A method of making a transformer having a core composed of a web of magnetic amorphous metal of small thickness.. The laminations of the core of the transformer are the stacked turns formed by winding the web into a spiral having a window in the center. The coils are wound as integral structures having openings for telescoping the coils onto the core. For the telescoping, the core is cut and converted into a U-shaped structure on whose arms the coils are telescoped. The cut joint is a butt-lap-step joint. To produce such a joint, the laminations are divided into groups and each group is divided into steps which are spaced longitudinally of the web. After the coils are telescoped onto the core, the cut ends of the arms of the U are abutted to form a closed core. The cuts in the laminations that make up alternate groups in the stack are inclined to the longitudinal center line of the web at a first angle different from 90.degree.. The cuts in the laminations that make up intervening groups in the stack are inclined oppositely to the cuts in the alternate groups at an angle which is also different from 90.degree.. Because of the different inclination of successive cuts, the undesired abutting of laminations from different groups during the reclosing of the core is precluded. There is also disclosed a core and a transformer made by the method.

This invention relates to transformers, typically distribution transformers, and it has particular relationship to transformers whose cores are composed of laminations of amorphous metal of small thickness. Typically the thickness of the laminations is of the order of 0.001-inch. While this invention is disclosed herein in detail as applied to a transformer having a core of a wound amorphous metal web of small thickness, as to which this invention has unique advantages, it is understood that the adaptation of the principles of this invention to transformers of other types is within the scope of equivalents of this application and of any patent that may issue on or as a result thereof, typically as the range of equivalents is applied in Graver Tank & Mfg. Co. v. Linde Air Products Co. 339 U.S. 605; 70 Supreme Court Reporter 854 (1950) and interpreted in Uniroyal v. Rudkin-Wiley Corp. 5 USPQ 2d 1434 (CAFC 1988).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,471 to Milan D. Valencic and Dennis A. Schaffer, assigned to Westinghouse Electric Corporation discloses a method for making the cores of these transformers. U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,630 to Frank H. Grimes and Eugenius Hammack, also assigned to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, discloses structural features of these cores. Valencic teaches that a web of the amorphous metal is wound into a closed spiral core loop or core structure with a window in the center. The turns of the spiral form the laminations of the core. These laminations forming the closed core structure are then cut in successive stepped groups and the closed structure is opened and converted into a U-shaped structure on whose arms the coils of the transformers are telescoped. The arms of the U-shaped structure are then abutted to reconvert the U-shaped structure into a closed structure. Grimes discloses a core as taught by Valencic with lapped steps.
To explain this invention so that those skilled in the art will understand it, it is desirable to discuss Grimes briefly. FIGS. 3 and 4 of Grimes show highly enlarged a fragmentary part of the core as viewed in a direction perpendicular to the edges of the laminations. If FIG. 3 were extended to show the whole core, it would show the laminations in a race-track or circular annular shape. The structure shown is stepped with the steps lapped at their adjoining laminations. For this application, each unit of laminations A, B or C or D, E or F is defined as a step and the steps A, B and C together or D, E and F together are defined as a group. The laminations are typically only 0.001-inch in thickness so that the step F has a thickness of 0.007. The thickness of group DEF is 0.021-inch. Grimes says that there may be as many as thirty laminations in each step. In this case, each group would have a thickness of 0.09-inch. There may also be less than seven laminations in each step; in fact, there may be one lamination in each step.
While the teachings of Valencic and Grimes have made formidable contributions to the transformer art, a problem has been experienced in the construction of the core as taught by Valencic and Grimes. In the reconstitution of the core after the coils are telescoped on its arms, difficulty has been encountered in matching the separated ends of the laminations of the groups so that severed ends of laminations on one side of a group are joined during reassembly to the ends of the same laminations on the opposite side of a group. The small thickness of the groups is a major factor contributing to this problem. In past practice a group of laminations is at times erroneously matched with two opposing groups during reassembly. The error becomes apparent only on completion of the joint reassembled when a spare group of laminations with no matching companion groups remains. For example, with reference to FIG. 3 of Grimes, the twenty-one laminations on the right of group ABC instead of being joined to the laminations on the left of group ABC, are joined to the laminations on the left of group DEF. When this happens the core as completed has unconnected laminations and must be reprocessed. The deficiency is not discovered until after the core is completed. In addition, after the above-described error occurs, an opposing error may occur during the continued reassembly, i.e., the laminations on the right of a group such as DEF are joined to the laminations on the left of a group such as ABC. In this case, the errors are compensating and are not discovered after the core is completed and the core performance is deteriorated.
Another problem which arises in connection with cores in one of whose yokes or legs severable joints exist, has its roots in the principle that among the various factors that govern the power to excite a transformer is the local net transverse cross-sectional area reduction which results from the gaps in the core that form the joint. The net cross-sectional area is reduced and the required exciting power is increased by the gaps in the laminations at the joint. In cores formed of laminations of amorphous metal, this problem is particularly significant because, in use, such cores are operated at inductions very near to that which produces saturation. Appreciable reduction in the net transverse cross-sectional area of a core may result in saturation when the core is used. In a joint containing a large number of gaps, particularly if the gaps are stacked, there is a substantial reduction in net cross-sections area and a tendency for saturation to occur with corresponding adverse effect upon core losses.
Another problem which occurs when a butt-lap-step core joint as taught by Grimes is reassembled arises from the tendency of the laminations to adhere to each other such that more than one group of cut steps may be mismatched and mislocated against a single opposing group. This error is also only discovered after the joint is completely reassembled. The error occurs on the side of the joint where the longest laminations are on top viewing the joint being reassembled positioned horizontally. The shorter laminations of adjacent groups tend to adhere. The opposite side of the core where the longest laminations are at the bottom are "self separating" by groups.
It is an object of this invention to overcome the above-described drawbacks and deficiencies and to provide a method for accomplishing this purpose. Namely, it is an object of the invention to provide a method of making a transformer having a core of amorphous metal, formed by winding into a spiral a plurality of turns or laminations of small thickness, which core has a severable joint that is opened to permit the telescoping of coils and thereafter reclosed by abutting the ends of the severed laminations, in whose practice, the mismatching of abutted laminations during the reclosing shall be precluded.
It is also an object of this invention to provide a method of making a transformer in whose practice the transverse cross-sectional area at overlapping laminations at the a transformer made by the practice of the method.

Method of making transformers and cores for transformers


The present invention provides a site evaluation system for evaluating a site which consists of one or more pages and a site evaluation program storage medium that stores thereon a site evaluation program for causing a computer system to operate as such a site evaluation system, in which site evaluation that minimizes errors and inconsistency and requires a lower evaluation cost can be performed. The system acquires a temporal change in the numbers of accesses to each of pages constituting a site, identifies a page for which a temporal change in the number of accesses exceeds a predetermined criterion, further acquires a temporal change in a word in the identified page, compares the temporal change in the number of accesses to the identified page with the temporal change of the word, and evaluates the comparison result based on a predetermined criterion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a site evaluation system for evaluating a site consisting of one or more pages, and to a site evaluation program storage medium that stores thereon a site evaluation program for causing a computer system to operate as such a site evaluation system.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional Web server on the Internet stores information such as images or text in the form of pages that are written in languages such as HTML (HyperText Markup Language) and XML (eXtensible Markup Language), and transmits the information to an access requestor in response to an external access request. Such a Web server also generates access logs which record the conditions of accesses to the Web server such as the IP address of an access requester, the domain name of an access requestor, date and time of an access, or an accessed file name, for example.
The access logs generated by such a Web server are compiled by what is called access log analysis software. And the site operator of a Web site evaluates the Web site by analyzing factors in a variation in the number of accesses to the Web site based on results of the compiled access logs, and considers measures for increasing the number of accesses to the site for example.
However, analysis based on results of compiled access logs and evaluation of Web sites based on such analysis are made by human. As a result, evaluation result of Web sites thus derived can be affected by the experience and skill of operators to carry out analysis and evaluation and might cause errors or inconsistency in the results.
Also, an enormous amount of access logs may be generated for some Web sites, in which case the amount of result of compiling the logs will be enormous as well. It is inefficient for human to analyze such an amount of result and evaluate a Web site, and the problem of high labor cost is also encountered.

Site evaluation system and site evaluation program storage medium


A balloon catheter includes a shaft, and a balloon provided outside the shaft. A drug is provided on an outer surface of the balloon, and the balloon has at least a straight tube part. A change ratio of an outer diameter of the straight tube part, (D28−D24)/D24, is 1.1% or less. D24 is the outer diameter of the straight tube part when an internal pressure of 2.43 MPa (24 atm) is applied, and D28 is the outer diameter of the straight tube part when an internal pressure of 2.84 MPa (28 atm) is applied.

It is known that various diseases occur when a stenosis occurs in a blood vessel which is a flow path for blood circulation in a body and blood circulation is disrupted. In particular, when a stenosis occurs in a coronary artery which supplies blood to a heart, there is a risk that serious diseases such as angina and myocardial infarction may result. As a method of treating such a stenosis part of a blood vessel, angioplasty in which a stenosis is expanded using a balloon catheter (e.g., PTA, PTCA) is known. Angioplasty is widely performed because it is a minimally invasive therapy that does not require thoracotomy such as a bypass surgery.
In the case of angioplasty, restenosis may occur in the stenosis part which was expanded, and as a treatment to reduce a frequency of occurring such restenosis (namely, a restenosis rate), a treatment using a drug-eluting stent which has a drug layer on its surface has been performed. Also, a drug-eluting balloon catheter in which a drug is held on a balloon of a balloon catheter has been proposed (for example, Patent Literatures 1 to 4). As using the drug-eluting balloon catheter, it is possible to transfer a drug to a blood vessel wall by expanding the balloon at a stenosis part or a lesion part, and it is expected to suppress occurrence of restenosis. Advantages of the treatment using the drug-eluting balloon catheter include that a foreign object is not left in a body, and small blood vessels into which a stent can not be inserted can also be treated.


The present invention provides halogenated quinoline derivatives, such as compounds of Formula (I) or (I′), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and methods of preparing the halogenated quinoline derivatives. The halogenated quinoline derivatives are expected to be antimicrobial agents and may act through an iron(II)-dependent mode of action. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions, kits, uses, and methods that involve the halogenated quinoline derivatives and may be useful in preventing or treating a microbial infection (e.g., a bacterial infection) in a subject, inhibiting the growth and/or reproduction of a microorganism (e.g., a bacterium), killing a microorganism (e.g., a bacterium), inhibiting the formation and/or growth of a biofilm, reducing or removing a biofilm, and/or disinfecting a surface.

The arsenal of antibiotics was discovered as growth inhibiting agents against rapidly-dividing bacteria; however, non-replicating bacteria that reside within surface-attached biofilms have proven difficult, if not impossible, to eradicate with current therapeutic options.1-4 Biofilms occur in ˜80% of bacterial infections as biofilm-associated infections are prevalent in both community- and hospital-acquired infections (HAIs).4,5 Bacteria that live inside a biofilm are encased within a protective matrix of biomolecules and display contrasting gene expressing profiles, physiologies and greatly reduced growth-rates compared to their planktonic counterparts.1,2,5 In addition, bacterial biofilms house persister cells, which are metabolically dormant, non-replicating cells that display antibiotic-tolerance significantly contributing to chronic and recurring bacterial infection.6,7
Several major gram-positive pathogens are involved in biofilm-associated HAIs, which are responsible for ˜100,000 deaths each year in the United States.8 Staphylococcal pathogens, in particular S. aureus and S. epidermidis, are the leading cause of biofilm-associated HAIs, including indwelling medical device/implant infections (e.g., hip joint replacements).9 S. epidermidis is also known for playing a major role in biofilm-associated cerebral shunt10 and catheter11 infections. Enterococcus faecium, the causative agent in VRE (vancomycin-resistant E. faecium), is another major pathogen involved in a multitude of biofilm-associated bacterial infections, including: endocarditis, catheter-associated urinary tract infections and peridontitis.12
In recent years, there has been significant interest in the identification of biofilm inhibitors and biofilm dispersal agents that operate via the control of quorum sensing13 (the communication system bacteria use to govern biofilm processes)14 and other non-growth inhibiting mechanisms to address biofilm-associated problems.15 Biofilm inhibitors and dispersal agents are indeed important; however, biofilm-eradication is a distinct phenotype that involves the killing of biofilm cells16,17 and has potential to be standalone antibiofilm therapies.
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs)18-20 and mimics21 are the most well-known biofilm-eradicating agents. AMPs are naturally occurring peptides used in host immune or general defense responses to bacterial infection and operate through the destruction of bacterial membranes causing cell lysis and death.18-21 The challenge in developing AMP-based therapeutics that are safe in humans is the identification of agents that selectively target and lyse bacterial cell membranes and not mammalian cell membranes. New biofilm-eradicating agents that operate through alternative mechanisms are of great importance to human health and could lead to effective treatments for biofilm-associated infections.

Halogenated quinoline derivatives as antimicrobial agents

University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated


The present invention is a laminate article comprising at least three layers of plasticized polyvinylbutyral (PVB) sheet, wherein at least one layer of the laminate is a stiff PVB sheet and at least two layers are soft PVB sheets. A laminate article of the present invention is useful for providing increased protection from damages occurring to automobiles, buildings, and windows by virtue of exposure of same to, for example, hurricane force winds, impact from debris propelled by high-force winds, or by intentional impact against windows comprising the laminates of the present invention.

Plasticized polyvinyl butyral sheet (PVB) is used in the manufacture of laminate structures such as, for example: windshields for vehicles including automobiles, motorcycles, boats and airplanes; homes and buildings; shelving in cabinets and display cases; and other articles where structural strength and laminate stability is desirable in a glass sheet. For the purposes of the present application, laminate stability refers to the ability of glass to remain adhered to PVB and/or the ability of the laminate layers to remain substantially together under harsh or even extreme circumstances. In some special applications, superior impact resistance and laminate stability is required, or highly preferable. For example, it can be preferred that laminates used in homes and other buildings withstand the harsh conditions prevalent in hurricanes, tornadoes, and/or severe wind storms.
A wide variety of glass laminates formed with PVB are known and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,297,262; U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,771; and, British Patent 828,381. Typically, PVB is plasticized to have low stiffness and deform readily upon impact—which is an excellent property for automotive windshields wherein human impact is involved and passenger retention in a crash, and hence, reduction in fatality is desired. However, these are not the properties required for architectural windows exposed to high stresses, nor for side windows for automobiles and trucks that may be subjected to criminal actions. The properties of low stiffness and high elasticity limit performance when the laminate must provide intrusion resistance after the glass of the laminate has broken; for example, when a glass laminate is subjected to high wind load, and/or impact of flying debris as occurs in a hurricane, or where there is repeated impact to a window by a criminal attempting to break into a vehicle or structure. Conventional PVB laminates such as windshields or standard architectural laminated glass perform poorly in tests designed to evaluate the performance of a laminate under hurricane conditions, such as the Dade County, Fla. hurricane window system test protocol wherein there is a severe impact test followed by a pressure cycling test conducted on the shattered laminate.
Conventional PVB laminates can eventually fail in a hurricane when they are subjected to pressure loading and cycling. Failure can be due to either the large deformation of the polymer interlayer which can cause the laminate to pull out of the window frame, and/or due to the action of shards of broken glass which eventually cut into the PVB layer and allow air pressure or other threat to permeate the structure that the laminate is intended to protect. Conventional laminates can also be penetrated more readily with instruments used by a criminal attempting to gain entry through the laminate. The use of layers of PVB that are thicker than the standard laminate to gain more stiffness and cut-through resistance is impractical due to cost and the excessive thickness of the interlayer required. Similarly, the use of stiffer PVB of conventional thickness is difficult because the stiff PVB is more difficult to process, and there is considerable manufacturing yield loss.
Stiffer glass laminates have been made using interlayers other than PVB, such as polyurethanes and thermoplastic copolymers and all of these, including PVB, in combination with polyester film and polycarbonate films. Bolton et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,228, for example, describes the use of an ionomer resin to form tough glass laminates.
There is an increased need for glass laminates for use as architectural windows that are resistant to the threats of wind storms and hurricanes, particularly in coastal areas. There is also a need for side windows for vehicles that are intrusion resistant. These glass laminates are required to have improved toughness and stability. They must also be easily fabricated, and have good optical properties—including color and clarity.
It is desirable to meet such needs with a PVB laminate that is tough, stable, and easily fabricated, and has good optical properties. These, and other objects of the invention will become apparent to the reader.

Laminated structures with superior impact resistance and process for making same


A first network device permits a bidirectional forwarding detection (BFD) session with a second network device. The first network device is a designated forwarder for a third network device, a first link is provided between the first network device and the third network device, the second network device is a backup designated forwarder for the third network device, a second link is provided between the second network device and the third network device. The first network device detects a link failure associated with the first link between the first network device and the third network device, and provides, via the BFD session, a BFD message to the second network device. The BFD message includes an indication of the link failure, and the BFD message is to cause the second network device to be a new designated forwarder for the third network device.

An Ethernet virtual private network (VPN) (EVPN) is a standards-based technology that provides virtual multipoint bridged connectivity between different Layer 2 domains over an Internet protocol (IP) or an IP/multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) backbone network. Like other VPN technologies, such as IP VPN and virtual private local area network (LAN) service (VPLS), EVPN instances are configured on provider edge (PE) network devices (e.g., routers, switches, and/or the like) to maintain logical service separation between customer endpoint devices. The PE network devices connect to customer edge (CE) network devices (e.g., routers, switches, host devices, and/or the like). The PE network devices then exchange reachability information using multiprotocol border gateway protocol (BGP) (MP-BGP), and encapsulated traffic is forwarded between the PE network devices.

Reducing traffic loss during link failure in an ethernet virtual private network multihoming topology


A titanylphthalocyanine crystal having an X-ray diffraction spectrum having plural diffraction peaks and a primary particle diameter not greater than 0.2 μm, wherein a maximum diffraction peak is observed at a Bragg (2θ) angle of 27.2±0.2°; main peaks are observed at 9.4°, 9.6° and 24.0°; and a minimum diffraction peak is observed at 7.3°; and preferably no diffraction peak is observed at an angle greater than 7.3° and less than 9.4° when a specific X-ray of CuKα having a wavelength of 1.542 Å irradiates the titanylphthalocyanine crystal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a titanylphthalocyanine crystal and a method of producing the titanylphthalocyanine crystal, and to an electrophotographic photoreceptor, method, apparatus and process cartridge using the titanylphthalocyanine crystal.
2. Discussion of the Background
An organic pigment has been used as a filler for a coating material since comparatively a long ago. In particular, the organic pigment has the advantage over an inorganic pigment in its abundance of color variation. Further, recently as an application of the organic pigment, a variety of materials have been produced because it was spotlighted as a material for an organic photoelectric transfer device.
Almost all methods of forming a film including the organic pigment are wet coating methods. It is not exaggerated to say quality of a film coated by the wet coating methods depends on quality of a dispersion liquid including the pigment. Dispersibility of the pigment in the dispersion liquid is one of essentials for the quality of the dispersion liquid. Therefore, a good dispersion liquid includes the pigment sufficiently dispersed in a vehicle and continues the dispersed status for a long term.
Recently, digital electrophotographic methods prevail, and particularly a negative and positive development (reverse development) is mostly used. In a case of the negative and positive development, a part of a photoreceptor used in the electrophotographic method is irradiated by imagewise light and a potential of the part decreases to form a toner image thereon. This is performed in consideration of a longevity of a light source and fatigue of the photoreceptor because writing ratio of an original copy is more or less 10% at most. However, background of a produced copy corresponds to a non-irradiated part (high potential part) of the photoreceptor, and when a photosensitive layer (particularly a charge generation layer) has a coating defect, a background portion (white background portion) of the photoreceptor which should have maintained potential decreases potential, resulting in occasional occurrence of point defects such as background fouling and black spots. These defects are occasionally mistaken for points in drawings and periods and commas in English drafts, and it can be said that the defects are fatal defects as images. Such point defects are often caused by a layer constituted of dispersed film including pigments, etc. Therefore, in order to decrease the point defects, a dispersion liquid having good dispersibility of pigments, etc. has to be produced. A particle size of the pigment in the dispersion liquid is preferably as small as possible, and a pigment having a primary particle size not greater than about 0.2 μm considerably decrease the point defects as mentioned above.
In order to produce such dispersion liquids, a variety of dispersers and dispersion systems and methods of increasing dispersibility have been suggested. For example, any of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publications Nos. 4-373362, 5-188614, 7-289870, 8-44086, 8-123945, 8-272111, 9-211873, 11-30871, 11-258827, 2000-126638, 2000-181104, 2000-281931, 2001-265027 and 2001-290292 discloses a technology to miniaturize (reduce a particle size of) synthesized large average-size pigment particles in a dispersion liquid as small as possible using a variety of dispersers, dispersing conditions or improving the dispersers and conditions. It can be said that these dispersion methods are good technologies in terms of efficiently dispersing the pigment until the pigment has the primary particle size. However, it is quite difficult to reduce the particle size more than the primary particle size, and a limit of the particle size in the dispersion liquid basically depends on the primary particle size of the pigment. Methods of pulverizing the primary particle with an enormous energy are included in the methods, but these break the crystal and have problems such as deterioration of dispersion efficiency and transform of the crystal form as mentioned later.
On the other hand, as a useful charge generation material, titanylphthalocyanine is known. The titanylphthalocyanine is a polytypic crystal pigment including many crystal forms as an aggregate even when having the same formula. Particularly, a titanylphthalocyanine crystal having at least a maximum diffraction peak at of a Bragg (2θ) angle of 27.2±0.2° when irradiated with a specific X-ray of CuKα having a wavelength 1.542 Å has significantly a high photocarrier generation efficiency as a charge generation material for an electrophotographic photoreceptor among polytypic crystal pigments. However, the titanylphthalocyanine has a quasi-crystallinity and easily transforms to other crystal forms. When an excessive energy is applied to the crystal, the crystal easily transforms to a titanylphthalocyanine crystal having a maximum diffraction peak at Bragg (2θ) angle of 26.3°. Because this crystal has considerably a lower photocarrier generation efficiency than the above-mentioned crystal, when even a partly transformed crystal is used for a charge generation material for a photoreceptor, problems such as deterioration of photosensitivity and increase of residual potential in repeated use occur.
When the dispersion condition is tempered to prevent this crystal transform, the resultant dispersion liquid includes a pigment having a large particle diameter or remaining coarse pigment particles. When such a dispersion liquid including a pigment having a large average particle diameter is used, surface area of the total charge generation materials becomes small, and it becomes difficult for the material to give and receive a charge to and from charge transport material, resulting in problems such as deterioration of photosensitivity and increase of residual potential in repeated use of the resultant photoreceptor occur. When the coarse particles remain, the resultant image has problems such as background fouling and black spots occur in the negative and positive development.
As just described, in the dispersion of the titanylphthalocyanine pigment particles, stability of the crystal form and miniatulization of the particles have a trade-off relation and means to easily solve this problem have not been available.
As another method of reducing the particle size of the pigment in the dispersion liquid, a method of using a pigment which can easily be dispersed, i.e., which has significantly a small primary particle diameter can be considered. In this method, a pigment previously having a small primary particle diameter is synthesized to obtain a dispersion liquid including a pigment having a small particle diameter without applying an excessive energy to the pigment. This method not only improves dispersion efficiency but also can be considered as significantly an effective method when using a pigment in which a crystal easily transforms such as the above-mentioned titanylphthalocyanine.
However, approaches in terms of pigment synthesis have hardly been seen so far. Only Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-239556 discloses a method of producing a dispersion liquid using means of combining a crystal conversion and dispersion means. This method can form a dispersion liquid including a pigment having a primary particle diameter, which is formed by the crystal conversion. However, considering the dispersion liquid is used for a coating liquid, a crystal conversion solvent is not limited to a suitable coating solvent and the method has a drawback of having a restriction in coating. In addition, because the dispersion liquid cannot be stored as a pigment powder, the method also has a drawback of having a restriction in storage.
Because of these reasons, a need exists for a titanylphthalocyanine crystal having a small primary particle size and a method of producing the titanylphthalocyanine crystal to prepare a dispersion liquid including a pigment having a small average particle size without a crystal transform of the titanylphthalocyanine crystal which is quite useful as a charge generation material for an electrophotographic photoreceptor.

Titanylphthalocyanine crystal and method of producing the titanylphthalocyanine crystal, and electrophotographic photoreceptor, method, apparatus and process cartridge using the titanylphthalocyanine crystal


A device for the detection of a continuous field of view or an arrangement of non-contiguous field of view sectors by means of an image resolving detector is provided such that the field of view sectors can be imaged quickly, one after the other, on the total area of the detector. To this end, a first imaging optical system ist provided, in the pupil of which a plurality of pupil areas is formed, each of which images a field of view sector on a common image plane area. A beam deflecting, microoptical beam deflecting element is arranged in the common image plane area. A second imaging optical system is arranged to image the microoptical beam deflecting element on the image resolving detector. The microoptical beam deflecting element is controllable such that it successively deflects beams from different pupil areas on the second imaging optical system.

Such an image resolving detector may be a one-element, linear or matrix detector. With such a detector only a limited number of pixels corresponding to the number of the detector elements can be resolved. That applies in particular to infrared detectors which are provided with relatively few detector elements. If a large field of view is resolved by such a detector it is unavoidable that the spatial resolution suffers. There are applications, however, in which a relatively large field of view must be detected with high spatial resolution in order, for example, to identify a potential target in this field of view by means of image processing or to watch a plurality of non-contiguous field of view sectors.
To solve such problems it is known to divide the field of view into individual field of view sectors which are sequentially imaged on the detector. In a prior art solution this is achieved by suspending the detector together with an imaging optical system in a gimbal system and directing the optical system sequentially to the various field of view sectors. It is also known to deflect the path of rays by rotating diffracting or reflecting polygons or oscillating mirrors, thereby consecutively observing the field of view sectors.
Such an arrangement is expensive. The scanning rate is limited by the mechanics. The detector would permit a substantially higher scanning rate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,448,395 discloses a device for observing a field of view by means of an image resolving detector, wherein an intermediate image of a field of view detected by the telescopic objective is generated. By means of a plurality of small lenses different portions of the intermediate image representing the various field of view sectors are imaged superimposed on the detector.

Device for observing a plurality of fields of view by means of an image resolving detector


A reduced or partially reduced nickel-molybdenum catalyst prepared by a process having the steps of 1) reacting nickel carbonate and molybdenum oxide precursors to form nickel molybdate and 2) treating the nickel molybdate under reducing conditions to form the reduced or partially reduced nickel-molybdenum catalyst. There is also a process for making the catalyst. There is also a process for using the catalyst in the hydrogenation of an oxo aldehyde, thereby forming an oxo alcohol of high selectivity. There is also a process for forming an oxo alcohol from the hydroformylation/hydrogenation of an olefinic feedstream. There is also a process for forming an oxo alcohol by contacting formates, dimers, trimers, and organic acids with hydrogen in the presence of a reduced or partially reduced nickel-molybdenum catalyst. The foregoing processes are also useful with a catalyst having the general formula YxZ wherein Y is nickel and/or cobalt and Z is molybdenum and/or tungsten; and wherein x ranges between about 0.25 to about 4.0. There are also reduced or partially reduced catalysts of the general formula NixMo or YxZ wherein x ranges between about 0.25 to about 4.0 and wherein oxide precursors of the catalysts are substantially free of ammonium groups.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a catalyst useful in hydrogenating oxo aldehydes. The present invention also relates to a process for preparing the catalyst. The present invention further relates to a process for hydrogenating oxo aldehydes.
2. Description of Related Art
Oxo alcohols are employed commercially as plasticizers for polyvinyl chloride plastics. Oxo alcohols are currently prepared by hydroformylating olefins with synthesis gas in the presence of cobalt catalyst to produce oxo aldehydes. The oxo aldehydes are then hydrogenated over a solid catalyst to produce the corresponding alcohols.
Currently, three classes of hydrogenation catalysts are commercially employed. They are the following: sulfided alumina-supported nickel-molybdenum-(sulfided NiMo/Al2O3); sulfided alumina-supported cobalt-molybdenum-(sulfided CoMo/Al2O3); and bulk copper chromate (Cu/Cr). The sulfided catalysts are suitable for feedstocks containing or not containing sulfur, whereas the Cu/Cr alloys are effective only with sulfur-free feedstocks. Reaction product alcohol yields range from about 92% to 96% for the sulfided catalysts and about 98% for the Cu/Cr (%=mole percent).
Reduced bulk nickel-molybdenum catalysts have been used in the hydrogenation of benzene. Teachings to such use are described in the Journal of Catalysis, 91, 356–360 (1985), Applied Catalysis, 10, 63–76 (1984). Bulk sulfided nickel-molybdenum and nickel-molybdenum-tungsten catalysts are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,382,715, 5,399,793, and 6,278,030 B1.
It is desirable to have a catalyst system for the hydrogenation of oxo aldehydes that provides higher yields and higher selectivity for oxo alcohols than prior art catalyst systems. It is further desirable to have a catalyst system that converts a higher proportion of by-products (i.e., acids, formates, and trimers) commonly found in oxo aldehyde feedstocks to oxo alcohols.
It was found surprising that there is a catalyst system for hydrogenation of oxo aldehydes that provided high yields and high selectivity for oxo alcohols. It was also found surprising that there is a catalyst system that also converts a significant portion of by-products (i.e., acids, formates, and trimers) commonly found in oxo aldehyde feedstocks to oxo alcohols. It was further yet surprising that there is a catalyst system for hydrogenation of oxo aldehydes that could be incorporated into a hydroformylation process for producing oxo alcohols from olefinic feedstreams. It was still further yet surprising that a non-sulfided alloy catalyst could be used with a sulfur-containing feedstream.

Hydrogenation of oxo aldehydes to oxo alcohols in the presence of a nickel-molybdenum catalyst


A mounting apparatus for an aircraft engine that provides load path redundancy includes a forward mount that attaches the aircraft engine to a pylon at a forward position of the aircraft engine, an aft mount that attaches the aircraft engine to the pylon at an aft position of the aircraft engine and a thrust assembly connected to the forward mount, and the aft mount. The forward mount includes an aircraft engine attachment assembly and a fail-safe assembly. The aft mount includes an aircraft engine attachment assembly and a fail-safe assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to aircraft engine mounts. More particularly, the invention relates to turbofan engine mounts that provide fail-safety.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Aircraft engines are commonly mounted to an aircraft's wings, fuselage, or tail by an aircraft engine mounting apparatus that connects to the end of a mounting structure, such as a pylon. The engine mounting apparatus must be able to withstand vertical loads, such as gravity, horizontal loads, such as the thrust of the aircraft engine, lateral loads, such as wind buffeting, and axial loads, such as the rotational force of the aircraft engine. Additionally, the aircraft engine mounting apparatus must accommodate thermal expansion and contraction of the engine case. Due to the extreme forces exerted on aircraft engine mounting apparatus, it is imperative that failure of a part of the aircraft engine mounting apparatus does not cause loss of an engine.
Some prior art aircraft engine mounting apparatuses have fail safety mechanisms, but such mechanisms are heavy and complex and are sometimes installed incorrectly, or in the wrong location or orientation.

Fail-safe aircraft engine mounting apparatus


A laser positioning and measuring system for an earth boring apparatus is disclosed which includes a unique measuring unit comprising a pair of lasers mounted in a back-to-back relation with targets at their free ends. The targets include a beam passage through which laser beams from the measuring units are emitted. The emitted laser beams strike a target on an adjacent measuring unit. The area of which the laser beam impinges upon the adjacent targets generates a signal to indicate the displacement of the laser beams with respect to the adjacent targets to provide a coordinate and angle signals. The signals are processed in the computer to indicate deviations between the measuring units. The measuring units are spaced along the bore, for example, by attachment near the joints of the individual pipe casings which are pushed through the bore by the earth boring apparatus. The deflection of the casings from the desired bore direction is measured by the measuring units as disposed at the joints of the casing and processed to indicate a deviation in the distance of the leading pipe casing from the point of origin. Each target comprises a photo array of light sensing elements which detects the impingement area of the beam coming from the adjacent measuring unit.

This invention relates to an apparatus for boring or tunneling underground using an earth boring, drilling, or tunneling machine. In particular, the invention relates to a laser positioning system for measuring the position pipe casing or bore forming machinery as it is as it is pushed and steered through the earth so that a more accurate line and grade of the bore or tunnel may be had.
Prior earth boring machines are known which are slidably mounted and reciprocated longitudinally along a track by means of a hydraulic piston assembly. The forward end of the boring machine rotatably mounts an auger which is rotated within the interior of the pipe casings with the forward end of the auger boring a hole in the earth. The auger bores the hole and carries the dirt outwardly for ejection at the boring machine. The hydraulic pistons are forced on the boring machine to drive the pipe casings through the bore as it is formed. Successive pipe casings are attached to the string of pipe casings as the bore progresses. A steering head is typically located at the forward pipe casing and is provided with a directional control device. Typical earth boring machines are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,042,046; 4,013,134; and 4,438,820. U.S. Pat. No. 4,042,046 discloses an earth boring machine having a double jointed steering head so that its direction may be controlled in both the vertical and horizontal planes. The system does not have an entirely reliable means for measuring the position of the cutting head in both the horizontal and vertical planes so that it may be steered accurately. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,042,046 and 4,013,134 utilize a conventional water level to determine the grade of the casing. That type of device includes a sight tube on an indicator board at the boring pit station connected to a water line affixed to the top of the casing being bored and pushed through the ground. Any deviation in the leading edge of the casing from the desired grade either up or down provides a corresponding response to the water level in the sight tube at the boring pit. Based on the readings of the sight tube, the operator in the boring pit may pivot the steering head of the casing in the vertical plane by means of a mechanical linkage. However, the water line connected to the sight must be vented on both ends. If the device is used below the water table, water can enter the tube and interfere with the reading of the sight tube. The water level devices also have inherent vibration problems which necessitate that the apparatus be shut down to take a reading of the sight tube. The sight tube cannot be monitored simultaneously with the boring operation. With the vibrations, air locks are often created which interfere with the accuracy of the reading in the sight tube. The above inaccuracies can result in the final line being off grade which often requires re-boring. U.S. Pat. No. 4,438,820 proposes an improved rate sensor for eliminating the problems utilized in water level sensors. However, the problem remains that the prior art earth boring and tunneling machines do not recognize the ability to provide means for accurately measuring the position of the steering or cutting head.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,418, discloses a directional drilling system with an eccentric mounted motor and biaxial position sensor for steering a drilling string forming a bore underground. This system has been found advantageous for many applications, particularly where a rotating drill string is used. The position and measuring system relies heavily on electronics including an angular rate sensor and encoder which operate with an eccentric mounted drilling head to not only measure the position of the drill string, but also the rotational position of the eccentrically mounted drilling head.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,099,927 discloses an apparatus for guiding and steering an earth boring casing. This application also utilizes a positioning measuring system that includes a pair of angular rate sensors whose sensing axes are rotated 90 degrees with respect to each other, and also relies heavily on electronics.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,743 discloses an arrangement for determining the position of a hollow section system which is pushed forward which comprises measuring apparatus arranged one behind the other in the hollow section system. However, the light sources and detectors are located in the apparatus such that optical systems must be employed for beam direction. This renders the apparatus high susceptible to misalignment when used in this rather harsh environment of underground boring or pipe pushing.
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a highly accurate and reliable positioning measuring system for guiding an earth boring apparatus
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved position measuring system for an earth boring apparatus utilized to form underground bores such as tunneling machines, pipe pushing machines, direction drilling machines, and the like.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved measuring system for guiding and steering an earth boring apparatus which minimizes the amount of electronics that are used.
Another object of the invention is to provide a highly accurate and reliable laser positioning measuring system for measuring the position and guiding an earth boring apparatus while being steered to form an underground bore.

Laser positioning system for earth boring apparatus


A physical machine calculates, for each virtual switch, an increment of a usage of a processor in accordance with the number of packets to be collected, by using a usage of the processor by a virtual switch and a number of packets passing through each port when mirroring is executed and when mirroring is not executed, respectively. For each of candidates for capture point, the physical machine calculates, for each physical machine, a usage of the processor by a hypervisor when mirroring is executed, by using an increment of a usage of the processor by the virtual switch and a usage of the processor by the hypervisor when mirroring is not executed. The physical machine determines a combination of ports used for collection of packets from among the candidates for capture point, in accordance with a deviation of the calculated usage of the processor by each hypervisor.

In the field of information processing, a virtualization technology has been utilized for operating a plurality of virtual computers (may be referred to as virtual machines or logical hosts) on a physical computer (may be referred to as a physical machine or a physical host). On each virtual machine, software, such as an OS (Operating System), may be executed. A physical machine using the virtualization technology executes software for managing a plurality of virtual machines.
For example, software called a hypervisor assigns the processing capacity of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a storage area of a RAM (Random Access Memory) to a plurality of virtual machines, as the resources for computation. Moreover, a hypervisor may use the above resources to operate a virtual switch, which relays the communication data of a virtual machine, on a physical machine.
A system including a plurality of physical machines may collect the packets transmitted and received between virtual machines to monitor the operational status of the system. The packets may be collected using a mirroring function (a function to duplicate a packet passing through a certain port and send it also from another port) of a switch that relays packets. For example, there is a proposal that the arrangement of virtual machines is modified so that the packets between virtual machines on each physical machine may be collected in an aggregated manner from a virtual switch on any one of physical machines, thereby collecting the packets from this virtual switch.
There is also a proposal that, when there is a physical NIC (Network Interface Card) whose usage rate is higher than an upper limit among the physical NICs on a virtual machine server, the connection destination of a virtual NIC of a virtual machine with the lowest priority among the virtual machines in operation is switched to a physical NIC whose usage rate is lower than the upper limit.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2013-175075
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2009-130527
As with the above-described proposals, packets may be collected by mirroring a predetermined port using a virtual switch on one physical machine. However, in this case, the load on a physical machine in charge of collecting packets might increase. Then, the collection of packets may be shared among physical machines. Specifically, it is conceivable that a port to be monitored is individually mirrored using a virtual switch on each physical machine, so that packets are collected by a predetermined virtual machine on the same physical machine as that of each virtual switch.
However, the transmitted and received amount of packets between virtual machines differs with a function realized by a virtual machine, the frequency of use of a virtual machine, or the like. Focusing on the ports of a virtual switch, there are various ports, such as a port having a relatively high communication traffic and a port having a relatively low communication traffic. Therefore, depending on a combination of mirroring ports, the number of packets to be duplicated/collected on any one of physical machines might increase and thus the load might be biased to this physical machine.

Capture point determination method and capture point determination system


According to one embodiment, an etching method includes: supplying an etching-resistant material; and etching the silicon nitride film. The supplying includes supplying the etching-resistant material to a processing surface including a surface of a silicon nitride film and a surface of a non-etching film, the non-etching film including a material different from the silicon nitride film. The etching includes etching the silicon nitride film using an etchant in a state of the etching-resistant material being formed relatively more densely on the surface of the non-etching film than on the surface of the silicon nitride film.

Hot phosphoric acid solutions are generally used as etchants to perform wet etching of silicon nitride selectively with respect to silicon oxide. However, the characteristics of hot phosphoric acid solutions are such that the silicon oxide also is undesirably etched, albeit at about one-thirtieth of the etching rate of silicon nitride.

Wet etching method for silicon nitride film


An improved media streaming device and methods are disclosed herein for receiving and modifying a streaming signal to adjust the rate of occurrence of advertisements based on sensor data collected from various sensors associated with a vehicle and a mobile device found within an interior of a vehicle. The improved media streaming device may receive a risk score based on the collected sensor data, and may determine an advertisement tier based on the risk score. Further, the improved media streaming device may select targeted advertisement content based on at least the sensor data, the calculated risk score, the advertisement tier, and other contextual attributes relating to the driver and/or the vehicle. The improved media streaming device may then modify the streaming signal to inject the selected advertisement at the frequency prescribed by the advertisement tier.

Insurance providers value the safety of drivers and the general public. Accordingly, rewarding safe driving behaviors is a matter of good policy. Although techniques exist to generally encourage safe driving, they might not provide a mechanism whereby rewards for drivers engaging in safe driving behaviors are reflected via advertisements in a streaming signal. Further, these techniques might not provide for modulating the frequency of the advertisements in the streaming signal as an incentive to engage in safe driving behaviors.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for modulating advertisement frequencies in streaming signals based on vehicle operation data


An embodiment of the invention provides a resiliently deformable and flexible in-ear sound device having stretchable electronic circuitry. The in-ear sound device may be configured in a variety of ways, including, but in no way limited to a smart earplug, a flexible personal sound amplification product, a personal music player, a “walkie-talkie” and the like.

The following description includes information that may be useful in understanding embodiments of the invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
With the development of portable multimedia devices and smart phones, many types of earphones and headsets have been developed and used. However, previous devices have traditionally been bulky and uncomfortable as well as being limited in their technological abilities.
Therefore, a need exists for more advanced sound devices that can perform an expanded set of tasks at an improved rate of performance over the devices found in the prior art.


The present system is for simultaneous recovery of purified water and dissolved solids from impure high TDS water (1) which is achieved in a single step and eliminates the use of external thermal energy for making the system significantly efficient. It eliminates the use of boiler, cooling tower that reduces the overall capital cost and continuous requirement of external thermal energy for making system efficient. The simultaneous recovery of the purified water and solids from high TDS input effluent reduce the energy intensity of the system. Said system provides a vacuum system as heat pump which enables the system to be self-sufficient in thermal energy requirements for evaporation process and reduces GHG emissions significantly.

Water is a scarce resource for which lot of attention is drawn by various agencies in the world. Water is consumed by various industries in great amount. The industrial manufacturing activities generally result in the production of due to use of fresh water in manufacturing activity. The effluent is Liquid waste with high TDS flowing out of a factory, farm, commercial establishment, or a household into a water body such as oceans, river, lake, or lagoon, or sewer system or reservoir. Effluent management and disposal are big tasks for all industries.
TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) is an indicator of the hardness of water. The high TDS water contains dissolved solids in concentration beyond desirable limits whereby have major issues when consumed and resulting in medical problems like kidney problems, indigestion, gastric problems, constipation, blood thickening, eye problems, high blood pressure, fatigue etc. and also effects on our skin. World Health Organization (WHO) or similar agencies have published maximum limits of TDS content for water used for human consumption and/or for disposal into various types of water bodies. Therefore there is a need of purifying high TDS water for reducing dissolved solids present in the water to a level which is acceptable for human consumption or for disposal into a water body.
Further, effluent generated by various types of industries results in a lot of harm to the environment by contaminating water bodies and world over stringent regulations are being put in place to reduce environmental impact arising out of disposal of effluent/wastewater from various types of industrial activities. World over various regulating bodies of the Governments have been specifying standards for quality of effluents that can be disposed. In many cases the regulatory agencies have been insisting on achieving zero discharge (especially for industries having very high water demand). Hence effluent has to be either treated well before disposal or processed to recover water (to achieve zero discharge) which adds on substantial cost to the general manufacturing related costs. High cost of water recovery, due to high energy requirements, for achieving zero discharge is one of the most worrying factors for water intensive industries.
Apart from industrial effluents, high TDS content of many water resources also need treatment before its use. There have been various efforts for recovery of purified water from such high TDS water and separation of dissolved solids from said impure high TDS water.
Further, the conventional system for purification of TDS water requires the technical experts (man power) for operating and/or monitoring the multistage process for water purification system. Involvement of the technical experts for the purpose mentioned herein; there are chances of human errors in the operating and/or monitoring process.
Hence, it may result into inconsistency in process steps within the system further resulting in reduced efficiency of the system. Further, in cases of such errors, additional time is required for the fixing the errors, which in turn results in energy consumption.
Stakeholders, globally, are in need of water purification system hence requisite of recover, recycle, conserve and reuse of water for sustainability of economic development.
Earlier efforts for achieving zero discharge included use of recovery systems such as:
1. Zero Discharge System (ZLD):
Zero Discharge systems involve recovery of pure water from high TDS water. This conventional Zero Discharge system is a series of processing arrangements. The common examples of such system include Reverse Osmosis (RO), Mechanical vapour recompression (MVR), Multiple effect evaporators (MEE) and finally Agitated thin film drier (ATFD) type of driers to separate solids from waste water. The limitations of these systems are as follows:                a) RO System:        RO systems can recover only 50-70% of water in effluent depending upon the inlet effluent's solid concentration. The known RO systems for industrial effluents have been able to achieve solids concentration in reject water in the range of 5-10% only. Hence substantial amount of water present in feed effluent is lost with reject water. Moreover dissolved solids present in the input effluent cannot be recovered as solids in any RO system. Therefore the RO systems have the process of separation of water and solid involves multiple steps which making it energy consuming.b) MVR Systems:        MVR systems can remove limited water from RO effluent so as to give concentrated water stream with about 10-15% solids content. The MVR systems typically use fan type of vapour compression to increase the pressure of water vapour generated by evaporation. Due to this the temperature at which the compressed steam from MVR can condense is increased by at the most 10-15° C. Moreover, when the solids concentration of water is increased by the evaporation, the boiling point of concentrated solution increases compared to that of pure water at the same pressure. This increase in boiling point of concentrated solution with limited increase in steam condensation temperature limits the solids concentration that can be achieved by MVR in the reject water. Hence the MVR system has limited ability to achieve temperature difference by vapour compression and said system is not able to separate dissolved solids in feed as solids and is able to only achieve increase in solids concentration in reject water.
c) MEE System:                The MEE system use steam to evaporate water and cannot achieve complete water recovery from concentrated water stream and such systems give water with about 40-50% solids content. The MEE systems have multiple stages for the evaporation wherein external steam supply is given in one stage and steam generated from that stage is then used in subsequent stage by lowering the operating pressure of the subsequent stage. Further, this sequence is repeated depending upon the number of stages used in MEE. In case of MEE system typically shell and tube type exchanger configurations are used and the feed water is concentrated in its solids content in each stage. Subsequently the dissolved solids have limits on their solubility in water, hence the solids start precipitating in exchanger tubes as the concentration increases. This is the main reasons for tube choking problems in operation of systems resulting in frequent stoppages, cleaning and maintenance issues. Due to this characteristic of MEE system operation, it is not possible to evaporate all the water present in the feed as the concentrated water after each stage has to be pumpable. Thus, known MEE systems also cannot recover all the dissolved solids as solids and the concentrated water produced from such systems is normally slurry of some solids and balance saturated water with dissolved solids. Hence; the MEE system includes the multiple stages for the purification process of TDS water which makes the process energy intensive. The system requires technical experts for monitoring the multiple stages which increases the risk of errors which result into inconsistency in process steps within the system and further resulting in reduced efficiency of the system.d) Agitated Thin Film Drier (ATFD) Type Solids Drier:        The ATFD type solid drier are used after the MEE system for solid separation. Further, the concentrated water stream from MEE is normally fully evaporated in ATFD type solids driers which need medium pressure steam as heating medium for complete evaporation of the remaining water from the solids present in input slurry from MEE system. Further from the said ATFD type of driers the solids are recovered as a separate product from the systems. Hence said process of separation of the water and solids from high TDS water involves multiple steps making it cumbersome, infrastructure and energy intensive. Further, using the additional equipment for drying process makes the system costly. The system require technical experts for the monitoring the multiple stages which increases the risk of errors which result into inconsistency in process steps within the system and further resulting in reduced efficiency of the system.e) Vacudest System:        Vacudest vacuum distillation systems is a modified version of combining MVR and MEE type operations so as to achieve impurities concentration in reject water. The system involves the shell and tube type of heat exchanger wherein evaporation and boiling occurs in the exchanger which could potentially lead to tube choking and maintenance issues similar to those faced in MEE systems. Said system does not include any separation of dissolved solids in feed as solids and indicates need for a reject water stream to remove the impurities present in the input water. Further, the company literature specifies types of industrial effluents that their system can process and those skilled in the art can make out that the system is not designed to handle effluents mainly with objective of removing dissolved solids from input water but to remove other impurities (along with small solids content) generated in specified types of industries. Hence; said system does not separate out dissolved solid from the effluent and have the possibility of tube chocking, and maintenance issues.2. Steam Generation for Use in ZLD Systems:
Conventionally all the ZLD systems with above processing steps have requirement of steam for evaporating water from the high TDS input water. Fossil fuel fired boilers are required for this purpose. Further, MEE systems need cooling water for condensation of evaporated water. Thus, support utility system in the form of cooling tower is also required. Hence; using further additional equipment for drying process makes the system costly.
In order to avoid the use of fossil fuels (and thereby avoid emission of greenhouse gases (GHG)), possibility of generating steam from water by using the concept of heat pump has been explored and tried by some.
Further; the Heat pumps are used to upgrade low temperature heat energy to high temperature, usable form of heat energy. Technically heat pumps are reverse of refrigeration cycles. The heat pump available in the market, using ambient heat as the heat source, gives hot water in the temperature range of 80-90° C. maximum due to technical limitations and steam generation from ambient heat is not achieved in any of the known systems.
The heat pump system used in the one of the technique i.e. "STEAM GLOW", system which is developed by a Kobe steel, to generate steam from waste heat source in the temperature range upto 65-70° C. These systems involve very high pressure and temperature-based compression cycle for it to act as heat pump. Since it uses R245 and R134 as heat pump fluid in closed loop cycle Steam Glow are quite expensive. Further, the energy efficiency measure, COP, claimed in such systems is 3.2 for steam generated at 200 kPaA and COP is 2.5 if steam is generated at 700 kPaA.
Amongst other efforts known for use of heat pump for ZLD type system are MVR systems and Vacudest System which have different temperature differential between the boiling liquid and condensing steam with Vacudest reporting the highest such temperature differential. Vacudest system uses a single stage compression. The temperature of water under evaporation is about 85° C. and the steam generation temperature claimed is 120° C. Thus, maximum temperature differential possible in Vacudest system is about 35° C. However, the system would invariably need start up steam or some other heat source to achieve the temperature of 85° C. required for starting evaporation in vessel.

System for simultaneous recovery of purified water and dissolved solids from impure high TDS water

ETHICAL ENERGY PETROCHEM STRATEGIES PVT. LTD


An integrated system for monitoring a deployed product on a movable platform, gathering data about the deployed product, and disseminating the data about the deployed product is disclosed. The system includes a server located on the movable platform capable of communication with the server from a remote location. The server communicates with a source of data about the deployed product. The system further includes a portal onto which data gathered by the server may be downloaded and with which one can upload information to the server. The system includes a dual architecture card which may be mounted in an electronic controller of the deployed product. The dual architecture card may include a closed architecture section executing proprietary software, and an open architecture receiving processed data from the closed architecture section through a secured connection. One or both of the closed architecture section and closed architecture section may include a microserver.

There are three general types of maintenance for products. They are on-demand maintenance (usually when a product breaks), scheduled maintenance (based upon the best estimate of a manufacturer as to when something will wear out with normal usage), and condition based maintenance (maintenance that occurs when maximum usage is obtained from a part but just prior to part failure). On demand maintenance is self-explanatory. It is when a component fails and has to be repaired or replaced. This normally occurs as an end result of its operators not understanding its component life or the conditions of its use, and the highest costs, both physical and lost time, are associated with it. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most common types of maintenance. Scheduled maintenance is less costly but can be very wasteful. Depending upon the usage of a product, one may be replacing parts that still have a significantly useful life. This is also where corners tend to be cut by the customer when budgets become tight, and often leads back to the first type of maintenance described above. The third form of maintenance is condition-based maintenance and is the holy grail of maintenance in many industries. If a manufacturer or service organization can accurately ascertain the maximum life of a component based upon actual wear, tear, and usage, it could then allow for the optimized, just-in-time servicing and replacement of that component, thereby allowing for the user to gain maximum product life and to schedule the replacement at a non-critical time. As a result, a manufacturer utilizing condition based maintenance could better plan its spares production and save millions of dollars in unnecessary production, warehousing and inventory taxes.
There is however a catch to condition-based maintenance. A closed feedback loop system of information related to the use of each product must be provided. Without first-hand knowledge of how a product is being used after it is sold and deployed to the field, a manufacturer or service provider has no real way of knowing when components will wear out based on usage, and must therefore default back to using one or both of the first two types of maintenance described above. Operators are in the best position to gather this first hand knowledge, but most are too busy operating and making money with the product and have little time, money and/or inclination to attempt to capture this information to provide feedback to the manufacturer or service provider, even though it is in their own best interest to do so.
In an attempt to gather useful information from the field, a variety of methods have been used to try and solve the collection of product usage data. On the low end, customer surveys, feedback forms, and interaction with field support personnel have been the primary means of obtaining a rudimentary form of feedback. For complex and expensive products, such as aircraft engines, the most common form is that of paper-based operational logs. This is a highly manual and painful method of collecting operational information. Over the years, computer collection systems have tried to make this process easier, but they still require a great deal of manual intervention.
More recent advances have involved the incorporation of automated data recording devices onto products, such as engine data units (or EDUs), which are used on turbine engines, and which communicate with electronic engine control (EEC) systems and record operational data using a variety of sensors. However, it is still extremely difficult and costly to gather information from these data collection devices, as it must be done manually by mechanics in the field using specialized equipment or laptop computers temporarily cabled to the EDU or EEC, and with which they usually have little familiarity or interest. The only other option is to wait until the product is returned to a shop environment for a major overhaul and repair, at which point the data from a preventative maintenance perspective is moot, and useful only from a post analysis or fleet average perspective.
A number of industries normally attempt to gather product usage intelligence through manual inspections and, more recently, laptop computer downloads performed concurrently with scheduled or on-demand maintenance service calls. This is normally accomplished by one or two methods: sending a service person to the product, bringing the product to a service center, or both. Examples of the former include products with fixed installations, such as elevators, HVAC systems, nuclear power plants and large home appliances. Examples of the latter include automobiles, small home appliances, home electronics equipment, lawn-mowers, or anything small enough to be easily carried or shipped. Both methods are inefficient and result in significant down time.
With advances in low cost computing and the advent of wireless technologies and the Internet, companies are now looking at how they can collect product usage intelligence in an automated and remote fashion. Many of the systems which have evolved, such as VHF frequency, cell phone, or wireless land-based data download methods, tend to be very expensive as have attempts at using emerging technologies to accomplish essentially the same thing, i.e., using remote data file compression and download to a central location using a public or private network/Internet where the information can then be manually uncompressed and analyzed. As a result, the high cost associated with such methods restricts the application of wireless remote monitoring to high value products, such as jet aircraft and helicopters. Thus, there remains a need for a low cost, wireless system which accurately ascertains the condition of a deployed product based upon actual wear, tear, and usage and presents information about that condition to a user, a manufacturer, an operator, or any other interested party, that is deployable with the product and that provides greater flexibility and interaction than simple data downloading.
Moreover, in certain applications, such as aircraft engines, it may be desirable to wirelessly download engine data to a remote location, but not allow the remote location to gain access to all of the propriety algorithms, data, or software being utilized by the engine. Accordingly, a need exits for wireless system for communicating with a deployed product, wherein only certain information is accessible from the remote location.


An electronic wheel balancer performs imbalance measurements at variable speeds for different size wheels. The inertia of a wheel mounted on the balancer is determined by measuring the acceleration time of the wheel from a first speed to a second higher speed and the operating speed is adjusted accordingly. An improved operator interface pod incorporates correction plane indicators/selection buttons adjacent the weight display. Auxilliary weight storage is also provided.

The present invention relates generally to wheel balancing machines used by tire shops and motor vehicle repair shops to perform off-vehicle balancing of automobile and truck tire and wheel assemblies. More specifically, this invention relates to a motorized electronic wheel balancer which is capable of operating at varying speeds of rotation and that has additional operator interface features that allow a user of the balancer to operate it with greater safety and efficiency.
In a conventional electronic wheel balancer, the tire and wheel assembly to be balanced is removed from the vehicle and placed on a shaft that extends laterally from the wheel balancer chassis. The shaft is directly or indirectly coupled to an electric drive motor so that the shaft as well as the tire and wheel assembly can be rotated to a predetermined speed. Once the wheel and tire assembly has been rotated to the predetermined speed, imbalance force transducers mechanically linked to the shaft and motor send electrical signals to a processor which are responsive to mechanical imbalances in the tire and wheel assembly. After these signals are processed, visual indicators are typically provided to the operator, identifying an amount of compensating weight that should be added to the tire and wheel assembly, as well as identifying a location or locations where correction weights should be attached.
In such wheel balancing machines, it is often desirable to operate the balancer at multiple shaft speeds. For example, it would be preferable to rotate the shaft at a slower speed for large wheels having high inertia as well as to operate at a higher speed for smaller wheels with lower inertia. This prevents overheating of the balancer drive motor on large wheels and improves the cycle time and signal to noise ratio in the collection of imbalance data for smaller wheels.
Another basis for operating the balancer at varying speeds would be to allow the operator to select a speed at which he wished to balance the wheel. Under these circumstances, the operator would select the speed. Then, as the shaft accelerated, the forces being generated by the imbalance in the tire and wheel assembly would be monitored. If the imbalance forces generated were low enough to allow for safe operation at the selected speed, the shaft would be accelerated to the desired speed and the imbalance measurement made. However, if excessive imbalance forces were detected, the power would be removed from the drive motor at a safe speed and the measurements made at that speed.
Finally, variable speed operation is also desirable to allow the operator to rotate the tire and wheel assembly at a speed low enough to permit visual inspection of the rotating tire. For safety reasons, Underwriters Laboratories requires that if the tire and wheel assembly is rotated at or above specified speed, the assembly must be covered by a protective hood. Thus, the safety hood, which ordinarily covers the assembly for the protection of the operator, must be in its upward position to allow for visual inspection of the wheel runout or other aberrant conditions that must be visually detected. After the operator has completed the runout inspection, he could stop the drive motor or lower the hood and the balancer could then be accelerated to a higher speed to conduct a normal imbalance measurement.
Another important characteristic of an electronic wheel balancer is to quickly and effectively display to the operator the precise locations for placement of the compensating weights. In the prior art, this is has been accomplished by various combinations of display or illumination devices on a display panel mounted to the balancer. One problem associated with the prior art display panels in a multi-planed electronic wheel balancer is the relationship between weight placement and the multiple correction planes that can be selected in balancing a tire and wheel assembly. In the typical microprocessor based electronic wheel balancer, the imbalance in a wheel is resolved into two correction planes. In the variety of vehicle wheels that can be used, there are many different correction planes where corrective weights can be applied, with five of such planes shown in FIG. 6. The operator ordinarily will select the weight placement planes in advance, based on several factors. The processor of the balancer will use this information, along with the imbalance force measurements, to calculate weight placement locations. In the prior art user interface and display panels, the steps of operator selection of the correction planes (by use of a selection key or button) and visualization of weight placement can be confusing because of poor arrangement of the buttons and display.
In balancing a standard steel wheel, knowing where on the wheel to apply the correction weights is straightforward. Clip weights are attached to the wheel rim at the required angular position as specified by the electronic wheel balancer display. The situation becomes more complicated if an alloy wheel is being balanced. It may be impossible to attach a clip weight to the rim of the wheel or the vehicle owner may want the weights to be hidden from view. In those situations, one or both weights may be placed on the interior of the wheel when performing a dynamic balance. The weights may be a combination of clip weights and tape weights or both may be tape weights.
Various methods have been tried in the prior art to allow the operator to select the weight location, all of which have had some drawbacks. One method has been to provide selectable icons on the operator interface panel, each of which represents a specific wheel configuration as well as corresponding weight locations. Another method has been to have a graphic display and a series of switches on the operator panel which allow selection of fixed groupings of weight locations. Both of these methods suffer from inflexibility and are not user friendly.
What is needed, then, is an electronic wheel balancer that can be safely operated at variable speeds for different sized wheels. An electronic wheel balancer is also needed that has an improved operator interface panel to make it easier and less confusing to coordinate the selection of correction planes with visualization of weight placement location.

Electronic wheel balancer with variable speed operation, improved operator interface, and auxiliary storage


A driver restraint device for an industrial truck with a driver's seat has at least one restraining guard, for which an inoperative position and a restraining position are provided. During operation of the industrial truck, the restraining guard is in the restraining position, whereby it can be moved toward an inoperative position against a bias force. The restraining guard can be locked in position by a tripping device which detects a tipping of the industrial truck.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an industrial truck and more specifically to a driver restraint device usable with an industrial truck.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A problem encountered on industrial trucks which have at least a partly open driver cab is that when the industrial truck tips over sideways, the driver can fall out of the cab and become sandwiched between parts of the falling industrial truck and the floor or road. Factors that can lead to tipping of the industrial truck include traveling around curves at excessive speeds, failing to lower the load when driving, or driving into or over obstacles.
Driver restraint devices are utilized to secure the driver in the driver's seat in the event of an accident. Typical driver restraint devices have one or two movable restraining guards. To avoid interfering with the driver's ingress or egress, these restraining guards are preferably located outside the range of movement of the driver of the industrial truck. In use, the restraining guards are moved into a restraining position by the driver manually when he sits in the driver's seat. Such driver restraint devices are only effective, however, if the restraining guard is in the restraining position before an accident.
Alternatively the restraining guard is automatically moved into the restraining position and locked therein when a switch located to detect the presence of a driver in the driver's seat is actuated. With this type of driver restraint device, however, the driver's freedom of movement is severely restricted by the properly positioned restraining guard, even during normal operation of the industrial truck.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a driver restraint device which is effective at all times, and which does not interfere with the driver's movements during normal operation of the industrial truck.

Driver restraint device for an industrial truck


Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described that may enable a user equipment (UE) to transmit sidelink data within an interference avoidance resource scheduling scheme. For example, a UE may determine to segment a data packet for transmission in a vehicle-to-everything (V2x) system (e.g., to ensure that each segment fits within one transmission time interval (TTI)). In some cases, a UE may identify a data packet for transmission, may determine that the size of the data packet exceeds a threshold size, may segment the data packet to ensure each segment fits within one TTI, and may transmit the data packet segments (e.g., to additional UEs), where said transmissions may be discontinuous. In some examples, a UE may determine to segment the data packet and then encode the data packet. Additionally or alternatively, the UE may determine to encode the data packet and then segment the data packet.

The following relates generally to wireless communications, and more specifically to resource allocation and segmentation in wireless systems.
Wireless communications systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of such multiple-access systems include fourth generation (4G) systems such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) systems, or LTE-A Pro systems, and fifth generation (5G) systems which may be referred to as New Radio (NR) systems. These systems may employ technologies such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), or discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (DFT-S-OFDM). A wireless multiple-access communications system may include a number of base stations or network access nodes, each simultaneously supporting communication for multiple communication devices, which may be otherwise known as user equipment (UE).
Wireless communication systems may include or support networks used for direct communications between wireless devices, e.g., direct communications between UEs. Examples of direct communications include, but are not limited to, device-to-device (D2D) communications, vehicle-based communications, which may also be referred to as vehicle-to-everything (V2X) networks, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) networks, cellular V2X (C-V2X) networks, and the like.
In a sidelink communications system (e.g., a V2X system), a UE (e.g., a vehicle) may transmit data to, and receive data from, other UEs using sidelink communications channels (e.g., time-frequency resources allocated for sidelink communications). For example, a UE within a V2X system may transmit sidelink data to inform other UEs about a state of a vehicle or may transmit data to assist vehicles with certain tasks (e.g., autonomous driving). In some cases, a UE in a V2X system may maintain accurate system information by attempting to receive data packets from each neighboring UE. In some V2X systems, a UE may operate according to a half-duplex mode when transmitting and/or receiving data, where the UE may be unable to transmit and receive data during the same time period. Efficient methods for allocating resources in a sidelink or V2X system are desired.

Resource allocation and segmentation in wireless systems


Computing devices, input devices, keyboard assemblies, and related systems include a set of conductive traces or leads configured to transfer a capacitive load from an appendage of a user or another capacitive load source from a remote location, such as on a keycap of the keyboard, to a conductive portion or electrode on the keyboard that is positioned near a touch-sensitive interface of a computing device. The capacitive load is thereby transferable through the conductive traces or leads to the touch-sensitive interface without having to directly apply the load, such as by touching a finger to the interface. This can reduce or eliminate the need for on-screen controls or keyboard interface elements in a touch screen device without having to use a more expensive and energy-draining wired or wireless connection between the computing device and a keyboard case or accessory for the computing device.

Many electronic devices have keyboards and related devices to receive input and interaction from users. These electronic devices include computers, such as personal computers, tablet computers, and smartphones, and other "smart" devices, such as media players, video and audio equipment, vehicle consoles, home automation controllers, and related devices. Keyboards and other interface devices are designed with buttons or keys that are pressed by users to generate input signals for a processor or controller. These devices are often designed to provide a controlled amount of resistance to the user's fingertips in order to give tactile feedback as the user presses a button or key. The feel, sound, cost, and size of each button or key are tightly controlled to efficiently provide a desired user experience. Although some keyboards are "virtual," such as software keyboards displayed on a touchscreen device, it can be beneficial to provide key travel, or movement of the keys, to help the user more easily feel, see, and hear when and where a key is pressed and to provide an overall more satisfying interaction with the device.
Providing this type of key or button can come with costs. Touchscreen devices that do not have a built-in mechanical keyboard can be connected to a peripheral keyboard interface device, but that peripheral device must have an independent power source or must have a wired connection to the touchscreen device that can drain the power source of the touchscreen device or can require special electrical connectors to the peripheral device. Thus, there are many challenges and areas for improvements in interface devices.


A signal processing apparatus for controlling an audio signal related to playback of sound to be performed together with playback of video that is based on a video signal is provided. The apparatus obtains information indicating a speed of the video at a point in time that is included in a playback period of the video signal, and controls, in a case where the speed of the video changes from a standard speed to a speed that differs from the standard speed at a specific point in time included in the playback period of the video signal, the audio signal based on the information obtained by the obtaining unit, such that a volume parameter for controlling a playback volume of the audio signal after the specific point in time differs from the volume parameter before the specific point in time.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to video and audio playback technologies.
Description of the Related Art
There exist technologies for capturing video data with a high frame rate and performing slow-motion playback of video. With such slow-motion playback, the frequency of the audio shifts to a low range when the waveform of the audio signal is extended to conform to slow-motion playback, and this can leave viewers with a sense of incongruity. To address this, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2017-009663 discloses a technology for reducing the sense of incongruity by also obtaining audio recording data with a high sampling rate to generate audio data with little sense of incongruity, and by, furthermore, repeatedly playing back this audio data to reduce silent intervals. Also, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2017-009663 discloses reducing the volume level every repetition, at the time of repetitive playback of audio.
The technique of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2017-009663 reduces the volume level gradually after the video has switched to variable speed playback, and thus the volume level does not change immediately when the video expression is changed. Since there is thus no change in the audio expression when switching from normal playback to variable speed playback such as slow-motion playback or stop-motion playback, viewers can be left with a sense of incongruity.

Signal processing apparatus, signal processing method, and storage medium


This invention pertains to a method for treating a subject for Tardive Dyskinesia by administering a dopaminergic agent to the subject such that the dopaminergic agent enters the brain or by administering a prodrug of a therapeutic agent. The dopaminergic agent preferably is 2 prodrug formed by coupling dopamine to a fatty acid. This invention further pertains to methods of providing pharmaceutical preparations and packaged pharmaceuticals for Tardive Dyskinesia.

Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) is a neurological syndrome consisting of spontaneous and largely uncontrollable oral or facial movements (such as chewing, swallowing, lip smacking and tongue protrusion) and head/neck movements. Choreiform movements of the fingers and other extremities are also commonly observed (McDowell et al., Clinical Neurology, Chapter 38, 1988; Lohr et al., Psychiatry, Chapter 70, 1989).
The condition is an undesirable side effect associated with long-term or high dose therapy with neuroleptic drugs. The condition appears after several months or years of neuroleptic therapy and persists after discontinuation of the drug or drugs. Symptoms may persist indefinitely, but in some cases slow remission is observed over months or years. In general, the likelihood of remission is lower with longer exposure to neuroleptics and with increasing age of the patient (McDowell et al., Clinical Biology, Chapter 38, 1988).
Estimates of the incidence of TD vary from about 10% to over 40% of the patients exposed to neuroleptic drugs for one year or longer. All types of neuroleptics seem to be associated with the syndrome, as well as antiemetic agents with dopamine receptor blocking actions (Wiholm et al., British Medical Journal, Vol. 288, pp. 545-547, 1984). Older patients appear to be at somewhat higher risk than younger patients (Tepper et al., Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, Vol. 40, pp. 508-516, 1979; Baldessarini, Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, Vol. 46, pp. 8-13, 1985).
The exact biochemical basis of the syndrome is not well understood. The prevailing opinion is that TD symptoms are largely, but not entirely, explained as manifestations of overactive central nervous system (CNS) dopaminergic systems. Dopamine receptor supersensitivity resulting from chronic treatment with dopamine receptor blockers is cited as a plausible cause of the apparent hyperdopaminergic state (Lohr et al., Psychiatry, Chapter 70, 1989). Dopaminergic hyperactivity could also result from enhanced synthesis and/or storage of dopamine as an adaptation to chronic presynaptic dopamine receptor blockade (Baldessarini et al. Annual Review of Neuroscience, Vol. 3, pp. 23-41, 1980).
The pharmacological profile of TD indicates that agents which tend to directly or indirectly inhibit CNS dopaminergic systems generally tend to relieve TD symptoms, while compounds which enhance dopaminergic transmission exacerbate the symptoms (Baldessarini et al. Annual Review of Neuroscience, Vol. 3, pp. 23-41, 1980). In particular, low doses of apomorphine, bromocriptine and amine depleting agents such as reserpine tend to be helpful (Fahn. Clinical Neuropharmacology, Vol. 6, pp. 151-158, 1983; Thorner et al., Bromocriptine: A Clinical and Pharmacological Review, Raven Press, New York, pp. 139-140, 1980). However, such compounds often have toxic or other undesirable side effects and frequently have a narrow and variable effective dose range which makes prolonged use difficult or impractical.
There are many obstacles to developing treatments which require the delivery of a drug to an active site in the body. Ingestion of a drug often is not possible because many drugs will not survive the environment of the stomach. Thus, easy and safe self administration of many drugs is not available. A drug, of course, can be injected directly into the blood stream of a patient. However, frequent injections at great inconvenience to a patient may be necessary because some drugs do not survive for very long in the bloodstream. The inability of a drug to survive in the bloodstream can be overcome in certain instances by increasing the dosage o by increasing the frequency of administration. However, the dosage can result in undesirable side effects and increasing the frequency of administration only adds inconvenience.
The delivery of a neuroactive drug to the central nervous system (CNS) via the bloodstream involves an extraordinary obstacle; the drug must be capable of crossing the blood brain barrier. The blood brain barrier may loosely be regarded as a biological exclusion barrier involving both passive and active transport, which barrier controls the exchange of materials between the plasma and the central nervous system. Many drug substances are unable to pass through this barrier in efficacious amounts or at all.

Method of treating tardive dyskinesia using dopaminergic agents of prodrugs of therapeutic agents