The invention provides consistent settings between local and remote parameter adjustments of both local and remote HMI. A dial (4) is superimposed on a bistable display substrate (2), having an indicator (7) configured to be manually aligned with a displayed character representing a manual setting of a parameter value for controlling local equipment. A network interface (18) is connected over a communications network (17) to a remote HMI (16), configured to receive a new parameter value for controlling the local equipment (25). A controller (14) samples the current position of the indicator (7) of the dial (4), and provides a control input signal (20) to the bistable display substrate (2) to control a display of the new parameter value in the current position of the indicator (7) of the dial (4) and to provide the new parameter value to the local equipment (25).

A human machine interface (HMI) provides a means for interaction between the functioning parts of a device and a human operator. Historical examples include buttons and dials used to engage or disengage functions or to adjust parameters of the device function. Modern examples of the HMI have become more sophisticated, including electronic displays, interactive touch screens, and immersive environments such as augmented reality systems. However, advanced HMIs impose constraints, including design cost and complexity, and require investment in user training, which prevent their use in many applications. Industrial control equipment, such as motor overload relays, motor controllers, motor starters, circuit breakers, timers, and contactors, are example applications where HMI design features typically emphasize low functionality and low complexity.
Modern industrial control includes remote control over communication networks, to make remote adjustments to industrial control equipment. A remote HMI communicating over a network connection, enables changing configurations or control capabilities of industrial control equipment, such motor overload relays. By contrast, a local HMI situated near the industrial control equipment, enables local visual confirmation of operations and responses to control inputs, which may facilitate maintenance and inspection operations not otherwise easily accomplished remotely. A local HMI may allow an equipment installer to select values for settings prior to the complete commissioning of the equipment and network, without needing to apply control power to remotely control the devices being configured.
A problem with prior art industrial control systems that provide both local and remote HMI, is the inability to establish consistent settings between local and remote parameter adjustments, without adding significant complexity to the control system. In the example of a motor full load current (MFLC) setting for an overload relay, an example state of the art local HMI is a manually turned dial. The MFLC parameter is easily set to a desired value at a local HMI by rotating the dial to an indicated position. However, with the addition of a remote HMI, the traditional dial becomes inadequate as a local HMI. For example, the local HMI may indicate a parameter value that is invalid, based on the remote HMI setting, if the device parameter is changed remotely and the local HMI setting is not correspondingly updated.
Various prior art approaches exist to address the complication of control systems with local and remote HMIs. One prior art approach is to motorize the local HMI to adjust for parameter adjustment made by the remote HMI. However, this adds significant cost and complexity to the design. Another prior art approach is to accept the discrepancy of the parameter value between local and remote HMI displays, and to assign a prioritization for the value selected by either the local or remote HMI. However, this does not remove the discrepancy and presents inaccurate information about the parameter setting on the local HMI. Another prior art approach is to replace the dial with an interactive electronic display, which may maintain consistency with the remote HMI. However, this adds cost and complexity to the design, and requires special consideration during the powered-down state of the equipment at the time of its installation, since some power is needed to operate the local HMI.

Scale and indicator correlation for an adjustment dial


In some examples, an acoustic headset for providing hearing protection, includes: a first auditory cup; a second auditory cup; at least one of a stirrup or headband interconnecting the first and second auditory cups; at least one speaker integrated within at least one of the first auditory cup or the second auditory cup; a microphone that receives sound, wherein the microphone is coupled to the acoustic headset; and wherein at least one of the first and second auditory cups comprises a digital component for transmission and receipt of digital wireless audio communications, and wherein at least one of the first and second auditory cups comprises an analog component for transmission and receipt of analog wireless audio communications.

Noisy environments, such as worksites, airfields, and the like, may include noise sources that have the potential to damage the hearing of a person. A person operating in a noisy environment may experience hearing loss from acute acoustic trauma or gradually developing noise-induced hearing loss. Acute acoustic trauma may cause hearing loss from a one-time exposure to an excessive noise level, whereas gradually developing noise-induced hearing loss may result from exposure to unsafe noise levels over an extended period of time.
To prevent hearing damage, a person operating in noisy environment may wear hearing protection. Hearing protection may be passive or active. Passive hearing protection includes earplugs and earmuffs that block noise up to a particular noise level. Active hearing protection may include earmuffs that permit certain types of noise to pass through to a person by electronically filtering out particular decibels or frequencies.
Although various forms of hearing protection may provide adequate protection against excessive noise, persons wearing such hearing protection may need to communicate with one another. In noisy environments, communicating with one another may be difficult while wearing hearing protection due to noise from noise sources and filtering from the hearing protection. In some scenarios, a person wearing hearing protection may carry an additional and separate communication device to facilitate communication with other individuals in a noisy environment. Although separate communication devices may facilitate such communication, the person may be required to carry two separate devices (hearing protection and communication device), which may be coupled by a cable. Such two-device configurations can impede a person's movement, hinder the likelihood of communicating, and/or potentially introduce safety risks (e.g., if the cable becomes entangled on the user or other objects in the environment).

Acoustic headset with integrated two-way digital and analog communication components


A precision hair-clipping guide for cutting the hair of a subject to a uniform length at a selectable spacing from the subject's scalp. The guide attaches to the end of a vacuum cleaner hose and defines a flow-chamber having a slot through which the blades of clipping scissors may be manipulated while the hair is being drawn into the housing by vacuum.

Many modern hairstyles require that the hair be cut to fairly precisely equal lengths in order for the hairdo to be effective. It is, of course, quite difficult to accurately judge the relative lengths of different shocks of hair when the cutting is being done by the comb and scissors method, one shock of hair at a time. This has led to the development of various jigs, spacers and braces used in combination with electric clippers. The most significant improvement in this area was achieved in the stylist hair clipper device disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,322 where shocks of hair are drawn into the clipper housing by vacuum, passing through a series of reciprocating blade slots. When used with a series of spacers, this kind of device can yield a very uniform haircut, and has the added advantage of evacuating all the hair clippings into the vacuum cleaner.
Yet, some hair stylists who routinely use the vacuum-powered hair clipper, must use clipping shears, once in a while, in the finishing phase of a hairdo, or to perform some particularly demanding styles of hair cutting. In doing so, they could benefit from the spacing and evacuating features of the prior device.


According to one mode of the inventive concept, an amplification device includes a first amplifier configured to amplify an input multi-band signal to a first level, a separating unit configured to separate the multi-band signal having the first level into a first band signal and a second band signal, and a second amplifier configured to amplify the second band signal to a second level.

1. Field
The inventive concept relates to an amplification device, and more particularly, to an amplification device having a single-input multi-output structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
A distributed antenna system (or a wireless repeater) fundamentally functions to cover a shadow area which a signal from a base station is difficult to reach. For instance, a distributed antenna system is installed in an area, such as an inside or a basement of a building, a subway, a tunnel, or a residential apartment block, where signals are not received or are weakly received and amplifies and transmits radio frequency (RF) signals from a base station to terminals, thereby extending a coverage of the base station.
With the recent increasing demand for multi-band or multi-operator in a mobile communication system, a distributed antenna system has been designed and manufactured to support a service such as multi-band or multi-operator.
When a distributed antenna system support a multi-band service, a high power amplifier is required for each band, which leads to an increase of the size and the price of equipment of the distributed antenna system.
In addition, as bands supported by a distributed antenna system are various from 1 GHz or less to 1 GHz or greater, amplifiers with different gains are required, which leads to limitations on unified design, management and operation for multiple bands in the distributed antenna system.

Amplification apparatus having single-input multi-output structure


The present invention provides a handrail entry monitoring system of a passenger conveyor and a monitoring method thereof, and belongs to the field of passenger conveyor technologies. In the handrail entry monitoring system and the monitoring method of the present invention, at least part of a handrail entry region of the passenger conveyor is sensed by using an imaging sensor and/or a depth sensing sensor, to acquire a data frame, and the data frame is analyzed to monitor whether a handrail entry of the operating passenger conveyor is in a normal state or an abnormal state. The monitoring system of the present invention and the monitoring method thereof can timely and effectively detect a danger that a foreign matter is about to be entrapped into the handrail entry, helping prevent foreign matters from being entrapped into the handrail entry, thereby improving safety of the passenger conveyor.

A passenger conveyor (such as an escalator or a moving walk) is increasingly widely used in public places such as subways, shopping malls, and airports, and operation safety thereof is increasingly important.
The passenger conveyor has a moving step and a moving handrail. During operation, the handrail circularly slides and enters a handrail entry according to a predetermined direction. Therefore, there is a possibility that an external foreign matter is entrapped into the handrail entry. Especially, if a body part of a passenger is located on the handrail near the handrail entry, there is a risk that the body is entrapped into the handrail entry. For example, a child playing at the handrail exit and entry may place his/her hand on the handrail near the handrail entry, and at this point, the hand is in danger of being entrapped.
In the prior art, whether an external foreign matter is entrapped into the handrail entry is detected by disposing a safety switch in the passenger conveyor, and when it is detected that a foreign matter is entrapped into the handrail entry, the safety switch is triggered and the passenger conveyor is stopped, to avoid expansion of an accident. However, before the safety switch is triggered, a foreign matter has been entrapped into the handrail entry, and generally, an accident has taken place.

System and method for monitoring handrail entrance of passenger conveyor


An improved fine pitch bonding tool for use in automatic gold ball bonders for bonding fine gold wires onto closely spaced pads on semiconductors comprises a cylindrical body portion which fits into an ultrasonic transducer and is provided with a bottle-neck working tip on the other end of the body portion for bonding fine gold wires. The working tip is provided with a wire hole diameter less than 1.4 times the diameter of the fine wire to be bonded and is further provided with a chamfer diameter on the working tip which is less than 2.5 mils across. The total tip diameter on the working tip is less than 6 mils and the working face which comprises an annular ring between the chamfer diameter and the tip diameter is provided with a face angle of approximately 22 degrees plus or minus 3 degrees. Even though the bonding tool has a smaller area working face, it has been found to produce second bonds whose pull strength is equal to prior art capillary bonding tools having larger tip diameters and working faces.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to high-speed bonding capillaries of the type used in automatic wire bonders to make fine wire interconnections between the pads on a semiconductor chip and the leads on a lead frame or carrier.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Capillary wire bonding tools are known in the prior art and are classified in International Class B23K 3/00 and in U.S. Class 219, Subclasses 85D and 85F.
Capillary wire bonding tools that are used in automatic wire bonders have become substantially standardized into families or groups that have their own special applications. In order to define the problems solved by the present invention, it will be sufficient to refer to only two of these groups, namely standard high-speed capillary bonding tools and standard close center bonding tools.
Standard high-speed bonding capillaries were developed for use on automatic ball thermosonic wire bonders that produce consistent fine wire interconnections over long time periods without interruption or without requiring maintenance between work shifts.
In recent years the semiconductor chips that require a wire bonding step or operation have become much smaller or miniaturized to effect increases in speed as well as to effect high density of the active elements on the chip. The present state of the art high density chip may require about 50 lead out pads on each of the four sides of the rectangular chip. The pads on such high production chips may typically be 3.5 mils square placed on 4.5 mils centers leaving a pad gap of approximately 1.0 mils.
If the 3.5 mils square pads are ball bonded using 1.0 mil fine gold wire and if the aforementioned high-speed bonding capillaries are used, three problems occur. First, the diameter of the capillary is so great that when making a first ball bond that the sides of the capillary touch the previously bonded interconnected wires and secondly the tip of the bonding tool contact or nicks the mashed or squashed balls of the adjacent bonded wire. The recommended free air ball size for 1.0 mil diameter wire is about 2.4 mils. When bonded the mashed or squashed bonded ball at first bonds are capable of a minimum of 2.9 mils but nominally about 3.5 times the diameter of the fine wire. Not only would the nominal bonded ball equal the size of the 3.5 mil square bond pad, but there would be no allowance or tolerance for misplacing of the ball from the exact center of the pad.
Close center capillary bonding tools, sometimes referred to as close pitch or bottle neck tip capillary tools were developed to permit bonding on a fine pitch chip. The tip and neck of the capillary was reduced which resulted in a smaller working face on the tip of the bonding tool. The reduced neck avoids interference with the adjacent bonded wires, however, the reduced working face of the prior art type bottle neck tip capillary bonding tool also results in reduction of the pull strength of the second bond and shear strength of the second bond. However, it was possible to bond 1.0 mil wire on 2.9 mil pads spaced on 3.8 mil centers with reduced strength bonds.
There is presently an urgent need to provide automatic thermosonic gold wire bonders with a production capability for bonding under 3.0 mil pads on under 3.8 mil pitch centers without compromising the pull strength or the shear strength of the first and second bonds. It would be highly desirable to provide a novel fine pitch bonding capillary which would permit making repeatable strong fine wire interconnections on small size pads placed on very close pitch centers than was heretofore possible under production conditions in the prior art.


A wheel change mechanism for aiding in lifting a tire onto and off of a vehicle. The wheel change mechanism compromises a base member which is movable along a support surface. Wheel support members extend from one end of the base member. A seat is positioned at the opposite end of the base member for pivoting the base member when a force is exerted thereon.

(1) Field of the Invention
The field of art to which the invention pertains includes the field of wheel change mechanisms, particularly, with respect to a mechanism which utilizes body weight to lift a wheel onto or off of a vehicle.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Conventional wheel change mechanisms which utilize fulcrum-type wheel changers are well known. However, it has been found that the forces needed to operate the fulcrum-type wheel changers are difficult for some people. In one patent, the knee may be used as a body weight to lift the tire by means of the wheel change mechanism. However, the obvious dangers of using a part of the body to exert such a force are apparent.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,378,154; 2,208,162; 2,546,509; 2,570,587; 2,447,435; 1,892,979; and 3,463,337.
The present invention provides a novel, yet relatively simple wheel change mechanism incorporating a seat wherein the operator may use his body weight to operate a fulcrum and thereby remove a tire from a vehicle. The fulcrum is adjustable so that the pivot point of the wheel change mechanism can be used with various size vehicles, tires, and different body weights.


An integrated microgrid imaging polarimeter comprises a repeating pattern of wiregrid polarizers in a new 2×4 array that improves image resolution and quality by increasing the spatial bandwidth available for each Stokes image despite that the new repeating pattern is larger than prior art 2×2 arrays. An example embodiment has polarization orientations of the wiregrid polarizers in each 2×4 array, beginning from an arbitrary top left polarizer of each array and continuing clockwise, as: 45 degrees; zero degrees; 315 degrees; 90 degrees; zero degrees; 45 degrees; 90 degrees; and, 315 degrees. The disclosure includes an analysis showing development of the new 2×4 array and supporting its improved performance over prior art 2×2 arrays.

The present invention relates generally to wiregrid polarizers, and more specifically to a new array pattern of individual wiregrids for use in imaging polarimeters.
Remote sensing applications can make use of the optical polarization characteristics of a scene to enhance target detection and discrimination. Imaging polarimeters utilize polarizing arrays positioned in front of a focal plane array of detector pixels to extract polarization information from the optical scene.
An integrated microgrid imaging polarimeter includes a repeating pattern of wiregrid polarizers bonded to a focal plane array. A wiregrid polarizer can be made as a layer of very thin ruled aluminum wires sandwiched between two glass windows. The most common microgrid arrangement is a 2×2 repeating pattern of so-called analyzer cells. A typical 2×2 array is shown in FIG. 1. The lines in each cell correspond to the wiregrid element orientation. This specific pattern has been the standard since 1994.
Raw microgrid data are used to infer Stokes parameter images. The power spectrum of a raw microgrid image consists of a high bandwidth unmodulated S0 image spectrum surrounded by the low bandwidth spectra of S1 and S2. The S1 and S2 spectra are modulated out to the Nyquist frequency in the direction of the principal axes of the array. The connection between this Fourier analysis of modulated polarimeters as linear systems and the more widely known data reduction matrix was shown in 2012. The microgrid spectrum is similar to Color Filter Arrays (CFAs) used to extract color information for digital cameras, where a mosaic of tiny color filters are placed over the pixel sensors of an image sensor to capture color information, in that the high bandwidth spectrum centered at a DC-centered array corresponds to the luminance image and the low bandwidth modulated portions of the spectra correspond to chrominance.
Despite the long-term use of the standard 2×2 array and its pattern of different polarization directions, there is still a need for greater resolution and image quality.

Microgrid arrangement for integrated imaging polarimeters

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force


A base plate for a package to inhibit an object's inadvertent displacement when the plate and object are positioned within a shipping container. The plate is composed of a rectangular sheet of paperboard or sheet form material folded at least once, and preferably twice, both horizontally and vertically to form multiple sheets in superimposed, overlapping relation thereby creating a support or base plate. A longitudinally extending separation in the upper of the sheet form supports include a plurality of separations extending from opposite edges of the longitudinal separation to form cantilevered tabs extending from opposite sides of the separation. A recess in the lower sheet form support underlying the longitudinally extending separation permits deflection of the tabs into the recess when an object, such as a motor, is placed thereon to thereby partially capture, cradle and cushion the object upon the support plate. The package is formed by shrink wrapping the motor and the base plate and placing the same into a shipping container.

The present invention relates generally to packaging for heavy objects, and more particularly relates to a packaging base plate for heavy objects such as motors.
Current motor packaging base plates employed by the industry for shipping electric motors of varying sizes, usually employ a base plate and cradle including two or more pieces, (more often than not more than one cradle is necessary to support the motor in shipment) while foot mounted motors employ wafer board base plates without a cradle. More often, these multi-piece packages employ a shrink or stretch wrap which attempts to hold the motor position relative to the base plate. In either of these prior art systems, the motors tend to slide on the hard base plate as the shrink or stretch wrap memory changes which can abrade the finish on the heavy object, e.g., the motor. The use of styrofoam formed cradles is expensive since multiple cradles are often employed. Moreover, with three materials in the packaging, wood, cardboard and plastic, the recycling of materials becomes more difficult rather than less. Additionally, the current two piece design requires additional labor in packaging the motor because of the handling of separate and multiple pieces.
The use of two or more ply cardboard for a pallet for the shipment of heavy objects, for example compressors and the like, is old in the art. For example, some of the base pads for heavy objects are provided with depressions to accommodate the object's support feet. In other prior art, bottom sheets of pallet shipping structures of several layers of card stock are formed in which one or more is cut out so as to positively locate the heavy objects, such as compressors. In other prior art, a top sheet of single faced corrugated card stock is embossed with the outline of the article that is to be shipped. The card support and the products are shipped covered with a shrink wrap material that holds the contents in position. Moreover, the use of a foam-like material, for example, a foam such as styrofoam or the like has been employed successfully to form a conforming surface for the article being shipped. However, none of the prior art provides a novel base plate structure for receiving, cradling, cushioning and inhibiting movement of a heavy object thereon, which base plate is constructed of inexpensive material while minimizing labor costs in forming a package to be placed in a shipping container for shipment. Moreover, the inexpensive use of a single material for the packaging base plate as well as its novel structure allows for easy recycling of the materials without undue expense.


A new Calibrachoa plant named ‘Cal Roosall’ particularly distinguished by the medium-large, red-purple flower color, small, medium green foliage, and very well-branched, tight, and mounding plant habit.

The present invention comprises a new Calibrachoa, botanically known as Calibrachoa hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name 'Cal Roosall'.
'Cal Roosall' is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar has medium-large, red-purple flower color, small, medium green foliage, and very well-branched, tight, and mounding plant habit.
'Cal Roosall' originated from a hybridization made in August 2005 in a controlled breeding environment in Gilroy, Calif. USA. The female parent was the unpatented, proprietary plant designated '1543-1' with deep rose-red flowers, is later to flower, and has fewer flowers.
The male parent of 'Cal Roosall' was an unpatented, proprietary plant designated '1512-1', with coral rose flowers, longer internodes, and has a more upright habit. The resultant seed was sown in February 2006.
'Cal Roosall' was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in May 2006 in a controlled environment in Gilroy, Calif. USA.
The first act of asexual reproduction of 'Cal Roosall' was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were propagated from the initial selection in May 2006 in a controlled environment in Gilroy, Calif. USA.


Methods, systems, and data structures for communicating object metadata are provided. A generic metadata container is presented that allows object metadata to be described in an extensible manner using protocol-neutral and platform-independent methodologies. A metadata scope refers to a dynamic universe of targets to which the included metadata statements correspond. Metadata properties provide a mechanism to describe the metadata itself, and metadata security can be used to ensure authentic metadata is sent and received. Mechanisms are also provided to allow refinement and replacement of metadata statements. The generic metadata container can be adapted to dynamically define access control rights to a range of objects by a range of users, including granted and denied access rights.

Currently, much of the utility of computer systems lies in their ability to communicate and share information with other computer systems. Information is typically passed between computer systems via computer networks. Computer networks are groups of computers interconnected by wires or wireless mechanisms such as infrared, radio, and other technologies. The Internet is a global network of many smaller computer networks connected to one another. There is no controlling central network, but rather several high level networks that are connected through network access points. A network access point is a computer hardware or software device (commonly a network router) that serves as a kind of translator between two different networks.
Web services, generally, refers to application-to-application communication over the Internet via programmatic interfaces. For example, a local application (e.g., Microsoft® Money) on a client computer may communicate with a server application on a remote computer to obtain stock ticker information. The two applications may communicate the requested ticker symbol and the corresponding results via one or more messages transmitted over the Internet, without opening or using a traditional Internet browser such as Internet Explorer®.
An access control list (ACL), generally, is a data structure that defines who has access to a single specified object stored on a computer or network. More specifically, an ACL typically indicates the access rights each user or group has. Access rights for file objects typically include the right to read a file, write the file, delete the file, and execute the file. Examples of objects to which ACLs may refer include files, directories, subdirectories, web services, computer resources, and the like. In known ACL-based systems, each object includes a security attribute that identifies its corresponding ACL. Typically the metadata for each object points to its corresponding ACL. FIG. 1 illustrates a logical relationship between objects (files) stored on a computer and corresponding ACLs according to known ACL solutions, where each file points to a corresponding ACL defining its access rights. In other known systems (not shown), two or more objects may point to the same ACL, however, the ACL cannot indicate the objects to which it corresponds. That is, one cannot learn for which objects an ACL defines access rights by querying the ACL; instead, one must query the object to determine the corresponding ACL.
Known ACLs provide limited group and role-based access rights. Group access rights refer to granting access rights to each user who is a member of a specified group, e.g., a department within a company. Role-based access rights refer to granting access rights to each user identified as having a specified role, e.g., "tester" or "programmer". However, known ACL solutions do not allow dynamic access rights based on other attributes, nor do known ACL solutions allow an ACL or other access control element to determine the objects for which it defines access rights.
Thus, it would be an advancement in the art to be able to have an access control element that indicates the objects for which it defines access rights. It would be a further advancement if the access control element allowed access rights to be based on constraints other than a user's identity, group, or role.


A novel container sorting and handling system is provided for sorting a plurality of diverse types of containers into preselected types for either reuse, reclamation or disposal depending upon the type of container. The sorting system comprises a housing having a sorting station defined therein and an infeed conveyor for sequentially and individually transporting containers to the sorting station. At the sorting station the individual containers are rotated by a roller in order to bring the UPC Code, bar code or other code on each container into alignment with an optical scanner at the sorting station. The optical scanner produces an output signal representative of the bar code and this is in turn fed to a computer which compares the signal from the optical scanner with a plurality of prestored values in the computer. As a result of this comparison, the computer generates an output signal representative of the type of container at the sorting station. This output signal from the computer in turn is fed to an indexing mechanism which transports the container in the sorting station to one of a plurality of outfeed conveyors whereby each outfeed conveyor transports a single type of container. The recyclable containers are crushed and/or shredded into a compact mass and transported to a salvage company and/or reclamation center. The computer also provides a signal to an output device which produces a tangible record via coin, receipt or token of the monetary value of the returnable containers processed by the system.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to sorting and handling devices and, more particularly, to a sorting device for separating a plurality of diverse types of containers into predetermined groups for reuse, reclamation or disposal.
II. Description of the Prior Art
There are a number of different types of containers and partcularly containers which contain consumable goods. Many types of containers, for example, heavy glass containers are suitable for reuse after cleaning. Many containers of this type conventionally carry a deposit which is refunded when the empty container is returned to the place of purchase.
Still other types of containers are unfit for reuse, such as paper containers, light glass containers and metallic cans. Nonrefillable containers are currently discarded for waste disposal even though these containers are constructed of material which can be reclaimed or recycled and thus have a monetary value. This is particularly true for metal cans in which the metal can be remelted and formed into a new can.
Virtually all of the food containers have a UPC, bar or other code imprinted on the container. The code is encoded by industry standards so that each different product, and thus the container, is assigned a specific code. These codes enable an optical scanner at a checkout counter to accurately and rapidly determine the type and price of the item as well as provide a convienient inventory control means. Such codes, however, have never heretofore been employed for sorting empty containers into their various different types.
The previously known method for stores and other retail centers for accepting, sorting and distributing containers returned by their customers has been unduly complex, time consuming and, therefore, expensive. In the current practice, a clerk must first identify each container and place it into a bin or other storage area. Then the clerk either manually pays the customer or gives him a slip so that the customer can be reimbursed by the retail center. When the bin is full, the clerk then must take it to a further sorting area in which the containers are sorted by brand and size and then placed into master containers which again not only is time consuming but also requires large storage areas in the store which could otherwise be put into productive use.
After the various containers have been separated into their own master bins, the driver-salesman for the distributor of that particular brand or product must then manually pick up the master containers for his own company and transport the empty containers to the bottling plant without any benefit of size reduction. At the bottling plant the containers are again manually sorted to remove paper, plastic, disposable glass and metal containers. These removed products are then sent to a salvage company which crushes the material for sale as recyled material.
This previously known method for sorting and recycling containers is disadvantageous in several different respects. First, the containers must be manually sorted on at least three different occasions which involves not only extremely high overall labor costs but also requires a separate work area and storage area for each of these sorting operations. Such work and storage areas could otherwise be employed for more productive, i.e. profitable, purposes if the required sorting operations and storage could be eliminated.
A still further disadvantage of this previously known method for handling the returned containers is that the disposable containers are maintained in their original size and shape when they are transported both to the bottling plant and to the salvage company where the containers are finally crushed and reduced in size for efficient handling. Consequently, by this prior procedure the bulky and lightweight containers must be inefficiently and expensively handled and transported from both the store and the bottling company, oftentimes requiring several different trips due to the overall bulk of the empty containers. This prior procedure also requires high fuel costs when transporting the empty containers.
A still further disadvantage of this previously known procedure is that the clerk must not only manually initially sort the containers but must also manually reimburse the customer for the containers returned to the store. Consequently, as in all manual operations, errors in both sorting operation and the reimbursement to the customer occur and must usually be assumed by the store as a loss. Moreover, during the initial sorting, the clerk will oftentimes inadvertently accept containers for a brand and/or size of product which the store itself does not carry for sale. In this case the store must again accept as a loss the money which has been paid to the customer for such containers.


A transfer sheet for electrostatically transferring thereon an electrically conductive or electrically semi-conductive toner in electrostatic photography or electrostatic printing, which comprises a substrate and a toner-receiving layer formed on at least one surface of the substrate, which toner-receiving layer contains a composition comprising (A) 100 parts by weight of thermoplastic acrylic-styrene copolymer and (B) 10 to 100 parts by weight of dry method finely divided silica is disclosed.. In this transfer sheet, the electric resistance can be maintained at a high level even under high humidity conditions, and a toner image can be transferred on this transfer sheet at a high transfer efficiency without broadening of contours of the image. This transfer sheet has feel and touch quite similar to those of ordinary paper and is very excellent in graphic characteristics.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a transfer sheet and a process for the preparation thereof. More particularly, the invention relates to a transfer sheet for electrostatically transferring an electrically conductive or electrically semi-conductive toner in electrostatic photography or electrostatic printing, and a process for the preparation of such transfer sheet.
More specifically, the invention relates to a transfer sheet having a toner-receiving layer on which an electrically conductive or semi-conductive layer can be transferred at a very high transfer efficiency without broadening of contours of a toner image even under a high humidity condition and which is especially excellent in such properties as the feel and touch and the graphic property, and a process for the preparation of such transfer sheet.
(2) Description of the Prior Arts
As one of dry developers (toners) for developing electrostatic latent images formed by electrostatic photography or the like, a so-called electroconductive or semi-conductive magnetic toner capable of performing development without the aid of a particular carrier is known. As the toner of this type, there have heretofore been used toners formed by dispersing powder of a magnetic material such as triiron tetroxide, if necessary with a conducting agent such as carbon black, into a binder resin and molding the dispersion into granules. As means for improving the electric conductivity in these toners, there have ordinarily been adopted a method in which the amount of the conducting agent incorporated in the magnetic material-binder resin dispersion as increased and a method in which the conducting agent is embedded in the above-mentioned toner particles. By adopting these methods, toner particles are provided with such property that they can be magnetically attracted, and improved electric conductivity is imparted to surfaces of toner particles.
These magnetic toners have an advantage that sharp and clear toner images having a much reduced edge effect can be obtained according to the magnetic brush development method even without use of a magnetic carrier or the like. However, they have a defect that if toner images formed on photosensitive layers for electrostatic photography or electrostatic printing, such as photoconductive layers, are transferred onto copy papers, contours of the transferred images become obscure and no sharp images can be obtained.
More specifically, a toner image formed on a zinc oxide photosensitive layer for use in electrostatic photography or electrostatic printing has a good contrast and a sharp edge, but when this toner image is transferred onto untreated high quality paper which has heretofore been used broadly as the transfer sheet, as illustrated in Comparative Test 2 given hereinafter, not only extreme reduction of the density of the transferred image but also broadening of contours of the image take place, and the image becomes very obscure.
As means for eliminating this defect, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Specification No. 117435/75 (Japanese Patent Application No. 13929/74) proposes a method in which an electrically conductive or semi-conductive toner-receiving layer having a volume resistivity of at least 3.times.10.sup.13 .OMEGA.-cm is formed on at least one surface of a substrate of a transfer sheet, and it is taught that a medium such as a resin, a wax, an oil or fat or an insulating filler is applied to the surface of the substrate for forming such toner-receiving layer. It also is taught that an acrylic resin, a silicone resin, a vinyl acetate resin or an alkyd resin is preferred as the resin to be used for formation of such toner-receiving layer.
Indeed, a transfer sheet having a toner-receiving surface formed by using such resin is advantageous in that a toner image can be transferred without substantial broadening of contours under a relatively low humidity condition. However, this transfer sheet is still insufficient because under a high humidity condition broadening of contours of a toner image is caused at the transfer step and the transfer efficiency is relatively low. This degradation of transfer characteristics under a high humidity condition is especially conspicuous when such resin is applied in the form of an aqueous coating composition. Further, the toner-receiving layer of such resin tends to cause marked reduction of the feed and touch and graphic property of the transfer sheet, and when a pigment or extender pigment customarily used for improving these characteristics is incorporated in such toner-receiving layer, the above-mentioned humidity dependency of the transfer characteristics becomes more conspicuous.

Transfer sheet and process for preparation thereof


A method is disclosed for integrating a field programmable gate array (FPGA) with a microprocessor to form a single, multi-chip or stacked, hybrid processor module. The method includes the identification and parallel routing of selected I/O pins of the FPGA and microprocessor. The method further includes the identification and routing of control pins of the FPGA and microprocessor to a controller, and, the establishment of an interface between the controller, the FPGA and the microprocessor in order to develop a processor module for coordinated processing of data utilizing both the FPGA and microprocessor resources.

Recent improvements in performance capabilities of data processors have included increasing the clock speed or adding additional execution units.
Alternatively, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) have been considered for either augmenting or replacing microprocessors in order to expand the limitations posed by the arithmetic logic units. Wholesale replacement of microprocessors with FPGAs generally requires the entire recoding of operating systems. On the other hand, redesigning microprocessors to include FPGA-like architecture presents its own set of design errors.
Therefore, a need has been perceived for a quick and safe way to enhance the arithmetic performance of microprocessors and to implement algorithms within reconfigurable hardware.

Modular, hybrid processor and method for producing a modular, hybrid processor


A pasteurizing machine which automatically adjusts the level of the pasteurizing water, and which comprises three water containers placed superposed to one another. The pasteurizing water is heated in the lowermost container and pumped to the upper one. The bottom of said upper container is provided with apertures which permit dripping of water into the intermediate container in which a conveyor belt travels.

Pasteurizing food products is performed by pasteurizing machines all of which operate on substantially the same principle, namely immersion of the respective product in a vessel of hot water or within a steam container. Products which are lighter than the water float on the surface and are thus not subjected to optimal conditions.
There are known continuous pasteurizing machines which employ the use of an endless belt on which the products are placed. The belt carries the product through a bath of hot water. A further belt which is placed over the first belt ensures that the products are kept immersed in water during their travel through the water.
It is understood that pasteurizing machines must include means which will ensure that the whole product is fully immersed in hot water during its travel through the pasteurizing bath.


A mounting brace having a first tine receiving member and a second tine receiving member combined by an intermediate member. Each tine receiving member includes an opening adapted to receive a tine from a lift vehicle. The opening may be formed by an upper deck portion having a general vertically wall portion on each end. The tine receiving members and/or intermediate member are adapted to receive fasteners for removably attaching the mounting brace to the product so that the tines of a lift vehicle can be inserted into the openings in the tine receiving members to lift and transport the product.

This invention relates to the field of devices, assemblies, kits, and methods used to help transport products. More specifically, the invention relates to one or more mounting braces adapted to be removably attached to a product to help transport the product with a lift vehicle.
Transporting a product involves moving it from one place to another place. Sometimes transporting a product involves shipping the product, which may involve loading the product into a container or onto a vehicle for transport, then unloading it when it arrives at its destination, then positioning it in its proper location at the destination. Transporting heavy and/or tall objects can be difficult, dangerous and time consuming. One way to transport these types of products requires securing the product to a shipping platform, which is often a disposable wooden pallet as shown in FIG. 1. The shipping platform is a raised platform having openings adapted to receive the tines of a pallet jack or forklift vehicle, which may be used to help move and load/unload the product. Some types of shipping platforms provide a means to attach protective packaging around the product, such as a crate or corrugate box as shown in FIG. 2. One problem with these traditional shipping platforms is that the product must be loaded on to and off of the platform during shipping. While the shipping platform provides useful functions, it may be difficult and dangerous to load/unload the product onto/from the platform, especially if the product has wheels, as is often the case with electrical enclosures. In particular, electrical enclosures have a relatively large aspect ratio of height to footprint and therefore are prone to tipping when trying to traverse the gap between the deck of the platform and the ground.
One solution for loading/unloading a product onto/from a shipping platform includes a ramp (shown in FIG. 2) positioned adjacent to the shipping platform. The ramp allows the product to roll off the pallet onto its wheels or casters after packaging constraints are removed. In the case of products such as electrical enclosures or data center racks, the center of gravity (CG) must be carefully considered so that the ramp angle is not so steep that it causes a tipping hazard. Care must also be taken to control the acceleration when the enclosure is rolled down the ramp. This may require several people or complex equipment especially since modern populated electrical enclosures may weigh thousands of pounds. In addition to dangers of using ramps, ramps also consume excess shipping space and weight within the packaging.
Another drawback to traditional shipping platforms is that they are typically made of wood. Some types of laminated wood materials are predictable and can be employed to high weight capacities, however, these types of materials are often very expensive. Natural wood materials are cheaper, but their weight capacity and performance is difficult to predict due to the high variability of the raw materials. Another problem with wood shipping platforms is that they usually can only be used one time because they become damaged as the product is secured then removed, especially when certain types of fasteners are used to secure the product to the platform. Typical pallets, skids, and crates are non-returnable and become a disposable cost of the product life cycle. Disposing of the pallets is often an additional cost to the end user. Shipping wood ramps and pallets also requires special products for certain import/export restrictions and are therefore subject to extra labeling and paperwork. Further, using wooden shipping platform materials tends to be wasteful due to limitations of board size and the commodity nature of the pallets not being sized correctly for a particular industry, market, or product. Generally speaking, this drives users to choose an oversized pallet that takes up more square footage during transit than required. This additional square footage impacts the cost of shipping and storage.
There is therefore a need for a device which overcomes these and other drawbacks in existing shipping technology.

Mounting brace assembly for transporting products and method for using


The invention provides an orally-administrable nutritional product comprising a dipeptide including a branched chain amino acid (BCAA). In one embodiment, the nutritional product comprises a dipeptide selected from at least one of the following: alanyl-leucine, alanyl-isoleucine, alanyl-valine, glycyl-leucine, glycyl-isoleucine, and glycyl-valine.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates generally to use of branched chain amino acids and more particularly to the use of dipeptides including branched chain amino acids to reduce bitterness in orally-administrable nutritional products.
2. Background Art
Amino acids are the monomeric building blocks of proteins, which in turn comprise a wide range of biological compounds, including enzymes, antibodies, hormones, transport molecules for ions and small molecules, collagen, and muscle tissues. Amino acids are considered hydrophobic or hydrophilic, based upon their solubility in water, and, more particularly, on the polarities of their side chains. Amino acids having polar side chains are hydrophilic, while amino acids having nonpolar side chains are hydrophobic. The solubilities of amino acids, in part, determines the structures of proteins. Hydrophilic amino acids tend to make up the surfaces of proteins while hydrophobic amino acids tend to make up the water-insoluble interior portions of proteins.
Of the common 20 amino acids, nine are considered essential in humans, as the body caimot synthesize them. Rather, these nine amino acids must be obtained through an individual's diet. A deficiency of one or more amino acids can cause a negative nitrogen balance, wherein more nitrogen is excreted than is ingested as proteins are degraded faster than they are synthesized. Such a condition can lead to disruption of enzymatic activity and the loss of muscle mass.
A number of muscle-wasting conditions have been identified, for which treatment with amino acid supplements has proved beneficial. For example, cachexia is a severe body wasting condition characterized by marked weight loss, anorexia, asthenia, and anaemia. Cachexia is a common feature of a number of illnesses, such as cancer, sepsis, chronic heart failure, rheumatoid arthritis, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). In addition, it has been found that certain tumors may induce cachexia through the production of a 24 kDa glycoprotein called proteolysis-inducing factor (PIF). PIF decreases protein synthesis, activates protein degradation, and stimulates the ATP-proteasome-dependent pathway. It has been hypothesized that the decreased protein synthesis associated with PIF is the result of PIF's ability to block the translation process of protein synthesis. Another factor, Angiotensin II (Ang II) has shown similar effects and may be involved in the muscle wasting observed in some cases of cachexia. Other muscle wasting diseases and disorders are known, including, for example, sarcopenia, an age-related loss of muscle mass.
Treatment of conditions such as cachexia and sarcopenia often includes nutritional supplementation, and, in particular, amino acid supplementation, in an attempt to increase protein synthesis and/or counteract protein degradation. Branched chain amino acids (BCAAs), which include valine, leucine, and isoleucine, are especially useful in such cases, as they have been shown to function not only as protein building blocks, but also as inducers of signal transduction pathways that modulate translation initiation.
The wasting conditions above are just a few of the conditions, disorders, and diseases for which amino acid supplementation has proved beneficial. Amino acid supplementation has also been used to treat diabetes, hypertension, high levels of serum cholesterol and triglycerides, Parkinson's disease, insomnia, drug and alcohol addiction, pain, insomnia, and hypoglycemia. Supplementation with BCAAs, in particular, has been used to treat liver disorders, including compromised liver function, including cirrhosis, gall bladder disorders, chorea and dyskinesia, and kidney disorders, including uremia. BCAA supplementation has also proved successful in the treatment of patients undergoing hemodialysis, resulting in improvements in overall health and mood.
Unfortunately, BCAAs exhibit a strongly bitter taste. Some patients reject oral nutritional supplements containing BCAAs because of their objectionable taste, despite the physiological benefits such supplements offer. Attempts to overcome such rejection have included the addition of masking agents to the supplement, which attempt to block the perception of bitterness, and the addition of other strong flavors, such as chocolate mint. Neither of these attempts has proved satisfactory. Masking agents generally do not completely block a patient's perception of bitterness and the addition of other strong flavors, while not bitter, are often equally objectionable to patients with limited appetites and/or nausea.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an orally-administrable nutritional product and method for its administration that do not suffer from the deficiencies above.

Methods for the use of branched chain amino acids


The onium salt of the present invention contains predetermined compound A represented by the general formula (1). The composition of the present invention contains the onium salt of the present invention, and an onium salt containing predetermined compound B represented by the general formula (2). The onium salt and the composition of the present invention exert well-balanced excellent physical properties in terms of cold curing properties, storage stability, thermal shock resistance after curing, and moisture resistance.

Heretofore, photo-cationically polymerizable epoxy resin compositions have been used as one type of adhesive for use in implementing electronic components such as IC chips onto wiring substrates. Such photo-cationically polymerizable epoxy resin compositions are supplemented with photo-cationic polymerization initiators that initiate cationic polymerization by generating protons through light. Sulfonium-antimonate complexes are known as such photo-cationic polymerization initiators.
The sulfonium-antimonate complexes have, as a counter anion, SbF6− in which a fluorine atom is bonded to a metal antimony. Therefore, large amounts of fluorine ions are generated during cationic polymerization and induce migration between dissimilar metals, causing undesired corrosion in metal wiring or connection pads. Therefore, a proposition has been made to use, as cationic polymerization initiators, sulfonium-borate complexes having a tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl) borate anion [(C6F5)4B−] in which a fluorine atom is bonded to a carbon atom, instead of SbF6− (see e.g., Patent Document 1).

Onium salt and composition comprising the same


A locating and fastening protrusion extending from a back surface of a vehicle trim strip or molding strip being integrally formed with thermoplastic material of the molding strip. The protrusion is formed by applying a hollow heated die cavity against the thermoplastic back surface of the molding strip. The heated die cavity causes the thermoplastic material to melt and as the die cavity is applied against the molding member, the melted thermoplastic material is forced into the die cavity. The die cavity is then cooled such that the material within the die cavity solidifies. The die cavity is removed such that an integral protrusion is left extending from the molding member.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a method of forming a protrusion extending from a thermoplastic part and, more particularly, to a method of forming a locating and/or fastening stud integral with and extending from a back surface of a thermoplastic body trim strip or molding strip associated with a vehicle in which the locating protrusion is formed from the thermoplastic material of the strip.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Vehicle body trim strips or molding strips that are flexible and have a thermoplastic base layer that includes a substantially planar back surface to be positioned against and fastened to a vehicle body part are well known in the art. Generally, these molding strips include a series of protruding members extending from the back surface of the strip which are inserted into associated openings extending through the vehicle body part so as to align the molding strip with the vehicle, and, in some cases, provide a mechanism for attaching the molding strip to the vehicle. For many years, various protruding members have been welded to the thermoplastic portions of these molding strips to perform locating and fastening functions. In some of these implementations, the protruding members are molded into the thermoplastic portions by an applicable die apparatus when the molding strip is formed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,104 issued to Jackson, and assigned to the assignee of the instant application, discloses a thermoplastic vehicle trim strip or molding strip having a metal stud or mounting member secured to the strip in order to provide a mechanism for locating the strip relative to the vehicle. The mounting stud includes a base portion that is embedded in the thermoplastic material of the strip. Before the mounting stud is secured to the strip, the base portion is heated to a temperature sufficient to cause the base portion to melt the thermoplastic material of the trim strip. When appropriate pressure is applied to the mounting stud, the base portion of the stud will melt the thermoplastic material so as to become embedded in the trim strip and retained there once the thermoplastic material cools. Elongated adhesive strips positioned adjacent the mounting studs serve to secure the molding strip to the vehicle.
Although the above-described mounting stud for a vehicle trim or molding strip has been relatively effective, there still remains room for improvement of this procedure. Particularly, because the mounting stud is made of a metal, corrosion and oxidation of the stud may present a problem over time in that the mounting stud may break resulting in the molding hanging off and/or falling from the vehicle. Further, the cost of the fasteners and the tools required to manufacture these mounting studs are excessive in today's cost competitive environment. Additionally, use of a rigid metal part used in connection with the molding strip provides a level of risk of damaging the aesthetic face and related thermoplastic materials of the trim strip during packaging and transportation of the trim strips as a result of the metal part contacting adjacent trim strips. Also, the process of fastening metal studs to moldings is time consuming and difficult.
What is needed is a locating protrusion on a vehicle trim strip which at least attempts to alleviate the drawbacks mentioned above. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide such a trim strip.


Provided is a pectin having (i) a degree of esterification (DE) of 60 to 95%, (ii) a calcium sensitivity (.DELTA.CS) of less than 25 cP, and (iii) a calcium sensitive pectin weight ratio (CSPR) of calcium sensitive pectin (CSP) to the sum of CSP and non-calcium sensitive pectin (NCSP) of 0.7 or more. Such pectin is useful as a stabilizing component of an aqueous acidic beverage, such as a drinking yogurt, which contains a suspension of protein particles formed from, e.g., casein. The pectin can be prepared by treating a substantially non-calcium sensitive pectin having a CSPR of 0.1 or less and a .DELTA.CS of 0-3 with a pectin deesterifying enzyme.

Acidified milk drinks are becoming increasingly popular amongst consumers. Such drinks have long been commercially successful in Japan and parts of south east Asia and are now being introduced into western markets. Such drinks may be yoghurt-based (in which case they are often called drinking yoghurts), Lactobacillus drinks or soft drinks based upon milks These drinks differ from each other for instance in their respective contents of milk solids non-fat (MSNF). MSNF is principally casein. Yoghurt drinks typically contain a minimum of 8% by weight of MSNF, Lactobacillus drinks contain a minimum of 3% by weight of MSNF, whereas soft drinks contain less than 3% by weight of MSNF.
Drinking yoghurts are either distributed fresh and promoted for their content of live lactobacilli, or heat treated prior to distribution to obtain extended shelf life. Heat treated yoghurt drinks must be stabilised to prevent sedimentation of casein particles as such sedimentation leads to the drinks developing an undesirable sandy mouth feel. Even low viscosity MSNF fresh acidified milk drinks have to be stabilised to prevent precipitation of casein particles.
Pectin is most commonly used as the stabiliser for acidified milk drinks. Pectin is a structural polysaccharide commonly found in the form of protopectin in plant cells. The backbone of pectin comprises .alpha.-1-4 linked galacturonic acid residues which are interrupted with a small number of 1,2 linked .alpha.-L-rhamnose units. In addition, pectin comprises highly branched regions with an almost alternating rhamno-galacturonan chain. These highly branched regions also contain other sugar units attached by glycosidic linkages to the rhamnose or galacturonic acid units. The long chains of .alpha.-1-4 linked galacturonic acid residues are commonly referred to as "smooth" regions, whereas the highly branched regions are commonly referred to as "hairy" regions.
Some of the carboxyl groups of the galacturonic residues are esterified, typically by methyl groups. The remainder are present as free carboxyl groups. Esterification of the carboxyl groups occurs after polymerisation of the galacturonic acid residues. However, it is extremely rare for all of the carboxyl groups to be esterified. Usually, the degree of esterification varies from 0 to 90% of the available carboxylic groups. If 50% or more of the carboxyl groups of a pectin are esterified, then the pectin is commonly referred to as being a high ester pectin or high methoxyl pectin. If less than 50% of the carboxyl groups are esterified, then the pectin is commonly referred to as being a low ester pectin or a low methoxyl pectin. If the pectin does not contain any, or only a few, esterified groups, it is commonly referred to as pectic acid.
The structure of the pectin, in particular the degree of esterification, dictates many of its physical and/or chemical properties. For example, pectin gelation caused by the presence of calcium cations depends especially on the degree of esterification. Gelation is believed to result from the calcium ions forming cross-linked complexes with free carboxyl groups of a number of pectin chains causing the formation of a continuous three-dimensional gelled matrix.
It is known that the distribution of the free carboxyl groups along the polymer chain is important for determining whether the pectin is suitable for use as a stabiliser for acidified milk drinks. It has been proposed that pectin stabilises a suspension of casein particles by adsorbing onto the surface of the casein particles at specific points of the pectin molecule. The remainder of the pectin molecule forms dangling chains and loops that protrude into the liquid phase. The repulsion between the resulting complexed particles may be due to the increased osmotic pressure created when pectin chains complexed to two casein particles interact with one another.
For a pectin to be useful as a stabiliser of an acidified milk drink at least some of its free carboxyl groups have to be arranged in blocks (i.e. contiguously) rather than being randomly distributed discretely along the polymer chain. The binding force between a pectin molecule and a casein particle is due to the blocks of negatively charged carboxyl groups interacting with positive charges which exist on the particle surface. The length of the blocks of free carboxyl groups is also important. Blocks of carboxyl groups that are either too long or too short do not result in stabilization of the system. In the former case, no dangling chains exist. In the latter case, the pectins do not securely attach themselves to the casein particles and therefore do not lead to stabilisation of the particles.
A well-known characteristic of low ester or calcium sensitive pectin is its ability to thicken or form gels, particularly when in the presence of alkaline earth metal cations such as Ca++. Unfortunately, acidified milk drinks naturally contain significant quantities of calcium cations. These cations have the undesirable effect of causing significant viscosity increases if excess pectin is present which can even result, in extreme cases, in the acidified milk drink gelling.
Production of heat-treated whey drinks also presents problems. Heat treatments above 70.degree. C. cause variable amounts of whey particles to form depending upon the precise temperature reached. The amount of pectin necessary to stabilise the heat-treated whey drink therefore varies with the heat treatment. As the whey particles that are formed are relatively small, the amount of pectin needed to obtain a stable drink can be very high due to the large total surface area of these particles. However, excessive addition of pectin will again result in thickening or gel formation due to cross-linking of the excess pectin with the naturally present calcium cations.
It will therefore be understood that the inclusion of pectin has both desirable and undesirable effects on the properties of acidified milk drinks. Whilst it can act as a stabiliser against sedimentation of casein particles or whey separation, it can have the disadvantage of increasing the viscosity of the drink due to its cross-linking with naturally co-present calcium cations rendering the drink unpalatable. It will be seen that in the absence of pectin, there is significant sedimentation in the case of both drinks caused by the instability of the casein particles which also results in relatively high viscosity. After a certain concentration of pectin has been added, the casein particles become stabilised against sedimentation after which increasing the pectin concentration has little effect on sedimentation. Turning to the viscosity of the drinks, this also significantly drops on stabilisation of the casein particles but then almost immediately begins to rise again due to cross-linking of the excess pectin added by the co-present calcium cations. This increased viscosity is undesirable as it leads to the beverage having poor organoleptic properties. This range may be as narrow as only 0.06% by weight of pectin based upon the beverage weight as a whole. Below this working range, sedimentation is a significant problem, whereas above it, the viscosity of the beverage is undesirably high.
Commercially, it is critical for manufacturers of acidified milk drinks to avoid sedimentation as this would ruin the drink. Therefore manufacturers typically add excess pectin to ensure that sedimentation does not occur but the excess pectin which is added results in the drinks having an undesirably high viscosity. Whilst manufacturers of course would like to target the narrow working range previously mentioned, this is commercially difficult due to the risk that insufficient pectin may be added causing the whole batch of drink to fail due to sedimentation.
It is well known that the methyl content of pectin is modified in nature by plant pectin esterases which are present in the plant tissue. These esterases, usually called pectin methyl esterases (PMEs), demethylate esterified carboxylic groups which are next to at least two contiguous free carboxylic acid groups. The demethylation proceeds in this way forming blocks. As previously mentioned, it is the arrangement of these blocks which is important for the stabilising action of pectin in acidified milk drinks. The proteases papain and bromelain are also known to demethylate pectins.
In a commercial, extracted pectin having a typical degree of esterification of approximately 70-74%, the length of the free carboxylic blocks may vary from molecule to molecule, and each pectin molecule typically includes several blocks of different lengths. The binding force between the pectin molecule and the surface of the casein particle depends on the length of the blocks which interact with the positive charges on the casein surface and/or with negative charges on the casein surface via calcium salt bridges. To obtain complete stability a significant proportion of the surface of a casein particle should be covered by the pectin.
As described in EP-A-0 664 300, pectins extracted from typical sources such as citrus peel can be separated or fractionated into two distinct pectin fractions. One fraction is a calcium sensitive pectin (CSP) and the other is a non-calcium sensitive pectin (NCSP). These two pectin fractions possess quite different calcium sensitivities (.DELTA.CS). CSP is a high ester pectin having a degree of esterification of at least 65% whose carboxyl groups are arranged predominantly in blocks. The block configuration of the carboxyl groups is responsible for CSP's calcium sensitivity. On the other hand, NCSP is also a high ester pectin having a degree of esterification of at least 70% whose free carboxyl groups are randomly arranged along the polymer chain with no significant degree of contiguity.
Typically commercial pectins which are marketed for use in the stabilisation of acidified milk drinks contain approximately 60% of CSP and 40% of NCSP. The pectin as a whole may have a .DELTA.CS value (as defined below) of 200 to 600 cP, whereas the CSP fraction usually has a .DELTA.CS value of 500 to 1500 cP. Since it is the CSP fraction which is responsible for stabilising casein in acidified milk drinks, the very high calcium sensitivity of this fraction is detrimental to the viscosity of the drink when the pectin, and therefore also its CSP fraction, is present in excess. In addition, since the NCSP fraction does not significantly contribute to the stabilising power of the pectin as a whole, its presence is wasted. Naturally, it would be highly desirable to have all of the pectin which is added to the acidified milk drink contribute to the stabilisation of the casein and for that pectin to have its calcium sensitivity controlled so that it does not significantly increase the viscosity of the drink when present in excess.


A closed loop function selector valve which directs high pressure hydraulic fluid to any one of several hydraulic related devices wherein the low pressure drains or returns of all of the devices are directed back to the valve. The valve comprises a hollow valve body having a cylindrical or arcuate inside surface wherein function selector ports are located. A valve drain output port is also located within the valve body. A selector rotor is moveably seated within the valve body having a line pressurized chamber therein which is in flow communication with the pressurized hydraulic line pressure directed into the valve. A chamber exit port is located in the body portion of the selector rotor arranged to be sealably alignable with one of the function selector ports for directing the hydraulic line pressure to any one of the various hydraulic devices connected to a functional selector port. The valve drain output port is always in flow communication with the remaining function selector ports.

This invention relates to a closed loop function selector valve which selectively directs hydraulic fluid pressure to any one of several hydraulic related devices wherein the low pressure drain or return of each of the connected devices is directed back through the valve.
Known prior methods of directing hydraulic pressure to several hydraulic devices typically involved a combination of spool and shut-off style valves. For ease of illustration and understanding, the prior art and this invention will be explained as used in a tilting bathtub for invalid care. It should be understood that application of the present invention is for illustration purposes not exclusive for such use as there may be many applications for this unique valve. Tilting bath tubs, as described in this nonexclusive valve application, may be viewed in detail in U.S Pat. Nos. 3,174,160; 3,924,278; 4,207,629; 2,536,540; 2,541,263; 3,889,304; and 3,827087.
The functional operation of such tilting bath tubs may readily be powered by ordinary or household water line pressure which may range from 40 to 80 pounds per square inch (psi). Such functions may include tilting the empty tub forward for loading the invalid; tilting the tub backward to a horizontal bathing position; opening the tub drain to permit water tempering; tempering the tub water with the combination of cold and hot water lines; closing the tub drain; filling the tub with tempered bath water; opening the tub drain; and tilting the empty tub forward to facilitate the invalid's exit from the tub.
Referring to FIG. 1, known prior methods to perform these hydraulically activated functions or operations would require four valves--two spools 28, 36 and two shut-off valves 44, 48.
Hydraulic fluid pressure with continuous line pressure to each valve is derived from household cold water line 10 and hot water line 12 which are directed into mixing valve 14 which has a cold water input 16 and a hot water input 18 and a mixed or tempered water output 20. The tempered water is then directed through thermometer manifold 22 through mixed input 24 wherein the temperature is measured to assure the proper operation of the mixing valve 14. The mixed output 26 of thermometer manifold 22 is then directed or is in flow communication with tilt spool valve 28, drain spool valve 36, temper shut-off valve 44, and fill shut-off valve 48.
Tilt spool valve 28 has a pressure input 30 and a release output 32, which are reversible, connected to lift cylinder 34. Drain spool valve 36, which includes reversible pressure input 38 and release output 40, is connected to drain cylinder 42. Temper shut-off valve 44 is in flow communication with drain 46. Fill shut-off valve 48 is directed to tub 50. By this arrangement, the above mentioned functions may be performed with the combination of these four valves and hydraulic fluid or conventional water line pressure.
Referring to FIG. 2, the present invention is schematically shown in a similar application as the known prior arrangement shown in FIG. 1. Cold water line 10 and hot water line 12 are connected to the cold input 16 and hot input 18 of mixing valve 14 with mixed output 20. The mixed output 20 is directed through thermometer manifold 22 via mixed input 24 afterwhich it leaves manifold 22 through mixed output 26 directed solely to valve high pressure line input port 92 of closed loop function selector valve 60 which in turn directs the high pressure fluid or water to any of the following: forward tilt function port 80; backward tilt function port 82; open drain function port 84; temper water function port 86; closed drain function port 88 or fill tub function port 90. Such function ports are respectively in flow communication with the lift cylinder 34, drain cylinder 42, drain 46 and bathtub reservoir 50.


A method of measuring performance of a security analyst includes selecting an analyst that covers a set of securities, and a performance measurement time period. A value add is created by subtracting a return of a benchmark portfolio from a return of a simulated portfolio. The return of the benchmark portfolio is derived exclusively from a selected set of securities that are included in the set of securities covered by the analyst. The simulated portfolio has constituents and weights that are a function of the analyst's recommendations on the securities in the selected set.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to systems, and their methods of use, that measure actual performance of a security analyst, and more particularly to systems, and their methods of use that measure performance of a security analyst's recommendations using a value add that is determined by subtracting a return of a benchmark portfolio from a return of a simulated portfolio return and then multiplied by an adjustment factor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many individuals and institutions analyze financial data, financial instruments, such as equity and fixed-income securities, and other things, at least in part to predict future economic events. Such individuals may include, for example, security analysts. The role of the security analyst is generally well-known and includes, among other things, issuing earnings estimates or recommendations on whether investors should buy, sell, or hold financial instruments, such as equity securities, and other predictions. Security analyst estimates may include, but are not limited to, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual earnings estimates for companies whether or not they are traded on a public securities exchange.
For each security an analyst covers, the analyst issues a "recommendation" or "rating" on the security. This recommendation or rating on serves as a recommendation as to whether to own or weight, relative to a neutral baseline level, holdings of a particular security during a particular time period. Different entities use different language and sometimes different number of levels of recommendations.
Usually more than one analyst follows a given security. Analysts often disagree on earnings estimates and recommendations and, as a result, analysts' earnings estimates and recommendations often vary.
A number of financial information services providers ("FISPs") gather and report analysts' earnings estimates and recommendations. At least some FISPs report the high, low, and mean (or consensus) earnings estimates, as well as mean recommendations for equity securities (as translated to an FISP's particular scale, for example, one to five). In addition, FISPs may also provide information on what the earnings estimates and recommendations were at historical points in time including, but not limited to seven and thirty days prior to the most current consensus, as well as the differences between the consensus (e.g., consensus growth or consensus P/E) for a single equity security and that of the relevant industry.
For some clients, FISPs provide earnings estimates and recommendations on an analyst-by-analyst basis. An advantage of the availability of analyst-level estimates and recommendations is that a client may view the components of the mean estimate or recommendation by analyst. FISP's also work with the employers of the analysts to standardize the firms ratings to a single scale.
One method for determining estimates utilizes a software program that displays all current estimates. For a selected fiscal period security, the software provides the ability to simply "include" or "exclude" each estimate or recommendation from the mean. This is problematic for several reasons. First, commercially available databases of estimates and recommendations contain "current" data on thousands of stocks. Each stock may have estimates from 1 to 70 or more analysts. In addition, each analyst may provide estimates for one or more periods. The data may be updated throughout the day. Manually dealing with this volume of information may be time consuming and tedious.
The actual performance of a security analyst relative to his recommendations on whether investors should buy, sell, or hold financial instruments has been measured by including various degrees of positive recommendations in the construction of a simulated portfolio of securities with these ratings. However, this method fails to address analyst performance on ratings at other levels.
Other methods and systems have utilized a two-tier system using a simulated portfolio calculation that employs a own securities rated positively or don't own securities not rated positively scheme. Additional methods have been utilized with overweight securities rated strong positive over securities rated positive.
Methods and systems to date that measure actual performance of a security analyst typically compare an analyst's security recommendation performance to a benchmark. The purpose of comparing to a benchmark is often to determine the extent to which the analyst's performance was due to his/her abilities versus the extent to which his/her performance was due to external factors. External factors can be the overall market performance and the performance of the types of business covered by the analyst. One approach for selecting a benchmark is to choose an industry group from a published industry scheme, such as Dow Jones, or Morgan Stanley Capital International, as a benchmark. In this case, a published industry group is chosen that corresponds to an industry covered by the analyst.
The published industry consists of a set of securities in related fields of business. The return of this set of securities as a whole is used as a benchmark against which to compare the analyst's performance. A problem with this approach is that industries in published industry grouping schemes vary in their homogeneity with respect to the securities in each grouping. Some industry groupings contain very similar securities or companies in similar lines of business, while others contain companies in widely varying types of business. This results in some securities covered by some analysts that aren't included in their main industry groups. Thus, stocks that fall outside of an industry category will not count toward the performance of that analyst in their main industry group. It also results in the inclusion in an analyst's benchmark portions of an industry group not covered by the analyst.
Current approaches for measuring the performance of security analyst fail to distinguish securities in a portfolio that are rated neutral from those rated negatively. Additionally, current methods and systems fail to incorporate analyst's ratings at levels other than positive and strong positive into the analyst's overall performance calculation. Additionally, existing benchmarks can introduce factors unrelated to the analyst coverage and do not always fully encompass the analyst coverage.
There is a need for methods and systems for measuring performance of a security analyst that distinguishes the treatment of securities rated neutral and those that are rated negatively. There is a further need for methods and systems for measuring performance of a security analyst that incorporate analyst ratings other than strong positive or positive into an overall analyst performance calculation. There is yet a further need for methods and systems for measuring performance of a security analyst that use benchmarks without introducing factors not directly related to the analyst coverage.

Methods and systems for measuring performance of a security analyst


A submount having a structure and a configuration resistant to an increase in manufacturing cost and a reduction in yields or reliability, and including an oblique waveguide is provided. A submount having a first surface and allowing a semiconductor light-emitting element including a waveguide to be fixed on the first surface, the waveguide having an axis line inclined at θWG (degrees) with respect to a normal to a light-incident/emission end surface of the semiconductor light-emitting element, and made of a semiconductor material with a refractive index nLE, the submount includes: a fusion-bonding material layer on the first surface; and an alignment mark formed in the fusion-bonding material layer, the alignment mark allowed to be recognized at an angle θSM=sin−1 [nLE·sin(θWG)/n0], where a refractive index of a light-transmitting medium in proximity to the outside of the light-incident/emission end surface of the semiconductor light-emitting element is n0.

The present technology relates to a submount used to assemble a semiconductor light-emitting element, a submount assembly using the submount, and a submount assembling method.
Recently, for researches in a leading-edge science region using laser light of pulse duration in the attosecond range or the femtosecond range, ultrashort-pulse/ultrahigh-power lasers have been frequently used. Moreover, in addition to scientific interest in an ultrafast phenomenon on a timescale of picoseconds or femtoseconds, applied research in ultrashort pulse lasers with use of high peak power for practical use such as microfabrication or two-photon imaging has been actively conducted. Further, a high-power/ultrashort-pulse laser diode element with a light emission wavelength of 405 nm made of a GaN-based compound semiconductor is expected to serve as a light source of a volumetric optical disk system which is expected as a next-generation optical disk system following a Blu-ray optical disk system, a light source necessary in the medical field, the bio-imaging field, or the like, or a coherent light source covering an entire visible light range.
As the ultrashort-pulse/ultrahigh-power laser, for example, a titanium/sapphire laser is known; however, the titanium/sapphire laser is an expensive and large solid laser light source, which is a main impediment to the spread of the technology. If the ultrashort-pulse/ultrahigh-power laser is realized through the use of a laser diode or a laser diode element, it is considered that a large reduction in size, price, and power consumption of the ultrashort-pulse/ultrahigh-power laser, and high stability of the ultrashort-pulse/ultrahigh-power laser will be achieved, thereby leading to a breakthrough in promoting widespread use of the ultrashort-pulse/ultrahigh-power laser in these fields.
A laser diode device assembly with an all-semiconductor structure as such a 405-nm-wavelength high-peak-power picosecond-pulse light source typically has an MOPA (Master Oscillator and Power Amplifier) configuration. More specifically, the laser diode device assembly is configured of a laser diode generating a picosecond pulse, and a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA, semiconductor laser amplifier) amplifying the generated picosecond pulse. Herein, the optical amplifier directly amplifies an optical signal itself without converting the optical signal into an electrical signal, and has a laser structure without a resonator, and amplifies incident light by an optical gain of the amplifier. More specifically, one of pulse light sources with the MOPA configuration generating a picosecond pulse is a mode-locked laser diode device assembly including an external resonator.
The semiconductor optical amplifier is achievable by reducing reflectivity of both end surfaces of a laser diode element. To reduce reflectivity, a technique of applying nonreflective coatings configured of a dielectric multilayer film to the end surfaces is typically performed; however, even though the nonreflective coatings are applied to the end surfaces of the laser diode element including a waveguide perpendicular to the end surfaces, residual reflectivity is still high, and it is difficult to achieve a semiconductor optical amplifier having a sufficient optical gain. Therefore, a technique of reducing effective reflectivity is used in a semiconductor optical amplifier including a waveguide arranged to be inclined with respect to the end surfaces, i.e., an oblique waveguide. Moreover, in the case where it is desired to reduce the reflectivity of the end surfaces of the laser diode element as in the case of a mode-locked laser diode element assembly configured with use of an external mirror, it is also effective to adopt a technique of arranging the waveguide to be inclined with respect to the end surfaces, that is, to adopt a laser diode element including an oblique waveguide.
In the case where the laser diode element or the semiconductor optical amplifier (hereinafter collectively referred to as "semiconductor light-emitting element") is actually used, it is necessary to efficiently optically couple the semiconductor light-emitting element to a lens, an optical device, an optical element, or another device. However, as described above, when the semiconductor light-emitting element with the waveguide inclined with respect to the end surfaces of the semiconductor light-emitting element is mounted to allow an axis line thereof to be parallel to an optical axis of a system, by Snell's law, light emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting element is inclined at a certain angle with respect to the optical axis of the system. Therefore, there is an issue that a system in related art is not allowed to be used without change. Moreover, in the semiconductor optical amplifier, there is an issue that optical coupling efficiency of incident light declines.
Therefore, as a method of solving such issues, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-088320 discloses a technique of inclining a mount section of a heat sink, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H11-087840 discloses a technique of forming markers 17 and 18 on a p-side contact layer of a laser diode element.

Submount, submount assembly, and submount assembling method


A device for disconnecting the flow of current in the positive or impregnated battery cable of a motor vehicle has an electrically conductive plug-in connection that can be placed in the positive or impregnated battery cable in the form of a housing and a plug connector. The housing contains a gas generator of the kind used, for example, for belt tighteners. The gas generator is arranged in the housing in such a way that the propellant gas produced when the gas generator is ignited electrically separates the connector from the housing and this in turn interrupts the flow of current in the positive or impregnated battery cable. Consequently, a short circuit that might occur in the event of an accident and which could otherwise lead to damage of the cable tree and then set the vehicle on fire, is avoided in good time.

The invention relates to a device for interrupting the flow of current in the positive or impregnated cable of a vehicle battery.
In vehicle accidents, the cable tree is frequently damaged, resulting in a short circuit setting the vehicle on fire. If the current flow in the cable connected to the battery could be interrupted in good time, i.e., before a short circuit occurs, then a short circuit and the consequences of this could be prevented.
Pyrotechnic disconnecting devices for electrical cables are already known in principle (U.S. Pat No. 3,793,501 and DE 23 17 930 C2) and are used for example as power switches (DE 19 04 244 and 29 09 252) or as igniters for military warheads (EP 0 526 315 A1). The previously known pyrotechnic disconnecting devices vices are, however, of relatively elaborate design and less suitable for the purpose according to the present invention.

Device for interrupting the flow of current in the positive or impregnated vehicle battery cable

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


A coated article includes formed of an alloy having a composition including nickel and aluminum, and a protective coating overlying and contacting the substrate. The protective coating is a mixture of a quasicrystalline metallic phase, and a non-quasicrystalline metallic phase comprising nickel and aluminum. The aluminum is present in an amount of from about 3 to about 35 percent by weight of the non-quasicrystalline metallic phase.

In an aircraft gas turbine (jet) engine, air is drawn into the front of the engine, compressed by a shaft-mounted compressor, and mixed with fuel. The mixture is combusted, and the resulting hot combustion gases are passed through a turbine mounted on the same shaft. The flow of gas turns the turbine by contacting an airfoil portion of the turbine blade, which turns the shaft and provides power to the compressor. The hot exhaust gases flow from the back of the engine, driving it and the aircraft forward. There may additionally be a bypass fan that forces air around the center core of the engine, driven by a shaft extending from the turbine section.
The turbine section of the engine is heated to high temperatures by the hot combustion gases, which are highly oxidizing and also highly corrosive. A number of the components of the turbine section, such as turbine blades and turbine vanes, are made of nickel-base alloys having aluminum present to contribute to the strengthening mechanism. The aluminum and other elements present also impart some oxidation and corrosion resistance to the material. Experience has shown, however, that as the combustion-gas temperature has increased for improved thermodynamic efficiency of the gas turbine engine, the surfaces of the base alloys are not sufficiently oxidation resistant and corrosion resistant.
Coatings have been developed to protect the surfaces of the nickel-aluminum-containing components against oxidation and corrosion more effectively than the bare base metal can protect itself. A protective coating typically includes an aluminum-enriched layer having a higher percentage of aluminum than present in the base-metal alloy. The aluminum in this aluminum-enriched layer oxidizes to form a protective aluminum oxide (alumina) scale at the surface of the aluminum-enriched layer, which scale serves as a diffusion barrier to inhibit further oxidation of the coating and thence of the underlying substrate. A ceramic may overlie the aluminum-enriched layer.
The use of aluminum-base quasicrystalline alloys, which have low thermal conductivities, has been proposed for protective coatings. These quasicrystalline alloys may contain porosity or be mixed with small amounts of heat conductive materials such as particles of aluminum. While this approach potentially has merit, it has not been optimized to reflect the realities of the practical limiting considerations for such protective coatings when used to protect nickel-base alloys in the hot-combustion-gas environment.
There is a need for an approach that makes use of the beneficial thermal properties of quasicrystalline alloys, while at the same time achieves acceptable performance in the gas turbine operating environment. The present invention fulfills this need, and further provides related advantages.

Thermal protection of an article by a protective coating having a mixture of quasicrystalline and non-quasicrystalline phases