In a system and method for assessing and modifying fatigue, an input device receives current work-rest pattern and/or sleep data from an individual. A data aggregation and processing platform combines the current work-rest pattern and/or sleep data with previous data related to the individual to generate a fatigue assessment result, a diagnostic assessment result, and a corrective intervention result. At least one output display outputs the fatigue assessment result, diagnostic assessment result and corrective intervention result in a user-readable format to a user. The user uses this information to revise the work-rest pattern to reduce or control future fatigue risk.

Many occupations require workers to be on duty around-the-clock for extended periods of time, and to work irregular shifts while on duty. However, night work and/or irregularly scheduled shifts can lead to worker fatigue, which is defined here as reduced alertness, increased sleepiness, impaired performance or unsafe behavior occurring as a result of excessive work hours, inadequate rest, sleep deprivation or circadian time-of-day factors. In addition, workers often suffer acute or chronic sleep deprivation, in combination with circadian time-of-day factors, which can exacerbate fatigue. Worker fatigue is particularly problematic among transportation employees including commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operators, for example, truck drivers, wherein driver fatigue can increase the risk of an accident.
Many governments recognize this issue, and have implemented prescriptive rule-based regulations in an effort to reduce the number of accidents caused by worker fatigue. For example, in the United States, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), to reduce the number and severity of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) crashes and enhance the safety of CMV operations, has implemented Hours of Service (HoS) regulations which place maximum limits on the number of hours of work, and minimum limits on the hours of rest. HoS regulations are widely adopted in all transportation modes including the regulation of commercial motor vehicles. However, prescriptive HoS regulations do not distinguish between off-duty time and actual sleep time. Instead, contrary to its intended purpose, HoS regulations often require CMV operators to operate their vehicles when they are fatigued, and to stop driving at times when they are not tired and cannot sleep. This can lead to drivers falsifying their driver logs so that they can sleep when they are tired, and drive when they are alert. While advances in circadian, sleep and alertness physiology, and the technology and operations of modern transportation address have been used to attempt to address shortcomings of prescriptive HoS regulations, the interaction of circadian sleep science and modern operational practices is highly complex, and it is impractical to adequately overcome such shortcomings by incorporating operational practices based on circadian sleep science into current prescriptive HoS regulations.

Systems and methods for assessing equipment operator fatigue and using fatigue-risk-informed safety-performance-based systems and methods to replace or supplement prescriptive work-rest regulations


A cold rolled steel sheet having high strength and high formability and having excellent crushing performance can include 0.05-0.40 mass % of C, 1.0-3.0 mass % of Si, 0.6-3.0 mass % of Mn, 0.02-1.5 mass % of Cr, 0.010-0.20 mass % of P and 0.01-0.3 mass % of Al, with the remainder consisting essentially of Fe. The steel sheet includes a ferrite major phase and a minor phase consisting of martensite, acicular ferrite and retained austenite. The cold rolled steel sheet can be used in automobiles.

Under the trend of making automobiles light in weight, there has been an especially brisk demand for thin steel sheet with high strength having an excellent formability.
In addition, safety of automobiles has been thought to be important too and, accordingly, there has been a demand an improvement in crushing performance which is a yardstick for safety upon crash.
With regard to outer and inner panels for automobiles, cold rolled steel sheets are advantageous in terms of homogeneity of surface roughness and phosphatability.
Under such current circumstances, various cold rolled steel sheets with high strength have been developed already.
For example, in the Japanese Examined Patent Publication Hei-05/064215 and Laid-Open Patent Publication Hei-04/333524, there are disclosures on the method for the manufacture of high strength steel having a structure of ferrite containing not less than 3% of bainite and retained austenite (hereinafter, referred to as TRIP steel).
However, although the TRIP steel has a high elongation and a good formability (TS.times.El.gtoreq.22000 MPa. %), there is a problem that this steel does not satisfy the current requirement for severe crushing performance.
In addition, there is another problem that the work hardening (WH) at press formability and the bake hardening (BH) at painting and baking thereafter are as low as about 70 MPa.
When those work and bake hardenings (WH+BH) are low, there is a big disadvantage in terms of ensuring the strength after forming, painting and baking.
On the other hand, the so-called dual phase steel (hereinafter, referred to as DP steel) having a dual phase of ferrite and martensite is disclosed, for example, in the Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Hei-09/111396 as a high strength steel sheet having an excellent crushing performance.
However, although the DP steel has an excellent crushing performance, its elongation is not sufficient and there is a problem in formability.
As mentioned above, no cold rolled steel sheet which satisfies both requirements of sufficient formability and severe safety standard has been available at present and, therefore, there has been a demand for developing it.

High-strength high-workability cold rolled steel sheet having excellent impact resistance


A piggy-back number and routing isolation method for cellular telephone switches. A cellular customer dials a *800xxxx number, wherein xxxx represents some combination of symbols of arbitrary length identifying a specific Third Party Advertiser (TPA). The switch uses the leading *800 portion of the dialed *800xxxx number as an access code to direct the call to a special trunk. The switch strips the leading *800 portion from the *800xxxx number and inserts in its place a dialing prefix before making a call through the special trunk. The number dialed by the switch out through the special trunk is the mobile phone number assigned to the TPA as a cellular customer. The special trunk "piggy-backs" the number translations and routing determinations because it is comprised of two ports of the single switch connected together in a "loop-back" manner, so that calls routed out the first port are received immediately by the same switch at the second port. When the switch receives the call coming in from the special trunk, it uses a call forwarding feature associated with the TPA's mobile phone number to route the call directly to the TPA's land-based phone number. Two billing records are thus created out of one call: the cellular customer dialing the *800xxxx number; and the TPA's mobile phone number dialing the TPA's land-based phone number.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to cellular telephone systems, and in particular, to a method of implementing cellular "800" service.
2. Description of Related Art
Cellular telephones are as easily used as home telephones. Cellular telephones combine the mobility of the radio link and the world-wide land telephone network to provide a communication link to any other telephone in the world. However, the cellular telephone system has not progressed as far as the land telephone network in the services provided to customers. One major shortcoming is the lack of cellular "800" service.
One problem for existing cellular systems with regard to providing cellular 800 service is the billing of a land-based Third Party Advertiser (TPA). Currently, when a cellular user dials such a TPA, the cellular user is billed for associated air-time usage charges. A typical cellular billing system only allows the billing of actual cellular numbers for air-time usage of both incoming and outgoing calls. The charges that the cellular customer incurs cannot be charged instead to the TPA that the customer is dialing. Yet, under the cellular 800 service, the TPA and not the cellular user should be billed for the air-time usage during the period the cellular user is connected to the TPA.
Another problem for existing cellular systems with regard to providing cellular 800 service is that existing cellular switches are limited by the capacity of "translation tables" within the switch as to the number of unique 800 numbers that they can hold. This means that cellular 800 service would be available to only a limited number of TPAs. However, with the growing use of cellular systems, cellular 800 service has broad appeal and could result in thousands of potential TPAs.

Piggy-back number and routing isolation for cellular telephone switches


A method for effecting reduction, stabilization and enhancement of fusion of the human cranio-cervical junction, which may be performed in order to relieve mechanical stresses imparted to the spinal cord and brainstem as a result of an abnormal clivo-axial angle, includes steps of achieving the correct craniocervical relationship, of effecting a fusion of a first portion of a bone forming material based structural member to a human cranium, and effecting fusion of a second portion of the bone forming material based structural member to a least one portion of a human cervical spine. Fusion of the bone forming material based structural member to the human cranium may be promoted through the use of plate member that is shaped to define a graft accommodation space between the plate member and the cranium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for fixation, stabilization and fusion of the human occipitocervical junction.
2. Description of the Related Technology
The normal range of motion of the craniospinal junction includes 27° of flexion and extension, and 90° of lateral rotation; the craniospinal junction is thus the most mobile and articulatable part of the human body. It is also the most active part of the human body in movement throughout the day, typically performing greater than 3 million motions a year. The craniospinal junction transmits the entire nervous structure to the body (with the exception of the vagus nerve), and is thus unfortunately susceptible to a host of degenerative disorders. Emblematic of these is rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic degenerative condition that arises in 2% of the population, causing predictable changes in the joints and bone structure of the cervical spine, often including vertical migration of the odontoid and trauma to the ligamentous structures of the craniocervical junction.
25% of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers develop atlantoaxial subluxation and 9% develop basilar invagination. Clinically these patients invariably experience severe neck pain and neurological deficits, including weakness and sensory loss. Untreated, patients suffer progressive decline, losing the ability to walk. The untreated patient with myelopathy due to compression of the spinal cord has a 50% likelihood of dying within 1 year. Surgical intervention is therefore necessary to stabilize the craniocervical junction, restore neurologic function and prevent further neurologic deterioration. However, occipitocervical stabilization in rheumatoid arthritis can be especially challenging because of such factors as poor bone quality, poor nutritional status and long term steroid use.
There are also other common causes of cranio-cervical instability, including traumatic fractures, which can include approximately 3,000 fractures of the upper spine related to head trauma each year; congenital diseases, including Down's, Morquio's and spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia syndromes, with a prevalence of at least 50,000; osteogenesis imperfecta, with a prevalence of 7,000 patients; cancer, with about 1000 cases per year; and numerous causes of bone softening. Tumors and infections may also cause destruction of the stabilizing elements.
However, the largest group of patients suffering from poor craniocervical stabilization lies in the pediatric group amongst a large group of children who have been misdiagnosed with neuropsychiatric disorders, such as Asperger's Syndrome, autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and forms of dyslexia who harbor underlying disorders of the brainstem and spinal cord which result from subtle and sometimes gross anomalies which result in mechanical deformation and abnormal stresses of the neuraxis at the craniocervical junction. Various disorders have been found to frequently result in chronic and subtle neurological changes: retroflexion of the odontoid, platybasia, non-traditional forms of basilar invagination and an abnormal clivo-axial angle, which can result in deformity of the brainstem and upper spinal cord.
The clivioaxial angle is depicted in FIG. 1, while an example of basilar invagination is depicted in the image that is shown in FIG. 2, with compression to the brainstem being clearly visible. These conditions have been reported to cause such symptoms as sleep apnea, delayed speech, gastroesophageal reflux, and altered behavior such as attention deficit disorder, headaches, and a myriad of other sensori-motor syndromes. The ubiquity of craniospinal junction pathology has only recently been appreciated.
Hitherto, patients undergoing craniospinal stabilization have required an arduous surgery and recovery. Some patients undergo a decompressive surgery from the front of the neck (transoral resection of the uppermost part of the spine), followed by fusion in the back of the neck, and followed by 3 months of stabilization in a halo brace, which encompasses the head (held by 4 screws in the skull) and the upper body.
Numerous fixation devices have been described such as those that are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,030,220; 5,034,011; 5,545,164; 5,507,745; 6,547,790; 6,524,315; 6,902,565 B2 and U.S. Published Patent Applications US2005/0288669 A1; US2005/0283153 A1 and US2005/0080417 A1, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth fully herein.
A need exists for a system and methodology that accomplishes the goals of reduction of deformity, successful immobilization and fusion of the craniospinal junction, in a shortened surgery, thereby allowing the patient to return to a normal quality of life within a short period of time.

Craniospinal fusion method and apparatus


This invention relates to a multi-purpose solar energy base and in particular to one including a main body portion having a solar energy heat converging circuit therein and a threaded center hole provided with two conductors connected with an electrical wire extending downwardly through a hole of the main body portion to a recess, and a cover engaged with the bottom of the main body portion and having a raised rectangular edge on which is mounted an energy conversion circuit with a rechargeable battery, characterized in that the base may be adapted to various kinds of products thereby rendering it to have many practical uses.

Difficulties with fossil fuels have led to the invention of devices that directly convert solar energy into usable forms of energy, such as electricity. Solar batteries, which operate on the principle that light falling on photosensitive substances causes a flow of electricity, play an important part in astronautics.
Hence, there is a need for a multi-purpose solar energy base which may be adapted for use with various products.


A shape measuring apparatus includes: a light source; a two-beam interference objective lens; an imaging device; an observation optical system; a positioning device; and a control device. The control device calculates, for each unit region in the plurality of images obtained by the imaging device, as a focus position of the unit region, a position of the two-beam interference objective lens at which a luminance-based evaluation value is maximized over the plurality of images, and the control device measures a shape of a target object based on the focus position of each unit region in the plurality of images. The control device uses, as the evaluation value, a luminance of each unit region in the plurality of images as well as a value correlated with a difference between the luminance of the unit region and luminances of a plurality of unit regions adjacent to the unit region.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-7564 (PTD 1) discloses a coating apparatus configured to position a two-beam interference objective lens above an ink-coated portion formed of ink applied on a surface of a substrate; thereafter obtaining an image of interference light while moving a Z stage; obtaining, as a focus position of each of a plurality of pixels forming the image, the position of the Z stage where the contrast value reaches a peak for each of the plurality of pixels forming the image; and obtaining the height of the ink-coated portion.

Shape measuring apparatus and method for manufacturing target object to be coated


An apparatus for preventing backflow and contamination, and detecting by-pass leaks in a flow control arrangement is disclosed. The apparatus includes a vent line connecting a sweep gas source and a vent. Constant process-inert gas flows from the source through the vent line into the vent. The vent line is connected with the flow control arrangement. Any leakage in the flow control arrangement is channeled to the vent line and swept into the vent along with the sweep gas. As a result, pressure in the flow control arrangement cannot build up and leakage backflow is prevented. A flow switch may be disposed on the vent line for detecting leakage. The sweep gas flow rate is controlled at a constant level that is inadequate to actuate the flow switch and keeps the flow switch ready to actuate by any superimposed leakage. The flow switch detects a leakage when it actuates.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to flow control. In particular, the present invention is directed towards leak detection and backflow prevention (i.e., backflow reduction).
2. Description of Background Art
In many industries it is common practice to interconnect pressurized bulk liquid delivery systems for serving various processes. For example, in the semiconductor industry, most liquid chemistries are delivered under pressure to the wafer fabricating tools. Some of these chemistries are volatile, hazardous, toxic or otherwise chemically aggressive. It is often desirable to provide for the connection of facilities like deionized (DI) water to these bulk distribution systems providing a convenient method to flush-out and neutralize these chemical hazards for process reasons, including for example maintenance.
When two or more liquid delivery systems are interconnected (e.g., for process reasons) there is the potential for cross contamination. These intentional cross connections are often accomplished using valves such as check valves and three-way (or three-port) selector valves. If a small, internal leak (sometimes called a by-pass leak) occurs, the two or more liquids can migrate back and forth across the leaking valve seats contaminating or diluting the process chemistries.
In reality, all valves leak and check valves are particularly bad. Final test criteria for all valve manufacturers is essentially an acceptable leak rate. As valves age and normal wear takes place, leak rates increase. The problem leakage is reverse flow (or backflow). Often these reverse flows occur at very low flow rates [<5 ml/min] and are very difficult to detect. Yet these small leaks allow contamination or dilution of the cross connected liquids.
Backflow can cause expensive damage. High tech processes utilize high purity chemistries to ensure maximum yields and predictable performance. High purity chemistries are expensive. High tech manufacturing tools and fabrication facilities are also expensive. Cross contamination caused by backflow may lead to loss of productivity, reduced yields and semiconductor fabrication plant (FAB) shut downs. Unplanned shut downs to repair/replace leaking components and cleanup contaminated plumbing systems reduce financial performance and introduce unexpected delays into tight delivery schedules. It may take a long time before a small leak is discovered, resulting in the loss of much product and productivity. In bioprocesses, a single malevolent bacteria can ruin a whole batch, perhaps thousands of liters. In medical applications, contaminations can lead to illness, injury or worse.
In addition to contributing to backflow, by-pass leakages also waste valuable chemistries, damage expensive equipment, thereby causing excessive waste. Traditionally, by-pass leakages are detected through visual inspection, which is very insufficient because it is often difficult and time consuming. In addition, there are portions of systems that are difficult or impossible to view, and very small or intermittent leaks are easily overlooked.
Thus, there is a need for an ultra-sensitive leak detection device and a backflow prevention device for critical (or ultra high purity) materials applications.

Internal leak detection and backflow prevention in a flow control arrangement


A method capable of efficiently manufacturing a high-quality seamless belt for electrophotography is provided. The method is a method for manufacturing a seamless belt for electrophotography including a base layer having a thermoplastic resin composition, and a surface layer, wherein the method includes: (1) forming an energy curable coated film having a glass transition temperature on an outer surface of a test tube-shaped preform including a thermoplastic resin; then blow molding the preform to obtain a blow bottle; (2) irradiating the blow bottle with an energy ray to cure the coated film to thereby form the surface layer; and (3) cutting out a seamless belt from the blow bottle obtained in (2) and having a surface layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a seamless belt for electrophotography used for an electrophotographic apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Seamless belts for electrophotography can improve the durability of transfer members from the viewpoint of wear resistance by having a hard coat layer having an ultraviolet curable resin on the surface. The following methods for manufacturing such seamless belts for electrophotography are known.
That is, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-113128 discloses a method in which a base material of a seamless belt for electrophotography obtained by blow molding a preform is dip coated with an ultraviolet curable acrylic resin, and thereafter, the ultraviolet curable acrylic resin is cured to thereby form a hard coat layer.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-79245 discloses a method in which a belt base material for electrophotography including a polyimide resin and a carbon black and obtained by centrifugal molding is spray coated with an ultraviolet curable acrylic urethane resin, and the ultraviolet curable acrylic urethane resin is cured to thereby form a hard coat layer.

Method for manufacturing seamless belt for electrophotography


A dual sense amplifier structure and a method are provided in a RAMDAC, to allow the video path to be probed digitally during testing. Each of the two sets of sense amplifiers in the dual sense amplifier structure can be individually enabled to provide the same output data to both a color value register accessible over a data port and the digital-to-analog converters for interface with an analog display. In one embodiment, the sense amplifiers which provide color values to a data port interfaced with the CPU are implemented by simpler circuits than the sense amplifiers which used to provide the color values to the DACs.

Under the high performance VGA standard, 24 bits (8 bits each for the red, green and blue color components) are used to specify a color. Because the number of pixels in a full screen is enormous, in many high-resolution graphics applications, neither providing a 24-bit wide data bus between the central processing unit (CPU) and the graphics display unit, nor providing a narrower but higher bandwidth bus, is economical. Instead, because the number of colors actually used at any given time is relatively small, as compared to the number of possible colors, a color palette containing a fixed but small number of color values is often used to reduce the bandwidth requirement. One popular color palette contains a 24-bit wide random access memory (RAM) storing 256 color values. To specify any one of the 256 color values, rather than the 24-bit color value, the CPU provides the address of a 24-bit word in the RAM; in this instance, the 256 addresses in the palette can be specified by eight bits. The 256 color values in the RAM is initialized at the beginning of the graphics operation, and can be dynamically updated by substituting new color values thereafter. As a result, since each color value is specified by its 8-bit address in the palette, the bandwidth requirement for such a system is much reduced from that required to specify the color value directly. Such system also reduces the size of the video frame buffer by two-thirds, since the 8-bit palette RAM addresses--rather than 24-bit color values --are stored in the video frame buffer.
A schematic representation of a color palette circuit 100 in the prior art is shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the color palette circuit 100 consists of a 8-bit data port 107 sending and receiving both addresses and data during the reading or writing of color values in and out of the RAM 105. Because data port 107 is 8-bit wide, reading and writing a 24-bit color value requires multiple clock periods. Therefore, address register 101, and three 8-bit color registers 102a, 102b and 102c are provided internally for temporary storage during reading and writing of the RAM 105. During graphics operations, however, the addresses are received at every clock period over address lines P0-P7 at the 8-bit pixel address port 108, and a color value is provided in analog form at the output lines 110 every clock period.
In color palette circuit 100, RAM 105 can be configured as a 256.times.24-bit color palette 105, for storing 256 24-bit color values, or as a 256.times.18-bit color palette 105a, for storing 256 18-bit color values, with an additional 15.times.18-bit overlay palette 105b to implement additional functions known in the art, such as overlay cursors, or grids. In the latter mode, the address received at address port 108, which is stored in pixel register 103, is processed with the content of the pixel mask register 104 to provide an address for a color value in either the main color palette 105a, or the overlay palette 105b. Multiplexer 112 provides on address lines 113 either the pixel address on the address lines 114 and 115 or the address provided by address register 101 on lines 116, depending on whether output of a color value at the analog output lines 110, or an access such as loading a new color value, by the microprocessor is desired. Decoders (not shown) of RAM 105 decodes the address on lines 113 and provides read or write access to the RAM location specified on lines 113. For read operation, the output data of RAM 105 are tapped from lines 117. The write data lines into RAM 105 are not shown.
A color value read from RAM 105 is divided into its three color components before providing each to one of three digital-to-analog converters (DACs) 106a, 106b and 106c. Together, DACs 106a, 106b and 106c provide the analog signals suitable for driving an RGB type monitor. One color value is provided every clock cycle on the analog lines 110. Operation control for the color palette 100 is provided by control unit 109. Because color palette circuits, such as color palette circuit 100, comprise both RAM and DACs, they are also known as random access memory with digital-to-analog converters (RAMDACs).
In implementing the color palette circuit 100, a portion of the circuit is typically laid out in the manner shown in FIG. 2. RAM 105, sense amplifiers 111, DACs 106a, 106b and 106c, the color value register (CVR) 102, which is the combination of the individual color value registers 102a, 102b and 102c discussed above, and the analog lines 110 are shown. As can be seen from FIG. 2, because of the need to minimize the routing distance between the sense amplifiers 111 and the DACs 106a, 106b and 106c, the DAC structures are laid out very close to the sense amplifiers 111. Hence, the output values of the sense amplifiers 111 to the CVR 102 must also be tapped in the vicinity of the DACs structure, resulting in the need to route a 24-bit bus over a relatively long distance (area 120). Routing of such a wide bus is expensive in silicon area.
Furthermore, because the same sense amplifiers 111 are used to provide color values to both CVR 102 and the DACs 106a, 106b and 106c, the output data from the sense amplifiers 111 are often designed to multiplex between CVR 102 and DACs 106a, 106b and 106c, so that the color value read or written using an address supplied over port 107 is not provided to DACs 106a, 106b and 106c in the "video path" (i.e. the path from pixel address port 103 to analog color value output port 110). As a result, the color value provided by the RAM 105 to DACs 106a, 106b and 106c in the video path are also not available to CVR 102. As a result, it is not possible to probe from port 107 the digital color value supplied to DACs 106a, 106b, and 106c. Such probing capability is important for testing purposes. Hence, for a color value accessed by specifying a pixel address on port 108, only the analog output signals on lines 110 can be examined during test.
A 1-bit sense amplifier circuit 300, which is suitable for use with each bit of the 24-bit RAM 105 in the RAMDAC circuit 100, is shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, an enable signal EN enables the circuit 300 by turning on transistor 301, thereby providing a current path to the ground supply voltage through either transistors 302 and 305, or transistors 303 and 306. The value of the bit is specified by the input voltages on line COL, and its complementary signal NCOL. To provide performance, transistors 304 and 307 are used to drive the circuit 300 to the resolved state rapidly. In circuit 300, the "trip-point" of inverter 311 is set to be 2.5 volts, and the voltages on the lines COL and NCOL are constrained by transistors 308, 309 and 310 to be between 2.0 and 3.0 volts, so that state resolution is achieved by a relative small voltage swing of 1.0 volt. The output of the sense amplifier circuit 300 is provided by inverter 312, at the terminal OUT. Fourteen transistors in total are required for each bit of RAM 105's output data.
Another alternative in the prior art is to provide the RAM as a dual-port memory, such as discussed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,189, entitled "System for Reading and Writing information," by M. Brunolli, filed Dec. 18, 1985 and issued Feb. 27, 1990. Dual-port memory requires almost double the amount of decoding necessary for a single-port memory. Such organization is too expensive in terms of silicon area, especially in view that access by the CPU is relatively infrequent in most applications. In addition, even a dual-port memory does not allow probing the color value output to the DAC structure 106 by the CPU at the same time it is provided to DAC 106.

Dual sense amplifier structure for video RAMDACs


The invention relates to a process and apparatus for producing a foamed body that allows simple control of the dimensions and gives foamed body with the desired dimensions in a stable manner. According to the invention, P2 is pressure at the point where pressure in the die begins to fall after casting a molding material containing no blowing agent into the die, ΔP2 is the amount of reduction in pressure in the die from P2, P3 is the minimum pressure between the time of casting a molding material containing a blowing agent into the die completely cast and the time of beginning to increase the pressure in the die, ΔP3 is the amount of increase in pressure in the die from P3, and ΔP4 is the sum of ΔP2 and ΔP3. A blowing agent and a molding material are cast into a pressure sensor-equipped die having a guide pin exposed on the inner wall of the die and in direct contact with the molding material and a pressure sensor which detects pressure inside the die via the guide pin, and ΔP4 is controlled based on the correlation between the dimensional change and ΔP4 for a previously obtained foamed body, in order to obtain foamed body with the desired dimensions.

Conventional processes are known for obtaining molded articles of resins and the like by control of molding apparatuses based on pressure, and for example, a technique for obtaining particularly thin foamed body is disclosed in JP-A-8-336853. However, such conventional processes for obtaining molded articles utilize data of outside the die obtained from a sensor. Yet, no production process or production apparatus is known for obtaining foamed body, in particular, using pressure inside the die. The process disclosed in JP-A-8-336853 mentioned above also does not use data for pressure inside the die.


A nickel-based superalloy suitable for directed solidification, in particular for industrial gas turbine parts, having the following composition by weight:. Co: 0 to 5% PA0 Cr: 13 to 16% PA0 W: 0 to 2% PA0 Mo: 2 to 3.5% PA0 Al: 3.5 to 4% PA0 Ti: 3.5% PA0 Ta: 3.5 to 4% PA0 Hf: 0 to 1% PA0 C: 0 to 660 ppm PA0 Zr: 0 to 150 ppm PA0 B: 0 to 150 ppm PA0 Ni: balance up to 100%

In order to obtain excellent efficiency from gas turbines, it is necessary to run them at high temperatures, and this requires materials to be developed which have very high creep resistance at these high temperature. The most effective materials in this respect are nickel-based superalloys made by directed solidification and having a structure which is either of the "monocrystalline" type or else of the "column grain" type parts made of "monocrystalline" superalloys in fact comprise a monostalline gamma matrix in which gamma prime particles are dispersed, said particles cohering with the matrix in such a manner that together they possess substantially the same properties as a single crystal.
Column grain superalloys are constituted by juxtaposed elongate grains extending in the solidification direction, with the structure of each grain being similar to that of a "monocrystalline" superalloy.
These prior alloys are made by directed solidification and are used to make turbine blades for aviation purposes. However, they are not suitable for industrial (or ground-based) turbines since their resistance to corrosion over time is inadequate given the very long period of operation of such turbines, generally between 50,000 hours and 100,000 hours. The alloy used most frequently at present for making industrial turbine blades is the alloy called IN 738. It has excellent resistance to corrosion and good resistance to creep. However, with respect to creep, it is much less good than the above-mentioned monostalline or column grain superalloys. Attempts at applying the directed solidification technique to alloys of the IN 738 type have not been successful.
The object of the invention is to provide a nickel-based superalloy which, at high temperatures, simultaneously presents resistance to corrosion that is at least as good as that of the alloy IN 738, together with substantially improved resistance to creep. Such a superalloy is particularly suitable for making the blades of industrial gas turbines, and also for making the second stage blades of aviation gas turbines.

Nickel-based superalloy for industrial turbine blades

Office National D'Etudes et de Recherches/Aerospatiales


A thin-body bipolar device includes: a semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor fin constructed over the semiconductor substrate, a first region of the semiconductor fin having a first conductivity type, the first region serving as a base of the thin-body bipolar device, and a second and third region of the semiconductor fin having a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type, the second and third region being both juxtaposed with and separated by the first region, the second and third region serving as an emitter and collector of the thin-body bipolar device, respectively.

The present invention relates generally to integrated circuit (IC) designs, and more particularly to bipolar devices with a thin-body structure. This concept of this patent application can be referred to merged MOS/bipolar device in US patent publication No. 2006/0197185 and No. 2007/0105301.
Although complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) devices have advantages of low power consumption and high input impedance, they often need some specially designed I/O devices and circuits to protect them from high voltage signals. Those I/O devices and circuits usually require extra masks in the course of semiconductor processing. One way to simplify the semiconductor processing is to use bipolar devices as the I/O devices. The bipolar devices are able to sustain relatively high voltage. In addition, bipolar devices have many advantages over CMOS devices in designing analog circuitry. However, the conventional bipolar device is very complicated to manufacture. Though parasitic lateral bipolar devices can be formed through standard CMOS process, their performance is generally inferior to those formed by genuine bipolar processes. It would be desirable to design high performance bipolar devices in CMOS compatible process to achieve better performance.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional PNP bipolar transistor 10 compatible with CMOS process technologies. The LOCal Oxidation of Silicon (LOCOS) isolations 11 define three active areas 12, 13 and 14 on N well 15 in a semiconductor substrate. The active areas 12 and 13 doped with P-type impurities form an emitter 16 and a collector 17, respectively. The LOCOS isolation 11 between the emitter 16 and collector 17 defines an intrinsic base 18 thereunder in the Nwell 15. An extrinsic base 19 is electrically connected to the intrinsic base 18 via the body of the Nwell 15. The extrinsic base 19 is doped with N-type impurities to improve its conductivity. When the emitter 16, collector 17 and extrinsic base 19 are properly biased, carriers would flow between the emitter 16 and the collector 17 to produce amplification of currents.
The design of the conventional PNP bipolar transistor 10 is not suitable for ICs using three-dimensional CMOS devices. As the size of electronic devices in ICs continues to scale down, the IC design and manufacturing face new challenges. For example, failure caused by punch-though between the source and the drain of a CMOS device becomes a serious reliability issue to CMOS devices with a scale under 45 nm. As a result, many new designs have been proposed to improve the reliability of CMOS devices scaled under 45 nm. One of the proposed designs is the Fin Field Effect Transistor (FinFET) characterized by its fin-shaped source and drain, and a surrounding gate structure. The width of the fin-shaped source and drain can be controlled to eliminate the punch-through often occurred between the source and the drain of a conventional CMOS device.
As such, what is desired is a FinFET-like bipolar device that can be formed by regular CMOS process.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


A transmission mechanism of a toy helicopter, including a casing disposed in a housing of the helicopter, a motor disposed in the casing and a gear set driven by the motor to drive a pair of cams. Each cam is formed with a peripheral groove within which two rocking arms are driven to regularly swing. The rocking arm simultaneously drives a linking lever and a torque spring. The torque spring drives a lifting support shaft to move up and down. The linking lever is levered about a fulcrum and has an inclined board at one end. The inclined board has an inclined side for contacting with two seat boards pulled by springs, whereby when the linking lever swings, the inclined side of the inclined board outward pushes the seat boards. When released from the pushing force, the seat boards are resiliently restored to home position.

The present invention relates to a transmission mechanism of a toy helicopter, and more particularly to a transmission mechanism of a toy helicopter, which is able to move the helicopter up and down and rotate the helicopter and the propeller thereof. In addition, the transmission mechanism is able to move the missile hanging brackets up and down and close or open the doors of the helicopter.
A conventional toy helicopter has simple functions such as rotating the propeller and running on the ground. Such operations are monotonous and not attractive. Another conventional toy helicopter is designed with more operations. However, such toy helicopter has a complicated transmission mechanism and thus is quite expensive.
Therefore, it is necessary to provide a transmission mechanism of a toy helicopter, which can create versatile operations while being manufactured at low cost.

Transmission mechanism of a toy helicopter


A process is disclosed for treating an aqueous waste stream containing a photoresist waste component. Under this process the pH of the waste stream is adjusted in a range from about 4.0 to about 6.0 and an additive is added to the waste stream in a concentration effective to separate a precipitant from the waste solution in the form of a non-sticky residue. The additive is selected from the group consisting of FeCl.sub.3, CuCl.sub.2, NH.sub.4 Cl, AlCl.sub.3, and combinations thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to the handling and disposal of waste water effluents of the type produced during the manufacture of printed circuit boards and, in particular, to a method for removing aqueous photoresist waste from a waste water stream prior to discharging the waste water stream. Still more particularly, the present invention provides an improved method for removing aqueous photoresist waste through acid precipitation that does not produce a sticky precipitate.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Several techniques are known in the prior art for manufacturing printed circuit boards in which a light sensitive substrate is "exposed" to create a desired pattern. For instance, in one such technique, a board having a photoresist film covering a copper surface is masked such that the desired pattern is exposed to ultraviolet light. The board is developed in a sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate system stripping the unexposed photoresist film. As a result, the unexposed sections have no film covering the copper. Next, the board is etched to remove the exposed copper areas and then, the board is stripped in a sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide solution to remove the remaining photoresist film.
A developer solution and a stripping solution are used to remove the photoresist film from the board. Considerable interest exists regarding the handling and disposal of these waste water effluents in attempting to comply with increasingly restrictive environmental regulations and sewering codes. Since these photoresists are an integral part of the circuit board manufacturing process, the solutions generated from the developing and stripping of the photoresists become a part of a waste stream that often needs to be treated before discharging this waste stream, for example, into the local sewer system.
In many instances, it is desirable to remove the photoresist from the waste stream. Removal of the photoresist may involve acid treatment and carbon absorption. In acid treatment, acid is added to the waste stream to decrease the pH which causes the photoresist to precipitate out of solution. One problem with this acid treatment is that a gummy, sticky precipitate may occur. Such a precipitate cannot be clarified, filtered, or pumped by standard means. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a method of acid treatment that would not produce a gummy, sticky precipitate.

Aqueous photoresist waste treatment by acid/cupric chloride precipitation

International Business Machines Corporation


A system and method for electronically archiving electronic images of responses received from a response provider in such a manner that reduces the amount of electronic resources required for said archival.

The scoring of test question responses that cannot be scored by machine is typically carried out manually or by presentation on a computer monitor. Manual scoring involves a human manually scoring a physical test question response sheet. Scoring by presentation to a human of the test question responses using a computer involves scoring an electronic representation of the test question response or responses presented to a scorer via a computer monitor or other machine that can be programmed to manipulate symbols. It is the latter scoring procedure to which the present invention relates.
In order to present a test question response to a scorer viewing a computer monitor, several preparation steps typically occur to enable the scorer to receive the test question response, view it, score it and record the score with the necessary precision, speed and accuracy required in the test scoring industry. With test processing that analyzes optically imaged test question responses, scanners, facsimile machines and other optical imaging devices known to those skilled in the art are used to create an electronic image of the test question response that was provided by a test taker. The electronic images may be broken down into smaller images generally referred to as image clips. The electronic images and image clips may be stored in a computer or other storage media known to those skilled in the art. Multiple optical imaging devices of varying types are often used in a distributed test processing system. The electronic images and image clips are then often converted to data using well known and commercially available optical character recognition software, image character recognition software and other similar computer programs. The data or images, or both, can then be utilized in a number of ways to aid the test scoring process.
Several problems exist with respect to electronic archiving of the electronic images of test question responses. Large amounts of computer resources are required to archive the electronic images that include both the background test form template as well as the test question responses, making the process an expensive one. Speed is also a problem because the electronic images that include both the background test form template as well as the test question responses are so large that the system is slowed while moving the images over the network.

System for archiving electronic images of test question responses


The present invention relates to a process for the continuous isothermal preparation of mononitrotoluenes with concentration of the resultant waste sulfuric acid and recycling of the concentrated waste sulfuric acid to the process.

The present invention relates to a continuous isothermal process for preparing mononitrotoluenes with concentration of the resultant waste sulfuric acid and recycling of the concentrated waste sulfuric acid into the process.
Mononitrotoluenes are important intermediates for preparing optical brighteners, plant protection agents, and pharmaceutical products. Mononitrotoluenes are prepared, for example, on an industrial scale, by isothermal nitration of toluene. In this process toluene is reacted with a mixture of sulfuric acid and nitric acid (mixed acid, nitrating acid) (see, for example, Kirk-Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology Vol. 17, 4th edition 1996, xe2x80x9cNitrationxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cNitrobenzenes and Nitrotoluenexe2x80x9d).
The reaction produces a considerable amount of waste sulfuric acid that is polluted with organic compounds (for example, dinitrotoluenes or nitrated cresols) and as a result the acid must be worked up in a manner that is intensive with respect to process and costs. To avoid the production of waste acid, processes have been developed that comprise concentration of sulfuric acid, the concentrated sulfuric acid being freed from water and organic compounds and then recycled in a circulation process back to the nitration reaction.
DE 195 39 205 A discloses process parameters for the mononitration of aromatics, the mixed acids being adapted to the properties of the aromatic to be nitrated in such a way as to produce an approximately 70% strength waste sulfuric acid. In addition, the use of partially concentrated waste acids having a sulfuric acid concentration between 85% and 92% is described.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,772,757 describes a process for preparing nitrobenzene in which the resultant waste acid is concentrated to 75 to 92% and recycled back to the nitration process. Since toluene, due to the methyl group, compared with benzene, is markedly more oxidation-sensitive and has a tendency in the nitration to form by-products, applying the reaction conditions for the nitration of benzene to the nitration of toluene involves the expectation of an increase in the amount of unwanted by-products.
Due to the solubility of organic compounds in sulfuric acid, organic by-products such as oxalic acid or benzoic acid accumulate in concentrated waste acids that are recycled to the nitration reaction. In addition, accumulation of nitrosylsulfuric acid can occur. The decomposition of these organic by-products and the heat of decomposition released in the course of this reaction lead to unwanted decomposition of the reaction product nitrotoluene. In addition, there is an adverse effect on the space-time yield, since the organic by-products can react with the nitric acid used in oxidative degradation reactions and thus some of the nitric acid is no longer available for the actual nitration.
To avoid accumulation of organic by-products in the concentrated waste sulfuric acid, this can be highly concentrated (which is to say, can be concentrated to about 96%). Under these concentration conditions the organic by-products are destroyed. Nitrosylsulfuric acid can be removed from the concentrated waste sulfuric acid by blasting with sulfur dioxide.
A disadvantage of concentrating waste sulfuric acid to 96% is that concentration must be carried out at temperatures of approximately 250xc2x0 C., which, in industrial scale reactions, leads to an increased energy consumption. In addition, waste sulfuric acid that is concentrated to 96% must be diluted in an additional reaction step before recycling to the nitration reaction, the dilution generally being carried out by mixing with non-concentrated waste acid. Blowing out nitrosylsulfuric acid must be carried out in an additional process step, disadvantageously.
There was therefore a requirement for a continuous isothermal process for preparing mononitrotoluene that permits inexpensive concentration of the waste sulfuric acid with subsequent recycling into the nitration reaction in the context of a circulation process, without organic by-products accumulating in the concentrated sulfuric acid.
Surprisingly, a continuous process has been found for preparing mononitrotoluenes by reacting toluene with nitric acid and sulfuric acid under isothermal reaction conditions comprising
(a) feeding 75 to 93% strength sulfuric acid, 60 to 70% strength nitric acid, and toluene into a reactor,
(b) separating the crude nitrotoluene from the waste sulfuric acid at the reactor outlet,
(c) concentrating the waste sulfuric acid in a single-stage concentration to 75 to 93%, and
(d) recycling the concentrated waste sulfuric acid in a circulation back to the nitration reaction.

Continuous isothermal process for preparing mononitrotoluenes


Disclosed are an apparatus and method of managing network elements operating on a network. One example method may include transmitting a request to receive at least one activity parameter of a network element operating on the network and monitoring the at least one activity parameter of the network element. The method may include determining whether a usage value of the at least one activity parameter exceeds a predetermined threshold usage value and transmitting a corrective function message to the network element responsive to determining that the usage value of the at least one activity parameter exceeds the predetermined threshold value. The method may further include performing a corrective function to reduce the usage value of the at least one activity parameter.

Currently, monitoring network traffic, activity, etc., may be performed by implementing a simple network management protocol (SNMP). This protocol may monitor the activity of the network based on individual devices operating on the network. SNMP is currently used to monitor networks. SNMP itself does not define which information (which variables) a managed system should offer. Rather, SNMP uses an extensible design, where the available information is defined by management information bases (MIBs). The MIBs describe the structure of the management data of a device subsystem and are used to provide a hierarchical namespace containing object identifiers (OID). SNMP may monitor and provide feedback regarding the current operating conditions of a network. However, the reporting of network related parameters and data may not resolve any identified problems currently experienced by the network.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Managing a network element operating on a network


A scaffold support assembly comprises a support subassembly, a brace subassembly and a position adjustment subassembly. The support subassembly includes a longitudinal base member and a stabilizer member attached in transverse relation to and extending in opposite directions laterally from the longitudinal base member. Both the base and stabilizer members are adapted to lie flat on the roof. The brace subassembly includes vertical and horizontal members and an elongated flexible member. The vertical and horizontal members are connected at adjacent ends to the base member and pivotally movable relative thereto. The elongated flexible member extends between and interconnects remote ends of the vertical and horizontal members such that the elongated flexible member and vertical and horizontal members are arranged in a right trianglar-shaped configuration. The position adjustment subassembly includes a brace, a bracket, and a fastening element. The brace is rigidly attached to the base member. The bracket is attached on the brace and has a plurality of arcuately displaced apertures defining different positions of adjustment for the vertical member. The fastening element releasably connects the vertical member with the bracket so as to dispose the vertical member at a selected one arcuately displaced position which accommodates the roof pitch so as to maintain the horizontal member in a horizontal plane.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to roof scaffolding apparatus and, more particularly, is concerned with an adjustable roof scaffold support assembly.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As is well known, most roof surfaces generally are sufficiently steep that roofers, who must move about thereon for a variety of reasons, must be continuously alert to the danger of slipping and falling. Over the years, many roof scaffold devices have been proposed in the prior art to reduce these dangers. Representative examples of such prior art devices are disclosed in U.S. Patents to Rodefer (U.S. Pat. No. 15,390), Martens (U.S. Pat. No. 1,646,923), Brown (U.S. Pat. No. 1,803,788), Hetky (U.S. Pat. No. 2,299,323), Broderick (U.S. Pat. No. 2,840,424), McQuin (U.S. Pat. No. 2,888,225), Mabie (U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,745), Fischer, Jr. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,775) and Myers (U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,586).
However, a steep roof presents several problems for roofers which do not appear to be adequately addressed by these prior art devices. One problem is that roofers are not able to conveniently install and remove a scaffold in a safe manner on and from the bottom of the roof. Another problem is that roofers are not able to install the scaffold at correct proximity from the roof edge so that the scaffold does not block the area of the roof to be covered. Still another problem is that roofers are not able to maintain a level surface for the scaffold to rest upon. These are particularly pertinent problems on very steep roofs.
Consequently, a need still exists for a roof scaffold device which adequately addresses the problems of steep roofs.

Adjustable roof scaffold support assembly


A bearing type wheel for a car which rollers through a car tunnel kiln, includes a plurality of rotating members such as rollers or balls interposed between respective inner rings and an outer ring. Each of the rotating members consists essentially of a sintered body of silicon nitride base (Si.sub.3 N.sub.4) ceramic.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bearing type wheel for use in a car for a furnace or kiln, particularly for use in a car which moves through a car tunnel kiln whilst carrying thereon formed ceramic products so that the formed ceramic products are fired during movement of the car through the kiln.
2. Background of the Invention
In case of producing ceramic products continuously and in a large quantity, a tunnel kiln is used for firing formed ceramic products during movement of the formed ceramic products from the entrance to the exit of the kiln. To this end, the formed ceramic products are carried on a car which rolls on a track extending through the kiln.
A wheel of the car is of a roll bearing type and constituted by two inner rings installed on an axle of the car for rotation therewith, an intermediate ring installed on the axle of the car at a location intermediate between the inner rings, an outer ring of the width equal to the sum of the widths of the two inner rings and the intermediate ring and disposed concentrically of the inner rings and the intermediate ring, and a plurality of rollers interposed between the respective inner rings and the outer ring. The constituent parts of the wheel are made of metals similar to those of a bearing for a machine tool, for example, the rollers are made of SKD 61 (alloy steel according to Japanese Industrial Standard).
During movement of the car through the kiln, the wheels are exposed to the atmosphere of a high temperature. Accordingly, in case of a car whose wheels are entirely made of metal, a large force is necessitated for pulling the car since the function of the car is deteriorated due to the surface oxidation, plastic deformation and wearing. Further, the rollers finally lose its original form and are disabled to function properly, thus requiring replacement of the wheels and thus increasing the man-hour in the production of the ceramic products.

Car kiln wheel having silicon nitride rotating members


New antibiotics, unphenelfamycin and phenelfamycins A-D, are produced by microorganisms belonging to the genus Streptomyces. The antibiotics have antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative anaerobic organisms and are effective in improving the feed efficiency and growth rate of livestock, including poultry.

A number of antibiotics in the prior art belonging to the elfamycin family have been isolated from microorganisms belonging to the genus Streptomyces. The elfamycin family includes mocimycin (kirromycin), 5,6 dihydromocimycin, efrotomycin, aurodox, henicomycin, kirrothricin, factumycin, azdimycin and L-681,217. These antibiotics exhibit activity against gram-positive bacteria.
Other antibiotics derived from Streptomyces species include compounds LL-E19020 alpha and beta, obtained from a subspecies of S. lydicus. These compounds are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,705,688, issued to Carter et al., and are reported to have antibacterial and growth promotant properties. Although no structural formulae are given for LL-E19020 alpha and beta, it is believed that these compounds are identical to phenelfamycins E and F, described herein.
The present invention encompasses the novel antibiotic agents phenelfamycins A-D and unphenelfamycin. These agents, and the related compounds phenelfamycins E and F, have the following structures: ##STR1##
The phenelfamycins A-F and unphenelfamycin are produced by submerged aerobic fermentation of the microorganisms Streptomyces sp. AB-999F-80 and Streptomyces sp. AB-1047T-33. The compounds described exhibit antibiotic activity against a number of gram-positive and gram-negative anaerobic bacteria including strains of Bacteroides fragilis, Veillonella parvula, Clostridium perfringens, C. difficile, and Propionibacterium acnes. The antibiotics may be recovered from the fermentation broths of Streptomyces sp. AB-999F-80 and Streptomyces sp. AB-1047T-33 by ethyl acetate extraction and from the mycelium by acetone steep.

Antibiotics unphenelfamycin and phenelfamycins A-D


A fitting component for furniture or other elements, having fixing holes to receive fixing screws which are insertable in pre-drilled holes in the furniture element. Each of the fixing screws has a head and a shaft, the head having corrugations or knurls on the underside thereof. The shaft has a threaded section adjacent the head and a thread-free section at the end of the shaft. The thread-free section has a diameter corresponding to a diameter of the pre-drilled holes for pre-fixing of the fixing screws.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a fitting component, preferably for furniture, such as hinge bowl element, with fixing screws passing through holes in said fitting component, said screws being insertable in pre-drilled holes of a carcass element or a furniture door.
2. Description of the Related Art
If, for example, hinge bowl elements of hinges, which form their moving parts, need to be connected to a door, it is necessary, following insertion of the hinge bowl element in the matching shallow blind hole, to align the holes of the fixing flange of said hinge bowl element to the pre-drilled holes of the door before the fixing screws can be wound in and tightened. This alignment of the holes of the fixing flange to the pre-drilled holes of the door and the subsequent insertion, winding-in and tightening of the fixing screws demands additional time which extends the production times to an undesirable degree.


The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for providing a virtual advertisement, and more particularly to an apparatus and method that can determine the size of a virtual advertisement image to be inserted into a moving image while taking into account the size of an advertising region included in the moving image, that can select an appropriate virtual advertisement image based on the determined size of the virtual advertisement image, and that can measure the objective exposure level of a virtual indirect advertisement and calculate advertising expenses based on the measured objective exposure level. Furthermore, there are provided an apparatus and method that select a virtual advertisement image to be inserted into an advertising region while taking into account the size of a virtual advertising region that varies depending on the angle of a camera or the posture of a virtual advertisement object.

In line with a recent increase in the scale of the advertising market, broadcasting companies that present dramas, movies and sports broadcasts are greatly interested in indirect advertising (or product placement) or virtual advertising that can increase an advertising effect by inserting an image of an advertising item into a drama or sports broadcast.
Generally, indirect advertising is a marketing technique that indirectly advertises an advertising target product by presenting the advertising target product when a moving image, such as a movie, a drama or the like, is produced. Indirect advertising is a method of exposing an advertising target product in a moving image without incompatibility by disposing the advertising target product in the form of a prop when the moving image is produced, thereby naturally exhibiting an advertising effect while preventing viewers from having a sense of viewing advertising.
In contrast, virtual advertising refers to advertising that is performed by inserting a virtual advertisement image of an advertising target product or the like, which is not present when a moving image is produced, into a moving image of a movie, a drama, a sports broadcast or the like, using a virtual imaging method.
Virtual imaging is an image processing and synthesizing technique that inserts an image into a specific space or virtual space in real time during the live broadcasting of various types of broadcast media and images and performs processing so that the inserted image is fixed at a specific point using tracking technology and seems to be actually included in a corresponding image screen. This image processing technique is widely being used in live sports broadcasts and live event broadcasts, and is also applied to various application fields, such as advertising and the provision of game information images.
Virtual advertising is performed by applying the above image processing technique to an advertising field. A virtual advertisement image is received from an advertiser or generated using computer graphics, and the virtual advertisement image is inserted into an original moving image, thereby exposing the advertisement image to a viewer who is viewing the moving image. However, the size of a virtual advertising region for insertion may vary depending on the angle of a camera or the posture of a virtual advertisement object, and thus such a characteristic needs to be taken into account when a virtual advertisement image to be inserted into the virtual advertising region is selected.
Furthermore, the calculation of the advertising expenses of a virtual advertisement is an issue of great importance to an advertiser. However, since there are no clear criteria, there is difficulty calculating objective advertising expenses that can be accepted by the advertiser.
If the level at which a virtual advertisement is exposed in video image content can be objectively measured and advertising expenses can be transparently calculated based on the exposure level, an advertiser can trust the calculated advertising expenses.
Related preceding technologies include Korean Patent No. 10-1105476 published on Jan. 5, 2012 (entitled "Method of Providing Advertising Service via Synthesis of Moving Image) and Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2013-0035151 published on Apr. 8, 2013 (entitled "Advertising Service Provision Method that Differentially Charges Advertising Expenses for Outdoor Advertising).

Apparatus and method for providing virtual advertisement


An expander heat exchanger cycle system provides a fuel or oxidizer routed through a heat exchanger to cool and condense a coolant/turbine drive fluid.

The present invention relates to propulsion systems, and more particularly to an expander heat exchanger cycle system therefore.
A rocket engine provides propulsion by combusting propellants, such as fuel and an oxidizer, at high pressure. The combustion of the fuel and the oxidizers provide combustion gases which are expelled through a nozzle at high velocity to produce thrust.
A turbopump includes turbines which drive pumps that pump fuel and oxidizer to the combustion chamber of the rocket engine. High pressure gases power the turbines. In order to produce the high pressure gases, combustion devices such as pre-burners initially heat or combust certain propellants, which may be in a heat exchange relationship with the combustion chamber to transfer the high pressure gases therefrom to the turbomachinery. This, typically, requires the turbines to withstand high pressures and temperatures. In addition, a seal system is required to prevent pre-mixture of the propellants as pre-mixture may produce a system failure. The seal system is typically purged with a purge gas which is consumed in the seal system. The purge gas may be under relatively high pressure, which may further complicate the engine.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide relatively low pressure and low temperature system to communicate power propellants to a rocket engine.


A concealable signaling, e.g., radio alarm, device worn on the person and actuated by concealed switch means that include mechanical detents. The engagement of the detents provides secret tactile information back to the wearer. The presently preferred embodiment is a miniature radio alarm transmitter concealed in a device which also serves as a belt buckle. The wearer distends his waist to actuate the transmitter. Tension in the belt moves an element through one or more detent engagements before it activates the transmitter. These detent engagements make transient changes in the belt tension which are felt by the wearer; these inform the wearer of impending activation, so preventing false transmitter signals or alarms.

This invention relates to miniature radio or other alarm or signaling devices to be worn on the person and actuated in a concealed manner. Such devices are used for example to summon guards or police during apparent criminal action. The invention relates further to such devices which include a tactile or other concealed means to indicate to the wearer the status of their operation, e.g., unactivated, about to be activated, or activated. It relates more particularly to a belt with a novel buckle-like device which contains a miniature transmitter, an activating switch, and a tactile silent feedback means to the wearer or operator.
The closest prior art of which I am aware is indicated below.
Davis, U.S. Pat. No. 2,681,955 and Verhasghe No. 3,582,935 show switches actuated by tightening a waist belt, but without a radio, ultrasonic, or other transmitter or any tactile feedback device.
Davidson U.S. Pat. No. 2,766,358 and Demuth No. 3,588,858 show transmitters worn on the person for alarm purposes, but actuated by means other than belt distending and without any tactile feedback means.
Ticktin U.S. Pat. No. 3,103,660 shows a battery-powered "vibrator" worn on the wrist for tactile signaling to the wearer. It may also be worn on the ankle. It is shown as a time-operated reminder device or the like and includes no alarm transmitter or other switched device controlled by the wearer.
Hall U.S. Pat. No. 3,608,541 shows a tactile or audible "buzzer" turned on by a switch in a harness, disposed to tell the wearer to straighten up when his spine is curved. No transmitter or the like is shown.
My copending application Ser. No. 780,011, filed Mar. 22, 1977, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,121,160, shows a miniature radio alarm transmitter worn on the person and actuated by squeezing it with the fingers.
The above prior art is the result of a preliminary search.

Silent wearable signalling device with tactile means to prevent false triggering


Apparatus and methods for use in ophthalmic surgery in which a container for fluid is connected to a line through which fluid flows to a surgical handpiece for the irrigation of a patient's eye are provided. A sensor emits a magnetic field and a detector causes another magnetic field to be generated. The interaction of the two magnetic fields causes a pulse to be generated. Based on the timing of the generated pulse, the apparatus or method determines the absolute position of the support coupled to the container and adjusts the height of the support. Circuitry is also provided to prevent changes in height of the support by preventing supply of drive currents and by applying a hold current or by generating an electro motive force.

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for ophthalmic surgery, and more particularly to an apparatus for use in ophthalmic surgery with controls to adjust and determine the height of a support coupled to a container from which fluid flows with a desired pressure to a surgical handpiece for the irrigation of a patient's eye.
Ophthalmic surgery is useful in treating various conditions relating to the eyes. One condition which may be alleviated by surgery is cataracts, which are sometimes described as clouding of the eyes. As old cells die, they accumulate within a capsule containing the lens of the eye. This accumulation of dead cells causes an occlusion of the lens, i.e., a cataract.
There are many surgical available techniques to alleviate or treat cataracts. In some techniques, a solution or fluid is used to irrigate the eye. Operating and controlling a system to deliver or provide the solution can be an issue, and the systems may be complex. In particular, initial calibrations may be required in order to regulate the supply of the solution. Performing these initial calibrations may slow operation times. Additionally, at times, it is useful to identify the position of a container for the solution to regulate fluid pressure and/or an amount of fluid being supplied.


The present invention provides a method of transcriptionally modulating the expression of a gene of interest, the expression of which is associated with a defined physiological or pathological effect within a multicellular organism. The method comprises contacting a cell which is capable of expressing the gene with an amount of a molecule effective to transcriptionally modulate expression of the gene and thereby affect the level of the protein encoded by the gene which is expressed by the cell. Molecules useful in the practice of the invention are characterized as follows (a) do not naturally occur in the cell, (b) specifically transcriptionally modulate expression of the gene of interest, and (c) bind to DNA or RNA or bind to a protein through a domain of such protein which is not a ligand binding domain of a receptor which naturally occurs in the cell, the binding of a ligand to which ligand binding domain is normally associated with the defined physiological or pathological effect.

Throughout this application, various publications are referenced by Arabic numerals within parentheses. Full citations for these publications may be found at the end of the specification immediately preceding the claims. The disclosures of these publications in their entireties are hereby incorporated by reference into this application in order to more fully describe the state of the art as known to those skilled therein as of the date of the invention described and claimed herein.
The expression of a specific gene can be regulated at any step in the process of producing an active protein. Modulation of total protein activity may occur via transcriptional, transcript-processing, translational or post-translational mechanisms. Transcription may be modulated by altering the rate of transcriptional initiation or the progression of RNA polymerase (28). Transcript-processing may be influenced by circumstances such as the pattern of RNA splicing, the rate of mRNA transport to the cytoplasm or mRNA stability. This invention concerns the use of molecules which act by modulating the in vivo concentration of their target proteins via regulating gene transcription. The functional properties of these chemicals are distinct from previously described molecules which also affect gene transcription.
Researchers have documented the regulation of transcription in bacteria by low molecular weight chemicals (42, 36). Extracellular xenobiotics, amino acids and sugars have been reported to interact directly with an intracellular proteinaceous transcriptional activator or repressor to affect the transcription of specific genes.
Transcriptional regulation is sufficiently different between procaryotic and eucaryotic organisms so that a direct comparison cannot readily be made. Procaryotic cells lack a distinct membrane bound nuclear compartment. The structure and organization of procaryotic DNA elements responsible for initiation of transcription differ markedly from those of eucaryotic cells.
The eucaryotic transcriptional unit is much more complex than its procaryotic counterpart and consists of additional elements which are not found in bacteria. Eucaryotic transcriptional units include enhancers and other cis-acting DNA sequences (30, 19). Procaryotic transcription factors most commonly exhibit a xe2x80x9chelix-turn-helixxe2x80x9d motif in the DNA binding domain of the protein (29, 37). Eucaryotic transcriptional factors frequently contain a xe2x80x9czinc fingerxe2x80x9d (37, 12) or a xe2x80x9cleucine zipperxe2x80x9d (24) in addition to sometimes possessing the xe2x80x9chelix-turn-helixxe2x80x9d motif (26). Furthermore, several critical mechanisms at the post-transcriptional level such as RNA splicing and polyadenylation are not found in procaryotic systems (21, 35).
In higher eucaryotes, modulation of gene transcription in response to extracellular factors can be regulated in both a temporal and tissue specific manner (22). For example, extracellular factors can exert their effects by directly or indirectly activating or inhibiting transcription factors (22, 28).
Modulators of transcription factors involved in direct regulation of gene expression have been described, and include those extracellular chemicals entering the cell passively and binding with high affinity to their receptor-transcription factors. This class of direct transcriptional modulators include steroid hormones and their analogs, thyroid hormones, retinoic acid, vitamin D3 and its derivatives, and dioxins, a chemical family of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (12, 38, 9).
Dioxins are molecules generally known to modulate transcription, however, dioxins bind to naturally-occurring receptors which respond normally to xenobiotic agents via transcriptionally activating the expression of cytochrome P450, part of an enzyme involved in detoxification.
The clinical use of steroid hormones, thyroid hormones, vitamin D3 and their analogs demonstrates that agents which modulate gene transcription can be used for beneficial effects, although these agents can exhibit significant adverse side effects. Obviously, analogs of these agents could have similar clinical utility as their naturally occurring counterparts by binding to the same ligand binding domain of such receptors.
Indirect transcriptional regulation involves one or more signal transduction mechanisms. The regulation typically involves interaction with a receptor, the receptor being part of a multistep intracellular signaling pathway, the pathway ultimately modulating the activity of nuclear transcription factors. This class of indirect transcriptional modulators include polypeptide growth factors such as platelet-derived growth factor, epidermal growth factor, cyclic nucleotide analogs, and mitogenic tumor promoters (18, 1, 2).
It is well documented that a large number of chemicals, both organic and inorganic, e.g. metal ions, can non-specifically modulate transcription.
Researchers have used nucleotide analogs in methods to modulate transcription. The mechanism involves incorporating nucleotide analogs into nascent mRNA or non-specifically blocking mRNA synthesis. Similarly, researchers have used alkylating agents, e.g. cyclophosphamide, or intercalating agents, e.g. doxorubicin, to non-specifically inhibit transcription.
Moreover, chemical inhibitors of hydroxymethyl-glutaryl CoA reductase, e.g. lovastatin, are known to modulate transcription by indirectly increasing expression of hepatic low density lipoprotein receptors as a consequence of lowered cholesterol levels.
Signal effector type molecules such as cyclic AMP, diacylglycerol, and their analogs are known to non-specifically regulate transcription by acting as part of a multistep protein kinase cascade reaction. These signal effector type molecules bind to domains on proteins which are thus subject to normal physiological regulation by low molecular weight ligands (10, 39).
The specific use of sterol regulatory elements from the LDL receptor gene to control expression of a reporter gene has recently been documented in PCT/US88/10095. One aspect of PCT/US88/10095 deals with the use of specific sterol regulatory elements coupled to a reporter as a means to screen for drugs capable of stimulating cells to synthesize the LDL receptor. PCT/US88/10095 describes neither the concept of simultaneously screening large numbers of chemicals against multiple target genes nor the existence of transcriptional modulators which (a) do not naturally occur in the cell, (b) specifically transcriptionally modulate expression of the gene of interest, and (c) bind to DNA or RNA or bind to a protein through a domain of such protein which is not a ligand binding domain of a receptor which naturally occurs in the cell, the binding of a ligand to which ligand binding domain is normally associated with the defined physiological effect. The main focus of PCT/US88/10095 is the use of the sterol regulatory elements from the LDL receptor as a means to inhibit expression of toxic recombinant biologicals.
The use of molecules to specifically modulate transcription of a gene of interest as described herein has not previously been reported and its use will bring surprise since available literature does not propose the use of a molecule, as described, in a method to specifically modulate transcription. Instead, the available literature has reported methods which define domains of transcriptional regulating elements of a gene of interest.
Further, the practice of using a reporter gene to analyze nucleotide sequences which regulate transcription of a gene of interest is well documented. The demonstrated utility of a reporter gene is in its ability to define domains of transcriptional regulatory elements of a gene of interest. Reporter genes which express proteins, e.g. luciferase, are widely utilized in such studies. Luciferases expressed by the North American firefly, Photinus pyralis and the bacterium, Vibrio fischeri were first described as transcriptional reporters in 1985 (8, 11)
A method to define domains of transcriptional regulating elements of a gene of interest typically has also involved use of phorbol esters, cyclic nucleotide analogs, concanavalin A, or steroids, molecules which are commonly known as transcriptional modulators. However, available literature shows that researchers have not considered using a transcription screen to identify specific transcriptional modulators. Apparently, success would be unlikely in doing so, however, we have demonstrated herein that this is not the case.
There is utility in developing the method of transcriptional modulation of a gene-of-interest by using such molecule as described herein. This method will allow the development of novel pharmaceuticals and circumvent many of the problems associated with the therapeutic use of recombinant biological factors.
Problems associated with the therapeutic use of recombinant biological factors include the technical difficulties of large scale protein purification, the high costs of protein production, the limited shelf-life of most proteins and in some cases a short biological half-life of the administered protein in the organism. Additionally, therapeutic delivery of proteins normally requires injection and frequently induces an immune reaction in situations where chronic administration is required. The method described herein provides a means of up-regulating the expression of proteins, e.g. membrane receptors, which are not readily amenable to administration as injectable biologicals.
Furthermore, chemical molecules specifically regulating the activity of one member of a group of closely related proteins are difficult to produce. Molecules, structurally related at the protein level, may possess distinct regulatory elements at the DNA level which control their expression. Thus, molecules such as the chemical transcriptional modulators defined herein can provide a greater opportunity for specifically modulating the activity of structurally related proteins. One example is the ras oncogene family, where the H-, N- and K-ras proteins are highly related but wherein the three genes have distinct structures.
Finally, the molecules described herein may also serve to mimic normal physiological response mechanisms, typically involving the coordinated expression of one or more groups of functionally related genes. Therefore, determining whether a molecule can specifically transcriptionally modulate the expression of a gene of interest and the ultimate clinical use of the molecule provides a therapeutic advantage over the use of single recombinant biologicals, or drugs which bind directly to the final target protein encoded by the gene-of-interest.
The present invention provides a method of transcriptionally modulating the expression of a gene of interest, the expression of which is associated with a defined physiological or pathological effect within a multicellular organism. The method comprises contacting a cell which is capable of expressing the gene with an amount of a molecule effective to transcriptionally modulate expression of the gene and thereby affect the level of the protein encoded by the gene which is expressed by the cell.
Molecules useful in the practice of the invention are characterized as follows (a) do not naturally occur in the cell, (b) specifically transcriptionally modulate expression of the gene of interest, and (c) bind to DNA or RNA or bind to a protein through a domain of such protein which is not a ligand binding domain of a receptor which naturally occurs in the cell, the binding of a ligand to which ligand binding domain is normally associated with the defined physiological or pathological effect.
Additionally, this invention provides a method of determining whether a molecule, not previously known to be a modulator of protein biosynthesis, is capable of transcriptionally modulating the expression of a gene of interest. The method comprises contacting a sample which contains a predefined number of cells with a predetermined amount of a molecule to be tested. Each such cell comprises DNA consisting essentially of (i) a modulatable transcriptional regulatory sequence of the gene of interest, (ii) a promoter of the gene of interest, and (iii) a reporter gene which expresses a polypeptide capable of producing a detectable signal, coupled to, and under the control of, the promoter, and the contacting is carried out under conditions such that the molecule, if capable of acting as a transcriptional modulator of the gene of interest, causes a measureable detectable signal to be produced by the polypeptide expressed by the reporter gene and the amount of the signal produced may be quantitatively determined. The amount of produced signal so determined is compared with the amount of produced signal detected in the absence of any molecule being tested or upon contacting the sample with any other molecule so as to thereby identify the molecule as one which causes a change in the detectable signal produced by the polypeptide expressed by the reporter gene and thus identify the molecule as a molecule capable of transcriptionally modulating the expression of the gene of interest.
The present invention still further provides a method for transcriptionally modulating in a multicellular organism the expression of a gene of interest, the expression of which is associated with a defined physiological or pathological effect in the organism. The method comprises administering to the organism an amount of a molecule effective to transcriptionally modulate expression of the gene and thus affect the defined physiological or pathological effect. A molecule useful in the method: (a) does not naturally occur in the organism, (b) specifically transcriptionally modulates expression of the gene of interest, and (c) binds to DNA or RNA or binds to a protein through a domain of such protein which is not a ligand binding domain of a receptor which naturally occurs in the organism, the binding of a ligand to which ligand binding domain is normally associated with the defined physiological or pathological effect.

Methods of preparing compositions comprising chemicals capable of transcriptional modulators