Poly(ethylene glycol)-N-succinimide carbonate and its preparation are disclosed. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is converted into its N-succinimide carbonate derivative. This form of the polymer reacts readily with amino groups of proteins in aqueous buffers. The modified proteins have PEG-chains grafted onto the polypeptide backbone by means of stable, hydrolysis-resistant urethane (carbamate) linkages.

The present invention relates to chemical modification of polypeptides by means of covalent attachment of strands of polyalkylene oxide to a polypeptide molecule such as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,337, to Davis, et al. It is disclosed in Abuchowski & Davis "Enzymes as Drugs", Holcenberg & Roberts, eds., pp. 367-383, John Wiley & Sons, N.Y. (1981) that such preparations of polypeptides have reduced immunogenicity and antigenicity and also have a longer lifetime in the bloodstream as compared to the parent polypeptides. These beneficial properties of the modified polypeptides make them very useful in a variety of therapeutic applications, such as enzyme therapy.
The active groups that are introduced onto polyalkylene oxides for the purpose of subsequent attachment of these polymers to proteins must satisfy the following requirements:
1. The active groups have to be reactive enough to afford fast reaction with a protein under mild conditions; PA1 2. The residues released from the active groups during the process of modification have to be non-toxic and/or readily separable from the protein-polymer adduct. PA1 wherein each R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 is an alkyl group which may be straight, branched, disubstituted, or unsubstituted, and wherein each R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R4 may be independently the same as, or different from, the others of R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 ; PA1 wherein R.sub.5 is an N-dicarboximide group; and PA1 wherein a is an integer between 1 and 1000 and each of b and c is an integer between 0 and 1000, and the sum of a, b, and c is between 10 and 1000. PA1 wherein X is a halogen; PA1 wherein a is an integer between 1 and 1000 and each of b and c is an integer between 0 and 1000, and the sum of a, b, and c is between 10 and 1000. PA1 with an N-hydroxydicarboximide in the presence of a base. PA1 wherein each R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 is an alkyl group which may be straight, branched, substituted, or unsubstituted, and wherein each R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R4 may be independently the same as, or different from, the others of R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 ; PA1 wherein a is an integer between 1 and 1000 and each of b and c is an integer between 0 and 1000, and the sum of a, b, and c is between 10 and 1000. PA1 wherein each polymer is covalently bound to an amine group of the polypeptide by a urethane linkage.
To effect covalent attachment of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to a protein, the hydroxyl end-groups of the polymer must first be converted into reactive functional groups. This process is frequently referred to as "activation" and the product is called "activated PEG". Methoxypolyethylene glycol (mPEG) derivatives, capped on one end with a functional group, reactive towards amines on a protein molecule, are used in most cases.
The most common form of activated PEG heretofore used for preparation of therapeutic enzymes is poly(ethylene glycol) succinoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (SS-PEG) [Abuchowski, et al. Cancer Biochem. Biophys. 7, 175-186 (1984), Scheme 1]. Use of this activated polymer satisfies both of the requirements listed above. However, it has one major drawback. The ester linkage between the polymer and succinic acid residue has limited stability in aqueous media [U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,417, to Iwasaki, et al. (1987); Ulbrich, et al., Makromol. Chem. 187, 1131-1144 (1986)] ##STR1##
Various functionalized polyethylene glycols (PEG) have been effectively used in such fields as protein modification (Abuchowski & Davis, 1981, supra), peptide chemistry [Zalipsky, et al., Int. J. Peptide Protein Res., 30, 740-783 (1987)] and preparation of conjugates with biologically active materials [Zalipsky, et al., Eur. Polym. J. 19, 1177-1183 (1983) and Zalipsky and Barany, Polymer Preprints, Am. Chem. Soc. Div. Polym. Chem. 27(1), 1-2 (1986)]. PEG protein conjugates useful in medical applications have shown promise, particularly with regard to their stability to proteolytic digestion, reduced immunological response and longer half-life times in the bloodstream.
To accomplish this, the prior art has activated the hydroxy group of PEG with cyanuric chloride and the resulting compound then coupled with proteins (Abuchowski, et al. (1977) J. Biol. Chem. 252, 3578; Abuchowski and Davis, 1981, supra). However, various disadvantages of using this method exist, such as the toxicity of cyanuric chloride and the non-specific reactivity for proteins having functional groups other than amines, such as free essential cysteine or tyrosine residues.
In order to overcome these and other disadvantages, alternative procedures, such as succinimidyl succinate derivatives of PEG (SS-PEG) have been introduced (Abuchowski, et al. 1984, supra, see Scheme 1, above). It reacts quickly with proteins (30 min) under mild conditions yielding active yet extensively modified conjugates use of this activated polymer has one major disadvantage. The ester linkage between the polymer and the succinic acid residue has limited stability in aqueous media [U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,417 to Iwasaki, et al. and Ulbrich, et al. Makromol Chem., 187, 1131-1144 (1986)].
Formation of urethane linkages between amino groups of a protein and PEG overcomes the problem of hydrolytic loss of the polymer chains [Veronese, et al., Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol. 11, 141-152 (1985)]. In fact, it was demonstrated on radioactively labeled PEG-derivatives that urethane links are completely stable under a variety of physiological conditions [Larwood & Szoka J., Labeled Compounds Radiopharm., 21, 603-614 (1984)]. The attachment of PEG to a protein via a carbamate derivative was accomplished [Beauchamp, et al. Analyt. Biochem. 131, 25-33 (1983)] using carbonyldiimidazole-activated PEG. However, the polymer activated in this manner is not very reactive and therefore long reaction times (48-72 hrs at pH 8.5) were required to achieve sufficient modifications. Therefore, the carbonyldiimidazole-activated agent clearly does not satisfy the first requirement noted above. An additional disadvantage of this approach is in the relatively high cost of carbonyldiimidazole.
Use of PEG-phenylcarbonate derivatives for preparation of urethane-linked PEG-proteins was reported [see Veronese, et al. (1985), supra]. The main drawback of this approach lies in the toxicity of the hydrophobic phenol residues (p-nitrephenol or 2, 4, 5-trichlorophenol) and their affinity for proteins. Clearly this method does not satisfy the second requirement noted above.
Each of the activated forms of the polymer has properties which can be considered advantageous or disadvantageous, depending on the system of use. In light of the many applications of PEG-polypeptides, it is desirable to broaden the arsenal of protein modifying PEG-reagents made for a specific end use.

Active carbonates of polyalkylene oxides for modification of polypeptides


There is disclosed a conductor having a conductive element and a covering surrounding at least a portion of the conductive element. Preferably, the covering has an inner portion and an outer portion formed of different materials such that the melting point of the inner portion is higher than the melting point of the outer portion. The conductor is particularly useful for forming heaters, which may be integrated into a seat of an automotive vehicle.

For many years, industry has been concerned with designing improved conductors for various articles and applications. As an example, industry has designed conductors suitable for integration into heaters, which may be employed in seats of automotive vehicles for providing heat to passengers within those vehicles. In the interest of continuing such innovation, the present invention provides a conductor, which may be suitable for various applications, but which has found particular utility in heaters that may be integrated within seats of automotive vehicles.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Covered conductor and heater formed therewith


A system for intelligently provisioning a distributed ledger technology (DLT) network may be configured to receive requests from authorized users to provision a DLT network based on a plurality of preset parameters. The system may further be configured to generate one or more script, using machine learning or other artificial intelligence algorithms, for provisioning the DLT network according to the preset parameters. One or more nodes in the DLT network can then execute the intelligently generated script to provision the DLT network as requested.

Within an enterprise, authorized users of the enterprise's systems frequently require use of customized DLT network in order to test, deploy, or otherwise implement various applications on individual nodes or across the given DLT network. At present, authorized users have to request certain resources in order to provision the DLT network required to test, deploy or implement the applications. Indeed, depending on the particular requirements for the DLT network, it may take several weeks in order to provision a DLT network according to the user's specifications. Therefore, a need exists for a system that can intelligently provision a DLT network according to the requirements provided by an authorized user. The present invention is directed at accomplishing this aim.

Distributed ledger technology network provisioner


Hard thread milling methods and equipment provide more precise alignment for a threadably retained component A fuel injector body with a cavity for a solenoid valve is processed by steps including heat treatment before milling threads and also milling a planar seal face to which the threads are located in precise perpendicularly so a high pressure fuel line can be reliably sealed.

Machinery such as diesel engines and their fuel systems have numerous components to be assembled with important locational requirements. Some engines have electronically controlled fuel injection systems that include a solenoid valve threadably secured in a cartridge cavity of a body.
Such a valve is for controlling fuel flow between two lines of respective high and low pressure with diesel fuel pulses at pressures extending to high levels such as about 20,000 pounds per square inch. Sealing of the valve in the cartridge cavity is important to maintain the required pressure difference. When such a valve is closed, high pressure fluid will seek any available avenue of escape circumventing the blocked flow path through the valve, including between the valve and the cavity wall. Characteristically, the cartridge cavity has a high pressure port in its bottom surface and a low pressure port in its longitudinal surface which is generally cylindrical. Fluid communication between those ports should occur only through the valve.
The practice has been to process a metal (e.g., alloy steel), forged, body for housing such a valve in a sequence of steps including: machining, by milling, internal threads on the cavity wall for securing the valve while the body is in its soft condition before heat treatment; heat treating the body, with the threads, to a desired degree of hardness; and, after the heat treatment, machining a precise seal face at the bottom of the cavity. The valve is to be placed in position with the high and low pressure ports of the cavity communicating with ports in the valve itself. Then, external threads on the valve are secured to the internal threads of the cartridge cavity. The valve has a surface for fitting against the seal face of the cavity, normally with a metal seal gasket therebetween. However if the valve is tilted in the cartridge cavity, even by a few degrees, adequate sealing can be lost. Placing, and maintaining, the valve with its center line in precise perpendicular position in relation to the seal face in the cavity is what is intended.
When threads are milled in steel before heat treatment, they can be formed quickly, economically and accurately by standard milling equipment. Subsequent heat treatment can, however, deform the threads to an extent that the alignment of the solenoid valve is thrown off of perpendicularity. Grinding or polishing the previously milled threads, after the heat treatment, may be needed to provide adequately aligned threads. On close inspection, the surfaces of the threads will show heat treat residue or scale and metal to metal galling.

Engine injector structure and hard thread milling method and apparatus for forming same


Apparatuses, methods, and computer-readable media for operating a scanning smoke detector are described herein. One apparatus a laser emitter configured to emit a beam of light, a rotational component configured to rotate the emitter such that the beam periodically scans across an area, and a light receiver configured to receive a reflected portion of the beam of light and determine a presence of smoke particles in the area based on the reflected portion. The smoke detection apparatus can be configured to operate at a first power level, decrease the beam to a second power level responsive to a determination that an object in the area is in a path of the beam, and increase the beam to the first power level responsive to a determination that the object is no longer in the path of the beam.

Smoke detection methods, devices, and systems can be implemented in indoor environments (e.g., buildings) or outdoor environments to detect smoke. As an example, a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) smoke detection system can utilize optical systems, such as laser beam emitters and light receivers, to detect smoke in an environment. Smoke detection can minimize risk by alerting users and/or other components of a fire control system of a fire event occurring in the environment.


Methods, apparatus and non-transitory machine-readable mediums are provided for wireless access in communications networks comprising radio access network nodes and wireless light communication network nodes. In one embodiment, a method is performed by a radio access network node for selecting a transmit or receive beam for communication with a wireless device in a communication network. The radio access network node comprises a plurality of antenna elements configurable to provide a plurality of transmit or receive beams. The communication network further comprises one or more wireless light communication, LC, network nodes. The method comprises: obtaining information identifying a wireless LC network node to which the wireless device is connected; based on the identified wireless LC network node, selecting a subset of the plurality of transmit or receive beams; and initiating a beam-sweeping procedure using the subset of transmit or receive beams to select a transmit or receive beam for communication with the wireless device.

Transmission points for wireless radio communication networks are increasingly being equipped with advanced antenna systems. These antenna systems increase the capacity and/or coverage of existing wireless systems by the addition of antenna arrays. This enables the use of beamforming techniques to increase the received signal strength for signals transmitted in and received from a particular direction. Wireless devices are similarly being provided with multi-antenna transceivers. Thus, they are also able to apply beamforming techniques to benefit from beamforming gain in particular directions both for transmitted and received signals.
In order to benefit from beamforming gains, therefore, a transmitting device, whether an Access Point (AP) or a wireless device, should determine an appropriate transmit beam (e.g., shape and/or direction) so as to transmit beams with higher gain in the direction of the receiving device. Similarly, a receiving device, whether an AP or a wireless device, should determine an appropriate receive beam (e.g., shape and/or direction) so as to receive beams with higher gain in the direction of the transmitting device.
This outcome is usually achieved through a process known as beamsweeping, in which the transmitting device transmits beams in all predefined directions, e.g., in a burst and/or at a regular interval. The receiving device performs measurements on those beams using all of its receiving beams, and reports the measurements to the transmitting device so that an appropriate transmit-receive beam pair can be determined. To be certain that the most appropriate beam pair is chosen, transmissions and corresponding measurements are performed for all possible transmit-receive beam pairs.
This selection of transmit-receive beam pairs may be performed as part of several different processes in the network. For example, the transmit-receive beam pair may be determined in the initial system access to the wireless radio communication network, during handover from one radio access point to another, after radio beam link failure, and/or during an on-going connection (e.g., to ensure that the optimal beam pair continues to be used over time). In the latter case, the beam pair may be re-determined periodically, or on an event-driven basis (e.g., in response to received signal quality or strength falling below a threshold).
To be certain that the most appropriate beam pair is chosen, transmissions and corresponding measurements are performed for all possible transmit-receive beam pairs. This can take a considerable amount of time, and involve considerable signalling overhead in the network. If the process could be made quicker or more efficient, radio resources would be freed up for other devices attempting to access the network.

Methods, apparatus and machine-readable mediums related to wireless access in communication networks


An arterial device, system and method are provided for use with a patient undergoing a cardiac procedure. The system is configured for enabling one or more arterial devices to be accommodated in the aorta of the patient in use of the system, and a perfusion lumen arrangement provides therethrough a target perfusion flow into the aorta having a target perfusion flow rate that is significantly greater than a nominal perfusion flow rate, by an excess perfusion flow rate. A suction lumen arrangement provides therethrough a suction flow out of the aorta at a suction flow rate. The target perfusion flow rate and the suction flow rate may be concurrently and selectively controlled to cause embolic debris that may be present in the aorta to be diverted to the suction inlet, while providing the nominal flow rate to the body circulation of the patient.

It is known that patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) during cardiac surgery (usually open heart surgery (in which the heart is opened with a cutting instrument), but sometimes also closed heart surgery (in which the heart is not opened with a cutting instrument)) run a risk of neurologic and neuropsychologic deficit, which are thought to be caused or exacerbated by some types of embolic debris that are known to be released into the aortic arch during cardiac surgery or CPB and are introduced into the cerebral circulation.
Various devices, systems and methods are known for use in CPB. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,689,149 discloses a balloon occlusion device for aspirating embolic material from a blood vessel, such as from the aorta during cardiac surgery. The device includes an arterial cannula having a proximal end adapted to receive blood from a bypass-oxygenator machine, a distal end adapted to enter an artery, and a blood flow lumen extending between the proximal end and an outlet on the distal end. The cannula has an aspiration port proximate to the outlet, which communicates with an aspiration lumen. The cannula also includes an inflatable balloon attached to the cannula between the outlet and the aspiration port and capable of assuming an inflated condition for occluding a blood vessel. To use the device, the distal end of the cannula is introduced into a blood vessel, such as the aorta, the outlet is oriented downstream for delivering blood, and the balloon is inflated to occlude the vessel. In operation, fluid may then be flushed into and aspirated out through the aspiration port to remove loose embolic material from the vessel upstream of the balloon. Optionally, the device may include a second deployable balloon for further occluding the vessel at a second location.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,726,651 discloses methods, systems and devices for performing cardipulmonary bypass (CPB), cardioplegic arrest, suction of fluid from the aorta to remove embolic or other fluid from the general circulation and the selective segmentation of the arterial system to perform differential perfusion eliminating hypoperfusion. An aortic catheter having an arch lumen which extends at least in part along the length of the catheter shaft has a proximal opening coupled to a CPB machine and a distal arch opening. A corporeal lumen extends at least in part along the length of the catheter shaft and has a proximal opening coupled to a CPB machine and a distal corporeal opening. A suction lumen extends at least in part along the length of the catheter shaft and has a proximal suction opening coupled to a suction source and a distal suction opening residing in the aortic lumen of a patient.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,905 discloses a method and apparatus used during cardiac surgery for reducing release of embolized air and particulate matter into general body circulatory system are disclosed. The method uses a catheter apparatus having an inflation lumen, an occlusive balloon, a suction lumen and a perfusion lumen. The catheter is inserted or navigated to into an aortic root and positioned so a suction opening communicates upstream of the aortic root and a perfusion opening communicates downstream of the suction opening. The patient's heart is stopped and the occlusive balloon is inflated to occlude the aorta. Cardiac surgery is performed and when the patient's heart is restarted the blood pumped by the heart during its first few contractions is suctioned through the suction opening.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,470,363 discloses a number of ultrasonic devices for preventing microbubbles and/or microparticles from reaching the brain during a percutaneous cardiological intervention (PCI) or cardiac surgery.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,724 discloses an aortic cannula having one tube for blood perfusion, and another tube for monitoring arterial pressure.

Arterial device, system and method for removing embolic debris


A support of a water dissolvable material is provided for the installation of windshields and other stationary safety glass in automotive vehicles. The support guides and mechanically holds the glass in position until adhesive previously applied to the periphery of the glass cures and permanently secures the glass in position in a window opening in the vehicle body. Subsequently, a solvent such as water naturally occurring or intentionally applied to the support causes it to dissolve and disappear so that it does not aid in creating vibration and resultant noise in the stationary glass during vehicle operation.

Prior to the present invention, adhesives have been employed to permanently secure safety glass in windshield openings and in back and side window openings as provided in the body work in vehicles. In many installations, special permanent glass supports of reinforced nylon or other tough plastics material have been employed as an aid in the initial support in the installation procedures involving stationary glass.
For example in the case of windshield installation, these permanent supports are secured to cowling, or other body components, at points just beneath the windshield opening so that an outwardly extending ledge is provided to contact and support the windshield at spaced locations along the lower peripheral edge thereof. This allows the windshield to be precisely located at a predetermined position so that it can be pressed inwardly to wet out and set the adhesive such as provided by a continuous bead of urethane applied around a previously primed edge of the windshield. Furthermore, the windshield is securely maintained in position by the supports while the adhesive cures and permanently fixes the windshield in a predetermined position. Thus, the adhesive generally isolates the window glass from body vibration such as might be generated by vehicle operation over a rough roadway.
The adhesive further provides a seal between the window opening and the windshield that effectively blocks the entry of wind, water and foreign matter into the interior of the vehicle. After the adhesive cures, the support serves no important function but cannot be readily or conveniently removed.
While permanent window glass mounting supports have met with good success as evidenced by wide spread acceptance and use, generation of objectionable vibration and noise are possible in some installations by a direct transfer of vibrations from the body panel to the window glass through the mounting support. Also, objectionable vibration and noise can be generated and transferred to the glass by indirect transfer through dirt or other foreign matter which collects between the lower edge of the windshield and an outwardly extending ledge of the permanent support. Lateral movements between the support's ledge and the edge of the window glass can transfer vibrations and noise, either directly or indirectly through the foreign matter.

Sacrificial stationary support for mounting safety glass in automotive vehicles and window installation method


An end portion of a webbing belt is attached to a metal base plate, in which a hole is formed. A projecting portion is formed at an inner edge of the hole which inner edge is at a side opposite a belt attachment portion. When tension is applied to the webbing belt, due to a fixed plate engaging with the projecting portion, a tensed portion of the metal base plate between the belt attachment portion and the hole extends and the projecting portion contracts in the direction of the tension. As a result, first strain gauges mounted to the tensed portion output a signal corresponding to extension, and second strain gauges mounted to the projecting portion output a signal corresponding to contraction. A tension detecting device detects the tension on the basis of a large difference in outputs of the first strain gauges and the second strain gauges.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tension detecting device which detects the tension of a belt such as, for example, a webbing belt structuring a seat belt device of a vehicle, or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Vehicles such as automobiles and the like are equipped with so-called seat belt devices which restrain, by an elongated, strip-shaped webbing belt, the body of a vehicle occupant who is seated in a seat. Further, vehicles are equipped with so-called air bag devices which, when the vehicle rapidly decelerates or the like, expand and unfold a bag body in front of the vehicle occupant seated in the seat, such that the bag body catches the body of the vehicle occupant which is attempting to move toward the front of the vehicle due to inertia.
Such seat belt devices are not only for use in restraining the body of a vehicle occupant. For example, there are cases in which the seat belt device is used to fix a child seat which is set on a seat and which is used for the seating of a child passenger.
When a child seat is fixed on a seat, it is preferable for the air bag device corresponding to the seat where the child seat is fixed to not deploy. Thus, usually, a switch for prohibiting deployment of an air bag device is provided at the vehicle. When a child seat is fixed to a seat, the driver operates the switch so as to prohibit deployment of the air bag device. However, in a structure having such a switch which is operated manually, the switch must be operated each time the child seat is installed or removed, and operation of the switch is bothersome.
Thus, detecting devices for automatically detecting the absence/presence of installation of a child seat and prohibiting deployment of the air bag device have been desired. A seat belt tension measuring system (hereinafter called "tension detecting device") is known which, on the basis of the tension applied to the webbing belt, detects whether or not a child seat is installed. (See, for example, US Patent Publication of Application No. 2002/0043795A1.)
Namely, in a seat belt device, in order to alleviate the constrained sensation of the vehicle occupant in the usual state in which the webbing is applied to him/her, the webbing loosely restrains the vehicle occupant, and the tension applied to the webbing belt is small. On the other hand, when a child seat is installed, in order to impede movement of the child seat itself due to the vehicle accelerating, the seat belt device strongly holds and restrains the child seat, and the tension applied to the webbing belt is great.
The tension detecting device disclosed in US Patent Publication of Application No. 2002/0043795A1 is applied to the above-described seat belt device. In order to detect the tension applied to the webbing belt, the tension detecting device is structured such that a strain gauge is mounted to a metal plate. One end portion of the metal plate is fixed to a structural member of the vehicle, whereas tension of the webbing belt is applied to the other end portion of the metal plate. The strain gauge is a full-bridge strain gauge having four grids. In accordance with the extension of the metal plate in the direction of tension due to the tension and the contraction in the direction orthogonal to the direction of tension, the strain gauge outputs a signal corresponding to the tension applied to the metal plate, i.e., to the webbing belt (namely, the strain gauge measures or detects the tension).
The tension detecting device outputs the signal corresponding to the tension to a control unit of the air bag device. The control unit prohibits operation of the air bag device when the signal (the tension of the webbing belt) exceeds a threshold value set in advance, i.e., when a tension value corresponding to a state in which a child seat is installed is inputted.
However, in a conventional tension detecting device such as that described above, the tension is detected on the basis of the extension of the metal plate in the direction of the tension (longitudinal strain) and the contraction in the direction orthogonal to the direction of the tension (lateral strain). In other words, the lateral strain which is smaller (determined by Poisson's ratio) than the longitudinal strain is used to detect the tension. Therefore, the difference in the outputs of the extension and the contraction (the difference in the amplitudes of the changes of the electrical resistance values) is small, and a problem arises in that the tension detecting sensitivity is poor.


Aspects of the disclosure relate to systems and methods for maintaining situational stability at a target location. The systems may include a database of machine-learning (“ML”)-derived event profiles. The systems may include a plurality of edge-nodes that are proximal to the target location. Each edge-node may generate a data stream of situational data pertaining to the target location. Each edge-node may transmit its data stream to the other edge-nodes. Each edge-node may conglomerate its own data stream with the data streams received from the other edge-nodes to create a conglomerated data stream. Each edge-node may monitor its conglomerated data stream for data that matches one of the event profiles. When a consensus is determined among the edge-nodes that a match occurred, the systems may execute a pre-determined response.

Many entities operate digital networks. Digital networks may include multiple node devices. Each node device may receive, generate, and/or transmit data. The data may be associated with the network.
The data accumulated (e.g., via the nodes) in the network may include valuable situational information. The situational information may be useful for real-time awareness of conditions and events within the entity. Awareness of conditions and events may be critical for appropriately responding to the conditions and events.
Data may accumulate in the network on a very large scale. Massive data accumulation may yield a rich and inclusive dataset. However, accumulating so much data may make it difficult to isolate and pinpoint meaningful situational information within the data.
Furthermore, many digital networks cull data from a number of disparate devices. The heterogeneous nature of data received from multiple sources may create an additional challenge in identifying, much less responding to, meaningful situational information within the data.
It would be desirable, therefore, to provide systems and methods for real-time situational awareness and responsiveness within digital systems.

Edge-computing-based forensic feedback architecture


The present invention relates to trisodium diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) prodrugs, such as, for example, DTPA di-ethyl esters. The invention further relates to compositions comprising DTPA prodrugs and methods of using the same.

The presence of metals, such as radioactive and/or non-radioactive metals, in an animal can be toxic to the body and/or cause negative health effects. Thus, removing such metals can be important to avoid or reduce toxicity to the animal.
Exposure to toxic metals can occur through environmental exposures. For example, an animal undergoing various medical procedures may be exposed to toxic metals. In addition, the United States and many other countries face increasing threats from terrorist groups with respect to the use of weapons of mass destruction against civilian populations. Of particular concern is that some of these groups are intensifying their efforts to acquire and develop nuclear and radiological weapons, and there are a limited number of therapies that can be offered to victims of nuclear terrorism.
Currently, the only agents that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as chelating agents for americium, curium and plutonium are the calcium and zinc salts of trisodium diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA). Transuranic radionuclides (i.e., those with an atomic number of 92 or greater), such as americium, curium and plutonium, can potentially be incorporated in radiation dispersal devices (RDDs; "dirty bombs"). The primary goal in treating those exposed to transuranic radionuclides is to chelate the transuranic radionuclides before they become fixed in tissues, such as the liver and bone, and enhance their elimination from contaminated individuals.

DTPA prodrugs, compositions thereof, and methods of using the same

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


A magnetic field generated by a primary winding (1) in which the current (i1) to be measured flows is balanced by a magnetic field of opposing direction generated by a secondary winding (2) in which a compensating current (i2) flows. The device includes a member (3) sensitive to the field resulting from the addition of the magnetic fields of opposing directions to regulate the compensating current (i2) in closed loop mode. According to the invention, the, sensitive member (3) is sensitive only to the direction of the resultant field and, in return, controls the reversal of the direction of circulation of the compensating current (i2) in the secondary winding (2). This sensitive member (3) can be formed by a Hall effect probe with bipolar output signal. The device is suitable for the measurement of a current inautomotive electronics.

Such devices are known, in particular from DE 196 42 472, DE 197 05 767, DE 197 05 768 and DE 199 19 602. In the devices of this type, balancing the magnetic fields generated by the two windings, primary and secondary formed on a common core of ferromagnetic material, involves interlocking the current powering the secondary winding with a zero value of the resultant magnetic field detected by the means sensitive to this field. When the resultant field is zero, the current to be measured and the current in the secondary winding are in inverse ratio to the number of turns of these windings. A measurement of the intensity of the current flowing in the secondary winding, carried out when the fields are in balance, can therefore be used to achieve the intensity of the current to be measured. Thus, perfect electrical insulation is ensured between the circuit in which the current to be measured is flowing and the circuit in which the balancing current is flowing.
In the devices of this type, the means sensitive to the resultant field is most commonly formed by a linear Hall effect probe, positioned in an airgap of the ferromagnetic core, for example. Such a probe delivers an electrical signal representative of both the direction and the intensity of the flux of the resultant field in the airgap. To detect cancellation of this flux, detection upon which the operation of the device depends, the signal is processed in a comparator and, with the help of a clock, a pulse width modulated signal can be formed, specifically to control the power supply of the secondary winding.
Drifts on such a device, due to thermal and mechanical stresses such as those routinely affecting electronic devices on board motor vehicles for example, must therefore be compensated by additional electronic means which add to the production cost of the device. A solution to this problem could be to use a linear, programmable Hall effect probe, which commonly incorporates means of providing the necessary compensations for thermal and/or mechanical drifts. This solution is, however, also hampered by the high cost of these programmable probes. It is therefore unsuitable for mass productions intended for a wide customer base, which need to be produced at the lowest possible costs, as in the case in particular of the electronic circuitry on board motor vehicles.

Device for measuring electric current intensity


The Chemical-agent Access and Neutralization System (CANS) of the present invention is a small, portable, single-use, disposable chemical treatment apparatus that is used to access and treat Chemical Agent Identification Set (CAIS) ampoules, bottles and/or containers that contain vesicant agents, or chemical warfare agents such as mustard or Lewisite. The apparatus and method of use of the present invention provides a resultant treatment residue that remains totally contained in the CANS treatment container and is safe for disposal. The CANS treatment container can be over packed into a Department of Transportation (DOT) certified shipping container, and shipped to permitted hazardous waste management facilities for ultimate disposal.

Over 160,000 chemical agent identification sets (CAIS) were produced between 1928 and 1969. These sets were used to train soldiers to identify chemical warfare agents in the field. Current law allows CAIS to be held without treatment at specific sites in the United States. However, state policies and public concern often preclude such storage.
A rapid response system (RRS) has been developed and used to receive, contain, characterize, monitor and treat recovered CAIS from burial sites. The purpose of the RRS was to provide safe and effective containment and disposal of the CAIS. The RRS included two trailers and a mobile analytical support platform (MASP) for analyzing the waste and treatment residues on the CAIS sites. The MASP also provided air quality management monitoring devices, alarms, impingers and protocol for recording contaminants in the air. Additional trailers have been used for support equipment and administrative offices. Once treated with the appropriate decontaminants, remaining neutralized materials are transported to a commercial waste treatment facility for ultimate disposal.
While the RRS system is beneficial for large CAIS recovery sites it has been cost prohibitive for smaller CAIS quantity sites. In addition, there is also a need to address emergency situations where quick reduction of agent contamination/hazard is imminently necessary to protect the public. Therefore, there is a need to rapidly reduce chemical warfare agent hazard associated with CAIS at smaller recovery sites and in emergency situations that is provided for by the present invention as described below.

Device and method for neutralizing chemical agents

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


An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier that carries an image; a charging section that electrically charges the image carrier; an exposure section that forms a latent image on the image carrier electrically charged by the charging section; a development section that develops the latent image formed by the exposure section on the image carrier by means of a liquid developer; a primary transfer section that transfers a image developed by the development section onto a transfer medium; a secondary transfer section that transfers a image transferred onto the transfer medium further onto a recording medium by pressing the transfer medium; and a variable transfer pressure application section that applies transfer pressure of a first level or of a second level at the secondary transfer section.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for forming a color image by superposing liquid developers of a plurality of different colors and a method of controlling an image forming apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for forming a color image on a transfer medium by repeatedly executing a transfer step of transferring a developed image formed on an image carrier onto an intermediate transfer medium such as an intermediate transfer belt for a plurality of liquid developers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various wet-developing image forming devices for developing a latent image by means of a high viscosity liquid developer prepared by dispersing solid toner into a liquid solvent to visualize an electrostatic latent image have been proposed. A developer to be used for such wet-developing image forming devices is prepared by suspending the solid component (toner particles) in an organic solvent (carrier liquid) of silicon oil, mineral oil, edible oil or the like that is electrically insulating and highly viscous. Toner particles are very fine and have a particle size of about 1 μm. Thus, wet-developing image forming devices can form high quality images if compared with dry-developing image forming devices designed to use powdery toner particles having a particle size of about 7 μm mainly because of such fine toner particles they employ.
While wet-developing image forming devices can produce high quality images because of fine toner particles they employ, it is known that their transfer efficiency shows temperature dependence so that it is believed that wet-developing image forming devices are less stable in terms of image forming performance if compared with dry-developing image forming devices. It is also known that optimum transfer conditions of a wet-developing image forming devices differ from recording medium to recording medium (coat paper, plain paper, etc.) onto which a toner image is transferred. The above-identified problems of wet-developing image forming devices designed to use liquid developers are described, for example, in JP-A-2000-275969. The patent document describes that those problems can be overcome by controlling the temperature of the transfer process.

Image forming apparatus and method of controlling image forming apparatus


The invention relates to a tube (1) having a neck (2) with a distribution orifice (3). The neck (2) being followed by a shoulder (4) and a flexible skirt (5) and, above the skirt (5). The neck (2) has an external, annular, tight fixing element (10, 30) for an external neck (27) by engagement and in that neck (2) which comprises two chambers (6, 7). The chambers are tight with respect to one another up to the distribution orifice (3). The first (6) communicating with the interior (8) of the skirt (5) of the tube (1) and the second (7) carrying through side window or windows (9). The invention also relates to the distributor obtained by engaging an external tube on the tube. It is used for the storage and distribution, without prior contact, of pairs of products in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food or cleaning industries.

Field of the Invention
The Present Invention relates to a tube and double wall distributor having said tube in its interior, the thus formed apparatus permitting the storage and distribution of two creamy or pasty products having to be kept separate up to the time of their distribution, e.g. two pharmaceutical products.
FR 655134 published in 1929 discloses a double wall tubular distributor for simultaneously distributing two or more pasty substances. According to a variant, said distributor is formed by an inner tube and an outer tube interconnected at the base of their necks, the communication between the two tubes for the simultaneous distribution of the two products taking place by means of orifices of the inner tube, located below the neck and in the upper part of the tube shoulder (drawing). The inner tube consequently has a neck with a distribution orifice, said neck being followed by a shoulder and a flexible skirt and above the latter one or more through side windows, the neck having an annular external means for the tight fixing of an external neck. In the apparatus obtained, whose internal and external tubes are fixed together by their necks, the side windows issue onto the annular gap between the two tubes.
By convention in the present application, the tubes are described with their tops or heads upwards, the longitudinal axis of each tube and/or the apparatus incorporating the same being assumed as vertical.
The aforementioned document gives no information on the method and procedure for assembling the two tubes and it relates to the distribution of at least two products mixed in the opening of the apparatus and in this case the neck of the internal tube.
The Applicant has aimed at developing a distributor of the double wall type able to keep separate two creamy or pasty products up to their distribution orifice, said tube being preferably easy to manufacture and adjust.

Tube and distributor incorporating the latter for storing and distributing two creamy or pasty products


A position detector senses an undulating pile tuft edge position of a carpet as it is processed in a carpet making machine by detecting attenuated light passing through the carpet's primary backing material to determine the exact position of the carpet's undulating pile tuft edge at any given time. Sensor signals from the detector are digitally filtered through one pole cascaded filters to produce an average pile edge position signal which, in turn, controls actuators for secondary and primary backing material guide rolls to not only center the carpet for aligned entry into the carpet machine's tenter, but also apply the secondary backing material to the primary backing material at a precise position.

In the manufacture of carpet, tufts of carpet fabric or yarn or pile (i.e., "pile tufts") are affixed by a needle tufting process to a primary backing material such as jute or a polyolefin material which can be characterized as loosely or tightly woven. The tufts may be woven into one backing material or, as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,568, may be woven into a sandwich formed between two spaced, parallel primary backing materials. The "sandwich" is subsequently cut down its center to form two carpets. Adhesive may be applied to the primary backing material to hold the tufts in their woven position. The tufts are woven by the needle tufting process into the primary backing material in staggered rows to avoid lines between the tufts showing in the finished carpet. Staggering the rows results in undulations or waves of pile tufts approaching and receding the straight width edge of the carpet, i.e., the primary backing material. While the undulations for any given carpet may be somewhat periodic since the tufting process is consistent, the undulations vary in amplitude and frequency or height and length from carpet to carpet. The pile tufts are woven into the primary backing material so that an end width space is typically left between the undulating carpet pile edge and the straight edge of the primary backing material.
A secondary backing material, typically a latex secondary backing coated with an adhesive or a thermoplastic coated scrim, is then attached to the primary backing material and the carpet with its primary and secondary backing material is applied or stretched onto the pins of a tenter. Those pins typically catch the primary backing material in the width end space between the undulating carpet pile tuft edge and the width edge of the primary backing material. As the carpet is heated while it travels the length of the tenter, the adhesive dries and the backing material, especially the secondary backing material, shrinks to increase the density of the pile tufts (as explained in U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,763) while the tenter stretches the carpet to avoid carpet curl so that the carpet will lie flat when installed. The carpet edges are then trimmed to standard commercial carpet widths and wound onto rolls for transport.
It is appreciated that the stretching and drying operation performed by the tenter is critical to a high speed process forming a continuous longitudinally extending carpet. The carpet must be accurately aligned so that it can be consistently gripped by the tenter pins at the proper position to not only prevent line downtime but to also assure a properly constructed carpet. It is important then that the secondary backing material underlie the tufts of the carpet. Accordingly, the secondary backing material is supplied in widths at dimensions in excess of the pile tuft width to make sure the secondary backing material underlies the pile tufts even if the excess extends to the tenter pins gripping the primary backing material. The excess width of the secondary backing material is subsequently trimmed and discarded as scrap resulting in a more expensive carpet than what is otherwise required.
Photoelectric devices have been used to detect the straight edge position of the carpet and adjust the carpet position accordingly. U.S. Pat. No. 4,222,809 shows the use of photoelectric devices to sense opposite straight side edges of the outer covering of a foam backed carpet which are used to make adjustments to the carpet guiding mechanism to assure positioning of the opposed fabric edges of the outer covering into the tenter (the foam backing being applied in a subsequent step). The photoelectric device works in a conventional manner to determine the straight edge of the carpet's outer covering by determining the position where light passes unimpeded to a sensor. In jute backed carpets of the type to which this invention relates, it is believed similar detector devices have been used to determine the straight edge position of the primary backing material. Such arrangements assure centering of the carpet between outside edges of the primary backing material so that the carpet can be fed in an aligned manner into the tenter to minimize tenter downtime. They do not address centering of the carpet by the pile tufts so that unnecessary scraps of the secondary backing material can be alleviated nor do they tend to enhance the consistent performance of the tenter which would otherwise occur if the pile and not the carpet edges were centered in the tenter.

The North American Manufacturing Company


A radial piston pump for generation of high fuel pressures in fuel injection systems comprises a pump housing, a pump shaft and at least one cylinder insert, arranged radially to the pump shaft. A cylinder chamber is located within the cylinder insert in which a piston can move back and forth. The cylinder insert is connected with a front face to a flattening of the pump housing, by connecting means. The cylinder insert comprises an inlet port and a high pressure port. The front face of the cylinder insert and/or the flattening of the pump housing comprise precisely machined raised sealing regions for sealing the cylinder insert against the pump housing, which are relatively small in relation to the total front face of the cylinder insert and the total flattening of the pump housing. A high surface pressure is thus achieved in the sealing region.

DE 198 41 642 C2 discloses a high pressure fuel pump comprising a pump housing and several cylinder heads designed as cylinder inserts. Each cylinder insert is fixed in the pump housing via a spigot. An inlet line leads from the pump housing into the cylinder head. The fuel flows from the inlet line via an inlet valve into the cylinder chamber where it is compressed and finally flows, via a high pressure valve and a high pressure line, back to the pump housing, from where it flows to a common high pressure storage tank, the so-called common rail. An O-ring is arranged between the cylinder insert and the pump housing. The cylinder insert has a groove to accommodate the O-ring seal. The insertion of the O-ring requires a high assembly cost and it is easily possible for the O-ring to be positioned wrongly in the groove. When the cylinder insert is screwed in place, the O-ring is squashed between the sealing faces of the two components and is thus damaged, thereby allowing fuel to flow out of the high pressure fuel pumps.


An air cell comprising a cell container, a gas diffusion electrode which uses oxygen as an active material, and an air-inlet opening for communication with air outside the container. A porous film is provided to support the gas diffusion electrode, and an air-diffusing porous sheet impregnated with film-forming silicone is provided between the porous film and the air-inlet opening.

The present invention relates to air cells, and, more particularly, to an air cell having a porous sheet improved so that it shows a satisfactory discharging performance even after a long period of storage.
In batteries which are provided with a gas diffusion electrode and which use oxygen as an active material, there is provided a fuel cell and an air cell; those cells will be hereinafter called "air cells". In an air cell that uses an alkaline solution or neutral solution as electrolyte, particularly, vapor enters and leaves through the gas diffusion electrode (oxygen electrode) in accordance with a change in the internal vapor pressure. This vapor action changes the concentration and volume of the electrolysis solution in the cell, affecting various characteristics of the cell.
The above situation will now be explained referring to a button type air cell shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, reference numeral "1" denotes a gas diffusion electrode which is an oxygen electrode (air electrode), and reference numeral "2" is a porous film which supports the gas diffusion electrode 1, both made of polytetrafluoroethylene that diffuses gas but shuts off a liquid. Reference numeral "3" denotes an air-diffusing porous sheet, reference numeral "4" an air-inlet hole, reference numerals "5" and "6" separators, reference numeral "7" a zinc negative electrode, reference numeral "8" a negative container, reference numeral "9" an insulated gasket, and reference numeral "10" a positive container.
A potassium hydroxide solution with a concentration of 30 to 35% is typically used as the alkali electrolysis solution. If the relative humidity is higher than 47 to 59%, therefore, the electrolysis solution absorbs outside moisture, lowering its concentration and expanding its volume. This reduces the discharging performance and causes the electrolysis solution to leak. If the relative humidity is less than 47%, on the other hand, the electrolysis solution is vaporized, increasing the internal resistance and lowering the discharging performance. As air cells are likely to be significantly affected by the environmental conditions, they do not have an excellent characteristic for long storage and are designed just for a certain field accordingly. The air cells must surmount this problem to achieve a variety of applications.
To overcome those shortcomings, various measures have been taken. For instance, a material that reacts with the electrolysis solution is inserted to the portion of the peripheral portion of the air hole to prevent the electrolysis solution from leaking outside the cell. Alternatively, an electrolysis-solution absorbing member, such as paper, or a nonwoven fabric made of a polymer material, is provided to prevent the electrolysis solution from leaking outside the cell. Further, the air hole is made very small to restrict the amount of the oxygen supply, thereby inhibiting vapor or carbon dioxide gas from permeating the cell. None of those methods can accomplish either a sufficient performance to prevent the leakage of the electrolysis solution or a sufficient discharging performance, particularly, a satisfactory long-discharging performance.
The main causes for such leakage or evaporation of the electrolysis solution are the dilution and volume expansion of the electrolysis solution due to the vapor in the air permeating the cell, and the inhibition of the discharge reaction and blocking of the air passage by the production of a carbonate from the carbon dioxide gas. When the outside humidity is low, flying off of water in the electrolysis solution reduces the aforementioned performances. Proposed solutions to eliminate these problems include a method of supplying air to the oxygen electrode via a film which suppresses the permeation of vapor or carbon dioxide gas to ensure selective permeation of oxygen by priority over it, e.g., via a non-porous uniform thin film of a polysiloxane type material, and a method of using a composite film consisting of a thin film of a polyorganosiloxane copolymer and an alkali resistant, minute-porous film, or a composite film consisting of a thin film of metal oxide or an organic compound containing metal atoms and a proper porous film.
However, those methods cannot yield selective oxygen permeability or sufficiently inhibit the permeation of vapor or carbon dioxide gas, so that air cells showing a satisfactory discharge characteristic have heretofore not been realized.


This invention relates to an image reproduction apparatus for performing video signal processing by utilizing a plurality of DSPs. A digital video signal is supplied to a DSP signal processor constituted by combining the plurality of DSPs, and programs to be supplied to the plurality of DSPs are time-divisionally switched on the basis of a transmission timing of the video signal, so that the DSP signal processor can execute a plurality of systems of processing operations, and many functions can be added without increasing a circuit scale.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image reproduction apparatus utilizing a plurality of DSPs (digital signal processors) and, more particularly, to an image reproduction apparatus which can efficiently perform various signal processing operations using a smaller number of DSPs.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known, a conventional image reproduction apparatus, e.g., a television receiver, a video tape recorder, and the like performs various signal processing operations by arranging special-purpose circuits for the corresponding processing operations. For example, in a conventional television receiver added with a ghost cancel function, a section for performing reproduction processing of video and voice signals, and a section for performing ghost cancel processing are independently arranged as special-purpose hardware units. For this reason, when a teletext receiving function, for example, is to be added in addition to the ghost cancel function, a hardware unit exclusively used for the teletext receiving processing is required. More specifically, in the conventional image reproduction apparatus, blocks for executing signal processing operations are required in units of functions, and as the number of functions is increased, a circuit scale is undesirably increased.

Image reproduction apparatus with plural program processing


A skin observing apparatus capable of observing the skin texture, blotches caused from subcutaneous pigmentation and skin roughness caused from keratin abrasion by a single unit of image pick-up device without using a polarization plate for observing blotches or consumption articles such as a keratin sampling seal, the apparatus including an image pick-up head having an view hole to be in contact with a skin and, provided inside the image pick-up device, an image pick-up device for picking-up images of the skin through the view hole, and an illumination system comprising three systems, that is, a texture observing illumination system for irradiating a white light to the view hole along the image pick-up light axis (X), a keratin abrasion observing illumination system for irradiating a white light to the view hole from the lateral direction thereof, and a subcutaneous pigment observing illumination system for irradiating a UV-light to the view hole.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a skin observing apparatus including an image pick-up head having a view hole formed at the top end thereof, and an image pick-up device for picking-up images of a skin through the view hole in a state of bringing the top end thereof into contact with the skin, and an illumination system for irradiating an illumination light to the skin, the image pick-up device and the illumination system being provided inside the image pick-up head.
2. Statement of the Related Art
Recently, various measuring instruments and diagnostic instruments have been introduced for sales promotion of cosmetics not only in the sales floors of department stores but also in cosmetics stores in shopping areas.
Among them, illumination-incorporated observing apparatus have become important tools for sales promotion since the apparatus can magnify skins at a high magnification ratio, display textures formed of fine twilled ridges running lengthwise, crosswise and slantwise, blotches caused by subcutaneous pigmentation, etc. on a monitor and enable explanation for the situations of skins to customers while presenting video images.
By the way, in a case of observing the texture by an illumination-incorporated type image pick-up apparatus, illumination light irradiated to the surface of a skin and reflected directly therefrom is mainly picked-up.
Further, in a case of observing blotches, a polarization plate located on the side of a light source and another polarization plate located on the side of the image pick-up device are situated in a cross nicol state, and an indirect reflection light from the inside of the skin is mainly picked-up while cutting the direct reflection light from the skin surface, so that blotches can be picked-up distinctly.
Accordingly, the texture as the surface condition of the skin and blotches caused by subcutaneous pigment can be observed respectively by selectively switching an illumination system providing direct reflection and an illumination system providing indirect reflection, or by changing the direction of the polarization plates disposed in one identical illumination system (refer to Japanese Patent No. 3007978).
However, in a case of observing blotches, at least two polarization plates have to be used and one of them has to be situated always on the axis of the image pick-up light of the image pick-up device.
Accordingly, even in a case of not requiring the use of the polarization plate, a light incident to the image pick-up device transmits through at least one polarization plate to result in a problem that the amount of the illumination light can not be utilized effectively.
While such a problem can be avoided by advancing or retracting the polarization plate to and from the axis of the image pick-up light, this needs a complicate advancing/retracting mechanism for the polarization plate, to leave a problem that the size of the apparatus is inevitably enlarged.
Further, in a case of observing the abraded state of keratin as an index of skin roughness, a disposable keratin sampling seal coated with an adhesive has been adhered on the surface of a skin to sample keratin and the amount of the sampled keratin has been judged by optical measurement.
However, the amount of sampling differs depending on the way of adhering the keratin sampling seal, strength of adhesion, releasing speed and way of releasing conducted by cosmetic make-up stuffs.
Further, in a case of confirming the effect of cosmetics, the effect of the cosmetics can not be confirmed by sampling keratin after the use of the cosmetics from an area identical with the area from which the keratin was sampled before use. Accordingly, it is necessary to sample keratin from another area. However, since it can not be assured whether the two areas suffer from identical extent of skin roughness, comparison of data between them has no meaning to leave a problem that the effect can not be confirmed.
Further, since the keratin sampling seal is a consumption article, if it happens to be out of stock, measurement is not possible.


An integrated circuit substrate includes an integrated circuit chip having a plurality of electrically conductive pads on a surface thereof and a printed circuit board mounted to the integrated circuit chip. The printed circuit board includes an alternating arrangement of first and second electrically conductive bond fingers. These first and second bond fingers are elevated at first and second different heights, respectively, relative to the plurality of electrically conductive pads. The printed circuit board also includes a first plurality of electrically insulating pedestals supporting respective ones of the first electrically conductive bond fingers at elevated heights relative to the second electrically conductive bond fingers. First and second pluralities of electrical interconnects (e.g., wires, beam leads) are also provided. The first plurality of electrical interconnects operate to electrically connect first ones of the plurality of electrically conductive pads to respective ones of the first electrically conductive bond fingers. The second plurality of electrical interconnects electrically connect second ones of the plurality of electrically conductive pads to respective ones of the second electrically conductive bond fingers.

Integrated circuit chips having a two-dimensional array of pads (e.g., input/output pads) thereon may be electrically connected to printed circuit boards using conventional flip-chip bonding techniques. These bonding techniques may employ solder bumps (a/k/a "solder balls" or "solder bonds") connected to each of a plurality of the pads in the two-dimensional array. However, flip-chip bonding techniques are not suitable for all chip-to-board interconnect applications. For example, wire bonding techniques may be used to electrically interconnect printed circuit boards to integrated circuit chips having contact pads thereon that are closely arranged along a periphery (e.g., sides) or other contact region therein. But, as the degree of integration increases within integrated circuit chips, the spacing between adjacent contact pads may decrease as the number of contact pads increases to support the higher integration. Unfortunately, the reduced spacing between adjacent contact pads may result in an unacceptable increase in device failure caused by electrical shorting between adjacent wire bonds contacting adjacent contact pads. To address this potential reduction in device reliability, wire bonds of different length may be used to contact pads having a greater spacing therebetween. However, the use of wire bonds of different length may cause a deterioration in the electrical characteristics of the chip by causing, among other things, non-uniform signal delay between pads generating and receiving synchronized data and signals.

Integrated circuit devices having printed circuit boards therein with staggered bond fingers that support improved electrical isolation


A process for manufacturing a composite material part including a particulate reinforcement densified by a ceramic matrix, the process including: formation of a blank of the part to be manufactured by shaping a mixture including a binder, first ceramic or carbon particles intended to form the particulate reinforcement of the part and second ceramic or carbon particles distinct from the first particles, removal or pyrolysis of the binder present in the blank to obtain a porous preform of the part to be manufactured, and infiltration of the porosity of the preform by a molten composition including a metal in order to obtain the part.

The present invention relates to the general field of processes for manufacturing parts made of ceramic matrix composite material.
Ceramic matrix composite materials (CMC), known for their good mechanical properties that make them suitable for use as structural elements and for maintaining these properties at high temperatures, are a viable alternative to traditional metal parts. Their reduced mass compared to their metallic equivalent makes them the ideal choice to respond to the problems of increasing efficiency and reducing polluting emissions from engines in the aeronautical field.
CMC parts can comprise a generally continuous fibrous reinforcement in the form of a woven textile, which is densified by a ceramic matrix. The fibrous reinforcement thus comprises continuous long fibers, the orientation of which can be adapted to the main directions of stress of the part during use. The preform to form the fiber reinforcement is woven from the continuous fibers to the dimensions of the part (for example by two- or three-dimensional weaving) using a suitable loom. The weaving step is a long and expensive process, which is not optimal for making small parts.
There is therefore a need for a process for manufacturing a ceramic matrix composite part that is easier to implement and less expensive to manufacture small parts.

Method for producing a composite part containing a ceramic matrix

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE


Stable solutions of bromonitromethane are prepared and shown to be useful as an antimicrobial in a broad spectrum of applications. Bromonitromethane is applied using a stable aqueous solution or is generated from products which act as bromonitromethane donors. Bromonitromethane solutions are stabilized by the addition of a mineral acid.

Nonoxidizing antimicrobials are useful in many industrial systems including water systems, pulp and paper manufacturing, metal working fluid preservation, latex paint preservation, wood preservation, cosmetics preservation, and oil field and institutional hard-surface disinfection. However, despite the many commercially available nonoxidizing antimicrobials, none are entirely suitable for every application due to issues relating to efficacy, safety, environmental acceptability and cost.
Compounds containing gem bromonitro functionality have been shown to possess antimicrobial activity. The simplest of those compounds, bromonitromethane is reported to possess antimicrobial activity, but is also known to be unstable and unsuitable for commercial use. For example, Clark et al., in "Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of Aliphatic Nitro Compounds" state: "Bromonitromethane . . . inhibited all the organisms . . . but gave inconsistent results. This was attributed to the volatility of the compound, and it was not tested further." See, Clark et al., 17 J. Med. Chem. 977-81 (1974).
It can be seen from the above that the prior art has failed to develop practical application technology for the use of bromonitromethane as an effective industrial nonoxidizing biocide. A need therefore exists for stable solutions of bromonitromethane that can be used as antimicrobial agents against a broad spectrum of bacteria, algae and fungi. The present invention addresses that need.

Stabilized solutions of bromonitromethane and their use as biocides


Method and systems provide improved cell handling in microfluidic systems and devices using lateral cell trapping and methods of fabrication of the same that allow for selective low voltage electroporation and electrofusion.

The discussion of any work, publications, sales, or activity anywhere in this submission, including in any documents submitted with this application, shall not be taken as an admission that any such work constitutes prior art. The discussion of any activity, work, or publication herein is not an admission that such activity, work, or publication existed or was known in any particular jurisdiction.
Handling, characterization, and visualization of individual cells has become increasingly valued in the fields of drug discovery, disease diagnoses and analysis, and a variety of other therapeutic and experimental work. However, few high-resolution methods exist to control and manipulate the biochemical nature of a single cell's interior; yet roughly 90% of the cell's biologically active structures, such as intracellular proteins, are located within the confines of the cell membrane. The cell membrane serves as an effective barrier between the cytoplasm and the outside world and, as such, is relatively impermeable to most ionic and polar substances.
One way to and access the cell's interior is by temporarily increasing the cell membrane's permeability. This can be accomplished via electroporation, a technique using high electric fields to induce structural rearrangements of the cell membrane. Pores are formed when the transmembrane potential exceeds the dielectric break-down voltage of the membrane (about 0.2-1.5V). Material such as polar substances other-wise impermeant to the plasma membrane (such as dyes, drugs, DNA, proteins, peptides, and amino acids) can thus be introduced into the cell.
In the early 1980s, Eberhard Neumann et al. demonstrated the feasibility of electroporation for delivering DNA to a population of mammalian cells. Since then, methods of bulk electroporation has become a standard technique routinely used to simultaneously transfect millions of cells in culture. However, bulk electroporation requires very high voltages (>103V) and has little control over the permeabilization of individual cells, resulting in suboptimal parameters. Reversible electroporation, in which the pores can reseal, is therefore difficult.
While single cell electroporation has been hoped to have advantages over bulk methods, practical systems or methods for single cell electroporation have generally been less commonly used than bulk methods. Lundqvist et al. first demonstrated single cell electroporation using carbon fiber microelectrodes in 1998. To induce electroporation, they placed the microelectrodes 2-5 microns away from adherent progenitor cells. Other single cell electroporation techniques developed since include: electrolyte-filled capillaries, micropipettes, and microfabricated chips.
In 2001, Huang et al. introduced a microfabricated single cell electroporation chip. In 2002, Nolkrantz et al. demonstrated functional screening of intracellular proteins by using electroporation to introduce fluorogenic enzyme substrates and receptor ligands into single cells.
Chip-based cellular handling devices have been proposed using silicon oxide coated nitride membranes, silicon elastomers, polyimide films, quartz or glass substrates. Recently, three dimensional structures more similar to patch pipettes have also been fabricated. Some earlier chip-based devices developed to date generally use a horizontal geometry where the patch pore is etched in a horizontal membrane dividing the top cell compartment from the recording electrode compartment.
The following are incorporated herein by reference to provide background.    1. J. A. Lundqvist, F. Sahlin, M. A. Aberg, A. Strimberg, P. S. Eriksson and O. Orwar, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 95, 10356-10360 (1998).    2. K. Nolkrantz, C. Farre, A. Brederlau, I. D. Karlsson, C. Brennan, P. S. Eriksson, S. G. Weber, M. Sandberg and O. Orwar, Anal. Chem.,73(18), 4469-4477(2001).    3. K. Haas, W. C. Sin, A. Javaherian, Z. Li and H. T. Cline, Neuron, 29, 583-591 (2001).    4. Y. Huang and B. Rubinsky, Sens. Actuators, A, 89, 242-249 (2001).    5. T. Y. Tsong, Biophysical Journal, 1991, 60, 297-306.    6. J. C. Weaver, J.Cell Biochem, 2002, 51,426-435.    7. J. L. Rae, R. A. Levis. Eur J Physiol.2002,443,664-670.    8. I. G. Abidor, V. B. Arakelyan, L. V. Chernomordik, Y. A Chizmadzhec, V. F. Patushenko, M. R. Tarasevich, Bioelectrochem. Bioenerg. 1979, 6, 37-52.    9. J. C. Weaver and K. T. Powell, in "Electroporation and Electrofusion in Cell Biology" (Neumann,E., Sowers, A., Jordan C, eds.) pp 111-126. Plenum Press. New York.    10. Weaver, J. C., and Mintzer, R. A. Decreased bilayer stability due to transmembrane potentials. Phys Lett., 1981, 86A, 57-59.    11. E.Neumann, M. Schaefer-Ridder, Y. Wang, P. H. Hofschneider,EMBO J, 1982,1,841-845.    12. D. C. Chang, B. M. Chassy, J. A. Saunders, A. E. Sowers, "Guide to Electroporation and Electrofusion". Academic Press, Inc. 1992. San Diego.    13. K. Nolkrantz, C. Farre, A. Brederlau, R., I. D. Karlsson, C. Brennan, P. S. Eriksson, S. G. Weber, M.Sandberg, O. Orwar, O. Anal. Chem, 2001; 73(18); 4469-4477.    14. J. Seo, C. Ionescu-Zanetti, J. Diamond, J., R. La, L. P. Lee, Applied Physics Letter,2004, 84,11:1973-1975.    15. E. Neumann, K. Toensing, S. Kakorin, P. Budde, and J. Frey, Biophys J, 1998, 74, 98-108.    16. D. Needham and R. M. Hochmuth, Biophys J., 1989, 55, 100 1-1009.    17. J. Akinlaja and F. Sachs, Biophys J., 1998, 75, 247-254.

Method and apparatus for integrated cell handling and measurements

The Regents of the University of California


A system and method for sharing playlists within a network includes a first storage device having a first playlist comprising first playlist data corresponding to stored content and a second storage device having a second playlist comprising second playlist data corresponding to stored content. The system also includes an aggregation server in communication with the first storage device and the second storage device that receives the first playlist and the second playlist. The aggregation server aggregates the first playlist data and the second playlist data to form an aggregated playlist having aggregated playlist data and forms an index list corresponding to the aggregated playlist. A first aggregation client is in communication with the aggregation server and receives the index list from the aggregation server.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Satellite television has become increasingly popular due to the wide variety of content and the quality of content available. A satellite television system typically includes a set top box that is used to receive the satellite signals and decode the satellite signals for use on a television. The set top box typically has a memory associated therewith. The memory may include a digital video recorder or the like as well as storage for the operating code of the set top box. Because of the numerous components associated with the set top box, the set top box for each individual television is relatively expensive.
A satellite television or cable television system has a set top box associated with a television or display. The set top box is used to decode and process the signals. The set top box may also include a storage device, such as digital video recorder that stores content for later viewing. A list of content that is available from a set top box is referred to as a playlist. Typically, each set top box can only play content to the television or display associated with the set top box.
In more recent systems, a net work or pseudo-network may allow content from one set top box to be displayed or played back through another set top box. One problem associated therewith is providing the other set top boxes with information available from the other set top boxes without unduly burdening the network.

Method and system for sharing playlists for content stored within a network


A fracturing material for supporting a bore hole, the fracturing material comprising a hardenable support material, and fibers embedded in the support material.

US 2007/0209795 discloses that lightweight polyamide particulates may be used in treatment of subterranean formations, including hydraulic fracturing and sand control methods, such as gravel packing. The polyamide particulates typically have an apparent specific gravity (ASG) between from about 1.05 to about 2.0 and are stable at temperatures up to 500° C. The polyamide particulates may be used in combination with a filler which further serves to increase the strength and temperature stability of the resulting composite. Fracture conductivity may be increased by the placement of the low density polyamide particulates as a partial monolayer.
US 2008/0196628 discloses a method which includes placing a cement composition in a subterranean formation, wherein the cement composition includes cement, rock-forming mineral materials, and water, and permitting the cement composition to set therein. A disclosed composition includes cement, rock-forming mineral materials and water.
WO 2007/035707 discloses a well cement composition for plugging a bore at the location for initiating sidetracking to bore a lateral well is formulated as a slurry of hydraulic cement that contains at least two, but preferably all three of the following additives: (1) a source of silicon dioxide, (2) fracturing proppants and (3) an expansion compound selected from the group consisting of 1%-5% crystalline silica and 60%-99% MgO or CaO, and their mixtures.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,007,523 discloses a system for treating wells in which a formation fracturing process is carried out.
Hydraulic fracturing is a process that results in the creation of fractures in rocks. An important industrial use of hydraulic fracturing is stimulating oil and gas wells. The fracturing is done from a bore hole (wellbore) drilled into reservoir rock formations to enhance oil and natural gas recovery. Hydraulic fractures may be natural or man-made and are extended by internal fluid pressure which opens the fracture and causes it to grow into the rock. Man-made fluid-driven fractures are formed at depth in a bore hole and extend into targeted rock formations. The fracture width is typically maintained after the injection by introducing a fracturing material (proppant) into the injected fluid. Fracturing materials prevents the fractures from closing when the injection is stopped. The technique of hydraulic fracturing is used to increase or restore the rate at which fluids, such as oil, gas or water, can be produced from a reservoir, including reservoirs such as shale rock or coal beds.
Hydraulic fracturing enables the production of natural gas and oil from rock formations deep below the earth's surface. At such depth, there may not be sufficient permeability to allow natural gas and oil to flow from the rock into the well bore and be recovered. For example, creating conductive fractures in the rock is essential to produce gas from reservoirs with extremely low permeability (e.g. shale reservoirs). The fracture provides a conductive path connecting a larger area of the reservoir to the well, thereby increasing the area from which natural gas and liquids can be recovered from the targeted formation.
Conventionally used fracturing fluid is formed of suspended particles in a carrier fluid and is used to hold fractures open after a hydraulic fracturing treatment, thus producing a conductive pathway that fluids can properly flow along. Naturally occurring grain minerals or man-made material (e.g. ceramics) are common proppants used.
However, conventional fracturing material is only of limited value in formations in which an exploitation fluid (such as oil or gas) is included only in small gaps or small quantity within the formation.


According to some method embodiments, a left pulmonary artery electrode is positioned in a left pulmonary artery, and the left pulmonary artery electrode is used to sense atrial activity, or capture cardiac tissue, or deliver neural stimulation. According to some method embodiments, a right pulmonary artery electrode is positioned in a right pulmonary artery and a left pulmonary artery electrode is positioned in a left pulmonary artery, the right pulmonary artery electrode is used to sense atrial activity, or capture cardiac tissue, or deliver neural stimulation, and the left pulmonary artery electrode is used to sense atrial activity, or capture cardiac tissue, or deliver neural stimulation.

Implantable cardiac devices have been developed in order to treat a number of cardiac disorders. A pacemaker, for example, is a device which paces the heart with timed pacing pulses. A pacemaker can be used to treat bradycardia where the ventricular rate is too slow. Atrio-ventricular conduction defects (i.e., AV block) and sick sinus syndrome represent common causes of bradycardia for which permanent pacing may be indicated. If functioning properly, the pacemaker makes up for the heart's inability to pace itself at an appropriate rhythm to meet metabolic demand by enforcing a minimum heart rate. Implantable devices may also be used to treat cardiac rhythms that are too fast, with either anti-tachycardia pacing or the delivery of electrical shocks to terminate atrial or ventricular tachyarrhythmia/fibrillation.
Implantable devices have also been developed that affect the manner and degree to which the heart chambers contract during a cardiac cycle in order to promote the efficient pumping of blood. The heart pumps more effectively when the chambers contract in a coordinated manner, a result normally provided by the specialized conduction pathways in both the atria and the ventricles that enable the rapid conduction of excitation (i.e., depolarization) throughout the myocardium. These pathways conduct excitatory impulses from the sino-atrial node to the atrial myocardium, to the atrio-ventricular node, and thence to the ventricular myocardium to result in a coordinated contraction of both atria and both ventricles. This both synchronizes the contractions of the muscle fibers of each chamber and synchronizes the contraction of each atrium or ventricle with the contralateral atrium or ventricle. Without the synchronization afforded by the normally functioning specialized conduction pathways, the heart's pumping efficiency is greatly diminished. Pathology of these conduction pathways and other inter-ventricular or intra-ventricular conduction deficits can be a causative factor in heart failure, which refers to a clinical syndrome in which an abnormality of cardiac function causes cardiac output to fall below a level adequate to meet the metabolic demand of peripheral tissues.
Neural stimulation has been the subject of a number of studies and has been proposed for several therapies. The autonomic system controls physiological activities of the body and the imbalance of autonomic tone is related to many diseases and conditions. Vagus nerve stimulation has been proposed to treat sleep disorders, gastrointestinal motility, eating disorders, obesity, anorexia, gastrointestinal tract disorders, hypertension, coma, and epilepsy. Direct electrical stimulation of parasympathetic nerves can activate the baroreflex, inducing a reduction of sympathetic nerve activity and reducing blood pressure by decreasing vascular resistance. In a CHF patient, the patient's sympathetic tone increases and catecholamine increase, causing sudden cardiac death. Vagus nerve stimulation may antagonize sympathetic tone, and may prevent sudden cardiac death. The vagal stimulation counteracts the high sympathetic tone associated with CHF, resulting in a decreased heart rate, reduced oxygen demand, increased diastolic period, and reduced incidence of ventricular arrhythmia. A decrease in the sympathetic tone decreases the excitability of the heart, which decreases arrhythmias. Modulation of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system with neural stimulation has been shown to have positive clinical benefits, such as protecting the myocardium from further remodeling and predisposition to fatal arrhythmias following a myocardial infarction.

Systems for using a pulmonary artery electrode


A quickly deployable tripod is comprised of a helmet unit formed at the top thereof, a ball unit connected inside the helmet unit, a yoke unit connected at the bottom of the ball unit, and a plurality of the leg units connected to the yoke unit. The helmet unit is configured to fix an object thereon. The ball unit is configured to adjust orientation of the helmet unit. The yoke unit is configured to adjust position of the plurality of leg units. And the plurality of the leg units is configured to adjust orientation thereof respectively.

The accuracy of the shot is one of the most important factors in the use of personal rifles and firearms in combat. However, it is practically difficult to install a mechanism to support the firearm in this kind of urgent situation. Usually, the weight of the firearm is supported by the soldier's body, which reduces the shot accuracy, especially for a long-range target.
In practice, shooting sticks, mono-, bi-, and tri-pods etc., have been devised so as to secure the firearms.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,111,424 B1 disclosed a fore grip with a concealable and collapsible bipod has a tubular recess consisting of two cylindrical cutouts the housing for the legs when concealed and as the housing for a sliding piston that deploys the legs. The bipod legs deploy from the handgrip and lock in the extended position when a latch releases a spring. However, the locked bipod then restricts the above-mentioned motions.
To overcome the lock issue, US Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0056192 discloses a firearm handgrip with a collapsible bipod that is retractable within a vertical handgrip. Specifically, the bipod is quickly deployed by pressing a button that activates a release mechanism. But, two prior arts possess intrinsic limitation that the bipod is located inside the fore grip and the length of the bipod is limited by the length of the fore grip.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,444,538 disclosed a monopod that is retracted and concealed inside the rear grip handle when not used, and supports and stabilizes the firearm when the monopod is extended. A spring biased button can be depressed to allow for springs on top of retracted telescoping cylinders to spread apart and extend out from beneath a grip handle on the rifle.
It is configured to have multiple extensions by a telescopic configuration in adjustment of the length, but the all the parts are housed inside the rear grip handle and only possible to be made as a monopod due to the space limitation, which supports much less stability compared to the bipod.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,568,143 represents a tripod with fast opening and closing mechanism and methods of use which is generally applicable for supporting any kinds of device. The invention is directed to a tripod having a fast opening and positioning mechanism configured to allow a user to open said tripod in a photographing location while maintaining eye contact with an object to be photographed, comprising legs having telescopic segments and a central locking mechanism operated by a handle having a trigger connected to a loaded spring positioned on a central column. But, this prior art is not adequate to attach onto the firearms by its size that occupies large volume when folded.
According to the cited prior arts, none of the prior art have not disclosed a fast, efficiently deployable tripod, which is especially crucial, in application to the firearms.
So, the first objective of the present invention is to suggest a quickly deployable tripod such that the orientation of an attached entity therein is adjusted quickly by rotating a lever.
The second objective of the present invention is to suggest a quickly deployable tripod such that the alignment of a plurality of the legs therein is adjusted quickly by a drop lever.
Finally, the third objective of the present invention is to suggest a quickly deployable tripod such that the orientation of the plurality of the legs is adjusted quickly by rotating a locking collar.