reduce the value of the error signal .DELTA.n generated from the error amplifying device 61, and when the error signal value .DELTA.n becomes the smallest, the value is fixed. The output signal S.sub.c of the revolution number adjusting device 62 is added to the output signal S.sub.T of the reference controlled quantity output circuit 11 in the adder 13, and the value obtained by adding is supplied to the limiter 12. The output of the limiter 12, which is limited to a predetermined range, is supplied to the driving unit 7 so that the output signal is converted into a driving signal for the solenoid valve 8.
Adjustment of the device as shown in FIG. 6 will be described. Assuming that the adjustment is made under conditions that the throttle valve 3 is at an idling position and the engine 1 is sufficiently warmed. A correction value output circuit 20 converts the revolution number correction signal S.sub.c generated from the revolution number adjusting device 62 into a duty signal having a characteristic as shown in FIG. 7, and the duty signal is output to a meter 21 located externally. The meter 21 may be a volt meter which shows a scale corresponding to average voltage. An operator adjusts an intake air quantity with an adjusting screw 4 provided in the by-pass passage 9 so that the indication of the meter corresponds to a 50% value of duty cycle. By such adjustment, the revolution number correction signal Sc becomes 0, and an error in revolution number, which may result due to various kinds of cause including the case that an intake air quantity is reduced by the clogging of the solenoid valve 8, can be adjusted.
In the conventional idling adjusting method for the engine of a vehicle, there is found a disadvantage as follows. When adjustment of the adjusting screw is made during an idling operation at a high altitude where the density of air is thin, the degree of opening after the adjustment is greater than that at a low altitude. Accordingly, when a vehicle adjusted for idling at a high altitude moves to a low altitude it is difficult to maintain a target revolution number because the density of air at the low altitude is thicker than that of the high land. Namely, even though the solenoid valve 8, i.e., the intake air control valve is to be closed, it is impossible to control the intake air quantity because there exists the lower limit of a range of control, whereby an idling revolution number is higher than the target revolution number, hence, fuel consumption efficiency becomes poor.


The size along an optical axis of a camera with a built-in magnetic head is reduced by arranging a magnetic head and a pad to be used for writing magnetic information radially externally of a bodytube, the pad being accommodated in a notch formed in the camera body so as to permit the bodytube to be retracted to a position close to a film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a camera with a built-in magnetic head which can write magnetic information (for example, date or day of week) on a film.
2. Related Background Art
A zoom camera is known in which a drive tube is rotatably supported by a camera body, a bodytube which contains a photographing lens is housed in the drive tube by screw engagement, and the bodytube is extended or retracted, relative to the camera body as the drive tube is rotated.
When magnetic information is recorded on a magnetic track of a film by the magnetic head, it is necessary to pinch the film by the magnetic head and a pad. Thus, the magnetic head and the pad are arranged on the opposite sides of the film. A space to accommodate the pad is provided behind the bodytube at the retracted end, and the magnetic head is arranged to face the pad with the film interposed therebetween.
In such a prior art camera with a built-in magnetic head, the bodytube must be arranged forward by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the pad because the pad is arranged behind the bodytube. As a result, the camera is of large size along an optical axis.


A plastic divider for providing a tunnel in the bottom portion of an electrical floor box having a box central portion with box cells extending outwardly therefrom. The divider is positioned in the box central portion and has sidewall frangible sections that are selectively removable to connect one or more cells with the space in the central portion of the box beneath the divider. The space in the central portion of the box beneath the divider is closed off from adjacent cells by sidewalls that have their frangible sections intact. A separate partition member is selectively attachable to the side of the divider having the sidewalls thereon for modifying the manner in which the cells communicate with one another and with the space beneath the divider.

In an electrical floor box having the general shape of a Greek cross, the individual arms of the cross define box cells located around the sides of a square central box area. Wires that extend through the box may be used for power, telecommunications and electronic circuitry, and it is desirable to maintain separation of wires that are used for different purposes. For example, telecommunications wires may pass through only one cell from one end thereof to the other. It is desirable to provide a barrier closing off the cell portion containing these telecommunication wires from the square central portion of the box through which power wires may extend. In other cases, wires may extend 90.degree. through the box from one cell to an adjacent cell by passing through the square central portion and it is also desirable to maintain separation of these wires from wires passing through other cells.
It would be desirable to have a divider that could be modified for selectively blocking or establishing communication between individual cells and the square central portion of the box.


Aspects describe a separate domain selection function that is utilized as the first function in a communication path for a communication that is to be connected to a user device registered in a first network or a second network. If a result of the domain selection function indicates call control should be maintained by first network (e.g., user device is registered with first network or a network with which first network has a control relationship), call control of the communication remains with first network. If the result of the domain selection function indicates the user device is registered with second network, call control is suspended by the first network, which allows the communication to bypass the first network.

A user device, which can be wireless or wireline, might be in an access network or domain in which the Gm interface (e.g., 3GPP TS 23.292), which provides direct communication to a home carrier's Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) domain, is not available or is not desirable for use. In this situation, IMS-related call control might not be supported. Currently, in 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) specifications (e.g., TS 23.292), I1 and I2 ICS (IMS Centralized Services) reference points have been defined to solve this problem. However, the I1 implementation requires significant development on the user device (e.g., handset) and the I2 implementation requires significant investment in Mobile Switching Center (MSC) based technology. Further, neither the I1 solution nor the I2 solution is attractive considering the evolving nature of the problem. For example, as a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network expands, there will be fewer and fewer circumstances in which user devices are on access networks that do not provide direct communication to the IMS domain. The I2 method can also depend on a visited (serving) carrier's willingness to upgrade their MSCs.
The 3GPP specification (e.g., TS 23.292, Sec 5.3.1) has defined the IMS SCC-AS (Service Centralization and Continuity Application Server) to be the last network entity in the terminating iFC (initial Filter Criteria) chain of application servers. This design assumes that IMS control is desired for all calls. However, in some cases, it is desirable to use the non-IMS domain to perform voice call control. For example, when a user roams on a non-IMS foreign network that may not support the home carrier's advance services, it might be desirable to use the non-IMS domain for voice call control.

Control domain change based on network registration condition


A pull-cord keeper provided for a window treatment assembly, where the keeper comprises a housing configured for secure mounting attachment on a wall near an upper portion of the window treatment assembly, the housing further defining a cavity therein; an opening in communication with the cavity; a spool adapted for rotational movement within the cavity to reel and collect through the opening a length of a slender, flexible material; and a sealed spring cartridge assembly for spring biasing the spool in a rotational direction for reeling the length of the slender, flexible material during a constant spring-loaded state.

The present invention relates generally to cord keepers, and more particularly to cord keepers adapted for window treatment assemblies to take up loose cords, chains, strings, and the like, in order to protect infants and young children from potentially lethal suffocation and entanglement hazards.
Pull-cords are utilized in various types of window treatment assemblies for operating and manipulating such window treatment assemblies such as adjusting the level of the window coverings, for example. Typically, the pull-cord consists of a single or multiple strands of threads that are typically tied together or looped. A locking device is usually provided for clamping the cords to hold the window covering at whatever height the user desires by operation of the pull-cords. The pull-cord usually extends from a head rail portion of the window treatment assembly to within a few inches or less from floor level. Such tied or looped pull-cords extending from the window treatment assembly, often presents an attractive danger to infants or young children fascinated with pull-cords. Tragically, many infants and young children playing with such pull-cords, become entangled in the pull-cords resulting in some form of injury, and even death when accidentally hanged by the pull-cords.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a cord keeper which can effectively prevent or minimize such accidents involving infants and young children in a simple and cost effective manner. In addition, it would be desirable to design a cord keeper that is inexpensive and easy to fabricate and use, and has a minimum number of parts while possessing the durability, reliability and strength required to withstand the stress and forces often experienced during operation of window treatment assembly pull-cords. Furthermore, there is a need for a cord keeper that is especially fail-safe, and which does not require separate actions by the user. Such a cord keeper must operate efficiently, yet be aesthetically pleasing and unobtrusive.
The present invention is generally directed to a window treatment assembly pull-cord keeper comprised of minimal component parts cooperating to form a device mountable on the surface of a wall or window casing, and adapted for continuously collecting or releasing a length of a pull-cord from a window treatment assembly for keeping the pull-cord taut each time the window treatment assembly is adjusted or operated. The pull-keeper of the present invention generally comprises a wall-mountable housing, a cord collecting assembly adapted for collecting a length of a flexible cord, and biased by spring means including a sealed spring cartridge located within the housing, that has an opening for permitting the flexible cord to pass therethrough into the cord collecting assembly.
The window treatment assembly typically includes window covering material or blind: slats extending between a head rail and bottom rail, and two or more lift cords connected to the bottom rail. Within the head rail, there is a cord locking device located therein. Typically, two or more lift cords are connected at one end of the bottom rail, and extend up through the window covering material or blind slats into the head rail. The lift cords then pass through a cord locking device and out of the head rail in a manner where the opposite end of the lift cords, or pull-cord, is accessible to a user. The window shades or blinds are typically raised by the user pulling on the accessible portion of the lift cords, or pull-cord, and are lowered by; releasing the pull-cord. In this manner, the pull-cord can extend downward from the head rail to within a few feet from floor level.
The window treatment assembly pull-cord keeper of the present invention is adapted to be mounted in a manner for keeping the pull-cord out of reach of infants and small children who are typically attracted to the pull-cord, and who are most susceptible to becoming dangerously entangled in the pull-cord. The pull-cord keeper of the present invention operates by collecting the freely suspended length of the pull-cord of the window treatment assembly, and keeping the ends of the pull-cord away from persons of relatively shorter stature, particularly infants and young children. More specifically, the housing of the pull-cord keeper is adapted for secure mounting on the surface of the wall or window casing near the head rail, and the cord collecting assembly located in the housing, draws or releases the pull-cord through the housing opening according to the degree of slackness in the pull-cord. The cord collecting assembly is conveniently driven by the spring means in a constant spring loaded state. The user can raise or lower the bottom rail as desired while the pull-cord keeper simultaneously draws or releases, respectively, a length of the pull-cord while keeping the pull-cord taut and away from the lower end of the window treatment assembly in a safe, efficient and effective manner. When the user is satisfied with the level of the bottom rail (e.g. of a Venetian blind), the cord locking device in the head rail is engaged as usual, and the pull-cord keeper automatically maintains the taut condition in the pull-cord. No separate action on the part of the user is required for operation.
In particular, one aspect of the present invention is directed to a pull-cord keeper for a window treatment assembly, which comprises:
a wall-mountable housing;
a cord collecting assembly located within the housing and adapted for collecting a loose length of a flexible cord;
a spring cartridge including a spring adapted for rotating the cord collecting assembly to collect the loose length of the flexible cord; and
an opening for permitting the flexible cord to pass therethrough into the housing to the cord collecting assembly.
In another aspect of the present invention, the pull-cord keeper comprises:
a housing configured for secure mounting attachment on a wall near an upper portion of the window treatment assembly, said housing further defining a cavity therein;
an opening in communication with said cavity;
a spool adapted for rotational movement within said cavity to reel and collect through said opening a length of a slender flexible material; and
a spring cartridge including a spring for biasing the spool in a rotational direction for reeling in any loose length of the slender flexible material during a constant spring loaded state.


A molded case circuit breaker has paddles on the trip bar to utilize the arc gases generated during interruption to speed operation of the latchable operating mechanism and to protect the trip mechanism from debris in the arc gases. Alternatively, or in addition, lateral projections can be provided on the crossbar for similar purposes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to circuit breakers having a trip bar which unlatches a latchable operating mechanism to open separable contacts in the circuit breaker. More particularly, it relates to arrangements for using arc gases generated during interruption to speed opening of the circuit breaker and/or for protecting moving parts from debris in the arc gases.
2. Background of the Invention
A common type of multi-phase circuit breaker has a molded case with side-by-side compartments for each of the poles. Each pole has separable contacts including a fixed contact and a moveable contact. The moveable contact is carried by a moveable contact assembly. The moveable contact assemblies of all of the poles are joined by crossbar for simultaneous opening and closing of the contacts in all of the poles. A single operating mechanism is coupled to the crossbar for manual opening and closing of the contacts through manipulation of a circuit breaker handle. The contacts can also be tripped open automatically by a trip unit which monitors the current in each of the poles. The trip unit includes a rotatably mounted trip bar which latches the operating mechanism. Upon detection of an overcurrent condition, a trip unit rotates the trip bar to unlatch the operating mechanism which then opens the contacts and all of the poles through rotation of the crossbar.
A certain amount of time is required for the trip unit to respond to the overcurrent condition and for the operating mechanism to initiate opening of the contacts after being unlatched by the trip bar. In order to speed up tripping in response to short circuits or other very high overcurrents, it is common to provide the moveable contact assemblies with a blow-open feature. Typically, the moving contact assembly includes a base member which is coupled to or formed integrally with the crossbar and therefore rotated by the crossbar. The moveable contact is affixed to the free end of a contact arm which is pivotally connected to the base member by a blow-open coupling. With the contacts closed, the contact arm is arranged in close proximity to a portion of the line conductor to which the fixed contact is attached and in which the current flows in a direction opposite to the direction through the contact arm. The magnetic fields produced by the oppositely flowing currents generate a very large repulsion force which rotates the contact arm relative to the base member and therefore blows the contacts open. The trip unit and operating mechanism subsequently respond and recouple the contact arm to the base member. This blow-open feature has been very effective in responding to very high overcurrents. However, there is room for improvement.
The arcs generated during interruption of a short circuit generate gases which typically contain debris in the form of vaporized contact material. This debris can become deposited on other components of the circuit breaker and have a detrimental effect on the operation of mechanical parts. In particular, debris deposited from arc gases on an electromechanical trip device can increase friction and result in poor performance. Hence, there is also room for improvement in the control of arc gases in circuit breakers.

Circuit breaker with arc gas engaging paddles on a trip bar and/or crossbar


A mammography unit is provided. The mammography unit includes a stand; an X-ray unit; a compression unit that includes a compression plate; an object table; and a suspension of the X-ray and compression units or the object table. The suspension is height-adjustable relative to the stand. The compression plate and the object table are adjustable relative to one another. At least one radiation element is integrated into the mammography unit. The at least one radiation element is operable to heat the object table by exposure to radiation.

The present embodiments relate to a heating device in mammography systems.
Mammography is X-ray based medical imaging technology for examining the female breast for abnormal changes in tissue. Mammography can be used to detect life-threatening (scattered) tumors in their early stages so that they can be surgically removed.
Mammography is used successfully in the field of cancer screening for women. Mammography is increasing in popularity because of a growing awareness of public health.
In a conventional standard mammography examination, the breast to be examined is placed on an object table which is located at breast height of the standing or sitting patient. The object table comprises the X-ray film to be exposed together with other technical components (screens, films, detectors, filters etc.). The breast is then gently squeezed horizontally using a height-adjustable, preferably transparent compression plate. The breast is exposed several times from different angles, sometimes using stereotactic recordings, by briefly switching on the X-ray source. After the image recording process and/or a subsequent biopsy (removal of tissue using a hollow needle) the breast may be released again.
One known problem in mammography is the relatively high thermal conductivity of the compression plate and the object table. The high thermal conductivity causes the patient to experience an unpleasantly cold feeling upon initial contact with the breast.
Until now electric blankets or heating pads or films have been laid on the object table (also referred to as a "Bucky table"). In order to establish good thermal contact, these heating elements have been attached using rubber bands, wires or the like which is an extremely laborious procedure. In conventional mammography units, there is no separate storage option provided for these heating elements. The heating elements are stored anywhere and are exposed to natural soiling.
Because the heating elements are stored anywhere and are exposed to natural soiling, the use of such heating elements is in many cases dispensed with by operating staff of a mammography unit, which is to the detriment of the patients.
US patent specification U.S. Pat. No. 5,081,657 discloses a heating element, which facilitates its implementation and enables improved storage in terms of hygiene. As shown in FIG. 1, the heating element 13 according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,081,657 includes a two-walled shell 10, which is a J-shaped section, and is made of a good heat conducting material. The heating element 13 is heated from within by an electrically operated heating film 11. The electrical supply 13 is integrated within the suspension 5 of the stand 1. The J-shaped section is adapted to the thickness of the object table 7. The shell 10 can be fitted over the object table 7 immediately before the examination. The fit enables good thermal contact. The heat of the shell passes to the object table 7 via the thermal contact. When the heating element 13 is not in use, the heating element 13 can be attached to a suspension 12 fixed to a stand 1 and stored until the next use.
Nonetheless such a heating element is complex and an error-prone component. The heating element is expensive to manufacture and is a cost-intensive component. Even a suspension does not guarantee hygienic, perfect storage over a long period of time.


The invention relates to derivatives of hepatitis C virus amino acid sequences. These derivatives can be used to screen samples, such as blood, to determine if antibodies to hepatitis C virus are present.

Antibodies are known to bind their corresponding antigens extremely specifically. If an antibody is directed against a partial amino acid sequence of a protein (an epitope), it is known that this partial sequence can be used alone for its binding.
The specific binding of two biomolecules was compared to the lock and key principle for the first time in the case of enzyme-substrate binding. However, in the 60s Linus Pauling recognized that there was a fundamental difference between enzyme-substrate binding and antibody-antigen binding. The binding site of an enzyme does not completely fit the substrate at all. Rather the binding site of an enzyme appears to be much more similar to the structure of the transition state of a substrate reaction and therefore allows the substrate to have a certain latitude in its structure without the enzyme losing its binding properties for the substrate. In contrast absolute fitting of the antigenic epitope into the binding site of the antibody is required for antigen-antibody binding, which basically excludes any spatial variation of the epitope with regard to antibody binding. It is only by means of this specific epitope/antibody binding that a foreign substance can be specifically eliminated from the organism by an antibody.
Epitopes toward which an antibody is specifically directed are mainly used for two applications. On the one hand, they serve--usually bound to a carrier--as immunogens (vaccines) which cause an organism to produce antibodies which are directed against these epitopes or against antigens which contain these epitopes. On the other hand, such epitopes are used in immunoassays for the specific detection of antibodies in body fluids in which they have been produced by an immune reaction to antigens which contain these epitopes (for example after infection by an infectious organism).
If the epitopes are polypeptides, when they are used in the organism as a vaccine or when they come into contact with body fluids such as serum in diagnostic applications, there is a problem in that the polypeptides are decomposed and lose their function by metabolic degradation, brought about in particular by proteases such as those which occur in body fluids.
It is known that polypeptides which are used for therapeutic purposes, i.e. for binding to enzymes or to hormone receptors in the organism, can be protected from metabolic degradation in the body by modifying the amino acid sequence. A description of such so-called peptide mimetics as therapeutic agents and the production thereof is given inter alia in Giannis, "Angewandte Chemie" 105 (1993) 1303-1326; Lee, Bull Chem. Soc. Jpn 66 (1993) 2006-2010 and Dorsch et al, "Kontakte" (Darmstadt) 1993 (2). However, this modification method did not appear to be applicable to epitopes used for binding antibodies and as immunogens for producing antibodies due to the known high specificity of the epitope-antibody binding.
Recently, at the third European BIAcore Symposium in London 1993, peptide human serum albumin fusion products were proposed for stabilizing such polypeptide epitopes (Integration of Biocore in the Discovery Department S. Reboul et al). However, the coupling of peptide epitopes to human serum albumin merely delays the enzymatic degradation of the polypeptides to a certain extent but does not prevent it.

Specific binding substances for antibodies and their use for immunoassays or vaccines


A power battery cooling system of an electric vehicle, including: a cooling circuit configured for cooling a power battery of the electric vehicle; a solar sunroof; and a sunroof control unit configured for controlling the operation of the cooling circuit and the electric energy output of the solar sunroof; wherein the sunroof control unit is configured to start a power battery cooling operation based on the solar sunroof in the condition that the power battery is not in a high voltage output state and the temperature of the power battery is higher than a temperature threshold, the power battery cooling operation including: controlling the solar sunroof to output electric energy to the cooling circuit so that the cooling circuit performs the cooling of the power battery using the electric energy from the solar sunroof.

Nowadays there are various electric vehicles, such as pure electric vehicles, hybrid power vehicles, etc. With respect to traditional fuel vehicles, electric vehicles have less effect on environment and thus their prospects are widely valued. Power batteries of existing electric vehicles have strict requirements on operation temperature. In the condition that the power battery temperature is over high, the power battery is prohibited from outputting energy for the purpose of protecting itself. When a user parks an electric vehicle under sunlight for a long time, the temperature inside the vehicle and the internal temperature of the power battery will be inevitably increased, which may likely results in an internal temperature of the power battery higher than a maximum value which allows vehicle starting, and in this condition the vehicle cannot be started. Thus, the power battery is generally equipped with a cooling system for maintain the temperature of the power battery within a predetermined range. The cooling system of the power battery operates using the electric energy of a low voltage assistant battery of the vehicle or the electric energy of the power battery. In a high temperature environment, a large amount of energy of the assistant battery or the power battery will be consumed by the cooling system for cooling the power battery, which results in quick decreasing of battery energy level, and thus properties of other energy consuming devices of the vehicle or the remaining driving mileage of the power battery will be affected. Further, in the condition that the power battery is cooled by only the assistant battery, when the energy level is not sufficient, the temperature of the power battery may not be decreased to be lower than the maximum value that allows vehicle starting, and the vehicle is thus cannot be started.
On the other hand, now some vehicles are equipped with a solar sunroof which comprises a solar cell battery under the glass of a sunroof. Currently, the electric energy converted from solar energy gathered by the solar sunroof is mainly used for driving a ventilation system to run continuously to maintain a comfortable temperature environment inside the vehicle, to expel harmful gases which are emitted from vehicle components under high temperature, and to prolong the service life of the interior decoration and vehicle electrics. In addition, the electric energy generated by the solar sunroof may also be sued for charging the assistant battery of the vehicle.

Power battery cooling system and method based on solar sunroof


The invention relates to new pyridinyl derivatives of the formula

The enzymatic activity of AOC3 (amine oxidase, copper containing 3; vascular adhesion protein 1) has been described already in 1967 as a monoamine oxidase activity in the plasma of chronic liver disease patients (Gressner, A. M. et al., 1982, J. Clin. Chem. Clin. Biochem. 20: 509-514; McEwen, C. M., Jr. et al.,1967, J. Lab Clin. Med. 70: 36-47). AOC3 has two closely homologous genes in the human genome: AOC1 which corresponds to a diamine oxidase (Chassande, O. et al., 1994, J. Biol. Chem. 269: 14484-14489) and AOC2, a SSAO with a specific expression in the retina (Imamura, Y. et al., 1997, Genomics 40: 277-283). AOC4 is a sequence that does not lead to a functional gene product in humans due to an internal stop-codon (Schwelberger, H. G., 2007, J. Neural Transm. 114: 757-762).
The enzyme contains an oxidized 2,4,5-trihydroxy-phenylalaninequinone (TPQ) and a copper ion in the active side. This characteristic catalytic center classifies the semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO, copper-containing amine:oxygen oxido-reductase (deaminating)): The type II membrane protein belongs to the family of copper containing amine oxidases together with several other diamine and the lysyl oxidases. However the later enzymes can be distinguished from AOC3 in their preference for diamines and the low sensitivity towards semicarbazide inhibition (Dunkel, P. et al., 2008, Curr. Med. Chem. 15: 1827-1839). On the other hand, monoamine oxidases contain the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) cofactor in their reactive center like monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) and monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) and follow therefore a different reaction scheme.
AOC3 catalyzes a two-step reaction mechanism for the oxidative deamination of primary aliphatic and aromatic amines. In a first reaction the primary amine forms a Schiff-base with the TPQ aldehyde. This covalent bond is hydrolyzed, releasing the aldehyde product and a substituted TPQ residue in the active site. In the presence of oxygen, TPQ is oxidized under the formation of ammonia and peroxide with the help of the copper ion (Mure, M. et al., 2002, Biochemistry 41: 9269-9278). Several substrates of AOC3 have been described, like the physiological amines methylamine, dopamine, or aminoacetone, whose products of oxidation have been associated to cardiovascular pathologies (Yu, P. H. et al.,1993, Diabetes 42: 594-603). Synthetic amines have been optimized for their turnover by AOC3 like benzylamine derivates (Yraola, F. et al., 2006, J. Med. Chem. 49: 6197-6208), C-Naphthalen-1-methylamine (Marti, L. et al., 2004, J. Med. Chem. 47: 4865-4874) or luciferin derivates (Valley, M. P. et al., 2006, Anal. Biochem. 359: 238-246). The later substrate can be used for the sensitive detection of AOC3 activity in plasma, tissue or for biochemical characterization of the enzyme.
Under pathophysiological conditions of high AOC3 activity the aldehyde products are highly reactive, leading to advanced glycosylation end products (Mathys, K. C. et al., 2002, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 297: 863-869) which are regarded as markers and drivers of diabetes associated inflammatory mechanisms.
Furthermore, the byproduct hydrogen peroxide is sensed by the tissue as a messenger of inflammation. This reaction product is able to activate the endothelium and is fostering the activation of leukocytes.
The binding and modification of Siglec-10 as a membrane bound substrate provides a mechanistic understanding of how the enzymatic reaction could trigger the leukocyte transmigration through activated endothelia. The binding of Siglec-10 to AOC3 was shown in several adhesion assays and led to increased hydrogen peroxide production (Kivi, E. et al., 2009, Blood 114: 5385-5392). Binding of activated leukocytes to the dimeric, extracellular AOC3 via the Siglec-10 generates a transient association to the activated endothelium. Therefore, the rolling velocity of leukocytes is reduced, which increases the transmigration of leukocytes into the interstitium of inflamed tissues. Further, a conserved RGD-motif on the surface of AOC3 argues for its adhesive role: The deletion of this sequence reduced leukocyte recruitment (Salmi, M. et al., 2000, Circ. Res. 86: 1245-1251), probably via a lack of integrin β1 binding activity (Aspinall, A. I. et al., 2010, Hepatology 51: 2030-2039).
This finding correlates to the phenotype of AOC3 knock out mice, which exert a reduced leukocyte and lymphocyte transmigration capacity (Stolen, C. M. et al., 2005, Immunity. 22: 105-115) into lymphoid organs and adipose tissue (Bour, S. et al., 2009, Am. J. Pathol. 174: 1075-1083).
AOC3 activity can be found in most tissues and is mainly expressed in endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and adipocytes (Boomsma, F. et al.,2000, Comp Biochem. Physiol C. Toxicol. Pharmacol. 126: 69-78; O'Sullivan, J. et al.,2004, Neurotoxicology 25: 303-315). In humans, in contrast to mice, AOC3 activity is constitutive in the liver sinusoideal endothelial cells (McNab, G. et al., 1996, Gastroenterology 110: 522-528) and mRNA expression is further upregulated under inflammatory conditions in this tissue (Lalor, P. F. et al., 2002, Immunol. Cell Biol. 80: 52-64); Bonder, C. S. et al., 2005, Immunity. 23: 153-163). AOC3 not only exists as a membrane protein, but can also be found as soluble plasma activity probably due to a metalloprotease mediated shedding process (Abella, A. et al., 2004, Diabetologia 47: 429-438); Boomsma, F. et al., 2005, Diabetologia 48: 1002-1007; Stolen, C. M. et al., 2004, Circ. Res. 95: 50-57)). Elevated levels of soluble AOC3 have been observed in diabetes (Li, H. Y. et al., 2009, Clin. Chim. Acta 404: 149-153), obesity (Meszaros, Z. et al., 1999, Metabolism 48: 113-117; Weiss, H. G. et al., 2003, Metabolism 52: 688-692), congestive heart failure (Boomsma, F. et al., 1997, Cardiovasc. Res. 33: 387-391), end-stage renal disease (Kurkijarvi, R. et al., 2001, Eur. J. Immunol. 31: 2876-2884) and inflammatory liver disease (Kurkijarvi, R. et al., 1998, J. Immunol. 161: 1549-1557). For the latter, levels of AOC3 plasma activity have been correlated to liver fibrosis and serve as a predictor in patients with NAFLD (Weston, C. J. et al., 2011, J. Neural Transm. 118: 1055-1064). After transplantation of cirrhotic livers, high AOC3 plasma levels returned to normal values, which argues for the liver as the major source of plasma AOC3 activity under this pathological condition (Boomsma, F. et al., 2003, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1647: 48-54).
The role of AOC3 in the activation of inflammation via peroxide generation and the recruitment of leukocytes to activated endothelium makes it an attractive target for the treatment of inflammatory components in several diseases. Therefore a variety of small molecular compounds and antibodies have been tested in different disease animal models. Amongst those, the inhibition of AOC3 showed beneficial effects in the models of melanoma and lymphoma cancer (Marttila-Ichihara, F. et al., 2010, J. Immunol. 184: 3164-3173), acute and chronic joint (Tabi, T. et al., 2013, J. Neural Transm. 120: 963-967) or lung (Foot, J. S. et al., 2013, J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 347: 365-374) inflammation, diabetic macular edema (Inoue, T. et al., 2013,Bioorg. Med. Chem. 21: 1219-1233), kidney fibrosis (Wong, M. et al., 2014, Am. J. Physiol Renal Physiol 307: F908-F916), liver allograft rejection (Martelius, T. et al., 2004, Am. J. Pathol. 165: 1993-2001) and non-alcoholic liver disease.
The development of a selective, potent and well tolerated AOC3 inhibitor would therefore be beneficial for the treatment of the respective human diseases.
AOC3 inhibitors are known in the art, for example, the compounds disclosed in EP 2 695 881 corresponding to WO 2012/124696. The pyridinyl derivatives of the present invention may provide several advantages, such as enhanced potency, reduced plasma protein binding, improved CYP (cytochrome P450) enzyme profile and high metabolic stability, high chemical stability, improved tissue distribution, improved side effect profile and/or tolerability and in consequence low toxicity, reduced risk to cause adverse events or undesirable side effects, and enhanced solubility. The pyridinyl derivatives of the present invention exhibit increased selectivity towards AOC1. AOC1 expression and enzymatic activity is mainly found in the gut, placenta and kidney. The enzyme catalyzes the oxidation of primary amines derived from nutrition and protects the individuum from cardiometabolic effects of histamine, putrescine, tryptamine and cadaverine. Inhibition of AOC1 can lead to impaired tolerance to ingested histamine, resulting in increased plasma and tissue histamine-levels which can cause adverse events or undesirable side effects like decreased aterial pressure and compensation by increased heart-rate, tachycardia, headache, flush, urticaria, pruritus, bronchospasm and cardiac arrest (Maintz L. and Novak N. 2007. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 85:1185-96). The consequence of AOC1 inhibition in combination with histamine intake has been demonstrated in experiments with pigs: After the application of the AOC1-inhibitor aminoguanidine (100 mg/kg) and gavage of histamine (2 mg/kg) animals experienced increased histamine blood levels accompanied with a drop of blood pressure, increased heart rate, flushing, vomiting and death (3 out of 15 animals) (Sattler J. 1988. Agents and Actions, 23: 361-365) under the experimental conditions. Histamine intolerance in humans was associated to mutations in the promoter region of AOC1, leading to reduced mRNA expression and plasma AOC1 activity (Maintz et al. 2011. Allergy 66: 893-902).

Pyridinyl derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions and uses thereof

Abstract: wherein R1 and A are as defined in the description and claims, to their use as medicaments, to methods for their therapeutic use and to pharmaceutical compositions containing them.


A system for unilateral lung ventilation includes an endotracheal tube and a blocking device for blocking the bronchus of a non-ventilated lung to prevent a ventilation medium from entering the lung. The blocking device includes an inflatable member supported by a catheter having an inflation lumen for inflating the inflatable member. The catheter includes at least one lung treatment lumen for delivering a therapeutic agent to the non-ventilated lung. An inner channel within the main channel and a side branch provide a guideway for the blocking device within the tube. A valve may be included to close the side branch when the blocking device is removed from the inner channel for parallel flow of ventilating gas in the main and inner channels. A method of using the system provides for ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) matching by respectively delivering cooled air and nitric oxide to the non-ventilated and ventilated lungs.

Children and adults undergoing thoracic surgeries often require unilateral lung ventilation and/or anesthesia. Specially designed endotracheal tube setups are used by anesthesiologists to facilitate unilateral ventilation procedures. Multiple endotracheal tube systems are currently in use that are specifically designed to either intubate the mainstem bronchus of the ventilated lung or to block the mainstem bronchus of the non-ventilated lung. However, each of these tube designs has specific limitations.
The tubes designed to intubate the mainstem bronchus of the ventilated lung include two fixed channels within the tube. When the procedure is completed and the patient is restored to bilateral ventilation, the presence of the two fixed channels undesirably limits airflow in and out of the lung by increasing resistance, thus adversely altering the mechanics. Therefore it is desirable to re-intubate the patient with a standard endotracheal tube following completion of the surgical procedure utilizing unilateral lung ventilation. However, repeated intubations are known to result in trauma to the epithelial lining of the airways.
It is also known to use a standard endotracheal tube to perform unilateral lung ventilation by passing a balloon catheter through a standard endotracheal tube such that the balloon catheter is inserted into the bronchus of the lung to be blocked. The balloon is subsequently inflated. The catheter contains a single lumen for access to the non-ventilated lung. This use of the balloon catheter with the standard endotracheal tube eliminates the need for re-intubation of the patient associated with the use of tubes specifically adapted to intubate the mainstem bronchus of a lung. However, the passage of the balloon catheter through the standard endotracheal tube places the catheter within the main lumen of the standard tube, thereby disrupting laminar airflow in the main lumen. Also, the balloon catheter can move around within the main lumen because it is not constrained with respect to the main lumen. This movement of the catheter contributes to the need for periodic repositioning of the balloon in the blocked bronchus, which can be a source of trauma to the epithelial tissues. Furthermore, the catheter accessing the non-ventilated lung is not thermally isolated from the main orifice of the endotracheal tube, which can be a limitation for a potential therapy to be described herein.
During unilateral lung ventilation procedures, the unventilated lung is collapsed and sometimes manually moved from the surgical field. Resulting contusions, alveolar collapse and atelectasis are known to contribute to lung inflammation. Moreover, it is difficult to maintain arterial oxygen saturation because of the extreme ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) mismatch that results when one lung receives no ventilation. In an effort to maintain blood oxygen levels when there is such dramatic V/Q mismatch, elevated inspired oxygen levels are supplied to the ventilated lung. Such high oxygen levels, however, are known contributors to lung disease. Laboratory studies indicate that lung function is hampered following re-recruitment of a collapsed lung after only 30 minutes of unilateral lung ventilation. The studies also demonstrate that unilateral lung ventilation using conventional techniques has a dramatic impact on lung morphology.
What is needed is a ventilation technique aimed at attenuating or eliminating the alterations in lung function and inflammation noted when bilateral ventilation is restored following a unilateral ventilation procedure. More particularly, what is needed is a device and method for unilateral lung ventilation that provides for delivery of therapeutic agents and/or interventions to both the ventilated and the non-ventilated lung before, during and following the procedure. The focus is to optimize V/Q matching during the unilateral ventilation procedure and to treat the lung for the inflammatory response to the associated traumas.

Device and method for unilateral lung ventilation


A method and apparatus for managing power in a hybrid vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle includes an engine, an electric motor, and an energy storage element coupled to the motor. The method involves receiving a request to supply operating power to drive the vehicle and responding to the request by selecting an apportionment of operating power between the engine and the motor from among a plurality of apportionments having respective operating costs such that the selected apportionment is associated with a minimum operating cost, the operating cost including at least an engine fuel consumption cost and a storage element lifetime cost. The method further involves causing power to be supplied by at least one of the engine and the motor in accordance with the selected apportionment.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to hybrid vehicles and more particularly to managing power in a hybrid vehicle having an engine, an electric motor, and an energy storage element coupled to the motor.
2. Description of Related Art
Hybrid electric vehicles having an engine (such as an internal combustion engine) and an electric motor, for providing power to the vehicle have become a viable alternative to conventional internal combustion engine vehicles. While such vehicles may require more complex power transmission components, this complexity is offset by improved fuel consumption and a corresponding reduction in emissions of pollutants from the engine.
Given the present climate of higher prices for fossil fuels, there is a corresponding desire to further reduce fuel consumption costs when operating hybrid vehicles. Hybrid electrical vehicles reduce fuel consumption by apportioning the power required to operate the vehicle between the engine and electric motor, to cause these components to operate at efficient operating points. For example, when moving slowly or when starting off from a stationary position, the electric motor may be considerably more efficient than the engine and in this case most of the power may be supplied by the motor. At higher speeds, where engine efficiency is better, a greater proportion of power may be supplied by the engine. Accordingly, the management of power distribution between the engine and the motor for a hybrid electric vehicle is an important factor in achieving the best overall efficiency, low fuel consumption, and minimizing operating costs.
There remains a need for improved methods and apparatus for managing power in a hybrid vehicle.

Method, apparatus, signals, and medium for managing power in a hybrid vehicle

Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc.


The present invention discloses a walking assistive system comprising a motion module, a current detecting module and a central control module. Each motion module includes omni-directional wheels, motors, shaft encoders and servo controllers. The omni-directional wheels are connected to and driven by the motors. The motors are connected to the shaft encoders, and the rotation speed values are generated corresponds to the rotation speed of the motors by the shaft coder. The servo controllers connected to the shaft encoders and the motors receive the rotation speed values and control the motors. The current detecting modules connected to the motors detect the current of the motors and generate current values correspondingly. The central control module connected to the motion control module and the current detecting module controls the platform compliant motion control modules according to the rotation speed values and the current values.

According to the latest data published in august 2008 by the Council for Economic Planning and Development (Taiwan), the social structure of Taiwan is getting an aging society, and the demand of the walking assistive apparatus to prevent the elder and the people with physical disabilities from falling down is getting higher and higher.
The Taiwan patent 395305 discloses a controller of a contacting surface of a motor. The controller keeps the contact force to the surface by calculating an external force contacting with the surface according to the angle variation of a torque spring. However, the controller does not have a function to be actively commanded by the master. Therefore, the controller lacks the adaptability when the situation is urgent.
The Taiwan patent 1274239 discloses a predictor capable of accommodating the force of a motor. The predictor predicts the external force imposed by a user according to the rotation speed of the motor, and further follows the will of the user to speed up or down to the motor. However, the predictor does not have a function be actively commanded by the master either, and lacks the adaptability when in a positive feedback environment.
The U.S. Pat. No. 6,518,718 discloses an auto-decelerating system of a motor. The system predicts the external force according to the current variation of the motor, and adjusts the force of the motor by controlling the motor voltage. However, the controller only compliance control one single motor and can not compliance control the whole platform.
The U.S. Pat. No. 7,386,365 discloses a controller of a surgical robot arm. The terminal robot arm is affected by operating the control-end robot arm. The terminal robot arm sends back the information of the force and position of the motor to the motor of each control-end robot arm correspondingly. However, the controller does not have a function to actively commands by the master either, and the controller lacks the adaptability when the situation is urgent.
In summary, the techniques relate to the walking assistive apparatus mostly lack the combination of a compliance controller and a self-navigator, and thus these prior arts could not achieve the functions of predicting the user force, self-navigating, compliance motion controlling, obstacle avoidance, slope surface walking assistant and omni-directional moving. Thus the elderly usually feel inconvenience and not humanized when using the conventional walking assistive apparatus.