The invention relates to an arrangement for threading a pulp web (W) from the press section (1) of a pulp machine to the dryer (2) of the pulp machine. The arrangement comprises a closing tail threading belt (3) or the like, which is arranged to convey the narrow tail end (Wh) formed on the pulp web (W) inside the dryer (2), where the tail threading cord travels outside the edge of the normal web line of the pulp web. The tail end (Wh) can subsequently be broadened into a normal-width pulp web (W). The arrangement further comprises means (7) for gripping the tail end (Wh) in order to bring the tail end inside/between a closing tail threading cord (3) or the like, whereby the gripping means (7) are arranged to function at the normal running speed of the pulp machine. The arrangement comprises means (4) by which the tail threading cord (3) can be moved inwards from its normal route, towards the pulp web, to travel essentially in the same line with the tail end formed on the edge of the pulp web before the tail end is conveyed inside the tail threading cord, and means (5) by which the tail threading cord (3) and the tail end (Wh) inside it can be moved back to the normal route located outside the edge of the pulp web before entering the dryer (2).

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an arrangement for threading a pulp web from the press section of a pulp machine to the dryer of the pulp machine, the arrangement comprising a closing tail threading belt or the like, which is arranged to convey the narrow tail end formed on the pulp web inside the dryer, where the tail threading cord travels outside the edge of the normal web line of the pulp web, which tail end can subsequently be broadened into a normal-width pulp web, the arrangement further comprising means for gripping the tail end in order to bring the tail end inside/between a closing tail threading cord or the like, whereby the gripping means are arranged to function at the normal running speed of the pulp machine.
The invention also relates to a method for threading a pulp web from the press section of a pulp machine to the dryer of the pulp machine, the dryer being provided with a closing tail threading cord or the like, the said tail threading cord conveying the narrow tail end formed earlier on the pulp web inside the dryer, the said tail end being subsequently broadened into a normal-width pulp web, in which method the tail end is conveyed at essentially the normal running speed of the pulp machine between the tail threading cord using means to convey the tail end a desired distance inside/between the closing tail threading cord or the like.
2) Description of Related Art
In a typical pulp machine, from the headbox of the pulp machine is fed pulp onto the wire section, which pulp is dewatered in such a way that the dry matter content of the pulp web is approximately 20%, and after the wire section the pulp web is conveyed through the press section, where the dry matter content is increased to a value of approximately 50%. After the press section, the pulp web is typically dried in an air dryer, in which the pulp web travels through layers that are on top of each other from the top part of the dryer to its bottom part alternately from the forward end to the tail of one layer and from the tail of the next layer to its forward end, etc. The drying layers are formed by means of rows of blow boxes, whereby in each layer, the air nozzles in the blow boxes are directed, for example, towards each other and the pulp web travels on a route between the said air nozzles facing each other. The length of the route travelled by the pulp web in the air dryer is typically within the range from about 500 to 1000 m, depending on the length of the dryer, which is typically about 20 to 50 m, and on the number of layers, which may be, for example, 10 to 30. Typically, the pulp web travels as an open draw from the press section to the dryer section. To facilitate the feeding of the pulp web from the press section to the dryer, a narrow tail end cut on the edge of the pulp web before the press section is used, which is conveyed inside the dryer by means of the closing tail threading cord running adjacent to the drying route, and typically through the entire dryer, before the tail end is broadened to its full web width.
Once the pulp web has been broadened to the normal web width, the use of the tail threading cord is discontinued and the pulp web will travel drawn by the drawing rolls in the dryer as an open draw from the press nip N to the top part of the dryer. The lifting height of the open draw of the pulp web is typically of the order of about 5 m. In a prior art arrangement, the threading of the tail end typically takes place manually, which can be carried out at the normal running speed of the pulp machine only in relatively slow pulp machines having a running speed of, for example, below about 150 m/min. In current pulp machines, where the running speed may exceed about 250 m/min, to be able to convey the tail end manually inside the tail threading cord during the tail bringing stage, the speed of the pulp machine must be kept substantially lower than the normal running speed. Furthermore, this type of manual bringing requires considerable professional skill and includes a risk of injury should one's hand for some reason be left inside the closing tail threading cord. The functioning of a closing tail threading cord is previously known, and one solution for opening and closing a closing tail threading cord inside the tail end to enable feeding is disclosed in FI-patent no. 55882. In connection with the present application, the term "closing tail threading cord or the like" includes, for example, in addition to the closing tail threading cord disclosed in the FI-patent 55882, also tail threading arrangements known as such comprised of endless rope-, chain-, or band-like means, in which the tail threading cord is pressed between two or more rope-, chain-, or band-like means.
The aim of the invention is, therefore, to provide as fully automated a method as possible for threading a pulp web from the press section to the dryer. One solution for conveying the tail end mechanically inside the tail threading cord is disclosed in a previous application FI 981449 by the Applicant of the present application, where, however, one significant problem was considerable lateral shift of the order of 400 mm. The wet end of the pulp web does not withstand lateral "twisting", but will tear easily, whereas it withstands straight pulling by its own weight over several metres. To solve this problem, the arrangement according to the invention for threading a pulp web from the press section to the dryer is characterised in that the arrangement comprises means by which the tail threading cord can be moved inwards from its normal route, towards the pulp web, to travel essentially in the same line with the tail end formed on the edge of the pulp web before the tail end is conveyed inside the tail threading cord, and means by which the tail threading cord and the tail end inside it can be moved back to the normal route located outside the edge of the pulp web before entering the dryer.

Arrangement for threading of web in a pulp machine


A method of cleaning bedding sand soiled with animal manure removes the bedding sand from an animal bedding area. An aqueous slurry of the bedding sand is made. The slurry is subjected to cyclonic action so as to separate the sand from the manure. The separated sand is then respread back into the animal bedding area for reuse. The clean bedding sand is free of organic contaminants such as manure, urine and milk. In addition, the bedding sand may contain inorganic contaminants such as clay and silt particles as well as fine particles which are undesirable in a bedding material. Processing the sand removes these inorganic contaminants and fine particles to produce a superior bedding sand for animals.

Dairies and feedlots house cattle in barns. The barns contain stalls for the cattle. The cattle are directed from their stalls to the feeding areas. In a dairy barn, milking cows are directed into a milking parlor.
The trend in cattle operations has been to increase the density of animals per acre of land. This increases the yield on fixed assets. Thus, today cattle operations have high cattle densities. With high densities, the problem of manure disposal arises. Cattle operations with low cattle densities simply allow the manure to naturally degrade. Cattle operations with high cattle densities do not have this luxury and must remove the manure from the cattle areas.
The stalls in cattle barns use bedding material to soften the ground and make the cattle more comfortable. In addition, the bedding material absorbs and mixes with the cattle waste. To clean the stall, the soiled bedding material is removed and replaced with clean bedding material.
Hay has traditionally been used as bedding material. Some other bedding materials include sawdust and mats. However, problems arise with these bedding materials in that they house pathogens which can lead to illness or infections in cows.
Sand is replacing hay and other bedding materials in many barns. Sand is comfortable for the cattle to bed in. Sand is cool in the summer and, when of the proper particle size, is less abrasive on the cows. Sand also drains well. Consequently, sand is drier and resists bacteria growth. Thus, sand is cleaner than traditional bedding material.
Dairy cattle in particular require sanitary bedding in order to minimize the occurrences of mastitis. Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland caused by bacterial pathogens or injury. Mastitis reduces milk yields and alters the composition of milk. In many cases, mastitis causes permanent injury to the animal. In all cases, mastitis causes economic losses for the dairyman.
Unfortunately, soiled sand is harder to dispose of that soiled hay. While soiled hay can be composted, soiled sand cannot. The very characteristic that makes sand desirable as a bedding material, drainage, makes it difficult to compost, as composting the waste requires moisture.
In the prior art, the soiled sand is removed from the barn and disposed of or processed. When disposed of, it must be disposed of in compliance with environmental regulations. Some dairies buy land solely for sand disposal purposes and truck the soiled sand to the designated land for dumping. Soiled sand disposal adds to the cost of cattle operations and decreased the yield on fixed assets.
The soiled sand can also be processed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,839 separates the sand by agitating an aqueous sand slurry with paddles to draw off the finer organic components, and then conveys the sand and coarser organic components up an incline with a screw conveyor. The material is sprayed to separate the sand from the coarser organic components. The equipment required to process the sand is expensive and believed to require frequent maintenance.

Method of cleaning soiled bedding material in barns


The present invention relates to lock picking and decoding tools and a method of using the same. The lock decoding tools comprise a torquing tool, a picking tool, and decoding tools. The method comprises using the torquing tool to bias the locking bar out of a notch in the inner wall of the cylinder housing, picking the tumblers using the picking tool, turning the cylinder lock slightly so as to permit the torquing tool to be removed, turning the lock cylinder to the "ON" position, and decoding the cylinder lock using the decoding tools.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to geometrical instruments and more specifically, to cylinder lock tumbler decoders and a method of using the same. The present invention also relates generally to locks and in particular, to picks keys for picking the operating elements of the operating mechanism of a lock.
2. Description of the Prior Art
For years locksmiths have spent an hour or longer trying to open or make an impression for a key in an ignition lock on the steering column of automobiles manufactured by General Motors of the United States. It has been said that these ignition locks cannot be picked and if the same could be picked, there is no way to decode the tumblers in the unlocked position. The present invention enables one skilled in the art of locksmithing to pick and decode ignition locks manufactured by General Motors of the United States.
Various types of tool sets and methods of decoding locks are known in the prior art. An example of such tool is found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,827,151 issued on Aug. 6, 1974 to Nail. This patent discloses a decoding instrument for a pin-type tumbler lock. The instrument includes a frame having a decoder support for a plurality of shim-like, toothed decoders, where the combined thickness of the support and decoders is less than the width of the key-receiving slot in the barrel of a lock. The decoders are shiftable independently of one another and longitudinally of the support to detect the individual movement of the pins. The frame includes indicia which, in combination with the movements of the decoders, can indicate the extent of movements of the pins that is necessary to release the barrel for movement relative to the lock-body.
In the Nail patent, decoding is effected by shifting the decoders separately. Each individual decoder is provided with a single tooth. The decoder support and the five decoders are inserted in the barrel through the slot of the lock. Then all levers are shifted to the right, at which position they will engage a screw and will register with the numeral 5. Then one of the levers is shifted to the left whereby the ramp on the tooth inserted the farthest moves the deepest pin upwardly. This movement is continued until resistance to further movement is encountered due to the fact that the deepest pin is being pushed by the tooth into engagement with the inner margin of the lock body. This is known as the condition of resistance to movement of the pin. This resistance can be felt by the operator and the operator is then aware that the pin is moved to the margin. The lever which was shifted to the left is maintained in that position and thereafter each of the other levers is shifted to the left individually until they each encounter resistance. When this process is completed, the instrument can now be turned. The decoder can then be withdrawn and a record is made of the positions of the levers with respect to the indicia (numerals) on the extension. Having the data, as indicated by the positions of the levers with respect to the indicia, the exact depths can be cut in a key blank.
An alternative lock decoding mechanism is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,482 issued Jan. 29, 1980 to Nail. The Nail patent discusses the use of a mechanism for opening and/or decoding the biddings of a key for opening a cylinder lock employing wafer type tumblers. The Nail device can be used for opening such locks when a key is lost. The lock mechanism disclosed in the Nail patent has only five (5) wafer type tumblers whereas modern lock mechanisms as used in General Motors automobiles employ six (6) tumblers with a fixed spacing along the longitudinal axis of the lock mechanism, but only five (5) different tumbler positions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,494 issued on May 26, 1987 to Joosten discusses the use of a tool set and a method of opening and decoding a side bar lock employing wafer type tumblers. In the Joosten patent, a spring compressor tool configured for insertion into the lock mechanism keyway raises all the tumblers to a radially outward position and compresses the springs that normally bias the tumblers inwardly. A spring retainer tool inserted into the keyway with the spring compressor tool engages the tumbler springs to retain the springs in a compressed position but frees the tumblers for movement. The tumbler adjusting tool is inserted to grasp the tumblers, and move the tumblers to a position where the lock mechanism can be opened. A decoding tool is inserted to measure the radial position of each tumbler and provide a number which can be used to make a new key. A dust cover holding tool is provided to hold open the spring actuated dust cover.
While the above mentioned devices are appropriate for their intended usage, none of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

Method and apparatus for use in picking and decoding sidebar locks


Movable guides are moved in vertical direction by guide drive units between a retreating position and a protruding position. A setting section is provided for setting a contact start point on a sheet and a contact end point on the sheet. The movable guides are moved between the retreating position and the protruding position so as to keep contact with an area of the sheet from the contact start point to the contact end point while a product separated from the sheet is conveyed from a first conveying unit to a second conveying unit.

A punching machine punches a sheet into a predetermined shape by means of a Thomson blade, a die cut roller or the like, thereby forming a product from the sheet. The sheet punched by the punching machine includes a scrap as well as the product. In order to obtain the product from the sheet, therefore, it is necessary to separate the punched sheet into the product and the scrap and remove the scrap away.
In a conventional punching process of sheets, sheets are punched in such a manner that some joints are left between a product and a scrap. A certain number of the punched sheets are stacked, and the products and the scraps are simultaneously separated from each other in the stack. When such an operation is performed by a worker, not only the serious burden is imposed on the workers because large force is required, but also the working efficiency is low. On the other hand, when such an operation is performed by a machine, the working efficiency is high but a size of the machine becomes large and the machine becomes complicated.
In addition, there is provided a punching machine including a separating mechanism for separating each of punched sheets into a product and a scrap while sequentially conveying the sheets one by one (see for example JP-A-2000-127097). The punching machine described in JP-A-2000-127097 blows air jet onto the punched sheet without joints between the product and the scrap so as to separate the product and the scrap and remove the scrap away while conveying the sheet along a conveying path.
Although the punching machine can reliably separate the product and the scrap in the case that the scrap is small or has a simple shape, it cannot separate the product and the scrap with the air jet completely in case that the scrap is large or has a complicated shape.


An enclosure for protecting electrical components, cables and the like. The enclosure has a plurality of faces which define a volume with an opening to provide access. One face has apertures for receiving fixing screws to fix the enclosure to a wall or surface. There is a lid to close the opening. Spacer members separate the enclosure from the surface. Each has a bore extending through it and a threaded portion extending from a surface of the face which engages the apertured face of the enclosure. For each spacer there is a cap for covering the aperture and sealing the apertured face. Also provided for each spacer is a retainer for threading onto the externally threaded portions when the spacer's threaded portion extend through the apertured face.

It is commonplace for enclosures to be used to protect electrical components, the cables which connect them as well as the junctions between the components in the cables. Typically, such an enclosure is mounted to a surface, such as a wall, using mounting screws which extend through apertures in the rearmost surface of the enclosure and into the wall. One of the most important protections that the enclosure provides is against water ingress and this is particularly important in environments where cleanliness is a priority. Therefore, the cleaning of the enclosure, and associated components such as conduits and connecting glands, must be an easy and efficient process without risking water entering the enclosure and damaging the components and the like contained therein. To facilitate easy cleaning enclosures are typically formed from stainless steel. The inclusion of the mounting apertures in the rear wall of the enclosure represents a risk of water ingress. As a result, it is not uncommon for a nylon washer to be placed between the fixing screw and the inside of the rear wall of the enclosure to act as a seal. This can be reasonably effective but becomes completely ineffective if the screw becomes loose or is not correctly fixed to the wall to apply sufficient pressure on the washer to create the seal. A loose screw applied no pressure to the washer and therefore does not seal.
For a number of reasons, including easing the cleaning process behind the enclosure, it is commonplace for an enclosure to be mounted on legs thereby separating enclosure from the surface on which it is mounted. This allows easy access onto the mounting surface and also onto the rear surface of the enclosure. These mounting legs are typically stainless steel tubes having an external diameter of perhaps 2 cm and an internal bore of 6 mm this being sufficient to receive the fixing screw which extends through the tube. However, such legs can increase the risk of water ingress by increasing the number of junctions that needs sealing. The junction between each leg and the enclosure and each leg and the wall each represent a potential access point for water. Although nylon washers can be used to seal between the fixing screw and the rear wall of the enclosure the danger of the integrity of the screw mounting to the wall is increased by the inclusion of the legs. Furthermore, the longer the legs the greater the risk that an impact force against the enclosure will loosen the fixing screw from the wall.
It is also the case that mounting the device with legs can prove difficult as each leg must be held in position whilst being installed. This often results in the installation process becoming a two-person job.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome or alleviate the above described disadvantages of the prior art.

Enclosure for protecting electrical components, cables and the like


An improved range finder for use on a golf course. The improved range finder includes means for identifying the closest target in a field of view during a sweep operation of the field of view and means for presenting the distance of the closest target at the conclusion of the sweep operation of the field of view. The improved range finder preferably uses infrared light to detect a flagstick.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to laser range finders. More specifically, the present invention relates to laser range finders used for determining distance on a golf course.
2. Description of the Related Art
For many, years, range finders have been used to determine the distance to a flagstick on a fairway of a golf course. With fairway distances of 200 hundred to 600 yards, the use of range finders by golfers has increased over the years. However, many commercially available range finders still lack certain necessary features that many golfers desire.
Gardiner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,125,145 discloses a multi-use tool including range finding capability.
Faulkner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,636,296, discloses a range finder using an image based distance measuring means.
For example, the power button often has to be continuously depressed during a "sweep" of the field of view to determine the distance to a flagstick.
Many range finders are unstable when hand held, adding to the difficulty in acquiring the target flagstick.
Some range finders only have a single magnification for optical viewing, and the single magnification is sometimes inadequate.
Many range finders lack a positive feedback when a target is acquired.
Most range finders lack the capability of capturing and displaying the minimum distance measured during a sweep, especially when the minimum distance corresponds to the flagstick.
Many range finders fail to have an ergonomically appealing shape, adding to discomfort and the inability to properly use the range finder.
Thus, an improved range finder is desired to overcome the failures of the prior art.

Laser range finder for use on a golf course


A heat dissipation adhesive film, a semiconductor device including the same, and a method of fabricating the semiconductor device, the heat dissipation adhesive film being placeable between a protective layer encasing a semiconductor element therein and a heat dissipation metal layer on the protective layer to bond the protective layer to the heat dissipation metal layer, wherein an adhesive strength between the heat dissipation adhesive film and the protective layer and an adhesive strength between the heat dissipation adhesive film and the heat dissipation metal layer are each about 3 kgf/25 mm2 or greater.

1. Field
Embodiments relate to a heat dissipation adhesive film, a semiconductor device including the same, and a method of fabricating the semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Coating with an epoxy resin, silicone resin, or the like may be performed for the purpose of insulation, moisture proofing or waterproofing, or vibration absorption for electronic components. In addition, a heat splitter or a heat sink may be provided to a semiconductor package to protect IC chips and other elements from heat generated in the semiconductor package.

Adhesive film for heat dissipation, semiconductor device including the same, and method of fabricating the semiconductor device


Data throughput functionality is improved in a network which supports high data rate applications and additional applications within a single receiver. Guidelines for tuning the receiver at variable time periods to avoid timeouts and fill radio link holes which result from non-received/unrecognized data are provided in connection with an algorithm of operation.

Several schemes for determining one's geographic position are available. For example, one way to determine position involves the use of the global positioning system (GPS). The GPS was originally conceived and developed by the U.S. Department of Defense as a military navigation system. Over time, elements of the system have become increasingly available for civilian use.
The GPS uses a constellation of 24 satellites, in a geo-stationary orbit, whereby position can be determined by timing satellite signal journeys from a GPS satellite to a GPS receiver. Five spare orbiting satellites are provided primarily for backup in case one of the 24 satellites fail.
The satellites transmit spread-spectrum signals on two frequency bands (carrier frequency L1 at 1575.42 MHz and carrier frequency L2 at 1227.6 MHz). The GPS signals are contained within two frequency bands 20.46 MHz wide (+/−10.23 MHz) centered about L1 and L2.
The navigation information from each GPS satellite is transmitted on two subcarrier frequencies that are modulated by two pseudo-random noise codes on L1 and L2. One subcarrier modulated on L1 operates at 1.023 MHz using an open code called a coarse/acquisition (C/A) code allowing less precise navigation for civilian applications. The other subcarrier modulated on L2 operates at 10.23 MHz using a high precision (P) secure code for military navigation systems. Additionally, the GPS signal is modulated with a data message commonly referred to as the GPS navigation message.
Typically, a GPS receiver employs a trilateration scheme to obtain a position fix. For instance, a GPS-derived position can be accomplished using two-dimensional trilateration. Ordinarily, signals from three satellites can be used to determine position based on the intersection of three intersecting circles. More specifically, each satellite signal can provide a radius in which the GPS receiver can lie. Two intersecting radii allow the position determination to be narrowed to the area of intersection. Another satellite signal can provide a third radius indicative of the position of the GPS receiver, since all three radii should intersect at a single point. Expanding the forgoing concept to three-dimensional trilateration, each satellite signal can be used to indicate a sphere, whereby three intersecting spheres can used to determine position which includes altitude information. More satellite signals can be used, and typically are used, to improve accuracy.
At the GPS receiver, the satellite signal is demodulated after it is matched and synchronized with a pseudo-random noise code. The GPS receiver uses the GPS navigation message to calculate satellite signal transit times in addition to the coordinates of the GPS satellite. Position measurement by a GPS receiver can typically be accomplished within 15 meters (50 feet).
The GPS system has a variety of uses with today's mobile communications systems, especially with those employing code division multiple access (CDMA). In CDMA systems multiple users are allowed to simultaneously use common data streams, called channels, for transmission of information.
User information in transmitted signals is distinguished by pseudo-random patterns called codes. Transmitted information can be recovered by a receiver so long as the pseudo-random patterns used by the transmitter are known by the receiver. The signal containing the information to be transmitted is sent at low power, and the bandwidth of the information contained in the transmitted signal is spread according to a code. Such spread spectrum communications limit interference among users by making the transmitted signals appear similar to random noise and thereby difficult to demodulate by other than the intended receiver.
The forward communication link from a base transceiver station (BTS) to a mobile station uses the pilot, sync, paging and traffic communication channels to transmit voice and control data to the mobile station. The mobile station may comprise, for example, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant with wireless communications capability, a portable computer with wireless communications capability, a pager or other personal communications device.
The BTS may comprise one or more transceivers placed at a single location. Together with a base station controller (BSC) that forms part of the base station terminating the radio communication path with the mobile station, the BTS is connected to an associated mobile switching center (MSC). The MSC is a system that automatically provides switching between user traffic from a wireless network and a wireline network or other wireless networks. A base station controller (BSC) which interacts with the MSCs and the BTSs provides a control and management system for one or more BTSs.
On the reverse communication link from the mobile station to the BTS, access and traffic channels are used to transmit voice and control data.
A CDMA system digitally encodes voice using Code-Excited Linear Prediction (CELP). Consequently, a CELP decoder and CELP encoder are located at the BSC and the mobile stations.
Encoders and interleavers are built into the BTSs and mobile stations to build redundancy into the transmitted signals to aid in recovery of lost information during transmission.
Encoded information is spread over the bandwidth of a CDMA channel in a process known as channelization. Channelization on the forward link channels involves modulating the transmitted signal according to a Walsh function code, followed by modulation by a pair of pseudo-random sequences. Channelization on the reverse link involves encoding the transmitted signal with a different pseudo-random code assigned to each mobile station in the system.
A radio frequency (RF) chain is a sequence of hardware blocks and associated software that is needed to receive and decode a radio signal. For example, an RF chain may consist of an antenna, a demodulator and a signal processing entity. RF chains have the property that they can receive and decode radio signals in specific frequency ranges only. That is, if an RF chain is tuned to a particular frequency, it will not be able to receive on another frequency. A single radio frequency (RF) chain may be used by both CDMA and GPS operations.
For proper GPS functionality, the mobile station is often required to tune-away from the CDMA carrier frequency to the GPS carrier frequency. High speed data traffic is supported by allocating additional bandwidth on supplemental channels (SCH) on demand for a higher data rate. CDMA and GPS operation share the single RF chain in a time-multiplexed fashion. When GPS operation is active, no CDMA operations are allowed and vice-versa.
In a shared RF environment, with frequent and long mobile station receiver tunings from the CDMA carrier frequency to the GPS carrier frequency, interruptions to the high speed data stream on the supplemental channel severely impact data throughput. The term "tune-away" is used hereinafter to refer to the tuning of the mobile station from the CDMA frequency to the GPS frequency.
The data transfer usually occurs between the mobile station and its peer connected by the CDMA network. Typically, both the mobile station and the peer follow the Transport Control Protocol (TCP) as a transport layer protocol utilizing the services provided by the wireless network. Data from the TCP server to the mobile station is carried by the network over a Data Link layer.
The Radio Link Protocol (RLP) is a feature of this Data Link layer designed to provide added reliability to an inherently error-prone wireless medium. Specifically, if data sent at the RLP layer is not received at the mobile station, an RLP error is flagged causing a signaling message to be sent to the network and a retransmission of the unacknowledged data follows.
At the TCP layer, most TCP implementations recognize the arrival of a number of duplicate acknowledgements (typically 3) to be an early indication of a packet drop, and retransmit the packet immediately. Simultaneously, the TCP layer reduces the maximum number of packets it sends in a given time, thus reducing the throughput on the link.
It may also happen that a packet may not be acknowledged at all and the TCP layer shall encounter a timeout. This is a positive indication of packet loss, and the TCP layer takes severe action, reducing its sending rate to the minimum. Further it increases the expected timeout values for this link exponentially. Thus, successive retransmissions occur with exponential delay and take place at a time when the throughput of the link is at its lowest.
With TCP as the transport protocol, timeouts and retransmissions can degrade data throughput by more than 90%. Since most data applications use TCP as the transport protocol, and because the impact on response time (throughput) is so severe, data applications cannot operate while GPS is active. Further, allowing GPS to proceed after the data operation has finished can severely impact GPS performance, as well. The GPS position fix will be delayed by the time taken to complete the data transaction, causing the GPS time to fix (TTF) to be unbounded, thereby making it impossible to get GPS position fixes in certain scenarios.
This problem has been noticed in conjunction with testing a mobile station based tracking system during a tracking session in a user network. In conjunction with a mobile station attempting to download data content from a network while the mobile station-based position fixes were in progress, it would take typically anywhere from 1 to 30 seconds to download approximately 2500 bytes of data. Since the application timeouts (the time during which an application fails due to non-responsiveness at either the client or server side of an application) may be typically 30 seconds, the CDMA data application is not able to operate properly. Further, such high response times are not acceptable for many real time data applications.
Conventionally, in addressing the GPS/data throughput problem, SCH transactions have been given a higher priority by blocking GPS operations until pending SCH transactions are completed. However, blocking a GPS visit affects the GPS time to fix (TTF). TTF is the time required to determine the position of the mobile station. Consequently, the TTF can be a function of the data activity occurring on a SCH.
Tuning the mobile station continuously to the CDMA carrier frequency in order to carry out SCH transactions will likely result in the GPS visit being significantly delayed. Should the mobile station be performing GPS tracking fixes while an application is attempting simultaneously to download CDMA data, the data download will fail. Consequently, data throughput will be very low, and it may sometimes take a significantly long time to download application data. With increased TTF, depending upon the SCH transaction duration, it is possible that a GPS session can timeout without a single GPS visit. Further, reduced data throughput and possible data application timeouts can occur while GPS tracking sessions are in progress.
There are three primary reasons for bad data throughput involving GPS and CDMA. 1) Tune-away from CDMA results in the loss of radio link protocol (RLP) data frames. The loss depends upon the amount of data exchanged and the time the mobile station spends on the new GPS frequency. The time spent on the GPS frequency is typically from 0.1 to 2 seconds (sec). 2) Tune-away results in loss of the Enhanced Supplemental Channel Assignment Message (ESCAM). Consequently, the mobile station will not receive data on the Supplemental Channel (SCH) even when the mobile station is tune to CDMA. 3) The subsequent tune-aways do not allow previously lost data to be recovered. This results in the loss of newly transmitted/re-transmitted data packets.
When a loss occurs of RLP data that cannot be recovered, the tune-aways result in frequent errors at the TCP layer. Complete RLP data frames can be lost. The extent of the loss of this information depends upon the amount of data sent and the time spent by the mobile station while it is tuned to other than the CDMA carrier frequency. In the case of tune-aways to the GPS carrier frequency, times of 0.1 to 2 seconds are typical.
The MSC signals the mobile station that it should prepare to receive a data burst by transmitting an Enhanced Supplemental Channel Assignment Message (ESCAM). In this message, the MSC indicates the number of channel codes, as well as the actual Walsh codes to be used for each channel.
During tune-aways, the ESCAM is lost. Without the ESCAM, the mobile station will not be able to decode data on an SCH, even when the mobile station is tuned to the CDMA carrier frequency. Subsequent tune-aways do not allow previously lost data to be recovered, and also result in the loss of new transmitted/retransmitted packets of data. Because there is a finite probability of losing even the TCP server re-transmissions, the resulting delays in retransmissions, i.e., "back-offs" are nearly exponential and have a drastic impact on throughput.
FIG. 1 illustrates a time sequence graph (TSG) of a conventional network attempting CDMA high data rate functionality together with GPS positioning capability. Time is shown in hour, minute, and second format (hh:mm:ss) on the horizontal axis, while the data packet sequence number according to the RLP is indicated on the vertical axis. The solid line represents data transmissions to the mobile station. "R" designated above this line is representative of a retransmission of data. The dotted line signifies the acknowledgement of data received. A flat plot indicates that data is not being sent or received, as the case may be. Sloped lines indicate the successful transmission and reception of data.
The data shown in FIG. 1 was compiled while downloading data to a mobile station while GPS sessions were active on the mobile station. The plots show frequent periods where no data is being downloaded by the mobile station because of the loss of TCP re-transmitted packets and large back-off times.

Method for improving data throughput in wireless networks with schedulable interruptions


Disclosed is a method for determining of fat content of milk having variable solids fractions and flowing with variable gas content in a pipeline. The method includes ascertaining a velocity of sound and an average density value for the milk based on eigenfrequencies of at least two bending oscillation wanted modes of measuring tubes of a densimeter arranged in the pipeline. The method further includes ascertaining a static pressure in the pipeline; a gas volume fraction based on the velocity of sound; the average density; the pressure; a density of the milk without gas content based on the average density and the gas volume fraction; and a permittivity of the milk based on a propagation velocity and/or an absorption of microwaves in the milk. The fat fraction is calculated based on the density of the milk without gas content and on the effective permittivity.

Milk and intermediates won therefrom can be described as mixtures of various components, mainly water, milk fat and solids, wherein the solids comprise essentially proteins, carbohydrates (among these especially lactose) and, in small amounts, minerals.
During the processing chain beginning with raw milk and extending to the manufacture of milk products, the percentages of these components are important parameters for controlling the processes, for process- and quality checking, and for balancing product streams. Usual practice is to determine the percentages using laboratory samples and standard methods. This means that only a few samples can be evaluated, and an analytical result is obtained only with significant delay following the sample taking.
A process-near spectroscopic analysis in the infrared region with automated sample taking is, indeed, possible, however, this is, firstly, very costly and, second, only based on the low volume of the samples taken in comparatively large time intervals. For process control, such an analysis is, consequently, only conditionally suitable.
A density measurement, e.g. by means of Coriolis flowmeter, is, indeed, suitable as inline measuring for continuous process monitoring, and can also be used for determining the fat content, or the solids percentages, of milk when the assumption of a given ratio of the solids percentages of fat, carbohydrates (especially lactose), proteins, etc. is justified. With declining validity of this assumption, the measuring result becomes correspondingly inaccurate.
Another difficulty with the determining of fat content with a Coriolis flowmeter results from microbubbles of air distributed in the milk, which, on the one hand, lessen the effective density and, on the other hand, due to oscillations of the now compressible milk compared with the measuring tube, lead to changed relationships between eigenfrequencies of the oscillating measuring tubes of the flowmeter and the density of the measured substance in the measuring tubes. The limited suitability of Coriolis mass flowmeters for determining the composition of liquids containing gas is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,363,800 B2. This teaches an arrangement with, firstly, a microwave sensor for ascertaining dielectric parameters of a medium, second a Coriolis mass flowmeter, third an independent sensor for determining the gas fraction of the medium and fourth a signal processing unit for processing the signals of the different sensors. Such is, however, a complex and costly device.

Method and device for measuring fat in milk


A clamping tool for use with a power tool includes a housing mounted on a power tool. The housing includes at least one engaging portion. The locking pliers includes a retaining section with a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is mounted on the at least one engaging portion for retain the locking pliers in a selectively, releasably, rotational relationship relative to the housing. An engaging section of the locking pliers is mounted relative to the retaining section and is selectively locked relative to the distal end of the retaining section for positioning an article therebetween. In two embodiments, after an article is locked in the locking pliers, the locking pliers can be rotated either away from or towards the housing to permit the power tool to come into engagement with an article.

1. Field of the Invention
A locking pliers for use with a power tool wherein a housing is mounted on a power tool and locking pliers are selectively, releasably, rotatably mounted relative to the power tool to permit an article retained by the locking pliers to be brought into engagement with the power tool.
2. Description of Background Art
Heretofore, when an individual utilized a power tool it was necessary to use one hand to actuate and control the operation of the power tool while using the other hand to hold an article to be brought into engagement with the power tool. For example, if an individual desired to cut an article such as a pipe, angle iron, cable or wire, it was necessary to hold the cutting tool in one hand and then bring the article into engagement with the cutting tool with the other hand. Depending on the size, length or orientation of article, it was difficult to accurately cut the article.
As a solution to this problem, it is possible to place the article or workpiece in a vise. Thus, an individual would have two hands to operate the cutting tool. However, when an individual is working in the field, it is not always possible to have a vise handy to permit the article to be placed in the vise.


A multivariable process fluid pressure transmitter includes an electronics module and a sensor module. The sensor module is coupled to the electronics module. A process fluid temperature sensor is coupled to the process fluid pressure transmitter. A differential pressure sensor is disposed within the sensor module and is operably coupled to a plurality of process fluid pressure inlets. A static pressure sensor is also disposed within the sensor module and is operably coupled to at least one of the process fluid pressure inlets. A first temperature sensor is disposed within the sensor module and is configured to provide an indication of a temperature of the differential pressure sensor. A second temperature sensor is disposed within the sensor module and is configured to provide an indication of a temperature of the static pressure sensor. Measurement circuitry is operably coupled to the differential pressure sensor, the static pressure sensor, and the first and second temperature sensors. A processor is coupled to the measurement circuitry and is configured to provide a compensated differential pressure output based on a measurement of the differential pressure sensor and the first temperature sensor, and to provide a compensated static pressure output based on a measurement of the static pressure sensor and the second temperature sensor.

In industrial settings, control systems are used to monitor and control inventories of industrial and chemical processes and the like. Typically, the control system performs these functions using field devices distributed at key locations in the industrial process coupled to the control circuitry in the control room by a process control loop. The term "field device" refers to any devices that perform a function in a distributor control or process monitoring system used in the measurement, control, and monitoring of industrial processes. Typically, field devices are characterized by their ability to operate outdoors for extended periods of time, such as years. Thus, a field device is able to operate in a variety of climatological extremes, including severe temperature extremes and extremes in humidity. Moreover, field devices are able to function in the presence of significant vibration, such as vibration from adjacent machinery. Further, field devices may operate in the presence of electromagnetic interference.
One example of a field device is a multivariable process fluid pressure transmitter, such as that sold under the trade designation Model 3051 Multivariable Transmitter by Emerson Process Management of Chanhassen, Minn. Multivariable process fluid pressure transmitters can be used for a variety of purposes including the computation and reporting of process fluid mass flow. A multivariable process fluid pressure transmitter will generally have a process fluid differential pressure sensor as well as a static pressure sensor. Measuring both differential pressure and static pressure of the process fluid as the process fluid passes through a differential pressure generator, such as an orifice plate, provides important information regarding process fluid flow.
Multivariable process fluid pressure transmitter performance is sometimes influenced by temperature induced errors. The sources of these temperature-induced errors can be the sensor measurement electronics, sensor oil fill system, and the pressure sensing elements themselves. The performance of a multivariable process fluid pressure transmitter is greatly improved by compensating the output for the temperature effects of the sensor module. This compensation is typically accomplished by characterizing the uncorrected output of the sensor module and developing a mathematical curve fit to produce a corrected sensor module output. Generally, corrected output compensation requires a sensor module design that incorporates an integral temperature sensor. The temperature sensor communicates with the sensor module electronics and provides an output to the electronics known as sensor temperature. This temperature sensor reading is used by the sensor module electronics to compensate the sensor module output.
Providing a multivariable process fluid pressure transmitter with improved temperature compensation abilities would render such devices more accurate. Accuracy is vitally important, and thus improvements in accuracy will benefit the art of process fluid measurement.

Temperature compensation of a multivariable pressure transmitter


An object is to provide a Ro-scull which can suppress a decrease in thrust force by water resistance generated during turn-over operation and can realize high-speed cruise of a boat. The Ro-scull has a Ro-arm 1 and a Ro-blade 2 having a flat part 12 perpendicular to the Ro-arm 1. The Ro-arm 1 is attached to an upper end portion of the Ro-blade 2 from an obliquely lower side. Namely, the Ro-arm 1 and the Ro-blade 2 are joined to each other while the Ro-arm 1 “receives” the Ro-blade 2. A Ro-handle 3 is arranged not on the upper surface side but on the lower surface side of the Ro-arm 1.

It is thought that the Ro-scull which is a traditional manually rowing apparatus was brought to Japan from China at around a time before the Kamakura period. Since the Ro-scull was brought to Japan, the Ro-scull had been gradually improved, and the final form of the Ro-scull was completed in the early Edo period. Then, the form of the Ro-scull has been kept in substantially the same shape.
The Japanese Ro-scull has two features: (1) two rods of materials are used while being joined together; and (2) the two rods of materials thereof are joined to form a bent configuration.
Particularly, the Ro-scull having the above features is called as "Tsuguro (joined Ro-scull)." On the other hand, the Ro-scull in which two rods of materials are not used is called as "Saoro (rod Ro-scull)."
FIG. 6 shows a structure of the conventional Ro-scull.
The conventional Ro-scull consists of two large parts and two small parts. Referring to the perspective view of FIG. 6, each structure will be described.
In FIG. 6, the reference numeral 101 denotes a Roasi (hereinafter, Ro-blade or yuloh blade) which paddles the boat, and the Ro-blade 101 has a spatula-shaped flat part 110. The reference numeral 102 denotes a Roude (hereinafter, Ro-arm or yuloh arm) which is rigidly fixed to the Ro-blade 101 so as to be substantially horizontally held when the flat part 110 is orientated to an obliquely upward direction. Near a joint portion between the Ro-blade 101 and the Ro-arm 102, there is no flat part existing, but there is a part 120 (usually known as Ireko (insert)) having a round shape. A user puts the part 120 on a shaft support part 201 (usually called as Robeso (tholepin) or Rogui (Ro-stake or yuloh stake) provided at a rear end portion of a boat 200, (or the part 120 is rotatably supported by the shaft support part 201). The operator of the boat operates the Ro-arm 102 from side to side, thereby moving the Ro-blade 101 from side to side with the shaft support portion working as a pilot.
A small projected Rozuka (Ro-handle or yuloh handle) 103 is rigidly fixed onto the upper surface of the Ro-arm 102 and the Ro-handle 103 is used with a rope called Hayao 104 being tied thereto. The other end of the Hayao 104 is rigidly fixed to the bottom side of the boat, and the Hayao has a function of transmitting a thrust force to the boat when the thrust force is generated while the Ro-scull is operated.
The action of the conventional Ro-scull having the above structure will be described below.
The operator operates the Ro-scull arm 102 from side to side so that the flat part of the Ro-blade 101 is inclined with respect to an advancing direction. FIG. 7 shows the movement of a cross section of the Ro-blade 101 in the time-series order at the position where the Ro-blade is in contact with a water surface when the operator operates the Ro-scull. Assuming that the advancing direction of the boat is the lower side of the drawing, a to c in FIG. 7 show the states each in which the Ro-blade 101 is moved leftward with respect to the advancing direction of the boat, i.e. a to c in FIGS. 7 show a transition when the operator moves the Ro-arm 102 rightward. In the cross section of the Ro-blade 101, the sign f denotes a front edge in the advancing direction of the Ro-blade 101, and the sign r denotes a rear edge in the advancing direction of the Ro-blade 101.
A water flow generated in such a case relative to the Ro-scull is shown by a water flow 300 in (a) of FIG. 8.
As can be seen from the foregoing figure, a difference of flow in the water flow is generated between the top surface and the bottom surface of the flat part 110 of the Ro-blade 101 by obliquely moving the Ro-blade 101. The difference in the water flow creates a force similar to the force called "lift force" in an aircraft and the like, whereby, a thrust force in a direction of an arrow 400 is generated. When, thereafter, the movement of the Ro-blade 101 is changed from the leftward to the rightward with respect to the advancing direction, namely, when the moving direction of the Ro-arm 102 is changed, the Ro-blade is moved as shown in d to f of FIGS. 7.
In this case, a water flow 301 is created as shown in (c) of FIG. 8, and, as expected, the thrust force is generated in the direction of an arrow 401 similar to the direction of the arrow 400.
At a point in which the moving direction of the Ro-blade 101 is changed from the left to the right (the point between c and d of FIG. 7), it is necessary that the inclination of the Ro-blade is reversed (usually called as Kaeshi (turn-over)).
As can be seen from the above, among the manually rowing methods such as a paddle and an oar, the Ro-scull is the most functional in that the hydrodynamic lift force is used as the thrust force.
In an ideal condition, it is known that the lift force (thrust force) generated in the above-described manner is ten times as large as the drag force generated. Namely, the lift is generated ten times the rowing force.
Although the lift force is transmitted as a thrust force to a stern, the operator does not sense the thrust force by an operator's arm because the Hayao 104 and the fulcrum of the Ro-scull receive the thrust force. Further, unlike other manually rowing apparatuses, the Ro-scull has no wasted motion because the thrust force is generated in both directions of the reciprocating motion.
However, in the conventional Ro-scull, the flat part 110 obstructs the water flow at the point of the turn-over. In this case, as shown in (b) of FIG. 8, the water flow orthogonally hits the flat part 110 of the Ro-blade 101, so that resistance caused by the water flow is largely increased. In addition, large vortexes 302 are generated on the downstream side of the water flow, which results in the decrease in the thrust force, and whereby, the thrust efficiency is remarkably decreased.
In particular, because the vortexes are radically generated with the increasing speed of the boat, the thrust efficiency worsens as the speed of the boat is increased, and actual high-speed cruise by the thrust by the Ro-scull becomes difficult.
Therefore, in the case of the manually rowing boat with the Ro-scull, there is a problem that the speed of the boat becomes slower when compared with the oar which generates the thrust force on the side of the boat.


A system (10) for viewing location marker data on a display (14) located in a vehicle (16) has a transponder (20) located on a structure (18) and a transmitter (22) located on the vehicle, which transmits a first signal (24). The transponder receives the first signal and transmits a second signal (26) with a first identification tag. A receiver (28) in the vehicle receives the second signal. A microprocessor (30) in the vehicle interprets the first identification tag and displays location marker data corresponding to the first identification tag on the display.

It is difficult for many people to view street signs and house numbers from a distance. Darkness and inclement weather conditions can exacerbate the problem. Failure to read street signs or addresses can cause traffic delays, and in some cases, automobile accidents as drivers slow or stop while trying to read street signs and numbers. Other drivers must swerve to avoid the stopped car, or wait until the stopped car turns or moves on.
Inability to read location information is a significant problem for the elderly, whose visual acuity and night vision declines with age. It is therefore important for the safety and comfort of these and other drivers to provide a system whereby they can view street signs sufficiently in advance of intersections to prepare for a turn or change lanes. It is also important to see house numbers so that drivers can readily locate the address that they are seeking without stopping the car and walking to the house.
There have been several attempts to solve traffic related problems with advanced technology. Technology using Global Positioning Satellites (GPS) provides current location to drivers of vehicles having the GPS system, but these devices are relatively expensive. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,411,896 discloses a system to warn drivers of slow moving traffic and other traffic related problems. U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,126 discloses a system to preprogram destination information using magnetic strips on cards or radio transmissions. U.S. Pat. No. 6,278,936 discloses a data manager, which monitors vehicle location and transmits location information to vehicles on request. This data manager notifies the vehicle when it is within a specified distance of the destination. It also allows a user to monitor the progress of the vehicle headed toward the location. U.S. Pat. No. 6,560,529 discloses pattern recognition apparatus for reading road sign text in order to provide this information to a navigational system such as a GPS system. U.S. Pat. No. 6,836,724 discloses the use of a geographic database to report information about nearby road signs to a driver upon request, again following the overall GPS model. While such systems may be useful for providing information that helps the traveler to find a destination, they can require fairly elaborate equipment for solving the problem of locating a nearby street or building.
It is desirable to have an accurate, reliable, and inexpensive system whereby drivers of vehicles can easily determine street address numbers and street names during periods of reduced visibility or inclement weather without leaving their vehicles.

Wireless address and street name locator


The present invention discloses methods for activating Caspase 9 in such a way that it can be used in assays to discover modulators of Caspase 9.

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a crucial life-cycle decision point for cells in multicellular organisms from C. elegans to humans. It is a vital process in normal embryogenesis and development, maintenance of homeostasis, and immune system function. The regulation and initiation of apoptosis is a complex and intricately regulated process, consistent with this diversity of function. The death domain superfamily has emerged as the prime mediator of the interactions necessary for transducing a death signal. This superfamily consists of death domain (DD), death effector domain (DED) and caspase recruitment domain (CARD) families. Each of these families interacts with other proteins through homotypic interactions in which CARD—CARD, DD—DD and DED—DED contacts are formed exclusively.
Caspases are the primary executioners of apoptosis, with effector caspases cleaving essential proteins such as poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and activating endonucleases such as CAD (by cleavage of the inhibitor ICAD). Upstream caspases, such as Caspases 8 and 9, are activated by signaling complexes such as the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) and the apoptosome, respectively. Binding of caspases to specific adaptor molecules via CARD or DED domains leads to autoactivation of caspases. For example, the apoptosome consists of Apaf-1, Caspase 9 and cytochrome c and, within this structure, Apaf-1 interacts with proCaspase 9 via a CARD—CARD interaction. Cytochrome c binding to Apaf-1 activates the complex to allow recruitment and autoactivation of proCaspase 9. It is probable that the complex contains multiple Apaf-1 and proCaspase-9 molecules as the active complex has a molecular weight of 700 kDa.
The apoptosome, as well as the Fas DISC and the Pelle-containing complex are examples of large regulatory complexes involved in apoptosis. The proteins in these complexes are composed of multiple domains such as protein—protein interaction motifs, kinase domains, proteolytic domains, ligand-binding domains and membrane-binding domains. The death domains invariably provide one of the means for intramolecular communication. For a review, see C. H. Weber and C. Vincenz, "The death domain superfamily: a tale of two interfaces?" Trends in Biochemical Sciences, Vol. 26 No. 8, 2001.
Caspase 9 is a member of the aspartate-specific cysteine protease (ASCP) family of proteases that includes, for example, ICE, CPP32, Nedd2/Ich-1, Mch2, Mch3, Mch4, Mch5, TX (ICH-2, ICErel-III), and ICErel-III.
Caspase 9 shares amino acid sequence homology with several ASCPS, but its catalytic site QACGG differs in the fourth residue from the relatively conserved catalytic sites in other known ACSPs. U.S. Pat. No. 6,271,361, which discloses the DNA and amino acid sequences for Caspase 9, is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Like many ASCPs, Caspase 9 is synthesized as a proenzyme, which can be proteolytically cleaved by, for example, CPP32 or granzyme B. Cleavage of Caspase 9 yields two subunits, a large subunit and a small subunit, which associate to form an active heterodimer complex. In particular, CPP32 can cleave proCaspase 9 into a large subunit having an approximate molecular weight of 37 kDa (p37) and a small subunit having an approximate molecular weight of 10 kDa (p10). Similarly, granzyme B can cleave proCaspase 9 into a large subunit having an approximate molecular weight of 35 kDa (p35) and a small subunit having an approximate molecular weight of 12 kDa (p12). Moreover, other components of the apoptotic pathway can process Caspase 9 into a larger and a smaller cleavage product. Accordingly, the terms "large subunit" and "small subunit" will readily be understood to refer to any larger proteolytic cleavage product such as p37 or p35, and any smaller cleavage product such as p10 or p12, respectively.
Like other ASCPs, the active Caspase 9 complex can act as a protease and requires an Asp residue in the P1 position of the substrate binding site with a small, preferably hydrophobic, residue in the P1′ position.
Apoptosis plays a significant role in numerous pathological conditions in that programmed cell death is either inhibited, resulting in increased cell survival, or enhanced, which results in the loss of cell viability. Examples of pathological conditions resulting from increased cell survival include cancers such as lymphomas, carcinomas and hormone-dependent tumors. Such hormone-dependent tumors include, for example, breast, prostate and ovarian cancer. Increased cell survival or apoptosis inhibition can also result in autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and immune-mediated glomerulonephritis, as well as viral infections such as herpesvirus, poxvirus and adenovirus. The first gene identified as being involved in a cell death pathway, the bcl-2 gene, was identified in cancer cells and was shown to function by decreasing the likelihood that cells expressing the gene would undergo apoptosis.
In contrast, apoptotic diseases where enhanced programmed cell death is a prevalent cause generally includes, for example, degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, retinitis pigmentosa, cerebellar degeneration, and the encephalopathy associated with acquired immunodeficiency disease (AIDS). Since nerve cells generally do not divide in adults and, therefore, new cells are not available to replace the dying cells, the nerve cell death occurring in such diseases results in the progressively deteriorating condition of patients suffering from the disease. Other diseases associated with increased apoptosis include, for example, myelodysplastic syndromes such as aplastic anemia and ischemic injury, including myocardial infarction, stroke and reperfusion injury.
Caspase 9 inhibitors include those that inhibit protease activity as well as compounds that inhibit Caspase 9 binding to other polypeptides. Such compounds are useful as pharmaceuticals for treating or preventing diseases characterized by apoptotic cell death. When used in the present invention Caspase 9 polypeptides can be used to screen for compounds that activate or act as agonists of Caspase 9, such as by inducing cleavage of the proenzyme into its active subunits. Such compounds are similarly useful as pharmaceuticals for treating or preventing diseases characterized by the loss of apoptotic cell death.


A fastening member contains a synthetic resin, in which flat metal foil containing aluminum is mixed with the synthetic resin and an average particle diameter of the metal foil is set to be equal to or more than 3 μm and equal to or less than 8 μm. Accordingly, the fastening member has both an advantage of a synthetic resin of being inexpensive and light and an advantage of a metal of having strength and gloss having a high-grade sense, and an outer appearance or a texture thereof can be viewed like the metallic member. In the fastening member, a weld mark can be restrained from being generated, and even if the weld mark is generated, the weld mark can be made difficult to be visually recognized relatively and the weld mark can be mixed with the gloss.

Fastening products such as slider fasteners, snap buttons, and buckles have been generally used until now as means for coupling two members. Various fastening members such as fastener elements are disposed in fastening products such as slider fasteners, and many fastening members are injection-molded of a synthetic resin in that the fastening members are inexpensive and can easily correspond to various shapes. However, such fastening members of a synthetic resin generally lack in glossiness, and thus a high-grade sense cannot be realized in the fastening products.
Meanwhile, when glossiness is given to a fastening product to show a high-grade sense, a fastening member, for example, such as a fastener element may be formed of a metal such as copper or aluminum. However, manufacturing costs for a fastening product having such a metallic fastening member are high as compared with a case of using a fastening member of a synthetic resin, and a manufacturing method thereof also requires a plurality of processes and thus is complex.
Further, a metallic fastening member is heavier than a fastening member of a synthetic resin, and thus when a fastening product is attached to an end product such as clothes or a bag, weight of the end product itself increases. Thus, for example, in a product pursuing light weight, even when glossiness is to be given to a fastening product, a synthetic resin fastening member cannot but be selected in terms of costs and weight in some cases.
In order to solve such a problem, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-58003 (Patent Document 1) discloses a slide fastener where at least one of a slider and a fastener element is formed of a thermoplastic synthetic resin mixed with metal foil containing aluminum. In this case, Patent Document 1 describes that it is preferable that the metal foil mixed with the synthetic resin has a size of 200 μm×280 μm or a size of 100 μm×140 μm.
In this way, as a slider or a fastener element are injection-molded of a synthetic resin mixed with metal foil having the above-described size, glossiness may be given to the slider or the fastener element to improve an appearance quality (aesthetic sense) of the slide fastener. Further, according to Patent Document 1, through the mixing of the metal foil, the slider or the fastener element is formed to be firm and an impact-resistant force increases.
However, for example, the specification of Japanese Patent No. 3994245 (Patent Document 2) discloses an aluminum flake which is controlled to have a particle size in a predetermined range as an invention relating to aluminum metal foil (aluminum flakes) mixed with a synthetic resin during injection molding.
For example, when a synthetic resin mixed with aluminum flakes having a relatively large size (particle size) is injection-molded, a flow of a melted resin in a cavity of a mold deteriorates due to the mixing of the aluminum flakes or stains are caused in the flow of the melted resin, and thus a mixing ratio of the metal foil may be partially lower in a formed product. As a result, in the formed product, as the mixing ratio of the metal foil is low, a partially discolored weld mark may be formed and thus may cause an appearance defect of the formed product.
In regard to the appearance defect problem, the aluminum flake disclosed in Patent Document 2 is controlled such that an average particle diameter thereof by a laser diffraction method is 2 to 8 μm and particles having a size of not less than 10 μm occupies not more than 5.0 wt %. Further, the aluminum flake is controlled such that an average thickness thereof is 0.1 to 0.6 μm, and a linear gradient n of the particle distribution is not less than 2.1.
According to Patent Document 2, for example, when mixed with a synthetic resin such as polyethylene to be injection-molded, the aluminum flakes whose particle size is controlled to the above-described range may restrain a weld mark from being generated in the formed product to a degree where the weld mark cannot be visually recognized or does not lower a product value.
Thus, according to Patent Document 2, the aluminum flakes whose particle size is controlled to the above-described range are properly used when a formed product including an optical device such as a camera or a video camera, an acoustic device such as a radio cassette or a CD player, an OA device such as a PC or a display, and interior/exterior equipment of a vehicle or a motor cycle is injection-molded.


The present disclosure provides a battery product and an assembling method of the battery product, the battery product comprises a box and a heating connector. The box comprises a mounting panel. The mounting panel has a first receptacle portion and a second receptacle portion, and the second receptacle portion and the first receptacle portion are provided opposite to each other and communicating with each other. The heating connector comprises: a first plug assembly being mounted on the first receptacle portion; and a second plug assembly being mounted on the second receptacle portion. Compared with the technology related to the background, the battery product is equivalent to directly integrating the receptacle of the heating connector on the mounting panel, which not only eliminates the manner of fixing by the bolt, but also improves the integration of the battery product, thereby improving the space utilization and energy density.

A conventional heating connector typically comprises a first plug assembly, a receptacle, and a second plug assembly, the first plug assembly and the second plug assembly are assembled with the receptacle. When the heating connector is applied to a battery product (the battery product comprises a box, the box comprises a mounting panel), the receptacle of the heating connector is fixedly mounted on the mounting panel of the battery product by a bolt.
In the battery product, because the heating connector has the characteristics of the high voltage and low current, and in order to meet the requirement of creepage distance of the heating connector, a design size of the heating connector tends to be too larger, thereby resulting in that the heating connector takes up a larger region on the mounting panel of the battery product, which severely constrains the improvement on the space utilization and energy density of the battery product.

CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED


Circuits and methods for supplying a temporary power supply at a predetermined voltage are disclosed. A circuit includes first DC/DC voltage that receives an input from a power supply at a first voltage level and generates an output at a second voltage level, higher than the first voltage level. The output is provided to charge a capacitor. A second DC/DC voltage converter has an input connected to the capacitor for drawing power from the capacitor at the second voltage level and an generates an output voltage less than the second voltage level. The second DC/DC voltage converter further includes a feedback input that monitors the circuit's output voltage and activates the second DC/DC voltage converter when the output voltage falls below a predetermined threshold.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electronic circuits, and more particularly to an electronic circuit arrangement for supplying a constant voltage supply to an operating circuit for a period of time after power to the operating circuit has been lost.
2. Background
Numerous electronic devices implement a shut-down procedure upon loss of power to the device. To execute the shut-down procedures, electrical circuits in the device must continue to receive power after the device has lost power.
By way of example, Telecommunications standard ITU 992.1 requires that a series of "Dying Gasp" messages be sent by the ADSL Customer Premises modem through the data connection to the Central Office modem upon loss of power. Therefore, an ADSL modem requires a source of uninterruptable power to maintain an existing ADSL modem connection for up to 50 milliseconds after input power is lost, in order to complete the transmission of "Dying Gasp" messages. There is no further need to maintain power to the modem once the "Dying Gasp" messages are sent.
Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for short-term uninterruptible power supplies for use with electronic devices.


A method may include obtaining a first data set of a first user present at a venue. The method may also include obtaining venue characteristic data corresponding to a set of characteristics of the venue. The method may also include obtaining first venue condition data corresponding to a first set of venue conditions. The method may further include generating a first evacuation route based at least in part on the first data set. The method may also include generating a first timing instruction corresponding to the first evacuation route and based at least in part on the first venue condition data. The method may further include providing the first evacuation route and the first timing instruction to the first user.

The present disclosure relates to safety instruction, and more specifically, to guidance for navigating to safety.
Incidents may give rise to a need to evacuate a venue, and information may be provided to facilitate evacuation. For example, some venues have incorporated a set of signs or a group of personnel to assist with evacuations. In another example, technology has been developed that permits users to plan evacuations with mobile devices. Other relevant technology includes systems that can monitor crowd quantity, density, and flow direction, as well as systems capable of warning of potential crowd congestion based on monitored crowd data.

International Business Machines Corporation


A developing device for developing a latent image on an image carrying member includes a container member containing toner; a development roller provided at a development opening of the container member; a first toner conveying member disposed so as to face the development roller, wherein a direction of rotation of said first developer conveying member is opposite to a direction of rotation of said developer carrying member; and a second toner conveying member provided further downstream from the first conveying member as viewed in the direction of rotation of the development roller and having a higher conveying capability than the first toner conveying member. The toner circulation capability around the development roller is very high.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a developing device utilized in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic or electrostatic recording type copying machine, printer, facsimile, or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
A known image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer, copying machine, or the like, incorporates a process cartridge that can be easily mounted to and dismounted from the apparatus body. The process cartridge incorporates in a unitary structure process units such as a photosensitive drum serving as a latent image carrying- member, a charger, a developing device, cleaner means, and the like.
FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of a conventional process cartridge. Toner T.sub.11 in a toner container 11 is conveyed toward a development roller 9b by means of a conveying member 9a. When the amount of toner is increased in order to prolong the life of such a cartridge, sufficient stirring of the toner cannot be achieved by the conveying member 9a alone.
A possible solution to this problem is to increase the toner conveying capability in the container by placing a plurality of the toner conveying members 9a as illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B.
However, in such a construction, more toner in the process cartridge may lead to poor toner circulation, so that the image begins to fade as the copying or printing operation is continued in the apparatus body.

Developing device provided with a plurality of developer conveying members