An XML-aware file system exploits attributes encoded in an XML document. The file system presents a dynamic directory structure to the user, and breaks the conventional tight linkage between sets of files and the physical directory structure, thus allowing different users to see files organized in a different fashion. The dynamic structure is based upon content, which is extracted using an inverted index according to attributes and values defined by the XML structure.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to computer file systems. More particularly this invention relates to an improved semantically based system for dynamically organizing XML files or files with markup tags in a context sensitive manner.
2. Description of the Related Art
It has been recognized that static, hierarchical systems of organizing documents are inadequate to efficiently meet the needs of computer users attempting to access increasingly vast amounts of dynamically changing information. Conventional file systems are simply too unwieldy to deal with this information load in a way that is convenient to the user. They have become increasingly impractical for efficient document management.
A relational database is an alternative to a file system as a repository for documents, and many databases today provide some support for documents such as extended markup language (XML) documents. The XML document type declaration contains, or points to, markup declarations that provide a grammar for a class of documents. This grammar is known as a document type definition (DTD) However, the flexible document type declaration of an XML document, while easily represented as a graph, does not map naturally or efficiently into a flat static table. Moreover, the standard query language (SQL) interface of databases is not as commonly used in software applications, as is the conventional file system interface. Furthermore, management of large databases often requires a skilled administrator.
This approach to controlling the information explosion involves attaching metadata to documents. For example, using the MPEG-7 standard it is possible to attach attributes to video data.
It is proposed in the document Semantic File Systems. D. Gifford, P. Jouvelot, M. Sheldon, and J. O""Toole Jr., In Proc. 13th ACM Symposium on Operating Systems Principles, October 1991, pp. 16-25, to provide access to documents using queries. Virtual directories are created, each pointing to files that satisfy a query. The concepts presented in this document provide a foundation for the invention disclosed herein.
The document Presto: An Experimental Architecture for Fluid Interactive Document Spaces, Paul Dourish, W. Keith Edwards, Anthony LaMarca, and Michael Salisbury, ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction, 6(2) 1999, and the document Using Properties for Uniform Interaction in the Presto Document System, Paul Dourish, W. Keith Edwards, Anthony LaMarca, and Michael Salisbury, in Proceedings of the ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology, UIST ""99, Asheville, N.C., 1999, together disclose a document management system that emphasizes the attributes of documents being retrieved, while retaining some structural aspects of conventional file systems. The system is driven by attributes that are manually attached to the files, or extracted from the files using a filter. The attributes, including content, may be arbitrarily defined by different users and their numbers extended, such that different users have entirely different view of the document space. This arrangement has the drawbacks of requiring the user to execute a separate application using a separate interface.
Another approach is taken in the document, Integrating Content-Based Access Mechanisms with Hierarchical File Systems, B. Gopal and U. Manber, Operating Systems Design and Implementation (OSDI), 1999. This document proposes to extend the file system interface, wherein users are able to create their own name spaces based on queries, path names, or combinations thereof. This approach has a drawback in that interoperability with existing applications is difficult.
It is a primary advantage of some aspects of the present invention that existing applications using the conventional file system applications programming interface (API) are supported.
It is still another advantage of some aspects of the invention that file organization dynamically accommodates changes in the document space.
If is a further advantage of some aspects of the invention that different users may see files organized in a different fashion, and that a given user is able to see the files organized in different ways.
It is yet another advantage of some aspects of the invention that a user can quickly determine what information is contained in a repository of files in a given context.
These and other advantages of the present invention are attained by a file system, which in a preferred embodiment exploits attributes encoded in an XML document. The file system presents a dynamic directory structure to the user, and breaks the conventional tight linkage between sets of files and the physical directory structure, thus allowing different users to see files organized in a different fashion. The dynamic structure is based upon content, which is extracted according to attributes defined by the XML structure.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an XML-aware file system (XMLFS) combines the interface of a conventional file system with the organizational power of information retrieval to provide a repository for XML documents. It provides a solution for organizing, searching and browsing collections of XML documents. The semi-structured nature of documents that comply with the XML standard implies that XML documents readily include metadata. Because of its popularity, XML appears to be an ideal format for innovation that results in sensibly ordering an ever-growing amount of information.
To the user, the XML-aware file system appears to be a completely conventional standard file system, and it supports any existing application that employs a standard file system applications programming interface. In addition, in some embodiments, since the XML-aware file system is built upon an existing file system, it can exploit existing support facilities, for example backup facilities.
In an important departure from the view presented by traditional hierarchical file systems, instead of showing files organized in a static directory structure, the XML-aware file system shows files organized in a dynamic hierarchy which is constructed on-thexcx9cfly. The user of the XML-aware file system is informed by the directory path as to what content is relevant at a particular instance in time. A directory path in the XML-aware file system is a sequence of attributes and values, and the contents of a directory are all of the XML documents that have the attributes and values named in the path. In other words, a directory path in the XML-aware file system reflects a query for a set of documents matching a set of constraints. As the path is being incrementally constructed, the user of the file system browses through a set of documents that match a partial query.
The invention provides a computer implemented method of information retrieval, including the steps of retrieving structural information of memorized XML documents according to a document type declaration that corresponds to each of the documents, retrieving elements of the documents, attributes and values of the elements. The method further includes generating a multilevel inverted index from the structural information, the elements, the attributes and the values, and accepting a specification from a user that has members comprising at least one of the elements, the attributes or the values. The method further includes extracting data from the index responsive to the specification, wherein the data complies with at least one of the members. The method further includes displaying virtual directory paths of corresponding ones of the documents, wherein the directory paths each comprise a sequence of the members, and wherein contents of directories that are identified in the directory paths comprise selected ones of the documents possessing the specification.
According to an aspect of the method, the index includes a structural section that has postings of the structural information, and a words section that has postings of the values, wherein the values are words.
One aspect of the method includes arranging the directory paths in a hierarchy that is constructed in conformance with the specification. Arranging can be accomplished by extracting a document identifier from one of the postings of the values, extracting an offset of a context from the one of the postings of the values, and extracting an entry length of the context from the one of the postings of the values.
According to one aspect of the method, the documents are written in a markup language.
According to still another aspect of the method, the documents are XML documents.
An additional aspect of the method includes noting changes in a composition of a repository of the documents, and updating the index responsive to the changes.
According to another aspect of the method, the specification includes a partial query and a complete query.
According to yet another aspect of the method, a portion of the specification is stated as a path name by the user.
The invention provides a computer software product, including a computer-readable medium in which computer program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to perform the steps of retrieving structural information of memorized documents according to a document type declaration that corresponds to each of the documents, retrieving elements, attributes and values of the elements, generating a multilevel inverted index from the structural information, the elements, the attributes and the values, and accepting a specification from a user that comprises at least one of the elements, the attributes and the values. Responsive to the specification the computer further performs the steps of extracting data from the index, associating the data with corresponding ones of the documents, and displaying the corresponding ones of the documents as virtual directory paths, wherein the directory paths each comprise a sequence of elements, the attributes and the values, and wherein contents of directories that are identified in the directory paths comprise selected ones of the documents possessing the specification.
According to an aspect of the computer software product, the index includes a structural section that has postings of the structural information, and a words section that has postings of the values, wherein the values are words.
An additional aspect of the computer software product includes arranging the directory paths in a hierarchy that is constructed in conformance with the specification. Arranging the directory paths can include extracting a document identifier from one of the postings of the values, extracting an offset of a context from the one of the postings of the values, and extracting an entry length of the context from the one of the postings of the values.
According to one aspect of the computer software product, the documents are written in a markup language.
According to another aspect of the computer software product, the documents are XML documents.
A further aspect of the computer software product includes noting changes in a composition of a repository of the documents, and updating the index responsive to the changes.
According to yet another aspect of the computer software product, the specification includes a partial query and a complete query.
According to still another aspect of the computer software product, the specification is stated as a path name by the user.
According to one aspect of the computer software product, the specification is issued via a file system applications programming interface.
According to another aspect of the computer software product, the instructions define a file system engine that issues calls to an operating system.
The invention provides a computer implemented information retrieval system for presenting a semantically dependent directory structure of XML files to a user, including a file system engine that receives a file request via a file system application programming interface and issues file system calls to an operating system, wherein the file request specifies a file content of memorized files. The system also includes an XML parser linked to the file system engine that retrieves structural information of XML documents, the XML parser further retrieving at least one of elements, attributes and respective values thereof from the XML documents. The system also includes an indexer linked to the XML parser for constructing an inverted index of the elements, the attributes and the respective values thereof, wherein responsive to the file request, the file system engine retrieves postings of the inverted index that satisfy requirements of the file request, and returns directory paths to the file system application programming interface of selected ones of the XML documents corresponding to the postings.
According to an aspect of the information retrieval system, the inverted index includes a structural section that has postings of the structural information, and a words section that has postings of words of the XML documents.
According to yet another aspect of the information retrieval system, the postings of the structural information and the postings of words comprise a document identifier of one of the XML documents, an offset of a context in the one XML document, and an entry length in the context of the one XML document.
Still another aspect of the information retrieval system includes an XML analyzer for updating the inverted index, wherein the XML analyzer analyzes additions to the memorized files.
According to an additional aspect of the information retrieval system, the XML parser retrieves the structural information from document type declarations of the XML documents.
According to one aspect of the information retrieval system, the file request includes a partial query and a complete query.
According to another aspect of the information retrieval system, a portion of the file request is a path name.
According to a further aspect of the information retrieval system, the repository of the XML documents can be a networked file system.
The invention provides a computer implemented information retrieval system for presenting a semantically dependent directory structure of document files to a user, wherein documents of the document files are written in a markup language, including a file system engine that receives a file request via a file system application programming interface and issues file system calls to an operating system, wherein the file request specifies a file content of memorized files. The system includes a parser of the markup language, linked to the file system engine, that retrieves structural information of the documents, the parser further retrieving at least one of elements, attributes and respective values thereof from the documents. The system includes an indexer, linked to the parser, for constructing an inverted index of the elements and the attributes and the respective values thereof, wherein responsive to the file request, the file system engine retrieves postings of the inverted index that satisfy requirements of the file request, and returns directory paths to the file system application programming interface of selected ones of the documents corresponding to the postings.
According to an aspect of the information retrieval system, the inverted index includes a structural section that has postings of the structural information, and a words section that has postings of words of the documents.
According to one aspect of the information retrieval system, the postings of the structural information and the postings of words include a document identifier of one of the documents, an offset of a context in the one document, and an entry length of the context in the one document.
Another aspect of the information retrieval system includes an analyzer for updating the inverted index, wherein the analyzer analyzes additions to the memorized files.
According to a further aspect of the information retrieval system, the parser retrieves the structural information from document type declarations of the documents.
According to yet another aspect of the information retrieval system, the file request includes a partial query and a complete query.
According to still another aspect of the information retrieval system, a portion of the file request is a path name.
According to an additional aspect of the information retrieval system, a repository of the documents can be a networked file system.

File system with access and retrieval of XML documents

International Business Machines Corporation


A music piece order determination device includes a beat information corrector, a correlation value calculator, and a music piece order determiner. The beat information corrector acquires beat position information and a tempo value in a musical composition, and corrects the beat position information such that the tempo value becomes the same value as a reference value. The correlation value calculator calculates a correlation value indicative of a degree of correlation of beat position information between respective musical compositions among a plurality of musical compositions, based on the beat position information. The music piece order determiner determines a music piece order, which is a reproduction order of musical compositions, based on the correlation value between the respective musical compositions.

The present invention relates to a music piece order determination device, a music piece order determination method, and a music piece order determination program, for determining a reproduction order of musical compositions.
As one of methods for expressing music, there is known a method called mix reproduction. Mix reproduction is a method for, instead of sequentially reproducing each music piece simply from the start to the end thereof, continuously reproducing successive musical compositions without a pause while adjusting the reproduction speed of music pieces, giving effects such as delay or reverb to the music pieces, or inserting sound effects such as scratch.
A patent document (International Publication WO 2007/066818) discloses the technique of automatically performing mix reproduction of musical compositions by selecting a mixing method appropriate to successive music pieces through the use of metadata in which beats and melody structures of the musical compositions are described.
However, there is a case where a feeling of unnaturalness is caused in connection between successive musical compositions when the successive musical compositions are not compatible with mix reproduction, even by performing mix reproduction through the use of the technique in the patent document. It was not possible for the technique in the patent document to determine a reproduction order of musical compositions (music piece order) suitable to mix reproduction in consideration of the compatibility between musical compositions.

Music piece order determination device, music piece order determination method, and music piece order determination program


A flap for an asphalt hopper of an asphalt paver includes a sheet of a first material arranged to, in a non-deformed configuration, extend upwards from a base of the asphalt hopper and at least partially enclose one end of the asphalt hopper. The flap further includes a support member of a memory metal material coupled to the sheet. The support member has a deformed configuration and a non-deformed configuration. The support member experiences shape memory effect above a transition temperature that causes the support member in the deformed configuration to transition to the non-deformed configuration in response to heating at or above a transition temperature and also urges the sheet to return to the non-deformed configuration from a deformed configuration.

Asphalt pavers are used for spreading hot asphalt across a paving surface prior to compaction of the asphalt, resulting in a smooth finished paved surface. Asphalt pavers typically include a hopper for receiving the hot asphalt, from a dump truck for example, and a conveyer belt for feeding the asphalt to a spreading mechanism at the rear of the vehicle. As asphalt is delivered into the hopper, it is common for the dump truck to inadvertently contact the hopper, which can damage both the hopper and the dump truck or other equipment.
To prevent damage to the hopper from accidental contact with the dump truck, the hopper may include one or more flexible flaps in place of a rigid front wall. The flexible flaps are sufficiently stiff and resilient at ambient temperatures (e.g., 70-80 degrees F./21-27 degrees C.) to maintain the flaps in an upright configuration. However, as the flexible flaps are exposed to high temperatures from the hot asphalt, the flaps can become more easily deformed, which may make the flaps less effective at preventing asphalt from spilling out of the hopper in front of the asphalt paver. Over time, the flaps can become permanently deformed and damaged from the prolonged heat exposure from the asphalt.
The present invention relates to an improved flap for an asphalt paver hopper.


The present invention provides an anti-reflective film that prevents wavelength dispersion from being applied to light transmitted through an anti-reflective film. The present invention is an anti-reflective film, which reduces reflection of visible light on a surface of a substrate by being mounted on the substrate, has a wavelength dispersion structure for applying first wavelength dispersion to visible light transmitting through the anti-reflective film, and contains a wavelength dispersion material for applying second wavelength dispersion to the visible light transmitting through the anti-reflective film, wherein visible light transmitted through the anti-reflective film has flat transmission wavelength dispersion in a visible light region.

Displays such as CRT (cathode ray tube) displays, LCDs (liquid crystal displays), PDPs (plasma display panels), EL (electroluminescent) displays are each required to have a display surface provided with various functions of scratch-proof, anti-reflection for images, soil-proof, and the like. To the display surface of these displays, protective members such as a protective film are attached in some cases. As this protective film, one showing anti-reflection for images is used, thereby giving the needed functions to the display surface at one time.
It is known that for anti-reflection for images, for example, the protective film is provided with AG (anti-glare) treatment or LR (low reflection) treatment. According to the AG treatment, a pattern of fine grooves is formed on the protective film surface, and by utilizing light scattering effects, the anti-reflection for images is achieved. According to the LR treatment, a film with a refractive index different from that of the protective film is applied on the protective film, and by utilizing the effect of interference of light reflected on the protective film surface and light reflected on the applied film surface, the reflection is reduced (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).
As a method for forming an uneven pattern such as AG treatment, there is known a technology of imprinting an uneven pattern in accordance with a mold shape onto a thin film by pressing the mold to a thin film applied on the substrate. Upon imprinting the uneven pattern, the thin film is heated or light-radiated. As a method of light radiation, there may be mentioned a method including forming a thin film of ultraviolet curing resin on a transparent substrate, forming an uneven pattern on the thin film by pressing a mold having the uneven pattern on the thin film, curing the thin film by ultraviolet radiation simultaneously, and forming a thin film with the reverse shape of the uneven pattern of the mold on the transparent substrate (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
Meanwhile, as a technology to improve visibility in bright places other than the LR treatment and the AG treatment, an increasing attention has been paid to moth-eye structures, which provide great reflection preventing effect without using the light interference technique. For forming the moth-eye structure on a surface of a product on which the reflection preventing treatment is performed, an uneven pattern at intervals of not more than a wavelength of visible light (for example, 400 nm or shorter), that is much finer than the uneven pattern to be formed by AG treatment, is arranged without any space therebetween so that changes of the refractive index at the border between the outside (air) and the product surface are artificially made sequential. As a result, the product with the moth-eye structure can transmit almost all light regardless of the refractive index interface so that almost all the light reflection on the surface of the object can be avoided (see, for example, Patent Document 4).
[Patent Document 1]
    Japanese Kokai Publication Hei-11-305008[Patent Document 2]    Japanese Kokai Publication No. 2007-79392[Patent Document 3]    Japanese Kokai Publication No. 2007-196397[Patent Document 4]    Japanese Kokai Publication No, 2004-205990

Anti-reflective film and production method thereof


Aligned circumferential grooves between a bell and spigot form a passage for receiving a locking strap that is insertable into the passage through an entrance opening in the wall of the bell. The locking strap has at least one projection adjacent the tail end portion thereof for engaging a surface of the passage to resist withdrawal of the locking strap from the passage. The entrance opening and the tail end portion of the locking strap have cooperating abutment and shoulder surfaces to releasably lock the strap within the passage.

This application relates to the art of conduit joints and, more particularly, to conduit joints that include a locking strap for preventing separation of the joint. The invention is particularly applicable to bell and spigot joints between end portions of cylindrical pipe and will be described with specific reference thereto. However, it will be appreciated that certain features of the invention have broader aspects and can be used in other types of joints.
A common locking strap joint between a bell and spigot includes axially aligned circumferential grooves that form a circumferential locking strap passage between the inwardly facing cylindrical surface of the bell groove and the outwardly facing cylindrical surface of the spigot groove for receiving a locking strap which is inserted into the passage through an entrance opening in the wall of the bell. During handling and installation of the pipe, the locking strap may become dislodged from its position within the aligned grooves between the bell and spigot by withdrawal thereof through the entrance opening in the wall of the bell. This may result in separation of the joint if the locking strap is completely displaced or may significantly weaken the strength of the joint if the locking strap is partially displaced.
It would be desirable to have an efficient arrangement for minimizing the possibility of unintentional locking strap withdrawal once it has been fully inserted into the passage formed by the aligned circumferential grooves between the bell and spigot.
A joint of the type described includes a locking strap having at least one projection that frictionally engages a surface of the locking strap passage for resisting withdrawal of the locking strap from the passage.
In accordance with another aspect of the application, an entrance opening in the wall of the bell to the locking strap passage includes an abutment that is engageable by a locking strap shoulder when the locking strap is fully inserted into the locking strap passage. Engagement between the abutment and shoulder prevents unintentional withdrawal of the locking strap from the locking strap passage through the entrance opening.
In accordance with the present application, a bell and spigot joint includes an outer circumferential spigot groove axially aligned with an inner circumferential bell groove. The aligned grooves provide a locking strap passage for receiving a circumferentially-split generally circular locking strap that is insertable into the passage through a passage entrance opening in the wall of the bell.
In a preferred arrangement, the projection on the locking strap is a crushable rib that provides high frictional interference between the locking strap and a surface of the passage in which it is received.
In one arrangement, the crushable rib extends longitudinally of the locking strap adjacent the tail end thereof and is centered between the locking strap sides. In another arrangement, there are two spaced-apart transverse projection ribs on the outer locking strap surface and a single projection rib on the inner locking strap surface at a location intermediate the two ribs. With this arrangement, the locking strap itself is deformed on the opposite side thereof from the ribs into firm engagement with the inner and outer surfaces of the locking strap passage.
In accordance with another aspect of the application, the entrance opening to the locking strap passage in the wall of the bell includes an abutment engageable by a shoulder on the tail end portion of the locking strap once the locking strap is fully inserted into the locking strap passage. Engagement between the abutment and the shoulder prevents unintentional separation of the locking strap from the locking strap passage. The tail end portion of the locking strap may be outwardly displaced to separate the shoulder from the abutment for allowing withdrawal of the locking strap from the locking strap passage.
The shoulder may be on a trailing surface of a barb that projects from the underside of the locking strap. A cam surface on the opposite side of the locking strap from the barb cooperates with an upper edge of the entrance opening in the wall of the bell to hold the barb shoulder in engagement with the abutment.
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved bell and spigot locking strap joint.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved locking strap for use with bell and spigot locking strap joints.
It is a further object of the invention to provide improved arrangements for inhibiting withdrawal of a locking strap from a locking strap passage in a bell and spigot locking strap joint.

Bell and spigot joint with locking strap


A data storage system for transferring data between a host computer/server and a bank of disk drives through a system interface. The system interface includes a plurality of directors. One portion of the directors is coupled to the host computer/server and another portion of the directors is coupled to the bank of disk drives. The directors control a flow of data between the host computer/server and the bank of disk drives. Each one of the directors has a time element. A time manager provides accurate time information to the time elements. The time elements determine, from the time information fed thereto, and measured time delays, global machine time information for the one of the directors having such time element. The time system is self calibrating.

As is known in the art, large host computers (also referred to as application servers collectively referred to herein as "host computer/servers") require large capacity data storage systems. These large host computer/servers generally include data processors which perform many operations on data transported to and from the host computer/server through peripherals including the data storage system.
One type of data storage system is a magnetic disks storage system. Here many disk drives are organized into separate sets of disk banks, and these banks are controlled and managed by "back-end" disk controllers (or directors). Also a set of "front-end" (directors) are provided by the storage system and are used by host computer/servers for physical attachment to the storage system. That is, data is stored in and retrieved from the bank of disk drives in such a way that the host computer/server merely thinks it is operating with its own local disk drive. One such system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,939, entitled "System and Method for Disk Mapping and Data Retrieval", inventors Moshe Yanai, Natan Vishlitzky, Bruno Alterescu and Daniel Castel, issued Apr. 27, 1993, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.
As described in such U.S. patent, the storage system may also include, in addition to the host computer/server controllers, (i.e., processors or directors) and disk controllers (sometimes also referred to as processors or directors), addressable cache memories. The cache memory is a semiconductor memory and is provided to rapidly store data from the host computer/server before storage in the disk drives, and, on the other hand, store data from the disk drives prior to being sent to the host computer/server. The cache memory being a semiconductor memory, as distinguished from a magnetic memory as in the case of the disk drives, is much faster than the disk drives in reading and writing data.
The host computer/server controllers, disk controllers and cache memory are interconnected through a backplane printed circuit board (i.e., backplane). More particularly, disk controllers are mounted on disk controller printed circuit boards. The host computer/server controllers are mounted on host computer/server controller printed circuit boards. And, cache memories are mounted on cache memory printed circuit boards. The disk directors, host computer/server directors, and cache memory printed circuit boards plug into the backplane.
As is also known in the art, it is desirable to provide accurate time information to each of the processors in the storage system. At present, crystal oscillators—one used upon each of the directors for purposes of basic operation and time keeping—are separate from one other. As such time status information remains incoherent between processing elements at the storage system's perspective. Time offset, skew, and drift can only be corrected using statistical methods by the processor elements. As will be discussed a mechanism is presented here to replace the statistical method with a deterministic one. This is especially useful for purposes of aggregating the transport of data across multiple physical I/O channels, referred to in the art as real-time parallel I/O.
Reference is also made to "Network Time Protocol (Version 3) Specification, Implementation and Analysis", Network Working Group, David L. Mills University of Delaware March 1992.

Data storage system having accurate and coherent time information


A method is provided for inducing a systemic immune response to an antigen selected from inactivated HIV I and HIV II antigens in a mammal. The method comprises orally administering lyophilized multilaminar liposomes containing the antigen. The liposomes have a size of from 20 nm to 20 microns. The antigen-containing liposomes are absorbed in the Peyer's patches of the gut. Sufficient antigen-containing liposomes are taken up by macrophages in the Peyer's patches to induce a systemic immune response to the antigen.

The epithelial surfaces of the body serve as a barrier to antigenic material. However, those surfaces are by no means impenetrable. The mucosal immune system provides the next major line of defense against a majority of human pathogens. The mucosal immune system includes gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue, the salivary glands, the conjunctiva, the mammary gland, parts of the urogenital tract, and the middle ear.
GALT consists of two types of lymphoid aggregates. The first is referred to as Peyer's patches and the second consists of isolated lymphoid follicles. Peyer's patches have a defined micro-structure including a central B cell dependent follicle and T cell dependent regions adjacent to the follicle. The lymphocytes in Peyer's patches are heterogeneous, including B cells which express IgM, IgG, IgA, and IgE and various regulatory and cytotoxic T cells. Peyer's patches also contain specialized macrophages. The Peyer's patches are covered by M cells, which are specialized lympho-epithelium cells.
In GALT, ingested antigens produce a local immune response. The antigens are taken up by the M cells, which deliver the antigen to the underlying lymphocytes in the tissue. This results in the production of IgA at various secretory effector sites following the migration of activated lymphocytes through the efferent, lymphatic and circulatory system.
The absorption of antigens by the Peyer's patches can induce a systemic immune response if the antigen is taken up by macrophages in the Peyer's patches. Macrophages induce a systemic response by processing antigens and presenting them to lymphocytes. The lymphocytes then become activated and cause the production of systemic antibodies specific to the antigens.
Childers et al. (Oral Microbiol. Immunol. 1994:9:146-153) reported that lyophilized liposomes containing S. mutans antigen can be administered orally to human patients and will be absorbed by GALT to elicit a local immune response. No systemic response was observed however.
Traditionally, to obtain a systemic immune response by oral administration of an antigen, it was required that the antigen be associated with an adjuvant. The presence of the adjuvant permits the antigen/adjuvant combination to be recognized by the CD4 cells, which send signals to B cells to produce antibodies, and by the cytotoxic lymphocytes, which kill the infecting organism in affected host cells. Without the presence of the adjuvant, the CD4 cells and cytotoxic lymphocytes ignore the free antigen.
Typical adjuvants include alum, Freund's adjuvant, incomplete Freund's adjuvant and indotoxin. These adjuvants typically induce an inflammatory response. Other typical adjuvants are immuno stimulating complexes (iscoms) that contain Quil A. These adjuvants typically cause clumping of antigens.
A need therefore exists to induce a systemic immune response by oral administration without the presence of an adjuvant and without inducing the above-described adjuvant effects, but instead by uptake by the macrophages in the Peyer's patches.

Method for inducing a systemic immune response to an HIV antigen


In example implementations, a hinge is provided. The hinge comprises a first hinge plate having at least one opening, where the first hinge plate is coupled to a system cover via at least one fastener fitted through the at least one opening. The hinge comprises a second hinge plate movably coupled to the first hinge plate, where the second hinge plate comprises a tab member that is coupled to a display cover via an insert molding process. The hinge comprises a hinge cap to enclose a portion of the first hinge plate and the second hinge plate that are movable coupled.

Laptop computers have a keyboard portion that houses most of the internal components of the computer, such as for example, the processor, memory, motherboard, drivers, network cards, power source, and the like. The laptop computers may also have a screen portion that is coupled to the keyboard portion.
When the laptop computer is closed such that the screen portion is laid on top of the keyboard portion, the laptop computer may have an overall thickness or "z stack" dimension. As the design of laptop computers continues to evolve, consumers tend to desire a laptop computer having a thinner overall thickness or "z stack" dimension.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A method for determining a flow volume of a fluid delivered by a pump. The flow volume is determined as a function of predefined pump information depending on a pump geometry, rotation speed information, which correlates with the rotation speed of the pump, and pressure information, which correlates with a differential pressure at the pump.

The invention relates to a method for determining a flow volume of a fluid delivered by a pump. In addition, the invention relates to a pump for delivering a fluid.
Pumps, in particular positive-displacement pumps, are used in a large number of fields of application in which a flow volume delivered by the pump is intended to be monitored or controlled. To this end, a volumetric flowmeter disposed in the feed line or discharge line of the pump can be utilized. However, this can increase the complexity and the occupation of installation space by the pump, and, according to the type of volumetric flowmeter which is utilized, can in some circumstances reduce the efficiency of the pump.

Method for determining a flow volume of a fluid delivered by a pump


A portable stack lamp includes a base supported by a supporting device, such as an extensible tripod and a plurality of rolling wheels, two or more lamp units stacked up to form a stack-up lamp body mounted on said base, and a cover which is adapted to cover a top opening of the housing of the lamp unit having a handle affixed thereon. The portable stack lamp is arranged to provide 360 degrees illumination so as to produce luminous beams in all directions while the user is able to selectively increase or decrease its luminous intensity by simply stacking up more or less lamp unit easily anytime. Therefore, the portable stack lamp can illuminate the surrounding that not only minimizes the number of work lamps to be used but also saves both the electrical energy and illumination cost. Moreover, each of the lamp unit of the portable stack lamp is arranged to equip a ring type fluorescent bulb as a light source so that it can be used indoor while consuming less electrical energy than the incandescent bulb or halogen bulb of the conventional work lamp.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to work lamps, and more particularly to a portable stack lamp which not only provides 360 degrees illumination but also is capable of being stacked up to increase lighting intensity.
2. Description of Related Arts
Table lamp, floor lamp, ceiling lamp, and etc. are common types of indoor lighting fixtures. Lantern lamp and spot light are outdoor lighting fixtures that generally use incandescent bulbs and halogen bulbs for illumination. Therefore, these outdoor lamps are most usually used as work lamps to provide supplemental illumination in working environments such as auto shops and factories.
Portability is the primary feature of a work lamp so that it is handy for the user to carry elsewhere for use. Therefore, both the lantern lamp and spot lamp are compact in size for easy carry from place to place. However, the user must hand carry the work lamp or hang it up near the workplace for illumination.
The luminous intensity of the conventional work lamp is limited to the power of light bulb. If a 60-watt incandescent bulb or halogen bulb is used in the lantern lamp or spot lamp, there is no way to increase or decrease the luminous intensity unless replacing the light bulb with one having a higher or lower watt.
Since reflection disc is generally mounted behind the light bulb of the convention work lamp to reflect light beam to enhance luminous intensity, either the lantern lamp or the spot lamp can only emit luminous beam in a single direction that may limit the work lamp""s application and require the user to rotate the entire work lamp by hand to direct the light beam to the area where the user wants to illuminate.
Due to the safety concern that the halogen work lamp produces great amount of heat during illumination, it not only wastes energy but also renders the halogen work lamp not being allowed to be used indoor.
It is a main object of the present invention to provide a portable stack lamp which is arranged to provide 360 degrees illumination so as to produce luminous beams in all directions. Therefore, one portable stack lamp can illuminate the surrounding that not only minimizes the number of work lamps to be used but also saves both the electrical energy and illumination cost.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable stack lamp which arrangement successfully equips a ring type fluorescent bulb as the light source in each lamp unit so that it can be used indoor while consuming less electrical energy than the incandescent bulb or halogen bulb of the conventional work lamp.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable stack lamp wherein the circular central lamp mount which is used to support the ring type fluorescent bulb therearound is used, at the same time, as a reflective ring to reflect all light beams radially outwards.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable stack lamp which enables the user to selectively increase or decrease its luminous intensity by simply stacking up more or less lamp unit easily anytime.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable stack lamp which fluorescent bulb is arranged to be easily reached and replaced, wherein the user has no need to detach all upper lamp units one by one and merely requires to unassemble the lamp unit attached on top of the lamp unit to be repaired in order to reach the fluorescent bulb therein.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable stack lamp which can stand on floor, support at an adjustable height and is easy to carry and roll from place to place effortlessly.
In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a portable stack lamp, comprising:
a base having a top mounting surface and a bottom supporting surface;
means for supporting the base being detachably attached to the bottom supporting surface of the base;
at least a lamp unit which comprises:
a housing which is a circular disc having a bottom wall and a surrounding wall made of transparent material;
a ring-shaped lamp mount, which is attached to a central portion of the bottom wall of the housing, having a circular outer light reflective surface and defining a receiving chamber therein and a light source chamber between the light reflective surface and the surrounding wall of the housing;
a ring type fluorescent bulb having a diameter smaller than the housing and larger than the lamp mount and a height smaller than the surrounding wall of the housing;
means for mounting the fluorescent bulb around the lamp mount inside the light source chamber of the housing;
a control circuit, which is disposed in the receiving chamber, comprising a power connector detachably connected to the fluorescent bulb, a power input terminal for electrically connecting to a power source to supply electricity to the fluorescent bulb, and a power output terminal for extended electrical connection;
a bottom attachment fastener provided at a bottom portion of the housing; and
a top attachment fastener provided at a top portion of the housing; and
a cover adapted to cover a top opening of the housing of the lamp unit;
wherein when only one lamp unit is used, the bottom attachment fastener thereof is attached to the top mounting surface of the base and the top attachment fastener is attached to the cover;
in which when two more lamp units are used, the bottom attachment fastener of the bottom layer of lamp unit is attached to the top mounting surface of the base and the bottom attachment fastener of an upper layer of lamp unit is detachably fastened to the top attachment fastener of the lower neighboring layer of lamp unit so as to stack up the lamp units in a layer on layer manner, wherein the cover is attached to the top attachment fastener of the topmost layer of lamp unit to construct the portable stack lamp of the present invention.


Various systems and methods are described for a cooling system coupled to an engine in a vehicle. One example method comprises, during engine off, operating an auxiliary pump to flow coolant through a heater core; and, during engine running, operating an engine pump to flow coolant through the heater core and radiator, and selectively operating the auxiliary pump to assist flow through the heater core based on operating conditions.

A cooling system coupled to an engine utilizes an engine-driven pump to circulate coolant for cooling components of the engine in addition to providing heat to a passenger compartment of a vehicle. In hybrid-electric vehicles, an electric auxiliary pump may be included in the system in order to continue heating the passenger compartment during occasions when the engine is off; however, the auxiliary pump is not operated while the engine is running.
One example in which an auxiliary pump is used with an engine-driven pump while the engine is running is disclosed in US Patent Application Publication 2008/0251303. In the cited reference, a high temperature cooling circuit includes an engine-driven water pump and a low temperature cooling circuit includes an electric water pump. Under selected operating conditions, the high temperature and low temperature circuits may be in fluidic communication; however, only one of the two water pumps may be operational. One example in which the water pumps are both operational while the cooling circuits are in fluidic communication is during a cold start of the engine. Once the temperature of the engine rises, however, both pumps remain operational but the cooling circuits operate without fluidic communication between them in order to maintain the lower temperature of the low temperature cooling circuit. As such, the engine-driven pump maintains a high output and does not receive assistance from the electric pump, and still must be sized sufficiently to pump enough flow to manage engine temperatures under continuous heavy engine loads.
The inventors herein have recognized the above issues and have devised an approach to at least partially address them. In one example, a method for a cooling system coupled to an engine in a vehicle is disclosed. The method comprises, during engine off, operating an auxiliary pump to flow coolant through a heater core, and, during engine running, operating an engine pump to flow coolant through the heater core and radiator, and selectively operating the auxiliary pump to assist the flow through the heater core based on operating conditions.
For example, under conditions in which the engine is running and the engine temperature is greater than a threshold temperature, the auxiliary pump may be activated in order to assist the operation of the engine-driven pump in managing engine temperature. In this manner, the power required to operate the engine-driven pump may be maintained at a lower value when less cooling is needed. Furthermore, the engine-driven pump may be downsized due to its lowered output when the auxiliary pump is used while the engine is running and the engine temperature is high.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

Auxiliary pump scheme for a cooling system in a hybrid-electric vehicle


The disclosed computer-implemented method may include generating color schemes. In some embodiments, the systems described herein may generate a color scheme by plotting non-linear curves through various planes that each represent an attribute of a color, selecting points on the curves, and generating colors from the values of the points. By generating colors schemes based on non-linear curves, the systems described herein may easily and efficiently generate aesthetically pleasing color schemes with colors predictably clustered in light and dark luminosities, facilitating the creation of user interfaces that are accessible to visually impaired users. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Many organizations have custom color schemes for their organization or for individual products or product lines. A color scheme may help create a cohesive look and user experience as well as creating an association between the particular color scheme and the product or organization. In many cases, color schemes are created manually by human designers, who may rely on their subjective perception, their intuition, or primitive color palette tools that provide different shades of a given color according to a linear progression.
However, relying on the perception of a single designer is a brittle approach and may not be scalable. If the designer leaves the organization, the color scheme may have to be abandoned because the designer is no longer present to update the color scheme with new colors as needed. Furthermore, a linear progression of colors may be unsuitable for many design purposes. For example, a linear color progression may not transition cleanly between dark and light colors at a predictable point, making it more difficult to select contrasting shades that will be clearly visible to users with visual impairments such as color blindness. Accordingly, the instant disclosure identifies and addresses a need for additional and improved systems and methods for generating color schemes.

Systems and methods for generating color schemes


A semiconductor component has at least one organic semiconductor layer. The component also includes at least one protective layer for at least partially covering the at least one organic semiconductor layer to protect against environmental influences. The at least one protective layer contains a proportion of an alkane with CnH2n+1 and n greater than or equal to 15 or consists entirely of an alkane of this type, or of a mixture of alkanes of this type. In one example, the protective layer is a paraffin wax. This creates a high resistance to moisture.

A more or less long service life of the electric circuits, depending on the particular application, is required for electronic products based on organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) and circuits to be commercially viable.
The best circuit properties are achieved using bottom-contact architecture (see H. Klauk, M. Halik, U. Zschieschang, F. Eder, G. Schmid, and C. Dehm, "Pentacene organic transistors and ring oscillators on glass and on flexible polymeric substrates," Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 82, p. 4175 (2003), which is incorporated herein by reference).
It has been found that transistor properties, for example of OFETs produced using bottom-contact architecture, are sensitive to moisture when various organic semiconductor compounds (e.g., pentacene, oligothiophenes, polythiophene derivatives) are used. This is based on the fact that in bottom-contact OFETs, the organic semiconductor layer is the last layer deposited (i.e., the top layer) and is therefore in direct contact with the environment, i.e., with atmospheric humidity.
The result of this is that water molecules, aided by the morphology of many organic semiconductor layers (for example pentacene as organic semiconductor does not form homogenous, amorphous layers, but rather forms microcrystallites, at the grain boundaries of which the layer thickness is only a few molecular layers) can get very close to or even penetrate into the charge carrier channel, where they can act as charge carrier traps and/or increase the free surface energy of the semiconductor/dielectric interface by their polar character.
Effects observed include, inter alia, a shift in the threshold voltage, a deterioration in the subthreshold swing, a reduction in the on/off ratio and an increase in the hysteresis of the transistors. These effects make it difficult to design integrated circuits based on organic transistors or make it altogether impossible to produce circuits that are able to function correctly.
The possible options for providing organic semiconductor layers with a protective layer that protects the semiconductor layers from environmental influences, in particular, moisture, are limited. The reason for this is the sensitivity of the organic semiconductor layers to organic solvents, from which suitable polymeric protective layers could be deposited, and the sensitivity of the organic semiconductor layers to thermal stresses, as occur during deposition of inorganic protective layers from the vapor phase, e.g., when using silicon oxide, silicon nitride, aluminum oxide.
There is a known variant for applying a polymeric protective layer to an organic semiconductor that has been developed in order to pattern organic semiconductor layers, i.e., to isolate individual transistors in integrated circuits from one another in order to avoid leakage currents between the transistors (see C. D. Sheraw, L. Zhou, J. R. Huang, D. J. Gundlach, T. N. Jackson, M. G. Kane, I. G. Hill, M. S. Hammond, J. Camps, B. K. Greening, J. Franc, and J. West, "Organic thin-film transistor-driven polymer-dispersed liquid crystal displays on flexible polymeric substrates," Appl. Phys. Lett. vol. 80, p. 1088 (2002), which is incorporated herein by reference). This photographically patternable polymer formulation is based on the polyvinyl alcohol/ammonium dichromate (PVA/ADC) system and is applied from a neutral aqueous solution. Most organic semiconductors tolerate this aqueous system on account of their strongly hydrophobic character, i.e., the organic transistors remain able to function after the treatment, which contrasts with the treatment using organic solvents (see D. J. Gundlach, T. N. Jackson, D. G. Schlorr, and S. F. Nelson, "Solvent-induced phase transition in thermally evaporated pentacene films," Appl. Phys. Lett., p. 3302 (1999), which is incorporated herein by reference).
After the treatment with this system, the same disadvantageous effects are observed (shift in the threshold voltage, deterioration in the subthreshold swing, reduction in the on/off ratio and increase in the hysteresis of the transistors) as occur under the action of moisture on a comparable, untreated substrate over the course of time.

Semiconductor component having at least one organic semiconductor layer and method for fabricating the same


The use of turbulent contactors to simultaneously absorb selected acid gas components from a gas stream and flash off hydrocarbons entrained in a liquid stream which include a solvent or reagent for the selected gas component. In particular, the method comprises feeding the gas stream and liquid stream into a first contactor where they are contacted co-currently and subjected to turbulent mixing conditions, and passing the multi-phase flow from the first contactor to a second contactor. The multi-phase flow from the second contactor is subsequently separated into a gas phase and a liquid phase.

Conventionally, acid gas components are removed using large absorption columns. These columns are designed to handle a gas feed at a certain flow rate and acid gas content. However changes to the feed conditions cause problems in operation and the absorber may have to be substantially modified to attain satisfactory or optimum performance. Problems where modification is required include, but are not limited to: an increase in the volumetric sour gas flow rate; a requirement for a lower acid gas concentration in the treated gas; a lower solvent circulation rate for the same level of purification; an increase in the acid gas concentration in the feed gas; any combination of the above. These problems with existing plants no longer being able to cope with changed working requirements may be summarised as bottlenecking and their solution as de-bottlenecking.
Modifications to the existing absorption columns and the associated apparatus are expensive and time consuming and many of the above variables can change on a regular basis. One of the current solutions employed to address the problem of needing to increase acid gas treating capacity is to change the solvent employed. However, this is not always appropriate and can introduce secondary problems such as regeneration considerations and corrosion problems. Another solution is to change the column internals from, for example, plates to random or structured packing. This option only has limited capacity for increasing the acid gas removal due to the overall size of the column.
The present invention therefore provides a method for increasing the acid gas absorption capacity of an existing plant and thereby de-bottlenecking plants.
A further problem with plants which have become bottlenecked is that hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide may become entrained and/or absorbed in the acid gas solvent (e.g. amine) and are therefore subsequently fed to the downstream treatment units such as a Claus sulphur recovery unit. These additional components in the feed to the Claus unit reduce the efficiency of the de-sulphurisation plant and may cause an additional bottleneck further down the process. There are also additional loads on the system involved in pumping this extra gas round the acid-gas solvent regeneration system and de-sulphurisation plant. This may overload the existing pumps and require the addition of more or replacement pumps.


Embodiments disclosed herein provide methods, systems, and computer readable storage media for facilitating enhanced communication with an application service provider based on medical telemetry collected by a user device. In a particular embodiment, a method provides collecting medical telemetry of a user of the user communication device and processing the medical telemetry to identify abnormalities therein. Upon identifying at least one abnormality in the medical telemetry, the method provides determining whether the at least one abnormality indicates that the user is experiencing a health issue. After determining that the at least one abnormality indicates that the user is experiencing the health issue, the method provides transferring a health notification indicating the health issue to the application service provider.

Telemedicine services have grown substantially in recent years. For example, it is now possible for a doctor to examine a patient over a video communication rather than requiring that patient to visit a medical facility. This and other types of telemedicine have the ability to improve patients, overall quality of life by reducing the time spent in medical facilities, increasing the availability of professional medical caretakers, and increasing the reachability of professional care to rural and developing areas of the world.
While telemedicine services have made great strides to increase health care access to patients, the services still require patient interaction to assess the patient's health. Moreover, depending on the health issue(s) of a particular patient, different health care providers may be better suited to handle the patient's particular issue. Accordingly, a provider best suited to handling the patients issue may not be contacted until after an interaction with the patient makes an initial health issue determination.
With that in mind, many wearable devices now exist that can measure health related telemetry for patients outside of medical facilities, which again allows for added convenience to for a patient. These devices include heart rate monitors, blood pressure monitors, blood sugar monitors, body temperature monitors, and the like. Even though a patient may be provided with telemetry measured by the devices, the telemetry when viewed independently may not mean anything to a patient and, therefore, the patient still requires assessment by a medical professional to determine whether the patent is experiencing a health related issue.
Overview
Embodiments disclosed herein provide methods, systems, and computer readable storage media for facilitating enhanced communication with an application service provider based on medical telemetry collected by a user device. In a particular embodiment, a method provides collecting medical telemetry of a user of the user communication device and processing the medical telemetry to identify abnormalities therein. Upon identifying at least one abnormality in the medical telemetry, the method provides determining whether the at least one abnormality indicates that the user is experiencing a health issue. After determining that the at least one abnormality indicates that the user is experiencing the health issue, the method provides transferring a health notification indicating the health issue to the application service provider.
In some embodiments, after determining that the abnormality indicates that the user is experiencing the health issue, the method provides establishing a user communication with the application service provider.
In some embodiments, the application service provider further uses the medical information to determine at least one of a routing for the user communication and a priority for the user communication.
In some embodiments, compiling medical telemetry of the user comprises receiving medical telemetry captured by a plurality of monitor devices external to the user communication device.
In some embodiments, processing the medical telemetry to identify abnormalities therein comprises comparing the medical telemetry to a profile for the user that indicates normal values for the medical telemetry. An abnormality is identified if a value in the medical telemetry falls outside a corresponding value of the normal values for the medical telemetry.
In some embodiments, processing the medical telemetry to identify abnormalities therein comprises comparing the medical telemetry to medical telemetry patterns that correspond to abnormalities. An abnormality is identified if a pattern in the medical telemetry substantially matches one of the medical telemetry patterns.
In some embodiments, determining whether the at least one abnormality indicates that the user is experiencing the health issue comprises collecting non-medical telemetry of the user and processing the non-medical telemetry and the at least one abnormality to determine whether the abnormality indicates that the user is experiencing the health issue. The abnormality does not indicate that the user is experiencing the health issue if the non-medical telemetry indicates an alternate reason for the at least one abnormality and the abnormality does indicate that the user is experiencing the health issue if the non-medical telemetry does not indicate an alternate reason for the at least one abnormality.
In some embodiments, the method further includes providing the user with an option to override the determination that the at least one abnormality indicates that the user is experiencing the health issue.
In some embodiments, the method further provides receiving information from the application service provider based on the medical information and presenting the information to the user.
In some embodiments, transferring medical information indicating the health issue to the application service provider comprises transferring the health notification in one of a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session request or a data channel associated with a WebRTC media connection request.
In another embodiment, a method of operating an application service provider system to handle communications based on medical telemetry is provided. The method includes receiving a health notification about a user from a user communication device. The user communication device transfers the health notification in response to determining that medical telemetry collected by the user communication device includes at least one abnormality that indicates that the user is experiencing a health issue. The method also includes establishing a user communication with the user communication device.
In some embodiments, based on the health notification, the method provides at least one of prioritizing the user communication and routing the user communication.
In some embodiments, the method further includes transferring a request for more detailed medical information to the user communication device and, after the user provides consent, receiving the more detailed medical information from the user communication device.
In some embodiments, the method further includes providing a user profile to the user communication device. The user communication device processes the medical telemetry with the user profile to determine whether the at least one abnormality indicates that the user is experiencing the health issue.
In some embodiments, the method further includes, during the user communication, receiving feedback regarding the health issue, adjusting the user profile based on the feedback, and transferring the adjusted user profile to the user communication device.
In yet another embodiment, an application service provider system for handling communications based on medical telemetry is provided. The application service provider system includes a communication interface and a processing system. The communication interface is configured to receive a health notification about a user from a user communication device and establish a user communication with the user communication device. The user communication device transfers the health notification in response to determining that medical telemetry compiled by the user communication device includes at least one abnormality that indicates that the user is experiencing a health issue. The processing system is configured to determine a routing for the user communication based on the health notification.
In some embodiments, the processing system is configured to prioritize the user communication based on the health notification.
In some embodiments, the communication interface is configured to transfer a request for more detailed medical information to the user communication device and, after the user provides consent, receive the more detailed medical information from the user communication device. The user communication device prompts the user for consent to transfer the more detailed medical information to the application service provider.
In some embodiments, the processing system is configured to generate a user profile. Also, the communication interface is configured to transfer a user profile to the user communication device, wherein the user communication device processes the medical telemetry with the user profile to determine whether the at least one abnormality indicates that the user is experiencing the health issue.
In some embodiments, the application service provider system further includes a user interface configured to receive feedback regarding the health issue during the user communication. The processing system is further configured to adjust the user profile based on the feedback and the communication interface is further configured to transfer the adjusted user profile to the user communication device.

Enhanced communication with an application service provider based on medical telemetry collected by a user device


An electronic device is mountable on a substrate. The substrate includes a first layer and a second layer located on a lower surface of the first layer. The first layer includes a plurality of first through-cavities. The second layer includes at least one second through-cavity overlapping the plurality of first through-cavities in a plan view. The plurality of first through-cavities are continuous with the at least one second through-cavity.

A known electronic device mounting board includes a wiring board including insulating layers. Also, a known electronic package includes such an electronic device mounting board on which an electronic device is mounted. The electronic package may include a flow channel for dissipating heat (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-100410).
An electronic device may partly generate more heat in, for example, a sensing unit and a calculation unit, than in other parts during operation. The structure described in Patent Literature 1 thus includes a flow channel for improving heat dissipation. A recent smaller electronic device mounting board has a smaller area and thus has a difficulty in providing a sufficient flow channel.

Electronic device mounting board, electronic package, and electronic module


A cardiovascular monitoring system which generates signals representative of certain physical activities of the subject and additional signals representing the emotional state of the subject in conjunction with the usual EKG signals. All of the signals generated by the monitoring system are digitized and multiplexed so that the signals representing the physical activities and emotion states of the subject may be recorded in a single channel. A usual Holter recorder may be used for recording the EKG signals, and the additional signals may be recorded in a separate recorder, or in a separate channel on the Holter recorder. The additional signals may be correlated with the EKG signals for the examination of the physical activities and emotional states of the subject which could cause detected abnormalities in the EKG signals.

Continuous, twenty-four hour or longer, electrocardiogram (EKG) monitoring (Holter) systems are widely used in the prior art for diagnosing heart disease. However, the long term prior art EKG monitoring systems are concerned only with EKG signals which is one of their shortcomings.
There is another much simpler diagnostic means used in the prior art, namely the brief exercise "stress test" in which the EKG is recorded during a brief time interval while the patient is exercising strenuously on a treadmill. However this latter test is not comprehensive because exercise is only one of a number of stresses that can cause EKG abnormalities.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,021 which issued May 16, 1989 to the present inventor describes a locomotor activity monitoring system which involves EKG and which involves long term monitoring of the patient. The system described in that patent, unlike other prior art cardiac monitoring systems, uses EKG only incidentally and primarily to monitor heart rate.
There are shortcomings in each of the prior art systems referred to above. For example, the Holter system has no detection/recording capability other than time, EKG readings and a patient marker. The patient maintains a time related diary of such events. At best this approach is qualitative. It is also incomplete, since no data is entered, for example when the patient is asleep. In essence, there is no objective or recorded evidence of any patient activity.
The cardiac abnormalities which are revealed by the prior art cardiac monitoring systems are equated only to physical activities. However, such cardiac abnormalities may also be revealed by a number of other conditions in the boy. Knowledge of these conditions, other than physical activity, which provoke detectable cardiac abnormalities is frequently important for determining the proper treatment. As noted above, such knowledge cannot be acquired from current cardiac monitoring systems and techniques. Copending application Ser. No. 554,549, filed July 19, 1990, in the name of the present inventor discloses a cardiac monitoring system which in addition to physical activities also monitors such other conditions in the body.
Specifically, the system disclosed in the Copending Application, in addition to collecting ambulatory data such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,021 also collects additional data relating to activities which also affect or define cardiac responses of the subject. Such additional activities may include, for example, verbal exchanges, evidence of emotional stress arising from verbal exchanges between the subject and others, emotional stress arising from dreams, and other physical conditions such as the posture of the subject, air temperature, ambient light level, elapsed time, and so on.
It is well known, for example, that inadequate blood supply to the heart may alter a portion of the EKG known as the S.T. segment. It is also well known that the most common cause of inadequate blood supply to the heart is partial closure of one or more arteries by fatty formations. Limited blood flow through a narrowed artery which is inadequate to meet the needs demanded by exercise is the most common cause of such EKG changes. However, normal or slightly affected arteries may produce the same effect due to spasms from emotional upsets which are transmitted to the heart by the nervous system, and which are not detected by the prior art cardiac monitoring systems. The treatment in the case of clogged arteries is normally surgery, but a vastly different treatment is required in the case of arterial spasm caused, for example, by emotional upsets in relatively normal arteries, or even in arteries which are partially occluded.
For example, external events known to cause cardiovascular problems include: physical stress; work; exercise; temperature extremes and changes; and fatigue. In addition, there are emotional stresses which also can cause cardiovascular problems, and these include, for example, such emotional stresses as real or perceived danger, anger, conflict, and the like; which may be provoked by the environment, or which may arise during certain phases of sleep.
One objective of the present invention is to provide a relatively simple and practical system which detects and records parameters affecting the cardiovascular system of a subject simultaneously with the recording of the EKG data. On replay, should EKG abnormalities be detected in the operation of the system of the invention, the record can be correlated and examined for physical and emotional activities and environmental parameters which could cause such abnormalities.
In accordance with the present invention, a prior art four-channel Holter magnetic tape recorder may be provided, three channels of which may be used to record EKG signals, and the fourth channel used to record time signals and additional patient data in multiplexed digital and other encoded form. This additional patient data may then be stored/analyzed in a digital computer which correlates the data and produces a report which contains, for example, a summary of the EKG data such as heart rate, S.T. level, plots of the data, examples of abnormal EKG activity, and potential diagnosis based on the data. By adding data related to physical and emotional stresses in accordance with the present invention, the specificity and the reliability of the diagnosis and treatment can be increased.
The system of the invention also has the ability of cross correlation of environmental data or enhance its ability and reliability in the detection of specific events and correlation of EKG events and external events to improve diagnosis.


An improved valve with ball-shaped stopper, comprising a valve housing in which the stopper forms a seal with two faces developing in parallel planes opposite each other and in which the ball-shaped stopper, the stopper handle and the control rod connecting them are formed in a single rigid piece. The stopper component is provided, on the stopper and on the part of the control rod adjacent to it, with a coating of a sealant which forms the seal toward the outside of the valve preventing fluid from leaking, and also forms the seal within the valve which regulates fluid flow.

The present invention refers to an improved valve with a ball-shaped stopper. More particularly, the present invention provides a single-piece stopper coated with a sealing material.
Valves with ball-shaped stoppers are presently known in various forms, which are mainly differentiated by the fact that the valve body is in one or more parts. Although the present invention refers to valves having ball-shaped stoppers in general, included in this designation as well are similar valves, such as gate valves and the like with ball stoppers. The present invention provides particularly significant advantages in valves having a single piece body. A valve of this type was disclosed by Italian Patent No. 1,101,585. The body of this valve disclosed therein features a housing for the ball-shaped stopper, a fluid inlet connection, a fluid outlet connection, and a hollow neck portion to permit the insertion of the stopper into the housing. The disclosed valve is also designed to accept the control rod which is connected to the ball, a seal is formed between the housing and the control rod by a flexible ring. The latter is housed in a circumferential groove on the internal surface of the neck portion. A handle, lever or similar device is connected to the control rod to permit the opening and closing movements of the ball stopper to be performed. The housing of the stopper in the valve body is provided with two opposite seats for two gaskets, between which the ball stopper forms a seal. The seal which prevents fluid from escaping toward the outside is provided by an O-ring disposed in a seat formed in the control rod and in a sealing relationship with the internal surface of the neck portion. The ball stopper disclosed has a seat for retaining a part of the control rod, which is also connected to the activation handle or lever by a screw.
Therefore, known ball-stopper valves require a large number of components, a variety of processing steps and three sealing gaskets. To diminish the friction between the stopper and the gaskets, the stopper is typically manufactured with a high degree of precision on its outer surface and subsequently plated with chrome. Also, the assembly of such known valves requires a number of individual assembly steps, which cannot all be readily conducted in an automated fashion.
In known embodiments of valves with a multiple part valve housing an even higher number of components is necessary, as a result of which the expenditure of time both for construction and assembly is even greater than that for ball valves with a housing in a single piece.
Although providing an unobjectionable operation and good seals, ball valves of the type described above thus have the disadvantage of requiring a large number of components, numerous manufacturing steps and a complex assembly procedure requiring an equivalent amount of time. This necessarily results in relatively high production costs.


A generally conventional lash adjuster is modified by incorporating a coaxially oriented hydraulic control piston assembly within the guide body. The control piston normally fixes latch means, such a plurality of hard spheres, in multiple detents loaded in compression with the other components, to provide a rigid stop, but when the control piston is hydraulically pressurized, the detents are overcome and the piston assembly provides a resilient or soft stop that accommodates extended displacement (retraction) of the lash adjuster within the guide. The hydraulic actuation is preferably implemented with a three-way solenoid valve or the like, for controlling high-pressure oil to a gallery and associated inlet ports for the control piston assembly. In the typical implementation of the invention, the piston need have only two operational positions-denergized to establish the detent or hard stop condition, or fully energized to establish the valve deactivation position. With all of preferably four detents in quadrant symmetry and associated components in compression, side loading is avoided. Moreover, with the present invention, backlash is also avoided.

The present invention relates to hydraulic lash adjusters for internal combustion engines.
Automobile engines use only a small fraction of their rated power during most of the running time. It is known that increased fuel economy can be achieved by reducing the air pumping losses to the engine cylinder during steady state running, if in particular, some of the engine cylinders are deactivated while the other cylinders are kept active.
There are several ways to achieve this cylinder deactivation. One way is a collapsible hydraulic lash adjuster, whereby engine valves are selectively deactivated. A typical hydraulic lash adjuster is a very simple device, consisting basically of a hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly, mounted either in series or in parallel with the valve train. The working chamber of this lash adjuster is connected to the engine lube oil circuit via a one-way check valve. During the time while the engine valve stays open, the valve closing forces are supported exclusively by the column of lube oil trapped in the chamber. Because of the increased pressure level, some of the initial lube oil charge leaks out, shortening the valve train length and insuring proper seating of the valve. Once the valve is seated and the valve closing force is supported by the valve seat, the pressure in the chamber drops. The gap created by the leakage is then quickly refilled via the one-way (no return) valve from the lube oil circuit. By elimination of the gap there is no significant acoustic noise generated and any seat wear is compensated.
During the engine valve active cycle (valve open), collapsing of the lash adjuster piston assembly is prevented by a lateral latching pin, locked in a corresponding bore of the outer sleeve. During the de-activation cycle, lube oil from a secondary circuit pushes the latching pin out of engagement (against a reset spring) and the lash adjuster carrier, from that point on, will not be able to support the valve train forces and the valve will remain closed (and by that de-activated). The motion of the valve train generated by the cam is instead absorbed by the spring(s) mounted below the lash adjuster carrier.
The disadvantages of this design are, first, difficulties associated with the latching pin to find its target bore during the very short time available for re-activation (especially critical at higher speed) and, secondly, the high bending (shearing) forces the pin and its retaining bore are exposed to.
According to the present invention, the hydraulic lash adjuster is modified so that, upon receipt of a valve deactivation signal, the lash adjuster stop limit more reliably and consistently changes from a hard stop to a soft stop. As a result, the excess force stored in the valve closure spring, displaces the lash adjuster through the soft stop such that the tappet pivot point on the lash adjuster is also displaced to a position where the overhead cam acts with reduced force on the roller finger. Thus, the valve does not open during any portion of the cam shaft rotation. Upon denergization of the lash adjuster, the pivot point for the finger arm returns to the normal position, the lash adjuster encounters a hard stop, and the cam can overcome the valve closure spring to open the valve according to the cam timing.
In essence, a generally conventional lash adjuster is modified by incorporating a coaxially oriented hydraulic control piston assembly within the guide body. The control piston normally fixes latch means, such a plurality of hard spheres, in multiple detents loaded in compression with the other components, to provide a rigid stop, but when the control piston is hydraulically pressurized, the detents are overcome and the piston assembly provides a resilient or soft stop that accommodates extended displacement (retraction) of the lash adjuster within the guide. The hydraulic actuation is preferably implemented with a three-way solenoid valve or the like, for controlling high-pressure oil to a gallery and associated inlet ports for the control piston assembly. In the typical implementation of the invention, the piston need have only two operational positions-denergized to establish the detent or hard stop condition, or fully energized to establish the valve deactivation position.
With all of preferably four detents in quadrant symmetry and associated components in compression, side loading is avoided. Moreover, with the present invention, backlash is also avoided.
More particularly, during high power operation (engine valve active) a substantially cylindrical lash adjusting tappet insert is supported by a ring of balls located in one or more cross holes in the lower portion of the tappet body, engaging with a corresponding annular groove in the guide body bore. The hydraulic control piston is located on the centerline of the tappet body and, energized by its own return spring, keeps the balls spread apart so long as there is no pressurized oil present in the control gallery or chamber. All components supporting the valve actuation reaction forces are loaded in compression in a similar way to a ball bearing, which is very advantageous as far as wear and life expectancy are concerned.
Once the pressurized lube oil is switched on, hydraulic force will overpower the control piston return spring force and move the control piston in the downward direction, allowing the balls to slide down the ramp of the annular groove and by that move towards the center and release the tappet. In this position, the only force trying to push the tappet up is the force of the tappet return spring (deactivation spring) located in the lower portion of the tappet, which is much smaller than the force necessary for valve actuation and by that preventing opening of the associated engine valve.
In order to reduce the contact stress (Hertzian stress) at the most critical point, the upper portion of this hydraulic control piston is preferably shaped somewhat like a compound pyramid, defining four symmetric pairs of upper and lower ramps. Upon activation of the control piston, the balls move from support at the lower ramps to support at the upper ramps. At the same loads the contact stress between a ball and a flat is much smaller than the contact stress between a ball and a cylinder. Also the included angle of both ramps (lower and upper) can be designed in such a way as to minimize resulting reaction force at the ball/ramp interface. In a similar way the locking surfaces (lower ramp) of the control piston can have a small included (self-locking) angle to eliminate backlash during the valve active (balls engaged) period.

Lash adjuster with locking balls deactivation