A sheet post-processing device of the present invention includes a jam-disposal mechanism for moving a moving section which is provided opposite to a staple tray to the outside of the device. That is, in the sheet post-processing device, since a portion of the moving section can be moved to the outside, it is possible to form a space in front of the staple tray. Thus, it is easy to perform the jam-disposal by using the space. Further, since the staple tray is not moved in forming the space, consistency of placed sheets is not lost. Further, since it is not required that a space to perform the jam-disposal is prepared inside the device in advance, it is easy to miniaturize the device. Thus, the sheet post-processing device of the present invention is a compact sheet post-processing device by which the jam-disposal can be performed without losing the consistency of a sheet bundle placed on the staple tray.

A recent copying machine is designed to be used in combination with an automatic document transporting device and a sheet post-processing device for realizing automation of a copying operation, and automation of a post process performed with respect to copied sheets.
Here, the sheet post-processing device is to perform a post process (a stapling process and a punching process) with respect to a predetermined number of sheets, which were discharged from a copying machine.
In the sheet post-processing device, a predetermined number of the sheets are stacked as a sheet bundle on a post-processing tray. Further, after the post process such as the stapling process is performed with respect to the sheet bundle, the sheet bundle is discharged to a discharge tray.
However, upon transportation of sheets, there is a case where the sheets jam in a transport path of the sheet post-processing device. Thus, the transport path which cannot be opened causes such inconvenience that it is difficult to remove the jamming sheets (jam-disposal) from the transport path.
Thus, as to the sheet post-processing device, some techniques, which makes the jam-disposal easier, has been being developed conventionally.
For example, a document {circle around (1)}: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 129920/1998 (Tokukaihei 10-129920) (publication date: May 19, 1998) discloses a sheet post-processing device in which a staple unit can be drawn from a main body of the device.
The staple unit includes a staple tray (post-processing tray) and a stapler. Thus, when the unit is drawn, it is possible to perform the jam-disposal, with nothing above the staple tray. Further, it is possible to remove jamming staples and to supply staples efficiently.
Further, a document {circle around (2)}: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 143158/1999 (Tokukaihei 11-143158, corresponding to U.S. application Ser. Nos. 09/189,546 and 09/875,492)(publication date: May 28, 1999) discloses a sheet post-processing device in which it is possible to form a space above a staple tray.
That is, the device is arranged so that a sheet guide provided above the staple tray can be moved in the device. Further, this guide is moved in a direction away from the staple tray, so that it is possible to form an operating space (space for the jam-disposal), which is so wide that the jam-disposal can be performed, above the staple tray. Thus, an operator can insert his/her hand into the device so as to perform the jam-disposal above the staple tray.
However, the foregoing prior arts bear the following problems. That is, in the device of the document {circle around (1)}, the unit including the staple tray is moved in performing the jam-disposal, so that the consistency of the sheet bundle which is stacked on the tray is lost (when the staple tray moves and stops, the bundle moves in a moving direction of the tray due to inertial force).
Thus, the device bears a problem that the stapling process is not performed completely after the jam-disposal is performed.
Note that, the device has a jogger above the staple tray so as to keep the consistency of the bundle. However, the jogger can move parallel to a moving direction of the tray. Thus, when the staple tray moves and stops, the jogger also moves with the movement of the sheet bundle in the moving direction of the tray, so that it is impossible to keep the consistency of the sheet bundle.
Furthermore, even when the sheet bundle is made consistent again by the jogger after the staple tray is returned in the device, it is difficult to obtain the original consistency again (particularly, when the entire sheets move, it is so difficult to restore the consistency).
Furthermore, the device of the document {circle around (2)} is arranged so that an operating space is formed in the device by moving the sheet guide. Thus, it is required that a space for moving the sheet guide and a space used as the operating space are provided in advance, so that the device is bulky.

Jam disposer for sheet post-processing device


Error detecting and protection innovations for video decoders are described. For example, in a multithreaded video decoder, a picture extent discovery (PED) task detects an error in a video bitstream which corrupts a picture. The PED task then determines any PED sub-stage which have been completed for the picture, and based on this determination, performs error-handing PED operations. In another example, an entropy decoding (ED) task checks validity on a macroblock-by-macroblock basis using a redundant buffer to avoid overflows. Additionally, error recovery innovations are described which facilitate playback of a video bit stream at an arbitrary position. For example, a video decoder chooses a picture in the bit stream after the arbitrary position at which to begin decoding based on a determination of acceptable recovery time and/or acceptable picture quality.

Companies and consumers increasingly depend on computers to process, distribute, and play back high quality video content. Engineers use compression (also called source coding or source encoding) to reduce the bit rate of digital video. Compression decreases the cost of storing and transmitting video information by converting the information into a lower bit rate form. Decompression (also called decoding) reconstructs a version of the original information from the compressed form. A "codec" is an encoder/decoder system.
Compression can be lossless, in which the quality of the video does not suffer, but decreases in bit rate are limited by the inherent amount of variability (sometimes called source entropy) of the input video data. Or, compression can be lossy, in which the quality of the video suffers, and the lost quality cannot be completely recovered, but achievable decreases in bit rate are more dramatic. Lossy compression is often used in conjunction with lossless compression—lossy compression establishes an approximation of information, and the lossless compression is applied to represent the approximation.
A basic goal of lossy compression is to provide good rate-distortion performance. So, for a particular bit rate, an encoder attempts to provide the highest quality of video. Or, for a particular level of quality/fidelity to the original video, an encoder attempts to provide the lowest bit rate encoded video. In practice, considerations such as encoding time, encoding complexity, encoding resources, decoding time, decoding complexity, decoding resources, overall delay, and/or smoothness in quality/bit rate changes also affect decisions made in codec design as well as decisions made during actual encoding.
In general, video compression techniques include "intra-picture" compression and "inter-picture" compression. Intra-picture compression techniques compress a picture with reference to information within the picture, and inter-picture compression techniques compress a picture with reference to a preceding and/or following picture (often called a reference or anchor picture) or pictures.
For intra-picture compression, for example, an encoder splits a picture into 8×8 blocks of samples, where a sample is a number that represents the intensity of brightness or the intensity of a color component for a small, elementary region of the picture, and the samples of the picture are organized as arrays or planes. The encoder applies a frequency transform to individual blocks. The frequency transform converts an 8×8 block of samples into an 8×8 block of transform coefficients. The encoder quantizes the transform coefficients, which may result in lossy compression. For lossless compression, the encoder entropy codes the quantized transform coefficients.
Inter-picture compression techniques often use motion estimation and motion compensation to reduce bit rate by exploiting temporal redundancy in a video sequence. Motion estimation is a process for estimating motion between pictures. For example, for an 8×8 block of samples or other unit of the current picture, the encoder attempts to find a match of the same size in a search area in another picture, the reference picture. Within the search area, the encoder compares the current unit to various candidates in order to find a candidate that is a good match. When the encoder finds an exact or "close enough" match, the encoder parameterizes the change in position between the current and candidate units as motion data (such as a motion vector ("MV")). In general, motion compensation is a process of reconstructing pictures from reference picture(s) using motion data.
The example encoder also computes the sample-by-sample difference between the original current unit and its motion-compensated prediction to determine a residual (also called a prediction residual or error signal). The encoder then applies a frequency transform to the residual, resulting in transform coefficients. The encoder quantizes the transform coefficients and entropy codes the quantized transform coefficients.
If an intra-compressed picture or motion-predicted picture is used as a reference picture for subsequent motion compensation, the encoder reconstructs the picture. A decoder also reconstructs pictures during decoding, and it uses some of the reconstructed pictures as reference pictures in motion compensation. For example, for an 8×8 block of samples of an intra-compressed picture, an example decoder reconstructs a block of quantized transform coefficients. The example decoder and encoder perform inverse quantization and an inverse frequency transform to produce a reconstructed version of the original 8×8 block of samples.
As another example, the example decoder or encoder reconstructs an 8×8 block from a prediction residual for the block. The decoder decodes entropy-coded information representing the prediction residual. The decoder/encoder inverse quantizes and inverse frequency transforms the data, resulting in a reconstructed residual. In a separate motion compensation path, the decoder/encoder computes an 8×8 predicted block using motion vector information for displacement from a reference picture. The decoder/encoder then combines the predicted block with the reconstructed residual to form the reconstructed 8×8 block.

Error detection, protection and recovery for video decoding


Data transformation apparatuses and methods for transforming two arbitrary pieces of data of A input data and B input data, wherein a first nonlinear transformation of the A input data is performed using a first key parameter, a transformed result is output, an XOR operation of the transformed result and the B input data is performed to output an XORed result as B intermediate data, and the B intermediate data is input to a next sub-transformation unit as B input data. On the other hand, the B input data is input to a next sub-transformation unit as A input data. A second nonlinear transformation of the B input data is performed using a second key parameter, the transformed result is output, an XOR operation of the transformed result and the B intermediate data is performed to output an XORed result as B intermediate data, and the B intermediate data is input to a next sub-transformation unit as B input data. The above configurations are connected in a cascade and the last A intermediate data and B intermediate data are output as a transformation result.

As a conventional data transformation method for encryption, "FEAL-8 Algorithm" (Fast data Encipherment Algorithm-8) is disclosed by Miyaguchi et al. (Miyaguchi, Shiraishi, and Shimizu, "FEAL-8 Encipherment Algorithm" NTT Practical Research Report vol. 39, No. 4/5, 1988).
FIG. 29 is a partial diagram of the above "FEAL-8" encipherment algorithm.
In the figure, 1001 and 1002 denote input data of two sequences, 1003 and 1004 denote output data of two sequences, and 1005, 1006, 1007 and 1008 denote intermediate data. 1011, 1012, 1013 and 1014 respectively show a first key parameter, a second key parameter, a third key parameter and a fourth key parameter. Each of 1021, 1022, 1023 and 1024 shows sub-transformation unit of each transforming stage. Each sub-transformation unit includes each of nonlinear transformers 1031, 1032, 1033, 1034 and each of XOR (exclusive OR) circuits 1041, 1042, 1043, 1044.
An operation will be explained hereinafter. The input data 1001 and 1002 of two sequences are received at the sub-transformation unit 1021 of a first stage to be transformed into new data, that is, the intermediate data 1005 and 1006 of two sequences. The intermediate data is input to the sub-transformation unit 1022 of a second stage to be transformed into new data, that is, the intermediate data 1007 and 1008. The above operation is repeated eight times in total, and the output data 1003 and 1004 of two sequences are output as the last transformation result from the sub-transformation unit of an eighth stage.
An operation of the sub-transformation unit 1021 of the first stage will be explained for one example of the above sub-transformation units.
The sub-transformation unit 1021 receives the input data 1001 and 1002 of two sequences and outputs the intermediate data 1005 and 1006 of two sequences. As described in detail in the above Practical Research Report, the second input data, that is, the input data 1002, is divided into byte by byte and the divided data is then XORed with the key parameter. Arithmetic addition is repeated to the data and the divided data is united again. This nonlinear transforming operation is performed in the nonlinear transformer 1031. The transformed data is XORed with the first input data 1001. The XORed result is output from the first stage as the second intermediate data 1006. On the other hand, the second input data 1002 is output as the first intermediate data 1005 without any transformation.
In the second sub-transformation unit 1022, data is processed as well as in the above procedure and the intermediate data of the second stage is obtained. In the same way, in this example, the processes of eight stages are performed in total. As the result, output data 1003 and 1004 are obtained.
The conventional data transformation apparatus is configured as described above. The transformed data is output only after the nonlinear transformation is completed in one stage of the sub-transformation unit, and is input to the sub-transformation unit of the next stage. Namely, each sub-transformation is performed sequentially and it takes time to perform an entire procedure.
The present invention is provided to solve the above problem. The object of the invention is to perform a plurality of sub-transformations in parallel to increase the processing speed of data transformation such as encryption, decryption and data diffusion.

Data transformation apparatus and data transformation method


A cylinder liner includes: a small diameter portion configured to form a cooling water passage between the small diameter portion and an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder block; a large diameter portion disposed adjacent to the small diameter portion in the axial direction and formed to have a larger diameter than the small diameter portion; and at least one seal groove formed on an outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion in an annular shape along a circumferential direction. The large diameter portion includes a one-side wall portion formed between the cooling water passage and a cooling-water-passage-side seal groove which is a seal groove disposed closest to the cooling water passage in the axial direction, and an other-side wall portion disposed farther from the cooling water passage than the cooling-water-passage-side seal groove is in the axial direction. The one-side wall portion is configured to have, in at least part in a circumferential direction including a thrust direction of the piston, a larger distance to the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder block than a distance from the other-side wall portion to the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder block.

In a water-cooled engine (internal combustion engine), a cooling water passage may be formed between an inner peripheral surface of a bore of a cylinder block and an outer peripheral surface of a cylinder liner (see Patent Document 1). The cylinder liner has a seal groove formed in an annular shape along the circumferential direction. By inserting an O-ring in the seal groove, the cooling water passage is sealed to prevent the leakage of cooling water.
The cylinder liner accommodates a piston slidably along the axial direction. The piston is connected to one longitudinal end of a connecting rod via a piston pin. The other longitudinal end of the connecting rod is connected to a crankshaft. During operation of the internal combustion engine, the piston performs a reciprocating motion along the axial direction. The reciprocating motion of the piston is converted to a rotational motion of the crankshaft by the piston pin and the connecting rod.
Due to the reciprocating motion of the piston and the rotational motion of the crankshaft, the cylinder liner is subjected to a thrust force from the piston toward the outside in the radial direction. The thrust force acts in a direction (thrust direction) perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder liner and the axis of the piston pin.

Cylinder liner and sealing structure for cylinder liner

MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ENGINE & TURBOCHARGER, LTD.


A process, a system and a computer program product and computer readable medium are disclosed for the sequential control and execution of a medical task. In at least one embodiment, the task is processed with the aid of a plurality of different, computer-implemented, medical-technical, stateful applications. In at least one embodiment, the invention uses a 3-layer software architecture including a data layer, a business logic layer, and presentation layer. With the aid of a central server, the option is provided of a one-time loading of the extensive datasets for a task and the applications for a task, so that the datasets and the applications are subsequently preserved for a user of the medical task. As a result, multiple waiting periods for the user are avoided.

Medical, clinical systems generally run a great many complex processes, which must be modeled through linking a large number of computer-implemented applications.
The applications generally relate to completely different uses, for example the data acquisition or the post-processing of the detected image data and/or the generating of a report (reporting).
As a rule, complex medical tasks can be modeled with a sequence of partial tasks, wherein a partial task can be executed by different users or optionally also by users in different user roles. For example, a physician in the role of a reporter should be able to read and process different datasets than a medical-technical assistant in his/her role.
The following scenario is intended as example for a reporting task. A reporting task is generally initiated by issuing a message, a so-called "requested procedure" message. A patient is then examined in a first step, for example with the aid of an imaging process (MR, CT, ultrasound etc.) and the obtained data are subsequently stored. Normally, this step is performed by a medical technical assistant (MTA) on a first work station. Following the completion of the examination, the data are processed, possibly in dependence on a specific clinical issue, which may relate to a cardiology analysis, a perfusion, a colonoscopy, or a selection of parts of a dataset. For some medical applications, it is helpful if the detected medical image data are emphasized and/or marked with optional measures, wherein this task is generally performed by a so-called super MTA on a second work station. The resulting data are also stored. Following the completion of the two aforementioned preparatory processing steps, a radiologist in the role of clinical reporter can then analyze the obtained data and the already reprocessed datasets for the purpose of writing a report.
Different steps of a medical task can be carried out on different work stations, wherein these steps can furthermore be executed with a time delay. For example, a radiologist could wait until the evening to prepare reports of all cardiology analyses made during the day.
In the same way, it is possible to sequentially execute all steps of a medical task, wherein this direct execution of the individual steps can be of interest, in particular in emergency case scenarios. For an emergency case scenario, it is furthermore conceivable for a radiologist to realize all steps in order to save time.
The aforementioned example shows that from an information-technology point of view, it is no trivial task to interconnect the different applications and to execute these applications with the aid of different users at different work stations, as well as to provide the necessary resources, including the required datasets.
Until now, so-called stateless applications were generally used for this, for example web applications. It is characteristic for stateless applications that there is no provisioning of the processed data and the results achieved with the applications. For medical technical applications, which generally resort to comprehensive image datasets, the use of stateless applications is not advantageous. With stateless applications, the system performance gets worse for a user when loading comprehensive image data because of the longer waiting times.
Insular solutions were also frequently used in the past, so that one application was generally run independent of other applications. The steps taken so far have clear disadvantages and, in particular, result in the loss of performance during the daily operations.

Sequential control and execution of medical applications at different workstations


The invention concerns (1-ethoxyethoxy-cyclododecane) which, although its smell is not noticed by a large number of people, can advantageously be used in a perfume composition as perfume exalting fixative.

The present invention relates to the perfumery industry. It concerns more particularly the use of (1-ethoxyethoxy)cyclododecane in a perfuming composition, as perfume fixative and/or enhancer.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,697 describes via a general formula a number of acetals substituted by a cycloalkyl group and possessing an odor of the amber woody type. Although (1-ethoxyethoxy)cyclododecane is comprised in the general formula disclosed in said patent and is mentioned in the list of odorant compounds, (1-ethoxyethoxy)cyclododecane is also described as not being amongst the most odorant and appropriate compounds for use as a perfuming ingredient. The odor of (1-ethoxyethoxy) cyclododecane is not specifically disclosed in said document, and although there is disclosed a method of synthesis which can be applied for all the compounds falling into the general formula, the preparation of the invention""s compound is not specified in any example, and said compound is not used in any of the perfumery examples described.
Therefore, in view of said document, it appears that (1-ethoxyethoxy)cyclododecane has not been detected as being interesting from an olfactive perspective and one can even wonder whether the inventors had the compound in their hands or not. Some tests described in the examples given further below and done by expert perfumers or panelists, will confirm the fact that the invention""s compound turns out to be weakly odorant and even totally devoid of odor for part of the population.
The present invention is directed towards a method to fix or exalt the odor properties of a perfuming composition or a perfumed article, which method comprises adding to the composition or article an effective amount of (1-ethoxyethoxy)cyclododecane.
Another aspect of the invention provides perfuming compositions or perfumed articles containing (1etoxyethoxy)cyclododecane as a perfume exalting fixative.
Now, despite the fact that the odor of (1-ethoxyethoxy)cyclododecane is perceivable only by a minority of people, we have discovered that, surprisingly, said compound provides a technical effect which is both new and unexpected, recognized in a general manner even by those who are anosmic to the pure compound, when said compound is used in composition. We have thus been able to establish that (1-ethoxyethoxy)cyclododecane can, in a very advantageous way, be used in a perfuming composition as a perfume exalting fixative, while providing to the composition""s fragrance a nice woody connotation. By xe2x80x9cfixativexe2x80x9d we mean here an ingredient capable of improving a perfume by a complex technical effect which results in an effect which is simultaneously characterized by roundness, substantivity, dimension or volume, or still olfactive richness provided by this compound to the composition""s odor.
In addition to its fixing action, (1-ethoxyethoxy)cyclododecane possesses also an fixing or exalting effect of some odorant notes of the composition into which it is added, such as in particular the notes of the musky and aromatic type.
It has also been observed that, while most people do not smell the invention""s compound as such, said compound brings advantageously to the compositions into which it is added a very nice odorant note of the woody type which is generally perceived by all. Incidentally, we can emphasize the fact that the effect produced by the invention""s compound is quite different from the one produced by the preferred compounds disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,697. For example (methoxymethoxy)cyclododecane, a compound particularly appreciated for its olfactive qualities according to the cited document, possesses a very powerful odor of the woody and ambery type. This compound must be used in very small quantities due to its strength and does not provide any volume or dimension to the composition to which it is added. The effect of (1-ethoxyethoxy)cyclododecane which, as such, turns out to be practically useless, is much more subtle in composition and, besides a woody type odor, particularly interesting for perfumery, it provides a fixative effect such as defined above and a perfume exaltation, thus imparting a new dimension to the odor of the composition containing it. In other terms, the compositions into which (1-ethoxyethoxy)cyclododecane is added acquire a perfume quality which is expressed at the same time by a roundness of the odorant note and a dimension and intensity which is difficult to obtain with perfuming ingredients customarily known for their woody odor.
Thus, thanks to its exalting fixative property, (1-ethoxyethoxy)cyclododecane, unlike a xe2x80x9cclassicxe2x80x9d perfuming ingredient, does not produce just the effect of adding a particular odorant note to a mixture in order to modulate the odor of the latter. The technical effect produced by the invention""s compound is of a more complex nature, as it has been described above. The comparative tests presented further below show the effect of the invention""s compound in composition, compared with xe2x80x9cclassicxe2x80x9d perfuming ingredients known for their woody odor. In the present case, it is a question of really a new technical effect, which is also very useful for the perfumers.
The perfuming compositions into which the inventive compound is added in order to impart, at the same time, an intensity, roundness, richness and substantivity, are mixtures of perfuming ingredients commonly used in perfumery and possibly one or more solvents commonly used in perfuming compositions. Therefore, a perfuming composition according to the invention comprises the invention""s compound together with at least two perfuming co-ingredients and possibly one or more solvents.
The nature and type of these perfuming co-ingredients do not warrant a more detailed description here, which in any case would not be exhaustive, the skilled person being able to select them on the basis of its general knowledge and according to the nature of the product to be perfumed and the desired olfactory effect. In general terms, these perfuming co-ingredients belong to chemical classes as varied as alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters, ethers, acetates, nitriles, terpene hydrocarbons, nitrogenous or sulphurous heterocyclic compounds and essential oils of natural or synthetic origin. Many of these ingredients are in any case listed in reference texts such as the book by S. Arctander, Perfume and Flavor Chemicals, 1969, Montclair, N.J., USA, or its more recent versions, or in other works of a similar nature, as well as in the abundant patent literature in the art of perfumery.
Similarly, a detailed description of the nature and type of solvents commonly used in perfuming compositions cannot be exhaustive. A skilled person is able to select them on the basis of the nature of the product to be perfumed. However, as non-limiting examples of such solvents, one can cite dipropyleneglycol, diethyl phthalate, isopropyl myristate, benzyl benzoate, 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)-1-ethanol or ethyl citrate as well as ethanol, water/ethanol mixtures, limonene or other terpenes, isoparaffins such as those known under the trademark Isopar RTM. (origin: Exxon Chemical) or glycol ethers and glycol ether esters such as those known under the trademark Dowanol RTM. (origin: Dow Chemical Company).
The compositions containing (1-ethoxyethoxy)cyclododecane according to the invention are suitable for use in fine perfumery articles, such as in perfumes, colognes or after-shave lotions, as well as in other current uses in functional perfumery articles such as perfumed soaps, shower or bath gels, hygiene products, or hair care products such as shampoos or conditioners, body deodorants and air fresheners or cosmetic preparations.
The perfuming compositions according to the invention can also be used in articles such as liquid or solid detergents for textile treatment, fabric softeners, or also in detergent compositions or cleaning products for cleaning dishes or varied surfaces, for industrial or household use.
Said fine or functional perfumery articles are also referenced as perfumed articles.
The proportions in which (1-ethoxyethoxy)cyclododecane can be incorporated in the different products mentioned above vary in a broad range of values. These values depend on the nature of the article or product that has to be perfumed and on the olfactory effect sought, namely the intensity of some odorant notes, roundness, volume, substantivity, richness of the final odor, as well as on the nature of the coingredients in a given composition. It has been mentioned above that (1-ethoxyethoxy)cyclododecane in composition was particularly advantageous to reinforce the musky and aromatic notes.
As examples, one can cite typical concentrations from 2 to 30% by weight of the compound with respect to the weight of the perfuming composition in which it is incorporated.
(1-ethoxyethoxy)cyclododecane may be prepared in one step from cyclododecanol in the presence of ethyl-vinyl-ether and of an acidic catalyst. The specific conditions of the reaction will be described in more detail in one of the following examples.

Use of (1-ethoxyethoxy)cyclododecane in a perfume composition as perfume fixative and/or enhancer


The present invention provides compositions and methods for detecting mutations in the proto-oncogene Met.

Cancer is increasingly common in canines. Canine cancers include solid tumors and lymphomas such as, e.g., cancers of the mammary glands, prostate, oropharynx, skin, gastrointestinal tract, lungs and bone. A number of canine cancers are highly aggressive.
Recently, studies have been directed toward elucidating the biological mechanism underlying canine cancers. Dysregulation of growth factor receptors (also known as receptor tyrosine kinases, RTKs) is a common mechanism by which normal cells can undergo malignant transformation. One particular RTK termed Met is over-expressed in 60-100% of human OSA, and is known to be aberrantly expressed in canine OSA (see, e.g., Ferracini et al., J Orthop Res 18, 253-6 (2000); Ferracini et al., Oncogene 10, 739-49 (1995); Ferracini et al., J Cell Physiol 184, 191-6 (2000); and Scotlandi et al., Am J Pathol 149, 1209-19 (1996)).
The proto-oncogene Met was originally identified as the transforming gene of a human OSA cell line (MNNG-HOS) (Cooper et al. Nature 311, 29-33 (1984)). The ligand for Met is hepatocyte growth factor (HGF, also known as scatter factor) (Nakamura, Prog Growth Factor Res 3, 67-85 (1991); Nakamura et al., Nature 342, 440-3 (1989); Shimomura et al., J Biol Chem 268, 22927-32 (1993)). Met-HGF interactions promote an array of cellular responses such as proliferation, scattering (motility), and branching morphogenesis (Kan et al., Biochem Biophys Res Commun 174, 331-7 (1991); Montesano et al., Cell 67, 901-8 (1991); Weidner et al., J Cell Biol 111, 2097-108 (1990); Grant et al., PNAS USA 90, 1937-41 (1993); Birchmeier and Gherardi, Trends Cell Biol 8, 404-10 (1998)). Binding of HGF to Met initiates receptor dimerization and autophosphorylation at multiple tyrosine residues, resulting in a cascade of downstream signaling events including phosphorylation of adaptor proteins (Gab-1, Grb2, Shc, c-Cb1) and activation of PI3K, ERK1/2, FAK and PLCγ (Jiang et al., Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 29, 209-48 (1999); Maulik et al., Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 13, 41-59 (2002)). These signals are important in mediating a wide range of biological activities, including embryological development, wound healing, tissue regeneration, angiogenesis, invasion, and morphogenic differentiation (Jiang et al., Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 29, 209-48 (1999); Maulik et al., Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 13, 41-59 (2002); Birchmeier and Gherardi, Trends Cell Biol 8, 404-10 (1998)).
Increasing evidence suggests that both Met and HGF are dysregulated in a variety of canine, murine, and human cancers through mutation, overexpression, or co-expression of Met and HGF (Birchmeier et al., Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 4, 915-25 (2003); Jeffers et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 94, 11445-50 (1997); Jeffers et al., Mol Cell Biol 16, 1115-25 (1996); Jeffers et al., Oncogene 13, 853-6 (1996); Jeffers et al., PNAS USA 95, 14417-22 (1998); Pennacchietti et al., Cancer Cell 3, 347-61 (2003); Scarpino et al., J Pathol 202, 352-8 (2004); Schmidt et al., Cancer Res 58, 1719-22 (1998); Schmidt et al., Nat Genet 16, 68-73 (1997); Ma et al., Cancer Res 63, 6272-81 (2003); Lindor et al., Genet Test 5, 101-6 (2001); Lee et al., Oncogene 19, 4947-53 (2000); Di Renzo et al., Oncogene 19, 1547-55 (2000); Park et al., Cancer Res 59, 307-10 (1999); Ferracini et al., Oncogene 10, 739-49 (1995); Ferracini et al., J Cell Physiol 184, 191-6 (2000); Scotlandi et al., Am J Pathol 149, 1209-19 (1996); Tsao et al., Lung Cancer 20, 1-16 (1998); Ruco et al., J Pathol 180, 266-70 (1996); Ruco et al., J Pathol 194, 4-8 (2001)). It is also important to note that aberrant Met expression and/or function through mutation is associated with high tumor grade and a poor prognosis in a variety of human cancers (Di Renzo et al., Clin Cancer Res 1, 147-54 (1995); Baykal et al., Gynecol Oncol 88, 123-9 (2003); Carneiro, F. and Sobrinho-Simoes, M., Cancer 88, 238-40 (2000); Nakajima et al., Cancer 85, 1894-902 (1999); Takeuchi et al., Clin Cancer Res 9, 1480-8 (2003); Di Renzo et al., Oncogene 7, 2549-53 (1992)). Together, this data suggests that inappropriate expression or function of Met contributes to both tumor development and tumor progression.
Met dysregulation has also been implicated in canine cancer, specifically osteosarcoma (OSA). OSA is the most common bone tumor in dogs, representing approximately 85% of all bone tumors (Withrow et al., Clin Orthop, 159-68 (1991); Withrow and MacEwen, Small animal clinical oncology, xvii, 736 (W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia, 2001)). Both large and giant breed dogs are at a higher risk for the development of OSA, with certain breeds such as Rotweillers and Irish Wolfhounds over-represented (Withrow et al., Clin Orthop, 159-68 (1991); Withrow and MacEwen, 2001, supra).
OSA is a very aggressive tumor, causing lysis of the affected bone leading to a progressive lameness. While less than 10% of dogs have radiographically detectable pulmonary metastases at the time of presentation, over 90% have microscopic metastatic disease. Treatment involves removal of the primary tumor through either limb amputation or limb spare surgery. Amputation alone leads to a median survival time of 3-4 months, with nearly all dogs succumbing to metastasis within 1 year (Withrow et al., Clin Orthop, 159-68 (1991); Withrow. and MacEwen, 2001, supra). Survival times are extended to 8-12 months if adjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin, adriamycin, or carboplatin is used (reviewed in (Withrow and MacEwen, 2001, supra); Chun and de Lorimier, Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 33, 491-516, vi (2003))). However, less than 20% of patients will survive longer than 2 years. Recent efforts at co-administering adriamycin and a platinum compound have not improved survival times (Chun and de Lorimier, 2003, supra). In one report, 5 of 7 canine osteosarcoma (OSA) tumor samples exhibited high levels of Met expression as assessed by Northern analysis (Ferracini et al., J Orthop Res 18, 253-6 (2000)). In addition, a lung metastasis from one dog expressed Met at a higher level than the primary tumor. These results are similar to findings in human OSA in which 60%-95% of primary tumors and 80-100% of recurrences (local and distant) exhibit excessive Met expression (Ferracini et al., Oncogene 10, 739-49 (1995); Ferracini et al., J Cell Physiol 184, 191-6 (2000); Scotlandi et al., Am J Pathol 149, 1209-19 (1996)). Furthermore, Met was found to be overexpressed in multiple human OSA cell lines, and HGF stimulation induced phosphorylation, scattering and proliferation of these cells, although this effect varied in degree among the cell lines tested (Coltella et al., Faseb J 17, 1162-4 (2003)). Lastly, three canine OSA cell lines were recently demonstrated to express Met and to respond to HGF stimulation leading to Met phosphorylation (MacEwen et al., Clin Exp Metastasis 20, 421-30 (2003)).
Clearly, novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of canine cancer are needed if significant improvements in clinical outcome are to occur.
It is therefore clear that there is a need in the art for more effective therapeutic and diagnostic approaches for treating and preventing canine cancers. The present invention addresses these and other needs.

The Regents of the University of California


A residual stress improving apparatus for piping, which can heat an outer peripheral surface of piping to reduce (including eliminate) the residual stress of the piping is provided. The apparatus has a laser head portion, and circumferential direction moving mechanism composed of a ring rail and a rotational travel bogie. Further, the apparatus may adjust the reflection direction of laser light so that the laser light reflected by the outer peripheral surface of the piping does not return to the laser head, and adjust the delivery direction of the laser light so that the outer peripheral surface of the bending pipe portion located forwardly, in the pipe axis direction, of the laser head is irradiated with the laser light.

What matters in installing piping in a nuclear power plant and other large plants is residual tensile stress generated in the inner peripheral surface of the piping. If pipings are connected by welding, for example, residual stress occurs in a weld zone of the pipings. Under this residual stress, stress corrosion cracking (SCC) may occur in the piping, shortening the life of the piping. Thus, it is desirable to reduce the residual stress generated in the piping by welding or the like.
As a residual stress improving apparatus for piping, intended for reducing the residual stress of piping, the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, for example, is known. This apparatus includes an arc generation ring located on the side of the outer periphery of piping, and a ring coil disposed to pinch the ring. If a magnetic field is generated by the ring coil, an arc is produced between the arc generation ring and the piping to heat the piping. Upon heating of the piping, the residual stress of the piping is reduced.
As a residual stress improving apparatus for piping, intended for reducing the residual stress of piping, a high frequency induction heating apparatus or the like is known widely and generally. As a prior art document relevant to the present case, the following Patent Document 1 is available.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-150178

Residual stress improving apparatus for piping technical field


A system and a method of dating through video profiles are a dating platform that serves as a secure and accurate online dating application. The system used to implement the method includes a remote server and personal computing (PC) device. A plurality of user accounts is managed by the at least one remote server. The method begins by tracking a current location of the corresponding PC device of each user account with the remote server. Each user account is prompted to view an introduction video of at least one desired account with the corresponding PC device. The introduction video is outputted for viewing. The arbitrary account is then prompted to send a video-viewing request to the desired account. The desired account is prompted to accept the video-viewing request, and the introduction video is outputted for the desired account. A scheduling process is then executed for at least one live meeting.

The present invention digitizes human chemistry by humanizing dating applications. The present invention creates a safe and secure environment that is more like meeting in person. The application of the present invention is a completely visual application that requires no written information about the users. The application provides a platform to store a profile picture as well as an introduction video of the user. The introduction video is 5 to 45 seconds long and provides a novel method for users to present themselves. Users can browse potential dates by looking at the profile pictures of other users shown in a photo gallery. The photo gallery displays various potential dates the user can choose from. The user just taps on the desired photograph of the potential date, which in turn plays the introduction video of the selected user.
If the user likes the introduction video, the user can send the selected user an invitation to watch their introduction video. The invited user can then view the invitation and watch the video invitation of the inviting user. The invited user can choose various options from a menu which include scheduling a face date, setting up a face date or voice date right then, or declining the invitation. The inviting user is notified if the invited user has scheduled a face date or is requesting a face date or voice date right then. The inviting user is then able to accept the date or reschedule the date if necessary. The rescheduling process can be repeated as many times as necessary until both users agree on a date and time. The present invention administers the scheduled dates and can remind the users of upcoming dates. The users can also reschedule the date at any time before the date.
Furthermore, the face date and voice date are both completely private and secure, with no private information being exchanged between users.

System and method of dating through video profiles


The electric lamp has a lamp cap (6) with a contact member (9) at the base portion (8), a current supply conductor (4, 5) being passed to the exterior through said contact member. The current supply conductor (4, 5) is welded to said contact member (9) by a separately supplied solidified drop of essentially copper, nickel, copper/nickel, chromium/nickel/iron or aluminium containing 1-10% by weight of a metal addition.

The invention relates to an electric lamp comprising a translucent lamp vessel,
an electric element in the lamp vessel, current supply conductors extending to the electric element,
a lamp cap connected to the lamp vessel and having a sheath portion and a base portion carrying an electric contact member, the electric contact member having a surface through which a current supply conductor is passed to the exterior, which current supply conductor is welded to said surface.
Such an electric lamp is known, for example, from GB 444 958 (1936-3-23).
The lamp according to GB 444 958 has a lamp cap with a contact member at its base portion, which has a sunken portion, through which a current supply conductor is passed to the exterior. The current supply conductor is fixed in the sunken portion with an electric resistance weld. With this lamp, a contact element of a lamp holder, in which the lamp is arranged, touches the contact member of the lamp cap around the sunken portion thereof. This results in that the vulnerable welding connection is not subjected to mechanical load when the lamp is arranged in the lamp holder.
The known lamp has a number of great disadvantages. The lamp must necessarily be provided with an unconventional lamp cap because of the unconventional contact member at the base portion thereof. The contact member at the base portion is very large. In fact, it must be possible for the member to make contact with a mass electrode and with a welding electrode. Moreover, it must comprise a sunken portion. However, conventional lamp caps are in use, in which the contact member has a diameter of only 2.5 mm, for example the E5 lamp cap. Moreover, conventional lamp caps are in use, in which the base portion has two contact members, for example the B22d lamp cap. In this case, there is no room for two contact members of large dimensions. It is further difficult to make a good resistance weld between the current supply conductor and the contact member because these elements are in linear contact with each other during welding. The welding current is consequently distributed over a line, as a result of which it is possible that nowhere along the wire such a high current density occurs that a good weld is obtained.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,892,923 (1959-6-30) discloses a lamp in which a current supply conductor is welded to a contact pin at the base portion, through which said current supply conductor is passed. When establishing the weld connection, a first electrode is in electrical contact with the shaft of the contact pin and a second electrode at a certain distance from said pin is in contact with the free end of the current supply conductor. Between the area at which the current supply conductor is passed out of the pin and a third electrode, a discharge arc is drawn, which welds the current supply conductor to the pin. The welding connection is established by means of the locally molten material proper of the wire and the pin. Because of the contactings with electrodes which have to take place at a certain distance from the welding point, this manner of securing is not suitable for the contact member at the base portion of, for example, conventional Edison and Swan lamp caps.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,897,124 (1975-7-29) also discloses a lamp having a current supply conductor welded to a contact member at the base portion. However, the lamp cap is of an unconventional type. Its contact member at the base portion has a continuous elevated edge at its periphery. The contact member has centrally around an opening an outwardly protuberant edge. When establishing the weld connection between the contact member and the current supply conductor passed through this opening in this member to the exterior, a hollow first electrode is arranged over the contact member so as to be in contact with the elevated edge. Between a second electrode inside the first electrode and the contact member, a discharge arc is drawn. The latter causes the outwardly protuberant edge to melt and to contact with the current supply conductor, which also melts. Due to the flow of the melts, a welding connection is formed, which consists of the material proper of the contact member and the current supply conductor.
The welding connection is sunken with respect to the elevated edge, which must make contact with a contact element of a lamp fitting. The elevated edge thus protects the welding connection from contact with a contact member of a lamp holder. The welding connection has a rough surface and, if in the absence of the elevated edge it should contact a contact element in a lamp holder, it would consequently have an undefined small contact surface with said element. As a variation of this manner of connecting, the said patent specification mentions the same configuration of contact member and welding electrodes, in which the second electrode is a consumable electrode. A welding connection is then established by mixing the material proper of the contact member, the material proper of the current supply conductor and the material of the consumable electrode. This variation with a consumable electrode is not recommended by the patent specification.
This known lamp has the disadvantage that its lamp cap has an unconventional shape, is intended to make contact only at the edge of the contact member with a lamp holder, requires a comparatively large contact member and especially must be touched when establishing the welding connection in order to make a good electrical contact with the first electrode. Another disadvantage is that the energy of the discharge arc can damage the base portion of the lamp cap. For example, the base portion may crack or the material thereof may be decomposed. A risk is that the current supply conductor melts through within the lamp cap under the action of the heat of the discharge arc and loses its contact with the welding connection. This risk is great if the current supply conductor takes the form of a fuse wire, which in the finished lamp must melt upon heat development due to an excessively high current through the lamp.
EP 0 057 006 A.sub.2 (1982-8-4) discloses an H4 car lamp, in which current supply conductors are secured in the same manner to contact members at the base portion of the lamp cap by drawing a discharge arc between an electrode and an outwardly protuberant edge of an opening in a contact member, through which a current supply conductor is passed to the exterior. In the lamp cap of an H4 lamp, the contact members consist of rectangularly bent strips, which extend to a certain distance from the base portion of the lamp cap. In these contact members, there is plenty of room to make contact with a mass electrode in order to draw with a second electrode an arc to establish a welding connection with a melt of the material proper of the contact member and a melt of the material proper of the current supply conductor. When establishing this connection, however, a comparatively high thermal load of the material of the base portion of the lamp cap occurs.
Several Patent Specifications, inter alia U.S. Pat. No. 2,708,702 (1955-5-17), U.S. Pat. No. 2,809,279 (1957-10-8) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,136 (1984-7-3), describe the step of connecting a current supply conductor to the sheath portion of a lamp cap by drawing a discharge arc between the free end of the current supply conductor and an electrode, this end of the current supply conductor then melting and the melt of said conductor itself forming a connection between the conductor and the lamp cap. The sheath of the lamp cap offers plenty of room for a mass electrode. When pressing the lamp cap against the lamp vessel, the sheath portion of the lamp cap contacts the current supply conductor, which is passed to the exterior between the lamp cap and the lamp vessel. The cold lamp cap causes the melt to solidify as soon as it touches the lamp cap.
As appears from the citations, attempts have been made already for many decennia to avoid securing current supply conductors to contact members at the base portion of a lamp cap by soldering. A disadvantage of securing to a contact member at the base portion by soldering is the risk of cold flow of the solder in a lamp fitting. As a result, high contact resistances and excessive heat development may occur in the lamp fitting. Very great disadvantages are further the long process duration of establishing a soldering connection. Not only the time required for heating, but also the time required for cooling the solder to solidification is long. In this cooling period, the lamp must be kept stationary in order to avoid that the solder is thrown away. Another very great disadvantage is the necessity of using a flux to cause the solder to flow and thus to adhere. The residues of the flux may give rise to the formation of a leakage path for electric current between contact members or between a contact member and the sheath portion of a lamp cap. As a result, shortcircuit may occur.


This invention relates to a dot printer of the type in which received printing data are converted into dot-patterns to be printed. A printer of this type mainly comprises: a main memory which stores the printing data as either fixed part data and variable part data; a mechanism for identifying the fixed part data and the variable part data; and a buffer or buffers for storing the result of performing an operation, usually called "dot-expansion," on the printing data stored in the main memory. The contents of the buffers are applied to the printing head, which in turn, prints dot-images on a sheet of paper. Because the CPU dot-expands and recopies only the variable part data in the main memory into the buffer, a needless computation associated with dot-expanding fixed-part data is eliminated. In addition, if two buffers are used, a first buffer may hold dot-expanded data while the printing head is operating and while the other buffer is being filled with dot-expanded data, to be printed subsequent to the printing of the contents of the first buffer. Segmenting the main memory into fixed part data and variable part data and two-buffer scheme allow printers of the present invention to print a document faster than conventional dot-printers.

This invention relates to a dot printer of the type in which received printing data are converted into dot patterns to be printed.
A printer of this type generally includes a main memory which stores data to be printed. Data is read from the main memory and an operation known as "dot-expansion" is carried out on the data. The data resulting from dot-expansion is then stored in a buffer.
A conventional dot printer successively performs the following operations: (1) reading data from the buffer and driving the printing head to print out several lines; (2) reading data corresponding to several lines from the main memory and performing the dot-expansion on that data; and (3) storing the dot-expanded data in the buffer. Thus, the conventional printer applies a full dot-expansion to the printing data every several lines.
The conventional printer is not efficient because it performs substantially the same operations for each page of the document. For example, there are many documents in which all pages are equivalent in content, except for a few isolated parts. Because each page must be entirely subjected to dot-expansion every several lines, the printer must perform substantially the same operations for each page of the document, thus wasting time.

Dot printer with a reduced average number of dot-expansion operations