This invention provides crystalline recombinant interferon (rSIFN-co (SEQ ID NO: 1)) having (i) the same amino acid sequence as that of human consensus interferon, and (ii) altered three-dimensional structure as compared to IFN-α2b. The interferon of the present invention exhibits enhanced biological activities. The present invention also provides a structural model of said interferon useful for drug screening and/or drug design, and mimetics of said interferon.

Interferon (IFN) is a kind of soluble protein produced by a variety of cells which has many important biological functions, including anti-viral, anti-tumor, and immunoregulatory functions. Interferons can be divided into type I, type II, and type III interferons according to the differences in the types of producing cells, receptors and biological activities etc. Type I IFNs, which are mostly induced by viruses and synthetic double-stranded RNA, are also known as anti-viral interferons. There are three forms of type I interferons: IFNα, INFβ, IFNω. Type II IFN, also known as immune interferon or IFNγ, is produced by the T cells, and is an important immunoregulatory factor in vivo. Type III interferon is made up of IFN-λ molecules.
In recent years, many companies in the world have engaged in the research of interferon, as exemplified by a number of pertinent patents and disclosure documents. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,695,623 and 4,897,471 disclosed new types of human interferon polypeptides which have amino acid sequences containing the common or predominant amino acids found in naturally occurring α-interferon polypeptides. That new type of interferon was named IFN-con (consensus interferon α). The disclosed amino acid sequences were named IFN-con1, IFN-con2 and IFN-con3. Genes encoding IFN-cons and gene expression in Escherichia coli were also disclosed. Compared with leukocyte interferon or other type I interferons, studies have shown that recombinant IFN-con has higher anti-viral, anti-proliferative and natural killer cell activities in vitro.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,808 disclosed the use of human IFN-con in the treatment of diseases. Compared with previous clinically approved α-interferon such as Intron®A (IFN-α2b, SGP) produced by Schering-Plough, recombinant human IFN-con has been shown to have lower side-effects. By the end of 1997, the FDA had approved the use of human IFN-con, which was produced by Amgen and sold under the brand name Infergen® (interferon alfacon-1) (SEQ ID NO: 1), for clinical treatment of hepatitis C.
Both U.S. Pat. No. 7,364,724 and Chinese Patent Publication No. CN1740197A (incorporated in their entirety as references to this application) disclosed a recombinant interferon (hereafter referred to as "rSIFN-co" (SEQ ID NO: 1)) that has enhanced efficacy, fewer side-effects and can be used in high doses. The said recombinant interferon has the same amino acid sequence as Infergen® (SEQ ID NO: 1), but has different spatial structure and biological efficacy. In addition, the above-mentioned Chinese Patent Publication No. CN1740197A also disclosed the crystal form of said recombinant interferon and its crystallization method thereof; however, the crystals were of poor quality, had loose internal structures and an X-ray diffraction resolution as low as 5 Å such that they were not suitable for obtaining useful structural information from further analysis of the protein spatial structure. It is of great interest to obtain good quality crystals of the said recombinant interferon with altered structure and functions at high X-ray diffraction resolution so as to determine the three-dimensional structure of said recombinant interferon, establish its model, and take advantage of said structure and model to perform drug design and to improve the efficacy of known interferons.

Crystal of recombinant interferon with altered spatial configuration, three-dimensional structure and uses thereof


Provided are azeotrope-like compositions comprising iodine heptafluoride and hydrogen fluoride and uses thereof, including methods for separating iodine heptafluoride or hydrogen fluoride from a mixture comprising iodine heptafluoride and hydrogen fluoride by removing an azeotrope-like composition of the present invention therefrom.

Iodine fluorides, compounds consisting of iodine and fluorine, have found widespread use in a variety of applications. For example, iodine heptafluoride ("IF7") and iodine pentafluoride ("IF5") have been used as fluorinating agents, compositions capable of providing reactive fluoride ions to compounds to be fluorinated, in numerous applications. The difference in fluorinating activity between IF7 and IF5 (IF7 tends to be a more active fluorinating agent than IF5) offers some versatility in the ability to select one of such fluorinating agents over the other for a given use, depending on the strength of fluorinating activity required. Nevertheless, applicants have recognized that other compositions, including compound mixtures comprising iodine fluorides, are desirable as alternatives for IF7 or IF5, for example, in applications requiring fluorinating agents of varying strengths.

Azeotrope-like compositions of iodine heptafluoride and hydrogen fluoride


A new variety of Gentiana L. plant (Japanese gentian) which is a double flower type and has a diameter at the top of the corolla of 30.6 mm.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Japanese gentian, Gentiana L., which has been given the variety denomination 'Ashiro 29-2075'.
This new gentian is a double flower type and has a diameter at the top of the corolla of 30.6 mm. It is adapted for use as cut flowers or pot flowers.


An apparatus for one handed dispensing paper sheet segments from a roll of paper sheet segments connected end-to-end along transverse serration lines including a base member, a support connected to a base for holding a roll of paper sheet segments and a frictional gripping member connected to the base with a high friction outer surface. The frictional gripping member may also contain an arcuate inner surface for pivotal movement and contact with respect to a roll of paper sheet segments.

This invention relates to a novel paper sheet dispenser. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a single hand, paper towel or tissue sheet dispenser that does not require a user to hold a roll of segmented, paper sheets with one hand in order to facilely tear off a desired number of the paper sheet segments.
Paper towels are routinely used in kitchens, restaurants and other settings where food is prepared and served. No matter where food is served, paper towel dispensers are often used to dispense paper towel sheets to clean up spills or to clean tables, floors and kitchen appliances. In addition, paper towel dispensers are often used in recreational settings, in addition to garages, auto or wood working shops and in other work or recreational areas where people need to absorb or wipe-up a spill, dry a surface or simply clean and/or dry their hands. Paper towels are usually sold in a roll having a width of approximately eleven inches or so and sheets of approximately six to fifteen inches in length connected end-to-end along serrated tear lines. The paper towel and bath tissue sheets are wound upon a paper core of approximately an inch and a half in diameter and sell with a retail diameter of the roll of about four to five inches in diameter.
Paper towels are often formed from one or two ply sheets of absorbent paper material. One brand of such paper towel product is known as BOUNTY, which is a registered trademark of the Proctor & Gamble Company. This brand comes in sheet lengths of a few inches or so to approximately eleven-by-eleven inches square. Another brand is referred to as BRAWNY which is a registered trademark of the Fort James Corporation and is conventionally sold in a roll of sheets eleven inches wide by thirteen point eight inches in length joined end-to-end along serration tear lines. In certain instances, sheets of paper towels may have other length and width dimensions. However, most disposable paper towel rolls have periodic transverse serrations to facilitate separation of discrete lengths or sheets.
In addition to paper towels, bathroom tissues are dispensed in segmented rolls which are unreeled and torn-off in desired numbers for use.
The above paper sheet products are often dispensed by using a simple U-shaped bracket holder. These holders are usually designed to be mounted upon a vertical wall surface or beneath a horizontal wood cabinet by wood screws. Each end of the U-shaped bracket is designed to hold one end of the paper sheet core or alternatively a rod can be axially extended through the center of the paper core and mounted at its ends between the U-shaped bracket or frame. At least one disadvantage of traditional paper sheet dispensers, including a simple U-shaped bracket holder, is that a person usually needs to use both hands to dispense the paper sheets. This disadvantage represents an inconvenience and difficulty for some people, when one hand is holding a container, object of use, or is otherwise soiled or occupied. In such moments, the only option, in most instances, is for a person to find a place to set the container or other object of use so that both hands are free to tear off one or more sheets of paper product. If a user attempts to use inertia and jerk a few sheets from a roll, the roll often unreels. The user is then left with the task of rewinding unused numbers of paper product segments. In other instances, if a user attempts to use inertia to tear sheets from a roll, the entire roll may be pulled off the holder. The user must then pick up the roll rewind any useful portion and reposition the roll on the holder. Still further, if a roll of paper sheet segments is held with one hand, and a desired number ripped off with the other, the sheets of paper product may not tear at the serrated edges between individual sheets. This leaves uneven or jagged edges or strips of paper sheets hanging from the roll.
It would therefore be highly desirable to provide a means for dispensing different types of segmented paper, sheets that only requires a user to use a single hand to facilely tear off any number of paper sheets desired in a reliable and convenient manner. In addition, it would be desirable to provide a means for dispensing segmented paper sheets wherein a user can use a single hand to tear off segmented, paper sheets without touching or soiling other sheets of the roll of paper product with a user's hand.
Traditional paper sheet dispensers, including dispensers for paper towels, are often poorly designed or cheaply produced which means that a roll of paper sheets often falls off the dispenser when a person attempts to tear off a segment. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a paper sheet dispenser that is rugged and reliable in design and function and will securely retain a roll of paper sheets during a dispensing procedure.
At least one paper sheet dispenser, known in the past, that is designed to operate with one hand, includes a pair of nesting plastic yokes that are pivotally connected to a base plate. In this design, a paper sheet roll is mounted on one of the yokes and trained over a top edge of the other yoke for tearing by a downward movement. In one embodiment this tearing operation is enhanced by use of tooth-shaped projections or a sharp blade fitted at an edge of the second yoke to assist in separating a desired number of sheets from a roll This design, although more convenient than most traditional roll dispensers, is composed of relatively light-weight plastic and a multipart mounting mechanism for the yokes. Accordingly, this design lacks ruggedness and does not take advantage of gravity to assist in a dispensing process. Moreover, the tear mechanism is simply an over a yoke bar design that is lacking user friendliness for a one handed operation.
In at least one further prior design, a roll of paper sheets was operably received within a trough with a slit along one edge of the bottom of the trough. A free end of the roll was trained through the slit and therefore operated as a dispensing unit. In this device there is nothing to brake rotation of the roll, except a user's second hand and therefore while this design will dispense paper sheet segments it exhibits many of the limitations of prior designs.
Traditional paper sheet dispensers do not provide an effective mechanism for limiting the unreeling of a roll of paper sheets except with the use of two hands. It would be desirable to enable a user to dispense one or more paper sheets using a single hand. Moreover, it would be useful to enable a user, relying on just one hand, to be able to reliably and conveniently dispense paper sheets from a dispenser mounted either against a wall or under a cabinet.
In the past paper sheet dispensers also did not have means for mounting the dispenser in different positions in a manner that provides for alternative left or right side loading of a roll of segmented, paper sheets on the dispenser and reliable single hand operation of the dispenser. Loading and operation of a paper sheet dispenser enables a user to use a single hand to tear off a desired number of sheets of paper product from either the left side or right side of the dispenser in a reliable and convenient manner. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a means for dispensing segmented, paper sheets such that the dispensing unit can be mounted in different positions, such as against a generally vertical surface or in a generally horizontal mounting position such as under a cabinet, either in a kitchen or other work or recreational area, wherein the dispensing means is designed for reversible loading and operation. Such dispensing means would enable a user to reliably and conveniently mount a segmented, paper sheet, dispenser on either the right side or left side of a generally planar surface, for convenient dispensing of segmented, paper sheets. It would also be desirable to provide a means for dispensing segmented, paper sheets that can be mounted on a wood or plastic surface with screws or on a metallic surface by utilizing a permanent magnet and optionally wherein the base may be utilize to display personal or decorative pictures or designs or information for ready reference.
Another single hand, paper sheet dispenser in the prior art allows for bi-directional operation and is adaptively mountable as is the present invention. The main difference between this prior art and the subject invention is in the construction and components comprising the dispensing bale. In the prior art, the dispensing bale was comprised of an inner brake bar and a outer tear bar such that a roll of paper sheets positioned on the core holder were generally trained in an under/over path for braking rotation of the roll during a one handed dispensing operation. The subject invention does not require the use of an inner brake bar and an outer tear bar for one handed dispensing operation. To facilitate one handed dispensing the subject invention requires only a frictional gripping member with at least one passive segment and at least one frictional segment. Additionally, the frictional gripping member utilizes frictional force between a frictional segment of the member and the interior of a free end of a roll of paper sheets to prevent further unreeling of the roll of paper sheets when conducting a one handed dispensing operation while the passive segment(s) of the member contact the exterior of the coiled roll permitting selective rotation to allow controlled single hand dispensing.
It would further be desirable, in at least one embodiment of the invention, to provide a means for dispensing segmented paper sheets, including paper towels, wherein the dispensing means is composed of metal components or other construction which provides not only strength to the structure but also a useful gravity component that assists in braking action during removal of a number of paper segments from a roll by a user using a single hand during a dispensing operation.
In view of the limitations of traditional paper sheet dispensers, it would be therefore be desirable to provide a means for dispensing segmented paper sheets that enables a user to dispense segmented paper sheets with a single hand in a reliable and convenient manner, and which incorporated novel, desirable elements referred to above.
The difficulties and limitations suggested in the preceding are not intended to be exhaustive, but rather are among many which demonstrate that paper sheet dispensers appearing in the past will admit to worthwhile improvement.

Frictional surface apparatus for one handed dispensing of paper sheet segments


Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and system for configuring a web browser executing in a computer to render a web page for display at the computer. A first hyperlink request is received from a first program executing in the computer to obtain and render a first web page corresponding to the first hyperlink. In response, the web browser obtains the first web page, and renders the first web page according to a first set of web page configuration parameters. A second hyperlink request is received from a second program executing in the computer to obtain and render a second web page corresponding to the second hyperlink. In response, the web browser obtains the second web page, and renders the second web page according to a second set of web page configuration parameters that differs in part from the first set of web page configuration parameters.

Much of today's communications, entertainment, and information search and retrieval activities involve the Internet, a global network of computers, communications links, and protocols. Web browser applications were originally designed as user-friendly portals to the Internet's resources and functionality that facilitated Internet navigation and information search, but have since evolved into more sophisticated and complex software applications. Web browser applications now incorporate sophisticated security and multimedia rendering functions (video, audio, imaging, etc.) and enable a user to navigate and interact dynamically with connected web sites and other Internet users.
Web browsers can be invoked by applications (e.g., word processors, email applications, instant messaging, etc.) or by an operating system to render content or to provide functionality. The invocation of browsers may occur via the activation of anchor links (hyperlinks) that are often embedded in Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) documents (web pages) and other displayed material. Hyperlinks may display as highlighted or underlined text to a user but can contain embedded uniform resource locators or URLs, which are the addresses of Internet resources on the World Wide Web, e.g., a web page that is on a web site. When a user activates a hyperlink, often by clicking on the hyperlink with a mouse, a web browser is invoked and passed a URL that is embedded in the hyperlink as a parameter during the invocation. A prefix to the URL is a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) which specifies how the URL is interpreted. A common URI contains a character string "http" which identifies the URL as a resource to be retrieved over the Hypertex Transfer Protocol (HTTP). Other common prefixes are "https" (for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure), "ftp" (for File Transfer Protocol), and "file" (for files that are stored locally on a user's computer). If a URL points to a web site, which is often a case, the web browser uses the URL to access the web site and render content at the web site in accordance with the configuration that a user has assigned to the web browser.
A web browser's configuration describes the optional behaviors available to the web browser and is often stored in a web browser configuration table that is accessed by the web browser during each invocation of the web browser. For example, often a web browser may be configured to display or to not display images, to enable or to disable JavaScript® scripting language execution, to use a specific search engine, to block accesses to specific web sites, to remember web site passwords, to use a specific application to play video or to play audio, or to use a specific Internet connection, among other options. A web browser's configuration remains constant until changed by a user.

Web browser adapted to render a web page based on an identity and a type of program within which a hyperlink was selected

International Business Machines Corporation


A DNA sequencing system and method are described to detect the presence of radiant energy emitted from different excited reporter dye-labeled species (DNA fragments) following separation in time and/or space, and the identity of the species which emit radiant energy closely spaced in wavelength. Functions of the emitted energy are obtained which vary over the wavelengths of the closely spaced spectra in different senses and the functions ratioed, whereby the ratio is indicative of the identity of the DNA fragments.. The emitting portion of the reporter-labeled DNA fragment is preferably one of a family of fluorescent dyes based on 9-carboxyethyl-6-hydroxy-3-oxo-3H-xanthene. These xanthene dyes are covalently attached to the DNA fragments through the carboxylic acid functionality, preferably via an amide linkage. The dyes may be protected by including an alkoxy group at the 9-position. A spacer may be inserted between the dye and the amine. The fluorescent dye preferably is attached to the DNA chain terminators and provides many advantages. Thus only DNA sequencing fragments resulting from bona fide termination events will carry a reporter. The DNA sequencing may also be labeled using the xanthene dyes which have general utility as fluorescent labels. Also acyclonucleoside triphosphates are described as being useful as chain terminators in DNA sequencing using a modification of the Sanger method.

DNA sequencing is one of the cornerstone analytical techniques of modern molecular biology. The development of reliable methods for sequencing has led to great advances in the understanding of the organization of genetic information and has made possible the manipulation of genetic material (i.e. genetic engineering).
There are currently two general methods for sequencing DNA: the Maxam-Gilbert chemical degradation method [A. M. Maxam et al., Meth, in Enzym. 65 499-559 (1980)] and the Sanger dideoxy chain termination method [F. Sanger, et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 74 5463-5467 (1977)]. A common feature of these two techniques is the generation of a set of DNA fragments which are analyzed by electrophoresis. The techniques differ in the methods used to prepare these fragments.
With the Maxam-Gilbert technique, DNA fragments are prepared through base-specific, chemical cleavage of the piece of DNA to be sequenced. The piece of DNA to be sequenced is first 5'-end-labeled with .sup.32 P and then divided into four portions. Each portion is subjected to a different set of chemical treatments designed to cleave DNA at positions adjacent to a given base (or bases). The result is that all labeled fragments will have the same 5'-terminus as the original piece of DNA and will have 3'-termini defined by the positions of cleavage. This treatment is done under conditions which generate DNA fragments which are of convenient lengths for separation by gel electrophoresis.
With Sanger's technique, DNA fragments are produced through partial enzymatic copying (i.e. synthesis) of the piece of DNA to be sequenced. In the most common version, the piece of DNA to be sequenced is inserted, using standard techniques, into a large, circular, single-stranded piece of DNA such as the bacteriophage M13. This becomes the template for the copying process. A short piece of DNA with its sequence complementary to a region of the template just upstream from the insert is annealed to the template to serve as a primer for the synthesis. In the presence of the four natural deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates (dNTP's), a DNA polymerase will extend the primer from the 3'-end to produce a complementary copy of the template in the region of the insert. To produce a complete set of sequencing fragments, four reactions are run in parallel, each containing the four dNTP's along with a single dideoxyribonucleoside triphosphate (ddNTP) terminator, one for each base (.sup.32 P-Labeled dNTP is added to afford labeled fragments.) If a dNTP is incorporated by the polymerase, chain extension can continue. If the corresponding ddNTP is selected, the chain is terminated. The ratio of ddNTP to dNTP's is adjusted to generate DNA fragments of appropriate lengths. Each of the four reaction mixtures will, thus, contain a distribution of fragments with the same dideoxynucleoside residue at the 3'-terminus and a primer-defined 5'-terminus.
In both methods, base sequence information which generally cannot be directly determined by physical methods has been converted into chain-length information which can be determined. This determination can be accomplished through electrophoretic separation. Under denaturing conditions (high temperature, urea present, etc.) short DNA fragments migrate as stiff rods. If a gel matrix is employed for the electrophoresis, the DNA fragments will be sorted by size. The single-base resolution required for sequencing can usually be obtained for DNA fragments containing up to several hundred bases.
To determine a full sequence, the four sets of fragments produced by either Maxam-Gilbert or Sanger methodology are subjected to electrophoresis in four parallel lanes. This results in the fragments being spatially resolved along the length of the gel. The pattern of labeled fragments is typically transferred to film by autoradiography (i.e. an exposure is produced by sandwiching the gel and the film for a period of time). The developed film shows a continuum of hands distributed between the four lanes often referred to as a sequencing ladder. The ladder is read by visually scanning the film (starting with the short, faster moving fragments) and determining the lane in which the next band occurs for each step on the ladder. Since each lane is associated with a given base (or combination of bases in the Maxam-Gilbert case), the linear progression of lane assignments translates directly into base sequence.
The Sanger and Maxam-Gilbert methods for DNA sequencing are conceptually elegant and efficacious but they are operationally difficult and time-consuming. Analysis of these techniques shows that many of the problems stem from the use of a single radioisotopic reporter.
The use of short-lived radioisotopes such as .sup.32 P at high specific activity is problematic from both a logistical and a health-and-safety point of view. The short half-life of .sup.32 P requires that reagent requirements must be anticipated several days in advance and that the reagent be used promptly. Once labeled DNA sequencing fragments are generated they are prone to self-destruction and must be immediately subjected to electrophoretic analysis. The large electrophoresis gels required to achieve single base separation lead to large volumes of contaminated buffer which must be disposed of properly. The autoradiography required to subsequently visualize the labeled DNA fragments in the gel is a slow process (overnight exposures are common) and adds considerable time to the overall operation. Finally, there are the possible health risks associated with use of such potent radioisotopes.
The use of only a single reporter to analyze the position of four bases lends considerable operational complexity to the overall process. The chemical/enzymatic steps must be run in separate containers and electrophoretic analysis must be carried out in four parallel lanes. Thermally induced distortions in mobility result in skewed images of labeled DNA fragments (e.g. the smile effect) which in turn, lead to difficulties in comparing the four lanes. These distortions often limit the number of bases that can be read on a single gel.
The long times required for autoradiographic imaging along with the necessity of using four parallel lanes force one into a "snapshot" mode of visualization. Since one needs simultaneous spatial resolution of a large number of bands one is forced to use large gels that are typically 40 cm or more in length. This results in additional problems: large gels are difficult to handle and are slow to run adding more time to the overall process.
Finally, there is a problem of manual interpretation. Conversion of a sequencing ladder into a base sequence is a time-intensive, error prone process requiring the full attention of a highly skilled scientist. Numerous attempts have been made to automate the reading and some mechanical aids do exist but the process of interpreting a sequence gel is still painstaking and slow.
To address these problems one can consider replacing .sup.32 P/autoradiography with some alternative, non-radioisotopic reporter/detection system. Such a detection system would have to be exceptionally sensitiv to achieve a sensitivity comparable to .sup.32 P; each band on a sequencing gel contains on the order of 10.sup.-16 mole of DNA. One method of detection which is capable of reaching this level of sensitivity is fluorescence. DNA fragments could be labeled with one or more fluorescent dyes. Excitation with an appropriate light source would result in a characteristic emission from the dye thus identifying the band.
The use of a fluorescent dye as opposed to a radioisotopic label would allow one to more easily tailor the detection system for this particular application. For example, the use of four different fluorescent dyes distinguishable on the basis of some emission characteristic (e.g. spectrum, life-time polarization) would allow one to uniquely link a given tag with the sequencing fragments associated with a given base. With this linkage established, the fragments could be combined and resolved in a single lane and the base assignment could be made direectly on the basis of the chosen emission characteristic.
The "real-time" nature of fluorescence detection would allow one either to rapidly scan a gel containing spatially resolved bands (resolution in space) or sit at a single point on the gel and detect bands as they sequentially pass through the detection zone (resolution in time). Large gels would not necessarily be required. Furthermore, a "real-time", single lane detection mode would be very to fully automated base assignment and data transfer.
Several attempts to develop a fluorescence-based DNA sequencing system have been described. One system developed by a group at the California Institute of Technology, has been disclosed in L. M. Smith, West German Pat. Appl. #DE 3446635 Al (1984); L. E. Hood et al., West German Pat. Appl. #DE 3501306 Al (1985); and L. M. Smith et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 13 2399-2412 (1985). This system conceptually addresses the problems described in the previous section but the specifics of the implementation appear to render this approach only partially successful.
The Cal Tech system employs four sets of DNA sequencing fragments, each labeled with one of four fluorescent dyes. Two representative sets of fluorescent dyes are described. Each set is comprised of dyes from at least two different structural classes.
The emission maxima are spread over a large range (approximately 100 nm) to facilitate discrimination between the four, but unfortunately the absorption (excitation) maxima are also comparably spread. This makes it very difficult to efficiently excite all four dyes with a single monochromatic source and adequately detect the resulting emissions.
In contrast, the use of dyes with closely spaced absorption (and corresponding emission) peaks to enhance the excitation efficiency causes other difficulties. A detection system for DNA sequencing must be able to distinguish between four different dye emission spectra in order to identify the individual labeled fragments. These emissions are typically of relatively low intensity. Therefore, the detection system must have a high degree of sensitivity (better than 10.sup.-16 moles DNA per band) and selectivity, along with a means to minimize stray light and background noise, in order to meet desired performance characteristics. The system also must be able to frequently monitor the detection area in order to avoid missing any fragments that migrate through the gel past the detection window. Such a detection system should be relatively cost efficient to allow for multiple detection devices within a single instrument without detrimentally affecting mill cost.
Many detection devices are known which utilize fluorescence in a detection scheme. One such device is discussed in "Quantitative Fluorescence Analysis of Different Conformational Forms of DNA Bound to the Dye . . . and Separated by Electrophoresis" by Naimski et al., Anal. Biochem., 106.471-475, 1980. In this electrophoresis/detection system a glass tube is filled with agarose gel for separating the relatively large DNA fragments. A scanning monochromator is then used as the detection system for defining each of the large fragments. It is known that scanning monochromators can accurately measure a wide range of spectral characteristics; however, much light is lost due to the limited ability of the monochromator and its associated optics to collect and disperse emitted light. These detection techniques limit the fraction of light that can be sensed and measured. Consequently, their sensitivity for low light applications is limited. Additionally, light collected sequentially is typically inefficient.
The detection apparatus disclosed by Smith et al. (see above) uses a series of narrow band interference filters in order to select the wavelengths impinging upon a single or multiple photo-detectors. This type of system has the advantage of being rather simple and inexpensive; however, it does have substantial deficiencies. The specific system describes uses a filter photometer which can either use multiple interchangeable filters with one photo-detector or multiple stationary filters with corresponding detectors. The first of these devices, a rotary filter with a single detector (see FIG. 3 of Smith et al.), has the disadvantage of limiting the time period during which each of the filtered regions can be measured. The detector time must be shared with the different filters in order to distinguish among different emission spectra. The Smith et al. system has additional optical difficulties which need not be dealt with here.
More serious problems still result from using dyes which have different net charges. The conventional sequencing gel displayed in the Smith et al., Nucleic Acids Research paper illustrates T-lanes produced from primers labeled with each of four dyes. It is clear that there are significant differential perturbations in the electrophoretic mobilities. A complete set of sequencing fragments bearing these four dyes will, when combined, show considerable overlap and perhaps even misordering when subjected to electrophoresis in a single lane. This effect, combined with the aforementioned large dynamic range in signal intensity, makes it difficult to perform single-lane sequencing with this dye set.
Finally, the methodology used to prepare the fluorescence-labeled sequencing fragments creates difficult sequencing conditions. For Maxam-Gilbert sequencing, 5'-labeled oligonucleotides are enzymatically ligated to "sticky ended", double-stranded fragments of DNA produced through restriction cleavage. This limits one to sequencing fragments produced in this fashion. For Sanger sequencing, 5'-labeled oligonucleotides are used as primers. Four special primers are required. To use a new vector system one has to go through the complex process of synthesizing and purifying four new dye-labeled primers.
A second approach to automation of non-radiolabel DNA sequencing was disclosed by Ansorge, W., et al., J. Biochem. Biophys. Methods, 13:315-323 (1986), in which a single fluorescent label was covalently attached to the 5' end of a 17-base oligonucleotide primer. This primer was reacted in four vessels with the standard dideoxynucleotide sequencing chemistry method that was modified to omit the radiolabeled nucleotide, to produce sets of enzymatically copied DNA fragments of varying length. Each of the four vessels contained a dideoxynucleotide chain terminator corresponding to one of the four DNA bases which allowed terminal base assignment from conventional electrophoretic separation in four gel lanes. Each fragment carried a 5'-tetramethylrhodamine fluorescent label which was excited by an argon ion laser passing through the width of the entire gel. Fluorescent emissions of DNA bands resolved over time were collected from the four lanes with separate, stationary means for each lane comprising imaging optics, field apertures, light guides, filter assemblies, and photomultipliers in series.
One advantage claimed by this approach is the need for fewer moving parts in the apparatus due to stationary detectors which allows continuous monitoring of the four gel lanes. This monitoring method, although more complex than that used with one lane, reportedly offers the advantage of determining the presence of a labeled band for base assignment relative to the absence of bands in the remaining three lanes to improve confidence in the assignment. In fact, the use of a single label requires the use of four lanes for base assignment and the system as presented is incapable of further simplification to improve the capacity or throughput of the instrument. The system is also limited in potential accuracy by the requirement for faithful lane-to-lane relative positioning for a single sequence analysis. Operational complexities such as thermal gradients and gel impurities may defeat this positional integrity to produce local gel distortions which affect band mobilities, that may in turn, compromise base sequence assignments.
The use of labeled primers by Ansorge et al. and Smith et al. is inferior in other respects as well. The polymerization reactions must still be carried out in separate vessels. All DNA fragments--be they bona fide termination fragments or extraneous fragments--will be labeled. This is similar to the existing system where effectively all fragments containing incorporated adenosine nucleotides are labeled. Thus, the resulting sequencing pattern will retain most of the artifacts (e.g. false or shadow bands, pile-ups) encountered in the current methods.
Finally, Brumbaugh, J. A. et al. in European Patent Application 85103155.9, published Oct. 9, 1985, disclosed a system and method for post-labeling strands of DNA which optionally contained pre-marked nucleosides. The pre-marking could be accomplished by covalent attachment of biotin to a desired chain terminating nucleotide before the nucleotide was used in a modification of the Sanger DNA chain termination method. However, the pre-marked nucleotide was not detectable in the disclosed system. The pre-marked strands of DNA prepared in separate vessels corresponding to the A, T, C, and G DNA bases, were electrophoretically separated and then exposed to a complementary binding material, typically avidin, which had a fluorophore such as fluorescein covalently attached to it. The fluorophore was detected and the signal presence was related to the particular vessel or gel/lane corresponding to A, T, C, or G originally prepared. This post-labeling method requires the preparation and subsequent electrophoretic separation of marked DNA strands in separate vessels and gels/lanes, respectively. There is no disclosure of any method or system capable of labeling DNA strands differentially in the same vessel simultaneously during the reactions of a chain termination method, or differentiating labels during strand detection in a single gel/lane of a suitable detection system.

Method systems and reagents for DNA sequencing


A method of servicing a wellbore comprising placing a wellbore servicing fluid comprising a density segregation inhibitor composite into the wellbore, wherein the density segregation inhibitor composite comprises a high density additive and a low density additive; and wherein the high density additive comprises barium sulfate, iron oxide, manganese oxide, or combinations thereof. A method of inhibiting segregation of particles in a wellbore servicing fluid comprising preparing a composite material comprising a high density additive and a low density additive, wherein the low density additive comprises an elastomer which can increase in volume by greater than about 300% based on its original volume when contacted with a fluid.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to wellbore servicing fluids. More particularly, this disclosure relates to wellbore servicing fluids comprising a composite material and methods of making and using same.
2. Background
Natural resources such as gas, oil, and water residing in a subterranean formation or zone are usually recovered by drilling a wellbore down to the subterranean formation while circulating a drilling fluid in the wellbore. After terminating the circulation of the drilling fluid, a string of pipe, e.g., casing, is run in the wellbore. The drilling fluid is then usually circulated downward through the interior of the pipe and upward through the annulus, which is located between the exterior of the pipe and the walls of the wellbore. Next, primary cementing is typically performed whereby a cement slurry is placed in the annulus and permitted to set into a hard mass (i.e., sheath) to thereby attach the string of pipe to the walls of the wellbore and seal the annulus. The main objectives of primary cementing operations include zonal isolation to prevent migration of fluids in the annulus, support for the casing or liner string, and protection of the casing string from corrosive formation fluids. Subsequent secondary cementing operations may also be performed to repair primary-cementing problems and/or to treat conditions arising after the wellbore has been constructed.
A particular challenge in cementing is the development of satisfactory mechanical properties in a cement slurry within a reasonable time period. During the life of a well, the subterranean cement sheath undergoes numerous strains and stresses as a result of a variety of factors such as alterations in temperature and pressure. The ability to withstand these strains and stresses is directly related to the mechanical properties of the cement. The mechanical properties of a cement are often characterized using parameters such as compressive strength, tensile strength, Young's Modulus, Poisson's Ratio, and the like. These properties may be modified by the inclusion of additives. For example, weighting agents can be used to increase slurry densities in high pressure formations to ensure the set cement sheath has a sufficient compressive strength and may exhibit long-term structural integrity. In some instances, fluid loss additives such as synthetic polymers, which are typically lower density materials compared to the weighting agent additives described previously, may be included to retain water and maintain one or more user-desired slurry properties
One challenge to the inclusion of such additives in the wellbore servicing fluids is the effect the range of densities of the additives on the homogeneity of the fluid. The differing densities of additives may result in non-uniform density distribution in the wellbore servicing fluids (e.g., cement slurries). For example, high density additives may tend to settle to the lower portion of the cement slurry while low density additives tend to float around the upper portion. Thus, a need exists for a methodology to inhibit and/or eliminate the settling and/or floating of materials (e.g., additives) within a wellbore servicing fluid.

Wellbore servicing compositions comprising a density segregation inhibiting composite and methods of making and using same


The present invention provides a simulation system for an amusement arcade, which generates a dynamic model relating to the amusement arcade and can inspect an operating condition of play machines, a flow of players and the like. This system comprises a parameter setting unit (12) having a play machine information setting unit for setting a parameter, which defines a construction of play machines constituting the amusement arcade, and a player information setting unit for setting a parameter, which defines properties of players who use play machines, a simulation executing unit (16) for executing simulation for each unit time of the amusement arcade on the basis of parameters set by the parameter setting unit (12), a result analyzing unit (21) for generating data indicative of a result of simulation on the basis of data obtained by simulation executed for a predetermined unit time, and a display unit (20) for indicating a picture corresponding to data obtained by the result analyzing unit (21).

It is known that, in an amusement arcade (parlor) having pinball machines, slot machines, etc., the structure of the amusement arcade, such as a position of the doorway, the problem of how many play machines such as pinball machines, slot machines, etc. are to be provided or how they are to be positioned, or the problem of how to position money changers, counters, etc., have a big influence on customer turnover, and consequently have a big influence on the management of the amusement arcade.
Up to now, such a structure of the amusement arcade or such a positioning of the play machines etc. have been decided on the basis of the experience or the like of a designer or a manager of the amusement arcade. That is to say, they have been decided on the basis of the past macro data such as the experience of the designer or the manager of the amusement arcade, and so it was impossible to know how the new structure of the amusement arcade or the new positioning of the play machines would exert an influence on the opinion of players.
Also at the gaming center which contains medal dispensing machines, in which players gain points by getting medals, or TV games, in which players gain points by fighting with enemies on the TV screens, the flow of customers and the positioning of the play machines or the money changers are problems of great interest concerning the management of the amusement arcade.
An object of the present invention is to provide a simulation system for an amusement arcade, which generates a dynamic model relating to the amusement arcade and can inspect operating conditions of play machines, a flow of players and the like.

Simulation system for place of amusement


A circuit includes electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuitry, triggering circuitry, transient detection circuitry, and deactivation circuitry. The ESD protection circuitry is coupled between a first rail and a second rail. The triggering circuitry is configured to generate an ESD activation signal when a voltage across the first rail and the second rail exceeds a voltage threshold. The ESD protection circuitry is configured to activate based on the ESD activation signal. The transient detection circuitry is configured to generate a deactivation signal when the voltage across the first rail and the second rail comprises a voltage change over time that is less than a transient threshold. The deactivation circuitry is configured to deactivate the triggering circuitry based on the deactivation signal.

To prevent damage caused by electrostatic discharge (ESD), electronics manufacturers often include ESD protection circuitry in electronic devices and components such as integrated circuits (ICs) and printed circuit boards (PCBs). An IC with a ground pin and cascaded voltage pins (i.e. pins with different supply voltages), for example, may include ESD protection circuitry to protect the functional circuits between the various pin combinations from both positive and negative ESD stresses. One type of ESD protection circuitry commonly used in electronic devices is an ESD clamp. Upon detecting a voltage event across two pins (e.g., an overvoltage or voltage spike that exceeds a threshold) caused for example by an ESD event, the ESD clamp directs current caused by the voltage event away from functional circuitry, for example to a ground.


A displacement machine for compressible media includes at least two shafts. Each of the shafts has a rotor which is configured as a profiled body with the profiles of the rotors engaging one another in the manner of gearwheels during rotation and running without contact relative to one another. Each of the shafts is driven by an electric motor. The angular positions of each shaft is determined by an associated synchro resolver. Each of the synchro resolvers has a rotor and emits an electronic signal to the electric motor of the shaft such that the motors are electronically synchronized. Each of the shafts further has a gearwheel, with the gearwheels engaging one another and having an angular clearance which is smaller than that of the profiled bodies. At least one of the gearwheels is directly connected to the rotor of the synchro resolver associated with its shaft and both gearwheels together are releasably connected as a unit to the shaft.

The invention relates to a displacement machine for compressible media, in particular a dry-running vacuum pump, having at least two shafts with rotors, which are configured as profiled bodies and whose profiles engage with one another in the manner of gearwheels during rotation and run without contact relative to one another, each of the shafts being driven by its own electric motor, the angular positions of the shafts being determined by synchro resolvers, on the basis of whose signals the motors are electronically synchronized, and the shafts having gearwheels, which engage with one another and whose angular clearance is smaller than that of the profiled bodies.
For a long time, it was usual to synchronize the rotors of such displacement machines by means of gearwheels, only one motor being normally provided. It was, however, necessary to lubricate the gearwheels so that it was only possible to avoid pollution of the pumped medium by means of a very high level of complication in the sealing of the gear relative to the rotors and the actual pump space. However, the corresponding seals wear out so that the pump had to be taken apart in more or less regular intervals in order to replace the seals.
These problems are avoided, in a pump of the type mentioned at the beginning (U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,746), by each of the rotors being driven by its own electric motor and these being electronically synchronized. The angular positions of the two shafts are continuously determined by synchro resolvers. The synchro resolver signals are supplied to an electronic unit, which drives the two electric motors synchronously in such a way that the rotors cannot come into contact. In order to ensure, under adverse operating conditions with the synchronization operating inaccurately, that the rotors do not come into contact, which would lead to damage to the surfaces of the same, a gearwheel is provided on each shaft in this pump. The two gearwheels engage with one another and have a smaller angular clearance than the profiled bodies. If, therefore, the electronic synchronization fails, the gearwheels, which run without contact in normal operation, come into contact first. The profiled bodies, however, still cannot come into contact because they have an angular clearance which is greater than that of the gearwheels.
One problem in a displacement machine of this type consists in setting the rotors and gearwheels in such a way that, during operation, the flanks of both rotors and gearwheels have the largest possible distance apart. In the ideal case, the position of the rotors and the gearwheels should be such that the rotors take up an angular position relative to one another which is located in the center between the two angular positions at which contact occurs. The same applies to the gearwheels. In normal operation, the displacement machine would then be operated with this xe2x80x9cnull positionxe2x80x9d. This setting, however, is very difficult to effect. A setting operation by mechanical means is laborious and inaccurate because the angular clearance between the gearwheels and between the rotors is only very small, and must only be very small, so that the gap between the profiled bodies, through which a reverse flow occurs during pumping, is as small as possible.
In a displacement machine of the type mentioned at the beginning (U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,551 A), setting of the gearwheels to the average of the angular positions at which the gearwheels come into contact does in fact occur. The citation does not, however, show how the critical setting can be achieved such that the average of the two angular settings at which the flanks of the rotor come into contact coincides with the average of the corresponding angular positions of the gearwheels. It is only then, however, that unproblematic operation is possible. The citation only describes how the average of the angular positions of the gearwheels is set. It is then assumed that the average values for the rotors and the average values for the gearwheels coincide. It is, indeed, stated that the clearance of the gearwheels on one side must not be larger than that on the other because otherwise the rotors would come into contact. Such a problem, however, only occurs if the central points of the rotors and the gearwheels do not coincide. If this problem occurs, this can only take place by a relative angular adjustment between the rotors and the gearwheels but no information on such an adjustment is provided by the citation. In addition, such an adjustment may not be possible because the gearwheels are located far within the machine, the angular sensors are located more or less at the end of the corresponding shaft and the gearwheel and rotor of the corresponding angular sensor are not directly connected to one another.
The object of the invention consists in creating a displacement machine, of the type mentioned at the beginning, in which the xe2x80x9cnull positionxe2x80x9d of the rotors and the gearwheels can be set simply, rapidly and accurately by means of the synchro resolvers.
The solution according to the invention consists in the fact that at least one of the gearwheels is directly connected to the rotor of the synchro resolver of its shaft and both together are releasably connected as a unit to the shaft.
The setting of the xe2x80x9cnull positionxe2x80x9d and of the flank clearance takes place, in accordance with the invention, in the following way. One rotor, to which the gearwheel and the synchro resolver are releasably fastened, is first held steady. The gearwheel can then execute a rotary motion relative to the shaft of this one rotor. The other rotor is then rotated in both rotational directions as far as a position in which the flanks of the profiled bodies come into contact.
The two contact angles are measured, and the rotor with its gearwheel fastened to it is set to the central position between these two angles and held steady.
The first rotor, likewise, is still held steady. The gearwheel of the first rotor, however, is now rotated in both directions to the point where, in each case, it comes into contact with the gearwheel of the other rotor. The contact angles are likewise again established. The gearwheel is then set to the central value between these two contact points and firmly connected to the corresponding shaft; it is, in particular, firmly clamped by tightening bolts. Both the rotors, or profiled bodies, and the gearwheels are therefore located exactly in the central position between the two positions in which they are in contact or would be in contact. This is the null position used to carry out the synchronization, the control being carried out in such a way that the relative position of the two shafts, rotors and gearwheels corresponds, as far as possible, to this value during continuous operation.
The gearwheels are advantageously attached at one shaft end because they are then particularly easily accessible, which facilitates the fastening of the initially loosened gearwheel to its shaft.
The displacement machine advantageously has a differential control for the rotational speed of the motors. Well-synchronized operation has already been achieved by the synchronization according to the invention, be means of the setting of the flank clearance and the xe2x80x9cnull positionxe2x80x9d. The operational behavior is further improved if the two rotors are synchronized not to an independently specified required value but, rather, if the synchronization takes place mainly on the basis of differences in the angular positions. If, for example, liquid penetrates into the pump space, the rotors are greatly retarded because the density of the liquid is approximately a thousand times greater relative to gases with the retardation, however, taking place approximately equally for both rotors. Compensation for possibly occurring differences can then be provided by means of the synchronization. This would not be the case if the synchronization were to take place to an externally specified value. However, an additional external control does, of course, occur in order to permit input of the desired rotational speed. This control, however, which acts in the same sense on both motors, is relatively slow so that rapid rotational speed differences are obviated by the differential control.
It has been found particularly expedient for the drive if the motors are three-phase motors with permanent magnet rotors.

Displacement machine for compressible media


Mechanisms and techniques provide a system that can transmit stream data in a computer network. The system can identify at least two packets of stream data that are destined to a common location in a computer network and can form a pooled packet of stream data using the packets of stream data. The system can then transmit the pooled packet to the common location in the computer network. In another configuration, the system can receive a pooled packet of stream data containing a representation of at least two packets of stream data and detect if the pooled packet of stream data contains at least one packet of stream data. If the packet of stream data is to be extracted from the pooled packet, the system can extract the packet of stream data and can transmit the extracted packet of stream data to a destination associated with the packet.

Computer and information networks such as the Internet allow computer systems to exchange streams of data such as audio data, video data, multimedia data or other stream data or content between software applications that operate on such computer systems. As an example, a user controlling a web browser operating on a client computer system can select a hyperlink that corresponds to audio stream data that an audio stream server computer system can serve to the client computer system over the Internet. In response to such a user selection, the web browser can invoke an audio player software application that operates in conjunction with the web browser on the client computer system. The audio player software application can communicate with the audio stream server software application operating on the audio stream computer system over the computer network using in order to establish an audio stream data connection between the client computer system and the audio server. Once such a connection is established, the audio stream server can begin serving or streaming the audio stream data in a series of data packets using a stream transfer protocol back to the audio player software application operating on the client computer system. The audio player software application can then play the audio data through speakers coupled to the client computer system for the enjoyment of the user.
There exist a variety of conventional stream transfer protocols that provide for and support the transfer of stream data between computer systems, such as the client and server computers mentioned above, over a computer network such as the Internet. Some stream transfer protocols are real-time protocols while others can distribute stream data or other content or media in a non-real-time manner.
One example of a real-time or near real-time data transfer or streaming communications protocol is the multicast protocol. The multicast protocol or "multicasting" as it is called allows a server computer system to serve stream data as a single series or stream of packets that are each addressed to a predetermined multicast destination network address called a multicast group address that identifies the stream of data contained within the series of packets. As an example, a radio station might operate an multicasting audio server using the multicast protocol to serve a stream of packets containing the audio data broadcast from the radio station onto the Internet. Each multicast packet of audio data contains the same multicast destination network address (e.g., the multicast IP address). Multicast-equipped data communications devices such as routers and switches within the Internet can route the packets addressed to the multicast destination network address towards client computer systems that request to subscribe or "join" to the multicast group identified by the multicast address.
Many streaming data transfer and communications protocols such as multicast only require that a single copy of each packet of the stream data (such as the audio data in the aforementioned example) be transferred once over any particular data link (i.e., a coupling between two data communications devices) in a computer network regardless of how many subscribers or listeners (i.e., clients) are receiving that stream of data. This avoids having to transfer a separate packet of stream data over the same data link to each client that the desires to receive the stream data. Through the use of multicast management protocols, multicast-equipped data communications devices within a computer network are able to determine onto which data links a received multicast packet must be forwarded in order to ensure that all clients currently subscribed to the multicast group associated with that packet can successfully receive the stream data.
As an example, a single stream of multicast packets containing streaming audio data may propagate through a computer network for a number of network "hops" (i.e., individual data links coupling data communications devices) before being split or branched within a data communications device that serves different portions of the computer network that each contain clients desiring to receive that stream data. When the single stream of multicast packets arrive at this data communications device, this data communications device is capable of replicating or splitting the single received multicast packet stream into duplicate multicast packet streams which the data communications device then forwards onto the respective different portions of computer network (i.e., onto two or more data links or hops) towards their destination client devices.
For further details on the operation of the multicast protocol, reference is made to Request For Comment 1075 (RFC-1075) entitled "Distance Vector Multicast Routing Protocol (DVMRP)" which is a document maintained by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) that specifies an Internet standards track routing protocol for Multicast. The entire teaching and contents of the RFC-1075 document are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. Other streaming media protocols also exist and operate to coordinate the distribution and transfer of stream data through a computer network such as the Internet. Each of these conventional stream distribution protocols attempts to implement an efficient one-to-many communications technique. Examples of other such protocols are the Real Time Protocol (RTP), RealNetworks RDT protocol and Microsoft's MMSU/MMST protocols.
Another type of Multicasting is referred to as Application Level Multicasting or ALM. ALM provides for a data stream distribution strategy that "overlays" a virtual distribution or routing hierarchy over an Internet Protocol (IP) routing topology. Using ALM, servers or hosts (referred to herein as ALM nodes), as opposed to routers and switches within the network, are responsible for replicating packets or data to end points. Accordingly, in ALM, routers in the underlying IP network merely treat ALM packets as regular unicast packets of data.

Methods and apparatus for pooling and depooling the transmission of stream data


A method to enable dynamic modification of metadata in a content, the method comprising of constructing the content (305, 505) received from a plurality of content providers, determining a set of rules based on a criterion (310, 405) and sending the content and the set of rules (315, 410, 510) separately. At a receiver end, the set of rules are applied to the content (610, 710) to obtain a resulting content and the resulting content is displayed (615, 715) on a display unit.

In today's scenario there are different ways in which one can watch movies, videos and any online content. One goes to the video store for rentals of movies or videos, the content of which is stored on movie or video films or on digital video disks (DVDs). One also downloads or streams content on a personal computer (PC) from the Internet. It is also possible that Quarter Common Intermediate Format (QCIF), and other small-screen streams or broadcast TV quality can be viewed using the PC. However many times such downloaded or streamed content is low quality.
In addition, all the above-mentioned video formats consist of static content, where the content and metadata are embedded during authoring the content. The content therefore needs to be completely re-authored if any changes to the metadata are required during playback. As a result it becomes cumbersome and costly since a change in content or metadata involves re-authoring, and reconstructing the content. Therefore, there exists a need to provide a method to enable dynamic modification of metadata if any changes to the content are required during playback.

Method and system to enable dynamic modification of metadata in content


A charging cable apparatus having a connector, an electrically-conductive cable extending from the connector, the cable configured to be connectable to a charging station for receiving a charging current from the charging station, and having a heat pipe with a phase change section having a wicking structure, the wicking structure having a working fluid therein during operation for receiving heat generated during current flow within the cable. The charging cable apparatus may further have an external condensing surface in fluid communication with the phase change section of the heat pipe for accelerating condensation of evaporated working fluid. The charging cable apparatus may be connected to a charging station for charging an electric battery such as a battery of an electric vehicle.

Electric vehicles (EVs) have become a popular alternative to vehicles powered primarily by fossil fuels. An EV is charged by passing a current through a power receiving connector (such as an electrical cable) attached to a vehicle body, when the power receiving connector is coupled with a power supply connector which is, in turn, cable-connected to a charging station. The power receiving connectors are prone to produce excessive heat if not cooled properly. There are a number of problems associated with the limited charging capacity of the EVs, including short driving ranges and long charging times. Attempts have been made to improve short driving ranges by applying more powerful and efficient batteries. However, attempts to decrease charging time have been hindered by overheating of electrical cables and related connections due to large electrical current throughputs.
Other applications such as electrical furnaces and high power transmission lines also face limited current carrying capacity due to thermal issues. Traditionally, the higher currents have been handled with large diameter and heavy cables that increase costs and reduce mobility. Such large and heavy cables are especially problematic for mobile applications such as EVs. Attempts have been made to reduce the cable size and mass by actively cooling cables using methods such as liquid cooling and chillers. However, such active cooling methodologies increase the complexity and operational costs and may not provide sufficient cooling. For example, active cable cooling methods can typically handle power throughputs up to 1 MW at 1.2 kA in an AWG 0000 gauge cable with a copper core diameter of about 12 mm while maintaining the cable temperature below 80° C. Such power throughput results in heat generation rates of about 1 kW (corresponding to heat fluxes of ≈1 W/cm2) for a 3 m long cable, which increases with increasing the cable length. As such, increasing the power throughputs beyond 1 MW, and/or using longer or smaller diameter cables will lead to failure of existing active cooling methods. Quantitatively, replacing a 3 m AWG 0000 gauge cable with an AWG 3 gauge cable (conductor diameter ≈6 mm) will quadruple the electrical resistance and heat generation (≈4 kW), which is beyond the limits of existing active cooling methods.
It is toward alleviating this and other disadvantages that the apparatus of the present disclosure is directed. There is a need for a passive cooling technology that can handle large heat transfer rates with minimal temperature differentials, manage greater heat fluxes, enable larger power throughputs and/or smaller and lighter conductors, and reduce the charging time of electric vehicles and other devices with minimal maintenance and power requirement. It is towards these solutions that the apparatus of the present disclosure is directed.

Passively cooled high power electric cable, system and method

The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma

The Board of the Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University


In a collapsible rubber dam, a fastening portion of a flexible rubber sheet body is fixed on an upper spillway portion of an arch type concrete dam or on a riverbed of a river in a curved form in the longitudinal direction of the body.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a collapsible rubber dam comprised of a flexible dam body and disposed on a spillway portion of a concrete dam or in a watercourse of a river.
2. Related Art Statement
In general, flexible rubber bag bodies inflated and deflated through supply and discharge of air or so-called rubber dams disposed on river or the like are widely used because they are simple in working execution and inexpensive in production cost.
For example, such a rubber dam is used as a level raising member for a concrete dam, wherein the flexible rubber bag body is attached to an upper spillway portion of the concrete dam through anchor bolts embedded in the upper spillway portion. When the concrete dam is an arch-type dam 01 as shown in FIG. 12, the full width of a spillway portion is divided into some sections and a pier 03 is arranged in each of the divided positions. Then, a rubber bag 04 is arranged between the piers 03, in which the straight portion in the longitudinal direction of the bag is fixed through a fastening member 05 with anchor bolts 06 and each end portion 07 of the bag is fixed to the respective pier 03. Thus, the rubber dam comprised of plural rubber bags is rendered into a convex form folded at the pier position as a whole.
When the rubber dam is arranged in the general river, as shown in FIG. 13, a concrete 010 is placed from a riverbed 08 to each of riverbanks 09 in the widthwise direction of the river to form a dam base portion. Many anchor bolts 06 are embedded in the base portion, and also piers 03 are stud on the base portion at a proper interval in the widthwise direction of the river. Thereafter, a rubber bag 04 is arranged between the piers 03, in which the portion in the longitudinal direction of the bag is fixed through a fastening member 05 with the above anchor bolts 06 and each end portion 07 of the bag is fixed to the respective pier 03.
In the above conventional technique of arranging the rubber dam on the spillway of the arch type dam or the like, however, the piers for fixing the both ends of the rubber bag should be arranged at some positions on the spillway portion, so that working execution takes considerable time and labor and the cost rises. Furthermore, the spillway portion takes a curved form owing to the arch type as shown in FIG. 12, so that when the rubber bag is straightly fixed between the piers, the fixing positions against the anchor bolts gradually shift from the center of the spillway portion on the above curved face as seen from numerals 013, 014 in FIG. 12. As a result, the height of the rubber dam becomes ununiform.
On the other hand, when the rubber dam is arranged in the watercourse of the general river as shown in FIG. 13, the bank protection may be injured by overflowing water, rolling stones, drifting wood and the like falling down in parallel with the riverbank, and further vibrations of the rubber bag are apt to be easily caused by the overflowing water.


A massage roller device includes a body having a tube and an outer layer. The tube is rigid and includes a receiving portion having two openings. A first coupling portion is provided in each opening. The outer layer is made of a soft material and is mounted around the tube. The massage roller device further includes two covers made of a rigid material are provided. Each cover covers one of the openings of the body. Each cover includes a lid having an inner side and an outer side opposite to the inner side. A second coupling portion is provided on the inner side of each lid. Two engagement pegs are formed on the outer side of each lid. Two engagement grooves are defined in the outer side of each lid.

The present invention relates to a massage roller device and, more particularly, to a massage roller device that can be connected to a similarly constructed massage roller device to increase the overall length or can be coupled with a handle which can be received in the massage roller device when not in use.
Rollers are often used in yoga or massage as an auxiliary tool. FIG. 12 shows a conventional roller for yoga or massage. The roller 1′ includes a rigid hollow tube 11′ and a soft outer layer 12′ around the tube 11′. The outer layer 12′ includes a plurality of protrusions 121′ for rolling contact with different body portions of a user while providing a comfortable massage effect during contact.
However, the roller 1′ has a fixed length such that the user must prepare rollers of different lengths for differing needs, increasing the costs and causing inconvenience to carriage. Furthermore, the roller 1′ can not easily be gripped and does not provide any storage function, providing poor utility and limited applications.


A vertical axis wind turbine provides a rotor assembly which rotates on bearing assemblies affixed to a rotor shaft supported by a base, the rotor assembly having vertical blades mounted between top and bottom plates, and power takeoff means to provide power by direct mechanical linkage or to drive an electrical generator. The rotor assembly is partially enclosed by a housing. Attached to the side of the housing is a wind vane. Attached to the bottom side of the housing are rollers. The wind vane, in combination with the rollers, act to rotate the housing to a position that will permit the wind to act upon the exposed vertical blades.

1. Field of the Invention
The instant invention generally relates to a wind power generator and is more particularly concerned with a vertical axis wind turbine with a rotor assembly and rotatable housing.
2. Description of Related Art
In relation to prior art, currently existing devices that are used to recover wind power and transform it into mechanical or electrical energy can be classified, according to its axis position, as horizontal axis or vertical axis, suffering both types from several disadvantages, sufficiently overcame by the improvements of the present invention.
As is known, today's horizontal axis devices stand in general at a considerable height and are located in very high areas and almost always in the very parting planes of mountain slopes, mountain ranges or massifs, with the consequent undesired visual impact. They can also cause severe damage to wildlife, especially to flying species, due to their large blades. These negative factors are determinant for the installation of wind power plants nowadays, versus ecologist requirements. Improvements in the present invention enable a person skilled in the art to build devices with high wind power recovery, low height and not harmful to flying species.
Today's horizontal and vertical axis devices also produce a characteristic noise when the assembly blades are turning, which can become serious when considering the installation of a wind power plant with a large number of power devices. The mentioned improvements achieve a less noisy device, and therefore no noise pollution of the environment is produced when several of these devices are installed in a specific area.
The fact that periodic wind regimes differ according to place, time of day, seasons, meteorology at a given moment and topography of the site must be taken into account when deciding the location of today's wind power recovery devices. However, the features of the device to which the improvements of the present invention apply enable to place it, without any difficulty or performance reduction, in areas with high or low wind speed, and regardless of the wind direction.
The improvements of the present invention enable to reduce the main drawbacks of vertical axis wind turbines, such as mechanical fatigue and the presence of natural resonance frequencies, as well as the fact that rotation coupling presents variations in every cycle. Another additional problem of vertical axis devices, and also reduced with the incorporation of the present improvements, is that they require motorization in order to overcome the high breakaway torque.
Patent No. P 9300316 "Wind Turbo Generator" presents a large hopper applied to a horizontal axis wind turbine so that it is also used with low speed winds, but due to such large hopper produces a significant visual and sound impact.
Patent No. P 055984 "System to enhance the performance of a vertical axis aerogenerator" produces also an important visual impact due to the fact that it stands taller than the devices of the mentioned improvements, and has a lower performance.


Peer device protection enables a first device comprising a digital security agent to remedy security issues on (or associated with) a set of devices visible to the first device. The first device may comprise a digital security agent may identify a set of devices visible to the first device. The first device may monitor the set of devices to collect data, such as types of communications and data points of interest. The digital security agent may apply threat detection to the collected data to identify anomalous network behavior. When anomalous network behavior is detected, the first device may cause an indicator of compromise (IOC) to be generated. Based on the IOC, the first device may facilitate remediation of the anomalous network behavior and/or apply security to one or more devices in the set of devices.

Cybersecurity has become a paramount concern in the ever-expanding realm of the internet of things (IoT) network. Historically, cybersecurity has been implemented and monitored on individual endpoint agents. However, many IoT devices are configured proprietarily and/or cannot support endpoint agents. As a result, such IoT devices are not only vulnerable to malicious attacks, but also introduce vulnerability points to other devices sharing a network with the IoT devices.
It is with respect to these and other general considerations that the aspects disclosed herein have been made. Also, although relatively specific problems may be discussed, it should be understood that the examples should not be limited to solving the specific problems identified in the background or elsewhere in this disclosure.


A block storage memory management scheme. According to the disclosed embodiments, a memory list of data is generated from a set of address ranges, a descriptor is created to interact with the memory list, and data is retrieved by preparing the memory specified by the descriptor for an input/output operation, performing the operation, and deleting the descriptor. Memory mappings are delayed as long as possible to enhance the performance of the system, particularly for RAID applications.

The present application is related to the copending, commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/644,412, entitled "Separation of Partitioning Formats", which was filed on the same date as the present application and which is incorporated herein by reference.
Many types of memory storage devices are known, such as flash random access memory (RAM) cards and multigigabyte disk arrays, each with different interfaces. All of these devices share common characteristics that can be abstracted out into a single interface which effectively hides the differences between the device interfaces. Additionally, many different partitioning formats can be used to describe how each device is divided into sub-devices; the details of these partitioning formats can be abstracted to form a single interface.
A block storage memory system provides the abstractions and single interface to avoid the need to compensate for different device interfaces and partitioning formats. This allows for the easy addition and qualification of new devices and partitioning formats.
Specifically, a block storage memory system abstracts the different characteristics of real, physical, storage devices to provide a single, consistent interface to "virtual" storage devices which are abstract representations of physical storage devices. The block storage memory system partitions and aggregates storage devices to create a virtual device of the appropriate size for an application.
Known block storage models and interfaces are typically directed to disk and disk-like devices with random-access capabilities.
A typical block storage system includes virtual storage devices, multiple auto-recognized partitioning formats and automated media changers.
Virtual storage devices, or "stores", are abstract representations of real disk devices. They provide a relatively simple but powerful interface of randomly accessible fixed-sized "blocks" of data. The blocks of data in a store must be stored somewhere, either in a real device or in one or more other stores. Of course, the chain of virtual devices must ultimately include a store attached to a real device or the data could not be stored.
If the only option were for a virtual store to have a 1 -to 1 mapping of blocks to its parent store, virtual stores would have limited utility. However, a store can be mapped to a portion of another store or multiple stores can be aggregated together and mapped into a single store. The relationship between stores and between a store and a physical device is referred to as a "mapping." The algorithm used to perform the mapping is changeable and is typically provided by a simple "mapping plug-in" module associated with each store. Using different algorithms to map the blocks allows for the software implementation of devices such as RAID (redundant array of independent disks) or encrypted devices. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, RAID is a storage technology in which an array of disks appear to a user to be equivalent to a single disk. By scattering data across a number of individual disks, and storing redundancy information separately from the data, the system can continue to function without loss of data if an individual disk in the array fails. The redundancy information can be a copy of the data or other information that can be used to reconstruct data stored on failed disk. RAID technology is described in more detail in "The RAID Primer" (1994) published by the RAID Advisory Board, Inc. St. Peter, Minn., which is incorporated herein by reference.
Partition maps are simple databases of a virtual device that describe how the virtual device is partitioned into sub-devices. There are many known partition map formats, and often a partition map format is more closely related to a specific machine or operating system than a file system format; many operating systems support multiple file system formats but few support multiple partitioning formats. Most operating systems can use the information in a partition map to produce a number of virtual devices corresponding to the partitions described in the map. Most operating systems, however, allow only this two-level hierarchy of physical devices and virtual devices. Partition maps are typically implemented by a single integrated disk or device driver and partition manager. The partition manager includes partition code which enables the partition to read the partition map data and perform the necessary partitioning. The conventional integrated device driver and partition manager requires significant amounts of partition code to be copied and stored in each partitioned storage device, reducing the efficiency of the memory system.
Input/output (I/O) operations in a computer system are typically performed between an I/O device and some portion of the system memory. There is currently no standard way for a user-level application to determine a particular portion of the memory involved in an I/O operation. Memory lists are abstract lists of data created from a set of address ranges defining a subset of a memory range. Each item in a memory list represents an address or address range in the memory range. Memory lists are used to store and retrieve physical and virtual page addresses for performing I/O operations. Typically, I/O operations in a block storage memory system are performed by remapping the items in the memory list to generate physical addresses necessary to perform the 1/0 operation. If the memory system includes data scattered across several physical devices, such as in a RAID storage system described above, the memory list must necessarily be copied for each physical memory device containing data addresses included in each memory list. It will be appreciated that as the complexity of the block storage memory system increases, extensive remappings and copying of memory lists will typically be required, thereby decreasing the speed and efficiency of the memory system. It would be desirable to reduce the need for copying and remapping, and thereby improve the performance of the system.

Arrangement and method for efficient calculation of memory addresses in a block storage memory system


The anti-allergy composition of the present invention comprises, as an ineffective ingredient, a wood vinegar-distilled solution. A bamboo vinegar-distilled solution obtained using a bamboo as a wood material is preferable. Also, it is preferable that the present composition does not contain benzopyrene, dibenzanthracene, and methylcholanthrene substantially. The anti-allergy composition can exhibit an anti-allergy effect by oral ingestion. In particular, it is useful for inhibiting Type I allergy such as allergic rhinitis, hay fever, allergic conjunctivitis, atopic dermatitis, allergic asthma, urticaria, food allergy, and anaphylaxis. In addition, the composition can be also applied to a skin. When a wood is subjected to smoking treatment at 130 to 170° C., dried, and then carbonized at 350 to 450° C., a smoke discharged during this carbonization treatment is condensed to obtain a crude wood vinegar, and then the crude wood vinegar is distilled at a low temperature of 50 to 60° C. under reduced pressure to obtain a wood vinegar-distilled solution.

A bamboo is a plant which has been deeply associated with a life of Japanese from the ancient times. Now, a bamboo thicket is abnormally growing, and is threatening environment in various districts. For this reason, an attempt has been tried to effectively utilize this bamboo as a bamboo charcoal or the like. That is, a moso bamboo (Phyllostachys heterocycla) grown in Japan which has been cut into about 50 cm in length is heated in a space of a closed kiln for bamboo at a temperature of 800° C. or higher, and is carefully carbonized over a period of time, thereby, a bamboo charcoal of high quality can be obtained.
Thereupon, the bamboo is thermally cracked, and a bamboo charcoal leaves with a burnt smell smoke. The bamboo charcoal can be appropriately utilized not only as a fuel, but also as various absorbents or deodorants, or a construction material which is laid on wall surfaces or floor surfaces. On the other hand, the smoke is a mixture of gas and water steam containing a variety of components released from a bamboo by thermal cracking. When this water steam is cooled and recovered, it is separated into a water-soluble liquid and an oily liquid. Among them, the former is crude bamboo vinegar, and the latter is tar matter.
A main component of the bamboo vinegar is acetic acid, but the components is complicated. That is, when water occupying 80% to 90% of the whole is removed, the largest amount of a component is acetic acid, a content thereof is about 3.7%. In addition, minor components containing about 200 or more kinds of compounds are dissolved in the bamboo vinegar. More particularly, when water is removed, main components are composed of organic acids such as acetic acid, propionic acid, and formic acid, alcohols such as methanol, propanol, and ethanol, phenols such as 2-methoxyphenol (guaiacol), and cresol, and neutral substances such as valeric acid ester, as well as carbonyl compounds and base components.
Like this, in addition to acetic acid, various components which are useful in a living body, such as polyphenols and organic acids are contained in a bamboo vinegar, and medicinal benefits can be expected by taking them.
However, a bamboo vinegar contains a cancerogenic substance such as benzopyrene, and other harmful substances such as cresol, formaldehyde, formic acid, and methanol. Therefore, although a bamboo vinegar is used in the agricultural and horticultural, and civil engineering fields by diluting with water for the purpose of disinfection, antibacterial treatment, smell removal, deodorization, harmful insect repellency, and cell activation, it has not been actually used in food utility. For this reason, effect of a wood vinegar or a bamboo vinegar by oral ingestion, for example, effect on an allergy reaction has not been tested yet. In recent years, there is a tendency that an increasing number of people suffer from allergy year and year, and safe improvement or prevention of allergy is strongly desired.
As a method of removing a harmful substance from a bamboo vinegar, Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2000-53973 describes a method of heating a bamboo vinegar at 40 to 50° C., removing formaldehyde and acetone under reduced pressure, and distilling and condensing the residual solution at 60° C. or higher to obtain a bamboo vinegar.
In addition, Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2000-160165 describes that a bamboo vinegar is adjusted to pH 9 to 11, and aerated with a carbonic gas to pH 6.5 to 7 to remove separated hydrophobic tar matter. Then, this is distilled at 60 to 80° C. under reduced pressure to remove harmful components such as methanol, phenols, and cresol, and then the residual solution, which is adjusted to pH 2.5 to 3, distilled at 80 to 100° C. under reduced pressure to obtain bamboo vinegar as a distilled solution containing acetic acid as a main component.
However, it can not be said that removal of cancerogenic substances such as benzopyrene, dibenzanthracene and methylcholanthrene, and other harmful substances such as cresol or the like is sufficient through these methods, and anti-allergy action by oral ingestion has not been known. And, such problem was also similar in a wood vinegar.

Anti-allergy composition comprising wood vinegar-  or bamboo vinegar-distilled solution


A microscopy system method for inspecting a retina of an eye including generating an inverted intermediate image of the retina using an opthalmoscopic lens; detecting a left image of the intermediate image from a left viewing direction and detecting a right image of the intermediate image from a right viewing direction; and displaying an inverted representation of the detected left image to a right eye of a user and displaying an inverted representation of the detected right image to a left eye of the user.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a microscopy system and method. In particular, the invention relates to a surgical microscopy system of the binocular type and a microscopy method for inspecting a retina of an eye.
2. Brief Description of Related Art
From U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,154 there is known a stereo-microscopy system comprising an objective lens for transforming an object-side imaging beam emerging from an object plane of the objective lens into an image-side imaging beam. A left zoom system and a right zoom system are disposed within the image-side imaging beam. The left zoom system picks up a left beam portion of the image-side imaging beam and supplies that portion with an adjustable magnification to a left ocular of the microscopy system. Similarly, the right zoom system picks up a right beam portion of the image-side imaging beam and supplies that portion with an adjustable magnification to a right ocular of the microscopy system. Two semitransparent mirrors are disposed in each of the left and right beam portions in-between of the respective zoom system and ocular. A first of the two mirrors is used to supply light of the respective beam portion to a camera. Images detected by the camera are supplied to a controller for further processing. The controller supplies the processed images to a display, and light generated by the display is superimposed with the respective beam portion by the second semitransparent mirror. When looking into the oculars, the user may perceive a direct image of the object and a superimposed representation generated by the displays.
The two semitransparent mirrors disposed in the beam paths tend to increase the volume and length of the microscopy system.
From EP 1 191 381 A2 there is known a stereo-microscopy system which is configured to be used for surgery at the human eye and to generate a stereo-microscopic image of a retina of the eye. For this purpose, an opthalmoscopic lens is inserted in a beam path between the objective lens of the microscopy system and the eye under surgery. The opthalmoscopic lens generates an intermediate image of the retina of the eye in the object plane of the objective lens. The intermediate image is an inverted image, and the microscopy system comprises optics for interchanging the stereo channels of the microscopy system and for inverting each of the stereo-images supplied to oculars of the microscopy system.
Such optics also tends to increase the volume and length of the microscopy system.


The invention relates to a subframe for a motor vehicle, comprising two front node elements (1) for connecting to a vehicle body, which node elements are spaced from each other in a vehicle transverse direction (y) and are connected to each other by means of a front subframe cross member (3), and comprising at least one functional part (28), in particular a rotary actuator, which extends adjacently to the subframe cross member (3) in a vehicle transverse direction (y), by means of which functional part a torsion can be applied to torsion springs that act on the vehicle wheel suspension. According to the invention, the subframe cross member (3) has an opening, which provides an additional installation space, in which the functional part (28) at least partially protrudes.

The present invention relates to a subframe for a motor vehicle.
DE 102 29 161 B4 discloses such a subframe for a motor vehicle. Bolted to the front subframe cross member of the subframe is the housing of a rack-and-pinion steering. For this purpose, bearing mounts in the form of half-shells are provided on the subframe cross member, configured as upright profile, for securement of the steering housing which is approximately circular-symmetrical in cross section. The subframe cross member is rigid as a result of the rectangular cross sectional shape that is oriented in vertical: direction, which is of advantage for wheel guide elements of wheel suspensions that are normally articulated to the subframe and, optionally, for the suspension of a drive unit.
DE 10 2004 058 380 A1 discloses a generic subframe, having wheel guide elements articulated thereto. Viewed in the vehicle longitudinal direction, provision is made for functional parts of the wheel suspensions on both sides of the front subframe cross member. The functional parts are, on one hand, the housing of a rack-and-pinion steering, which is arranged in travel direction of travel behind the subframe cross member, and, on the other hand, a U-shaped torsion bar stabilizer, as viewed in plan view, which is arranged in travel direction anteriorly of the subframe cross member.
In an active chassis system, a space-intensive rotary actuator can be used instead of such a U-shaped torsion bar stabilizer in order to act upon the vehicle wheel suspension via torsion spring bars. The rotary actuator can be used to compensate, depending on the control, the vehicle height and/or pitching and rolling motions of the motor vehicle. The rotary actuator requires additional installation space in the vehicle front which, however, is very limited due to the high space requirements for the drive units.
To provide additional installation space, the subframe cross member could be installed not as an upright profile, but in the form of a flat profile substantially horizontally in the subframe. However, such a flat profile arrangement adversely affects the stiffness of the subframe.