An image transfer apparatus which comprises a platen (8) to which an image-forming material is to be attached and a transfer cylinder (1) to which an image receptor is to be attached, and which is for transferring an image formed in a photosensitive layer of an image-forming material to an image receptor by the introduction of the image-forming material and the image receptor into a nip formed by the platen and the transfer cylinder by the rotation of the platen and the transfer cylinder, the apparatus having an image-forming material attaching device comprising a device for holding the top end side of the image receptor to a platen surface along the entire width of the image receptor and a device for holding the bottom end side of the image receptor to a platen surface along the entire width of the image receptor, the device for holding the top end side being a pin bar (13) having pins protruded from an inside of a blanket (10) in a slope portion (12) continued from a partial cut-off portion formed in the platen.

A single-color or multi-color prepress proof suitable for proof printing, etch, is recently increasingly produced. The prepress proof is produced by imagewise exposing an image-forming material comprising a substrate and photosensitive layer formed on one surface of the substrate and then transferring an image to an image receptor such as paper under heat, generally around 100.degree. C. The image-forming material is formed of a substrate, a photosensitive layer formed on one surface of said substrate and a protection film. As the substrate and the protection film, a thin film or sheet formed from a material such as cellulose acetate, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene terephthalate is used. As the image receptor, a properly selected printing sheet such as paper or a film is used.
As an apparatus for preparing the above prepress proof, generally, there has been proposed an image-transfer apparatus having a platen to which an image-forming material is to be attached and a transfer cylinder to which an image receptor is to be attached, and the platen and the transfer cylinder are brought into contact so that a photosensitive layer of the image-forming material and an image receptor are brought into contact with each other under pressure to transfer an image formed on the photosensitive layer to the image receptor in a nip portion formed by the platen and the transfer cylinder. A multi-color image transfer product or a prepress proof sheet is produced by color-scanning an original of multi-color image, imagewise exposing image-forming materials corresponding to separated colors, e.g., yellow, magenta, cyan and black to form images of these colors in the image forming materials, and consecutively transferring these formed images to one image receptor.
As a device for attaching the image-forming material to the platen, a pin bar is generally used to facilitate the registering of each color. The pin bar has a structure in which a plurality of pins are provided on a plate extending in the axial-length direction of the platen. When, however, the pin bar is directly provided on the platen, there is caused a distinct height difference between the platen surface and the pin bar, and the image-forming material which has been attached has a nonuniform slackening. Therefore, the registering accuracy is insufficient in many cases. There is further another problem in that the area on which the printing can be actually effected is decreased since the printing with sufficient registering accuracy cannot be carried out on the pin bar portion.
For producing a multi-color prepress proof, a plurality of image-forming materials and one image receptor are used. After the imagewise exposure, each image-forming material is attached to the platen in a state in which the protection film is stacked. On the platen, the protection film is manually peeled off by an operator. However, it is difficult to peel off the thin protection film, and the peeling off the thin protection film extremely impairs the workability. Further, when the protection film is peeled off, an unexposed portion, i.e., an image portion, is sometimes peeled together, and in such a case, no aesthetically fine image transfer product can be obtained.
It has been strongly desired to develop a device for attaching a sheet-like substance such as an image-forming material without causing a failure in registering and a device with which the protection film of the image-forming material can be easily peeled off. However, no device which satisfies the above desire has been developed.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an image transfer apparatus having a device with which the image-forming material can be attached to the platen without causing a failure in registering. It is further another object of the present invention to provide an image transfer apparatus having a platen equipped with a device for easily peeling off the protection film of the image-forming material and a transfer cylinder.


A band pass filter for radio frequencies uses helical resonators arranged to have a transmission notch on the high frequency side of the pass band. A plurality of resonators housed in a shield are formed by quarter-wavelength transmission lines wound in a helix, with adjacent resonators being wound in opposite directions and grounded at opposite ends to provide a transmission notch at the high frequency side of the passband. One or more grounded shielding pins are arranged between adjacent resonators to adjust the frequency of the notch to be at or near an image frequency. The grounded end of each of the resonators may be coupled to a varicap diode network for electronically tuning the filter.

The present invention relates to a radio receiver having a front end filter comprising helical resonators.
The use of filters having helical resonators in radio frequency applications represents a well known technology. These devices can be used in the 10 MHz to 1.5 GHz region with typical Q's from 200 to 5000. Currently such devices are being used as high Q bandpass filters, band rejection filters, reference cavities, tuning elements for oscillators, front end filters for receivers, and for many other applications where high Q is paramount and large size prohibitive. A conventional helical filter consists of a number of helical resonators enclosed in a rectangular or circular shield, each consisting of a quarter-wavelength transmission line wound in the form of a single layer helix on a circular former, the helical transmission lines being wound in the same direction, short-circuited at the same end (to the shield) and open circuited at the other. The resonators are coupled to each other via openings in partitions between them, the size and location of the openings affecting the coupling coefficient between the resonators and thereby the frequency response of the filter. A more detailed discussion on helical filters can be found in A. I. Zverev's "Handbook of Filter Synthesis". Wiley and Sons 1967.
A disadvantage of using conventional helical resonators in the front end filter of a radio receiver is that in order to obtain satisfactory image frequency rejection many conventional helical resonators are needed, involving significant costs. A further disadvantage of using conventional helical resonators is that the amount of coupling is controlled by the size and location of the openings in the partitions which must be accurately machined, again involving significant costs.

Radio receiver filter with image rejection


A current-limiting protection circuit of remotely controlled ceiling fan-lamp is disclosed. The current-limiting protection circuit includes a microcontroller unit for detecting rectangular wave signal reflective of the power used by a lamp load. The rectangular wave signal is compared with nominal value. In the case that the positive bandwidth of the rectangular wave signal is larger than the nominal value, it is indicated that the lamp load is in an overloaded state. Under such circumstance, the microcontroller unit controls a lamp load driving unit to change driving manner and lower the power used by the lamp load to a value within the nominal range.

The present invention is related to an overload protection technique of a remotely controlled electric appliance, and more particularly to a current-limiting protection circuit of a remotely controlled ceiling fan-lamp.
In use of a conventional ceiling fan-lamp, a user can hardly know and control the power consumed by the ceiling fan-lamp. In the case that the power used by the lamp exceeds a safety or nominal limit, the lamp is in an overloaded state and likely to burn out. On the other hand, the excessive power used by the lamp leads to waste of energy and fails to meet the requirements of environment protection.

Current-limiting protection circuit of a remotely controlled ceiling fan-lamp


In accordance with the present invention, a combination stirrer and condiment dispenser includes a body portion having at least a pair of laterally spaced compartments for holding at least a pair of substances to be dispensed into a drinking glass or drinking cup. The end portions of the compartments are capped to hold the substances to be dispensed in place. In one embodiment the caps are located at opposite ends of the stirrer body portion so that the substances to be dispensed may be separately dispensed into the cup or glass. In another embodiment the caps are located at the same end of the stirrer body portion so that both substances may be simultaneously dispensed into the cup or glass. After one or both substances are dispensed into the cup or glass the body portion may be used to stir the dispensed item into the liquid in a mixing operation.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 309,905; 3,485,416 and 4,387,809 disclose condiment dispensers in which more than one substance may be dispensed and in which the compartments for holding the substances within the body of the dispenser are longitudinally spaced apart.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,254,115 discloses a combination drinking straw and container which could be used to dispense an item from inside the container.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,034,905 and 2,901,357 disclose methods of manufacturing tubes or straws in which materials may be located within the straws and then may be dispensed from the straw.

Combination stirrer and condiment dispenser


A digitally controlled voltage generator is disclosed for use in applications requiring fine resolution voltage control, such as generating a common voltage for a liquid crystal display. A constant resistance digital to analog converter (DAC) is configured to provide appropriate voltage steps by tuning bias resistors to generate desirable reference voltages for the DAC. The bias resistors are configured to be tuned after placement and routing steps in an integrated circuit design.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to voltage generator circuits and, more specifically, to a common voltage generator circuit for liquid crystal displays.
2. Description of the Related Art
A modern liquid crystal display (LCD) screen is formed as an array of pixels that are backlit using a uniform polarized light source (backlight). Each pixel comprises at least one region of liquid crystal material sandwiched between two electrodes. A color LCD screen may use three regions of liquid crystal material to form one color pixel comprising red, green, and blue color components. The electrodes are fabricated from an electrically conductive material that is thin enough to be relatively transparent to light, allowing light to pass through both electrodes and each region of sandwiched liquid crystal material. One of the two electrodes is connected to a common voltage (VCOM), and the second electrode is connected to a column wire via a field effect transistor that is configured to connect the column wire to the second electrode in response to a row select signal on a corresponding row wire. The column wire is driven with a voltage value corresponding to a desired intensity for the associated liquid crystal region. A color LCD panel may need three column wires, corresponding to red, green, and blue color components, to determine a color value for one pixel. When a given row is selected, a voltage potential is established between the two electrodes, causing liquid crystal material in a corresponding region to modulate the polarization of light transmitted through the region. The transmitted light originates as polarized light from the backlight, passes through the liquid crystal material, and passes through a polarizing filter before exiting a viewing surface of an LCD panel. By modulating the polarization of the light transmitted through the liquid crystal region, the pixel brightness is correspondingly modulated when viewed from the viewing surface of the LCD panel.
Persons skilled in the art understand that the optimal VCOM voltage for a given LCD panel may vary on a panel-to-panel basis, based on manufacturing variation for the LCD panel. In other words, VCOM for each panel should be individually adjusted, preferably as part of a manufacturing process. One challenge in adjusting VCOM to an optimal value is that relatively small differences in VCOM can cause visible degradation in image quality of a particular LCD panel. For example, a difference of one millivolt can oftentimes have a perceptible effect on image quality. One common type of visible degradation appears as flicker in images displayed by the LCD panel. An analog variable resistor is sometimes used to adjust VCOM with millivolt resolution. However, the analog variable resistor introduces additional manufacturing costs and is therefore not a preferred solution in high-volume LCD manufacturing. A more efficient solution involves digitally adjusting VCOM, as described below in FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art digitally controlled common voltage generator circuit 100. The common voltage (VCOM) generator circuit 100 includes a voltage generator 130, and an output driver 132, which generates VCOM 190. VCOM 190 corresponds to a common voltage (VCOM) reference conventionally used in LCD panels. The voltage generator 130 receives an analog voltage on node VDDA 104, and a digital voltage on node VDDB 106. Each voltage is measured with respect to a ground (GND) node 102. The GND node 102 is defined as having a potential of zero volts. A reference voltage associated with VREFA 112, also measured with respect to GND 102, is generated from a resistor divider formed by resistors R 124 and R 122. VREFA 112 is generated according to a target specification for an associated LCD panel. Amplifier 120 is configured to form a voltage follower with a high-impedance input, which is connected to VREFA 112, and a low impedance output, which is connected to VREFB 114. The voltage follower drives VREFB 114 with a low impedance at a voltage corresponding closely to VREFA 112, thereby isolating VREFA 112 from variable sink currents drawn through an "R-2R" digital to analog converter (DAC) 140. Persons skilled in the art will understand that an R-2R DAC 140 presents a variable current load to node VREFB 114, and that the variable current load is a function of a digital DAC value 156. The DAC value 156 conventionally represents a fixed-length integer. Each integer represented by the DAC value 156 has a corresponding voltage value generated at VDAC 150. Each increment in the DAC value 156 has a corresponding voltage step at VDAC 150.
The DAC value 156 comprises a parallel vector transmitted from a serial digital controller 144 to a DAC decoder 142. The serial digital controller 144 receives a serial clock signal SCL 152 and a serial data signal SDA 154. A digital data vector is transmitted from an external device (not shown) via SCL 152 and SDA 154 for representation within the voltage generator 130 as DAC value 156. In one embodiment, the serial data controller 144 adheres to conventional "I2C" signaling.
In response to a given DAC value 156, the DAC decoder 142 generates control signals to activate one or more analog pass gates within the R-2R DAC 140 in order to produce a corresponding output voltage at VDAC 150. VDAC 150 is transmitted to the output driver 132, where amplifier 160, Q 162, and R 164 are configured to convert VDAC 150 to a current, which is sourced from node 188 and sinked through R 164 to GND 102. Resistor R 184 forms the top of a voltage divider, while R 182, Q 162 and R 164 form the bottom of the voltage divider, which is configured to generate a voltage on node 188 that is between VDDA 104 and GND 102. Amplifier 180 is configured as a voltage driver (follower), which drives VCOM 190 with a voltage corresponding closely to the voltage on node 188. Amplifier 180 should be configured to drive enough current to maintain a relatively stable voltage value on node VCOM 190.
One problem with prior art designs for the common voltage generator circuit 100 is that amplifier 120 is costly in terms of die area and power consumption. Additionally, amplifier 120 introduces an offset voltage between VREFA 112 and VREFB 114, that may commonly correspond to dozens of voltage steps at VDAC 150, thereby degrading accuracy and control in the prior art common voltage generator circuit 100. Additional die area or additional power consumption, or both, may be utilized as part of a design trade-off to attempt to reduce the offset voltage associated with amplifier 120. However, such trade-offs further reduce the efficiency of the overall common voltage generator circuit 100.
As the foregoing illustrates, what is needed in the art is a technique for precisely generating a digitally controlled voltage that is more efficient than in existing art.


The invention discloses a drinking arrangement for location within a diver's helmet, which includes a container being adapted to contain a hydration fluid; support means for supporting the container within the helmet; a supply line being adapted to supply flow of the hydration fluid from the container; and a mouthpiece for normally sealing the supply line and being adapted to selectively dispense hydration liquid therefrom.

Commercial marine divers often work in dry-suits or warm water suits that are provided with a helmet to permit improved safety, comfort and vision for the diver. Such underwater work normally requires highly skilled divers who operate in shifts for long hours of about 6 to 8 hours. Furthermore, the great depths at which the work is conducted and the heavy equipment used by the divers does not permit them to surface spontaneously as they are often required to undergo decompression. During their shifts the divers lose a large amount of body fluids and they can become dehydrated, which in turn leads to health and safety issues. It is thus important that the divers are provided with hydration during their dive shift.
Although the applicant is aware of various prior art documents that provide such hydration devices for divers, these primarily all support the hydration fluid externally of the dive suit requiring a feed tube to pass through the suit or diver's helmet at some point, which accordingly breaches the integrity of the suit and thus can lead to weakness therein that may lead to failure.
It is an object of the invention to suggest a drinking arrangement, which will assist in overcoming these problems.


A method, computer program product, and computing system for processing higher-level metadata portions to identify each occurrence of a pointer to a lower-level metadata portion; and generating a pointer record within a memory device that memorializes each occurrence of a pointer to a lower-level metadata portion and identifies a specific lower-level metadata portion to which the pointer is pointing, thus resulting in a plurality of pointer records.

Storing and safeguarding electronic content is of paramount importance in modern business. Accordingly, various methodologies may be employed to protect and distribute such electronic content, wherein the storage systems that process such content may strive to do so in as an efficient manner as possible. Unfortunately and due to the complexity of such storage systems, corruption of the metadata that locates the data within a backend storage system may take a considerable amount of time to correct.


A solid support bound polynucleotide, preferably a 3′-O- or 5′-O-substituted polynucleotide, is disclosed. The polynucleotides are of formula:

Biomolecules immobilized onto solid supports have great utility as affinity reagents, which are often utilized to bind and separate target molecules from mixtures. Oligonucleotides are one example of biomolecules which can be used for this purpose. For example, oligonucleotides can hybridize with complementary sequences. In addition, oligonucleotides having sequences found at regulatory regions can bind with regulatory proteins having specificity for those regions. Thus, affinity reagents comprising solid supports with immobilized oligonucleotides could be used inter alia in the purification, identification and isolation of complementary oligonucleotides and regulatory proteins.
Current methodologies for attaching oligonucleotides to solid phase supports have a number of shortcomings. For example, some methods result in non-specific attachment of the oligonucleotide or can cause side reactions. Methods which are specific typically involve attaching reactive groups directly to the 5′ or 3′ terminus of the oligonucleotide. Direct attachment at either terminus brings the oligonucleotide into close proximity with the solid support, which can prevent the oligonucleotide from adapting the proper configuration for binding with the target molecule. Other methods require significant manipulation of the matrix and oligonucleotide and are inconvenient to use.
Thus, there is a need for new methods of attaching oligonucleotides to the solid matrices which are convenient to use, site specific, result in minimal or no side reactions and which allow the oligonucleotide to adapt the proper orientation for binding with target molecules.

Immobilization of oligonucleotides onto solid supports

Abstract: wherein Q is a substantially pure polynucleotide, each X is O or S; Y is an inert spacer group; R represents the solid support. Also disclosed is a method of isolating a target biomolecule, preferably a protein or a polynucleotide, from a mixture.


A fishing rod holder and signal assembly having a rod holder device attached to a mounting member for upwardly supporting the rod holder. A pivotal signal tube is mounted on the rod holder and presents either a flag signal or a light source signal for indicating the bite of a fish on the fish line releasably strung relative to the holder signal.

The prior art is already aware of fishing devices which are self-supportive and operative so that the fisherman can be at a distance away from the fish line or pole itself That is, the device will support the line and/or the pole, and when a fish pulls on the line, then the device signals the fisherman who can then approach the fish line and pull in the fish on the line. Particularly, these prior art devices are already available for supporting a fish pole or fish rod which has a reel and the usual fish line thereon. Still further, these devices can be self-supported, such as by inserting them into the ground or mounting them on a structure. Also, these prior art devices commonly include a signal, such as a flag, light, or an audible signal, all of which are activated when the fish pulls on the respective fish line.
Examples of the prior art are shown in the following U.S. patents:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,037,314
U.S. Pat. No. 3,120,072
U.S. Pat. No. 3,568,352
U.S. Pat. No. 3,680,244
U.S. Pat. No. 4,155,188
U.S. Pat. No. 4,633,608
The present invention improves upon the prior art in that it provides a fish rod holder and signal assembly which is simplified in its construction and is therefore more reliable in its action of indicating when a fish is pulling on the fish line.
Still further, the present invention is an improvement upon the prior art in that it provides a ready and easy manner of releasably receiving a standard fishing rod, and it thereby permits the fisherman to readily remove the rod from the holding and signal assembly device when a fish is pulling on the fish line.
Still further, the present invention improves upon the prior art in that it provides a reliable and readily detectable signaling of the fish pulling on the line, and it does so by employing only one movable part and, even further, by being adaptable to receive fishing rods of various constructions.
Further, this invention provides a fish signal which is arranged to incorporate either a flag or a light source, in accordance with the desires of the fisherman who can readily and easily arrange the device with either signal employed.
Also, the device itself operates with its usual ease of operation and the same reliability when either type of signal is employed the device.


A vehicle controller of a vehicle may set a message acceptance type and a time window for response according to a type of association procedure message received from a requester, provide the association procedure message to electric vehicle supply equipment, and return a received response message to the requester when the response message is of the acceptance type and received within the time window, and otherwise reject the response message.

Electric or hybrid electric vehicles may be charged at a relatively slow rate from conventional power outlets, or at a relatively fast rate from dedicated vehicles chargers. To receive power from vehicle chargers or other types of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), the electric vehicle may be required to be physically connected to and electronically associated with the EVSE. In some cases, the EVSE may perform authentication of the electric vehicle, both to ensure the vehicle is authorized to use the charger and also to bill the vehicle for charger time or energy dispensed.

Method to ensure reliable reception of electric vehicle association messages


A process for preparation of 7-[D-α-amino-α-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acetamido]-3-(1-propen-1-yl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid viz. Cefprozil of formula (I) in high purity, substantially free of impurities,

Cefprozil, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,022, is a commercially valuable and therapeutically useful semi-synthetic, broad-spectrum oral cephalosporin antibiotic effective in controlling diseases caused by a wide variety of Gram positive and Gram negative microorganisms.
Because of its therapeutic usefulness and broad, efficient spectrum of activity, there is always a need for an improved synthetic process which would result in a product with high purity and yield, with minimum level of impurities, preferably absent, coupled with ease of operation and, more importantly, with low production cost.
In methods disclosed in prior art, synthesis of Cefprozil has essentially been carried out by amidification of a 7-amino-3-(1-propen-1-yl)-cephem derivative with α-amino-p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid or its reactive derivative as disclosed in the following patents.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,520,022 and 4,699,979 (Hoshi et al.) disclose a synthetic process for preparation of Cefprozil by condensation of benzhydryl-7-amino-3-halomethyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylate with D-2-(t-butoxycarbonylamino)-2-(p-hydroxyphenyl)acetic acid in the presence of N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) as the coupling agent and subsequent fuctionalization of the 3α position by Wittig reaction. The chemistry is summarized hereinbelow in Scheme I.

One of the limitations of the process is that it employs DCC which is toxic, expensive and requires rigorous anhydrous conditions. Also dicylohexylurea is formed as a byproduct during the process, removal of which calls for several tedious chromatographic purification and isolation steps to be employed to get the product in pure form.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,970,651, 3,985,747 and GB 1,532,682 disclose methods for preparation of Cefprozil, Cefadroxil and Cefatrizine which generally comprise reaction of 4-hydroxyphenylglycine with phosgene, followed by addition of gaseous hydrogen chloride to give 4-hydroxyphenylglycine chloride hydrochloride. This is further reacted with a suitable 7-amino-3-substituted cephem derivative to give the desired cephalosporin antibiotic.
However, these methods employ toxic and hazardous phosgene and gaseous HCl, which are difficult to handle on an industrial scale and cause environmental problem.
PCT application WO 98/04732 discloses a method for preparation of Cefprozil comprising reaction of 4-hydroxyphenylglycine with ethylene glycol to give an ester which is reacted with 7-Amino-3-(propen-1-yl)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid (7-APCA), of formula (II), in presence of enzyme, acylase. However, this method utilizes excess amount of the expensive enzyme rendering the method uneconomical.

A salt of 7-APCA with amidine and its use in the production of Cefprozil is disclosed by Greil et al. in the PCT application WO03/011871. The application describes the production of Cefprozil by the reaction of an amidine salt of 7-APCA with a mixed carboxylic acid anhydride of a N-substituted-α-amino-p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid. The patent does not comment on the purity or yield of the product.
All the prior art methods discussed hereinabove are associated with the formation of varying amounts of impurities which affect the overall yield and the quality of the product. Also removal of these impurities calls for additional purification and isolation steps which render the process lengthy and tedious.
Regulatory authorities all over the world are becoming very stringent about the purity of an approved drug. Especially there is growing concern about the nature and level of impurities present in such molecules. US Pharmacopoeia specifies that the purity of Cefprozil should be between 90 to 105%. However, most of the prior art methods are associated with the formation of varying amounts of impurities and hence do not give product conforming to this criterion.
Cephalosporin antibiotics carrying the D-α-amino-α-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acetamido addendum at the 7-position such as Cefprozil and Cefadroxil are generally prepared by reacting the respective 7-amino-3-substituted-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid or its salt/derivative with an activated derivative of 4-hydroxyphenylglycine such as a reactive ester, a reactive amide or a mixed acid anhydride. However, use of reactive amide or esters makes it difficult to obtain the desired product in high purity and yield because of the occurrence of side-reactions as well as racemization.
Of the activated derivatives of 4-hydroxyphenylglycine, the mixed anhydride of α-amino-p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid of formula III or IIIa:
wherein R1 is an alkyl or an aryl group and R2 is methyl or ethyl,is generally prepared by reacting N-substituted-α-amino-p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid or its salt (Dane salt) with an appropriate acylating agent at an appropriate temperature. For example in the process disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,985,741, the mixed anhydride is prepared by adding the acylating agent, base and the Dane salt to dry acetone at −10° C. and stirring the slurry for 20 minutes. As per the process disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,218,474, the mixed anhydride is prepared by adding a chloroformate, such as ethylchloroformate, to a solution of N-protected-4-hydroxy phenylglycine dissolved in an inert organic solvent at a temperature of −5° to 0° C. in the presence of a base. According to the method disclosed in WO03/011871, the mixed acid anhydride is prepared by adding a base and Dane salt to an inert organic solvent at ambient temperature, cooling the suspension to −30° C., followed by addition of the acylating agent and stirring.
Most of the prior art methods for preparation of the mixed acid anhydride are associated with the formation of varying amounts of different impurities. For example, during the preparation of mixed the 4-hydroxy group of the Dane salt is likely to react with the acylating agent thereby forming an impurity which further reacts with 7-APCA or its salts to form an impurity of formula (IV).

During the course of the present invention, the inventors have reproduced the process for preparation of Cefprozil as disclosed in WO03/011871. It was observed that the preparation of mixed acid anhydride by the method reported in WO03/011871 and its subsequent reaction with amidine salt of 7-APCA is associated with the formation of impurities in the range of 6-7%. Preparation of mixed anhydride as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,985,741 and its subsequent reaction with 7-aminodesacetoxycephalosporanic acid (7-ADCA) or a salt thereof gives 37% conversion to Cefadroxil of formula (V) with impurities to the tune of 30-35%.

In the prior art methods, cephalosporin antibiotics such as Cefprozil and Cefadroxil have been prepared by reacting the mixed acid anhydride with respective 7-amino-3-substituted-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid or its salt/derivative such as an amidine salt of 7-APCA as disclosed in WO03/011871 and 7-ADCA or its salt as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,985,741. However, use of 7-amino-3-substituted-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid, its acid salt or an amidine salt as disclosed in these prior art methods is found to give the product in low yield due to side reactions of the unprotected 4-carboxylic acid group and 7-amino group.
Hence there is a need to for a protected form of 7-APCA, which will activate the amino group in the 7-position, efficiently protect the carboxylic acid group, which will not require additional deprotection steps and can be deprotected in-situ during reaction work-up.
In summary, the prior art methods for preparation of Cefprozil:    i) utilize toxic and expensive chemicals such as phosgene, DCC and HCl;    ii) utilize expensive enzyme like acylase; and    iii) are associated with formation of varying amounts of impurities which give the product in low purity and yield, rendering such methods less cost effective.
Therefore, a need exists for a simple and cost-effective method for the preparation of Cefprozil in high purity and yield. Such a need could be met through minimization of the impurities associated with the prior art methods with concurrent improvement in the purity and yield of the product.

Process for preparation of 7-[α-Amino (4-hydroxyphenyl) acetamido]-3-substituted-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid

Abstract: which comprises preparation of mixed acid anhydride by selecting the sequence and temperature of addition of the reagents and its subsequent condensation with a protected 7-APCA; followed by hydrolysis, isolation and purification to give Cefprozil of formula (I) in the form of a monohydrate.


A rechargeable motor-driven ratchet wrench having power-off protection of the present invention includes a motor, a rechargeable battery and a power-off protection device. When the loaded current of the motor exceeds a set default value of a reference circuit, the power-off protection device disconnects the power supply of the rechargeable battery, so as to stop the motor operation. With the circuit design of the power-off protection device, the ratchet wrench can be ensured to provide usage safety and also usage lifespan of the ratchet wrench can be extended.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to a motor-driven ratchet wrench, and more particularly to a motor-driven ratchet wrench that can be recharged by a rechargeable battery and also can extend usage lifespan with a power-off protection.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional ratchet wrench is a common tool for locking or loosing a screw nut. The conventional ratchet wrench includes manual, pneumatic or motor-driven modes. The pneumatic or motor-driven ratchet wrench, as disclosed in description of U.S. cm Pat. No. 6,915,721, can provide faster speed to lock or to loose the screw nut than the manual one.
However, when using the conventional motor-driven ratchet wrench, torque of the last spin or the first spin is often very huge. At that time, the loaded current of the ratchet wrench is biggest. If a user cannot hold the ratchet wrench, a body of the ratchet wrench may harm the user. On the contrary, if the user holds the ratchet wrench too tight, the motor might be burnt out due to huge current passing through.
Therefore, the present invention provides a new ratchet wrench to overcome the forgoing mentioned drawbacks of conventional ratchet wrench.

Rechargeable motor-driven ratchet wrench having power-off protection


An image reader includes an illumination unit that irradiates an object to be read with light, a first optical system that allows a first reflection light from the object to be read advance therein, a second optical system that allows a second reflection light from the object to be read to advance therein, a switching unit that switches between the first optical system and the second optical system to be used, an imaging unit that forms an image of the first reflection light that advances in the first optical system and an image of the second reflection light that advances in the second optical system by switching between the first optical system and the second optical system by the switching unit, and a light receiving unit that receives the first reflection light and the second reflection light which are formed into images and generates respective image signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique which captures information on texture of an original and reproduces the information in an image reader.
2. Description of the Related Art
Surfaces of objects respectively have "textures". For example, a surface of polished metal gives "glossiness" to a viewer, while a surface of cloth or a fabric gives glossless "matte feeling" to a viewer. To express an object with more reality like an actual object, it is necessary to capture information on texture (texture information) such as gloss and feeling (external appearance and touch) of the actual object and reproduces the texture information. Accordingly, in an image reader of a scanner, a copying machine or the like, an attempt has been made to read not only the color information of an object but also the texture information of the object.
The texture of the object depends mainly on a reflection condition of light on a surface of the object. In general, the reflection light on the surface of the object is composed of a specular reflection light (or mirror reflection light) having high directivity and a diffuse reflection light having low directivity, wherein the texture of the object differs depending on a ratio between these lights. For example, the ratio of the specular reflection light is relatively high on the surface of the polished metal and hence, the glossiness is imparted to the surface of the metal. On the other hand, on the surface of the glossless object such as cloth or fabric, the ratio of the diffuse reflection light is relatively high. That is, the acquisition of ratio between the specular reflection light and the diffuse reflection light by measuring the reflection light from the surface of the object leads to the faithful expression of the texture of the object, more particularly, the degree of gloss level.
In the image reader, the object which constitutes an original is read using the diffuse reflection light. That is, in the image reader, the reflection light containing a large amount of diffuse reflection light from the original is received, and color information of the object is generated based on the diffuse reflection light. On the other hand, when the image reader is configured such that the reflection light which contains a large amount of specular reflection light from the original is received, there may be a case in which the specular reflection light component becomes excessively large depending on a surface condition of the original and the color reading performance of the original image based on the diffuse reflection light is lowered. Accordingly, an imaging optical system is designed such that the specular reflection light from the original is minimized so that the reflection light containing the diffuse reflection light as much as possible is received.
On the other hand, to read the texture of the surface of the original, the image reader may be configured such that both of the diffuse reflection light and the specular reflection light from the original are received, and the color information and the texture information are obtained based on the respective reflection light components. For example, a technique has been known in which an image mainly containing the diffuse reflection light (the diffuse reflection image) is read by light emitted from a light source to an object to be copied (original), an image mainly containing the specular reflection light (mirror-surface reflection image) is read by light emitted from another light source to the object to be copied, and a gloss signal which indicates the gloss is generated based on these image signals. That is, in this technique, color information of the object to be copied is obtained based on the diffuse reflection light, and the texture information of the object to be copied is obtained based on the specular reflection light.
However, the acquisition of texture information of the surface of the original using this technique gives rise to the following drawbacks.
In the above technique, the optical system contains two different illumination units, an illumination unit (light source) for obtaining the diffuse reflection light and another illumination unit (light source) for obtaining the specular reflection light. Accordingly, the configuration for illuminating the original becomes large-sized and pushes up a cost. Further, these illumination units take different reading positions and hence, in overlapping images obtained by the reflection lights, that is, in overlapping the diffuse reflection image and the specular reflection image, it is necessary to correct the position of image signals using a memory or the like corresponding to the shifted positions of the diffuse reflection image and the specular reflection image.
Further, in the above-mentioned configuration, since an optical path length of the reflection light for reading the diffuse reflection light and an optical path length of the reflection light for reading the specular reflection light are not the same and hence, unless any measures are taken, at least one reflection light is received without being properly focused as an image. Accordingly, to allow the reflection lights to perform the proper imaging, it is necessary to perform the adjustment of focusing points of the reflection lights each time, and to perform the reading operation of the original twice.


A portable step in which a step (64) is connected to the rails (48 and 50). The rails are connected to an anchor (20) by connecting member (76 and 78). The rails are also engaged with extension members (88 and 90) that have respective feet (92 and 94). Pins (112 and 114) secure extension member (88 and 50) in the rails (48 and 50).

1. Field of the Invention
The presently disclosed invention relates to portable steps and, more particularly, to steps for entering or leaving the cargo area of a motor vehicle, especially the bed of a pickup truck.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the prior art, there have been many application for portable steps. For example, the difficulties and inconvenience of repeatedly entering and exiting the bed of a pickup truck has been a persistent problem. In particular, construction contractors and others who have a need for frequent or ongoing access to the truck bed have found it difficult and tiresome to continually climb in and out of the truck bed from the level of the ground or other surface that supports the tires of the truck.
It has been known in the prior art to sometimes provide concrete blocks or similar materials to form a step adjacent to the truck by which entry to and exit from the truck can be more easily achieved. However, these temporary steps are not always convenient to assemble due to a variety of causes, such as a lack of space or unavailability of materials. Moreover, in many applications, such steps can be unstable and create a safety hazard by contributing to potential falls.
Accordingly, there was a need in the prior art for a portable step that could be quickly erected that could be reliably and safely used for ingress to and egress from the truck bed. Also, it was necessary for the step to be mechanically adjustable so that it could accommodate uneven terrain or various surface conditions at the places where the steps were applied.
In accordance with the presently disclosed invention, a portable step includes an anchor that is releasably connectable to a vehicle. This anchor is connected to first and second rails by respective first and second connecting members. At least one step is connected to the first and second rails. Each of the first and second rails respectively engage first and second extension members in longitudinally sliding relationship. A first locking means secures the first extension member in the first rail and a second locking means secures the second extension member in the second rail.
Preferably, the first and second connecting members comprise first and second flexible members such as chains.
Also preferably, the first and second rails comprise tubular members that define respective internal passageways wherein the first and second extension members are received.
More preferably, the first and second locking means comprise pins and the first and second rails have at least one hole and the first and second extension members each have a linear array of holes. The first locking means cooperates with a hold in the first rail and at least one hole in the first extension member that is in registry with the hole in the first rail to lock the first extension member in longitudinal position with respect to the first rail.,
Other details, objects and advantages of the presently disclosed invention will become apparent to the skilled in the art as a presently preferred embodiment of the invention proceeds.


A method to convert a plurality of sectors from a first sector format to a second sector format is disclosed. The method provides (N) contiguous first sectors comprising a first sector format to a sector format conversion device which includes a buffer and a data queue, where those (N) first sectors comprise a first number of bytes, and determines that (M) contiguous second sectors, comprising a second sector format, comprise at least the first number of bytes. The method overlays the (i)th first sector onto part or all of the (j)th second sector, and enqueues the newly-overlain (j)th second sector. The method then transmits the newly-overlain (j)th second sector to a data storage device, and writes that (j)th overlain second sector to an information storage medium.

Data storage and retrieval systems are used to store information provided by one or more host computer systems. Such data storage and retrieval systems receive requests to write information to one or more secondary storage devices, and requests to retrieve information from those one or more secondary storage devices. Upon receipt of a write request, the system stores information received from a host computer in a data cache. In certain implementations, a copy of that information is also stored in a nonvolatile storage device. Upon receipt of a read request, the system recalls information from the one or more secondary storage devices and moves that information to the data cache. Thus, the system is continuously moving information to and from storage devices, and to and from the data cache.
If the data disposed in the data cache were written in a first sector format, and if the data disposed in the one or more storage devices were written in a second sector format, then a sector format conversion device would be required. Applicants have found that what is needed is a sector format conversion device that both performs the sector format conversion process and that preserves data integrity during a power loss event. Applicants' apparatus and method preserve data integrity throughout the sector conversion process even during a power failure. In certain embodiments, Applicants' apparatus and method are compliant with the Power Failure Warning protocols under the SFF-8045 Specification.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus and method to overlay (N) first sectors onto (M) second sectors using a data queue

International Business Machines Corporation


An image processor executing a predetermined image process on an input image including a plurality of pixels to generate an output image includes an image-processing unit reading the input image required for generating the output image into an internal storing circuit as a reference image to execute an image process, a storing capacity determination unit determining whether or not a data size of the reference image is within a storing capacity range of the internal storing circuit, and a reference image division unit dividing the data size of the reference image when the data size of the reference image exceeds a storing capacity of the internal storing circuit by the storing capacity determination unit.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processor, an image-processing method, and a program.
Description of the Related Art
It is known that a wide-angle lens such as a fish-eye lens has been used for video equipment, for example, a teleconference system or a monitoring camera. This is because such a wide-angle lens can provide a wide-angle image by a single lens.
The wide-angle lens has a large distortion rate at its edges due to a distortion property of a lens, and provides a distortional image. For this reason, it is known that an image process of correcting a distortion is often executed on an input image because a visibility of such an image is deteriorated.
As a method of achieving such an image process, a method of generating an output pixel by inputting a sub pixel value and a coordinate value of a corresponding input image with respect to each output pixel as deformation parameters, and performing interpolation calculation processes such as a bilinear interpolation process and a bicubic interpolation process to a specified input pixel is known.
Patent Literature 1 (JP 2013-187630A) describes an image processor which executes a distortion correction process with use of a reference parameter previously selected according to a region of a frame to be cut and stored in a reference parameter table memory, in order to improve process speed through a reduction in the number of accesses to an external memory by a reduction in reference parameter table capacity.
According to the image processor described in Patent Literature 1, the process speed of the distortion correction process can be improved.
DDR SDRAM (Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) is often used for a frame memory in which an input pixel obtained through a lens is temporally stored. However, the following problem occurs when a process of reading out an input pixel corresponding to an output pixel from DDR SDRAM is sequentially executed with respect to each output pixel. Namely, random access is executed to the DDR SDRAM, so that a significant process time is required. This problem becomes prominent especially in arbitrary image deformation.
On the other hand, there is a method of generating an output pixel by correction calculation. With this method, an output image is divided into a plurality of output image areas, and a part of a region (hereinafter referred to as reference image) of an input image required in each output image area is cut out, and the reference image is once loaded in a readable and writable SRAM (Static RAM) at high speed. After that, the output pixel is generated by the correction calculation.
However, the size of the reference image required for each output image area significantly differs due to the above-described distortion. For this reason, when the size of the reference image is large, such a reference image cannot be stored in a prepared SRAM. In this case, the correction is executed only with a part of an image stored in the SRAM, so that the quality of an output image after the correction is deteriorated.

Image processor, image-processing method and program


A non-metallic structural enclosure for a generator rotor replaces conventional containment components including rotor wedges, rotor teeth and retaining rings. The enclosure includes a non-metallic tube formed of a plurality of spaced rings or of a continuous tube including ventilation holes or slots. The simplified rotor assembly serves to restrain the winding against centrifugal forces with a more highly optimized use of space and materials. The arrangement allows more space for copper and ventilation, thereby benefiting both efficiency and the performance of the machine. The use of individual rings has the additional benefit of providing restraint against centrifugal forces without reducing the effectiveness of cross slots in the rotor body from correcting peripheral dissymmetries in rotor stiffness. The rings also provide openings for ventilation without introducing stress concentrations in the enclosure.

The present invention relates to generators and, more particularly, to an enclosure for a generator rotor.
In a conventional generator having a rotor and a stator, the rotor is provided with field windings that excite the generator while receiving a current from an exciting current source. The stator is provided with armature windings from which electrical power is output. Typical rotor construction requires that a field winding be assembled bar by bar, into radial slots milled into a rotor forging. Containment of the rotor field windings is typically achieved using rotor wedges, rotor teeth and retaining rings.
It would be desirable to replace the bar by bar assembly with a solid rotor having parallel slots milled into a rotor forging. With this structure, the containment components could be replaced with a simplified enclosure.
In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, an enclosure for a rotor in a generator including the rotor and a stator is comprised of a non-metallic tube. The tube may be formed of a plurality of rings that are spaced at predetermined intervals or of a continuous tube including ventilation holes therein. The rings are spaced axially such that cross slots in the rotor lie between the rings. These cross slots provide corrections to dissymmetry in rotor stiffness around a periphery of the rotor. The spaces between adjacent rings provide discharge openings for winding ventilation without introducing stress concentrations in the enclosure. Preferably, the non-metallic tube is formed of a low density composite material, such as a carbon fiberxe2x80x94glass fiber epoxy composite.
In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, a rotor in a generator includes a magnetic core having at least two poles, a plurality of winding assemblies, one for each pole, and an enclosure housing the core and the winding assemblies, wherein the enclosure is comprised of a non-metallic tube.


A two-way data transfer device for the data interface between two data-exchanging cells including a data source and a data sink with at least one buffer provided in each cell. When the transmitter buffer is full or the receiver buffer is empty, a backward cell stop signal freezes the state of the data source or the data sink and the cell stop signals are controlled by status signals from the respective buffers.

In data processing equipment, if unidirectional or bidirectional data transfer is not performed in synchronism with a common system clock and/or is not continuous, the system requires two-way data transfer devices or handshake ports. An essential function of such ports is the handshaking protocol, which ensures that data is transmitted only if data is actually available at the transmitter and if the receiver is actually ready to receive. In more complex systems, these preconditions are not always fulfilled. For example, the system clock may have considerable phase deviations due to differential delays, so that correct data transfer is not ensured. The higher the frequencies of the system clock, the more critical the differential delays will be.
Another difficulty in more complex systems is that it may not be possible to estimate when a data word is actually available. This depends, for example, on internal delays and run times of the data-processing circuits. Such problems are further complicated when parallel processing is performed using pipelining.
In an article entitled "The Warp Computer: Architecture, Implementation, and Performance", published in "IEEE Transactions on Computers", Vol. C-36, No. 12, December 1987, pages 1523 to 1538, a large computer is described whose processor modules exchange data by means of a handshaking protocol. Communication between the individual processor modules takes place via queues. When a queue (first-in-first-out memory FIFO memory) is full or empty, the transmitting or receiving module, respectively, is blocked by a stop signal until the data traffic can be handled via the queue again. This occurs when the queue has additional space or slots for additional data when new data is available. Such a data-driven data transfer device is very advantageous if a plurality of such interfaces are involved in the data processing. For the programmer, the whole data processing thus becomes "transparent".


Holder members (11, 12) having a plurality of accommodation pockets (20) and an extension holder member (13) which can be connected between the holder members (11, 12) form a holder (10). An insertion portion (22) is formed in an end portion of each of the holder members (11, 12). On the other hand, a back-plate member (45) having an insertion portion (53) is attached to an end portion of the connection portion of the extension holder member (13). A connection member (14) having a pair of connection sections (30) for connecting the holder members (11 to 13) to one another has a structure such that the connection sections (30) are inserted into the insertion portions (22, 53).

Recording media, such as floppy disks, as a result of current and rapid development, have necessitated a need for, a variety of files, holders and the like suitable to accommodate and store the foregoing recording media. For example, a file as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-32467, includes pockets arranged to accommodate floppy disks and is formed by dividing opposite inner surfaces of an inside cover and a back cover into a plurality of sections.
However, the maximum number of floppy disks which can be accommodated in the above file is limited to the number of the pockets formed on the inner surfaces of the inside cover and the back cover. If floppy disks are intended to be accommodated by a number lager than the number of the pockets, another file must be used. Therefore, if the quantity of floppy disks to be stored is large, a plurality of files must be used. Thus, there arises a problem in that a single file cannot integrally store a large quantity of floppy disks.
On the other hand, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-5369 or Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-321279, there have been disclosed holders of a type formed into a single body capable of accommodating a plurality of floppy disks. Each of the holders has a structure comprising binding openings formed at an end portion thereof. Therefore, the openings of the holder can be pierced by binding rings to accommodate an increase in the quantity of accommodated floppy disks.
In the case of the holder disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-321279, another structure is employed which comprises hooks at positions opposite to a portion having the binding openings such that the hooks can be received by a rail for a drawing hanger so that different states of accommodation are selectively provided.
However, the holders disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-5369 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-321279 cannot to bind floppy disks if the quantity is larger than the width of the binder for accommodation. Moreover, since each of the holders of the foregoing type has a thickness at least larger than the thickness of the floppy disk, the number of floppy disks, allowed to be bound, is inevitably limited even if a structure is employed in which the holders can be bound in the binder or the like. Thus, the foregoing method is not a drastic method that is capable of enabling floppy disks, which are gradually increased in number, to be integrally accommodated.
Although the holder disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-321279 is able to select a state where the holders are accommodated, the hooks project over the end portions opposite to the portion to be bound Thus, there arises a problem in that the hooks are obstacles when the holder is bound in the binder. Moreover, the quality of the appearance in view of the design has been unsatisfactory.

Storage arrangement for recording media using detachable mounting components


An integrated power and attitude control system and method for a vehicle efficiently supplies electrical power to both low voltage and high voltage loads, and does not rely on relatively heavy batteries to supply power during the vehicle initialization process. The system includes an energy storage flywheel, and a solar array that is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The energy storage flywheel is spun up, using electrical power supplied from a low voltage power source, to a rotational speed sufficient to provide attitude control. Then, after the solar array is moved to its deployed position, the energy storage flywheel is spun up, using electrical power supplied from a second power source, to a rotational speed sufficient to provide both attitude control and energy storage.

Many satellites and other spacecraft are powered from one or more solar arrays. The solar arrays are typically held in a retracted position during launch, and are then moved to a deployed position following, or during portions of, the spacecraft orbit initialization. In addition to the solar arrays, many spacecraft include one or more energy storage flywheels to provide both a backup power source and to provide attitude control for the vehicle. In such systems, each flywheel is controlled and regulated to balance the electrical demand in the vehicle electrical distribution system, and is also controlled in response to programmed or remote attitude (or torque) commands received by the vehicle main controller.
Some satellites and other spacecraft may additionally be implemented with one or more relatively high power loads. Such spacecraft, which are generally referred to herein as high power spacecraft, are generally safe and reliable. However, high power spacecraft can present challenging issues with respect to electrical power distribution bus voltage and orbit initialization. Each of these issues will be briefly discussed, beginning with the issue associated with electrical power distribution bus voltage.
Standard spacecraft components are typically designed to operate at a relatively low voltage, and are thus supplied with electrical power from a relatively low voltage power distribution bus. For example, many standard spacecraft are implemented with a 28 VDC power distribution bus. However, it is relatively inefficient to use a relatively low voltage power distribution bus to supply high power loads, due to the large associated current. One proposed solution to this drawback is to increase the voltage of the power distribution bus. The increased voltage allows smaller currents to provide the same amount of power to the high power loads. The smaller currents in turn result in lower line losses, and increased power distribution system efficiency. However, this solution presents its own drawback, in that most of the components on a spacecraft are typically low voltage loads (e.g., 28 VDC), and will thus need a voltage regulator, or other similar device. As is generally known, such devices also exhibit characteristic inefficiencies, which can eliminate any advantage that high voltage power distribution provides.
As regards orbit initialization, spacecraft have historically included onboard chemical batteries, which are fully charged when the spacecraft and its associated launch vehicle are launched. Typically, a spacecraft is launched in a "turned-off" state, and is then switched to a "turned-on" state when it is ejected from its associated launch vehicle. The batteries are sized to provide sufficient power to conduct the spacecraft orbit initialization process, prior to the spacecraft's solar arrays being deployed to collect energy from the sun. However, the amount of power needed to implement orbit initialization can result in an undesirably large battery size, which can increase overall spacecraft weight and cost.
Hence, there is a need for a system and method of providing power generation and attitude control for a high power spacecraft that addresses one or more of the above-noted drawbacks. Namely, a system and method that can efficiently supply electrical power to both low voltage and high voltage loads and/or a system and method that does not rely on relatively heavy batteries to supply power during spacecraft orbit initialization. The present invention addresses at least these needs.

Dual voltage integrated power and attitude control system and method


The present invention is directed to novel non-invasive diagnostic took to dispose numerous disease states and/or conditions. The presets invention, represents a clear advance in the art which presently relies on tissue biopsy for diagnoses of these disease states. The novel imaging probe is capable of detecting infected cells, as well tissue. The methods described herein are able to diagnose, treat and/or monitor the therapy of numerous diseases and conditions including atherosclerosis, atherothrombosis, cerebral vascular disease, cerebral ischemia, cerebral infarct and meningitis as well as pneumonitis, pericarditis, multiple sclerosis, lupus erythematosus and pancreatitis, among others.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic cardiovascular disease common in patients exhibiting hypercholesterolemia[1]. The number of adults with diagnosed heart disease has been estimated to be 26.6 million (11.3%) in the US[2], with more than half of those patients are associated with or are potentially causal with respect to atherosclerotic disease. Prevention and early diagnosis of atherosclerotic disease complications is a top priority in modern medicine[3], as early lifestyle and medical interventions can slow the rate of atheroma development and avert adverse cardiovascular sequelae. Early stage diagnosis is challenging, however; symptoms often become clinically evident only at late stages where complete prevention is no longer viable[4]. As vascular disease progresses, the inflammatory and remodeling process also evolves, and the plaque can become unstable or vulnerable to erosion or rupture, which in turn initiates life-threatening thrombotic outcomes. The penultimate pathological event, plaque rupture, is identified due to thrombogenic processes and immune cell infiltration[5]. Histological changes in a vulnerable plaque such as thin fibrous cap, intraplaque hemorrhage and/or a lipid-rich necrotic chore (LRNC) are present in ˜80% of ruptured plaques, but such manifestations require a prolonged and variable time for progression[6].
Cardiovascular inflammation[7] and remodeling due to atherogenic progression[8] have also been identified as leading causes of plaque instability, despite incomplete understanding of these complex process[9]. ApoE−/− mouse model on HFD exhibits rapid development of atheromatous plaques[10], with features and stages that mirror those of the human disease[11]. Early stages of atherosclerosis typically include altered homeostasis and activation of the vascular endothelium, typified by a loss of nitric oxide generation and increased expression of chemokines and adhesion molecules[12], which is evident in the ApoE−/− model[13]. The role of T cells and monocytes recruited to the plaques and perivascular regions have been studied extensively in the vascular immune response, but the ability to identify intraplaque presence and extent of specific leukocyte subtypes is mostly limited to invasive and/or post-mortem or post-resection imaging[14-16]. The role of intraplaque neutrophil accumulation has been recently identified as a focus point in atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability[17]. Elevation of typical biomarkers for disease progression is exploited by molecular imaging[18], which is limited at the same lime because of the low specificity of current diagnostic tools.
DANBIRT was developed by chemical repurposing of BIRT 377, which is a specific therapeutic agent for leukemia and lymphoma, as it targets LFA-1 expressed on both B and T-cells[19]. Developed targeted ligand, DANBIRT, is a small non-ionic compound that acts as an allosteric inhibitor of LEA 1[20]. The importance of LFA-1 is critical for the initiation and impulse of a vascular immune response to injury[21]. LFA-1 is involved in specific interaction with Intracellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in endothelial cells by which transmigration is achieved[22]. Radiolabeling DANBIRT using 111In (FIG. 1) allows co-localization of the radiopharmaceutical in cardiovascular and immune tissues[23].

Method of diagnosing and/or monitoring therapy of atherosclerosis


A controller is configured to set a reference gradation value when a gray reference member is illuminated. When the number of pixels, of which the gradation values is equal to or greater than the reference gradation value, is a target number of pixels, both are stored in association with each other. A correction target number which is a minimum target number of pixels from among a plurality of target numbers of pixels respectively providing differences, which is less than a predetermined value, between the reference gradation values stored in association with an M-th target number and an (M+1)-th target number. The controller further determines an anomaly pixel number which is the number of anomaly pixels having gradation values which are equal to or greater than a base gradation value. The gradation values of the determined number of anomaly pixels are corrected.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosures relate to an image scanning apparatus using a gray reference member of which a reflection coefficient is lower than that of a white reflection member.
2. Related Art
Generally, an image scanning apparatus employs a white reference member as a light distribution reference member to be used for a shading correction. When scanning is executed, an image of an original sheet passing over the white reference member is scanned. When the white reference member is used, however, there may occur a show-through phenomenon which is a phenomenon that a change in thickness of color on a back surface of the original sheet affects scanning of an image formed on a front surface of the original sheet. In order to reduce such a show-through phenomenon, image scanning apparatuses employing the gray reference member, which has a smaller reflection coefficient than the white reference member, have been suggested recently.
An example of such an image scanning apparatus employs a non-white reference member which is provided as a guide for the original sheet in a sheet conveying device. In such an image scanning apparatus, the shading correction is performed, based on the reflection coefficient of the non-white reference member, so that a reflection density value obtained by scanning the non-white reference member has substantially the same quantity as a reflection density value obtained by scanning the white reference member. When an image on the original sheet, which is conveyed by the conveying device, is scanned, the shading correction is applied based on the reflection density value compensated as above.
When dust or blot is adhered on a reflection surface of the reference member, density values of pixels obtained by scanning a portion of the reflection surface on which the dust or blot is adhered may be largely different with respect to the density values of neighboring pixels. When the light quantity of the light source is adjusted so that the reflection density value obtained by scanning the gray reference member has a predetermined density value, it is necessary to determine whether the reflection density values, or gradation values obtained by scanning the gray reference member includes values which vary relatively largely with respect to the density values (or gradation values) of the neighboring pixels.
When density values for one line, namely gradation values for one line of pixels are obtained by scanning the gray reference member, whether the gradation values fluctuates relatively largely due to the dust/blot may be determined. However, execution of such a determination for all the pixels may result in elongation of scanning period.
In consideration of the above, aspects of the disclosures provide an improved image scanning apparatus capable of obtaining accurate gradation values when the gray reference member is scanned, without elongating the time period for scanning.
According to aspects of the disclosures, there is provided an image scanning apparatus which is provided with a gray reference member arranged in a conveying path in which an original sheet is to be conveyed, the gray reference member having a reflection coefficient smaller than that of a white color, a scanning unit configured to scan an image on the original sheet on a line basis, the scanning unit including a light source configured to illuminate the original sheet when passing the gray reference member and a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements aligned in a scanning direction which is a transverse direction of the conveying path, a signal conversion unit configured to convert analog signals from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements to digital signals, respectively, a storage and a controller. The controller is configured to set first to N-th target numbers of pixels each representing the number of a plurality of pixels, N being more than two, changeably set a reference gradation value which represents a value of a white signal output by the signal conversion unit for each pixel when the light source illuminates the gray reference member, between a highest gradation value and a smaller gradation value which is smaller than the highest gradation value, store, in the storage, a specific reference gradation value in association with the target number of pixels when the number of pixels having gradation values equal to or greater than the specific reference gradation value is a specific target number of pixels, determine a correction target number which is a minimum target number of pixels from among a plurality of target numbers of pixels respectively providing differences, which is less than a predetermined value, between the reference gradation value stored in association with an M-th target number among the first to N-th target numbers and the reference gradation stored in association with an (M+1)-th target number, determine an anomaly pixel number which is the number of anomaly pixels having gradation values which are equal to or greater than a reference gradation value, the reference gradation value being determined based on the reference gradation value stored in the storage in association with the correction target number of pixels from among the gradation values of the with signal output by the signal conversion unit for respective pixels when the light source illuminates the gray reference member, and correct the gradation values of the anomaly pixels, the number of the anomaly pixels of which gradation values are to be corrected being the anomaly pixel number.
It is noted that the scanning unit may be configured to scan an image on only one surface of the original sheet or images on both sides of the original sheet. In the latter case, two scanning units may be arranged along the sheet conveying path to face the original sheet from opposite directions.
According to aspects of the disclosures, as far as the base gradation value is determined based on the reference gradation value which is stored in association with the target number of pixels, a method of determining the reference gradation value is not limited to a specific one. For example, the base gradation value may determined to have the same value of the reference gradation value which is stored in association with the target number of pixels, or a value obtained by adding a predetermined value to the reference gradation value.
According to aspects of the disclosures, correction of the gradation values corresponding to the anomaly pixels due to dust or the like can be made in various ways. For example, the gradation value of an anomaly pixel may be replaced with the gradation value of the neighboring pixel(s), or replaced with an average of the gradation values of the white signal output by the signal conversion unit for respective pixels of one line.


A media playback system provides accurate navigation of playback of a digital media. The system includes a media player operating on a media playback device. The media is played back by the media player. The system provides a set of navigator controls with increasing granularities. The set of controls includes a set of navigation regulators. The navigation regulators support finer navigation of the playback of the digital media. Each control in the set is adapted to move the current playback position of the media to a position corresponding to an interactive visual time mark when the interactive visual time mark is operated on.

Media, such as audio and video, is often created, stored and distributed in digital formats. Some well-known digital media formats are MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III ("MP3"), MPEG-4 Audio, Windows Media Audio ("WMA"), Audio Video Standard ("AVS"), Windows Media Video ("WMV"), RealVideo, etc. A digital media (such as a song, an audio book or a video clip) is generated by a codec that encodes a data stream or signal for transmission, storage or encryption. The codec is an electronic device or computer program that encodes and/or decodes a digital data stream or signal. For example, a digital audio work (such as a song) can be created in Waveform Audio ("WAV") format. WAV audio data is raw and uncompressed audio data. A MP3 codec is then used to convert the WAV audio data into the MP3 format.
One common way to store the digital audio work in MP3 format is to save it as a MP3 file. The MP3 codec greatly reduces the size of the digital audio work. In other words, the MP3 file of the digital audio work is significantly smaller than the corresponding WAV file. For example, when the MP3 format is at 128 kps (kilobits per second), the MP3 file size is about ten percent of the corresponding WAV file size. When the digital media (such as a MP3 file) is to be played back, it is decoded by a codec into digital data streams or signals. A codec is thus an encoder and a decoder. As used herein, a work (such as a sound track, music video clip, a video clip, etc.), the digital data representing the work (such as encoded data in MP3 format or decoded data) and the medium (such as a MP3 file or streaming of the digital data) for storing or transmitting the work are collectively and separately referred to herein as a digital media (or media for short).
Desktop computers, laptop computers, tablet computers and mobile smartphones generally are shipped with digital media players (or media player for short) that support well-known digital media formats. In other words, the preinstalled media players are capable of playing back digital media works (such as a local file, downloaded media file from a networked source or streaming media over the Internet) that are encoded in well-known digital media formats. For example, smartphones often provides a music player for playing digital audio (such as MP3 files or WMA streaming audio over the Internet). These smartphones also provide a video player for playing digital video works (such as YouTube videos, MP4 video files or WMV video files). As an additional example, Windows desktop or laptop computers often include the popular Windows Media Player for playing both audio and video media. Various media players are also available for download over the Internet.
Media player usually provide a number of controls for users to manage and navigate playback of digital media. For example, a media player includes a play-pause toggle button for switching between play and pause, a next button for skipping to the next media in the current play list, a next button for going back to the beginning of the currently being played media (i.e., the current media), and a fast forward button for fast forwarding the current playback. The fast forwarding can be configured to skip, for example, ten seconds (also referred to herein as fast forward speed) of the current media for every one tenth of second the fast forward button is continuously pressed and held down. The current media is the media that is currently being played back by the media player. When the fast forward button is pressed and held down for a longer time, the fast forward speed can be designed to accelerate.
Media players may also provide a playback progress control in the form of a progress bar with a sliding control (such as a button or bar). The progress control shows the current playback position within the current media. The current playback position (or current position for short) thus indicates the playback progress. The sliding control allows a user to navigate to a desired position within the media by dragging (using a mouse or touchscreen) the sliding control to the desired position. The desired position can be after or before the current playback position. However, when the media is long (such as a ten-hour-long audio book recording, podcasts, video clips, movies, etc.), a slight adjustment of the position of the sliding control or a quick press of the fast forward button usually causes the media players to jump for a significant amount of time (such as ten or twenty minutes). In other words, a significant amount of the content of the current media is skipped over by the media players. Media players on smartphones usually provide fast forward and remind buttons that adjust media playback by a predefined amount of seconds (such as ten to thirty seconds). Accordingly, it is very difficult for users to accurately navigate the playback to a specific position within the current media. This problem is exacerbated on smartphones due to their smaller physical screens and progress controls. For example, a finger touch on a fast forward button on a smartphone can easily jump for over an hour of an audiobook.
Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method that accurately navigate media playback to a specific position within a media.

System and method for managing digital media playback


An investment casting process for a hollow component such as a gas turbine blade utilizing a ceramic core (10) that is cast in a flexible mold (24) using a low pressure, vibration assisted casting process. The flexible mold is cast from a master tool (14) machined from soft metal using a relatively low precision machining process, with relatively higher precision surfaces being defined by a precision formed insert (22) incorporated into the master tool. A plurality of identical flexible molds may be formed from a single master tool in order to permit the production of ceramic cores at a desired rate with a desired degree of part-to-part precision.

Investment casting is one of the oldest known metal-forming processes, dating back thousands of years to when it was first used to produce detailed artwork from metals such as copper, bronze and gold. Industrial investment castings became more common in the 1940's when World War II increased the demand for precisely dimensioned parts formed of specialized metal alloys. Today, investment casting is commonly used in the aerospace and power industries to produce gas turbine components such as blades or vanes having complex airfoil shapes and internal cooling passage geometries.
The production of an investment cast gas turbine blade or vane involves producing a ceramic casting mold having an outer ceramic shell with an inside surface corresponding to the airfoil shape, and one or more ceramic cores positioned within the outer ceramic shell, corresponding to interior cooling passages to be formed within the airfoil. Molten alloy is introduced into the ceramic casting mold and is then allowed to cool and to harden. The outer ceramic shell and ceramic core(s) are then removed by mechanical or chemical means to reveal the cast blade or vane having the external airfoil shape and hollow interior cooling passages in the shape of the ceramic core(s).
A ceramic core for injection casting is manufactured by first precision machining the desired core shape into mating core mold halves formed of high strength hardened machine steel, then joining the mold halves to define an injection volume corresponding to the desired core shape, and vacuum injecting a ceramic molding material into the injection volume. The molding material is a mixture of ceramic powder and binder material. Once the ceramic molding material has hardened to a green state, the mold halves are separated to release the green state ceramic core. The fragile green state core is then thermally processed to remove the binder and to sinter the ceramic powder together to create a material that can withstand the temperature requirements necessary to survive the casting of the molten alloy. The complete ceramic casting vessel is formed by positioning the ceramic core within the two joined halves of another precision machined hardened steel mold (referred to as the wax pattern mold or wax pattern tool) which defines an injection volume that corresponds to the desired airfoil shape of the blade, and then vacuum injecting melted wax into the wax mold around the ceramic core. Once the wax has hardened, the wax mold halves are separated and removed to reveal the ceramic core encased inside a wax pattern, with the wax pattern now corresponding to the airfoil shape. The outer surface of the wax pattern is then coated with a ceramic mold material, such as by a dipping process, to form the ceramic shell around the core/wax pattern. Upon sintering of the shell and consequential removal of the wax, the completed ceramic casting mold is available to receive molten alloy in the investment casting process, as described above.
The known investment casting process is expensive and time consuming, with the development of a new blade or vane design typically taking many months and hundreds of thousands of dollars to complete. Furthermore, design choices are restricted by process limitations in the production of ceramic cores because of their fragility and an inability to achieve acceptable yield rates for cores having fine features or large sizes. The metals forming industry has recognized these limitations and has developed at least some incremental improvements, such as the improved process for casting airfoil trailing edge cooling channels described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,438,527. As the market demands ever higher efficiency and power output from gas turbine engines, the limitations of existing investment casting processes become ever more problematic.

Investment casting process for hollow components


Methods and apparatuses generate a split power plane for a multiplayer printed circuit board (PCB). An aspect of the invention supports the generation of a split power plane by constructing wireframes corresponding to each of the power voltages. If a crossover between different voltage wireframes exists, at least one of the voltage wireframes may be modified in order to eliminate the crossover. With another aspect of the invention, a trace layout, corresponding to the wireframe, is constructed in accordance with electrical current requirements, e.g. average electrical current and peak electrical current, of the associated components. With another aspect of the invention, a plane that contain the traces that associated with a power voltage may be enhanced by increasing the associated area of the layout in accordance with the available area of the split power plane. The enhancement of a plane may be prioritized in accordance with peak electrical current that is associated with the plane.

The trend of the electronic industry is to provide increasingly powerful electronic circuitry. A major reason of this trend is that electronic components, such as integrated circuits, are becoming increasingly complex. Thus, printed circuit board layouts are becoming more densely packed with electronic components. Moreover, electronic circuitry often requires power sources having different power voltages, where isolated electronic circuits may require separate power supplies for circuit stability.
A multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB) is often used to support complex electronic circuitry. A multi-layer PCB has a plurality of layers, ranging from a few layers to approximately a hundred layers. Each layer may support signal connectivity and/or power connectivity, where layers may be connected to each other using plated holes. A multi-layer PCB is typically formed by laminating sections of core material in which copper is deposited on each side of the core material. Electronic components typically reside on the outside layers of the PCB. The inner layers typically support signal connectivity between the electronic components as well as power connectivity between power sources and electronic components. In order to provide connectivity between layers of the multi-layer PCB, power vias and signal vias are positioned to complete desired connectivity. (A via is essentially a metal lined hole whose terminations can be made on both outer layers, on one inner layer and one outer layer, or within any of the PCB's inner layers.) At least one layer, called a split plane layer, is dedicated to support the distribution of multiple power potentials (or ground potentials) for the electronic components. As the number of power potentials for the multi-layer PCB increases, the complexity of the split plane layer layout increases.
The creation of a split plane layer may require substantial manual intervention by the designer and is often time consuming. The plane shape of the split plane layer is based upon the positioning of each power via. Moreover, the designer must assure that every pin of an electronic component receives the correct amount of current by verifying that each area of connectivity has sufficient area and that signal vias do not disrupt the anticipated current handling capability. When the designer begins to create a split plane layer, the designer must create a plane shape based on the present location of each power potential's vias.
With the increasing complexity of electronic circuitry, the effort to design a split plane layer increases. Thus, methods and apparatuses that reduce this effort are beneficial in the design of multi-layer printed circuit boards.

Generating a split power plane of a multi-layer printed circuit board


A method for enhancing gastrointestinal motility in humans and other mammals comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a composition having one or more long chain (C24-C36) primary alcohols as policosanols dispersed in one or more food-grade fats or oils, wherein the particle sizes of the alcohols are substantially less than 10 microns.

Cholesterol is an essential component in the body and used in cell membranes. Excessive levels, however, can lead to hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis, which can result in coronary heart disease. Cholesterol is transported via: high-, low-, intermediate-, and very low-density lipoproteins; chylomicron remants; and chylomicrons. High levels of high-density lipoproteins are desirable because they transport cholesterol from the peripheral tissues to the liver, thereby maintaining cholesterol homeostasis. The main transport mechanism, however, is low-density lipoprotein, which moves cholesterol in the blood plasma and incorporates it into cell membranes. Increased levels of low-density lipoprotein, however, can interfere with uptake binding mechanisms.
Statin drugs such as atorvastatin, fluvastatin, pravastatin and simvastatin are often administered to those suffering from cholesterol issues. These drugs inhibit competitively 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, thereby reducing cholesterol synthesis. Side effects of statins can include myositis, headache, rash, angioedema, gastrointestinal effects and altered liver functions. In addition, these drugs should not be used in patients with renal failure or in people with compromised liver function (Taylor et al. 2003).
Dietary fatty acid intake can influence many health factors, but much interest has been placed on the n-3 (omega-3) fatty acids. These essential fatty acids include α-linolenic (ALA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Various studies have shown that n-3 fatty acids are essential for normal growth and development. They may also play a critical role in the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and other inflammatory and autoimmune disorders (Simopoulos 1999). ALA is present in certain vegetable oils (flaxseed, cranberry seed, canola and chia) whereas EPA and DHA are found in fish, fish oil and algae products.
Between ethnic dietary groups it has been shown that the higher ratio of n-6 to n-3 in thrombocyte phospholipids can be a cause for a higher death rate from cardiovascular disease. This increased ratio also results in increased rates of type 2 diabetes, of which atherosclerosis is a major complication (Weber, 1991). Achieving target levels of n-3 fatty acids can be difficult with modern western diets deficient in ALA, EPA and DHA, and excessive in the n-6 linoleic acid. Target tissue concentrations for ALA and EPA can be met with consumption of ALA (Mantzioris et al. 2000). A primary cardiovascular benefit from n-3 fatty acid ingestion can be reduced blood clotting in vessel walls and reduced ventricular arrhythmias, (Zhao et al. (2004)). Some studies have found a dose-response relation between n-3 intake and beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease risk factors. Some studies have shown an inverse relationship between ALA intake and risk of sudden cardiac death (Albert et al. (2005)).
Policosanols can be defined as a mixture of long chain (C24-C36) aliphatic primary alcohols, which are commonly derived from sugar cane, rice bran, beeswax, wheat or sorghum. Predominant alcohols in this group are tetracosanol, hexacosanol, octacosanol and triacontanol.
Policosanols can lower cholesterol levels by inhibiting cholesterol biosynthesis via downregulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl Coenzyme A enzyme expression (Menendez et al. 1994, McCarty 2002). A study by Hernandez et al. (1992) found a reduction in serum cholesterol levels of subjects taking 20 mg policosanol per day for 4 weeks. Significant decreases in LDL levels, with increased levels of HDL were also noticed. Another double-blind randomized study by Castano, et al. (1999) investigated the effects of policosanol and pravastatin on the lipid profile in older hypercholesterelemic patients. Policosanol was found to increase HDL levels, but was also more effective than pravastatin in lowering LDL levels and the LDL:HDL ratio.
Policosanols can also protect lipoproteins from peroxidation, in both lipid and protein moieties (Menendez et al. 1999). This can be an important effect, since LDL oxidation is thought to be a necessary step in the development of atherosclerosis.
Policocanols may provide fewer side effects than statins, increase HDL cholesterol levels and have a reduced cost (Taylor et al. 2003).
One issue with policosanols are poor solubility, and difficulty with absorbtion in the gut. Human studies with [3H]-octacosanol showed the majority (81-91%) of total radioactivity was excredted in the feces, and only 1.2% of total radioactivity was found in urine (Mas, 2000).
Reducing parent the particle size of poorly solube compounds such as policosanol to a micron or sub-micron range, improved absorbtion and bioavailabilty is desirable.
Copending parent application Ser. No. 11/671,757 filed Feb. 7, 2006, discloses a human or animal dietary supplement composition that comprises a blood lipid health-effective amount of one or more long chain (C24-C36) primary alcohols (policosanols) dispersed in one or more food-grade fats or oils, wherein the particle sizes of the alcohols are substantially less than 10 microns.

Dietary supplement composition for blood lipid health