A reproducing apparatus has means for reproducing for a user images and audio items stored on a record carrier (compact disc). The apparatus is controlled by a simple microcontroller running a predetermined program. To enable items to be presented to the user in a reproduction sequence with user-selected branching, the desired reproduction sequence is broken into selection points and linear reproduction sequences. A selection item is stored on the disc for each selection point, while a sequence item is stored for each linear reproduction sequence, these sequence and selection items containing further item references to link them into the described composite reproduction sequence. The logic and storage requirements imposed on the microcontroller are minimal.

The invention relates to a method of storing user information items on a record carrier for subsequent presentation to a user, and to a record carrier whereon information items have been stored by such a method.
The invention further relates to an apparatus for reproducing user information items stored on such a record carrier, the apparatus including means for reading and reproducing user information items from specified locations on the record carrier and control means for reading control information from the record carrier and for specifying to the reproducing means the locations of user information items to be reproduced.
One known apparatus of the above type is the compact disc (CD) player for reproducing items of audio information, where the control information comprises a "table of contents" of stored items. In particular, however, a recording CD player is described in EP-O 346 979 A2 (PHQ88018) in which control information stored on the disc includes a list of track numbers defining a user's preferred reproduction sequence for the recorded items. The apparatus is then controlled by a simple microcontroller to reproduce the items in accordance with the stored list, notwithstanding that the items are stored in a different order within the continuous time sequence defined by the spiral track on the record carrier (CD).
A low cost apparatus which can reproduce images as well as sounds from a CD is the forthcoming Photo CD player, described in various papers at the IEEE International Conference on Consumer Electronics 1991, see ICCE '91 Digest of Technical Papers, pages 315-323.
There are also today several so-called multimedia computer-based systems which can reproduce images, sounds and text from CD record carriers, including in particular the Compact Disc-Interactive system (CD-I). A CD-I player is commercially available from Philips Consumer Electronics in Knoxville, Tenn. These multimedia systems include powerful microprocessors and specialised peripheral circuits, running under control of a real-time operating system and application programs loaded from the disc, and can implement many styles of user interaction, including multi-level menus and the like, to provide rapid access to the large amount of information stored on the disc. CD-I and other fully-featured multimedia systems are inevitably more expensive both in the cost of the consumer apparatus and the effort involved in organising and storing information on the record carriers.
Such a level of interactivity cannot be provided in low-cost systems such as Photo CD and audio CD, chiefly because the control means is limited typically to an 8-bit microcontroller running a small predetermined control program stored in read-only memory (ROM). Such a microcontroller cannot generally accept new programs from the record carrier, and cannot process data read from the disc at the full CD data rate.

Method of storing user information items and apparatus for reproducing stored items


A multi-textured ready-to-eat cereal flake includes a plurality of rice based pellets embedded in a cooked cereal grain. The plurality of rice pellets are formed from a rice product and have a first moisture content. A cooked cereal grain mixture is then formed and has a second moisture content that is greater than the first moisture content of the rice pellets. The plurality of rice pellets are then embedded within the cooked cereal grain mixture to create a multicomponent mixture. A multicomponent pellet is formed from the multicomponent mixture. The multicomponent pellet is then formed into a flake. The flake is heated to create a multi-textured flake. Based on the moisture differential between the cooked cereal grain and the plurality of rice pellets, the plurality of rice pellets expand to create a blistered appearance on the multi-textured flake.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-textured ready-to-eat cereal flake, more particularly to a multi-textured ready-to-eat cereal flake having a plurality of rice pellets embedded therein and a method of making the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Multi-textured ready-to-eat cereal flakes are known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,510,130 to Holtz et al. discloses a process for combining two streams of extruded products for forming a multi-textured ready-to-eat cereal flake. To begin, a cooked cereal dough product is formed. Next, an edible matter, such as oat, wheat, barley and corn, is introduced into the cooked cereal dough to form a secondary cereal dough product having the edible matter embedded therein. The secondary cereal dough is then converted into flakes, which are toasted to form the multi-textured ready-to-eat cereal product.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 7,413,760 to Green et al. discloses a multi-textured ready-to-eat cereal flake comprising a cooked cereal grain and a parboiled medium grain rice. Preparing parboiled rice requires long cooking times and additional processing steps thus resulting in additional manufacturing cost and time. Further, the parboiled rice requires a whole grain to be added to the parboiled rice to minimize the viscosity of the parboiled rice and whole grain mixture so as to help maintain the piece identity of the parboiled rice.

Multi-textured ready-to-eat cereal with extruded rice pellets


The invention overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art by providing plants of soybean variety 0137335, which exhibits high seed protein and protein plus oil in combination with high yield. The invention also provides derivatives and plant parts of these plants. Further provided by the invention are methods for the use of the plant. The invention is significant in that oil and protein are important agronomic characteristics, but the value of these traits is diminished or eliminated when coupled with decreased yield.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of soybean breeding. In particular, the invention relates to soybean variety 0137335.
2. Description of Related Art
The soybean is an excellent source of protein (Mounts et al., 1987; Fulmer, 1988) and has the potential to supply adequate and nutritious food and feed for use by ever-increasing world production. Current soybean cultivars average approximately 41% protein and 21% oil in the seed on a dry weight basis (Leffel and Rhodes, 1993).
Most commercially produced soybeans are processed to produce edible oil and one or more protein products. The initial protein fraction is a soybean meal, either containing the fiber from the seed hull (44% protein soymeal) or separated from the hull fiber (48.5% protein soymeal). The initial meal fraction is often further processed to produce more highly refined protein products, primarily soy protein concentrate or soy protein isolate. In any of these protein fractions—meal, concentrate or isolate—the protein component is of economic or nutritional value. Soy protein is valued for its high nutritional quality for people and livestock, and for functional properties, such as gel and foam formation. Alternative processing methods produce protein-based soy foods, such as tofu or soymilk. With the economic value of soy protein, soybeans with higher concentration of protein are very desirable. However, higher protein content cannot be associated with lower oil content or lower seed yield per acre if an economic benefit is to be obtained.
Breeding programs for increased protein content of soybean seed have been in progress for many years (Burton, J. W. 1985; Hartwig, E. E. 1969; Hartwig, E. E. 1979; Johnson, H. W. 1961; and Leffel, R. C. 1988). However, with a few exceptions, high protein soybeans developed to date have not been as high in yield as commercial cultivars. Studies have shown negative genetic correlations between soybean seed yield and protein content (Caldwell et al., 1966; Hinson et al. 1972; Kwon and Torrie, 1964; Thorne and Fehr, 1970; Burton, 1988; Leffel and Rhodes, 1993; Serretti et al., 1994; Pantalone et al., 1996; Simpson and Wilcox, 1983: Shannon et al. 1972). The high negative correlation between the traits lead Hartwig (1973) to conclude that it is not possible to retain high oil along with high protein content. Openshaw and Hadley (1984) concluded that breeding methods designed to increase both protein and oil showed limited success. Orf (1988) concluded that producing soybean varieties with high protein, high oil, and high yield will be difficult from a breeding standpoint and may not be a realistic conventional breeding objective. Hymowitz (1976) indicated that it is probable that lower protein soybeans will be caused in the long term if an emphasis is maintained on the yield of soybeans.
The negative association has a strong genetic basis (tight linkages, pleiotropy, or both), and selection for percent protein should result in reduced yield. Studies of selection indices involving both yield and percent protein have generally confirmed the negative relationship. Caldwell et al.(1966) predicted a yield decrease when percent protein was the sole selection criterion. Burton (1984) summarized the results of several breeding studies, reporting genotypic correlations between seed yield and seed protein percentage varying from −0.12 to −0.74. In only one population was there a positive genotypic correlation between these two traits. Additional studies by Sebern and Lambert (1984), Simpson and Wilcox (1983), and Wehrmann et al. (1987) reported moderate to strong inverse relationships between seed yield and seed protein with correlation coefficients ranging from −0.23 to −0.86.
In the past, the pedigree and backcrossing methods have been used with limited success to select soybean lines with high percent protein. Cianzio and Fehr (1982) evaluated seed protein and oil of F2-derived lines in the F2 generation and BC1F1-derived and BC2F1-derived lines in the F3 generation of crosses between the high protein lines Pando and PI 153.269 and the high yielding cultivars Wells and Woodworth. No line from either set of crosses had protein concentration as high as those of the high protein donor parent. Mean protein percentages and genetic variances of the populations decreased with each backcross to the high yielding parent. The results indicated to them that it will be difficult to transfer genes for extremely high protein levels to cultivars with lower protein. No yield data were recorded on the breeding lines evaluated in this study.
Wehrmann et al.(1987) evaluated 95 BC2 progenies in each of three populations, where the recurrent parents were high yielding lines and the donor parent was Pando, that averaged 480 g kg−1 seed protein. In these populations, no backcross-derived lines were recovered that combined exceptionally high seed protein with the yield of the recurrent parent. In each of two populations, the highest protein line averaged only 422 and 433 g kg−1 protein and did not differ significantly in yield or seed oil from the recurrent parent. In the third population, the highest protein line averaged 462 g kg−1 protein but was significantly lower in both yield and seed oil concentration than the recurrent parent.
There have been isolated reports that genotypic correlations between seed yield and seed protein percentage may not be as strong as the literature has indicated (Byth et al. 1969; Wilcox and Cavins, 1995). However, none of the backcross studies evaluated progenies beyond the BC3 generation. The lack of success in transferring exceptionally high seed protein to high yielding cultivars by backcrossing has cast doubt on the possibility of combining these two traits in adapted germplasm or cultivars.
All crop species are grown for the purpose of harvesting some product of commercial significance. Enhancement of productivity or yield of that product is a major goal of most plant breeding programs. The highest priority in most soybean cultivar development programs is increasing seed yield. Seed yield is a quantitative character controlled by many genes and strongly influenced by the environment. The heritability of yield is the lowest and the most variable of the major agronomic traits considered in cultivar development, with heritability estimates ranging from 3 to 58%. Yield is an example of a quantitative character that breeders attempt to improve beyond the level of that present in current cultivars. Disease resistance is required in most cases to protect the yield potential of a cultivar.
It is a difficult challenge to incorporate increased protein or oil content into high yielding cultivars given the negative correlations observed among the traits. The difficulty of obtaining a commercially acceptable variety is increased several fold if a breeder attempts to significantly increase total protein without a loss in oil content into one cultivar. Perhaps because of these difficulties, the prior art has failed to provide high yielding soybean varieties that posses high seed protein without decreased seed oil. However, there is a great need in the art for such soybean plants. Increased seed protein can significantly improve the value of a soybean harvest. For the increase in seed protein to have commercial significance, yield and/or oil content must not be substantially impacted. Therefore, providing soybean plants that are both high yielding and posses high combined protein and oil would represent a substantial advance in the art and benefit farmers and consumers alike.


An electronic component, or a precursor thereof, that comprises a curable organopolysiloxane composition or a cured product thereof is disclosed. The curable organopolysiloxane composition is generally curable through a hydrosilylation reaction and can be applied to at least one area by a microdroplet application device. The curable organopolysiloxane composition has a viscosity of no more than 2.0 Pa·s at a strain rate of 1,000 (1/s), and a viscosity at a strain rate of 0.1 (1/s) being a value no less than 50.0 times the viscosity at a strain rate of 1,000 (1/s). In particular, the area of application generally is a substantially circular area that fits within a frame no more than 1000 μm in diameter, a linear area no more than 1000 μm in line width, or a pattern configured from a combination of these areas.

Curable organopolysiloxane compositions are widely used as protective or adhesive compositions in electric and electronic components and to fill and seal spaces in mobile phones and image displaying devices such as touch panels, thereby increasing reliability and improving durability. One-part curable organopolysiloxane compositions curing using a hydrosilylation reaction have especially good handling and workability and cure rates, produce cured products with excellent heat resistance, and confer advantages over other materials in that substrate adhesion and the hardness of the cured product can be controlled as desired.
As electric and electronic components become smaller and more precise, there is greater demand for electronic components on substrates for electronic materials and image display devices in which micropatterns have been formed with organopolysiloxane compositions. Because these patterns have designs in which each application area is a substantially dot-shaped area with a diameter of 1 mm or less or a linear area with a width of 1 mm or less, and very large numbers of these application areas are arranged with great precision, these compositions are preferably applied by a microdroplet application device using the inkjet or dispenser application method during industrial production.
However, existing curable organopolysiloxane compositions are liquids. When these are applied using a microdroplet application device such as a microdroplet application device with micronozzles of 1000 μm or less, the liquid scatters or spreads (flows) beyond the target range for the application areas and a micropattern becomes difficult to form. The same compositions can be designed with higher viscosity in order to reduce fluidity and more precisely apply droplets with less scattering, but when higher viscosity compositions are designed to prevent scattering of droplets, the higher viscosity causes nozzles to become clogged and increases the amount of composition applied per dot. Compositions with higher viscosity are also difficult to apply using a microdroplet application device such as a jet dispenser. A curing reaction is also more likely to occur inside the nozzles and nozzles are more likely to become clogged.
In order to solve this problem, a simple pattern forming method has been proposed in Patent Document 1 which uses a curable organopolysiloxane composition with fast curing properties obtained by applying two types of curable organopolysiloxanes that react when mixed together separately from two different nozzles so that they mix together on a substrate. However, this method requires a microdroplet application device with nozzles that can accommodate a two-part composition. Multiple-part liquid application and separate part liquid application depend substantially on physical contact between two liquids on the substrate. Therefore, work efficiency and precision application properties are often inadequate, and curing properties and cured product properties premised on the perfect mixing together of both liquids often cannot be achieved, especially in the case of curing properties. From the standpoint of work efficiency, precision application, and cured product properties, there is strong demand for a one-part curable organopolysiloxane composition suitable for precise application using a microdroplet application device such as a jet dispenser and for micropattern formation.
Compact, highly integrated MEMS devices using MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) technologies such as sensors have recently become popular in the field of semiconductor devices. Semiconductor chips obtained by miniaturization and dicing of the lead frame substrate of the semiconductor have also become smaller and lighter than ever. Therefore, there is strong demand for electronic components and precursors thereof obtained by precision application and micropattern formation of curable organopolysiloxanes or cured products thereof.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Electronic component or precursor thereof, and method for manufacturing same


A logic system with adaptive supply voltage control comprising a logic circuit clocked by a clock signal from a clock generating circuit and a voltage conversion circuit for generating a dynamically regulated supply voltage for powering the logic circuit. A critical path delay of the logic circuit is designed to be equal to or shorter than a period of the clock signal. The voltage conversion circuit dynamically regulates the supply voltage of the logic circuit based on a bias voltage of the clock generating circuit. According to the invention, the power consumption is effectively minimized while ensuring the logic circuit to function correctly throughout all conditions.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an adaptive supply voltage control technology for minimizing power consumption, particularly to a low power logic circuit with adaptive supply voltage control and an adaptive supply voltage control method for low power logic circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
In conventional low power logic circuit design, lowering the power supply voltage of a circuit is generally known as the most effective way to reduce power dissipation, as the power consumption is proportional to the square of the supply voltage. Unfortunately, reducing the power supply voltage results in an undesired increase of the logic circuit delay. Although high supply voltage is not necessary during normal operation of a logic circuit, the supply voltage is usually set at a level which is high enough to guarantee that the circuit can work under all conditions. That is, the supply voltage is always determined for the worst case, where the speed becomes slower due to the variation of temperature, process shifts and aging, to assure the critical path of the logic circuit is fast enough to meet the critical path delay constraints. As such, this constant voltage setting results in excessive power consumption in most conditions.
In the field of logic circuit design, various adaptive power supply voltage regulation techniques have been proposed. In these proposals, to make the circuit more power efficient, power supply voltage is regulated to a lower level during normal use, while allowing for higher power supply voltage in situations where the circuit speed must be increased. For example, in the application of a portable computer, power supply voltage of a central processing unit is reduced as its clock frequency decreases, while the power supply voltage is set to a higher level as the clock frequency increases.
Recently, applications of low power logic circuits have increasingly broadened. In some specific applications, there is very little power available for the logic circuits. For these circuits, an adaptive supply voltage control technique is demanded to minimize the power consumption more effectively.

Logic system with adaptive supply voltage control


A centerpost carrying a pomade cup on its upper end is threaded into a cup-shaped base. The pomade cup slides in a tubular nosepiece which rides in the base and which is keyed for rotation with the centerpost. The assembly method includes inverting the nosepiece and cup and filling it, reinverting and connecting the post and cup and the base and nosepiece. The threaded centerpost may "tap" threads into longitudinal ribs in the base during assembly.

For fashion purposes, there has been a desire to have lipstick containers of elegant, slender, elongated lines. To achieve this shape, the container structure has been greatly modified so that the driving mechanism (cam, innerbody, etc.) normally surrounding the pomade cup and adding to the diameter of the container is located entirely under the pomade cup. Examples of such rearrangement are disclosed in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,770,556 issued Sep. 13, 1988 to Ackermann et al and 5,172,993 issued Dec. 22, 1992 also to Ackermann et al. These "slimline" containers have often comprised a floating sleeve threaded and engaged by threads or lugs in both the base and on the cup stem. Such containers have been filled from the top, usually by loading into the cup a pre-formed pomade "bullet".
Over the past few years the nature of the pomade used in lipstick has changed. Rather than being essentially wax cylinders, lipstick pomades are now composed largely of volatile silicone compositions. The change in composition has been caused by the fashion-driven demand for a high-lustre lipstick analogous to a paint which, when applied, gives a "wet look". The downside of such pomade compositions is that when they are exposed to the air, they will rapidly dry out so that they become, in effect, a hard, solid, non-fluid substance which cannot be applied to the skin. In addition, as such pomades dry out, they shrink in size and, being slippery, can actually fall out of the elevator cup of their containers.
The present invention discloses a simplified "slimline" structure which has two important attributes: it can be rapidly filled by being molded directly in the container, so that the pomade is more securely anchored in the elevator cup. Secondly, the container can be conveniently sealed to prevent air from freely contacting the silicone-containing pomade.

Lipstick container and method of making same


A process for manufacturing eggshell powder for use in the production of bio-based products is provided. The process involves exposing a quantity of eggshell to high air speed at room temperatures to pulverize the eggshell and separate the eggshell component from the inner membrane component. Thus, the process avoids the use of high temperatures and other harsh chemical treatments to remove the inner membrane from the eggshell thereby resulting in an eggshell material that retains the original lipid-protein structure of the native eggshell from which the powder derives. Accordingly, an eggshell powder composition is provided that is substantially free of inner membrane material and possesses a lipid-protein structure substantially similar to that of the eggshell from which the powder is derived. A polymer composite composition comprising an eggshell component and a polymer component is also provided.

In order to provide more environmentally-responsible products, manufacturers are exploring alternative approaches to reduce the amount of polymer used to produce various polymer-based products. One such approach involves substituting a portion of the polymer content with a plant-based or "bio-based" filler such as wood flour, starch, or distilled grain. However, plant-based fillers absorb water and swell in a moist or humid environment and degrade at the high temperatures used during processing. This leads to poor product performance and undesirable characteristics.
Eggshell powder is an alternative to the standard plant-based materials. However, attempts to use eggshell powder as a filler in polymer composites has been problematic. First, the inner membrane associated with the eggshell, if left in association with the eggshell during the manufacturing process, produces a foul odor which can carry over into the ultimate product. The traditional methods used to remove the inner membrane from the eggshell involve the use of high-temperatures and/or harsh chemical treatments. This approach not only increases manufacturing costs, but also compromises the native lipid-protein surface structure of the eggshell. As a result, the interface between the eggshell powder and polymer is weakened resulting in sub-optimal product performance.
Therefore, a bio-based or environmentally-responsible filler material is needed for use in manufacturing polymer composites that maintain comparable or improved physical properties without undesirable characteristics and sub-optimal performance ratings.

Eggshell powder compositions and methods of producing eggshell powder compositions


A reclosable package comprises a slider-operated zipper wherein at least one of the zipper parts has a hinged flap to which a marginal portion of a panel of packaging film is joined. The hinged flap swings away from the rest of the zipper part in response to a pulling force tending to pull that zipper part away from the other zipper part. The flap is disposed between a base strip of the zipper part that it forms a part of and a sidewall of the slider. The slider is retained on the zipper by retaining ledges projecting from a distal end of a plow that pries open the zipper during slider travel in an opening direction.

This invention generally relates to zippers for use in reclosable packaging, such as bags or pouches. In particular, the invention relates to means for providing better resistance to zipper separation due to forces exerted inside the bag.
Reclosable bags are finding ever-growing acceptance as primary packaging, particularly as packaging for foodstuffs such as cereal, fresh vegetables, snacks and the like. Such bags provide the consumer with the ability to readily store, in a closed, if not sealed, package any unused portion of the packaged product even after the package is initially opened.
Reclosable bags typically comprise a receptacle having a mouth with a zipper for opening and closing. In recent years, many zippers have been designed to operate with a slider mounted thereon. As the slider is moved in an opening direction, the slider causes the zipper sections it passes over to open. Conversely, as the slider is moved in a closing direction, the slider causes the zipper sections it passes over to close. Typically, a zipper for a reclosable bag includes a pair of interlockable profiled zipper parts that are joined at opposite ends of the bag mouth. The profiles of interlockable plastic zipper parts can take on various configurations, e.g. interlocking rib and groove elements having so-called male and female profiles, interlocking alternating hook-shaped closure elements, interlocking ball-shaped projections, and so forth. Reclosable bags having slider-operated zippers are generally more desirable to consumers than bags having zippers without sliders because the slider eliminates the need for the consumer to align the interlockable zipper profiles before causing those profiles to engage.
In one type of slider-operated zipper assembly, the slider straddles the zipper and has a separating finger at one end that is inserted between the profiles to force them apart as the slider is moved along the zipper in an opening direction. The other end of the slider is sufficiently narrow to force the profiles into engagement and close the zipper when the slider is moved along the zipper in a closing direction.
In the past, many interlocking closure strips were formed integrally with the packaging film, for example, by extruding the packaging film with the closure strips formed on the film. Such constructions, however, were limited by the conditions required to extrude both the film and zipper together. To avoid such limitations, many bag designs entail separate extrusion of the closure strips, which are subsequently joined to the bag-making film, for example, by conduction heat sealing. These separate closure strips typically have flanges extending therefrom in such a way that the flanges can be joined to bag-making film in order to attach the closure strips to the film. Many previous slider-operated, separately extruded zippers used flange-type constructions.
An alternative zipper design is the so-called flangeless or string zipper, which has substantially no flange portion above or below the interlockable profiled closure elements. Each zipper part comprises a respective base and a respective profiled closure element or respective set of profiled closure elements projecting from each base. In the case of a string zipper, the bag-making film is joined to the backs of the zipper parts. String zippers can be produced at much greater speeds and in greater multiples, allow much greater footage to be wound on a spool, thereby requiring less set-up time, and use less material than flanged zippers, enabling a substantial reduction in the cost of manufacture and processing.
Under some circumstances, a string zipper has a tendency, however, to be pulled open by forces exerted on the walls of a filled bag during handling. There is a need for a new zipper design having improved resistance to being opened by internally generated forces.

Reclosable package having zipper with hinged flap and related methods of manufacture


A surgical ligaturing and restraining device for small animals comprises an elongated tubular body member (10) having a noose (28) at the front end (18) operable from the rear end (12) of the body. The body front end is fitted with a cap (20) with two holes (22) (24) through its face. The noose is formed by a flexible and elastic cable (26), one end (25) of the cable is looped around passing through the holes in the cap. Said cable end (25) is attached to the cable itself around cable middle portion by attachment means (30). The cable runs through the inside of the body and emerges substantially from the body rear end (12). The body rear end has two short longitudinally extending slots (14) (16), each slot has one extremity open to the rear end. The slots are diametrically opposite each other, dividing the tubular body into two sides (32) (34). One side (32) is made shorter than the opposite side (34 ), so as to facilitate the locking action. The device is applied by placing the noose around an object. The noose is tightened by pulling on the cable out of the body rear end. The tightened noose is locked by passing the cable through one of the slots, and wrapped around the body several times, before passing said cable through both slots, to complete the locking procedure.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates in general to animal surgical ligaturing and restraining devices, and in particular to the kind characterized by an elongated tubular handle having at one end a noose operable from the other end of the handle. The invention is adapted for capturing and restraining small animals, and for restricting the flow of blood in the limbs as a tourniquet.
2. Description of Prior Art
In the field of medical and veterinary practice, it is often necessary to restrain the various members of an animal during treatment. Certain surgical procedures require the restriction of blood flow in the patient's limbs or legs. For these purposes, restraining devices such as snares and mouth muzzles, and ligaturing devices such as tourniquets are utilized.
Prior art restraining and ligaturing devices of the kinds similar to the present invention are generally comprised of a tubular body member having at the front end a noose which is operable from the rear end of the body. The noose is generally part of a flexible strap or cable, the cable running through the inside of the body, and extending out of the body's rear end. To apply, the noose is placed over and around the object, and is tightened by pulling on the cable extending out of the rear end of the body. To maintain the noose in its tightened state, various movable parts which are commonly located inside the body, are utilized to grip onto the cable tightly.
There is a wide variety of animal snares and restraining devices of the general class to which the present invention pertains. The snares are specifically designed to snare or capture an animal by the head. They are generally not suitable for use on the animal's jaw as a muzzle. The existing ligaturing devices such as tourniquets for stopping the flow of blood in the limbs are inadequate for use either as a muzzle or a snare. No known prior art device exist, which is versatile enough to be used for restraining the head or the mouth of an animal, and at the same time, effective as a tourniquet.
The devices described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,292,591 to F. A. Wood, U.S. Pat. No. 3,319,609 to G. C. Pickard et al, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,449 to L. Lamb Sr. et al, all have movable locking mechanisms located inside the body member. U.S. Pat. No. 1,167,223 to O. E. Sheidler describes a device which requires the attachment of the noose cable to a chain whose movable links are fitted into a slot in the tubular body as locking means. U.S. Pat. No. 2,488,962 to D. F. Christoffer describes a device which utilizes a studded rod inside the tubular body to lock the noose in place. These known prior art snares which are generally bulky and heavy, are ineffective for ligaturing purposes in stopping the flow of blood in the limb. The noose cables utilized are flexible but inelastic, and therefore cannot act as a tensioning ligature member.
The known prior art tourniquets of the present type described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,532,299 to A. H. Braecklein, U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,437 to H. Kirchner, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,062 to M. E. Sturm, generally comprise of a body member, at one end of the body is a looped flexible strap, the strap extends out of the other end of the body. Locking mechanisms located inside the body secure the noose in place after being tightened by pulling at the strap extending out of the body. These tourniquets are specifically designed for ligaturing a patient's limb, and are not suitable for restraining an animal, either by its head or its mouth. These known devices lack a substantial elongated handle which is an important requirement in the protection of a user's hand from the animal being restrained. Also the movable locking mechanisms inside the body are generally not strong enough to withstand the violent struggles of most restrained animals.
All these known prior art devices share a common feature. The locking means is comprised of movable parts which are separate and distinct from the noose strap and the body member. The obvious disadvantage of utilizing movable mechanical parts to lock the noose strap is that the parts can malfunction, thereby causing reliability problems. Additionally, the movable parts also add cost and weight to the manufacture. Therefore it is desirable to have a reliable and economical ligaturing and restraining device which requires no movable locking parts, other than the noose strap and the body member.

Surgical ligaturing and animal restraining device


The present invention belongs to the field of biotechnology and relates to the treatment of diseases, especially the treatment of FGF overexpression-related diseases. Particularly, the present invention relates to FGFR-Fc fusion proteins and the use thereof in the treatment of angiogenesis regulation-related diseases. More particularly, the present invention relates to isolated soluble FGFR-Fc fusion proteins and their applications in manufacture of the medicament for the treatment of angiogenesis regulation-related diseases.

Angiogenesis is one of the primary factors resulting in the growth and metastasis of malignant tumors [1]. The process of angiogenesis is regulated by many factors, among which some factors promote angiogenesis, while some factors inhibit angiogenesis, and as a result, the regulation of angiogenesis is a very complicated dynamic process [2]. Anti-angiogenesis treatment is intended to control the growth of a tumor by blocking angiogenic stimulating factors or preventing angiogenesis in the tumor using angiogenesis inhibitors. At present, a large amount of angiogenic stimulating factors are known, such as, for example, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) etc. which may stimulate the division and differentiation of vascular endothelial cells and the morphogenesis of blood vessels. Among these factors mentioned above, it is now known that VEGF is the most angiogenesis-specific and the most effective growth factor [3, 4].
In a hypoxic environment inside tumor tissue, VEGFs are secreted by the tumor cells, which induce the division and migration of vascular endotheliocytes, resulting in the establishment of a tumor vascular network. It has been demonstrated that the inhibition of VEGF may prevent angiogenesis, and further inhibit the growth of tumor. For this reason, VEGF and its receptors are important targets for anti-angiogenesis medicaments.
At present, anti-angiogenesis medicaments demonstrated in clinical trials to have efficacy include Bevacizumab (under the trade name of Avastin), which is able to block VEGF directly and inhibit the tumor angiogenesis. Bevacizumab was approved for marketing by the FDA in 2004, and as a first-line drug for rectal cancer, it is the first marketing-approved drug that plays a role in anticarcinogenesis by inhibiting angiogenesis. Avastin is a humanized anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody, which is produced by Genentech. In a large-scale Phase III clinical trial, the combined therapy by Avastin and chemotherapy may significantly extend the survival time of the patients suffered from many kinds of cancers, including rectal cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer and renal cancer. [5, 6] The clinical success of Avastin is a landmark, demonstrating that the anti-angiogenesis treatment using tumor vascular system as the target is a clinically effective measure and provide a new path for the tumor treatment.
Besides Avastin, several drugs for anti-VEGF signaling are also in the late phase of human clinical trial and are expected for clinical application in the next several years. Among others, Aflibercept (also called as VEGF-Trap), developed by the Regeneron and Sanofi-Aventis, is now in Phase III clinical trial[7]. An anti-VEGF receptor II (VEGFR2) monoclonal antibody drug IMC-1121B (Imclone) is also in Phase III clinical trial[8]. The amino acid sequence of VEGFR2 is provided in SEQ ID NO: 3 and the nucleotide sequence of VEGFR2 mRNA is provided in SEQ ID NO: 6.
Great progress has been achieved in the clinical treatment of tumor using anti-VEGF medicament, however, it has also been shown by the clinical trial that the anti-VEGF treatment are also considerably limited. From the point of the effect of tumor treatment, Avastin may extend the half survival time of the colon cancer patient for about 3-4 months [9, 10], and extend the half survival time of the breast cancer patient for about 7-8 months [11], and thus, Avastin cannot effectively inhibit the growth of tumor blood vessel over the long term.
The primary causes resulting in the failure of anti-VEGF treatment or the appearance of resistance may depend on the regulation of tumor angiogenesis by a plurality of factors. Although VEGF plays an important role in angiogenesis, it is not the only angiogenesis stimulating factor. Meanwhile, owing to the heterogeneity of tumor cells, the complexity of tumor microenvironment and the compensatory response mechanism of body, when the activity of VEGF is inhibited for a long period of time, other angiogenesis stimulating factors would be expressed [12], and thus the growth of tumor blood vessel is no longer dependent on VEGF signaling path.
The variation of angiogenesis factors expressed by the tumor was studied during anti-VEGFR2 treatment for pancreatic tumor by Prof Hanahan's group (University of California, San Francisco, US), indicating that the expression of several genes changed during anti-VEGF treatment, in which the expression of FGF-2 significantly increased. It has been shown that the expression of FGF, especially FGF-2, increased significantly in the tumor resistant to anti-VEGF treatment so that angiogenesis was activated again and the tumor repopulation was inhibited after blocking FGF signal pathway [13]. It may be seen that the over-expression of FGF-2 is closely related to the ability of tumor to escape from anti-VEGF treatment.
Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) is a growth factor family for heparin-binding, and there are 22 family members (FGF 1-14, 16-23) in mammals. FGF plays an important role in many biological functions, for example, cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, angiogenesis and tumorigenesis. Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) is the receptor that binds the family members of fibroblast growth factor. FGF may bind FGFR and activate the downstream signal pathway, which plays an important role in a physiological and pathological process, such as embryogenesis, development, vasculogenesis, vasodilatation, neuroregulation, ischemia protection, wound healing and tumorigenesis. [14, 15] It has been demonstrated that overexpression of FGF/FGFR in vivo is closely related to many diseases including tumors (such as fibroma, neuroglioma, melanoma, prostate carcinoma, lymphomata, leukaemia, urinary, and system cancer), skeletal system diseases (dwarfism, craniosynostosis, achondroplasia, and acanthosis nigricans) and renal failure. It has been reported that increased expression level of FGF and its receptor may directly promote the survival and proliferation of tumor cells, and the survival of hepatic carcinoma cells is significantly reduced by down-regulation of FGF by siRNA [22].
At present, few researches focus on the development of new anti-angiogenesis medicament using FGF and its receptor as the target in clinical trials. For example, FP-1039, a fusion protein composed of whole extracellular domain of human FGFR1 and human IgG1 Fc fragment, is developed by a US company Five Prime and now in volunteer recruitment stage of Phase I clinical trail. However, it has been suggested by researches of Wang and Olsen that the first Ig-like domain of the extracellular domain of human FGFR1 and the linking fragment between the first and the second Ig-like domain of the extracellular domain of human FGFR1 may inhibit binding of FGFR1 and FGF [20, 21].
The tertiary structure of a protein is closely related to its biological function. The FGF binding capacity is directly influenced differences among the conformations of each Ig-like domain of the extracellular domain of FGFR and the linking fragment. Different fusion proteins, composed of the FGFR extracellular domain fragments of various lengths and IgG Fc, are constructed by means of genetic engineering to obtain fusion proteins with different conformations, so that the fusion protein with high efficiency of FGF binding and biological activity can be screened.
There are four FGFR genes in mammals: fgfR1-fgfR4. Fibroblast growth factor receptor is composed of the extracellular domain, transmembrane domain and intracellular domain. There are many members in FGFR family, which have similar extracellular domain but vary in the ligand binding property and kinase domain. Their extracellular domains include three immunoglobulin-like (Ig-like) domains: the first Ig-like domain, the second Ig-like domain and the third Ig-like domain, and there is a sequence between the first and the second Ig-like domain, which is referred as the intermediate functional sequence of the Ig-like domain of FGFR (IFS for short herein) in this specification. The intermediate functional sequence may comprise one acidic amino acid segment, which is referred as acidic box (AB).


A method for scanning a media sheet with a scanning apparatus includes feeding the media sheet through the first set of rollers into a scanning area, such that a first portion of the media sheet is available for scanning. A first partial media sheet image of the first portion is scanned. The media sheet is fed into the second set of rollers, then out of the first set of rollers, such that a second portion of the media sheet is available for scanning. A second partial media sheet image of the second portion of the media sheet is scanned. At least the first partial media sheet image is combined with the second partial media sheet image to generate a full image of the media sheet. In a further embodiment, the number of partial scans may be increased as necessary to provide a complete image of the scanned object, e.g., the media sheet. For example, one or more intermediate scans may be performed in accordance with the present invention in addition to the scans occurring at the ends of media sheet. In another embodiment, multiple image sheets may be sequentially scanned forming a plurality of first and second partial media sheet images that are stitched together to form a panoramic image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to scanning methods, and more particularly to the scanning of small media sheets, such as photos into two or more overlapping portions which are subsequently stitched together.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to take multiple images and combine them to form a composite image. For example, composite pictures may be formed that represent unobstructed and wide views of an extensive area. In order to create the composite image, overlapping features of successive images are mapped and stitched. Thus, stitching is a process where two or more discrete images, that are part of a larger scene, are combined, such that the combination of several discrete images represents one part of the larger image.
One such known method for producing a composite image includes selecting a current image from a plurality of sequentially captured images, wherein the current image has an offset. A central portion is extracted from the current image. The central portion has a first dimension substantially smaller than a first dimension of the current image and a second dimension substantially the same as a second dimension of the current image. The central portion of said current image is transferred onto a storage medium that stores the composite image to a position corresponding to the offset. The offset of the current image is estimated by relating a reference offset, associated with a first reference image, to a relative offset between the current image and the first reference image. The first reference image is selected from the plurality of sequentially captured images.


Rotor blade for a compressor or a gas turbine, in particular for a turbojet engine, including a suction side and a pressure side, which are joined at their upstream ends by a leading edge and at their downstream ends by a trailing edge for the gases, a platform connecting the suction side and the pressure side to a blade root, and a stiffener formed beneath the downstream part of the platform and including at least one notch or a cut-away in line with the trailing edge, in order to reduce the stresses in the joint region between the aerofoil and the platform.

A rotor or stator blade for a compressor or a gas turbine has a convex outer surface or suction side and a concave inner surface or pressure side, which are joined at their upstream ends by a leading edge and at their downstream ends by a trailing edge for the gases. The pressure side and the suction side are attached to a platform, which is provided with a blade root of the dovetail, fir-tree or similar type, intended to be inserted into a corresponding cavity in a rotor disc of the compressor or the gas turbine.
A lateral reinforcing web called a "stiffener" is formed beneath the platform, between an inner surface of the latter and a lateral surface of the blade root, and extends transversely beneath a downstream part of the platform. If necessary, another stiffener is also formed beneath an upstream part of the platform.
These stiffeners serve also as support for a sealing skirt placed between two adjacent blades in order to prevent flow of air from the internal part of the turbine radially towards the pressure and suction sides of the blades and, conversely, to prevent flow of gas or air from the pressure and suction sides of the blades as far as the internal part of the gas turbine. The cool air from the internal part can thus enter air intake orifices provided at the end of the blade roots and supplying a network of ventilation ducts formed on the inside of the blades, in order to cool them.
When the compressor or turbine is in operation, the pressure and suction sides of the blades, which are subjected to centrifugal forces, have a tendency to move radially outwards. The centrifugal forces therefore generate large forces in the joint region between the blade aerofoil and the platform, and create high stresses in this joint region and more particularly in the joint between the blade trailing edge and the platform.
These stresses are liable to weaken the blades and reduce their lifetime.
The object of the invention is in particular to provide a simple, inexpensive and effective solution to this problem.
The subject of the invention is a compressor or gas turbine blade in which the loads applied by the centrifugal forces to the joint region between the aerofoil and the platform of the blade are limited.


In an embodiment, new traffic pattern data is received pertaining to a first time period having a first time increment. The traffic pattern data may be received as, or converted to, count information reflecting the probabilities that the user will select particular links services. An incremental table is accessed to determine stale traffic pattern count data, which is the traffic pattern count data in the incremental table over a second time period having the first time increment, wherein the second time period covers the oldest traffic pattern count data in the incremental table. Then a count table is updated to reflect removal of the stale traffic pattern count data, wherein the count table contains global count data at a higher level of granularity than the incremental table. The incremental table and count table are updated to reflect addition of the new traffic pattern data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to Internet traffic patterns. More particularly, the present invention relates to context-sensitive, self-adjusting models for targeting users based on traffic patterns.
2. Description of the Related Art
During typical Internet use, web users often utilize search engines or directories in order to find content relevant to what they would like to see. These search engines or directories often make money by placing advertising on the result pages of the users' searches, or otherwise profiting from the users' activity within the web pages operated by the search engine or directory. Hence, search engines and directories have a strong desire to steer users towards continuing to view web pages they operate even once the initial search has been completed.

Context-sensitive, self-adjusting targeting models


A tool for measuring force associated with engaging an anchorage of a child restraint anchorage system of a motor vehicle. The tool includes a force measuring device, an engagement arm having a slot, and a guide mechanism. The engagement arm transmits force to the measuring device when the anchorage is seated within the slot.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tool and a method for measuring force, and more particularly to a tool for measuring force associated with engaging an anchorage of a child restraint anchorage system of a motor vehicle.
2. Background Art
Motor vehicles may include a child restraint anchorage system. A child restraint anchorage system uses a plurality of anchorages to transfer loads from a child safety seat to the vehicle structure. Such anchorages may be located where they are partially concealed by or recessed from the exterior surfaces of a vehicle seat. As a result, a portion of the vehicle seat is deformed or compressed when a child safety seat engages an anchorage. Such deformation or compression increases the installation force required to couple the child safety seat to the anchorage.
Previously, there was no reliable method or apparatus for assessing child safety seat installation forces. As a result, manufacturers modified seats to avoid installation effort issues. More specifically, material was removed around anchorages to reduce interference or low density foam was installed proximate an anchorage to reduce resistive forces encountered when installing a child safety seat. Such modifications increase labor, tooling requirements, and associated costs.
Before applicant's invention, there was a need for a tool and a method for reliably measuring the force or installation effort associated with installing a child safety seat. In addition, there was a need for a tool that could accommodate a variety of anchorage designs, positions, and orientations. In addition, there was a need for a tool that could quickly and efficiently measure installation forces during vehicle development or vehicle assembly. Furthermore, there was a need for an easy to use, ergonomically designed tool that reduces training time and associated costs. Problems associated with the prior art as noted above and other problems are addressed by applicant's invention as summarized below.

Tool and method for measuring force associated with engaging a child restraint anchorage


A printing machine plate cylinder having a plate tensioning slide rail adjustably mounted within a hollow of the cylinder. The slide rail is supported by a plurality of roller ring modules which stably support the slide rail and permit easy and exact movement of the slide rail in any direction in the adjusting plane.

Plate cylinders are known which have at least one adjustable slide rail disposed in a hollow or recess of the plate cylinder for tensioning a plate mounted on the cylinder. German patent 3,843,395 discloses a so-called flat pass guide for the adjustment of the slide rail in which a flat bottomed surface of a slide rail can be moved on the flat top of a guide. Such known flat pass guides cannot be controlled well, particularly when subjected to forces. For example, a tilting of the slide rail can occur when large forces act upon it. Such slide rails also often cannot be adjusted in all directions in the plane of adjustment, which runs parallel to the tangential plane of the plate cylinder, but instead are adjustable only in a circumferential direction. In other known devices of such type, adjustment in the circumferential direction makes further adjustment in an axial direction necessary, since the adjustments in the two mutually perpendicular directions cannot be completed independently of each other.

Plate cylinder holder with slide rail circular bearing assembly


A method includes capturing a photon emission microscope (PEM) image of an integrated circuit (IC), and identifying emission sites in the PEM image, where the emission sites are associated with a leakage current. A set of common nets is found that connects multiple emission sites using layout data and/or netlist data in computer-aided design (CAD) data. From the layout data and/or netlist data, a critical net is identified from the set of common nets connecting a threshold number of emission sites. The critical net is cross-mapped, by a processor, tip netlist data in the CAD data. A particular device is identified from the netlist data that has an output pin connected to the critical net. The particular device identified from the netlist data is cross-mapped, by a processor, to the layout data, wherein the critical net connects at least two devices at the identified emission sites including the particular device.

As technology nodes are shrinking, there is an increased and critical need for improved approaches for analyzing integrated circuit (IC) failures. The technology node refers to a specific semiconductor manufacturing process and its design rules. Different technology nodes often imply different circuit generations and architectures. Generally, the smaller the technology node, the smaller the feature size, requiring smaller transistors which are both faster and more power-efficient. For example, 7 nanometer (nm) lithography process is a technology node semiconductor manufacturing process following the 10 nm process node. Failure analysis approaches need to have surgical-like accuracy due to the smaller feature size of transistors within the ICs. For example, failure analysis can be done using Emission Microscope Images (EMMI) that are generated by a Photon Emission Microscope (PEM) for detecting leakage current resulting from device defects, e.g., gate oxide defects/leakage, latch-up, electric static discharge (ESD) failure, junction leakage, etc.
Specifically, EMMI (also referred to as emission microscopy) is an optical analysis technique used to detect and localize certain IC failures. Emission microscopy is non-invasive and can be performed from either the front or back of devices. Many device defects induce faint light emission in the visible and near infrared (IR) spectrum. This emitted light is captured as emission spots/hotspots on the image of the IC captured using EMMI. EMMI is conducted using a photon emission microscope to obtain the image. Typically, the image will have a series of photon emission spots initiated by one or more physical defects. However, by just looking at emissions, it is not possible to distinguish between the emission caused by the device defects and secondary emissions caused by an actual transistor failure on the IC.
In recent IC designs, there can be more than 7-8 transmission gates in between the two photon emission spots which connect them. With a resolution of about 0.5 micro-meter (μm) in a photon emission microscope (PEM) system and transistor dimensions less than 1 μm, it is not possible to link a photon emission spot to exactly one transistor. It is desired, for any fault isolation method, to correlate these emission spots via common nets connecting these emission spots.

Correlation between emission spots utilizing CAD data in combination with emission microscope images


A configurable power supply system is disclosed. The configurable power supply system comprises a power source for providing input power, a switch, coupled to the power source, for enabling a bypass path for outputting the input power to an output node as an output power when turned on; a rechargeable battery module for storing the input power for outputting a battery power; a charging unit, coupled between the power source and the rechargeable battery module, for charging the rechargeable battery module with the input power; a converting unit, coupled to the rechargeable battery module, for converting the battery power to generate the output power; and a control unit, coupled to the switch, the charging unit, and the converting unit, for controlling functions of the switch, the charging unit, and the converting unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power supply system, and more particularly, to a configurable power supply system capable of providing power configuration between a rechargeable battery module and a bypass path, and flexibility between battery power charging mode and bypass power charging mode.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A power management system is widely utilized in most of electronic devices. With the improvement of semiconductor processes, the size of integrated circuit (IC) becomes smaller, and most devices require low power consumption. Therefore, a high efficiency power supply system becomes a basic requirement.
On the other hand, a rechargeable battery device is widely utilized in a portable device, such as a mobile phone, a platform, a laptop, etc. When portable devices become popularized, the quality and power efficiency of a rechargeable battery power supply system are more and more important. To charge a rechargeable battery, a charger converts input voltage provided by a power source to a voltage compatible with the rechargeable battery and output the voltage to the rechargeable battery, so as to store electricity in the rechargeable battery. When a portable device is equipped with the rechargeable battery and turned on, a regulator converts and outputs electricity stored in the rechargeable battery to the portable device. In such a condition, the regulator may be a boost converter for boosting the voltage of the battery power to provide power with a higher voltage to the portable device. For example, please refer to FIG. 1, which illustrates a conventional battery power supply system 10. In the battery power supply system 10, a power source provides input power Vin with voltage 5V to a charger 104, and the charger 104 converts the input voltage from 5V to 3.7V in conformation with a rechargeable battery 102. Then, the rechargeable battery 102 provides power with voltage 3.7V, and a boost converter 106 converts the voltage from 3.7V to 5V to provide output power Vout.
However, there may be power loss during the power conversion. For example, in the battery power supply system 10, the charger 104 converts the 5V input power to the 3.7V battery power, which causes power loss and reduces power efficiency. In addition, the boost converter 106 converts the 3.7V battery power to the 5V output power, which also causes power loss and reduces power efficiency. The power efficiency reduction will cause some drawbacks such as rising temperature, reduced battery life, increasing charging time. Thus, there is a need for improvement of the prior art.


A composite cementitious feedstock comprises discrete elements. Each discrete element includes mineral rock agglutinates having irregular surface regions and cavities. Super absorbent polymer (SAP) particles and cement particles are disposed on the irregular surface regions and in the cavities. A binder coheres the agglutinates, SAP particles, and cement particles.

Concrete materials used in construction applications typically include mineral-based cement mixed with rock aggregate and sand. For example, the well-known and widely-used Portland cement is produced by firing a mixture of finely ground clay and limestone. The rock aggregates and sand that are added to the cement to make concrete can be pre-mixed with the cement in a granular material form and packaged, or can be added separately as an ingredient when mixing the cement powder with water in order to create a concrete slurry. This resulting concrete slurry can then be transferred into a mold, formwork or directly applied by hand, or in a "spray on" type of operation. The addition of water initiates a hydration process that causes an exothermic chemical reaction that ultimately results in the curing and hardening of the concrete material into a synthetic rock.
When cement is mixed with a fine aggregate such as sand, then it is called a mortar. When fine sand or other fine rock material is mixed with cement and used to fill gaps between tiles or in industrial applications such as oil wells, then it is called a grout. When cement is mixed with fine and coarse aggregates, then it is called a concrete, which typically has a higher strength and lower cost than mortar or grout, due to less cement used and the high strength of the included rock aggregates. A variety of other cements have been developed, such as calcium aluminate cements, pozzolanic cements, lime concrete/mortar and expansive cements, but the quantities of these other cements used worldwide are small compared with composite cements based on Portland cement. Composite cements (also known as blended cements) contain Portland cement and other reactive inorganic material that contribute significantly to the hydration process. The most common examples of such mineral additives are fly ash, microsilica, metakaolin, volcanic glass, blast furnace slag, and limestone. The additives can significantly improve concrete performance in terms of improved strength or durability. In addition, admixtures such as super plasticizers, accelerators, water reducers/retarders, and other process performance related advantageous materials can be used. Reinforcement materials such as chopped glass fibers, carbon fibers, KEVLAR fibers, polymer strands, or steel reinforcing bar can also, or alternatively, be added to improve material strength.
Currently, existing concrete automated additive construction systems (also known as three-dimensional (3D) printing systems) are fed with a wet Portland cement concrete slurry that is pre-mixed and then pumped through a hose to a print head nozzle where it is extruded to form additive layers successively that results in a monolithic structure after the concrete cures. The concrete slurry must be mixed and maintained at the correct viscosity in order to prevent slumping or crumbling at the print head application location. The exothermic concrete slurry mixture can suffer from thermal runaway issues making it hard to control the concrete application and curing properties. Cleanup of the mixing system, pump, hoses and extrusion print head is difficult and time consuming since it must be manually flushed out with water before the concrete slurry cures and hardens to clog the pumping system, hoses and print head. The existing concrete 3D printing systems cannot be turned on and off as needed without extensive hose and print head cleaning operations. Complex procedures are required to control the material mix, rheology, and consistency. If the mix is not correct, then an entire large scale structure could be compromised due to insufficient structural strength, cracking, slumping or creep caused by poorly mixed and/or poorly applied concrete slurry.

Composite cementitious discrete-element feedstock


Systems and techniques for mapping of a transactional data model to a reporting data model are described. In one aspect, an article includes one or more machine-readable media storing instructions operable to cause one or more machines to perform operations. The operations include receiving a transactional data model and a view that includes a collection of view fields, each view field referencing an object in the transactional data model, mapping one or more of a plurality of view fields in the collection to one or more of a plurality of data warehouse objects, and grouping the mapped data warehouse objects into a reporting data model.

This disclosure relates to mapping of a transactional data model to a reporting data model.
The storage of information by a machine can be tailored for operational efficiency and effectiveness in different contexts. Such tailoring is often achieved by using different data models in the different contexts. A data model is the logical and physical structure of a data store, and can include the physical storage parameters needed to implement a design.
Contexts for which data models can be tailored include data analysis, data modification, and/or size minimization. For example, transactional data models are generally tailored to facilitate modification of the stored data. In this regard, transactional data models generally ensure that modifications can be made quickly by using relatively small data storage structures that can be modified independently of other transactional data structures. A relatively small data storage structure is one that is comparable in size to the largest common change transaction. A change transaction is a transaction in which the stored data content is added, deleted, or otherwise changed. A transactional data model can thus include individual data objects that are comparable in size to common changes to content. For example, a transactional data model can include individual data objects that correspond to individual sales orders in a business, individual customers, and/or individual products.
As another example, reporting data models are generally tailored to facilitate analysis and/or reporting of stored data. In this regard, reporting data models generally ensure that large amounts of stored data can be accessed quickly and easily by using relatively large data storage structures. Also, reporting data models can be structured so that portions of the data model only include numeric data. Any exhaustive or near-exhaustive searching can thus be performed rapidly on this numeric data. A reporting data model can be several hundred or more times the size of common change transactions. For example, a reporting data model can be a relational database such as a common warehouse metamodel (CWM) star schema that includes objects which store data regarding several thousand, million, or billion sales orders, customers, and/or products.
The mapping of data models facilitates the rearrangement of information that has been stored in different data models. Mapping can include establishing a protocol or a set of directions for rearranging stored information and/or the actual process of rearranging stored information from one data model to another.

Mapping of a transactional data model to a reporting data model


A computer system including a computer main body provided with a hard disk drive (HDD) to retrieve/store data and an HDD driver to drive the hard disk drive to rotate at a predetermined rotational speed, further including a lower noise mode selection part allowing a user to select one between a normal mode and a lower noise mode; and a controller to control the HDD driver to drive the hard disk drive to rotate at a maximum speed when the normal mode is selected and at a minimum speed when the lower noise mode is selected. With this configuration, the present invention provides a computer system and a control method thereof, in which a hard disk drive can be set to a lower noise mode by a user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a computer system and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a computer system and a control method thereof, in which a hard disk drive can be set to a lower noise mode by a user.
2. Description of the Related Art
While a computer system operates, noise is mainly generated by a cooling fan cooling hardware components placed inside a computer main body, a hard disk drive (HDD) used as a data storage and reading/writing data, a CD-ROM (compact disc read only memory) drive reading data from a CD, a speaker, etc.
Therefore, various methods have been proposed for decreasing the noise due to the hard disk drive, the CD-ROM, the cooling fan, etc.
In particular, to decrease the noise of the hard disk drive placed inside or outside of the computer main body, a user interface window is employed as shown in FIG. 1, which display s the method of managing power of the hard disk drive. Here, the user interface window of FIG. 1 is taken from Windows XP among affiliated Windows operating systems (OS).
A conventional process for decreasing the noise of the hard disk drive is as follows. First, a user opens a "Control Panel" window in the Windows XP (or affiliated Windows operating system) to set the hard disk drive to be automatically turned off when a predetermined time passes after the hard disk drive is not used. In the "Control Panel" window, a user clicks on a "Power Options" icon, thereby opening "Power Options Properties" window. In the "Power Options Properties" window, a user selects a "Power Schemes" tab, and selects a "Settings for Always On" power scheme option, so that the user interface window of FIG. 1 is displayed.
Then, a user sets a "Turn off hard disks" option to a desired time (in FIG. 1, "After 3 mins" is set by way of example), and clicks an "Apply" or "OK" button. At this time, data regarding a hard disk turn-off time, which is set in the "Turn off hard disks" option, is stored in a registry so that the above setting is implemented when the "Apply" or "OK" button is clicked or after the computer system is rebooted.
However, in such a conventional method for decreasing the noise of the hard disk drive by turning off its power, the noise decrement is only an accompanying effect of managing the power of the hard disk drive. Furthermore, the setting process is inconvenient for a user to set due to its complexity.
The hard disk drive has a rotational speed measured in revolutions per minute (RPM), which is a measure of how fast a hard disk drive retrieves data therefrom and stores data thereto. The higher the RPM, the faster the hard disk drive retrieves and stores the data. Traditionally, hard disk drives have had a rotational speed of 3,600 RPM. However, 4,500 RPM, 5,400 RPM, 7,200 RPM, and 10,000 or more RPM are now available.
The RPM of the hard disk drive is set when the hard disk drive is manufactured; therefore, a user cannot adjust the RPM. Furthermore, during normal operation of the computer system, the hard disk drive continuously rotates at its invariable RPM regardless of whether the hard disk drive is used or not, so that the noise is generated even when the hard disk drive is not used.

Computer system and method to control noise of a hard disk drive


A multiplex TV signal processing apparatus in a television signal transmitting and receiving system includes an apparatus at the transmitting side which has a first amplitude-modulator for modulating a first carrier by a main signal to obtain a vestigial side-band amplitude-modulated main signal; a second amplitude-modulator for modulating a second carrier but whose frequency is the same as which phase is 90 degree different from the first carrier by a sub signal to obtain a carrier suppressed amplitude-modulated signal; a first inserter for inserting a first ghost canceling reference signal into a horizontal line of the main signal during a vertical blanking period; a second inserter for inserting a second ghost canceling reference signal into the same horizontal line of the sub signal as the first ghost canceling reference signal; and includes an apparatus at the receiving side which has: a first demodulator for demodulating the main signal; a second demodulator for demodulating the sub signal; a ghost canceler for canceling a ghost of the sub signal using the second ghost canceling reference signal; and a crosstalk canceler for canceling the crosstalk of the sub signal from the main signal using the first ghost canceling reference signal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus for transmitting and receiving an amplitude modulated television signal in which a main ghost cancel reference signal is inserted and a specific signal in which a sub ghost canceling reference signal is inserted and which is multiplexed with the television signal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
More than 30 years have passed since the color television broadcasting of the current NTSC (National Television System Committee) system began in 1960. Recently, in search of a finer definition and higher performance television system, several new systems including the High Definition TV systems have been proposed. At the same time, the contents of the programs presented to viewers have been changed from the mere studio programs to programs providing higher quality images and more realistic feeling such as cinema-size movies.
The current NTSC broadcasting is standardized by 2:1 interlaced 525 scanning lines, luminance signal bandwidth of 4:2 MHz, and aspect ratio of 4:3. (See, for example, Pritchard, "US Color Television Fundamentals-A Review", IEEE Trans. Consumer Electron., vol. CE-23, pp. 467-478, November 1977.)
In this background, several television signal composition methods aiming at compatibility with the current broadcasting system, enhancement of horizontal resolution and extension of the aspect ratio have been proposed. One of such methods is presented in a paper by Yasumoto et al., "An extended definition television system using quadrature modulation of the video carrier with inverse Nyquist filter", IEEE Trans. Consumer Electron., vol. CE-33, pp. 173-180, August 1987. This paper describes a signal superposing method using quadrature modulation of the video carrier. By this method, various signals can be transmitted using a newly established quadrature channel with a very small interference to the conventional NTSC receiver in principle.
One of the big problems with the terrestrial broadcasting is multipath distortion of propagation waves. This problem has attracted much attention of TV viewers recently, because many tall buildings are built and reflect waves in the urban areas. When the quadrature channel is created using the above mentioned method, multipath distortion causes crosstalk between the main NTSC channel and multiplex signal.
In order to solve the multipath distortion, a Ghost Canceling Reference signal may be inserted during one of the vertical blanking lines of the main NTSC signal, as described in a paper by Miyazawa et al, "Development of a Ghost Cancel Reference signal for TV Broadcasting", IEEE Trans. on Broadcasting, Vol. 35, No. 4, December 1989, pp. 339-347. According to this paper, as shown in FIGS. 5 (a), (b) and FIG. 6, a sinx/x rising bar signal and a pedestal signal are inserted in the 18th and 281st horizontal lines by the 8-field sequence method. In FIG. 6, 17th line and 18th line are shown to clarify the advantage of the 8-field sequence GCR signal. In order to obtain the GCR signal from continuous 8 fields at the reception side, one can follow the equation: EQU GCR=1/4[(F0-F4)+(F5-F1)+(F2-F6)+(F7-F3)] (1)
where FX (X=0,1,2, . . . ,7) denotes Xth field signal.
If the image signal includes no motion in the 17th line (although normally there is no image signal in this line), this calculation cancels video signal, horizontal synchronous signal, and color sub-carrier, leading to get a pure GCR signal transmitted with a multipath distortion if any.
Quadrature modulation of the video carrier is one of the excellent techniques to keep the compatibility with the conventional TV broadcast. However, there arises crosstalk between two channels caused by a channel distortion and imperfectness of demodulation at the reception side. There is actually multipath distortion, or ghosts. In order to reduce multipath distortion with quadrature modulation, it is already proposed to insert Ghost Canceling Reference (GCR) signals into both of the NTSC and multiplex signals. For example, see a paper by Kageyama et al, "An NTSC Compatible Wide Screen Television System with Evolutionary Extendibility", IEEE Trans. on Consumer Electronics, Vol. CE-34, No. 3, August, 1988. According to this paper, as shown in FIG. 11, sinx/x GCR signals are inserted into horizontal lines during the vertical blanking period. In this case two horizontal lines are required for transmitting the GCR signals, one line for transmitting the main GCR signal and no signal for the multiplex channel, and the other for transmitting the multiplex GCR signal and black burst for the main channel. A disadvantage of this method is that this consumes two horizontal lines in each vertical blanking period.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a 2-dimensional waveform equalizer suitable for equalizing the main NTSC signal and multiplex signal. This equalizer, consisting of four sets of series of multipliers, two sets of series of adders, and two series of delay lines, accepts and equalizes both the main NTSC signal and multiplex signal. Both signals generate tap weights, referring to themselves and counterpart, and compensate for ghosts caused by themselves and crosstalk from counterparts. All tap coefficients are provided by a control unit (not shown) after calculations referred to the GCR signals.

Multiplex TV signal processing apparatus

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An image forming apparatus includes a power source and a controller. A time-averaged value (Vave) of a voltage output from the power source has a polarity in a transfer direction, and an absolute value of Vave is greater than a midpoint value (Voff) of the voltage intermediate between a maximum value and a minimum value of the voltage. With an increase in a difference (Vpp) between the maximum value and the minimum value of the voltage, the controller controls the power source to increase a duty ratio (Duty) expressed by A/(A+B), where A is an application time in one cycle at a return direction side opposite a transfer direction side relative to Voff and B is an application time at the transfer direction side relative to Voff, and with a decrease in (Vpp), the controller controls the power source to reduce Duty.

1. Technical Field
Exemplary aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to an image forming apparatus in which a toner image on an image bearer is transferred onto a recording medium in a transfer nip defined by the image bearing member and a transfer device.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is known an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method in which a transfer bias is applied to a transfer nip formed opposite to an image bearer to transfer a toner image on a surface of an image bearer onto a recording medium. In such a configuration, when using a recording medium having a coarse surface such as Japanese paper (also known as Washi), a pattern of light and dark according to the surface condition of the recording medium appears in an output image. Toner does not transfer well to such embossed surfaces, in particular, recessed portions of the surface. As a result, the image density at the recessed portions is lower than the image density at projecting portions. This inadequate transfer of the toner appears as the pattern of light and dark patches in the resulting output image.


The invention relates to the polymorph A of flibanserin, to a technical process for the preparation thereof, as well as to the use thereof for preparing medicaments.

The compound 1-[2-(4-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)piperazin-1-yl)ethyl]-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzimidazol-2-one (flibanserin) is disclosed in form of its hydrochloride in European Patent Application EP-A-526434 and has the following chemical structure:

Flibanserin shows affinity for the 5-HT1A and 5-HT2-receptor. It is therefore a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of a variety of diseases, for instance depression, schizophrenia, Parkinson, anxiety, sleep disturbances, sexual and mental disorders and age associated memory impairment.
A certain pharmaceutical activity is of course the basic prerequisite to be fulfilled by a pharmaceutically active agent before same is approved as a medicament on the market. However, there are a variety of additional requirements a pharmaceutically active agent has to comply with. These requirements are based on various parameters which are connected with the nature of the active substance itself. Without being restrictive, examples of these parameters are the stability of the active agent under various environmental conditions, its stability during production of the pharmaceutical formulation and the stability of the active agent in the final medicament compositions. The pharmaceutically active substance used for preparing the pharmaceutical compositions should be as pure as possible and its stability in long-term storage must be guaranteed under various environmental conditions. This is absolutely essential to prevent the use of pharmaceutical compositions which contain, in addition to the actual active substance, breakdown products thereof, for example. In such cases the content of active substance in the medicament might be less than that specified.
Uniform distribution of the medicament in the formulation is a critical factor, particularly when the medicament has to be given in low doses. To ensure uniform distribution, the particle size of the active substance can be reduced to a suitable level, e.g. by grinding. Since breakdown of the pharmaceutically active substance as a side effect of the grinding (or micronising) has to be avoided as far as possible, in spite of the hard conditions required during the process, it is absolutely essential that the active substance should be highly stable throughout the grinding process. Only if the active substance is sufficiently stable during the grinding process is it possible to produce a homogeneous pharmaceutical formulation which always contains the specified amount of active substance in reproducible manner.
Another problem which may arise in the grinding process for preparing the desired pharmaceutical formulation is the input of energy caused by this process and the stress on the surface of the crystals. This may in certain circumstances lead to polymorphous changes, to a change in the amorphous configuration or to a change in the crystal lattice. Since the pharmaceutical quality of a pharmaceutical formulation requires that the active substance should always have the same crystalline morphology, the stability and properties of the crystalline active substance are subject to stringent requirements from this point of view as well.
The stability of a pharmaceutically active substance is also important in pharmaceutical compositions for determining the shelf life of the particular medicament; the shelf life is the length of time during which the medicament can be administered without any risk. High stability of a medicament in the abovementioned pharmaceutical compositions under various storage conditions is therefore an additional advantage for both the patient and the manufacturer.
Apart from the requirements indicated above, it should be generally borne in mind that any change to the solid state of a pharmaceutical composition which is capable of improving its physical and chemical stability gives a significant advantage over less stable forms of the same medicament.
The aim of the invention is thus to provide a new, stable crystalline form of the compound flibanserin which meets the stringent requirements imposed on pharmaceutically active substances as mentioned above.


A method of creating and using a hardware independent communication interface block for block diagram environments is disclosed. The communication interface block includes user-selectable parameters controlling how a system being modeled by a block diagram communicates with image and data acquisition devices and control instruments or other electronic device interfaced with an external system. Based on the user selected parameters, the communication interface block calls an appropriate constructor to create an instrument object or acquisition device object which is used to enable communication with the control instrument or acquisition device respectively. The instrument object/acquisition device object calls a software driver appropriate for the hardware interface of the control instrument/acquisition device. The use of a common interface block provides scalability and ease of use to the block diagram environment when interacting with control instruments and acquisition devices.

In conventional instrumentation systems, a computer or other electronic device equipped with a processor communicates with control instruments such as oscilloscopes and function generators that can obtain data about dynamic real world systems under test. Users can model, simulate, or analyze data by establishing communication with the control instruments. Similarly, data acquisition devices such as multi-function input/output boards, dedicated digital i/o boards, sound cards and devices collecting data from network data sources and image acquisition devices such as an image capture boards, scanners and cameras collect data which may be utilized by electronic devices supporting block diagram environments. Users connect the computer or electronic device to the control instruments, data acquisition device or image acquisition device through various interface options depending upon the hardware interface implemented by the particular control instrument or acquisition device. Interface options include, but are not limited to, serial, general purpose interface bus (GPIB), virtual machine environment extended for instrumentation (VXI), VXI-GPIB, IEEE 1394, PCI, ISA and USB (Universal Serial Bus). The electronic device or computer system usually executes a software driver having a distinct API (Application Program Interface) appropriate for the hardware interface of the particular control instrument or acquisition device (the term "acquisition device" as used herein encompasses both image acquisition devices and data acquisition devices). The software driver includes a library of executable functions that a computer program may call to establish communication with the control instrument or acquisition device and control the parameters of communication.
Unfortunately the software drivers utilized in conventional instrumentation systems and for communication with data acquisition and image acquisition devices are unique for the protocol necessary to communicate with the hardware interface of the control instrument or acquisition device. For example, a control instrument with a serial interface cannot be accessed using a software driver appropriate for a GPIB interface. This requirement for customized drivers presents a problem when the control instruments or acquisition devices are combined with a block diagram environment. It is frequently necessary to send simulation data from a block diagram being executed in the block diagram environment to a control instrument or acquisition device. Similarly, it is also frequently necessary to receive data from the control instrument monitoring an external system or acquisition device for use in a simulation being run in a block diagram environment. In order to interact with a control instrument or acquisition device, a proper software driver must be utilized by the computer system or electronic device for communication. Conventional methods of representing the appropriate interface to the control instrument or acquisition device in a block diagram involve the use of customized blocks with a particular driver designated (e.g. a serial interface block, a GPIB interface block, etc.). Any change in the hardware interface required to contact the control instrument or acquisition device, such as the need to access a different control instrument monitoring the external system, requires the redesign of the block diagram, specifically the replacement of the interface block for the interface hardware and the use of a different driver. If the block diagram is being used to generate executable code, the change in interface block requires a regeneration of the code following the substitution of the new interface block. Both of these changes hinder the scalability and ease of use block diagrams in communicating with control instruments and acquisition devices.

Communication system for use with a block diagram environment


An art designer blade device has a first hollow casing, a second hollow casing coupling with the first hollow casing, and an end cover covering the first hollow casing and the second hollow casing, a lower seat disposed between the first hollow casing and the second hollow casing, a blade holder disposed in the art designer blade device, and the blade holder holding a blade.

The present invention relates to an art designer blade device. More particularly, the present invention relates to an art designer blade device which facilitates the replacement of a blade.
A conventional art designer blade device has a blade, a push button, an elastic plate, and a blade holder. The elastic plate is disposed in the blade holder. The blade holder has a plurality of serrations engaging with the elastic plate. Therefore, the user can push the push button forward. However, it is difficult to replace the blade. The blade will be extended step by step to make noise.