In order to prevent a spacer from being charged by using a plate shaped spacer covered with a high resistance film, the present invention is aimed at preventing irregular displacements of electron beams emitted from adjacent electron-emitting devices and suppressing displacements of impinging positions of the electron beams emitted from the adjacent electron-emitting devices even with a slight displacement of an installation position of the spacer. The spacer is disposed along a row directional wiring. The high resistance film is allowed to come into contact with a metal back and the row directional wiring to achieve electrical connection therebetween. Contact portions between the high resistance film of the spacer and the row directional wiring are provided at predetermined intervals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus used for, for example, a display panel. In particular, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, which includes a spacer between a first substrate having a plurality of electron-emitting devices and a second substrate opposingly disposed to the first substrate.
2. Related Background Art
In general, in an image forming apparatus having a first substrate on an electron source side and a second substrate on a display surface side, which are opposingly disposed to each other with a distance, a spacer made of an insulating material is sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate to obtain a necessary atmospheric pressure resistance. However, the spacer is charged to affect an electron trajectory near the spacer. Therefore, there is a problem in that a displacement of a light-emitting position is caused. This causes image deterioration such as a reduction in light-emitting intensity or color blurring at a pixel near the spacer.
As known in the art so far, in order to prevent the above-mentioned spacer from being charged, a spacer covered with a high resistance film is used.
More specifically, there has been known an image forming apparatus in which a plate shaped spacer covered with the high resistance film is disposed along a wiring on the first substrate and the high resistance film is directly connected with the wiring and an electrode on the second substrate by an electroconductive adhesive. In addition, there has been known an image forming apparatus in which spacer electrodes are provided above and below a spacer covered with the high resistance film and the spacer is sandwiched such that the high resistance film is in contact with the wiring and the electrode through the spacer electrodes (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,760,538, JP08-180821 A).
Also, it has been proposed that an electroconductive intermediate layer (spacer electrode) is provided on each of the first substrate side and the second substrate side of the spacer covered with the high resistance film to function as an electrode for controlling an electron beam trajectory (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,184,619, JP10-334834 A).
In the image forming apparatus in which the spacer electrodes are provided above and below the spacer covered with the high resistance film and the high resistance film is connected with the wiring on the first substrate and the electrode on the second substrate through the spacer electrodes, as described in JP 08-180821 A, an electric field is distributed near spacer electrode portions. The electric field is distributed substantially uniform in the longitudinal direction of the spacer but generated with high intensity as compared with the case where the spacer is not disposed. Therefore, in the case where the spacer is disposed, when misalignment is caused, impinging positions of electron beams emitted from adjacent electron-emitting devices are likely to extensively change. In addition, it has been found that the spacer electrodes cause discharging and thus a quality of an image is likely to significantly deteriorate. To cope with the deterioration, it is necessary to provide the spacer electrodes so as not to expose to the side surface of the spacer or to dispose the spacer with high precision. In any manner, an increase in cost is caused.
In the image forming apparatus described in JP 10-334834 A, the intermediate layer (spacer electrode) is exposed to the side surface of the spacer. Therefore, as in the case where the spacer electrodes in JP 08-180821 A are exposed to the side surface of the spacer, unless high alignment precision of the spacer is maintained, desired control cannot be performed. Thus, there is a problem in that an increase in cost is unavoidable. In addition, for example, when a pixel pitch is reduced, an emitting position of an electron beam approaches the spacer. As a result, it is necessary to design a new spacer electrode having a corresponding shape, which causes an increased cost.

Image forming apparatus having a high-resistance coated spacer in electrical contact with wirings components at predetermined intervals


A centrifugal water separator for mop includes a bucket, a separating device and a drive device respectively mounted in the bucket. A first room, a second room and a third room respectively defined in the bucket, wherein an L-shaped partition is formed in the bucket to separate the third room from the first room and the second room, and the first room laterally communicates with the second room. The separating device includes an axle perpendicularly extending through the partition and a separating trough securely mounted to an upper end of the axle. The drive device includes a pedal mounted thereon for driving the axle with the separating trough when being stepped. The drive device includes a planet gear set sleeved on the axle and connected to the pedal for effectively drive the axle and used as a speed increaser.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a water separator, and more particularly to a centrifugal water separator for mop.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional centrifugal water separator for mop in accordance with the prior art comprises separating trough mounted in a bucket for receiving a head of the mop during separating water. A driving device is mounted in the bucket for driving the separating trough in a high speed for providing centrifugal force to the head of the mop.
However, the conventional centrifugal water separator uses a warm gear to directly and laterally drive an axle that is longitudinally connected to the separating trough such that the axle needs to load a side stress. Consequently, the separating trough is unstable during being operated such that the use life of the conventional centrifugal water separator is shortened.
In addition, the stagnant water may splash out of the bucket to wet the user's pants pollute the floor during separating. It is an inconvenient design and needs to be advantageously altered.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantages of the conventional centrifugal water separator for mop.


In an optical disk high-speed replaying/recording apparatus, a first read data quality determining section determines a quality of read second units of digital data. Upon determination that the quality of the second units of digital data is low, a first re-reading section re-reads the first units of digital data tracks, sectors, or data blocks in the second units at a third replay speed obtained by subtracting a first predetermined speed from a second replay speed. With this, the optical disk can be replayed at a speed higher than the normal replay speed, and reproduced data can be recorded on a writable optical disk except defective data caused by reproduction defects.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical disk high-speed replaying/recording apparatus which replays an optical disk at a speed higher than a normal replay speed for reading data recorded on the optical disk, and records the read data on a writable/rewritable optical disk. More specifically, the present invention relates to a high-speed replaying/recording apparatus which replays an optical disk at a replay speed suitable for the optical disk.
2. Description of the Background Art
In recent years, there have been developments of optical disk high-speed replaying/recording apparatuses capable of reproducing data recorded on various types of optical disks typified by CDs and DVDs at a speed higher than the original replay speed and also recording the reproduced data on another writable/rewritable optical disk.
The operation of a typical example of the optical disk high-speed replaying/recording apparatuses in which a CD is used as a recording source optical disk and an MD is used as a writable/rewritable optical disk is briefly described below. The CD having recorded thereon music or non-music data is rotated at a speed higher than the normal replay speed. The recorded data is then read in units smaller than tracks. The read data is then written in the MD in predetermined recording units (data blocks smaller than reading units or tracks, or CDs).
Management information regarding this written data is written in a UTOC (User Table of Content) area of the MD, thereby achieving completion of recording of the data reproduced from the CD onto the MD. The management information written in this UTOC area is hereinafter referred to as UTOC information. The UTOC information can be written/rewritten by users in the UTOC area in accordance with the data writing state. On the other hand, as is well known, TOC (Table of Content) information cannot be arbitrarily written or rewritten by users in a TOC area provided on a read-only optical disk, such as a CD.
In the optical disk high-speed replaying/recording apparatus, data is read from a recording source optical disk (CD) by rotating the disk at a high speed obtained by increasing a normal replay speed several-fold. Therefore, in some cases, the recorded data cannot be correctly read from the CD due to replay inhibiting factors negligible at normal replay, such as, firstly, surface flaws or deformation of the CD; secondly, insertion accuracy; thirdly, circuit noise; and lastly combinations of those. Consequently, data cannot be correctly recorded in the MD. In such cases, even though the user desires high-speed replaying/recording, the replay speed has to be reduced to a speed at which data can be correctly read from the CD in order to record the data on the writable/rewritable optical disk.
Of the above replay inhibiting factors, physical defects of the medium, such as surface flaws or deformation of the CD, are not influenced by the replay speed itself. However, as the rotational speed, that is, the replay speed, of the CD is lower, the degree of inhibition regarding optical reading by an optical pickup is lower, and therefore data reading is improved. Also, positional accuracy, such as accuracy of insertion of the CD in the CD drive, is not influenced by the replay speed itself. However, as the rotational speed of the CD is lower, the degree of changes in positional relation between the optical pickup and a pit caused by errors in positional accuracy is lower, and therefore data reading is further improved. Furthermore, electrical inhibiting factors, such as circuit noise, are basically not influenced by the rotational speed of the CD, but are influenced by the replay speed as electrical processing. That is, as the replay speed is lower, influences of noise are smaller, and therefore data reproduction is improved.
In the above various replay inhibiting factors, the inability to normally reproduce the recorded data from the CD at high speed replay is a direct reason for the inability to normally record the data on the MD. Therefore, whatever the true reason for trouble in data reproduction is, the optical disk high-speed replaying/recording apparatus is structured so as to reduce the rotational speed, that is, the replay speed, of the CD for a recovery of normal reproduction of the recorded data, and then recording the reproduced data on the MD.
The CD, which is an example of the above-described recording source optical disk, is under CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) control so that the linear velocity is constant. That is, when a read position is at the inner rim side, the rotational speed is higher compared with a case where the read position is at the outer rim side. Also, depending on the types of the optical disks other than the CD, various rotation control schemes are used, such as a CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) scheme, a ZCAV (Zone Constant Angular Velocity) scheme, and a ZCLV (Zone Constant Linear Velocity) scheme. Therefore, the replay speed and the rotational speed of the optical disk do not have a fixed relation. Rather, depending on the read/replay position of the optical disk, the optical disk can be rotated at a different speed even with the same replay speed. However, the above control schemes are similar to each other in that the optical disk high-speed replaying/recording apparatus is structured to reduce the replay speed (rotational speed) when reading cannot be made, thereby waiting until reading of the recorded data is improved.
As described above, in the optical disk high-speed replaying/recording apparatus, depending on the read/replay position, the rotational speed of the optical disk is varied even with the same replay speed. Therefore, influences of the above three replay inhibiting factors are varied depending on the read/replay position. For example, consider a case where there is a data reproduction factor of a uniform size in the radial direction of the optical disk. In this case, when high-speed replaying/recording is performed at a constant replay speed, data reproduction can be successfully made in the outer rim, but can fail in the inner rim, or vice versa. Furthermore, the replay inhibiting factor can be varied in size, and also can be located in various places. Therefore, a sudden halt to replay or a sudden start of replay can occur during high-speed replaying/recording.
In the optical disk high-speed replaying/recording apparatus, every time the recorded data is read and reproduced from the CD, the data is actually recorded on the MD in sequence, and its UTOC information is written in units of tracks or CDs, thereby completing recording on the MD. Therefore, if reproduction defects occur in the course of recording data on the MD, depending on the timing of writing the UTOC information, defective data may be recorded on the MD at least in units of tracks or CDs. In that case, inconveniences may occur depending on the type of the recorded defective data or the location of the defective data, such as that the data which has been read from the CD and then recorded on the MD cannot be read in units of tracks or CDs.
In order to prevent such inconveniences, the following measure is required. That is, when replay abnormality occurs at a read position, the replay speed is reduced stepwise to an appropriate replay speed which allows normal replay at that read position, and then data reproduction is restarted at the reduced replay speed. The replay speed at the time of restarting high-speed replaying/recording is obtained by reducing a predetermined speed from the original replay speed of high-speed replaying/recording. In this sense, the replay speed at the time of restarting is hereinafter referred to as a reduced replay speed.
However, the read data units to be reproduced at the newly-found appropriately reduced replay speed from the read position where the replay abnormality occurred are different in replaying and recording conditions from other data units that have already been read and recorded on the MD. Therefore, consistency in the recorded data will be disadvantageously lost. In order to prevent such disadvantages, a read position from which data reproduction is restarted at the reduced replay speed has to be a predetermined number of read data units behind the position where replay abnormality occurred.
That is, it is practically meaningless to record each read data unit alone on the MD for reproduction. Instead, by recording a plurality of read data units on the MD in accordance with predetermined rules, a meaningful piece of record data unit is formed on the MD, and is utilized by users. In one example where the CD contains music tracks, a predetermined number of read data units are sequentially recorded on the MD in accordance with predetermined rules, thereby completing a piece of track data corresponding to one track. In another example where the CD contains computer data, a predetermined number of read data units are sequentially recorded on the MD in accordance with predetermined rules, thereby completing a piece of sector data. A collection of such pieces of sector data forms a file.
However, the read data units to be reproduced at the newly-found appropriate reduced replay speed from the read position where replay abnormality occurred are different in replaying and recording conditions from other data units that have been already read and recorded on the MD. Therefore, consistency in the recorded data will be disadvantageously lost. Consequently, further recording of such inconsistent data units to form a piece of track data on the MD makes it impossible to reproduce correct information from the track data.
In order to prevent such inconsistency in the recorded data units, reproducing is restarted at the reduced replay speed by going back to the read start position of the recorded data unit (track, file) to which the read data unit having defects belongs. That is, the read data unit that has been already reproduced at the original high-speed replay speed has to be redundantly reproduced under different conditions.
However, as described above, the replay inhibiting factor can be varied in size, and also can be located in various places. Therefore, a sudden halt to replay or a sudden start of replay can occur at high-speed replaying/recording. In other words, even when high-speed replay is started at a newly-set reduced replay speed, defects may occur before the completion of reproduction of the entire record units after only a few read data units are reproduced from the read position where reproduction defects occurred.
As such, frequent occurrences of read defects even at the reduced replay speed would increase redundant work loads in reproducing the already-reproduced data unit. These increased work loads significantly impair the high-speed replaying/recoding function, at which the optical disk high-speed replaying/recording apparatus is originally aimed. In worst cases, it takes more time compared with a case of replaying/recording the CD at its original normal speed.

High speed recording and reproducing for optical disk device of different format

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A male incontinence guard having a fluid-impermeable backsheet, a fluid-permeable topsheet facing the user and an absorbent body arranged between the backsheet and the topsheet. The guard has a longitudinal extension along a longitudinal axis and a transverse extension along a transverse axis. The transverse axis divides the guard into an upper region and a lower region. The transverse axis extends between first and second lower corner points which define the two outermost points of the guard, which define a first width. The upper region has an inwardly recessed curvature portion extending between first and second upper corner points. The upper corner points define a second width such that the first width is greater than the second width. The corner points are connected by their respective outer side edges. A method for manufacturing a male incontinence guard is disclosed.

Absorbent articles, for example in the form of incontinence guards, baby diapers and sanitary napkins, are well known. The general purpose of such absorbent articles is to absorb, distribute and store various types of body exudates while providing a high level of comfort and sense of dryness to the wearer during use of the absorbent article. Also, such absorbent articles prevent the wearer from getting the clothes soiled by body exudates.
Absorbent articles in the form of incontinence guards are used to protect a wearer against urine leakage. As regards male incontinence guards, such articles are obviously configured for male users and are designed to cover the genital organs so as to protect against unwanted urine leakage. Male persons who are otherwise not physically handicapped will normally prefer not to use an incontinence guard in the form of diaper, since it is considered to be bulky and too large to wear and cannot always be used together with conventional clothing. Instead, special male incontinence guards which are intended for men with light incontinence have been developed. Such incontinence guards are relatively thin and shaped in a manner so as to cover the male genital organs during use. Such incontinence guards can be designed with an absorption capacity which is sufficient in order to absorb the fluid that is expected to be released into the absorbent article when it is worn.
A previously known male incontinence guard of the above-mentioned type is known from the patent document WO 86/06620.
As regards male incontinence guards, there exist certain requirements. Obviously, an incontinence guard should be designed so as to be worn inside a user's ordinary underwear and to provide protection against light urine leakage. For this reason, known male incontinence guards are shaped to provide an optimal fit to the user's undergarment and body. Also, such incontinence guards comprise a core of absorbent material arranged along a longitudinal axis of the product in order to absorb urine.
Furthermore, a male incontinence guard normally comprises a soft topsheet in order to give the wearer a feeling of freshness and dryness. The guard should also be relatively thin and should be designed with a discreet shape so that it is generally not visible through the wearer's regular clothes during use. Finally, it can be provided with suitable adhesive means, allowing it to be attached to the wearer's underwear. The guard also may be easily bent and shaped so as to follow the anatomy of the wearer during use.
Even though the article disclosed in WO 86/06620 fulfills the basic requirement regarding protection against light urine leakage, there is a need for further improvements within this field of technology. Firstly, there is a demand for male incontinence guards of a kind which can be securely fitted and held in place in the undergarments of male persons of different anatomy. In particular, the incontinence guard should, be positioned so that it extends from below the user's belly and downwards so as to cover the genital organs in a secure manner.
Secondly, the incontinence guard should assume a correct, intended shape when it is in place, so as to provide the intended protection against incontinence, even in situations when the user is moving around and when the user is sitting down and standing up. A further requirement is that the incontinence guard should assume a correct, intended shape when it is in place, in order to provide the intended protection against incontinence.
It has been found that known male incontinence guards are not always suited for a correct fitting under the belly of the user and that they not always assume the correct, intended shape when it is in place. This means that optimum incontinence protection is not always guaranteed.

Male incontinence guard and method for manufacturing a male incontinence guard


A shaking exerciser includes a base having two supports between which a pivotable frame is connected. A side frame is connected to one of the two supports and has two roller members. A top pad unit is connected to a top of the pivotable frame and has an extension rod which is connected to the swing rod which extends through the support and extends between the two roller members. A driving device is connected to the base and has a link which is connected to the pivotable frame by an eccentric member so as to pivot the pivotable frame and the top pad unit. The extension rod on the top pad unit swings the swing rod so as to let the top pad unit to move in different directions.

A conventional shaking exerciser is shown in FIG. 8 and generally includes top pad 61 and a base 62 which has two support members 63 on a top of one side thereof and two springs 64 are connected to the top of the other side of the base 62. A driving device 65 is connected on the base 62 and includes a disk with an eccentric connection point to which on end of a link 67 is pivotably connected. The other end of the link 67 is pivotably connected to an underside of the top pad 61 so that when the disk rotated by activating the driving device 65, the link 67 moves the top pad up and down. The user put his/her feet on the top pad so that the vibration of the top pad 61 transfers to the user's feet to accelerate or improve the circulation of blood of the user's body. However, the top pad 61 can only provide a simple shaking mode which is not satisfied to the users.
The present invention intends to provide a shaking exerciser that provides a shaking mode in different directions such that the users can enjoy more when using the shaking exerciser.


A sheet-manufacturing device that manufactures a sheet of which the quality is stable, by controlling airflow to be constant and causing a defibrated state to be constant. A sheet-manufacturing device including a defibrating unit configured to generate a defibrated material by defibrating a defibration object; a temperature acquiring unit configured to acquire a temperature of the defibrating unit; and a control unit configured to change a mass flow rate of the air including the defibrated material transported from the defibrating unit.

In the related art, since waste paper discharged from offices includes waste paper having confidential matters, in view of confidentiality, it is preferable that the waste paper is processed in the offices. Since a wet sheet-manufacturing device using a large quantity of water is not suitable in a small office, a dry sheet-manufacturing device having a simplified structure is suggested (for example, see PTL 1).

Sheet-manufacturing device and method for controlling sheet-manufacturing device


In the method for selecting a channel rate, link quality between the serving portion of the network and a mobile station is determined from at least one signal strength measurement. A channel rate is then selected based on the determined link quality. Also, a physical channel is assigned to the mobile station on a prioritized basis with respect to the selected channel rate.

Cellular standards often specify physical channels that provide different radio link rates as units of quasi-static resource allocation for both circuit and packet mode services. For example, Full Rate (FR), Half Rate (HR) and Quarter Rate (QR) channels that provide radio link rates in the ratio 1:0.5:0.25, respectively, may be specified.
For example, GSM standards specify an adaptive multi-rate (AMR) speech codec with 8 distinct modes ranging from 4.75 to 12.2 kbps. AMR speech frames may be carried over full rate (FR) or half rate (HR) speech traffic channels that provide a radio link of 22.8 kbps and 11.4 kbps, respectively. With AMR, a GSM system may choose the combination of speech codec modes and channel rates to achieve the required quality of service with minimum system and radio resources. On the assigned traffic channel, AMR codec mode adaptation changes the level of source and channel coding to achieve the best speech quality under the prevailing channel conditions. In such cases where different physical channel rate options are provided, the system capacity and/or spectral efficiency may significantly vary depending on the frequency reuse employed, the mechanisms used for selecting these channels and switching or adapting between these channels.
Previous studies of half and full rate channel adaptation focused on the tradeoff between the grade of service (GOS) and system capacity. Allocating more half rate or quarter rate channels increases the total number of calls a system can admit. However, lower rate channels provide less protection than full rate channels for the same vocoder mode under poor channel conditions. Furthermore, switching between FR, HR and QR channels is treated as an intra-sector handover, and frequent switching may degrade speech quality on account of speech frame blanking that occurs during each handover.
Allocation and packing of half- and full rate channels have been investigated assuming the system is limited by channel availability (i.e., hard blocking) and not interference. Re-packing of half rate calls is shown to provide capacity benefits when the fraction of half rate users is large. However, speech frame blanking associated with re-packing and its impact on GOS have not been considered. Furthermore, hard blocking assumptions are not appropriate for tight reuse (i.e., 1/3 or 1/1) deployments.
After a channel rate has been selected, the network must select a physical channel for assignment or packing. If only one class of channel rates is available, assignment among available physical channels are typically performed randomly. In the presence of multiple classes of channel rates, however, this method of assignment may lead to an inefficient allocation of resources and may increase blocking rates.

Channel rate and physical channel selection in wireless communications networks


A method and apparatus of wireless communication are configured to capture, at a user equipment, one or more adjacent Universal Mobile Telecommunication System Terrestrial Radio Access Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Numbers (UARFCNs), extract a useful wide band signal from the one or more adjacent UARFCNs, perform a PSCH search on the useful wide band signal to obtain a composite PSCH signal, and reject the one or more UARFCNs where no peaks greater than a noise threshold are detected in the composite PSCH signal.

1. Field
Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to flow control in multiflow environments.
2. Background
Wireless communication networks are widely deployed to provide various communication services such as telephony, video, data, messaging, broadcasts, and so on. Such networks, which are usually multiple access networks, support communications for multiple users by sharing the available network resources. One example of such a network is the UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN). The UTRAN is the radio access network (RAN) defined as a part of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), a third generation (3G) mobile phone technology supported by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The UMTS, which is the successor to Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technologies, currently supports various air interface standards, such as Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Time Division-Code Division Multiple Access (TD-CDMA), and Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA). The UMTS also supports enhanced 3G data communications protocols, such as High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), which provides higher data transfer speeds and capacity to associated UMTS networks.
As the demand for mobile broadband access continues to increase, research and development continue to advance the UMTS technologies not only to meet the growing demand for mobile broadband access, but to advance and enhance the user experience with mobile communications.
For example, WCDMA is a wide band system that operates over an approximately 5 MHz bandwidth. Furthermore, 3GPP provides 60 MHz in downlink in a band for deployment. In addition, the WCDMA channel raster is specified to be 200 KHz, carrier spacing to be from 4.4 MHz to 5.2 MHz, and the chip rate of the WCDMA system is approximately 3.84 MHz using a 0.22 roll off radio resource control (RRC) pulse shaping filter. Additionally, a frame in WCDMA frequency division duplex (FDD) is 10 ms and each frame is divided into 15 slots, and each slot is 2560 chips in length.
As a part of cell search operations, a user equipment (UE) is required to identify the slot boundary and frame boundary associated with a NodeB. For each NodeB, a dedicated primary synchronization channel (PSCH) is provided for purposes of slot boundary identification and a secondary synchronization channel (SSCH) is provided for frame boundary identification. The PSCH and SSCH are burst channels with a typical length of 256 chips with repetition rate of 2560 chips. Furthermore, the first 256 chips of each slot contain PSCH and SSCH signatures.
In addition, in WCDMA, PSCH identification procedures use a correlation matched to the PSCH signature of length 256 chips, for which the correlation procedure has a correlation structure or algorithm. Because of long periodicity of the PSCH (2560 chips), at least 2560 correlations are typically needed to identify the presence of an adjacent cell. Therefore, the time needed for a UE to identify a slot or frame boundary in an adjacent cell is proportional to the time required to reject potential UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Numbers (UARFCNs) associated with an adjacent cell. Considering the small WCDMA raster of 200 KHz, the time required for performing correlation and UMTS rejection according to legacy procedures can be significant.
Therefore, an improved method of rejecting a group of adjacent UARFCNs is needed.

Methods and apparatuses for flash WCDMA frequency scans


A technique for configuring a pseudowire involves extending the functionality of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). In an embodiment, pseudowire configuration information is embedded into DHCP messages that are communicated between a customer edge (CE) device and a provider edge (PE) device and used to configure a pseudowire between the two devices. The pseudowire configuration information may include an indication of the pseudowire capabilities of the CE device, the types of pseudowires desired by the CE device, the types of pseudowire encapsulations supported by the CE device, the types of pseudowires that are to be configured, the pseudowire encapsulations that are to be used, and pseudowire labels. Pseudowire configuration information can be embedded into the options field of a DHCP message using a new option, using multiple new options, or by overloading an existing option.

Network service providers have begun using pseudowires to provide advanced network services to customers. In general, a pseudowire is a term for a service that emulates a native service over a packet switched network such as an IP network, an MPLS network, or a Layer Two Tunneling Protocol (L2TP) network. Native services that are typically emulated via a pseudowire include ATM, Frame Relay, Ethernet, TDM, and SONET/SDH. In one key application, pseudowires allow different types of legacy services to be seamlessly provided across a single packet network. Pseudowires are commonly used within a service provider network to communicate legacy traffic between service provider edge devices. More recently, pseudowires are being used to connect customer edge devices and service provider edge devices. For example, a customer edge device such as a cellular network end station (e.g., a 3G Base Transceiver Station (BTS) or NodeB) may utilize a few pseudowires to emulate TDM, ATM, and/or Ethernet services between the customer edge device and a service provider edge device.
The implementation of a pseudowire typically involves establishing label switched paths (LSPs) or tunnels that are identified by a unique identifier, commonly referred to as a label. In order to establish a pseudowire between two network nodes, pseudowire configuration information, including label numbers, must be communicated between the nodes. Conventional protocols used to configure pseudowires include the Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) and the Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP). LDP and RSVP are resilient protocols that utilize the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) at the Transport Layer to ensure reliability of message transmission. Although LDP and RSVP work well to enable the configuration of pseudowires, implementing these protocols is resource intensive. For example, the use of TCP requires that state information be maintained for each LDP session that is established.
The resource requirements of pseudowire configuration are not a significant concern to service providers when the number of pseudowires is small. However, the use of pseudowires to connect customer edge devices to service provider edge devices is causing more and more demand for pseudowires. As the demand for pseudowires increases, the resource requirements for pseudowire configuration can become a significant drain on network resources. In view of this, there is a need for an efficient and scalable way to configure pseudowires, especially between customer edge devices and service provider edge devices.

Method and system for configuring pseudowires using dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) messages


The invention relates to a pearl luster pigment which may possess a first, inner layer, consisting of a platelet-shaped substrate, a second layer, comprising one or more metal oxides, the first and second layers forming a calcined base pigment, a third layer, comprising the corresponding uncalcined oxide, hydroxide or oxide hydrate of the oxide of the second layer, a fourth layer, comprising oxides, hydroxides and/or oxide hydrates of silicon or aluminum, a fifth layer, comprising oxides, hydroxides and/or oxide hydrates of silicon, aluminum, zirconium and/or cerium, this layer differing from the fourth layer, and a sixth layer, comprising one or more organofunctional coupling reagents. The present invention relates to also a preparation process, and the use of the pigments in paints, inks, plastics, coatings and cosmetics.

The invention relates to aftercoated pearl luster pigments and to a process for preparing them. The invention further relates to the use of these pigments.
EP 0 632 109 B1 discloses pearl luster pigments which for use in coating compositions are subjected to an aftertreatment in order to enhance their stability.
The pearl luster pigments known from EP 0 632 109 possess the following general layer sequence: the first xe2x80x9clayerxe2x80x9d is formed by the substrate, e.g. mica, the second layer is a metal oxide layer, e.g. titanium dioxide or iron (III) oxide, and these two layers form the base pigment. Atop the calcined base pigment, beginning with a third layer, the aftercoating, as it is known, is applied. The third layer comprises oxides, hydroxides and/or oxide hydrates of silicon, or aluminum, the fourth layer comprises oxides, hydroxides and/or oxide hydrates of silicon, aluminum, zirconium and/or cerium, and is different from the third layer, and the fifth layer comprises organofunctional coupling agents, e.g. silanes or zirconium aluminates.
Despite the stabilizing aftercoating of layers three to five described above, the pearl luster pigments, especially those based on mica and coated in the second layer with iron (III) oxide, are unsuitable for use in all fields, since under extreme stresses even higher stability of the pigments would be necessary.
Similar comments apply, in particular, to the mica-based pearl luster pigments coated in the second layer with titanium dioxide or other metal oxides, such as chromium oxide, zirconium dioxide, tin dioxide or zinc oxide; although they are in many cases more stable than the iron (III) oxide-coated micas, they likewise cannot be used without restrictions.
The aftercoated pearl luster pigments known from the prior art, furthermore, possess the disadvantage that their orientation in coating films is not optimal; in other words, an improvement in the parallel alignment of the pigments with respect to the film coat would be desirable in order to enhance the luster properties.
One of the features of the invention is to increase the stability of such pigments and to provide pigments which possess improved orientation within coating films.
This feature can be achieved in accordance with the invention by the provision of pigments having the following layer sequence:
a first layer, consisting of a platelet-shaped substrate,
a second layer,
comprising one or more metal oxides,
the first and second layers forming a calcined base pigment,
a third layer, comprising the corresponding uncalcined oxide, hydroxide or oxide hydrate of the oxide of the second layer,
a fourth layer, comprising oxides, hydroxides and/or oxide hydrates of silicon or aluminum,
a fifth layer, comprising oxides, hydroxides and/or oxide hydrates of silicon, aluminum, zirconium and/or cerium, this layer differing from the fourth layer, and
a sixth layer, comprising one or more organofunctional coupling agents.
The third layer in this sequence adopts the function of an adhesion promoter and embraces preferably from 0.1 to 10% by weight, more preferably from 1 to 5% by weight, and even more preferably 1-3% by weight, based on the base pigment.
Suitable platelet-shaped substrates for the base pigment are the substrates specified in EP 632 109 B1, such as mica, kaolin or glass, for example. Particular preference is given, however, to mica as the base substrate.
Preferably and optionally independently, the first layer has a thickness of 400-2000 nm. The second layer has a thickness of 50-300 nm, the third layer has a thickness of 5-30 nm, the fourth layer has a thickness of 10-50 nm, and the fifth layer has a thickness of 10-50 nm.
Suitable metal oxides of the second layer are, for example, iron (III) oxide and/or titanium dioxide or other metal oxides, such as chromium oxide, zirconium dioxide, tin dioxide or zinc oxide, and the oxides may also be present in mixtures. Preferred metal oxides include iron (III) oxide and/or titanium dioxide. Particularly high improvements over the pearl luster pigments known from EP 632 109 B1 are achieved in the case of the iron (III) oxide-coated substrates. Desirably, the second layer is 25-80% by weight with respect to the base pigment, i.e. first plus second layer.
Suitable organofunctional coupling agents are the coupling agents disclosed in EP 632 109 B1. They include, in particular, silanes, zirconium aluminates, zirconates or titanates, the silanes preferably possessing the structure Y-(CH2)n-SiX3 in which n is 2-8, Y is an organofunctional group, e.g. an amino, methacrylic, vinyl, alkyl, aryl, halogen and/or epoxy group, and X is a silicon-functional group which following its hydrolysis reacts with active sites of an inorganic substrate or by condensation with other silicon compounds. This group Y may comprise, for example a hydroxy, a halogen or an alkoxy group.
In addition to these substantially hydrophilic coupling agents, it is also possible to use hydrophilic silanes, especially the aryl-, alkyl- and fluoroalkyl- substituted di- and trimethoxysilanes. These include, for example, phenethyltrimethoxysilane, propyltrimethoxysilane, butyltrimethoxysilane, isobutyltrimethoxysilane, hexyltrimethoxysilane, octyltrimethoxysilane, 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecyltrimethoxysilane and (3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)methyldimethoxysilane.
The concentration of coupling agents can be 0.2-1.2% by weight with respect to the base pigment.
A further feature is to provide a process for obtaining the pearl luster pigments of the invention.
This feature can be achieved by the provision of a multistage process in which the calcined, platelet-shaped substrate coated with one or more metal oxides is suspended in water, heated at from 25 to 100xc2x0 C., preferably from 40 to 80xc2x0 C., and adjusted to a pH of from 3 to 11, preferably from 5 to 9, in a first stage one or more water-soluble metal salts are added which correspond to the calcined metal oxides of the metal oxide coating of the platelet-shaped substrate, these salts are deposited in whole or in part as oxide, hydroxide and/or oxide hydrate, followed by heating at from 30 to 100xc2x0 C., preferably from 40 to 75xc2x0 C., and adjustment to a pH of from 3 to 9, preferably from 6 to 7, in a second stage a water-soluble silicate and/or aluminum salt is added, and is deposited in whole or in part as oxide, hydroxide and/or oxide hydrate, in a third stage, by adding at least one water-soluble silicate, aluminum salt, cerium salt and/or zirconium salt at a pH in the range from 3 to 9, preferably from 6 to 7, the corresponding oxides, hydroxides or oxide hydrates thereof are deposited, it being necessary for these to differ from those of the second stage, and in a fourth stage at least one organofunctional coupling agent is added and is deposited at a pH of from 3 to 9, preferably from 6 to 8.
As calcined platelet-shaped substrates coated with metal oxides it is possible to use the substrates already mentioned above with the abovementioned metal oxide coatings, which are available commercially under the designation Iriodin(copyright) (manufacturer: E. Merck, Darmstadt).
A suitable water-soluble silicate is preferably sodium silicate; suitable water-soluble aluminum salts, cerium salts and zirconium salts are, in general, all water-soluble salts of these metals, although the readily obtainable halides and halide hydrates, for example, are appropriate.
Organofunctional coupling reagents used are preferably those mentioned above.
The aftercoating process of the invention may be carried out as described above in one operation without isolating and working up the pigment after the first precipitation reaction (first stage). However, it is also possible to isolate the pigment after the first stage, i.e., after the application of the adhesion-promoting layer.
The pearl luster pigments coated in accordance with the invention are employed in particular in connection with the pigmenting of inks, such as printing inks, for example, and plastics, such as polymer films, for example, and also coating compositions, such as paints, for example. However, they are also employed in other areas in which the abovementioned improved properties play a part, such as in the pigmentation of cosmetics, for example.
Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art can, using the preceding description, utilize the present invention to its fullest extent. The following preferred specific embodiments are, therefore, to be construed as merely illustrative, and not limitative of the remainder of the disclosure in any way whatsoever.
In the foregoing and in the following examples, all temperatures are set forth uncorrected in degrees Celsius; and, unless otherwise indicated, all parts and percentages are by weight.
The entire disclosure of all cited applications, patents and publications and of corresponding DE application No. 10054980.2, filed Nov. 6, 2000, is hereby incorporated by reference.

Merck Patent Gesellschaft mit beschraenkter Haftung


A securable container for a firearm or other valuable item and a securable mounting system that secures the attachment of the securable container to an external structure, which may be for example an interior surface of a vehicle. The invention may comprise an enclosure, a retractable cover, a firearm retaining mechanism and a firearm extending mechanism. The container may be manually or remotely locked or unlocked. When locked, the interior volume may not be accessed and the securable container may not be detached from the external structure. Geolocation, batter, open/close state and other status information may be communicated to a remote user through a wireless data link. A camera may be activated by opening the container, whereupon video data may be transmitted to a remote monitor. When opened, a firearm is automatically extended out of the container, presenting it for use. A key fob may allow user access.

It is often desirable that firearms be securely locked in a container that restricts unauthorized access to the firearm while still allowing quick and easy access to an authorized user of the firearm in situations in which the firearm must be used for personal defense or the defense of others. In some situations, firearms must be also concealed from view in public due to laws or ordinances that require concealment. Furthermore, it is often desirable that the condition, status, or location of a firearm be ascertainable by a remote monitor, or that the container in which it is carried the remotely lockable or unlockable. It is desirable that such a container be adapted to be mounted to an interior surface of a vehicle or other structure such as a bedside or furniture. These are but non-limiting examples of situations in which a securable container such as the securable container of the invention may be employed.
Various containers have been developed that may hold a firearm securely, and may conceal a firearm from view, but the containers of the prior art are not adapted to allow quick and easy access to a firearm stored in them, and they are not readily adaptable for use in a vehicle, attached to furniture, or attached to other structures.
What is needed in the art, therefore, is an apparatus and/or method such as a container or holster that conceals valuables such as firearms such that they may be securely carried by a user, while allowing for quick and easy removal of the items or firearm when desired by a user. It would further be desirable that such a container be lockable by a user, either locally or remotely, that the container be capable of reporting its geolocation and status to a remote user, and that the container, which may be a firearm holster, trigger the operation of certain safety or information-gathering devices such as cameras or microphones when the firearm is removed from the holster.

Securable container with lockable mount system


An apparatus for measuring a horizontal level of a wafer chuck, including a measuring part for contacting the wafer chuck to measure a horizontal level, a mounting part on which the measuring part is mounted, and a supporting part for supporting the mounting part. The measuring part may include a center gage and a plurality of edge gages.

In processes for manufacturing various semiconductor devices, it is important to regularly maintain the horizontal levels of the devices. Particularly, it is very significant to regulate their horizontal levels. For example, an electrical die sorting (EDS) process or a chip sorting process is necessarily performed to determine whether individual chips or dies constituting a wafer have good or bad electrical properties.
In the case of a probe apparatus, the horizontal level of a chuck on which a wafer is placed is very significant. If the horizontal level of the chuck is not properly aligned, a needle of a probe card punches the wafer. Namely, the improper horizontal level of the chuck contributes to a contact error. Thus in the probe apparatus, the horizontal level of the chip is periodically checked and regulated.
In a conventional horizontal level measuring method , after fixing an analog gage to a measuring standard point, five horizontal points are measured by moving a wafer chuck. Since a user must move the wafer chuck, a reliability of measured values is degraded.
Further, the user checks a faulty horizontal level of the wafer chuck and regulates the horizontal level by rotating respective leveling bolts based on the measured value. Therefore, a procedure for checking the horizontal level of the wafer chuck must be iteratively performed.

Apparatus for measuring horizontal level of a wafer chuck


In one embodiment, a method includes a computer system accessing a curvilinear image captured using a camera lens, generating multiple rectilinear images from the curvilinear image based at least in part on one or more calibration parameters associated with the camera lens, identifying semantic information in one or more of the rectilinear images by processing each of the multiple rectilinear images using a machine-learning model configured to identify semantic information in rectilinear images, and identifying semantic information in the curvilinear image based on the identified semantic information in the one or more rectilinear images.

Computer vision is a field of computer graphics processing which utilizes machine-learning models to automatically process images and videos to detect semantic information associated with content appearing within the images and videos (e.g., object instances, semantic labels, spatial arrangements, object characteristics, and contextual object relationships). In general, machine learning typically involves processing a training data set in accordance with a machine-learning model and updating the model based on a training algorithm so that it progressively "learns" the features in the data set that are predictive of the desired outputs. One example of a machine-learning model is a neural network, which is a network of interconnected nodes. Groups of nodes may be arranged in layers. The first layer of the network that takes in input data may be referred to as the input layer, and the last layer that outputs data from the network may be referred to as the output layer. There may be any number of internal hidden layers that map the nodes in the input layer to the nodes in the output layer. In a feed-forward neural network, the outputs of the nodes in each layer—with the exception of the output layer—are configured to feed forward into the nodes in the subsequent layer.
Machine-learning models may be trained to recognize object features that have been captured in images. Such models, however, are typically large and require many operations. While large and complex models may perform adequately on high-end computers with fast processors (e.g., multiple central processing units ("CPUs") and/or graphics processing units ("GPUs")) and large memories (e.g., random access memory ("RAM") and/or cache), such models may not be operable on computing devices that have much less capable hardware resources. The problem is exacerbated further by applications that require near real-time results from the model (e.g., 10, 20, or 30 frames per second), such as augmented reality applications that dynamically adjust computer-generated components based on features detected in live video.

Transfer learning for visual semantic information tasks on curvilinear images


A bag made of a flexible packing material comprising a sheet of material having an inner face and an outer face and folded for the formation of a tube with an overlapping portion. In the overlapping portion, the packing material is sealed inner face to outer face by means of a lapseal. Along two side edge portions, the tube is welded inner face to outer face of the overlapping portion for obtaining a closed bag enclosing the packed product. The packing material provides a peel seal, when welded inner face to outer face and a strong seal when welded inner face to inner face. Seen relative to the bag, the packing material comprises an inner layer comprising polyethylene, and outer layer comprising a copolymer of polyethylene and polypropylene and a subjacent intermediate layer comprising polypropylene.

DK-B-109 591 discloses a bag of the type stated in the introduction formed as a tobacco pouch having a pouch portion formed by folding a flexible packing material onto itself, and a flap folded down over the pouch portion. The inner face of the flap is welded or adhered peelably to the outer face of the pouch portion by means of a longitudinal weld, while the inner faces of the opposite walls of pouch portion and the flap are welded together in a non-peelable manner. This is obtained by using a packing material having a heat sealable first surface providing a fusion seal, when sealed onto itself, and a second surface providing a peel seal, when sealed onto the heat sealable surface of the packing material.
As examples of possible combinations of the two surfaces of the packing material polyethylene and vellum paper as well as polyethylene and aluminium foil are mentioned. When sealing polyethylene to vellum paper, a gas-proof packing cannot be obtained due to the structure and surface of the latter material. When sealing polyethylene to aluminium foil, an adhesion is obtained, whose strength is very difficult to control. In said publication it is therefore suggested to use an adhesion seal between the two materials of the mentioned combination of material.
The bags are made as single-bags, which are open at one side edge, i.e. only the longitudinal peel seal and one of the non-peelable seals are made, whereafter the prefabricated bags are filled with the desired product and the second strong side seal is provided. This method does not meet the requirements of today for a rational packing of products.
Peelable bags made on automatic form and fill machines are known. However, in these known bags the peelable seal is a side edge weld, i.e. the weld on which the product falls, when it is filled into the partly finished packing. This causes major problems, as the weld has to have such a strength when hot (hot tack strength) that it does not break, when the product falls thereon, but at same time it should be peelable when cold.
Finally, it should be mentioned that packing materials are known having a first outer layer of a copolymer of a polyethylene and polypropylene and a second outer layer of a polyethylene-containing polymer.

Bag of a flexible packing material and a method of manufacture thereof


A motor having a stationary assembly including a winding and a rotatable assembly in magnetic coupling relation to the stationary assembly. A bridge circuit for use in driving the motor has upper and lower power switches connected between the winding and the upper and lower rails, respectively, of a power supply link. Each of the lower switches corresponds to one of the upper switches and each of the switches has a conducting state and a nonconducting state. The motor also has a control circuit for generating a motor control signal to control the switches. The lower switches are receiving and responsive to the motor control signal. A drive circuit drives the upper switches in response to the state of the lower switches to selectively connect the rails of the power supply link to the winding. As such, the winding is energized to produce an electromagnetic field for rotating the rotatable assembly relative to the stationary assembly. The drive circuit controls the upper switches to provide a delay interval between the conducting states of the corresponding upper and lower switches thereby reducing shoot-through currents.

This invention relates generally to motor systems and, particularly, to an improved gate drive for a single phase electronically commutated motor.
In general, a motor such as an electronically commutated or brushless motor has permanent magnets mounted on its rotor. The stator of such a motor has a plurality of teeth and wire-wound coils on the teeth which, when energized with current, interact with the permanent magnet rotor to produce positive or negative torque, depending on the direction of the current with respect to the polarity of the magnets. The polarity of the magnets relative to the stator winding alternates when the rotor moves unidirectionally. Thus, alternating the direction of the stator current in synchronism maintains a constant direction of torque. An electronic inverter bridge typically controls energization of the stator winding for controlling the direction and amount of torque produced by the motor as well as the rotor shaft speed.
For example, a brushless DC motor system typically has an inverter bridge for driving the motor. The inverter bridge has a number of power switching devices with a flyback diode coupled to each of the devices and is used to connect the motor's windings to a power supply through a power supply link. The power supply link has positive and negative rails connecting the motor to the power supply. Generally, such a motor system provides pulse width modulation of the power to the windings by turning on and off one of the power switching devices. Presently available gate drives for full bridge circuits include RC circuits in which the change in voltage across a capacitance controls the conduction of the bridge circuit's diagonally-positioned transistors. These drives attempt to prevent shoot-through currents by delaying the drive signals that alternately switch the transistors, i.e., providing a "dead time" between commutation switching events. The conduction state of each of the upper two transistors of the bridge circuit often depends on the conduction state of their respective diagonally-positioned lower transistor (i.e., the lower transistor on the opposite side of the load). A capacitance connecting the bases of the two inputs of the lower transistors delay the conduction in one diagonal until after the other diagonal is turned off.
In general, brushless dc motors are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,423,192, 4,933,584 and 4,757,241, all of which are commonly assigned with the present invention described herein and the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. In particular, single phase motors are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,483,139, 5,465,019, 5,140,243, 4,724,678, 4,635,349, 4,626,755, 4,313,076 and 3,134,385, all of which are commonly assigned with the present invention described herein and the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.


Systems and methods for detecting people or speakers in an automated fashion are disclosed. A pool of features including more than one type of input (like audio input and video input) may be identified and used with a learning algorithm to generate a classifier that identifies people or speakers. The resulting classifier may be evaluated to detect people or speakers.

There are a wide variety of situations in which it is desirable to identify people, including people that are speaking, using systems that are, at least in part, automated. Some existing systems that identify speakers use audio—for example, they might use "sound source localization," which includes processing the input from multiple microphones in different locations to attempt to identify the direction or directions from which speech originates. Some other systems attempt to improve the accuracy of methods like sound source localization by performing "decision level fusion," where data from multiple inputs are combined at the point where decisions about person or speaker detection are made.

Identification of people using multiple types of input


(1) Alkali metal diarylphosphides are formed by mixing triarylphosphine with, and preferably introducing triarylphosphine into, a two-phase mixture one or more alkali metals, preferably a mixture or alloy of sodium and potassium, in an anhydrous organic liquid diluent in the presence of molecular hydrogen. (2) To form a cycloalkyldiarylphosphine, at least a portion of the reaction mixture formed as in (1) (or alkali metal diarylphosphide recovered therefrom) and cycloalkyl mesylate or tosylate are mixed together and maintained under suitable reaction conditions. Reaction (2) is driven by the presence of residual sodium from reaction (1). Conduct of reaction (2) under a hydrogen atmosphere suppresses undesirable side reactions.

Alkali metal diarylphosphides are useful as raw materials for the production of cycloalkyldiarylphosphines such as neomenthyldiphenylphosphine and menthyldiphenyl-phosphine. Such phosphines are examples of ligands which impart to transition metal complexes the potential for diastereomeric interactions with unsaturated organic substrates, thus making asymmetric synthesis possible. Note in this connection, J. D. Morrison and W. F. Masler, J. Org. Chem., 1974, Vol. 39, No. 2, pages 270-272. Neomenthyldiphenylphosphine is of particular importance for the preparation of noble metal catalysts useful in the synthesis of certain pharmaceuticals such as naproxen, ketoprofen, ibuprofen, etc.
Heretofore, sodium diphenylphosphide has been produced by reacting triphenylphosphine with about 4 equivalents of sodium. The yield of such reaction has been less than about 57%. It is also known that 2 equivalents of alkali metal dissolved in liquid ammonia can reduce triphenylphosphine to alkali metal diphenylphosphide. Reactions with liquid ammonia require special conditions and equipment, and are not desirable for commercial operations.
Because of the shortcomings inherent in these previously-known processes, a need has existed for a commercially feasible process capable of producing alkali metal diarylphosphides of high purity in high yields. This invention is deemed to fulfill this need most expeditiously.

Production of high purity alkali metal diarylphosphide and cycloalkyldiarylphosphines


The present invention relates to the isolation, purification and characterization of the Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Ochrobactrum intermedium strain LMG3306, and their use as immunostimulant of mammalians, the process for the preparation of a pharmaceutical compound for the treatment and/or prevention of the sepsis and adjuvant for a vaccine in immunosupressed animals and against Leishmania.

The members of the genus Ochrobactrum are included in the alpha-2 subgroup of the domain Proteobacteria. They are primarily soil dwellers known to be pathogenic only in critically ill or immunocompromised patients or in patients with indwelling catheters. Although in such situations Ochrobactrum can cause meningitis, osteomyelitis, bacteraemia, and septicaemia, these bacteria are unable to establish chronic infections by themselves and are cleared from normal hosts after catheter removal (Cieslak, T. J., C. J. Drabick, and M. L. Robb. 1996. Pyogenic infections due to Ochrobactrum anthropi. Clin. Infect. Dis. 22:845-847.)
Since the composition of all lip polysaccharides, main component of outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria follows a general principle, which includes a polysaccharide attached to a lipid component termed lipid A through a specific sugar called 2-keto-3-deoxyoctulosonic acid (KDO) (Rietschel, E. T., Schade, U., Jensen, M., Wollenweber, H. W., Luderitz, O. and Greisman, S. G. 1982. Bacterial endotoxins:chemical structure, biological activity and role in septicaemia. Scand. J. Infect. Dis. Suppl. 3:8), it has been assumed that all LPS molecules have identical biological effects.
However, this concept has been modified by studies showing great variance in the capacity of several LPS species to produce cytokine synthesis, this effect being related to the structural features of their lipid A portion (Netea, M. G., van Deuren, M., Kullberg, B. J., Cavaillon, J. M. and van der Meer, J. W. M. 2002. Does the shape of lipid A determine the interaction of LPS with Toll-like receptors? Trends Immunol. 23:135.).
Legionella pneumophila, a Gram-negative facultative intracellular bacteria, is also similar to Brucella as regards both low endotoxicity and chemical structure of its LPS and significantly lower than that elicited by enterobacterial LPS (Zahringer, U., Knirel, Y. A., Lindner, B., Helbig, J. H., Sonesson, A., Marre, R. and Rietschel, E. T. 1995. The lipopolysaccharide of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 (strain Philadelphia 1): chemical structure and biological significance. Prog. Clin. Biol. Res. 392:113. 26).
Ochrobactrum anthropi is the closest known relative of brucellae (Velasco et al. International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology 48 (1998) 759-768). Despite their close phylogenetic relatedness, B. abortus and Ochrobactrum differ markedly in OM properties and that these wide differences are caused at least in part by little changes in the LPS (Velasco et al. Infection and Immunity 68 (2000) 3210-3218)
The complete core-lipid A backbone of the LPS from Ochrobactrum intermedium LMG 3301 and the O-chain from Ochrobactrum anthropi LMG 3331 LPS was determined (Velasco et al. Carbohydrates Research 306 (1996) 123-126; Velasco et al. Carbohydrates Research 306 (1998) 283-290; Velasco et al. Infection and Immunity 68 (2000) 3210-3218).
The strain of Ochrobactrum intermedium LMG 3306 was described by Velasco et al. (International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology 48 (1998) 759-768) and nevertheless, no LPS from Ochrobactrum intermedium LMG 3306 have been described previously.
On the other hand, Approximately 900,000 cases of sepsis occur annually only in the United States, causing roughly 210,000 deaths and costing almost 17 billion dollar. Sepsis is a common disease with rising incidence and a mortality ranging from 27-48%. Septic shock is a consequence, frequently lethal of sepsis. The overwhelming inflammation that occurs along with infection during sepsis has been the target of several therapeutic interventions. Despite, the inflammatory aspects of sepsis more that 20 years of clinical trials with general anti-inflammatory agents have shown that this approach was not overly successful.
The pathological mechanisms leading to sepsis are complex and far from being understood. Sepsis involves a systemic inflammatory response followed by a compensatory anti-inflammatory response. The balance between them is crucial for host survive. Moreover, animal models of sepsis do not easily mimic this complex nature of sepsis in human patients.
Recently, there have been some attempts to treat those effects by Toll-like receptor (TLR) antagonists since it is believed that most of the consequences of the septic shock are due to huge release of circulating endotoxin (LPS). Thus, Eritoran, a structural analogue of lipid A portion of LPS which acts as TLR4 antagonist is in phase II and showed a reduction in mortality in severe sepsis patients In addition, TAK-242 is a TLR4 signal transduction inhibitor that decrease proinflammatory cytokine levels and also decrease mortality in a subgroup of severe sepsis patients with high IL-6 levels.
Nowadays, there are many infections diseases for which there is no vaccine available. In some of these cases the failure is due to the lack of the correct adjuvant to induce the correct and appropriate immune response—For some infections agents, as intracellular bacteria, viruses and most protozoans, the protective immune response is of the T helper 1 type (TH1) characterized by IFN-gamma production. In contrast, protective response against most helminths is of the type 2 (TH2), characterized by IL-4 production (Fresno, M., M. Kopf, and L. Rivas. 1997. Cytokines and infectious diseases. Immunol Today 18:56-58). Few adjuvants, are available for human vaccines formulation, due to the toxicity of many of them, due to an exarcebated Th1 induction. Alum, which is really not an adjuvant, is used in most human vaccine formulations. Recently, agonist of Toll-like receptors (TLR) have attracted great interest (Hoffman, Nature Reviews Drug Discovery 4, 879, 2005) (Kwissa; Expert Vaccine Rev., 6, G73, 2007). Several antigens together with several agonists of various TLRs are currently being analyzed.
Finally, one of the major problems of any vaccine formulation, including those already licensed in that they rarely works in immunosuppresed subjects. Besides some of them have secondary effects on those patients (Kwissa, et al 2007).
The complete core-lipid A backbone of the wild deep-rough LPS (a LPS in which O-Chain is not present and lack some monosaccharides from the outer core part) from Ochrobactrum intermedium LMG 3301 was described by Velasco et al. Carbohydrates Research 306 (1998) 283-290; the O-chain from wild smooth LPS from Ochrobactrum anthropi LMG 3331 LPS was determined (Velasco et al. Carbohydrates Research 306 (1996) 123-126; and lipid A, and molecular weight of the complete LPS was published by Velasco et al. Infection and Immunity 68 (2000) 3210-3218.
The strain of Ochrobactrum intermedium LMG 3306 was described by Velasco et al. (International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology 48 (1998) 759-768) and nevertheless, no wild smooth LPS from Ochrobactrum intermedium LMG 3306 have been described previously.

Lipopolysaccharide of ochrobactrum intermedium and their use as immunostimulant of mammalians


Systems and methods for a modular ferrite switch for constructing switch networks are provided. In one implementation, a circulator redundancy network comprises multiple inputs; multiple outputs; and multiple circulator modules that connect the inputs to the outputs. A circulator module includes at least one module input connected to at least one input; at least one module output, where the number of module outputs equals the number of module inputs; multiple interconnection ports, configured to connect the circulator module to other circulator modules; and multiple circulators that route received signals between the at least one input, the at least one output, and the interconnection ports. Further, multiple interconnects connect the plurality of circulator modules to one another at the interconnection ports; and a circulator switch controller controls the direction of circulation for the plurality of circulators.

In certain communication networks, certain communication nodes in the network are not easily accessible for repairs in the event that equipment on the communication node experiences a failure. For example, communication nodes located in space are practically inaccessible and, as such, that failed equipment cannot be repaired. To prevent the failures from affecting the operation of the communication node, the communication equipment on the communication node includes standby equipment that increases the redundancy of any communication paths through the communication equipment. To control which communication paths are used through the communication equipment, a switch network is used to switch a communication path from failed equipment to standby equipment.
In at least one example, low noise amplifiers are prone to failures. Thus, a communication node will include a number of spare amplifiers. For example, at any given time, the communication node may use at most M amplifiers. The communication equipment may include N amplifiers such that when any of the M amplifiers experiences a failure, the switch network switches the communication path through one of the N amplifiers that is not currently active and switches the communication path away from the amplifier that failed. This redundant configuration of amplifiers and switch networks may be referred to as N for M redundancy.
In certain implementations, a switch network can be implemented using a network of switching ferrite circulators. One configuration of ferrite circulators that offers N for M redundancy for connecting N input ports to M output ports is known as order constrained networks. An order constrained network of circulators allows that any M of the N input ports can be connected to the M output ports. However, order constrained networks can be complex, such that switching networks have a different design for different combinations of N and M. Thus, the order constrained network generally fails to provide the opportunity to reuse previously designed switch networks that implement ferrite circulators.

Modular ferrite switch for constructing switch networks


The invention provides a recording/reproduction apparatus and method as well as a recording medium wherein, when nondestructive editing is executed for an AV signal, the AV signal can be reproduced seamlessly without suffering from any interruption. Information representative of states (an A type, a C type, a D type, or an E type) of an IN point and an OUT point on a Clip, designated by a Playitem, of a Playlist in which at least more than one Playitems are arranged in the order of reproduction is described in a block Playitem( ).

This invention relates to a recording/reproduction apparatus and method as well as a recording medium, and more particularly to a recording/reproduction apparatus and method as well as a recording medium suitable for use to seamlessly reproduce discontinuous AV data read out by random accessing.
In recent years, a DVD-RAM (Digital Versatile Disk-Random Access Memory) and so forth have been developed as a medium onto and from which data can be recorded and reproduced. Such large capacity media as a DVD-RAM are expected very much as media onto which a digital, AV (Audio Visual) signal such as a video signal is to be recorded.
As a supply source of a digital AV signal to be recorded onto a DVD-RAM or the like, an AV signal recorded on a VHS cassette tape, an 8-mm tape and so forth which are existing recording media, an AV signal as a broadcasting signal of digital satellite broadcasting, digital ground wave broadcasting, digital cable television broadcasting or the like, or a like AV signal is available.
A digital video signal supplied from any source described above is normally in a form compressed and coded in accordance with the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) 2 system. Accordingly, when a digital video signal supplied from any source is recorded onto a DVD-RAM or the like, an AV signal compressed and coded in accordance with the MPEG2 system must be decoded once and then encoded in accordance with the MPEG2 system and recorded onto the optical disk. However, where an AV signal in a compressed and coded state is decoded and encoded again in this manner, the quality of the AV signal is deteriorated significantly.
Therefore, in order to minimize the deterioration of the quality of an AV signal, it is investigated to record an AV signal in a compressed and coded state supplied from any source in the form of a bit stream as supplied onto a DVD-RAM or the like without encoding and decoding the AV signal. In other words, it is investigated to use a DVD-RAM or the like as a data streamer.
A disk medium such as a DVD-RAM allows high speed random accessing thereto. Thus, it is convenient if this fact can be utilized to reproduce a bit stream recorded on a DVD-RAM or the like in an order different from the order in which it is recorded. To designate a reproduction order is a kind of editing, and designation of a reproduction order is performed without any change in arrangement of the bit stream recorded on the disk. In the following, such editing as just described is described as nondestructive editing.
However, since the arrangement of a bit stream on a disk medium is not necessarily in an optimized state for nondestructive editing, there is a subject that, when nondestructive editing is actually executed, the AV signal is interrupted at a changeover point of the bit stream and so forth.

Recording/reproduction apparatus and method as well as recording medium


A rotating machine abnormality detection device of an embodiment includes a non-contact acoustic emission sensor, an analyzer, and a diagnoser. The non-contact acoustic emission sensor, arranged at a position spaced away by a predetermined distance from a measurement target acting as a rotating member or a measurement target rotatably supporting the rotating member, is configured to detect acoustic emission that occurs during rotation of the measurement target or the rotating member supported by the measurement target and propagates in an atmosphere. The analyzer is configured to perform time-frequency analysis on a detection signal of the non-contact acoustic emission sensor. The diagnoser is configured to detect occurrence of a rotation abnormality when a frequency component equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value is present in a predetermined frequency band, based on an analysis result of the analyzer.

Conventionally, an electromechanical transducer element that includes material such as piezoelectric ceramics to convert mechanical energy of vibration into electrical energy has been used as a sensor that detects an abnormality (for example, abnormal vibration) of a rotating machine, for example.
In this case, the electromechanical transducer element employs a contact AE sensor, an acceleration sensor, or the like. The contact AE sensor detects acoustic emission (AE), which is an elastic wave phenomenon caused by the occurrence of a micro-fracture in an object to be measured during rotation.
For example, a milling spindle etc. of a machine tool rotates at high speed up to several tens of thousands of rotations per minute, and the contact AE sensor or the acceleration sensor is used to predict the state of a bearing.
These sensors are used in a state where a detection surface is in contact with or fixed to a housing etc. of the bearing. In particular, the contact AE sensor performs detection for a foreign matter biting abnormality, a micro-crack, and the like, which are starting points of failure of bearing components.
However, the conventional contact AE sensor or acceleration sensor cannot achieve sufficient detection sensitivity for sound or the like caused by insufficient lubrication (gnawing or burn-in) or the like on the surface of a rotating shaft or a bearing material, and cannot detect a rotation abnormality.

Rotating machine abnormality detection device and rotating machine abnormality detection method


Bending pliers include first and second plier bodies connected together relatively turnably in mutually intersecting intermediate portions thereof by a pivot shaft, the bodies including first and second holding arms formed on one-end sides of the bodies, respectively, the arms respectively having plate-shaped first and second claw portions formed in their respective tip end portions and configured to hold a panel to be bent, and first and second handles formed on opposite-end sides of the bodies, respectively, and configured to open and close the arms, wherein a columnar bending fulcrum portion extending parallel to the shaft and projecting toward the second claw portion is formed at a tip end of the first claw portion, and a tip end of the second claw portion faces the fulcrum portion with a gap therebetween. The pliers form the bead portion in a smooth tubular shape in a folded portion of the panel.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pliers for use in forming a folded portion at an end edge portion of a panel, in particular, relates to an improvement of bending pliers comprising: first and second plier bodies connected together to be turnable relative to each other in mutually intersecting intermediate portions thereof by use of a pivot shaft, the first and second plier bodies including first and second holding arms formed on one-end sides of the first and second plier bodies, respectively, the first and second holding arms respectively having first and second claw portions formed in their respective tip end portions and configured to hold a panel which is to be bent by hemming and the like, and first and second handles formed on opposite-end sides of the first and second plier bodies, respectively, and configured to open and close the first and second holding arms.
Description of the Related Art
Hemming pliers are known as disclosed in Japanese utility model application laid-open No. 57-108863.


One aspect of the present invention discloses a circumferential sleeve made from a single pre-cut blank with no additional material (other than adhesive) added to the blank. The circumferential sleeve has a strip that protrudes from the sleeve and one end of the strip is contiguous to a first portion sleeve such as the bottom edge and the other end of the strip is attached to a portion of the sleeve, such as the rear panel. The strip can be arcuate or L-shaped and permits a food container to stand upright.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to displaying a container in the upright position, and, more particularly, the present invention provides a circumferential sleeve that can be placed around a food container to permit the container to stand upright.
2. Description of Related Art
Containers for food packages come in all shapes and sizes and almost always have some sort of product labeling to promote the food product in the container as well as to provide information regarding nutrition and ingredients. Many of the food containers used to store and promote the food to a consumer also can be used by a consumer as a dish, bowl, or tray. In such instance; a consumer can eat directly out of the food container. This is the case, for example, with trays or bowls which contain food items such as pudding, frozen foods, and dips. Dips, like other refrigerated products such as butter and sour cream, are available in round tub-like bowls made from plastic. Such containers and lids often have promotional material printed directly on the lid and on the side of the container or bowl. In the case of a tray, the promotional material is usually placed directly or indirectly (e.g., via an outer cardboard packaging) on the lid because the lid has the most exposed surface area for promotional material. Unfortunately, trays do not stand up well and bowls, if placed on their side so that the lid stock faces the consumer, can roll in the clockwise or counter clockwise direction, making it difficult to provide a neat, uniform display. Further, as the bowls rotate, the promotional graphics or lettering can be re-oriented, making it difficult for the consumer to read. Additionally, depending on the geometry of a bowl, it may not be able to stand up at all. For example, if a square-shaped bowl is tapered and the circumference of the bottom is much smaller than the circumference of the area adjacent to the lid, the bowl will not be able to stand upright. Consequently, a need exists for a container that can stand upright on a supermarket shelf to allow consumers to easily see the promotional materials for that product.
FIG. 1 is a rear-perspective view of a prior art package comprising a collar 16 around a container 20 wherein the collar has a tab 10 extended outward from the collar to permit the tray to stand upright. Similar designs are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,900,263 and 5,123,527. One problem with the tabs 10 like those depicted in FIG. 1 is that it is relatively easy for a crease 12 to form in the area depicted by numeral 12. Any type of downward pressure placed on the container or the collar, for example, can promote formation of such a crease 12. Further, because the tab 10 extends outward and terminates outside the collar 16, the tab 10 is subject to catch on objects during transport and shipping, further promoting crease 12 formation. Because the collar 16 is typically made of cardboard-type material, minimal pressure on the tab 10 can result in a crease 12. Once a crease 12 is formed, the integrity of the tab 10 is substantially compromised and it is more difficult to make the container 20 stand upright. Further, if the container 20 is stored in refrigerated conditions, condensation can occur which can further weaken the integrity of the tab 10 at the crease 12. Consequently, a need exists for an improved circumferential sleeve for holding a food container in the upright position that is less affected by condensation and is less likely to be prone to failure.

Circumferential sleeve for holding a food container upright


A method for forming a honeycomb protector for protecting the corners, edges or other surfaces of articles during shipping of such articles comprising self-locking honeycomb panels. In one embodiment, the protector includes first and second unitary panels separated by a channel about which the panels are foldable. The first panel includes a lip which fits into a slit in the second panel to connect and lock the first and second panels in position.

For many years, protectors have been secured to the edges and corners and other surfaces of manufactured articles such as appliances, electronic articles and doors, prior to such articles being packaged to protect the edges, corners and other surfaces of such articles from damage during handling and shipment.
A type of edge and corner protector currently in use is made of paper honeycomb material and is supplied to the manufacturer of the articles to be packaged in flat form. The panels of the protector are thereafter folded by the manufacturer, then taped, glued or stapled so that the protector remains folded, and then is applied to the edges or corners of the article to be shipped.
A problem associated with the use of this type of corner protector is that it requires an extra manufacturing step, i.e., taping, gluing, or stapling during the folding operation. There is also a tendency to unfold and fall off the article prior to the article being packaged, thus complicating and unnecessarily decreasing the efficiency of the packing operation. Thus, there remains a need for a corner protector which does not require taping, gluing, or stapling during the folding operation and which will not unfold and fall off the edge or corner of the article prior to or during packaging the article.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,667 to Carder discloses a honeycomb corner protector which is supplied to the manufacturer in a flat form. The protector comprises a panel including panel portions which are folded along crush slit scores and then interlocked by means of fingers and notches therein. Although this corner protector has proven to be extremely effective and reliable in that it dispenses the need for taping, gluing and stapling, its use is limited to the protection of the corners of articles.
Additionally, all current protectors comprise panels foldable into a perpendicular relationship thus limiting their use to the corners or edges of an article.
The present invention solves these problems by providing a self-locking honeycomb protector with foldable or connectable honeycomb panels which can be used on the edges, corners or other surfaces of an article to be packaged and which is easy to manufacture and assemble.

Method for forming a honeycomb corner protector with self-locking panels


The new valve needle comprises at least one valve-needle section and a valve-closure member section of the valve needle which are manufactured as one part by means of deep-drawing. To guarantee a flowing of the fuel in the direction of the valve seat, two beads are provided, for example, in the valve-needle section, while truncations are formed on the valve-closure member section having a hemispherical bowl shape. Thus, the fuel flows along on the outer periphery of the valve-needle section. The valve needle is especially suited for injection valves in fuel-injection systems of mixture-compressing internal combustion engines with externally supplied ignition.

The German Patent Application No. 40 08675 already discloses a valve needle for an electromagnetically actuated valve, which is comprised of an armature, a valve-closure member, and a tubular connecting part joining the armature and the, e.g., spherical valve-closure member. The enumerated parts represent individual parts, which are each manufactured separately and are first joined together by means of jointing methods, e.g. laser welding. Thus, there are at least two joints (Points of connection). The armature in this case completely embraces the connecting part radially and axially at least in part, since the connecting part is secured in a longitudinal orifice passing right through the armature. The connecting part, itself, also has a continuously traversing inner longitudinal orifice, in which the fuel can flow toward the valve-closure member and then flow out near the valve-closure member through radially running, crosswise orifices introduced in the inner wall of the connecting part. Therefore, the fuel first flows inside the valve needle and does not leave the valve needle until close to the valve seat.
It has also been disclosed by German Patent No. 42 30 376 to manufacture a valve needle for an electromagnetically actuated valve from a one-piece, tubular actuating part comprised of an armature section and a valve sleeve section by means of injection molding and subsequent sintering in accordance with the metal-injection-molding method (MIM). The actuating part is subsequently joined by a welding connection to a valve-closure member section. Provided in the armature section and the valve-sleeve section is a traversing, inner longitudinal opening, in which fuel can flow toward the valve-closure member section and then emerge out of the valve-sleeve section near the valve-closure member section through crosswise orifices. Thus, in manufacturing the valve needle using the so-called MIM method, slide molds are necessary to form the crosswise orifices.

Valve needle for an electromagnetically actuated valve and process for manufacturing the same


A compactor wheel is mountable on an axle of a compaction machine. The compactor wheel may comprise a hub mountable to an axle of a compaction machine; a rim mounted to the hub, the rim having a face; a plurality of compaction cleats mounted to the face of the rim; an axle guard movable relative to the rim during rotation of the compactor wheel; and structure for coupling the axle guard to at least one of the hub and the rim.

Compaction machines are used to compact landfill sites, garbage dumps and other such locations. These machines typically include a self-propelled vehicle having four large wheels made of steel. Each wheel has a hub mounted to one end of an axle and a rim disposed around and radially out from the hub. The rim typically includes a plurality of cleats mounted thereon. One problem encountered by such machines is the accumulation of waste behind the compaction wheel. Waste materials such as steel cable, wire, rope and the like have a particularly detrimental effect. Such refuse tends to wrap around the axles of the compaction machine and become trapped between the wheel and a side wall of the compaction machine, increasing the corresponding frictional forces therebetween. Increasing the friction between the wheel and the compaction machine increases the load on the wheel propulsion system (e.g., an internal combustion engine) and reduces the life of the compaction machine. In addition, such increased frictional forces can cause the compaction wheels to wear to the point of requiring repair or even replacement of the wheels. Such wear related repairs can be very costly, and replacement wheels are very expensive.
There is a need for an improved way to prevent, or at least substantially inhibit, cable, rope, wire and other refuse and debris from wrapping around the axle of a compaction machine.

Movable axle guard for a compactor wheel