A support apparatus configured to support free lengths of parallel components in residential implementations comprising a rectangular section and connection flaps. The rectangular section defines support holes and includes a rectangular section width that matches a width of two standard adjacent studs in a residential implementation. The support holes are configured to support and to separate free lengths of multiple, substantially parallel components. A first connection flap extends from a first end of the rectangular section. A second connection flap extends from a second end of the rectangular section. The rectangular section includes a first length between the first connection flap and the second connection flap configured to match a first standard distance between the two adjacent studs. The support apparatus includes a second length inclusive of the first connection flap and the second connection flap configured to match a second standard distance between two adjacent studs.

In electrical systems, an electrical panel contains electrical breakers. The electrical breakers limit current supplied to electrical components in the electrical system. As the number of electrical components included in residences has increased, the number of electrical cables exiting the electrical panels has also increased. During operation of the electrical components, heat may be produced in the electrical cables. The heat may cause a dangerous situation. For example, when multiple electrical cables directly contact one another, the insulation of one or more electrical cables may break down because of heat generated in the electrical cables. When the insulation breaks down, a short between electrical circuits may be caused. Additionally, the heat may be transferred to materials surrounding the electrical cables, which may spark a fire.
Similarly, the complexity of plumbing systems has increased as the number of plumbing appliances has increased. For instance, plumbing systems may include multiple plumbing manifolds and/or radiant floor heating. The multiple plumbing manifolds and/or radiant floor heating may include multiple pipes or tubes that may be routed under floors and through walls. The pipes or tubes may extend from the plumbing appliances over long distances. When filled with water, the pipes or tubes may flex and rupture. When the pipes or tubes rupture, the water inside may leak and damage surrounding components.
The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one example technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced.

Support structures for electrical and plumbing systems


This invention relates to a medium and high pressure liquid natural gas fuel system for internal combustion engines and for other cryogenic systems. A cryogenic pump comprising: (a) a vessel for containing compressed gas and liquid; (b) a first chamber in said vessel with an inlet therein for receiving gas and liquid; (c) a second chamber communicating with said first chamber for receiving and dispelling gas and liquid; (d) a third chamber communicating with said second chamber for receiving and dispelling gas and liquid; (e) a reciprocating means separating said first, second and third chambers from one another and for drawing and compressing gas and liquid in any one of the first, second and third chambers; (f) one-way inlet means for enabling gas and liquid to pass into the first chamber; (g) one-way means between said first and second chambers for enabling gas and liquid to pass from said first chamber to said second chamber; (h) one-way means for enabling gas and liquid to return from the second chamber to the first chamber; (i) one-way means between said second and third chambers for enabling gas and liquid to be passed from said second chamber to said third chamber; and (j) one-way means for enabling gas and liquid to be expelled from said third chamber to the exterior of the vessel. The invention also relates to a single action suction and double action discharge pump which can be readily removed from a confined space.

Natural gas has been used as a fuel for piston engine driven vehicles for over fifty years but the drive to improve efficiency and reduce pollution is causing continual change and improvements in the available technology. In the past, natural gas driven vehicles (NGV) were naturally fumigated, that is, natural gas was introduced into the cylinders through the intake manifold, mixed with the intake air and fed into the cylinders at relatively low pressure. The fuel supply system for such an NGV is relatively simple. Fuel is held in and supplied from a liquified natural gas (LNG) vehicle tank with working pressure just above the engine inlet pressure, or from compressed natural gas cylinders (CNG) through regulators which reduce the pressure to the engine inlet pressure.
Compressed natural gas (CNG) is commonly stored at ambient temperatures at pressures up to 3600 psi (24,925 kPa), and is unsuitable for trucks and buses due to the limited operating range and heavy weight of the CNG storage tanks.
On the other hand, liquified natural gas (LNG) is normally stored at temperatures of between about -240.degree. F. and -200.degree. F. (about 150.degree. C. and -130.degree. C.) and at pressures of between about 15 and 100 psig (204 and 790 kPa) in a cryogenic tank, providing an energy density of about four times that of CNG.
However, better efficiency and emissions can be achieved if the natural gas is injected directly into the cylinders under high pressure at the end of the compression stroke of the piston. This requires a fuel supply system which can deliver the natural gas at a pressure of 3000 psig and above. This makes it impossible to deliver the fuel directly from a conventional LNG vehicle tank and it is impractical and uneconomical to build an LNG tank with such a high operating pressure. Equally, it is impossible to deliver the natural gas fuel directly from a conventional CNG tank as the pressure in such a tank is lower than the injection pressure as soon as a small amount of fuel has been withdrawn from the CNG tank. In both cases, a booster pump is required to boost the pressure from storage pressure to injection pressure.

High pressure fuel supply system for natural gas vehicles


Provided is a clamping device of a spindle motor including a body, a stopper, a weight, and an elastic member. The stopper is coupled to the body. The weight is coupled to the stopper. The elastic member elastically supports the stopper. According to one embodiment, at least a portion of each stopper is coated with a material having a specific gravity higher than the specific gravity of the body. This material provides the weight coupled to the stopper.

A spindle motor rotates a disk for an optical pick-up device to read data stored on the disk or write data on the disk.
A clamping device coupled to the spindle motor supports the disk at a desired position and rotates the disk according to the rotation of the spindle motor.

Clamping device with weighted stopper for spindle motor


An apparatus, method and computer program, the apparatus comprising: processing circuitry; and memory circuitry including computer program code, the memory circuitry and the computer program code configured to, with the processing circuitry, enable the apparatus to: enable a wireless connection to be established with an electronic device; capture an audio signal and enable the captured audio signal to be sent to the electronic device using the wireless connection to enable the captured audio signal to be used to create an enhanced audio signal; and wherein the apparatus is arranged to be removeably attachable to the electronic device.

Apparatus for capturing audio signals are known. Some apparatus enable a user to capture enhanced audio signals such as spatial audio signals. The spatial audio signals may be signals which have directional properties. The spatial audio signals may be signals which enable the directional properties of sounds to be recreated. Other types of enhanced audio signals may comprise a beamformed audio signal, a noise cancelled audio signal, a stereo audio signal.
It is useful to provide improved devices to enable users to capture enhanced audio signals. For instance, if the spatial audio recording capabilities of a mobile electronic device can be improved this may make it easier for a user to obtain high quality spatial audio recordings.

Apparatus, electronic device, system, method and computer program for capturing audio signals


A transparent conductor including a transparent substrate, a first dielectric layer, a metal layer containing silver or a silver alloy as a primary component, a second dielectric layer composed of a semiconductor, and a third dielectric layer of which electrical conductivity is different from that of the second dielectric layer in the order presented, wherein the third dielectric layer-is composed of a conductor.

Transparent conductors are used for various applications by use of their characteristics. For example, a light control body comprising a transparent conductor can adjust the transmittance of light by controlling the orientation of liquid crystal molecules (see, e.g., Patent Literature 1). It is contemplated that light control bodies are utilized in buildings, automobile window panes, and the like. As such light control bodies, there are known an SPD system and a PDLC system that modulate transmitted light by accumulating electric charges in transparent conductors disposed opposite with a light control layer therebetween to generate an electric field.
As transparent conductors for light control bodies, ones having an ITO electrode are known, as listed in Patent Literature 1. Meanwhile, there is known a transparent conductor having a laminate structure laminated so as to sandwich a metal layer containing silver between a pair of metal oxide layers (see, e.g., Patent Literature 2).

Transparent semiconductor, light control body, and electronic device


The present invention concerns compounds and their use to inhibit the activity of a receptor tyrosine kinase. The invention is preferably used to treat cell proliferative disorders such as cancers characterized by over-activity or inappropriate activity c-kit kinase.

The following description of the background of the invention is provided to aid in understanding the invention, but is not admitted to describe or constitute prior art to the invention.
Kit signaling is critical for fetal gonadal development, and continues to play a role in adult fertility (Mauduit et al. (1999) Human Reproduction Update 5:535–545). Spermatogenesis is inhibited in the absence of SCF (Ohta et al. (2000) Development 127:2125–2131) or the ability of Kit to signal through the PI3 kinase pathway (Blume-Jensen et al. (2000) Nature Genetics 24:157–162; Kissel et al. (2000) EMBO Journal 19:1312–1326). Kit expression has also been observed to be lower in sub-fertile testes than in normal testicular tissue (Feng et al. (1999) Fertility & Sterility 71:85–89). Kit signaling is also important for oogenesis and folliculogenesis (Parrott & Skinner (1999) Endocrinology 140:4262–4271; Driancourt et al. (2000) Reviews of Reproduction 5:143–152). These observations suggest that Kit kinase inhibitors would reduce both male and female fertility.
As a key mediator of mast cell function, Kit may play a role in pathologies associated with mast cells. For example, mast cells have been associated with interstitial fibrosis in chronic rejection of human renal allografts (Pardo et al. (2000) Virchows Archiv 437:167–172). Mast cells have also been implicated in liver allograft rejection (Yamaguchi et al. (1999) Hepatology 29:133–139) and in liver fibrosis, where hepatic stellate cells produce the SCF that recruits the mast cells (Gaca et al. (1999) J. Hepatology 30:850–858). These observations suggest the Kit kinase inhibitors may help prevent organ rejection and fibrosis.
Mast cells have also been implicated in the pathology of multiple sclerosis (Secor et al. (2000) J. Experimental Medicine 191:813–822) and ischemia-reperfusion injury (Andoh et al. (1999) Clinical & Experimental Immunology 116:90–93) in experimental models using mice with mutant Kit receptors that are deficient in mast cells. In both cases, the pathology of the disease was significantly attenuated relative to mice with normal Kit and mast cells populations. Thus, the role of mast cells in these diseases suggests that Kit kinase inhibitors might be useful therapeutics.
Cellular signal transduction is a fundamental mechanism whereby extracellular stimuli are relayed to the interior of cells and subsequently regulate diverse cellular processes. One of the key biochemical mechanisms of signal transduction involves the reversible phosphorylation of proteins. Phosphorylation of polypeptides regulates the activity of mature proteins by altering their structure and function. Phosphate most often resides on the hydroxyl moiety (—OH) of serine, threonine, or tyrosine amino acids in proteins.
Enzymes that mediate phosphorylation of cellular effectors generally fall into two classes. The first class consists of protein kinases which transfer a phosphate moiety from adenosine triphosphate to protein substrates. The second class consists of protein phosphatases which hydrolyze phosphate moieties from phosphoryl protein substrates. The converse functions of protein kinases and protein phosphatases balance and regulate the flow of signals in signal transduction processes.
Protein kinases and protein phosphatases are generally divided into two groups: receptor and non-receptor type proteins. Most receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatases contain two conserved catalytic domains, each of which encompasses a segment of 240 amino acid residues. Saito, et al., 1991, Cell Growth and Diff 2:59–65. Receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases can be subclassified further based upon the amino acid sequence diversity of their extracellular domains. Saito, et al., supra; Krueger, et al., 1992, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:7417–7421.
Protein kinases and protein phosphatases are also typically divided into three classes based upon the amino acids they act upon. Some catalyze the addition or hydrolysis of phosphate on serine or threonine only, some catalyze the addition or hydrolysis of phosphate on tyrosine only, and some catalyze the addition or hydrolysis of phosphate on serine, threonine, and tyrosine.
Tyrosine kinases can regulate the catalytic activity of other protein kinases involved in cell proliferation. Protein kinases with inappropriate activity are also involved in some types of cancer. Abnormally elevated levels of cell proliferation are associated with receptor and non-receptor protein kinases with unregulated activity.
In addition to their role in cellular proliferation, protein kinases are thought to be involved in cellular differentiation processes. Cell differentiation occurs in some cells upon nerve growth factor (NGF) or epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulation. Cellular differentiation is characterized by rapid membrane ruffling, cell flattening, and increases in cell adhesion. (Chao, 1992, Cell 68:995–997).
In an effort to discover novel treatments for cancer and other diseases, biomedical researchers and chemists have designed, synthesized, and tested molecules that inhibit the function of protein kinases. Some small organic molecules form a class of compounds that modulate the function of protein kinases. Examples of molecules that have been reported to inhibit the function of protein kinases are bis-monocyclic, bicyclic or heterocyclic aryl compounds (PCT WO 92/20642), vinylene-azaindole derivatives (PCT WO 94/14808), 1-cyclopropyl-4-pyridyl-quinolones (U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,992), styryl compounds (by Levitzki, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,999, and entitled "Styryl Compounds which Inhibit EGF Receptor Protein Tyrosine Kinase, styryl-substituted pyridyl compounds (U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,606), certain quinazoline derivatives (EP Application No. 0 566 266 A1), seleoindoles and selenides (PCT WO 94/03427), tricyclic polyhydroxylic compounds (PCT WO 92/21660), and benzylphosphonic acid compounds (PCT WO 91/15495).
The compounds that can traverse cell membranes and are resistant to acid hydrolysis are potentially advantageous therapeutics as they can become highly bioavailable after being administered orally to patients. However, many of these protein kinase inhibitors only weakly inhibit the function of protein kinases. In addition, many inhibit a variety of protein kinases and will therefore cause multiple side-effects as therapeutics for diseases.
Despite the significant progress that has been made in developing compounds for the treatment of cancer, there remains a need in the art to identify the particular structures and substitution patterns that form the compounds capable of modulating the function of particular protein kinases.


The present invention provides coating compositions that include reactive diluents and have high performance, low VOC levels, and low irritation levels.

There is a significant need for lower VOC-containing (volatile organic compound-containing) systems in the coatings industry due to increasing environmental restrictions. Typically, lower VOC-containing systems have been achieved by using lower molecular weight polymers. However, this can result in products having poorer performance.
In an effort to reduce the amount of VOC's released, and maintain performance, manufacturers have been using water-based polyurethanes. Such water-based polyurethanes are usually linear polymers and produce films that have chemical resistance lower than the highly crosslinked films of solvent-borne urethane systems. Preparing the polyurethane coating compositions by pre-crosslinking a water-based polyurethane polymer can be accomplished by incorporating a large amount of monomers that have more than two reactive functional groups in the prepolymer stage. However, this results in highly viscous prepolymer blends that cannot be easily dispersed in water. Diluents have been used to address this problem of viscosity, but many are highly irritating either to skin, eyes, or both. In many instances the presence of an "irritating" diluent will require that extensive industrial hygiene measures be undertaken before using the product. However, such measures may not be practical and such products may not be selected as a result.
Thus, what is needed are coating compositions that have high performance, low VOC levels, and low irritation levels.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Coating compositions containing reactive diluents and methods


In the invention it is assumed that in a data recording operation, when the data recording is initiated, the data recording module writes the initial value of the file size in the new file attribute area of the directory, and when the data recording is ended, the data recording module writes the number of clusters as the file size in the new file attribute area. With this assumption, the FAT restoration module examines the file size written in the file attribute area, and distinguishes the first file for which the writing is normally terminated, from the second file for which the writing is not normally terminated. The FAT restoration module tracks the FAT chain of the first file and stores the file number of the first file in the map area corresponding to that FAT. Thereafter, the FAT restoration module tracks the FAT chain of the second file, and stores the file number of the second file in the map area corresponding to that FAT. Therefore, at the least, FATs corresponding to clusters in which data may have been recorded can be designated on the FAT map, and the FAT map can be employed to restore the FAT of the defective file.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a file system, for which a large memory capacity recording medium, such as a hard disk, is provided which enables the restoration of a defective file generated due to an accident occurred during the recording of data, and to file management apparatus incorporated therein.
2. Related Background Arts
Heretofore, file systems incorporating hard disks have been used mainly as external storage media for computers. A file system employed for this purpose must write and read data with high reliability, and it is assumed that such a file system should normally finish a data recording operation in progress when a stoppage, such as a power loss, occurs. Thus, a function is provided for a file system for monitoring the power supply voltage, and for supplying power when the voltage is reduced, so that even if there is a sudden, complete loss of power, auxiliary power can be supplied for a short period of time to permit the data recording operation to be finished normally. Alternatively, two file allocation tables (FATs) may be provided for a file system and used for disk file management, so that following the occurrence of a stoppage, a defective file can be detected by comparing the two FATs. A file management process is thus required for a plurality of FATs.
Further, since the costs of manufacturing a large memory capacity recording media such as hard disks have been dramatically reduced, a video recorder incorporating the hard disk for recording video and sound data have been developed. Unlike computer data, the recording of video and sound data requires extremely large amounts of memory media; however, with the reduction in the costs associated with the manufacture of hard disks, as a recording media employed for a video recorder installed in homes, hard disks are gradually replacing video tapes.
A video recorder having built-in hard disk uses the MPEG2 method to encode and compress video and sound data, and records the resultant data on a recording medium, the hard disk. During reproduction, the recorded data is read from the hard disk, and a decoder converts that data into the original video or sound data, which is then output. Unlike video tape, a hard disk can be accessed randomly and can both reproduce and record data at the same time, so that video recorders having built-in hard disks are assumed to have a favorable future as home video recorders. In addition to video recorders, in consonance with the growth in popularity of broadband, the wide use of recording/reproduction apparatuses having built-in hard disks, for recording video and sound data, appears promising.
For a file system, such as a hard disk recorder, a function is required to prevent the abnormal termination of a recording operation due to a power cutoff and to avoid the production of a defective file. However, it is not preferable for, as with a file system used for a conventional computer system, a power monitoring device and a battery, or a plurality of FATS to be provided to cope with a stoppage because system manufacturing costs would be increased. While the reliability required for the recording and reproduction of video and sound data need not be as high as that required for computer data, for a file system cost reduction is a more important problem.

File system for enabling the restoration of a deffective file


The present disclosure provides antibodies, including isolated monoclonal antibodies, which specifically bind to Cadherin-17 with high affinity. Nucleic acid molecules encoding Cadherin-17 antibodies, expression vectors, host cells and methods for expressing the Cadherin-17 antibodies are also provided. Bispecific molecules and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the Cadherin-17 antibodies are also provided. Methods for detecting Cadherin-17, as well as methods for treating various cancers, including colorectal cancer, are disclosed.

Cadherins are calcium dependent cell adhesion molecules. They preferentially interact with themselves in a homophilic manner in connecting cells; cadherins may thus contribute to the sorting of heterogeneous cell types. The cadherin molecule Cadherin-17 is also known as liver-intestine cadherin or intestinal peptide-associated transporter HPT-1. Cadherin-17 may have a role in the morphological organization of liver and intestine. It is also involved in intestinal peptide transport. The Cadherin-17 structure is characterized as having an extracellular domain with 7 cadherin domains, a single hydrophobic transmembrane domain and a short C-terminal cytoplasmic tail. Only one human Cadherin-17 isoform is known, Genbank® Accession No. NM—004063. Cadherin-17 has the accession number Q12864 in the SWISS-PROT and trEMBL databases (held by the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB) and the European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI) which are available at www.expasy.com). The mouse Cadherin-17 orthologue (Q9R100) shows 76% identity to the human Cadherin-17.
According to SWISS-PROT, Cadherin-17 is expressed in the gastrointestinal tract and pancreatic duct. It is not detected in kidney, lung, liver, brain, adrenal gland or skin. Cadherin-17 expression has been reported in gastric cancer (see, for example, Ito et al., Virchows Arch. 2005 October; 447(4):717-22; Su et al., Mod Pathol. 2008 November; 21(11):1379-86; Ko et al., Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2004 Jun. 25; 319(2):562-8; and Dong et al., Dig Dis Sci. 2007 February; 52(2):536-42), pancreatic cancer and colorectal cancer (Su et al., Mod Pathol. 2008 November; 21(11):1379-86) and hepatocellular carcinoma (Wong et al., Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2003 Nov. 21; 311(3):618-24). International Patent Application WO2008/026008 discloses Cadherin-17 as a marker for colorectal cancer and as a biological target for therapeutic antibodies and other pharmaceutical agents.


An audio signal processing circuit for an audio reproduction apparatus at least having sound source located substantially at left and right sides to a listener, is provided. The audio signal processing circuit includes a phase difference control portion. The phase difference control portion receives a left channel signal for the left sound source and a right channel signal for the right sound source, controls a phase difference between the left and right channel signals so as to produce a relative phase difference in the range of 140 degrees to 160 degrees, and outputs the phase difference controlled left and right channel signals for the left and right sound source, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an audio signal processing circuit in a so-called surround system. More particularly, the present invention relates to simplification of its structure, improvement of accuracy, and localization of sound image.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, an audio reproduction apparatus having surround channels at a left and a right sides to a listener in addition to a left and a right (and optionally a center) front channels, has been developed not only for business use but also for home use. In the surround reproduction utilizing such apparatus, two of surround speakers are usually arranged at the both sides (i.e., left and right sides) to the listener. When the correlation between the left and the right surround signals is small (i.e., when a stereophonic surround system is employed), the listener does not have an unnatural feeling. In contrast, when the correlation between the left and the right surround signals is large (i.e., when a monophonic surround system is employed), the following problem is recognized depending on the listener's position. Specifically, when the listener is positioned at the center between the left and the right surround speakers, the listener has an unnatural feeling as if sound image was localized in the head of the listener.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a technique alternatively dividing a monophonic signal into two channels with respect to each frequency component of predetermined width by using a comb type filter so as to virtually reproduce stereophonic sound, a technique performing a pitch shift processing so as to reduce the correlation (e.g., THX system), and a technique performing a 90 degrees phase shift processing so as to make the correlation zero, have been proposed.
However, the above-mentioned techniques have the following problems, respectively.
According to the technique using the comb type filter so as to virtually reproduce stereophonic sound, unnaturally large sound is often reproduced when a musical instrument is used as sound source. Furthermore, the virtual stereophonic sound reproduction compromises the sound quality when the surround signals are stereophonic. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent the stereophonic sound reproduction in such a case. As a result, a change of a processing mode is required depending upon whether the surround signals are monophonic or stereophonic, which makes the overall processing complicated.
According to the technique performing the pitch shift processing such as THX system, there has been a tradeoff problem that the large amount of the pitch shift is required for reducing the correlation and that the large amount of the pitch shift lowers the sound quality. Furthermore, similar to the virtual stereophonic sound reproduction, a change of a processing mode is required depending upon whether the surround signals are monophonic or stereophonic, which makes the overall processing complicated.
The technique performing the 90 degrees phase shift processing is superior to the above-described techniques in view of the fact that the sound quality is not lowered in the case of the stereophonic surround signals and that a change of a processing mode is not required. However, sound image is apt to be localized in the direction of the channel whose phase relatively progresses, which provides the listener with an unnatural feeling. This problem is especially remarkable in the case where the left and the right surround sound sources are virtual sound sources.
As described above, an apparatus and a method, which are capable of performing the same processing independent of whether the surround signals are monophonic or stereophonic, preventing sound image localization in the head of the listener so as to create sound field just as enveloping the listener, and performing a processing which does not compromise the sound quality even when the surround signals are stereophonic, are eagerly demanded.
By the way, an audio signal processing circuit disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Publication No. Hei 8-265899 (265899/1996) is shown in FIG. 29. The circuit is used for making a listener 102 to feel that sound image reproduced by virtual speakers XL and XR is virtually localized at rear sides to the listener 102. By utilizing the circuit, the listener is able to feel that he/she is surrounded by the sound reproduced with the speakers 104L and 104R as well as surrounded by the sound reproduced with the virtual speakers XL and XR even when the speakers 104L and 104R are actually arranged only in front of the listener 102.
In the apparatus shown in FIG. 29, a total of four filters 106a, 106b, 106c and 106d are used for performing the above-mentioned sound image localization. Transfer functions H11, H12, H21 and H22 of the respective filters are represented by the following equations:H11=(hRRhL′L−hRLhL′R)/(hLLhRR−hLRhRL)H12=(hLLhL′R−hLRhL′L)/(hLLhRR−hLRhRL)H21=(hRRhR′L−hRLhR′R)/(hLLhRR−hLRhRL)H22=(hLLhR′R−hLRhR′L)/(hLLhRR−hLRhRL)
Here, hLL is a transfer function from the speaker 104L to the left ear 102L of the listener 102, hLR is a transfer function from the speaker 104L to the right ear 102R of the listener 102, hRL is a transfer function from the speaker 104R to the left ear 102L of the listener 102, and hRR is a transfer function from the speaker 104R to the right ear 102R of the listener 102.
Equations hLL=hRR, hLR=hRL, hL′L=hR′R and hL′R=hR′L are satisfied in the equations stated above when the speakers 104L and 104R and the virtual speakers XL and XR are symmetrically arranged with respect to a central axis 108 through the listener 102. As a result, equations H11=H22 and H12=H21 can be derived, so that the circuit can be obtained by utilizing total of two filters as shown in FIG. 30 (such structure is referred to as "shuffler type filter"). Here, transfer functions HSUM of the filters 110a and HDIF of the filters 110b are represented by the following equations:HSUM=(ha′+hb′)/2(ha+hb)HDIF=(ha′−hb′)/2(ha−hb)                wherein equations ha=hLL=hRR, hb=hLR=hRL, ha′=hL′L=hR′R and hb′=hL′R=hR′L are satisfied.
As described above, in the case where the speakers are symmetrically arranged, sound image can be localized at the virtual speaker positions with the simple circuit.
Furthermore, a method for localizing sound image by utilizing a cross-feed filter 112 and a cross-talk cancel filter 114 as shown in FIG. 31, has been proposed. The cross-talk cancel filter 114 functions to cancel cross-talk from the right speaker 104R to the left ear 102L of the listener and that from the left speaker 104L to the right ear 102R of the listener. Accordingly, the cross-talk cancel filter 114 makes it possible that a left channel signal L reaches only the left ear 102L and a right channel signal R reaches only the right ear 102R. As a result, sound image can be localized at the desired position by adjusting the amount of the cross-talk with the cross-talk cancel filter 114.
The above-mentioned cross-talk cancel filter 114 can also be obtained by utilizing the shuffler type filter as shown in FIG. 30. In this case, transfer functions HSUM of the filters 110a and HDIF of the filters 110b are represented by the following equations:HSUM=ha/(2(ha+hb))HDIF=ha/(2(ha−hb)).
According to the shuffler type filter, a circuit having satisfactory sound image localization ability or satisfactory cross-talk cancel ability can be obtained only when the filters 110a and 110b are highly accurate. However, in order to make the filters accurate, the structure thereof becomes complicated. As a result, when a digital signal processor (DSP) is employed for the filters, it takes much time to perform a sound image localization processing or a cross-talk cancel processing. In contrast, when the structure of the filters is simple, the ability of the filters is insufficient.
As described above, a shuffler type filter having a simple structure and a high accuracy is eagerly demanded for a surround system.


When handling panel-shaped objects, such as glass panes, a gripping device (4) is used in order to remove the objects from stacks (1, 2), in which the objects are inclined towards the vertical, or to position the objects onto stacks (1, 2), wherein the gripping device allows at least two stacks (1, 2) of objects to be formed on bearing blocks, the stacks (1, 2) differing from each other. The gripping device (4) has at least two grippers which are independent of each other. Suction heads (7) are provided as the grippers of the gripping device (4), the suction heads being pivotal independently of each other into and out of the suction head working position associated with the objects. In the process, gripping device (4) suction heads (7) pivoted out of their operating position are arranged above the stacks (1, 2).

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and a device for the stacking and de-stacking of panel-shaped items, such as glass panels.
Description of the Related Art
Devices for stacking and unstacking are known, in which connection reference can be made to FR 2 525 196 A, WO 2012/037582 A, or EP 0 675 060 B1.
Panel-shaped objects, especially glass panes, are kept ready in storage (glass storage)—in stacks on a bearing block, for example.
On the bearing blocks, the panel-shaped objects (glass panes) stand inclined a few degrees (5°, for example) with respect to the perpendicular so that they lean securely on the bearing block.
For the unloading ("stacking") and removal ("unstacking") of panel-shaped objects, beams are provided that are equipped with suction heads ("suction beams") and that are, for example, 6 meters long. The suction heads are applied to the upper edge of a panel-shaped object (glass pane) in order to raise the foremost object in each case from the stack and transport it for further handling or processing. For example, glass panes that have been removed ("unstacked") from a bearing block are transported to a glass-cutting table.
For gripping/removing/detaching panel-shaped objects, comb-like devices ("combs") are known. On the teeth of these combs, multiple (usually three) suction heads are arranged, so that the glass panes can be gripped over an extensive area. The comb-shape is chosen so that various devices that are outfitted with vacuum suction cups and used for conveying, storing, and transporting can feed glass panes to each other without it being necessary to suction-grip the panels from both sides (which would be damaging to coatings, for example).
Suction beams that are not divided into independent segments are known from FR 2 525 196 A.
It is problematic when different types of glass stand on the bearing block—for example, stacks of glass panes of different widths, or stacks of glass panes having the same or different glass types with different thicknesses. As a consequence, it used to be absolutely necessary to remove glass panes from each stack simultaneously. Only in this way was it possible to prevent the development of different stack thicknesses which make it impossible to work with gripping devices that are designed continuously over the length of the bearing block, even when these are designed as suction beams.

Method and device for stacking and unstacking panel-shaped objects


A hand grenade comprising a detonator, an explosive charge having a periphery, a hollow shell having an inner surface and an outer surface, an electronic circuit, and a power source. The hand grenade has at least two environments of control.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a Hand Grenade and more particularly pertains to a hand grenade having safety and control circuitry.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of other hand held and hand emplaced explosive devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, other hand held and hand emplaced explosive devices previously devised and utilized for the purpose of providing a user with a hand emplaced explosive device are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,304,544 issued to Conrad et al, on May 27, 1919 discloses a hand grenade. U.S. Pat. No. 1,363,079 issued to Bergman on Dec. 21, 1920 discloses a hand grenade. U.S. Pat. No. 4,220,091 issued to Israels et al on Sep. 2, 1980 discloses a delay fuse for explosive charge. U.S. Pat. No. 4,066,019 issued to Mahnert on Jan. 3, 1978 discloses an electronic hand grenade. Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,971 issued to Rayer et al on Dec. 21, 1997 discloses a rapid-release smoke hand grenade.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe Hand Grenade that allows a hand grenade having safety and control circuitry and more than one level of safety.
In this respect, the hand grenade according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of a hand grenade having safety and control circuitry.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved hand grenade which can be used for a hand grenade having safety and control circuitry. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills the needs as set forth in Mil Standard 1911.


The present invention provides compositions and methods for detecting the activation states of components of signal transduction pathways in tumor cells. Information on the activation states of components of signal transduction pathways derived from use of the invention can be used for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and in the design of cancer treatments.

The process of signal transduction in cells is responsible for a variety of biological functions including cell division and death, metabolism, immune cell activation, neurotransmission, and sensory perception to name but a few. Accordingly, derangements in normal signal transduction in cells can lead to a number of disease states such as diabetes, heart disease, autoimmunity, and cancer.
One well characterized signal transduction pathway is the MAP kinase pathway, which is responsible for transducing the signal from epidermal growth factor (EGF) to the promotion of cell proliferation in cells (see, FIG. 1). EGF binds to a transmembrane receptor-linked tyrosine kinase, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is activated by the binding of EGF. The binding of EGF to EGFR activates the tyrosine kinase activity of the cytoplasmic domain of the receptor. One consequence of this kinase activation is the autophosphorylation of EGFR on tyrosine residues. The phosphorylated tyrosine residues on the activated EGFR provide a docking site for the binding of SH2 domain containing adaptor proteins such as GRB2. In its function as an adaptor, GRB2 further binds to a guanine nucleotide exchange factor, SOS, by way of an SH3 domain on GRB2. The formation of the complex of EGFR-GRB2-SOS leads to SOS activation of a guanine nucleotide exchange factor that promotes the removal of GDP from Ras. Upon removal of GDP, Ras binds GTP and becomes activated.
Following activation, Ras binds to and activates the protein kinase activity of RAF kinase, a serine/threonine-specific protein kinase. What follows is the activation of a protein kinase cascade that leads to cell proliferation. In outline, RAF kinase then phosphorylates and activates MEK, another serine/threonine kinase. Activated MEK phosphorylates and activates mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Among the targets for further phosphorylation by MAPK are 40S ribosomal protein S6 kinase (RSK). The phosphorylation of RSK by MAPK results in activation of RSK, which in turn phosphorylates ribosomal protein S6. Another known target of MAPK is the proto-oncogene, c-Myc, a gene important for cell proliferation, which is mutated in a variety of cancers. MAPK also phosphorylates and activates another protein kinase, MNK, which in turn phosphorylates the transcription factor, CREB. Indirectly, MAPK also regulates the transcription of the Fos gene, which encodes yet another transcription factor involved in cell proliferation. By altering the levels and activities of such transcription factors, MAPK transduces the original extracellular signal from EGF into altered transcription of genes that are important for cell cycle progression.
Given the central role that signal transduction pathways play in cell growth, it is not surprising that many cancers arise as a result of mutations and other alterations in signal transduction components that result in aberrant activation of cell proliferation pathways. For example, overexpression or hyperactivity of EGFR has been associated with a number of cancers, including glioblastoma multiforme, colon cancer, and lung cancer. This has prompted the development of anticancer therapeutics directed against EGFR, including gefitinib and erlotinib for lung cancer, and cetuximab for colon cancer.
Cetuximab is an example of a monoclonal antibody inhibitor, which binds to the extracellular ligand-binding domain of EGFR, thus preventing the binding of ligands which activate the EGFR tyrosine kinase. In contrast, gefitinib and erlotinib are small molecules which inhibit the intracellularly-located EGFR tyrosine kinase. In the absence of kinase activity, EGFR is unable to undergo autophosphorylation at tyrosine residues, which is a prerequisite for binding of downstream adaptor proteins, such as GRB2. By halting the signaling cascade in cells that rely on this pathway for growth, tumor proliferation and migration is diminished.
Additionally, other studies have shown that about 70% of human melanomas and a smaller fraction of other tumors have a point mutation (V599E) in the Raf gene which leads to persistent activation of the MAPK pathway (see, e.g., Davies et al., Nature, 417:949-954 (2002)). Such results suggest that mutations in particular signal transduction pathways may be characteristic of particular types of tumors and that such specific, altered signal transduction pathways may be a promising target for chemotherapeutic intervention.
Given that different cancer treatments, particularly cancer chemotherapy, may function either directly or indirectly by means of either blocking or activating cellular signal transduction pathways that are involved in cell proliferation or death, respectively, the activity of a given signal transduction pathway in a particular form of cancer may serve as a good indicator of the efficacy of various cancer treatments. Accordingly, in addition to fulfilling other needs, the present invention provides a method for evaluating the effectiveness of potential anticancer therapies for an individual patient. As such, the present invention provides methods for assisting a physician in selecting a suitable cancer therapy at the right dose and at the right time for every patient.

Drug selection for breast cancer therapy using antibody-based arrays


Meters for fertilizers, small seeds, and chemicals include a housing defining a loading chamber, a rotatable metering disk provided with a receiving surface and a discharge surface, the disk including metering orifices; a ring including a discharge opening, and an insulating barrier arranged in the interior of the housing, the insulation barrier forming an insulating chamber on the rotatable disk and defining an inlet region of the disk and an output region of the disk; a metering bulkhead associated with the insulating barrier in the inlet region of the rotating disk with metering orifices loaded, the metering bulkhead being arranged on the rotatable metering disk so that a lower portion of the metering bulkhead is coplanar to the receiving surface of the rotatable disk.

The agricultural sector is one of the main economic bases of a country, for this reason there is a constant search for an increase in productivity, aiming at the lowest environmental impact and also to the reduction of crop production expenses.
The application of fertilizers and other products for treatment of the soil is directly related to the factors that influence agricultural productivity, since, among other factors, the correct metering of these materials in kilograms per hectare ensures greater productive capacity and provides savings of the material, which directly impacts the reduction of the expenses with supplies and, therefore, the total cost of the crop.
Some known agricultural implements used in the current market for the metering of granular supplies employ endless screw meters. This type of solution is functional and widely disseminated, including by patent documents.
In the Brazilian Utility Model patent document MU 8602761-1, a fertilizer meter with a helical actuator is disclosed, in which the discharge is obtained by gravity. In such a model, the fertilizer is metered from the rotational movement of the helical actuator, in which the metering of material is generally accomplished by adjusting the speed of rotation of the actuator. The rotation of the helical actuator is driven by a powered wheel of the agricultural implement.
In this type of device, the granules are transported through the valleys of the helical actuator and fall by gravity in a conductor disposed at an end of the helical actuator. The major disadvantage in this type of product is the metering intermittence resulting from the fact that the grains are transported in the valley of the helical actuator, therefore the intermittency is directly related to the interval given by the periods between the valleys of the helix, i.e., the thread pitch defines the intermittent input of the driver.
With the intent of minimizing intermittency, the product disclosed in Brazilian Patent 0402211-4 presents a solution which still uses a helix, but additionally has a physical overflow barrier, arranged after the helix and before the conductor, through which the particles of fertilizer are forced to overflow to reach the exit orifice.
Although this solution reduces intermittent metering, it is still not a completely satisfactory solution, since homogeneity only occurs in ideal terrain conditions, i.e., only in flat terrains with no slopes and/or uneven relief. More specifically, in the case of longitudinal slopes of the agricultural implement, variation in the mass of distributed fertilizer is observed, where in an upward slope there is an increase in the mass of metered input and in a downward slope a reduction occurs.
One of the alternatives for resolving the intermittence and reducing the metering heterogeneity due to soil topography is found in the Brazilian patent application PI 0400933-9, which discloses a system that uses the same overflow barrier principle, this being, however, disposed laterally with respect to the helix.
More specifically, the lateral overflow causes the mass variation metered due to longitudinal upward and downward slopes being reduced, however variations of lateral slope of the agricultural implement continue to generate heterogeneity in the distribution.
In the master dissertation of Gustavo José Bonotto, entitled "Desempenho de Dosadores de Fertilizantes de Semeadoras-Adubadoras em Linha", defended in 2012 for the post-graduate program in Agricultural Engineering at the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, the performance of five different types of fertilizer meters are evaluated, namely: endless screw meter with discharge by transverse overflow; endless screw meter with discharge by gravity; endless screw meter with lateral discharge and overflow; ribbed rotor meter, and star disk meter.
In the evaluation, two of the tests performed were on the performance analysis for longitudinal and lateral inclinations of the devices. In the tests of metered mass measurement as a function of the longitudinal inclination of the meter, the endless screw meter with discharge by gravity presented the worst performance, having a coefficient of variation of 17.44%, followed by the transverse overflow meter of 9.35% and lateral overflow at 7.22%. Following the same reasoning, but in the evaluation of lateral slopes, the endless screw meter with lateral discharge presented the worst coefficient of variation in the value of 2.28% followed by the meter with discharge by gravity 1.28% and transversal overflow 1.17%.
Patent documents are also known which disclose alternative solutions to systems that use endless screw such as, for example, US20150208573 and EP1382236.
The patent application US20150208573 discloses a mechanism used in agricultural equipment for the dispersion of granular chemicals with the use of an axially rotatable cylinder with transverse metering apertures. Such configuration provides a significant improvement in relation to homogeneity in the distribution of granular materials, even on uneven terrains.
In spite of the improvement in relation to the intermittent metering and consequent reduction of the heterogeneity in the distribution of products during the application in terrains with irregular topographies, the metering device of document US20150208573 still has the drawback of not guaranteeing a precise metering and therefore making impossible an effective control of the mass of distributed fertilizer.
In addition, in US20150208573, configurations of the shapes of the metering openings that provide non-clogging are described. However, the constructive improvements in the apertures disclosed in US20150208573, in addition to not ensuring metering accuracy, still do not prevent the inlaying of the material to be metered in the inner walls of the apertures, since the exit of the material is conditioned only by the action of gravity.
Patent EP1382236 describes methods and devices for dispersing chemical materials, especially materials for agricultural treatments. To this end, the dispersing device has a container combined with a disperser, wherein the disperser comprises a horizontal rotatable metering disk with a plurality of channels defining predefined spaces corresponding to a predetermined volume of material for each space.
Similarly to US20150208573, the document EP1382236 also provides an improvement in relation to the homogeneity of the metering by not using endless screw metering systems and having predefined metering spaces intended for metering.
At the same time, the disclosure in EP1382236 also has the same drawbacks of not guaranteeing an accuracy that is capable of effective control of material to be distributed, since it does not provide means to ensure that the predefined volume is satisfactorily filled and that these volumes are completely emptied by, again, relying solely on the action of the gravity.
It should therefore be made clear that, although apparently functional up to the present time, the meters of fertilizers, small seeds, and chemicals, especially those used in the agricultural field, have certain drawbacks and limitations mainly related to the accuracy of the metering, as well as in relation to the control of material distributed by area.

Meters for fertilizers, small seeds, and chemical products, and related systems and methods


An embodiment method of routing network traffic includes configuring flow tables of a virtual switch using an OpenFlow protocol. The virtual switch is disposed at a network radio node. The method includes receiving network traffic destined for a user equipment (UE) at the virtual switch and establishing, by a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, a data radio bearer (DRB) for the network traffic between a virtual port on the virtual switch and the UE. The method also includes routing the network traffic over the DRB from the virtual port, through the PDCP layer, and toward the UE according to the flow tables.

Driven largely by smart phones, tablets, and video streaming, the amount of wireless data handled by wireless networks has risen markedly and is expected to continue to rise by orders of magnitude over the next ten years. In addition to the sheer volume of data, the number of devices is expected to continue to grow exponentially, possibly reaching into the billions of devices, along with radically higher data rates. Different applications will place different requirements on the performance of future wireless networks. Future wireless networks are expected to be highly flexible, highly efficient, open, and customizable for customers and consumers.
In a Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless network, the eNodeB (eNB) is responsible for running the radio resource control (RRC) protocol and is in charge of many decisions such as commanding the user equipment (UE) to measure neighboring cells in a particular priority order and initiating handover to neighbors based on a policy. In today's products, this policy is often hard-coded with limited means of configuration, and is difficult to change.
3GPP LTE and Wi-Fi use centralized architectures where user sessions are managed in highly centralized data centers or central offices. Due to the proliferation of highly functional user equipment (UE) that allow users to multi-task, for example, surf the internet, instant message and stream videos at the same time, the handling of user sessions in the data centers or central office can approach the performance limits of the data centers or central office.
In addition, with the increased deployment of small cells, het-net, machine to machine (M2M), and networks of devices, where thousands or millions of devices are attached, there are a large number of user sessions, some of which are more local (i.e., originate and terminate in nearby locations), while others are more distant. Each of these devices may be mobile. A core network anchors the Internet protocol (IP) sessions centrally and thus is able to maintain an IP session while a device transitions between layer 2 anchor points. Furthermore, the core network architecture, which is based on tunnels to a fixed anchor point, is cumbersome and inefficient. The packet data network (PDN) gateway (PGW) becomes a bottleneck in terms of the number of sessions that can be managed, and it becomes a central point of failure because it maintains so much state about the mobile nodes (MNs).

System and method for coordinated remote control of network radio nodes and core network elements


A method of determining a gauge and a tilt of a rail track at a location includes providing a rail trolley including a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, an RFID reader, a gauge sensor, and a tilt sensor and positioning the rail trolley on the rail track at the location. The method also includes interrogating one or more RFID tags positioned along the rail track and determining, using the processor, a fixed location associated with each of the one or more RFID tags. The method further includes determining, using the processor, the location of the rail trolley in relation to the fixed locations associated with each of the one or more RFID tags and determining the gauge and tilt of the rail track at the location of the rail trolley.

Track recording vehicles have been used to measure different attributes of a railway track. These vehicles, which can be referred to as track geometry trolleys, are typically expensive to purchase as well as to operate. As a result, railway maintenance staff typically only inspect rail lines at infrequent intervals. Increases in the frequency and accuracy of track measurements are desirable since they may lead to improved railway safety and a decrease in the risk of derailment.

Method and system for position rail trolley using RFID devices


Techniques are described for providing one or more clients with direct access to cached data blocks within a persistent memory cache on a storage server. In an embodiment, a storage server maintains a persistent memory cache comprising a plurality of cache lines, each of which represent an allocation unit of block-based storage. The storage server maintains an RDMA table that include a plurality of table entries, each of which maps a respective client to one or more cache lines and a remote access key. An RDMA access request to access a particular cache line is received from a storage server client. The storage server identifies access credentials for the client and determines whether the client has permission to perform the RDMA access on the particular cache line. Upon determining that the client has permissions, the cache line is accessed from the persistent memory cache and sent to the storage server client.

Computing elements, such as workstations and server blades, may request data blocks from other "source" computing elements over a network. The source computing elements may represent storage servers that provide remote computing elements with shared storage access. The source computing elements may use a persistent cache (e.g. cache in persistent memory) to cache copies of the data blocks that are primarily stored in primary persistent storage (e.g. disk storage).
Persistent caches are generally faster and smaller than primary storage. If a copy of a data block is stored in the persistent cache when a request for that data block is received, the data block can be returned far more quickly from the persistent cache than from primary storage.
In order to manage input/output (I/O) operations from remote computing elements, storage servers may use a message-based storage protocol. In some cases, the message-based storage protocols may use Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) to transfer data between computing elements. RDMA is a technology that allows the network interface controller (NIC) of the storage server to transfer data "directly" to or from memory of a remote computing element, that is, transferring the data to or from the memory without involving the central processing unit(s) (CPUs) on the remote computing element.
For example, a remote computing element issues a read request to the source computing element, the storage server. In response to the read request, the storage server uses a disk controller to perform a block-level read from disk and loads the data into its local memory. The storage server then performs an RDMA write to place the data directly into an application memory buffer of the remote computing element. Using RDMA increases data throughput, decreases the latency of data transfers, and reduces the load on the storage server and remote computing element's CPU during data transfers. Implementations of RDMA protocols may use a mapping table, such as a hash table to map data block on-disk locations to their respective locations in persistent cache. The storage server may use the mapping table to locate requested data blocks in the persistent cache using their on-disk location, provided by the remote computing element. However, security for the mapping table is implemented at a table level. That is, if the remote computing element is authorized to access the mapping table, then the remote computing element may access all records in the mapping table regardless if records are associated with another database within the same cluster as the remote computing element.
One approach to overcome this security issue is to implement security measures for each data block loaded into the persistent cache. By doing so, a remote computing element may only have access to data blocks that the remote computing element is authorized to access. However, the processing overhead of registering, deregistering, and managing security for each data block in the persistent cache is quite large. The CPU on the storage server would be adversely impacted by the additional overhead from memory registration/deregistration and message processing that overall performance of the storage server may be adversely impacted.
The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.


An electronic module reader including a housing having a receiving area adapted to removably receive an electronic module; electrical signal contacts connected to the housing; and a module detection and ejection pre-warning switch. The switch is adapted to be contacted by the electronic module in the receiving area. The switch is adapted to signal presence and absence of the electronic module in the receiving area, and adapted to signal movement of the electronic module from a home mated position with the electrical signal contacts towards an electrically disconnected position.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an electronic module reader and, more particularly, to a system for detecting presence of a module in the reader and pre-warning regarding ejection of the module from the reader.
2. Brief Description of Prior Developments
Electronic module readers, such as a memory card readers for example, are provided in portable electronic devices, such as mobile telephones, digital cameras and hand-held games, for example. The readers allow a user to removably insert different modules for use by the device. In the past, the some readers were provided with a first switch for detecting the presence of a memory module in the reader. The reader could also have a separate second switch for signally a pre-warning if the module was being removed or ejected from the reader. This second switch was to allow for "hot swapping" of modules without having to turn OFF power to the device.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a diagram of a conventional system used in a portable electronic device 10. The card reader 12 is coupled to a control system 14. The device includes a card detection switch 16 or card polling and a separate pre-warning switch 18, such as a reader door or hatch switch. The two switches 16, 18 are coupled to the control system for indicating presence of a memory card in the reader and a pre-warning to provide a certain time period to the control system before the memory card it removed. The switches 16, 18 have separate connections to the control system 14. The disadvantages with this type of system is increased difficulties in design, more space demanded because of a door switch, and higher probability of failures due to more connections and components.
One type of system uses a card detection switch which is closed at a mated position for an ON state, and which is open at a card ejected position for an OFF state. The switch contact is closed ON during operation which can cause poor reliability from bouncing and contact problems due to corrosion or mechanical reasons. Bouncing refers to inadvertent opening of a contact by impulse or momentum which could cause the contact to inadvertently switch from an ON state to an OFF state. This creates a reliability issue regarding the contact. A continuous closed ON state also can cause problems with corrosion and other reliability issues. Card ejection pre-warning time is only about 1 ms from switch detection to the moment the card is disconnected.
Another type of system uses a card detection switch which is open at a mated position for an OFF state, and which is open at a card ejected position for an OFF state. This can provide a longer ejection pre-warning time, but there is no card detection information when the card is IN or OUT of the reader because the status of the switch when mated and when OUT of the reader is OFF for both. Thus, it does not provide adequate card detection capability.
There is a desire to provide a reader having both a module detection capability as well as a pre-warning capability, but at a reduced cost. There is also a desire to provide a reader having both a module detection capability as well as a pre-warning capability with an increase reliability. There is a desire to provide a reader having both a module detection capability as well as a pre-warning capability, but with a smaller size and which is easier assembly than in conventional devices. There is also a desire to provide a reader which provides a minimum ejection pre-warning time of about 250 ms or more.


Antigens derived from Taenia crassiceps have been isolated which have specificity and sensitivity in their reactivity with antibodies against Taenia saginata and Taenia solium. These antigens may therefor be used in diagnostic testing for the serological screening of livestock for cysticercosis, rather than relying upon methods involving dissection and visual examination.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to purified and isolated antigens for the detection of bovine or swine cysticercosis and methods of synthesis of recombinant antigens using genetic engineering techniques.
2. Description of the Art
Cysticercosis is a parasitic disease of cattle and swine caused by the larval (cyst) stage of the tapeworm Taenia saginata in cattle and Taenia solium in swine. Ingestion by man of viable larvae in undercooked meat results in intestinal tapeworm infection (taeniasis). The meat of these animals contains larvae that mature, in the intestinal tract, into adults that burrow into the mucosa and at the same time attach themselves to the bowel wall with scolices which bear hooks. The mature worm then progressively develops to lengths of 3 to 6 meters (10 to 20 feet). Clinical manifestations of the intestinal infection arise from the physical mass of the worms, the trauma to the intestinal mucosa, reaction to worm metabolites, and competitive uptake of nutrition. Of particular concern is taeniasis caused by the swine tapeworm (T. solium) which has the potential to lead to human neurocysticercosis, with serious, debilitating and possibly fatal consequences. As these tapeworms pose a dramatic health risk, infected carcasses discovered during inspection at the slaughter house are condemned as a matter of public policy.
Present inspection of livestock or meat for cysticercosis infection requires dissection and visual examination of specimens, a tedious, time-consuming and labor-intensive practice. The direct meat inspection is done using organoleptic means based on prescribed procedures designed to optimize detection of lesions. These postmortem examinations for cysts are extremely insensitive. It is estimated that organoleptic inspections for metacestode cysts performed at the time of slaughter misdiagnose in excess of 25% of infected animals as falsely negative. The detection of Taenia saginata and Taenia solium, the causative agents of cysticercosis, continue to pose large economic losses and serious health concerns in a number of countries, including the United States.
As yet, serological diagnostic tests for screening livestock have not been available due to the lack of specific and sensitive antigen reagents. Previous efforts to develop specific and sensitive antigens have not met with success. Given the moderate level of host antibody responses to cestode infections and the low numbers of cysts often associated with naturally-infected animals it was necessary to develop a highly sensitive and specific test.
Antigen reagents which have been evaluated by the ELISA method for the detection of T. saginata antibodies include an adult cestode extract which is reported to have strong cross-reactivity with antibodies to Fasciola hepatica, a common trematode parasite of cattle Craig et al., Zeitschrift fur Parasitenkunde 61:287-297 (1980)!.
A de-lipidized saline extract of the larval stage of the heterologous cestode Taenia crassiceps was evaluated as an immunodiagnostic antigen and though it exhibits a high degree of specificity for T. saginata antibodies (4.3% false-positive reaction) it has an unacceptably low degree of sensitivity for antibodies in both naturally (62% false-negative reaction) and experimentally infected animals Geerts et al, Res. Vet. Sci., 30:288-293 (1981)!.
A heterologous antigenic fraction purified from Taenia hydatigena, termed ThFAS, demonstrated reliable detection of T. saginata antibodies using the enzyme linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA) where the specific immunodiagnostic reactivity of this fraction was associated with a 10 kDa protein. See Rhoads, M. et al., J. Parasitol. 71:779-787 (1985); Kamanga-Sollo, E. et al., Proc. Am. Assoc. Vet. Parasitol. 31:31 (1986); and Rhoads, M. et al., Vet. Arch., 57(3)143-150 (1987). As ThFAS is derived from naturally-occurring sheep cestodes, limitations have been encountered in obtaining the antigen in sufficient quantities and purity for use in a viable commercial test. Obtaining the homologous antigen from T. saginata cysts presents a problem since the muscle cysts and hence the mRNA from T. saginata, is difficult to purify free of host material. Consequently, the identification of an alternative source is necessary.
Efforts to develop an assay for the diagnosis of cysticercosis in humans has also been less than completely successful. Currently, the ELISA method shows the highest accuracy of immunodiagnosis for human cysticercosis. Using either a crude extract of swine cysticerci as an antigen or a purified fraction thereof (antigen B), antibodies were detected by ELISA in sera or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in only 70 to 80% of the clinically diagnosed cases Diwan et al., Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 31:364-369 (1982); and Espinoza et al., Cysticercosis. Present State of Knowledge and Perspectives, 163-170, Academic Press, New York (1982)!. In addition, non-specificity has been demonstrated using this method (Coker-Vann et al., Trans. Roy. Soc. Med. Hyg. 78:492-496 (1984)). However, false-positive reactions can be eliminated by combining ELISA with an immunoblotting technique Gottstein et al, Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 35:308-313 (1986) and Trop Med. Parasitol. 38:299-303 (1987)!. Recently, an ELISA using any one of three purified proteins isolated from the scolex of T. solium metacestodes by monoclonal antibody-immunoaffinity chromatography was able to detect 100% of the patients with cysticercosis and showed no false-positives (Nascimento et al 1987). In all of these human cysticercosis assays, the antigenic reagent was obtained from the homologous cestode, T. solium. Furthermore, to achieve accurate and reliable assays it is necessary to use additional expensive and time-consuming techniques.
These techniques would be completely unacceptable as a screening tool for the inspection of livestock or meat. An acceptable screening method must be capable of diagnosing cysticercosis in livestock or meat with a high degree of both sensitivity and specificity while remaining cost effective. Such an immunoassay screening method requires an appropriately reactive antigen. Since availability of antigen is a major limiting factor in diagnostic test development and production, reliable sources of antigen must be secured and the antigen must be available in quantities sufficient to support field trials and large scale test implementation.

DNA encoding the Taenia crassiceps ten kilodalton antigen

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


Provided herein are CRIS-PR/Cas9 complexes and methods of using same.

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated (Cas) systems (CRISPR-Cas9 systems) are used for gene editing at desired genomic sites in mammalian cells. In CRISPR-Cas9 systems, a Cas9 nuclease is targeted to a genomic site by complexing with a guide RNA that hybridizes to a target site in the genome. This results in a double-strand break that initiates either non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) or homology-directed repair (HDR) of genomic DNA via a double-strand or single-strand DNA repair template. However, repair of a genomic site via HDR is inefficient.

CRISPR/Cas9 complex for introducing a functional polypeptide into cells of blood cell lineage


An alcohol oxidation catalyst which is an organic oxidation catalyst to oxidize an alcohol, which contains azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane N-oxyl represented by the following formula (1) having an N-oxyl group incorporated in a bicycle[3.3.1]nonane skeleton:

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an organic oxidation catalyst to oxidize an alcohol, particularly an organic catalyst excellent in environmental harmonization and its preparation process. The present invention particularly relates to a technique to selectively oxidize an alcohol to an aldehyde, a ketone and/or a carboxylic acid, based on a nitroxyl radical.
2. Discussion of Background
Oxidation of an alcohol to a carbonyl compound is one of the most basic reactions in organic synthesis and heretofore, many excellent oxidizing agents and oxidation methods have been developed. Heretofore, oxidation reaction of an alcohol has been conducted by an oxidizing agent using a heavy metal such as a transition metal. However, a heavy metal such as a transition metal adversely affects the environment, and due to importance of the oxidation reaction of an alcohol, further increase in efficiency and improvement of the environmental harmonization are desired for the oxidation reaction of an alcohol.
In recent years, instead of a conventional oxidizing agent using a heavy metal, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine N-oxyl (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "TEMPO") has been widely used as an oxidation catalyst for an alcohol since an experiment was disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1. The reaction mechanism is shown in FIG. 1. TEMPO is considered to be a low environmental burden type organic oxidation catalyst as compared with a heavy metal, and a combination of various bulk oxidizing agents with TEMPO, such as low environmental burden type NaOCl and PhI(OAc)2, has been attempted as disclosed in Non-Patent Documents 2 and 3.
However, even TEMPO which has been widely used as an oxidation catalyst for an alcohol still has several problems. TEMPO is an excellent primary selective oxidation catalyst for a substrate in which a primary hydroxyl group and a secondary hydroxyl group coexist, but is not effective for oxidation of a secondary alcohol having a more sterically complicated structure and has limits to the catalytic activity. Further, TEMPO has a problem in stability in chemical structure such that decomposition is likely to occur as shown in FIG. 2 due to its chemical structure. Very recently, as an environmentally harmonizing oxidation catalyst which solves the above problems, 1-methyl-2-azaadamantane N-oxyl (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a "1-methyl-AZADO") which is another adamantane type nitroxyl radical as shown in FIG. 3 has been found by the present inventors. 1-Methyl-AZADO is an organic oxidation catalyst which applies a slight burden to environment like TEMPO, and which not only provides a higher catalytic turnover to a primary alcohol than TEMPO but also is capable of oxidizing a secondary alcohol having a sterically complicated structure, which is hardly oxidized by TEMPO, with high efficiency (Non-Patent Document 4).
As described above, 1-methyl-AZADO exhibits high catalytic activity not only to a primary alcohol but also to a secondary alcohol. However, its preparation is economically problematic since six steps are required from a commercially available compound, and use of expensive reagents is inevitable.
9-Azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane N-oxyl (hereafter sometimes referred to as "ABNO") which is a bicyclo type nitroxyl radical highly structurally homologous to 1-methyl-AZADO having an adamantane skeleton, is a compound ranking as one of structural analogs of an azaadamantane type nitroxyl radical. Since it has been found to be present as a stable free radical like TEMPO, researches on its physical and chemical properties and researches on its application (e.g. a radical trapping agent, a radical generator, a spin labeling agent, etc.) as well have been conducted (Non-Patent Documents 5 and 6). However, its utilization as an alcohol oxidation catalyst has not been conducted at all.
ABNO is a known compound, but known preparation processes (including a process for preparing an amine-form as a precursor) have not been satisfactory from the viewpoint of mass supply (Non-Patent Documents 7 and 8).    Non-Patent Document 1: Golubev V. A. et. al: Izv. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Ser. Khim. 1965, p. 1927    Non-Patent Document 2: Lidia D. L., et al: J. Org. Chem. 2003, vol. 68, p, 4999    Non-Patent Document 3: Miller R. A., et al: Org. Lett. 2003, vol. 53, p 285    Non-Patent Document 4: Shibuya, M., et al: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, vol. 128, p. 8412    Non-Patent Document 5: Mendenhall G. D., et al: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1973, vol. 95, p. 6395    Non-Patent Document 6: Engel P. S., et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, vol. 123, p. 3706    Non-Patent Document 7: Nelsen S. F., et al: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1978, vol. 100, p. 7876    Non-Patent Document 8: Momose T., et al: J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans., 1, 1997, p. 1307

Alcohol oxidation catalyst and its preparation process

Abstract: wherein X is H2, O or NOH.


The invention discloses a method for specifying Web service behavior that includes a step of exposing an internal logic flow of a Web service to clients. The internal logic flow can include at least one activity, which is defined by a set of machine-readable instructions. A special invocation command for the Web service can be received from a client. The special invocation command can specify a modification for the activity. An instance of the Web service can be invoked for the client, where the Web service instance implements the modification instead of the activity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of Web services and, more particularly, to exposing logic flows of Web services and permitting logic flow modifications.
2. Description of the Related Art
Web services represent reusable software building blocks that are Uniform Resource Locator (URL) accessible. Web services typically expose their capabilities to client applications and not their implementations. This allows Web services to be implemented in any computing language and on any platform and still be compatible with all client applications. Thus, internal details of Web services are abstracted from client applications causing each Web service to function as a black box having unknown internal logic. In theory, service providers can upgrade provided Web services and change the internal logic without affecting client applications that use the Web services.
Client applications, however, can sometimes care greatly about specific implementation details pertaining to Web services. As a result, a potential Web service customer can discover a Web service, which almost satisfies the customer's needs. This customer may desire some assurance relating to the implementation details for the discovered service, which is unavailable due to abstraction principles. The customer may also desire to slightly modify a non-exposed process of the Web service. Neither of these operations is possible using conventional technologies.
For example, a client application can use a Web service that determines credit ratings, which requires a social security number and returns a credit score between three hundred and eight hundred. The specification for the Web service may abstract implementation details of how the credit rating was obtained. It may be based upon a single credit score obtained directly form any of the three major credit bureaus (EXPERIAN, EQUIFAX, and TRANSUNION). It could also be based upon an algorithm that averages two or three of these ratings to determine an averaged credit score. The underlying logic can be extremely important, since different companies (which are potential customers of the Web service) can have company specific rules as to how a credit score is to be calculated.
Using current technologies, a potential customer can choose to utilize a Web service, such as a credit rating Web service, without knowing details of the Web service. Possibly more problematic, the customer can initially seek and use a Web service having desired internal logic, which is abstracted for the Web service and is therefore not guaranteed. Later, after a client application has been using the Web service, internal logic of the Web service being utilized can unexpectedly change unbeknownst to the customer as a result of a Web service upgrade. Consequently, the client application supporting a customer can utilize logic for business decisions that is no longer compliant with business guidelines established by the customer.
To avoid the above problems, customers often create customized versions of Web services, which are similar to a more commercial one, yet which is adapted to a customer's specific needs and/or which the customer can control. Many potential advantages of Web services, such as widespread reuse, efficiencies of scale, and the like are not achieved in practice due to the above problems.
Today, few high-level Web services (which can be incrementally built using multiple component Web services) or application-level Web services are in widespread use due to an inability of potential customers to tailor these services for customer specific situations. Instead, Web services are most commonly used for discrete, low-level functions. For Web services to realize their potential as a general-purpose distributed software technology for creating and joining different remotely located software building blocks, new techniques and technologies are needed.

Exposing logic flows of web services and permitting logic flow modifications

International Business Machines Corporation


A hitch mechanism includes a coupler frame supporting a plurality of coupler devices for coupling with an implement. A fixed length link and three variable length links are attached to the coupler frame, has a first end pivotally coupled to the vehicle and a second end pivotally coupled to a central part of the coupler frame. Three variable length links, each variable length link having a first end pivotally coupled to the vehicle and a second end pivotally coupled to the coupler frame. The three variable length links preferably extend generally parallel to each other and are spaced apart in a triangular array, and the fixed length link is positioned near the center of the array. The three variable length links include an upper link and left and right lower links. The three variable length links are preferably hydraulic cylinders which can be extended and retracted.

The invention relates to a hitch assembly for coupling between an implement and an agricultural vehicle, and in particular a track-laying agricultural vehicle.
Various hitch mechanisms are available to connect an agricultural implement to an agricultural vehicle. One such known hitch mechanism is the conventional three-point hitch mechanism. However, conventional three-point hitches do not provide an implement steering function. There exists row guidance mechanisms (Acura-Trak) which provide an implement steering function, but such mechanisms do not provide a lateral shifting capability. A mechanism available from Wilcox includes an assembly which pivots about a vertical pin and therefore also do not provide a lateral shifting capability. This mechanism is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,454, issued Dec. 16, 1997 to Wilcox et al. There also exist row guidance mechanisms, such as the "Navigator", which provides a lateral shifting function, but not an implement steering function. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a hitch mechanism which has both an implement steering function and a lateral shifting capability. It is believed that a tracked agricultural vehicle would especially benefit from a having a hitch which could both steer and laterally shift an implement, so as to reduce lateral forces which the implement would otherwise transmit to the vehicle.


Acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) has been utilized in the synthesis of carbosilane and carbosiloxane polymers bearing a latent reactive methoxy-functional group on each repeat unit. The polymerization results in a linear thermoplastic polymer. The latent reactive methoxy groups remain inert during polymerization; however, exposure to moisture triggers hydrolysis and the formation of a chemically cross-linked thermoset. The thermoset's properties can be modified by varying the ratio of carbosilane and carbosiloxane repeat units in the final material. Also, increasing cross-link density by using cross-linkable chain-end groups and increasing the run length of the soft phase, maximizing phase separation and elasticity, allows for the synthesis of elastic thermosets exhibiting good tensile strength. Adding a trifunctional ADMET active chain-end cross-linker to the system improved the mechanical behavior of the resulting polymer.

Silicon-based polymers have been known and used for several decades. Prominent among these are polymers based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), commonly called silicones. PDMS-based polymers are useful in many different applications based on their low glass transition and high thermal stability. Such polymers, however, exhibit relatively weak mechanical properties. A number of techniques have been employed in an effort to improve the mechanical performance of these polymers. For example, adding silica-based fillers within the polymer matrix has been shown to enhance the overall mechanical properties of the material. As another example, carbon segments have been added to the PDMS-based polymers to create silicon/carbon copolymers. These silicon/carbon-based copolymers display several desirable material properties not observed in polymers based on carbon or silicon alone. Such properties include high thermal stability, good electrical resistance, low surface tension, good release and lubrication properties, high hydrophobicity, low glass transition, and low toxicity for the natural environment.
Although much progress has been made in this field, the need for new carbon/silicon polymers that exhibit improved physical properties remains. In particular, new carbon/silicon polymers that exhibit both high elasticity and good tensile strength would be useful in many different applications.

University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.


To efficiently mitigate cell coverage disruptions caused by either unplanned equipment failures or planned outages during maintenance activities, an efficient cell site outage mitigation system is provided to calculate an optimal configuration for neighboring cell site devices before adjusting the cell site configuration settings to cover the coverage gap. The optimal configuration is determined using an offline model learner. Radio frequency propagation models and user demand and distribution models can be used to determine the offline solution. The optimal configuration setting learnt using an offline model is then implemented when an outage is determined to have occurred in the operational field.

Cell tower outages can occur in operation networks either due to unplanned equipment failures or planned maintenance activities. Traditionally, the resolution strategy is to repair the network equipment and get the service up and running. Meanwhile, the end-users can communicate using neighboring cell towers that are up. Depending on the radio coverage and network capacity, some users either might be denied service due to coverage holes or might experience a degraded quality of service due to overload conditions.


An actuation device is provided herein to give self-acting toys more lively and appealing moves. The major characteristic of the present invention lies in that a motor is used to drive a gear assembly which in turn drives a gear on top of the gear assembly to rotate around the axle of the gear assembly. The gear therefore sequentially and periodically gets into contact with a number of eccentric gears arranged along the rotational path. These eccentric gears in turn drive their connecting rods which are connected to various parts of the self-acting toy to swing in various manners.

(a) Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to actuation devices for self-acting toys, and more particularly to an actuation device driving multiple parts of a toy to jolt.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
Self-acting toys like action dolls are always more attractive to children than static toys are. However, the conventional engine or actuation device inside the self-acting toy is quite primitive and can only trigger one or two parts of the toy to move, and the children get bored easily and quickly only in a short while.


A history information management device 100 includes an operation panel 5 having a touch panel 5a, first storage unit 44a, storage operation control unit 45d, and display operation control unit 45e. The operation panel 5 receives a functional configuration. The first storage unit 44a stores the functional configuration as the history information, and the touch panel 5a displays it. The storage operation control unit 45d controls a storing operation for history information in the first storage unit 44a based on a first condition judging whether or not the storage operation control unit 45d controls the first storage unit 44a to store the history information. The display operation control unit 45e controls a displaying operation of the history information on the touch panel 5a based on a second condition judging whether or not the display operation control unit 45e controls the touch panel 5a to display the history information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a history information management device, more specifically, a history information management device of an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions.
2. Background Information
The recent image forming apparatus has a plurality of functions such as a duplex printing function, a sort function, and a transmission-size configuration function used when image data are transmitted. The functions enable a user to perform a variety of tasks such as photocopying of a manuscript in a desired condition and image data transmission.
However, if many functions are used in performing photocopy or data transmission, it takes a long time to complete configurations of the functions. In addition, some of the functions may be repeatedly used in accordance with their configurations. Some technical arts have been produced for coping with the above-mentioned problems. For example, according to an image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-2004-206179, the past configuration is configured to be stored as the history information. When a user operates the image forming apparatus, the history information is configured to be read out and displayed. Also, according to an image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-2005-153346, the history information is not simply stored, but is stored on a user-to-user basis from the standpoint of information security. Moreover, according to an image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-2006-94066, the history information is configured to be displayed after user authentication.
According to the publication No. JP-A-2004-206179, the unlimited number of history information will be stored in a storage unit. Accordingly, a plurality of information will be displayed in displaying the history information, which adversely affects the user-friendliness of the image forming apparatus.
Also, according to the publication No. JP-A-2005-153346, a storage condition of the history information is allowed to be switched between a storage permission condition and a storage prohibition condition on a user-to-user basis. However, when the storage condition of the history information is set to be the storage prohibition condition, all of the history information is prevented from being stored. Thus, even if given history information does not have any security problems, the information is not allowed to be stored.
Furthermore, according to the publication No. JP-A-2006-94066, the history information is configured to be displayed after the user authentication. With this configuration, it is possible to ensure information security. However, even if given history information is not necessary for a user, the history information will be displayed as long as the user authentication is competed.
Accordingly, aspects of the present invention have been created to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the conventional practice and to provide a history information management device of an image forming apparatus for appropriately performing an operation of storing the history information and an operation of displaying the history information.
These and other objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

History information management device of image forming apparatus