The photoconductor of the invention includes a conductive substrate, a photoconductive film on the conductive substrate and an intermediate layer between the conductive substrate and the photoconductive film. The intermediate layer contains first inorganic pigment particles having a primary particle diameter of 0.1 .mu.m or less, and second inorganic pigment particles having a primary particle diameter from 0.1 to 1.0 .mu.m. At least 10 wt % of the second inorganic pigment particles is contained in the intermediate layer. The photoconductor prevents interference fringes and image defects, and provides excellent images.

The present invention relates to a laminate-type photoconductor for electrophotography (hereinafter simply referred to as a "photoconductor") installed on an electrophotographic apparatus which uses coherent or interfering light as a light source. The present invention also relates to a photoconductor which can obtain excellent images free from interference fringes and image defects.
Many conventional photoconductors used in the electrophotographic apparatuses including copying machines, printers and facsimiles which employ Carlson method have used inorganic photoconductive materials, such as selenium, selenium alloys, zinc oxide, and cadmium sulfide. Recently, organic photoconductors which use organic photoconductive materials have been developed vigorously in view of the environmental considerations, ease of film formation and light weight. Among the organic photoconductors, so-called function-separation-type organic photoconductors which include a separate charge generation layer and charge transport layer have been mainly used, because in case the respective layers are formed of the most suitable materials, there are many merits, such as the greatly improved sensitivity and the adjustable spectroscopic sensitivity considering the desired wavelength of the exposure light.
The function-separation-type organic photoconductor generally includes a charge generation layer on a conductive substrate and a charge transport layer on the charge generation layer. The charge generation layer and the charge transport layer constitute a photoconductive film. The photoconductor is manufactured by forming the charge generation layer on the conductive substrate by coating and drying the coating liquid containing a charge generation agent and a binder dispersed and dissolved in a solvent, and by successively forming the charge transport layer on the charge generation layer by coating and drying the coating liquid containing a charge transport agent and a binder dispersed and dissolved in a solvent.
The basic functions required to the photoconductor are obtained by laminating the charge generation layer and charge transport layer directly on the substrate. However, the charge generation layer is generally 0.5 .mu.m or less in thickness for quickly injecting charge carries generated by absorbed light into the substrate and the charge transport layer. Due to the thin charge generation layer, film defects, such as pin holes and non-uniformity, are formed if there are flaws, stains and deposits on the substrate surface. The film defects further cause image defects, such as black spots and uneven printing density. Also, since the charge injection between the substrate and the charge generation layer is not so well prevented, the charge retention rate of the photoconductor is lowered by the holes injected from the substrate. Lowering of the charge retention rate further causes fogging on a white sheet of paper.
It is known that a resin intermediate layer is formed between the substrate and the photoconductive film to prevent image defects by the non-uniformity of the charge generation layer and hole injection from the substrate.
The resins used for the intermediate layer include solvent-soluble polyamide, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral and casein. The intermediate layer that uses one of these resins exhibits its basic functions even when it is extremely thin, e.g., 0.1 .mu.m or thinner. However, the intermediate layer should have the thickness of 0.5 .mu.m or more to cover the defects and stains on the conductive substrate surface or to prevent the non-uniformity of the charge generation layer. Sometimes, the intermediate layer should have the thickness of 1 .mu.m or more depending on the roughness and contamination of the substrate surface.
The thick intermediate layer as described above affects adversely to the carrier injection from the charge generation layer, and causes residual potential rise after repeated use and image defects, such as lowering of printing density. The thick intermediate layer also causes wide variation of the electrical properties of the photoconductor depending on the environment in which the photoconductor is used. Especially, when the photoconductor is used in a hot and very humid environment, the electrical resistance is changed greatly by the dissociation of water absorbed in the thick intermediate layer, and fogging is formed on a solid white image.
Various materials have been proposed for providing such thick intermediate layer with low electrical resistance that changes little with environmental change. Japanese Patent Publications (KOKAI) No. H02-193152, No. H03-288157 and No. H04-31870 disclose solvent-soluble polyamide resins whose chemical structures have been identified. Japanese Patent Publications (KOKAI) No. H02-59458, No. H03-81778 and No. H02-281262 disclose additives for polyamide resin for preventing the electrical resistance from changing by the environmental change. Japanese Patent Publications (KOKAI) No. H03-145652, No. H03-81778 and No. H02-281262 disclose the mixtures of polyamide resin and other resins for adjusting the electrical resistance to suppress the environmental influence on the electrical resistance.
As to the other materials for the intermediate layer, Japanese Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. H02-238459 discloses the employment of cellulose derivatives, Japanese Patent Publications (KOKAI) No. H02-115858 and No. H02-280170 disclose the employment of polyether urethane. Japanese Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. H02-105349 uses polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and Japanese Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. H02-79859 uses polyglycol ether.
When the photoconductor including one of these intermediate layers is used for the laser beam printer, it is necessary to prevent the image defect of interference fringes due to the combination of the refractive index and thickness of the photoconductive film and the wavelength of the light source. In order to prevent the interference fringes, it has been proposed to add an inorganic pigment filler to the intermediate layer. The proposed inorganic pigment fillers for the intermediate layers include small grained aluminum oxide (Japanese Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. H03-24558) and a large amount of rutile-type titanium oxide mixed in acrylmelamine (Japanese Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. H02-67565). An intermediate layer of 2 to 10 .mu.m in thickness that uses anatase-type titanium oxide with the purity of 99% or more has been proposed to improve the dispersing ability of the filler and the electrical properties of the intermediate layer (Japanese Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. H04-172361). This patent publication discloses that anatase-type titanium oxide is superior to rutile-type titanium oxide for improving the dispersing ability of the filler and for lowering the electrical resistance of the intermediate layer.
Japanese Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. S60-144754 discloses an intermediate layer that includes binder resin and conductive powder consisting of coarse powder component of 0.2 to 0.6 .mu.m in average particle diameter and fine powder component of 0.1 .mu.m or less in average particle diameter. However, this combination of the coarse and fine powder components is not so effective to prevent the interference fringes due to the coherent light.
Although various intermediate layers between the conductive substrate and the photoconductive film have been proposed, it is still desirous to develop a laminate-type photoconductor, adaptable to the electrophotographic apparatus which uses coherent or interfering light, such as a laser beam, as a light source, which prevents interference fringes and image defects and which can provide excellent images.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the invention to provide a photoconductor for preventing interference fringes and image defects and providing excellent images.


Methods, systems, and computer storage media for generating a visual representation of crime-related information on a map are provided. The crime-related information is gathered from a variety of sources and evaluated to ensure there is no bias when generating metrics that describe individual events within the information. The evaluation involves normalization of a crime's location (e.g., longitude and latitude) and statistical analysis of a crime's severity (e.g., vandalism vs. car theft). Once the metrics are derived, they are employed to generate map that plots the individual events in a visually intuitive manner, such as heat map. In one instance, the map is used to route travelers to their destination optimizing for the safest route, while also considering timing of the trip. In another instance, the map is used to alert a user when s/he enters into an area with event(s) designated as having severe criminal events.

With the proliferation of computing devices that can travel with a user (e.g., mobile phones, intelligent dashboards, smart wearables, and other mobile devices), there is an opportunity to provide the user with route-planning applications. Some of these applications are utilized to aid users in locating points of interest, such as particular buildings, addresses, and the like. Additionally, in several existent commercial applications, users can vary a zoom level of a map, thereby enabling variation of context and detail as the zoom level is altered.
Furthermore, conventional computer-implemented mapping applications may include automotive route-planning that provides users with directions between different locations. For example, the user can provide an automotive route-planning application with a beginning point of travel and an end point of travel (e.g., beginning and ending addresses). The route-planning application can utilize representations of roads and intersections to output a suggested route of travel. The exact route of travel may depend upon user-selected parameters, such as a commercial route-planning selection that enables a user to specify that s/he wishes to avoid highways. Similarly, a user can inform the route-planning application that s/he wishes to travel on a shortest distance route or on a route that takes a least amount of time.
Since inception of these route-planning applications, individuals have grown to rely increasingly on them to aid them in everything from locating a friend's house to planning cross-country road trips. But, although some aspects of the trip or location search may be modified by a user (e.g., travel time vs. travel distance), there are other consideration that might be important to the user when determining how to navigate between two locations. Accordingly, there is a need to understand more about the environment of a user beyond simply the routes available.

Generating safe routes for traffic using crime-related information


The present invention pertains to the field of material for physical education, gymnastics, swimming, climbing or fencing, ball games, training material and specifically to training apparatus or apparatus intended for particular sports, consisting of a basketball trainer device composed of a body in the form of a silhouette with a cavity for traversing a ball within a frame and training aim or with said cavity covered with a lining to train reception by the bounce of the ball on the lining; a conical base filled with a weight ballast to keep basketball trainer device upright; removable swivel wheels for movement; riatas of connection with the player, connection with several players or connection with another device and the player simultaneously; where the basketball trainer device has the ability to remain static or moving, rotate 360° and flex up to between zero degrees and fifty degrees measured from the vertical axis.

In the state of the art is known the U.S. Pat. No. 7,198,580 B2 filed on Jun. 21, 2005, which describes an obstacle device for use on a playing field has a base and a frame approximating in shape the front profile of a human head and torso. The frame is coupled to the base. The frame includes a collapsible frame member that has an expanded configuration that defines an expanded frame area. The frame member also has a collapsed configuration that defines a collapsed frame area that is less than the expanded frame area. A covering material is attached to the frame so that the covering material is spread by the frame when the frame member is in the expanded configuration. The new invention does not have a stake as a base for its stability with the ground, on the contrary, its base is cone-shaped and can be filled inside with sand, water or other heavy ballast that gives it: stability, to stand firm vertically and balanced movement, to resist personal contact without falling to the ground.
There is also U.S. Pat. No. 8,277,340 B2 filed on May 18, 2010, which provides a basketball training device that mimics an opposing player during practice. The training device has a weighted base set on caster wheels. A vertical support extends upwardly from the base. A slide structure moves up and down on the vertical support between a high position and a low position. A blocking form is coupled to the slide structure. The blocking form moves with the slide structure. Consequently, the blocking form can move up and down. An elongated control rod attaches to the wheeled base. The control rod is used by a coach to push and pull the training device along the basketball court during play. In this manner, a coach can adjust the position of the blocking form to better mimic the movements of a real opposing player. The new invention also has wheels on its base that allow it to move to different areas, with the difference that these wheels can be stored in the base and thus make the basketball trainer device static in one place, without moving when Make contact with the player. The basketball coach device also has a hollow space in your body that allows you to perform pass exercises and aiming in training.
It is also known U.S. Publication Application No. US20090149281A1 published on Jun. 11, 2009, which describes a basketball or soccer training device has a base, a body having a lower body portion and an upper body portion with the lower body portion overlying the base. The upper body portion has a first pair of arms projecting generally outwardly in generally-opposite directions and a second pair of arms projecting generally upwardly in relative spaced relationship. The lower body portion may have a pair of legs terminating in weighted feet. The base may be hollow and be dimensioned and structured to receive an inflatable, basketball training device when in deflated condition. A corresponding method is provided. The new invention is made of plastic material, which gives it rigidity and resistance to contact. Likewise, at its base it has wheels that allow it to move around the area. This movement is achieved with a riata that connects to the body of the basketball coach device with the person who is using it, in this way exercises are carried out in which it involves the accompaniment of the basketball coach device in the movement of the player.
It is in the state of the art Publication Application No. CN203370263 U published Jan. 1, 2014, which describes a human body model used for basketball confrontation training comprises a suction cup base, a lower supporting rod, a fastening screw, an upper supporting rod and a human body model body and is characterized in that the lower supporting rod is fixedly arranged right on the top of the suction cup base, the upper supporting rod is fixedly arranged right at the bottom of the human body model body, the lower supporting rod is in a tubular shape, the upper supporting rod is inserted into the lower supporting rod in a matched mode and fastened through the fastening screw arranged on the portion, on the upper middle portion of the lower supporting rod, of the outer surface of the lower supporting rod, and the upper supporting rod is elastic. In practical application, one or more human body models used for basketball confrontation training can be fixed to proper positions of a basketball court through the suction cup base, and therefore the model can simulate a simulated enemy so that a sportsman can conduct training such as breaking through and shooting, the height of a telescopic rod can be adjusted so that the model can stimulate rivals at different heights and confrontation training can be conducted, and the training effect can be improved. The new invention has an internal chamber inside the base, which can be filled with heavy material so that the basketball trainer device can be tilted without falling. Likewise, the body of the device is rotational, that is, it rotates 360° on the axis that is the support bar that is connected to the base.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,721,476 B2 filed Aug. 16, 2012, which describes a basketball training device which resembles a mannequin that defends against basketball players with a series of blocking motions. When a proximity sensor detects an approaching player, a control unit initiates waving of forearms, raising/lowering of upper arms, chopping motion of arms and torso raising and lowering. An audio circuit plays music or realistic background noises. When convex bottom of primary base is placed on a floor, weight of ballast and rechargeable batteries allows the device to return to an upright position when tipped. A gyroscopic unit within a control unit can activate when the device tips to ensure return of the device to an upright position. Alternatively, the unit can be placed with the secondary base, which features castors that allow the unit to roll when stuck and facilitates placement on a basketball court. The new invention has a hollow space in the body of the basketball trainer device, which can be covered with a lining according to the function you want to perform in training. Without the lining, pass precision exercises can be performed, and with the lining, exercises can be performed where the bounce of the ball to the player is required. In addition, the new invention has a distance rod that connects the player with the basketball trainer device and thus be able to perform pressure and accompaniment exercises. With respect to the mobility of the arms, the new invention has a graduation mechanism that contains a toothed guide that adjusts to the teeth that each end of the arms contains, allowing to adjust the position of the arms according to the need for exercise, while the antecedent has a rotation joint for the arms, which allows the arm to rotate around its longitudinal axis.


A lubricating structure for engines, wherein an oil feed pump and an oil recovery pump are disposed so as to avoid interference between the oil feed and recovery pumps and a clutch mechanism and an increase in the size of the engine. The clutch mechanism 38 is disposed at a location toward a left end of a crankshaft 7 as an output shaft 7a, which is rotatably supported between an upper crankcase 5 and a lower crankcase 6, that is, disposed on a left side of an engine room. A magnet cover 60 is fixed to right side parts of the two crankcases 5, 6. A magnet MG is disposed between the two crankcases 5, 6 and the magnet cover 60 at a location toward a right end 7b of the crankshaft 7. An oil pump FEP for feeding lubricating oil is disposed between the two crankcases 5, 6 and the magnet cover 60, and an oil pump SCP for recovering lubricating oil is disposed between the two crankcases 5, 6 and the magnet cover 60.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lubricating structure for engines, a lubricating structure for engines for snow vehicles, and a snow vehicle, wherein dry sump lubrication of a four-cycle engine is performed.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, more and more four-cycle engines have come to be used for snow vehicles, and there have been proposed four-cycle engines including a dry sump lubricating structure and a clutch mechanism implemented e.g. by a constantly variable transmission. A lubricating structure in an engine of this type is generally provided with an oil feed pump for feeding lubricating oil and an oil recovery pump for recovering lubricating oil.
In designing the arrangement of the two oil pumps in the lubricating structure, it is necessary to take into account steering stability of the vehicle, reduction of the size of the engine, prevention of interference with other components, and-so forth. For example, in the case where the clutch mechanism is disposed on the output shaft side of the crankshaft, it is not preferable, with a view to avoidance of interference with the clutch mechanism, that the oil feed pump and the oil recovery pump are disposed on the output shaft side of the crankshaft.
In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2001-280111, it is disclosed that oil pumps are disposed such that the arrangement of an oil filter and communication passages between the oil pumps and the oil filter is designed so as to facilitate machining of oil passages and reduce the size of the engine.
Some snow vehicles with four-cycle engines are provided with a balancer shaft. In such a snow vehicle, the balancer shaft is normally rotatably supported in a crankcase. A balancer shaft requires lubrication, and particularly when two balancer shafts are provided, the arrangement of oil passages for lubrication influences not only the degree of difficulty in passage machining but also space saving within the engine. Therefore, efficient designing of passages is desired.
However, in the above-mentioned dry sump lubricating structure, if the oil pumps are disposed at locations away from the crankshaft, e.g. in a lower part of the engine, and the crankshaft is used to drive the oil pumps, oil pump driven gears of an increased size have to be employed for speed reduction, which hinders saving of space within the engine. Further, in the case where a magnet device is provided on an end of the crankshaft opposite from the clutch mechanism, if it is designed such that the oil pumps are driven by the end of the crankshaft via gears and chains, the crankshaft inevitably has to be lengthened for allowing a driving force to be taken therefrom, which leads to an increase in the overall width of the engine.
Further, in a snow vehicle with a four-cycle engine, if oil passages are formed, for example, such that they extend from a main oil gallery to the two balancer shafts, the oil passages are complicated in structure, which not only makes passage machining difficult, but also requires an engine with an increased size for securing space for machining the passages.
In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. H08-177484, it is disclosed that a main oil gallery and a sub oil gallery are connected by a branch pipe. However, this needs provision of the additional branch pipe, and therefore it is not suitable for space saving.
Further, an oil filter provided in a snow vehicle with a four-cycle engine requires periodical replacement, and it is, therefore, necessary to dispose the oil filter at a location free from interference with other components and facilitating the replacement operation. For example, if the oil filter is disposed in a rear part (intake side) of a rearward-tilted engine, or if the filter is disposed in a front part (exhaust side) of a forward-tilted engine, the oil filter comes to be located below the engine, and therefore the replacement operation becomes difficult to carry out. Further, if the oil filter is disposed on the magnet device side, the space between the oil filter and a side wall of the engine room is small, which makes it difficult to mount or remove the oil filter. In addition, it becomes necessary to avoid interference of the oil filter with the clutch mechanism, an exhaust pipe, a steering post, an engine mount, and other components.

Lubricating structure for engines, lubricating structure for engines for snow vehicles, and snow vehicle


In a digital mixer, a storage stores operating data including a plurality of parameters for controlling states of audio signals of a plurality of channels. A signal processor performs a mixing process of the audio signals based on the operating data. A plurality of channel strips are mounted on an operating panel in correspondence to the plurality of the channels. Each channel strip includes operators arranged for controlling a corresponding channel. A display controller displays a panel imitation portion imitating an appearance of the operating panel and including a plurality of channel strip imitation images which imitate the plurality of the channel strips and which are arranged in a positional relationship corresponding to a positional relationship of the channel strips arranged on the operating panel. A parameter setter sets a value of a specific parameter of a channel corresponding to a channel strip upon detecting that the channel strip has been manipulated. A display mode setter allows each channel strip imitation image to be displayed in a display mode according to the value of the specific parameter of the corresponding channel.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital mixer that is used to mix and adjust audio signals in a concert or recording of musical sound content.
2. Description of the Related Art
Along with the development of digital technologies, recent digital mixers can process audio signals of a large number of input and output channels, and also have a wide range of types of parameters that can be set in each input and output channel. Mounting all individual operators and indicators for setting all the parameters on an operating panel is impractical, because the size of the operating panel would be excessively increased. Thus, in general, a multipurpose display device is mounted on the operating panel, and setting screens (or windows) displayed on the display device are switched to select and set a large number of types of parameters. An assembly of operators and indicators for one channel, which is referred to as a "channel strip", is assigned to each of the input and outputs channels. Since the size of a single channel strip is rather limited, operators used to set parameters that are changed frequently are disposed on the channel strip. For example, an ON/OFF key for setting an ON/OFF state of the channel, a SEL key for setting the channel as a target channel (i.e., a selected channel) for which detailed parameters are to be set in the display, a fader for increasing or decreasing the gain of the channel, and the like are disposed on the channel strip.
A collection of parameters currently applied to the digital mixer is referred to as "current data". Current data can be stored as "scene data" in a specific region of a memory, and existing scene data can also be recalled and overwritten onto the current data. This makes it possible to switch a number of parameters with one touch of a button, for example at the time of changing a stage of a concert hall. In a known technology, when scene recall is performed, all current data is not overwritten with scene data, and a safe parameter which is excluded from the parameters to be overwritten with the scene data, is set for each parameter type. This technology is referred to as a "recall safe function" and one example thereof is described in Patent Reference 1. A parameter associated with this recall safe function is also rarely changed. Therefore, in Patent Reference 1, an operator for setting the recall safe function is not provided in the channel strip and the value of the parameter is set in the above-mentioned multipurpose display.
[Patent Reference 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-045425, and corresponding U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0019021.
As described above, the multipurpose display or the like must be used to set parameters that are rarely changed. However, in the conventional digital mixer, display states of the setting screen of the display device are not associated with actual setting states of the channel strips, so that it is difficult for the user to intuitively grasp the association between the channel strip and its display image.


A vehicle seat (1) has a turning device (10), including a base part (14), a seat part support (16) rotatable relative to the base part about an axis of rotation (12) and at least one catching device (20), preventing the seat part support (16) from being ripped out of the base part (14) in the event of a crash, including an insertion element (24) and a receiving element (26) into which the insertion element (24) can be inserted. The receiving element (26) has at least one spring element (40) which undergoes a deformation by contact with the inserted insertion element (24). The spring element (40) is designed such that, when the insertion element (24) is inserted, a spring resistance is approximately the same as when the insertion element (24) is not inserted. The spring resistance of the spring element increases upon a further deformation by the insertion element (24).

DE 10 2010 053 802 B3 discloses a vehicle seat of generic type with a turning device which comprises a fixed base component and a seat part carrier, which is rotatable relative to the base part about a perpendicular axis of rotation. Here, the fixed base component is fixed to a vehicle structure, and a seat part of the vehicle seat can be fixed to the seat part carrier.
For locking the base component to the seat part carrier, the turning device has a locking device, which comprises a locking plate and a pivotal locking lever.
As a crash safeguard two catch bolts, which have a mushroom-shaped widening, are arranged on the base component in the rear end area, viewed in the direction of travel. The seat part carrier has two openings, through which the catch bolts extend when the turning device is in the basic position. The catch bolts prevent the seat part carrier being torn apart from the base component in the event of a crash.
The catch bolts are each enclosed by an elastic sleeve, on which the openings of the seat part carrier rest in the basic position. The elastic sleeves eliminate any play between the base component and the seat part carrier, reduce any noises occurring and increase the natural frequency of the vehicle seat.


This disclosure relates to methods for treatment or prevention of retinal vascular disease by photocoagulation. More specifically, this disclosure relates to an improved technique for the placement of retinal burns so as to prevent the development of hypoxia and progression of ischemia in retinal tissue, including the macula. The methods can also be employed to prevent potential ischemic tissue damage in diabetic, pre-diabetic or other patients with ischemic retinal vascular disease, or those at risk of ischemic retinal vascular disease.

Retinal Vascular Disease
Retinal vascular disease is a significant and growing global problem. The most common form of retinal vascular disease is caused by diabetes mellitus. It is well-known that the incidence of diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate. Diabetic retinopathy is a significant problem in type I and type II diabetes. The hyperglycemia caused by diabetes leads to many complications, and diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of impaired vision or blindness in people of working age in the United States.
Blood vessels, particularly the capillaries, in the diabetic eye are susceptible to occlusion, producing retinal hypoxia and altering synthesis of various factors and cytokines. These changes in cytokine and other factors can trigger an adverse local feedback cycle which increases the likelihood of occlusion of adjacent capillaries.
Current treatment for such diseases is primarily pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP). The treatment relies on lasers to destroy photoreceptors in the retina, which are major oxygen consumers. Destruction of some of the eye's photoreceptors by PRP allows for oxygen to be available to lower levels of cytokines such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This lowering tends to cause regression of neovascularization and lowers the risk of vision loss. Other methods for producing local damage to the photoreceptors are available and known, but laser treatment is the most common approach. This treatment is somewhat effective in preventing further damage to the retina due to the complications of retinal neovascularization, but can also cause complications such as the loss of peripheral vision and increased macular edema. Generally, this treatment is done by randomly scattering large laser burns in the peripheral retinal or with a grid of laser burns applied to areas of the macula that appear to have leaking vessels.
The complications of diabetes in the eye are largely related to physiological disturbances of the capillaries in the form of confluent capillary occlusion with resultant areas of retinal ischemia leading to elevated production of VEGF and other biological factors. The elevated VEGF leads to increased rates of capillary occlusion in nearby capillaries by elevating local capillary adhesion proteins and to vascular leakage resulting in retinal edema, and if sufficient areas of retina are involved, to neovascularization.
The fundamental pathological process resulting in individual capillary occlusion is believed to be the result of an activated leukocyte adhering to and damaging the retinal capillary endothelial cell ultimately resulting in occlusion of a single capillary, presumably after cycles of damage exhaust endothelial replication. Yet what is observed clinically are large confluent areas of retinal ischemia rather than random capillary occlusions. Therefore, occlusion of an individual capillary is likely dependent on the patency or occlusion of surrounding capillaries. That is, there is non-random occlusion such that occlusion begets further occlusion in the form of an adverse feedback cycle. With capillary occlusion, local retinal tissue becomes ischemic/hypoxic and that tissue releases a factor or factors which increase the likelihood of nearby capillary occlusion.
Macular Edema
Macular edema is the build-up of fluid in the macula, often occurring with diabetic retinopathy, which is the leading cause of moderate visual loss in the working age population in the United States. Macular edema occurs when there is abnormal leakage and accumulation of fluid in the macula from leaking retinal blood vessels, and often presents in the context of diabetic retinopathy. It is well-known that the incidence of diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate. Diabetic retinopathy is a significant problem in type I and type II diabetes. The hyperglycemia caused by diabetes leads to many complications.
Macular edema can also occur following eye surgery, in association with age-related macular degeneration, or as a consequence of inflammatory diseases that affect the eye.
Currently, about 40% of patients with diabetic macular edema receive laser treatment as an adjunct to treatment with intra-ocularly injected anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents. Lowering VEGF levels tends to reduce vessel leakage and lowers the risk of vision loss. The current laser treatments for macular edema are often in the form of a grid of laser burns, and are largely applied without any guiding rationale.

Treatment and prevention of retinal vascular disease by photocoagulation


A look-ahead detection system (LADS) that actively controls the suspension of at least some of the seats in a watercraft to drastically reduce the shock and/or vibrations experienced by passengers within the seats caused by waves, other water conditions and/or the bending of the craft as it travels through the water. The look-ahead detection system utilizes downward-looking sensors to help the system predict when the craft will strike the water and how strong the impact will be. That is, the look-ahead detection system uses the sensors to look forward in time and down in space.

Designers and manufacturers of high speed vehicles seek to increase performance and improve the quality of the ride experienced by passengers. For this reason, passenger seats on high-performance watercraft may be provided with padding and shock absorbers to attenuate mechanical shocks.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,125 to Gezari refers to an active shock-absorbing seat system for high-speed, high-performance watercraft. In the Gezari system, accelerometers coupled to the seat and deck and sensors within the shock-absorbing system sense the watercraft motion, and actively-controlled shock absorbers connected to the passenger seats use the sensor information to reduce the accelerative forces experienced by passengers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,377 to Van Gerpen refers to an active suspension system for controlling a tractor seat during low frequency jolts and bumps. The Van Gerpen system aims to maintain the seat within a substantially horizontal plane as the tractor moves up and down. In the Van Gerpen system, the control is based on a mass vibrometer located within a tractor.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,253 to Koutsky discloses a suspension system for controlling a vehicle seat for up to six different types of motions (six degrees of freedom). The suspension system is also intended to act as a structural support for the seat. Koutsky relies on movement and position sensors located within the vehicle. As the vehicle encounters a bump, the sensors provide feedback to a control unit, which controls the seat suspension system. The entire disclosure of the Koutsky patent is incorporated herein by reference.
Known shock absorbers and seat control systems are not able to effectively attenuate the effects of shocks, such as mechanical shocks caused by a watercraft striking waves at high speed. For example, during high speed maneuvering in high performance watercraft, successive collisions with waves may cause a passenger to repeatedly experience shock events including brief accelerations as high as nine Gs (i.e., nine times the normal force of gravity) or more. The shock events may recur periodically, for example once every one and one-half seconds. Currently available systems are unable to adequately attenuate such disturbances, due in part to the short duration and large amplitude of the disturbances, and also because the event timing may be irregular.


Ink compositions and methods of using the same are disclosed. An example ink composition includes an inkjet vehicle, from about 0.1 wt % to about 10 wt % of colorants, from about 0.01 wt % to about 10 wt % of anti-kogation agents, and from about 0.01 wt % to about 6 wt % of a water soluble component represented by formula (I).

The use of inkjet printing systems has grown dramatically in recent years, which is attributed to substantial improvements in print resolution and overall print quality coupled with appreciable reduction in cost. Notwithstanding their recent success, intensive research and development efforts continue toward improving inkjet print quality, while further lowering cost to the consumer.
With inkjet printing, a desired printed image is formed when a precise pattern of dots is ejected from a drop-generating device, known as a printhead, onto a print medium. The printhead has an array of precisely formed nozzles located on a nozzle plate and attached to an inkjet printhead substrate. The inkjet printhead substrate incorporates an array of firing chambers that receive inkjet ink through fluid communication with one or more ink reservoirs. Each firing chamber has a resistor element, known as a firing resistor, located opposite the nozzle so that the inkjet ink collects between the firing resistor and the nozzle. Each resistor element is typically a pad of a resistive material and measures about 35 μm×35 μm. The printhead is held and protected by an outer packaging referred to as a print cartridge or an inkjet pen. Upon energizing of a particular resistor element, a droplet of inkjet ink is expelled through the nozzle toward the print medium. The firing of ink droplets is typically under the control of a microprocessor, the signals of which are conveyed by electrical traces to the resistor elements, forming alphanumeric and other characters on the print medium. The small scales of the nozzles, which are typically 10 μm to 40 μm in diameter, require that the ink does not clog the nozzles. However, repeated firings of the resistor elements, which are designed to withstand millions of firings over the life of the print cartridge, result in fouling of the resistor elements with residue and degradation of pen performance. This build up of residue is known as kogation. The term "kogation" is, thus, used herein to refer to the buildup of the residue, or koga, on a surface of the resistor element in the inkjet pen.
To produce high quality images, the inkjet ink has to be compatible with the inkjet pen and the print medium. In addition, the ink has to be capable of passing through the inkjet orifice without clogging the orifice plate.
Inkjet ink typically includes one or more colorants dissolved or dispersed in an aqueous-based ink vehicle and can also contain anti-kogation components. Such anti-kogation components have been used to counter the kogation effect. However, such components tend to be not stable in the ink composition and often precipitate. Such precipitation phenomenon results in a deposition phenomenon which tend clog the nozzle of the print head
Clogging of ink occurs when ink drops, exiting the orifices, leave behind minute amounts of ink on the orifice plate around each orifice. The inkjet ink collects on an outer surface of the orifice plate or puddles adjacent to the edge of the orifice. Such clogging happens at the fore end of the narrow nozzle so that the direction and quantity of ink jetted become unstable. This clogging effect results in that the size and the speed of ink drops vary exceedingly whereby it becomes impossible to obtain a clear record and jet printing is hampered. This phenomena result thus in poor printing performances.
Clogging naturally happen on inks, however, this phenomenon is accentuated by precipitation of some components of ink composition, such as anti-kogation components, and furthermore, is accentuated when metal ions contaminate ink composition.
It has thus often created challenges to formulate ink compositions which do not have a kogation effect and which do not result in clogging the nozzle of the printing machine; in other words, which can be effectively used with inkjet printing techniques and which provide good image printing performances.

Inkjet ink composition containing anti-kogation agents

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A jig 10 includes a base plate 12 adapted to be secured to a router and is capable of forming circles, ovals, of the like as well as the traditional router functions. The base plate 12 includes a tip aperture 14 sized and shaped to accept a router tip of the router and also includes a channel 16 disposed substantially parallel to a longitudinal face of the base plate 12. A slider 18 is sized and shaped to fit within the channel 16 and move along a longitudinal axis of the channel. A locking mechanism 22 secures the slider 18 to the base plate 12, thereby preventing any longitudinal movement of the slider 18 relative to the base plate 12. The slider 18 optionally includes a pivot peg 20, preferably removably secured within one or more apertures 24 along the length of the slider 18. Alternatively, the slider 18 may include a fence 30 disposed proximate a first end.

There are many ways to cut circles or holes within an object. For example, a circle may be drawn on an object using a compass and then cut using a jigsaw. While this method allows a user to infinitely adjust the diameter of the hole drawn, the accuracy of the hole is limited by the user's ability to follow the hole traced on the surface with the jig saw, and is relatively inaccurate.
Alternatively, one may cut a circle using a drill with a hole cutter bit or the like. This method also suffers from several problems. One problem is that the hole cutter bits are typically made predefined sizes, for example sizes varying by ⅛th of an inch. While these predefined bits are generally available for most applications, a problem if the user needs to cut a hole that does not correspond to one of the predefined hole cutter bits sizes. Another problem is that there is a practical limit as to how large of a hole can be cut with a hole cutter bit. For example, if a user wants to cut a hole having a diameter of 3 feet, it is not practical to use a hole cutter bit attached to a drill.
Another method of cutting circles is using a router with a jig attached to the bottom of the router. The jig includes a plurality of holes spaced apart from a center in a predefined pattern. The holes include numbers silk screened onto the upper side of the jig that correspond to the diameter of the hole to be cut. In use, the user first drills a hole in the surface of the object to be cut in the center of the hole. Next, the user places a pivot into the hole of the jig corresponding to the diameter that the user wants to cut, and then rotates the router about the pivot pin and the hole in the object.
This method also suffers from several problems. First, the accuracy of the hole cut is limited to the accuracy of the holes on the jig. As explained above, a user may only cut holes having a diameter corresponding to the diameters listed on the jig. If a hole does not correspond to the exact diameter needed, then the user must chose a diameter either slightly larger or smaller than desired.
Another problem is that the largest hole that the jig may cut is limited by the overall size of the jig. The radius of the largest hole that the jig may cut is proportionate to the distance between the router blade and the hole in the jig. While it is possible to create a very large jig capable of cutting large diameter holes, the jig will become extremely large and awkward to use. As a result, there is a practical limit to the size of the jig and the diameter of holes it is capable of cutting.
Accordingly, what is needed is a method and apparatus for cutting holes and the like in a material (such as, but not limited to, woods, plastic, or metal) that is infinitely adjustable. The method and apparatus should be small, compact, and easy to use, yet capable of cutting both small and large diameter holes accurately and precisely. The method and apparatus should also preferably be capable of cutting holes having a diameter larger than the minimum size of the device.
It is important to note that the present invention is not intended to be limited to a system or method which must satisfy one or more of any stated objects or features of the invention. It is also important to note that the present invention is not limited to the preferred, exemplary, or primary embodiment(s) described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the following claims.


The present invention provides novel cyclic tetrapeptides useful in the treatment or prevention of protozoal diseases; in particular, the novel compounds are active against the causative pathogens in malaria, toxoplasmosis, and coccidiosis.

Parasitic protozoa are responsible for a wide variety of infections in man and animals. Many of the diseases are life threatening to the host and cause considerable economic loss in animal husbandry. For example, malaria remains a significant health threat to humans despite massive international attempts to eradicate the disease; trypanosomiasis such as Chagas disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and African sleeping sickness caused by T. brucei are not uncommon in Africa and South America; and opportunistic infections in immunocompromised hosts caused by Pneumocystis carinii, Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium sp. are becoming increasingly significant in the developed countries.
A protozoal infection of great economic importance is coccidiosis, a widespread disease of domesticated animals produced by infections by protozoa of the genus Eimeria. Some of the most significant Eimeria species are those in poultry, namely E. tenella, E. acervulina, E. necatrix, E. brunetti and E. maxima. The disease is responsible for high levels of morbidity and mortality in poultry and can result in extreme economic losses.
In some protozoal diseases, such as Chagas disease, there is no satisfactory treatment; in others, drug-resistant strains of the protozoa may develop. Accordingly, there exists a continued need to identify new and effective anti-protozoal drugs.


A computer apparatus for creating a trusted environment comprising a trusted device arranged to acquire a first integrity metric to allow determination as to whether the computer apparatus is operating in a trusted manner; a processor arranged to allow execution of a first trust routine and associated first operating environment, and means for restricting the first operating environment access to resources available to the trust routine, wherein the trust routine being arranged to acquire the first integrity metric and a second integrity metric to allow determination as to whether the first operating environment is operating in a trusted manner.

Computer platforms used for commercial applications typically operate in an environment where their behaviour is vulnerable to modification by local or remote entities.
Additionally, with the continuing increase in computer power it has become increasingly common for computer platforms to support multiple users, where each user can have their own operating environment installed on the computer platform.
The operating system software typically runs at the system privilege level of a processor, where the system privilege level permits the individual operating systems to utilise both privileged and non-privileged instructions provided by the processor hardware. As such, where a number of separate operating systems are running simultaneously on a computer platform the operating systems are sharing full system privilege and are not necessarily isolated or protected from one another. The volume of source code for software components sharing full system privilege is typically so large in modern operating systems that it is virtually impossible to ensure the correctness of the source code and whether the behaviour of the source code will behave as expected.
Accordingly, this potential insecurity of the platform is a limitation on its use by parties who might otherwise be willing to use the platform.
Increasing the level of trust in platforms therefore enables greater user confidence that the platform and operating system environment behave in a known manner.

Apparatus and method for creating a trusted environment


The present invention discloses a method for making a porous calcium phosphate article including i) preparing a shaped article from a paste containing a calcium phosphate cement, a pore-forming powder and a setting liquid; ii) immersing the shaped article in an immersing liquid for a period of time so that the pore-forming powder is dissolved in the immersing liquid, creating pores in said shaped article; and iii) removing the resulting porous shaped article from the immersing liquid, wherein the resulting porous shaped article has an improved compressive strength. The porous shaped calcium phosphate article of the present invention may be used as a tissue-engineered scaffold, medical implant or a reinforcing constituent of a composite.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a porous calcium phosphate article for use as a medical implant, and in particular to a method of making a porous calcium phosphate scaffold for use as tissue-engineered scaffold.
2. Description of the Related Art
A tissue-engineered scaffold (majority made from biodegradable polymers) has a very porous structure that allows living cells (usually taken from the patient being treated) to penetrate into the structure and be "seeded" in-vitro during a cell culture process. After a period of time (days or weeks) of cell culture, the cell-seeded scaffold is implanted into either an animal (e.g., rat) whose immune system has been removed, or into the patient himself (usually under the skin for easier later-on process). During this period of time (weeks to months) the cells quickly multiply from absorbing nutrients from the animal or the patient's body, and, at the same time, the scaffold itself is gradually dissolved or resorbed. When this process is substantially "mature", the implant (now a real bone) is removed from under the skin of the animal or the patient and re-implanted into the (wounded or diseased) site being treated. The following are some references describing some details about the background, requirements, applications, etc. of tissue-engineered scaffold: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,139,578; 6,200,606; 5,306,303; and 6,132,463.
It is advantageous if a tissue-engineered scaffold is bioresorbable, sufficiently porous and supportive at the same time. The conventional high temperature (usually >1000° C.)-sintered porous hydroxyapatite (HA) block material does not possess sufficient micro/nano-sized porosity and is hardly bioresorbable. On the other hand, the conventional biodegradable polymer for scaffold application exhibits a relatively low strength and too high a dissolution rate.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for making a porous calcium phosphate article


A vehicle includes a chassis, an engine, a drum assembly, and a control system. The drum assembly includes a drum configured to receive drum contents and a drive system coupled to the drum. The drive system is configured to rotate the drum to agitate the drum contents. The control system is configured to operate the drive system at a drive speed; receive data comprising at least one of (i) a drum speed command from a remote monitoring system, (ii) a signal from a mixture sensor configured to acquire mixture data indicative of a current property of the drum contents, (iii) the current property of the drum contents from the remote monitoring system, and (iv) an initial property of the mixture from at least one of a batching system, the mixture sensor, and a user input device; and adjust the drive speed of the drum based on the data.

Concrete mixer vehicles are configured to receive, mix, and transport wet concrete or a combination of ingredients that when mixed form wet concrete to a job site. To prevent the concrete from setting, concrete mixing vehicles include a rotatable mixing drum that continually mixes the concrete disposed therein. The drum rotation speed may be passively controlled, potentially leading to arriving at a job site with the concrete having undesirable properties.

Concrete drum control, property prediction, and monitoring systems and methods


A DNA vaccine effective for inhibiting endothelial cell proliferation comprises a DNA construct operably encoding a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor protein. This invention provides DNA vaccines that encode VEGF receptor-2 (KDR, SEQ ID NO: 2), VEGF receptor-1 (Flt-1, (SEQ ID NO: 4), or Flk-1 (the murine homolog of KDR, SEQ ID NO: 6), DNA sequences SEQ ID NOS: 1, 3, and 5 respectively, as well as methods of using such a DNA vaccine to inhibit vascular endothelial cell proliferation in the tumor micro-environment. Anti-angiogenesis and subsequent decrease in tumor growth and dissemination is achieved.

Vaccines have been utilized to provide a long term protection against a number of disease conditions by very limited administration of a prophylactic agent that stimulates an organism's immune system to destroy disease pathogens before they can proliferate and cause a pathological effect. Various approaches to vaccines and vaccinations are described in Bernard R. Glick and Jack J. Pasternak, Molecular Biotechnology, Principles and Applications of Recombinant DNA, Second Edition, ASM Press pp. 253–276 (1998).
Vaccination is a means of inducing the body's own immune system to seek out and destroy an infecting agent before it causes a pathological response. Typically, vaccines are either live, but attenuated, infectious agents (virus or bacteria) or a killed form of the agent. A vaccine consisting of a live bacteria or virus must be non-pathogenic. Typically, a bacterial or viral culture is attenuated (weakened) by physical or chemical treatment. Although the agent is nonvirulent, it can still elicit an immune response in a subject treated with the vaccine.
An immune response is elicited by antigens, either specific macromolecules, or an infectious agent. These antigens are generally either proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, or glycolipids, which are recognized as "foreign" by lymphocytes known as B cells and T cells. Exposure of both types of lymphocytes to an antigen elicits a rapid cell division and differentiation response, resulting in the formation of clones of the exposed lymphocytes. B cells produce plasma cells, which in turn, produce proteins called antibodies (Ab), which selectively bind to the antigens present on the infectious agent, thus neutralizing or inactivating the pathogen (humoral immunity). In some cases, B cell response requires the assistance of CD4 helper T cells.
The specialized T cell clone that forms in response to the antigen exposure is a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL), which is capable of binding to and eliminating pathogens and tissues that present the antigen (cell-mediated or cellular immunity). In some cases, an antigen presenting cell (APC) such as a dendritic cell, will envelop a pathogen or other foreign cell by endocytosis. The APC then processes the antigens from the cells, and presents these antigens in the form of a histocompatibility molecule:peptide complex to the T cell receptor (TCR) on CTLs, thus stimulating an immune response.
Humoral immunity characterized by the formation of specific antibodies is generally most effective against acute bacterial infections and repeat infections from viruses, whereas cell-mediated immunity is most effective against viral infection, chronic intracellular bacterial infection, and fungal infection. Cellular immunity is also known to protect against cancers and is responsible for rejection of organ transplants.
Antibodies to antigens from prior infections remain detectable in the blood for very long periods of time, thus affording a means of determining prior exposure to a pathogen. Upon re-exposure to the same pathogen, the immune system effectively prevents reinfection by eliminating the pathogenic agent before it can proliferate and produce a pathogenic response.
The same immune response that would be elicited by a pathogen can also sometimes be produced by a non-pathogenic agent that presents the same antigen as the pathogen. In this manner, the subject can be protected against subsequent exposure to the pathogen without having previously fought off an infection.
Not all infectious agents can be readily cultured and inactivated, as is required for vaccine formation, however. Modern recombinant DNA techniques have allowed the engineering of new vaccines to seek to overcome this limitation. Infectious agents can be created that lack the pathogenic genes, thus allowing a live, nonvirulent form of the organism to be used as a vaccine. It is also possible to engineer a relatively nonpathogenic organism such as E. coli to present the cell surface antigens of a pathogenic carrier. The immune system of a subject treated with such a transformed carrier is "tricked" into forming antibodies to the pathogen. The antigenic proteins of a pathogenic agent can be engineered and expressed in a nonpathogenic species and the antigenic proteins can be isolated and purified to produce a "subunit vaccine." Subunit vaccines have the advantage of being stable, safe, and chemically well defined; however, their production can be cost prohibitive.
A new approach to vaccines has emerged in recent years, broadly termed genetic immunization. In this approach, a gene encoding an antigen of a pathogenic agent is operably inserted into cells in the subject to be immunized. The treated cells are transformed and produce the antigenic proteins of the pathogen. These in vivo-produced antigens then trigger the desired immune response in the host. The genetic material utilized in such genetic vaccines can be either a DNA or RNA construct. Often the polynucleotide encoding the antigen is introduced in combination with other promoter polynucleotide sequences to enhance insertion, replication, or expression of the gene.
DNA vaccines encoding antigen genes can be introduced into the host cells of the subject by a variety of expression systems. These expression systems include prokaryotic, mammalian, and yeast expression systems. For example, one approach is to utilize a viral vector, such as vaccinia virus incorporating the new genetic material, to innoculate the host cells. Alternatively, the genetic material can be incorporated in a vector or can be delivered directly to the host cells as a "naked" polynucleotide, i.e. simply as purified DNA. In addition, the DNA can be stably transfected into attenuated bacteria such as Salmonella typhimurium. When a patient is orally vaccinated with the transformed Salmonella, the bacteria are transported to Peyer's patches in the gut (i.e., secondary lymphoid tissues), which then stimulate an immune response.
DNA vaccines provide an opportunity to immunize against disease states that are not caused by traditional pathogens, such as genetic diseases and cancer. Typically, in a genetic cancer vaccine, antigens to a specific type of tumor cell must be isolated and then introduced into the vaccine. An effective general vaccine against a number of cancers can thus entail development of numerous individual vaccines for each type of cancer cell to be immunized against.
One general approach to treatment of tumors involves administering angiogenesis inhibiting compounds to patients with growing tumors. Angiogenesis is the process by which new capillaries and blood vessels form. Angiogenesis is important in embryonic development, tissue growth, tissue repair, and tissue regeneration. In addition to these normal and essential processes, angiogenesis is also involved in many abnormal pathological processes such as tumor growth, tumor metastasis, and ocular vascular diseases such as diabetic retinopathy.
Angiogenesis involves a number of interdependent processes, including (a) activation of vascular endothelial cells, (b) decomposition of cell matrix proteins by endothelial cells expressing protease activity, (c) migration of endothelial cells to a potential growth sites, (d) proliferation of endothelial cells and (e) tube formation by differentiation of endothelial cells. Each of these processes is affected by a variety of promoter substances such as fibroblast growth factor (FGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF). The vascular endothelial growth factors (collectively VEGF) play a crucial role in endothelial cell growth and differentiation. VEGF acts by binding to receptor protein-tyrosine kinases present in the endothelial cell membranes, which in turn initiate a cascade of signal transduction reactions that stimulate cell growth.
Inhibition of pathological angiogenesis has been proposed as a treatment for tumors. See, for example, Folkman et al. Science, 221, 719, (1983). The basic concept of such treatment is that, since tumors require vascularization to grow, inhibition of blood vessel formation, through the administration of angiogenesis inhibiting compounds, will prevent tumor growth by starving the tumor of its blood supply. A disadvantage of his approach is that angiogenesis inhibitors must be administered on a relatively continuous basis to prevent tumor growth. A cessation in delivery of the inhibitor can lead to a resumption of tumor growth. A vaccine effective at inhibiting angiogenesis would be an attractive preventative agent against tumor formation.
There is a continuing need for a generally effective vaccine for immunization against angiogenesis, which can also inhibit the growth of a variety of tumors without the need for targeting specific tumor antigens. The present invention satisfies this need.

DNA vaccine against proliferating endothelial cells and methods of use thereof


Systems, methods, and computer media for securing software applications are provided herein. By recording path data representing interactions between an application and other components, it can be determined what data an attacker has received by the time malicious activity is detected. During a session with an application, queries made to a dataset by the application can be recorded. After the session is found to be malicious, the session is transferred to a cloned application session in which access to the dataset is blocked. Based on the recorded queries, an alternative dataset for queries made in the cloned application session is generated that includes a subset of the original dataset, thus limiting future queries of the attacker in the cloned application session to data already received before the malicious activity was detected.

As reliance on the Internet and software applications has continued to grow, cyber security has also gained in importance. Securing computer systems and applications against attackers employing varying malicious techniques has become a difficult task. In addition to exploiting software bugs and vulnerabilities, some attackers obtain valid credentials for authorized users and use these credentials to gain unauthorized access to applications or computer systems. Detecting and managing such unauthorized access is challenging.

Smart exposure of data to known attacker sessions


A fastener for securing straps, includes a base member defining a pair of anchor receiving holes, wherein the base member is configured to be engaged with a receiving frame in such a way that the base member faces an interior side of the receiving frame and axes of the anchor receiving holes define a non-normal angle with respect to the receiving frame. The fastener further includes an anchor comprising a pair of arms, wherein the arms are received by the anchor receiving holes, wherein the anchor is configured to traverse along the anchor receiving holes without being disengaged from the base member.

1. Field
The disclosed subject matter relates to the field of fasteners that facilitate securing of loads, and more particularly but not exclusively to fasteners that have retractable members.
2. Discussion of Related Field
Fasteners for securing lines are commonly referred to as tie down anchor assemblies. Such tie down anchor assemblies are known to be used in trailers or pickup trucks to secure loads. An anchor provided in a tie down anchor assembly may be configured to be retracted when not in use and to be extended when the tie down assembly is used to secure lines. In pickup trucks, tie down anchor assemblies are engaged with side walls of a truck bed. A load, such as a box, placed on the truck bed, is secured at a desired position on the truck bed using the tie down anchor assemblies which engage lashings or lines.
It has been observed that conventional anchors extend from the truck wall with a perpendicular orientation to the side wall to which the tie down anchor is engaged. However, most often the axes of the tie down straps have a substantially large angle with the axis along which the anchor traverses, which results in undesirable strain in the tie down assembly, thereby negatively affecting the longevity of the tie down assembly.
In light of the foregoing discussion, there is a need for a fastener with enhanced longevity, which can facilitate securing of loads.


The present invention includes devices, systems and methods in the field of uroflowmetry, more specifically in the field of home uroflowmetry. In one aspect, the present invention discloses a core unit comprising an accelerometer; a urine detector; a weight sensor; a communication module; a microprocessor; and, an energy source. Further provided is a uroflowmetry device comprising said core unit.

Uroflowmetry is a simple, non-invasive diagnostic procedure in which the flow rate of urine is measured over time. The information obtained in uroflowmetry tests helps evaluating the function of the lower urinary tract and/or it may help determining whether normal urine flow is obstructed.
Being simple and non-invasive, uroflowmetry is generally included in the initial work-up of incontinent subjects. In particular, uroflowmetry is generally performed as a diagnostic prior to any urethral instrumentation.
Many different factors determine the reliability of uroflowmetry tests. A first factor is the "fullness" of the bladder prior to urination. Ideally, patients should void with a "comfortably full bladder". Since filling of the bladder is an involuntary process which can only be influenced indirectly through the consumption of foods and beverages, letting patients void with a comfortably full bladder can be challenging indeed when operating in a clinical setting.
In addition, uroflowmetry measurements may be influenced by a variety of factors, including body movement and disturbance of urine receptacles during urination. When a uroflowmetry measurement is disturbed, and when it is interpreted not taking the disturbance into account, faulty diagnosis may result. As decisions to undertake invasive procedures are often based on the results of uroflowmetry tests, such faulty diagnosis may be costly, both in terms of human discomfort and in terms of capital expenditures.
Ideally, multiple uroflowmetry measurements are performed. However, given the time it takes for a person's bladder to fill, performing these tests in a hospital setting may be impractical.
In fact, the most practical setting for performing uroflowmetry tests would be in the privacy and comfort of a patient's home. However, due to limited oversight by a physician, interpreting the validity of home uroflowmetry tests may be more challenging compared to interpreting the validity of uroflowmetry tests taken in a clinical setting. Also, patient compliance with taking uroflowmetry tests may be less at home compared to in a clinical setting.
Accordingly, there is a need for uroflowmetry systems which allow reliably performing uroflowmetry at home while facilitating satisfactory patient compliance.

Uroflowmetry systems, devices and methods


A catalyst composition is disclosed. The composition comprises a titanium compound, a complexing agent, hypophosphorous acid or its metal salt, water and optionally a solvent. The complexing agent can be hydroxycarboxylic acid, alkanolamines, aminocarboxylic acids, or combinations of two or more thereof. The solvent can be water, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, isopropylene glycol, butylene glycol, 1-methyl propylene glycol, pentylene glycol, or combinations of two or more thereof. The titanium compound can be combined with a zirconium compound. Also disclosed is a process for using the composition for producing an ester or a polyester. The process comprises contacting a carbonyl compound, in the presence of the compositions, with an alcohol under a condition suitable for esterification, transesterification, polymerization, or combinations of two or more thereof.

Polyesters such as, for example, polyethylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate, generally referred to as "polyalkylene terephthalates", are a class of important industrial polymers. They are widely used in thermoplastic fibers, films, and molding applications.
Polyalkylene terephthalates can be produced by transesterification of a dialkyl terephthalate ester with a glycol followed by polycondensation or by direct esterification of terephthalic acid with the selected glycol followed by polycondensation. A catalyst is used to catalyze the esterification, transesterification or polycondensation.
Antimony, in the form of a glycol solution of antimony oxide, frequently is used as catalyst in the transesterification or esterification process. However, antimony forms insoluble antimony complexes that plug fiber spinnerets and leads in fiber spinning to frequent shutdowns to wipe spinnerets clean of precipitated antimony compounds. The antimony-based catalysts are also coming under increased environmental pressure and regulatory control, especially in food contact applications.
Organic titanates, such as tetraisopropyl and tetra n-butyl titanates, are known to be effective polycondensation catalysts for producing polyalkylene terephthalates in general, and frequently are the catalyst of choice. However, these catalysts tend to hydrolyze on contact with water forming glycol-insoluble oligomeric species, which lose catalytic activity. These organic titanates also generate a significant amount of yellow discoloration when used as polyesterification catalysts. Additionally, many organic titanate catalysts are also substantially insoluble in a polymerization mixture thereby creating non-uniform distribution of catalyst in the mixture.
Water compatible titanates, such as titanium bis-ammonium lactate, bis-triethanolamine titanate or the titanium sodium citrate catalysts disclosed in EP 812818, when used as polyesterification catalysts, generate significant yellow discoloration in the resultant polymer. Similarly, WO 99/28033 discloses an organometallic compound for producing an ester. The organometallic compound comprises the reaction product of an orthoester of titanium, zirconium, or aluminum, an alcohol containing at least two hydroxyl groups, an organophosphorus compound, and a base. When used as polyesterification catalyst, however, it was found that the organometallic compound also generates undesirably significant yellow discoloration in the final product.
Therefore, there is an increasing need for the development of a new catalyst that is substantially soluble in a glycol, is efficient, produces a polymer with reduced color, exhibits good catalytic activity, does not result in plugging fiber spinnerets, and is environmentally friendly.
An advantage of the present invention catalyst composition is that the polymer produced using the invention catalyst has improved optical properties (e.g., less undesirable color) compared to polymer produced using an organic titanate catalyst alone. Another advantage of the present invention is that the invention catalyst is soluble in an alcohol used to produce a polyester, does not generate precipitates in the polyester that plug fiber spinnerets, and is environmentally friendly. Other advantages will become more apparent as the invention is more fully disclosed herein below.

Esterification catalysts and processes therefor and therewith


A tool assembly is provided for working on underground pipes, through a small hole at the pipe surface, by means of an elongate handle member that reaches into the hole, and has a coupling at the lower end thereof, whereby various ones of selected tools may be quickly connected to and disconnected from the lower end of the handle member, by means of a universal coupling, and whereby the tools can be pneumatically driven from above ground.

In the art of working on underground pipes, it has been conventional for workers to dig a hole to access the pipe beneath ground, with the hole being of sufficient size that workers can get down into the hole, to work on the underground pipe. Often the underground pipe is on the order of 4 feet below the ground surface, such that the hole must first be excavated, and such excavation must be sufficient in amount to allow one or more workers to enter the hole and have sufficient room to work on the underground pipe.
Depending upon the depth of the pipe beneath the ground surface, the usual process requires excavation of large amounts of earth, causing considerable disruption to the surrounding landscape.
The present invention is directed to using a tool assembly for working on underground pipes through a hole at the ground surface that is small relative to the depth within the hole of the pipe being worked upon.
The tool assembly uses an elongate handle member adapted to be actuated from above ground at its upper end, and, at the lower end of the elongate handle member, there is a universal coupling. The coupling is connectable and disconnectable to the lower end of the handle member and is also connectable and disconnectable to adapters for various specific tools, preferably with a quick connect/disconnect feature.
The handle member is preferably hollow, for delivery of compressed air, for pneumatically driving tools that are down in the hole, from above ground.

Tool assembly with universal coupling for various tools, for work on underground pipes


A method for ascertaining a piece of topological information of an intersection, including locating a vehicle with lane accuracy when negotiating the intersection; ascertaining data by the vehicle when negotiating the intersection; transmitting the data to a processing unit; and ascertaining a connectivity of lane-roadway combinations of the intersection from the data with the aid of the processing unit.

In the related art, vehicles are able to locate their precise lanes, for example, with the aid of a camera, GPS, inertial sensor system, etc.
Furthermore, conventionally, high precision road maps may be generated by an aggregation of geometries detected by measuring vehicles (e.g., lane markings, road signs, etc.).
European Patent Application No. EP 3 171 292 A1 describes a method for processing map data, in particular traffic lane data. A neural network is used for this purpose, to be able to determine agreements between original images and instantaneous images and assign them to a traffic lane in order to create high precision maps in this way.
Chinese Application No. CN 102 436 598 A describes a method for ascertaining an optimal driving route based on pieces of camera and position information, which are processed with the aid of a neural network. An application of neural networks in traffic is described, in which driving routes are ascertained based on these networks.

Method for ascertaining a piece of topological information of an intersection


The invention provides an automated light-emitting apparatus, which can be disposed in an object, includes a light-emitting unit, a force-sensing module, and a power-generating module. The force-sensing module includes a first component and a second component engaged to the first component. When the object receives an external force, the force-sensing module changes the distance between a first portion of the first component and a second portion of the second component. Moreover, the power-generating module includes a coil coupled to a magnetic member, the magnetic member engaged to the first component, and a magnetic conductor engaged to the second component. Particularly, when the distance between the first portion and the second portion is changed, the coil generates an induced electromotive force for supporting the light-emitting unit with needed power.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an automated light-emitting apparatus and a wearable object including the same, and more particularly, the automated light-emitting apparatus of the invention can generate power and emit light, in response to the motion of the object, without extra power supply.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Poor illumination at night is a setback to night activities. Problems regarding difficult identification and safety may occur. People who go jogging or cycling at night may be hit by cars due to insufficient illumination. Sports playing in open places may have to be stopped at night if street lamps do not provide enough illumination. It is, therefore, necessary to find means to enhance the safety and ensure the smooth-going of night activities.
Based on the consideration of safety as mentioned above, a plurality of wearable objects with light-emitting device have been developed, such as sneakers, running shoes, sportswear, wrist belts, or head belts. Said wearable objects generally include at least a lighting source, such as light-emitting diode (LED); a power source, such as a battery; and a switch for connecting the battery to the lighting source to drive the lighting source to be turned on when the user touches or pushes on the switch.
Although the above-mentioned wearable objects can reach the goal of lighting, the defect is that it needs a battery to be the power source. When the power of battery is exhausted or when the battery is damaged, the light-emitting device may not function. Moreover, discarded or damaged batteries are hard to be recovered and recycled, and that causes the problem of environmental pollution.

Automated light-emitting apparatus and wearable object including the same


A sea water well source is used to supply cold sea water to a pair of serially connected thermal exchange systems. The sea water outflow from the second system is then supplied to an aquaculture preserve to provide nutrients in the sea water to marine life cultivated in the aquaculture preserve. The first of two heat exchange systems uses the cold sea water to cool a building or refrigeration unit. Alternatively, it may be used to condense fresh water from the air when the sea water is passed through coils. The second of the two heat exchange systems is a temperature-controlled agricultural system which uses the sea water output from the first heat exchange system to maintain the climate so as to grow agricultural products.

Conventional air conditioning systems consume a great deal of power to maintain low temperatures in most environments. It is not uncommon for an air conditioning system to consume power at a rate of 900 KW per 1000 tons of air conditioning. Most of this power is used in compressing and then expanding a coolant so as to reduce its temperature. The coolant with the reduced temperature is then passed through a heat exchanger which ultimately causes chilled air to be circulated in a target area.
More efficient heat exchangers are also known in the art. Many of these, however, depend on a source of naturally cold coolant. One example of such a coolant in abundance is cold ocean water. Cold ocean water having a temperature anywhere from 2-7.degree. C. is found below the thermocline. To get at this water from shore, prior art Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) systems have employed one or more pipes having an intakes at a depth of 2000 feet or more which extend along the shore line and ocean floor for a distance of about one mile.
Problems with extending pipes such distances from shore into the ocean are well known. An alternative to laying pipe out into the ocean is the use of sea water wells, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,191 ('191). Such wells can be used as source of cold sea water having a temperature of about 6.degree. C. The '191 patent discloses the use of sea water from such a well for creating thermal energy. The cold sea water enters a heat exchanger at a first, low temperature and exits into an aquaculture preserve at a second, slightly higher temperature.
The temperature of the sea water entering the aquaculture preserve, as taught in the prior art, is still below above air temperature in warmer climates. Therefore, the coolness of this sea water upon exiting the power generation apparatus, may be put to a second use before it is mixed with the water in the preserve. The prior art, however, does not contemplate a second use and so does not exploit the full potential of the cold sea water.

Sea water well-driven heat exchange system coupled to an agricultural system and aquaculture preserve


A packaging cushion is provided which has a bottom cushion piece, first and second side cushion pieces, a front cushion piece, a rear cushion piece, and a translated top cushion piece. The bottom cushion piece defines a void cavity and front entry portion. The first side cushion piece may be substantially perpendicular to the bottom cushion piece, and the second side cushion piece may be substantially perpendicular to the bottom cushion piece and opposite the first side cushion piece. The front cushion piece may be substantially perpendicular to the bottom cushion piece and may define an entry space adjacent to the front entry portion. The rear cushion piece may be substantially perpendicular to the bottom cushion piece and opposite the front cushion piece. The translated top cushion piece extends from the rear cushion piece and is displaced from the void cavity. The packaging cushion at least partially covers six sides of a product housed therein. Methods of packaging products and methods of manufacturing a one-piece encapsulating packaging cushion using a male mold and a female mold are also provided.

Cushioning devices for product packaging and shipping are increasingly needed as global trade continues to expand. As more complicated and expensive electronic devices are shipped around the world, there is a need for more sophisticated and more effective shock absorbing cushioning devices to protect these products during shipping. But existing packaging systems that seek to provide more sophisticated solutions typically come at the cost of requiring a multi-step packing process for transitional packaging.
Some known packaging materials and devices include bubble wrap, air bags, honeycomb cardboard, and polystyrene (styrofoam peanuts). Some of these materials are heavy and therefore increase shipping and fuel costs. Other known packaging materials, such as polystyrene blocks or molded plastics, are designed and manufactured specifically for particular products. However, this can be wasteful and unduly expensive as different specialty materials need to be made for a large variety of different products and cannot typically be re-used. Other materials such as air bags and bubble wrap often get destroyed in shipping and cannot be re-used. Furthermore, many of the plastics and polystyrene materials are not recyclable or biodegradable.
Many sophisticated electronics devices are fragile and need to be protected from impact during shipping. Existing solutions to address product fragility during shipping include two-piece packaging cushions. One disadvantage of most two-piece cushions is that they do not protect the electronic device on all sides. Other packaging solutions, such as cardboard or plastic-based materials, do not provide cushioning on all sides of the electronic device. Packaging solutions such as end caps and top and bottom caps made of foam are inefficient and waste materials as they require the use of a complete end cap, or a complete top and bottom tray of foam regardless of the amount of foam actually required to protect the product during transit. This results in increased material costs, increased labor costs, and a significant increase in environmental waste.
Accordingly, there is a need for a packaging cushion that protects all sides of electronic devices and similar products. There also is a need for a packaging cushion that is relatively cheap, easily manufactured and scalable. There is a need for a packaging cushion that effectively and efficiently addresses product fragility. There is also a need for a packaging system that can hold several differently sized products.

Encapsulating packaging cushions, systems and methods, and methods of manufacturing encapsulating packaging cushions


Oxygen scavenger which can exhibit excellent oxygen reduction effect in a wide variety of conditions is provided as an alternative volatile oxygen scavenger to hydrazine. The oxygen scavenger contains a heterocyclic compound having N-substituted amino group such as 1-amino-4-methylpiperazine and a hydroxylamine compound such as N,N-diethylhydroxylamine. The oxygen scavenger may further contain a polyhydric phenol type catalyst such as pyrogallol. By adding the oxygen scavenger to feed water of a water system of a boiler, oxygen reduction treatment of the water system is carried out.

Dissolved oxygen in feed water of a boiler and a steam generator is a factor causing corrosion of a boiler body, a heat exchanger and an economizer arranged upstream of the boiler, and a steam and condensate return line. To inhibit the corrosion, it is necessary to give an oxygen reduction treatment for removing the dissolved oxygen in the water.
As oxygen reduction treatment technique, there are physical treatment technique and chemical treatment technique. Conventionally, the oxygen reduction is carried out by the chemical treatment technique alone or a combined treatment using both the physical treatment technique and the chemical treatment technique simultaneously. As for the physical treatment technique, deaeration treatment by a heat deaerator, a membrane deaerator, or the like has been widely employed. As for the chemical treatment technique, a method of adding an oxygen scavenger, such as hydrazine, sodium sulfite, or saccharide, such as glucose, has been widely employed. Sodium sulfite and saccharide are nonvolatile compounds, and they concentrate as a solid content in the boiler water of a boiler and a steam generator and increase the electrical conductivity greatly. On the other hand, since hydrazine is a volatile compound and does not concentrate in the boiler water, hydrazine has been employed in order to keep the solid content concentration low.
Since a question that hydrazine may be harmful to the human body arose, carbohydrazide (JP 1511025), oxime compounds (JP 1449004), hydroxylamine compounds (JP S58-28349B), heterocyclic compound having N-substituted amino group (JP 3287243), have been proposed as alternative volatile oxygen scavengers to hydrazine in recent years.
Among the conventional alternative volatile oxygen scavengers to hydrazine as mentioned above, since carbohydrazide forms hydrazine at high temperature, it was not a fundamental solution of alternative to hydrazine.
The other alternative volatile oxygen scavengers to hydrazine have the following problems.
Though a typical example of oxime compounds is methyl ethyl ketoxime, this compound has a slow oxygen reduction rate and can absorb few amount of oxygen per unit weight so that this compound is required to be added in a large amount.
Though a typical example of hydroxylamine compounds is diethylhydroxylamine, this compound has a slow oxygen reduction rate and can absorb few amount of oxygen per unit weight so that this compound is required to be added in a large amount.
Though typical examples of heterocyclic compound having N-substituted amino group include 1-aminopyrrolidine and 1-amino-4-methylpiperazine, 1-aminopyrrolidine exhibits rather poor oxygen reduction effect under high pressure condition compared to that under low pressure condition, and 1-amino-4-methylpiperazine exhibit rather slow oxygen reduction rate under low temperature condition.

Oxygen scavenger and the method for oxygen reduction treatment


A novel semiconductor wafer lifter is disclosed for handling wafers during wet bench processing. In particular, the lifter has a plurality of holes formed in its vertical support surface to allow cleaning or rinsing fluid to flow through the vertical support instead of around its sides. These holes facilitates a constant flow of fluid across the wafer during recirculation of the tank contents during etching and rinsing operations, thus ensuring more even etching of all wafers and minimizing the deposition of particulate matter on wafer surfaces.

The process of semiconductor manufacturing involves a wide variety of steps including a layer formation process for forming multiple layers such as polycrystalline, oxide, nitride layer, metal, etc., on a wafer as a semiconductor substrate. These steps generally also include a diffusion process, a photolightography process, an etching process, a cleaning process, etc., which are carried out between the steps of layer formation.
Etching is a process in which selected material is removed from a silicon substrate or from thin films on the substrate surface. In one type of selective etching, a mask layer is used to protect specific regions of a substrate on a wafer surface, then a selective etch removes material not covered by the mask. Etching can be performed through two methods, one is dry etching using gas, while another is wet etching using wet chemical. Plasma etching, ion beam etching and reactive ion etching are included in the former, while immersion etching and spray etching are included in the latter.
A common device for wet chemical etching of semiconductor wafers is an immersion chemical cleaning device, also called a wet bench, which includes a plurality of chemical tanks, cleaning tanks, robots, and driers. Batches of wafers are move in sequence through the tanks, typically by operation of a computer-controlled automated apparatus. Currently, semiconductor manufacturers use wet cleaning processes which may use cleaning agents such as deionized (DI) water and/or surfactants. Other wafer-cleaning processes utilize solvents, dry cleaning using high-velocity gas jets, and a megasonic cleaning process, in which high-frequency sound waves are used to dislodge particles from the wafer surface.
One process performed using the wet bench is the "wet etch" process, which involves immersion of the wafer in an organic solution. Usually, a plurality semiconductor wafers are simultaneously immersed into the solution, and the reactants in the solution react with constituent molecules on the wafer surface to produce various gaseous and liquid chemical compounds, which remain in the organic solution after etching is complete. Wet etching of Silicon Nitride (Si3N4) can be performed using a solution of about 85% deionized (DI) water and about 15% phosphoric acid (H3PO4), at a temperature of between about 150° C. to about 185° C.
One problem with the wet etch process is that unwanted silicon nitride or silicon dioxide particulate impurities can be formed in the etchant when the hot phosphoric acid reacts with silicon nitride and when the mask material is being from the wafer. If the particulate matter generated during the etching process are re-deposited on portions of the wafer in which circuitry is being defined, they can cause defects in the circuitry. As device geometries continue to shrink, these particles will become larger compared with the device geometries and the defects will correspondingly be more critical. These defects can result in non-functional electronic devices, which reduce the unit yield per wafer and correspondingly increase the cost of production per unit.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.