A dressing includes a transparent film layer having a top side, an opposite bottom side, and an insertion site viewing portion. The bottom side has an adhesive portion and an adhesive-free portion. The adhesive-free portion is disposed within the viewing portion. An antimicrobial member having a top side and an opposite bottom side is disposed in the viewing portion. A portion of the antimicrobial member is adhered to the film layer adhesive portion, and a portion of the antimicrobial member is disposed in the adhesive-free portion. The antimicrobial member includes an outer edge and an opening disposed within the outer edge. The opening is disposed in the adhesive-free portion. A catheter extending from an insertion site is receivable through the opening in the antimicrobial member. The antimicrobial member surrounds the insertion site when the dressing is applied to a patient.

It is known in the art relating to medical dressings for the protection and securement of catheters to apply a dressing to a patient's skin to cover a catheter insertion site at which the catheter punctures a patient's skin. It is also a conventional practice for medical clinicians (i.e., doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel) to separately apply an antimicrobial material (patch, liquid, ointment, etc.) at, around, or over the insertion site to protect the insertion site against the risk of viral or bacterial colonization and infection.
However, conventional antimicrobial materials are cumbersome to use with catheter insertion site dressings because the antimicrobial material is separate from the dressing and must be applied prior to the positioning of the dressing over the insertion site. Further, some antimicrobial materials do not adequately protect all the surface area of a patient's skin around the catheter, due to the catheter hub, or catheter lumen itself, holding the antimicrobial dressing/material up and away from the patient's skin, resulting in no contact "tenting" areas. Such an incomplete, or insufficient reach, of the antimicrobial device's zone of inhibition decreases the effectiveness of the antimicrobial material. Hence, conventional antimicrobial materials do not always fully, consistently, reliably, and sufficiently protect catheter insertion sites against infection. Further, additional labor and material costs of two dressings/devices are needed. Therefore, a single, unified, integrated one-piece antimicrobial dressing with features of complete 360 degree encirclement of catheter lumen at the insertion site has been a need, long-felt but heretofore unmet.


A cleaning system for a printing press using pre-soaked, reduced volume of air in cleaning fabric and a method for making the system are disclosed. The system includes a cleaning fabric treated to reduce the amount of air volume the cleaning fabric contains. The cleaning fabric is saturated to functional equilibrium with a low volatility organic compound solvent. The cleaning fabric is wrapped around an elongated core to form a fabric roll. The saturated, wrapped fabric roll may be used to clean a cylinder of a printing press. The saturated, wrapped fabric roll may be inserted in a sealable sleeve, the sealable sleeve being in contact with the fabric roll and then sealed, thus permitting transporting and storage of the system until use without detrimentally affecting the cleaning ability of the fabric.

A wide variety of blanket cleaning systems and apparatus employing the same to clean the cylinders of printing presses are known. Typical blanket cleaning systems and apparatus employing the same, including cleaning blankets and cleaning solutions, are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,135,448 to Moestue which is directed to a mechanism for cleaning a cylinder that is provided with a cleaning cloth which is wetted with a cleaning fluid or solution prior to its encountering the pressure roller; U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,391 to Futch et al. is directed to a composition for ink removal that exhibits a low vapor pressure and which is a low vapor pressure organic compound; U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,182 to Sawaguchi et al. is directed to a cleaning apparatus in which a cleaning cloth is dampened by a liquid; U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,716 to Gerson is directed to a wash for removing ink comprising a low volatile organic compound; U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,739 to Loos is directed to a washing device comprising a cleaning cloth dampened with a washing medium and U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,128 to Hara is directed to a device for cleaning a cylinder of a printing machine comprising a cleaning cloth impregnated with a cleaning liquid.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,567 to Staehr is directed to a liquid for cleaning ink from printing machines; U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,342 to Hara is directed to a method for cleaning the cylinder of a printing machine; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,639 to Krawack is directed to a cloth moistened with a low vapor pressure cleaning agent for removing ink; whereas U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,754 to Weltman et al. is directed to a cloth soaked with a cleaning formula and U.S. Pat. No. 5,194,173 to Folkard et al. is directed to a method for removing ink from printing machines. Still further, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,344,361 and 4,757,763 to MacPhee et al. is directed to automatic blanket cylinder cleaners provided with cleaning fabrics adapted to contact the blanket cylinders of printing presses. On the other hand, U.S. Pat. No. 5,175,080 to Gasparrini et al. is directed to a cloth supply system for the blanket cylinder for use in printing presses.
Still further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,320,217 to Lenarz is directed to a sealed envelope which contains a moistened pad that functions as a swab. The pad is secured to the envelope by an intermediate line seal. Consequently, when the top of the envelope is removed, the pad is exposed. Since the pad is still captively held to the remainder of the envelope, the liquid on the pad may be dispensed by holding the clean, dry, bottom of the envelope. Thus, the pad functions as a swab and the remainder of the envelope functions as the applicator and the reservoir. Alternatively, U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,984 to McClendon is directed to a pre-packaged single use disposable wiper pad or towelette that is saturated with a disinfecting liquid and the pad is effective to disinfect inanimate surfaces. The pad is of a size which fits into a pocket or purse and makes it convenient to carry, while posing no problem in disposing of the same, such as by flushing in a toilet.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,724 to Inagaki is directed to a water-proof container having a cylindrical base member made of paper which is surrounded by a double-wall heat-shrinkable plastic film covering the paper base member and having at least one portion heat-sealed to close the paper base member entirely within the plastic film and lid connected to the base member for closing at least one open end of a container shape formed by the paper base member.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,467,916 to Hedden et al. is directed to a package of wound glass fiber strand from which the glass fiber strands can be removed more efficiently for feeding into processing operations. The wound package of glass fiber strands is a package of superimposed annular layers of glass fiber strands having a central longitudinal, cylindrical cavity about which the strands are wound and having an outer cylindrical surface and a substantially flat circular top and bottom section. The package is covered with a stretchable polymeric film and at least one free end of the glass fiber strand extends into the central cavity for removal from the interior to the exterior of the package. U.S. Pat. No. 4,295,563 to Becker et al. is directed to an article of manufacture comprising a hollow rod of longitudinally gathered tubes of cellulose hydrate-based materials the hollow rod having a latent water content of between about 25% and 100% by weight based on the total weight of the hollow rod and being free of chemical anti-bacteriocidal agent; a closed, substantially gas impermeable packaging sheath having a hollow interior chamber therein and in which the hollow rod is positioned so that this rod is completely enveloped by the packaging sheath which is made of a flexible film of material that is substantially impermeable to gases; and a protective gas essentially fills the remaining portion of the hollow interior chamber of the sheath so that the gas protects the hollow rod against the formulation of aerobic microorganisms on the water-containing cellulose hydrate material.
Still further, U.S. Pat. No. 3,980,176 to Boggs is directed to a high speed yarn take-up system which consists of a pneumatic injector nozzle rotably mounted off-center of a single fluted rotating screw. Yarn is injected into the area exposed at the trailing edge of the screw and compressed and moved forward in a compression chamber by the feeding of the screw. A plastic tube is continuously formed around the compression chamber to receive the yarn mass as it discharges, thus forming a tube of indefinite unlimited length and from 1/4 to 4 inches or larger in diameter. The tube may contain a single end or multiple ends of yarn which may be removed from the tube at high speed by simply slitting the plastic as the yarn is pulled from the package. Alternatively, U.S. Pat. No. 3,850,294 to Phillips et al. is directed to a package of roving unsized continuous filaments of glass, the package being saturated with water which maintains the filaments in group orientation.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,014,579 to Lathorp is directed to a disposable cleaning device which consists of a capsule containing a plurality of applicators and which may be employed in many and various uses. The applicators enclosed within the capsule comprise a central core of sponge or sponge rubber having a wad or pad of absorbent material, such as cotton or the like, wrapped around the core. The core is saturated with suitable material and the cotton wrap, for example, provides a vehicle through which the material in the sponge rubber core is absorbed from the core and applied to a given usage.
Still further, U.S. Pat. No. 2,189,556 to Younghusband is directed to a pipe cleaner formed with a pliable metal member, such as a spindle or length of wire or the like. Attached to that member and extending through at its length are tufts of fabric or other material capable of absorbing liquid. These tufts are impregnated or saturated with a liquid solvent solution and the impregnating pipe cleaners are then packed in a container and sealed to prevent evaporation.
While the above-mentioned patents accomplish their purposes to a satisfactory extent, they still exhibit a variety of drawbacks. For example, they usually require apparatus, such as pumps, spray bars, manifold lines, valves, and the like as part of the automatic blanket cleaning systems for introducing the cleaning solvents or solutions to the cleaning fabric just prior to actual use. Moreover, even in these cases, where the cleaning rolls or fabric rolls are pre-soaked or pre-wetted, the pre-soaking or pre-wetting, must be accomplished just before use in order to minimize loss of cleaning solvent or solution in order to provide an effective cylinder cleaning system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,157 to Gasparrini et al., the present applicants, attempted to overcome these problems. That patent is directed to a pre-packaged, pre-soaked cleaning system for use with printing machines or the like to clean the cylinders of such machines and which comprises a pre-soaked fabric roll saturated to functional equilibrium with low volatility organic compound solvent and which is disposed around an elongated, cylindrical core and enclosed in a sealed sleeve which if desired may be a heat-sealed or a heat-shrunken and heat-sealed plastic sleeve disposed around and intimate contact with the fabric roll, whereby the pre-soaked saturated fabric roll can be transported and stored vertically and/or horizontally until use without substantially disturbing the distribution of the solvent in the fabric roll and detrimentally effecting the cleaning ability of the fabric.
While the invention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,157 works for its intended purpose, improvements have been discovered. When the patented product is placed in the vertical position, the solvent would shift downward in the evacuated package. When the package is restored to the horizontal position, the solvent migrates back towards equilibrium in the roll. This migration is caused by air pockets in the fabric of the roll that have not been completely evacuated.
There exists, therefore, a need for providing a prepackaged, pre-soaked blanket cleaning system which minimizes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks. The present invention fulfills such a need.

Cleaning system and process for making same employing reduced air cleaning fabric


A method for controlling magnetostriction in a free layer of a magnetoresistive sensor. A pinned layer structure is deposited and then a spacer layer, preferably Cu is deposited. Oxygen is introduced into the spacer layer. The oxygen can be introduced either during the deposition of the spacer layer or after the spacer layer has been deposited. A free layer structure is then deposited over the spacer layer. A capping layer such as Ta can be deposited over the free layer structure. The sensor is annealed to set the magnetization of the pinned layer. In the process of annealing the sensor the oxygen migrates out of the spacer. After annealing, no significant amount of oxygen is present in either the spacer layer or the free layer structure, and only trace amounts of oxygen are present in the Ta capping layer. Although no Oxygen remains in either the spacer layer or the free layer, the introduction of oxygen during manufacture causes the finished free layer to have a lower magnetostriction (ie greater negative magnetostriction).

The heart of a computer is an assembly that is referred to as a magnetic disk drive. The magnetic disk drive includes a rotating magnetic disk, write and read heads that are suspended by a suspension arm adjacent to a surface of the rotating magnetic disk and an actuator that swings the suspension arm to place the read and write heads over selected circular tracks on the rotating disk. The read and write heads are directly located on a slider that has an air bearing surface (ABS). The suspension arm biases the slider into contact with the surface of the disk when the disk is not rotating but, when the disk rotates, air is swirled by the rotating disk. When the slider rides on the air bearing, the write and read heads are employed for writing magnetic impressions to and reading magnetic impressions from the rotating disk. The read and write heads are connected to processing circuitry that operates according to a computer program to implement the writing and reading functions.
The write head includes a coil layer embedded in first, second and third insulation layers (insulation stack), the insulation stack being sandwiched between first and second pole piece layers. A gap is formed between the first and second pole piece layers by a gap layer at an air bearing surface (ABS) of the write head and the pole piece layers are connected at a back gap. Current conducted to the coil layer induces a magnetic flux in the pole pieces which causes a magnetic field to fringe out at a write gap at the ABS for the purpose of writing the aforementioned magnetic impressions in tracks on the moving media, such as in circular tracks on the aforementioned rotating disk.
In recent read head designs a spin valve sensor, also referred to as a giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensor, has been employed for sensing magnetic fields from the rotating magnetic disk. The sensor includes a nonmagnetic conductive layer, hereinafter referred to as a spacer layer, sandwiched between first and second ferromagnetic layers, hereinafter referred to as a pinned layer and a free layer. First and second leads are connected to the spin valve sensor for conducting a sense current therethrough. The magnetization of the pinned layer is pinned perpendicular to the air bearing surface (ABS) and the magnetic moment of the free layer is located parallel to the ABS, but free to rotate in response to external magnetic fields. The magnetization of the pinned layer is typically pinned by exchange coupling with an antiferromagnetic layer.
The thickness of the spacer layer is chosen to be less than the mean free path of conduction electrons through the sensor. With this arrangement, a portion of the conduction electrons is scattered by the interfaces of the spacer layer with each of the pinned and free layers. When the magnetizations of the pinned and free layers are parallel with respect to one another, scattering is minimal and when the magnetizations of the pinned and free layer are antiparallel, scattering is maximized. Changes in scattering alter the resistance of the spin valve sensor in proportion to cos ⊖, where ⊖ is the angle between the magnetizations of the pinned and free layers. In a read mode the resistance of the spin valve sensor changes proportionally to the magnitudes of the magnetic fields from the rotating disk. When a sense current is conducted through the spin valve sensor, resistance changes cause potential changes that are detected and processed as playback signals.
When a spin valve sensor employs a single pinned layer it is referred to as a simple spin valve. When a spin valve employs an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer it is referred to as an AP pinned spin valve. An AP spin valve includes first and second magnetic layers separated by a thin non-magnetic coupling layer such as Ru. The thickness of the spacer layer is chosen so as to antiparallel couple the magnetizations of the ferromagnetic layers of the pinned layer. A spin valve is also known as a top or bottom spin valve depending upon whether the pinning layer is at the top (formed after the free layer) or at the bottom (before the free layer).
The spin valve sensor is located between first and second nonmagnetic electrically insulating read gap layers and the first and second read gap layers are located between ferromagnetic first and second shield layers. In a merged magnetic head a single ferromagnetic layer functions as the second shield layer of the read head and as the first pole piece layer of the write head. In a piggyback head the second shield layer and the first pole piece layer are separate layers.
Magnetization of the pinned layer is usually fixed by exchange coupling one of the ferromagnetic layers (AP1) with a layer of antiferromagnetic material such as PtMn. While an antiferromagnetic (AFM) material such as PtMn does not in and of itself have a magnetization, when exchange coupled with a magnetic material, it can strongly pin the magnetization of the ferromagnetic layer.
The ever increasing demand for increased data rate and data capacity has lead a relentless push to develop magnetoresistive sensors having improved signal amplitude and reduced track width. However, as sensors become smaller the free layers in such sensors become less stable. Free layer stability refers to the ability of the magnetization of the free layer to remain biased in a desired direction parallel with the ABS. This instability in very small sensors is due to several factors, including the reduced area on which a biasing layer can act magnetostatically to provide a bias field. Another factor affecting the stability is the small size of the free layer itself, which makes the free layer inherently magnetically unstable.
A critical parameter for controlling free layer stability is the magnetostriction of the free layer. Magnetoresistive sensors have an inherent compressive stress acting in a direction parallel with ABS. This compressive stress is due, among other things, to stresses generated by lapping when defining the air bearing surface (ABS). A positive magnetostriction in a free layer will induce a magnetic anisotropy in a direction that is perpendicular to the ABS and perpendicular to the desired biasing direction. This of course hinders free layer stability, making proper biasing of the free layer magnetization very difficult.
Free layers are generally constructed as a combination of a layer of CoFe and a layer of NiFe with the CoFe layer being located closest to the spacer layer (or barrier in the case of a tunnel valve). CoFe is known to have a positive magnetostriction, but is needed close to the spacer/barrier layer in order for the sensor to operate optimally. The NiFe layer has a negative magnetostriction which can be used to offset the positive magnetostriction of the CoFe layer somewhat. However, the overall thickness of the free layer is limited, because as the free layer becomes thicker its coercivity increases, thereby decreasing sensor performance. On the other hand, a certain minimum thickness of the CoFe layer must be maintained in order for the sensor to function properly. Therefore, it can be seen, that one can not simply increase the thickness of the NiFe layer of the free layer to create a desired negative or neutral magnetostriction.
Therefore, there is a need for a method for controlling the magnetostriction of a free layer without the need to increase thickness of the NiFe layer of the free layer. Such a method must not interfere with other magnetic properties of the free layer such that sensor performance would suffer. For example, such a method for adjusting magnetostriction should not result in an increased coercivity of the free layer, as such increased coercivity would decrease the sensitivity of the sensor.

Method for controlling magnetostriction in a free layer of a magnetoresistive sensor

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


A satellite communication system includes a global bandwidth enforcer that allocates bandwidth from the global bandwidth pool in accordance with a group service plan having a predetermined geographic scope. The system further includes an allocation of bandwidth from the one or more channels of the one or more beams of a first satellite in accordance with the group service plan. The system further includes a second satellite access station that receives an allocation of bandwidth from the one or more channels of the one or more beams of the second satellite in accordance with the group service plan. The system further includes a first sub-network associated with the first satellite access having a coverage area in the predetermined geographic scope of the group service plan, where the first sub-network receives an allocation of bandwidth from the first satellite access station in accordance with the group service plan.

An organization can purchase capacity for services associated with a group of terminals within a satellite network. Particularly, the organization purchases the right to use bandwidth in the satellite network. However, the bandwidth demands of the organization are not constant in time or across all channels. Accordingly, when the bandwidth demands of the organization are low, the network resources are inefficiently used since unused capacity in various channels is not reallocated to another party that requires the bandwidth.

Method and apparatus for global bandwidth management


A technique in accordance with the invention includes obtaining a semiconductor structure that has a metal disposed thereon. At least a portion of the metal is etched using an etching fluid while sonic energy is applied to the etching fluid.

The invention generally relates to etching metal using sonication.
In a variety of different circumstances, it may be desirable to selectively etch metal in the formation of a semiconductor device. For example, the etching of metal may be related to the formation of a metal silicide layer (a nickel silicide layer, for example), a layer used to reduce metal-to-semiconductor contact resistances in a semiconductor device.
To form a metal silicide layer, a metal layer (nickel, for example) typically is deposited on a semiconductor structure. In this manner, the deposited metal reacts with exposed silicon of the structure to form the metal silicide layer. Not all of the deposited metal layer typically reacts. In this manner, the regions in which the metal layer does not react form excess or un-reacted metal regions that typically are removed by wet etching. As a more specific example, FIG. 1 depicts a semiconductor structure 9 that represents a particular stage in a process to form a complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) transistor. For this example it is assumed that the CMOS transistor is formed on a silicon substrate 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the polysilicon layer 18 resides on top of a gate oxide layer 16, and vertically extending nitride spacers 20 may be located on either side of the polysilicon layer 18.
For purposes of creating a nickel silicide layer, a nickel layer 22 may be blanket deposited over existing layers of the structure 9. As depicted in FIG. 1, the deposited nickel layer 22 extends over portions of the silicon substrate 12 as well as extends over a polysilicon layer 18. The regions in which the nickel layer 22 contacts the silicon substrate 12 form parts of the source and drain of the transistor, and the region in which the nickel layer 22 contacts the polysilicon layer forms part of the gate of the transistor in this example.
Thus, the deposited nickel layer 22 contacts the polysilicon layer 18 and the silicon substrate 12, and in these contacted regions, the nickel layer 22 reacts with the polysilicon layer 18 and the silicon substrate 12 to form the nickel silicide layer that extends into regions 26 of a resulting structure 10 that is depicted in FIG. 2. As a more specific example, a particular nickel silicide region 26a may be associated with a drain of the transistor, another nickel silicide region 26b may be associated with a source of the transistor, and another nickel silicide region 26c may be associated with a gate of the transistor.
The deposited nickel does not react everywhere, leaving regions 24 of excess or unreacted nickel. To remove these regions 24, selective wet etching is used to target the nickel but not other substances (such as nickel silicide, for example) to remove the nickel to form a structure 11 that is depicted in FIG. 3. Thus, after the selective wet etching, the unreacted nickel portions 24 (see FIG. 2) are removed, leaving only the regions 26 of nickel silicide film, as depicted in FIG. 3.
The wet etching typically involves submersing a wafer that contains the structure 10 into a nickel selective etchant, or etching fluid, that typically includes both an acid, such as sulfuric acid, and an oxidant, such as hydrogen peroxide or nitric acid. At room temperature, the use of sulfuric acid by itself to etch the nickel is not sufficient due to the potential energy barrier that prevents the oxidation of the nickel in accordance with the Pourbaix chart for nickel. Therefore, an oxidant typically is introduced into the etching fluid to supply the needed energy to oxidize the nickel into an aqueous derivative and thus, dissolve the nickel.
For certain semiconductor devices, an oxidant in the etching fluid may undesirably oxidize and thus, etch substances that are not meant to be etched. For example, elemental germanium substrates, germanium-doped silicon substrates and germanide films are examples of germanium-based substances that typically are highly susceptible to oxidants that are used in the etching of nickel. The etch rates for these germanium substances may be the same or even higher than the etch rate for nickel in the presence of such an oxidant. Therefore, when germanium-based substances are present, the use of conventional etching fluid to etch nickel may undesirably dissolve significant portions of these germanium-based substances.
Thus, there is a continuing need for a better way to selectively etch metal that is disposed on a semiconductor structure that contains certain semiconductor substrates, films and/or layers.


A new and distinctive spray carnation cultivar particularly distinguished by its profuse, intermittent production of small sized white flowers borne in a cluster of five petals on strong, upright stems.

This carnation cultivar originated as a hybrid seedling produced in my nursery at Aalsmeer, Holland, by my crossing of two plants, hereinafter identified, selected from a field of various carnation varieties maintained at my nursery for breeding purposes. This particular seedling was selected from those produced by the said hybridization because of the unusual petal shape and uniform coloraton and its sturdy, fast growing growth habit. This hybrid most closely resembles Statropur. This selected seedling was propagated by me at Aalsmeer, Holland, by cuttings with very satisfactory results and thereafter this selected plant was propagated through several successive generations in the same manner which demonstrated conclusively that the novel characteristics of the originally selected seedling would be maintained from generation to generation and its homogeneity would be firmly established.


A method of operation of a navigation system includes: determining a frame of a map based on a current travel-direction for tracking a movement of a first device; generating a directional-tile from the frame based on the current travel-direction; and transferring the directional-tile for displaying a navigation map on a second device using the directional-tile from the first device.

Modem consumer and industrial electronics, especially devices such as graphical navigation systems, televisions, projectors, cellular phones, portable digital assistants, and combination devices, are providing increasing levels of functionality to support modern life including location-based information services. Research and development in the existing technologies can take a myriad of different directions.
As users become more empowered with the growth of mobile communication technology, new and old paradigms begin to take advantage of this new space. One consumer electronics growth, where mobility is quintessential, is in location based services, such as navigation systems utilizing satellite-based Global Positioning System (GPS) devices. Location based services allow users to create, transfer, store, and/or consume information in order for users to create, transfer, store, and consume in the "real world". One such use of location based services is to efficiently transfer or route users to the desired destination or service.
Navigation systems and location based services enabled systems have been incorporated in automobiles, notebooks, handheld devices, and other portable products. Today, these systems aid users by incorporating available, real-time relevant information, such as maps, directions, local businesses, or other points of interest. The real-time information provides invaluable relevant information, when available or in service areas. The relevant information is also invaluable when service is not available as well.
Thus, a need still remains for a navigation system with display control mechanism. In view of the ever-increasing commercial competitive pressures, along with growing consumer expectations and the diminishing opportunities for meaningful product differentiation in the marketplace, it is increasingly critical that answers be found to these problems. Additionally, the need to reduce costs, improve efficiencies and performance, and meet competitive pressures adds an even greater urgency to the critical necessity for finding answers to these problems.
Solutions to these problems have been long sought but prior developments have not taught or suggested any solutions and, thus, solutions to these problems have long eluded those skilled in the art.

Navigation system with display control mechanism and method of operation thereof


A process and a system for assisting a clinician in identification and evaluation of perfusion characteristics of an organ are disclosed. The process and system may be used to extend clinical diagnosis capabilities by augmenting the ability to analyze perfusion images acquired from a radiology imaging modality through the use of the quantification technology as described. Classification of perfusion characteristics of a region of interest is facilitated through the use of a quantitative spatial perfusion characteristics map. The map is generated by a computing device which applies at least one physics-based image processing technique. This map is displayed on a clinician device for review by the clinician to assist in the spatial identification of perfusion abnormalities.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. In 2006, 631,636 people died of heart disease and heart disease caused 26% of deaths—more than one in every four—in the United States. Every year, about 785,000 Americans have a first heart attack and other 470,000 Americans who already had one or more heart attacks have another attack. Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease. In 2005, 445,687 people died from coronary heart disease and these numbers are on the rise. According to 2010 statistics, 1 in 3 Americans (36.9%) have some form of heart disease, including high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and other conditions. By 2030, approximately 116 million people in the United States (40.5%) will have some form of cardiovascular disease.
Between 2010-30, it is projected that the cost of medical care for heart disease (in 2008 dollar values) will rise from $273 billion to $818 billion, according to an American Heart Association policy statement published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. See Heidenreich P A, et al. Forecasting the future of cardiovascular disease in the United States: A policy statement from the American Heart Association Circulation (2011).
The coronary angiogram, also referred to as the catheterization examination, is regarded as the "gold standard" for diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the use of coronary angiograms expose over 2.7 million Medicare/Medicaid reimbursed Americans to the risks and result in costs of invasive diagnostic examination every year, whereas only about 61% of these patients require clinical intervention. See Patel M R et al., Low diagnostic yield of elective coronary angiography, N Engl J. Med. 2010 March 11; 362(10):886-95 (erratum as published at N Engl J Med. 2010 July 29; 363(5):498).
Preliminary diagnosis of CAD is commonly performed using radiology imaging modalities such as contrast Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography (DSE), nuclear cardiology Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) and Cardiac Computed Tomography (Cardiac CT). While DSE primarily assesses wall motion, SPECT allows simultaneous determination of myocardial perfusion and wall motion at relatively low resolution, although it exposes the patient to ionizing radiation and does not offer the opportunity to distinguish between wall-thickening function and perfusion.
The current landscape of diagnostic tests for heart disease creates a need to implement a less expensive screening test with high negative predictive value in order to be the gate-keeper to an invasive examination or an interventional surgery and also to augment the decision making capability of the clinician for patients with low and medium Framingham risk scores. In turn, this facilitates improved healthcare for the individual patient and at significant healthcare cost savings for the population. First-pass perfusion image acquisitions from cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is a low cost, no toxicity, high sensitivity, and high specificity imaging modality for cardiac perfusion diagnostics which has the potential to solve this problem.
CMR is a currently underutilized capital equipment with great untapped clinical potential, according to a clinically proven comparison of CMR with other imaging modalities, which has indicated higher sensitivity and specificity in detection of coronary artery disease compared with SPECT. See Cardiovascular magnetic resonance and single-photon emission computed tomography for diagnosis of coronary heart disease (CE-MARC): a prospective trial, Lancet, 2012 Feb. 4; 379(9814):453-60.
A recent survey of cardiologists in the American Heart Journal has indicated that most cardiologists were willing to enroll patients with at least moderate ischemia into a trial using initial non-invasive diagnosis in preference to advancing directly to invasive cardiac catheterization. When added to the recent prognostic data that a normal (AIR stress test provides, namely, <1% mortality at 3 years as shown in 1500 consecutive patients, this is a compelling cost-effective strategy which does not involve the use of cardiac catheterization or a nuclear laboratory. Accordingly, the use of CMR may avert unnecessary catheterizations by assessment of cardiac perfusion and function using CMR.
Thus, CMR is an appropriate "gate-keeper" to the catheterization laboratory which will provide the clinician with assistance in detecting perfusion abnormalities which may indicate a problem with a patient's cardiac health. Further, CMR may be used to assist the clinician in detecting, at an early stage, perfusion abnormalities which may indicate a problem with a patient's cardiac health. Accordingly, the use of CMR may save several millions of dollars in cardiology related hospitalization and interventional treatment; effectively curbing the $273 billion cost of medical care for heart disease in the US. In addition, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association guidelines recognize CMR as the "gold standard" for a large and growing number of cardiac applications.
CMR is a versatile non-invasive and non-ionizing imaging modality and offers time resolved image data to evaluate cardiac function at rest and either vasolidation or pharmacological stress, allowing myocardial perfusion to be evaluated independently of wall-thickening function. There is a need in the art for a program to efficiently and economically disseminate this non-invasive, non-radioactive, and safe CMR technique, which would have obvious advantages to the community.
Gadolinium-diethyenetriaminepentaacetate, a non-nephrotoxic extravascular contrast agent, is used to increase T1 weighted tissue signal from the myocardium CMR imaging. Modern CMR scanners use pulse sequences capable of fast image acquisition to obtain temporally resolved short-axis multi-slice first-pass perfusion image acquisitions of the heart. Such contrast enhanced first-pass perfusion CMR can be repeated regularly without any adverse effects for the patient. See N. M. Wilke, et al., "Magnetic resonance first-pass myocardial perfusion imaging: clinical validation and future applications," J Magn Reson Imaging, vol. 10, pp. 676-85, November 1999. Time resolved perfusion imaging is important because it provides crucial information, aiding identification of a stress response which is not possible to obtain from traditional imaging modalities. Based on M. Doyle, et al., "The impact of myocardial flow reserve on the detection of coronary artery disease by perfusion imaging methods: an NHLBI WISE study," J Cardiovasc Magn Reson, vol. 5, pp. 475-85, July 2003, there is evidence to show that CMR is the only modality with the sensitivity to identify the extent of the vasodilatory response. They showed that non-time resolved nuclear SPECT imaging lost accuracy when the vasodilatory response was inadequate (affecting about 30% of patients), but that knowledge of the vasodilatory response could be incorporated to improve the detection of myocardium at risk using first pass contrast perfusion CMR.
However, the transient image data in first-pass contrast perfusion sequences contain a high amount of dynamic information and pixel-level or voxel-level noise, making it difficult to evaluate visually without quantification. Further, quantification of myocardial perfusion is known to be challenging. See J. U. Fluckiger, et al., "Constrained estimation of the arterial input function for myocardial perfusion cardiovascular magnetic resonance," Magn Reson Med, Mar. 28, 2011. The method as described is capable of quantifying image data from perfusion sequences and subsequently providing a spatial map of perfusion conditions using physical contrast agent transport properties i.e. advection and diffusion. Previously, M. Doyle, et al., "Prognostic value of global MR myocardial perfusion imaging in women with suspected myocardial ischemia and no obstructive coronary disease: results from the NHLBI-sponsored WISE (Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation) study," JACC Cardiovasc Imaging, vol. 3, pp. 1030-6, October 2010, showed that quantitative CMR perfusion is capable of detecting global (as opposed to regional) perfusion abnormalities which are unlikely to be seen in infarct imaging methods such as late Gadolinium enhancement CMR or on a coronary angiogram, possibly due to the small caliber of the arteries involved, which may represent an early stenosis condition prior to occlusion of the epicardial coronary arteries. Early diagnosis of suspected myocardial ischemia allow better patient management and prevention of progression to myocardial infarction and early cardiovascular death.

Physics based image processing and evaluation process of perfusion images from radiology imaging


A method is disclosed of synchronizing the operation of two or more interfaces sharing shared communication means or a shared communication resource. The periods of operation of the interfaces, and in particular the periods of use of the shared communication means or the shared communication resource, do not overlap.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to communication between systems using a similar mode of communication, and a main object of the present invention is to provide a method of synchronizing (i.e., resolving contention between) two or more interfaces using the same communication resource.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many transmission systems and communication devices are constructed around or connected to a plurality of send-receive interfaces for setting up unidirectional or bidirectional communication links or transmission connections with one or more other devices, stations or systems, possibly organized in the form of networks.
In some systems and devices the interfaces are obliged to share the same communication means or the same communication resource. This is the case in particular if the interfaces are all "air" interfaces or radiocommunication interfaces.
To prevent interaction or interference between the various interfaces, which would be harmful to the connections or links incorporating them, it is then necessary to ensure compatible use of the shared means or resource, in terms of access, efficient use and release.
The most obvious solution to the problem of ensuring compatible use, and the one that is the easiest to implement, entails the use of interfaces co-existing and operating independently of each other.
In the case of a system or device comprising a plurality of air interfaces it is necessary to ensure mutual electromagnetic compatibility at all times of the interfaces obliged to use the shared radio resource.
At present compatibility is achieved either by using different frequency bands at the various interfaces, which are sufficiently far apart in the radio spectrum to authorize simultaneous sending/receiving by the interfaces, or by designing the interfaces so that any interaction or interference caused by the other interfaces is attenuated or filtered.
However, these existing solutions are not satisfactory and all have significant limitations and/or drawbacks.
Using frequency bands that are far apart raises the problem of the availability of bands satisfying the applicable criteria appropriate to the interfaces concerned, and in fact leads to the creation of multiple resources (one for each interface), each frequency band having to be considered as a separate radio resource, rather than sharing a shared resource.
What is more, the additional cost of reciprocal filtering of interference between the various interfaces can be high and incompatible with products intended for private individuals or consumers, for example base stations of CTS local area networks integrating an interface to a microwave public telecommunication network.
What is more, given their composition and/or their mode of operation, some communication systems or devices are unable to support independent ports, or to allow independent use of a shared resource by a plurality of separate interfaces.
A particular object of the present invention is to alleviate the above drawbacks.

Synchronized contention resolution and burst timing allocation in the operation of two or more interfaces


The invention relates to an improved plant and method for chemical looping combustion of at least one hydrocarbon feed with independent control of the circulation of the solid active mass particles between the fluidized bed reaction zones, by means of one or more non-mechanical valves of L-valve type.

Non-mechanical valves allow, through gas injection upstream from an elbow, to circulate the particles in a line. This type of equipment is well known and described in the literature (Knowlton, T. M., "Standpipes and Nonmechanical Valves", Handbook of Fluidization and Fluid-Particle Systems, Wen-Ching Yang, editor, pp. 571-597. Marcel Dekker, Inc. New York, 2003).
An L-valve is thus described in FIG. 1. The L-valve consists of a vertical line equipped, at the base thereof, with a 90° elbow. If the vertical line is filled with particles, injection of a gas, upstream from this elbow close to the change in direction, allows to promote circulation of the particles in the line. Depending on the pressure conditions imposed at the system terminals, part of the gas injected flows down the line, through the elbow and promotes transport of the particles (FIGS. 2 and 3, configurations A and B). Part of the gas injected can also flow upwards countercurrent to the particle flow (FIG. 3, configuration B). The proportion of upflowing injected gas is adjusted according to the pressure conditions at the valve terminals.
L-valves allow to control the solid circulation when the flow in the vertical line upstream from the gas injection point is not fluidized (i.e. the velocity difference between the gas flow and the particles flow remains below the minimum velocity of fluidization of the particles under the conditions applied). These valves are particularly suitable for group B particles of the Geldart classification, which have a sufficiently high minimum fluidization velocity to allow a high particle flow rate.
Knowlton (Knowlton, T. M., "Standpipes and Nonmechanical Valves", Handbook of Fluidization and Fluid-Particle Systems, Wen-Ching Yang, editor, pp. 571-597. Marcel Dekker, Inc. New York, 2003) describes a circulating bed system using L-valves (FIG. 4). A circulating fluidized bed (CFB) wherein gas is injected from the bottom (<<Gas In>>) allows the particles to be transported, it carries the gas and the particles to a cyclone C. The particle-free gas leaves the cyclone through a line (<<Gas Out>>) and the separated particles are fed again into the circulating bed through an L-valve. Such a system allows to uncouple the inner solid circulation within the loop from the gas flow in the circulating bed, the pressure available for transport of the particles in the circulating bed varying depending on the amount of aeration gas injected in the L-valve (which allows to vary the pressure recovery in the vertical part of the L-valve).
However, in conventional industrial fluidized bed combustion processes, the technologies used do not allow the inner circulation of solids in the loop to be controlled independently. A circulating bed boiler is shown in FIG. 5 (Nowak et al., IFSA 2008, Industrial Fluidization South Africa, pp. 25-33. Edited by T. Hadley and P. Smit, Johannesburg: South Africa Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2008). The combustion air is introduced at the base of the circulating bed and it carries the coal and sand particles to a cyclone. The particles are then recycled to the circulating fluidized bed through a return leg. The return leg is dimensioned so as to promote solid recycling but it does not allow solid circulation control. It is not equipped with L-valves. Sometimes, siphons are positioned on this return leg to prevent gas upflow in the return leg. However, in such systems, the circulation of solids within the loop entirely depends on the amount of combustion air fed into the circulating bed.
There are other means for controlling the circulation of solids. Conditions permitting, mechanical valves can be used on solids. Thus, in the fluidized bed catalytic cracking process (FCC), a method operating at temperatures below 800° C.-850° C., slide valves or plug valves are used to control the circulation between the various enclosures (FIG. 6, Gauthier, IFSA 2008, Industrial Fluidization South Africa, pp. 35-87. Edited by T. Hadley and P. Smit Johannesburg: South Africa Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2008).
In FIG. 6, the following elements allowing the FCC process to be implemented are shown:
R1: regenerator No. 1
R2: regenerator No. 2
PV1: mechanical plug valve (plug valve No. 1)
RSV1: mechanical slide valve No. 1 (slide valve No. 1)
RSV2: mechanical slide valve No. 2 (slide valve No. 2)
L: ascending transport line (lift)
FI: feed injection
Q=quench
RR: riser reactor
RS: stripper reactor.
These valves operate on fluidized flows and they have the characteristic feature of controlling the flow by modifying the cross-section of flow, the pressure drop of these valves remaining generally constant and depending only on the conditions of fluidization of the particles upstream from the valve. These valves are particularly well-suited for operation on group A particles of the Geldart classification. Unfortunately, operation of these valves on group B particles is more delicate. In fact, it is impossible to maintain group B particles fluidized without forming large gas bubbles that disturb the flow. Furthermore, the moving parts of these valves exposed to the flow cannot be exposed to very high temperatures (>900° C.).
Chemical looping combustion is a technique allowing to carry out partial or total combustion of gaseous, liquid or solid hydrocarbon feeds, by contact with an active mass such as, for example, a metal oxide at high temperature. The metal oxide then yields part of the oxygen it contains, which takes part in the hydrocarbon combustion. It is therefore no longer necessary to bring the hydrocarbon into contact with air, as in conventional methods. Therefore, the combustion fumes predominantly contain carbon oxides, water and possibly hydrogen, not diluted by the nitrogen in the air. It is thus possible to produce fumes predominantly free of nitrogen and having high CO2 contents (>90 vol. %) allowing to consider CO2 capture and storage. The metal oxide that has taken part in the combustion is then transported to another reaction enclosure where it is contacted with air so as to be oxidized. If the particles from the combustion zone are free of fuel, the gases from this reaction zone are predominantly free of CO2 (which is then present only as traces, for example at concentrations below 1-2 vol. %) and they essentially consist of oxygen-depleted air as a result of the oxidation of the metal particles.
The implementation of a chemical looping combustion process requires large amounts of active masses, metal oxides for example, in contact with the fuel. The metal oxides are generally contained either in ore particles, or in particles resulting from industrial treatments (iron and steel or mining industry residues, used catalysts from the chemical industry or refining). It is also possible to use synthetic materials such as, for example, alumina or silica-alumina supports on which metals that can be oxidized (nickel oxide for example) are deposited. From one metal oxide to the next, the amount of oxygen theoretically available varies considerably and it can reach high values close to 30%. However, depending on the materials, the maximum oxygen capacity really available does generally not exceed more than 20% of the oxygen present. The capacity of these materials to yield oxygen does therefore not exceed globally more than some percents by weight of the particles and it varies considerably from one oxide to the next, generally ranging from 0.1 to 10%, often from 0.3 to 1% by weight. The fluidized bed implementation is therefore particularly advantageous for conducting the combustion. In fact, the finely divided oxide particles circulate more easily in the reduction and oxidation reaction enclosures, and between these enclosures, if these particles are conferred the properties of a fluid (fluidization).
Chemical looping combustion allows to produce energy, in form of vapour or electricity for example. The combustion heat of the feed is similar to that encountered in a conventional combustion. The latter corresponds to the sum of the reduction and oxidation heats in the chemical loop. The distribution among the reduction and oxidation heats greatly depends on the active masses (notably metal oxides) used to achieve chemical looping combustion. In some cases, the exothermicity is distributed between the oxidation and the reduction of the active mass. In other cases, the oxidation is highly exothermic and the reduction is endothermic. In all cases, the sum of the oxidation and reduction heats is equal to the combustion heat of the fuel. The heat is extracted by exchangers arranged inside, on the wall of or as an appendix to the combustion and/or oxidation enclosures, on the fumes lines, or on the metal oxide transfer lines.
The chemical looping combustion principle is now well known (Mohammad M. Hossain, Hugo I. de Lasa, Chemical-looping combustion (CLC) for inherent CO2 separations—a review, Chemical Engineering Science 63 (2008) 4433-4451; Lyngfelt A., Johansson M., and T. Mattisson, "Chemical Looping Combustion, status of development", in CFB IX, J. Werther, W. Nowak, K.-E. Wirth and E.-U. Hartge (Eds.), Tutech Innovation, Hamburg (2008, FIG. 7)). FIG. 7 diagrammatically shows the "air" reactor (1) where the metal oxides are oxidized, a cyclone (2) allowing the particles to be separated from the gas, and the "fuel" reactor or combustion reactor (3), the seat of the metal oxides reduction. Implementation of a chemical loop in a continuous installation however remains the object of many investigations and developments.
In a conventional circulating bed combustion plant, the inner circulation of solids in the circulation loop depends on the flow of air fed into the circulating bed.
On the other hand, in a chemical looping combustion process, combustion control depends on the amount of solid particles introduced, in contact with the fuel. The circulation of the active mass particles circulating in the combustion enclosure conditions the amount of oxygen available for combustion and the final oxidation state of the active mass at the end of the combustion process. Once combustion complete, the active mass (metal oxide in most cases) has to be oxidized again in contact with air in a distinct enclosure. The circulation between the two enclosures conditions:                the oxygen exchange between the reduction reactor and the oxidation reactor,        the heat exchange between the combustion reactor and the oxidation reactor,        the gas transfer between the two enclosures that has to be minimized.
It is thus important to be able to control the circulation of solids in the air reactor and in the combustion reactor, independently of the circulating gas flow rates conditioning the transport of particles within each one of these enclosures (air in the oxidation reactor, vapour, hydrocarbons or combustion fumes in the fuel reactor).
The various methods provided so far do not allow independent control of the oxide circulation. Thus, Johannsonn et al. (2006) provide a chemical looping combustion process wherein oxidation of the metal oxides occurs in a circulating bed. The oxides are separated in a cyclone that feeds through discharge the fuel reactor where combustion takes place. The metal oxide is then recycled to the oxidation reactor. Such a system does not allow to control the circulation of metal oxides independently of the air flow rate in the oxidation reactor. The flow rate of metal oxide circulating in the combustion reactor can only be modified by changing the air flow rate in the air reactor.
Another device is described in patent FR-2,850,156. In this case, the two reactors, combustion and oxidation, are circulating beds. Here again, the circulation between the two reactors depends on the flow of gas fed into each enclosure. In both cases, siphons are positioned on the transfer lines allowing transport of the metal oxides. These siphons allow to provide sealing of the gas phases between the two enclosures by preventing gas coming from the oxidation reactor from circulating towards the combustion reactor through the transfer lines, and vice versa. These siphons do not allow to control and to modify the circulation of metal oxides.
Furthermore, the chemical looping combustion method is preferably implemented at high temperature (between 800° C. and 1200° C., typically between 900° C. and 1000° C.). It is therefore not possible to control the circulation of metal oxides using mechanical valves conventionally used in other processes such as FCC.
The object of the invention thus is to provide a novel plant and a novel method allowing to control the circulation of solids in the chemical loop independently of the gas flows circulating in the combustion (reduction) and oxidation enclosures.

Chemical looping combustion method and plant with independent solid circulation control


The present invention addresses a timing synchronization problem which arises in tandem modem operation when a single codec strobed by a common sample clock is used for A/D and D/A signal conversion in a modem. Tandem modem operation is defined as a system application when two modems have their RS-232 interfaces directly connected to one another. In accordance with the present invention, a digital interpolator connected to the A/D converter in the modem effectively alters the timing phase of the A/D converter in response to first and second control signals. The first control signal is generated in response to an externally supplied clock and an internal modem clock and is representative of any perturbations in the externally supplied clock with respect to the internal modem clock. The second control signal is generated in response to digital signals derived from the incoming analog signal from a remote modem and is representative of any residual asynchronism between the transmit sample clock of the remote modem and the modem's transmit sample clock after alteration by the digital interpolator in response to the first control signal alone.

For synchronous communications applications, many modems utilize a digital signal processor coupled with an analog "front end" to implement the signal processing. One illustrative front end 100 is shown in FIG. 1. As shown, in the receive portion of this front end, the incoming quadrature amplitude modulated (QAM) line signal from 2-wire communications path 101 is coupled through hybrid 102 and sampled by analog-to-digital (A/D) converter 103. Echo canceller 104 subtracts the synthesized echo from the digital samples provided by converter 103 using the transmit symbols provided by transmitter 110. The echo-free samples are then converted back to an analog signal by digital-to-analog converter (D/A) 105, passed through low-pass filter 106 and supplied to A/D converter 107. Converter 107 provides digital samples to Hilbert filter 108 which outputs the real and imaginary passband components of each supplied sample. These real and imaginary components, respectively designated as I and Q, are coupled to conventional receiver 109 which outputs the received data and the received bit clock that is synchronized to a remote transmitter clock. In the transmit direction, transmitter 110 accepts the incoming data and the transmit bit clock and provides the transmit symbols to pulse shaping circuit 111. The pulse shaped output of circuit 111 is then converted into an analog signal by D/A converter 112. For proper operation of echo canceller 104, A/D converter 103, D/A converter 105 and D/A converter 112 are strobed by the transmit sample clock while A/D converter 107 is strobed by the receive sample clock. Each of these converters is disposed between a pair of low-pass filters (not shown). Transmit sample clock generator 113 generates the transmit sample clock which is frequency locked to an externally supplied clock signal. This externally supplied clock signal is normally the transmit bit clock used by transmitter 110. The transmit and receive sample clocks are those clock signals used to strobe the A/D and D/A converters and such clocks normally have a higher frequency than the symbol rate. The challenge in implementing front end 100 is to provide precision converters on a single integrated circuit with asynchronous transmit and receive clocks.
To reduce costs, more recently developed modems utilize the illustrative front end 200 shown in FIG. 2. Front end 200 utilizes some of the elements described in FIG. 1 and such elements provide the same function and are designated by the same reference numerals in FIG. 2. In addition, front end 200 also includes a codec 201. As shown, a codec 201 incorporates precision A/D and D/A converters, respectively designated as 202 and 203. As in FIG. 1 and in the drawing figures to be discussed, each of these converters is disposed between a pair of low-pass filters (not shown). In modems incorporating an echo canceller 104, the codec must be strobed by a common sample clock defined as the transmit sample clock. Moreover, in modems not incorporating an echo canceller, it is often advantageous to utilize a common sample clock to increase performance. For illustrative purposes, it is assumed that this sample clock has a nominal frequency of 7200 Hz. It should, of course, be understood that the present invention is not limited to a particular sample clock frequency and may be used with any sample clock frequency. D/A converter 202 is utilized within the transmitter portion of the modem to form samples of the signal to be transmitted through 2-wire communications path 101 to a remote location. Similarly, A/D portion 203 is utilized within the receiver portion of the modem to form samples of the signals received from the remote location via path 101.
To compensate for the fact that A/D converter 203 is not synchronized to the transmitter clock at the remote location, the output of this A/D converter is coupled to digital interpolator 204 after passing through echo canceller 104 and Hilbert filter 108. The circuitry within interpolator 204 is well-known. One illustrative interpolator is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,866,647 to C. W. Farrow, "Continuously Variable Digital Delay Circuit," issued Sep. 12, 1989, and in an ISCAS 1988 conference paper to C. W. Farrow entitled, "Continuously Variable Digital Delay Element." Both of these documents are hereby incorporated by reference. The digital interpolator alters the sample values it receives in response to a control signal on lead 208. Timing recovery circuit 205 generates this control signal using a predetermined one of the outputs of the Hilbert filter along with sine and cosine wave forms supplied by sine/cosine calculator 206. The control signal is representative of any asynchronism between the transmit sample clock and the remote transmitter clock. The effect of the interpolator, therefore, is to alter the timing phase of the common sample clock source and provide the samples which would have been formed had the common sample clock been synchronized to the transmitter clock at the remote location. Receiver 207 recovers the received data from the I and Q outputs of the digital interpolator. In addition, receiver 207 also generates the receive bit clock, which synchronizes the received data, using the control signal on lead 208. This receiver is identical to its counterpart in FIG. 1 except that the timing recovery function has been extracted from the receiver in FIG. 2 and is provided by timing recovery circuit 205.
With the use of a common sample clock, the transmitting and receive portions of a transceiver are not independent since the samples of the received signal are generated at the transmit sample clock rate. While this use of a common sample clock source works satisfactorily for many modem applications, there are situations where problems arise. One such application 300 is shown in FIG. 3 where data between digital terminal equipment (DTE) 301 and 302 are coupled through 2-wire communications paths 303 and 304 and serially connected modems 305, 306, 307 and 308. The pair of modems 306 and 307 are connected in tandem, i.e., their digital RS-232 interfaces are directly connected to one another. In such an interface, the designations RD, RC, SD and SC respectively designate a modem's receive data, receive bit clock, send data and send bit clock leads. For error-free synchronous operation, the transmit sample clock of modem 307 which is used to clock the signal coupled to path 304 must be synchronous with the receive bit clock in modem 306. Similarly, in the reverse direction, the transmit sample clock of modem 306, used to transmit signals toward path 303, must be synchronous with the receive bit clock in modem 307. Therefore, each transmitter in the tandem modem pair can be referred to as being clocked by an externally supplied transmit sample clock signal, i.e., a transmit sample clock signal controlled by the other modem's receive bit clock. If modems 306 and 307 incorporate the circuitry of FIG. 2, the A/D and D/A converters in codec 201 do not operate independently as both are clocked by the transmit sample clock. As a result, a feedback loop is formed wherein perturbations in the transmit sample clock of modem 306 affect the operation of the receive bit clock in this modem. In addition, the transmit sample clock of modem 307 is derived from the receive bit clock of modem 306 and, in turn, affects the receive bit clock of modem 307 from which the transmit sample clock of modem 306 is derived. This feedback loop causes instability which results in data errors and eventual loss of timing synchronization. A solution to this problem has heretofore not been found.

Timing recovery scheme for a transceiver using a single sample clock source for transmitting and receiving signals


Reactive multifunctional imide monomers have been discovered from which radiation curable oligomers and polymers may be derived. The reactive imide monomers have at least one functional group which is polymerizable under free radical or ionic polymerization conditions with other similar functional groups. However, the same functional group and reaction product derived therefrom is substantially not subject to cleavage by oxidation or hydrolysis. The reactive imide monomer also contains at least one other functional group which remains intact under the above-described polymerization conditions to form a part of a side chain of the resultant polymer and will cross-link or cure by 2+2 cyclo-addition with other like functional groups upon irradiation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to reactive imide monomers and the radiation curable polymer systems derived from such monomers. More specifically, the imide monomers according to the present invention contain at least one ethylenically unsaturated moiety which is reactive with other ethylenically unsaturated moieties under polymerization conditions to produce a radiation curable polymer. The imide moiety becomes part of a side chain of the resultant polymer and is capable of undergoing a cross-linking reaction, specifically a 2+2 cycloaddition reaction, upon exposure to radiation to form a cross-linked polymer network.
2. State of the Art
Thermoplastic acrylic polymers and the like, which can be converted to thermosetting polymers by electromagnetic irradiation or other forms of radiation, have been known for some time. Recently, materials based on a dimethylmaleimide (DMMI) modified (meth)acrylic esters have been prepared. These systems often need to be photosensitized to achieve the proper cure because of the lack of a good chromophore. These systems are also susceptible to hydrolysis as are all esters.
Systems based on dimethylmaleimides (DMMI) are known to be photochemically reactive when irradiated with light of suitable wavelength, typically about 350-450 nanometers (a conventional photosensitizer is also often added). When photochemically reacted, the DMMIs typically dimerize in a (2+2) cycloaddition mode to give substituted cyclobutane derivatives as illustrated in Scheme I below. ##STR1##
The DMMI-monomer can be copolymerized with one or more ethylenically unsaturated comonomers in solution with radical initiators such as AIBN (Azo-bisisobutyronitrile) to yield soluble DMMI-copolymers with statistical distribution of the monomer units within the macromolecule. Once the polymer backbone is synthesized, the resulting polymer typically comprises only one readily reactive functional group, i.e., the pendant DMMI groups. These groups may be reacted together using ultraviolet light (and typically also a UV sensitizer) such as is illustrated in Scheme I, thereby cross-linking the polymers.
Such DMMI polymeric systems are generally advantageous, because the tetrasubstituted carbon-carbon double bond of the DMMI typically does not participate to any extent in the free radical polymerization reaction used to prepare the DMMI containing polymer. Most other known photosensitive functional groups will typically enter into a free radical initiated polymerization reaction, typically causing unwanted gelling and the like.
However, synthesizing the polymer backbone is generally not a simple reaction and is oftentimes difficult to perform on an industrial scale. Furthermore, the resulting polymer with DMMI functionality is generally not readily susceptible to variations in cross-linking, and oftentimes a more complex cross-linked network is necessary to achieve desired properties.
"DMMI-Photopolymers and Their Technical Application" by M. Roth and B. Muller, Ciba-Geigy AG, is a publication describing DMMI synthesis, DMMI polymer synthesis and cross-linking DMMI polymers by photoreacting the DMMI groups.
"A New Class of Photopolymers with Pendant Dimethylamaleimide Groups--Part I", Die Angewandte Makromolekular Chemie 128 (1984) 71-97 by Juergen Finter, Edward Widmer, and Hans Zweifel and "A New Class of Photopolymers with Pendant Dimethylmaleimide Groups--Part II", Die Angewandte Makromolekular Chemie 133 (1984/5) 147-170, by Juergen Finter, Zeppos Haniotis, Friedrich Lohse, Kurt Meier and Hans Zweifel, are articles which discuss and describe DMMI chemistry.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,107,174 to Baumann et al entitled "Imidyl Compounds" is directed to photoreactive imidyl compounds, such as DMMI and is also directed to polymeric imidyl compounds which are photo cross-linkable. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,107,326 and 4,193,927 both to Baumann et al are also entitled "Imidyl Compounds" and are divisionals of U.S. Pat. No. 4,107,174.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,163,097, also to Baumann et al, discloses cross-linkable polymeric compounds which contain light-sensitive alkyl substituted cyclic imide groups.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,680,207 to Rust et al discloses N-vinyl imides containing ethylenically unsaturated groups in the imide ring which are unsubstituted. The disclosure is directed toward thermally initiated polymerization of the N-vinyl imides.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,788,295 to Rakoutz discloses only unsubstituted maleimide thermosetting reactants where reaction is initiated thermally.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,646 to Dahms discloses bismaleimides and maleimide acids which are unsubstituted and which are useful in preparing laminates based on bismaleimide resins.
The above-described maleimide and imidyl bifunctional monomers suffer from the fact that their radically polymerizable site is subject to cleavage either by oxidation or hydrolysis or due to the fact the unsubstituted imide groups are not easily reacted or cross-linked by radiation. Moreover, as pointed out, the resultant polymer system often requires the addition of a photosensitizer to achieve the desired cure by irradiation.

Reactive imide monomers and radiation curable polymers derived therefrom


The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for speaker-calibrated speaker detection. One embodiment of a method for generating a speaker model for use in detecting a speaker of interest includes identifying one or more speech features that best distinguish the speaker of interest from a plurality of impostor speakers and then incorporating the speech features in the speaker model.

Many modern applications use speech use to detect or identify an individual. For example, security applications may capture speech samples from a plurality of individuals. In order to determine if any of those individuals is a person of interest, a set of features is extracted from each of the speech samples and is analyzed for a match. Conventional speaker identification systems optimize performance for a set of speakers, focusing on the same features and parameters for all speakers. That is, regardless of the identity of the person of interest, the same features are extracted from the speech samples for analysis, and the same system is used to score the speech samples.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for speaker-calibrated speaker detection


The heat-assisted magnetic recording medium of the present invention has a substrate, an under layer formed on the substrate, and a magnetic layer formed on the under layer, in which the magnetic layer includes an alloy having a L10 structure as a principle component, and the under layer is constituted by a first under layer made of an amorphous alloy or an alloy having a microcrystalline structure, a second under layer made of Cr or an alloy which contains Cr as a principle component and has a BCC structure, a third under layer made of a metal or an alloy having a BCC structure with a lattice constant of 2.98 Å or more, and a fourth under layer made of MgO.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat-assisted magnetic recording medium used in hard disk drives (HDD) and the like, and a magnetic recording and reading apparatus using the same.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-019185, filed on Jan. 31, 2012, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, heat-assisted recording in which near-field light or the like is radiated to a magnetic recording medium so as to locally heat the surface and decrease the coercive force of the magnetic recording medium, thereby performing writing has been attracting attention as a next-generation recording method in which a 1 Tbit/inch2 class of surface recording density can be realized.
In a case in which the heat-assisted recording is used, it is possible to readily perform writing using a recording field of a current head even in a magnetic recording medium having a coercive force of several tens of kOe at room temperature. Therefore, in a heat-assisted magnetic recording medium, it becomes possible to use a material having a high crystal magnetic anisotropy (Ku) at a level of 106 J/m3 for a magnetic layer, and it is possible to miniaturize the diameter of magnetic grains to 6 nm or less while maintaining thermal stability. Known examples of the high Ku material include a FePt alloy having a L10-type crystal structure (Ku: approximately 7×106 J/m3), a CoPt alloy having a L10-type crystal structure (Ku: approximately 5×106 J/m3), and the like.
However, in order to order a FePt alloy so as to obtain an L10 structure, it is necessary to increase the substrate temperature to 600° C. or higher. However, the substrate temperature is desirably set to approximately 600° C. or less from the viewpoint of the heat resistance of a glass substrate. The ordering temperature can be decreased by adding a third element to FePt. For example, Appl. Phys. Lett. 80, 2147 (2002) describes that the ordering temperature can be significantly decreased by adding Cu to FePt. In addition, J. Appl. Phys. 92, 6104 (2002) describes that the ordering temperature can be decreased by adding Ag and Au in addition to Cu.

Heat-assisted magnetic recording medium and magnetic recording and reading apparatus


Method and equipment for purification of a liquid, where the liquid is polluted by other liquids or solid material, e.g. removing oil from oil contamined water, comprising a flocculation device (2) and a flotation device (8). The method comprises adding one or more chemicals to the liquid in a flocculation device that comprises one or more pipe loops (2) with built-in agitators (3, 20, 21) providing turbulence and plug-type flow through the loop. Thereupon purified liquid and pollutants are separated in the flotation device or in a sedimentation device (8). The equipment according to the invention comprises a pipe loop (2), provided with built-in agitator(s) (3, 20, 21), connected to the flotation device (8).

This invention relates to a method and an equipment for the purification of a liquid, wherein the liquid may be polluted by other liquids or solid material, e. g. removing oil from water, comprising a flotation device.
Extracting oil and gas offshore results in large amounts of sea water containing oil. The major part of the oil may be separated from the sea water in separating containers or tanks, but this purification is not sufficient for rendering the sea water back to the sea. Today, authoritative regulations say that spill water from offshore oil- and gas installations shall not contain more than 40 ppm oil.
When removing oil and/or other pollutants from water there are commonly a plurality of methods using centrifuges, hydrocyclones and flotation devices.
Centrifuges are advanced machines giving a high degree of purification, but their specific capacity is low. The use of a purification installation of this type when extracting oil, comprises a plurality of machines connected in parallel. Such installations are very expensive and it is required to keep a large stock of spare parts. The maintenance routines are also quite comprehensive.
Another disadvantage is that installations of this type are rather energy consuming. A typical energy consumption is 1 kwh/m.sup.3 of purified water.
The hydrocyclone may be considered as "common art" because they are preferred in new platform installations. These cyclones have quite good performances at favourable working conditions. Meanwhile, they have some limitations and disadvantages. In the presence of small oil droplets, a chemical flocculation device has to be installed upstream the hydrocyclone installation. The shear forces that may occur in the hydrocyclones are large, and the flakes have to be very robust. Flakes with the required strength may be difficult to produce.
Further, the pressure drop in the hydrocyclone is large, commonly more than 40 m W.P.
Downstream from the hydrocyclone it is required to have a flotation chamber with a rather large capacity when relieving the pressure. According to certain working conditions a hydrocyclone plant may be quite comprehensive to install. The capacities of the hydrocyclones are small, and therefore they have to be connected in groups to serve as large batteries when higher capacity is demanded.
The third type of separating devices, flotation plants, are characterised in that they have low specific capacities and low purification effects. The space needed for this type of installation is large, and they are often difficult to operate. Today, flotation plants are regarded as "technology of the past", and are of little relevance in offshore use because of the disadvantages these plants represent.

Method and equipment for the purification of a liquid


This disclosure describes, generally, methods and systems for implementing transcendent page caching. The method includes establishing a plurality of virtual machines on a physical machine. Each of the plurality of virtual machines includes a private cache, and a portion of each of the private caches is used to create a shared cache maintained by a hypervisor. The method further includes delaying the removal of the at least one of stored memory pages, storing the at least one of stored memory pages in the shared cache, and requesting, by one of the plurality of virtual machines, the at least one of the stored memory pages from the shared cache. Further, the method includes determining that the at least one of the stored memory pages is stored in the shared cache, and transferring the at least one of the stored shared memory pages to the one of the plurality of virtual machines.

Presently, in computer systems, a large portion of physical memory is often used to store disk data that might possibly be used in the future; if it is not used, that memory is wasted or "idle". Similar methods are used in a virtualized computer system and, as a result, many virtual machines (VMs) may each have large amounts of idle memory. One method called "ballooning" allows idle memory from one VM (VM1) to be transferred to another VM (VM2), but ballooning has significant weaknesses, notably that it cannot respond rapidly enough to accommodate constantly changing demands in the computing environment, and it is difficult to determine the amount of memory that is needed by VM2 and that the memory can be safely surrendered by VM1. These deficiencies result in significantly reduced performance which limits the broad application of ballooning. Lastly, in a virtualized system large amounts of physical memory are often left unassigned to any specific VM—or left "fallow"—for short or long periods of time. Because of the large amounts of idle memory in VMs, the limitations of ballooning, and the large amount of memory left fallow in a virtualized system, physical memory in most virtualized computer systems in used inefficiently, incurring significant performance costs, capital costs (such as the purchase of unnecessary additional memory), and variable IT costs (i.e., floorspace, power, cooling, etc.). Hence, there is a need for improved methods and systems in the art of managing physical memory in virtualized computing environments.

Methods and systems for implementing transcendent page caching


A novel process for industrially producing an aromatic nitrile compound represented by the following general formula (3):

Various processes have been known heretofore for production of an aromatic nitrile compound from a raw material compound which is an aromatic hydroxymethyl compound, an aromatic alkoxymethyl compound or an aromatic aldehyde compound.
There are known, for example, processes which comprise reacting an aromatic hetero-cyclic aldehyde [e.g. furfural (2-furylaldehyde), 2-thienylaldehyde or 3-pyridylaldehyde] or an aromatic aldehyde (e.g. benzaldehyde) with a hydroxyamine salt to form an oxime and then dehydrating the oxime to produce a corresponding nitrile (e.g. furonitrile) [see Synthetic Communications, Vol. 30, pp. 3109-3114 (2000); Synthesis, pp. 190-191 (1982); Synthesis, pp. 243-246 (2003); Synthetic Communications, Vol. 13 No. 12, pp. 999-1006 (1983)].
These processes, however, comprise two steps of oxime formation and subsequent dehydration; require a dehydrating reagent (e.g. phtalic anhydride or methanesulfonyl chloride) of ordinarily at least one equivalent; when hydroxyamine sulfate is used, it is difficult in some cases to separate the formed aromatic nitrite compound from an inorganic sulfate.
There is also known a process which comprises reacting an aromatic aldehyde with ammonia gas in a gas phase in the presence of a catalyst consisting of copper and a solid acid, to produce an aromatic nitrile compound (JP-A-2000-239247). In this process, however, catalyst preparation need be conducted at a high temperature of 500° C. and excessive ammonia of 2.7 to 10.3 equivalents is required, which is disadvantageous industrially; moreover, a special facility is required for a gas phase reaction at high temperatures of 280 to 330° C.; furthermore, the raw material aldehyde compound is not usable when it is thermally unstable or has a high boiling point, which is a drawback.
There is also known a process for converting an aromatic aldehyde into a corresponding aromatic nitrile compound, using sodium azide in the presence of aluminum chloride [Synthesis, Vol. 7, pp. 641-642 (1992)]. However, use of highly toxic sodium azide in 6 equivalents and aluminum chloride in 2 equivalents is not preferred in industrial practice of the process, from the standpoint of safe operation.
There is further known a process using either of an aromatic aldehyde and benzyl alcohol, and aqueous ammonia and potassium peroxodisulfate in the presence of a nickel catalyst [Chemistry Letters, Vol. 4, pp. 571-574 (1990)]. In this process, however, there are problems that a large excess of ammonia (10 equivalents) is required and, moreover, a benzoic acid compound corresponding to the raw material used is formed as a by-product in an amount of 10 to 20%.
Thus, in the technical field to which the present invention belongs, it has been desired to solve the drawbacks of the prior art and develop a process which can produce an aromatic nitrile compound easily under mild conditions without using a special reaction apparatus or a special reaction reagent.
In view of such a situation, the present inventor made a study on a process which can produce an aromatic nitrile compound from either of an aromatic hydroxymethyl compound, an aromatic alkoxymethyl compound and an aromatic aldehyde compound, or from a mixture thereof. As a result, the present inventor found unexpectedly that the above aim could be solved by reacting the above aromatic compound with an oxidized bromine compound in the presence of an acid catalyst, using ammonia or the like as a nitrogen source. The present invention has been completed based on this finding.

Process for producing aromatic nitrile compound

Abstract: characterized in that one of an aromatic hydroxymethyl compound, an aromatic alkoxymethyl compound and an aromatic aldehyde compound, all represented by the following general formula (1):

Abstract: or a mixture thereof is reacted with an oxidized bromine compound represented by the general formula (2)MBrOm   (2)in the presence of an acid catalyst and either ammonia or an ammonium sat.