A system and method for increasing message transaction costs is disclosed. One basic embodiment of the method includes the elements of: receiving over a data link a request to route a message to a recipient address; calculating a delay period, in response to the request; dropping the data link; receiving over the data link a next request to route a message to a recipient address; dropping the data link, if the next request was received during the delay period; and routing the message referenced in the next request to the recipient address, if the delay period has expired. The system of the present invention, includes all means for implementing the method.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for transporting messages, and more particularly to a system and method for selectively increasing transaction costs.
2. Discussion of Background Art
Mass mailings, also known as junk mail, received through postal mail carriers is a pervasive part of most peoples lives. A desired benefit to those who originate such communications is an increase in revenues from the sale of products or services advertised in the mailing. Such physical mass mailings received by most individuals is limited, due to the transaction costs associated with their creation and mailing.
In contrast, mass e-mailings containing such advertisements are much less expensive to create and send than physical mail. As a result, the number of electronic mass mailings received by most individuals is exponentially growing, since the transaction costs are essentially mainly at the recipient's and not the sender's end. Many e-mail users receive hundreds of such junk e-mailing mailings a day. Such advertisements tend to obscure the few e-mails of real importance to a user. A term coined for such mass e-mailings is "spam." Not only does spam waste the time of most users, it's increasingly consuming a significant amount of network bandwidth and thus is shifting some of the transaction costs to service providers as well.
There have been some proposals to deal with spam, but they have their limitations. For instance, user spam e-mail filtering programs have problems such as false hits, resulting in real messages being treated as spam, and false misses, resulting in a significant amount of spam not getting filtered out. Filtering based on approved email addresses often prevents a user from receiving desired email from people not on the list. Suing spammers for consuming network resources has largely failed, especially for spammers in other countries. Several approaches have been proposed that make spam costly. One scheme requires paying for each email and having the money refunded if the mail is accepted, but there is no agreed upon form of money that can be used. Another scheme only accepts mail if the sender can prove that an expensive computation was done, but this approach requires changes to a user's e-mail program as well as the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) for transporting e-mail.
In response to the concerns discussed above, what is needed is a system and method that overcomes the problems of the prior art.

System and method for selectively increasing message transaction costs

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A calendar indicating device can include easy placement through a north-south block (1) to orient an equinox line (3) to provide sunrise shadow indications of one or more solstice events such as the summer solstice or the winter solstice at the moment of sunrise. Designs can be based on remnants of artifacts that included some of the possible components, even for prehistoric man, in one integral stone device built from a stone base (2). Embodiments may include sunset indicator(s), solar altitude indicator(s), indicators for the maximum solar altitudes on the summer and/or winter solstice dates, and alignment aid(s).

Modern man takes the concept of time for granted. We look at our watch to see the time of day. We look at a calendar to see the time of year or the date. Each of these concepts is indicated and monitored by devices or listings that indicate the passage of time with a high level of accuracy. We know that time is rooted in the movement of celestial bodies. The rotation of the earth defines the time of day; the revolution around the sun defines the time of year. From some perspectives, these constitute the essence of time. These movements create day and night and create summer and winter.
To modern man, the time of day is usually one of the most important time concepts. Regardless what calendar month it is, most persons can stay warm and can buy groceries. Our immediate activities are usually governed at the relatively micro level, the time of day. However, to early man, the time of day or the micro level of time was far less important than a macro level of time, namely, the time of year. Planning for the very activities necessary for survival such as planning for food and planning for warmth did not depend on meeting an appointment or the time of day. Planting and other activities needing to be anticipated or carried out depended far more on the macro level of time, the time of year than on micro level of time, the time of day.
While almost no one in modern society operates without some sort of timepiece, perhaps a watch, cell phone, or PDA, early man could only rely on the position of celestial bodies such as the sun and the stars. As a result, horological devices developed. Frequently, these were sundials or similar types of items. In fact, early sundials trace their roots back to approximately 5000 BCE. The relationship between keeping time and celestial events grew from this and even included the positions of stars and the like in early times. For instance, an artifact known as the Nebra sky disk indicated some level of astrological knowledge as early as approximately 1600 BCE. Astrolabes, and other devices that could indicate some types of time, existed by about 200 BCE. As these types of devices indicated early man realized a relationship between celestial events and at least time of day events.
Certainly there are obvious differences between night and day that made micro levels of time immediately evident. The position of this sun gave early opportunities to permit shadow indications to be used to display a time of day. Devices that utilized shadow indications have existed for years and improvement have continued even into modern times. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,158 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,845,853 use shadow indications to show times of day. This is perhaps more common for traditional sundials. U.S. Pat. No. 6,871,407 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,212 involve both time and date indications by shadow positioning. They do not, however, provide indication in the manner of the present invention or accomplish the transient type of sun rise indications desired for embodiments of the present invention. Even the calendar date shadow indications on U.S. Pat. No. 4,102,054 are accomplished in a more traditional way, namely, by using shadow indications on an analema which is unlike the present invention.
To grasp the context of the present invention, the importance of a calendar understanding to prehistoric man needs to be understood. If any one person had the ability to understand if seasons were about to change in one direction or another, or if it was an appropriate time to plant certain crops, they may have possessed a status of reverence and awe to those that did not understand what we take now take for granted. In fact, from some perspectives may be likely that calendar time was far more important than a time of day for the latter has an obvious rough indication often available, namely, the position of the sun at that particular time of day. Indeed, it would have been a significant benefit to be able to track calendar time even in a rough degree before the knowledge of a calendar or the like. In fact, it may have appeared that individuals who had an understanding of calendar time, may have held a shaman-like stature within that early society. It is even likely that those individuals who developed an understanding of the relationships between celestial bodies, and calendar timing as it may relate to the change of seasons might have maintained their understanding as proprietary in some manner, and maybe even have utilized it as what we now regard as a trade secret to provide them more significant stature within that society or to foster a shaman presence.
The present invention shows several types of horological devices. These devices could have been developed even by early man to monitor and understand calendar time on a macroscopic scale. One could even consider the present devices as more of a discovery than an invention, for they could be considered as a revelation of knowledge held secret for many years and even millennia. The discoveries presented in this technical disclosure and explanation have been gleaned and discovered from interpreting stone artifacts uncovered that had long concealed the secrets manifested. By reverse engineering these furtive concepts, the present inventors show how revered shamans might have held and developed their understandings. In keeping with the goal of protecting inventions and discoveries, the present technical explanation discloses concepts that might have been maintained undiscovered from perhaps the estimated time of the catalyst artifacts, namely, about 1500 BCE. Through developing how such artifacts might have served even a select contingent of early man, the inventors have developed understandings by which even early man might have been able to monitor calendar time in relation to the movement of celestial bodies. Surprisingly, the present invention shows how devices could easily have been configured to mislead or could have been configured so as to not reveal their true purpose and might intentionally have been designed to conceal the use of a transient occurrence or other indication to achieve an intended purpose. To the uninitiated, the devices can present themselves as some sort of cutting, opening, or splitting device while otherwise being available and used for a true, perhaps concealed, horological purpose.


An AEC unit of an electronic cassette sets a dose target value and a short-circuited pixel used for AEC based on a radiographing condition. When a control unit of the electronic cassette detects start of irradiation of X rays, the AEC unit starts integration of a cumulative dose of X rays which are incident to a target region based on a dose detection signal output by the short-circuited pixel. The AEC unit predicts a stop timing at the time point t1, waits until the time point t2 which is a predetermined time earlier than a scheduled stop time, and sends a stop timing notification to an X-ray generation device at the time point t2. When the stop timing notification is received, a X-ray source control device immediately inputs an irradiation stop command so as to stop an operation of an X-ray source.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radiographic device which radiographs a radiological image from radiation transferred through a subject, a radiographic system using the radiographic device, and a control method and a recording medium for the radiographic device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a medical field, an X-ray radiographing system using radiation, for example, X rays, is known. The X-ray radiographing system includes an X-ray generation device which has an X-ray source generating X rays, and an X-ray radiographing device which receives irradiation of X rays generated by the X-ray source and transferred through a subject and radiographs an X-ray image indicating image information of the subject.
The X-ray radiographing device includes an X-ray image detection device and a console. An X-ray image detection device which uses a flat panel detector (FPD) instead of an X-ray film or an imaging plate (IP) in the related art is put into practical use. The FPD is one in which pixels accumulating signal charges corresponding to a dose of X rays which are incident are arranged in a matrix, and converts the signal charge accumulated in each pixel into a voltage signal using a signal processing circuit so as to detect an X-ray image indicating image information of a subject, and outputs the X-ray image as digital image data. The console performs various settings for the X-ray image detection device, and performs image processes on the image data output by the X-ray image detection device.
As disclosed in JP2008-086358A, in an X-ray radiographing system, in order to suppress an exposure dose of a subject and obtain an X-ray image with appropriate image quality, automatic exposure control (AEC) for controlling exposure of an X-ray image is performed. The AEC is to control an irradiation amount of X rays emitted by an X-ray source such that a cumulative value of doses (cumulative dose) of X rays which are applied from the X-ray source, are transferred through a subject, and arrive at the X-ray image detection device, becomes a target dose (dose target value).
The cumulative dose of X rays is defined by a tube current-time product (mAs value) of an irradiation time (s: seconds) of X rays, and a tube current (mA) regulating a dose of X rays per unit time applied by the X-ray source. As a radiographing condition such as an irradiation time or a tube current, there are general recommended values depending on a radiographed part (a chest, a head, or the like), the sex, the age, and the like of a subject; however, the transfer of X rays is changed depending on individual differences such as a subject's constitution, and thus a dose of X rays arriving at the X-ray image detection device varies depending on subjects even if an irradiation amount from the X-ray source is the same. For this reason, the AEC is performed in order to obtain a dose target value without depending on individual differences such as a subject's constitution. In addition, the AEC is performed, and thereby a subject can be prevented from being exposed to excessive X rays.
In the X-ray radiographing system disclosed in JP2008-086358A, a dose detection sensor which detects a dose of X rays arriving at the X-ray image detection device is provided, and the AEC is performed based on a dose detected by the dose detecting sensor. JP2008-086358A discloses two AEC methods.
The first method is a method in which irradiation of X rays in one radiographing is performed so as to be divided into two irradiations of a pre-irradiation and a main irradiation, a dose of X rays per unit time arriving at the X-ray image detection device is measured by the dose detection sensor in the pre-irradiation, a dose of X rays to be applied in the main irradiation is determined based on the measured value, and X rays are applied at the determined dose. In the main irradiation, since a dose is determined in advance, the X-ray generation device starts irradiation at a tube current and an irradiation time set in advance, measures the irradiation time using a timer, and stops the irradiation at a time point reaching a set irradiation time.
The second method is a method in which a cumulative dose is measured in real time by the dose detection sensor during irradiation of X rays, whether or not the cumulative dose reaches a dose target value is determined, and irradiation from the X-ray source stops at a time point when the cumulative dose reaches the dose target value. In the second method, the X-ray generating device transmits a stop signal for stopping irradiation of X rays at a time point when a cumulative dose of X rays arriving at the X-ray image detection device reaches a dose target value. When the stop signal is received, the X-ray generation device stops the irradiation of X rays.
According to the first method, since, by performing the pre-irradiation, a dose per unit time corresponding to a subject's constitution is measured and a dose in the main irradiation is determined based on the measured value, an appropriate dose corresponding to the subject's constitution can be applied in the main irradiation. According to the second method, since a cumulative dose is measured in real time during the main irradiation, and irradiation of X rays stops at a time point when the cumulative dose reaches a dose target value, an appropriate dose corresponding to the subject's constitution can be applied in the main irradiation. In addition, in a case of the second method, a cumulative dose is measured in real time during the irradiation of X rays, and thus the pre-irradiation may be unnecessary.

Radiographic imaging device and method with stop timing based on dosage detection


The disclosure is directed to a method of determining memory parameters of a memory device. The method includes determining a communication protocol associated with the memory device, determining a page size of the memory device by using the communication protocol to communicate a page of data, determining a block size of the memory device by using the communication protocol to erase a block of the memory device, and determining a capacity of the memory device by using the communication protocol to determine a number of significant address bits.

Increasingly, consumers are demanding portable electronic devices, such as personal digital assistants (PDA), MP3 players, portable storage systems, advanced wireless telephones, cameras, and other handheld devices. Traditional non-volatile storage mediums, such as hard drives, floppy drives and other storage devices, are generally unsuitable for portable devices. These typical devices generally have moving parts and, as such, are subject to mechanical failure. In addition, such devices are bulky and consume a large amount of energy. As a result, developers are turning to solid-state non-volatile memory devices, such as electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) and flash memory, for use in portable products.
To maintain compatibility with solid-state memory devices manufactured by various manufacturers using various device specifications and standards, electronic devices that access or include solid-state memory devices typically include a table of device parameters associated with each of the solid-state memory devices with which the electronic device is designed to be compatible. Given the large number of solid-state memory devices and device specifications for solid-state memory devices, such tables of device specifications may be large and occupy a considerable amount of memory on the electronic device. Moreover, these electronic devices may not be compatible with new memory devices manufactured using new device specifications and revised access parameters.
As such, an improved system and method for accessing solid-state memory devices would be desirable.

System and methods for accessing solid-state memory devices


A graft copolymer comprising a backbone of a propylene polymer material having a vinyl monomer graft polymerized thereto is produced by (1) treating a propylene polymer material with a free radical polymerization initiator, (2) treating the propylene polymer material with at least one grafting monomer capable of being polymerized by free radicals, and (3) removing any unreacted grafting monomer from the graft copolymerized propylene polymer material, decomposing any unreacted initiator, and deactivating any residual free radicals in the material, wherein (1) and (2) are carried out in the presence of a continuous feed of nitric oxide. The nitric oxide reduces the build-up of polymer deposits on reactor walls and gas circulation loops while having almost no effect on the graft copolymerization reaction.

Reactor fouling in graft copolymerization of propylene polymer materials with styrenic and other vinyl monomers occurs in both semi-batch stirred tank reactors and in gas mixed loop reactors. The polymer deposits that are formed on the reactor walls and gas circulation loops usually grow rapidly after an initial deposit. Severe reactor fouling would affect the product quality, productivity, and operability of a commercial plant.
Since the main reaction is a free radical polymerization using a peroxide as an initiator, any attempt to reduce reactor fouling by using a monomer-soluble free radical scavenger will potentially interfere with the graft polymerization process. Therefore such soluble scavengers are preferably not used in this process.
It is known that polymerization inhibitors such as nitric oxide can be used to prevent polymerization of vinyl aromatic compounds during distillation, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,964,979. U.S. Pat. No. 4,070,419 discloses adding gaseous NO, e.g., during purification of styrene by distillation, and then subjecting the monomer to polymerization conditions, whereby the styrene polymerized at an accelerated rate. Hungarian Patent 77-MA2891 discloses grafting irradiated polypropylene with styrene in the presence of a nitroxyl polymerization inhibitor to reduce side reactions, i.e., no polystyrene by-product was formed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,287 discloses a process for making a thermoplastic resin composition having excellent HCFC resistance which includes graft polymerizing a monomer mixture of a vinyl cyanide, a vinyl aromatic compound, and an unsaturated carboxylic acid or ester thereof in the presence of a rubber latex and a polymerization inhibitor such as nitric oxide to control the sequence of polyacrylonitrile units. However, none of these references discloses the use of a continuous feed of nitric oxide to reduce reactor fouling during the production of polypropylene graft copolymers.

Using nitric oxide to reduce reactor fouling during polypropylene graft copolymerization


Absorbable heterochain polymers carrying acid or basic groups, capable of ionic conjugation with basic or acidic bioactive agents, respectively, are produced by free-radical addition of unsaturated functional monomers onto absorbable liquid polymers and subsequent generation of reactive functionality or by direct copolymerization of a carboxylic initiator with cyclic monomers to produce liquid carboxyl-bearing copolyesters or polyester carbonates.

Biocompatible, biodegradable polymers for various biomedical applications such as those used in sutures and tissue engineering have been described in "Functionalized Polyester Graft Copolymers," Hrkach et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,654,381, issued Aug. 5, 1997. Poly-dl-lactide grafted with acrylic acid was prepared and used to bind, covalently, proteins and peptides to the polyacrylic graft [G. C. M. Steffens et al., Biomaterials, 23, 3523 (2002)]. In spite of the great interest in functionalized, degradable (or absorbable) polymers, the prior art was limited to a selected few homopolymers. Accordingly, relatively new absorbable copolyesters, which are being explored in many biomedical and pharmaceutical applications, have been ignored as precursors of functionalized systems. Among these precursors are high-compliance, absorbable copolyesters used in the prior art for the production of fibers and films with unique properties as biomedical devices [Bezwada et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,340 (1995), U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,739 (1992); Shalaby, U.S. Pat. No. 6,342,065 (2002), U.S. Pat. No. 6,255,408 (2001); Shalaby and Jamiolkowski, U.S. Pat. No. 4,689,424 (1987)]. Other families of potentially absorbable precursors are segmented polyetheresters, which have been used to produce novel types of absorbable fibers and films and also as vehicles for the controlled delivery of bioactive agents in the form of liquids, gels, and semi-solids [Bezwada et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,048 (1991); Shalaby, U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,539 (2002).] Awareness of the importance of the potential value-added by introducing useful functional groups into the aforementioned segmented copolymers and other similar systems evoked the pursuit of the functionalized polymers, subject of this invention. Accordingly, the present invention deals with absorbable, segmented copolyesters and block copolymers of polyalkylene glycols containing predetermined amounts of functional side groups on their main chains.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Functionalized, absorbable, segmented copolyesters and related copolymers


This invention relates to a remote controlled apparatus and method for training retrieving and other hunting dogs and replaces all functions field assistants would normally perform during training. These functions include throwing multiple birds and retrieving dummies from different locations, in various directions and at various heights and angles, a gun shot sound, visual and audible assistance for the dog and protecting stored birds and retrieving dummies from the inexperienced dog. The apparatus is low in profile, light weight and portable so that a single trainer can transport, setup and control the training procedure without the need of assistants. Numerous safety features have been developed which limit the possibility of accidental injury.

In the field of training retrievers and other hunting dogs for competition and hunting, a great amount of time is taken up by dog owners preparing their dogs to perform at peak efficiency. It is the usual practice for a dog owner to hire one or more field assistants to help in the training regime. Field assistants stand remote from the dog and trainer and throw or launch retrieving dummies or birds into the air. A gun shot sound is made and the dog is sent out to retrieve the bird or dummy. The assistants are sometimes required to provide either a verbal or a visual aid to help the dog locate the bird or retrieving dummy and carry out the retrieval task. They may also have to protect stored birds or retrieving dummies from being chewed or retrieved by younger inexperienced dogs. The hiring of field assistants can be a very costly endeavour for the dog trainer.
In prior attempts to provide alternatives to the hiring of assistants, devices have been developed that are either ineffective in replacing all of the characteristics noted above or are so difficult and time consuming to transport and set up that they do not provide any savings in time or expense.
Presently there are devices which launch retrieving dummies remotely, as described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,307,529 to White et al. which discloses a remote controlled retrieving dummy launching device that uses a power handle mechanism to launch cylindrical retrieving dummies from a tripod mounted housing. The device described by White launches a single retrieving dummy in one direction and is triggered remotely by radio signals. Even though White does provide for the sequential firing of several launchers connected together, White does not permit the selective firing of launchers placed at different locations. Further, the launchers described by White are heavy, making it difficult for a single operator to carry multiple launchers into the field without assistance. In addition, no provisions are made by White for launching both birds and retrieving dummies, there is no audible or visual aid to assist the dog in performing the retrieval task and no method is described for protecting retrieving dummies from inappropriate access by the inexperienced dog.
In order to replace the need for hiring multiple human field assistants an apparatus and method for training retrieving dogs must duplicate all activities performed by these assistants and do so at less cost to the dog trainer. Therefore, it would be desirable that the device: 1) be able to launch both birds and retrieving dummies remotely and accurately; 2) provide a signal sound if required in order to render assistance to young dogs learning to locate the position of the launch; 3) provide a gun shot on launch to attract the attention of the dog; 4) be adjustable so that launch height, angle, distance and direction may be varied and provide bi-directional launches from a single station; 5) have the capability of launching multiple retrieving dummies or birds from one or from multiple locations; 6) be designed to prevent an untrained dog from removing or chewing the unlaunched birds or retrieving dummies; 7) be low in profile to limit the possibility that the dog will see the device in the field; 8) be compact and light weight so that one person be able to carry at least three multiple launch devices having at least four possible launches per station, therefore enabling the training of multiple dogs in different geographic locations or permitting repeat launches from the same location while training a single dog; 9) have the capability to simulate an assistant who moves out of sight after throwing a bird or retrieving dummy; 10) provide launchers and a remote controlled transmitter with multiple, selectable transmission codes to permit multiple trainers to operate in the same geographic area without interfering with one another; 11) provide the capability of launching retrieving dummies or birds from up to four different locations and permit up to six multiple launch devices to be connected in series at each location to allow up to 24 retrieving dummies or birds to be launched from each location; 12) incorporate numerous safety features such as, a launch signal which requires the matching of multiple control codes and firing sequences, safety logic and control so that frequencies such as those produced by dog training collars, garage openers, model airplanes, etc. will not trigger a launch, the ability for users to check control codes and change them if required, and a safety kill switch on both the launch devices and the remote control unit.

Remote controlled apparatus and method for training retrieving dogs


A memory module assisting in efficient heat dissipation includes a motherboard, a plurality of fixing devices, a plurality of memory cards, and a plurality of dummy memory cards. The fixing devices are fixed on the motherboard side by side. The memory cards are fixed on some of the fixing devices as necessary, and the dummy memory cards are fixed on the remaining fixing devices which are vacant. The dummy memory cards inserted into the vacant fixing devices prevent the flow of air through the space above the vacant fixing devices. An electronic device including the memory module is also disclosed.

With the development of communication and computer technology, Dual In-line Memory Module (DIMM) cards have become more popular for use in the PC and electronic industry, and thus DIMM socket connectors mounted on a motherboard for receiving DIMM cards have been developed. When the number of DIMM cards is less than the number of DIMM socket connectors, cold air will be lost through empty space above the DIMM socket connector, and hot air will return through the same space, this does not facilitate heat dissipation.

Memory module for maintaining efficient heat dissipation and electronic device

Fulian Precision Electronics (Tianjin) Co., LTD.


The circuit amplifies an input RF band of signals and exhibits a signal gain in decibels that is a linear function of a logarithmic control signal input. The circuit employs a transistor having an emitter electrode connected through an inductor/resistor combination to a source of common potential. Within a limited band of RF frequencies, the resistor inductor combination appears to be a high impedance. A PIN diode is connected in shunt across the resistor/inductor combination and, in response to a control current, alters its RF resistance. A capacitor is connected across the emitter of the transistor and provides a tuning function so that, at the mid-frequency of the RF band, a resonant tuned circuit results, thereby causing a high value resistive load to appear across the PIN diode. In this manner, linear gain control is achieved by varying a DC control current through the PIN diode.

Various gain control techniques are known for radio frequency and intermediate frequency amplifiers. As the use of portable communications equipment has increased (e.g., cellular telephones), it has become important to implement gain control techniques using a minimum of circuitry to reduce device cost and weight.
In certain applications, it is important to be able to predict the gain of an RF amplifier strictly through knowledge of a control signal. Gain, in such circuits, is generally expressed in decibels (dB) as follows: EQU Gain=(a)log(CONTROL)+b (1)
Where:
CONTROL is measured in volts or amperes; and a and b constants.
Linear gain control in such circuits has been implemented through the use of a multiplier that employs a differential transistor amplifier structure. Such an arrangement requires many matching transistors and is practical only when implemented as a monolithic integrated circuit. Others have implemented linear gain control by the use of a compensation circuit which, in response to a control signal, modifies the transfer characteristic of an RF amplifier so as to negate its nonlinearities. Such a circuit is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,099,204 to Wheatley, III.
A variety of prior art amplifiers employ PIN diodes for gain control. A PIN diode is a three layer device consisting of an intrinsic high resistance layer in the center, with conducting P and N layers on either side. The intrinsic layer's RF resistance can be controlled by a DC bias current and is approximately proportional to the inverse of the current: ##EQU1## Where K and .varies. are constants; and I.sub.DC is the dc bias current
"Communications Receivers", Ulrich L. Rohde, T. T. N. Bucher, McGraw-Hill, 1988, pages 235-41 describe various applications of PIN diodes for amplifier gain control. In one version (page 237), a pair of PIN diodes controls the impedance of a common emitter circuit in an emitter coupled RF amplifier. In another version (page 239), three PIN diodes are employed as a variable attenuator between amplifier stages. In "Practical Variable Gain Amplifiers", Franklin, RF Expo West '92, pages 41-54, a number of PIN diode attenuators are shown used as variable gain controls for RF amplifiers. A number of diode attenuator topologies are disclosed, including series, shunt, Tee, bridge and bridge/Tee configurations. Similar configurations are employed in commercially available RF amplifiers, e.g., the AGC-330, Voltage-Controlled AGC Amplifier, marketed by Avantek, 481 Cottonwood Drive, Milpitas, Calif. 95035. The AGC-330 Amplifier employs a double-T arrangement wherein the PIN diodes are separated by a resistor in the signal feed path.
In all of the above noted gain control configurations, known PIN diode characteristics are employed to provide gain control functions for RF amplifiers without specific consideration of gain control linearity. They do not take into account the affect of complex impedances in the circuit that vary the gain control effect of the PIN diode (or diodes). Those impedances cause the gain of an amplifier to vary in other than in a linear fashion in response to an applied control voltage.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a linear gain control circuit for an RF amplifier.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a linear gain control circuit that operates under conditions of complex impedance variations within a narrow band of applied RF frequencies.
It is another object of this invention to provide a linear gain control circuit for an IF amplifier that is both simple and requires no special matched devices.

Variable gain RF amplifier with linear gain control


The present invention provides a skin care preparation for babies, comprising: pharma grade water; at least one stabilizer; at least one nutrient; at least one emulsifier; wherein said preparation further comprises Zinc gluconate & magnesium asparate & copper gluconate (“SEPITONIC™-M3”) and Dunaliella salina extract.

When babies are born, they emerge from the womb's sterile environment into a world filled with bacteria, pollution, humidity and heat, solar radiation, etc. Baby's skin excels in its ability to adapt to the environment. This ability improves gradually over the first years of life, in general, and during the first year, in particular. This period is marked by adaptation to human contact and to open air, at home and outside. Together with this, the baby's diet (either mother's milk or formula) are filled with hormones which often intensify the activity of sebaceous glands, etc.
During this adaptation period, a large percentage of babies suffer from various skin disorders. Recognizing and taking care of them is essential for easy, quick and "painless" adaptation.
Patent application CN104398446A discloses a universal baby skin care and a preparation thereof. The universal baby skin care is prepared from the following components in parts by weight: 0.03-3 parts of a witch hazel extract, 0.02-2 parts of a lithospermum extract, 0.03-2 parts of a red current extract, 2-4 parts of wool fat, 1-3 parts of Vaseline, 5-7 parts of glycerin monostearate, 4-8 parts of glycerinum, 0.02-1 part of lavender essence, 0.3-3 parts of lecithin, 0.3-0.5 part of triethanolamine, 3-5 parts of propylene glycol, 0.02-5 parts of alcohol and the balance of deionized water. Since the witch hazel extract, the lithospermum extract and the red current extract are contained, the universal baby skin care can be used for diminishing inflammation and relieving the irritated skin, and dry skin is prevented; furthermore, the effect of curing a wound is achieved. By mixing of other auxiliary agents in the skin care, an extremely good working effect can be achieved in a use process.
Patent CN101229109 discloses a skin-protecting product suitable for the skin characteristics of a baby of 7 to 12 months, which adds a natural concentrated Chinese witchhazel extract, an oat extractive with the efficacies of anti-simulation and anti-hypersusceptibility, and a rice embryo oil with nutrition efficacy into a cosmetic to complement the immanent water and nutrition of the skin at the same time of enhancing the self-external counterirritant capacity and barrier action of the baby skin through a cooperated synergy; thereby enhancing the skin immunity capacity of the baby skin, preventing the baby skin problem and leading the skin to be more healthy and lenitive.
Patent U.S. Pat. No. 6,589,537 discloses a resistant to body fluids, organic oil-based topical transdermal composition for the alleviation and treatment of infant skin conditions, including, dry, sensitive, chapped, cracked, itching reddened, and flaking skin, as well as infant skin infirmities associated with eczema, dermatitis, and diaper rash, which has as main constituents, organic oil lipids, vitamin A, tocopheral linoleate, and tincture of benzoin, in an organic beeswax emulsifying base.
Patent application CN101732222 discloses an embrocation for treating infant diaper rash, which is prepared from the following raw materials in percentage by weight: 15 to 18 percent of glyceryl monostearate, 4 to 6 percent of caprylic acid triglyceride, 2 to 4 percent of vaseline, 1 to 3 percent of lanoline, 1 to 2 percent of spermol, 1 to 2 percent of lanonol polyoxyethylene ether acetylated ester, 0.1 to 0.3 percent of allantoin, 4 to 6 percent of propylene glycol and 60 to 70 percent of deionized water. The embrocation is prepared by adding the allantoin and the propylene glycol into water; heating the mixture to 75 DEG C. for later use; mixing the rest components, and then heating to 75 DEG C.; dissolving the components, and mixing the dissolved mixture and the liquid for later use; continuously stirring the mixture; adding appropriate amount of essence when forming a paste; and uniformly stirring the mixture to obtain the embrocation. Compared with the prior art, the embrocation has modest property, good effects of diminishing inflammation, relieving itching and sterilizing, and obvious effects on the infant diaper rash.
Patent U.S. Pat. No. 6,248,340 discloses a composition useful for care of skin conditions and for skin protection and to a method for its preparation. The present invention further relates to a method for skin care and protection using said composition. More specifically, the present invention relates to a composition combining plant and algae extracts with water solutions from the Dead Sea especially useful for treating skin wrinkles and retaining skin moisture, to a method for the preparation thereof and to a method for skin care and protection comprising application of said composition.
Patent application WO2007078056 discloses a cosmetic composition for improving skin complexion comprising an alga extract. More particularly, the cosmetic composition according to the present invention comprises an extract from the alga Dunaliella Salina to provide energy to skin cells and promotes turn-over of epidermal cells, thereby providing skin complexion and clearness improving effect on the aged skin or darkened skin caused by outer circumstance and stress.
Patent application CN104771352 discloses a cushion BB cream and preparation method. The cushion BB cream comprising the following components: polybutylene, cyclopentasiloxane polydimethylsiloxanes, glycerin, tridecanol stearate, titanium dioxide, PEG-10 dimethicone, methoxy ethylhexyl acrylate, distearyl dimethyl ammonium hectorite, polydimethylsiloxane, sunflower extract, mica, coconut oil, Tahitian gardenia, tocopherol, sodium chloride, Portugal glycans, folic acid, lactic acid bacteria or fermented soybean product extract, phenoxyethanol, hydrogenated polydecene, Dunaliella algae extract, ethylhexylglycerin, bismuth oxychloride, iron oxide yellow, red iron oxide yellow, light fruit licorice extract, water. The preparation method is a component of every Canadian should stir until mixture is dissolved, along with the next component. Cushion BB cream of the invention enables the skin to improve skin moist, tender and delicate, hidden pores, even skin tone, blemishes modification, anti-sweat makeup better hold multiple effects.
Patent application WO2008104570 discloses a formulation for use in cosmetic preparations which contain plant extracts, which comprises a component for enhancing the activity of plant extracts or booster, cell turnover and metabolism accelerator, and optionally excipients which are acceptable from a cosmetic standpoint, the enhancing component comprising one or more vitamins or fatty acids which are components of vitamins and zinc or zinc salts or biomineral complexes based on zinc or other forms of zinc which are biologically active and cosmetically acceptable.


Disclosed herein are azetidin-2-one compounds which exhibit excellent cysteine proteinase inhibitory activity. The compounds are 4-substituted-3-{1 or 2 amino acid residue}-azetidin-2-ones of forumula I ##STR1## wherein AAR is a 1 or 2 acid residue, and R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are as defined herein. The compounds can be used in the treatment of various diseases such as muscular dystrophy, bone resorption disorders, myocardial infarction and cancer metastasis.

Cysteine proteinases containing a highly reactive cysteine residue with a free thiol group at the active site have been known as playing important role in certain conditions distinguished by aberrant protein turnover such as: muscular dystrophy (Am. J. Pathol. 1986, 122, 193-198, Am. J. Pathol. 1987, 127, 461-466), bone resorption (Biochem. J. 1991, 279, 167-274), myocardial infarction (J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 1983, 2, 681-688), cancer metastasis (Cancer Metastasis Rev. 1990, 9, 333-352) and pulmonary emphysema (Am. Rev. Respir. Dis. 1975,111, 579-586). A variety of cysteine proteinases have been shown to be present in mammalian tissue. The most notable of these proteinases are the lysosomal cathepsins (cathepsin B, H, S, and L) and the cytoplasmic Ca.sup.2+ dependent enzymes, the calpains. These enzymes are, therefore, excellent targets for the development of specific inhibitors as possible therapeutic agents for the conditions such as those noted above.
Cysteine proteinases are inhibited by several types of peptide derived inhibitors such as peptidyl aldehyde (Eur. J. Biochem. 1982, 129, 33-41), chloromethyl ketone (acta. Biol. Med. Ger. 1981, 40, 1503-1511), diazomethyl ketone (Biochemistry 1977, 16, 5857-5861), monofluoromethyl ketone (Biochemical Pharmacology 1992 44, 1201-1207), acyloxy methyl ketone (J. Med. Chem. 1994, 37, 1833-1840), O-acyl hydroxamates (Biochem. Biophy. Research Communications 1988, 155, 1201-1206), methyl sulphcnium salts (J.
Biol Chem. 1988, 263, 2768-2772) and epcxy succinyl derivatives (Agric. Biol. Chem. 1978, 42, 523-527) which do not significantly inhibit other classes of proteinases.
These inhibtors, in general, have peptidyl affinity groups and reactive groups towards the thiol of the cysteine residue of cysteine proteinase. Some of the inhibitors are clinically useful. However, their effectiveness in vivo is not as much as expected on the basis of in vitro inhibitory actvity, perhaps due to lower selectivity towards other proteinases and poor pharmacokinetics. Therefore, there exits a continuing need to develop new cysteine proteinase inhibitors with high selectivity and lower toxicity. ##STR2##

4-substitued-3-[1 or 2 amino acid residue]-azetidin-2-one derivatives useful as cysteine proteinase inhibitor


A method and apparatus for producing a folded document, such as a mailer, including a camera and microprocessor for viewing printed information on a printed sheet and storing the information in a memory. The printed sheet is then folded to enclose the printed information within the folded sheet. A printer is connected to the camera and microprocessor to retrieve the stored information and print the information on the folded sheet.

Single sheet folded mailers, also known as self-mailers, are commonly used for high volume mailings of short form letters. Self-mailers produced from a single folded sheet often have one or more perforated edges to allow easy opening by the recipient. Self-mailers are typically produced from a single sheet of paper which can be printed on one or both sides and sealed around the edges. These mailers are particularly useful where large numbers of the documents are needed since they can be produced quickly from a continuous roll or supply of cut-sheet paper. Self-mailers provide an economical and efficient manner of sending bills or checks without the expense of stuffing standard envelopes. Mailers, however, are generally limited in that they are formed in a limited number of configurations and sizes which inherently reduce the area available for printing.
One form of self-mailer commonly produced in the large volume mailing industry passes a single sheet of paper through a printer where the desired information is printed on one or both sides of the paper. The address of the recipient is printed on the heading of the printing surface which will become the inside of the mailer. A transparent viewing window is often formed in the printed sheet and positioned to display the printed address when the mailer is folded and sealed. The mailer is formed by passing the printed sheet through a folding machine to overlap the window over the address and seal the mailer closed. One form of folding machine seals the side edges with an adhesive and forms perforations along opposite edges to aid in opening by the recipient. This form of self-mailer has the disadvantages of having limited space available for printing information and requiring a specific location of the information. Specifically, the location of the window limits the amount of space available for printing. In addition, the location of the address on the printed side of the sheet and the location of the window are dictated by the need to display the address of the completed mailer in a manner to ensure proper delivery by the postal service.
It is often desirable to print self-mailers on both sides of the sheet before or after folding. Most commercially available printers are able to print on only one side. Although two-sided printers are available, they are expensive, thereby increasing the capital investment. Generally, when it is necessary to print on both sides of the sheet, the sheet must be turned over and guided back to the one-sided printer where the second side is printed. This arrangement has the distinct disadvantage in cut sheet printers in that printing on both sides reduces the throughput by one half.
Continuous form printers, such as, for example, large mainframe IBM and Siemens printers, are not able to print on both sides of the sheet. With these systems, the only way to print both sides is to provide two printers connected in series so that the first side of the sheet is printed by the first printer, and the second side is printed by the second printer. This arrangement usually requires the sheet to be flipped over after leaving the first printer and before entering the second printer. This type of assembly does not slow the production rate, but doubles the cost of printing equipment.
Another form of mailer sometimes used in the industry prints a sheet on one side only with the address displayed on the upper third of the sheet. The sheet is then folded in a Z-fashion so that the address is exposed with the body of the letter sealed inside. This arrangement, while inexpensive, results in a loss of one-third of the available space for printing the desired information.
Examples of the previous systems for printing self-mailers are disclosed generally in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,668,211 to Lubotta et al; 5,196,083 to Baker et al; 5,155,973 to Hipko et al; 5,114,128 to Harris, Jr. et al; 5,095,682 to Steidinger; 4,343,129 to Gunther, Jr. et al; and 4,912,909 to Stenner. These systems typically require complex printing devices which are expensive to purchase and operate. Accordingly, there is a continuing need in the industry for a method and apparatus for producing self-mailers which overcome the disadvantages of the previous printing and folding systems.

Method and apparatus for printing single sheet folded documents


A knitted fabric joining method is provided wherein at least two tubular knitted fabrics are knitted and then those tubular knitted fabrics are overlapped with and joined to each other in such a manner that a joining region of a front knitted fabric part is different in number of wales from a joining region of a back knitted fabric part. Before the start of joining, in the joining region of the front knitted fabric part and the joining region of the back knitted fabric part which are arranged on the opposed needle beds, loops in the joining region of a large gore and loops in the joining region of a small gore are situated in the joining regions containing needles in equal number, respectively, and the loops in the joining region of the one gore are held on an every two or three needle basis and the loops in the joining region of the other gore are held on an every needle basis so that both ends of the one joining region and both ends of the other joining region can substantially correspond in position to each other. Thereafter, the loops of the tubular knitted fabrics are subjected to the bind-off process, while being overlapped with each other, thereby forming a gore at the joining portion of the tubular knitted fabrics.

The knitwear has portions called "gores" formed at joining portions of the parts thereof, such as, for example, at sides of the knitwear and crotch portions of the same. The gores formed at those joining portions serve to add a depth to the knitwear comprising the planar knitted fabric parts, to thereby produce a comfortable wear to suit one's figure.
The applicant of this application already developed and presented a method for joining knitted fabrics of a tubular knitted fabric, according to which one knitted fabric of the tubular knitted fabric to be joined to the other knitted fabric to form the gores therebetween can be allowed to rotate with respect to the other knitted fabric in a direction in which a space between the both knitted fabrics is spread at a larger angle than an angle at which the one knitted fabric is perpendicular to the other knitted fabric (International Publication No. 01/88243).
In this joining method, gore portions of the same courses are previously formed in the both tubular knitted fabrics to be jointed together; then are overlapped with each other in such a manner that the loops located adjacent to each other with respect to the boundary between the front knitted fabric part and the back knitted fabric part are overlapped with each other and the loops located far away from each other with respect to the boundary are overlapped with each other; and then are subjected to the bind-off process, thereby forming the gore portions at the joining portions of the tubular knitted fabric.
This method for joining together the knitted fabrics having the gores can provide the knitwear that can allow a high freedom of body movement.
In this connection, it is desirable from the viewpoint of the body movement that when knitwear, such as, for example, a sweater, is knitted by the joining method mentioned above, the gore portions of the front knitted fabric part should be made larger than those of the back knitted fabric part to produce knitwear of further comfortable to wear.
Making the gore portions of the front knitted fabric part larger than those of the back knitted fabric part requires that the number of wales formed in the joining regions of the front body to front sleeves should be increased over the number of wales formed in the joining regions of the back body to back sleeves.
However, when the knitted fabrics are joined together in such a manner that the number of wales in the front and back joining regions are differentiated from each other, the knitted fabric part having smaller gore portions (the back body) is put in the state in which a part of the loops located at the far side from the body on the needle bed are shifted to the opposite needle bed (front needle bed) at the completion of the joining.
In other words, when the gores different in number of wales from each other are formed in the front and back joining regions in this manner, the front knitted fabric part having the larger gores decreases in knitting width below the back knitted fabric part. In order to lessen this difference in knitting width between the knitted fabrics retained on the front and back needle beds, rotation of the knitting is performed, whereby a loop of the back knitted fabric part located at its lateral end and retained on the needle bed is forced to shift to the outside of a loop of the knitted fabric part located at its lateral end and retained on the opposite needle bed.
When the rotation of the knitting is performed in this manner, the joining is completed in the state in which the loop held on the needle located at the position farthest from the knitted fabric part of the body on the back needle bed remains shifted to the front needle bed before formation of the gores. When the knitting to form the bodies and their respective sleeves into a single tubular starts in this state, a new loop is formed on the old loop originally situated in the back needle bed in the state in which the old loop remains shifted to the front needle bed.
It is to be noted here that when the loop situated in the back needle bed is shifted to the front needle bed, a twist is formed in that loop when shifted to the front needle bed. When a new loop is formed on that old loop, the old loop remains twisted undesirably. Particularly, such a twisted loop appears in sight in the sleeves.
In order to prevent the twist in that loop, the knitted fabrics of the sleeves are subjected to rotation of the knitting before joined to the body so that when the formation of the gores is ended, the loops of the back knitted fabric parts of the sleeves located at lateral ends thereof far from the back knitted fabric part of the body can be placed in the back needle bed and the loops of the front knitted fabric parts of the sleeves located at lateral ends thereof far from the front knitted fabric part of the body can be returned to the front needle bed, as shown in FIG. 18.
FIG. 18(a) shows the state of the knitwear at the end of the knitting up to its sides. The parts (311a, 311b, 312a, 312b, 321a, 321b, 331a, 331b) indicated by dotted lines are the joining regions of the front and back knitted fabric parts. FIG. 18(b) shows the state of the knitwear in which the sleeves are subjected to rotation of the knitting for forming the gores.
However, when the knitted fabrics are subjected to the rotation of the knitted in advance of the forming of the gores, the joining regions are put into the state shown in FIG. 18(b). Take the joining of the front knitted fabric part of the left sleeve 33 for instance, the joining region of the left sleeve 33 to be joined to the joining region 312a of the front body 31a is divided into the joining region 331b of the back knitted fabric part and the joining region 331a of the front knitted fabric part, as viewed in FIG. 18a.
When the knitted fabrics are joined together in this state, the boundaries between the front and back knitted fabric parts of the right and left sleeves 32, 33 are displaced forwardly with respect to the boundaries between the front and back knitted fabric parts of the body 31.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a knitted fabric knitting method that can prevent loops of the front and back knitted fabric parts located at ends thereof adjacent to the boundaries therebetween from being shifted to the opposite needle beds before the start of joining of gores, to knit the knitted fabrics having the gores which are easy to knit and easy to move.


A recombinant myxoma virus that encodes the orfC gene of walleye dermal sarcoma virus (WDSV). The orfC gene of walleye dermal sarcoma virus (WDSV) plays a role in induction of seasonal regression of tumors caused by WDSV. This gene was isolated from WDSV and recombined into myxoma virus (MYXV orfC) for use as an oncolytic therapy. The recombinant myxoma virus can be used in oncolytic virus therapy to specifically target and lyse cancer cells without harming healthy cells in cancer patients.

There is a growing interest in using viruses to eliminate cancers. The first oncolytic virus (OV) approved for use in the United States is marketed for treatment of melanoma in humans [Pol, J.; Kroemer, G.; Galluzzi, L. First oncolytic virus approved for melanoma immunotherapy. Oncoimmunology 5, e1115641]. Although there are ongoing clinical trials testing the efficacy of oncolytic virotherapy in many types of human cancers, new OVs that are safer and more globally effective are actively being researched.

Apoptotic upregulation by myxoma virus expressing walleye dermal sarcoma virus orfC

Colorado State University Research Foundation


A system and a method are described herein for magnetizing magnetic sources into a magnetizable material. In one embodiment, the method comprises: (a) providing an inductor coil having multiple layers and a hole extending through the multiple layers; (b) positioning the inductor coil next to the magnetizable material; and (c) emitting from the inductor coil a magnetic field that magnetizes an area on a surface of the magnetizable material, wherein the area on the surface of the magnetizable material that is magnetized is in a direction other than perpendicular to the magnetizable material such that there is a magnetic dipole with both a north polarity and a south polarity formed on the surface of the magnetizable material.

A wide metal inductor coil for magnetizing magnetic sources known as maxels into a magnetizable material is described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,179,219, issued May 15, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. This known wide metal inductive coil 114 is shown in FIGS. 1A-1B (PRIOR ART). The wide metal inductive coil 114 includes a first circular conductor 116a having a desired thickness and a hole 118a through it and a slotted opening 120a extending from the hole 118a and across the first circular conductor 116a to produce a discontinuity in the first circular conductor 116a. The wide metal inductive coil 114 further includes a second circular conductor 116b having a hole 118b and a slotted opening 120b extending from the hole 118b and across the circular conductor 116b to produce a discontinuity in the second circular conductor 116b. The first and second circular conductors 116a and 116b are designed such that they can be soldered together at a solder joint 122 that is beneath the first circular conductor 116a and on top of the second circular conductor 116b. Other attachment techniques other than soldering can also be used. Prior to the first and second circular conductors 116a and 116b being soldered together, insulation layers 124a and 124b are respectively placed beneath each of the circular conductors 116a and 116b. The insulation layer 124a is placed beneath the first circular conductor 116a so it does not cover the solder region 122 but otherwise insulates the remaining portion of the bottom of the first circular conductor 116a from the second circular conductor 116b. When the first and second circular conductors 116a and 116b are soldered together the insulation layer 124a between them prevents current from conducting between them except at the solder joint 122. The second insulation layer 116b beneath the second circular conductor 116b prevents current from conducting to the magnetizable material 130 (see FIG. 1B (PRIOR ART)). So, if the magnetizable material 130 is non-metallic, for example, a ceramic material, then the second insulation layer 116b is not needed. Moreover, if the magnetizable material 130 has generally insignificant conductive properties then the second insulation layer 116b is optional.
A first wire conductor 126 is soldered to the top of the first circular conductor 116a at a location next to the slotted opening 120a but opposite the solder joint 122. The second circular conductor 116b has a grove (or notch) 127 in the bottom of it which can receive a second wire conductor 128 that is then soldered to the second circular conductor 116b such that the bottom of the second circular conductor 116b remains substantially flat. Other methods can also be employed to connect the second wire conductor 128 to the second circular conductor 116b including placing the second wire conductor 128 into a hole drilled through a side of the second circular conductor 116b and then soldering the second wire conductor 116 to the second circular conductor 116b. As depicted in FIG. 1A (PRIOR ART), the second wire conductor 128 is fed through the holes 118a and 118b in the first and second circular conductors 116a and 116b and then through the groove (or notch) 127. Thus, when the two wire conductors 126 and 128 and the first and second circular conductors 116a and 116b are soldered together with the insulation layer 124a in between the two circular conductors 116a and 116b they form two turns of a coil. In this set-up, the current from the first conductor 126 can enter the first circular conductor 116a, travel clockwise around the first circular conductor 116a, travel through the solder joint 122 to the second circular conductor 116b, travel clockwise around the second circular conductor 116b and then out the second wire conductor 128, or current can travel the opposite path. Hence, depending on the connectivity of the first and second wire conductors 126 and 128 to the wide metal inductor coil 114 (magnetizing circuit 114) and the direction of the current received from the wide metal inductor coil 114 (magnetizer circuit), a South polarity magnetic field source or a North polarity magnetic field source are produced in the magnetizing material 130 (see FIG. 1B).
FIG. 1B (PRIOR ART) depicts a side view of a cross section of the wide metal inductor coil 114. A characterization of the magnetic field 119 (dashed lines) produced by the wide metal inductor coil 114 during magnetization illustrates that the wide metal inductor coil 114 produces a strong magnetic field 119 in the holes 118a and 118b, where the magnetizing field 119 is provided perpendicular (see dashed arrow) to the magnetizable material 130 being magnetized such that a North up or South up polarity magnetic source is printed into the magnetizing material 130. In other words, the magnetic dipole (magnetic source, maxel) has either a North or South polarity on the surface of the magnetizing material 130 and an opposite pole beneath the surface of the magnetizing material 130. Various improved wide metal inductor coils are described in U.S. Non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 12/895,589, filed Sep. 30, 2010, titled "System and Method for Energy Generation", and U.S. patent Non-provisional application Ser. No. 13/240,355, filed Sep. 22, 2011, titled "Magnetic Structure Production", the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Referring to FIGS. 2A-2E (PRIOR ART), there are illustrated different aspects of an exemplary magnetic print head 141 (similar to wide metal inductor coil 114) for a maxel-printing magnetic printer. It should be understood that more or fewer parts than those described and/or illustrated may alternatively comprise the magnetic print head 141. Similarly, parts may be modified and/or combined in alternative manners that differ from those that are described and/or illustrated. For certain example embodiments, FIG. 2B (PRIOR ART) depicts an example outer layer 132 of the magnetic print head 141. The outer layer 132 may comprise a thin metal (e.g., 0.01″ thick copper) having a generally round or circular shape (e.g., with a 16 mm diameter) and having substantially one-fourth of the circular shape removed or otherwise not present. The outer layer 132 may include a tab 134 for receiving an electrical connection. The outer layer 132 may define or include at least part of a hole portion 135a that, when combined with one or more other layers 136 which has at least part of a hole portion 135b, results in a hole 121 (e.g., with a 1 mm diameter) being formed in an approximate center of the magnetic print head 141. As shown for an example implementation, the outer layer 132 may be formed at least partially from a substantially flat plate. An arrow is illustrated on the outer layer 132 to indicate that a current received from the tab 134 may traverse around a three-quarter moon portion of the outer layer 132. It should be noted that sizes, material types, shapes, etc. of component parts are provided by way of example but not limitation; other sizes, material types, shapes, etc. may alternatively be utilized and/or implemented.
For example implementations, a diameter of one or more of the layers 132 and 136 of the magnetic print head 141, which can also have a shape other than round (e.g., oval, rectangular, elliptical, triangular, hexagonal, etc.), may be selected to be large enough to handle a load of a current passing through the print head layers 132 and 136 and also large enough to substantially ensure no appreciable reverse magnetic field is produced near the hole 121 where the magnetic print head 141 produces a maxel (magnetic source) in the magnetizing material 130. Although the hole 121 is also shown to comprise a substantially circular or round shape, this is by way of example only, and it should be appreciated that the hole 121 may alternatively comprise other shapes including but not limited to, oval, rectangular, elliptical, triangular, hexagonal, and so forth. Moreover, a size of the hole 121 may correspond to a desired maxel resolution in the magnetizing material 130, whereby a given print head 141 may have a different sized hole 121 so as to print different sized maxels in the magnetizing material 130. Example diameter sizes of holes 121 in print heads 141 may include, but are not limited to, 0.7 mm to 4 mm. In addition, the diameter sizes of holes 121 may alternatively be smaller or larger, depending on design and/or particular application.
FIG. 2C (PRIOR ART) depicts an example inner layer 136 of the magnetic print head 141. The inner layer 136 may be similar to the outer layer 132, except that it does not include a tab (e.g., see outer layer's tab 134 in FIG. 2B (PRIOR ART)). As shown for an example implementation, current (see arrow) may traverse around the three-quarter moon portion of the inner layer 136.
FIG. 2D (PRIOR ART) depicts an example non-conductive spacer 138 for the magnetic print head 141. The spacer 138 may be designed (e.g., in terms of size, shape, thickness, a combination thereof, etc.) to fill a portion of the outer layer 132 and/or the inner layer 136 such that the layers 132 and 136 have a conductive and a non-conductive portion. In an example implementation, the outer and inner layers 132 and 136 may still provide complete circular structures such that if they are stacked, they have no air regions other than the central hole 121. The central hole 121 may also be filled with a magnetizable material. Although shown as occupying one-quarter of a circle, the spacer 138 may alternatively by shaped differently. If the spacer 138 is included in the design of the print head 141, then the assembled print head 141 would be more rigid and therefore more robust and/or stable to thereby increase its lifecycle.
FIG. 2E (PRIOR ART) depicts an example weld joint 140 between the outer layer 132 and the inner layer 136 with two spacers 138a and 138b. As shown for an example implementation, the outer and inner layers 132 and 136 may have portions 139a and 139b that overlap to form the weld joint 140. The weld joint 140 may comprise an area that is used for attaching two layers 132 and 136 via some attachment mechanism including, but not limited to, welding (e.g., heliarc welding), soldering, adhesive, any combination thereof, and so forth.
For an example assembly procedure, prior to attaching the two layers 132 and 136 that are electrically conductive, an insulating material (e.g., Kapton) may be placed on top of the outer layer 132 (and/or beneath the inner layer 136) so as to insulate one layer from the other. After welding, the insulating material may be cut away or otherwise removed from the weld joint 140, which enables the two conductor portions to be electrically attached thereby producing one and one-half turns of an inductor coil. Alternatively, an insulating material may be placed against a given layer 132 or 136 such that it insulates the given layer 132 or 136 from an adjoining layer except for a portion corresponding to the weld joint 140 between the two adjoining layers 132 and 136. During an example operation, an insulating material may prevent current from passing between the layers 132 and 136 except at the weld joint 140 thereby resulting in each adjoining layer acting as three-quarters of a turn of an inductor coil (e.g., of the print head 141) if using example layer designs as illustrated in FIGS. 2B-2C (PRIOR ART).
Although the aforementioned wide metal inductive coil 114 and the magnetic print head 141 work well it is still desirable to improve upon these components or at least how these components can be used in a different manner to form magnetizing magnetic sources (maxels) into a magnetizable material. Such improvements are the subject of the present invention.


A gain amplifier with quadrature phase compensation circuit is disclosed. The gain amplifier for in-phase (“I”) and quadrature (“Q”) signals comprises a first resistive component having a first input node (“Node 1”) and a first output node (“Node 5”), with the Node 1 coupled to the I+ differential signal, a second resistive component having a second input node (“Node 3”) and a second output node (“Node 7”), with the Node 3 coupled to the Q+ signal, a third resistive component having a third input node (“Node 2”) and a third output node (“Node 6”), with the Node 2 coupled to the I− signal, a fourth resistive component having a fourth input node (“Node 4”) and a fourth output node (“Node 8”), with the Node 4 coupled to said Q− differential signal, a first reactive component connecting between the Node 1 and the Node 7, a second reactive component connecting between the Node 3 and the Node 6, a third reactive component connecting between the Node 2 and the Node 8, a fourth reactive component connecting between the Node 4 and the Node 5. Then phase-shifted I+ is generated at the Node 5, a phase-shifted Q+ is generated at the Node 7, a phase-shifted I− is generated at the Node 6 and a phase-shifted Q− is generated at the Node 8.

In digital communications systems, especially today's highly integrated transceiver design, quadrature signals, commonly referred to as I/Q (In-phase/quadrature) signals, have been commonly used in a receiver or transmitter for up or down frequency conversion.
I/Q modulators and demodulators are widely used in digital communications systems. I/Q demodulators have been extensively discussed in the technical literature. See, for example, Behzad Razavi, "RF Microelectronics," Prentice Hall (1998) and John G. Proakis, "Digital Communications," McGraw-Hill (1995). Also, some U.S. patents have issued, related to the technology of I/Q modulation and demodulation: U.S. Pat. No. 5,974,306, entitled "Time-Share I/Q Mixer System With Distribution Switch Feeding In-Phase and Quadrature Polarity Inverters" to Hornak, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,126, entitled "I/Q Modulator and I/Q Demodulator" to Murtojarvi; U.S. Pat. No. 6,560,449, entitled "Image-Rejection I/Q Demodulators" to Liu; U.S. Pat. No. 6,330,290, entitled "Digital I/Q Imbalance Compensation" to Glas. Examples of system applications that incorporate and standardize I/Q modulation and demodulation include the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), IS-136 (TDMA), IS-95 (CDMA), and IEEE 802.11 (wireless LAN). I/Q modulation and demodulation have also been proposed for use in the Bluetooth wireless communication systems.
As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the quadrature signals÷orthogonality directly affects the overall accuracy of digital signal's modulation and demodulation. It has thus been the goal of the transceiver designers to try to maintain sameness in amplitude and orthogonal in phase for the quadrature signals.
Conventionally, the solution has been to first take digital sampling of the signal, and then use powerful digital signal processing to calculate the error. The error is converted back to analog and fed back to the analog front end circuit ("AFE") to do error correction. While such a method may accurately find the error and provide satisfactory orthogonality, its architecture and circuitry tend to become too complex, since the design of the AFE must be compatible with the DSP. Also, the conventional method would require multiple digital-analog converters (DAC) and analog-digital converter (ADC), thus greatly increasing the area and power consumption of the transceiver.
Reference is to FIG. 1, where a simplified block diagram of the conventional wireless receiver incorporating an I/Q demodulator is illustrated. The receiver includes an antenna 100 that receives a transmitted RF signal. The signal received by the antenna 100 is applied to a band-pass filter BPF 105, which filters out-of-band RF signals and rejects signals at frequencies other than the frequency of the desired RF carrier. The output of the BPF 105 is applied to a low-noise amplifier LNA 110, where the level of the input RF signal is raised sufficiently to effectively drive the receiver's mixer circuitry. The output from the LNA 110 is applied to the receiver's mixer/demodulator block, where a digital, frequency-synthesized local oscillator (LO) 125 is incorporated. The mixer/demodulator block also includes a quadrature demodulator, which includes I demodulator 130 and Q demodulator 120. As is well understood by those skilled in the art, an in-phase version of the LO signal is delivered to the I demodulator 130, while a quadrature (90° phase shifted) version of the LO signal is delivered to the Q demodulator 120. The outputs of the mixers 120, 130, after applied to their respective channel selection filters (CSF) 150, 140 and ADC 170, 160, constitute the demodulated I and Q signals 175, 165, respectively.
As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, mismatch in I and Q channels will introduce frequency crosstalk, thus degrading the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). I/Q mismatch has become inevitable due to state-of-the art semiconductor device design and fabrication inability to achieve "perfect" matching between devices, even devices on the same die.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a simple and yet effective solution to address the amplitude and phase effects. It is also desirable for the solution to be combined with the high-frequency gain amplifier without increasing too much chip area.

High frequency gain amplifier with phase compensation circuit

Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI)


Techniques described herein provide for a method, system, and apparatus for determining whether a mismatch is present between content and a description associated with a literary work. In various embodiments, a matching score may be calculated based on a number of stems identified from the description that match stems identified from the content. The matching score may be adjusted based on a number of name entities identified from the description that match one or more words in the content. The computed matching score may then indicate whether the description and the content correspond to a same literary work. According to one embodiment, the description and the content correspond to the same literary work even where the computed matching score indicates a mismatch if a title is determined to match in the content. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Generally, computing systems feature persistent storage, the capacities of which may vary by orders of magnitude but are often on the scale of billions of bytes—i.e., gigabytes (GB). Persistent storage of such an appreciable capacity offers myriad benefits for storing information, such as spatial and distributive characteristics that are absent from tangible manifestations of information. Voluminous textual information that might otherwise occupy significant space may be digitally stored in an area that is infinitesimally fractional compared to printed media. For example, the dimensions of electronic book may be comparable to that of an average printed paperback book, but the electronic book may feature persistent storage capable of storing therein thousands of books whereas a printed book inherently includes text for only that book. Additionally, the distribution of digital information may be enormously faster, more efficient, and broader than tangible distribution of the same. An author may transmit his or her work as signals over a network, and in so doing more quickly disseminate that work to a larger audience than a single printed copy of that same work.
Though convenient, the digital dissemination of information may still require a user to review that digital information to discern portions that are of interest to that user. For example, a user may examine text from a plurality of different digital files that each features a respective literary work so that the user may determine one or more literary works that are of interest to the user. To facilitate the review process for a user, a digital textual description (e.g., a synopsis or abstract) may be provided to the user so that the user may identify the content of the literary work. Moreover, the description may decrease resource consumption of one or more computing systems, such as where the user the attempts to access a literary work over a network. In such instances, a description corresponding to a literary work may be transmitted to the user instead of the content corresponding to that literary work, because the description will typically require a smaller amount of data storage and communication than the content itself.
A description and content intended to correspond to a single literary work may be separately submitted for digital dissemination. The separate submission of the content from the description may lead to some errors—e.g., an author may mistakenly publish a description that does not match the content of the corresponding literary work. Errors due to incongruous descriptions and contents may not be discovered until a user accesses (e.g., downloads) content corresponding to one literary work based on a mismatched description (e.g., a description corresponding to a different literary work). In practice, mismatched descriptions and contents may negatively impact users' experiences with and perceptions of digital information, as well as increase costs, overhead, and the like that are commensurate with rectifying those mismatched descriptions and contents.

Detection of mismatch between book content and description


Provided are a transfer substrate, a display panel and a transfer method. The transfer substrate includes a plurality of object setting regions arranged in an array, the plurality of object setting regions including n types, where n is a positive integer, and n≥2. The transfer substrate further includes: a base substrate, and a blocking layer located on a side of the base substrate. The blocking layer forms accommodating grooves respectively within object setting regions. Phase change materials are provided in accommodating grooves of at least (n−1) types of object setting regions. The provided transfer substrate has a simple structure and high transfer efficiency.

If the massive transfer of different types of objects is desired to be achieved, the method of one-by-one transfer is generally adopted in the existing art. Exemplarily, for the massive transfer of Micro Light-Emitting Diodes (Micro LEDs) in a Micro LED display panel in the field of display technologies in the existing art, a transfer head is made for LED chip particles to be transferred from a native substrate to a substrate having a driving circuit. The transfer technology in the existing art is complex in process, low in efficiency and high in cost.

Transfer substrate, display panel and transfer method

Shanghai Tianma Micro-Electronics Co., Ltd.


A polishing apparatus includes a peripheral-portion polishing unit configured to polish a peripheral portion of the substrate, a CMP unit configured to polish a flat surface of the substrate W, a cleaning unit configured to clean the polished substrate, a transport system configured to transport the substrate. The transport system transports the substrate that has been polished in one of the peripheral-portion polishing unit and the CMP unit to the cleaning unit, and transports the substrate that has been cleaned in the cleaning unit to the other of the peripheral-portion polishing unit and the CMP unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a polishing apparatus and a polishing method for polishing a substrate, such as a wafer, in which devices are formed, and in particular, relates to a multistage polishing apparatus and a multistage polishing method for polishing a flat surface and a peripheral portion of the substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
In fabricating processes of semiconductor devices, a surface and a peripheral portion (which is also called a bevel portion or an edge portion) of a wafer are polished in order to remove an unnecessary material film. This wafer polishing process is generally divided into a process of polishing the flat surface of the wafer and a process of polishing the peripheral portion of the wafer. The polishing of the flat surface of the wafer is performed by placing the surface of the wafer in sliding contact with a polishing tool, such as a polishing pad, while supplying a polishing liquid (slurry) onto the polishing tool. Such polishing with use of the slurry is called Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP). The polishing of the peripheral portion of the wafer is performed by placing a polishing tape in sliding contact with the peripheral portion of the wafer while supplying a polishing liquid (typically pure water) onto the wafer.
As disclosed in Japanese patent publication No. 4655369, Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2010-141218, and Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2008-42220, several multistage polishing methods for polishing the flat surface of the wafer and further polishing the peripheral portion of the wafer are proposed. However, in such multistage polishing methods, polishing debris produced in a previous polishing process and/or slurry may adversely influence a subsequent polishing process. For example, the polishing debris may cause scratches on the wafer.

Polishing apparatus and polishing method


A method and apparatus for providing a user selectable start-up current in a disk drive are provided. A user may select a relatively high start-up current to provide a relatively fast start-up time in a disk drive. Alternatively, the user may select a relatively low maximum current draw by the hard drive to enable a relatively low power, low cost power supply to be used in connection with the hard drive, for use with applications in which a relatively long start-up time is acceptable. In connection with applications in which a low cost power supply is to be used, the maximum current drawn by the disk drive may be limited to the amount of current required by the disk drive during seek operations.

Hard disk drives are used to store large amounts of digital data. In addition to use in connection with general purpose computers, hard disk drives have application in a variety of devices and systems, such as digital video and audio recorders and video game machines. In a typical application, a single power supply is provided for supplying electrical power to the hard disk drive, and to any other devices associated with the apparatus having the power supply. In a typical device interconnected to or including a disk drive, the largest consumer of electrical current is the hard disk drive.
In a contact start stop (CSS) type disk drive, the transducer heads that are used to write information to and read information from the storage disks are suspended above the surfaces of the storage disks by a laminar flow of air created by the spinning of the disks relative to the transducer heads. However, when the disks are not spinning, the transducer heads in such a drive are in contact with the surfaces of the disks. In order to begin spinning the disks from a static state, the stiction between the transducer heads and the surfaces of the disks must first be broken. Breaking this stiction can require providing the spindle motor with an amount of current that is several times greater than the current consumed by the spindle motor and associated disk drive components when the disk drive is in steady state operation (i.e. when the disks have completed spin-up and are rotating at their normal velocity). Accordingly, power supplies used to provide disk drives with operating current have been required to be capable of supplying a relatively large amount of current during start-up of the disk drive, when spin-up of the disks from a static state is required.
In general, spin-up of the disks refers to bringing the disks from a static state to their normal rotational velocity. Start-up of the disk drive refers to bringing the disk drive to a condition in which data may be transferred to or from the disks. Furthermore, the spin-up time refers to the time required to bring the disks from a static state to their normal rotational velocity when read and write operations are conducted. The start-up time refers to the time required to bring the disk drive from a condition in which the disks are stationary to a condition in which read or write operations can be performed. As can be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the spin-up time may be equal to the start-up time of a disk drive.
More recently, disk drives have been designed with transducer heads that are unloaded from the surfaces of the disks when the disks are stopped or are not spinning quickly enough to create a laminar flow of air sufficient to support the transducer heads over the surfaces of the disks. Such load and unload disk drives therefore remove the need to provide a relatively high start-up current in order to break stiction between the transducer heads and the surfaces of the disks. However, in order to achieve what has been considered to be a reasonably short spin-up time, even such load and unload disk drives have been provided with start-up currents that may be many times greater than the current consumed by a disk drive after spin-up of the disks has been achieved and start-up of the disk drive completed. Furthermore, the current drawn by a conventional disk drive to initiate rotation of the disks is very high because, upon start-up, there is no back electromotive force in the motor used to rotate the disks. Therefore, the start-up current in even a load and unload type disk drive typically establishes the maximum current draw for a particular disk drive.
Systems intended to reduce the power consumed by disk drives during start-up have been proposed. For example, certain systems limit the current supplied to a disk drive upon start-up to a first amount, and if that first amount of current is not successful in rotating the disk, a second, greater amount of current is supplied. Because such systems anticipate supplying increasing amounts of current, they must be provided with power supplies that are capable of reliably supplying those higher amounts of current. Still other devices have attempted to limit start-up current by providing a plurality of windings in the spindle motor. In particular, a relatively large number of windings are used to provide a high start-up torque, and a lesser number of windings are used after higher rotational velocities have been achieved. However, such devices are relatively complicated and expensive to implement. Still other devices limit the current supplied to a disk drive when the current drawn by the disk drive causes the voltage provided by a power supply to drop below a selected amount. However, such an approach results in a disk drive having a variable maximum current draw. Accordingly, existing disk drives have not allowed users to select between a mode that reliably provides a reduced current draw on a power supply, and a mode that provides relatively fast disk spin-up times to achieve relatively fast disk drive start-up times.

Method and apparatus for providing a user selectable start-up current in a disk drive


Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, computer program products, and systems for selecting subsets of participants in electronic message threads. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to exclude participants based, at least in part, on activity level from message conversations, thereby streamlining message conversation and reducing unwanted message communications.

The present invention relates generally to the field of electronic messages, and more particularly to multi-party electronic message conversations.
On a daily basis, in both personal and professional lives, people engage in multi-party message conversations using electronic message services, such as email. Typically, when responding to an email message, users can select a couple of options to select whom they send the message to. For example, users can typically select a "Reply" option, which enables a user to respond only to the sender of the original message. Users can also typically select a "Reply All" option, which enables the user to reply to the sender of the original message as well as all of the recipients of the original message.

Selecting subsets of participants in electronic message threads

International Business Machines Corporation