A valve for use in a fluid fillable and implantable device in cooperation with a fill tube includes a main body portion having a channel for receiving the fill tube and wherein the main body portion has an unevenly stressed section that includes a selected section of the channel and wherein the unevenly stressed section is stressed so that the selected section of the channel folds back occluding the channel when the fill tube is withdrawn. The valve also includes a gel-filled chamber in which the main body portion is disposed. The main body portion includes a free end that is occluded by the gel once the fill tube has been withdrawn from the fill tube channel.

The present invention relates to self-sealing valves, and in particular, it relates to self-sealing valves for use in implantable devices.
In recent developments in inflatable prosthetic devices, it has been found desirable to progressively inflate the prosthetic device over a period of time. This has required the use of subcutaneous injection sites connected to the inflatable prosthetic device by a fill tube.
Implantable devices that are used both as a skin expander and a breast prosthesis have become increasingly popular. Initially, this type of expander/prosthesis is implanted in a deflated state in a pocket surgically made in the breast area. The device includes an inflatable chamber, and a subcutaneously implanted injection site which is connected to the inflatable chamber through a fill tube. The fill tube is connected to the inflatable chamber by a valve which has the ability to seal once the fill tube is pulled.
Once the expander/prosthesis is filled to a desired inflation level or the amount of skin expanded reaches a desired level, the fill tube is pulled out of the valve and is removed from its subcutaneous location along with the injection site. Upon removal the valve must seal and the expander now acts as a prosthesis. The key to such a device functioning properly is the ability of the valve to seal once the fill tube is removed, such that there is absolutely no leakage.
The prior art valves that have been used in such prostheses, although providing a seal, do not provide an absolute seal since some leakage can occur. It will be appreciated that although the leakage rate is slight, and not noticeable over a short period of time, any decrease in fluid volume in the prosthesis over several years is unacceptable.
A practical aspect of implantation of such devices is that from the time the device is manufactured to the time that the fill tube is pulled from the valve may be two years or more. It has been found that stresses are placed in the valve material which surrounds the fill tube to an extent that such material does not relax back to its original (closed) position and therefore does not provide an absolute seal once the fill tube is removed.
One type of valve that has been used is made of two sheets of silicone elastomer bonded together along edge portions to form a passage between the bonded edge portions. A fill tube is typically inserted within the passage. If the fill tube is in the passage for any length of time, the silicone rubber around the passage area is stressed, resulting in the valve not sealing adequately once the fill tube is removed. The passage becomes somewhat "set" over time and cannot return to its original position once the fill tube has been removed.
A curling self-sealing valve is described in Bell et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,883 entitled "Self-sealing Valve for Fluid Fillable Device" that provides a seal by curling along the longitudinal axis of the fill tube passage.
Another self-sealing valve for fluid fillable article is disclosed in the Fogerty et al U.S Pat. No. 4,775,379. The valve in the Fogerty et al patent has a passage portion which is flanked on opposing sides by first and second portions of elastomeric material. The passage portion is in a stretched state relative to the first and second portions so that the passage portion curls along the passage when the fill tube is removed.
The Boone patent describes an implantable mammary prosthesis including an inflatable shell and a filling stem. At the point of introduction of the stem into the shell, the stem passes through a capsule of sealing gel. After implantation and inflation, the stem is withdrawn either wholly or partially and gel in the capsule seals the stem outlet against leakage of the inflating fluid.
A number of other patents directed to prosthetic inflatable devices show valves which are constructed of two sheets of silicone elastomer bonded together along two edges to form a passage. None of the valves illustrated in the immediately below-listed patents are constructed to avoid the passage being permanently deformed due to the stress caused by the fill tube being present in the passage over a long period of time:
______________________________________ Inventor Pat. No. ______________________________________ Hyans U.S. 4,459,318 Bejarano U.S. 4,263,682 Cox, Jr. U.S. 4,178,643 Koneke et al U.S. 3,852,833 McGhan et al U.S. 3,852,832 Valliancourt et al 3,565,078 Krueger 2,697,229 ______________________________________
Other patents describe yet different valve arrangements in breast prosthesis:
______________________________________ Inventor U.S. Pat. No. ______________________________________ Cowen 4,433,440 Boone 3,600,718 Leo et al 2,516,129 ______________________________________
A number of other patents show inflatable devices other than prosthetic devices that include a variety of valving arrangements for the introduction of air. However, these valves in the immediately below-listed patents are also not designed for the retention of a fill tube for a long period of time.
______________________________________ Inventor Pat. No. ______________________________________ Kampa U.S. 3,584,671 Mirando U.S. 3,523,563 Mondano U.S. 3,410,300 Nicholls U.S. 3,204,959 Siedow U.S. 2,933,120 Blaszkowski et al U.S. 2,826,523 Orms U.S. 2,795,425 Andrews U.S. 2,700,980 Andrews U.S. 2,568,976 Riddell U.S. 2,142,414 Goldsmith et al U.S. 1,551,099 Gregory U.S. 1,008,641 Brookes U.S. 564,502 Ingram U.K. 9,698 Tomkins French 719,244 ______________________________________

Self-sealing valve for implantable device


A phased array antenna structure has a distribution network, and a composite of feed, module, and antenna honeycomb structures. The distribution network distributes or collects electromagnetic (EM) energy. The feed honeycomb structure is positioned adjacent the distribution network and connected to receive the EM energy from the distribution network or to distribute EM energy to the distribution network. The module honeycomb structure is positioned adjacent the feed honeycomb structure so as to receive EM energy from the feed honeycomb structure or to transmit EM energy to the feed honeycomb structure. The antenna honeycomb structure is positioned adjacent the module honeycomb structure on a side opposite the feed honeycomb structure so as to receive EM energy from the module honeycomb structure or to transmit EM energy to the module honeycomb structure. Each of the feed, module and antenna honeycomb structures have a plurality of aligned waveguides for transmitting EM energy therealong. The module honeycomb structure includes an electronic module for each waveguide wherein each electronic module has an electronic element for adjusting at least the phase of the EM energy and transmitting the adjusted phase EM energy to the aligned waveguide of the antenna honeycomb structure or the feed honeycomb structure.

Introduction
Planar phased-array antennas are constructed by arranging many, even thousands, of radiating elements spaced in a plane. In operation, the output of each element is controlled electronically. The superposition of the phase-controlled signals from the elements causes a beam pattern that can be steered without any physical movement of the antenna. Line arrays are also possible wherein a single row of antennas and modules make up a steerable array.
Electronically steerable phased array antennas at microwave and higher frequencies have had very limited use due to their high cost and due to difficulties of integrating the required electronics, radiating structures, and RF, DC, and logic distribution networks particularly at frequencies higher than 10 GHz. The spacing required between radiating elements for phased arrays that must steer over wide scan angles is on the order of 1/2 wavelength. The receive electronics or transmit electronics for each radiator must be installed within the projected area corresponding to the interelement spacing. In the case of radar, both receive and transmit electronics must occupy this limited space.
The array of radiating elements are generally protected at their interface with free space by a dielectric cover (radome) and/or a spatial filter, called a frequency selective surface. The electronics (usually in the form of modules containing amplifiers and phase shifters) are electrically connected to and located behind or beside the radiating elements. Networks are located in the same plane or behind the electronics to distribute RF, DC, and steering logic control. The packaging approach must also provide means for venting or controlling the unwanted thermal energy produced within the electronics.

Packaging architecture for phased arrays


A link apparatus includes a cam plate, a lever and an accommodation member. The cam plate has a cam groove. The lever has a roller engaged with the cam groove and a pin which is inserted through a center of the roller so that the roller is rotatably supported on the pin. The accommodation member accommodates the cam plate and the lever. The accommodation member and the pin have a distance “A” therebetween. The roller has a thickness “B” along an axial direction of the pin. The value of the distance “A” is smaller than the value of the thickness “B”.

JP-2011-32929A describes a link apparatus in which a roller is engaged with a cam groove. The link apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 7. In the link apparatus shown in FIG. 7, the same parts and components as those in embodiments of the present disclosure, which will be described later, are indicated with the same reference numerals.
According to JP-2011-32929A, a low-pressure-loop exhaust gas recirculation (LPL-EGR) adjusting valve 5 is driven by an electric actuator 6 configured with an electric motor 43 and a gear reduction mechanism 44. A link mechanism 8 varies an output characteristic of the electric actuator 6 to drive an intake throttle valve 7.
The link mechanism 8 is comprised of: a cam plate 14 provided in a cam groove 13 in such a manner as to rotate along with the LPL-EGR adjusting valve 5; and a lever 16 which rotates along with the intake throttle valve 7 and has a groove-engaging body 15 engaged with the cam groove 13. The groove-engaging body 15 has a roller 15a and a pin 15b.
The pin 15b is a cylinder-shape shaft body provided in the lever 16, and is inserted through a penetration hole formed in a center of the roller 15a.
The roller 15a is rotatably supported on the pin 15b and rotates in the cam groove 13.
The roller 15a is prevented from being dropped from the pin 15b by a roller holder. The roller holder is provided in a distal end portion of the pin 15b, such as a diameter expansion portion, a circlip, or an E-shape ring.
When the roller holder is disengaged from the pin 15b, it is likely that the roller 15a may be dropped from the pin 15b.
When the roller 15a is dropped from the pin 15b, it is likely that the dropped roller 15a is involved into a moveable member such as gear. In this case, the moveable member may be locked (fixed) by the roller 15a.
Thus, when the roller holder is disengaged from the pin 15b, a malfunction may occur due to the dropped roller 15a.
In addition, other link mechanism in which the roller 15a is supported by the pin 15b may have the same issue.


An axial passive magnet bearing system utilizes the friction-less characteristic of non-contact type permanent magnet bearing to minimize the disadvantages induced by frictions. For example, both the energy and material loses of the mechanical bearing. Two permanents magnet are made of permanent magnet materials and positioned over two opposite surfaces of two mechanical structures, where mechanical bearing(s) is located therebetween. Hence, the magnetic force between the two magnets can improve some disadvantages among the two mechanical structures and the mechanical bearings, such as friction and energy loss.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates generally to axial passive magnet bearing system, and more particularly to axial passive magnet bearing system capable of reducing axial loading and energy loss induced by friction.
2. Background of the Related Art
The relative motion between different structures of a mechanism is very popular for industry and daily life. The bearing is popularly used to stable and support the action of the rotation axis when one or more of movement and/or rotation are required. For example, the ball bearing, the roller bearing and the needle bearing. Essentially, the bearing provides a rotation support between the rotator and the stator, so that the rotor indirectly contacts with the stator. Hence, the rotation and the movement of the bearing may reduce some disadvantages induced by the relative motion between the rotator and the stator, such as friction, vibration, noise, lose, and so on.
In general, the loss of the bearing is a function of both the rotation and the movement between the bearing and the rotor/stator, i.e., the combination of the rotor and the stator. The higher the rotation rate of the bearing, the larger the dynamical frication loss between the bearing and the rotor/stator. Besides, due to the direct contact between the bearing and the rotor/stator, the static friction coefficient therebetween also is a key factor about how the motion of the bearing is driven by the rotor/stator. The loss of the bearing also is related to the details of the relative motion between the rotor and the stator, where the rotor and the stator are positioned over two opposite sides of the bearings. When the two structures (rotor and/or stator) over opposite sides of the bearing are only rotated around one same axis, the bearing only has to satisfy the requirement of axial motion. In contrast, when the two structures (rotor and/or stator) over opposite sides of the bearing are rotated around the same axis and moved vertically to (radically to) the axis simultaneously, the bearing has to satisfy the requirements of both the axial motion and the radical motion. Clearly, different bearings may be operated under different conditions and have different losses.
Particularly, in a vertical mechanism, two structures (rotor and/or stator) on opposite sides of the bearing are vertically arranged. Hence, the weight of the upper structure, even the weight of other elements positioned on and/or over the upper structure, is supported by the lower structure. In contrast, in a horizontal mechanism, two structures over opposite sides of the bearing are positioned on the same level, and then no more extra weight are supported by the bearing. Significantly, in the vertical mechanism, the disadvantages of the bearing are more serious due to the existence of the weight, no matter friction, loss, vibration, noise and so on.
Accordingly, it is desired to develop a new bearing system for improving these disadvantages of the bearing system used to provide rotation support between two separated structures.


To provide a surface property inspection device and surface property inspection method with which the surface treatment condition of treated material such as steel subjected to such surface treatments as shot-peening treatment or heat treatment, nitriding, and the like can be non-destructively and precisely inspected, and which offers a high degree of general purpose application. A surface property inspection device 1 includes an AC power supply, an AC bridge circuit, and a judgment device, and the AC bridge circuit has a variable resistor with a variable split ratio γ, a benchmark detector, and an inspection detector. In variable resistor setting step S1, the split ratio γ of a variable resistor is adjusted and set so that the output from the AC bridge circuit is increased; after setting a frequency at which the output from the AC bridge circuit is maximized using a frequency setting step S2, in pass/fail judgment step S4, a benchmark sample S is brought into contact with the benchmark detector, the sample under inspection M is brought into contact with the inspection detector, and the output from the LPF 33 and the threshold value set in the threshold value setting step S3 are compared and a pass/fail judgment is made of the surface condition of the sample under inspection M.

Surface treatments such as surface hardening by heat treatment, nitriding, and the like, or shot peening, are performed on gears, shafts, or other steel products used in automobile parts and the like to improve wear-resistance, fatigue strength, etc.
Conventionally, evaluation of surface properties such as residual stress, hardness, and the like following surface treatment of these parts was done by sample destructive testing. This led to the problem that not all products could therefore not be directly tested, and because testing was destructive, tested products became unusable.
There is therefore an increasing need to develop a device capable of non-destructive testing of product surface properties. Patent Document 1, for example, discloses a non-destructive inspection device for shot-preened surfaces wherein an AC (Alternating Current) signal is input as frequency is varied to an inspection circuit furnished with a coil, disposed above a shot-peening treatment surface, and frequency response characteristics of the impedance in that test circuit are used to inspect the state of residual stress in the object under inspection.    Patent Document 1: JP-A-2008-2973

Surface property inspection device and surface property inspection method


The present invention relates to a compound of formula (IA), wherein G1 is lower alkyl; lower alkyl substituted by one or more halogens; cycloalkyl; tetrahydropyran-4-yl; phenethyl; phenethyl substituted by one or more halogens; phenoxymethyl; phenoxymethyl substituted by one or more halogens; benzyloxyethyl; benzyloxy-ethyl substituted by one or more halogens; or is —NR2R3; R2 is hydrogen or lower alkyl; R3 is lower alkyl; tetrahydropyran-4-yl; —CH2-cycloalkyl; or cycloalkyl optionally substituted by lower alkyl substituted by one or more halogens; or R2 and R3 form together with the N-atom to which they are attached a heterocycloalkyl group with 4 or 5 carbon atoms, which is optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from halogen; or lower alkyl substituted by one or more halogens; X is —CH2—or —(CH2)2—; Ar is phenyl or pyridinyl; R4 is halogen; lower alkyl; lower alkyl substituted by one or more halogens; or lower alkoxy; n is 1 or 2; or to a pharmaceutically active salt thereof, to a stereoisomeric form, including an individual diastereoisomer or enantiomer of the compound of formula (IA) as well as to a racemic or non-racemic mixture thereof. The present invention also relates to the use of a compound of formula (IA) for treating certain neurodegenerative disorders characterized by cytotoxic TAU misfolding and/or aggregation.

TAU is a protein with the ability to bind—and consequently stabilise and define—microtubule structure and function in neurons. The binding of TAU to microtubules is regulated by phosphorylation of TAU and several TAU phosphorylation sites and their corresponding kinases have been identified which control phosphorylation status of TAU and consequently modulate the affinity of TAU-binding to microtubules.
Hyperphosphorylation of TAU cause it to aggregate in an insoluble form. (These aggregations of hyperphosphorylated TAU protein are also referred to as PHF, or "paired helical filaments"). Tauopathies are characterised by insoluble aggregates or polymers of hyperphosphorylated TAU which are formed by self-polymerisation of TAU monomers.
An important aspect of the TAU aggregation is its associated cytotoxicity which reduces neuronal integrity and functionality and ultimately resulting in disease symptoms. A direct role of TAU in disease onset has been established unequivocally by the elucidation of familial mutations in TAU which appear to be responsible for a very early and sometimes aggressive form of tauopathy. Such mutations comprise changes in the amino acid sequence of TAU that—directly or indirectly—promote neurotoxic aggregation.
Alzheimer's disease is the best known of these, where TAU protein is deposited within neurons in the form of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). They were first described by the eponymous Alois Alzheimer in one of his patients suffering from the disorder.
Currently used treatments for tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease, offer only symptomatic benefit without impacting the underlying neurodegeneration.
WO2007/090617 discloses substituted 1,2,4-thiadiazole derivatives for use in the treatment of an α-synucleopathy such as Parkinson's disease, diffuse Lewy body disease, traumatic brain injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Niemann-Pick disease, Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome, Down syndrome, neuroaxonal dystrophy, multiple system atrophy and Alzheimer's disease.
Treatments aimed to suppress cytotoxic TAU misfolding and/or aggregation in order to delay or halt the progression of disease are presently not available. Thus there is a need for new treatments that target the underlying molecular mechanism of noxious TAU misfolding and/or aggregation in order to reduce neuronal cell death and/or degeneration in patients suffering from tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease.

Piperazine thiazole derivatives useful in the treatment of tauopathies such as alzheimer's disease


Provided is a machine for inspecting ferrules of an optical connector and a method thereof. A fixture arranges the ferrules on a rectangular system to inspect the ferrules. A robot centers first ferrule on a optical system and focuses the first ferrule on the optical system. The optical system includes two cameras for photographing inside diameter image data and outside diameter image data of the ferrule. While the robot moves sequentially the optical system and remaining ferrules, all the inside and outside diameter image data of the ferrules are in sequence obtained by the optical system. Each inside and outside diameter and eccentricity of the ferrules are calculated by the obtained inside and outside diameter image data via a computer program.

As is well known, an optical signal generated from a light source, such as a laser, a laser diode or a light emitting diode, in an optical communication system is transmitted through an optical fiber. Optical connectors for connecting and switching two strands of optical fibers have been developed in a variety of configurations and should be manufactured so as to be able to accurately align the optical fibers so that the loss of the optical signal can be minimized. A ferrule of the optical connector is manufactured as an ultra-precision part with a tolerance of 1 μm or below. As for the ferrule of the optical connector, a cylindrical configuration is generally used with specifications as follows: 7 to 14 mm in length, 2.5 mm in outside diameter, and 125 to 127 μm in inside diameter of a hole for accommodating each optical fiber.
In order to guarantee precision and reliability of such a ferrule of an optical connector, a variety of items such as an inside diameter, an outside diameter and eccentricity are inspected. For example, a measuring apparatus disclosed in Korean Patent No. 269263 comprises a movable stage that can move along three axes, i.e. X axis, Y axis and Z axis, to measure straightness of an inside diameter of a ferrule, an illumination device for illuminating the ferrule with back light, a camera for photographing an inside diameter image of the ferrule projected by the illumination of the illumination device, and a computer for processing image data from the camera by means of a computer program. According to this technique, the inside diameter image is projected by the illumination of the illumination device passing through the interior of the ferrule defined by the inside diameter, the projected inside diameter image is photographed by the camera, and straightness of the inside diameter is measured by processing the inside diameter image data input from the camera by means of the computer program.
On the other hand, a measuring device disclosed in Korean Patent No. 198817 comprises a camera installed to be movable along three axes, i.e. X axis, Y axis and Z axis, so as to measure eccentricity of a ferrule, an illumination device for illuminating the interior of the ferrule defined by an inside diameter thereof with front light coaxially with an optical axis of the camera, and a computer for processing image data from the camera by means of a computer program. According to this technique, a test sample marked with a Cartesian coordinate system is photographed by the camera, an inside diameter image is projected by illuminating the inside diameter of the ferrule by the illumination device coaxially with the optical axis of the camera, and the projected inside diameter image is photographed by the camera. Then, Cartesian coordinate data of the test sample and the inside diameter image data that are input from the camera are processed by means of the computer program and thus eccentricity of the inside diameter with respect to the Cartesian coordinate data is measured.
However, the conventional techniques described above have a problem in that they are not appropriate to the inspection of the entire ferrule since they are constructed to perform only a separate inspection of the inside diameter of the ferrule. In particular, there is a problem in that since the outside diameter of the ferrule should be inspected using an additional device for measuring the outside diameter, the inspection process of the ferrule is substantially complicated and troublesome and thus a lot of time and manpower are required, which results in inefficiency of the inspection process. Further, although a total inspection that can completely guarantee the precision and reliability of the entire number of ferrules has been required, there is a substantial difficulty in performing the total inspection of the ferrules since the inspection can be made for only one ferrule at a time.

Machine and method for inspecting ferrule of optical connector


A rail for a vehicle seat, comprising first and second profiles (8, 9) that slide relative to one another, a lock (19) movably mounted inside the first profile, a spring blade (29) fixed to the first profile and comprising a control portion (31) designed to act on the lock so as to unlock it.

Document FR2969967 discloses an example of such a rail, where the lock is integral to the free end of the spring blade and moves vertically with this free end upon actuation of the control member.
Rails of this type are of particularly simple and robust construction; they are also particularly compact, as the spring blade and lock are located within the inside space of the rail. However, they have the disadvantage of imposing a particular type of lock with specific unlocking kinematics.

Rail for a vehicle seat and vehicle seat comprising such a rail


A medical telepresence system comprising: an interface to receive a plurality of data feeds from a live medical procedure, at least one data feed comprising a video signal capturing the live medical procedure; a hierarchical encoder to encode the plurality of data feeds using a first tier-based hierarchical data coding scheme, wherein encoded data from the hierarchical encoder is decodable by a first set of computing devices for viewing, the first set of computing devices being communicatively coupled to the hierarchical encoder using a first network connection; a transcoder to convert from the first tier-based hierarchical data coding scheme to a second tier-based hierarchical data coding scheme, wherein encoded data from the transcoder is receivable by a second set of computing devices for viewing, the second set of computing devices being communicatively coupled to the transcoder using a second network connection, the second network connection being of a lower quality than the first network connection; and a recorder to store the output of the hierarchical encoder as a set of tier-based files for later retrieval, wherein each of the set of tier-based files represent different levels of quality.

In recent years, the modern world has become increasing global. This has resulted in an increasing number of cases where there is a desire for experts to provide remote guidance. For example, medicine, law, finance, and engineering often require a globally distributed team to work on a common project. This may include the use of expert witnesses in legal proceedings, consultants in surgical procedures, forensic experts in insurance and law enforcement investigations. There is also a need to review materials from team projects, such as conference materials or recordings of experiments, surgery or meetings, for an audit and training perspective. For example, the expertise involved may be a scarce resource, and so recordings from remote guidance sessions may be a valuable resource for training and educational.
Within these applications there are often common requirements. For example, there is often a requirement to render data visually, and to be able to navigate the data. For example, it may be desired to be able to pan and zoom and scroll backwards and forwards within a data set. The data set may be a video source (e.g. a recording from a camera), a virtual video source (e.g. a virtual or augmented reality environment), or an interactive 2D or 3D data visualisation (e.g. where portions of the visualisation may be changeable over time, similar to a video). In certain case, the dataset may consist of hyperspectral still and moving imagery (e.g. visualisations of electromagnetic radiation outside of the visual spectrum) and/or stereoscopic imagery (e.g. pairs of image sequences designed for the left and right eyes). In certain cases, a viewer or consumer of the imagery needs to be able to pan and zoom and stream relevant sections of the imagery, as well as index forwards and backwards on a frame by frame basis. This is often difficult with current data streaming technologies, e.g. it may be difficult to change the stream on-the-fly and/or quickly skip to different portions of the stream or a field of view. Furthermore, there is a limitation of constrained and contested datalinks, which often means that quality has to be sacrifices or delay introduced, which in turn may remove the value from the information and constrain the use cases for telepresence and remote guidance.
Comparative video streaming solutions that are used for remote guidance typically use compression to stream video and images for live transfer and storage. These comparative solutions may use either Intra or Group of Pictures (GoP) compression of the images or frames in their entirety. Comparative solutions are often based on existing video codecs. These technologies encode the entire frame or image as a single monolithic block, which has to be transported, stored, accessed and decoded as an entire image, frame or GoP—even when only a part of the image or cut-out is required.

Use of hierarchical video and image coding for telepresence


A coneless, no-moving-parts dynamic speaker has its internal components firmly locked within a plastic housing structure to prevent their movement relative to the housing, and may be secured to a wall of a room. During operation of the speaker, mechanical sound energy that it creates is transmitted through the walls and ceiling of the room to provide an expanded sound generation pattern. The internal components of the speaker include a voice coil internally anchored to a wall of the housing, an annular magnet member sandwiched between and fixedly secured to first and second annular metal washer members, and a metal alignment shaft having one end closely received in the core portion of the voice coil, and an opposite, radially enlarged end press-fitted into one of the washers and forming with the side surface of the central magnet member opening a reverberation chamber which is closely adjacent the voice coil but does not physically receive the coil. In an alternate embodiment of the speaker the housing is foreshortened in a manner exposing the magnet member and the washer member into which the radially enlarged end portion of the alignment shaft is press-fitted.

The present invention generally relates to speaker apparatus and, in a preferred embodiment thereof, more particularly relates to coneless sound transducer devices of the general type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,366,749 to Ries; U.S. Pat. No. 3,430,007 to Thielen; U.S. Pat. No. 3,524,027 to Thurston et al; U.S. Pat. No. 3,567,870 to Rivera; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,728,497 to Komatsu.
Coneless dynamic speakers, as representatively illustrated and described in the U.S. patents listed above, are well known in the speaker art and are typically connectable to a relatively large structure, such as one of the walls in a room, and operable to use such structure as a diaphragm in place of a paper cone diaphragm disposed within the speaker housing. In response to electrical input signals transmitted to a voice coil within the speaker housing, mechanical sound energy is created within the housing and is transmitted outwardly to the wall which serves, in effect, as a greatly enlarged version of the sound cone omitted from the speaker. The use of the wall structure as a diaphragm creates within the room a substantially enlarged sound output pattern compared to the usual paper cone disposed within a speaker housing.
While coneless type dynamic speakers of this general type are well known in the audio art they typically have associated therewith various well know problems, limitations and disadvantages including mechanical complexity, relatively high fabrication and assembly costs, and sound distortion in certain frequency ranges. In view of these problems, limitations and disadvantages it is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved coneless speaker of the type generally described above.


A drainable vehicle wheel having a hub, a plurality of spokes extending radially from the hub and a rim having tips ends of the spokes connected thereto. Each of the plurality of spokes has a hollow portion and a plurality of water-discharge hole formed therein. The hub has an outer hollow portion formed by a plurality of walls, and one the walls has a drain hole formed therein. The outer hollow portion of the hub is fluidly connected to a hollow portion formed in each of the spokes. A wall of the tip end portion of each of spokes is thickened or reinforced to increase stiffness of the spokes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates a drainable vehicle wheel having a hub, a rim and a plurality of spokes extending radially from the hub to the rim. More particularly, the present invention relates to a drainable vehicle wheel of the type described in which each of the spokes includes a hollow portion and has one or more fluid-discharge openings formed therein, and to a vehicle incorporating the drainable vehicle wheel.
2. Description of the Background Art
There are known vehicle wheels which are designed to be light in weight and to be stiff against loads of various types. In order to reduce the weight of a vehicle wheel, the vehicle wheel may be manufactured to have one or more hollow structures formed in the one or more spokes thereof. However, since fluid, such as water, may enter the interior of the vehicle with such a hollow structure, the vehicle wheel must be configured to allow the water to be easily drained off.
An example of drainable vehicle wheel (a cast wheel) for a motorcycle, including a hollow portion in which drain holes are formed, is disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2005-297688 (FIGS. 1 and 2).
According to this reference, as shown FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 thereof, a cast wheel for a motorcycle includes a hub 1 into which an axle of the vehicle body is inserted; three spokes 3 radially extending from the hub 1; and a rim 2 connected to tip ends of these spokes 3. Each of the spokes 3 has a hollow portion 3c formed therein, which is enclosed with a thin wall portion 3a having a substantially uniform thickness, and a pair of through holes 3b are formed in the thin wall portion 3a at positions close to the rim 2.
If water enters the hollow portion 3c of the vehicle wheel, the water may be drained off through the pair of through holes 3b.
However, since the pair of through holes 3b are formed in the thin wall portion 3a at a predetermined distance away from the rim 2 (and not at tip end portion thereof), water gets collected in the spokes. For example, when the pair of through holes 3b are situated on the lower side (as shown in FIG. 2 of Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2005-297688), water collects up to the level corresponding to the aforementioned predetermined distance in the interior of the spoke portion 3 provided with the through holes 3b.
Accordingly, due exposure to the water, it is forseeably possible that rust, oxidation or other corrosion may be formed on the inner surface of the spoke portion 3, which may cause reduction in thickness of the wall of each of the spokes 3. As a result, in some areas, the spokes 3 may be decreased in strength.
The present invention has been made to overcome such drawbacks. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a drainable vehicle wheel adapted to draw off the water from the hollow portions of the spokes substantially entirely.

Drainable vehicle wheel and vehicle incorporating same


A bow loading arrangement for shuttle tankers where the mooring winch drum and hose handling winch drum are operated both together and independently of each other by the same drive unit. The winch may be placed on the main deck, and by using guide pulleys both the hose handling rope and the mooring hawser can be guided to the respective drums.

The invention is used on shuttle tankers, either on the bow or on the poop, for handling a mooring hawser and loading hose.
On traditional shuttle tankers the bow loading system is arranged so that the mooring winch is placed on the platform deck of the ship in its center line. A chain stopper and a fairlead are placed in front of the winch. The hose is pulled on board by means of a separate hose handling winch placed on the main deck in the center line of the ship. This solution requires the platform deck to have large dimensions due to the necessary structure underneath the mooring winch.
By modifying the mooring winch to include an extra drum for hose handling, the entire coupling procedure can be performed by one and the same winch. Through the use of guide pulleys the mooring winch can be placed on the main deck, an arrangement having several advantages. For instance, the size of the platform deck can be reduced, and the forces that occur can be absorbed in a simple manner due to the structure already present in the main deck.
This is obtained by extending a shaft out of the drive unit of the mooring winch and placing the hose handling drum thereon. Thus, the hose handling drum as well as the mooring drum are driven by the same drive unit, but may be operated independently of each other since it is possible to uncouple them from the drive unit. The combined winch is placed on the main deck with the hose handling drum in the center line of the ship. This means that the mooring drum will be located to the side of the center line of the ship. When pulling in of the mooring hawser, the hawser is guided through the fairlead and chain stopper. A horizontal guide pulley is placed behind the chain stopper in order to guide the hawser out from the center line of the ship. Next, the hawser is guided down to the mooring drum by means of a vertical guide pulley. After completion of the mooring operation, this part is uncoupled from the drive unit and the hose handling drum is connected in order to pull in the loading hose.


A wireless system device is a device to be mounted on a vehicle. The wireless system device includes a wireless communication unit, a condition detector, a position obtainer, and an operation controller. The wireless communication unit transmits a radio signal. The condition detector detects a first timing and a second timing. The first timing is a timing when the vehicle shifts from an operation state to a stop state. The second timing is a timing when the vehicle shifts from the stop state to the operation state for a first time after the first timing. The position obtainer obtains a first position and a second position. The first position and the second position are positions where the vehicle is at the first timing and the second timing, respectively. The operation controller controls operation of the wireless communication unit based on a distance between the first position and the second position.

Conventionally, the safe driving support technology is put in practical use in which a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication system and a road-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication system are used.
For example, an on-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle sends (hereinafter, "transmits" is used) a radio signal vehicle information indicating a position, a running speed, and the like of a self-vehicle, obtained by using the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and various sensors; and the on-vehicle device receives vehicle information similarly transmitted from another vehicle in the periphery. Further, such an on-vehicle device receives road information indicating a condition of a pedestrian at an intersection, traffic condition, or the like transmitted from a roadside device when passing by near the roadside device. Note that the above-described vehicle information is received not only by the on-vehicle device in another vehicle but also by a near-by roadside device.
Peripheral environment of each vehicle changes from time to time. Further, there is much information that needs to be immediately transferred, such as occurrence of a traffic accident. Therefore, an on-vehicle device compatible with the vehicle-to-vehicle communication system and the vehicle-to-infrastructure communication system (hereinafter, the device is referred to as "wireless system device") is typically configured to autonomously and cyclically (for example, at a cycle of 100 ms) transmit vehicle information.
The above-described exchange of information makes it possible to anticipate potential danger and accident in real time and with a high degree of accuracy; therefore, it is possible to accurately provide information, alert, and the like for preventing danger and accident to drivers and pedestrians.
Along with export of vehicles to foreign countries, cases are increasing in which a wireless system device mounted on a vehicle is brought out to foreign countries. However, in this case, there will be a problem of radio wave interference with other wireless communication systems. That is because wireless communication systems and frequency bands used for safe driving assistance are not standardized worldwide, there are many systems in the world, and in addition, new systems are under consideration for use. For example, while the V2V communication system and the V2I communication system using the 760 MHz band are in practical use in Japan, a system using the 5.9 GHz band is scheduled to be in practical use in North America and Europe.
To address the problem mentioned above, for example, one can avoid the radio wave interference when a vehicle is exported, by employing the technique described in PTL 1 (hereinafter, referred to as "conventional art"). In the conventional art, by using positional information indicating a controlled area in which sending of a radio signal is inhibited, it is determined whether a current position is entering the controlled area, and when it is determined that the current position is entering the controlled area, sending of a radio signal is limited or stopped.

Wireless system device and wireless communication control method

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A display having a data driving integrated circuit includes N number of output channels (where N is an integer) having at least two regions including a first output channel and an Nth output channel, a data output channel group including M data output channels (where M is an integer less than N), the M data output channels supplying pixel data to a corresponding number of the data lines in accordance with a desired resolution of the display, wherein (N-M) output channels are not supplied with pixel data, and the (N-M) output channels are located between the first output channel and the Nth output channel, and a channel selector selecting the M data output channels.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a liquid crystal display. More particularly, the invention relates to a liquid crystal display device that improves the working efficiency of a liquid crystal display device, as well as reduces manufacturing cost.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a liquid crystal display (LCD) controls light transmittance of a liquid crystal using an electric field to display a picture.
To this end, as shown in FIG. 1, the LCD includes a liquid crystal display panel 2 having liquid crystal cells arranged in a matrix, a gate driver 6 for driving gate lines GL1 to GLn of the liquid crystal display panel 2, a data driver 4 for driving data lines DL1 to DLm of the liquid crystal display panel 2, and a timing controller 8 for controlling the gate driver 6 and the data driver 4.
The liquid crystal display panel 2 includes a thin film transistor TFT provided at each crossing of the gate lines GL1 to GLn and the data lines DL1 to DLm, and a liquid crystal cell 7 connected to the thin film transistor TFT. The thin film transistor TFT is turned on when supplied with a scanning signal, for example, a gate high voltage VGH from the gate line GL, to apply a pixel signal from the data line DL to the liquid crystal cell 7. Further, the thin film transistor TFT is turned off when supplied with a gate low voltage VGL from the gate line GL to keep a pixel signal charged in the liquid crystal cell 7.
The liquid crystal cell 7 can be equivalently represented as a liquid crystal capacitor. The liquid crystal cell 7 includes a pixel electrode connected with a common electrode and a thin film transistor with a liquid crystal therebetween. Further, the liquid crystal cell 7 includes a storage capacitor that maintains a signal level of the charged pixel signal until the next pixel signal is charged. The storage capacitor is provided between the pixel electrode and the pre-stage gate line. Such a liquid crystal cell 7 varies an alignment state of the liquid crystal having a dielectric anisotropy in accordance with a pixel signal charged through the thin film transistor TFT to control a light transmittance, thereby implementing gray scale levels.
The timing controller 8 generates gate control signals (i.e., gate start pulse (GSP), gate shift clock (GSC) and gate output enable (GOE)) and data control signals (i.e., source start pulse (SSP), source shift clock (SSC), source output enable (SOE) and polarity control (POL)) using synchronizing signals V and H supplied from a video card (not shown). The gate control signals (i.e., GSP, GSC and GOE) are applied to the gate driver 6 to control the gate driver 6, while the data control signals (i.e., SSP, SSC, SOE and POL) are applied to the data driver 4 to control the data driver 4. Further, the timing controller 8 aligns red (R), green (G) and blue (B) pixel data VD and applies the data to the data driver 4.
The gate driver 6 sequentially drives the gate lines GL1 to GLn. To this end, the gate driver 6 includes a plurality of gate integrated circuits (IC's) 10 as shown in FIG. 2A. The gate IC's 10 sequentially drive the gate lines GL1 to GLn connected thereto under control of the timing controller 8. Specifically, the gate IC's 10 sequentially apply a gate high voltage VGH to the gate lines GL1 to GLn in response to the gate control signals (i.e., GSP, GSC and GOE) from the timing controller 8.
The gate driver 6 shifts a gate start pulse GSP in response to a gate shift clock GSC to generate a shift pulse. Then, the gate driver 6 applies a gate high voltage VGH to the corresponding gate line GL every horizontal period in response to the shift pulse. The shift pulse is shifted line-by-line for each horizontal period, and any one of the gate IC's 10 applies the gate high voltage VGH to the corresponding gate line GL to correspond with the shift pulse. The gate IC's supply a gate low voltage, VGL, in a remaining interval when the gate high voltage, VGH, is not supplied to the gate lines GL1 to GLn.
The data driver 4 applies pixel signals for each line to the data lines DL1 to DLm for each horizontal period. The data driver 4 includes a plurality of data IC's 16 as shown in FIG. 2B. The data IC's 16 apply pixel signals to the data lines DL1 to DLm in response to data control signals (i.e., SSP, SSC, SOE and POL) from the timing controller 8. The data IC's 16 convert pixel data VD from the timing controller 8 analog pixel signals using a gamma voltage from a gamma voltage generator (not shown) to output them.
The data IC's 16 shift a source start pulse SSP in response to a source shift clock SSC to generate sampling signals. Then, the data IC's 16 sequentially latch the pixel data VD for a particular unit in response to the sampling signals. Thereafter, the data IC's 16 convert the latched pixel data VD for one line to analog pixel signals, and apply the signals to the data lines DL1 to DLm in an enable interval of a source output enable signal SOE. The data IC's 16 convert the pixel data VD to positive or negative pixel signals in response to a polarity control signal POL.
As shown in FIG. 3, each of the data IC's 16 includes a shift register part 34 for sequential applying sampling signals, a latch part 36 for sequentially latching the pixel data VD in response to the sampling signals to simultaneously output the signals, a digital to analog converter (DAC) 38 for converting the pixel data VD from the latch part 38 to pixel voltage signals, and an output buffer part 46 for buffering pixel voltage signals from the DAC 38 to output them. Further, the data IC 16 includes a signal controller 20 for interfacing various control signals (i.e., SSP, SSC, SOE, REV and POL, etc.) from the timing controller 8 and the pixel data VD, and a gamma voltage part 32 for supplying positive and negative gamma voltages required for the DAC 38.
The signal controller 20 controls various control signals (i.e., SSP, SSC, SOE, REV and POL, etc.) from the timing controller 8 and the pixel data VD in such a manner to be output to the corresponding elements.
The gamma voltage part 32 sub-divides a plurality of gamma reference voltages input from a gamma reference voltage generator (not shown) for each gray level to output them.
Shift registers included in the shift register part 34 sequentially shift a source start pulse SSP from the signal controller 20 in response to a source sampling clock signal SSC to output it as a sampling signal.
The latch part 36 sequentially samples the pixel data VD from the signal controller 20 for a certain unit in response to the sampling signals from the shift register part 34 to latch them. The latch part 36 is comprised of i latches (wherein i is an integer) to latch i pixel data VD, and each of the latches has a dimension corresponding to the bit number of the pixel data VD. Particularly, the timing controller 8 divides the pixel data VD into even pixel data VDeven and odd pixel data VDodd to reduce a transmission frequency, and simultaneously outputs the data through each transmission line. Each of the even pixel data VDeven and the odd pixel data VDodd includes red (R), green (G) and blue (B) pixel data. Thus, the latch part 36 simultaneously latches the even pixel data VDeven and the odd pixel data VDodd supplied via the signal controller 20 for each sampling signal. Then, the latch part 36 simultaneously outputs i latched pixel data VD in response to a source output enable signal SOE from the signal controller 20.
The latch part 36 restores pixel data VD modulated such that the transition bit number is reduced in response to a data inversion selection signal REV to output them. The timing controller 8 modulates the pixel data VD such that the number of transition bits are minimized using a reference value to determine whether the bits should be inverted or not. This minimizes an electromagnetic interference (EMI) upon data transmission due to a minimal number of bit transactions from LOW to HIGH or HIGH to LOW.
The DAC 38 simultaneously converts the pixel data VD from the latch part 36 to positive and negative pixel voltage signals. The DAC 38 includes a positive (P) decoding part 40 and a negative (N) decoding part 42 commonly connected to the latch part 36, and a multiplexer (MUX) part 44 for selecting output signals of the P decoding part 40 and the N decoding part 42.
The n P decoders included in the P decoding part 40 convert n pixel data simultaneously input from the latch part 36 to positive pixel voltage signals using positive gamma voltages from the gamma voltage part 32. The i N decoders included in the N decoding part 42 convert i pixel data simultaneously input from the latch part 36 to negative pixel voltage signals using negative gamma voltages from the gamma voltage part 32. The i multiplexers included in the multiplexer part 44 selectively output the positive pixel voltage signals from the P decoder 40 or the negative pixel voltage signals from the N decoder 42 in response to a polarity control signal POL from the signal controller 20.
The i output buffers included in the output buffer part 46 are comprised of voltage followers, etc. connected, in series, to the respective i data lines DL1 to DLi. Such output buffers 46 buffer pixel voltage signals from the DAC 38 to apply the signals to the data lines DL1 to DLi.
Such a related art LCD differentiates output channels of the data IC's 16 included in the data driver 4 based upon a resolution of the liquid crystal display panel 2. This is because the data IC's 16 have certain channels connected to the data lines DL for each resolution of the liquid crystal display panel 2. Thus, problems arise in that a different number of data IC's 16 having different output channels for each resolution type of the liquid crystal display panel 2 need to be used. This reduces working efficiency and increases manufacturing cost.
More specifically, for a liquid crystal display having a resolution of an eXtended Graphics Array (XGA) class (i.e., 1024×3) with 3072 data lines DL iF requires four data IC's 16, each of which has 768 data output channels. For a liquid crystal display having a resolution of a Super eXtended Graphics Adapter+ (SXGA+) class (i.e., 1400×3) with 4200 data lines DL it requires six data IC's 16, each of which has 702 data output channels. The remaining 12 data output channels are treated as dummy lines. Additionally, a liquid crystal display having a resolution of a Wide eXtended Graphics Array (WXGA) class (i.e., 1280×3) with 3840 data lines DL, it requires six data IC's 16, each of which has 642 data output channels. In this case, the remaining 12 data output channels are treated as dummy lines. As mentioned above, different data IC's 16 having a specific number of output channels have to be used for each resolution of the liquid crystal display panel 2. As a result, the related art liquid crystal display has a drawback in that the working efficiency is reduced and manufacturing cost is increased.


The invention provides a method of inhibiting Ran protein activity in at least one eukaryotic cell or cell-free extract, the method comprising exposing an amino acid sequence comprising at least a portion of EMCV or TMEV leader protein, wherein the amino acid sequence comprises SEQ. ID NO: 14 or SEQ. ID NO: 15, to at least one cell in an amount effective to inhibit Ran activity in the targeted cell and evaluating Ran protein activity in the cell.

The eukaryotic nucleus provides a unique environment to separate DNA replication, transcription, and RNA processing events from protein synthesis in the cytoplasm. Communication between the nucleus and the cytoplasm occurs through massive nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) that span the nuclear envelope (NE). Protein or RNA transport in either direction is signal-dependent and requires interaction with an extended family of importin β-related receptors to chaperone the traffic (Stewart, M. L., Baker, R. P., Bayless, R., Clayton, L., Or ant, R. P., Littlewood, T & Matsuura, Y. (2001) FEBS Lett. 498, 145-149). Cargo association with these receptors is regulated by the type of guanine nucleotide (GTP or GDP) bound to the small GTPase, Ran (Gorlich, D. & Kutay, U. (1999) Annu. Rev. Cell Dev. Biol. 15, 607-660; Adam, S. A., Marr, R. S. & Gerace, L. (1990) J. Cell Biol. 111, 807-816). Cytoplasmic Ran is GDP-bound, whereas the GTP form predominates in the nucleus. There is a steep concentration gradient of the respective pools across the NPC. During interphase of the cell cycle, the gradient is maintained by Ran-associated factors separated by the NE (Gorlich, D. & Kutay, U. (1999) Annu. Rev. Cell Dev. Biol. 15, 607-660). Guanine nucleotide exchange factor RCC1 is exclusively nuclear and promotes RanGDP/GTP exchange. In the cytoplasm, RanGAP and RanBP1 accelerate the intrinsic slow rate of RanGTP hydrolysis, cycling the complex back to the GDP form (Bischoff, F. R., Klebe, C., Kretschmer, J., Wittinghofer, A. & Ponstingl, H. (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91, 2587-2591). Cytoplasmic RanGDP has a low affinity for importin β, allowing the free form of the receptor to bind cargo and traffic through the NPC (Weis, K., Ryder, U. & Lamond, A. I. (1996) EMBO J. 15, 1818-1825). Inside the nucleus, higher-affinity RanGTP releases the cargo, then escorts the receptor back to the cytoplasm for another cycle (Gorlich, D., Pante, N., Kutay, U., Aebi, U. & Bischoff, F. R. (1996) EMBO J. 15, 5584-55 94). If GTP hydrolysis is inhibited, importin β remains bound to RanGTP and unavailable for active protein import. Without import, export of mRNA and ribosomal subunits are also inhibited because these processes require continuous nuclear reuptake of proteins that comprise export-competent ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) (Gorlich, D. & Kutay, U. (1999) Annu. Rev. Cell Dev. Biol. 15, 607-660). Therefore, if the Ran gradient fails, only proteins small enough to diffuse through the NPC (<40-60 kDa) can exchange.
The metabolic bottleneck posed by nuclear trafficking makes the NPC and associated processes vulnerable to attack by viruses intent on impeding signal transduction to the nucleus. NPC abrogation can prevent up-regulation of antiviral genes and the export of detrimental cellular mRNAs or enhance the redistribution of nuclear proteins required for viral replication (Belov, G. A., Lidsky, P. V., Mitkitas, O. V., Egger, D., Lukyanov, K. A., Bienz, K. & Agol, V. (2004) J. Virol 78, 10166-10177.). The family of RNA Picornavirus includes a variety of pathogenic agents. Among the better known members are poliovirus, rhinovirus, and foot-and-mouth disease virus. Others include the Coxsackie viruses, hepatitis A, swine vesicular disease, and cardioviruses like Mengo virus, encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), and Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (Palmenberg, A. C. (1987) in Positive Strand RNA Viruses, eds. Brinton, M. A. & Rueckert, R. R. (Liss, New York), pp. 25-34.). These positive-sense RNA genomes direct a life cycle that is predominantly cytoplasmic and, indeed, can be recapitulated in a test tube in the absence of nuclei (Molla, A., Paul, A V. & Wimmer, E (1991) Science 254, 1647-1651.). During infection, however, Picornaviruses are adept at subverting innate cellular immunity traps, crippling the capacity of the cell to mount a defense. Within 2-3 h, infection brings to a halt all cellular mRNA transcription, cap-dependent mRNA translation, antiviral signal transduction, and active protein/RNA exchange between the nucleus and cytoplasm. The shutoff is profound. The viruses replicate with fecundity, and the cell dies before it ever triggers an alarm. Among the molecular processes involved in shutoff, poliovirus and rhinovirus encode a protease, 2Apro, which attacks nucleoporins within the NPC (Belov, G. A., Lidsky, P. V., Mitkitas, O. V., Egger, D., Lukyanov, K. A., Bienz, K. & Agol, V. (2004) J. Virol 78, 10166-10177; Gustin, K. E. & Sarnow, P. (2002) J. Virol. 76, 8787-8796; Gustin, K. E. & Sarnow, P. (2001) EMBO J. 20, 240-249). When visualized by electron microscopy, a "bar-like" structure spanning normal NPC channel is found to be missing (Belov, G. A., Lidsky, P. V., Mitkitas, O. V., Egger, D., Lukyanov, K. A., Bienz, K. & Agol, V. (2004) J. Virol 78, 10166-10177), and its absence correlates with an onset of unregulated efflux of small proteins from the nucleus into the cytoplasm.
Cardioviruses like EMCV also abrogate nucleocytoplasmic trafficking, but their genomes lack a 2A protease and instead encode another protein, the Leader (L), at the amino terminus of the viral polyprotein (FIG. 1A). The L protein is 67 aa long, with a novel CHCC zinc-finger motif, a highly acidic carboxyl domain (protein pI: 3.8), and no known homologs (FIG. 1). EMCV with L deletions are viable but have attenuated growth phenotypes (Dvorak, C. M. T., Hall, D. J., Hill, M, Riddle, M., Pranter, A., Dillman, J., Deibel, M. & Palmenberg, A. C. (2001) Virology 290, 261-271). They are inefficient at shutting off host protein synthesis (Zoll, J., Galama, J. M.D., van Kuppeveld, F. J. M. & Melchers, W. J. G. (1996) J. Virol. 70, 4948-4958), and they stimulate an increased antiviral IFN activity (Zoll, J., Melchers, W. J., Galama, J. M. & van Kuppeveld, F. J. (2002) J. Virol. 76, 9664-9672). For Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus the related L likewise affects nuclear trafficking. This slightly larger L (76 aa) stimulates IFN transcriptional activator IRF-3, normally a cytoplasmic entity, to redistribute aberrantly between the nucleus and cytoplasm. Simultaneously, polypyrimidine tract-binding protein, a nuclear component of premRNA splicing complexes, redistributes to the cytoplasm and is usurped into viral replication machinery. As a result, viral replication is enhanced by the cytoplasmic availability of polypyrimidine tract binding protein, and the cell is unable to mount a viable IFN-dependent antiviral response to the infection. The antitrafficking activities of EMCV and Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus are compromised if either virus harbors a mutation in the zinc-finger region of the L protein (Delhaye, S., van Pesch, V. & Michiels, T (2004) J. Virol. 78, 4357-4362). It has been proposed that the cardiovirus L, like the poliovirus/rhinovirus 2Apro, disrupts the integrity of the NPC, leading to the leakage of nuclear proteins by passive diffusion (Lidsky, P. L., Hato, S., Bardina, M. V., Aminev, A. G., Palmenberg, A. C., Sheval, E. V., Polyakov, V. Y., van Kuppeveld, F. J. & Agol, V. (2006) J. Virol. 80, 2705-2717). However, it is difficult to envision how a small protein, lacking any known enzymatic activity, could effectively attack the massive NPC with the scant copy number presented to an infected cell.
In the work presented below, we hypothesized that an alternative target might be the nuclear transport system composed of Ran-GTPase or the cofactors required for maintaining the RanGTP gradient. We now describe experiments showing that the EMCV L binds directly to Ran and disrupts nucleocytoplasmic trafficking.

Protein inhibitor of Ran activity and methods of use thereof


An embodiment of the invention provides a method of testing a broadband internet connection including the steps of transmitting test signals via a broadband internet connection to a cellular network core, the test signals representative of those sent by an access point base station, measuring and recording a property relating to the transmission of the test signals, comparing the property to a minimum acceptable level and thereby determining whether the broadband internet connection is suitable for providing an access point base station.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for testing a broadband internet connection, in particular, but not limited to, the suitability of the broadband internet connection for providing access point base station services.
An access point base station is a cellular base station designed for use in residential or small office environments. A user's mobile phone communicates with the access point base station with a radio transmission, and the access point base station connects to a broadband internet connection in the home or office which it then uses as a two-way communications path to the cellular operator's core network.
There are several advantages to using an access point base station service. 3 G suffers from inadequate indoor signal penetration, leading to poor coverage in an indoor environment, which is where mobile phone users are believed typically to spend two-thirds of their time. Poor coverage diminishes the quality of voice and video applications and slows down high-speed data services. Dropped calls, poor video quality and time-consuming downloads lead to user dissatisfaction, as they expect high quality of service. They may resort to using their land-line phones or switch to other cellular operators in the hope of better quality of service including clearer voice calls, clearer video images and faster downloads.
The use of an access point base station in the home or office improves the radio coverage and capacity of a cellular network, and also increases the potential for new cellular services. Furthermore, the use of an access point base station reduces investment requirements in the macro radio cellular infrastructure.
When using a home back haul connection, an access point base station typically shares the bandwidth of the connection with other active services on that connection. For example, these may include services such as Internet Browsing, On-line Gaming Sessions, Video-on-Demand, IPTV, Peer-to-peer file sharing sessions and potentially a whole host of other services or activities. It is important that the broadband internet connection is capable of handling the data sent by the access point base station in a fast and accurate manner. This is particularly important for cellular services such as voice and video calling, where a delay or degradation of the signal results in the call failing or not being understood.
It will be appreciated that the usage profile of one individual premises and the associated broadband internet connection when compared to another individual premises and broadband internet connection can vary greatly. Furthermore, the underlying quality of the broadband internet connection can vary considerably, in dependence on such factors as allocated bandwidth (Mb/s), distance from the exchange, age of the copper in the ground, internet service provider traffic management policies, network load by time-of-day and the efficiency of routing in the network path from the customer premises to the core network.
Any or all of these elements combined may create a situation where the broadband internet connection is not suitable for access point base station service, leading to an unsatisfactory performance as mentioned above. In such shared-bandwidth approaches, which are the majority of designs currently being developed, the detrimental effect on the quality of access point base station delivered services could be such as to make a deployment unfeasible.

Method and apparatus for testing a broadband internet connection


Embodiments of this application provide key update methods and apparatuses in the field of communications technologies. A communications system includes a terminal and a core network device. The terminal can access the core network device using both a first access technology and a second access technology. The first connection and the second connection have a shared key. Key update for the first connection is performed in obtaining a first key identifier that identifies a first key obtained by performing the key update for the first connection. In response to determining that the second connection is in a connected state, the shared key for the second connection and a second key identifier that identifies the shared key are retained. The shared key is kept using for the second connection before performing key update for the second connection.

In a 5th generation (5G) system, a terminal may access an access and mobility management function (AMF) node by using both a 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) access technology and a non-3GPP (non-3GPP) access technology simultaneously. When the terminal accesses the AMF node by using both the 3GPP access technology and the non-3GPP access technology simultaneously, the AMF node maintains a registration management (RM) state machine and a connection management (CM) state machine for the 3GPP access technology and the non-3GPP access technology respectively.
The registration management state machine corresponds to an RM state, and the RM state includes an RM-registration state and an RM-deregistration state. The connection management state machine corresponds to a CM state, and the CM state includes a CM-connected state and a CM-idle state. After entering the connected state from the idle state, the terminal may initiate a registration procedure. After completing the registration procedure, the terminal may switch from the deregistration state to the registration state. In this case, the terminal has security context information such as a non-access stratum (NAS) key and a security algorithm. When the terminal returns to the idle state or the deregistration state, the terminal still has the NAS key and the security algorithm.
Although the AMF node may separately maintain the state machine for the 3GPP access technology and the state machine for the non-3GPP access technology, the terminal and the AMF node may share a set of NAS keys when communicating by using the two access technologies. When the AMF node needs to perform re-authentication on the terminal by using either of the access technologies, a re-authentication process involves an update of the NAS key. However, when the terminal and the AMF node communicate by using the other access technology, the terminal and the AMF still need to use the shared NAS key, or the terminal and the AMF node are communicating by using the shared NAS key. In this case, the update of the NAS key in the process in which the AMF node performs re-authentication on the terminal by using one access technology may affect normal communication that is performed between the terminal and the AMF node by using the other access technology.


A gate turn-off thyristor includes a substrate formed of n-type silicon carbide; a growth buffer formed of n-type silicon carbide and positioned to overlie said substrate; a field buffer region formed of p-type silicon carbide and positioned to overlie said growth buffer; a drift region formed of p-type silicon carbide and positioned to overlie said field buffer region; a gated base region formed of n-type silicon carbide and positioned to overlie said drift region; a modified anode region formed of first, second and third layers of silicon carbide and positioned to overlie said gated base region, said first layer comprising p-type silicon carbide and disposed adjacent said gated base region, said second layer comprising n-type silicon carbide and disposed adjacent said first layer, said third layer comprising p-type silicon carbide and disposed adjacent said second layer; an anode contact disposed on said third layer of said modified anode region; a cathode contact disposed on said substrate; and a gate contact disposed on said gated base region.

The present invention relates in general to high power, high temperature semiconductor electronic switches, and, in particular, to silicon carbide gate turn-off thyristors.
The following publications discuss the problem of hole injection in silicon carbide (SiC) gate turn-off (GTO) thyristors:
1) P. B. Shah, K. A. Jones, A. K. Agarwal, S. Seshadri, xe2x80x9cIn-depth analysis of SiC GTO thyristor performance using numerical simulationsxe2x80x9d, Solid State Electronics, p. 353-358, vol. 44/2, 2000;
2) A. K. Agarwal, S. Seshadri, M. MacMillan, S. S. Mani, J. Cassady, P. Sanger, and P. Shah, xe2x80x9c4H-SiC p-n diodes and gate turn-off thyristors for high power, high temperature applicationsxe2x80x9d Solid State Electronics, p. 303-308, vol. 44/2, 2000; and
3) L. Cao, xe2x80x9c4H-SiC gate turn-off thyristor and merged p-i-n and schottky barrier diodes,xe2x80x9d Ph. D. Dissertation, Rutgers University, New Jersey, 1999.
A general discussion of GTO thyristors may be found in:
1) M. Azuma and M. Kurata, xe2x80x9cGTO Thyristorsxe2x80x9d, Proc. of the IEEE, vol. 76, p. 419, 1988; and
2) B. J. Baliga, Power semiconductor devices, PWS publishing company, New York, 1996.
Current crowding in GTO thyristors is discussed in:
1) R. Dutta, C. Tsay, A. Rothwarf, and R. Fischl, xe2x80x9cA physical and circuit level approach for modeling turn-off characteristics for GTO""sxe2x80x9d, IEEE Trans. on Power Elect., vol. 9, p. 560, 1994;
2) T. Yatsuo, S. Kimura, Y. Satou, xe2x80x9cDesign considerations for large-current GTO""sxe2x80x9d, IEEE Trans. Elect. Dev., p. 1196, vol. 36, 1989; and
3) T. K. Lee, Y. C. Liang, xe2x80x9cMinimization of current crowding during turn-off of power GTO devicesxe2x80x9d Power Electronics Specialists Conference, PESC ""94 Record, 25th Annual IEEE, p. 442, vol.1, 1994.
Additional information about SiC GTO thyristors appears in:
1) B. Li, L. Cao, and J. H. Zhao, xe2x80x9cHigh current density 800-V 4H-SiC gate turn-off thyristorsxe2x80x9d, IEEE Elect. Dev. Lett., vol. 20, p. 219, 1999;
2) R. R. Siergiej, R. C. Clarke, S. Sriram, A. K. Agarwal, R. J. Bojki, A. W. Morse, V. Balakrishna, M. F. MacMillan, A. A. Burke, Jr., and C. D. Brandt, xe2x80x9cAdvances in SiC materials and devices: an industrial point of viewxe2x80x9d, Mat. Sci. and Eng. B, vol. 61-62, p. 9, 1999;
3) K. Xie, J. H. Zhao, J. R. Flemish, T. Burke, W. R. Buchwald, G. Lorenzo, and H. Singh, xe2x80x9cA high current and high temperature 6H-SiC thyristor,xe2x80x9d IEEE Elect. Dev. Lett., vol. 17, p 142, 1996;
4) P. B. Shah and K. A. Jones, xe2x80x9cTwo-dimensional numerical investigation of the impact of material-parameter uncertainty on the steady-state performance of passivated 4H-SiC thyristorsxe2x80x9d, J. Appl. Phys., vol. 84, p. 4625, 1998;
5) J. B. Casady, A. K. Agarwal, S. Seshadri, R. R. Siergiej, L. B. Rowland, M. F. Macmillan, D. C. Sheridan, P. A. Sanger, and C. D. Brandt., xe2x80x9c4H SiC power devices for use in power electronic motor controlxe2x80x9d, Solid State electronics, vol. 42, p. 2165, 1998; and
6) A. K. Agarwal, J. B. Casady, L. B. Rowland, S. Seshadri, R. R. Siergiej, W. F. Valek, and C. D. Brandt, xe2x80x9c700 V Asymmetrical 4H-SiC Gate Turn-Off Thyristors (GTO)xe2x80x9d, IEEE Elect. Dev. Lett., vol. 18, p. 518, 1997.
Silicon gate turn-off (GTO) thyristors are quite well developed. Silicon GTO thyristors are used commonly in high power conditioning circuits, in high voltage DC systems, and traction circuits. Silicon carbide (SiC) GTO thyristors, on the other hand, are only recently coming of age because of the difficulty in producing good silicon carbide wafers and epi-layers. Silicon GTO thyristors appear to be inferior to SiC GTO thyristors because of their inability to operate at high temperatures (above xcx9c150xc2x0 C. junction temperatures). Further, silicon GTO thyristors tend to turn off slowly if designed to block very high voltages. Silicon carbide offers greater benefits than silicon for high power devices. These benefits include a higher thermal conductivity, a higher critical electric field at which breakdown occurs, and a high saturated carrier velocity.
With a higher breakdown field, thinner SiC devices can be developed that block a given amount of voltage, compared to silicon devices. The thinner SiC devices are faster switching devices because a smaller volume of charge carriers have to be removed during turn-off. Therefore the power handling capability of SiC GTO thyristors is much better than silicon GTO thyristors. SiC is also physically rugged and chemically inert.
In SiC GTO thyristors, it has been observed that if the gated base region is relatively high doped, the SiC GTO thyristor does not turn on at low current levels. This is because, in the anode, the acceptors being used in silicon carbide require a large amount of energy to be fully ionized so that very few are ionized at typical device operating temperatures. Therefore, there is a low injection of holes from the anode region into the center low doped regions of the SiC GTO thyristor resulting in poor conductivity modulation and poor on state characteristics. A thyristor that is unable to turn-on at low currents is also referred to as one that has a high holding current. On the other hand, a high doped gated base region is desirable because it minimizes current crowding that leads to device failure. As the capability to grow high quality SiC wafers and epi-layers improves, industry will focus more on larger area devices where current crowding will be an important issue.
The applications for SiC GTO thyristors include high voltage DC systems, traction circuits, motor control, power factor control, and other power conditioning circuits. These systems may be found in electric or hybrid electric tanks, electric helicopters, and other vehicles used by the military. Widespread application in these areas will occur if two issues are addressed. First, the voltage drop across the thyristor in its on state should be reduced. Second, the holding current should be as low as possible. A holding current of 1 A/cm2 has been recently stated as desirable. Also, to control large amounts of current as would be required in high end systems, rather than connecting many small devices in parallel it would be better to make several single large area devices. The material quality is expected to improve, but because of the large ionization energy of the acceptor dopant atoms that are currently used in silicon carbide, new techniques to improve the injection efficiency of holes from the anode region should be developed. The present invention, the modified anode gate turn-off (MA-GTO) thyristor, addresses these issues.
Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the following drawing.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


A method for indicating the presence of a buried person in a building after a collapse of the building may include repetitively monitoring a signal indicative of a presence of a person in at least one sensor disposed in or on a housing, and repetitively measuring an acceleration of the housing. The method may also include while the acceleration of the housing is smaller than or equal a predefined threshold value storing information indicating the presence of the person within the area in a memory module. The method may also include when the acceleration of the housing is larger than the predefined threshold value start repetitively sending the information indicating the presence of the person within the area into the surrounding space at least if the information indicates that a person is present within the area. An indication apparatus for use with the method may also be used.

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for indicating the presence of a buried person in a building after collapse of the building, wherein repetitively a signal as for example infrared radiation is monitored by a sensor disposed in or on a housing, and wherein an acceleration of the housing is repetitively measured. While the acceleration of the housing is smaller than a predetermined threshold information indicting the presence of the person is stored and when the measured acceleration of the housing exceeds a certain threshold the stored information is transmitted into the surrounding space.
In the event of a natural or man-made disaster (e.g. earthquake, storm, explosion) a quick reaction of rescue services is essential to retrieve persons from collapsed buildings.
The quick reaction can be decisive for the survival of a person buried under rubble. In this context, it is essential to act with maximum time optimization, both in locating the buried persons and in rescuing them.
Usually, the search is first carried out manually by more or less aimlessly removing the debris. Additionally, technical equipment and professionally trained personnel usually have to be transported to the site before the search can begin from the outside. These aspects stand in the way of a time-optimized solution.
Technical aids are increasingly being used to detect people buried under rubble. This is based on the fact that the human signature of buried persons (heart rate, pulse, respiration, etc.) is emitted as different types of energy (sound waves, radio waves, light waves, infrared radiation). Corresponding sensors detect these different waveforms and analyze the corresponding signals. Based on the characteristics of the different types of sensors, they can be divided into radar systems, chemical systems, acoustic systems, and infrared systems. Furthermore, a subdivision into active and passive systems can also be made.
In passive systems (acoustic systems, infrared systems), detection is based on the detection of the human signal based on the energy difference between the living body and the background. Chemical sensors also work passively and react to organic compounds. Active systems, such as radar, initiate energy in the form of waves to detect features of the living body and analyze the reflected wave. Passive systems in particular are often used in conjunction with robots that can search building debris in a targeted remote or autonomous manner.
The solutions known from the prior art rely on equipment and personal which has to be brought to the site of the collapsed building which requires valuable time.

Method and apparatus for indicating the presence of a buried person in a building after a collapse of the building

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.


A network device identifies elephant flows. The network device filters received network data according to an application-specific criteria and identifies the elephant flow from the filtered network data. To do so, the network device can employ a multi-stage filtering process to identify an elephant flow in the received network data. The network device separates the filtered network data into multiple macroflows using a first hash function, and identifies the macroflow with the highest rate. Then, the network device disaggregates the high rate macroflow into multiple microflows using a second hash function and identifies the highest rate microflow as the elephant flow. The network device maintains an elephant flow cache with entries for currently identified elephant flows. The network device may also take management actions on the elephant flows, and the management actions may be application specific.

High speed data networks form part of the backbone of what has become indispensable worldwide data connectivity. Within the data networks, network devices such as switching devices direct data packets from source ports to destination ports, helping to eventually guide the data packets from a source to a destination. Improvements in identifying and managing of high volume network flows will help improve high speed data networks.

Application aware elephant flow identification


The present invention includes a box boom loader mechanism utilizing a box boom lift arm assembly with a single plate steel top wall and a bottom wall connected with a non-transverse weld to a pair of single plate steel inner side walls to define a rectangular cross section therealong. The connection of the top and bottom walls and the inner side walls defines a bifurcated second end portion straddling a central portion of a frame and being connected therewith. A tilt linkage means is connected to the box boom lift arm assembly and includes a tilt lever, tilt link and tilt cylinder. The connection of the components of the tilt linkage means achieves high visibility and optimal linkage performance. The connection of the bifurcated second end portion to the frame and the non-transverse weld improves strength and fatigue characteristics of the box boom loader mechanism without increasing the weight of the machine.

Present construction machines, such as wheel loaders, typically include a slab lift arm which is mounted to a frame of the machine by various connection means. Box boom lift arms may be used in place of the slab lift arms on some wheel loaders to gain higher strength capabilities. Some of these box boom lift arms have a hollow unitary structure made from two or more castings connected by a transversely welded midsection. The box boom lift arm is generally connected to various components, such as a frame or tilt linkage assembly, with configurations that increase strength capabilities, visibility and effectiveness of the machine.
During operation of the wheel loader; the box boom lift arm and tilt linkage assembly are subjected to a high degree of loading, some of which may be severe. Therefore, it is critical that each component has sufficient configuration and connection to one another to provide the strength necessary to withstand these loads and forces while limiting the weight so as to not affect overall machine performance. The strength requirements for each of the components of the box boom loader mechanism are coupled with the need to increase visibility for an operator of the machine during operation.
One such design is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,917 issued to Anthony L. Garman on Sep. 6, 1988. In this design, the boom arm is made from two hollow end castings welded together by a welded midsection. The connection of the boom arm to the frame utilizes a pivotal pin joint mounted across the outer walls of the frame. The mounting of the boom arm in such a manner requires that the majority of loading takes place at the pin joint and at the transverse welded midsection of the boom arm which may increase the risk of failure of the welded castings. The tilting arrangement in Garman utilizes a tilt lever that is an elongate member having three distinct areas of connection that withstand the majority of the loads and forces on the machine during operation of the linkage The mass of the tilt lever must be increased in order to withstand the loads and forces incurred which may limit overall performance of the machine. Additionally, visibility of the machine is hampered by the connection of the tilt cylinder at the distal end of the tilt lever.
The present invention is directed to overcoming the problems as set forth above.


The embodiments of present invention relates to methods and systems for a cross-platform framework for embedded systems. One embodiment provides a framework for a network attached storage or other storage devices. The framework provides a standardized structure for modules of software, such as plugins, to implement various features on the embedded system. In addition, the framework supports interoperability between software modules written in either native code, such as C, C++, and interpreted code, such as JAVA™.

On embedded, and thus, resource-limited devices, updating to add new functionality and bug fixing becomes more and more necessary. Typically, a storage device, such as a network-attached storage (NAS), is constructed as a specialized computer or appliance. Normally, such devices use low-power hardware and having an embedded operating system, such as LINUX™, that is configured specifically as a storage device.
Today, due to their increasing complexity, storage devices now run software to implement their various features and manage their interactions with other devices. Unfortunately, the software for each storage device is custom built and integrated into a single package with the operating system. This form of software development is difficult and often results in bugs, etc.

Cross-platform software framework for embedded systems on data storage device


A wireless receiver utilizes a single analog oscillator to down-convert multi-carrier signals in one or more receiver front-end paths. The received signals are digitized, and the different carrier signals received at each antenna are separated in digital domain by mixing the digitized signal from each antenna with a carrier/antenna separation digital oscillator to down-convert a desired carrier signal and low-pass filtering to remove unwanted carriers. A coarse frequency correction adjusts the analog oscillator, and fine frequency corrections adjust digital oscillators mixing with the separated signals. In one embodiment, the fine frequency correction is applied to the carrier/antenna separation digital oscillators in the separation function. In another embodiment, the fine frequency correction is applied to frequency adjustment digital oscillators mixing with the separated signals. The frequency corrections may be based on reference symbols in the received signals.

UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA) is the radio access network for the Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), a 3G wireless communication system. The 3GPP standards body has approved a work item for Dual Cell High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) operation. The dual cell HSDPA operation can improve the bit-rate in terms of peak rate and average bit rate from the end-user's perspective. In dual cell HSDPA, separate data streams are modulated onto separate carriers, and transmitted together to User Equipment (UE) in the cell. The main focus of the study is on adjacent carriers. The aggregation of data in multiple carrier operation for Long Term Evolution (LTE) is not fully developed in 3GPP; however, the problems identified and solved by the present invention should, in general, apply to any wireless standard, such as LTE and GSM.
HSDPA in legacy UMTS systems is based on single cell, or carrier, operation. The frequency error between a transmitter and receiver—caused by frequency error in the base station and Doppler shift in channel—is compensated in the UE for single carrier operation. The required base station frequency accuracy for single-carrier in 3GPP is 0.05 ppm (for macro base stations). Considering two individual carriers for dual cell HSDPA, the relative frequency error between the carriers at the base station reference points could be up to 0.1 ppm. Currently there is no 3GPP requirement on base station relative frequency error; however, it can be assumed that a base station which uses the same source for frequency generation can have lower relative frequency error than 0.1 ppm since the error in the source can be excluded from the relative frequency error.
In dual cell HSDPA operation, data is modulated onto two carriers, which can advantageously be received in a multi-carrier receiver in the UE. For dual cell HSDPA, the concept of anchor and supplementary carrier is under discussion in 3GPP. The anchor carrier is contemplated as a legacy HSDPA carrier, which carries the same physical channels as a legacy HSDPA carrier. The supplementary carrier may only be required to carry a reduced set of physical channels, in order to reduce the control signaling overhead.
A number of multi-carrier receiver architectures are possible. One solution with high bandwidth and low complexity (and hence cost) utilizes multiple antennas and corresponding receiver paths in the analog front-end. The signals are then digitized, and the antenna/carrier separation, demodulation, decoding, and the like are performed in the digital domain, such as by software executing on Digital Signal Processors (DSP). For adjacent or sufficiently close carriers, a single local oscillator can be used to down-convert both carrier signals to baseband. The local oscillator frequency can be adjusted to correct for frequency errors between the transmitter and receiver. However, only one of the dual (or more) carriers may be frequency-corrected in this manner. Alternatively, the receiver may use a separate local oscillator for each carrier, and separately control each oscillator to frequency-correct each carrier. However, this approach adds cost and complexity.

Relative frequency error compensation for multi-carrier receivers


Embodiments of the disclosure provide systems and methods for segmenting a medical image. The system includes a communication interface configured to receive the medical image acquired by an image acquisition device. The system also includes a memory configured to store a plurality of learning networks jointly trained using first training images of a first imaging modality and second training images of a second imaging modality. The system further includes a processor, configured to segment the medical image using a segmentation network selected from the plurality of learning networks.

Accurate segmentation of medical images is a key step in contouring during radiotherapy planning. Image segmentation is the process of partitioning a digital image into multiple segments. The goal of segmentation is to simplify and/or change the representation of an image into something that is more meaningful and easier to analyze. Image segmentation is typically used to locate objects and boundaries (lines, curves, etc.) in images. More precisely, image segmentation is the process of assigning a label to every pixel in an image such that pixels with the same label share certain characteristics. Image segmentation has been used for various applications, including locating tumors and other pathologies, measuring tissue volumes, diagnosis and study of anatomical structure, surgery planning, virtual surgery simulation, and intra-surgery navigation.
Image segmentation may be solved as a classification problem. Learning networks, such as Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) with powerful hierarchical architectures, have been applied to image segmentation to improve accuracy. For example, automatic classifications using CNN could significantly outperform conventional image segmentation methods, such as atlas-based segmentation, and shape-based segmentation.
Different medical imaging modalities have been used for obtaining medical images. For example, Computed topography (CT) and Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging are the most widely used radiographic techniques in diagnosis, clinical studies and treatment planning. Each imaging modality has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, MRI is good at imaging soft tissue and showing tissue difference between normal and abnormal. For example, MRI is generally more sensitive in detecting brain abnormalities during the early stages of disease, and is particularly useful in detecting white matter disease, such as multiple sclerosis, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, leukodystrophy, and post-infectious encephalitis. However, CT is good at imaging bone, lungs and blood vessels with contrast agent.
Due to the strengths of different imaging modalities, multi-modality image segmentation provides improved accuracy because fusion of different modalities could provide complimentary information.
Embodiments of the disclosure address the above problems by systems and methods for segmenting a single modality image using a learning network that leverages multi-modality information during training stage.

Systems and methods for cross-modality image segmentation

BEIJING KEYA MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.