A shock-absorbing device for a motorcycle comprises a tubular cushion made of soft materials and a cover body made of hard materials. The shock-absorbing device is mounted on the middle section of a motorcycle handlebar, whereby the recoil force by a bumpy road on the motorcycle will be transmitted and absorbed by the front shock absorbing springs as well as the shock-absorbing device of the motorcycle handlebar. Further, the two ends of the motorcycle handlebar are respectively provided with rubber handgrips; the trio forming a three-stage type shock-absorbing device.

A motorcycle is generally driven forward by the rear wheel, the front wheel is driven by a transmission means and the motorcycle handlebar above which is used to control the direction of the motorcycle. The shock due to the recoil force by a bumpy road on the motorcycle will be transmitted and absorbed by the handgrips mounted at two ends of the motorcycle handlebar and then the arms holding the handgrips.
To lessen the resilient force on the arms, which can cause pains if the road is rather bumpy, the frame of the front wheel of a conventional motorcycle is equipped with a pair of shock absorbing springs, and the motorcycle handlebar is provided with a pair of rubber handgrips. Thereby, a two-stage shock-absorbing device is achieved.
However, the forked frame of the front wheel can be further provided with a shock absorbing spring and the rubber handgrips can be further reinforced. These additions will improve the shock absorbing effect.
Nevertheless, the shock-absorbing device using the shock absorbing springs in the front forked frame and the rubber handgrips is not sufficient when the recoil force from the bumpy road is too great, which will inevitably cause pains in a rider's arms. This will affect the stability and the control of the rider.
In the worst case, the resilient force by the road may cause a loss of control of a rider over the motorcycle direction. Therefore, the two-stage shock-absorbing device can still be improved.
Further, the connection of a motorcycle handlebar and a front forked frame is realized through a middle section of the motorcycle handlebar being mounted with the front forked frame by a left block and a right block. The left block and the right block are combined, which form a middle platform. The middle bottom part of the platform is provided with a hole for connecting the front forked frame, whereby the motorcycle handlebar and the front forked frame form a shock transport device.
However, the central dipped section of the motorcycle handlebar mounted on the front forked frame should sustain not only the recoil force from the latter due to a bumpy road but also the downward force exerted by the hands that hold the former. The central dipped section of the motorcycle handlebar does not have any shock-absorbing device, a problem probably causing structural damages in the connection section.
As described above, the shock absorbing effect provided by a pair of rubber handgrips on the motorcycle handlebar is not sufficient to protect a rider from disturbances on a bumpy road.


An electronic reference device is disclosed that can be used by a user when reading a book. The electronic reference device functions as a dictionary for the reader to look up words as they read. It can also have various other functions that would be suitable for a portable electronic device. The device has a main body that houses a display and a keyboard section. The main body is thin enough to be able to fit between the pages of the book. The top of the device is slightly larger than the main body and the battery is not housed in the main body.

A. Field of Invention
This invention relates to an electronic device that can be used as a reference guide by a person reading a book and more particularly to a device that can be easily carried within the book and serve as a bookmark without damaging the pages of the book nor be damaged itself.
B. Description of the Related Art
Certain electronic reference devices have been designed to be used when reading a book. A dictionary is one such device, useful when reading a book. These devices can also be proportionately sized so as to be able to fit inside a book so that it is readily accessible to the user while reading the book. These devices can also be of an appropriate weight so as to be carried with the book. It is important that these devices are of suitable size and weight not to cause damage to the pages of the book nor to the binding of book.
One such prior art device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,424,984, which issued to Zhi Yao. Yao describes an electronic dictionary that has a keyboard section and a display housing section. The keyboard section has a keypad with the keys incorporated onto the surface of the keypad. The display section is thicker than the keyboard section. The display section houses the display screen and the battery.
The relative difference in thickness between the keyboard section and the display section creates a ledge at the point where the two sections join. This ledge is used to keep the electronic dictionary from completely sliding into a book when the keyboard section is placed between pages of the book. In that case, the display section will stick out of the top of the book while the keypad section rests between the pages of the book.
This design has several disadvantages. One disadvantage exists because the thicker and heavier display section will rest on the top edges of the pages. Book pages can be damaged by the weight of the thicker display section weighing down on the top edges of the pages. The danger for damaging the pages is particularly acute when the pages that the electronic dictionary rests upon are few in number and/or do not include the more rigid book cover. In both of these situations, the pages would be more susceptible to the weight of the display section.
Another disadvantage to this design occurs when the book is carried by the user. When finished reading, the user can close the book with the device located in between pages of the book and carry the book and device together. In doing so, however, the display section is still exposed and not protected by the book. Thus, it will be subject to the wear and tear caused by contact with other objects. Damage to the display will effective render the device useless. In addition, the danger of damaging the pages increases due to the fact that the impact due to any contact will increase the pressure on the pages.
Another disadvantage exists if the user tries to protect the display by placing the entire device between the pages of a closed book. Given the thickness of the display section, the pages of the book and the binding of the book will be stressed and likely damaged when the book is closed containing the entire device.


An apparatus and method is provided for transferring measurements from a diagnostic image to a body site. The apparatus includes a fixture having channels formed along its length. A removable template is provided which can be removably positioned in the fixture. The template is marked corresponding to a diagnostic image on an X-ray film. A positioning block is provided which is adapted to slide along the length of the channels formed in the fixture. The positioning block includes a positionable indicator having an indicator head. The indicator head has a guide aperture therethrough. The indicator head is positioned over the mark on the template corresponding to the diagnostic image. A patient's body part, for example a foot, is then aligned with the fixture. The template is removed from the fixture, and a mark is made on the patient's body using the guide aperture, thereby allowing a physician to directly mark a site on the patient's body.

A common problem encountered in the field of podiatric medicine is determining the proper location at which to incise a patient's foot in order to perform a surgical procedure. Surgical treatment of podiatric medical problems generally involves a podiatrist or other physician creating an incision corresponding to the location of the problematic area. It is crucial that the point of incision be accurately located on the patient's body. Otherwise, the patient runs the risk of multiple incisions, and an increase in the time of surgery. An incision made at the wrong cite can also risks new injuries and possible further complications.
One example of where a proper point of incision is critical is in the treatment of bone spurs. Bone spurs are outgrowths of bone caused by the buildup of calcium deposits due to excessive stress at points where ligaments and/or tendons attach to bone. Bone spurs often appear on X-ray film as small protrusions extending from the heel of the foot.
Accurately locating a proper incision point on the patient's foot corresponding to a podiatric growth viewed on an X-ray film poses several problems to the physician. While many podiatric growths, such as bone spurs, are discernible by X-ray, the physician must visually estimate the corresponding location of the point of incision on the patient's foot. It is impractical, if not impossible, to attempt to locate an incision point on a patient's foot from a corresponding X-ray film, in part because X-ray images are only two-dimensional.
Further, it is impossible for the physician to both incise the proper area and simultaneously view the X-ray film. Currently, a physician must attempt to use a ruler to transfer the X-ray measurement to a patient's foot. The physician first measures the location to be incised on the X-ray along the X and Y axes. These measurements are then transferred to the patient's foot using the ruler. However, because the X-ray produces a two-dimensional representation, the X and Y measurements taken from the X-ray film with a ruler do not take into account the curvature of the foot. Therefore, this method does not bridge the gap from two to three dimensions, and often produces inaccurate results.
Otherwise, the physician must either look back and forth from the film to the patient, or have another member of the surgical team hold the X-ray film near the patient's body. Either of these options affords the physician only an approximation of the proper incision point.
There is, accordingly, a need for a device for accurately and easily transferring the location of an anatomical feature from a diagnostic image to a body site.
There is also the need for a diagnostic device which accurately transfers a measurement taken from a two-dimensional image to a three-dimensional body part.

Diagnostic measurement transfer apparatus


Digital communication systems utilizing entangled qubits are disclosed. The disclosed systems and component sending devices and receiving devices exploit selective entanglement swapping to transfer an entangled state between the sending device and the receiving device. Each device includes pairs of qubits that are independently entangled with pairs of qubits in the other device. By selectively entangling the qubits within a pair in the sending device, the qubits of the corresponding pair in the receiving device also are selectively entangled. When the qubits are entangled, they are projected onto a particular entangled state type. Though no information may be transferred through selective entanglement of one qubit pair, systems of the present disclosure determine whether a set of pairs of qubits are entangled by determining whether the distribution of pairs is a correlated or uncorrelated distribution (a probabilistic approach) and transform the distribution type to a classical bit of data.

Information may be communicated by conventional means such as electronic signals, electromagnetic signals, photonic signals, audio signals, etc. For long distance and/or high-speed communication, typically some form of electronic communication is utilized, e.g., wired and/or wireless electrical, electromagnetic, and/or optical systems. Solutions typically require a physical communication channel (e.g., a wire, a fiber optic, a waveguide) and/or a clear path (a line of sight) between the sending device and the receiving device. Some types of communication systems may rely on an intense source that broadcasts a signal in a range of directions (e.g., a radio broadcast). All of these solutions are vulnerable to eavesdropping, jamming, and/or manipulation of the communication signal. Further, physical obstacles and/or distance between the sending device and the receiving device may hinder communication, for example, by blocking the signal and/or reducing the signal to noise ratio at the receiving device. Hence, there is a need for secure and/or reliable communication systems and methods.

Electronic quantum information probability transfer


A spray shield apparatus for removable installation on the cockpit opening of a kayak or similar watercraft may include one or more inflatable cells that provide additional flotation to help prevent the kayaker from overturning, and semi-rigid curved vertical stays and a peripheral ring proximate its top so that it is "flared" out at the top (just below where it contacts the kayaker's torso) to better deflect waves and spray.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to watercraft and accessories therefore, and more specifically to an improved spray skirt or shield apparatus for use on kayaks and similar watercraft.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Most kayaks utilize a spray skirt or shield device, which attaches at its bottom peripheral edge to the coaming of the kayak (around the circumference of the generally circular cockpit opening) with an elastic cord to form a more or less watertight seal, and at its top edge to the kayaker's torso or midsection (where it is typically tightened with a drawstring). Such a traditional spray skirt is useful for preventing water from entering the kayak's cockpit opening, but unfortunately still routinely permits water from waves, splash and spray to reach the kayaker's body. In addition, traditional kayak spray skirts do nothing to assist an overturned kayaker to right himself.


A hood retaining structure for a heat-dissipating device. The heat-dissipating device includes a heat sink with at least one heat-dissipating fin set, and each heat-dissipating fin set includes a plurality of heat-dissipating fins erected vertically. The hood retaining structure is arranged on the heat-dissipating fins to retain a hood thereon and a fan is able to retain to the hood. The hood retaining structure includes a dent defined on an outer side of each heat-dissipating fin such that a retaining groove is defined after the heat-dissipating fin are assembled and at least one retaining rod and at least one retaining hook provided on lateral sides of the hood, the retaining rod and the retaining hook being configured to lock into the retaining groove. The retaining hook includes a push tab.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hood retaining structure for heat-dissipating device, and more particularly to a hood retaining structure for heat-dissipating device such that a hood can be easily assembled and disassembled to the heat-dissipating device.
2. Description of Related Art
The computer system generally comprises central processing unit (CPU) on motherboard there for computation and processing. The CPU will generate considerable heat as the computation speed thereof is rapidly increased. Therefore, heat-dissipating device is provided for the CPU and conveys the heat generated by CPU to the ambient outside the computer mainframe, whereby the performance of the CPU is not degraded by high temperature.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a prior art heat-dissipating device 10a, which comprises a heat-dissipating block 1a made of material with fast heat dissipation and low heat conductance such as aluminum, and a heat-dissipating fin set 3a on the heat-dissipating block 1a. The heat-dissipating fin set 3a comprises a plurality of fins 31a with equal pitch therebetween. A dent 11a is defined on bottom of the heat-dissipating block 1a and a heat-conducting block 2a is arranged in the dent 11a. The heat-conducting block 2a is made of material of slow heat dissipation and high heat conductance such as aluminum. Moreover, the heat-dissipating device 10a further comprises a hood 4a and a heat-dissipating fan 5a.
The heat-dissipating device 10a is then assembled on the CPU 20a with the heat-conducting 2a is attached to top of the CPU 20a. The high heat conductance property of the copper heat-conducting 2a fast conveys the heat generated by the CPU 20a to the heat-dissipating block 1a. The heat is then dissipated to external ambient by the excellent heat dissipation ability of the aluminum heat-dissipating block 1a and the heat-dissipating fin set 3a. Therefore, the heat-dissipating device 10a has satisfactory heat conductance and heat dissipation ability.
However, the heat-dissipating fan 5a is generally retained to the hood 4a by bolt when the hood 4a is assembled to the heat-dissipating fin set 3a. The assembling and disassembling of the heat-dissipating fan 5a is cumbersome. It is desirable to provide a retaining structure to fast assemble and disassemble the hood.

Hood retaining structure for heat-dissipating device


An open-end spinning device has a spinning rotor (3) supported by its rotor shaft (4) in the bearing nip of a support-disk bearing (5) and positioned by a magnetic thrust bearing (18). The magnetic thrust bearing (18) comprises a stationary bearing component (41) with permanent-magnet rings (42, 43) which are enclosed by pole disks (44, 45, 46) and a replaceably arranged bearing component formed of ferromagnetic annular attachments (32, 33, 34) arranged on the rotor shaft (4) which rotate with the spinning rotor. The rotor shaft (4) comprises on one end a bearing area (35) with offset diameter and with at least three ferromagnetic annular elements (32, 33, 34) arranged at the spacing of the pole disks (44, 45, 46), with the ferromagnetic annular elements being optimized as regards their design and arrangement.

The present invention relates generally to open-end spinning devices equipped with a spinning rotor.
Spinning units are known in connection with open-end rotor spinning machines in which units the spinning rotor is supported for high speed rotation by its rotor shaft in the bearing slot of a support-disk arrangement and is fixed via a mechanical thrust bearing arranged on one end. The support-disk arrangement has two support-disk pairs mounted on shafts which are angled relative to one another such that an axial thrust is exerted on the rotor shaft to hold the rotor shaft in contact with the mechanical thrust bearing. This type of bearing for open-end spinning rotors is described for example in German Patent Publication DE-OS 25 14 734, and has been shown to operate effectively in practice at rotor speeds of greater than 100,000 rpms.
However, this type of spinning-rotor bearing has the disadvantage that increased friction occurs between the peripheral bearing surfaces of the support disks and the rotor shaft on account of the angled relationship of the support disks, which results in a heating of the contact surfaces of the support disks. Not only are the contact surfaces of the support disks considerably stressed by this frictional heat but additional energy is also necessary to overcome this friction. Moreover, the mechanical thrust bearings are subjected to a not inconsiderable wear, even if properly lubricated.
Therefore, attempts have already be made in the past to replace these mechanical thrust bearings by wear-free thrust bearings, e.g. pneumatic bearings or magnetic bearings. Since an axial thrust of the rotor shaft in the direction of the thrust bearing is also required in the case of pneumatic bearings, most of the above-discussed basic problems are not able to be eliminated with pneumatic bearings.
German Patent Publication DE 195 42 079 A1 describes an axial magnetic-bearing arrangement in which a part of the magnetic bearing elements are arranged stationarily in the housing of a thrust bearing and the other part of the magnetic bearing elements are arranged in a detachable manner on the rotor shaft of the spinning rotor. Various embodiments are suggested regarding the connection of the magnetic bearing elements rotating with the spinning rotor to the rotor shaft.
A few of these variants concerns a non-positive fastening and others a positive fastening of the rotating magnetic bearing elements, which can be readily detached if necessary. A correct axial fixing of the rotor shaft on the support-disk bearing arrangement is possible with these known magnetic bearing devices and it is also assured that the spinning rotor can be smoothly mounted and dismounted if necessary. However, while the non-positive, easily detachable fastening of the magnetic bearing component to the rotor shaft is advantageous in principle, this type of bearing device is still in need of improvement. A particular problem in such magnetic bearing devices is the fastening of the rotating magnetic bearing elements to the rotor shaft since substantial requirements are placed on the balance quality of this connection on account of the high speed of the spinning rotor.
An open-end rotor spinning device with a permanent magnetic thrust bearing is also known from Austrian Patent 270,459. In this bearing arrangement, ferromagnetic annular attachments are arranged on the end of the rotor shaft of a spinning rotor and are opposed by pole elements of a permanent magnet pivotably supported in this area. The bundling of the magnetic lines of force of the permanent magnet achievable by such an arrangement results in a relatively stiff fixing of the rotor shaft in the bearing nip of a support-disk bearing. However, a magnetic bearing arrangement designed in this manner has the disadvantage that the annular attachments arranged on the rotor shaft have a distinctly greater diameter than the rotor shaft itself. Since these larger annular attachments may prevent the mounting and dismounting of the spinning rotor, especially its front-side mounting, or at least make this operation considerably more difficult, this known magnetic bearing arrangement has not been accepted in practice.
German Patent Publication DE 30 47 606 A1 teaches a bearing for a spindle of a textile machine which rotates at a relatively high speed. The spindle is supported in the radial direction via a three-point bearing arrangement similar to a support-disk bearing and is secured in the axial direction by a magnetic bearing. One end of the spindle comprises a bearing area stepped in its diameter with two ferromagnetic annular attachments. A muff manufactured from a non-magnetic material is fixed to the bearing housing as a stationary bearing element and an annular permanent-magnet element enclosed by lateral pole disks is fitted into which muff. In the mounted state of the spindle the ferromagnetic annular attachments of the spindle shaft stand opposite the pole disks of the permanent-magnet element fixed in the stationary bearing element. Even though this known design makes possible a relatively smooth mounting and dismounting of the spindle in an axial direction, the device has not been accepted in practice on account of its deficient axial bearing stiffness.

Open-end spinning device with a spinning rotor


Apparatus and methods for booting a user equipment are described. A device boot of the user equipment may be performed. Peripherals and associated drivers for the user equipment may be configured. A high-level operating system (HLOS) may be booted. The configuring may occur before the booting of the HLOS. Apparatus and methods for loading peripheral device drivers for a user equipment are also described. Peripherals that can be associated with a user equipment may be determined. Drivers for the determined peripherals may be loaded. The loaded drivers may be associated with a high-level operating system (HLOS) architecture regardless of a type of user equipment on which the HLOS is provided.

1. Field
The following description relates generally to peripheral device drivers, and more particularly to prefetching peripheral device drivers for smart phones and other connected devices prior to high-level operating system (HLOS) boot.
2. Background
Current smart phones, and other wireless devices, may be configured such that each different smart phone model made by each smart phone manufacturer may use a different software environment, and may be associated with different peripherals—both on-board and connected via wired or wireless interface—even though all of the smart phones may be using the same high-level operating system (HLOS), such as ANDROID. As such, initial software provisioning for smart phones may require identifying and loading drivers for every possible peripheral, in a large number of peripheral categories, that may be associated with the phone at some point later in a manufacturing process. As a result, the initial software provisioning for these smart phones requires extensive engineering expertise, a large output of labor, and significant hardware and software resources.
Because it is not known prior to HLOS boot-up which of the possible universe of peripherals are actually associated with the smart phone, identifying and loading drivers "on-the-fly" may cause HLOS boot-up to be more complicated and slower than is preferable.
Furthermore, because an entire universe of drivers may be loaded on to a smart phone, and it is unclear which of the loaded drivers may be used by the HLOS, it is very difficult to provide for centralized management of the HLOS by an interested party such as, for example, a network carrier, a smart phone manufacturer, or software company associated with the HLOS, that wishes to provide an update, such as, for example, a security patch, to all of the phones running the particular HLOS regardless of the phone manufacturers and network to which the phones are subscribed.
As such, it is desired to provide for a simplified initial software provisioning process. It is also desired to provide for faster HLOS boot-up with lower power consumption. It is further desired to provide for central management and updates of a single HLOS across a wide variety of smart phones using the same HLOS, even on different carrier networks.

Method and apparatus for prefetching peripheral device drivers for smart phones and other connected devices prior to HLOS boot


A transfer jig for implant dental surgery uses a tubular post and a tubular coping which is attachable and detachable from the post by a snap-fit attachment. The post has a hexagonal portion for location in a hexagonal socket in an implant and a frusto-conical portion which is a seat for the coping. The coping has a diametrically opposed pair of slots in its end that seats on the post to receive a diametrically opposed pair of pins with a snap-fit, the pins being mounted on the post so that the coping is precisely located relative to the hexagonal portions. The coping also has apertures formed through its tubular wall through which dental impression material is forced to form structural links when a dental impression is taken.

This invention relates to a method for making a model for a dental prosthesis for mounting in a dental foundation member such as an implant having an internal hex, the implant being embedded in a jawbone of a patient, and a dental formation mounting arrangement for use in such a method.
After a period of, for example, three to six months, has been allowed for an implant in the jawbone of a patient to settle, it is usual for an impression to be made in a plastic material of the surfaces of at least part of the gum, and any adjacent teeth that surround the embedded implant. The impression is then used to make a model of that part of the gum and the adjacent teeth. A dental technician uses the model to make a dental prosthesis, which may be in the form of a false tooth, for fitting into a socket in the implant.
An integrated implant prosthesis must fit accurately and be designed to optimise stress distribution to the supporting bone. It is therefore essential for this prosthetic restoration of an implant that the position of each implant in a jaw bone be accurately recorded and transferred to the model. This is particularly important for a screw retained prosthesis.
In practice, relative orientation of the implant to the desired orientation of the dental prosthesis it is to support is unpredictable, both because the actual location of the settled implant is difficult to predict and because the dental surgeon may have to overcome one or more of a number of problems when implanting the implant which means that the orientation of the implant may differ from the optimum.
WO93/20774 discloses a dental formation mounting arrangement comprising a locating element which is adapted to be engaged in a socket formed in a dental foundation member on which the dental formation is to be mounted so as to be held against rotation relative to the dental foundation member and fixing means for fixing the locating element to the foundation member when the locating element is so engaged in the socket, wherein the dental formation mounting arrangement comprises a locating bush which is to be fitted over the locating element, when the latter is engaged in the socket and which is to carry said dental formation.
W093/20774 further discloses a method of making a model of at least part of the gum utilising the dental formation mounting arrangement described above. The arrangement is described as comprising essentially three components and, due to the configuration of the components, requires the use of a non-standard impression tray which is specific to the mounting arrangement.
W096/29019 discloses a dental formation mounting arrangement including an anchor pin or post with an elastic clamp head which is screwed into a tapped hole in an implant which is implanted in the jawbone of a patient, and a contoured element which is snap-fitted onto the anchor pin. The contoured element may be an impression cap or tray, a crown cap or a secondary pin or post. The snap-fitting comprises an annular shoulder which is formed internally on the contoured element and which engages the elastic clamp head in a snap-fit manner. The relative orientation of the contoured element to the implement is imprecise because the anchor pin or post is screwed into the implant and the contoured element can be fitted onto it at random.
According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a dental formation mounting arrangement including a locating element having a portion which is formed so as to be a snug fit in a socket formed in a dental foundation member on which a dental formation is to be mounted, fixing means for fixing the locating element to the foundation member when the locating element portion is fitted into the socket, and a mating element attachable to and detachable from the locating element by means which provide a snap-fit attachment, wherein said locating element has a flat surface which is adapted to make face to face contact with a corresponding flat surface of the socket when that locating element portion is fitted into the socket whereby to hold the locating element against rotation relative to the dental foundation member and each of the locating and mating elements is provided with a respective formation, the formations on the locating and mating elements being adapted to be positively interengaged when the mating element is snap-fitted onto the locating element and the mating element is in a certain orientation relative to said flat surface.
Preferably the mating element is a hollow body provided with apertures in its structure which place its interior in communication with its surrounds, the arrangement being such that, when the mating element is embedded in dental impression material during a process of making a dental impression, such dental impression material can extend through the apertures and form structural links between such dental impression material within the interior of the hollow body and such dental impression material that surrounds the hollow body. The means for providing a snap-fit may comprise at least one locating member which protrudes from one of the locating and mating elements, the at least one locating member being locatable in a corresponding recess formed in the other of the locating and mating elements, the at least one locating member and the corresponding recess serving as the formations. The at least one locating member may comprise one or more locating pins and may protrude from the locating element and be locatable in a respective slot in the mating element.
In another embodiment the locating and mating elements are adapted to be snap-fitted together by pushing a projecting portion of one of them into a cavity formed in the other and the formations include a wall which extends partway around the mouth of the cavity and which seats substantially without clearance in a corresponding recess formed in the one of the locating and mating elements, movement of the other element relative to the one element in the direction that would displace the wall around the periphery of the cavity being stopped by abutment with the ends of the recess in which the wall seats without substantial clearance.
Conveniently the locating element is formed from metal and the mating element is formed from a plastics material. The mating element may include at least one flange which is embedable in a dental impression material in use, enabling the mating element to be removed with the impression material once the impression material has set.
According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a method for making a model of at least part of the gum and one or more adjacent teeth that surround one or more dental foundation members embedded in the jawbone of a patient, said one or more dental foundation members each having a receiving socket therein, the method including the steps of:
(i) locating a locating element in the socket of the or each dental foundation member;
(ii) attaching a mating element to the locating element by means of a snap-fit;
(iii) placing a dental impression tray filled with dental impression material around the teeth, gums and the or each dental foundation member;
(iv) removing the impression tray and dental impression material with the mating element embedded therein from the mouth of the patient by overcoming the snap-fit holding the mating element on the locating element once the dental impression material has set; and
(vii) forming a replica of the teeth and gums of the patient using the impression created in the dental impression material once set, as a maul; wherein the method also includes
(viii) providing the socket and a portion of the locating element which is located in the socket with mating flat faces which make face to face contact with one another when the locating element is located in the socket whereby the locating element is held against rotation relative to the dental foundation member; and
(ix) positively interengaging certain formations provided on the locating and mating elements so that the mating element is in a certain orientation relative to said dental formation member.
Preferably the method includes the step of selecting a hollow body as the mating element, the hollow body having apertures in its structure which place its interior in communication with its surrounds and, filling the interior with dental impression material so that it extends through the apertures and forms structural links between the dental impression material within the hollow body and the dental impression material that surrounds the body in the tray.

Transfer jig for dental implants and method for making a model


An object of the present invention is to provide a boron-containing compound capable of forming an ion-conductive polyelectrolyte having high ion-conductive properties, and a polymer of said compound. According to the present invention, there are provided a polymerizable boron-containing compound of (formula 1), a polymer thereof, a polymer of a compound of (formula 2) and a compound of (formula 3), and a polyelectrolyte for electrochemical device comprising either of these polymers and at least one electrolyte salt:

The present invention relates to a boron-containing compound, a polymerizable composition and an ion-conductive polyelectrolyte which are for electro-chemical devices.
As an electrolyte that constitutes an electro-chemical device such as a battery, capacitor, sensor or the like, a liquid electrolyte has been used from the viewpoint of ion-conductive properties. The liquid electrolyte, however, has been disadvantageous, for example, in that its leakage tends to damage an apparatus.
On the other hand, secondary batteries using a solid electrolyte such as an inorganic crystalline material, inorganic glass, organic polymer or the like have recently been proposed. As compared with the employment of a conventional liquid electrolyte obtained by the use of a carbonate solvent, the employment of the solid electrolyte is free from the leakage of the carbonate solvent and permits reduction of the ignitability of the electrolyte, so that it improves the reliability and safety of a device.
Organic polymers are expected to be developed, for example, because in general, they are excellent in processability and moldability, give an electrolyte having flexibility and processability in bending, and improve the degree of freedom of design of a device obtained by the use of the organic polymer.
The organic polymers described above, however, are inferior to other materials in ion-conductive properties. There is widely known, for example, an attempt to use a material obtained by incorporating a poly(ethylene oxide) with a specific alkali metal salt, as a polyelectrolyte (for instance, JP-A-2002-158039).
JP-A-2001-72877 discloses a copolymer of a boron-containing polymerizable monomer and another polymerizable monomer. This polymer is an ion-conductive material capable of improving the transference number of charge carriers, and the above reference discloses a polyelectrolyte and an electrochemical device which are obtained by the use of said polymer.
However, even when the polyelectrolyte concretely described in the above reference is used, no ionic conductivity value required, in practice, of an electrolyte for a lithium ion secondary battery is obtained.

Boron-containing compound, ion-conductive polymer and polyelectrolyte for electrochemical devices


Embodiments of present invention provide a method and system for collecting, transmitting, editing and integrating, broadcasting, and receiving signals. The method comprises acquiring one and/or more audio signals and one and/or more video signals or the one program collected by one and/or more audio and video collection terminals; editing and integrating the one and/or more audio signals and the one and/or more video signals or the one program on a network platform, and then broadcasting; selecting among the one and/or more audio signals and the one and/or more video signals for the one program at a receiving terminal, and receiving the selected audio signal and video signal.

Traditional television video and audio acquisition, production and broadcasting include nothing more than the following two patterns, namely a live broadcast pattern whereby signals are transmitted in real time, and a recorded broadcast pattern whereby signals are firstly produced and subsequently transmitted.
For the real-time live broadcast pattern, it is required to rent in advance such a transmission line as a microwave line, or a satellite line, or a fiber line. Due to factors such as restriction and cost of the transmission line, it is usual to firstly transfer respective signals from various cameras on the field into a mobile control room where the multiple signals are switched to/synthesized as a single program by a program director, and then transmit the single program via the transmission line to television stations as contents to be broadcasted. This puts great restrictions on the live broadcast director within a station during shot transitions. Although the transmission cost is reduced, the following deficiencies are inevitably engendered. Firstly, the materials for the program are greatly wasted and quality of programs is badly affected. Secondly, it is not only required to deploy the mobile control room but also required to equip therewith a large number of maintenance personnel, so the overall cost is still significant. Thirdly, with respect to the audience, it is only possible to watch the produced single program, thus losing the opportunity to personalize their own program. In order to avoid the deficiency of the aforementioned live broadcast pattern, it is usual for television stations to rent more transmission lines to provide directors within the stations with more materials. Although this enables more comprehensive reflection of the circumstances of the scenes and enhances the quality of programs, the increase in cost is a problem that could not be overlooked.
Network platforms of television stations (for example, China Network Television (CNTV)) serve to store programs, which have already been broadcasted at the stations, on the network platforms in a manner of whole or segment, so as to enable users to playback/view on demand these programs at any future time. However, in comparison with traditional television programs, the network platforms do not participate in the initial gathering and production of the programs. As can be seen from this, the network platform of a television station is merely a closed and secondary broadcasting medium of original television programs, and is characterized in its capability to allow the programs already produced to be played on various types of terminal devices.
In contrast, the IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) broadcast and control platform is an integrated broadcast and control platform of a television system for programs already broadcasted by different television stations, which is capable of integrating and broadcasting programs already produced by different television stations, so that audience at different locations can watch more programs. However, there is not much effect on and change in the production process of programs and watching behaviors of audience. Likewise, it is also a closed and secondary broadcasting medium.
Moreover, although the currently prevailing video network sites are diversified in terms of forms and channels for content acquisition, they are still directed to providing of already produced contents (such as movies and teleplays) and certain video contents as uploaded. There is no online live broadcast and interactive functions.

Method and system for collecting, transmitting, editing and integrating, broadcasting, and receiving signal


A process for producing sulfuryl chloride and/or thionyl chloride is disclosed which involves contacting a mixture comprising SO.sub.2 and Cl.sub.2 (e.g., at about 300.degree. C. or less) with carbon having an active metal content of less than 1000 ppm by weight and a high degree of oxidative stability (i.e., a weight loss of about 12%, or less, in the WVC Temperature Test as defined herein).

The production of sulfuryl chloride by the reaction of chlorine with sulfur dioxide in the presence of a carbon catalyst is a well known process. Typically, chlorine and sulfur dioxide are dissolved in a solvent (e.g., sulfuryl chloride) before contact with a carbon catalyst (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,400). Thionyl chloride is typically made by reacting sulfur dioxide with chlorine and sulfur dichloride in the presence of a carbon catalyst (see, e.g., Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry 5.sup.th edition, Vol. A25, pp. 627-629). Carbon catalysts are known to degrade during such processes. Therefore, there is an interest in developing processes in which the amount of carbon degradation is minimized.

Process for producing oxochlorides of sulfur


‘CABp Fuji’ is a new and distinct apple tree notable for its large, attractive fruit, having a pronounced stripe and superior color as compared to its parent ‘Nagafu-6’ and other known cultivars.

The new cultivar originated as a limb sport mutation of a 'Nagafu-6' (unpatented) Fuji apple tree. It was discovered by the inventor in 1994 in a cultivated orchard at Totara Grove Orchard, New Zealand. 'CABp Fuji' was asexually propagated at Totara Grove Orchard in 1995, and has been shown to remain true to type over successive generations.


A game racquet includes separate head and handle portions which are separated by shock and/or vibration absorbing material. Both the head portion and the handle portion are bonded to the absorbing material and are thereby connected to each other.

This invention relates to game racquets, and, more particularly, to a game racquet with separate head and handle portions which are separated by, and joined with, shock and/or absorbing material.
Game racquets such as tennis racquets, racquetball racquets, and squash racquets include a head portion and a handle portion. The head portion supports a string bed, and the player holds the racquet by the handle portion.
When the head portion strikes a ball, shock and vibration are transmitted from the head portion through the handle portion to the player""s arm. Such shock and vibration can cause discomfort and can lead to physical problems such as tendinitis or tennis elbow.
Shock is caused by the impact of a ball on the strings. Shock on a typical tennis racquet might last about 3 milliseconds after ball impact.
Vibration is caused by shock and lasts longer. Vibration might last about 1000 milliseconds in a typical tennis racquet.
Many prior attempts have been made to reduce the transmission of shock and vibration to the player""s arm. However, any direct connection between the head portion and the handle portion can provide an area through which shock and vibration can be transmitted. A conventional one-piece racquet acts as a conduit of vibration from the head to the handle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,609,198 describes a racquet in which a tubular damping pad is positioned within the grip of the racquet.
The invention provides a game racquet with separate head and handle portions. The handle portion includes arms which extend along portions of the head, and the head and handle portions are separated by, and joined with, shock and/or vibration absorbing material such as urethane or rubber which reduces the transmission of shock and vibration from the head portion to the handle portion.
The head and handle portions are advantageously joined to the shock and/or vibration absorbing material by adhesive or an adhesive agent. If desired, an additional mechanical connection between the head and handle portions can be provided, for example, by strings which extend through string holes in both the head and the handle portions.
The shock and/or vibration absorbing material is advantageously urethane, natural rubber, butyl rubber, or synthetic rubber and has a Shore A hardness within the range of 0 to 90, more preferably within the range of 20 to 70, and most preferably within the range of 30 to 60. Other relatively soft polymeric materials could also be used.

Game racquet with separate head and handle portions for reducing vibration


The invention relates to a water-resistant mascara composition that has a high water content. The inventive mascara composition contains an oil phase comprising a liquid ester, an oil, or a mixture thereof, 1 to 50 percent by weight of a silicon-based film-forming agent, 1 to 10 percent by weight of a gel-forming agent selected among fatty acid esters, glycol derivatives, or mixtures thereof, 1 to 50 percent by weight of substances selected among pigments, powders, fillers, and mixtures thereof, an aqueous phase comprising 42 to 75 percent by weight of water, 0.1 to 10 percent by weight of a surfactant, and other carrier substances, auxiliary agents, active substances, or mixtures thereof until reaching 100 percent by weight. Said composition contains no wax and no hydrocarbon solvent.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention refers to a water-proof mascara composition which at the same time has a high water content.
2. Related Art of the Invention
Water-proof mascara compositions are already known. In many cases, such compositions contain cosmetic waxes. From U.S. Pat. No. 5,925,337 a waterproof mascara composition is known which contains 2-40% by weight of a wax, 5-15% by weight of a thickening agent, 35-50% by weight of a volatile organic solvent and 1-35% by weight of a water-soluble film-forming agent, wherein the last-named agent may e.g. also be an acrylate polymer. The composition does not contain any emulsifier. The water content of the aforesaid formulation is in the range of 7 to 12% by weight.

Water-resistant mascara composition having a high water content


The present invention provides formulations useful to treat EPM. It also provides methods to treat EPM in a horse in need of such treatment, comprising administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of a triazine-based anti-coccidial. Preferred are methods to treat EPM using clazuril, diclazuril, toltrazuril or letrazuril. The present invention also provides methods to prevent S. neurona infection in horses comprising administering a prophylactic amount of a triazine-based anticoccidial. Preferred is a method to prevent S. neurona infection by using clazuril, diclazuril, toltrazuril or letrazuril, alone or in combination with other known therapeutics.

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) is the leading infectious neurologic disease of American horses. Consistently safe and effective treatments for this disease are not available. Conventional therapy relies on relatively non-specific drug/medication combinations; these approaches are only partially effective and relapses and/or adverse reactions are common.
EPM is a New World disease and is the most common infectious neurological disease of horses in the Western hemisphere. It is caused by an "apicomplexan" parasite called Sarcocystis neurona (S. neurona), which cycles naturally between opossums and birds. The horse is an aberrant host, becoming exposed when it consumes infectious material from opossum feces. In the horse, S. neurona makes its way to the brain and spinal cord, where it proliferates and causes clinical disease.
The epidemiology and economic significance of S. neurona infection is substantial. In endemic areas in the U.S., over 40% of horses are seropositive. Of these, a small percentage are clinically affected. Of animals clinically affected, 30-40% reportedly fail to respond to current therapy, and some of these animals die. Better and more effective prophylactic and therapeutic modalities are required.
The economic loss in performance horse breeding is likely more substantial than the above figures suggest. The figures presented refer to clinically observable infections only. Subclinical infections will show only at the racetrack, where well-bred animals may fail to perform to their genetic potential because of subclinical infection with EPM. While unrecorded, these losses may be significant.
EPM occurs wherever opossums are found. All cases of EPM therefore trace to Western hemisphere exposure, and the incidence of EPM is likely greatest in areas with high opossum populations. However, clinical cases of EPM are found throughout the world, because horses who become infected with S. neurona while in opossum territories may be transported elsewhere.
The localization of S. neurona in the brain and spinal cord is a critical obstacle to treatment of EPM. The brain and spinal cord are immunologically privileged; as such, immune responses are likely less effective in the brain than elsewhere. Current treatments, as detailed below, do not directly kill S. neurona; as such they often fail to effect a "cure." The present treatment method directly kills S. neurona, making it dramatically different from previous treatments.
Previous therapy for BPM consists of administration of various combinations of sulfonamides, trimethoprim and pyrimethamine (Daraprim). However, many horses relapse when therapy ceases, probably because the current therapies do not cross the blood/brain barrier reliably and/or attack the organism directly. These agents only hinder proliferation of S. neurona and do not kill it. The inability of current treatments to kill S. neurona likely contributes to the significant relapse rate after therapy ceases.
One of the major concerns about current therapeutic approaches to EPM is the difficulty in maintaining simultaneous minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of pyrimethamine, trimethoprim and sulfonamides in the CNS. Because of the uncertainty of the oral bioavailability and steady state concentrations of these agents in the CNS, and the fact that other treatment regimens may be only apicomplexistatic, the availability of a highly lipid-soluble agent with a long plasma half-life, good CNS entry characteristics, and the ability to kill S. neurona in the CNS would be a useful addition to the anti-EPM therapeutic armamentarium. Additionally, current therapeutic approaches are associated with significant adverse responses in treated animals, one of which is dysbacteriosis resulting in lethal diarrhea and anemia. A more effective and less toxic agent would be highly desirable. The present invention provides these features, whereas the previous treatments do not
The present treatment methods utilize triazine-based anticoccidials, preferably diclazuril, to prevent and treat EPM, without the side effects of previous EPM treatments. EPM and coccidiosis are both caused by "apicomplexan" parasites; however, coccidiosus does not affect the CNS as does EPM.
Triazine-based compounds have previously been used in the prophylaxis of coccidiosis in poultry in Canada, Europe, and South America. Vanparijs et. al., 129 Vet. Rec. 339 (1991); Driessen et. al., 72 Aust. Vet. 139 (1995). Diclazuril has been used to treat coccidiosus in turkeys, ducks, quail, guinea-fowl, pheasants, partridges, mice, rats, dogs, rabbits, cattle, and horses. Lindsay et al., 55 Am. J. Vet. Res. 976 (1994); Lindsay et al., 81(2) J. Parisitol. 315 (1995); and Vanparijs et al., 32 Vet. Parisitol. 109 (1989). U.S. Pat. No. 4,952,570 also discloses the use of triazine-based compounds (including diclazuril) to treat protozoal infections, although neither Equine Protozoal Myelitis nor S. neurona are mentioned. Moreover, diclazuril, in particular is generally considered non-absorbable by the small intestine, and systemic treatment of protozoal infections not possible.
Diclazuril has been shown to be active against Neospora caninum, another apicomplexan organism, in vitro but not yet in vivo. Lindsay et. al., 55 Amer. V et. J. R. 926 (1994) and Dubey and Lindsay, 67 Vet. Parisitol. 1 (1996). Diclazuril has also been shown to be effective against intestinal Eimeria spp. in many avian hosts and against intestinal and hepatic coccidiosis in rabbits. Vanparijs et. al., 32 Vet. Parisitol. 109 (1989).
In other work, diclazuril has been used in the prophylaxis and treatment of experimental T. gondii infection in mice. While diclazuril alone or in combination with pyrimethamine protected mice against death following inoculation with T. gondii, diclazuril, alone or in combination did not prevent tissue cyst formation, including brain tissue cyst formation in surviving mice. Based on this work in mice, Lindsay concluded that combinations of diclazuril and pyrimethamine may be beneficial in the treatment of toxoplasmosis in man and animals Lindsay et. al., 81(2) J. Parisitol. 315 (1995). More importantly, the mice in these experiments died from pneumonia and hepatitis; there is no evidence from the Lindsay experiments to suggest that diclazuril is effective in the treatment of encephalitis. The data show that diclazuril did not prevent tissue cyst formation in the CNS.

Formulations and methods to treat and prevent equine protozoal myeloencephalitis

University of Kentucky Research Foundation


A method of sharing data between wired properties associated with disparate data types includes receiving a first specification for dividing data items having a first data type published by an output property of a first service task into a first set of sub-units and a second specification for dividing data items having a second data type consumed an input property of a second service task into a second set of sub-units; receiving transformation logic for transforming data items divided into the first set of sub-units to data items divided into the second set of sub-units; dividing a first data item published by the output property into the first set of sub-units; applying the transformation logic to transform the divided first item to a second data item divided into the second set of sub-units; and joining the divided second data item. The service tasks are registered with an aggregation application that includes a wire between the properties.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to mashup software applications, and more particularly, to the assembly of different widgets to produce mashup software applications.
Service-oriented computing supports the notion of aggregating any number of modular, atomic software capabilities discoverable and usable by disparate organizations. For example, a mashup is a software application rendered in a browser that combines data and functionality from multiple distinct sources into a single, integrated tool providing a common view (for example, Web 2.0 applications). To support the creation of mashups, reusable widgets (or mashup components), which combine on-line data resources with server-side APIs and user interface functionalities in a compact package that can easily be re-used in other applications, have emerged. Widgets, which can also be combined together and published as new application components, provide atomic elements of mashup application functionality, and thereby can enable easy on the glass integration of otherwise very complicated or costly features to virtually any application. For example, mashups can be implemented to extend enterprise data with service components from the public internet such as Google Maps for location services, RSS (Really Simple Syndication) Feeds to publish content, or Widgets (web plug-ins) that provide specific functions such as blog, wiki, or social networking capabilities.
Generally, mashups are not intended to be strategic, systematically built, industrial-strength enterprise applications; rather, they are created quickly or opportunistically to meet a focused tactical need. Mashups are generally personalized to fulfill personal productivity needs rather than the requirements of a long-standing corporate role. Mashups leverage content and logic from other Web sites and Web applications, are lightweight in implementation, and are implemented using with a minimal amount of code (which can be, for example, client-side JavaScript™ or server-side scripting languages, such as PHP or Python).
Widgets exchange data using input and output properties. Each property is defined by a type and each type is associated with a data type. To participate in a mashup, each widget publishes the properties that it accepts as input and provides as output. More particularly, inter-widget communication in a mashup is achieved by "wiring" output properties of source widgets to input properties of target widgets, and a property broker manages the interactions between the widgets. Thus, interaction between widgets in mashups is loosely coupled. When the value of a property changes in the source widget, the target widget reacts to that change by executing the action to which the property is wired. The wiring interface allows developers to configure connections, or wires, between cooperative, heterogeneous widgets based on the input and output properties of the widgets to form more complex widgets or applications.
The loose coupling of coarse-grained widgets is a cornerstone of the mashup architecture. It enables diverse groups in different locations to leverage each other's efforts and to interoperate with each other. Each group needs to understand only the input and output properties for a widget and not the internal logic. Nevertheless, the use of communication between widgets in terms of data sent from output properties to input properties along a wire does not currently allow for widgets to be completely decoupled. In particular, wires presently cannot be formed in mashups unless both endpoints use the same data type. For example, two widgets may utilize the concept of a date, but unless the dates are identically defined (namespace, name, type), they cannot be connected.

Semantics-based data transformation over a wire in mashups

International Business Machines Corporation


A reduction gear transmission, a kind of eccentrically-oscillating-type reduction gear transmission, is provided with an internal gear, an external gear, a carrier, a crank member and a bearing mechanism. The external gear comprises a through hole at a position offset from its central axis. The carrier comprises a support shaft that extends into the through hole of the external gear. The crank member comprises a though hole into which the support shaft extends and an eccentric member that engages inside the through hole of the external gear. The central axis of the eccentric member is offset from a central axis of the support shaft. The bearing is disposed between the support shaft and the crank member, and supports the crank member such that the crank member is capable of rotating with respect to the central axis of the support shaft. In this reduction gear transmission, a clearance that extends along the support shaft between the carrier and the inner ring is narrower than a clearance between the carrier and an end face of the crank member.

In preparing an internal gear and an external gear, the external gear rotates with respect to the internal gear when the external gear is caused to revolve orbitally around a central axis of the internal gear while the two are maintaining a meshed state. An eccentrically oscillating type of reduction gear transmission that utilizes this phenomenon has been developed, and such is taught, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1997-57678. This type of reduction gear transmission comprises an internal gear, an external gear, a carrier, a crankshaft, and a bearing.
The external gear rotates while revolving orbitally around the central axis of the internal gear while maintaining a meshed state with the internal gear. A plurality of through holes formed at positions offset from the center are formed in the external gear. The carrier is supported so as to be capable of rotating around the central axis of the internal gear. The crankshaft is attached to the carrier in a manner that allows the rotation of the crankshaft. The crankshaft comprises a shaft part and an eccentric member that has a central axis formed in a position offset from a central axis of the shaft part. The eccentric member of the crankshaft engages with the through hole of the external gear. The bearing is disposed between the carrier and the shaft part of the crankshaft, and supports the shaft part of the crankshaft such that it can rotate with respect to the carrier.
In the configuration described above, when the crankshaft is rotated by a motor, the eccentric member of the crankshaft rotates eccentrically. When the eccentric member of the crankshaft rotates eccentrically, the external gear rotates while revolving orbitally around the central axis of the internal gear. When the external gear rotates, the carrier rotates with respect to the internal gear. The rotation of the crankshaft can be transmitted to the rotation of the carrier, and the number of rotations of the carrier can be reduced compared to the number of rotations of the crankshaft.
In the eccentrically oscillating type reduction gear transmission, the crankshaft must be provided such that it can rotate with respect to the carrier. For example, in the reduction gear transmission of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1997-57678, the shaft part of the crankshaft is supported by a tapered roller bearing, and the crankshaft is thus supported such that it can rotate with respect to the carrier.


An oil-laden gas stream flows axially through a tube shaft formed with at least one radially throughgoing inner oil-discharge port and, axially downstream therefrom, with at lest one radially throughgoing inner gas-discharge port. A bearing supports the tube shaft for rotation about the axis and is formed axially level with the ports with respective radially throughgoing outer oil-discharge and gas-discharge ports. An oil separator inside the tube shaft axially between the oil-discharge ports and the gas-discharge ports is oriented to deflect oil particles from the stream radially outward such that the oil flows out through the inner and outer oil-discharge ports and the gas stream can flow downstream out through the gas-discharge ports.

A tube shaft, constructed as a camshaft, with an integrated separation device, is already known from WO 2006/119737 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,717,101), where in addition to a preseparator the outer periphery of the camshaft is provided with a swirler serving as a final separator and integrated into the cavity of the camshaft.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Tube shaft with integrated oil separator


An improved cementing tool, and more particularly an improved stage packer collar, having a tubular housing with an inner passage defined longitudinally therethrough and having a radially outer surface. The housing also has a cementing port and a longitudinal slot, both of which are disposed through a wall thereof. An outer closure sleeve is slidably received about the outer surface of the housing and is movable relative to the housing between an open position wherein the cementing port is not covered by the closure sleeve and a closed position wherein the cementing port is closed by the closure sleeve. An inner operating sleeve is slidably received in the inner passage of the housing and slidable between a first and second position relative to the housing. A mechanical interlocking means extends through the slot and is operably associated with both the operating sleeve and the closure sleeve for mechanically transferring a closing force from the operating sleeve to the closure sleeve and thereby moving the closure sleeve to its closed position as the operating sleeve moves from its first position to its second position. The cementing tool also includes a packer element for sealing the annular space below the cementing port between the casing and the borehole or between the casing and an outer string of casing. A means is also provided for setting the packer element in order to seal the annular space. Internal components of the cementing tool may be drilled out of the housing after cementing operations are completed thus leaving a smooth bore through the cementing tool through which other equipment can be run.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to sliding sleeve cementing tools constructed for placement in a well casing, and more particularly to an improved stage cementing packer collar used for cementing casing in oil and gas wells.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the drilling of deep wells, it is often desirable to cement the casing in the well bore in separate stages, beginning at the bottom of the well and working upward. Cementing the casing in separate stages assures less contamination throughout the zones to be cemented and reduces the possibility of lost circulation due to excessive hydrostatic pressure.
This process is achieved by placing cementing tools, which are primarily valved ports, in the casing or between joints of casing at one or more locations in the well bore, flowing cement through the bottom of the casing, up the annulus to the lowest cementing tool, closing off the bottom, opening the cementing tool, and then flowing cement through the cementing tool up the annulus to the next upper stage and repeating this process until all stages of the well are cemented.
Cementing tools used for multi-stage cementing usually have two internal sleeves, both of which are usually shear-pinned initially in an upper position, closing the cementing ports in the tool. To open the cementing ports a plug is dropped or displaced down the casing and seated on the lower sleeve. Fluid pressure is then increased in the casing until sufficient force is developed on the plug and sleeve to shear the shear pins and move the lower sleeve to the position uncovering the cementing ports. Cement is then pumped down the casing and out the ports into the annulus. When the predetermined desired amount of cement has been displaced into the annulus another plug is placed in the casing behind the cement and displaced down the casing to seat on the upper sleeve. The pressure is increased on the second plug until the shear pins holding it are severed and the upper sleeve is moved down to close the cementing ports, thereby terminating that particular stage of the cement job.
Multistage cementing tools may also include a packet element for sealing the annular space between the casing, which the cementing tool is a part of, and the borehole or between the casing and another string of casing. Multistage cementing tools containing a packer element are commonly referred to as stage cementing packer collars. The packer element of a stage cementing packer is designed to support the cement displaced through the cementing ports of the stage cementing packer while protecting formations below the packer collar from the hydrostatic pressure of the cement. In addition, the packer element is designed to seal the annular space against upward migration of fluids from formations beneath the packer collar.
The present invention relates to an improved stage cementing packer collar. The improved stage cementing packer collar of the present invention has several improvements over previous stage cementing packer collars. These improvements include: (1) shorter length; (2) a single piece housing as opposed to a two or three piece housing with welds; (3) the housing has a smaller outer diameter allowing the use of thicker-walled packer elements; (4) an option of opening the packer collar with a plug or with internal casing pressure as opposed to a plug only; (5) a smooth bore through the internal diameter of the housing after the packer collar has been drilled out; and (6) no internal closing sleeve.
The shorter, more compact stage cementing packer collar of the present invention is easier to handle and make-up into the casing string than prior art stage cementing packer collars. The single piece housing increases the structural integrity of the housing over prior art housings that are welded together. The use of thicker-walled packer elements allows a given size stage cementing packer collar of the present invention to seal a larger annular space than the same size prior art tool. In other words, a thicker packer element will seal a larger annular space than a thinner packer element.
The cementing ports in the cementing tool of the present invention may be opened by internal casing pressure alone or in conjunction with a plug. Opening the cementing ports with casing pressure only saves valuable rig time in the operation of the tool. At the same time, the capability of opening the cementing ports using the conventional plug method serves as a valuable back up system. As a result, the present invention offers a system that is operationally faster and more reliable than conventional stage cementing packer collars.
The cementing tool of the present invention has an external closing sleeve for closing the cementing ports after the cementing job is completed. As a result, a smoother bore through the internal diameter of the housing remains after drill out of the packer collar. This facilitates the subsequent running of tools through the packer collar and reduces the likelihood of tool hangup inside the packer collar, which is a problem with prior art packer collars.
The present invention, while new in design, is based on the design of the ES Cementer, a stage cementing tool manufactured by Halliburton Services. The ES Cementer is generally described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,862 to Richard L. Giroux and John T. Brandell, which is incorporated herein by reference. The similarity of design reduces the manufacturing costs of the present invention by using several of the same parts used in the ES Cementer. The major differences between the present invention and the ES Cementer are that the present invention has (1) a longer housing to accommodate the setting sleeve and packer element; (2) an external setting sleeve to compress the packer element; and (3) a packer element for sealing the annulus between the casing and well bore or between the casing and another string of casing.


A fluid displacement mechanism is disclosed. In an embodiment, first and second cavities are separated by a flexible membrane. The first cavity contains a non-conductive fluid and the second cavity contains a conductive fluid. First and second electrodes are positioned in the first and second cavities respectively such that the application of a voltage between the electrodes causes movement of the membrane by the build up of an electrostatic charge between the membrane and first electrode.

This invention relates to the manipulation of fluids, and particularly the manipulation of fluids using electrostatic forces.
A mechanism which allows direct electrical control of fluid movement may be useful in a range of devices, for example, in adaptive optical devices, drug delivery pumps, and biochemical assays. In such applications it is necessary to move small amounts of fluid in a controlled manner. Adaptive optical devices using two immiscible fluids are known, but mixing of the fluids is a disadvantage and may limit applications.


A vehicle information gathering system comprises an onboard communication device, an onboard storage device and an onboard controller. The onboard communication device communicates with external data sources. The onboard storage device stores a data set comprising at least one data subset reference. The onboard controller automatically determines an availability of each of the external data sources, assigns a respective communication priority to each data subset reference based on the availability of each of the external data sources and at least one priority criteria, assigns at least one external data source to each data subset reference based on the availability and the priority criteria, and controls the communication device to communicate with at least one external data source based on the respective communication priority assigned to each data subset reference to receive at least one data subset via the assigned external data source for storage on the storage device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a vehicle information gathering system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system that enables a communication device onboard a vehicle to receive data from external data sources based on the availability of the external data sources and priority criteria assigned to different types of data.
2. Background Information
In recent years, vehicles have become more equipped with information systems such as sophisticated navigation systems, diagnostic systems, and entertainment systems, to name a few. It is therefore desirable for the vehicle to be capable of receiving information for use by these systems. Typically, vehicles can receive this information over different types of networks, such as wireless networks (e.g., WiFi® networks), mobile service provider networks, satellite communication networks, and so on. However, some of the networks may not always be available. Thus, it can often be difficult or inefficient for a vehicle to download certain information.
Accordingly, a need exists for an improved system for providing information to a vehicle.


A sliding panel includes a frame having top, bottom and side members. Expanders rotatably supporting rollers are partially disposed within the top and bottom members and are displaceable against spring tension inwardly and outwardly of said members. Clips are provided for retaining the expanders partially disposed within the top and bottom members and for limiting the outward displacement of the expanders. The arrangement described provides self-leveling of the rollers along the entire width of the panel.

It is usual in the prior art to provide sliding panels, such as screen or glass doors and the like, with rollers supported in channels at the top and bottom edges of the door. The rollers, in turn, ride on appropriate tracks on the top and bottom of the door opening. It is also usual in the prior art for the rollers to be spring biased so as to permit the door to be positioned in the tracks by a simple manipulation, and to permit the doors to be easily removed from the tracks, as may be required.
It is important that the rollers are adjustable so that they can freely ride in the tracks and thus avoid binding of the panel in the tracks as the panel slides from one position to another, and to accommodate slight variations in the size of the panel opening and/or out-of-square conditions, imperfections, etc. which may exist in said opening.
The following prior art relates generally to the invention disclosed herein: U.S. Pat. No. 3,722,028 (U.S. Class 16/91) which issued to Schoenbrod on Mar. 27, 1973; U.S. Pat. No. 4,064,593 (U.S. Class 16/105) which issued to Helmick on Dec. 27, 1977; U.S. Pat. No. 4,112,622 (U.S. Class 49/421) which issued to Stewart on Sept. 12, 1978; U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,493 (U.S. Class 49/425) which issued to Baumgarten on Feb. 13, 1990; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,613,313 (U.S. Class 49/420) which issued to Helmick on Oct. 19, 1971.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,722,028 relates to a sliding panel roller assembly wherein a single roller assembly is provided for the upper and lower rollers of a sliding panel with the upper rollers being yieldably maintained on an upper track while a threaded bolt extends through a bore in the panel frame and supports the weights of the panels directly on the lower rollers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,064,593 relates to a sliding door roller assembly wherein the roller assembly is adjusted from the sides of the door. This is accomplished through the accessibility of limit stop clamp screws through side openings in the door.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,112,622 relates to a roller assembly for a sliding screen door and the like which includes a housing supported as a friction fit in an opening in the edge of the door and which also includes a roller supported in the housing. The roller is spring biased by a flat spring member which constitutes a resilient support for the roller and which is hooked into the housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,493 relates to a replaceable sliding door roller assembly wherein the roller assembly includes a roller mounted in a roller housing and is carried in a cantilevered manner at one end of a leaf spring. The opposite end of the leaf spring is permanently bent to form a hook which is engageable with a mounting tab on an upper or lower door edge through a mounting insertion gap in the door edge such that the leaf spring extends across a bearing tab. The leaf spring is arranged so that the roller moves into and out of a roller receiving pocket to accommodate imperfections and obstructions in a stationary track on the door frame on which the roller travels.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,613,313 relates to a supporting roller assembly for a sliding panel and which roller assembly includes a spring bias rocker arm having a rounded seating edge seated against the panel edge surface. A track engaging roller on the arm is adjacent one end of the seating edge and attachment means pivotally secured to the arm adjacent the other end of the seating edge secure the arm to the panel for adjusting the arm to shift the point of contact of its seating edge with the panel edge surface in a direction along the seating edge to provide adjustment of the roller toward and away from the panel edge surface.
It will be discerned from the description of the present invention which follows that the invention differs structurally from the prior art as recited above and accomplishes the required adjustability and/or installation and replacement of a sliding panel in a simple and less complex fashion than that taught or suggested by the prior art.


A method for deriving a composite tie metric for an edge between nodes of a telecommunication call graph includes receiving descriptive data with original values for descriptive attributes associated with a telecommunication call graph formed by edges between nodes. Each edge relates to two nodes. Each original value relates to an edge and a descriptive attribute forming an edge-attribute pair for the corresponding original value. The descriptive data is stored in a local storage device. Scaling factors for each descriptive attribute are determined taking into account a distribution of the original values for the corresponding descriptive attribute and a common base for the descriptive attributes. Weighting factors are determined for each descriptive attribute. The composite tie metric is computed for an edge based on the original value, scaling factor, and weighting factor for the descriptive attributes.

This disclosure relates to a process for deriving a composite tie metric for an edge between nodes of a telecommunication call graph based on multiple attributes of the edge. For example, the disclosure describes an exemplary embodiment of a method for deriving a composite tie metric for the edge that takes into account values of the multiple attributes for the edge, distribution of values for the multiple attributes of edges in the telecommunication call graph, conversion of the multiple attributes to a common scale, and weighting the multiple attributes in relation to sensitivity of the composite tie metric to the relative contribution of each attribute. The disclosure also describes an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for deriving a composite tie metric for the edge based on historical data records for communications via a telecommunication network associated with the telecommunication call graph. Various embodiments of the methods and apparatus described herein may be used in conjunction with providing advice to service provider regarding churn prediction. However, methods and apparatus described herein may be used for other purposes, such as prediction of telecommunication service adoption, targeted advertisement, targeted marketing, anomaly detection, and other uses that can benefit from prediction of user behavior.
Social Network Analysis (SNA) is a powerful approach used to better understand the behaviors and relationships of users. SNA is traditionally applied in the context of online social networks (OSNs) such as Facebook, Flickr, and Twitter, where users can directly establish ties, share information, and join groups to connect to users with similar interests. In these networks, SNA operates over attributes that directly imply a social connection between users. For example, the fact that two users are friends on an OSN, that they belong to the same groups, or that they share information with each other can each be used individually to infer that a social tie exists.
Such OSNs contain causal information, that is, data attributes which imply the existence of a social tie. There exist other social networks, however, where only the effects of a social tie are observable. Each effect, taken alone, does not directly suggest social tie strength. Mobile call graphs are an example of such a social network. In a mobile call graph, the effects of a strong social tie may include a large number of calls placed, a long time spent talking, and many calls during weekend and evening hours. By themselves, however, none of the attributes directly imply the tie strength. For example, a user may call a bank to check balances and pay bills more times than they call a friend, even though friendship is a stronger social tie.
Mobile call graphs represent the way in which a large number of users communicate with each other, and these patterns of communication are related to the social ties between people. Thus, studies that apply SNA to mobile call graphs are rising in popularity. Such studies, however, only pick a single feature about the calls made between two users to define a social relationship. As a result, the conclusions drawn by these studies are based only on a single effect of a possible social relationship that exists. In order to make observations about a call graph that more faithfully considers the social relationship between users, an improved measure of tie strength is needed.
For additional information on studies that apply SNA to mobile call graphs, see, for example: i) Dasgupta et al., Social Ties and their Relevance to Churn in Mobile Telecom Networks, Proceedings of 11th ACM International Conference on Extending Database Technology, Mar. 25-30, 2008, pp. 668-677; ii) Onnela et al., Structure and tie strengths in mobile communication networks, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States, vol. 104, no. 18, May 1, 2007, pp. 7332-7336; iii) Richter et al., Predicting customer churn in mobile networks through analysis of social groups, Proceedings of SIAM International Conference on Data Mining, Apr. 29-May 1, 2010, pp. 732-741; iv) Seshardi et al., Mobile Call Graphs: Beyond Power-Law and Lognormal Distributions, Proceedings of 14th ACM Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining, Aug. 24-27, 2008, pp. 596-604; and v) Nanavati et al., On the Structural Properties of Massive Telecom Call Graphs: Findings and Implications, Proceedings of 15th ACM Conference on Information and Knowledge Management, Nov. 5-11, 2006, pp. 435-444. The contents of these five documents are fully incorporated herein by references.
Existing solutions to the problem of calculating social tie strength are applicable to online social networks (OSN) where causal information exists, that is, data attributes exist that imply the existence of a social tie. For example, the fact that two users are friends on an OSN, that they belong to the same groups, or that they share information with each other can each be used individually to infer that a social tie exists. For phone networks, however, only the effects of a social tie are observed. Each effect, taken alone, does not directly suggest tie strength. In a mobile call graph, for example, the effects of a strong social tie may include a large number of calls placed, a long time spent talking, and many calls during weekend and evening hours. By themselves, however, none of the attributes directly imply the tie strength. For example, a user may call a bank to check balances and pay bills more times than they call a friend, even though friendship is a stronger social tie.
There are a number of studies that apply SNA to mobile call graphs. Such studies, however, only pick a single feature about the calls made between two users to define a social relationship. As a result, the conclusions drawn by these studies are based only on a single effect of a possible social relationship that exists. In order to make observations about a call graph that more faithfully considers the social relationship between users, an improved measure of tie strength is needed.
Detecting anomalous behavior on mobile call graphs has several advantages—links where the usage drops significantly can be early indicators of nodes likely to churn in the future due to the reduced calling activity. On the other hand, significantly increased activity can indicate the forming of new ties and likely links for influence propagation. Anomaly detection across call graphs has applications for law enforcement agencies. Overseas calling, calls placed during unusual hours of the day, increased calling activity between certain nodes, and even the underuse or overuse of a service (associated with 'throw-away' phones) may be detected as anomalous signals that law enforcement agencies utilize when investigating a case. Use of the composite tie variation metric facilitates anomaly detection by incorporating abnormal activity across many attributes into a single metric.
Anomaly detection is also applicable to monitoring traffic on a link in a telecommunications network. A telecommunications network is comprised of network nodes (i.e., telecom equipment) and links that connect the different network nodes and transport traffic. In order to obtain the best performance from the network, it is beneficial to have the links at a certain level of activity and to be able to detect if the links deviate from their normal expected behavior. For example, an over loaded link may degrade performance and bring down the network, while an under-utilized link represents lost revenue opportunity. Detection of anomalous behavior of links enables an operator to take actions and rectify the situation. For accurate anomaly detection one needs to take into account multiple factors of performance of the link; not just a single measurement.
For these and other reasons, there is a need to define a composite metric representative of edges between nodes of a telecommunication call graph based on multiple characteristics of the edges.

Method and apparatus for deriving composite tie metric for edge between nodes of a telecommunication call graph


An optical arrangement includes a position sensitive optical detector, a collimated optical source, and a processor configured to monitor the inclination of an object. The collimated optical source is configured to transmit a collimated beam towards the object. The position sensitive optical detector is configured to detect the specific location of incidence of an optical signal received from the object, and the processor is configured to generate information relating to the inclination of the object from processing optical signals received at the position sensitive optical detector.

Measurement of inclination of an object provides a lot of useful information in relation to the physical conditions of the object. For example, the measurement of tilting of a structure, such as a bridge or a building, provides useful information on the safety and stability of the structure.
Tilt measurement apparatus are generally categorized as the "contact-type" or the "non-contact type". In the contact-type apparatus, a sensor is usually mounted on an object the inclination of which is to be measured. An example of the contact-type tilt measurement apparatus is descried in U.S. Pat. No. 5,218,771. However, it is not always possible or practical to use a contact-type tilt measurement apparatus. For example, it is frequently necessary to measure the relative tilting of various components mounted or to be mounted on a printed circuit board during or after the assembly process. Due to the high through-put demand or the high-density nature of the mounting of various components, the contact-type tilt measurement sensor is usually neither appropriate nor practical. On the other hand, a non-contact-type tilt measurement apparatus requires no mounting and/or dismounting of sensors on individual components which form part of a larger scale component integration. Therefore, the non-contact-type tilt measurement apparatus is especially suitable for such high through-put and high-density packaging environment.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a non-contact-type tilt measurement apparatus which mitigates or alleviates shortcomings of the contact-type tilt measurement apparatus.

Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd.


A small-sized filter unit of a simple structure, as well as an X-ray tube unit and an X-ray imaging system both having the filter unit, are implemented. A filter unit in a first aspect of the present invention comprises a filter plate, the filter plate having a first filter, a second filter disposed in a first direction with respect to the first filter and a third filter disposed in a second direction having a predetermined angle from the first direction with respect to the first filter, a guide plate having a guide frame for movement of the filter plate in the first and second directions, and a drive device for moving the filter plate.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a filter unit for adjusting the energy spectrum of X-ray, as well as an X-ray tube unit and an X-ray imaging system both having the filter unit. Particularly, the embodiments described herein are concerned with a filter unit of low cost permitting replacement of plural filters, as well as an X-ray tube unit and an X-ray imaging system.
In an X-ray imaging system, X-ray is radiated to a subject after adjusting its energy spectrum with a filter. The filter is installed within a collimator box attached to an X-ray tube. In the invention of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-226985, for obtaining a desired spectrum, the filter can be used by switching from one to another among plural filter plates secured to a rotary disc.
For radiating X-ray to a standing subject or to a subject who is lying down, it is necessary for an X-ray tube unit to direct its angle in an arbitrary direction. To meet this requirement it is necessary to reduce the size of the X-ray tube unit. An X-ray irradiation unit disclosed in the above-referenced patent publication permits adjustment in multiple stages, but the size of an X-ray tube unit used is large. Besides, if the X-ray tube unit is provided with plural drive devices such as motors, it becomes complicated in structure and gets out of order more frequently, with an increase of the manufacturing cost.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a filter unit simple in structure and small in size, as well as an X-ray tube unit and an X-ray imaging system both having the filter unit.

Filter unit, X-ray tube unit, and X-ray imaging system

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC


This invention provides cross-linked glycopeptide-cephalosporin compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof which are useful as antibiotics. This invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds; methods for treating bacterial infections in a mammal using such compounds; and processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed to novel cross-linked vancomycin—cephalosporin compounds which are useful as antibiotics. This invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; methods of using such compounds as antibacterial agents; and processes and intermediates for preparing such compounds.
2. State of the Art
Various classes of antibiotic compounds are known in the art including, for example, β-lactam antibiotics, such as cephalosporins, and glycopeptide antibiotics, such as vancomycin. Cross-linked antibiotic compounds are also known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,693,791, issued to W. L. Truett and entitled "Antibiotics and Process for Preparation"; and WO 99/64049 A1, published on Dec. 16, 1999, and entitled "Novel Antibacterial Agents."
Despite such compounds, a need exists for new antibiotics having improved properties including, by way of example, increased potency against gram-positive bacteria. In particular, a need exists for new antibiotics which are highly effective against antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococci aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococci epidermitis (MRSE).