A system and method to synchronize and reconcile objects are described. The system includes a memory device storing a first baseline including a set of first objects associated with a respective set of first identifiers and a second baseline including a set of second objects associated with a respective set of second identifiers. The system also includes a processor configured to determine a kinship among the set of first objects and the set of second objects based on the set of first identifiers and the set of second identifiers and to create a new baseline based on reconciling any conflict identified by the kinship.

Synchronization and reconciliation of multiple versions is a necessary process in many contexts. For example, object-oriented programming involves the interaction among a plurality of objects to implement a computer application. Each object includes data fields and associated procedures (methods). Distributed objects are spread over multiple computers or multiple processors within a computer. Different objects may be managed by different users on different systems. For example, an object may be edited by one user to create a new object while the object is modified by another user. More than one editor may modify the same object. Ultimately, synchronization and reconciliation are needed to clarify the hierarchy and most recent version that should be used when the objects interact with each other.
One of the current approaches to managing multi-version environments is by maintaining a single-version-of-truth. In a distributed object system, for example, this involves a single server managing all the objects and permitting only one client to work with the same object at a time. Changes made and committed at the client are reflected in the version maintained by the server. An object check-out and check-in process may be used to implement the single-version-of-truth approach.

Synchronization and reconciliation through identification


A neural stimulator, suitable for implanting in a recipient, and configured to combine vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) with cochlear stimulation, to result in faster adaptation to new sounds and maps, and alleviation of tinnitus in the recipient.

Hearing loss, which may be due to many different causes, is generally of two types, conductive and/or sensorineural. Conductive hearing loss occurs when the normal mechanical pathways of the outer and/or middle ear are impeded, for example, by damage to the ossicular chain or ear canal. Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when there is damage to the inner ear, or to the nerve pathways from the inner ear to the brain.
Individuals who suffer from conductive hearing loss typically have some form of residual hearing because the hair cells in the cochlea are undamaged. As such, individuals suffering from conductive hearing loss typically receive an auditory prosthesis that generates motion of the cochlea fluid. Such auditory prostheses include, for example, acoustic hearing aids, bone conduction devices, and direct acoustic stimulators.
In many people who are profoundly deaf, however, the reason for their deafness is sensorineural hearing loss. Those suffering from some forms of sensorineural hearing loss are unable to derive suitable benefit from auditory prostheses that generate mechanical motion of the cochlea fluid. Such individuals can benefit from implantable auditory prostheses that stimulate nerve cells of the recipient's auditory system in other ways (such as electrical, optical, and others). Cochlear implants are often proposed when the sensorineural hearing loss is due to the absence or destruction of the cochlea hair cells, which transduce acoustic signals into nerve impulses.
A major task faced by a new cochlear implant recipient is to learn how to interpret the unfamiliar sounds being presented after initial switch-on of the device. This task has been likened to learning a new language.
Attempts to assist habilitation or rehabilitation of new cochlear implant recipients have included expensive and time consuming consultations with audiologists and other clinicians.
Many recipients of cochlear implants for treatment of hearing loss also suffer from tinnitus. Tinnitus is a form of hearing impairment that afflicts millions of people, but its origins are poorly understood and it has proved to be difficult to treat. Symptomatically, a tinnitus sufferer endures the permanent presence of a continuous sound in one or both ears. The sound can be as varied as a constant-pitch buzzing, a whistle, so called "white noise", or a roar. Attempts to treat the condition are hampered by the fact that its origins are poorly understood. Today there is no actual cure, and most approaches are based on a form of "sound masking". At best, to date, the only relief that it has been possible to bring to tinnitus sufferers is to provide a distraction from the noise, rather than a diminution of it. Most tinnitus suppression devices are, in effect, learning devices: they attempt to train the sufferer to concentrate, consciously at first, and later subconsciously, on frequencies away from the tinnitus frequency.
These recipients could reduce the severity of the impact of tinnitus if they could learn how to concentrate on frequencies away from the tinnitus frequency. A recipient may face similar challenges after an existing implant is adjusted or modified to take account of updated sound processing technology, or as part of the process of optimizing the recipient's overall experience. However, today, there are only a small number of adjustments that can be made to the implant itself. This is despite recent improvements in sound processing strategies and the development of advanced techniques for programming the devices. Thus, a cochlear implant recipient faces the reality that they will undergo surgery to receive a device which will undoubtedly correct for their hearing loss in a measurable way but may still provide little or no relief from other symptoms such as tinnitus, and may also require considerable effort on the part of the recipient to achieve further gains.
It is desired to at least ameliorate the drawbacks of prior arrangements.
The discussion of the background herein is included to explain the context of the technology. This is not to be taken as an admission that any of the material referred to was published, known, or was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of any of the claims found appended hereto.
Throughout the description and claims of the application the word "comprise" and variations thereof, such as "comprising" and "comprises", is not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.


A vibration control apparatus accepts, from a user, correction information designating the content of correction in vibrating a vibration device, and vibrates the vibration device in accordance with the content of an accepted vibration instruction corrected to reflect the correction information.

Some of the devices worn or manually held by a user, such as the operating device for use in connection with a home-use game machine, are equipped with a vibration mechanism that vibrates the device partially or entirely. The vibration device furnished with the vibration mechanism presents the user with vibrations by activating the mechanism in a suitably timed manner.


The input stage of an operational amplifier includes at least four signal-receiving stages adapted to receive four input signals. If the voltage level associated with any of the input signal changes, at least one transistor in each of the at least four signal-receiving stages conducts more current and at least one transistor in each of these stages conducts less current. The four signal-receiving stages collectively generate four intermediate signals that are delivered to the output stage of the differential amplifier, which in response, generates a pair of differential output signals. Two of the input signals are derived from the pair of differential output signals and are fed back to the input stage of the amplifier.

Operational amplifiers (op amp) are widely used in electronic circuits to amplify signals. An op amp is adapted to receive a pair of input signals and generates either a pair of differential output signals or a single-ended output signal. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional differential op amp 10 that receives a pair of differential input signals IN and IP—via resistors 18 and 16—and, in response, generates a pair of differential output signals OUTN and OUTP.
Op amp 10 has only two primary inputs, INN and INP; hence it must be connected in the inverting mode, therefore, as the voltage difference between applied input signals IN and IP, respectively, swings positively, the voltage difference generated across output signals OUTN and OUTP swings negatively. Similarly, as the voltage difference between applied input signals IN and IP, respectively, swings negatively, the voltage difference generated across output signals OUTN and OUTP swings positively. Signal CM is used as the common mode voltage level of op am 10. Resistors 12, 14 are feedback resistors, that together with resistors 16, 18, are used to vary the voltage gain of op amp 10. Signals Biasp1, Biasp2 and Biasn1 are used for biasing various transistors disposed in op amp 10.
FIG. 2 is a more detailed transistor/block schematic diagram of op amp 10 having a rail to rail input range (i.e., from most positive voltage supply to the most negative voltage supply). As seen from FIG. 2, op amp 10 includes an input stage 30 and an output stage 100, each of which is described in more detail below.
FIG. 3 is a transistor schematic diagram of input stage 30 of op amp 10. Input stage 30 includes a pair of source-coupled pair amplifiers, namely source-coupled pair amplifiers 40 and 45. Source-coupled pair amplifier 40 includes NMOS transistors 32 and 34. Source-coupled pair amplifier 45 includes PMOS transistors 36 and 38. Signal D generated at the drain terminal of NMOS transistor 32 is delivered to output terminal OUTP of op amp 10 via capacitor C10 (see FIG. 2). Signal C generated at the drain terminal of NMOS transistor 34 is delivered to output terminal OUTN of op amp 10 via capacitor C5. Signal A generated at the drain terminal of PMOS transistor 36 is delivered to output terminal OUTN of op amp 10 via capacitor C20. (see FIG. 2). Signal B generated at the drain terminal of PMOS transistor 38 is delivered to output terminal OUTP of op amp 10 via capacitor C 15.
FIG. 4 is a transistor schematic diagram of a class AB (push-pull) output stage 100 of op amp 10. Output stage 100 includes, in part, a common-mode feedback circuit 150, and a pair of floating current mirrors. The first floating current mirror includes transistors 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 126 and 128. The second floating current mirror includes transistors 114, 116, 118, 120, 122 and 124, 126, 128, 130 and 132. The operation of op amp 10 is described below.
Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, source-couple pair amplifiers 40 and 45 control the voltages applied to transistors 128, 132, 126 and 130, respectively via signals A, B, C, and D by steering the flow of the current through the first and second floating current mirrors. If the voltage applied to input terminal INP is higher than that applied to input terminal INN, transistors 32 and 36 become more conductive (i.e., conduct more current) whereas transistors 34 and 38 conduct less current. This, in turn, causes transistors 116 and 110 to conduct less current, and transistors 104 and 122 to conduct more current. Consequently, transistors 130 and 128 conduct more current whereas transistors 132 and 126 conduct less current. Accordingly, output voltage signal OUTP rises and output voltage signal OUTN falls until these voltages settle at new values because of the feedback action.
If the voltage applied to input terminal INN is higher than that applied to input terminal NP, transistors 32 and 36 conduct less current whereas transistors 34 and 38 conduct more current. This, in turn, causes transistors 116 and 110 to conduct more current, and transistors 104 and 122 to conduct less current. Consequently, transistors 130 and 128 conduct less current whereas transistors 132 and 126 conduct more current. Accordingly, output voltage signal OUTN rises and output voltage signal OUTP falls until these voltages settle at new values because of the feedback action.
FIG. 5 is a transistor schematic diagram of common-mode feedback circuit (hereinafter alternatively referred to as CMFB) 150. CMFB 150 receives signals OUTP, OUTN, BIASP1, and CM, as well as supply voltages VDD, VSS. In response, CMFB 150, generates output signal FB that is applied to the gate terminals of transistors 112, and 124 (see FIG. 4). CMFB 150 includes a source-coupled pair amplifier 170, a common-mode voltage sensor 160 and a pair of diode connected transistors 158, and 156. Common-mode voltage sensor 160 includes resistors 162, 164 and capacitors 166, 168. Source-coupled pair amplifier 170 which includes PMOS transistors 152 and 154 compares the voltage signal G generated by common-mode voltage sensor 160 and that is applied to the gate terminal of PMOS transistor 152 with signal CM, and in response, generates feed-back signal FB.
If signal G has a higher voltage than signal CM, transistor 152 becomes less conductive. Therefore, voltage signal FB decreases in value. Consequently, each of transistors 110, 112, 122, and 124 conducts less current. This causes the voltages of nodes N1, N2 (see FIG. 4), which are respectively connected to the drain terminals of transistors 110 and 122 to rise. The rise in the voltage at node N1 causes transistor 128 to conduct more current. Similarly, the rise in the voltage at node N2 causes transistor 132 to conduct more current. Accordingly, output voltages OUTP and OUTN fall until their common-mode voltage becomes substantially equal to the voltage CM.
Conversely, if signal G has a lower voltage than signal CM, transistor 152 becomes more conductive. Therefore, voltage signal FB increases in value. Consequently, each of transistors 110, 112, 122, and 124 conducts more current. This causes the voltages of nodes N1, N2 to decrease. The decrease in the voltage at node N1 causes transistor 128 to conduct less current. Similarly, the decrease in the voltage at node N2 causes transistor 132 to conduct less current. Accordingly, output voltages OUTP and OUTN rise until their common-mode voltage becomes substantially equal to the voltage CM.
As seen from FIG. 1, op amp 10 must be connected in the inverting mode. An amplifier (not shown) in a previous stage and driving this inverting mode amplifier is required to drive the resistive loads 18 and 16 associated with op amp 10. A simple CMOS source-follower amplifier would face difficulty in driving the resistive load associated with op amp 10 because the output impedance of such a CMOS source-follower amplifier is often much larger than the output impedance of the relevant bipolar transistors of the previous bipolar stage. This may cause the amplitude of output signals OUTP and OUTN to exceed the desired limits. Furthermore, op amp 10 has a limited bandwidth in the inverting mode comparing to the non-inverting mode.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a non-inverting differential amplifier 200, as known in the prior art, that overcomes some of the problems described above in connection with op amp 10. Differential amplifier 200 receives input signals IN, and IP and includes a first single-end output operational amplifier 210, and a second single-end output operational amplifier 220. Input signal IP is applied to input terminal INP of differential amplifier 220 and input signal IN is applied to input terminal INP of differential amplifier 210. Input terminal INN of differential amplifier 210 is coupled to a first terminal of resistor 214. Input terminal INN of differential amplifier 220 is coupled to a second terminal of resistor 214. Resistors 212 and 216 couple the first and second terminal of resistor 214 to the output terminals of differential amplifier 210 and 220. Because differential amplifier 200 includes two amplifiers, namely amplifier 210, and 220, it requires more semiconductor surface area to fabricate and also consumes more power to operate.


An equalizing injection wash tool includes a plurality of interconnectable wash tool segments. Each of the segments provides a flow applicator nozzle for transmitting fluid/and or solid from the interior flowbore of the wash tool and into the surrounding formation. Each segment preferably features a plurality of nozzle pipes and nozzles which are oriented about the cross-sectional circumference of the segment in an angularly spaced orientation to provide for a flow pattern that is substantially equalized in an angular manner. In a preferred embodiment, the nozzle pipes have a length that extends into the flowbore of a neighboring wash tool segment.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to wellbore injection tools and methods for injection of wellbore chemicals or other fluids and/or solids.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wellbore injection tools are used to inject solvents, proppants, or other materials within a formation of earth surrounding a wellbore. Typically, such injection is used to increase the potential recovery of hydrocarbons from a formation. Injection tools can also be used to inject waste fluids into the earth.


A user can edit an XML data file offline without the user having to discover or deploy a solution for the XML data file. A processing instruction (PI) in the XML data file is read to determine the solution's origin. The PI contains an entity that can be a href attribute that points to a URL, a name, a target having a character string identifying the application that created an electronic form associated with the XML data file, or a href attribute and at least one of a PI version and a product version. Security precautions for executing the solution based on the solution's origin are determined and the solution is silently installed from a source other than the solution's origin within a sandbox enforcing the security precautions. Deployment within a sandbox limits the operations that the solution application can perform.

Extensible markup language (XML) is increasingly becoming the preferred format for transferring data. XML is a tag-based hierarchical language that is extremely rich in terms of the data that it can be used to represent. For example, XML can be used to represent data spanning the spectrum from semi-structured data (such as one would find in a word processing document) to generally structured data (such as that which is contained in a table). XML is well-suited for many types of communication including business-to-business and client-to-server communication. For more information on XML, XSLT, and XSD (schemas), the reader is referred to the following documents which are the work of, and available from, the W3C (World Wide Web consortium): XML Schema Part 2: Datatypes; XML Schema Part 1: Structures, and XSL Transformations (XSLT) Version 1.0; and XML 1.0 second edition specification.
One of the reasons that data files written in XML are often preferred for transferring data is that XML data files contain data, rather than a combination of data and the software application needed to edit the data. One problem with XML data files, however, is that to edit an XML data file, a user needs to first install a solution software application used to access, view, and edit the data file.
When a user is online, his computer can run a host application capable of accessing the Internet, such as Microsoft® Internet Explorer®, which can silently discover and deploy a solution that enables the user to author and access a corresponding XML data file.
If a user wishes to save an XML data file for later, offline use, however, the user may encounter various problems. In some cases, a user wishing to reopen an XML data file offline will not be able to do so because he can no longer discover and deploy the XML data file's solution application. The user can no longer discover a solution if he is no longer online and the solution is accessible only online. In other cases, a user can access and deploy the solution application, but to do so the user must proactively discover the solution's name and where on his computer it resides, which a user may not know. And sometimes, a user's host application discovers the solution's name and where it resides, but the user has to instruct his computer to deploy the solution application, rather than the computer automatically opening the solution file when the user attempts to open the corresponding XML data file.
Even in those cases where a user can continue to author and access an XML data file offline by actively installing the XML data file's solution application, there often is another problem. When a user instructs his host application to open a solution for an XML data file, his host application may trust the solution, thereby setting the user's computer at risk. A solution originally accessed online could, for instance, contain a virus or worm. When the user instructs his host application to install the solution, it could introduce the virus or worm.
Given the foregoing, it would be an advantage in the art to provide editing data files offline that is neither inconvenient nor dangerous.

Offline editing of XML files using a solution


Articles of footwear incorporating one or more sliding elements are described. Such articles include shoes, sandals, boots, and appliances for attachment to any or all of the foregoing. In addition to serving the traditional functions of footwear lacking such sliding elements, such footwear can be used for recreational "grinding," or sliding across hard surfaces having edges, corners, etc.

Articles of footwear, e.g., shoes, boots, and sandals, have long been available. In recent times, numerous specialized types of footwear have been made available for different applications, e.g., running shoes for running and basketball shoes for basketball. Even within these areas, more specialized footwear is available. For example, long distance running shoes combine light weight and shock absorption with other features important to long distance runners, while track "spikes" provide extremely light weight and proper foot support with a spiked sole for optimal traction on track and field surfaces. Likewise, basketball shoes come in many varieties, and include those having low, mid, and high tops for differing amounts of ankle support.
In addition, other types of footwear, such as roller skates, have been developed. Recently, in-line roller skates have gained popularity and are being used for many purposes, ranging from recreational use to fitness training. An exciting and demanding aspect of recreational skating, particularly among adolescents and young adults, is so-called "aggressive" or "street-style" skating. Such skating is best characterized by acrobatic skating stunts and maneuvers, some of which are referred to as "grinding," or sliding across a surface (as opposed to rolling or skating) by engaging a portion of one or both in-line skates, usually an underside portion of a skate frame between two adjacent wheels, or alternatively, a portion of an exposed area of the sole of the skate boot, with a feature on the skating surface, such as an edge or ridge.
However, at present, in order to "grind," a pair of in-line roller skates is required, and thus the opportunities to engage in this activity are limited to those instances when one is wearing or readily has access to such skates.
The present invention overcomes this and other limitations by providing an article of footwear, including but not limited to a shoe, sandal, boot, or appliance for attachment to the any of the foregoing, or, alternatively, directly to a foot, which incorporates one or more features to allow such articles to be useful for grinding. Such articles of footwear preferably also serve the traditional functions for which they were previously used, i.e., walking, running, working, etc. As a result of this invention, those possessing such articles of footwear will have greater opportunity and freedom to grind when and where they desire.


Embodiments of the invention provide a disk drive capable of writing information on data tracks even more positively when a shingle write method is adopted. In one embodiment, the disk drive is characterized in that, when information is to be written on a plurality of adjacent data tracks on a recording medium through the shingle write method, writing of information is controlled by detecting an actual writing position based on servo information recorded on the recording medium and determining whether or not the detected actual writing position meets a predetermined condition.

The present invention relates to a disk drive, such as a hard disk.
In recent years, hard disks have been mounted in various types of equipment, expanding their application areas. Under these circumstances, a number of techniques are proposed to increase information recording capacity, while promoting further reduction in size of the hard disk itself. Among these, a method is typically known, in which data tracks are recorded like a shingle roof such that part of adjacent data tracks is overwritten sequentially from an inner to outer circumference of a recording medium (the method will hereinafter be referred to as a shingle write method). This achieves data tracks, each being narrower than a recording width a magnetic head actually writes.
The aforementioned method, however, involves a problem. Specifically, when, for example, data is written in a k-th data track as counted from the inner circumference, it is necessary to rewrite all data tracks covering from the k-th one to the outermost circumference. To reduce an overhead of this need of rewriting, Patent Document 1 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,063) discloses a technique as detailed in the following.
Specifically, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, two data tracks are paired up to form a group and recording is performed within this group through the shingle write method. More specifically, of the two data tracks included in the group, the data track on the inner circumference side is recorded and then the data track on the outer circumference side is recorded. Part of the data track on the outer circumference side is not overwritten and the data track on the outer circumference side is one having a recording width of the magnetic head.
The technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 permits relatively flexible rewriting of data. Specifically, a read position is varied between odd-numbered data tracks and even-numbered data tracks. This allows the read position to be set by avoiding an overwriting portion (an overlapping portion) of the data tracks paired up into a group (see FIG. 10 of Patent Document 1).

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


The present disclosure relates to a power production system that is adapted to achieve high efficiency power production using partial oxidation of a solid or liquid fuel to form a partially oxidized stream that comprises a fuel gas. This fuel gas stream can be one or more of quenched, filtered, and cooled before being directed to a combustor of a power production system as the combustion fuel. The partially oxidized stream is combined with a compressed recycle CO2 stream and oxygen. The combustion stream is expanded across a turbine to produce power and passed through a recuperator heat exchanger. The expanded and cooled exhaust stream can be further processed to provide the recycle CO2 stream, which is compressed and passed through one or more recuperator heat exchangers in a manner useful to provide increased efficiency to the combined systems.

Conventional means of power production from combustion of a fuel typically lack the ability to simultaneously achieve both high efficiency power generation and carbon capture. This limitation is magnified when using solid fuels in the combustion reaction because of the solid and inert nitrogen gas contents remaining in the combustion product stream. Accordingly, there is an ever growing need in the art for systems and methods for high efficiency power generation allowing for a reduction in CO2 emission and/or improved ease of sequestration of produced carbon dioxide.
One publication in the field of high efficiency power generation with carbon capture, U.S. Pat. No. 8,596,075 to Allam et al., provides one solution whereby a solid fuel such as coal, lignite, pet-coke or biomass is gasified by reaction with oxygen and optionally steam in a partial oxidation reactor operating at a sufficiently high pressure and temperature to allow substantially complete conversion of the solid fuel to a gaseous fuel comprising mainly carbon monoxide and hydrogen as the combustible components together with combustion derived impurities, such as H2S, CS2, carbonyl sulfide (COS), HCN, and NH3. The partially oxidized net product gas is cooled, ash is separated, and it is optionally compressed to allow it to be introduced as fuel into the combustion chamber of the power generation system. The operating pressure of the partial oxidation system and the power generation system can be such that no compression of the fuel gas is required. The power generation system combustor operates with an excess of O2 present following combustion, which ensures that the fuel and combustion derived impurities are converted from the reduced to their oxidized forms comprising predominantly SO2 and NO. The partial oxidation reactor can be provided with transpirationally cooled walls with a high pressure recycle CO2 stream cooling the partial oxidation product gas before ash removal at a temperature level of about 800° C. Further cooling of the partial oxidation gas to about 400° C. is necessary to ensure that all fine ash particles together with solidified volatile inorganic components are condensed and filtered to prevent solid deposition, corrosion, and blockage of down-stream equipment. The cooling of the partial oxidation gas from 800° C. to 400° C. must take place in a heat exchanger with tubes for the high pressure partial oxidation gas that are resistant to metal dusting corrosion due to the Boudouard carbon forming reaction and the high CO partial pressure in the partial oxidation gas. This is shown below in Formula (1).CO+CO═C+CO2  (1)The tubes must be designed to allow periodic water washing to remove solid deposits derived from the condensation of volatile inorganic components present in solid fuels, particularly coal and lignite.
Despite the advances of the above-described publication, the systems and methods described therein still do not provide a most advantageous solution to the problems arising when using solid fuels as a power production combustion fuel. Thus, there remains a need for further systems and methods for high efficiency combustion of solid fuels with carbon capture.

System and method for power production using partial oxidation


A process for producing a semiconductor chip having a substrate and a bump formed on the substrate including (1) forming, on a substrate, a conductor gold for plating to be a base of plating growth; (2) forming a mask for plating on the conductor gold for plating; (3) performing plating using the mask for plating to form the bump and a dummy pattern; (4) removing the mask for plating; (5) etching the conductor gold for plating; and (6) applying a shock to at least the dummy pattern. The amount of side etching of the conductor gold for plating is grasped from a state of separation of the dummy pattern due to the shock in the step (6).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for producing a semiconductor chip including a bump.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electroplating process is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-274266. In the electroplating process, a photoresist is patterned. After growth of plating, a conductor gold for plating is etched and an adhesion improving layer of, for example, TiW is etched. Then, the photoresist is removed, thereby enabling completion of a pattern.
On the other hand, with regard to an ordinary liquid ejection head such as an ink jet recording head, in order to adapt to miniaturization and densification, a technology is proposed in which an electrical control circuit for driving an ejection-energy-generating element is incorporated into a substrate with use of a semiconductor production technology.
Further, in a highly functional ink jet recording head, by forming an ink supply port from a rear surface of the substrate through the substrate and arranging a large number of nozzles on the right and on the left of the opening in the substrate, miniaturization and higher image quality are realized. Such a structure is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-311964.
Further, with regard to the adhesion between a silicon substrate and a nozzle layer, a structure is proposed in which, as a nozzle adhesion improving layer, a polyether amide resin is sandwiched between the substrate and the nozzle layer. Such a structure is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-348290.

Process for producing a semiconductor chip


A plane such as a shoulder plane having at least two set screws positioned in apertures in the body, the set screws adapted to bear against opposite sides of the blade laterally to adjust the blade in position. An adjustment assembly is also provided, where rotation of a knob adjusts longitudinal movement of a traveler component, and laterally pivoting the knob allows lateral movement of the blade to the extent permitted by the set screws. A knob for rotational readjustment of the handle is also provided.

Planes generally include an adjustable blade and are used in woodworking to flatten and smooth a surface. Conventional planes use blades oriented at an angle (generally between about 12° and 45°) to the sole of the plane and, therefore, to the surface being worked.
When using a shoulder plane and cutting into a corner, it is critical to position the blade with the adjacent edge exactly parallel with or projecting slightly from the body on the working side. Traditional shoulder planes require a manual trial and error process to achieve optimal positioning. In addition, shoulder planes are, by nature, very difficult to hold and to manipulate, since no features can permanently project to either side of the body of the plane since one plane side usually registers against a workpiece during use.
Therefore, it would be beneficial to have a shoulder plane that is more easily handled and that has a blade that is more easily positioned.


The present invention provides a fertilizer composition which enables the efficient absorption of a fertilizer such as calcium. Namely, the present invention provides a fertilizer composition comprising a specific anionic surfactant or a hydrophilic nonionic surfactant and a fertilizer as the essential components.

The present invention relates to a fertilizer composition, more specifically to a fertilizer composition to be applied or sprayed to the roots, stems, leaves or fruits of plants for the purpose of preventing the plants from developing physiological lesions due to the deficiency of nutrient elements such as calcium.
Plants require various nutrient elements for their growth, but such elements are not always present copiously in the soil. It is known that plants therefore suffer obstruction of growth when they are not supplied sufficiently with some of the elements. As respects the three major elements of fertilizer, for example, nitrogen (N) is a constituent (i.e. component) element of proteins, phosphorus (P) not only is a constituent (i.e. component) element of nucleic acids and phospholipids but also fulfills an important role in the energy metabolism and the synthesis and decomposition of substances, and potassium (K) discharges physiological functions of metabolism and mass transfer. Insufficient supply of these main components (i.e. elements) generally renders the growth of plants inferior. Further, calcium is an important component constituting plants themselves and cells thereof and plays the important role of balancing the metabolism system. It is, however, prone to cause symptoms of calcium deficiency and induce physiological lesions, for example, tip rot in tomatoes, core rot in white rapes and cabbages, bitter pit in apples, and tip burn in strawberries.
When the soil is deficient in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, it is a general practice to incorporate a chemical fertilizer thereinto. With the purpose of inhibiting the physiological lesions due to the deficiency of calcium, meanwhile, many attempts have been made to incorporate inorganic calcium or the like into the soil to thereby supply calcium to a plant through its roots. More often than not, however, the calcium thus supplied is not thoroughly absorbed into the plant because part of the calcium reacts with atmospheric carbon dioxide and escapes ultimately in the form of calcium carbonate into the underground, because the calcium reacts with other incorporated chemical fertilizer and consequently incurs inactivation, and because such a phenomenon leads to fertilizer application imbalanced between chemical fertilizer and calcium. Even when the calcium is absorbed somehow or other through the root of a plant, it often fails to reach the site at which the physiological lesion actually develops because this element incurs unusual difficulty in migrating inside the system of a plant. When it reaches the site at all, it takes a considerably long time to do so and it therefore fails to exert an immediate effect on the lesion.
In recent years, therefore, attempts have been made to protect plants, which will easily suffer from physiological lesions due to the deficiency of calcium, from such lesions by spraying a calcium fertilizer in the form of an aqueous solution directly on leaves and fruits of the plants.
Known calcium fertilizers to be appliedby the above technique of foliage spray include such water-soluble calcium salts as calcium formate (JP-A 59-137384), calcium acetate (JP-A 60-260487), calcium propionate (JP-A 4-202080), calcium chloride and calcium nitrate and so on. Further, calcium fertilizers obtained by combining highly soluble calcium salts with lowly soluble ones have been also known (JP-A 7-10666). Meanwhile, WO98/06681 publicly opened on Feb. 19, 1998 discloses the addition of heptonic acid or sodium heptonate and a surfactant to fertilizers.
The foliage spray of the aqueous solution of a calcium salt, however, had the problem of poor absorption efficiency because the absorption of calcium through the leaves and the fruits of a plant was generally low. Further, an effort to spray an excess of a fertilizer such as N, P, K or calcium salts for the purpose of enhancing the absorption thereof ironically results in imparting stress to the plant and causing toxic damage to the plant.
The inventors of the present invention have made intensive studies for the purpose of solving the above problems and have found that when a fertilizer composition comprising a combination of a specific anionic surfactant or a hydrophilic nonionic surfactant with a fertilizer, particularly a calcium compound is applied to the roots or leaves of a plant in the form of an aqueous solution or an aqueous dispersion, the plant can efficiently absorb the fertilizer, particularly calcium. The present invention has been accomplished on the basis of this finding.
The present invention provides a fertilizer composition comprising 0.1 to 30% by weight of (A) at least one anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid type surfactants, sulfuric ester type surfactants, phosphoric ester type surfactants and naphthalenesulfonic acid type surfactants or at least one hydrophilic nonionic surfactant, 1 to 60% by weight of (B) a fertilizer, and 0.01 to 10% by weight of (C) an organic acid, exclusive of heptonic acid, or a salt thereof. Hereinafter, xe2x80x9can organic acid, exclusive of heptonic acid, or a salt thereofxe2x80x9d means not only exclusion of heptonic acid but also exclusion of a salt of heptonic acid.
That is, the present invention relates to a fertilizer composition characterized by containing an anionic surfactant selected from among carboxylic acid type surfactants, sulfuric ester type surfactants, phosphoric ester type surfactants and naphthalenesulfonic acid type surfactants or a hydrophilic nonionic surfactant and a fertilizer as the essential components. In particular, it provides a fertilizer composition which permits high-efficiency absorption of the fertilizer into a plant when sprayed on the leaves of the plant in the form of an aqueous solution or an aqueous suspension. Herein, the fertilizer is also a fertilizer-effective component.
Further, the present invention also provides a method for improving the absorption efficiency of the fertilizer (B) for a plant by applying the above fertilizer composition to the roots, stems, leaves or fruits of the plant.
Additionally, the present invention provides a method for supplying the fertilizer (B) to a plant by applying the above fertilizer composition to the roots, stems, leaves or fruits of the plant.
The anionic surfactant to be used in the present invention is one selected from among carboxylic acid type surfactants, sulfuric ester type surfactants, phosphoric ester type surfactants and naphthalenesulfonic acid type surfactants.
Examples of the carboxylic acid type surfactants include fatty acids each having 8 to 20 carbon atoms and salts thereof, polyhydric carboxylic acids and salts thereof, polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether carboxylic acids and salts thereof, polyoxyalkylene alkylamide ether carboxylic acids and salts thereof, rhodinic acid and salts thereof, dimer acids and salts thereof, polymer acids and salts thereof, and tall oil fatty acids and salts thereof. Further, examples of the amino acid type surfactants include acylamino acid salts, salts of acylsarcosine, acyloylmethylaminopropionic acid salts, alkylamino-propionic acid salts, and acylamidoethylhydroxyethyl-methylcarboxylic acid salts; and examples of the imidazoline type surfactants include alkylcarboxy-methylhydroxyethylimidazolinium betaines and alkyl-ethoxycarboxymethylimidazolinium betaines.
Examples of the sulfuric ester type surfactants include alkyl sulfates and salts thereof, polyoxyalkylene alkyl sulfates and salts thereof, polyoxyalkylene alkylphenyl ether sulfates and salts thereof, tristyrenated phenol sulfates and salts thereof, and polyoxyalkylene distyrenated phenol sulfates and salts thereof.
Examples of the phosphoric ester type surfactants include alkyl phosphates and salts thereof, alkylphenyl phosphates and salts thereof, polyoxyalkylene alkyl phosphates and salts thereof, and polyoxyalkylene alkylphenyl phosphates and salts thereof.
Examples of the naphthalenesulfonic acid type surfactants include alkylnaphthalenesulfonic acids, xcex2-naphthalenesulfonic acid-formalin condensates, and alkylnaphthalenesulfonic acid-formalin condensates and salts thereof.
The alkyl or alkenyl chains of these compounds each generally have 8 to 20 carbon atoms, and the salts thereof include alkali metal salts (such as Na salts and K salts), ammonium salts, alkanolamine salts, aliphatic amine salts and so on. Further, the above anionic surfactants may be used each alone or as a mixture of two or more of them.
When any of the above surfactants contains a polyoxyalkylene group, this group is preferred to be a polyoxyethylene group and the number of molecules added is preferred to be in the range of 1 to 50.
The hydrophilic nonionic surfactant to be used in the present invention is one having an HLB value of 5 or above, preferably 8 or above, still preferably 10 or above, as calculated by the Griffin equation. Specific examples thereof include sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylene fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylene glycerin fatty acid esters, polyglycerin fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylene polyglycerin fatty acid esters, sucrose fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylene sucrose fatty acid esters, resin acid esters, polyoxyalkylene resin acid esters, polyoxyalkylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyalkylene alkylphenyl ethers, alkyl (poly)-glucosides and polyoxyalkylene alkyl (poly)glucosides. These nonionic surfactants may be used each alone or as a mixture of two or more of them. In general, the nonionic surfactants each contain as the hydrophobic group a hydrocarbon group having 12 to 18 carbon atoms. With respect to nonionic surfactants having polyoxyalkylene groups, the polyoxyalkylene groups are preferably polyoxyethylene groups wherein the number of molecules added is 1 to 50, still preferably 8 to 40.
Further, anionic and nonionic surfactants other than as the essential components in the present invention, and cationic and amphoteric surfactants may be used in the present invention in combination with the essential components.
The fertilizer composition of the present invention contains a fertilizer in addition to the above specific anionic surfactant or hydrophilic nonionic surfactant. Examples of the fertilizer include inorganic and organic substances containing N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Mo, Cl, Si, Na and other elements, among which calcium compounds are particularly preferable. Examples of the calcium compounds include inorganic calcium salts such as calcium chloride, calcium nitrate, calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, quick lime and slaked lime; salts of calcium with organic acids such as acetic acid, formic acid and lactic acid; and salts of calcium with polyaminocarboxylic acid type chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, and fatty acids, which may be used also as a mixture of two or more of them. In particular, it is preferable to use a water-soluble calcium salt such as calcium chloride, calcium nitrate, calcium formate and calcium gluconate.
The fertilizer composition of the present invention generally comprises the anionic surfactant or the hydrophilic nonionic surfactant in an amount of 0.1 to 30% by weight and a fertilizer, particularly a calcium fertilizer in an amount of 1 to 60% by weight (in terms of calcium salt), and may further contain other optional components and water or a solvent for the balance, though the formulation thereof may be varied at need.
The fertilizer composition of the present invention can be further improved in absorption efficiency by adding thereto an organic acid having a chelating ability or a salt thereof. In particular, it is preferable that the organic acid be a hydroxycarboxylic acid such as citric acid, gluconic acid, malic acid and heptonic acid, an aminocarboxylic acid, still preferably one having a plurality of carboxyl groups and amino groups, e.g., polyaminocarboxylic acid such as ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid, ascorbic acid, or a polybasic acid such as oxalic acid. Examples of the salt include potassium salts, sodium salts, alkanolamine salts and aliphatic amine salts. Such an organic acid (or salt) may be contained in the composition in an amount of 0.01 to 10% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 5% by weight.
Although the fertilizer composition of the present invention may take any form selected from among solutions, flowable powders, wettable powders (as hydrates), granules (as particles) , dusts (fine powders) and so on, aqueous liquid forms are particularly preferable from the standpoint of easiness of preparation of a dilution. In general, the composition is diluted to a conventional fertilizer concentration, particularly a calcium concentration of 1 ppm to 1%, preferably 50 ppm to 0.5% and then applied to the leaves or roots of a plant in the form of an aqueous solution, an aqueous dispersion or an emulsion.
Various means can be used for the supply of the fertilizer composition of the present invention to a plant. Examples of the means include direct spray of a diluted aqueous solution of the composition on the leaves, stems or fruits of a plant, injection of the aqueous solution into the soil, and addition of a dilution of the composition to the culture solution or feed water used in water culture or rock wool in contact with the roots of a plant.
The fertilizer composition of the present invention can be used as sprayed on various field crops and (domestic) garden plants because it causes no toxic damage to plants and enables plants to absorb calcium and other fertilizers efficiently.
The present invention will now be described by referring to Examples, though the present invention is not limited by them. Products 1 to 3 of the invention contain anionic surfactants according to the present invention, while Products 4 to 9 of the invention contain nonionic surfactants according to the present invention.


There is provided a machine for processing workpieces. In one embodiment, there is provided a workpiece processing machine including a processing tool movable along a tool drive axis to engage a workpiece with a force, a spindle coupled to the processing tool and having two helical spindle drive threads spaced apart along the tool drive axis, through which drive threads tool forces are transmitted, and one or more drive motors operable to move the spindle by applying force through the spindle drive threads to displace the spindle and the tool along the tool drive axis, wherein the processing tool is coupled to the spindle to transmit force from the tool to the spindle by a force transfer element coupled to the spindle so as to distribute the force between both of the spindle drive threads.

As those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, punching machines may be employed to punch holes or other cut-outs from a workpiece (e.g., a metal sheet). Typically, punching machines include a tool bearing for a punching tool and a rotary/lifting drive, which moves the tool bearing back and forth along a lifting axis to a working area of the punching machine. Also, the tool bearing is rotatably adjustable about the lifting axis. The punching machine may also include a motor-driven spindle transmission provided with a drive control system. Typically, a rotary/lifting drive having two electric drive motors is provided for the tool bearing of a punching machine. Both drive motors may be arranged laterally next to a drive spindle, which in turn runs in the direction of a lifting axis of the tool bearing. One of the drive motors serves for workpiece punching and for that purpose is connected via a belt drive to a lifting spindle nut disposed on the drive spindle. By driving this spindle transmission in one direction of rotation, the tool bearing (and hence the attached punching tool) is moved with working strokes towards the workpiece to be processed and then by reversing the motor, the tool bearing is moved in the opposite direction. The second drive motor in a conventional punching machine is intended for rotary adjustment of the tool bearing and the punching tool. This drive motor is connected via another belt drive to enable rotation of the punching tool relative to the lifting axis.
Moreover, with a non-uniform force distribution to the two drive units, as would happen, for example, with force introduction at one end of a common drive spindle of two drive units, the drive units would have to accommodate different loads. A uniform construction of the drive units would then be possible only if considerable disadvantages were accepted. For instance, with a uniform construction of the drive units but significantly nonuniform load distribution there would be, for example, a markedly different wear behavior of the two drive units. The service life of the more heavily loaded drive unit would fall considerably behind the service life of the less heavily loaded drive unit. The running properties of the two drive units would also be different from each other. For instance, greater component deformation would occur on the more heavily loaded drive unit than on the less heavily loaded drive unit, the result being that in turn the uniformity of the rotary movements at both drive units would become impaired.
A more efficient punching tool would be desirable.


A method for processing a request for content by a routing device in a communication network implementing a name-based routing. The device includes plural interfaces to receive a request for content and a data packet associated with a content, and a routing table adapted to determine, based on a content name, at least one interface to route the request. The method includes: receiving the request through a first interface; if the device is not able to provide said data packet, searching for the name of the content in a table of pending requests associated with the first interface; in case the content name does not appear in the table, storing the name of the content in the table; and transmitting the request through at least one second interface, the second interface being determined as a function of the name of the content on the basis of the routing table.

The article by Van Jacobson et al. entitled "Networking Named Content", published in 2009 in the proceedings of the CoNEXT'09 conference, presents a new architecture called Content-Centric Networking (CCN). This architecture proposes to change the current communication model based on physical addressing in a network by a new communication model based on addressing by content name. In such a network, the idea is therefore to propose, find and deliver content rather than reaching equipment devices and maintaining connections between these equipment devices.
In order to obtain a content in such a network, a client entity sends in the network a request relating to this content and comprising the name of the content. Such a request is referred to as an interest packet. On reception of this request on a given network interface, a forwarding node of the network, or CCN node, checks whether it has the desired content. To this end, it consults a table of contents which it contains and which stores contents. If it has the desired content, it sends it to the network interface via which the request was received, to the client entity, optionally via other forwarding nodes of the network. If it does not have the desired content, it checks in a pending interest table (PIT) whether it has already received a previous request relating to the same content via the same interface or another interface and sent the previous request to other forwarding nodes of the network. If this is not the case, that is to say if it finds no trace of a previous request relating to the same content in its pending interest table, it stores the name of the desired content in its pending interest table in association with an identifier of the interface via which the request was received. It subsequently forwards the request in the communication network by means of a forwarding information base (FIB) which it has and which indicates, as a function of the requested content name, to which other node or nodes of the network to transfer the request. If, however, its pending interest table PIT already comprises the name of the desired content in association with the identifier of another interface, it does not send the received request but instead, in its pending interest table PIT, associates with the name of the desired content an identifier of the interface via which the request was received. This is because, if the pending interest table already comprises the name of the desired content, this means that a request relating to this content has previously been received and transferred in the network, and that the node is waiting for a response to this request.
The pending interest table PIT thus stores the names of the requested contents in association with the identifiers of all the interfaces through which the content has been requested, and should therefore be sent in response.
When a content is received on a given interface by the forwarding node, after a request relating to this content has been sent by this node, the node then consults its pending interest table and sends the content over all the interfaces which are associated with the name of the content. The pending interest table therefore makes it possible to find the path which a content should take in order to reach the client entity or entities which have requested it.
In this known architecture of CCN nodes, the contents are organized hierarchically in a tree form. The name of the content takes this organization into account. For example, /orange/map/lannion/site/batWA.jpg and /orange/map/lannion/site/batWB.jpg are two content names which share a common tree location, in this case /orange/map/lannion/site/. It can be seen that the name of a content is of variable size, depending on the size of the tree location in which the content is located. In order to process an interest packet, a CCN forwarding node must therefore store and handle content names represented over an arbitrary number of bits as well as the identifier of the interface, or identifiers of the interface, on which the interest packets were received. The pending interest table PIT of a CCN node, which stores all the received interest packets as well as the information relating to the path which the content must take, may then constitute a weakness of a CCN network because of the size which this table may reach. In fact, since CCN networks are intended to forward all the content made available on the Internet, it will be understood that such a table may store megabytes or even gigabytes of information. It is moreover known that the larger the size of the pending interest table is, the longer are the access times to the data which it contains. This can significantly impair performance of a CCN network.

Method for processing a request in an information-centric communication network


A composite particle that includes: a fluorescent semiconductor core/shell nanoparticle (preferably, nanocrystal); and a thioether-substituted ligand.

Quantum Dot Enhancement Films (QDEF) are used as the light source for LCD displays. Red and green quantum dots are used in QDEF with a blue LED as the light source to give the full spectrum of colors. This has the advantage of improving the color gamut over the typical LCD display and keeping the energy consumption low compared to LED displays.
Once the quantum dots are synthesized, they are treated with an organic ligand that binds to the exterior surface of the quantum dot. Colloidal quantum dot nanoparticles (preferably, nanocrystals) that are stabilized with organic ligands can have improved quantum yields due to passivating surface traps, controlling dispersion stability in solvent or polymer matrix, stabilizing against aggregation and degradation, and influencing the kinetics of nanoparticle (preferably, nanocrystal) growth during synthesis. Therefore, optimizing the organic ligand is important for achieving optimal quantum yield, processability, and functional lifetime in QDEF.

Composite nanoparticles including a thioether ligand


An object oriented query such as an enterprise java bean query is translated into a corresponding relational query by identifying an inter-hierarchal relationship relating two or more object oriented hierarchies; identifying a source object oriented hierarchy of the inter-hierarchal relationship; mapping the source object oriented hierarchy into corresponding source relational tables; building a source series of joins between the source relational tables, the source series being ordered in a top-down order from a root of the source object oriented hierarchy; identifying a target class of the inter-hierarchal relationship; mapping the target object oriented hierarchy into corresponding target relational tables; building a target series of joins between the target relational tables, the target series comprising a first target series and a second target series, the first target series corresponding to the target class, a root of the target object oriented hierarchy, and intervening nodes between the target class and the root of the target object oriented hierarchy, and the second target series corresponding to nodes in leaves of the target object oriented hierarchy located below the target class; and combining the source series of joins and the target series of joins into the corresponding relational query. For a query selection based upon a plurality of relationships between the object oriented hierarchies, the steps may be repeated for each of the plurality of relationships. The combined series of joins may be further reordered by recursively finding a join relationship between a current node and a preceding node in the combined series of joins. To improve performance, a join above a target of a relationship is built as an inner join, and a join below the target of relationship is built as an outer join.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to computer programs, and more particularly to translating an object oriented query into a relational query.
2. Description of the Related Art
Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) is a specification of an architecture for developing and deploying component-based distributed applications. Distributed applications developed using the Enterprise JavaBeans architecture are scalable, transactional, and multi-user secure. Such a distributed application may be written once, and then deployed on various server platforms supporting the Enterprise JavaBeans specification. An EJB architecture comprises an EJB server, EJB containers that execute on the EJB server, and EJB's that execute in these EJB containers. EJB servers and EJB containers are developed and deployed by various middleware providers, and an application developer may use the EJB components to develop and deploy a component-based distributed application.
Enterprise Java Beans 2.0 (EJB 2.0) defines an EJB Query Language (EJBQL) which provides a solution for defining portable finder methods for container managed persistence (CMP) entity beans. Prior to EJB QL, the specification of CMP finder methods for a bean was vendor specific. If such a vendor specific bean is deployed into a different database having a different database schema mapping, then the vendor specific finder helper methods must be redefined. EJB Query Language makes the specification of finder methods easier and more portable.
The EJB Query Language provides a construct known as a path expression which specifies a navigation route from a previously referenced schema to a new schema. A path expression may appear in an EJB QL query in either a SELECT clause, a WHERE clause, or a FROM clause, and thus path expressions affect both the scope and the results of an EJB QL query). However, although an EJB QL query may be converted into a SQL query to execute against a database, the path expressions are extensions not found in SQL.
Path expressions may be translated to SQL joins operations when EJB's are mapped to relational tables. Path expressions in the SELECT clause are translated to a left outer join, path expressions in the FROM clause are translated to an inner join, and path expressions in the WHERE clause can be translated to either an inner join or an outer join depending on usage context. The translated SQL then consists a mixture of inner and left outer joins operations. Although a series of inner joins can appear in any order, the order of a mixture of inner joins and outer joins is critical for both the validity and performance of the query.
Several different techniques may be used to map EJB's to relational tables. In single-table inheritance, all of the attributes of all of the classes are stored in a single table. In multiple-table inheritance or distinct table inheritance, each entity bean is mapped to a separate table in which the table representing a class includes all of the attributes of the class, both those attributes defined by the class, and those attributes inherited by the class from its superclasses. Another mapping strategy is root-leaf inheritance in which each class in a hierarchy maps to a table that contains only those attributes actually defined in that class, plus the key columns shared by all members of the hierarchy.
Root leaf inheritance may present a particular problem as to the validity of a query generated by EJBQL. For example, root leaf inheritance maps each EJB to one or more tables. EJB Query Language allows a user to use a path expression to connect or relates a root leaf inheritance hierarchy or tree to another root leaf inheritance hierarchy. This mapping builds series of inner joins and outer joins between the root leaf inheritance hierarchies. If a source of a relationship starts from a top of one root leaf inheritance hierarchy and targets a bottom of another root leaf inheritance hierarchy, then the inheritance relationship requires a join from top to bottom of all of the related nodes (tables) of the first root leaf inheritance hierarchy to be joined with a join from top to bottom of all of the related nodes (tables) of the other root leaf inheritance hierarchy.
This series of joins results in an invalid query because, in this series, the bottom node of the first root leaf inheritance hierarchy is adjacent to the top node of the second root leaf inheritance hierarchy. As there is no relationship between the bottom node of the first root leaf inheritance hierarchy and the top node of the second root leaf inheritance hierarchy, the join between these two nodes cannot be performed because no join can be found. Therefore, the inability to perform the joins results in the invalid query.
Thus, there is a clearly felt need for an improved method, system, article of manufacture, and computer program product for translating from a query comprising root leaf inheritance to relational joins.

Object oriented query root leaf inheritance to relational join translator method, system, article of manufacture, and computer program product

International Business Machines Corporation


A plurality of placement objects including first objects representing game events of a first type and a second object representing a game event of a second type are placed in a placement order in a game space, in the game event of the second type permitted to be executed, if a first giving condition is satisfied, a first reward is given to a user, and if a second giving condition is satisfied, a second reward is given to the user, and if the first reward is given to the user, a placement order of the first objects only is not changed, and placement of the second object representing the game event of the second type in which the first reward is given to the user is changed to a position before the first one of the first objects or after the last one of the first objects.

Conventionally, in a game where an event selected from a course selection screen is played, a placement object representing an event where normal play is performed, a placement object representing an event where a reward can be acquired, and the like are displayed side by side on the course selection screen. Then, if the event where a reward can be acquired is cleared, the event may become unable to be played again. In some event, to play the event, it is necessary to clear an event represented by a placement object or collect points that can be gained in an event where normal play is performed.
In the above game, however, if a situation is assumed where in the event where a reward can be gained, some of rewards that can be gained in the event are gained, and if the placement object representing the event continues to be displayed at the same position, it is possible that it is difficult to select a placement object representing another event.
Therefore, it is an object of an exemplary embodiment to provide an information processing system, a storage medium having stored therein an information processing program, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing method that are capable of improving the convenience of selection of a placement object.
To achieve the above object, the exemplary embodiment can employ, for example, the following configurations. It should be noted that it is understood that, to interpret the descriptions of the claims, the scope of the claims should be interpreted only by the descriptions of the claims. If there is a conflict between the descriptions of the claims and the descriptions of the specification, the descriptions of the claims take precedence.
In an exemplary configuration of an information processing system according to the exemplary embodiment, an information processing system includes a computer configured to: place a plurality of placement objects each including first objects representing one of a plurality of game events of a first type and a second object representing at least one game event of a second type in a placement order in a game space; generate an image including at least some of the placed plurality of placement objects to be displayed on a display screen; at least based on satisfaction of an event accomplishment condition set for the game events of the first type or satisfaction of a subevent accomplishment condition set for subevents included in the game events of the first type, permit execution of the at least one game event of the second type; and in the game event of the second type permitted to be executed, if a first giving condition is satisfied, give a first reward to a user, and if a second giving condition is satisfied, give a second reward to the user. The placement of the plurality of placement objects includes, if the first reward is given to the user, not changing a placement order of the first objects only, and changing placement of the second object representing the game event of the second type in which the first reward is given to the user to a position before the first one of the first objects or after the last one of the first objects in the placement order.
Based on the above, the placement of a second object representing a game event of a second type where a first reward is given to a user is changed to a position before the first one of first objects or after the last one of the first objects in a placement order. Thus, it is easier to select a placement object representing another event than in a case where the second object continues to be displayed at the same placement position. Thus, it is possible to improve the convenience of selection of a placement object.
The giving of the reward may include, at least under the condition that the execution of the game event of the second type is permitted, determining that the first giving condition is satisfied.
Based on the above, it is possible to easily satisfy a first giving condition.
Even if the event accomplishment condition set for the game events of the first type is satisfied, or the subevent accomplishment condition set for the subevents included in the game events of the first type is satisfied, the placement order of the first objects only that represent the game events of the first type may not be changed.
Based on the above, the placement order of the first objects representing game events of a first type is not changed. Thus, it is possible to improve the convenience of repeated execution of the game events of the first type.
The placement of the plurality of placement objects may include, if a plurality of the second objects are placed in the game space, and the first giving condition is satisfied in each of a plurality of the game events of the second type, changing the placement so that the plurality of the second objects each representing one of the game events of the second type are adjacent to each other in an area before the first one of the first objects or an area after the last one of the first objects.
Based on the above, second objects representing game events of the second type satisfying a first giving condition are collectively displayed. Thus, it is possible to improve the convenience of execution of an event represented by a placement object other than the second objects representing the game events of the second type satisfying the first giving condition.
The computer may be further caused to, in the placement of the plurality of placement objects, place the plurality of first objects in ascending order of a number of a parameter required to permit execution of each of the game events of the first type represented by the plurality of first objects. The computer may be further caused to, at least based on satisfaction of the event accomplishment condition set for any of the game events of the first type or the subevent accomplishment condition, change the number of the parameter corresponding to each of the plurality of first objects.
Based on the above, the first objects are placed in ascending order of a number of a parameter required to permit the execution of each of the game events of the first type. Thus, it is easy to distinguish a game event of the first type likely to be permitted to be executed. Thus, it is easy to grasp a parameter required to execute a game event of the first type.
The permission of the execution may include, based on the number of the parameter associated with each of users, permitting execution of at least one of the game events of the first type.
Based on the above, it is possible to set a game event of the first type that can be executed with respect to each user.
The permission of the execution may include, at least based on the parameter that changes due to satisfaction of the event accomplishment condition set for the game event of the first type represented by any of the first objects placed on a side where a required number of the parameter is smaller in the placement order, or satisfaction of the subevent accomplishment condition set for the subevent included in the game event of the first type, permitting execution of the game event of the first type represented by any of the first objects placed on a side where the required number of the parameter is greater in the placement order and the game event of the second type represented by the second object.
Based on the above, it is possible to execute events based on the placement order of placement objects.
The generation of the image may include giving an image indicating a number that should be satisfied by the parameter for permitting the execution associated with each of the placed plurality of placement objects to each of the placement objects, thereby generating an image to be displayed on the display screen.
Based on the above, it is possible to configure a group of events in which an event set on the side where a required number of a parameter is smaller in the placement order is executed, thereby enabling the execution of an event placed on the side where the required number of the parameter is greater in the placement order.
The placement of the plurality of placement objects may include placing the second objects representing the game events of the second type satisfying the first giving condition in ascending order of a number of a parameter required to permit execution of each of the game events of the second type represented by the second objects, in an area before the first one of the first objects or an area after the last one of the first objects.
Based on the above, even in a case where a first giving condition is satisfied, it is possible to present second objects representing game events of the second type to the user by sequencing the second objects based on the order of a required number of a parameter.
The placement of the plurality of placement objects may include placing the plurality of placement objects in a line in the game space.
Based on the above, it is possible to present the placement order of placement objects in an easily understandable manner.
The game events of the first type may be permitted to be executed multiple times.
Based on the above, in an environment where game events of a first type can be executed multiple times, the effect of further changing the placement position of the second object becomes greater.
The generation of the image may include generating an image including some of the plurality of placement objects to be displayed on the display screen by scrolling a display position on the display screen of a series of image groups of the plurality of placement objects relative to the display screen in accordance with a user operation.
Based on the above, it is possible to configure all a plurality of placement objects to be displayed by scrolling the plurality of placement objects, and it is also possible to give priority to the display of a necessary placement object.
The giving of the reward may include, after the placement of the second object is changed to the position before the first one of the first objects or after the last one of the first objects, and if the second giving condition in the game event of the second type represented by the second object is satisfied, giving the second reward in the game event of the second type to the user.
Based on the above, it is possible to separately give a second reward to the user.
The placement of the plurality of placement objects may include, after the placement of the second object is changed to the position before the first one of the first objects or after the last one of the first objects, and if the second giving condition in the game event of the second type represented by the second object is satisfied, not changing a position of the second object in the placement order.
Based on the above, even after both the first reward and a second reward are given, it is possible to present the second object representing the game event of the second type in an easily understandable manner.
The giving of the reward may include, in a period when a right given to the user is validated by the user paying an equivalent, determining that the second giving condition for the user is satisfied.
Based on the above, the user can receive a second reward by paying an equivalent.
The placement of the plurality of placement objects may include placing the second objects representing the game events of the second type in a display form in which with respect to each of the game events of the second type, it is visually distinguished whether or not the second giving condition is satisfied.
Based on the above, it is possible to visually distinguish the satisfaction of a second giving condition.
The giving of the reward may include setting a time limit for giving the first reward and/or the second reward to the user for each of the game events of the second type.
Based on the above, it is possible to urge the user to acquire the first reward and/or a second reward.
The generation of the image may include, in representation performed after the event accomplishment condition set for the game events of the first type or the subevent accomplishment condition is accomplished, generating an image for displaying the first objects representing the game events of the first type accomplishing the event accomplishment condition or the subevent accomplishment condition at least in the display screen.
Based on the above, the convenience of execution of a game event accomplishing an event accomplishment condition or a subevent accomplishment condition is improved.
The generation of the image may include generating an image such that the placement of the second object is changed to the position before the first one of the first objects or after the last one of the first objects is outside the display screen.
Based on the above, a placement object that is used less frequently is removed from a display range, whereby it is possible to preferentially display a placement object that is used frequently.
The game events of the first type may include a plurality of game stages corresponding to the respective subevents.
Based on the above, it is possible to configure a variety of game events.
The exemplary embodiment may be carried out in the forms of a storage medium having stored therein an information processing program, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing method.
Based on the exemplary embodiment, it is possible to improve the convenience of selection of a placement object.
These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the exemplary embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Information processing system, storage medium having stored therein information processing program, information processing apparatus, and information processing method


A piezoelectric sound transducer using a piezoelectric plastic material is developed from a substrate layer and a layer of a piezoelectric plastic material deposited thereon, the piezoelectric plastic layer covering the substrate layer not completely but having openings.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a piezoelectric sound transducer which uses a piezoelectric plastic material. In particular, the present invention relates to a sound transducer which is essentially developed from a substrate layer and a layer of a piezoelectric plastic material deposited thereon, the piezoelectric plastic layer covering the substrate layer not in its entirety, but having openings.
2. Description of the Related Art
Sound transducers for converting electrical signals into acoustical signals and vice versa in various forms have been known in many technology fields for more than a hundred years. Different principles of electro-acoustic conversion are known. In addition to electromagnetic transducers as they are used in coil loudspeakers, for example, and electrodynamic or electrostatic transducers, as employed in microphones or headphones, for instance, piezoelectric sound transducers of the type used in ultrasonic sensors, for example, are known as well. Apart from the use of piezo ceramics, the use of piezoelectric plastics for converting electrical signals into acoustical signals and vice versa is known in the field of piezoelectric sound transducers. One known plastic material having piezoelectric properties is polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). The piezoelectric properties of PVDF form the basis of various sound transducer designs. Vapor deposition or sputtering methods, for example, are employed to deposit an electrically conducting surface on a PVDF foil. By applying an electrical field, the obtained structures may be used as sound emitters, or when using a charge transfer, as sound receivers. Another transducer principle is the piezo-composite principle, in which hard piezo materials, in particular, are combined with each other.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,207 describes the use of a piezoelectric polymer based on polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) to produce balloon-shaped loudspeakers. Toward this end, strips, which are made up of a PVDF polymer layer enclosed between an outer and an inner coating, are applied on a balloon, or the balloon itself is formed by a PVDF polymer layer enclosed between an outer and an inner coating.
In the described sound transducers on the basis of piezoelectric plastic materials, movement of the plastic layer occurs both in the layer plane, referred to as transverse expansion, and in the thickness direction of the layer, which is referred to as longitudinal expansion. However, the transverse expansion of the layer is locally impeded by the surrounding plastic material, which impediment occurs both in the transmitting operation, i.e., when using the sound transducer as loudspeaker, and in the receiving operation i.e., when using the sound transducer as microphone. This hindrance in the transverse expansion results in restricted dynamics of the sound transducer. In particular the deflection of the plastic layer out of the plane, which is required to generate or absorb a sound wave, is markedly restricted.

Piezoelectric partial-surface sound transducer


An apparatus and method for sampling downhole fluids comprising a tool (36) attached to a connector (34) that is locked into position within a pipe section (32) is disclosed. The pipe section (32) has a longitudinal slot (62) with first and second sides (78, 80). The pipe section (32) also includes a transverse slot (64) that extends perpendicularly from the first side (78) of the longitudinal slot (62) and a hole (66) that extends perpendicularly from the second side (80) of the longitudinal slot (62). The connector (34) is inserted into the hole (66) such that the connector (34) may be rotated between an insertion position and an operating position. The connector head (100) of the connector (34) is closely received within the longitudinal slot (62) such that when the connector (34) is in the operating position, the connector head (100) contacts the first side (78) of the longitudinal slot (62) to lock the connector (34) within the pipe section (32).

Without limiting the scope of the invention, its background is described in connection with downhole pressure sensing, as an example.
In the process of drilling, testing, completing or producing an oil and gas well, it is often useful to be able to measure the pressure at various locations of the well. For example, of particular interest is the pressure in the various production zones that are traversed by the well. Typically, this may be achieved by including a pressure transducer as a portion of a test string included in the pipe string.
Alternatively, attempts have been made to place a pressure transducer on the outside diameter of the tubing or pipe string. Attaching the pressure transducer to the outside of the pipe string typically utilizes a threaded engagement usually included some form of tapered pipe thread, such as a National Pipe Threads (NPT). Although these types of threads are often used in such applications, it has been found that the pressure differential across the threads in testing or other well operations often exceed the specified pressure rating of the threads which has resulted in inaccurate pressure readings due to leakage. Additionally, it has been found that using threaded connections often makes installation of the pressure transducer on the outside of the pipe string difficult.
A need has, therefore, arisen for an apparatus for obtaining downhole pressure readings from the outside of a pipe string that does not rely on a metal to metal seal to prevent leakage. A need has also arisen for such an apparatus that is simple and quick to install. Further, a need has arisen for such an apparatus that may obtain pressure reading from both inside and outside of the pipe string and that may be locked in place following installation in order to withstand the hostile downhole environment.


Card shuffler apparatuses include a card repositioner used to randomly reposition a plurality of cards on-edge over an aperture extending through a card support surface to allow cards to sequentially pass through the aperture in a random order. The apparatuses may be capable of continuously and sequentially forming playing card hands for use in a game. Shuffler apparatuses may be used to obtain a measurement relating to a thickness of the deck of cards. Methods involve the use of card shuffler apparatuses to form one or more playing card hands in a playing card game. Additional methods involve counting playing cards present within a stack of playing cards using a shuffler apparatus. In further methods, a number of shuffler apparatuses and a lesser number of shuffler activation devices are provided in a gaming establishment so as to preclude simultaneous use of all the shuffler apparatuses in the establishment.

Shuffling machines, or shufflers, are widely used in casinos, card rooms and many other venues at which card games are played. Conventional shufflers are typically adapted to receive one or more decks of standard playing cards to be shuffled. The intended purpose of most shufflers is to shuffle the playing cards into what is believed to be a random order. Such a random order of the playing cards is desirable when playing various types of card games such as blackjack, poker and the like. However, in reality most shufflers have tendencies to shuffle or reorder the deck or decks in a manner that skilled card counters can perceive and use to their advantage versus the casino, house or other player. Thus, there is still a need for automated shufflers that function in a manner which more truly randomizes the ordering of a deck or decks of playing cards.
Other problems associated with at least some conventional shufflers include excessive size, excessive weight, excessive mechanical complexity and/or electronic complexity. These complexities also may fail to achieve a suitable degree of shuffling, reordering or recompiling into a truly random order from one shuffling process to another. Accordingly, there is still a need for improved automated shuffling machines for playing cards that produce reordering of card decks in a manner which is closer to true randomness and which is more difficult for skilled card players to decipher to change the odds so as to be relatively favorable to the player versus unfavorable portions of a deck or decks of cards.
One casino game commonly called "blackjack" or "21" is known to be susceptible to card counting and casinos are routinely spending significant amounts of money trying to prevent card counters from taking advantage of non-random sequences in the decks held within a dealing shoe that holds the decks being dealt. Poker has also grown in popularity and is played with a single deck, which makes any knowledge of cards of potential significance to a player.
The embodiments of the disclosure shown and described herein may be used to address one or more of such problems or other problems not set out herein and/or which are only understood or appreciated at a later time. The future may also bring to light currently unknown or unrecognized benefits which may be appreciated, or more fully appreciated, in association with the embodiments of the disclosure shown and described herein. The desires and expected benefits explained herein are not admissions that others have recognized such prior needs, since invention and discovery are both inventive under the law and may relate to the embodiments of the disclosure described herein.

Card shuffling apparatuses and related methods


According to at least one embodiment, a television receiver includes: a display; a casing comprising an opening, the casing being configured house the display; a board configured to be housed in the casing; a connector configured to be mounted on the board and exposed from the opening; an elastic member between the connector and the casing, the elastic member being configured to touch the connector; a cover configured to be at least partially positioned at a side of the connector opposite to the elastic member and cover a part of the connector; and a restriction portion configured to be positioned at the side of the connector opposite to the elastic member and restrict movement of the connector.

Conventionally, there has been known an electronic device such that a connector and a casing are electrically connected with each other by means of an elastic body provided between the connector and the casing to establish a ground for the connector.
However, in the electronic device such as a conventional television receiver, the connector is pressed by the elastic body and hence, there exists a possibility that the position of the connector is displaced.

Television receiver and electronic device


Methods and apparatus for forming nitrogen-containing layers are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method includes placing a substrate having a first layer disposed thereon on a substrate support of a process chamber; heating the substrate to a first temperature; and exposing the first layer to an RF plasma formed from a process gas comprising ammonia (NH3) to transform the first layer into a nitrogen-containing layer, wherein the plasma has an ion energy of less than about 8 eV.

The scaling of semiconductor devices, such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), logic devices, and the like, may be limited by gate leakage (Jg). For example, as thickness of a gate dielectric layer is scaled, current may leak between the channel and the gate of a transistor device causing device failure. The gate leakage may be reduced by incorporating nitrogen into the gate dielectric layer. For example, a gate dielectric layer at the 32 nm node may comprise silicon oxynitride (SiON), where the presence of nitrogen reduces gate leakage in the device.
Typically, nitrogen is incorporated into the gate dielectric layer by a plasma nitridation process that provides for gate leakage reduction at the expense of other desired properties, for example, flat band voltage (Vfb), threshold voltage (Vt), and mobility. For example, increased nitrogen content in the gate dielectric layer may undesirably increase Vt and excessively decrease mobility. Further, oxygen may diffuse from the gate dielectric layer under typical processing conditions, thus further reducing device performance, for example by degrading the dielectric properties of the gate dielectric layer.
Furthermore, nitridizing a dielectric layer on a semiconductor wafer for use in a semiconductor structure involves adding nitrogen to a planar semiconductor structure using plasma nitridation or thermal nitridation. However, the use of 3-dimensional ("3D") semiconductor structures, such as a FinFET device or the like, requires a nitridized layer to wrap around the 3D semiconductor structure with the amount of nitrogen incorporated on the top surface of the 3D semiconductor structure substantially equal to the amount of nitrogen incorporated down the sidewalls of the 3D semiconductor structure, referred to herein as conformality. Conformality is calculated as the percentage of nitrogen drop with depth down the sidewall of the 3D semiconductor structure.
One method of forming a nitridized layer is via thermal nitridation using ammonia (NH3). While thermal nitridation using ammonia (NH3) provides suitable conformality, the process fails to provide the desired nitrogen profile at the top surface of the dielectric layer. Another method of forming a nitridized layer is using inductively coupled plasma nitridation with ions formed from nitrogen gas (N2). While this approach provides the desired nitrogen profile in the dielectric film, the resulting conformality is inadequate. While another method, remote plasma nitridation, can provide suitable conformality, the process requires temperatures in excess of about 600 degrees Celsius to about 1000 degrees Celsius, resulting in excessive and undesirable thickening of oxide layers in the gate stack.
Accordingly, the inventors have provided methods of forming nitrogen containing layers having improved conformality.

NH3 containing plasma nitridation of a layer of a three dimensional structure on a substrate


A method and apparatus for filling a cavity with powder wherein a pipe having holes for discharging gas is disposed in a powder box and gas is discharged into the powder in the powder box as the powder enters the cavity so that particles of the powder are movable relative to each other. Due to the gas discharge, the powder can enter the cavity smoothly without whirling up in the cavity and settling unevenly, so that a filling time period is shortened and a particle size distribution in the cavity is uniform.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for filling powder into a cavity formed in a die.
2. Description of Related Art
In a conventional powder filling method, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication SHO 57-79119, powder in a powder box is dropped into a cavity formed in a die when the powder box is brought to a position just above the cavity.
However, in the conventional powder filling method, when air in the cavity is replaced by the dropped powder, light particles whirl up while heavy particles drop quickly so that unevenness in particle size distribution occurs in the cavity. As a result, it is difficult for a sinter made from the powder to have a uniform density distribution and an accurate dimension. To obtain a uniform distribution, it would be effective to shake the cavity, but shaking would make the filling time period too long.