Program information can be obtained quickly and accurately. An area X1 on which date and day are displayed is disposed at the left end of a screen and an area X2 in which time is displayed is disposed adjacent to the area X1 in the right-hand side. An area Y in which title of program, etc., are displayed is disposed adjacent to the area X2 in the right-hand side. An area Z in which genre is displayed is disposed adjacent to the area Y in the right-hand side. Information displayed on the respective areas are sequentially arranged in the longitudinal direction. A user can select information of a desired program by moving cursors 100X1, 100X2, 100Y, 100Z of the respective areas.

Recently, there has been widespread the system in which a television signal is transmitted through a satellite such as a broadcasting satellite or communication satellite and received at homes. This system is able to maintain nearly 150 channels and to broadcast very many programs.
In the above-mentioned system, it is proposed that EPG (electronic program guide) is transmitted, received and displayed at a reception side and a user selects a desired program from this electronic program guide.
The manner in which EPG is displayed will be described with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B. FIG. 1A shows a genre selection picture on which a plurality of genres such as "ALL" (all genres), "NEWS" (news), "MOVIE" (movie) or "SPORT" (sport) are displayed. A user can move a cursor (not shown in FIG. 1A) on the display screen by operating an operation device such as a remote commander to select a desired genre from these genres.
When the user selects a desired genre on the genre selection picture shown in FIG. 1A, the genre selection picture is switched to a program list picture shown in FIG. 1B in response to the selected genre.
In the program list picture shown in FIG. 1B, broadcasting station names (channels) are displayed on the vertical axis and time is displayed on the horizontal axis. A title of program which is to be broadcast on that time is displayed at the position determined by the two axes.
When "ALL" is selected in the genre selection picture shown in FIG. 1A, for example, a picture of a monitor (television receiver) is switched from the genre selection picture to the program list picture shown in FIG. 1B. Programs of all genres for every channels are displayed on the switched program list picture.
Only a part of actual program list is displayed on the program list picture shown in FIG. 1B. When the user wants to see positions other than the area which is now displayed, the user can move a display area of one picture shown in FIG. 2 upper, lower, right and left by using the operation device such as the remote commander.
The user can watch the desired program (or information concerning the desired program) by placing the cursor to the display position of a desired program from a group of programs displayed on the program list picture.
However, the EPG encounters with the following problems.
Specifically, since the program list picture shown in FIG. 1B has a large number of channels and times on the upper, lower, right and left directions as shown in FIG. 2, the user has to scroll the display area of one picture shown in FIG. 2 in two directions of the upper and lower direction and the right and left direction, and hence this is very cumbersome for the user.
Further, in the EPG, as described above, the genre selection picture shown in FIG. 1A and the program list picture shown in FIG. 1B are formed of independent pictures (i.e., the genre selection picture and the program list picture are displayed hierarchically). Accordingly, when the user watches any one of picture (e.g., program list picture), the user cannot watch the other picture (e.g., genre selection picture). Thus, when the user wants to watch a different picture, the user has to change the hierarchy of the displayed pictures, which also is cumbersome for the user.

Apparatus for and method of controlling display of electronic program guide


The present invention relates to a method of enhancing the health of plant or seed in order to protect a plant or a seed from a stress-related injury by treating a plant with a composition containing at least one lysophospholipid. The present invention further relates to a method of enhancing or accelerating the recovery of an injured plant by treating such injured plant with a composition containing at least one lysophospholipid. Finally, the present invention relates to a method of enhancing the germination of seeds and seedling vigour by treating seeds with a composition containing at least one lysophospholipid.

The yield and quality of desired plant products is determined by the health of the plant. A healthy plant is one which is able to withstand biotic (pathogens, insects, etc.) stresses as well as abiotic (cold, heat, drought, etc.) stresses. Conversely, a weak plant is one which succumbs to pathogen and/or environmental stresses. During imbibation, dry seed experiences stresses due to sudden rehydration. These stresses can impact both the extent and speed of seed germination. A healthy seed is one which is able to germinate faster and thus get a head start. Such a head start improves the seed's chances of increasing its yield, especially in areas with shorter growing seasons. The commercial value of seed is determined in part on percentage (%) germination, rate of germination and the robustness of the seedling produced. There is a great interest in improving these properties of commercial seeds.
Mature seeds of most crop plants contain very little moisture. These seeds can be stored for a long time in dormant stage. The living portion of the seed, the embryo, remains inactive in dehydrated state as long as the seed is remains dry. When these seeds are sown in the soil a rapid rehydration occurs. During this process, the embryo cells rehydrate and expand. Cell membranes are assembled into an organized structure that preserves the integrity of the cells. However, since rehydration is generally quick, the cell membrane is not fully assembled in the initial phase of rehydration. This results in some leakage of cellular contents. During rehydration, since membranes are 'leaky'. Important molecules, including proteins, carbohydrates and inorganic molecules, are known to leak in the initial phase of rehydration. This leakage of important cellular constituents is known to cause injury or stress to the embryo. Leakage of cellular constituents has been associated with the failure of seeds of many crops plants to germinate and/or produce healthy seedlings. Many seeds fail to germinate if the leakage of cellular solute is significant. "Seed priming" is intended to impart "health" to the embryo cells so that leakage (thereby injury) to the embryo can be minimized.
The injury of crops as a result of abiotic and biotic stresses has been a major problem in the agricultural production areas of the U.S. Specifically, over 60% of the crop loss for last 50 years has been due to abiotic stresses (see USDA Agricultural Statistics, 1998). Abiotic stresses include chilling, freezing, drought, heat, and other environmental factors. In 1996, the loss of crop yield due to abiotic stresses was recorded to be more than a billion dollars in the U.S. (see USDA Agricultural Statistics, 1998). Thus, there is a tremendous interest in the plant industry to find a technology that can be used to prevent or mitigate stress injury and to accelerate recovery following a stress injury.
Lysophospholipids are derived from membrane phospholipids by the removal of a fatty acid by the action of an enzyme phospholipase A2. Lysophospholipids are naturally present in plant and animal tissues, and can be found in high concentrations in egg yolk, brain tissue, and soybeans. Lysophospholipids are available commercially from Avanti Polar Lipids, Inc. (Alabaster, Ala.) and from Sigma Chemical Co. (St Louis, Mo.). Lysophospholipids, such as lysophosphatidylethanolamine (hereinafter referred to as "LPE") and lysophosphatidylinositol (hereinafter "LPI"), have been exploited for accelerating fruit ripening, enhancing fruit stability during storage, and increasing the shelf life by retarding senescence of plant tissues such as fruits, vegetables, and cut-flowers. Farag, K. M. et al., Physiol. Plant, 87:515-524 (1993), Farag, K. M. et al., HortTech., 3:62-65 (1993), Kaur, N., et al., HortScience, 32:888″890 (1997), Ryu, S. B., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 94:12717-12721 (1997). Methods for using LPE to enhance fruit ripening and storage stability are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,126,155 and 5,100,341. Methods for using LPE with 18:1 fatty acid and LPI to retard senescence and to enhance fruit ripening is described in WO 99/23889.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods for enhancing plant health, protecting plants from biotic and abiotic stress related injuries and enhancing the recovery of plants injured as a result of such stresses


Multilayer electronic content management is provided. A method includes determining a first section and a second section of a document for dynamic content management. The method also includes determining a first trigger event that prompts the dynamic content management on the first section and a second trigger event the prompts the dynamic content management on the second section. The method also includes implementing a first action to the first section based on an occurrence of the first trigger and a first rule, and a second action to the second section based on another occurrence of the second trigger and a second rule. The implementation may include executing a first micro-service within a metadata layer of the electronic document for implementation of the first action and executing a second micro-service within the metadata layer for implementation of the second action.

Traditionally, secretaries or administrative assistants would perform the bulk of administrative work involving documents and file management. However, with the widespread use of computers and the internet, the bulk of this work is now being performed as the document is being created, without relying on a secretary or administrative assistant. Although it is possible to efficiently create electronic documents, management of the documents may become burdensome, decrease efficiency, and the value of one's time may outweigh the management chore. Further, resistance or lack of time to keep content up-to-date may result in files that are outdated, obsolete, or useless.

Multilayered electronic content management system


A method for controlling the attachment and growth of cells on a surface of an article, the method comprising contacting the article with living tissue, living organisms, or with water in an aqueous system comprising living organisms wherein the article comprises a substratum having a surface and a film on the surface, the film comprising a network of a net positively charged composition and a net negatively charged composition, wherein the net positively charged composition comprises a net positively charged polyelectrolyte or the net negatively charged composition comprises a net negatively charged polyelectrolyte, and the net positively charged polyelectrolyte or the net negatively charged polyelectrolyte contain (i) a polymer repeat unit having at least two fluorine atoms, or (ii) a polymer repeat unit having a zwitterion group.

This invention relates generally to the field of cell growth and, more particularly, to using polyelectrolyte complex films to coat surfaces to enhance or inhibit cell growth, adhesion, and differentiation.
In order for cells to adhere and grow on a substrate, the interface between the substrate and the cell growth medium must possess an appropriate combination of physical and chemical properties. Control over the surface of substrate provides for control over cell adhesion. Advantageous properties imparted by a surface range from the complete rejection of any cell adhesion or growth, to cell adhesion without growth, to cell adhesion, growth, and differentiation. The property desired depends on the end-use of the substrate. For example, articles implanted in vivo, such as stents, catheters, and artificial organs, preferably do not induce biochemical processes that lead to scarring and/or rejection of said article. These implants may be advantageously coated with thin films that render them biocompatible. Alternatively, some applications, especially those in tissue engineering, require substrates that encourage the growth, differentiation, and proliferation of cells. A strategy for modifying the cell adhesion and cell growth properties of surfaces is needed.
Polyelectrolytes are macromolecules comprising a plurality of charged repeat units. Amorphous complexes may be formed by contacting solutions of polyelectrolytes bearing opposite charges. The driving force for association, or complexation, of polyelectrolytes is multiple ion pairing between oppositely charged repeat units on different molecules.
Recently, thin films of polyelectrolyte complexes have been prepared using polyelectrolytes which are alternately deposited on a substrate or substratum. See Decher and Schlenoff, Eds., Multilayer Thin Films-Sequential Assembly of Nanocomposite Materials, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim (2003); Decher, Science, 277, 1232 (1997). Decher and Hong (U.S. Pat. No. 5,208,111) disclose a method for a buildup of multilayers by alternating dipping, i.e., cycling a substrate between two reservoirs containing aqueous solutions of polyelectrolytes of opposite charge, with an optional rinse step in polymer-free solution following each immersion. Each cycle adds a layer of polymer via ion pairing forces to the oppositely-charged surface and reverses the surface charge thereby priming the film for the addition of the next layer. Films prepared in this manner tend to be uniform, follow the contours and irregularities of the substrate, and are typically between about 10 nm and about 10,000 nm thick. The thickness of a film depends on many factors, including the number of layers deposited, the ionic strength of the solutions, the types of polymers, the deposition time, the solution pH, the temperature, and the solvent used. Although studies have shown that substantial interpenetration of the individual polymer layers results in little composition variation over the thickness of a film, such polymer thin films are, nevertheless, referred to as polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMUs).
Surface modification using polyelectrolyte multilayers to develop biocompatible materials has been attracting attention lately due to the ease of synthesis and cost-effectiveness of the layer-by-layer technique. See Decher, G., Schlenoff, J. B. Multilayer Thin Films-Sequential Assembly of Nanocomposite Materials; Wiley-VCH: Weinheim, Germany, 2003. Surface properties ranging from hydrophobic to hydrophilic, charged to uncharged, and smooth to rough can be generated using a variety of parameters including the chemical nature of the polyelectrolytes and the pH, ionic strength, and temperature used for multilayer synthesis. Because proteins play an important role in the adhesion, spreading, and growth of cells, considerable effort has been expended in developing polyelectrolyte thin films with properties that make the surface adhesive or resistant to protein adsorption. See Muller, M.; Rieser, T.; Kothe, M.; Kessler, B.; Brissova, M.; Lunkwitz, K. Macromol. Symp. 1999, 145, 149, Muller, M.; Brissova, M.; Rieser, T.; Powers, A. C.; Lunkwitz, K. Mat. Sci. Eng. C-Bio. S. 1999, 8-9, 163, Muller, M.; Rieser, T.; Lunkwitz, K.; Meier-Haack, J. Macromol. Rapid. Comm. 1999, 20, 607, Ladam, G.; Gergely, C.; Senger, B.; Decher, G.; Voegel, J. C.; Schaaf, P.; Cuisinier, F. J. G. Biomacromolecules 2000, 1, 674, Ladam, G.; Schaaf, P.; Cuisinier, F. J. G.; Decher, G.; Voegel, J. C. Langmuir 2001, 17, 878, and Salloum, D. S.; Schlenoff, J. B. Biomacromolecules 2004. Although an understanding of PEMU-protein adsorption is necessary to intelligently engineer cell-biomaterial interaction, it is difficult to predict PEMU-cell biocompatibility from simple measurements of protein adsorption. See Han, D. K.; Ryu, G. H.; Park, K. D.; Jeong, S. Y.; Kim, Y. H.; Min, B. G. Journal of Biomaterials Science-Polymer Edition 1993, 4, 401, Ostuni, E.; Chapman, R. G.; Liang, M. N.; Meluleni, G.; Pier, G.; Ingber, D. E.; Whitesides, G. M. Langmuir 2001, 17, 6336, and Mendelsohn, J. D.; Yang, S. Y.; Hiller, J.; Hochbaum, A. I.; Rubner, M. F. Biomacromolecules 2003, 4, 96. Recent investigations using cultured cells revealed PEMU properties important for cell biocompatibility. See Ito, Y.; Chen, G. P.; Imanishi, Y. Bioconjugate Chemistry 1998, 9, 277, Chluba, J.; Voegel, J. C.; Decher, G.; Erbacher, P.; Schaaf, P.; Ogier, J. Biomacromolecules 2001, 2, 800, Tryoen-Toth, P.; Vautier, D.; Haikel, Y.; Voegel, J. C.; Schaaf, P.; Chluba, J.; Ogier, J. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research 2002, 60, 657, Richert, L.; Lavalle, P.; Vautier, D.; Senger, B.; Stoltz, J. F.; Schaaf, P.; Voegel, J. C.; Picart, C. Biomacromolecules 2002, 3, 1170, Boura, C.; Menu, P.; Payan, E.; Picart, C.; Voegel, J. C.; Muller, S.; Stoltz, J. F. Biomaterials 2003, 24, 3521, Elbert, D. L.; Herbert, C. B.; Hubbell, J. A. Langmuir 1999, 15, 5355, and Serizawa, T.; Yamaguchi, M.; Akashi, M. Biomacromolecules 2002, 3, 724. These investigations have demonstrated that surfaces can be rendered cytophilic or cytophobic by embedding or attaching protein or peptides to the multilayer and by tuning the pH used for multilayer buildup. See Jessel, N.; Atalar, F.; Lavalle, P.; Mutterer, J.; Decher, G.; Schaaf, P.; Voegel, J. C.; Ogier, J. Adv. Mater. 2003, 15, 692 and Berg, M. C.; Yang, S. Y.; Hammond, P. T.; Rubner, M. F. Langmuir 2004, 20, 1362. Other modifications such as chemical cross-linking have improved the PEMU stability and cell adhesion. See Richert, L.; Boulmedais, F.; Lavalle, P.; Mutterer, J.; Ferreux, E.; Decher, G.; Schaaf, P.; Voegel, J. C.; Picart, C. Biomacromolecules 2003. Certain surfaces such as polysaccharide films made by layer-by-layer buildup have been investigated for use as antimicrobial coatings and bioactive endovascular stent coatings. See Richert, L.; Lavalle, P.; Payan, E.; Shu, X. Z.; Prestwich, G. D.; Stoltz, J. F.; Schaaf, P.; Voegel, J. C.; Picart, C. Langmuir 2004, 20, 448 and Thierry, B.; Winnik, F. M.; Merhi, Y.; Silver, J.; Tabrizian, M. Biomacromolecules 2003, 4, 1564. In fact, polyelectrolyte complexes have a long history of use in preparing bioinert surfaces. See Tsuchida, E.; Abe, K. Advances in Polymer Science 1982, 45, 1, Philippe, B.; Dautzenberg, H.; Linow, K. J.; Kotz, J.; Dawydoff, W. Progress in Polymer Science 1989, 14, 91, and Petrak, K. Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers 1993, 8, 178.
The surface properties of endovascular stents may play an important role in the process of restenosis. During restenosis, vascular smooth muscle cells migrate to cover implanted stents, often building layers of tissue that cause occlusion of the blood flow. See Indolfi, C.; Mongiardo, A.; Curcio, A.; Torella, D. Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine 2003, 13, 142. In evaluating biocompatibility, therefore, it is important to understand how smooth muscle cells interact with PEMU surfaces. Smooth muscle cells are capable of alternating between a 'contractile' phenotype, characterized by a non-motile cell type that possesses both a contractile smooth muscle cytoskeleton and a non muscle cytoskeleton for cell support, and a 'synthetic' phenotype that is motile and possesses a non-muscle cytoskeleton used for cell support and cell motility. See Worth, N. F.; Rolfe, B. E.; Song, J.; Campbell, G. R. Cell Motility and the Cytoskeleton 2001, 49, 130 and Halayko, A. J.; Solway, J. Journal of Applied Physiology 2001, 90, 358. The two cell phenotypes can be readily distinguished by the cell shape, stability of adhesion, and organization of the underlying cytoskeleton structures.

Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.


A distinct cultivar of Anthurium plant named xe2x80x98Sunny Lovexe2x80x99, characterized by its upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; freely clumping growth habit; durable dark green leaves; light orange red and green-colored spathes with yellow-colored spadices that are positioned above and beyond the foliage on strong and erect scapes; freely flowering habit; and good inflorescence longevity.

Botanical classification: Anthurium andreanum.
Variety denomination xe2x80x98Sunny Lovexe2x80x99.
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Anthurium plant, botanically known as Anthurium andreanum, and hereinafter referred to by the name xe2x80x98Sunny Lovexe2x80x99.
The new Anthurium is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation discovered by the Inventor in a controlled environment in Schipluiden, The Netherlands in 1999. The new Anthurium was discovered as a single plant within a population of plants of the Anthurium andreanum cultivar Orange Love, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,117.
Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by meristem culture in a laboratory in Belgium has shown that the unique features of this new Anthurium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation.
The new Anthurium has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of the cultivar Sunny Love. These characteristics in combination distinguish xe2x80x98Sunny Lovexe2x80x99 as a new and distinct cultivar:
1. Upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.
2. Freely clumping growth habit.
3. Durable dark green leaves.
4. Light orange red and green-colored spathes with yellow-colored spadices that are positioned above and beyond the foliage on strong and erect scapes.
5. Freely flowering habit.
6. Good inflorescence longevity.
Plants of the new Anthurium are most similar to plants of the parent, the cultivar Orange Love. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Schipluiden, The Netherlands, plants of the new Anthurium differed from plants of the cultivar Orange Love primarily in spathe color as plants of the new Anthurium have light orange red and green-colored spathes whereas plants of the cultivar Orange Love have solid orange-colored spathes.


An apparatus for resisting adhesion by materials on a movable assembly, the apparatus having a body member adapted to be mounted on the movable assembly at a position susceptible to the adhesion and which is so constructed as to be capable of incurring contact from the materials substantially without the adhesion resulting from such contact.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for resisting adhesion and, more particularly, to such a device which is particularly well suited to resisting entanglement by fibrous material in mechanical devices.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There is a multitude of situations in which mechanical devices, and particularly a variety of types of machinery, are subjected during normal operation to being compromised by materials with which they come into contact. Frequently, this includes materials which the machinery is specifically designed to handle. In these instances, the machines are subject to being compromised, in one way or another, by residual materials which would otherwise constitute waste, but which adhere to the operating equipment in such a manner as to interfere with normal operation. Typically, this condition requires that such residual material periodically be removed from operating equipment to avoid the adverse consequences thereof. Such maintenance results in substantial labor, down time and a corresponding cost which, over time, may become prohibitively expensive.
For example, mechanized harvesters typically must handle fibrous materials in performing their harvesting operations. However, the residual material from the crop being harvested tends to collect in the operating machinery and to become entangled in the moving parts thereof. Over time, the entangled fibers interfere with the operation of the machinery and must be removed. In the case of cotton harvesters, barbed spindles are employed in multiples to remove the cotton fiber from the cotton plants. The cotton fibers are removed from the spindles by doffer plates arranged in stands, or stacks, of such doffer plates. Within the stack, adjacent doffer plates are separated by spacers which may be constructed as an integral part of each doffer plate, or be separate therefrom. The spacers, with the doffer plates, are rotated about a longitudinal axis with a drive shaft. Conventionally, such spacers are of metal construction. Over time, cotton fiber begins to adhere to the exterior surfaces of the spacers. As operation continues, this entanglement of cotton fiber, or "wrap" as it has come to be known, more rapidly develops.
Ultimately, operation of the harvester should be terminated for removal of the wrap. Various methods are conventionally used to remove the wrap including using various hand tools to pull or cut the fibers for removal of the wrap. Typically this maintenance operation may be required after ten (10) to twelve (12) hours of operation and may, itself, take a lengthy period of time to complete, depending upon the extent of the build up. As a consequence, the harvester is out of operation for a significant period of time. This is expensive, both in terms of labor, as well as because of the down time necessarily involved.
There has not heretofore been a means for avoiding this condition and, as a consequence, the condition has been considered a necessary, but tedious and expensive, part of the maintenance of such machinery.
Therefore, it has long been known that it would be desirable to have a device for resisting adhesion which is particularly well suited to avoiding or, at very least, minimizing the entanglement of fibrous materials about the moving parts of machinery, such as mechanical devices adapted to handle such fibrous material; which has particular application in use on harvesting equipment such as that employed in the harvesting of cotton; which operates simply and inexpensively to resist adhesion by fibrous material; which, depending upon the particular embodiment involved, employs a plurality of operative means to achieve the desired result; which does not interfere with the normal operation of such machinery; and which is otherwise entirely well suited to achieving its operational results.


In a charged particle beam applying apparatus such as an electron beams lithography system, there is a technology that facilitates positional adjustment of a crossover and improves throughput of the apparatus. A front focal plane of a condenser lens is provided with a sharp end face (crossover regulation edge) for regulating the height of the crossover on a beam axis. By using the crossover regulation edge to measure the shape of an electron beam, the shape of the beam on the front focal plane of the condenser lens can be always checked even if the height of the crossover formed by an electron gun or the resistance of a source forming lens is changed.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for applying charged particle beams and, particularly, to a technology effectively applied to a high-speed and high-accuracy apparatus for applying charged particle beams, which is used for semiconductor manufacturing devices and semiconductor inspection apparatuses.
Examples of technologies studied by the present inventors are as follows in a charged electron beam applied technology for use in a semiconductor manufacturing process.
In the semiconductor manufacturing process, an electron beam lithography system is used for drawing a desired circuit pattern on a wafer or mask as a subject. Also, electron microscopes, electron-beam inspection devices, and other devices are used for irradiating the subject with electron beams and checking, from signals of secondary electrons or the like produced, the shape of a pattern formed on the subject or the presence or absence of a defect of the pattern.
In these semiconductor manufacturing devices applying electron beams, it is an important problem that the speed of processing the subject, i.e., throughput is improved along with accuracy. To solve this problem, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-267221 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-319532, for example, there is proposed a multibeam method in which: a test sample is irradiated with a plurality of electron beams; these electron beams are deflected for scanning on the test sample; and, depending on the pattern to be drawn, the plurality of electron beams are individually turned on/off to draw the pattern. One example of such an electron beam lithography system of this type is described by using a schematic drawing of FIG. 13.
In FIG. 13, a one-dot-chain line represents a beam axis, which is an axis on which axes of symmetry of an electron gun and an electromagnetic lens formed in approximately rotation symmetry should coincide with each other, the beam axis serving as a reference of a beam path.
In this example, a thermal electron gun obtaining easily a large current and stable in electron emission is used. The thermal electron gun heats a cathode 101 made of a material with a low work function to provide electrons with energy enough to overcome a barrier of a cathode surface, and accelerates the electrons toward an anode 103 with a higher potential with respect to the cathode 101. The reference numeral "104" denotes a crossover of electron beams. The "crossover" is an image formed when electron beams emitted in the same direction from different positions in the same cathode cross one another. The size (diameter) of the crossover is called a crossover diameter, and a position where the crossover is formed on the beam axis is called a crossover height.
A source forming lens 105 is an electromagnetic lens having a function of forming an image by reducing the crossover 104. That is, a first intermediate image of the crossover 104 is formed. Herein, since the crossover is used as a light source, it is called a source crossover 106.
Note that as shown in FIG. 14, the electron beams emitted from the electron gun may be incident on the source forming lens 105 without forming a crossover. Also in this case, if a track of the electron beams is extrapolated linearly from a side of the source forming lens and a point 104b crossing on the beam axis is virtually handled as a crossover, this situation is similar to that as described above. Therefore, the point 104b is referred to as a virtual crossover.
By using this source crossover 106 as a light source, a condenser lens 107 produces an approximately parallel electron beam. The condenser lens 107 is an electromagnetic lens. The reference numeral "108" represents an aperture array formed by two-dimensionally arranging apertures. "109" a lens array formed by two-dimensionally arranging electrostatic lenses having the same focal length. "110" and "111" each a deflector array formed by two-dimensionally arranging electrostatic deflectors capable of being driven individually. "112" a blanker array formed by two-dimensionally arranging electrostatic blankers capable of being driven individually.
The approximately parallel electron beam produced by condenser lens 107 is divided by the aperture array 108 into a plurality of electron beams. The divided electron beams are converged at the height of the blanker array 112 by lens action of the corresponding lens array 109. That is, a second intermediate image of the crossover is formed. At this time, the deflector arrays 110 and 111 individually adjust paths of respective electron beams so that the corresponding beams pass through desired positions in the corresponding blankers.
The blanker array 112 controls whether the test sample is irradiated with the corresponding electron beam. That is, the electron beams deflected by the blankers are intercepted by a blanking aperture 114, and does not reach onto the test sample. On the other hand, the beams not deflected by the blanker pass through the blanking aperture 114 to reach onto the test sample 119.
Reducing glasses 113 and 115 and objective lenses 116 and 118 project, on a test sample 119 mounted on a stage 120, the reduced second intermediate image of the crossover formed at the height of the blanker array 112. The position of the reduced projected image is determined depending on a deflection amount by a deflector 117.

Method and apparatus for applying charged particle beam


In the installation of a scanner of a position measuring apparatus, it is required that parameters such as amplitude and phase position of analog signals generated by a scanner be tested so that the scanner can be correctly installed. For this purpose, a control device with a display field is provided. In the display field, a bar is displayed whose width represents a measure for the range of variation of the radius and whose position represents a measure for the average radius of a Lissajous figure. In addition, a marking is displayed for the admissible range of variation of this radius.

It is particularly important to test the signals generated by a scanner of a position measuring device in order to correctly install the scanner. It is well known to provide a position measuring device having a scanner and scale to determine the position of a movable part, such as a machine, relative to a fixed part. Typically, the scanner outputs two analog signals in quadrature. These outputs can be fed to further circuitry for counting the cycles of the incoming signals so as to determine position, to determine the direction of movement, and to provide position interpolation within one cycle of the output. It is desirable that the scanner be installed correctly aligned relative to the scale so that the output signals from the scanner are accurately in quadrature with a 90.degree. phase shift and have substantially the same amplitude. Signal quality and the precision of measurement depends greatly on the correct installation of the scanner relative to the scale. The amplitude of the signals generated by the scanner is influenced by the distance between the scanner and scale and the phase shift is influenced by the tilt of the scanner relative to the direction of measurement.
In order to test the correct positioning of the scanner relative to the scale it is known to display the amplitude and phase shift of the analog signals generated by a scanner on an oscilloscope. The two analog signals output by the scanner are input to two channels of a double beam oscilloscope so that a Lissajous figure is generated. The radius of the Lissajous figure is a measure of the amplitude as well as the phase relation of the analog signals. If the scanner is perfectly positioned with respect to the scale, the Lissajous figure will be a perfect circle centered at the origin.
In order to simplify the testing of the signals generated by a scanner, U.S. Pat. No. 5,128,609 discloses a control device having a bar display. In this control device, a radius of the Lissajous figure is calculated from the instantaneous amplitudes of the analog signals generated by a scanner and the instantaneous radius value is represented as a lighted point on the bar display. While this control device is easier to handle than an oscilloscope, the bar display does not provide sufficient resolution to allow one to make fine adjustments in the scanner's position.
During the installation of a scanner relative to a scale, the amplitudes of the analog signals generated by the scanner can range from zero to a maximum of, for example, 12 .mu.A. This relatively large range must be able to be displayed in order for the analog signals to be tested. However, because of space limitations, displaying such a large range compromises the resolution of the display. This has the disadvantage that the range of variation of the radius of the Lissajous figure cannot be represented with sufficient resolution and precision since the instantaneous radius value appears only as a single lighted point.
An object of the present invention is to provide a control device and a process for testing position-dependent analog signals where the parameters of the analog signals can be displayed with sufficiently high resolution and precision.
An advantage of the present invention is that important parameters of the analog signals can be better recognized and thus, in a simple way, a good quality of analog signals can be obtained.

Control device and process for testing position dependent signals of a position measuring device


A system and method for an infant securing apparatus that allows for infants to remain safely in a crib wherein the infant is prevented from rolling over on their stomach, sit, or stand up and injure themselves, the apparatus having a stable blanket to keep an infant warm while avoiding the infant being suffocated by the blanket.

Younger infants typically exhibit uncontrolled movements while asleep and when awake they often roll and move around. Unless confined, such movements may possibly cause injury to the child. Studies have shown that infants who sleep on their stomachs have an increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), compared to infants who sleep on their backs. For this reason, infants are often placed in cradles and other systems to protect against the effects of sudden movement such as by rolling over onto their stomachs.
Customarily there have been other apparatus to secure an infant such as a baby wrap. However baby wraps only work for early aged baby whom cannot yet roll over, sit up or stand up. Babies also suffer with the baby wraps if they have already rolled over. The infant then cannot roll back because the baby's arm and legs may have gotten tied up with the wrap, creating an even more dangerous situation. Infants also cannot move and relax their arms and feet, making them more upset. Pediatric doctors also suggest not to use any blanket or dolls on a bed leaving infants to wear layers to keep their bodies warm or turning the heat up without any blanket. Thus, there exists a need for a safe, comfortable, adjustable, multifunctional, suitable, warm baby wrap, bed sheet, and blanket.

System and method for infant securing device


A pharmaceutical composition, including: an active ingredient-loaded pellet core and a coating layer. The active ingredient of the pellet core is oseltamivir or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The active ingredient accounts for between 10 and 40 wt. % of the total weight of the pharmaceutical composition. The coating layer includes a polyacrylic acid resin IV and accounts for between 1 and 50 wt. % of the total weight of the pharmaceutical composition. The pharmaceutical composition has a diameter of between 0.10 and 0.50 mm.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an oral pharmaceutical composition and a method of preparing the same.
Description of the Related Art
Oseltamivir, having the chemical name of (3R,4R,5S)-4-acetamido-5-amino-3(1-ethylpropoxy)-1-cyclohexene-1-carboxylate and the structural formula (I), can act on neuraminidase (NA), to inhibit the replication and spreading of the viruses.

Because oseltamivir has strong bitter taste and the commercial oseltamivir adopts capsules for the dosage form, it is difficult for children and infants to swallow the oseltamivir capsule. To cover the bitter taste of oseltamivir, various encapsulation techniques have been tried. However, based on conventional encapsulation techniques, the active ingredient cannot be completely covered, or the pill has too large particle size thus affecting the administration, or the pill has too small particle size thus leading to low load efficiency.

Oral pharmaceutical composition comprising oseltamivir and method of preparing the same

Zhongshuai Pharmaceutical Sci & Tech Co., Ltd.


The present invention teaches a variety of methods, data structures, and apparatus. In a first embodiment of the present invention, an instance of a data type has a data structure including a transient value data field for storing an internalized data format representation of a persistent data associated with the instance and a persistent value data field for storing an externalized data format representation of the persistent data associated with the instance. The data structure provides a capability of maintaining a persistent data associated with the instance within a database in which the data type of the instance is foreign. This includes embodiments in which the database is a relational database or an object oriented database. In some embodiments, the instance is included in a persistent programming language object. A separate embodiment of the present invention teaches a computer system having a central processing unit, a transient computer readable medium accessible by the central processing unit, a persistent computer readable medium accessible by the central processing unit, and an instance of a data type having a data structure stored in the transient computer readable medium. Further implemented on the computer system is a database and a persistent storage manager. The persistent storage manager is operative to manage the database such that the persistent data associated with the instance is maintained within the database. In addition, a number of methods for providing a variety of aspects of transparent persistent data support to instances of persistent foreign data types are disclosed.

The present invention relates to the fields of databases, object oriented databases, distributed computing systems, and object-oriented programming. More specifically, the present invention teaches methods, data structures, and apparatus for providing transparent persistent data support to data types which are foreign to a database or other persistent storage mechanism.
While the teachings of the present invention are suitable for a variety of computing environments, the background and detailed description of the invention present a number of specific examples drawn from a couple of different computing environments. Because of its capabilities and current popularity, the class of object oriented computing environments is particularly highlighted and in fact a number of embodiments of the present invention are well suited for use therein. However, the examples provided in both the background and the detailed description are intended to draw forth and clarify details of the present invention and should in no way be construed as limiting.
Object oriented programming methodologies have received increasing attention over the past several years in response to the growing tendency for software developed using traditional programming methods to be delivered late and over budget. This stems from the fact that traditional programming techniques that emphasize procedural models and "linear" code tend to be difficult to design and maintain in many circumstances. Generally, large programs created using traditional methods are "brittle". That is, even small changes can effect numerous elements of the programming code. Thus, minor changes made to the software in response to user demands can require major redesign and rewriting of the entire program.
Object oriented programming strategies tend to avoid these problems because object methodologies focus on manipulating data rather than procedures; thus providing the programmer with a more intuitive approach to modeling real world problems. In addition objects encapsulate related data and procedures so as to hide that information from the remainder of the program by allowing access to the data and procedures only through the object's interface. Hence changes to the data and/or procedures of the object are relatively isolated from the remainder of the program. This provides code that is more easily maintained as compared to code written using traditional methods, as changes to an object's code do not affect the code in the other objects. In addition, the inherent modular nature of objects allows individual objects and interfaces to be reused in different programs. Thus, programmers can develop libraries of "tried and true" objects and interfaces that can be used over and over again in different applications. This increases software reliability while decreasing development time, as reliable programming code may be used repeatedly.
A more recent advance in the field of object oriented methodologies has been the implementation of distributed object operating environments over computers interconnected via a computer network. As used herein, the term "distributed object" or "object" refers to an encapsulated package of code and data that can be manipulated by operations through an interface. Thus, distributed objects will be seen by those skilled in the art of object oriented programming (OOP) as including the basic properties that define traditional programming objects. However, distributed objects differ from traditional programming objects by the inclusion of two important features. First, distributed objects are multilingual. That is, the interfaces of distributed objects are defined using an interface definition language (IDL) that can be mapped to a variety of different programming languages. One such interface definition language is Object Management Group's IDL. Second, distributed objects are location-independent, i.e., distributed objects can be located anywhere in a network. This contrasts sharply with traditional programming objects which typically exist in a single address space.
Elaborating further on the distributed object operating environment, distributed objects can be object clients or object servers, depending upon whether they are sending requests to other objects or replying to requests from clients. In a distributed object operating environment, requests and replies are made through an Object Request Broker (ORB) that is aware of the locations and status of the objects. One architecture which is suitable for implementing such an ORB is provided by the Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) specification. The CORBA specification was developed by the Object Management Group (OMG) to define the distributed computing environment world in terms of objects in a distributed client-server environment, where server objects are capable of providing services to clients requesting the service.
From the perspective of the distributed object life cycle, objects fall into one of two categories: transient or persistent. When discussing the transient or persistent nature of an object, what is being referred to is the transient or persistent nature of the object's state. As will be well familiar to those skilled in the art of object oriented programming (OOP), an object may be described by two components: executable code and state. Executable code is essentially the instructions by which the object operates; it defines the "behavior" of the object. State is simply the remaining portion of the object such as data which is not code. In further explanation, the nature of the state which an object will maintain is defined through the variables defined by the object developer. More specifically, these variables will be of a predetermined data type, as will be discussed below.
Much of the prior art teaching is directed towards transient objects. Transient objects typically have a short life span and are bound to a single host computer process. That is, when a host computer process ceases, all transient objects residing in the host computer process cease. Therefore there is no continuity of identity of a transient object from one process to another. Because transient objects are bound to a single process, they inherently cannot change their location. Hence transient objects could also be referred to as "immobile" objects, as their addresses may never change. A programmer whose object kinds include only transient objects is limited in preserving the object state from instance to instance.
In contrast, persistent objects are not bound to a single process and their address and memory location may change over time (e.g., they may have many "life" cycles). With a persistent object, there is a continuity of identity from one process to another. In brief, persistent objects are objects whose state (i.e. the variables of persistent data type) can outlive the life of a specific instance of the object. As will be appreciated, persistent objects may provide many advantages to the object developer. Unfortunately, prior strategies for implementing persistent objects fall short of providing a satisfactory solution to the object developer, as will be described below.
In what is perhaps the crudest strategy for providing persistent objects, the programmer codes within the object the reading and writing (i.e., the management) of data from a permanent storage medium such as a hard disk drive. While this strategy may work for simple scenarios, there are at least two defects. First, the object developer bears the burden for implementing this data management into each persistent object. Second, this strategy has unnecessary overhead. By way of example, each object must include the previously mentioned code for persistent data support. Furthermore, the structure of the data file may become quite intricate, demanding elaborate parsing just to read and write data. All of this data management must be done at execution time by the object, resulting in an expensive solution in terms of system resource utilization.
In another approach for providing persistent objects, persistence has been introduced into existing object programming languages. In one approach, an extension to the existing programming language provides an interface to the functionality of a database. For example, a compiler for an extended language using this approach might accept a specialized set of commands geared for use with a database. The most common type of database used with these methods is a relational database. As relational databases were not designed for storing many of the data types in which object state is typically found, this approach may introduce its own set of dilemmas. Object oriented databases are available, but objects created through object oriented databases are also limited by the data types available within the object oriented database. In any event, each of the prior art strategies places an undue burden on the programmer as they must still consciously manage the object data persistence.
FIG. 1 illustrates one possible flow 100 of the creation of a persistent programming language object in accordance with prior art, the prior art limited to data types understood by the object oriented database utilized. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, an object developer will generate a variety of files including two distinct components which are: an object oriented (OO) program 101; and an OO schema definition 102. The OO program 101 is coded in a standard OO language such as C++ and defines the behavior and attributes of the object being developed. The OO schema definition 102 is coded in a data definition language (DDL) and defines and describes all the object variable structures and the natures thereof. OO schema definition 102 thus includes variable declarations defining variable names and data types, as well as an indication of which variables require persistence as provided by the object oriented database (OODB).
The creation flow 100 is as follows. 00 schema definition 102 is processed by the OODB schema tool 104 to generate the OODB schema 106 and the local headers 108. Essentially, the local headers 108 are the data classes available within the object. As will be appreciated, an object "class" is a template from which an object can be created. It is used to specify the behavior and attributes (e.g. persistent) available to all objects of the class. The OODB is the schema utilized by the OODB to help provide persistence.
The local headers 108 are, figuratively, merged together with the OO program 101 and the product compiled by the OO compiler 114. In turn, the product of the 00 compiler 114 is linked together with standard libraries 118 by an OO linker 115 to generate the OO binary 116. As will be appreciated, the OO binary 116 is executable code from which object instances are generated. Finally, the OODB engine 110 utilizes the OODB schema 106 together with a particular object instance to generate a database which maintains persistent data in a persistent storage medium 120. Thus the types of data which can be maintained persistently are directly limited, on the one hand by the DDL and on the other hand by the capabilities of the OODB.
For any given data definition language (such as CORBA's DDL), a certain number of data types will be defined. As will be appreciated, the data types define the structural characteristics, features, and properties of data that may be directly specified by the software developer. In an object oriented computing environment, the given DDL will likely include the standard, well known, OOP data types. Examples of these include LONG INTEGER, SHORT INTEGER, FLOATING POINT, CHARACTER STRING, ARRAY, and STRUCTURE. Additionally, the given DDL will include data types which are specific to the particular object operating environment. For example, OMG's DDL includes the data types OBJECT REFERENCE, ANY, TYPE CODE, and PRINCIPLE.
While much of the preceding discussion has focused on object oriented computing environments, many of the same dilemmas arise within other computing environments. In general, when a computing environment provides a persistent storage mechanism of the prior art (e.g. a relational database or an object oriented database), the prior art persistent storage mechanism only provides persistent storage to known data types. Thus persistence is not provided to "foreign data types" which are not known to the persistent storage mechanism.
In order to bring out a further defect of the prior art, attention is now focused on the data type CORBA::ANY. When data which a selected parameter may receive must not be constrained to a particular data type, the object developer defines the selected parameter as a data type ANY. By way of analogy, a data variable of type ANY can be thought of as an envelope (the defined parameter of data type ANY) which can contain a letter (the data whose type is a priori unknown). A distributed object operating environment abiding by CORBA will provide facilities for construction of a type ANY parameter from whatever declared data types subsequent operations require. In essence, the in memory form of a type ANY parameter is composed of a graph of non-contiguous elements linked together by pointers. The CORBA specification does not define any other form visible to the developer.
Based upon the CORBA defined form of the data type ANY, developers are not provided with data type ANY externalize and internalize commands. As will be familiar, such "externalize" commands would convert the data type ANY parameter into a form suitable for operations such as interprocess communication, network transmission, and storage in persistent memory. Conversely, "internalize" commands perform the tasks involved in reforming the data type ANY parameter into an active internal format. Since object developers are not provided with type ANY externalize/internalize commands, they don't have a direct mechanism to perform this conversion. Hence they must write their own externalize/internalize operator commands or, on a case by case basis, open up the type ANY "envelope" to extract data and recreate the type ANY "envelope" to insert data.
Similar dilemmas are encountered with a variety of important data types within a number of computing environments. For example, the well known data type "STRUCT" is a foreign data type within computing environments utilizing relational databases. In general, externalizing and internalizing data types such as OBJECT REFERENCE, ANY, TYPE CODE, PRINCIPLE (each foreign to OODBs and relational databases) and STRUCT (foreign to relational databases) require difficult, time consuming development which software developers should not be concerned with. However, externalizing and internalizing are basic steps in accomplishing any persistent data mechanism and thus, if persistence is desired, these steps cannot be avoided. What are needed are methods, apparatus and data structures to transparently (with respect to the developer) perform the processes of externalizing and internalizing a variety of data types while transparently managing the desired persistence.

Method and apparatus for providing transparent persistent data support to foreign data types


An electrical component having a functional unit which is secured to a header and which generates or is sensitive to sound, and having terminal elements which are mechanically secured to the header and electrically and acoustically coupled to the functional unit and which project through holes in the header onto the side of the header remote from the functional unit and which have a modulus of elasticity of EA greater than 50 MPa, in which the terminal elements are partially encased in a viskoelastic material having a modulus of elasticity of EW less than 10 MPa. By encasing the terminal elements in a viskoelastic material, effective sound-damping can be produced. Furthermore, the invention relates to a process for manufacturing the component.

The invention relates to an electrical component having a functional unit which is secured to a header and which generates or is sensitive to sound, and having terminal elements which are electrically and acoustically coupled to the functional unit and which project through holes in the header onto the side of the header remote from the functional unit, whereby the functional unit is acoustically isolated.
Electrical components of the type mentioned at the outset, which form a relay and in which the sound-generating functional unit is the electromagnetic drive of the relay, are known. Electrical components of this type are used for example in cars. The switching noise of electrical components of this type is in many cases so loud that it can even be heard in the passenger compartment of the car. To increase driving comfort in the car, it is consequently necessary to dampen the switching noise of the relay.
A sound-dampened relay in which the terminal elements are connected to the electromagnetic drive by way of lines which have a pronounced vibration-damping effect is known. A relay of this type has the disadvantage, however, that the lines having a pronounced vibration-damping effect, which are usually made from stranded conductors or sheet-metal strips punched in a meandering shape, have an ohmic resistance which cannot be disregarded. This means that the load circuit resistance of the relay increases to a value which in some cases is no longer acceptable.
Furthermore, sound-dampened relays in which dampen elements are arranged in the holes in a header or between the header and the terminal elements, are known. These sound-dampened relays have the disadvantage that because of the sound-damping transition between the terminal element and the header, the terminal elements have only a low level of mechanical strength in the header. Thus, sound-dampened relays of this type cannot be used for plug relays, that is to say relays which are plugged into a socket together with other electronic components.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an electrical component which is sound-dampened, in which there is no occurrence of increased electrical resistance in the load circuit and in which the terminal elements have sufficient mechanical strength for the electrical component to be used in plug sockets.
This object is achieved in accordance with the invention by an electrical component according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention and processes for manufacturing the invention can be found in the additional claims.
The invention specifies an electrical component on a functional unit which is secured to a header and which generates or is sensitive to sound. Mechanically secured to the header are terminal elements which are electrically and acoustically coupled to the functional unit. The terminal elements project through holes in the header onto the side of the header remote from the functional unit. The terminal elements have a modulus of elasticity of EA greater than 50 megapascals, and are partially encased in a viskoelastic material having a modulus of elasticity of EW less than 10 megapascals. A viskoelastic material should be understood to mean a material which can be plastically deformed and is elastic enough to return to its original shape again slowly after the deformation. The material is viskoelastic.
As a result of the encasing of the terminal elements, in accordance with the invention, in a viskoelastic material, effective dampening of the sound transmitted by or to the functional unit by way of the terminal elements is achieved. The solution according to the invention makes use of the effect that when sound is transmitted between two different materials shear stress losses of the vibrational energy occur. These losses are larger the greater the difference in the moduli of elasticity of the materials concerned.
Particularly advantageously, the terminal elements are made from a copper alloy or a similar material. These materials have a modulus of elasticity which is greater than 100 megapascals. For the viskoelastic material, a casting compound of one-component or two-component synthetic material is possible. A viskoelastic material of this type typically has a modulus of elasticity which is smaller than one megapascal. Furthermore, and also according to the invention, a viskoelastic material which is a thermoplastic is possible. Furthermore, a component in which a viskoelastic thermoplastic is partially moulded around the terminal elements is particularly advantageous. This means that the components are particularly easy and inexpensive to make.
Moreover, a component in which the terminal elements are arranged in troughs formed by the header, with part sections provided for the encasing, is particularly advantageous. In this case, the volume contained between an inner wall of the trough and the corresponding terminal element is at least partially filled with viskoelastic material. As a result of constructing the header in the form of one or more troughs, in accordance with the invention, the component is easy to manufacture with the aid of liquid viskoelastic material, which is poured into the trough and then cured. In particular, the viskoelastic material is then only located at the points provided for the encasing.
As the functional unit, for example the magnet system of an electromagnetic relay is possible. The reduced switching noise of an electromagnetic relay of this type is particularly critical when it is used in motor vehicles, where the invention is used particularly advantageously.
Furthermore, the invention discloses a process for manufacturing a component in which a viskoelastic thermoplastic is moulded partially around the terminal elements.
As a result of moulding a viskoelastic thermoplastic around the terminal elements, in accordance with the invention, the component is particularly easy and inexpensive to make.
Furthermore, the invention discloses a process for manufacturing a component, where a viskoelastic material in the liquid state is poured into a trough containing a terminal element and then cured.
As a result of manufacturing the component with the aid of a viskoelastic material poured into a trough in the liquid state, in accordance with the invention, the component is particularly easy and inexpensive to make.
Moreover, the invention discloses a process for manufacturing a component, having the following steps:
a) introducing a viskoelastic material in the solid state into a trough containing a terminal element,
b) heating the viskoelastic material until it liquefies, and
c) cooling the viskoelastic material until it solidifies.
As a result of manufacturing the component with the aid of a viskoelastic material which is introduced into a trough in the solid state, in accordance with the invention, soiling of the regions adjacent to the trough is largely avoided, since it is much easier to apply the viskoelastic material with precise positioning in the solid state than in the liquid state.

Electrical component and process for the manufacture thereof


A system and method of use for a probe is disclosed that includes a self-expanding housing constructed to permit fluid flow therethrough and constructed for insertion into a subject to be imaged. A plurality of RF coils is attached to the housing to acquire MR data.

The present invention relates generally to MR imaging and, more particularly, to an RF coil assembly capable of self-expansion within a subject to be imaged and capable of minimizing blood flow occlusion by permitting blood flow therethrough.
When a substance such as human tissue is subjected to a uniform magnetic field (polarizing field B0), the individual magnetic moments of the spins in the tissue attempt to align with this polarizing field, but precess about it in random order at their characteristic Larmor frequency. If the substance, or tissue, is subjected to a magnetic field (excitation field B1) which is in the x-y plane and which is near the Larmor frequency, the net aligned moment, or "longitudinal magnetization", MZ, may be rotated, or "tipped", into the x-y plane to produce a net transverse magnetic moment Mt. A signal is emitted by the excited spins after the excitation signal B1 is terminated and this signal may be received by a radio-frequency (RF) coil and processed to form an image.
When utilizing these signals to produce images, magnetic field gradients (Gx, Gy, and Gz) are employed. Typically, the region to be imaged is scanned by a sequence of measurement cycles in which these gradients vary according to the particular localization method being used. The resulting set of received NMR signals are digitized and processed to reconstruct the image using one of many well known reconstruction techniques.
High spatial-resolution or high temporal-resolution imaging of heart anatomy and physiology is desired for a variety of purposes. For example, high spatial-resolution imaging may be desired to guide or monitor therapeutic processes in the heart. One major determinant in performing such scans is the intrinsic Signal-to-Noise ratio (SNR) of the RF receiver coil. Current surface mounted RF coils placed on the surface of the torso are limited in SNR due to their physical distance from the heart itself. Also, the use of large coil elements that image more than the heart may negatively affect SNR. As a result, surface coils limit image resolution and may not be desirable for cardiac imaging for use in MR-guided interventional procedures that demand fast, high-resolution imaging.
In an attempt to achieve higher resolution MR images, intra-vascular RF receiver coils have been developed and widely considered preferred for targeted cardiac imaging. Intra-vascular RF coils have been shown to significantly improve SNR by placing the receiving coil in proximity to the target tissue. However, blood flow and associated pulsatility during in-vivo intra-vascular imaging have been obstacles to wide-spread implementation. That is, coil motion and tissue motion caused as a result of blood flow can negatively affect image quality and, thus, the diagnostic and probative value of a resulting image. Further, known intra-vascular RF coils inhibit blood flow when the coil is positioned in the vasculature. As can be appreciated, prolonged blood flow occlusion is undesirable when imaging coronary arteries and within the heart itself.
It would therefore be desirable to have a system and method capable of acquiring MR data using an intra-vascular probe within a moving image target, while minimizing blood flow occlusion within the image target and utilizing known motion of the system to gate image acquisition to reduce image artifacts and blurring.

Self-expanding multi-channel RF receiver coil for high resolution intra-cardiac MRI and method of use


This invention relates to a method and apparatus for atomizing a liquid stream of metal or metal alloy. This invention relates to producing powders as well as to spray deposition process. During atomizing, a backpressure is created below the exit of the liquid delivery nozzle by the impingement of the atomization gas jets around the atomization zone. And this may block further atomization. The present invention provides a method of atomizing and an atomizing apparatus to control the backpressure. During atomizing, the intensities and directions of the atomization gas jets affects the atomization characteristics. The present invention provides a method of atomizing and an atomizing apparatus to control both the intensities and directions of the atomization gas jets.

For both powder production and spray deposition process, there are traditionally two kinds of atomization devices for atomizing a liquid stream of metal or metal alloys coming out of the liquid delivery nozzle into a spray of droplets. One is the "Free Fall" type of design, in which the stream of metal or metal alloy is atomized at a certain distance away from the exit of the liquid delivery nozzle. The other design is the "Confined" type of design, in which the stream of metal or metal alloy is atomized at the exit of the liquid delivery nozzle. The Confined type of atomization device gives more efficient and uniform transfer of energy from atomization gas to the stream of metal or metal alloy, due to the shorter distance between the atomization gas and the stream of metal or metal alloy and prefilming of the molten metal or metal alloy over the end of the liquid delivery nozzle. However, since the impingement point of the atomization gas is close to the exit of the liquid delivery nozzle, the molten metal or metal alloy is easier to freeze-up inside the liquid delivery nozzle, which blocks further atomization. The Free-Fall type atomization device doesn't have the freeze-up problem; however, the atomization efficiency is reduced compared to the Confined type of atomization device, resulting in coarser atomized powder and coarser microstructures due to a lower cooling rate.
During atomizing, a backpressure is created by the impingement of the atomization gas jets around the atomization zone below the exit of the liquid deliver nozzle. The backpressure has two effects. One effect is generating backsplash during atomization, in which molten metal or metal alloy is backsplashed upwards away from the atomization zone. The backsplashed molten metal or metal alloy may either deposit back onto the atomization device and block further atomization, or become coarse and irregular shaped powders, which may not be desired. Another effect is influencing the atomization rate, or the flow rate of the metal or metal alloy stream coming out of the liquid delivery nozzle. In the extreme, a complete blockage of the metal or metal alloy stream from coming out of the liquid delivery nozzle is likely to happen due to the backpressure. The present invention provides a method of atomizing and an atomizing apparatus to control the backpressure.
During atomizing, the intensities and directions of the atomization gas jets affect the atomization characteristics, such as atomization efficiency, atomization rate, the cooling rate of atomized droplets, trajectories and velocities of atomized droplets, shapes and sizes of atomized droplets, the spatial flux distribution of atomized droplets, etc. The intensities of the atomization gas jets are manipulated through controlling the pressure and/or flow rate of the atomization gas. However, the directions of the atomization gas jets are fixed by the design of the atomization device. In U.S. Pat. No.4,779,802, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,899, the atomization device is scanned to control the directions of the atomization gas jets. The present invention provides a method of atomizing and an atomizing apparatus to control both the intensities and directions of the atomization gas jets.


An artificial intelligence (AI) learning machine is integrated into a gaming system to adaptively learn to predict when and where excessive chronological clustering of winning hits is likely to occur for a progressive jackpot (e.g., a high frequency one) within the gaming system, to preemptively prepare for such occurrences by prefunding one or more smart-awards funds to cope with such excessive chronological clusterings of hits and to use the one or more smart-awards funds to pay off not-first-in-time winners with a same jackpot award amount as is paid to the true first-in-time winner of the jackpot if such runner up winners hit their respective win conditions within a predetermined smart-awards time span after the first-in-time winner hits. This can avoid or reduce feelings of unfairness by the not-first-in-time winners especially when the latter hit just a split second after the true first-in-time winner hits the jackpot.

Slot-type electronic and/or mechanical gaming machines, often also referred as slot machines, are popular fixtures in casino or other gaming environments. Such slot machines are generally controlled by installed software programs that enable rapid gaming action. Aside from slot machines, various other kinds of gaming devices, including electronically-assisted gaming tables are also generally controlled by installed software programs that enable rapid gaming action, not only for the particular gaming device, but also across large communities of similar gaming devices. More specifically, interest in gaming action can be enhanced by providing for community-based chances at winning growing jackpot pools, often referred to as progressives. Sometimes, the rapid gaming action moves faster than signage update or apparent signage update action (as apparent to players). This can lead to problems including some elucidated below.
Participants in gaming environments may include one or more primary players who are directly using the slot or other software driven gaming apparatuses, one or more locally adjacent players who are directly using locally adjacent slot or other software driven gaming apparatuses (e.g., as in the case of a "bank" of slot machines all participating in a bank-wide progressive pool). Participants in gaming environments may include in-casino further players who are participating in one or more in-casino progressive jackpot pools and wide area players who are participating in a jurisdictionally sanctioned wide area progressive jackpot pools that extend over a plurality of casinos or other such distinct localities. Participants typically also include adjacent bystanders (e.g., players' friends) who are standing nearby the primary players and include nearby passers by who happen to be passing by in an area where they can view part of the gaming action(s) of one or more of the slot or other software driven gaming apparatuses including displays (e.g., video monitors presenting signage updates) of the progressively growing local or other larger area jackpot pools and the occasional (rare or more frequent) awarding of such jackpots.
As a general but not absolute rule, it has been observed that when the available number of slot machines that can participate in a given progressive pool increases and/or when the number of players playing those machines and thus participating in the given progressive pool increases, then the accumulating jackpot prize amount—call it P(J,t) where P is the current Prize amount at time point t and J is the identity of the specific progressive jackpot pool—for that given progressive pool J tends to grow faster (has a faster climb rate, ΔP/Δt) while at the same time the average delay between hits Avg(th2−th1)—where h2 is hit number 2 and h1 is immediately preceding hit one—which hits entitle the respective hitting player to win the then present prize amount (P(J,th2), P(J,th1)) tends to shrink. As a result, player/bystander excitement with respect to that given progressive pool J tends to increase, and then more players tend to join in and the jackpot climb rate ΔP/Δt increases even faster while average delay between jackpot hits Avg(th(i+1)−thi)—where i is an incrementing integer—tends to shrink even more. For certain types of progressives there can come a period in time when due to random chance, the instantaneous delays between two or more hits, th(i+1)−thi approaches zero or another small value that appears to the human players as if it is essentially zero.
Larger ones of progressive jackpots (e.g., mega-jackpots for example in the range of $10,000 or more) tend to be hit and awarded on a highly infrequent basis (e.g., less than one per day on average). Players know this and thus tend to shy away from using machines that offer no chances other than the very infrequently awarded mega-jackpot. To make the games more interesting and enticing, casinos typically allow smaller groups (e.g., banks totaling say 10 or 20) of their machines to participate in smaller progressive jackpots that pay off more often. The smaller or mini jackpots (e.g., awards of in the range of about $1,000 or less, more typically $100 or less) tend to be hit and awarded much more frequently than the mega-jackpot (e.g., at least a handful of times per day on average if not even more often). Players see these more frequently paying-off machine as being apparently more "lucky" and thus tend to flock to machines or machine banks that appear to be hitting their mini jackpots more often. To these players the specific machines at their specific locations appear to be more lucky at the moment. As more players flock to the mini jackpot machines in the specific, appearing to be "lucky" location, the local jackpot climb rate (ΔP/Δt) for the respective mini jackpot Jmini grows and average delay between hits (Avg(th(i+1)−thi)) tends to shrink. That can entice even more players to flock to those specific machines. As frequency of payoffs for the smaller progressive jackpots increases (and average delay between hits shrinks), problems can emerge. Some of these problems are the result of the high speed at which the electronic gaming devices determine gaming action outcome versus the comparatively slower speed at which electronic or other signage devices (e.g., video monitors) get updated and/or versus the comparatively slower response time of human players.
More specifically, in the case of the smaller and more frequently hit progressive jackpot pools, two players can be sitting side-by-side at essentially identical slot machines in a crowded casino where both players hit a win for the same mini jackpot fund Jmini within a few seconds or less of one another. In other words, th(i+1)−thi<S seconds (where S for example can be 10 or less). Yet more specifically and merely as an example, the hit and win procedure of the given progressive jackpot pool Jmini may entail each player having a go at a lottery-scratch-to-win type of prize determination mechanism. Both players will be focusing on scratching off a pattern on their virtual scratch-to-win tickets. Because of the rapid speed at which the electronic slot (or other) gaming devices work internally, one of the players will be conventionally awarded the currently and publicly displayed mini-jackpot amount (of say P(J,th1)=$100) but the adjacent player is awarded a de-minimis and temporarily hidden replenishment amount (say P(J,th2)=$5, where th2 comes a split second after LIU. Seeing that her neighbor got $100 and she only $5, the second player feels cheated. She may hit the operator assistance button. When a casino agent comes to the gaming machine requesting operator assistance (e.g., with a flashing orange light), the second player lodges her complaint or "dispute" not only directly to the casino agent but often also in front of nearby others. She may say something like, "My machine is broken and not fair. I got exactly the same spin and scratch results as on hers. She won $100 and I got a measly $5! How can that be?" (One reason why the second-in-time player typically gets $5 and not $0 is because of an automatic replenishment mechanism disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,810 to Williams and briefly described later below. A method for keeping track of multiple jackpots is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,144 to Canon and includes use of date stamped history records.)
Casinos do not like to be caught in such binds where, although the gaming machines operate as advertised, customers feel cheated, dissatisfied, may lodge complaints either then or later to friends and then the reputation of the casino for fairness may degrade. A solution to this bind is desired.
It is to be understood that some concepts, ideas and problem recognitions provided in this description of the Background may be novel rather than part of the prior art.


An ignition timing control apparatus for an engine includes a controller that sets an ignition timing considering a change of a temperature or a pressure in a combustion chamber at a time when an opening/closing characteristic of an intake valve is changed, the opening/closing characteristic including a valve opening timing and a valve closing timing at least one of which is changed by a variable valve mechanism for the engine.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an ignition timing control apparatus for an engine provided with a variable valve mechanism which changes an opening/closing characteristic of an intake valve (at least one of an opening timing and a closing timing).
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a variable valve mechanism includes at least one of a variable valve timing mechanism which changes a valve timing of an intake valve, and a maximum valve lift amount variable mechanism which changes the maximum valve lift amount of the intake valve. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP 2001-263015 A discloses a variable valve mechanism which includes both of the variable valve timing mechanism and the maximum valve lift amount variable mechanism.
In an engine including such a variable valve mechanism, a temperature and a pressure in a combustion chamber are changed according to a change in an opening/closing characteristic. Accordingly, in order to maintain a good combustion state, it is necessary to set an ignition timing considering a change in the temperature and the pressure in the combustion chamber.
However, an ignition timing control apparatus has not been proposed, which sets an ignition timing considering a relationship between the opening/closing characteristic of the intake valve, and the temperature and the pressure in the combustion chamber.

Ignition timing control apparatus for engine


A blank capable of being formed into a carton for enclosing a plurality of containers that includes a first side panel, a top panel, a second side panel, a bottom panel, an adhesive flap, at least one first end flap extending along a first marginal area of the blank, and at least one second end flap extending along a second marginal area of the blank. A tear line is formed in the top panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel. In some embodiments, the tear line in each side panel extends perpendicular from the top panel and continues to at least one turn to proceed into side panel end flaps. One or more stair steps can be included in each side panel along the tear line. Separation of a detachable portion from the carton along the tear line creates an opening through which the containers can be removed.

Enclosed cartons with opening features and cartons with positioning features for displaying and enhancing dispensing of articles have been used in the past. Cartons with positioning features typically require the user to detach a portion of the carton, to manipulate the carton to assemble the positioning assembly, and to place the assembly under the carton. Once the positioning feature is removed from the carton, the user cannot replace the positioning feature to reclose the carton. Other cartons include positioning features that require adhesives to hold the positioning assembly in place or to adhere the positioning assembly to the carton itself. Still other cartons require the user to insert the positioning assembly into pre-formed slots in the carton. In many instances, after the user engages the positioning assembly, the structural integrity of the carton is lessened or destroyed. Additionally, several prior positioning assemblies are structurally weak and are easily flattened by excessive weight.


A motor includes a bearing receiving the shaft end of a rotor. a bearing holder provided with a through hole into which the bearing is inserted, a spring member which is disposed on one end side of the bearing holder and provided with a plate spring part which urges the bearing in the through hole toward the shaft end of the rotor shaft, four engaging recessed parts formed at four portions on an outer peripheral side face of the bearing holder, and four engaging pawl parts formed in the spring member. The spring member is mounted on the bearing holder such that the four engaging pawl parts engage with the four engaging recessed parts through the outer peripheral side face of the bearing holder.

As shown in FIGS. 7(a), 7(b), 7(c), 7(d) and 7(e), a small-sized stepping motor which is used in a digital camera, a digital video camera, a slim ODD or the like commonly includes a case 2′ within which a rotor and a coil are disposed, a pivot bearing 82′ which receives the axial end of a rotor shaft of the rotor on one end side of this case 2′, and a bearing holder 81′ provided with a through hole 810′ into which the pivot bearing 82′ is inserted. Further, a spring member 80′ provided with a flat spring part 83′, which urges the pivot bearing 82′ in the through hole 810′ to the axial end of the rotor shaft, is disposed on a further end side of the bearing holder 81′ (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-324892).
In the stepping motor constructed as described above, the case 2′ is commonly formed in a circular cylindrical shape when the case is cut in a direction perpendicular to the axial line of the motor. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b), the case of some motors may be formed in an elliptical cross-section in order that the thickness dimension of the motor in a direction perpendicular to the axial line of the motor, i.e., in the radial direction of the motor is made smaller. In any case, the spring member 80′ is required to be mounted to the bearing holder 81′. Therefore, conventionally, four engaging pawl parts 801′, 802′, 803′, 804′ are formed in the spring member 80′ so as to engage with the bearing holder 81′ through a substantially central portion of the outer peripheral side face of the bearing holder 81′.
In such a stepping motor, it is required that the thickness dimension in a direction perpendicular to the axial line of a motor, for example, the dimension "A′" is further made smaller and thus the engaging portion of the spring member 80′ with the bearing holder 81′ is also required to be made smaller. However, since the through hole 810′ into which the pivot bearing 82′ is inserted is formed in the bearing holder 81′, the wall thickness "t′" of the periphery of the through hole 810′ is required to be made too thin when portions 811′, 812′, 813′, 814′ (see FIGS. 7(d) and 7(e)), with which the engaging pawl parts 801′, 802′, 803′, 804′ of the spring member 80′ engage, are made thinner in the bearing holder 81′. Therefore, the accuracy of the dimension and shape of the through hole 810′ is significantly reduced.
Further, it is conceivable that the number of the engaging portions is reduced to two portions from four but, in this case, a fixing force is reduced and thus shock resistance is lowered. In addition, the engagement with two portions is capable of positioning in only one direction and thus another positioning mechanism is required to be added for positioning in another direction.
Further, it is conceivable that the spring member 80′ is formed to be even thinner. However, in this case, the strength of the spring member 80′ is reduced and the spring force of a flat spring portion becomes unstable.


A computer game which makes the player operate a falling object that falls in a predetermined display area, and clears the falling object and falling stop objects by combining the falling object and falling stop objects under a predetermined condition. If falling stop objects including blocks that stop falling include a group of blocks which meet a predetermined clear condition, the group of blocks are registered as blocks to be cleared, and the control waits for a clear waiting state. Even in this waiting state, the next falling object begins to fall. After that, when a sequence bar (701) which moves vertically or horizontally in synchronism with a music output along with the progress of the game has passed the blocks to be cleared, these blocks are cleared.

Conventionally, games in a category so called "falling block games" such as Tetris, Columns, and the like are available in the game market.
For example, in Tetris, when one row is fully filled with blocks, it is indicated that blocks to be cleared are settled, and the blocks arranged in one row are then immediately cleared. On the other hand, in Columns, when three or more blocks of the same color run on in the vertical, horizontal, or oblique direction, it is indicated that blocks to be cleared are settled, and the blocks are then immediately cleared.
Also, there has been proposed a game in which the user operates drug capsules of two colors which are falling automatically to fall onto viruses arranged in advance, and when three or more virus and drug capsules with the same color run on vertically or horizontally, it is displayed that blocks to be cleared are settled, and they are cleared immediately (Japanese Patent No. 3019970).
However, the conventional "falling block games" are lacking in thrills, since blocks to be cleared are immediately cleared after it is indicated that they are settled. Especially, since no next block begins to fall until blocks to be cleared are settled and cleared, if blocks line up, the player feels easy, and is deprived of a chance of enjoying further thrills.
Also, a clear condition is simple, i.e., a predetermined number or more of objects which run on vertically, horizontally, or obliquely are merely cleared, and the game player gets tired soon. That is, since the clear condition remains fixed from the beginning to the end of the game, the player is not surprised by the clear condition.

Apparatus and method for controlling clearing in a falling object game with a sequence bar


New ampholyte biomaterial compounds containing ampholyte moieties are synthesized and integrated into polymeric assemblies to provide hydrophilic polymers exhibiting improved biocompatibility, haemocompatibility, hydrophilicity non-thrombogenicity, anti-bacterial ability, and mechanical strength, as well as suitability as a drug delivery platform.

In recent years, biomimetic materials have been widely used as hydrophilic polymers employed in contact lenses, in intraocular lenses, as artificial organs and as haemocompatible coatings in blood contacting devices. Examples of natural hydrophilic polymers include collagen, alginates, hyaluronic acid, fibrin, and chitosan. The mentioned polymers have some degree of biocompatibility but often display poor mechanical strength. Examples of artificially synthesized polymers include polyesters, polyethers, polycarbonates, polyurethanes, polyacrylamides, and polyhydroxyethyl methacrylates. Although these polymers have high mechanical strength, low degradability and are easy to process, they present problems of biocompatibility for use in the field of medical devices.

Biocompatible, biomimetic ampholyte materials


Mobile terminals and methods are provided for making handover decisions based on the priority of IP streams that are being received by a mobile terminal. The IP streams currently being received or requested are ranked according to their priority. The selection of a new cell during the handover procedure is a function of the ranking of priorities.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to handover decisions for mobile terminals receiving Internet protocol (IP) streams broadcasted over digital broadband transmission networks. More particularly, the invention relates to making handover decisions based on the priority of IP streams.
2. Description of Related Art
Digital broadband transmission networks are used to transport digital data that includes High Definition TV, multiple channel standard definition TV (PAL/NTSC or SECAM) and, of course, broadband multimedia data and interactive services. An example of such a network is that defined by the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC). Another example of such a network enjoying popularity in Europe and elsewhere world-wide is Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) which, like ATSC, in addition to the delivery of television content, is also capable of delivering IP data. Both ATSC and DVB utilize a containerization technique in which content for transmission is multiplexed into MPEG-2 transport streams that act as data containers. These MPEG-2 transport streams are broadcast over plural signals and may include several IP streams.
Typical handover techniques for mobile terminals moving within or between cells involve determining which cell, carrying the currently received or requested service, has the highest signal strength. Usually it is assumed that a mobile terminal is receiving only one service at the time of handover. These techniques work well e.g. in the case where only 'regular' DVB services are being received. These 'regular' DVB services are composed of audio, video and private data streams, all needed for one service (e.g. TV program or movie). However, when digital broadband transmission networks are used to carry IP services transmitted over plural IP streams, the handover decision is not that simple. IP services are by nature different from the regular DVB services. Thus, when usually only one of those 'regular DVB services' is being received at the time of handover, the number of simultaneously received IP services may be easily close to 10 services or more. In the case where all available cells are providing mutually identical IP services, the problem doesn't exist and the handover decision can be based solely on the signal strength. However, this is not the case, especially when the handover is done in the network where the content of the cells is mutually heterogeneous, or moreover, when handover is done between the cells originating from two different networks.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for systems and methods to optimize handover from one cell to another cell to correspond to the needs of the user consuming services.

Handover decision for IP services broadcasted on a DVB network