A method for operating a nucleic acid sequencing instrument with movable flow cells. The method includes providing a flow cell having a flow path with an inlet port and an outlet port and filling the flow path, from the inlet port to the outlet port, with a first liquid reagent. The method also includes providing a station block having an inlet passage and an outlet passage, mounting the flow cell on the station block with the inlet port in fluid communication with the inlet passage and the outlet port in fluid communication with the outlet passage, introducing a gaseous bubble into the inlet port, conveying a second liquid reagent from the inlet passage into the inlet port to move the gaseous bubble through the flow path and into the outlet passage and fill the flow passage with the second liquid reagent, and removing the flow cell from the station block.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to instruments for determining the identity of nucleic acids in nucleotide sequences, and particular examples relate to instruments that use flow cells to conduct sequencing by synthesis or other processes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Over the past 25 years, the amount of DNA sequence information that has been generated and deposited into Genbank has grown exponentially. Many of the next-generation sequencing technologies use a form of sequencing by synthesis (SBS), wherein specially designed nucleotides and DNA polymerases are used to read the sequence of chip-bound, single-stranded DNA templates in a controlled manner. Other next-generation sequencing technologies may use native nucleotides and/or polymerases or labeled oligonucleotides and ligation enzymes to determine nucleic acid sequences. To attain high throughput, many millions of such template spots, each being either single or multiple molecules, are arrayed across a sequencing chip and their sequence is independently read out and recorded. The desire to perform high throughput sequencing stems from the need for faster processing and reduced costs. However, commercial high throughput systems, while reducing the cost of large scale sequencing (e.g. 10-100 gigabases), make smaller scale sequencing (e.g. 100 megabases to 1 gigabase) costly and inconvenient.
Recently, instruments have been developed to perform sequencing on a much smaller scale than conventional devices. Exemplary apparatus and methods that may be used for performing smaller scale sequencing operations are described in U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2010/0323350 (application Ser. No. 12/719,469, filed Mar. 8, 2010), 2010/0152050 (application Ser. No. 12/704,842, filed Feb. 12, 2010), and 2009/0298131 (application Ser. No. 12/370,125, filed Feb. 12, 2009). The foregoing are incorporated herein by reference. Such instruments use an "assembly line" type system, which may be arranged in the form of a carousel, to simultaneously process a number of relatively small flow cells. During operation, each flow cell is physically moved through a series of processing stations. Some of these processing stations purge the flow cell and fill it with a new reagent, while others are used for imaging the flow cell, or as idle stations where the flow cell is held without substantive processing. Other processing stations may also be provided. These instruments provide high throughput SBS operations, while offering significant savings in reagents and other processing costs. This new generation of instruments is expected to expand the public's access to SBS operations to use for various purposes, at a reduced cost, and with more rapid turnaround than earlier devices could offer.
There continues to be a need to advance the state of the art of sequencing instruments, and particularly those that use movable flow cells for small-scale sequencing operations.

Apparatus and methods for purging flow cells in nucleic acid sequencing instruments


A system for location risk determination and ranking based on vehicle events and/or an accident database includes an interface and a processor. The interface is configured to receive accident data and/or event data. The processor is configured to determine a set of incident groups, wherein an incident group of the set of incident groups is associated with a set of accidents of the accident data and/or a set of events of the event data that are grouped by location proximity. The processor is further configured to determine a set of traffic estimations, wherein a traffic estimation of the set of traffic estimations is associated with the incident group of the set of incident groups; and determine a ranking of the set of incident groups based at least in part on the set of accidents, the set of events, and the set of traffic estimations.

Modern vehicles (e.g., airplanes, boats, trains, cars, trucks, etc.) can include a vehicle event recorder in order to better understand the timeline of an anomalous event (e.g., an accident). A vehicle event recorder mounted on a vehicle typically includes a set of sensors—for example, video recorders, audio recorders, accelerometers, gyroscopes, vehicle state sensors, global positioning system (GPS), etc., that report data, which is used to determine the occurrence of an anomalous event (e.g., a sudden stop, a hard maneuver, a collision, etc.). A vehicle event recorder with modern hardware is typically able to create warnings based on sensor information. However, this creates a problem in that direct information from sensors does not always encompass all that is known for creating a warning of risk to a driver.

Location risk determination and ranking based on vehicle events and/or an accident database


A process and apparatus for the programmed scenting of environments, comprising the steps of piercing a capsule containing a fragrant substance and dispersing a sequence of the fragrances throughout the environment in synchronization with an event being held. The event can be any live, recorded, or pre-programmed performance, including motion pictures, television episodes, computer games, or stage plays. The fragrances dispersed into the environment derive from capsules of scenting substances and compounds embedded on a disk and pierced in synchronization with the actions, places, and motions being executed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a process and apparatus for the programmed scenting of environments. Specifically, the present invention pertains to a process and apparatus to scent environments in synchronization with an event being held.
2. Description of Related Art
Devices for scenting of environments are highly diversified and widely commercialized. Examples include aerosol containers, sticks or tablets for the scenting of bathrooms, and equipment affixed to toilets and urinals. These devices are available in a wide variety of fragrances, such as violet, wild flower, tutti-frutti, green apple, and others.
Further known methods and devices for the scenting of environments are designed to release different fragrances in a pre-determined sequence. An example U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,876 (issued Dec. 3, 1991), which describes a display unit for the sales of products in which the display unit incorporates sound equipment associated with a scent release device. The device can also be connected to a photographic display unit, which can be pre-programmed. The French patent publication FR 2,553,666 (dated Apr. 26, 1985) pertains to a portable device for the release of perfume fragrances together with images and sound. U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,030 (issued Jul. 29, 1986) pertains to a system for the release of a variety of fragrances in response to a pre-determined sequence and timing. The European patent publication EP 0295129 (dated Dec. 14, 1988) describes a method and apparatus for the release of various fragrances into an environment from different storage containers according to a determined rate of time controlled by a timer. U.S. Pat. No.5,342,594 (issued Aug. 30, 1994) describes a device equipped with a cartridge impregnated with a fragrance and operated by a battery for the release of at least two different scents. U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,690 (issued Dec. 28, 1993) describes a device employing forced air together with a vehicle loaded with a variety of fragrances placed in individual cells. These cells have breakable walls for releasing the scent into the forced air current. U.S. Pat. No. 5,178,327 (issued Jan. 12. 1993) describes a device for scenting environments, including an array of different aromas that are selected through the means of a rotating cylinder or disk. The UK patent publication 2256589 (issued Dec. 16, 1992) pertains to a device for the scenting of environments with multiple compartments for different aromas. The UK patent publication 2249958 (issued May 27, 1992) describes a device for the generation of aromas which are selected from a distance by the user.
Nevertheless, no efficient process has been proposed to promote the scenting of environments in synchronization with an event at the time of its performance.

Process and equipment for the programmed scenting of environments


A cathode is provided for electrolysis of water wherein the cathode material comprises a multi-principal element, transition metal dichalcogenide material that has four or more chemical elements and that is a single phase, solid solution. The pristine cathode material does not contain platinum as a principal (major) component. However, a cathode comprising a transition metal dichalcogenide having platinum (Pt) nanosized islands or precipitates disposed thereon is also provided.

Hydrogen (H2) is a unique energy carrier in that it can be produced via diverse pathways utilizing a variety of domestically available feedstock, including natural gas, biomass, and water (reference 1).
The electrochemical splitting of water (electrolysis) is among the most versatile methods of hydrogen generation that is expected to play a significant role in long-term, high-volume hydrogen gas production (reference 2).
The electrolysis of water is a combination of two space separated electrochemical processes—the hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER, respectively). During HER, water is reduced to H2 using electrons supplied by the negative electrode (cathode) of an electrochemical cell, while oxygen (O2) is produced by OER at its positive counterpart (anode) (FIG. 1). Since HER and OER are separated in space, the produced hydrogen and oxygen require only limited, if any, purification.
In an ideal electrochemical cell, operating at 25° C. under atmospheric pressure (760 mmHg or 101325 Pa, or 14.696 psi), oxidation of water occurs at the anode potential of Eoa=1.23V and the hydrogen evolution takes place at the cathode at Eoc=0 V (standard hydrogen electrode).Anode (OER): H2O(aq)→½O2(gas)+2H+(aq)+2e−Cathode (HER): 2H+(aq)+2e−→H2(gas)Thus, the voltage to be applied to an ideal electrolyzer cell is Eocell=Eoc−Eoa=−1.23V. However, in practice, water electrolyzers operate at higher cell voltages due to energy losses by non-ideal electrochemical processes. The fraction of the electrical potential (E), exceeding the theoretical value of −1.23V is defined as overpotential (η) that includes the overpotentials of the anode (ηa) and cathode (ηc) materials as well as other detrimental contributions (ηo) attributed to solution and contact resistance and other factors (reference 3).E=Eocell+ηη=ηa+ηc+ηo
Among known cathode materials, platinum shows the highest electro-catalytic activity for HER in acidic solutions and the lowest ηc that is below −0.1V at the current density of 10 mA/cm2. Also the Tafel slope, which defines mechanism and efficiency of HER is very low for Pt—only about 30 mV/dec in an acidic environment (references 4, 5).
Several types of water electrolyzers are currently in use (reference 6). They include low-temperature electrochemical systems that are based on the proton exchange membrane technology (PEMEC), which operates in acidic environment, alkaline electrolytic cells (AEC) operating in basic solutions, and high-temperature water-splitting systems that utilize the decomposition of vaporized water on solid oxide electrodes (SOEC). Among the aforementioned technologies, PEMEC emerges as superior contender, demonstrating high working current density (2 Am−2), low operating temperature (82° C. vs. 650-1000° C. for SOEC) and, unlike AEC, an ability to function under high pressures of H2 (about 200 bar). One of the main weakness of PEMECs, impeding their broad practical applications, is high cost and scarcity of platinum (Pt), which is an essential element of their working electrodes.
Layered transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), such as MoS2, WS2, MoSe2, WSe2 and some others (reference 1), represent a less expensive and more abundant alternative to Pt. They are built from covalently bonded metal-chalcogen layers that are held together by weak van der Waals (vdW) forces (FIG. 2). Although thermodynamically stable, bulk TMDCs are rather weak electrical conductors, they show electrocatalytic activities in HER, which are sufficient for their use in electrochemical water splitting systems (references 7, 8, 9).
TMDC-based HER electrocatalysts are usually binary or ternary compounds that combine two or three different chemical elements, i.e. transition metals and chalcogens (S, Se, Te), in their makeup. In a number of cases two or more individual (single-phase) TMDCs have been combined in composite materials (reference 10) that can also contain graphite or graphene, increasing their electrical conductivity (references 11, 12).

Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.


Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to reflect routes from a virtual route reflector are disclosed. An example method includes requesting, at a virtual route reflector remote from an autonomous system, topology information and external route information from the autonomous system. The external route information identifies a plurality of border routers through which a remote destination can be reached. The example method also includes selecting, using the topology information, a first path from among a plurality of paths emanating from a selected node in the autonomous system, the plurality of paths exiting the autonomous system at respective border routers of the plurality of border routers. The example method further includes advertising, from the virtual route reflector to a client router in the autonomous system, a route to the remote destination, the route including a first border router at which the first path exits the autonomous system.

"Hot potato" routing is a term used to describe a method by which a route reflector in an autonomous system can select a routing path from among multiple routing paths to a remote destination. The method aims to reduce traffic inside of the autonomous system by transmitting out-bound traffic as quickly as possible. When the route reflector learns that a remote destination can be reached via either a first edge router representing a first point of egress or a second edge router representing a second point of egress, the route reflector selects one of the first or the second edge routers and then notifies a set of client routers that the remote destination can be reached via the selected edge router. Employing hot potato routing, the route reflector selects, and advertises to the client routers, the nearest of the first and second edge routers thereby selecting the nearest point of egress of the autonomous system. As a result of selecting the nearest point of egress, the client routers cause communications intended for the remote destination to exit the autonomous system as quickly as possible.
Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawing(s) and accompanying written description to refer to the same or like parts.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods and apparatus to reflect routes from a remotely located virtual route reflector


Disclosed is an ultra thin optical scanning device for a portable information device, which includes an LED as a light source and totally reflects light from an object-side surface to form an image, thereby increasing a contrast ratio of the image and improving the resolution thereof. The ultra thin optical scanning device includes a light emitting device that emits light for sensing an object, an object-side surface contacting the object and totally reflecting the light emitted from the light emitting device, an image formation part collecting the light totally reflected by the object-side surface, and transmitting the light, and a light receiver part forming an image by using the light transmitted by the image formation part.

Small information devices may receive information through a keypad and be controlled through the keypad. Input methods using a keypad are sufficient for limited and simple functions of typical information devices, such as input of a phone number or transmission of a text.
Recently developed optical scanning devices recognize a fingerprint or a bar code for improving user convenience and security. For example, a small pointing device using a finger skin is disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2005-0002463. Light, emitted from a light emitting device, passes through a transparent plate through an incidence surface thereof and arrives at an object located on an opposite surface of the transparent plate to the incidence surface. Then, the light is reflected from the object. The light reflected from the object is transmitted to a light receiver part through a lens. As a result, the light receiver part recognizes an image of the object.
However, such typical optical scanning devices use an infrared LED and form an image using light absorbed and scattered by an object-side surface. Thus, a contrast ratio of an image formed at the light receiver part is low, which makes it difficult to obtain high resolution.

Ultra thin light scanning apparatus for portable information device

Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology


A signal control unit for an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device includes a substrate structure including a plurality of active elements for the pixels, first metal electrodes disposed on the substrate structure, and configured to be electrically connected to a portion of each of the active elements, second metal electrodes disposed over and adjacent the first metal electrodes, configured to electrically connected to corresponding ones of the first metal electrodes, respectively, by via contacts extending vertically to electrically connect the first metal electrodes to the second metal electrodes, and interlayer insulating layer structure interposed between the first electrodes and the second electrodes and having the via contacts therein, the interlayer insulating layer structure having a stacked structure in which a first interlayer insulating layer, a light blocking layer and a second interlayer insulating layer are stacked in order.

Currently, a flat display device such as a plasma display panel (PDP), a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device has been researched and developed.
The OLED display device is classified as one of a spontaneous light emitting device, which may make it possible to be downsized and lightened because the OLED display device may not require a backlight unit which has been normally implemented into the LCD device.
Further, the OLED display device can have a better viewing angle and contrast ratio than a similar liquid crystal display (LCD) device. Furthermore, the OLED display device may have advantages in terms of power consumption, and the OLED display device can be driven by a relatively low DC voltage and have a quick response speed. The OLED display device may be resistant to external impact and have a wide temperature range of acceptable driving temperatures. In particular, since the manufacturing process is simple for an OLED device, there is an advantage that the production cost can be saved compared to a conventional LCD device.
The OLED display device may include a signal control unit for controlling a signal for each pixel, a light emitting unit for generating light using an organic material in response to the signal, and a protection unit formed on the light emitting unit to protect the unit as a whole. At this time, the OLED display device may emit light generated in the light emitting unit outwardly through the protection unit provided at an upper portion thereof, thereby realizing an image.
However, the light generated in the light emitting unit may be unintentionally directed to the signal control unit provided at a lower portion of the OLED device. Particularly, light may affect the active element provided in the signal control unit. For example, when either an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) or an Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM) is provided as an example of the active element and the light is irradiated to electric charges stored in a floating gate included in the EEPROM or EPROM, the electric charges may be activated and abnormally discharged from the floating gate. As a result, the light incident on the signal control unit may cause malfunction of the active element.
Meanwhile, the signal control unit may include a plurality of metal electrodes and an interlayer insulating layer for insulating the metal electrodes from each other. When the light-emitting unit including the organic light-emitting layer is provided on the signal control unit, the organic light-emitting layer may be divided into pixels by forming a plurality of trenches in the interlayer insulating layer. In an etching process for forming the trenches, the pixel isolation characteristics may be changed as the depths of the trenches are different from each other. As a result, a change in optical characteristics of the OLED display device may occur.

Signal control unit for an organic light emitting diode display device


A lawn tool is provided having a drive assembly, a plurality of driven assemblies, and a connector that permits removal of a given driven assemblies from the drive assembly. The drive assembly includes a motor, a first tube, and a first shaft coupled to the motor and positioned to lie in the first tube. Each driven assembly includes an implement, a second tube, and a second drive shaft coupled to the implement and positioned to lie in the second tube. The connector includes a housing coupled to the first and second tubes and a trigger coupled to the housing for movement between a locking position coupling the first and second tubes together and a releasing position permitting removal of the second tube away from the first tube so that the driven assembly may be removed from the drive assembly.

The present invention relates to a lawn tool and particularly to a hand-held lawn tool having a motor, a shaft assembly extending from the motor, and an implement for doing lawn work coupled to a bottom end of the shaft assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to a quick-release component connector that connects components of the lawn tool together.
Hand-held lawn tools having a motor at one end and some sort of lawn tool implement at the other end are known. The lawn tool implements of conventional lawn tools are available in a variety of configurations to accomplish a variety of lawn and gardening tasks. Typical lawn tool implements include, for example, string trimmers for trimming grass and weeds, saw blades for cutting thick brush, and edgers for creating an edge along a sidewalk. The implement of any particular lawn tool is usually best suited to perform only a single task, although some lawn tools have assemblies that allow the position of the implement to be adjusted relative to a handle of the lawn tool so that the same implement can be used to perform different tasks, such as weed trimming and edging.
According to the present invention, a lawn tool system is provided including a driving assembly and a plurality of driven assemblies that are each separately and selectively attachable to the driving assembly. The driving assembly includes a motor and a first tube extending from the motor. The first tube has an end spaced apart from the motor. An output shaft is coupled to the motor and is rotated by the motor. The output shaft is positioned to lie inside the first tube and has an end adjacent to the end of the first tube. A first coupling member is associated with the end of the output shaft. The driving assembly further includes a connector having an adapter tube mounted to the end of the first tube and a trigger coupled to the adapter tube for movement between a releasing position and a locking position.
Each of the plurality of driven assemblies includes an implement and a second tube extending from the implement. Each second tube has an end spaced apart from the implement. Each of the plurality of driven assemblies also includes a driven shaft coupled to the implement so that rotation of the driven shaft moves the implement. Each driven shaft has an end adjacent to the end of the second tube. A second coupling member is associated with the end of each driven shaft. Coupling the end of any of the second tubes to the adapter tube mates the respective second coupling member with the first coupling member so that the output shaft and driven shaft rotate together. The trigger engages the second tube when in the locking position to prevent axial and rotational movement of the second tube relative to the adapter tube. The trigger is disengaged from the second tube when in the releasing position allowing the second tube to be separated away from the adapter tube.
The implements of the driven assemblies are configured to perform a variety of different lawn and gardening tasks. For example, one implement is a string trimmer, one implement is a brush saw, and another implement is an edger. It is within the scope of the invention as presently perceived for other types of implements to be included in the driven assemblies. In preferred embodiments, the second shaft of each of the driven assemblies includes a bent portion adjacent to the implement and the driven shaft is a flexible shaft that conforms to the bent portion of the second shaft.
When the trigger is in the locking position so that the second tube is fixed axially and rotationally relative to the first tube, the first coupling member mates with the second coupling member so that rotation of the output shaft by the motor acts through the first and second coupling members to rotate the driven shaft to move the implement coupled to the driven shaft. The second tube is formed to include an aperture adjacent to the end thereof and the trigger includes a tab received in the aperture when in the locking position. Receipt of the tab in the aperture orients the second tube axially and rotationally relative to the first tube. The connector further includes a spring engaging the trigger to bias the trigger toward the locking position.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.

Quick-release component connector for lawn tool


The present invention relates, generally, to a method and apparatus for electrowinning metals, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for copper electrowinning using the ferrous/ferric anode reaction and a flow-through anode, such as, for example, a dimensionally stable carbon, carbon composite, metal-graphite, or stainless steel anode. In general, the use of a flow-through anode—coupled with an effective electrolyte circulation system—enables the efficient and cost-effective operation of a copper electrowinning system employing the ferrous/ferric anode reaction at a total cell voltage of less than about 1.5 V and at current densities of greater than about 26 Amps per square foot (about 280 A/m2), and reduces acid mist generation. Furthermore, the use of such a system permits the use of low ferrous iron concentrations and optimized electrolyte flow rates as compared to prior art systems while producing high quality, commercially saleable product (i.e., LME Grade A copper cathode or equivalent), which is advantageous.

Efficiency and cost-effectiveness of copper electrowinning is and for a long time has been important to the competitiveness of the copper industry. Past research and development efforts in this area have thus focused—at least in part—on mechanisms for decreasing the total energy requirement for copper electrowinning, which directly impacts the cost-effectiveness of the electrowinning process.
Conventional copper electrowinning, wherein copper is plated from an impure anode to a substantially pure cathode with an aqueous electrolyte, occurs by the following reactions:
Cathode reaction:Cu2++SO42−+2e−→Cu0+SO42 (E0=+0.345 V)
Anode reaction:H2O→½O2+2H++2e− (E0=−1.230 V)
Overall cell reaction:Cu2++SO42−+H2O→Cu0+2H++SO42−+½O2 (E0=−0.855 V)
Conventional copper electrowinning according to the above reactions, however, exhibits several areas of potential improvement for, among other things, improved economics, increased efficiency, and reduced acid mist generation. First, in conventional copper electrowinning, the decomposition of water reaction at the anode produces oxygen (O2) gas. When the liberated oxygen gas bubbles break the surface of the electrolyte bath, they create an acid mist. Reduction or elimination of acid mist is desirable. Second, the decomposition of water anode reaction used in conventional electrowinning contributes significantly to the overall cell voltage via the anode reaction equilibrium potential and the overpotential. The decomposition of water anode reaction exhibits a standard potential of 1.23 Volts (V), which contributes significantly to the total voltage required for conventional copper electrowinning. The typical overall cell voltage is approximately 2.0 V. A decrease in the anode reaction equilibrium potential and/or overpotential would reduce cell voltage, and thus conserve energy and decrease the total operating costs of the electrowinning operation.
One way that has been found to potentially reduce the energy requirement for copper electrowinning is to use the ferrous/ferric anode reaction, which occurs by the following reactions:
Cathode reaction:Cu2++SO42−+2e−→Cu0+SO42− (E0=+0.345 V)
Anode reaction:2Fe2+→2Fe3++2e− (E0=−0.770 V)
Overall cell reaction:Cu2++SO42−+2Fe2+→Cu0+2Fe3++SO42− (H0=−0.425 V)
The ferric iron generated at the anode as a result of this overall cell reaction can be reduced back to ferrous iron using sulfur dioxide, as follows:
Solution reaction:2Fe3+→SO2−+2H2O→2Fe2++4H++SO42−
The use of the ferrous/ferric anode reaction in copper electrowinning cells lowers the energy consumption of those cells as compared to conventional copper electrowinning cells that employ the decomposition of water anode reaction, since the oxidation of ferrous iron (Fe2+) to ferric iron (Fe3+) occurs at a lower voltage than does the decomposition of water. However, maximum voltage reduction—and thus maximum energy reduction—cannot occur using the ferrous/ferric anode reaction unless effective transport of ferrous iron and ferric iron to and from, respectively, the cell anode(s) is achieved. This is because the oxidation of ferrous iron to ferric iron in a copper electrolyte is a diffusion-controlled reaction. This principle has been recognized and applied by, among others, the U.S. Bureau of Mines Reno Research Center and Sandoval et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,608, entitled "Electrolyte Circulation Manifold for Copper Electrowinning Cells Which Use the Ferrous/Ferric Anode Reaction."
Although, in general, the use of the ferrous/ferric anode reaction in connection with copper electrowinning is known, a number of deficiencies are apparent in the prior art regarding to the practical implementation of the ferrous/ferric anode reaction in copper electrowinning processes. For example, prior embodiments of the ferrous/ferric anode reaction in copper electrowinning operations generally have been characterized by operating current density limitations, largely because of the inability to obtain a sufficiently high rate of diffusion of ferrous iron to the anode and ferric iron from the anode. Stated another way, because these prior applications have been unable to achieve optimum transport of ferrous and ferric ions to and from the anode(s) in the electrochemical cell, prior applications of the ferrous/ferric anode reaction have been unable to cost effectively produce copper cathode in electrochemical cells employing largely conventional structural features.
Another aspect of the prior art that would benefit from additional innovation relates to the configuration and composition of anode design to help optimize the ferrous/ferric anode reaction. For example, dimensionally stable electrodes for use in electrowinning of metals generally consist of a base or substrate of a valve metal, typically titanium, carrying an electrocatalytic coating such as a mixed oxide of platinum group metal and a valve metal forming a mixed crystal or solid solution. Many different coating formulations have been proposed. The state of the art with titanium mesh anodes is to place a precious metal oxide or a valve metal oxide coating on the mesh to serve as the anode conductive coating. These coatings typically are very expensive. An anode coating that achieves the benefits of prior art electrocatalytic coatings, but that also offers cost savings, would be advantageous. Alternatively, anodes for use in connection with the ferrous/ferric anode reaction comprised of less expensive materials—such as, for example, carbon composite materials and stainless steels—that perform similarly to traditional anodes but at reduced cost, would be advantageous.

Method and apparatus for electrowinning copper using the ferrous/ferric anode reaction and a flow-through anode


Fibrous structures that exhibit a Wet Burst of greater than 30 g as measured according to the Wet Burst Test Method and that may also exhibit a Geometric Mean (“GM”) Modulus and/or CD Modulus of less than 1320 at 15 g/cm and/or less than 875 at 15 g/cm as measured according to the Modulus Test Method are provided.

Fibrous structures, particularly sanitary tissue products comprising fibrous structures, are known to exhibit different values for particular properties. These differences may translate into one fibrous structure being softer or stronger or more absorbent or more flexible or less flexible or exhibit greater stretch or exhibit less stretch, for example, as compared to another fibrous structure.
One property of fibrous structures, for example facial tissue, that is desirable to consumers is the Wet Burst of the fibrous structure. It has been found that at least some consumers desire fibrous structures that exhibit a Wet Burst of greater than 30 g and/or greater than 95 g as measured according to the Wet Burst Test Method described herein so long as the fibrous structures exhibit a Geometric Mean Modulus of less than 1320 at 15 g/cm and/or less than 865 at 15 g/cm and/or a CD Modulus of less than 1320 at 15 g/cm and/or less than 875 at 15 g/cm and/or less than 710 at 15 g/cm as measured according to the Modulus Test Method described herein.
Accordingly, there exists a need for fibrous structures that exhibit a Wet Burst of greater than 30 g as measured according to the Wet Burst Test Method and a Geometric Mean Modulus of less than 1320 at 15 g/cm and/or a CD Modulus of less than 1320 at 15 g/cm as measured according to the Modulus Test Method.


To prevent erroneous transfer onto a paper sheet loading platform and improve the operation stability over the entire length of a long-edge direction of a pressing member by ensuring a long time during which the pressing member continues to push in a paper sheet alone. To include two rotating bodies 120 and 130 that have recesses 120a and 130a and are rotatable in opposite directions to each other in synchronization with each other, a pressing member 140 that is movable and presses an intermediate portion of a back of a paper sheet forward, a drive mechanism 180, and a paper sheet loading platform 200. The drive mechanism rotates each rotating body by an angle from 195 degrees to 270 degrees in a time period after the pressing member starts to bring a center of the paper sheet into contact with the paper sheet loading platform from an initial state until the pressing member leaves the center of the paper sheet.

As a banknote processing device provided in a banknote handling apparatus that has a function of providing various types of goods or services by receiving an inserted banknote, such as an automatic vending machine, a game medium lending machine in a game place, a ticket-vending machine, a teller machine, and a money changer, a circulation type is known which can receive, accommodate, and dispense a plurality of denominations of banknotes.
A circulation type banknote processing device is provided with a banknote accommodating unit for storing banknotes prepared in advance for being dispensed and/or banknotes inserted in operation for each denomination or in a state where the denominations are mixed.
As the banknote accommodating unit, there are known a circulation type banknote accommodating unit and a collected banknote accommodating unit (a collection container). The circulation type banknote accommodating unit accommodates banknotes that are accommodated therein in advance for change and also accommodates a banknote inserted by a user in operation of the device once, and further has a function of discharging these banknotes to outside as change. The collection container collects all banknotes in the banknote processing apparatus at closing time and the like.
The collection container is provided in the device separately from the circulation type banknote accommodating unit provided for each denomination, and collects all denominations from respective circulation type banknote accommodating units at closing time and the like, or collects large-denomination banknotes that are not used as change.
In recent years, there has been known, as a configuration of the circulation type banknote accommodating unit, a type suitable for circulation that accommodates a banknote between portions of a tape wound and stacked spirally on an outer circumferential surface of a circulation drum. However, as the collection container that is for accommodation only and does not perform circulation, another type is frequently used which transfers and loads a transported banknote onto a banknote loading platform biased with a spring.
Patent Literature 1 discloses a banknote accommodating container including a banknote loading platform movable up and down, a pair of push-in rotating bodies that are arranged to be close to and parallel to each other, have supporting concave portions in outer circumferential surfaces which respectively support both ends in the width direction of a transported banknote, and are driven to rotate in opposite directions to each other, and a push-in member that is driven to move up and down by a drive mechanism of the push-in rotating bodies and presses the center of the banknote supported in the supporting concave portions and transfers it onto the banknote loading platform. According to this disclosure, it is said that it is possible to smoothly accommodate a newly transported banknote while efficiently pressing a banknote already loaded on the banknote loading platform irrespective of the dimension in the width direction of the banknote without increasing the number of components and increasing the size.
In this type of banknote accommodating container (the collection container), if the distance between the push-in rotating bodies is set to be wide to match with the width of a banknote with the maximum size, a banknote with a narrower width can be easily displaced in the width direction between the supporting concave portions or drop from the supporting concave portions, and it is therefore impossible to accommodate banknotes on a loading platform to be well aligned with each other by using the push-in rotating bodies only. Therefore, by providing the push-in member and rotating the push-in rotating bodies while the center in the width direction of the banknote is pushed in irrespective of the dimension in the width direction, it is possible to transfer the banknote onto the loading platform while maintaining a receiving posture and a positional relation before the banknote is pushed in.
However, in Patent Literature 1, a timing of a reciprocating operation of the push-in member, particularly a time (a time period) during which the push-in member continues to press the banknote against the banknote loading platform depends only on a rotation period of first driven gears integrated with the push-in rotating bodies. Therefore, a time during which the push-in member continues to stay at a push-in position at which the push-in member protrudes most cannot be sufficiently ensured. According to operation drawings in Patent Literature 1, the time during which the push-in member continues to stay at the push-in position is within a time period in which each push-in rotating body rotates by about 45 degrees (or an angle equal to or smaller than 45 degrees). Therefore, in most of a time after the push-in member leaves the banknote, pressing of the banknote by the push-in rotating bodies only is continued. However, the push-in rotating bodies are in contact with the banknote while pressing the banknote and rotating in order to return to their original positions. Therefore, the push-in rotating bodies can easily displace the banknote on the loading platform in the width direction. That is, if pressing of the banknote only by the outer circumferential surfaces of the push-in rotating bodies that continue to rotate in a time period during which the banknote is not sandwiched and pressed between the push-in member and the banknote loading platform, is performed for a long time, the banknote on the loading platform can be easily displaced by being led by rotation of either one of the push-in rotating bodies. In this manner, the push-in member that has pressed the banknote once retreats in a short time, and in most of a time after the retreat, the push-in rotating bodies are in contact with the banknote while rotating. Therefore, it is apparent that erroneous loading such as displacement of the banknote or drop of the banknote when the banknote is transferred can easily occur.
Further, because the push-in rotating bodies are in contact with the banknote surface while pressing the banknote surface and rotating, also during the period during which the push-in member presses the banknote against the loading platform, displacement or drop of the banknote on the loading platform can easily occur.
Furthermore, the circumferential length of the outer circumferential surface of each push-in rotating body is configured to be as long as possible because it is necessary to continue to press the banknote by the push-in rotating bodies for a long time after the push-in member leaves the banknote. Therefore, the push-in rotating bodies become large. In addition, in order to ensure a long time of pushing in the banknote by the circumferential surfaces of the push-in rotating bodies, it is necessary to set the width in the circumferential direction (the opening width) of the supporting concave portion provided in each outer circumferential surface to be as small as possible. This is because the banknote cannot be pressed by an opening of the supporting concave portion. However, if the opening width of the supporting concave portion is narrow, there is no room for design of a transport unit or the like for surely setting both ends of the banknote in the supporting concave portions located at a standby position, so that erroneous reception of a creased banknote or the like can easily occur.
In addition, the supporting concave portion becomes inevitably shallow because it is provided at a position of the push-in rotating body that is close to a circumferential surface and avoids contact with a rotation axis of the push-in rotating body. Therefore, if the depth of the supporting concave portion is increased in order to handle banknotes having various width-direction dimensions, there are errors of further increase in size of the push-in rotating bodies.
Further, in the above configuration, driving force for ejecting or retracting the push-in member having a long-edge length that matches with a banknote with the maximum size is applied only from one end portion in the long-edge direction of the push-in member. Therefore, the stability of an operation on the other end portion side during pressing is low, easily causing play or vibration in an operation of the push-in member or lowering the durability of a mechanism that guides the push-in member.
These problems occur not only in the banknote collection container but also in a paper sheet collection container of a paper sheet accommodating apparatus that handles paper sheets other than banknotes, such as tickets, cash vouchers, and securities.

Paper sheet accommodating unit and paper sheet processing device


A track switch for use with a track intersection for movable wall panels wherein the track intersection has a first track path and a second track path for the movable wall panels to traverse. The switch includes an actuator movable between a first actuator position and a second actuator position upon actuation by a power source. The switch also includes a diverter operatively connected to the actuator and selectively movable between a first diverter position defining the first track path and a second diverter position defining a second track path. Movement of the actuator between the first and second actuator positions causes the diverter to move between the first and second diverter positions, respectively. The actuator includes a biasing mechanism for biasing the diverter toward the selected diverter position. The biasing mechanism is operatively connected to the diverter such that, as the diverter is in or moving toward the selected diverter position, the biasing mechanism allows the diverter to move toward the non-selected diverter position upon application of a force against the diverter toward the non-selected diverter position.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to movable wall panels used to divide large rooms into smaller rooms, and, in particular, to a switch for intersecting tracks for such movable wall panels.
2. Description of the Related Art
Movable wall panel systems are used to divide large areas into smaller areas or rooms. Typically, wall panels are suspended by trolleys from a track which resides within the room's suspended ceiling so that the track system does not interfere with the room's aesthetic appearance. Many installations required the flexibility to either stack the panels in alternate positions and/or to move the walls to form different wall panel configurations.
An example of a track intersection for wall panels having multiple paths through which the panels may travel is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,555,828. Each wall panel includes a retainer which corresponds in height to one of the guide rails of a guide plate placed at the track's intersection. Thus, specific panels are set up to move in a particular direction at the intersection. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,318 discloses a track intersection having diverter blades which are engaged by diverter pins connected to the wall panel's trolley to make certain that a particular wall panel moves through the intersection in a proscribed direction. The guiding systems of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,555,828 and 5,016,318 do not provide the user the flexibility to move panels in any direction once it reaches the intersection as no mechanism is provided to select the desired track direction once the retainer height or diverter pin placement has been established. Thus, it is desirable to provide a switch which allows each wall panel to move through the intersection in any direction without requiring modification of the trolley from which the panel is suspended.
Selectable track switches are available in a variety of configurations. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,336,757 discloses a manually actuated track switch which permits a curtain suspending from the track to be moved through a track intersection in one of two available directions, depending on the position of the switch. Specifically, the track intersection includes a slider switch which is movable between two positions. Essentially, the switch moves a preformed track portion to direct the curtain through the selected track path. If implemented for a movable wall panel system, the switch of U.S. Pat. No. 4,336,757 may be utilized to choose a path over which the panels are to travel; however, should the switch be activated when a wall panel trolley or other obstruction is positioned such that the obstruction impedes the movement of the movable track portion, damage to the switch may result. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a track switch which is not damaged should the switch be activated in the presence of such an obstruction. Also, should a wall panel be positioned on that portion of the track not selected and the panel be moved into the track intersection, the wall panel is stopped by the switch which may either damage the switch or the wall panel trolley.
Rotary switches are utilized in the track system of U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,947 to permit wall panels to be moved from a primary track onto a set of storage tracks which are parallel to the main path over which the panels traverse. This invention does not provide a means for selecting the path direction, but rather provides a means for moving panels from a selected path into a stored position.
Track switching devices have been developed for tracks located within the floor such as may be desirable for an air-cushioned vehicle. A manual switch is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,340,822, for example, to allow the operator of a vehicle to actuate a switch located on the vehicle to choose the path direction through the track intersection. Such an approach is inefficient when considered for use with movable wall panels suspended from a track located in the ceiling as many successive panels are likely to be moved along the same path to form a wall on that path's track. It is preferable, therefore, to provide a switch affecting the track intersection rather than requiring that a switch on each panel be actuated.
An electrically actuated switch for a track located within the floor is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,776. In this system, a guide pin comprised of electromagnetic material is disposed on the front of the vehicle and electromagnetic devices are located proximate the track intersection such that actuation of certain electromagnetic devices attracts the vehicle's guide pin toward a particular path. If implemented for a movable wall panel system suspended from a track in the ceiling wherein each panel is of substantial weight, such a switching mechanism requires that some portion of the panel's trolley be composed of an electromagnetic material--an undesirable expense--and also requires that significant power to be supplied to the track's electromagnetic devices to move the heavy wall panels. It is desirable to provide an electrically actuated track switch for movable wall panels which is inexpensive to manufacture and to maintain.
Various movable wall panel manufacturers provide to its customers an electrically actuated track switch similar to the track switch disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,336,757. Specifically, power is provided to move a movable track portion between selectable positions. Once a wall panel has moved forward through the track intersection wherein a single track path branches into two or more track paths, these track switches require that a user change the switch position in order to move a wall panel back through the track intersection. If the user does not change the switch position prior to moving the panels "backward" through the intersection, significant damage to the switch may result. The switch may be rendered inoperable and significant repair costs may be incurred. It is desirable to provide a track switch which will not be damaged if a panel is moved against the directions established by the switch.
Additionally, existing track switches are only operable when the switch it clear, i.e., when no portion of the wall panel, such as the trolley and dollies from which the panels are suspended from the track, obstructs the switch. If such an obstruction occurs, the switch may be damaged. Therefore, it is desirable to provide an electrically actuated track switch which is not damaged in the event the switch is obstructed by a trolley in the track proximate the switch.

Track switch for suspended movable wall panels


A method for communicating between a first Fibre Channel (FC) enabled device and a second FC enabled device, where the communication occurs across a fabric that operates in accordance with a first protocol different from a FC protocol of the first and second FC enabled devices. The method includes receiving, from the first FC enabled device, at a first gateway receiver a sequence of bytes including at least one control character in accordance with the FC protocol. The method then includes replacing the at least one control character with at least one data character. The method also includes generating an encapsulation header and an encapsulation footer for encapsulating the sequence of bytes in which at least one control character was replaced with at least one data character. The method then includes setting a control character indicator in the encapsulation header if a first byte in the sequence of bytes received at the gateway receiver is a control character. The method includes setting an end of frame indicator in the encapsulation footer if a last byte in the sequence of bytes received at the first gateway receiver is an end of frame control character.

Fibre Channel is a computer communications protocol designed to meet the many requirements related to the ever increasing demand for high performance information transfer. The Fibre Channel protocol is sometimes referred to in the literature as Fiber Channel; the variation is due to differences in spelling between American English and British English. Fibre Channel combines the benefits of both channel and network technology and also provides for flexible topologies, connectivity over several kilometers (not to exceed generally 10 kilometers (km)), and support for multiple relatively high data rates, media types, and connectors. Fibre Channel has become relatively popular for connecting multiple storage devices together in a storage area network (SAN). The popularity is partly due to the fact that once a channel between two devices is set up very little decision making is needed, allowing for a high speed, hardware intensive environment.
Unfortunately, communication between and with storage area networks cannot be met with existing Fibre Channel networks. Increasingly storage area networks are becoming geographically dispersed. This dispersion is due to many factors: mergers and acquisitions of companies located nationally and internationally; desire to provide off-site storage; and storage replication, among other factors. Due to the upper limit on the distance of about 10 km between two devices on a Fibre Channel network, it is unpracticable to interconnect two storage area networks that are separated by a distance greater than 10 km using Fibre Channel.
Several solutions have been proposed for interconnecting geographically dispersed SANs. However, the proposed solutions are unsatisfactory for a variety of shortcomings. For example, the proposed solutions often involve the establishment of a non-Fibre Channel network (or point-to-point interconnect) with a proprietary protocol and hardware for transporting Fibre Channel frames over large distances (greater than 10 km). Furthermore, the solutions often involve the establishment of a network (or point-to-point interconnect) that is parallel to wide area networks (WANs) and metropolitan area networks (MANs) that communicate over large distances via standard non-proprietary protocols. Many national and international carriers operate MANs and WANs in accordance with Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and Synchronous Optical Network (SONET), among other protocols. These networks leverage the economy scale afforded by a large number of independent users to provide a relatively economical service. In contrast to these networks which provide a cost-effective solution for communication over large distances, the parallel network may be relatively costly, inefficient and needlessly redundant. For example, the parallel network requires separate management and maintenance effort and does not benefit from the economy of scale due to many users using the same network.
As described above, existing solutions are not capable of providing efficient, non-proprietary, and relatively economical communication between geographically dispersed SANs. Consequently, it is desirable to interconnect geographically dispersed Fibre Channel enabled SANs using the standard protocols of non-Fibre Channel networks that can provide a relatively economical and efficient solution.

Encapsulating Fibre Channel signals for transmission over non-Fibre Channel networks


A clock generator including a DLL occupying a small area and a semiconductor device including the clock generator have been disclosed. In the clock generator for generating a plurality of clocks optimally adjusted in phase for a plurality of objects on the basis of a received clock, the DLL is structured hierarchically. A first DLL of a parent level is used in common and second DLLs of child levels are associated with input signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a clock generator for generating a plurality of clocks independently adjusted in phase using a received external clock, and to a semiconductor device having the clock generator therein. More particularly, this invention is concerned with a semiconductor device for correcting a time difference of each input data from a data fetching edge of an external clock.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a large-scale semiconductor device system such as a computer using semiconductor devices, each part of the system is designed to operate synchronously with a clock. Input or output of a signal such as a data signal or address signal is synchronous with the clock. Because of a difference in characteristic of an output circuit in a driving-side semiconductor device from another output circuit or a phase difference of an output timing signal, the state transition edge of each output signal becomes different in time from the trailing edge of the clock. Moreover, since the length of a signal line may be different from that of another line or the load on the signal line may be different from that on another line, there arises a difference in transfer time between signals. A time difference of the state transition edge of an input signal received by a receiving-side semiconductor device from the trailing edge of the clock gets larger. During a period during which the time difference occurs, all input signals are uncertain. The period is therefore regarded as an uncertain period during which any input signal cannot be fetched. The time difference in phase between signals is referred to as a skew. The skew depends on the length of or load on a signal line and therefore cannot be nullified.
When a semiconductor device fetches an input signal using a latch, a required setup time and hold time must be set in the latch from the operational viewpoint. A time during which an input signal must be certain is defined before and after the leading edge of a clock. Even if an input signal to be received by a receiving-side semiconductor device has a skew, the input signal must be certain during the setup time and hold time before and after the leading edge of the clock. A period remaining after subtraction of an uncertain period of the input signal from the cycle of the clock is a certain period of the input signal. In a low-speed system, the uncertain period of the input signal is relatively small for the cycle of a clock and therefore does not pose a serious problem. However, in a high-speed system, since the cycle of a clock is very short, the ratio of the uncertain period of an input signal to the cycle of the clock gets relatively large. The certain period diminishes accordingly. The uncertain period therefore poses a serious problem. This may lead to a situation in which a skew restricts the operating speed of a semiconductor device.
For solving this kind of problem, an art in which an input timing adjustment circuit and a re-synchronization circuit are installed for each input signal and all input signals are adjusted to be mutually synchronous is conceivable. The input timing adjustment circuit includes a delay-locked loop (DLL). A delay circuit included in the delay-locked loop includes a delay line having numerous delay elements, each of which introduces a magnitude of delay equivalent to the passage of a signal through one stage, connected in series with one another. When the magnitude of delay per stage is reduced in order to enable precise phase adjustment, a phase must be able to be adjusted by a quantity large enough to cancel a predicted skew. The number of stages of the delay line therefore becomes very large. For this reason, the scale of the delay circuit is large. Moreover, this kind of delay circuit must be installed for each input signal. The whole of a circuit for coping with the skews of the input signals therefore becomes very large in scale. This dominates the area of a chip and becomes a cause for an increase in chip area.

Clock generator having DLL and semiconductor device having clock generator


Methods and compositions are disclosed for rapidly reducing the risk of suicide in patients suffering from acute suicidality and rapidly relieving mood symptoms in major depression and treatment-resistant depression using a novel therapeutic regimen comprising a single or intermittent administration of a high dose of gaboxadol, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, to the subject n need thereof.

According to the World Health Organization, depression is the leading cause of disability and ill health in the world affecting more than 300 million people worldwide and costing the global economy an estimated $1 trillion in lost productivity each year. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimate that in the U.S. alone, 20-25% of all adults aged 18 and older and 10.9% of young adults aged 18-25 experience at least one episode of major depression each year. Left untreated, mental diseases, like major depression, are a major contributor to suicide in the U.S which takes the lives of more than 47,000 Americans every year or one death by suicide every 11 minutes (Shepard et al., Suicide Life Threat Behav. (2016) 46(3)352-62.). There is one suicide for every estimated 25 suicide attempts which means each year there are an estimated quarter million people who become suicide survivors. Hence, there is a critical unmet need for rapid-acting medications for the treatment of suicidal ideation and treatment-resistant depression (TRD).
Recently, esketamine (Spravato) delivered intranasally has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the first rapid acting antidepressant, bringing hope to patients with TRD and acute suicidal ideation (Bahr et al., 2019; Pochwat et al., 2019). Esketamine indeed shows a remarkably rapid efficacy, with positive therapeutic effects seen with a day or only a few days post dosing, in contrast to traditional antidepressants that take weeks to achieve efficacy (Krystal et al., 2019, Neuron 101, 774-778; Harmer et al., 2009; The British Journal of Psychiatry 195, 102-108; Uher et al., 2010, Psychological Medicine 40, 1367-1377). However, esketamine is also associated with significant side effects, including psychosis-like psychotomimetic side effects with delusions and delirium and drug abuse liability. The psychotomimetic side effects are of a particular concern in TRD and suicidal patients and therefore Spravato can be only administered in doctor's office where patients must be monitored by a health professional for at least 2 hours post dose. Therefore there is a continuing need for the development of safer therapeutic options with similar rapid efficacy as esketamine. Gaboxadol or THIP (4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo (5,4-c) pyridin-3-ol) is a selective GABAA receptor agonist with a preference for δ-subunit containing GABAA receptors. In the early 1980s gaboxadol was the subject of a series of pilot studies that tested its efficacy as an analgesic and anxiolytic, as well as a treatment for tardive dyskinesia, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease (Mohr, Bruno et al. Clin Neuropharmacol. 1986; 9(3):257-63), and spasticity. In the 1990s gaboxadol moved into late stage development for the treatment of insomnia. The development was discontinued after the compound failed to show significant effects in sleep onset and sleep maintenance in a three-month efficacy study. (Methods of treating depression with low doses of gaboxadol are disclosed in WO2004112786, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. A clinical trial to investigate the efficacy of gaboxadol in the treatment of symptoms of Angelman Syndrome (a developmental disorder) sponsored by Ovid Therapeutics Inc. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02996305) is currently underway (Cogram, Deacon et al. 2019). Patent applications on related subject matter include U.S. Pat. No. 9,744,159, published US Patent Application No. 2017/348232 and WIPO International Patent Application WO2017015049, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
Methods of treating depression with low doses of gaboxadol are disclosed in WO2004112786, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
A clinical trial by Lundbeck reported at ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00807248 treated 490 patients with daily oral doses of escitalopram (20 mg) and gaboxadol (5 mg or 10 mg). The trial found that oral gaboxadol at this amount provided no additional benefit in the treatment of patients with severe major depressive disorder. A report on this trial is found at Kaspar et al (2012) Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2012 July; 15(6):715-25. test for effects on patients diagnosed with suicidal ideation or identified as at risk of suicide. The trial also did not test the effect of gaboxadol alone.
Gaboxadol (4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo [5,4-c]pyridine-3-ol) (THIP)) is also described in EP Patent No. 0000338 and in EP Patent No. 0840601, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,278,676, 4,362,731, 4,353,910, and WO 2005/094820, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
None of the art described above addresses the urgent treatment of patients suffering from acute suicidality and treatment-resistant depression by administering a high dose (e.g., >50 mg per dose) gaboxadol once or intermittently every three days or more.

Gaboxadol for reducing risk of suicide and rapid relief of depression


Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a group-based communication server for associating an identifier with one or more message communications within a group-based communication system. In some embodiments, the group-based communication server comprises at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code.

A communication system may support communication and collaboration among users. Such communications may be voluminous and difficult to organize which presents many complex technological, security, efficiency, and ease-of-use challenges. Applicant has identified a number of deficiencies and problems associated with such communication systems. Through applied effort, ingenuity, and innovation, many of these identified problems have been solved by developing solutions that are included in embodiments of the present disclosure, many examples of which are described in detail herein.

Method, apparatus, and computer program product for associating an identifier with one or more message communications within a group-based communication system


A differential operational amplifier, which comprises: a voltage adjusting module, coupled between a first predetermined voltage source and a second predetermined voltage source, for adjusting a first voltage via a first voltage adjusting value to generate a first adjusted voltage, and for adjusting a second voltage via a second voltage adjusting value to generate a second adjusted voltage, wherein the first voltage adjusting value and the second voltage adjusting value change corresponding to a temperature; and a differential signal computing module, coupled between the first predetermined voltage source and the second predetermined voltage source, for generating an output voltage according the first adjusted voltage and the second adjusted voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a differential operational amplifier and a bandgap reference voltage generating circuit applying the differential operational amplifier, and particularly relates to a differential operational amplifier that can reduce the temperature for the input voltage and a bandgap reference voltage generating circuit applying the differential operational amplifier.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the field of circuit design, a reference voltage generating circuit is always applied to generate an accurate reference voltage as a voltage standard for other devices. Voltage generating circuits can be classified to various kinds, and one of them is a bandgap reference voltage generating circuit. The devices inside such circuit adjusts the voltage or the current thereof responding to a temperature coefficient, such that the generated reference voltage can be kept at a stable value.
The bandgap reference voltage generating circuit always comprises a differential operational amplifier to control the operation for the bandgap reference voltage generating circuit via a first voltage and a second voltage. The first voltage and the second voltage change corresponding to a temperature difference. The differential operational amplifier always comprise the NMOSFET input pair or the PMOSFET input pair illustrated in FIG. 1 to receive above-mentioned first voltage and second voltage. Either the first voltage V1 or the second voltage V2 has a negative correlation with a temperature. Therefore, if the differential operational amplifier operates at a lower operational voltage VDD and operates at a low temperature, the voltage difference VDS between a source terminal and a drain terminal for the PMOSFET Pa of the PMOSFET input pair is suppressed (as shown in FIG. 2), such that the PMOSFET Pa operates in a linear region thus the differential operational amplifier comprises a smaller amplifier gain. On the opposite, if the differential operational amplifier operates at a high temperature, the voltage difference VDS between a source terminal and a drain terminal for the NMOSFET Na of the NMOSFET input pair is suppressed, such that the NMOSFET Na operates in a linear region thus the differential operational amplifier comprises a smaller amplifier gain.
In the above-mentioned case, the VGS (the voltage difference between the gate terminal and the source terminal) must be increased, if the PMOSFET Pa or the NMOSFET Na need constant output currents. However, the difference between the first voltage V1 and the second voltage V2 change (as shown in FIG. 3) if the VGS increases, thereby the reference voltage generated by the reference voltage generating circuit is also affected.

Differential operational amplifier and bandgap reference voltage generating circuit


A heating apparatus (2) draws in a liquid medium through a motor (7) driven, high pressure pump (5, 172), the liquid medium is greatly increased in pressure and temperature through frictional heating thereof and then the liquid medium is discharged in a heated, reduced pressure state for use directly or for heat exchange with another fluid. A method of utilizing the heating apparatus is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to an apparatus for generating heat through the use of friction for the purpose of heating a liquid medium, as well as a method for heating a liquid medium.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
There are an abundance of applications that require the generation and transferring of heat. For example, to name just a few, systems for heating buildings, clothes dryers and water heating units require the generation of heat to warm a fluid medium generally constituted by water or air. Such known arrangements utilize various types of heat sources. For instance, the use of electrical is resistance elements, oil and various type of gas burners are widely known.
Electrical resistance elements are rather inexpensive, can develop high temperatures in rather short time periods and can be readily supplied with electrical operating power. However, such resistance elements have high power consumption rates and are therefore quite costly to operate as compared to other available heating arrangements. Oil and gas burner units can be more cost effective to operate than electrical resistance based units, but oil and gas burner units also have their drawbacks such as limitations based on availability of the respective combustible fluids in particular localities, the potential for operating cost fluxuations based on various global factors and the bulkiness of the overall units.
Based simply on the above, it should be readily apparent that each of the commonly known heating arrangements has its associated advantages and disadvantages. In general, operational efficiencies must be compromised if operational costs are to be minimized. Furthermore, the overall compactness of prior art units represents a significant limitation. Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a compact fluid heating apparatus which is both cost and operationally efficient, while being readily adaptable for various uses in today's marketplace.

Method and apparatus for heating a liquid medium


Aspects of the disclosure are direct towards managing data overlay in a direct access storage device (DASD) using metadata of data stored within the DASD. The DASD receives user input. The user input includes a value indicating activation of overlay tracking for a track of the DASD. The DASD updates the metadata to indicate overlay tracking activation. The DASD detects a write request from an application to overlay data on the track. In response to overlay tracking being activated for the track, the DASD determines the access method used to transmit the write request. The DASD determines an identifier for the application. The DASD determines the identifier using the protocol of the access method. The DASD records data regarding the write request within the metadata. In response to recording the data regarding the write request, the DASD overlays the track per the write request.

Interfacing between applications and direct access storage devices has become increasingly complex over time. Numerous programming functions can intercept and/or manipulate data on direct access storage devices at various points along the data pipeline. These interceptions and manipulations can execute without alerting an end user. When data changes incorrectly, end users may need to perform substantial data tracing to locate the source of the inaccuracy.

Storage device data overlay tracking and prevention

International Business Machines Corporation


A composition and method for producing a beneficial effect on a subject's nerve associated with at least one of a cosmetic condition, a dermatological indication and a dental indication and another condition. The composition comprises a hydroxy-oligocarboxylic ester and is formulated for topical administration of the product to a subject to produce the beneficial effect. The method includes topically applying to the subject in a region where the beneficial effect is desired a hydroxy-oligocarboxylic ester in an amount effective to produce the beneficial effect.

This application relates to use of a composition comprising a hydroxy-oligocarboxylic ester for topical administration to alleviate or improve cosmetic conditions, dental conditions, dermatological indications and other conditions in which the effects on the nervous system can be beneficial, particularly with respect to sensuous and mild anesthetic properties.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,171, entitled "Amphoteric Compositions and Polymeric Forms of Alpha Hydroxyacids, and Their Therapeutic Use," describes preventive as well as therapeutic treatments to alleviate cosmetic conditions and symptoms of dermatologic disorders with amphoteric compositions containing alpha hydroxyacids, alpha ketoacids related compounds or polymeric forms of hydroxyacids. U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,988, entitled "Alleviating Signs of Dermatological Aging with Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid or Citric Acid," describes the use of alpha-hydroxyacids to alleviate or improve signs of skin, nail and hair changes associated with intrinsic or extrinsic aging. U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,938, entitled "Method of Using Glycolic Acid for Treating Wrinkles," describes the use of glycolic acid for topical treatment of wrinkles. U.S. Pat. No. 5,258,391, entitled "Phenyl Alpha Acyloxyalkanoic Acids, Derivatives and Their Therapeutic Use," describes the use of topical compositions containing phenyl alpha acyloxyalkanoic acids and derivatives to enhance the keratinization of nails, skin, lips and other mucous membranes.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,776, entitled "Additives Enhancing Topical Actions of Therapeutic Agents," describes the use of hydroxycarboxylic acids to enhance the therapeutic effects of cosmetic or pharmaceutical agents. U.S. Pat. No. 5,686,489, entitled "Alpha Hydroxyacid Esters for Skin Aging," describes the use of alpha-hydroxyacid esters to increase skin thickness by stimulating biosynthesis of dermal components such as glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans, collagen and elastin, and to treat aging related integumental changes including age spots, skin lines, wrinkles, photoaging and aging skin. U.S. Pat. No. 5,889,054, entitled "Method of Using Beta Hydroxyacids for Treating Wrinkles," describes the use of compositions comprising a beta-hydroxyacid for topical treatment of skin changes associated with aging. U.S. Pat. No. 6,060,512, entitled "Method of Using Hydroxycarboxylic Acids or Related Compounds for Treating Skin Changes Associated with Intrinsic and Extrinsic Aging," describes the use of compositions comprising a hydroxycarboxylic acid for topical treatment of skin changes associated with intrinsic and extrinsic aging. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,335,023 and 6,740,327, both entitled "Oligosaccharide Aldonic Acids and Their Topical Use," describe the use of compositions comprising an oligosaccharide aldonic acid for topical treatment of cosmetic conditions and dermatological disorders. U.S. Pat. No. 6,767,924, entitled "Method of Using Hydroxycarboxylic Acids or Related Compounds for Treating Skin Changes Associated with Intrinsic and Extrinsic Aging," describes the use of compositions comprising a polyhydroxy acid in an amphoteric system for topical treatment of skin changes associated with intrinsic and extrinsic aging.
None of the above patents has described or implied actions or effects on a nerve or nerves by topical administration of a hydroxyoligocarboxylic ester, such as a hydroxydicarboxylic ester or a hydroxytricarboxylic ester.

Hydroxy-oligocarboxylic esters: effects on nerve and use for cutaneous and mucocutaneous organs or sites


This invention, which relates to the output circuit of a sense amplifier that amplifies the signal read from the memory, maintains the output signal stably at a specified level in the presence of equalize pulse signals. Differential amplifiers (36a, 36b) amplify a pair of complementary signals read from the memory. The output terminals of these differential amplifiers (36a, 36b) are connected to each other by transfer gates (N1, P1) controlled by the equalize pulse signals (EQ, /EQ) and also connected to latch circuits (13, 14) via clocked inverter circuits (11, 12). The clocked inverter circuits (11, 12) are put in a high impedance state during the presence of the equalize pulse signals, so that the signals held in the latch circuits (13, 14) remain unchanged.

FIG. 6 illustrates an important part of a conventional semiconductor memory device such as an EPROM. This semiconductor memory device comprises: for example, an address buffer 31 that stores the data read address signal temporarily; an X-decoder 32 and a Y-decoder 33 that decode the address signal from the address buffer 31; a Y-selector 34 that receives the output of the Y-decoder 33; a memory cell unit 35 from which a particular cell is selected depending o the outputs of the Y-selector 34 and X-decoder 32; a sense amplifier 36 that amplifies the signal read out of the memory cell unit 35 and supplied from the Y-selector 34 and produces a data signal with a specified level; a pulse generator circuit (ATD) 37 that senses the change of address signal in the address buffer 31, generates a specified pulse signal (hereinafter, referred to as an equalizer pulse signal), and supplies it to the sense amplifier 36; an input/output buffer circuit 38 that outputs the data signal from the sense amplifier 36; a data input section 39 that drives transistors (not shown) in the Y-selector 34 depending on the data from the input/output buffer circuit 38; and a controller 40 that controls the sense amplifier 36, pulse generator circuit 37, input/output buffer circuit 38, and data input section 39 on the basis of the chip enable signal /CE, output enable signal /OE, program (write) signal /PGM, and power supply V.sub.pp.
The memory cell unit 35 is composed of, for example, a referential EPROM and is designed to allow the simultaneous reading of signals of different levels.
The sense amplifier 36 is designed to produce signals of a specified level by, for example, three-stage amplification of different-level signals from the memory cell unit 35 via the Y-selector 34. Each of the first through third stage amplifying section is made up of a pair of differential amplifiers and a transfer gate circuit that equalizes the outputs of the differential amplifier pair to the same level on the basis of the equalize pulse signal from the pulse generator circuit 37.
FIG. 7 illustrates the construction of the third-stage amplifying section and output circuit.
The differential amplifiers 36a and 36b compare the signals from the second-stage amplifying section (not shown) for potential difference and judges whether the signal is at the "1" or "0" level. These differential amplifiers 36a and 36b are supplied with input signals so as to each produce signals of different levels, that is, the output level of the differential amplifier 36b is "0" when the output level of the differential amplifier 36a is "1". Specifically, the input signal V.sub.in1 is supplied to both the non-inverted input terminal of the differential amplifier 36a and the inverted terminal of the differential amplifier 36b, while the input signal Vin2 is supplied to both the non-inverted input terminal of the differential amplifier 36b and the inverted terminal of the differential amplifier 36a.
The output terminals of the differential amplifiers 36a and 36b are connected to inverter circuits 36c and 36d, respectively. Connected across the output terminals of the amplifiers 36a and 36b is a transfer gate 36e consisting of a p-channel transistor P1 and an n-channel transistor N1 connected in parallel. The gates of the n-channel transistor N1 and p-channel transistor P1 are supplied with the equalize pulse signals EQ and /EQ from the pulse generating circuit 37, respectively.
The operation of this arrangement will be explained, referring to FIG. 8.
Before the change of address ADD, the potential Va of the node a between the differential amplifier 36a and inverter circuit 36c is at the "1" level, the potential Vb of the node b between the differential amplifier 36b and inverter circuit 36d is at the "0" level, the output potential Q of the inverter circuit 36c is at the "0" level, and the output potential /Q of the inverter circuit 36d is at the "1" level. In this state, when address ADD is changed, the pulse generator circuit 37 produces the equalize pulse signals EQ and /EQ. Then, the transistors P1 and N1 receiving the equalize pulses EQ and /EQ turn conductive, thereby equalizing the potentials Va and Vb of both nodes a and b.
Next, when the equalize pulse signals EQ and /EQ cease, the transistors P1 and N1 become non-conductive, which allows the potentials Va and Vb of the output nodes a and b of the differential amplifiers 36a and 36b to return to the original potentials at which the amplifiers 36a and 36b judged the nodes to be.
When the equalize pulse signals EQ and /EQ make the transistors P1 and N1 conductive, the potentials Va and Vb of the output terminals of the differential amplifiers 36a and 36b are at an intermediate potential. Therefore, the inverter circuits 36c and 36d cannot determine whether the input potentials are at the "0" or "1" level, which makes the output potentials Q and /Q indeterminate, leading to a possibility of producing erroneous outputs.
With the conventional circuit configuration, some time is required for the output potentials of the inverter circuits 36c and 36d to return to normal after the equalize pulse signals EQ and /EQ ceased, which makes it difficult to achieve high-speed operation.

Sense amplifier output circuit used in semiconductor memory devices