A driving apparatus for smoothly driving a running unit of a robot, including a movable table movably supported by first and second gear mechanisms driven by independent first and second motors engaging with respective two parallel racks to carry a robot body. This apparatus includes a position command unit for delivering a first position command value to the first motor; a constant value generation unit for generating a constant value indicative of a difference between output values from first and second encoders provided in association with the first and second motors when the movable table is positioned perpendicular to the parallel racks; and a correction unit for determining a first deviation between the first position command value and an output value from the first encoder and determining a second deviation between a second command value obtained by adding the constant value to the first position command value and an output value from the second encoder to determine a third deviation between these first and second deviations to correct the first and second deviation signals on the basis of the third deviation to thereby output corrected position command values for the first and second motors, respectively.

This invention relates to a driving apparatus for a running unit of a robot, and more particularly, to a driving apparatus suitable for a large robot running at a high speed.
For the purpose of carrying out various kinds of work such as spot welding, handling, and the like using general-use robots so as to exhibit a performance equal to that of conventional large industrial robots, a gantry robot constructed so that a robot is attached to a large frame body through a running device or unit is used in order to move the robot body to a required position (see Japanese patent application Laid Open No. 171894/87).
An example of this running unit is shown in FIG. 1.
As best shown in this figure, a set of parallel racks 53 and 54 are provided on parallel two side frames 51 and 52 of the frame body. Furthermore, a table for supporting the robot body is movably mounted on these racks. Namely, a set of gears 55 and 56 engaging with the respective racks 53 and 54 and coupled by a transmission shaft 57 are provided. Furthermore, this transmission shaft 57 is rotationally driven by a motor 58, a reduction gear 59, a sprocket 60, a timing belt 61, and a sprocket 62. Thus, the robot can be moved on the racks by rotation of the motor.
In such a running unit, since robots have tended to become large in size in recent years, the movement span of the robot is 3 to 5 m, and a required speed is 1 m/s or more. For this reason, the length of the transmission shaft is gradually elongated. In such a case, the influence of torsional error by torsional rigidity of the transmission shaft can no longer be ignored. Namely, a quantity of torsion at the both ends of the transmission shaft varies depending upon the position of the robot body as the load on the transmission shaft. As a result, meshing or engagement of the gears becomes poor, so smooth movement is prevented, giving rise to problems in the running characteristics. Accordingly, it becomes difficult to realize a running device having a long span and moving at a high speed.
Furthermore, a large capacity motor is required in order to carry out a high speed movement. However, such a motor is heavy in weight, and proves an obstacle to the high speed movement.
For this reason, there is proposed a running unit for a robot constructed so that running mechanisms driven by motors are respectively provided for every two racks to independently control them, thereby eliminating the influence of torsion without using a long transmission shaft.
In such a running device, the influence of torsion of the transmission shaft is elimianted, but there still occur instances where the meshing of gears is not satisfactory because the two motors are controlled in an unrelated manner. In the extreme case, there is the possibility that the axial directions of two toothed wheels greatly deviate from the direction perpendicular to the rack direction, so running is stopped because of biting of the toothed wheels.

Driving apparatus for running unit of robot


In part, the disclosure relates to computer-based methods, devices, and systems suitable for detecting a delivery catheter using intravascular data. In one embodiment, the delivery catheter is used to position the intravascular data collection probe. The probe can collect data suitable for generating one or more representations of a blood vessel with respect to which the delivery catheter can be detected.

Coronary artery disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The ability to better diagnose, monitor, and treat coronary artery diseases can be of life saving importance. Intravascular optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a catheter-based imaging modality that uses light to peer into coronary artery walls and generate images thereof for study. Utilizing coherent light, interferometry, and micro-optics, OCT can provide video-rate in-vivo tomography within a diseased vessel with micrometer level resolution.
Viewing subsurface structures with high resolution using fiber-optic probes makes OCT especially useful for minimally invasive imaging of internal tissues and organs. This level of detail made possible with OCT allows a clinician to diagnose as well as monitor the progression of coronary artery disease. OCT images provide high-resolution visualization of coronary artery morphology and can be used alone or in combination with other information such as angiography data and other sources of subject data to aid in diagnosis and planning such as stent delivery planning
Imaging of portions of a patient's body provides a useful diagnostic tool for doctors and others. OCT, ultrasound and other data collection modalities use guide catheters to position a probe in a blood vessel prior to collecting data. In many circumstances, collecting data when a data collection probe is within the guide catheter is undesirable. Accordingly, a need therefore exists to detect the location of a guide catheter. The present disclosure addresses this need and others.

Intravascular imaging and guide catheter detection methods and systems


A battery operated medical instrument that can operate on either rechargeable or non-rechargeable batteries or can be recharged using either a 120 Volt or a 220 Volt outlet.

This invention relates to a battery handle which may be connected interchangeably to a variety of electrically dependent instruments. More specifically, this invention deals with such a handle which may accept either two non-rechargeable batteries, or a single rechargeable battery having different lengths. When using a rechargeable battery, the unit may be recharged either by directly plugging the handle unit into a U.S. standard electrical outlet or by use of a suitable transformer as an intermediate.
Health professionals use a variety of small hand-held diagnostic instruments such as otoscopes, ophthalmoscopes and retinoscopes in order to perform a variety of functions. Optimal flexibility and portability is achieved by using battery operated versions of such instruments. The use of non-rechargeable batteries, however, is expensive, requires storage and frequent changes of batteries, and is environmentally unsound.
On the other hand, the use of rechargeable batteries that are recharged in separate rechargers is cumbersome and requires a fair amount of attention. Thus, having the ability to recharge a battery while it remains in the device is desirable, and has been incorporated into a number of devices, such as flashlights (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,281,637 and 3,096,941).
However, such rechargeable units present a different problem in that prolonged use of the device drains the battery, which then takes a substantial amount of time to recharge. During the recharge period, which exceeds the time period of usability, the handle, and thus the instrument, is unusable. U.S. Pat. No. 4,147,163, assigned to present assignee, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,382,219 both address this problem by each providing a handle for a medical instrument that is capable of accepting either a rechargeable or non-rechargeable batteries.
Such dual battery units must overcome a number of potential problems. The first problem is that single or pairs of standard non-rechargeable batteries are not generally interchangeable with a rechargeable battery used in such instruments. A second problem is that an inadvertent attempt to charge a non-rechargeable battery can result in excessive heat, expansion of the battery, and the possible danger of an explosion. A third problem is that an inadvertent inversion of rechargeable batteries may result in a short circuit, destroying the batteries. A fourth problem is that when using a rechargeable battery having a side wall terminal, if this terminal is allowed to contact the handle, the handle will become excessively warm or even dangerously hot. A fifth problem associated with convertible battery handles stems from the fact that a single rechargeable battery and a pair of non-rechargeable batteries are of different lengths. In order to accommodate the different length combinations, the battery handle, typically, is overly long and the instrument attached thereto is unbalanced and difficult to manipulate, particularly by a person having small hands.
While some of these problems are addressed by the prior art, all of these problems are not handled. Also, two additional features are desirable. First it would be preferable for the unit to contain as few mechanically movable parts as possible, for ease and economy of production as well as for durability. Second, since the instruments involved may be used outside of the U.S., it is desirable for the handle to be adaptable to allow the batteries to be charged in other current/voltage combinations than those used within the U.S. by allowing direct linkage with a suitable transformer.

Instrument handle for use with interchangeable batteries


An organic light-emitting display panel, a driving method thereof, and an organic light-emitting display device are provided. The organic light-emitting display panel includes a pixel driving circuit comprising an organic light-emitting element, a driving module, an initialization module, a data write-in module, and a light-emitting control module. The driving module includes a control end, a first end and a second end. The light-emitting control module is configured to transmit a signal to the second end of the driving module. The driving module is configured to drive the organic light-emitting element to emit light based on the signal transmitted by the light-emitting control module. The initialization module is configured to initialize a voltage level of the control end and a voltage level of the first end of the driving module. The data write-in module is configured to write a data signal into the control end of the driving module.

An organic light-emitting display utilizes the self-luminous property of an organic semiconductor material for display. Different from the liquid crystal display, the organic light-emitting display needs no backlight, thereby effectively reducing the thickness of the display screen. Often, a pixel array comprising a plurality of sub-pixels is disposed in a display region of the organic light-emitting display. Each sub-pixel includes an organic light-emitting diode that is driven by a pixel driving circuit to emit light.
An existing pixel driving circuit may include a driving transistor, and the driving transistor may provide a light-emitting current to the organic light-emitting diode under control of the light-emitting control signal. Often, the light-emitting current of the organic light-emitting diode is related to the threshold voltage Vth of the driving transistor.
However, the threshold voltage Vth of the driving transistor may drift (i.e., threshold drift) because of reasons such as fabrication process and aging after long-time use. Accordingly, the accuracy of tight-emitting brightness of the organic light-emitting diode is relatively poor. The drift amounts of the threshold voltages of different organic light-emitting diodes may be different from each other, and the display brightness of each sub-pixel may differ greatly from each other. Thus, the display evenness of the images can be relatively poor.
The disclosed organic light-emitting display panel, driving method thereof, and organic light-emitting display device are directed to solving at least partial problems set forth above and other problems.

Organic light-emitting display panel, driving method thereof, and organic light-emitting display device


A twin-wall composite lining for automobiles is mounted between the structure of the door and an interior covering including an internal panel providing a seal. It comprises over at least part of its surface a twin-wall delimiting at least one integral volume or cavity used to implement one or more additional functions, including the provision of ducting for air from an air conditioner or electrical cables. Applications include lining automobile doors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a composite lining for automobile doors formed by two walls with volumes between them having at least one function additional to the sealing function, such as ducting for the flow of air from an air conditioner, ducts for electric wires, soundproofing or heat insulation or a side impact protection (by absorbing energy).
2. Description of the Prior Art
The interior of automobile vehicle doors must be sealed to prevent rainwater and dust entering the passenger compartment and coming into contact with the interior lining of the vehicle. One prior art method of providing this seal fixes an impermeable film to the internal structures of the door, the film being disposed in such a way as to direct towards the exterior the water which inevitably infiltrates into the doors via the windows.
These impermeable films are usually in the form of a plastics material film coated with a layer of adhesive for ease of installation. Closed cell synthetic foam has also been used and has the advantage of providing heat insulation and soundproofing of the passenger compartment, in addition to providing a seal. Panels of this kind are also thermoformable and so can fit perfectly to the complex structures of the doors, to which they are fixed by means of a bead of adhesive.
The constant need to improve passenger comfort has led automobile manufacturers to improve air conditioning systems for the passenger compartment. To achieve satisfactory results, ducting must be provided to deliver air from the air conditioner into the passenger compartment near each passenger.
Although this is a relatively simple matter for the front seat passengers, it is often difficult to find room for air conditioning ducts in the rear part of the vehicle: the central console is taken up with electrical and mechanical equipment and so a path through the doors is often preferred, all the more so in that this provides a way of distributing hot air in winter to demist the side windows (see, for example, patent applications FR-A-2 473 962 and FR-A-2 361 232).
Document EP-A-0 551 825 concerns a thermoformed door seal lining disposed between the door structure and the interior covering. The seal lining described in this document has only one wall, however, and it is therefore not possible to provide specific volumes implementing functions additional to the sealing function.
Document EP-A-0 495 712 concerns an automobile door with an interior covering that also provides the sealing function. Because a good appearance is required, since it can be seen from the interior of the passenger compartment, the manufacturer of an interior covering of this kind combined with the sealing means is not only complex and difficult but also extremely costly; moreover, there is no lining proper providing the sealing and additional functions.
Documents DE 25 10 220, FR-A-2 569 146 and EP-A-0 495 712 respectively concern interior coverings, air ducts formed in the interior covering or other devices.
The present invention proposes a composite lining for automobiles which seals the door and provides at least one additional comfort or safety function, such as conducting air from the air conditioner to the side and rear parts of the vehicle, holding and protecting electrical wires, thermal insulation, soundproofing and/or side impact protection; this enhances the safety and the comfort of passengers.

Twin-wall composite lining for automobiles


A fingerprint ink dispensing apparatus includes a ceramic disk positioned over an ink reservoir in the form, for example, of a felt pad. The ceramic disk has an average porosity of about 40% and an average pore size of about 5 microns. A colored pigment such as carbon black dispensed in a hydrocarbon oil is disposed in the reservoir with the concentration of the carbon black being about 22% by weight and the diameter of the carbon black particles falling within the range of 0.15 to 0.60 microns and the average size being about 0.35 microns.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fingerprint ink dispensing apparatus and more particularly to a combined ink pad and reservoir.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The art of fingerprinting and identifying persons by their fingerprints is well known. The simplest method of taking a person's fingerprints is to apply a highly colored ink or dye (hereinafter collectively referred to as "ink") such as a suspension of carbon black particles to the person's fingertips. Subsequent rolling or pressing of the person's fingers on a clean recording surface, such as paper, deposits the ink on the surface in a pattern corresponding to the fingerprints of the person.
To obtain clear prints standard ink is generally squeezed from a tube onto a plate and then rolled to an appropriate thickness. It, of course, takes time to prepare an ink plate. Moreover, if the solvent and pigment separate (which often occurs) additional time is required for the technician to re-mix the constituents on the plate. In addition, it is not unnatural for a person to vary the ink thickness on the plate when rushed etc., with the result that the resulting prints are smeared (too much ink) or too faint (too little ink).
A rigid plate made of ceramic and disposed over a felt reservoir has also been used to apply ink to the fingertips. The ceramic plate had a porosity of between 30% to 35% with an average pore size of about 5 microns in diameter. The ink consisted of carbon black pigment dispensed in a glycerol/glycol/water base with a 22% by weight concentration of the pigment. The average diameter of the pigment particles was about 0.35 microns with the diameter of substantially all of the pigment particles falling within the range of 0.15 to 0.60 microns. This system eliminated the ink plate and the human variables associated with the use of such a plate. However, problems of fingerstaining and penetration rate into the paper (too slow) still existed to some extent. In addition, the ink solution had stability problems. To solve these problems, the glycerol dispersant was replaced with a hydrocarbon based oil and the concentration of the carbon black pigment was reduced to about 14% by weight.
The change of dispersant and pigment concentration, however, resulted in fingerprint images which remained light in contrast and tended to bleed, i.e., the lines of the image broadened and became fuzzy in appearance. These new problems became particularly acute when the recorded prints were read and compared by computerized machines.
The present invention is aimed at solving the above problems.


A novel human cytokine, JE factor, and processes for producing it are disclosed. JE may be used in pharmaceutical preparations for stimulating and/or enhancing immune responsiveness and in wound healing and related tissue repair.

A family of regulatory proteins that deliver signals between many different types of cells in the body has been identified. These regulatory molecules are known as cytokines. Many of the cytokines have been found to control the growth and development and biological activities of cells in the hematopoietic and immune systems. Cytokines have also been identified which are produced by other cell types including fibroblasts and endothelial cells which transmit signals between these cells and a variety of responsive target cells. This family of cytokines is clearly important for maintaining homeostasis and for coordinating the physiological responses to a variety of insults including wounding and infection as well as regulating the immune response [See, for example G. Wong & S. Clark, Immunology Today, 9(5):139 (1988)]. The family of cytokines includes the interleukins, the hematopoietic colony-stimulating factors, the interferons, and the tumor necrosis factors among others. In addition, two subfamilies within the larger cytokine family have emerged that share evolutionary relatedness at the nucleotide level. Members of one of these families share sequence similarity with a cytokine known as macrophage inflammatory protein 1 (MIP-1) [Davatelis, G. et al J. Exp. Med., 167:1939-1944 (1988)], while members of the other family share sequence similarity with a second macrophage inflammatory protein, MIP-2 [Wolpe, S. D. et al, Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA, 86:612-616 (1988)]. MIP-1 and MIP-2 are cytokines produced by activated macrophages that induce local inflammatory responses when injected subcutaneously in mice. Other polypeptides have been identified through molecular biological approaches which are clearly related to either MIP-1 or MIP-2 but for which biological activities have not yet been identified. Although the function of these molecules is not known, they, like other members of the cytokine family, are likely to be important in various aspects of regulating homeostasis or coordinating physiological responses to wounding, injury, or infection or in the regulation of the immune system.
One member of the MIP-1 subfamily may be the murine JE [Rollins et al, Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. USA 85:3738-3742 (1988)] and its human homologue disclosed herein.


Examples described herein include systems and methods for synchronizing applications that target different software development kits (“SDK”). The system can execute a bridge application that registers an implementation of a content provider class. This allows the bridge application to communicate with a first application targeting a first SDK. The bridge application can also register to send and receive implicit broadcasts. After the bridge application verifies the request, it can broadcast to a second cluster of applications registered with an operating system to receive implicit broadcasts. Similarly, the bridge application can receive implicit broadcasts and synchronize those requests with a first cluster of applications by using the implemented content provider methods.

Applications on a user device, such as a laptop, commonly communicate with one another to synchronize information. This is particularly true for applications in a Mobile Device Management ("MDM") or Enterprise Mobility Management ("EMM") system. In those systems, providers can allow employees to access multiple different applications based on a single user authentication, and actions in one application can impact functionality in another. For single-sign-on ("SSO") and other management features to function correctly, applications on the user device need to synchronize information amongst themselves.
ANDROID applications have commonly used implicit broadcasts for data synchronization. A first application can broadcast a request that is received by all other applications that have registered with the operation system ("OS") to receive the broadcasts. The receiving applications respond to those requests, such as push and pull requests, to send and receive data updates.
However, newer OS versions and software development kits ("SDK") can prevent applications from registering with the OS to receive implicit broadcasts. For example, ANDROID 8.0 SDK 26 and above disallows registering receivers for implicit broadcasts. An application that does not register a broadcast receiver will not receive an implicit broadcast sent by another application.
This can break synchronization of applications on the user device. For example, for ANDROID 8.0 and higher, first applications that target a first SDK (26 or greater) will not receive implicit broadcasts from second applications targeting a second SDK (25 or lower). The first applications can use some other protocol to synchronize amongst themselves, but this still creates a backwards compatibility issue. Two application clusters targeting different SDKs will only synchronize amongst themselves and not with each other.
As a result, a need exists for systems and methods for synchronizing states between clusters of applications that target different SDKs.

Peer-to-peer data communication between different applications


At the free end of an arm (1) which is pivotable about a shaft (12), a driven coupling portion (3) with a claw coupling (3a) is rotatably mounted, such coupling being held in positive engagement with a sleeve (5) shiftable on a shaft (2). Sleeve (5) is provided with a circumferential cam groove (5b) which has an advancing and returning pitch and is engaged by a stationary projection (11). Sleeve (5) is provided with a concentrical collar (5d) on which a second wheel (4), having a smooth circumferential surface, is shiftably mounted and held in positive engagement. On an eccentric collar (5a) of sleeve (5), a first wheel (6) designed as a radial ball bearing is mounted whose circumferential surface has high static friction. When sleeve (5) is set in motion, it moves to and fro, the second wheel (4) being urged via an inclined surface (4b4c) into contact with the first wheel (6) and entraining said wheel by frictional engagement. The cam groove (5b) and the eccentric mounting of the first wheel (6) are adapted to each other such that the first wheel (6) is driven in a pulse-type manner by frictional engagement and acts in a pulse-type manner on the sheet to be aligned.

The invention relates, in general, to a device for aligning sheets which are individually supplied to a collecting tray in which they are stacked one above the other and, in particular, to a sheet-aligning device for use with a collecting tray which comprises a support surface and a lateral limiting wall arranged parallely with the direction of entrance of the sheets as well as an abutment associated with the front end side of the sheets, such device including a drivable wheel which is arranged at the free end of a pivotable arm and rests on the incoming sheet and which aligns such sheet both at the lateral limiting wall and at the front abutment.
It is known (see, for example DE-31 07 768, C2) for individually supplied sheets to be aligned with respect to a front abutment and a lateral limiting wall of a collecting tray by a roller positioned obliquely to the direction of sheet transport. It is also known (see, for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,718,657) for the surface of the sheet stack to be sensed and kept at a predetermined level by means of a rotatable and pivotable aligning roller which serves to stack the sheets in a staggered arrangement. In both of these known devices, the aligning roller constantly subjects the uppermost sheet to the same pressure force, whereby, in particular, thin sheets of only slight inherent stiffness may become compressed so that the plane position of the sheets deposited cannot be ensured. If sheets collected in stacks are to be further processed, for example stapled in sets, the sheets must be sufficiently plane to allow them to be properly stapled.

Device for stacking and aligning individually supplied sheets


A thermophotovoltaic generator having a solid body located in a combustion chamber of a burner, with the surface of the solid body being excited to a state of radiation by an air-fuel mixture that is supplied by a delivery unit to the burner, where it combusts, and the radiation strikes a photocell, which then generates electrical energy; and having an exhaust pipe discharging the hot combustion gases from the combustion chamber. A premixing chamber is closed from the combustion chamber to the outside by a porous solid body, the photocell is positioned opposite the porous solid body and upstream from the latter in the premixing chamber, a reflector is located downstream from the solid body and opposite the latter outside the premixing chamber so that it reflects the radiation produced by the combustion of the air-fuel mixture on the solid body in the opposite direction from the combustion gases flowing to the photocell, and the air-fuel mixture is delivered by the delivery unit to the premixing chamber so that the non-combusted air-fuel mixture flows around the photocell from behind, thus cooling it.

The fuel supply systems of radiant burners are currently designed so that the fuel is supplied to the solid body from the inside or from behind, is burned on the surface of the solid body, and excites the latter to a state of radiation. The resulting combustion gases are discharged to the outside through the exhaust pipe. One example of this is the known solid bed burner.
The use of a radiant burner of this type in a thermophotovoltaic generator currently causes problems in that the hot combustion gases flow to the photocell. For this reason, it is necessary to take protective action such as cooling the photocell and shielding it with a pane of quartz glass to prevent the photocell from overheating.


To provide for alphanumeric representation, for example to indicate speed limits, traffic signals and the like, a frame forming a flat plate and defining a display surface is formed with grooves in which electromagnetically operated indicating elements are positioned, the indicating elements having differently colored regions, the colors either matching or contrasting with that of the display surface so that, either, the region surrounding the indicating element will appear blank, or have the aspect of a bar; by arranging the elements in bar codes, alphanumeric information can be provided. The indicating elements are held in any one pivoted position by permanent magnets and moved between positions by a pulse applied to a solenoid to change the position of the element from one to another stable, magnetically biassed position.

Information display elements are becoming increasingly important to provide optical indication of rapidly changing conditions. Opto-electronic indicators are frequently used. There is, however, an increasing demand for sturdy, extremely large display devices, particularly to permit use outdoors, with minimum power consumption, to provide indication of traffic conditions, for example for variable indication of different speed limits, directional indications, warnings of traffic jams, accidents ahead, and the like. Various types of indicators have been proposed which are suitable for large-area display of variable information, particularly of alphanumeric symbols. Usually, such elements are display devices arranged in a pattern with white or light colored flaps which are located in suitable openings within a frame or within an indicating surface that can be flipped out of the field of vision on such a manner that they are no longer visible to an observer. The observer will then only see the background of the display frame or surface which is colored to match the remainder of the surface, thus observing only a dark opening without contrasting information. Such display indicators are not entirely suitable, particularly for outdoor use; they are comparatively costly and not as reliable as desired. The angle of vision for good recognition of the displayed information--and non-recognition if no information is to be displayed--can become critical. A wide angle of vision which permits recognition is frequently particularly important in display devices to indicate road traffic conditions since the possible locations for such indication devices are frequently limited and can often not be selected only from the standpoint of optimal recognition.


A composition for cleaning a wide variety of hard surfaces in a no rinse mode, comprised of a mixture of organic solvents at least one having a low boiling point and at least one having a relatively higher boiling point, an alkali-metal polyphosphate, fugitive alkaline material, a first surfactant which is a nonionic or anionic surfactant, a second surfactant which is a fluorinated hydrocarbon anionic or nonionic surfactant, and water.

This invention relates to liquid compositions for cleaning a wide variety of hard surfaces such as metallic, plastic, tile, porcelain, glass and mirrored surfaces. More specifically this invention relates to hard surface cleaners which can be used in a no rinse mode whereby the composition is brought into contact with the surface to be cleaned and then removed therefrom by wiping the surface with a dry cloth.
In the past compositions for cleaning hard surfaces in a no rinse mode have been formulated specifically, as either glass and mirrored surface cleaners, or as general hard surface cleaners for cleaning a varity of surfaces other than glass or mirrored surfaces. As formulated these prior art cleaners could not be used interchangeably. One reason for this is that the general hard surface cleaners, in order to be effective in removing a wide variety of solids contained rather large quantities of nonvolatile ingredients such as surfactants and builders. Due to the high content of these nonvolatile ingredients the general hard surface cleaners tended to smear or streak glass or mirrored surfaces. Conversely when a glass or mirror cleaner was used on hard surfaces such as tile, metal, or porcelain, incomplete cleaning of soils such as grease resulted due to the low content of the nonvolatile ingredients in these cleaners.
An example of prior art compositions which were formulated primarily for cleaning glass and mirrored surfaces are those described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,463,735 to Stonebreaker et al. These compositions contain relatively minor amounts of nonvolatile ingredients, a surfactant and a builder, along with a mixture of volatile ingredients, a combination of solvents, ammonia and water. Applicant has surprisingly found that by adding as little as 0.011% by weight of a fluorinated hydrocarbon surfactant and by adjusting the levels of the volatile materials in the Stonebreaker et al. compositions, a composition is achieved which is capable of functioning equally well as both a glass and mirror cleaner and as a general hard surface cleaner.


A screw lock rivet for use in adjustably securing a riveted member to a companion member, such as a supporting bracket, has a rivet shank portion for pre-riveting to the member to be attached, and an integrally formed head terminating in a nut portion, the underside of which head is formed with diametrically-opposed, axially outwardly-projecting arcuate elevating ramp portions and a central shank base portion ovoid in transverse cross-sectional shape and coaxial with the rivet schank portion. The bracket or other companion member to be adjustably attached to is provided with an elongated adjustment slot communicating with an enlarged opening for reception of the rivet head and to permit the sliding therealong of the screw lock rivet shank base portion, the relative dimensions between the bracket slot width and thickness, and the size and shape of the rivet shank base portion, being such that upon turning of the screw lock rivet, the elevating ramp portion will be constrained to clampingly ride up upon surface portions of the bracket adjacent to the slot, while at the same time causing radially increasing peripheral arcuate wall portions of the ovoid shank base portion to wedge transversely within the slot at an adjusted position therealong.

This invention relates to metal parts assembly rivets, and is directed particularly to a screw lock rivet for sheet metal parts, including a rivet portion for riveting to one member of a pair of companion work-pieces to be assembled, and a screw lock portion adapted to be received in an adjustment slot of the other work-piece to enable positionally adjusted attachement thereto in the field simply by turning the rivet head portion approximately 90 circular degrees with use of a socket wrench or the like. Rivets, nuts and bolts, and sheet metal screws are commonly used in the assembly of sheet metal parts. Ordinarily, if assembly is completed at the factory and subsequent disassembly during use is not anticipated, rivets will be used because of their low cost, ease of installation with power tools, effectiveness, and durability. Where sheet metal or metal plate parts or work-pieces are only partially assembled at the factory, to be adjustably assembled to one another in the field during installation, nuts and bolts are most often used. For example, in the installation of prefabricated roller guide tracks for overhead sliding garage doors, upon installation in the field the roller guide tracks are usually bolted to support brackets attached to the garage door frame-work. In such instances, to provide for positional adjustment of the roller guide tracks, the bolt openings in the supporting brackets are elongated or in the form of a slot. The use of field assembly nuts and bolts for such purposes is not only tedious and expensive as compared to the cost of riveting, but also entails the use of loose nuts and bolts that must be separately accounted for during shipment and installation.


An electrical connector (1) having an insulating housing (3), and contacts (7) in the same row being of identical mass in respective contact receiving cavities (8), one of the contact receiving cavities (8) contains one of the contacts (7) that is shortened by a bend (24), and has its front end farther from a mating end (2) of the housing (3) than another of the contacts (7) in another of the contact receiving cavities (8).

Each of U.S. Pat. Nos., 3,193,791 and 3,818,280 and 4,200,349 and 4,343,523 and 4,636,021 and 4,842,538, discloses a concept of staggering contact surfaces on contact elements of a printed circuit board edge connector in the mating direction of the printed circuit board, thereby to reduce the force needed to mate the circuit board with the connector.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,601 discloses a connector comprising, contacts with oppositely bowed contact surfaces to engage opposite sides of contact fins on another mating connector. The contact surfaces are nearer and farther, respectively, from a mating end of the connector to reduce insertion forces during mating with the contact fins.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,875 discloses signal and power contacts mixed in one electrical connector, with the signal contacts being spaced farther from a mating end of the connector than the power contacts, to mate with another mating connector after the power contacts have mated with the mating connector.
The connector is constructed with a combination of multiple contact receiving cavities having different spacings from a mating end of the connector. A housing manufactured with one combination of cavities having different spacings from a mating end, is not adaptable to changes in the combination to accommodate different contact spacings. Manufacture of a separate housing is required for each different combination of contact spacings.
The contacts are fabricated with different lengths prior to being assembled in respective cavities of an electrical connector. The contacts of different lengths provide a combination of staggered contacts at different distances from a mating end of the connector. Manufacturing costs are higher to produce contacts that differ from one another in size, as compared with the cost of manufacturing contacts that are identical. Accordingly, an invention can result from an achievement of producing an electrical connector with identical contacts in identical cavities in an electrical connector, and achieving a changeable combination of staggered contacts at different distances from a mating end of the connector.

Electrical connector with shortened contact


A de-coupling capacitor module using dummy conductive elements in an integrated circuit is disclosed. The de-coupling module comprises at least one circuit module having one or more active nodes, and at least one dummy conductive element unconnected to any active node, and separated from a high voltage conductor or a low voltage conductor by an insulation region to provide a de-coupling capacitance.

Capacitors are a class of passive electronic elements useful for reduction of unwanted noise, for coupling of AC signals, and for constructing timing and phase shift networks. They are relatively bulky devices that store energy in electrostatic fields. The microscopic dimensions of today's ICs preclude the fabrication of more than a few hundred pico-farads of capacitance in an IC. Since conventional IC capacitor construction techniques limit an IC to a few hundred pico-farads, larger capacitors must reside off-chip (located on the associated printed circuit board). These off-chip capacitors are bulky and require significant PCB board space as well as additional material and processing costs. Also, due to their increased distance from the noise generating point within the IC, these off-chip capacitors are not as effective in IC noise reduction as the internal capacitors.
All of the capacitors used in ICs are of the sort called "parallel plate" capacitors, which consist of two conductive plates called "electrodes" attached to either side of a slab of insulating material typically known as dielectric. In the simple parallel-plate capacitor, the two electrodes are assumed to have the same dimensions and to reside directly opposite from one another. The value of the simple parallel-plate capacitor can be computed using the following approximate equation:C=0.0885A(er)/t
where C is the capacitance in pico-farads, A is the area of either electrode in square microns (um2), t is the thickness of the dielectric in Angstroms, and er is a dimensionless constant called the "relative permittivity."
er depends upon the nature of the dielectric and is sometimes called the "dielectric constant." Consider a capacitor with a plate area of 0.1 mm2 constructed using a 200 A dry oxide film. If the dielectric permittivity is 4, then the capacitance will be approximately 180 pico-farads. This example explains why it is difficult to obtain internal capacitors of more than a few hundred pico-farads. As the IC geometries delve into the sub-micron level, internal IC capacitance will continue to decrease. Reducing the thickness of the dielectric increases the capacitance, but also increases the electric field across the dielectric. If the electric field increases beyond a certain point, a catastrophic short circuit of the capacitor is possible.
Current ICs have two typical capacitor types, either MOS capacitors or poly-poly capacitors. MOS capacitors consist of a thin layer of grown oxide formed on a silicon diffusion that serves as one of the electrodes. The other electrode consists of either metal or doped polysilicon. If the gate oxide is used to form a MOS capacitor, the resulting structure is called a "gate oxide capacitor".
MOS capacitors have a number of disadvantages. These MOS capacitors are designed into the IC to provide as much de-coupling capacitance as possible to minimize IC internal noise generation. It utilizes unused areas within the IC. However, these devices require a large amount of chip area (typically 10-15% of chip area) that could have been used for additional circuitry or for a higher density of IC devices per wafer. Also, MOS devices have an inherently large device leakage current through the thinner gate oxide, especially for 90-nanometer and smaller IC geometries. This leakage current causes excessive power dissipation within the IC in both static and dynamic states. Also, because of the thin gate oxide layer in MOS devices, these devices are more susceptible to electro-static discharge (ESD) anomalies.
Poly-poly capacitors employ two polysilicon electrodes in combination with either an oxide or oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) dielectric. Many CMOS and Bi-CMOS processes already incorporate multiple polysilicon layers, so poly-poly capacitors do not necessarily require any additional masking steps. Poly-poly capacitors normally reside over field oxide. Oxide steps should not intersect the structure because they can cause surface irregularities in the lower capacitor electrode.
Both the MOS capacitor and the poly-poly capacitor structures are considered thin-film capacitors. The microscopic dimensions of today's integrated circuits preclude the fabrication of more than a few hundred pico-farads of capacitance in an IC using either the MOS or poly-ploy capacitors.
Desirable in the art of IC design are additional circuits to reduce IC power system internal power noise generation by increasing the internal IC de-coupling capacitance between the IC power and ground.

De-coupling capacitors produced by utilizing dummy conductive structures integrated circuits

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


A notebook includes a cover member formed of flexible cardboard and having a medial flat spine and a pair of rectangular cover wing sections extending from the spine side edges. The body of the book includes several superimposed booklets with juxtaposed spines glued to the book spine, each of the booklets consisting of a stack of rectangular paper sheets joined along their medial longitudinal axis by a line of stitches. The sewn stack forming each booklet is folded along the longitudinal medial axis to form the respective booklet spine and the booklet pages.

The present invention relates generally to improvements in books and it relates particularly to an improved notebook construction.
The binding constructions in conventional books, particularly notebooks, possess many drawbacks and disadvantages. They are costly and awkward, difficult to apply and of little versatility and adaptability. The resulting book is difficult and often impossible to fully open to a lie flat condition, the pages are often individually loosened and released from the binding, the binding is easily broken and the book otherwise leaves much to be desired.


A purified, isolated DNA sequence encoding human bactericidal permeability-increasing protein and biologically-active fragments thereof is provided.

The present invention pertains to biologically active, polypeptide fragments of mammalian bactericidal/permeability-increasing proteins and methods for making and using said fragments.
Bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI) is a 50 to 60 Kd protein, isolated from the granules of mammalian polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) which are blood cells that are essential in the defense against invading microorganisms in mammals. BPI occurs only in cells of the myeloid series of blood cells, is produced at the promyelocytic/myelocytic stage of differentiation and is located in the primary granules in these cells.
BPI is a potent bactericidal agent active against a broad range of gram-negative bacterial species. It exhibits a high degree of specificity in its cytotoxic effect, i.e. 10-40 nM (0.5-2.0 micrograms), producing greater than 90% killing of 10.sup.7 sensitive bacteria whereas 100-fold higher concentrations of BPI are non-toxic for other microorganisms and eukaryotic cells. All available evidence suggests that in the intact PMN and in crude leukocyte fractions, BPI is the principal oxygen-independent agent present which is active against BPI-sensitive bacteria.
BPI isolated from both human and rabbit PMN has been purified to homogeneity. The molecular weight of human BPI is approximately 58,000 Daltons (58 kDa) and that of rabbit BPI is approximately 50 kDa. The amino acid composition of these two proteins is closely similar as is the amino acid sequence of their first 15 NH.sub.2 -terminal amino acid residues. Both proteins are highly basic, having an isoelectric point greater than 9.6.
The biological effects of BPI require attachment of the protein to the surface of the susceptible gram-negative bacteria. Initial binding of BPI to target cells involves electrostatic interactions between the basic protein and the negatively charged sites on the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) on the bacterial outer membrane and leads to an activation of bacterial enzymes that degrade phospholipids and peptidoglycans. The final stage of action is the actual killing of the bacteria by an as yet unknown mechanism. The closely similar amino acid composition and nearly identical bactericidal and membrane-perturbing properties of BPI purified from human and rabbit PMN suggest that this protein has been highly conserved during evolution and is an important member of the anti-bacterial arsenal of the mammalian PMN.
Due to its potent bactericidal action against gram-negative bacteria and lack of cytotoxicity towards other microorganisms and eukaryotic cells, it is envisioned that BPI may be employed as a chemotherapeutic agent and/or as a model for the design of new antibiotic agents. However, due to its large molecular weight (58 kDa for the human holoprotein), both sequencing and determination of the structural organization of BPI have been hampered (hereinafter the entire BPI molecule is referred to as the holoprotein). The possibility has been raised that, as in the case with other cytotoxic proteins, BPI has a structural organization where the different functions, namely binding, envelope-altering and killing reside in different domains within the BPI molecule. Although BPI fragments, obtained by digestion of the holoproteins with the proteolytic enzyme elastase, has been disclosed (Weiss, J. et al., Clin. Res 34: 537A, 1986), the fragments tested remained associated under the non-denaturing conditions employed. No biological activity was ascribed to any isolated fragments. Moreover, antibodies directed against the holoprotein did not recognize these fragments under denaturing conditions when analyzed using the well-known Western blotting procedure.
Therefore, in light of the above, there is a need in the art for biologically active peptide fragments of BPI for use as bactericidal/permeability increasing agents as well as therapeutic agents. Such fragments are also needed to provide sequence information on BPI to direct the design of future generations of antimicrobial agents specific for gram-negative bacteria and to be used as probes into the molecular organization of the holoproteins.

DNA encoding bactericidal/permeability-increasing proteins


A curtain rod ornamental structure comprises a first ornamental panel with a leaning member extended outwards from the back side, a second ornamental panel and a third ornamental panel symmetrically coupled on two sides of the first ornamental panel, a first edge covering member fastened to one side of the second ornamental panel and including a first fixing member opposing the leaning member, and a second edge covering member fastened to one side of the third ornamental panel and including a second fixing member opposing the first fixing member. Through the leaning member, first fixing member and second fixing member a curtain rod can be coupled and anchored. The first, second and third ornamental panels can cover and decorate the curtain rod to meet ornamental purpose and increase varieties to improve practicality.

A conventional window covering usually is installed on a wall, a window frame or ceiling through a curtain rod or rack. The curtain rod runs through a plurality of hanging rings to hang a window shade at the bottom thereof. The window shade can be stretched to fully cover the window frame to block sunshine or serve decorative purpose.
However, the conventional curtain rod is made in a monotonous fashion without much variety. Moreover, the curtain rod generally is totally exposed to the wall, window frame or ceiling, and visible notably and unappealing. To remedy the aforesaid shortcomings by providing cover to improve appeal has to rely on professional help and construction. This could further mess the wall, window frame or ceiling, or experienced decoration professionals or interior designers have to be hired or contracted to do the work. It is expensive. Hence there are still a lot of rooms for improvement on the conventional curtain rod in terms of use and fabrication.


This invention provides a process wherein hazardous or radioactive wastes in the form of liquids, slurries, or finely divided solids are mixed with finely divided glassformers (silica, alumina, soda, etc.) and injected directly into the plume of a non-transferred arc plasma torch. The extremely high temperatures and heat transfer rates makes it possible to convert the waste-glassformer mixture into a fully vitrified molten glass product in a matter of milliseconds. The molten product may then be collected in a crucible for casting into final wasteform geometry, quenching in water, or further holding time to improve homogeneity and eliminate bubbles.

This invention relates to methods for processing waste materials, and in particular, to methods for converting waste materials into a glass.
Large quantities of highly radioactive acid solution have been produced during the processing of radioactive materials. The acid solution was neutralized with sodium hydroxide and stored in tanks for treatment at some later time. Over many years the quantities of such neutralized hazardous waste have grown to very large sizes. The waste itself is highly variable, due to mixing of materials from various processing operations and changes in reprocessing technology over a period of many years.
The waste material includes high-pH sludges and supernatant liquids containing sodium nitrate and hydroxide, formed from neutralization of nitric acid fuel dissolution liquors. Sodium nitrite is also present as a corrosion inhibitor. The sludge layer is viscous and sticky, and contains large quantities of aluminum and iron, along with transuranic species and fission products, with plutonium, technetium, .sup.90 Sr, and .sup.137 Cs being four species of primary concern. Large quantities of rare earth fluorides or bismuth phosphate may also be found in the sludge layer. The supernatant phase also contains a large variety of other salts, including halides, sulfate, carbonate, phosphate, ferrocyanide, and various organic species.
Vitrification is currently the technology of choice for the disposal of high-level nuclear waste (HLW). Typical vitrification processes such as the use of submerged electrode resistance-heated pot melters, require long residence time to complete the glassforming process. Low-level waste has been converted into concrete-like material known as grout, by the addition of cementaceous material to a low-activity waste solution.
Vitrification would also be appropriate for the disposal of low-level waste (LLW). However, the volume of low-level waste is significantly greater than the volume of HLW. Scaling up such conventional vitrification processes would require very large equipment to process large volumes of waste. It would be desirable to have a waste vitrification process that can process large volumes of radioactive and hazardous waste material.


In general, techniques are described for automated traffic mapping for multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) networks. A network device comprising a processor and an interface card may perform the techniques. The processor may generate an advertisement that conforms to a routing protocol. The advertisement may advertise a mapping between a network flow and a label switched path (LSP) tag. The processor may also generate a communication associating the label switched path tag with an LSP. The interface card may transmit the advertisement to a head-end label edge router that admits traffic into the LSP identified by the LSP tag. The interface card may also transmit the communication to the label edge router such that the label edge router is able to process the communication in conjunction with the advertisement to map the network flow to the LSP identified by the LSP tag.

Increasingly, routers are offloading the computationally intensive selection of paths to other network devices, referred to as path computation elements (PCEs). A PCE establishes PCE communication protocol (PCEP) sessions with one or more path computation clients (PCCs) through a network. Path computation clients, such as routers, and PCEs communicate over these PCEP sessions. A PCE may be stateless or stateful. In general, a stateless PCE does not maintain state describing TE LSPs in the network, while a stateful PCE maintains state for a subset of TE LSPs in the network. A stateful PCe may thereby utilize more sophisticated LSP path computation algorithms in some instances.
There may be two basic modes of operation for a PCE. The first mode of operation allows the PCCs to issue path computation requests to the PCE using their respective PCEP sessions. The PCE applies constraints provided in a path computation request to compute the path of a traffic engineering multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) label switched path (LSP) (which is often denoted as a "TE LSP") through a path computation domain that satisfies the constraints. The PCE then returns the path to the requesting PCC, effectively augmenting the network path computation functionality. A PCE may be stateless or stateful. In general, a stateless PCE does not maintain state describing TE LSPs in the network. A stateful PCE, on the other hand, maintains state for a subset of TE LSPs in the network, allowing the stateful PCE to utilize more sophisticated LSP path computation algorithms in some instances.

Automatic traffic mapping for multi-protocol label switching networks


A computer implemented method for performing a privacy enhanced comparison of a plurality of data sets includes allocating a private encryption key to each of the data sets; performing an encryption operation for each of the data sets, the encryption operation comprising generating a commutatively encrypted data set of the respective data set, wherein the commutatively encrypted data sets are generated by successively applying a keyed commutative encryption function on the respective data set with the private encryption key of the respective data set itself and with the private encryption keys of the other data sets; and comparing the commutatively encrypted data sets.

Various parties (e.g., corporations, governmental agencies and natural persons) face a common dilemma: how can parties share specific information (e.g., health care data, customer prospect lists, an adversary watch list, a black list or a list of actual or potential problematic entities) that can assist the parties via business optimization, improved analysis, or detecting the presence of potential adversary or other problematic parties, while maintaining the security and confidentiality of such information.
Hesitation to contribute or otherwise disclose, as well as laws governing the use and disclosure of certain information is predicated upon a concern that the information may be subjected to unintended disclosure or used in a manner that may violate privacy policies or otherwise cause damage to the party. Such damage may include identity theft, unauthorized direct marketing activities, unauthorized or intrusive governmental activities, anti-competitive practices, defamation, credit damage, or economic damage.
Conventional systems use various means to transfer data in a relatively confidential manner within or between parties. Although this technology has proven to be useful, it would be desirable to present additional improvements. For example, some conventional systems use a reversible encryption method, which modifies the data to engender some level of confidentiality. The encrypted data is transmitted to a recipient, who uses a comparable decryption method to return the encrypted data to its original format. However, once the data is decrypted, such data is subject to potential loss or use in an unapproved or illegal manner that may cause the very damage that the encryption process was intended to prevent.
Other conventional systems use irreversible cryptographic algorithms, or one-way functions, such as MD-5 (also referred to as message digest 5), SHA-1 or SHA-256, to obfuscate sensitive or confidential data. Existing irreversible cryptographic algorithms cause data to be undecipherable and irreversible to protect the confidentiality and security of the data. The irreversible one-way function, when applied to data, results in an identical unique value for the same data regardless of the data source. Therefore, irreversible cryptographic algorithms are often used as a document signature, to make unauthorized document alteration detectable when the document is being shared across parties. For example, suppose a phone number in an original document is altered (for example, by changing the formatting), and irreversibly encrypted. If the original, unaltered data is also irreversibly encrypted, the two encrypted values are different, indicating that one of the electronic documents has been altered.
However, schemes with irreversible cryptographic algorithms comprise an inherent vulnerability to phonebook attacks. Such phonebook attacks are all but theoretical and allow for disclosure of the private data with limited effort. If e.g., a party Pi and a party Pj share their customer databases with Personally Identifiable Data (PII) through a conventional hashing scheme, in which each customer record consists of a unique identifier ID and a corresponding set of hashes of the PII, a phonebook attack might be performed. If e.g., party Pi is not playing fair, it might compute a set of hashes on a phonebook or another large data set and match it with the hashed data set obtained from Pj. This attack, which is referred to as a phonebook attack, allows party Pi to reveal nearly all PII contained in party Pj's dataset and defeats the purpose of the hashing.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to be able to provide improved solutions for comparing data sets in a privacy enhanced manner, and to provide improved solutions for comparing data sets in a privacy preserving manner.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Privacy enhanced comparison of data sets

International Business Machines Corporation


A wall brace apparatus and method for holding together and supporting walls and also for forming an arena or walled enclosed structure. Wall brace 10 or 15 has a frame 30, a top bracing member 40, and a bottom bracing member 50 for holding together, bracing, and supporting respective top sides and respective bottom sides of walls 60 adjacently to and in alignment with each other. Wall braces 10 or 15 are used to hold walls 60 to form side walls, and walls 60 can be easily assembled and disassembled from the top and bottom bracing members 40 and 50. Wall brace 20 or 25 also has a frame 30, a top bracing member 45, and a bottom bracing member 55 for holding together, bracing, and supporting respective sides of walls 60 at an angle to each other. Wall braces 20 or 25 are used to hold walls 60 to form corner walls, and the walls 60 can also be easily assembled and disassembled from the top and bottom bracing members 45 and 55. An arena 100 can be constructed from a plurality of walls 60, a plurality of wall braces 10 or 15, and a plurality of wall braces 20 or 25.

1. Fields of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wall brace apparatus and method for holding together and supporting walls, and, more particularly, to a wall brace apparatus and method for holding together and supporting walls to form an arena or walled enclosed structure.
2. Discussion of Background and Prior Art
Presently, there are a number of events or sports in which the use of an arena or enclosed ring is desired or required. The problem with most arenas or enclosed rings, however, is that they require a fairly large amount of space in order to be constructed, and they can be quite costly, especially if the arena or ring being constructed is a permanent structure. On the other hand, there are many situations in which a temporary or knockdown type structure is sufficient or even desired to satisfy the needs of some arena users when these users consider the costs, the type of use, and the amount they use the arena.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 516,858 to G. G. Cleather and P. J. Gibson ("Cleather") discloses such a temporary ring structure. Cleather discloses an improved knockdown and moveable ring enclosure, which is particularly used for exhibiting and judging dogs or other animals. Cleather discloses that each wall section of the ring or enclosure has a swinging brace that can fold or swing inwardly when the wall is not used or is being put away or can fold or swing outwardly and be attached to the ground or floor when the wall is being used to support the wall in an upright manner. Cleather further discloses that the posts of each wall section are secured to the ground or floor, and it also teaches that the adjoining wall sections are attached together by the use of bolts.
Furthermore, the need or demand for temporary or knockdown type arenas or ring structures has increased over the last several years, especially with the increasing popularity of sports that require arenas or rings. Rollerskating, rollerblading, rollerskate hockey, rollerblade hockey, and floor hockey are some of the more popular sports that require an arena or ring and that are ideal for the use of a temporary knockdown arena or ring since they could be assembled when they are being used and disassembled and stored away when they are not being used.
There is a need for a wall brace apparatus and method for holding walls together and supporting them in upright positions, and, in particular, for holding walls together to form an arena or ring (i.e. a temporary or knockdown arena or ring structure). It is an object of the present invention to provide a wall brace that can hold and brace walls together and support them in upright positions and that can also be easily attached or detached from the walls. It is also another object of the present invention to provide a wall brace that does not require the use of bolts or any other type of fixed attachment means to the walls or to the ground or floor in order to hold together and support the walls in upright positions. Furthermore, it is another object of the present invention to provide an arena or ring that can be easily assembled so that it can be used and easily disassembled so that it can be moved or conveniently stored or put away.
Another advantage of a temporary or knockdown arena or ring is that it can be used for a multiple number of purposes (i.e. sports, events, shows, exhibitions, fairs, etc.). The arena or ring can be disassembled so that it does not occupy a lot of space or is not in the way when it is stored. The easy disassembly of the arena also provides the advantage of allowing space, which would otherwise be occupied by the arena, to be used for other purposes.
Therefore, a wall brace apparatus and method for holding walls together and supporting them in upright positions, and, in particular, for holding and supporting walls to form an arena, is desired, and it is an object of the present invention to overcome the problems and limitations of the prior art that have just been discussed.

Wall brace apparatus and method for holding together and supporting walls and for forming an arena


A finishing article comprising a backing member defining a central opening and having two opposed surfaces each carrying an abrasive material thereon; an intermediate member, having a central bore therethrough, being positioned in the opening and attached to the backing member, the central bore is capable of being at least partially threaded for supporting the finishing article to a support member. The partially threaded bore of the finishing article is detachably connectable to a threaded portion of a support member to provide rotational movement from the support member to the finishing article for finishing an object wherein the partially threaded portion of the central bore lies substantially in the plane of the backing member so that both abrasive surfaces of the finishing article can be used for abrasive sanding and, if desired, the abrasive surfaces of the article can carry different grades of abrasives.

A variety of prior art finishing devices have been developed for the finish of objects, for instance those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,667,169, 3,667,170, 4,258,509, 3,491,494, 3,747,286 and 3,866,361. Each of the above mentioned prior art references teach a variation of a finishing device which has only one surface capable of finishing an article while the opposite surface of the device is used primarily for accommodating some form of support member, such as a male coupling, a hub, a backing pad, etc., extending from that surface to provide means for connecting the finishing device to a drive member. One of the drawbacks associated with prior art finishing devices is that a surface which is capable of supporting an abrasive material for finishing is totally ignored in favor of a supporting member for supporting the finishing member to the drive member.

Two sided abrasive disc with intermediate member


The present invention relates to a method for preparing a chitosan-based matrix comprising the following steps:                a) two separate chitosan porous layers obtained from lyophilization of layers of one or more solutions of chitosan are provided,        b) the chitosan porous layers of a) are neutralized and washed,        c) a face of each chitosan porous layer is acidified with an acid,        d) a fiber reinforcement member is provided and positioned between the two acidified faces of the two chitosan porous layers,        e) the two chitosan porous layers and the fiber reinforcement member are let to dry to obtain a matrix having the fiber reinforcement member embedded therein. The invention also relates to an implant comprising a matrix obtained according to such a method.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method for preparing a matrix of chitosan including a fiber reinforcement member sandwiched between two porous layers of chitosan. The present invention further relates to matrices obtained by this method and their use as, or in the manufacture of, wall reinforcement implant that may be used, for example, in the repair, reinforcement or replacement of soft tissues, e.g. treatment of hernias, reconstruction of a wall, such as a visceral or abdominal wall. The implants of the invention may also be used in vitro as a tissue engineering product or support for culturing live cells.
Description of Related Art
Chitosan is a polysaccharide which results from the deacetylation of chitin. Chitin is one of the most widespread natural polysaccharides on earth and is extracted from the exoskeletons of arthropods, from the endoskeletons of cephalopods and also from fungi.
Chitosan has properties, such as biodegradability, bioresorbability, biocompatibility, non-toxicity and mechanical properties, which make it particularly advantageous for medical applications. Thus, chitosan can be incorporated into medical devices as a constituent of implants, for example in the form of a porous structure such as a matrix. Chitosan in fact offers a good compromise, given the desired properties, for an abdominal wall reinforcement implant, namely good biological compatibility and good mechanical properties.
Chitosan matrices are usually obtained by lyophilization of a chitosan solution. Lyophilization involves a first step during which a solution is frozen in a particular structure, and then a second step, during which a controlled pressure is applied in order to cause sublimation of the water present in the frozen structure. At the end of the sublimation step, only the constituents present in the initial solution remain, thus producing a porous structure.
Indeed, the porous structure of such chitosan matrices is of particular interest in the manufacture of surgical implants for many reasons. When the implant is intended to repair a tissue defect, for example in the case of a hernia in the abdominal wall, a porous structure favors cell colonization and therefore reconstruction of the biological tissue.
Wall reinforcement implants, for example for reinforcing the abdominal wall, are widely used in surgery. These implants are intended to treat hernias by temporarily or permanently filling a tissue defect. These implants may show a number of shapes, for example rectangular, circular or oval, depending on the anatomical structure to which they are to adapt. These implants may be made entirely from bioresorbable elements when they are intended to disappear after they have performed their reinforcing function during the period of cellular colonization and tissue rehabilitation. Alternatively, these implants may include, or consist in, non-bioresorbable parts which are intended to remain permanently in the body of the patient.
In addition to exhibit a porosity favourable to cell growth, the structure of an abdominal wall reinforcement implant should at the same time possess mechanical properties allowing it to be easily handleable by the surgeon, to perform its reinforcement function once implanted and to maintain its integrity at least during the time necessary for reconstruction, even when submitted to potential tensions, generated for example either by sutures ensuring the fixation of the implant to the surrounding biological tissue or by the various movements of the patient in his daily life.
Depending on the level of mechanical properties desired for a wall reinforcement implant, it may be useful to reinforce a chitosan matrix obtained by lyophilization of a chitosan solution by combining it with a fiber reinforcement member, such as a mesh.
It is known to lyophilize a chitosan solution in which a fiber reinforcement member such as a mesh is previously immersed in order to obtain a mesh embedded in a chitosan matrix. Anyway, after lyophilization, the chitosan matrices are still very loaded with salts. The matrices must therefore be neutralized before being used as an implant.
It has been observed that the shrinkage of matrices that usually go along with the neutralization of these matrices induces high constraints in the embedded mesh. This phenomenon is detrimental to the use of the resulting matrix as an implant, as the mesh will not behave as expected after implantation.
It would therefore be desirable to implement a method of preparing chitosan matrices having a fiber reinforcement member embedded therein, where the fiber reinforcement member would not be damaged or affected by the preparation method and where the integrity of the matrix would be preserved.

Method for preparing a chitosan-based matrix comprising a fiber reinforcement member


A fishing pole holder for supporting multiple fishing poles on a fishing boat wall. The holder includes clamping structure for securing the holder to a boat wall and accommodating ready attachment to the boat wall and removal for storage without a need for special tools. Holder elements are adjustable to provide desired pole separation and desired elevation angle during trolling events.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to sport fishing and, in particular, to a fishing pole holder that is adaptable for mounting on a gunwale or transom of a fishing boat.
2. Background Art
The sport of recreational fishing includes fly fishing or surf fishing, conducted along a shoreline, and off-shore fishing including trolling or stationary fishing using a fishing boat depending upon the preferences of the fisherman. It would be desirable if equipment used for recreational fishing would be sufficiently versatile to permit use of the equipment for both types of sport fishing. Improved portability and reduced storage space for the equipment are additional desirable features.
Known designs in the prior art relating to sport fishing include fishing pole holders that can be mounted on a stationary structure, such as the transom or gunwale of a fishing boat. These fishing pole holders are capable of holding a fishing pole and will permit the pole to be used independently of the fishing pole holder if the fisherman desires to engage in fly fishing or on-shore surf fishing. Such known fishing pole holders, however, are heavy and are of complex construction. Furthermore, they are not adaptable for easy storage when not in use.
A holder for a single fishing pole is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,897,922. It comprises a clamping device for securing the fishing pole holder to a vertical member, such as a boat side wall or to the deck of a boat. Clamping members anchoring one end of a fishing pole are locked in place by a complex locking mechanism, including a handle. Adjustment of the fishing pole, after it is locked in place by the handle, can be effected in a vertical plane using an arcuate clamp mechanism.
A surf fishing pole holder is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,146, which includes a complex adjustment bracket assembly for changing the angularity of one pole with respect to the other. The fishing poles are secured to a mounting post that can be anchored to the ground. A fishing pole holder of this type is not adaptable for trolling or other off-shore fishing.
Another example of a fishing pole holder capable of supporting a single fishing pole with a single plane of adjustment is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,513,475.
Unlike the previously mentioned prior art designs, the design of U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,179 is designed to hold two fishing poles simultaneously, but it is restricted in its application to on-shore surf fishing. The dual fishing pole holder of the '179 patent, which is anchored when in use to a fish bucket, is not adaptable for off-shore trolling. Neither does it include universal adjustment features for adjusting the fishing poles in multiple planes and for achieving desired separation of the poles to prevent tangles of the fishing lines.


A method for driving a field emission display (10) includes the steps of dividing a digital video word (14), which has n-bits, into N digital sub-words (16, 17), each of which has n'-bits, and sequentially converting each of the digital sub-words (16, 17) into a control signal (27, 29). The control signals (27, 29) are sequentially utilized to control drive signals (28, 38, 39, 41) applied to the field emission display (10).

It is known in the prior art to drive a flat panel display using a pulse width modulation (PWM) technique. The pulse width of a drive signal is modulated to control the brightness of the flat panel display. The pulse width modulation is implemented using a PWM clock. First, an n-bit video word is fed to a signal generator, which has n inputs for receiving the n bits. The signal generator generates one output control signal per video word. The output control signal controls the drive signal.
A drive signal is applied to each column of the display while an individual row is addressed for a duration equal to a line time. Typically, the number, n, of bits in the video word determines the number of cycles of the PWM clock during the display line time. Specifically, the number of cycles is equal to 2.sup.n. Thus, for an 8-bit video word the PWM clock cycles through 256 cycles. A typical value for the line time is on the order of tens of microseconds. Thus, use of an 8-bit video word results in a very short PWM clock cycle. The characteristic response time of certain display systems is such that the rise and fall times of the drive signals become significant, so that a very short PWM clock cycle can adversely affect display performance. While an 8-bit video word is useful for encoding a large number of brightness levels, it would be preferable to have a longer PWM clock cycle. Furthermore, the drivers typically used for processing 8-bit video word data are complex and costly.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved method for driving a pulse-width modulated flat panel display, which relaxes rise and fall time requirements and which utilizes simpler and less costly driver configurations.


A method and device that addresses the problem of an incompetent aortic valve by using a simple cardioplegia catheter that can deliver cardioplegia solution to the coronary arteries through the usual aortic cannulation site even in the presence of aortic valve incompetence. The device includes a cardioplegia cannula (32) with an additional lumen containing a nitinol wire (34) inside it that allows advancement of a folded nitinol umbrella (36) with a non-porous membrane or a compressed nitinol ring that covers the aortic valve when opened. During installation, after puncture of the aorta by the coaxial needle and removal of the coaxial needle but before installation of the cardioplegia solution through the central lumen of the catheter, the nitinol umbrella (in folded position) or nitinol ring (in compressed position) is advanced through the second lumen into the aorta just above the aortic valve. The nitinol umbrella is unfolded using the nitinol wire to expose the inverted umbrella configuration with attached membrane and is then advanced as a unit with the cardioplegia catheter until the nitinol umbrella covers the aortic valve at its deployed position.

Prior art devices address particular issues in open-heart surgery such as how to occlude the aorta while on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). There are two aspects of such devices that involve the aorta during CPB. One is to occlude the aorta to allow the pump to perfuse the body without entering the left ventricle or ascending aorta. This is usually accomplished with a clamp (called a cross-clamp) placed across the ascending aorta above the coronary ostia. Many of the prior art devices provide alternate ways to accomplish this occlusion from inside the aorta, for example, with a balloon directly inserted or passed intravascularly as a catheter. The second important part of CPB involves administering the cardioplegia in the ascending portion of the aorta below the cross clamp where it is trapped between the cross clamp and the aortic valve forcing it down the coronary arteries to protect the myocardium during heart stoppage. Prior art methods are known for administering the cardioplegia and clamping or occluding the aorta. Examples of such prior art devices are provided in the following patents.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,747 (Samson et al.) discloses an aortic catheter system having an aortic root balloon that occludes the aorta for the delivery of cardioplegia during cardiopulmonary bypass and may be used to help maintain the competency of regurgitant aortic valves. The balloon occluder described by Samson et al. is inserted from the groin to allow occlusion of the ascending aorta and to block the aortic valve. Samson et al. disclose the use of a porous aortic root balloon that is capable of occluding the aorta, delivering cardioplegia, providing tactile feedback, and helping to maintain the competency of regurgitant aortic valves. With respect to FIG. 12, Samson et al. describe that the most distal balloon may conform to the cusps of the aortic valve to prevent cardioplegia from entering the ventricle through the aortic valve. Samson et al. also disclose that any desirable or practical collapsible valve may be used; however, Samson et al. do not describe the use of a foldable umbrella type device that may be delivered through the aortic root via a standard cardioplegia cannula for deployment at the aortic valve.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,673,040 (Samson et al.) discloses the placement of umbrella type flow control valves in the aorta for arterial perfusion during non-surgical procedures. Generally, Samson et al. teach placing inflatable occlusion balloons in the patient's ascending aorta between the coronary arteries and the brachiocephalic artery. Again, no umbrella type device inserted through the aortic root via a standard cardioplegia cannula is taught.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,090,096 (St. Goar et al.) also disclose a catheter balloon occlusion system, in this case inserted from the left atrium to the ascending aorta to occlude the aorta as a cross clamp would above the coronary ostia. The occlusion member may alternatively be a collapsible one-way valve with one or more movable leaflets, an umbrella-like expanding membrane, or other mechanical occlusion device. However, the device disclosed by St. Goar is not used for valve blockage but, instead, the balloon is used to occlude the ascending aorta between the brachiocephalic artery and the coronary ostia. The catheter itself is introduced through the wall of the heart into the left atrium, advanced through the mitral valve, and into the ascending aorta.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,574 (Machold et al.) discloses a similar system to the St. Goar et al. occlusion system for isolating the coronary arteries using a catheter with two expandable occlusion devices during cardiopulmonary bypass.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,638,293 (Makower et al.) discloses an umbrella-type embolic device for occluding the ascending aorta. Makower et al. do not teach blocking flow in the aorta across the aortic valve.
Other techniques are known in the art for aortic occlusion above the aortic valve (cross clamp equivalents). For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,544 (Tsugita et al.) discloses a cardioplegia balloon cannula for aortic occlusion and filtering with a "cape" cannula, while U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,851 (Tsugita et al.) discloses a cardioplegia occluder which opens downstream from a solution introducing port to isolate the aorta from other vasculature. U.S. Pat. No. 6,159,178 (Sharkawy et al.) further discloses methods and devices for occluding the ascending aorta and delivering cardioplegic fluid to arrest the heart, while U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,578 (Downey et al.) discloses an expandable device for occluding the ascending aorta. U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,105 (Bresnaham et al.) discloses an aortic catheter including valve occlusion members deployed adjacent the aortic valve.
However, the devices of these prior art patents address a separate problem to that addressed by the device described herein. As will be explained below, the present invention addresses the situation where the aortic valve is not fully competent. In this setting, administration of the cardioplegia to the ascending aorta can enter the left ventricle below the coronary arteries where it causes two problems: (1) expansion of the left ventricular size which increases oxygen demand and (2) less cardioplegia goes into the coronary arteries. The net effect is inadequate myocardial protection during the operation. The present invention addresses this separate problem in the art.

Device for facilitating cardioplegia delivery in patients with aortic insufficiency

The Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvainia


Method and apparatus are disclosed for providing a novel video gaming experience on a play surface on which reconfigurable information is displayed.

The background of the invention has been discussed in the co-pending patent applications relative to human interfaces for control systems and related applications. In terms of the use in games and toys as further disclosed herein, I know of no work similar to the instant invention, which discloses method and apparatus for creating dynamic and easily changed versions of classical games having a playing surface such as pinball and board games in which physical objects are moved by the player, in consideration of the physical attributes or displayed graphics on the playing surface on which the objects are moved.

Reconfigurable surface based video games


A computer token identification system uses a plurality of unique tokens to represent a plurality of items. The token architecture consists of a delimiter field, a version field, and a variable field. The delimiter field contains at least one token recognition character. The version field immediately follows the delimiter field and contains the version string of at least one character identifying a unique token version. The variable field immediately follows the version field and contains a variable string of at least one character conforming to a format specification for the token version. Each variable string is unique for a token version. The version string and variable string can be of varying lengths, and the characters of the version string and variable string that are adjacent are from different character set types.

Numerous token or tag identification systems or schemes are widely used to represent different types of objects, events and locations. Examples of identification schemes commonly used today are license plate identifiers for cars, social security numbers for people, and Library of Congress identifiers for books. Computer systems use tokens or tags to identify everything from system messages to system user input. Computer networking systems use tokens to identify system users and error messages on a network. Computerized database systems use tokens for identifying and retrieving data items stored on computer storage areas.
Token identifiers are particularly useful for classifying objects stored in computerized database systems. Unique token identifiers are used as candidate keys for retrieving from a computerized database, information relating to items or instances identified by the tokens.
There is a particular need for a token identification scheme that can be used with computer databases that are interconnected worldwide and require unique identifiers across a large name space supporting parallel independent assignment without conflicts which require the introduction of conflict resolution schemes.
Computer network systems have grown to be larger and more interconnected. When network interconnections were limited, objects, such as resources, applications, or devices, in the networks were named according to different proprietary schemes. Now, the existing naming spaces which are limited to specific sizes and scopes, are unable to cope with growth and increasing user needs. Furthermore, cooperative efforts rather than proprietary efforts are needed in order to provide compatibility.
When the network systems use the same format for token identifiers there can be problems with systems generating the same tokens which eliminates the token uniqueness. When the systems use a different format for the token identifiers, one system may not be able identify or make use of the other systems' tokens.
An example of a proposed identification scheme is described in Zatti, S, Ashfield, J, Baker, J, and Miller, E., Naming and Registration for IBM Distributed Systems, IBM Systems Journal, vol 31, no. 2, 1992, pp 353-380. The proposed scheme conforms to standards criteria. The international standards organizations (ISO) reference model introduces the concept of Application Entity Title (AET). The AET is a high-level identifier that allows applications and users to denote a component of an application that performs communication functions. An AET is mapped by an application layer directory to low level addressing information used by the Association Control Service Element to establish associations. The International Organization for Standardization-Consultative Committee on International Telegraph and Telephone defined "Distinguished Names" which provides a syntax for the identifier. The Zatti scheme provides an extensible, global naming scheme. However, the approach is complicated and allows for conflicts which must be resolved using a conflict resolution scheme. Also, the Zatti approach does not provide an algorithm for the automated generation of unique tokens.
In general, the token identification schemes currently used are inadequate due to limitations on the use of the tokens and other problems inherent within the schemes.
Predominantly, the token identification schemes currently being used are directed towards providing tokens for a particular group objects for a single purpose. The telephone numbering scheme is only used for identifying telephones and the Library of Congress numbering scheme is only used for identifying documents. These schemes are not designed to be used for more than one type of object. The Universal Product Codes (UPC) provide an attempt at universality. However the codes are limited to use on products and have the problem of not being extensible.
A number of identification schemes currently being used rely on time or location to provide a mechanism for uniquely representing different items. However these schemes have consistency problems that hinder their use. Schemes that use tokens based on time have problems with consistency due to clocks not always being synchronized, granularity, and time zone differences. Schemes that use nodes at a location for uniquely identifying objects have consistency problems since the nodes can be moved and multiple servers can exist at one location.
Current schemes also have problems with extensibility when the token has a fixed length. A token identification scheme can become obsolete when a maximum token size is required since the pool of items being represented by the tokens can grow beyond expectations. For example, in a network system where network users are identified by fixed length tokens, if more users join the network system than originally anticipated, there can be a problem with providing enough unique tokens to distinguish and identify each user.
There are problems associated with identification schemes that are tied to a specific code set. There are many variations for code sets which limits a code set from being compatible on all systems. For example, there can be differences for the length of bytes. There are also differences from one country to the next. There are also some applications which require identifiers consisting of only printable characters that can be used by people and other applications where it is more efficient to use non-printable characters.
Current identification schemes also have migration problems. The token architecture may have to be expanded or altered due to unforeseen requirements. There is a need to allow for multiple versions of token identifiers that are orthogonal and can coexist well. Otherwise there is the problem of having to perform conversions or migrations and fallbacks, which can be difficult.
There is a need for unique standardized identifiers to tie computer database references to real world objects and events using a simple symbolic representation allowing easy identification management and association. In particular, there is a need for a token identification system to supply universally unique identifiers that are extensible, object independent and support parallel assignment from an arbitrarily large number of servers with uniqueness maintained.

Computerized system for representing data items using token identifiers

International Business Machines Corporation