A stitch structure has a first surface, a second surface, and includes: a first fabric having a first end section; a second fabric having a second end section; a first stitching that extends in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of extension of the first end section; a second stitching that extends in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of extension of the second end section; a third stitching; and a tape-shaped member. Additionally, a first thread and a second thread is arranged in the first stitching and the second stitching, respectively, to repeatedly return across and penetrate the first fabric and the second fabric, in the thickness direction thereof. A decorative thread is arranged in the third stitching to repeatedly span between at least the first thread and the second thread and the tape-shaped member is binding the first fabric and the second fabric.

Flat seaming is a known method for sewing of fabrics, wherein the edges of two fabrics are stitched together. In a flat seaming sewing method, 4 needles are used, for example, to compose the seam of 6 threads (4 needle threads, 1 looper thread and 1 top cover thread), and the outlet seam is flat (see Patent Literature ("PTL") 1 and 2, for example as listed in the citation list below). The sewing machine using for flat seaming is a 4-needle, feed-off-the-arm, interlock stitch machine, and the seam formed by flat seaming is called a "flat seam".
In flat seaming, the stitching is performed with the fabric edges are in contact with each other, and therefore the sewn sections are soft and few irregularities result. Clothing that has been sewn by flat seaming therefore has no outlet seam on the back side of the fabric, such that the skin does not contact with an outlet seam and stress on the skin is thereby alleviated. In other words, a satisfactory fitting feel is provided for the wearer. In addition, flat seaming is more responsive to fabric elongation compared to common sewing methods, and the strength and durability of the sewn sections are highly superior.
Flat seaming is therefore widely employed not only for underwear; however, also for sportswear including swimwear, athletic competition uniforms and wet suits.


In a bioreactor, a culture solution derived from a cultivation tank is separated into bacteria cells and filtrate by a bacteria cell filter. The filtrate is introduced from the bacteria cell filter into a micro-nano bubble generation tank where micro-nano-bubbles are mixed with the filtrate. The filtrate containing micro-nano-bubbles is returned to the cultivation tank to activate the microorganisms therein, so that a biological reaction time is reduced by the activated microorganisms.

The present invention relates to a biological reaction method and a bioreactor, specifically to a biological reaction method and a bioreactor in which micro-nano-bubbles are generated to activate microorganisms in a biological reaction so as to efficiently promote the biological reaction by the activated microorganisms.
Although the biological reaction itself is slow unlike the chemical reaction, the biological reaction is gentle and significant for natural environment since it needs to use neither large energy nor many chemical substances.
However, the reaction takes long time since the speed of gentle biological reaction is slow. Therefore, in modern days, there have been many cases where the biological reaction has been not adopted due to the above-stated aspect of time.
The biological reaction has so far given a number of satisfactory results with respect to (i) start of industrial production of amylase, (ii) start of industrial production of isomerized sugar, (iii) development of the manufacturing method for L-ricin, (iv) development of the manufacturing method for D-amino acid, and the like.
As stated above, the biological reaction generally tends to be gentle and therefore slow, and also tends to be unstable in quality. Specifically, the biological reactions take several hours to several days or, in the case of taking particularly long time, require reaction time of several weeks or more. On the other hand, many chemical reactions provide sufficient results in less than one hour.
Accordingly, there are demands for reduction in the biological reaction time and reinforcement of the effects in the biological reaction. If the biological reaction comes to be adopted in many processes, these processes using the biological reaction become beneficial in view of the environmental aspect. However, the biological reaction has been such a problem that offers fewer merits than the chemical reaction in reality.

Biological reaction method and bioreactor


An apparatus and method for attaching antennae to RFID tags is disclosed. Included is the use of RFID tags having a symmetrical interconnect system for attaching one or more antennae, such that virtually any rotational orientation of the RFID tag will result in a successful antennae attachment. Two oversized and “L” shaped gold-bumped poles can be arranged on the same side of a chip in an opposing fashion, such that at least one axis of symmetry is formed. Accordingly, virtually all rotational orientations of the chip are then acceptable when attaching a pair of opposing pole antenna leads. Alternatively, a pair of poles can be located on opposing chip surfaces, such that antenna substrates can attach to both the top and bottom of the chip to form a product “sandwich,” whereby the rotational orientation of the chip is irrelevant at an antenna attachment step.

Radio Frequency Identification ("RFID") tags and systems have been widely adopted in recent years for the traceability and tracking of a wide variety of products and objects. Although these wireless systems are similar to UPC bar code type systems in that they allow for the non-contact reading of various products, items and devices, they are an effective improvement over UPC bar code systems in a variety of ways. In fact, RFID tags and systems can be vastly superior to bar code systems in many manufacturing and other hostile environments where bar code labels are inconvenient or wholly impractical. A significant advantage of RFID tags and systems is the non-line-of-sight nature of the technology, whereby tags can be read through a variety of substances such as snow, fog, clothing, paint, packaging materials or other visually challenging conditions where UPC bar codes or other optically read technologies would be useless.
Another advantage is that RFID tags can also be read at relatively high speeds, frequently in less than 100 milliseconds per tag, which can result in the ability of an RFID system to read hundreds of tags per second when combined with the non-line-of-sight nature of the technology. The read/write capability of an active RFID system can also be a significant advantage in applications where changes in the data for individual items is desired, such as work-in-process or maintenance tracking. In addition, most RFID tags comprise a user-programmable code that is typically 32 to 128 bits, whereby RFID tags can record much more information than a standard bar code, including items such as, for example, a unique identification code, where a device was manufactured, where it was sold, and who purchased the device.
RFID tags come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and are usually noted for their particularly small and unobtrusive nature. Large RFID tags include, for example, the hard plastic anti-theft devices attached to merchandise in stores, credit-card shaped tags for use in access applications, and screw shaped tags for use with trees or wooden items. In smaller versions, animal tracking tags inserted beneath the skin can be as small as a pencil lead in diameter and one-half inch in length. Tiny RFID tags can be even of a size on the order of a flat square measuring about 500 microns per side (i.e., the size of a flake of pepper), although tags this small typically require an antenna of at least a half an inch to four inches or more, depending on the application. Applications and venues utilizing some form of RFID tags and systems vary dramatically and can include, for example, package delivery, luggage handling, highway toll monitoring, livestock identification, and automated vehicle identification systems, among others. In addition, RFID tags can be implemented in a wide variety of general product inventory and tracking applications that range from washable RFID tags designed to be sewn into clothing to specially designed RFID tags and antennae for automobile tires. Even the European central bank is considering embedding tiny RFID tags into banknotes by 2005.
In most applications, an ordinary RFID system comprises essentially three primary components: 1) one or more transceivers for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals, 2) at least one transponder electronically programmed with data, preferably comprising unique information, and 3) at least one antenna. The transceiver is generally analogous to a bar code scanner, and controls communication within the system by restricting when and where data is written, stored and acquired. The transponder is generally analogous to a bar code label, and typically comprises at least a small chip containing an integrated circuit, with this chip often being referred to as an RFID Integrated Circuit ("RFIDIC"). Antennae are essentially the conduits between RFIDICs and transceivers, as RFIDICs are frequently too small to act as their own antennae and collect a sufficient level of emitted radio signals standing alone. Antennae can be attached to the transceiver, the transponder, or both, and are generally used to emit and/or collect radio signals to activate an RFIDIC, read data from the RFIDIC and/or write data to it.
In general, the term "RFID tag" refers to the combination of the RFIDIC and the antennae attached thereto. An RFID tag is essentially a miniscule microchip, with attached antennae, that listens for a radio query and responds by transmitting an identification code that is frequently unique to that RFID tag. In operation, the transceiver generally emits radio waves in ranges of anywhere from a fraction of an inch to 100 feet or more, depending upon the power output and radio frequency utilized. When an individual RFID tag passes through an electromagnetic zone covered by the transceiver, it detects the activation signal of the transceiver and responds by emitting its individual recorded code. The "reader" or transceiver then collects this emitted code and passes this data along to a host computer or other like device for processing.
RFID tags are typically categorized as either active or passive. Active RFID tags are usually powered by an internal battery, can potentially even include a mini-processor, and can advantageously have read/write capabilities. Such active tags, however, tend to be relatively large and costly and tend to have a limited operational life. Conversely, passive RFID tags operate without a separate external power source, as power sufficient to operate a passive RFID tag is actually generated from the radio waves emitted by the transceiver. Although such passive tags generally cannot comprise a mini-processor or have read-write capabilities, they tend to be smaller, lighter and less expensive than active tags, and have a potentially infinite operational life. Such passive or "read-only" type tags are typically "write-once" type of integrated circuits, programmed with a unique set of data that cannot be modified, and essentially operate as a static data entry into a database, similar to the way that UPC bar codes are used. Due in part to the relative simplicity and lower costs, the majority of actual RFID tags fall into the "passive" category.
A wide variety of antenna materials and types are possible for RFID tags, and such antenna materials can include thin strips or traces of metal or other conducting material fabricated onto a specifically designed substrate or other medium. Such a medium can be specially provided, or actually built into the product containing the RFID tag. In one example, the military is working with RFID designs where the antennae are conducting threads built into the clothing of personnel to be tracked in the field. Standard apparatuses and methods for manufacturing RFID tags are well known, and instances of such apparatuses and methods can be found, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,100,804 and 6,509,217, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
A major barrier to the broad adoption of tiny RFID tags and similarly advanced technologies in the thin-margin businesses of retail sales and consumer commodities has been the high cost of the equipment. For the tags alone, many manufacturers can expect to pay a relatively premium price per tag in low quantities. In quantities of about 1 billion, however, costs for RFID tags can drop significantly, and in lots of 10 billion or more, further reduced costs permitting for widespread adoption of the tags are hoped to be possible. In order for such low costs to be realized, however, it is generally accepted within the industry that significant improvements to and streamlining of the manufacturing process of such tags will be needed. One area where improvements may be possible is in the design and attachment of antennae to the RFID tag.
A typical passive RFID tag comprises a two pole RFIDIC connected to an antenna that is fabricated onto a substrate. Alternatively, a passive RFID tag can comprise a four pole RFIDIC with at least one and usually two of the poles connected to an antenna. Additional poles can either be "dummy" poles that do nothing, or can be used in conjunction with a battery or external power source, in the case of active or otherwise powered RFID tags. A wide variety of apparatuses and techniques exist for providing poles on RFIDICs to which antennae can be attached, with one example being gold bumps formed on an "active" side of the chip, such methods as will be readily known and understood by those skilled in the art. Advantages of techniques such as the formation of gold bumps to attach antennae include higher throughput, lower assembly costs, and the ease of accommodation with respect to differing sizes and shapes of RFIDICs and antennae.
Disadvantages of such techniques, however, tend to include the necessitated use of individual pick and place methods for orienting each RFIDIC during manufacture, such as before attaching each antenna to each RFIDIC. That is, the manufacture of RFID tags typically requires that any particular RFIDIC be oriented in a particular position before the antenna or antennae can be attached to the tag in an operable manner. Such specific orientation requirements result in the need for individualized handling of each RFIDIC to some degree, such that standard pick and place robotics or similar apparatuses or techniques are popularly used during the manufacturing process. The use of individual pick and place manufacturing devices and techniques, however, tends to result in a significantly slower and costlier manufacturing process, and precludes the use of many more favorable alternative bulk manufacturing methods and techniques.
Accordingly, there exists a need for improved apparatuses and methods for attaching antennae to RFIDICs that permits the use of more favorable bulk manufacturing methods and techniques, and specifically a need for improved RFIDIC designs and manufacturing techniques such that individualized pick and place devices and methods are minimized or eliminated.

Design of a two interconnect IC chip for a radio frequency identification tag and method for manufacturing same


A telecommunications system comprises an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network having uncommitted bandwidth, and a plurality of adaptive grooming routers (AGR) coupled to the network. The AGRs comprise a group adapted to function as a virtual transit exchange whose fabric and control are distributed over the group. The virtual comprising the AGRs incorporates independent connection control and call routing functions and has means for determining the current system status whereby to set up narrow band connections across the ATM network based on that status determination.

The asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) technology is a flexible form of transmission which allows any type of service traffic, voice, video or data, to be multiplexed together on to a common means of transmission. In order for this to be realised, the service traffic must first be adapted typically into 53 byte cells comprising 5 byte headers and 48 byte payloads such that the original traffic can be reconstituted at the far end of an ATM network. This form of adaptation is performed in the ATM adaptation layer (AAL).
A discussion of ATM adaptation of narrow band traffic is given in specification No GB-A-2,290,433 (EP 9411944) which describes a system and method in which an adaptive virtual junctor is used to adapt an ATM switch to perform a narrow band .e.g. 64 kb/s, switching function whereby to carry narrow band services on a broadband network
As telecommunications networks increase in complexity and carry increasing volumes of traffic, the current procedures for setting up connections between subscribers are limiting the performance of these networks. In particular, congestion may be caused by attempting to connect to a subscriber who is already busy, or by attempting to choose a route through an already congested part of the network. Thus equipment and resources can be wasted in attempts to set up calls which cannot be completed. A further problem is that of scalability. As the network expands to accommodate increased traffic and a larger number of subscribers, there is an increasing need to facilitate integration of new equipment into an existing network without simply increasing the congestion problem.

ATM telecommunications systems and method for routing narrow band traffic


Disclosed is a process for the one-pot liquefaction of a biomass or coal and a biomass, the process comprising: first preparing a slurry containing a catalyst, a vulcanizing agent and a biomass (and coal), and then introducing hydrogen gas into the slurry to carry out a reaction. Preparing the slurry comprises: subjecting a biomass (and coal) sequentially to drying, a first pulverization, compression and a second pulverization, then mixing same with a catalyst and a vulcanizing agent to obtain a mixture, and adding the mixture to an oil product for grinding and pulping to obtain a biomass slurry. By means of the treatment process of subjecting the straw firstly to compression and then to a second pulverization, the volume of the straw is greatly reduced, thereby facilitating the dispersion thereof in the oil product.

With rapid development of the social economy, the non-renewable fossil energy, such as coal, crude oil, natural gas, oil shale, etc., is exhausted gradually, and environmental pollution caused by contaminants, such as CO2, SO2, NOx, etc., generated after the fossil non-renewable energy is burnt, is increasingly serious, so that the human beings have to seriously consider energy access ways and environment improvement methods. Biomass is a renewable energy, which has huge potential and advantages in the aspects of meeting energy demands, reducing environment pollution and improving energy structure. Biomass refers to all organic substances formed by directly or indirectly using the photosynthesis of green plants, including plants, animals, microorganisms and excretions and metabolites thereof, and biomass has renewability, low pollution and wide distribution. In recent years, conversion and utilization of biomass energy are developing towards high efficiency and cleanness, and biomass liquefaction technology is one of the important points. The liquefaction mechanism is as follows: biomass is firstly pyrolyzed into oligomers, and then subjected to dehydration, dehydroxylation, dehydrogenation, deoxygenation and decarboxylation to form small molecule compounds, which are then subjected to reactions such as condensation, cyclization, polymerization, etc. to form new compounds. The existing biomass liquefaction process mainly comprises indirect liquefaction and direct liquefaction. Direct liquefaction is to directly liquefy solid biomass to liquid by carrying out hydrolysis and supercritical liquefaction or introducing hydrogen, inert gas, etc. under a suitable temperature and a suitable pressure in the presence of a solvent or a catalyst. Biomass direct liquefaction process mainly comprises pyrolysis liquefaction, catalytic liquefaction, pressurized hydroliquefaction, etc., among which pressurized hydroliquefaction has high products yield and good quality. Pressurized hydroliquefaction generally comprises complex procedures, such as solid material drying, crushing, slurry preparing, heating, pressurizing, reacting, separating, etc. For example, Chinese patent application CN103242871A discloses a heavy oil and biomass hydrogenation co-liquefaction treatment process, which comprises pre-pulverizing a dried biomass to 40-100-mesh and mixing it with a heavy oil to form a slurry, adding a catalyst and a vulcanizing agent into the slurry, placing the resulted mixture in a slurry bed hydrogenation reactor to undergo hydrogenation and thermal cracking reactions under a temperature of 370-430° C. and a hydrogen partial pressure of 4-8 MPa, and fractioning the reaction product, thereby obtaining a bio-oil and coke.
The above-mentioned process realizes the conversion of biomass to bio-oil, but in the above technique there are some problems. In one respect, the slurry formed from biomass and heavy oil needs to be pumped to the slurry bed hydrogenation reactor. However, most biomass (for example straw) has low specific gravity due to its abundant porosity, making it difficult to dissolve in the biomass liquefaction solvent, resulting in lower concentration of biomass in the slurry (the biomass in the above technology only accounts for 5-20 wt % of the mass of the heavy oil), which results in a limited amount of biomass transport per unit time, thus, the above hydrogenation co-liquefaction process has lower production efficiency, higher industrial costs, and higher energy consumption. In another respect, biomass with porosity is easy to float on the surface of the liquefied solvent, furthermore, heavy oil used as a slurry solvent has large viscosity, making the slurry being difficult to flow, which easily causes blockage of the conveying pipe, so it is difficult to achieve smooth transportation by the pump. Although in the prior art, researchers attempt to add dispersing agent to the slurry to increase the concentration and dispersion of biomass in the slurry, but the adding of dispersing agent often affects the quality of the bio-oil. In addition, the biomass has a low conversion rate in the above technology (the conversion rate is only about 90%). Therefore, a technical problem to be urgently solved by those skilled in the art is to improve the existing biomass liquefaction process so as to increase the concentration of biomass in the slurry, increase the pumping capacity of the biomass per unit time, achieve smooth pumping, reduce energy consumption, and increase biomass conversion rate.

Process for one-pot liquefaction of biomass or coal and biomass


Provided is a test apparatus that tests a device under test having a test function for sequentially outputting, from a single test terminal, signals that would be output from a plurality of terminals, the test apparatus comprising: a test section that supplies the device under test with a test signal and receives signals that are sequentially output from the test terminal in response to the test signal; an identifying section that identifies a correspondence between each signal sequentially received by the test section and a signal that would be output from one of the terminals of the device under test; and a counting section that counts a number of signals judged to be unacceptable from among the signals sequentially received by the test section for each terminal of the device under test, based on the correspondence identified by the identifying section.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a test apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to a test apparatus that tests a device under test provided with a test function for sequentially outputting, from a single test terminal, signals that would be output from a plurality of terminals.
2. Related Art
One test for a device under test such as a semiconductor memory involves comparing a logic value output by the device under test to an expected value. For example, when testing a semiconductor memory, logic values read from the memory cells of the device under test are each compared to an expected value to judge pass/fail of each memory cell, as in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-33615. At this time, the number of fails is counted for each signal terminal of the device under test to analyze how to repair the memory cells.
In order to speed up the repair analysis of the memory cells, the logic values output by the device under test can be sequentially compared to the expected value, and the number of detected fails can be sequentially counted during the testing. A test apparatus performing this process can be provided with a logic comparison circuit and a fail counter or the like for each signal terminal of the device under test.
Each logic comparison circuit may judge pass/fail by comparing the logic values read from the corresponding signal terminal to the expected value. Each fail counter may count the number of fails output by the corresponding logic comparison circuit. In this way, the number of fails for each signal terminal of the device under test can be counted, and repair analysis of the memory cells can be performed.
A known technique for decreasing the cost of the testing involves increasing the number of devices under test that are tested simultaneously. For example, by decreasing the number of pins of the test apparatus connected to a single device under test, the number of devices under test measured simultaneously can be increased without increasing the number of pins of the test apparatus.
In this case, each device under test is provided with a test function for sequentially outputting, from a single test terminal, signals that would be output from a plurality of terminals. For example, if the signal that would be output from a first signal terminal has sequential logic values of DQ1-1, DQ1-2, DQ1-3, etc. and the signal that would be output from a second signal terminal has sequential logic values of DQ2-1, DQ2-2, DQ2-3, etc., the test terminal may output a signal having sequential logic values of DQ1-1, DQ2-1, DQ1-2, DQ2-2, DQ1-3, DQ2-3, etc.
The test apparatus uses a logic comparison circuit connected to this test terminal to compare each logic value output from the test terminal to an expected value. However, the fail counter corresponding to this logic comparison circuit counts the number of fails in this logic comparison circuit, and so cannot count the number of fails separately for each signal terminal of the device under test.
In other words, the fail counter can count the total number of fails for the plurality of signal terminals corresponding to the test terminal, but cannot measure the number of fails for each individual signal terminal. Therefore, it is difficult to perform the repair analysis of the memory cells.

Test apparatus that tests a device under test having a test function for sequentially outputting signals


A system, method, and processor readable medium containing code for causing a processor to synchronize a secondary database system, such as one stored on a palmtop electronic device, with a distributed database system, comprising a main database and at least one replica database. The system further comprises a modification module that contains entries for modifications that have been made to the secondary database since a previous synchronization between the secondary database and the distributed database system and a synchronization module that synchronizes the secondary database with one of the databases of the distributed database system using the modification module. Each database in the distributed database system stores an identification mapping database having an assigned version number. The system further comprises a replica identification database associated with the secondary database that contains an entry for each source database of the distributed database system, each entry comprising information regarding the last synchronization between the secondary database and the source database including the version of the identification mapping database associated with the source database when the synchronization occurred. A pruning module is provided for pruning entries from the modification module using the replication identification database.

In recent years, small electronic devices with reasonable amounts of memory, faster processing power, and extendible operating systems have become extremely popular as well as affordable. These electronic devices are popular for situations when a personal computer or even a notebook computer is not convenient. Such electronic devices may operate electronic calendar programs, electronic personal organizer programs, user application programs, and other programs that may also be operable on larger computer systems. Such electronic devices may have databases for storing information for use by such programs, including calendar information, contact information, lists of tasks to be performed, files, data, pictures, bitmaps, and other information that may be stored in a database.
Many users of these electronic devices use a personal computer, notebook computer or networked computer as well. Some users may use an electronic device, a notebook computer, and a networked personal computer, each for different tasks or situations. Accordingly, these users may desire to have some information stored in each computer system. For example, a user may desire to store a copy of a contact information database, a company directory database, or a database of program files on the electronic device and another computer system as well, such as, for example, a notebook computer, stand-alone personal computer, or a networked computer system.
As changes are made to one database, it may be desired that the same changes be reflected in the other databases as well. For example, if new personnel are added or existing contact information is changed in a distributed database company directory, the user may desire to have those same changes reflected in the company directory database stored in the user's electronic device. Similarly, if the user adds contact information into the contact database stored on the user's electronic device, the user may desire to have that information added to the contact database stored on a distributed database system.
Some current electronic devices and computer systems permit users to is perform a two-way batch transfer of data between a single source database on a computer system and the electronic device database. These systems suffer from various drawbacks.
Such systems do not enable a user to transfer data with distributed database systems. Distributed database systems such as the distributed database system licensed by Lotus Development Corporation under the trade name Lotus Notes™, for example, provide a system that distributes multiple copies of databases through a networked system to enable more efficient and faster access to information contained in the databases. These systems provide for replication of information between the various copies of the database. Current electronic devices are not capable of properly synchronizing with a distributed database system.
Further, memory constraints on these electronic devices often prevent copies of large databases. Distributed databases as well as some other databases may exceed the storage capacity of an electronic device.
Other drawbacks also exist with current systems.

System and method for synchronizing data in multiple databases

International Business Machine Corporation


Neuropeptide S receptor antagonists are provided that bind in functional assays to neuropeptide S receptors; methods are provided for use of these antagonists in treatment of conditions or disease states that are ameliorated by blocking of the neuropeptide S receptor, including substance abuse and substance abuse relapse; and for use of neuropeptide S receptor antagonists in the manufacture of therapeutics and pro-drugs for therapeutics useful in disease states and conditions sensitive to binding of the neuropeptide S receptor.

Human Neuropeptide S (NPS) is a 20 residue peptide showing the primary sequence: SFRNGVGTGMKKTSFQRAKS (SEQ ID NO: 1). This sequence is also well conserved among species; in particular, the serine (S)N-terminal residue of NPS is conserved among all species examined so far. After its pairing with NPS, the previously orphan G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) GPR154 was named the NPS receptor and abbreviated as NPSR.
NPS peptide transcript is expressed predominantly in a small group of neurons located between the locus ceruleus (LC), the Barrington nucleus, and the parabrachial nuclei. NPSR mRNA is expressed throughout the central nervous system with the highest concentration in olfactory structures, the amygdaloid complex, the paraventricular thalamic nucleus, the subiculum, and the lateral (LH), dorsomedial (DMH), and ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH). NPSR shows potential for involvement in several biological processes such as arousal, anxiety, and food intake.

Composition and method for neuropeptide S receptor (NPSR) antagonists


A power-off discharge circuit and an operation method of a display panel, and a display substrate are provided. The power-off discharge circuit includes a switching circuit and a power storage circuit. The switching circuit is coupled to the first transmission line and the second transmission line and configured to control a connection between the first transmission line and the second transmission line in response to a first control signal, and to control a connection between the second output terminal of the power management circuit and the second input terminal of the gate driving circuit in response to a second control signal. The power storage circuit is coupled to the first transmission line and configured to perform, in response to a power control signal, one of storing power transmitted from the first transmission line and supplying stored power to the first transmission line.

A display panel generally includes a power management integrated circuit, a gate driving circuit, and a source driving circuit. The power management integrated circuit may supply power to the gate driving circuit and the source driving circuit. In general, the power management integrated circuit and the source driving circuit may be disposed on an array substrate in a form of chip. The gate driving circuit may be disposed on the array substrate in a form of chip, or in a form of Gate Driver on Array (GOA).

Power-off discharge circuit and operation method of display panel, and display substrate

CHONGQING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A method for controlling a particulate matter sensor heater is provided. The method includes operating the heater to burn-off soot accumulated on the sensor; and adjusting the heater level based on sensor output generated during the heater operation. In this way, improved heater control can be achieved using the sensor output already available.

Engine emission control systems may utilize various exhaust sensors. One example sensor may be referred to as a Particulate Matter (PM) sensor, which indicates PM mass and/or concentration in the exhaust gas. In one example, the PM sensor may operate by accumulating soot particles over time and providing an indication of the degree of accumulation as a measure of exhaust soot levels. Once full, the sensor may be regenerated by removing the stored soot at increased temperatures. The temperature may be regulated via a sensor heater, with current feedback provided to maintain proper temperatures.
The inventors herein have recognized, however, that over-temperature and under-temperature conditions may still occur due to lack of current feedback, or other inaccuracies and variation in operating conditions. For example, changes in exhaust flow temperature can affect sensor temperature to become too high, possibly degrading the sensor, or too low, resulting in ineffective soot removal and thus sensor reading inaccuracies.
As such, at least some of the above issues may be addressed by controlling a particulate matter sensor heater by operating the heater to burn-off soot accumulated on the sensor, and adjusting the heater level based on sensor output generated during the heater operation.
For example, during a soot removal operation, the sensor output can provide insight into the sensor temperature, as opposed to the soot level of the engine exhaust. During sensor burn-off, the conductivity or resistivity of the sensor may change with the temperature of the sensor thus enabling the sensor to indicate whether the sensor is operating with the temperature, too high, or too low. In this way, it is possible to operate the heater more efficiently, thus avoiding excess heating that can waste energy (and thus degrade fuel economy) and/or degrade sensor performance.
Note that there are various PM sensor readings that may be used, such as conductivity, resistivity, etc., and further the sensor output may be processed in various ways, such as using pull-up or pull-down circuits, amplifiers, etc.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

Emission control with a particulate matter sensor


A game playing information integration system is provided which is capable of objectively performing selection and/or settings according to preference of a player, and is capable of effectively making entry into market, based on a result of logical analysis of a gaming machine invoking demands of a player and a manger in gaming facility in a well-balanced manner. The system includes a plurality of gaming machine units and a server connected to enable communication with each of the gaming machine units. Each of the gaming machine units includes player identification information reading means, number-of-consumptions data output means, and number-of-payouts data output means. Gaming machine unit identification information is individually assigned to each of the gaming machine units. The server stores data storage means for storing each of number-of-consumptions data and number-of-payouts data in association with reception time data, player identification information, and gaming machine unit identification information.

(I) With respect to a game playing information integration system, it has been conventionally a proposition to design gaming machines which sell well for manufacturers to design, manufacture, and sell gaming machines. As approaches for achieving this object, it has been a routine practice to introduce new functions or stage effects to induce a sense of expectation or to promote famous copyrights in contents that are used in gaming machines while paying a large amount of license fees. However, manufacturers themselves have intuitively or experientially determined as to whether or not the device is an excellent gaming machine; and therefore, even if these approaches are employed, the popularity of gaming machines has often superseded the manufacturers' predictions.
Incidentally, for example, there are a variety of players' preferences for gaming machines such as differences in players' preferences depending on geographical conditions such as local area characteristics such as Kyushu or Tokyo or whether or not the condition of location is near universities, differences in preferences of customer categories depending on time intervals such as differences in visit time of housewives or businessmen, or differences in preferences of fixed customers (manias), unfixed customers (browsing customers), or novices (beginners), and such preferences are different depending on players. In addition, in respect of the management side of gaming facilities, requests for gaming machines that they desire to install in the gaming facilities are also different depending on the gaming facilities. For example, one gaming facility of the adjacent two gaming facilities desires to install gaming machines of such device type to stimulate gambling mind of players, whereas the other gaming facility desires to install gaming machines of such device type to enjoy the play of game over a long period of time without exerting such gambling mind. Namely, even within a same local area, the requests from the gaming facilities as to gaming machines may be different depending on management policy. Therefore, on the manufacturers' side, it is impossible to satisfy the requests of all players and gaming machines, and it is also unavoidable to design gaming machines while taking the greatest common preferences of all.
In such a present situation, in order for a gaming facility to obtain the maximal profit, the gaming facility itself must continuously install gaming machines of which device type and number is assigned in accordance with the request of that gaming facility and the preferences of players visiting the gaming facility.
However, timing of replacement with gaming machines of new device type has been conventionally determined on the basis of rule of thumb; and therefore, a difference takes place with economic efficiency related to the replacement, depending on persons who determine such replacement, and as a result, there has been apprehension that the gaming facility loses profit. In addition, while, in a gaming machine, settings which are able to change a winning probability in a predetermined range are provided at a plurality of stages in general, these settings are often adjusted on the basis of rule of thumb; and therefore, a balance between improvement of ability to attract customers by setting a current mode to a high probability mode, the profit of the gaming facility lowers, and as a result, there has been apprehension that the gaming facility loses profit. Further, there has been a problem that the manager in gaming facility takes preference to only improvement of one's own immediate profit against the manager's thought, highly sets a dividing number, and causes fixed customer to lose interest in shop in a long run.
In Patent Document 1, there is disclosure of a management apparatus for gaming facility to sum and manage work data on pachinko gaming machines.
(II) With respect to an apparatus for displaying game playing information by gaming machine, conventionally, a "cashbox" containing players' winning pachinko balls have been accumulatively placed around the players with an aim to render a stage effect to attract customers. If the amount of accumulations in this cashbox increases, it is an attractive promotion that the shop has a gaming machine that hits well; and however, there has potentially existed a problem that, if there arises a need to take refuge from shop in case of an emergency such as fire or earthquake, such cashbox becomes an obstacle, which causes delayed taking refuge. Therefore, there has existed a shop in which, if a predetermined amount in cashbox is reached, the shop staff carries the cashbox to a counting device and then the amount of money in cashbox is artificially limited to a predetermined number. On the other hand, recently, there have been more shops in which individual counting devices are provided at the respective pachinko gaming machines so as not to use the cashbox. It is inferred that such a trend will be introduced in all the related shops in the near future from the viewpoint of safety to sufficiently ensure a passageway to take refuge.
However, there has arisen a new problem that, if counting is thus performed by means of an individual counting device, it becomes impossible to visually appeal the fact that it is a fair gaming facility or there is a pachinko gaming machine that hits well by physically accumulating the cashbox.
Conventionally, it has been numerically indicated as to whether or not individual pachinko gaming machines hit well by means of input with the use of an input switch of the apparatus for displaying information by gaming machine, which is installed at an upper side of each gaming machine; and however, it has been sometimes inferior to an effect to physically display such as accumulating a cashbox as seen conventionally. In addition, there has also been a problem that, although it is possible to see the characteristics of a gaming machine which is not in play, it is difficult to see the characteristics of a gaming machine in play.
In Patent Document 2, there is disclosure of an apparatus for displaying information by gaming machine, including a function of displaying game playing information such as the number of big hits or the number of games played.
(III) In a case where there takes place a failure that no game playing pachinko ball is supplied to a gaming machine, a check work of pachinko ball jam in supply bucket or bellows and the like within a gaming machine bank is performed by the shop staff in gaming machine. The check work of pachinko ball jam is generally performed by upwardly turning a rack plate that is arranged on a front face of the supply bucket. This work is cumbersome in that, from the viewpoint of a player, concentration to the play of game is prevented or the play of game is forced to be interrupted, and it is desirable to speedily finish the work. For the gaming facility also, it is desirable to complete the check work of pachinko ball jam as speedily as possible from the viewpoint of operability. On the other hand, for the employees in gaming facility, for example, even if it is a comparatively less powerful employee such as women, it is desirable to be able to speedily complete the work.


An apparatus for stabilizing cut-off frequency using a transconductance, especially used in a high-frequency filter circuit, capable of maintaining constant frequency characteristics regardless of noise in association with a clock frequency, changes in the temperature, changes in the power supply voltage and errors in fabrication, when a filter circuit is installed in an IC (Integrated Circuit). The apparatus includes a filtering unit for passing only signals having a frequency band predetermined in the IC; a transconductance setting unit, installed out of the IC, for controlling a transconductance of the filtering unit; and a controlling unit for controlling a transconductance of the transconductance setting unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for stabilizing cut-off frequency using a transconductance, and more specifically, to an apparatus for stabilizing cut-off frequency using a transconductance, capable of maintaining constant frequency characteristics regardless of changes in the temperature, changes in the power supply voltage and errors in fabrication, when a filter circuit is installed in an IC (Integrated Circuit).
2. Description of the Related Art
A demand for fabricating a filter into an integrated circuit, which is a matter of primary concern in an electronics industry, has shown an extreme interest in an SCF (Switched-Capacitor Filter) since the late 1970s. At the present, the SCF is commonly used through a MOSIC (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Integrated Circuit) technology.
For fabrication reasons, an active filter constructed with active elements, typically determines its accurate characteristics by adjusting resistance at the last process, which is a serious obstacle to fabricate the active filter into a complete IC.
A suggestion for overcoming such an obstacle is the SCF consisting of a switching device, a capacitor, and an operational amplifier. The operation characteristics of the SCF can be determined by the capacitor ratio that is suitable for easy fabrication of the filter into the IC.
Resistance used in the active filter can be substituted with the switching device switched by a predetermined switching frequency and the capacitor. The switching device can be easily fabricated using a MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor). Accordingly, the integration of the filter is realized.
FIG. 1A is a conceptive circuit diagram embodying a resistance using a known switch 1 and a known capacitor C.sub.R. FIG. 1B is an equivalent circuit diagram of FIG. 1A. The switch 1 is turned on/off according to a predetermined switching frequency.
FIG. 1C is a circuit diagram of a real embodiment of FIG. 1A. Clock signals in an inverted phase as compared to each other, are supplied to gate terminals of transistors Q.sub.1 and Q.sub.2, respectively. The transistors Q.sub.1 and Q.sub.2 are then exclusively turned on/off. A voltage V.sub.1 input into the circuit is charged and discharged. As a result, a filtered frequency voltage V.sub.2 is output.
When the transistor Q.sub.1 is turned on, the capacitor C.sub.R is charged to C.sub.R .times.V.sub.1. When the transistor Q.sub.2 is turned on at the same time that the transistor Q.sub.1 is turned off, the capacitor C.sub.R is discharged to C.sub.R .times.V.sub.2.
The value of the charge q transmitted from the input to the output, is EQU q=C.sub.R (V1-V2) (1)
The charge q is transmitted for a switching period T.sub.c, current i(t) is, on an average, ##EQU1##
When a resistance corresponding to T.sub.C /C.sub.R is connected between input and output terminals, Eq. 2 shows the relationship between flowing current and voltage drop. Accordingly, an equivalent resistance that is approximately calculated by the following Eq. 3 is supposed to be connected between the input and the output terminals. ##EQU2## where f.sub.c is the inverse of the switching period T.sub.C, i.e., switching frequency.
Based on the theory, the resistance that is an obstacle to integration can be substituted with the switching device and the capacitor.
FIG. 2A is a circuit diagram of an active filter embodied using a resistance. The active filter consists of: a resistance R.sub.C for controlling an input voltage V.sub.1 ; an operational amplifier 2 outputting an output voltage V.sub.out by amplifying a signal generated from the resistance R.sub.c ; and a capacitor C.sub.1 for feeding back the output from the operational amplifier 2. The output voltage V.sub.out is, ##EQU3## where w is angular velocity of an input signal, and f.sub.1 is a frequency of the input signal.
FIG. 2B is a circuit diagram of an SCF embodied using FIG. 1A, consisting of: a switch 1 for sampling an input voltage V.sub.1 as a predetermined frequency; a capacitor C.sub.R for charging and discharging the voltage input into the switch 1; an operational amplifier 3 outputting an output voltage V.sub.out by amplifying a signal generated from the switch 1; and a capacitor C.sub.2 for feeding back the voltage of a frequency to be filtered out of outputs from the operational amplifier 3. The capacitor C.sub.R for charging and discharging the voltage input into the switch 1, and the resistance R.sub.c has a relationship of Eq. 3. The output voltage V.sub.out is, ##EQU4## where w is an angular velocity of an input signal, and f.sub.1 and f.sub.c are the frequency of the input signal and a switching frequency, respectively.
When the filter circuits of FIGS. 2A and 2B are installed in an IC, the resistance and the capacitor cause an error of approximately .+-.20%, respectively, due to a fabrication error. Therefore, a wanted cut-off frequency for the filter circuit can be obtained by changing the switching frequency f.sub.c. The switching frequency should be at least more than two times the frequency of the input signal according to Sampling theory. For a sufficient approximation to the resistance, typically, a switching frequency of more than ten times the frequency of the input signal is required.
However, the filter circuit installed in a conventional IC is limited to a low frequency filter because it cannot include an unlimited increase in switching frequency f.sub.c. Additionally, noise is inevitably generated in the switching frequency f.sub.c, which causes an instability of the circuit.

Apparatus for stabilizing cut-off frequency using a transconductance


Disclosed is a highly reliable inductive vibration power generator wherein mechanical damping caused by the phenomenon of electrostatic pulling-in (stiction) and the like is suppressed even if the potential of an electret is increased and/or the gap between an electrode and the electret is reduced in order to increase the amount of power generation. The two surfaces of a movable substrate are respectively provided with first electrets and second electrets. By means of providing first electrodes and second electrodes to a lower substrate and an upper substrate and facing the respective electrets with a predetermined gap therebetween, electrostatic force is caused to arise on both sides of the movable substrate, and the pulling of the movable substrate in only one direction is prevented.

Micro electro mechanical systems (hereinafter may be sometimes abbreviated to "MEMS") is applicable to various fields such as a wireless communication field, an optical engineering field, an acceleration sensor field, a bioscience field, and power engineering field. In the power engineering field among the above described fields, a device manufactured based on the MEMS, i.e., an Energy Harvester for collecting and utilizing energy from light, heat, and vibration which are dissipated in environment, has been developed. The Energy Harvester is applied to a power supply of a low-power radio to thereby realize a wireless sensor network which requires no power supply cables and batteries. Application of the MEMS technology to the Energy Harvester enables down-sizing of the Energy Harvester.
In environment where less light and heat can be generated, a vibration power generator is useful since such power generator can generate electric power by utilizing vibration which is generated by members composing an element when force is applied to the members from outside environment. The vibration power generator is divided into a piezoelectric-type vibration power generator, an electromagnetic-type vibration power generator, and an electrostatic-type vibration power generator. The electrostatic-type vibration power generator has an advantage that it requires no piezoelectric material and no magnetic material and thus can be manufactured with a simple manufacturing method.
The electrostatic type vibration power generator is equipped with electrodes facing to electrically charged electrets and is configured such that, when a weight is vibrated due to force applied from the outside environment, a facing area in which the electrets face to the electrodes varies. The electrostatic type vibration power generator is the Energy Harvester which realizes electric power generation by electric power supply and electric power discharge to the electrodes in such a manner that a variation of an electrostatic capacity occurring according to the variation of the facing area is utilized to repetitively generate the maximum value and the minimum value of the electrostatic capacity. Various electrostatic-type vibration power generators have been proposed to date.

Micro-electromechanical generator and electric apparatus using same


1,8-Naphthalimide derivatives of Formula (I) are useful as fluorescent dyes: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of branched alkyl groups containing 7-8 carbon atoms and alkyloxyalkyl groups containing 4 to 24 carbon atoms.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to alkylamino/imino Benz-iso-Quinoline derivatives that are useful as fluorescent leak detection dyes in lubricants.
2. Description of the Related Art
Derivatives of 1H-Benz(de)isoquinoline-1,3(2H)-diones, sometimes named as 1,8-naphthalimides, have been known for some time (See for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,006,017 and 2,385,106) and are mainly utilized either as optical brightening agents or bright fluorescent yellow dyes applied to natural and man-made textile fibers. In all these applications the compounds are required to possess some degree of water solubility. Water-insoluble compounds have also been proposed as fluorescent dyes for certain thermoplastics, for example, polystyrene and for imparting fluorescent effects to petroleum hydrocarbon based fuels and lubricants, either for aesthetic reasons or for detecting leakage of fluid. An example of the latter usage is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,366. When a leak occurs, the dye present in the lubricant composition is deposited on the area of the container surrounding the leak. Upon exposure to long wave ultraviolet light, also called "black light", the dye fluoresces. By irradiating the exterior of the container, a leak and its location can be visually determined by the fluorescent response. Such a method is generally convenient for determining the presence and location of small leaks.
This type of method has become especially valuable in detecting refrigerant fluid leaks from automobile, domestic, and industrial air conditioning and refrigeration systems, since such a leak implies the loss of halogenated refrigerant gas. Escape of these types of gases is of primary environmental concern due to the possible damage they do to the ultraviolet light absorbing ozone gas layer of the earth's upper atmosphere. The dye which has almost entirely dominated this technique in commercial practice is N-butyl-4-butylamino-1,8-naphthalimide, a compound named by Chemical Abstracts Services as 1H-Benzde!isoquinoline-1,3(2H)dione, 2-butyl-6-(butylamino) and identified by the "Colour Index" system of classification as C.I. Solvent Yellow 43 (hereinafter referred to as "Solvent Yellow 43"). This compound is a dry powder dye with a melting point of 127.degree. C. It has a comparatively low direct solubility, not exceeding 1% in contemporary hydrocarbon based refrigerant oils, and less in the more recently developed refrigerant lubricants such as polyalkylene glycols and their esters. Because of its low direct solubility in the refrigerant oils, and the inconvenience of handling dry powder dye in an engineering plant, Solvent Yellow 43 is normally supplied as a pourable, but viscous, concentrate solution that contains up to 20% by weight of the dye in an organic solvent such as aromatic hydrocarbons. These concentrates are relatively clean to handle and can be diluted directly into the refrigerant oils.
However, the development of new lubricants, which are adapted to be miscible with the now required non-CFC refrigerants, has caused a problem with the use of Solvent Yellow 43. Specifically, Solvent Yellow 43 tends to crystallize out of these lubricant compositions during use. The precipitated crystals can clog various portions of the refrigeration equipment, such as the fine jets, thereby causing a shut down of the system. Accordingly, Solvent Yellow 43 is not practically employed in the new type of refrigerant lubricants.
Another dye proposed for leak detection in refrigerant compositions is apparently N-(iso)nonyl4-(iso)nonylamino-1,8-naphthalimide. This dye, like Solvent Yellow 43, is quite acceptable when used with conventional lubricants such as mineral oil, but, is problematic when used in the newer types of lubricants. The dye can precipitate out as a tarry mass during use due to the absorption of small amounts of water by the refrigerant lubricant, especially those based on the newer polyalkylene glycol ester type oil. Consequently, this dye is not a practical alternative to Solvent Yellow 43 in the newer refrigerant lubricants.
Accordingly, there is a demand for a fluorescent dye that is compatible with a wide variety of lubricant compositions and oils and which will not crystallize or otherwise fall out of solution over a wide range of operating temperatures, durations, and conditions. The present invention provides fluorescent dye compounds and lubricant compositions for a refrigerant that enables fluorescent leak detection. Fluorescent dyes of the present invention, moreover, do not require aromatic hydrocarbons or other cosolvents in order to be incorporated into a lubricant composition.


An electroluminescent device for communication apparatus of mobile phone for informing an incoming call for carrying out a flashing effect on the mobile phone when such occurs. The device comprises an electroluminescent means and a controller circuit wherein the controller circuit includes a signal receiving unit, an electroluminescent means flashing and driving controller unit, and a driving unit being electrically connected sequentially; and the electroluminescent means is provided on the surface of mobile phone being electrically connected to the controller circuit. This also provides a personalized housing of mobile phone.

The present invention relates to an electroluminescent device and more particularly to an electroluminescent device for communication apparatus of mobile phone for informing an incoming call.
Conventionally, a relatively loud, resonant sound is given for informing user when an incoming call is received. An improved technique is to show the number of calling person on display unit of mobile phone when such occurs. However, these two conventional techniques are somewhat monotonous. Further, the color of mobile phone is of single color in most cases, while a few mobile phones are colored. But these are unsatisfactory for the purpose for which the invention is concerned because there is no flashing features available on the mobile phone in the above techniques. Thus improvement exists.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an electroluminescent device for communication apparatus of mobile phone for informing an incoming call for carrying out a flashing effect on the mobile phone when such occurs.
To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention provides an electroluminescent device for communication apparatus of mobile phone for informing an incoming call comprising an electroluminescent means and a controller circuit wherein the controller circuit includes a signal receiving unit, an electroluminescent means flashing and driving controller unit, and a driving unit being electrically connected sequentially; and the electroluminescent means is provided on the surface of mobile phone being electrically connected to the controller circuit. This also provides a personalized housing of mobile phone.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

Electroluminescent device for communication apparatus of mobile phone for informing an incoming call


Characterizing channel response in a single upstream burst using redundant information from training tones (TTs). The invention is operable to utilize inserted TTs, contained within a transmitted data frame, to provide for an improved estimate of a communication channel's actual response and an improved estimate of the noise of the communication channel. The invention determines a maximum allowable delay spread of the many communication paths within a multi-path communication channel. Using the redundant TTs information, then a portion of the finite impulse response of the communication channel, within the time domain, may be zeroed, thereby providing a much improved channel estimate and noise estimate. Using the redundant TTs, less noise is introduced onto the data tones (DTs) within a data frame. The present invention is also able to identify those portions of the TTs that are attributable to the actual channel and those that are attributable to the channel's noise.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates generally to communication systems; and, more particularly, it relates to a system and method that are operable to provide for improved communication channel estimation using information provided by redundant training tones (TTs)/pilot tones.
2. Related Art
Communication systems transmit digital data through imperfect communication channels. These symbols may undergo some undesirable corruption due to the imperfection of the communication channel. One effort to try to avoid such situations is focused on performing forward error correction (FEC) coding. However, there is typically some difficulty in extracting the information contained within these symbols after they have been undesirably altered within the communication channel. There exist some methods that seek to curb the effect that the communication channel has had on the data; one such method includes employing using Decision Feedback Equalizers (DFEs). However, even after the incoming signal has been equalized, the extraction of the data, that has undergone some alteration due to the channel effects, is still a probabilistic determination. Many communication systems seek to estimate the actual channel response of a communication channel. Of the many deficiencies that may be introduced in doing this, one major problem is the undesirable introduction of noise into both the estimate of the channel response as well as the estimate of the channel noise within the communication system.
A current implementation of the Vector Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (VOFDM) standard employs a methodology for characterizing the channel response according to the following: pilot tones or training tones (PTs or TTs) are sampled during multiple sampling periods that are separated in time. Each sampling period corresponds to a block of symbols that has been modulated using the VOFDM method of translating the symbols into the transmission waveform via an FET operation. Each such block of symbols and their resulting FFT-generated waveform will henceforth be termed a frame. In general, a transmission burst consists of multiple frames. TTs are then sampled for each of the frames in a burst transmission. The TTs from a single frame can be processed to produce an estimate of the actual communication channel's channel response embedded in noise. A noise channel estimate may be referred to as a noisy channel response. The TT samples from a multiplicity of frames are processed to produce the estimate of the channel response. Generally speaking, the average of the multiplicity of noisy channel responses is considered to be the channel response, while the difference between noisy channel responses and this average is considered to be noise. Noise estimates are necessary in the VOFDM processing, as well as within processing a channel response estimate.
As an example, an embodiment employing two frames in a transmission burst is considered. The two TT sample groups (TTs in frame one, and TTs in frame two) are processed to produce their noisy channel responses, and these two noisy channel responses are averaged to produce the channel response. The difference between the two TT samples' noisy channel responses is considered to be noise of the communication channel.
While this prior art methodology may appear to work satisfactorily for very slowly time varying channels or for non-time varying channels (static communication channels), the prior art methodology simply fails to produce a channel response that adequately tracks rapidly changing channels. Also, this methodology requires a minimum of two upstream frames per upstream transmission burst, unless it is otherwise guaranteed that multiple grants, closely spaced in time, are provided for each user.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional systems will become apparent to one of skill in the art through comparison of such systems with the invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.


A time synchronization method for a communication system configured to perform protection switching, the communication system including a first network in which a master station and a slave station are connected via plural physical lines including a working line and a backup line and a second network connected to the slave station, the method including a time synchronization in which the slave station executes, when not detecting a communication failure of a downlink signal transmitted from the master station, synchronization processing for synchronizing, based on a clock of the slave station and timing information, time information transmitted to the second network with time information included in a time synchronization command and suppresses, when detecting a communication failure or receiving a switching notification from the master station apparatus, a synchronization error due to a difference between the clock of the slave station and the timing information.

In a precise time synchronization protocol IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) 1588 standard, a plurality of nodes connected to a network can share time information by exchanging the time information on the network. When the nodes conforming to the IEEE 1588 standard receive time information from adjacent nodes, the nodes correct time information taking into account a propagation delay of a communication path, prevent occurrence of an error of the time information due to the propagation delay, and realize a high-precision synchronization. Therefore, a measurement of the propagation delay on the communication path has to be accurately performed.
On the other hand, to improve failure resistance on the communication path, a redundant system in which a communication path among nodes is configured by a plurality of lines has been devised.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-119345 discloses an optical communication system in which an OLT (Optical Line Terminal: a station side terminating apparatus) and a star coupler are connected by two redundant optical fibers (Patent Literature 1).
WO 2008/126162 discloses a protection system that switches a line in use from a working optical fiber to a backup optical fiber when an OLT does not receive an uplink signal from an ONU (Optical Network Unit: a user side terminating apparatus) for a fixed time (Patent Literature 2).

Time synchronization method for communication system, slave station apparatus, master station apparatus, control device, and program


A printing apparatus is disclosed.

Inkjet printers operate using a print head including a plurality of nozzles, which spray ink directly onto a print medium. Print head nozzles often become clogged with ink or particulates resulting in inefficient operation of the print heads and reduced print quality. Therefore, inkjet printers usually include a service station that provides functions for maintenance of the print heads. In order to provide this printer functionality, conventional printers employ multiple drive motors. This adds considerable expense and complexity to the printing device. Accordingly, the ever-increasing demand for printing devices, such as inkjet printers, to provide high quality printing while minimizing manufacturing costs motivates the need to look for an alternative solution to accomplish this printer functionality.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is disclosed.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


The present invention provides a porcelain enamel coating composition for use in forming a coating composition upon a metal substrate having an infrared reflectivity of at least 50% at 2.5 .mu.-microns measured with a Perkin Elmer Lambda 19 UV/VIS/NIR spectrometer with a labsphere RSA-PE 19 reflectance spectroscopy accessory. The coating composition comprises a glass component and a separate and distinct addition of cerium oxide. Preferably, the coating composition comprises from about 0.20% to about 3.0% by weight of the cerium oxide.

In certain oven cooking applications it is advantageous to have a coating on the inside of the oven cavity that reflects radiant energy. Unfortunately, most coating materials exhibit characteristics which are not ideal for the reflection of radiant energy or energy characterized by infrared radiation. Generally, the absorption characteristics of most coatings have not been engineered to achieve a high degree of reflectivity. Additionally, the matrix or body of the coating may have an overriding effect on the reflectivity of the coating.
Enhanced thermal reflectivity of a coating over a range of wave lengths has a number of important benefits in certain applications. These include better thermal management in devices used to process any variety of materials via heating, such as, for example, an oven that is utilized to cook food.
Porcelain enamel coating materials are well-known and used extensively to coat the interiors of heating devices such as ovens. Examples of such porcelain enamel coating materials and methods for applying such coatings may be found for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,204,021, 4,110,487, 4,085,021 and 3,928,668.
Unfortunately, the ability of conventional porcelain enamel coating materials to reflect radiation is minimal.

Reflective porcelain enamel coating compositions


Method for the improved packing of stemmed produce in produce containers, and apparatus to perform the method. The present invention teaches a methodology based on the use of a packaging adaptor for insertion into a produce container, such as a berry basket. The adapter is formed as a substantially hollow, box-like structure having at least one and preferably a plurality of apertures defined in an upper surface thereof. The adapter, inserted into the container defines a first, lower compartment and a second, upper compartment. The adapter is inserted in the container, and the stem of the fruit, for instance a strawberry, is inserted therein. The stems are retained in the first compartment and the body of the fruit in the second compartment. In this manner, the relatively soft body of the fruit is precluded from contact with, and damage from, the relatively tough, woody stem portion of fruit.

Strawberries are generally packed as loose berries into baskets, and this packaging form is well known to consumers. Such berries typically packed with little or no stem remaining on the berry. This removal of the stem from the berry is typically conducted by pickers in the field, although sometimes performed by the berry packers.
In addition to the common form of strawberries previously discussed, there exists a premium market for gourmet berries, often used by confectioners. These berries are characterized by having a substantially longer section of stem attached to the berry as it is sold to the user, and are often significantly larger and may be more perfect than berries sold either to the home consumer or to berry processors. The purpose of the elongate stem left attached to the berry is to provide both an improved appearance, and to serve as a handle. The stem in its use as a handle is often employed for dipping the berries into a confection material, for instance chocolate or the like.
A problem exists for the packers of such premium long-stemmed berries in that existing packaging methodologies, for instance the simple use of berry baskets, allow the relatively tough, woody stems to remain in contact with the relatively soft, pulpy flesh of the fruit itself during both packing and transit. This contact between the stems and the flesh often leads to unacceptable levels of fruit damage and ultimately product rejection by the consumer. What is needed is a methodology which isolates the relatively tough, woody stems of berries, especially strawberries, from the relatively soft, pulpy flesh thereof during packing and transit. The methodology should be capable of implementation with a variety of currently existing packaging products. Optimally, the methodology, and the apparatus which practices the methodology, should arrange the berries in an appealing configuration for the end consumer. Additionally, the methodology should be efficient in the use of package volume thereby retaining efficiencies of shipping.


The present invention is directed to the use of agents that induce high levels of cell surface molecules to provide targets for immunotoxins directed against the same cell surface molecules. A specific example is given in which all-trans-retinoic acid (RA) is used to induce high levels of CD38 cell surface antigen expression in several myeloid and lymphoid leukemia cells. CD38 was then used as target for delivering plant toxin (gelonin) to leukemia cells. Treatment of leukemia cells with RA induced high levels of CD38 in those cells that otherwise had low CD38 expression. The RA-induced leukemia cells then became exquisitely sensitive to an immunotoxin constructed from an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody conjugated to the plant toxin gelonin.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the fields of immunology and tumor biology. More specifically, the present invention relates to treatment for the enhancement of CD38 protein expression in target tumor cells to increase the cytotoxicity of anti-CD38 based immunotoxins.
2. Description of the Related Art
The use of monoclonal antibodies for delivering drugs or toxins to distinct molecular structures expressed on the surface of unwanted tumor cells represents an attractive and potentially useful strategy. Theoretically, such a targeted approach to cancer therapy could offer a major advance in the selective elimination of tumor cells while reducing the toxicity of treatment towards normal non-target tissues. Nevertheless, in practice many problems exist that need to be addressed before immunotoxin or antibody-drug therapies can be truly effective in vivo.
One potential limitation to the success of any targeted approach to therapy is the heterogeneity of target antigen expression within a population of tumor cells. It follows that if a small number of cells within a tumor were negative for the target antigen or expressed the antigen only very weakly, then these cells could possibly escape destruction due to a failure of antibody-mediated delivery of the cytotoxic agent to those particular cells. A possible means of overcoming this problem would be to identify agents that induce high levels of cell surface target molecules, in the expectation that target tumor cells which were antigen negative would express these target molecules in abundance.
All-trans-retinoic acid (RA) is an agent that induces high levels of CD38 cell surface antigen expression in several myeloid and lymphoid leukemia cells. Retinoic acid-induced expression of CD38 in these cells is specific, rapid, dose-dependent, and highly sensitive, with 4-fold induction at as low a dose of retinoic acid as 10−13 M. The induction of CD38 expression by retinoic acids has been shown to involve the RARα retinoid receptor. RAR receptors form heterodimers with RXR receptors; the RXR/RAR heterodimer then interacts with DNA sequences known as retinoic acid response elements (RARE's) which are involved in retinoid-induced transcription.
CD38 is a 45-kDa cell surface protein which is primarily expressed by early progenitor and mature activated cells of the hematopoetic system. It is a transmembrane glycoprotein with a short N-terminal cytoplasmic domain and a long C-terminal extracellular domain. The extracellular domain has been shown to be a bifunctional enzyme having ADP-ribosyl cyclase as well as ADP-ribosyl hydrolase activities in that it catalyzes the conversion of NAD+ to cADPR (cyclase) and can further hydrolyze it to ADP-ribose (hydrolase). cADPR is involved in the mobilization of calcium from intracellular stores which is a second messenger activity important for cellular proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. CD38 is believed to act as a receptor for an unidentified ligand and to act as a cell adhesion molecule by interacting with CD31. Experiments in which CD38 function was activated by monoclonal antibodies directed against it have implicated CD38 in proliferation of mature B lymphocytes and myeloid leukemia cells, rescue of germinal center cells from apoptosis, and growth suppression of stroma-supported cultures of B-cell progenitors as well as induction of the cytokines IL-6, IGN-g, GM-CSF, and IL-10. In addition, it has been shown to signal an increase in TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, and IL-8 transcription in myeloid leukemia cells.
The prior art is deficient in the lack of a method to induce the expression of a target molecule for immunotherapy of tumor and other disease-causing cells. The present invention fulfills this longstanding need and desire in the art.

Potentiation of anti-CD38-Immunotoxin cytotoxicity


A method of fabricating a stack capacitor. Using self-aligned method by the formation of spacers on the poly-silicon layer, a stack capacitor is formed by using photo-lithography and etching only once.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method of fabricating an dynamic random access memory (DRAM), and more particularly to a method of fabricating a capacitor with a higher capacitance in a DRAM, by increasing surface area of an electrode.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the function of a microprocessor becomes more and more powerful, the program and calculation of a software becomes more and more complicated, and thus, the required capacitance of a memory is larger and larger. FIG. 1 shows a circuit diagram of a conventional DRAM. A memory cell comprises a transfer transistor 10 and a storing capacitor 11. The source region of the transfer transistor 10 is coupled with a corresponding bit line 12, whereas the gate is coupled with a corresponding word line 13. The drain region of the transfer transistor 10 electrically connects with the storing electrode 14, that is, the bottom electrode of the capacitor 11. The plate electrode 15, that is, the top electrode or the cell electrode, connects with a constant voltage source. A dielectric layer 16 is formed between the storing electrode and the plate electrode.
The capacitor is the heart for storing input signal in a DRAM. For a large amount of charges to be stored in a capacitor, it is more frequent that an soft error is caused by noise, such as an .alpha. particle, during data access, and therefore, the refresh frequency is reduced. Several ways are available to increase the storing capacitance of a capacitor. (1) Using a dielectric layer with a higher dielectric constant, the storing charge per unit area is increased. (2) To decrease the thickness of the dielectric layer, a higher capacitance can be obtained. However, the quality of the dielectric layer restricts the thickness of the dielectric layer to a certain value. (3) By increasing the surface area of a capacitor, the amount of charges stored in a capacitor is increased. However, with increasing the surface area of a capacitor, the integration of a device is decreased.
For a conventional DRAM with a smaller amount of storing charges, a two dimensional planar type capacitor is adapted in a integrated circuit. The planar type capacitor occupies a sizeable surface area on the substrate, and therefore, not suitable for the use in a high integrated circuit. To achieve a high integration, a three dimensional structure of a capacitor, such as a stacked type or a trench type capacitor is adapted. However, as the integration becomes further higher, a pure three dimensional capacitor can not meet the requirement to be used. A method of increasing capacitance in a small area of a capacitor in a DRAM is developed.
Referring to FIG. 2a to FIG. 2c, a conventional method of fabricating a stack capacitor in a DRAM is shown. Referring to FIG. 2a, on a semiconductor substrate 200, a metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) comprising a source/drain region 201, a gate 203, a field oxide layer 202, a oxide layer 204, and a poly-via 205 are formed. The poly-via 205 penetrates through the oxide layer 204 to electrically connects the source/drain region 201 of the MOS.
Referring to FIG. 2b, a poly-silicon layer 206 is formed on the oxide layer 206, for example, by using chemical vapour deposition (CVD). The poly-silicon layer 206 is then defined by photo-lithography and etching as shown in the figure.
Referring to FIG. 2c, using photo-lithography and etching, the poly-silicon layer 206 is further defined to formed as a bottom electrode 206a. On the bottom electrode 206a, a dielectric layer 207 and a top electrode are formed sequentially to complete a stack capacitor structure in a DRAM.
Referring to FIG. 3, a stacked type capacitor of a DRAM is shown. A semiconductor substrate 30 comprising a MOS transistor 32 which includes a gate 33, a source/drain region 34 and a spacer 35, a field oxide layer 36, and a conductive layer 37 is provided. An insulation layer 38 is formed and patterned over the substrate 30, so that a contact window is formed to expose the source/drain region 34. A bottom electrode 39, a dielectric layer 310, and a top electrode 311 is formed within and on the contact window in sequence to complete the stacked type capacitor 312. The dielectric layer 310 includes a nitride/oxide layer (ON) or an oxide/nitride/oxide (ONO) layer. The bottom electrode 39 and the top electrode 311 include poly-silicon layer. The bottom electrode 39 includes a ragged structure. After the process of forming metal contact and insulation passivation layers, the formation of a DRAM is completed.
In the conventional method of fabricating a capacitor of a DRAM, by improving the topography of a capacitor, for example, forming a ragged surface, the capacitance is increased. However, the increase of capacitance is not enough to meet the requirement of a further smaller devices. In addition, the fabrication process is complex for the conventional method. For example, in the above method, two steps of photolithography and etching steps are in use. Therefore, the possibility of causing a misalignment and an error during exposure is increased. The reliability of device is lowered, the device is degraded, and the production cost is increased.


Unique compounds that can be used for inducing an immune response to Borrelia burgdorferi in a subject by administering a therapeutically effective amount of the glycolipid to the subject. Such administration is particularly useful for preventing or treating Lyme disease in a subject. The compounds(s), and therapeutically acceptable salts thereof, may be formulated into pharmaceutical or immunogenic compositions.

Lyme disease is a zoonosis caused by the tick-borne spirochaete B. burgdorferi (Steere et al., N. Engl. J. Med., 308:733-740, 1983). When a susceptible host is bitten by an Ixodes tick, B. burgdorferi organisms enter the skin. B. burgdorferi spirochaetes are helically shaped, motile cells with an outer cell membrane that surrounds a protoplasmic cylinder complex, consisting of the cytoplasm, the cell wall, the inner cell membrane and the flagella which are located not at the cell surface but in the periplasmic space between the outer cell membrane and the protoplasmic cylinder. The outer cell membrane and the flagella are assumed to play an important role in the host-parasite interactions during the disease and have been subjected to several investigations, identifying major surface-exposed proteins as important immunogens (Barbour et al., J. Clin. Invest. 72:504-515, 1983).
In humans the initial skin manifestation is termed erythema chronicum migrans (ECM) whereas a long-standing infection of the skin produces acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans (Asbrink et al., Acta Derm. Venereol. 64:506-512, 1984). The Borrelia organisms also enter the circulatory system of the host and are distributed to various organs, including the brain and joints (Barbour et al., Microbiol. Rev. 50:381-400, 1986). A secondary spread of the pathogens produces a variety of clinical syndromes, including lymphocytic meningoradiculitis (Pfister et al., J. Neurol. 118:1-4, 1984), myocarditis (Steere et al., Ann. Intern. Med. 93:8-10, 1980) and chronic arthritis (Steere et al., Ann. Intern. Med. 90:286-291, 1979). In many patients the infection of some tissues, particularly the brain and joints, persists for years and can be severely disabling. These forms of chronic Lyme disease are a consequence of the host's inability to rid itself of the infectious agent and perhaps the development of an autoimmune reaction (Steere et al., Ann. Intern. Med. 99:76-82, 1983).
It has been shown that the earliest IgM antibodies formed against antigens of the B. burgdorferi strain B31, which was deposited in the American Type Culture Collection in 1983 with the Accession No. ATCC 35210, are directed against a genus-specific flagellar polypeptide termed flagellin having a molecular weight of 41 kd (Craft et al., J. Clin. Invest. 78:934-939, 1986) and which reacts with monoclonal antibody H9724 (Barbour et al., Infect. Immun. 52:549-554, 1986). IgG antibodies are also first directed to the 41 kd flagellin, but with advancing disease IgG antibodies form against other immunogens, especially against two abundant proteins with molecular weights of 31 kd and 34 kd. These two proteins, which have been denoted OspA (31 kd) and OspB (34 kd), have been found to be located at the B. burgdorferi surface and embedded in its outer fluid cell membrane (Barbour et al., J. Clin. Invest. 72:504-515, 1983).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,617 discloses the use of inactivated whole B. burgdorferi spirochaetes as a vaccine against Lyme disease. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 6,203,798 teaches the use of protein antigens, OspA and OspB as vaccine candidates. However, as of Feb. 25, 2002, the manufacturer announced that the LYMErix™ Lyme disease vaccine that includes OspA will no longer be commercially available.
Thus, a need remains for a reagent that can be used to produce an immune response against B. burgdorferi, such as a protective immune response, in order to produce an effective vaccine to prevent Lyme disease.

Cholesterol-containing compounds and their use as immunogens against

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services


To facilitate transmission of a sounding reference signal (SRS) on an uplink carrier of a telecommunication system, a shifted SRS is created, wherein a predefined frequency domain position of a SRS is shifted for creation of the shifted SRS, thereby creating an extended SRS region including at least one additional RB being separate from the predefined frequency domain position of the SRS.

Data transmission is performed on a Physical Uplink Shared Channel(PUSCH). In order to be able to schedule the PUSCH, a base station (eNodeB) receives a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) transmitted from a user equipment(UE). The SRS is used by the eNodeB, e.g. to estimate the uplink channel quality. The uplink channel quality is further used for determining the resource block (RB) allocation and for determining the applied modulation and coding scheme of the PUSCH transmission.
However, in LTE Rel-10 system, the SRS transmission scheme is designed based on the presence of a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH). In a case that the PUCCH is removed for a non-backwards compatible Uplink Secondary Component Carrier (UL SCC), proper and efficient scheduling decisions are difficult to make, since the SRS transmission has been optimized for a backwards compatible UL SCC having a different configuration. Due to these difficulties, a non-optimal scheduling happens, which does not make use of all available resources in the system.