A method of calibration of a dataset for spectroscopically resolved radiation scanning, comprising the steps of: generating an apparatus condition specific calibration dataset of emergent radiation intensity information generated after interaction in the scanning zone of at least one standard object spectroscopically resolved into a plurality of frequency bands; providing a transferable database comprising a dataset of transferable data items of emergent intensity information for a range of component materials, each spectroscopically resolved into a plurality of frequency bands and linked to the condition specific calibration dataset; defining a reference calibration dataset; generating a transfer function between the data item and the reference calibration dataset; applying the transfer function to the transferable data item to generate a dynamic data item adjusted to the reference calibration; populating a data register with a dynamic dataset comprising a dataset of data items each dynamically adjusted to the reference calibration.

It is desirable to scan the contents of objects such as, for example, baggage containers, liquid containers etc, at security and customs checkpoints to gain information about content, for example to obtain an indication that the contents of the object do not constitute a threat to security or a breach of customs regulations. It is also desirable to scan the contents of objects for other purposes such as quality control, content verification, degradation monitoring etc.
It is known that information useful in this regard may be obtained from an analysis of radiation received at a detector after interaction with the object. To ensure that the contents of an object are what they are claimed to be, it may be useful to scan the object and contents so that a high energy ionising radiation beam traverses a cross section of the object. It can be possible to obtain an indication of the materials composition and/or identity from a numerical analysis of the resultant transmitted radiation beam intensity data and a comparison of the results of that analysis with a reference dataset relating equivalent pre-stored data to a range of expected constituent materials of a known composition and/or of a known identity to which unique data can be attributed. Information regarding the composition and/or identity of an object under test and/or its contents may then be inferred from a match of test data to pre-stored data.
The interaction of high energy ionising radiation with an object is the subject of a number of physical mechanism including various modes of absorption, diffraction, elastic and inelastic scattering which have been characterised to a greater or lesser degree. Many of these mechanisms vary characteristically with material content in a manner which is dependent upon the radiation wavelength/frequency.
Instrumentation has been developed which is intended to examine objects non-invasively to identify content materials, in particular for example liquids, within sealed containers by referencing such characteristic energy selective information to a database of such data for known materials. According to techniques disclosed for example in our co-pending International Patent Application Nos. WO2009/024817, WO2009/024818, and WO 2008/142446 a container may be irradiated with a beam of radiation and the transmission or other characteristics of the container and its liquid contents measured using an energy selective detector such as cadmium telluride or germanium.
The transmission or other characteristics of various materials could be recorded and held in a database. The database could then be used for comparison with in situ scanning of objects to look for matched transmission characteristics and, therefore, target materials could be identified.
A problem arises in that precise transmission data may be influenced by the apparatus conditions when it is collected. All instruments will vary to some degree however high a tolerance is designed in principle. Errors in build, such as component offsets and misalignments, cannot be eliminated. Sources necessarily exhibit some variation. Detector performances and sensitivities can never be perfectly matched. Even an individual instrument can vary in performance over time, eg as operating conditions change, if it is moved etc. Although good practices and standard processes can reduce these variations between instruments and apparatus conditions, they cannot be entirely eliminated.
Reference data from a reference database generated on another instrument or otherwise in other apparatus conditions can only be used on a current instrument to tolerances that take due account of these variations between apparatus conditions. This may be inadequate for the levels of precision required to differentiate multiple materials with closely related characteristics. The alternative, to populate the current instrument with a bespoke generated reference database, would be time consuming and, therefore, unsuitable for many intended uses, such as in airport security where time is often of the essence.
There is a need for an improved a method of calibration of a dataset produced by an apparatus for scanning an object for non-invasively identifying the composition of its contents so as to make the data more readily available to other apparatus or in other apparatus conditions. In a particular preferred case there is a need for an improved method of populating such an apparatus with dynamically calibrated reference information derived from a over an operationally practical timescale. In a further preferred case there is a need for an improved method of populating a central reference database with data generated from multiple apparatus according to a common reference standard.

Cross calibration of two energy dispersive X-ray baggage screening systems including transformation of the reference database


Expandable container consisting of two hollow bodies, the inner one fitting inside the outer body and bearing a closed bottom. Placed between these two bodies is a harmonic steel band; the said band bears diagonal slots which are engaged by pins integral with the shell of the hollow inner body. The steel band can slide freely and is moved by a hand-operated knob.

Expandable container consisting of two hollow bodies, one of which fits inside the other, the inner one being provided with a closed bottom. Placed between these two bodies, which should ideally be made from thermoformed or injection moulded plastic, is a closed band made, for example, from harmonic steel sheet, contained within the outer body by means of two retaining rims made in its outer edges; the steel sheet bears angled slots engaged by pins integral with the shell of the inner body. The steel band can slide freely inside the two retaining rims, moved by a knob integral with it and operated by hand; the movement of the band forces the hollow inner body to extend outwards from the hollow outer body or to return inside it. A lid, hinged to the hollow outer body, closes the container.

Expandable container with internal manual operation system


The invention comprises an optoelectronic platform with a carbon-based conduction layer and a layer of colloidal quantum dots on top as light absorbing material. Photoconductive gain on the order of 106 is possible, while maintaining de operating voltage low. The platform can be used as a transistor.

Photodiodes (InGaAs for short-wavelength infrared and Si for visible and near infra-red applications) demonstrate high sensitivity. However they are limited by read-out noise and their quantum efficiency is limited to unity (i.e. 1 carrier per absorbed photon). In view of the absence of photoconductive gain in photodiodes, APDs (avalanche photodiodes) have been developed to provide gain via carrier multiplication effects. The gain in these devices is on the order of 100 to 1000 carriers per absorbed photon. The technological challenges in integrating these structures to common image sensors and low-cost detectors is the high operating bias required (on the order of 100's of V) and additional layers required to suppress leakage currents and prolong the device lifetime from degradation due to the high applied bias. Moreover, these devices are not monolithically integrable to CMOS electronics due to the different growth process required for APDs.

Optoelectronic platform with carbon based conductor and quantum dots and transistor comprising such a platform

Fundacio Institut De Ciencies Fotoniques


An external Colles' type fracture fixator which provides pivotal adjustment about three axes independently of one another and of any other movement thereof, and translational adjustment along two axes independently of one another and of any other movement thereof.. An external alignment table which allows translational adjustment along a three axes independently of one another and of any other movement thereof, and pivotal adjustment about two axes independently of one another and of any other movement thereof.. A method of externally manipulating, reducing, and stabilizing a fracture using such an external fixation alignment table and external fixator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to a system and method used for the reduction, manipulation, and fixation of Colles' type distal radial fractures and the like.
2. Information Disclosure Statement
A preliminary patentability search produced the following patents which appear to be relevant to the present invention:
Canadell et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,676, issued May 4, 1993, which discloses an external fixator with controllable damping.
Agee et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,896, issued May 8, 1990, which discloses a Colles' fracture splint.
Jonsson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,119, issued Apr. 24, 1990, which discloses an external dynamic bone fixation device.
Fietti, U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,842, issued Nov. 8, 1988, which discloses an arcuate fixator for use in setting of fractured wrist or other wrist disorders.
Clyburn, U.S. Pat. No. 4,628,919, issued Dec. 16, 1986, which discloses a dynamic external fixator and method of use.
Agee et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,586, issued Sep. 16, 1986, which discloses an articulated Colles' fracture splint.
Brumfield, U.S. Pat. No. 4,554,915, issued Nov. 26, 1985, which discloses a bone fixation frame.
Carrel, U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,970, issued Oct. 18, 1983, which discloses an apparatus and method for treatment of comminuted Colles' fractures.
Teague, PCT Publication No. WO 82/02830, published Sep. 2, 1982, which discloses a Colles fracture fixture device.
Chiquet, U.S. Pat. No. 4,273,116, issued Jun. 16, 1981, which discloses a device for external fixation of bone fragments.
Mraz, U.S. Pat. No. 2,333,033, issued Oct. 26, 1943, which discloses a bone splint.
Wilcox, U.S. Pat. No. 2,204,266, issued Jun. 11, 1940, which discloses a fracture reduction apparatus.
Anderson, U.S. Pat. No. 2,080,802, issued May 18, 1937, which discloses an anatomic splint.
Nothing in the known prior art discloses or suggests the present invention. Thus, nothing in the known prior art discloses or suggests an external Colles' type fracture fixator which provides pivotal adjustment about a first axis independently of any other movement thereof, pivotal adjustment about a second axis independently of any other movement thereof, pivotal adjustment about a third axis independently of any other movement thereof, translational adjustment along the first axis independently of any other movement thereof, and translational adjustment along the second axis independently of any other movement thereof. Likewise, nothing in the known prior art discloses or suggests an external alignment table which allows translational adjustment along a first axis independently of any other movement thereof, translational adjustment along a second axis independently of any other movement thereof, translational adjustment along a third axis independently of any other movement thereof, pivotal adjustment about the second axis independently of any other movement thereof, and pivotal adjustment about the third axis independently of any other movement thereof. Further, nothing in the known prior art discloses or suggests a method of externally manipulating, reducing, and stabilizing a fracture using such an external fixation alignment table and external fixator.


A display apparatus including: a display panel including a base member; a first touch electrode disposed on the base member and extending in a first direction; a second touch electrode including touch patterns spaced apart from one another in a second direction crossing the first direction and a bridge pattern connecting two of the touch patterns adjacent to each other in the second direction, the touch patterns being disposed on the base member and spaced apart from the first touch electrode; and a dummy pattern disposed between the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode. The first touch electrode includes a first mesh pattern and first peripheral patterns protruding from the first mesh pattern, and a peripheral border of the first peripheral patterns has an obtuse angle or a curved shape.

Field
Exemplary embodiments relate to a touch panel and a display apparatus including the touch panel. More particularly, exemplary embodiments relate to a touch panel with improved pattern visibility and a display apparatus including the touch panel.
Discussion of the Background
A touch panel is an input device in which a user can input a predetermined command by performing a touch using his/her finger or an object. Since such a touch panel can replace a separate input device, such as a keyboard and a mouse, the application range of the touch panel is being gradually expanded mainly in mobile devices.
A resistive type, a photosensitive type, a capacitive type, and the like are known as types of realizing a touch panel. Among them, the capacitive type touch panel, which is in currently in wide use, includes a number of touch electrodes, detects a point at which the capacitance is changed according to a contact with a finger of a person or an object, and thereby determines the position of the contact.
Touch electrodes provided to a capacitive type touch panel may have various shapes. The shapes of the touch electrodes are designed so as not to be easily recognized by users.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the inventive concept, and, therefore, it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Touch panel and display apparatus including the same


A method and apparatus of establishing a connection between a wireless device and a second device includes maintaining a state of the connection between the wireless device and the second device, and receiving an indication that a wireless link to the wireless device has been lost or may be lost. In response to the receiving the indication that the wireless link to the wireless device has been lost or may be lost, the state of the connection is transitioned from a first state to a second state.

Advances in communications technology have enabled for a greater variety of and more convenient communications over data networks. Traditionally, the types of communications over data networks include web browsing, electronic mail, file transfers, and so forth. With the greater bandwidth available on data networks, real-time communications over data networks have also become increasingly popular, including electronic gaming, voice over packet data, streaming communications, and others.
A data network typically includes many components, including network terminals (referred to as clients), servers, routers, firewalls, and other network elements. The data network can include a public network (such as the Internet) and/or private networks (such as local area networks or wide area networks). Traditionally, a network terminal has connected to a data network using a wired connection (such as through a modem and telephone line, wired LAN connection, and the like). An increasingly popular form of connection of a network terminal to a data network is a wireless connection. Various standards have provided for such wireless connections, including wireless Ethernet (defined by the 802.11 standards from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers or IEEE).
A network protocol that defines packet-based communications over data networks includes the Internet Protocol (IP). One version of IP is IPv4, as described in Request for Comments (RFC) 791, entitled "Internet Protocol," dated September 1981. Another version of IP is IPv6, as described in RFC 2460, entitled "Internet Protocol, Version 6 (IPv6) Specification," dated December 1998. IP provides a network layer that defines packets for communicating data over a data network. Above the network layer is a transport layer to define interconnections between hosts. One example of a transport layer is a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) layer. TCP is a connection-oriented, end-to-end protocol that provides for reliable inter-process communication between pairs of processes in host computers attached to communication networks.
Stateful intermediate devices, such as firewalls or network-address-translation (NAT) routers, are used in many networks to protect one domain from another domain, typically to protect users in a private network from a public network such as the Internet. A stateful intermediate device maintains states (such as TCP states) of the connection between network terminals. A firewall maintains the TCP state of each connection to protect against malicious use of a connection by unauthorized systems to prevent hacking activity such as port scans, topology mapping, and so forth. Also, maintaining states of a connection enables a firewall or other intermediate device to enforce TCP compliance.
Typically, a stateful intermediate device, such as a firewall, is designed to handle stationary clients in wireline networks. Normally, because of the reliable nature of wired connections, a client in a wireline environment does not lose a link between the client and an access device to a data network. However, in a wireless network, wireless devices may lose network connectivity at a relatively high rate. As a result, a TCP connection that involves a wireless device may become terminated without the graceful handshaking that is performed to terminate a TCP connection. Although the wireless device has lost its wireless link, any stateful intermediate device in the path of the TCP connection may still think that the connection between the wireless device and another endpoint is still established (albeit idle because no data is being exchanged). When the wireless device re-acquires the wireless link, the wireless device may attempt to establish another connection using the original source TCP port. When the new connection requests reaches the stateful intermediate device (which still thinks that the wireless device is associated with the original source TCP port), the stateful intermediate device considers the new connection request as violating TCP, and as a result, drops the connection request. The dropping of the connection request effectively denies access for the wireless device so that the user at the wireless device will not be able to obtain access of the data network until a timeout (usually on the order of 30 minutes to an hour) occurs in the stateful intermediate device to terminate the connection involving the wireless device.
As a result, users of wireless devices may experience unusually long periods of time during which they are unable to access the data network, even though the wireless devices have established wireless links.

Transitioning a state of a connection in response to an indication that a wireless link to a wireless device has been lost


A radio signal in a radio communication system may be filtered to prepare an EDGE-signal. In this case, the signal-to-noise-ratios are calculated according to a first operation in addition to previously known methods for detecting a neighboring channel interference. In addition, other variously tuned filters are activated when a corresponding threshold is reached, where the thresholds are associated with correspondingly intense interferences from neighboring channel influences. A filtering method or filter module can be mounted in an existing station behind an existing receiving filter. In the first filtering operation, the previous filter effect is reduced to the smallest amount possible before new filtering is carried out to produce a desired signal. The EDGE signals can also be produced in a simple manner from GMSK signals.

In cellular mobile radio system that currently exist, for example as per the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) standard, one or more network-side base stations communicate with stationary or mobile subscriber-side stations via radio interfaces. To enable larger geographical areas to be covered with a limited frequency bandwidth, these types of mobile radio systems are as a rule of cellular design.
Each radio cell in this case is assigned at least one radio channel, in which case each of the radio channels in its turn is assigned a restricted frequency range of the overall frequency bandwidth available. In this case the radio channels of adjacent radio cells are not used as a rule in a radio cell, to avoid mutual interference. Since however the radio field attenuation in this type of radio system is restricted faults or interference are triggered in each radio cell especially by the radio channels of the immediately adjacent radio cells. This particularly effects the boundary area in each case between the two adjacent radio cells, this occurring especially when the frequency band of the radio channel of the one radio cell is directly adjacent to the frequency band of the radio channel of the other adjoining radio cell. This type of interference is known as adjacent channel interference. The adjacent channel signal-to noise-ratio, that is the ratio between the signal power and the noise power of adjacent channels, significantly influences the spectral efficiency of a radio system.
In mobile radio receivers the received mobile radio signal is normally fed to a receive filter for filtering. As can be seen from FIG. 3 the effect of such a receive filter primarily depends on the spectral location and the power density S(f) of the adjacent channel interference. Thus, in the example shown in FIG. 3, even after receive filtering the lower end area 18 marked in black as well as in the upper cross-hatched end area 19 of the frequency spectrum of radio channel no. 1 adjacent channel interference occurs as a result of radio channels no. 0 or no. 2 of the adjacent radio cells. Whereas the adjacent channel interference remaining in the lower end area 18 is negligible, the adjacent channel interference remaining in the upper end area 19 is still relatively strong. By contrast to FIG. 3 real receive filters basically do not possess an infinite rate of change which increases even further the interference effect of the adjacent channels.
Receive filters can however not be dimensioned in such a way that on the one hand they suppress severe adjacent channel faults and thereby improve the bit error rate, but on the other hand, if adjacent channel faults do not occur they do not make the bit error rate worse. A receive filter which is optimized for both cases cannot be dimensioned.
A method for filtering a mobile radio signal is known from WO 00/72454 Al in which a mobile radio signal received over a mobile radio channel is filtered before being processed further, in which case the received mobile radio signal is analyzed with regard to the occurrence of adjacent channel interference and if the presence of adjacent channel interference is established in the received mobile radio signal, this is selectively filtered before further processing to suppress the adjacent channel interference. Analysis in this case is preferably undertaken in bursts with the frequency spectrum of the individual bursts being analysed. In particular the energy contained in the upper end of the frequency spectrum of a burst and the energy contained at the lower end of the frequency spectrum of a burst are determined and compared with each other so that for a defined deviation between the energies determined in this way conclusions can be drawn about the presence of adjacent channel interference. The mobile radio signal selectively filtered in this way is subsequently fed to an equalizer for further processing.
Currently a new radio interface technology is being introduced for the existing mobile radio system GSM, which will be referred to as EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) or EGPRS (Enhanced General Packet Radio System). This new technology makes high bit rate mobile video and Internet applications possible, in which case the data throughput can currently be increased to up to 384 kbits/s per carrier. In order to achieve this, with EDGE the normal binary GMSK (Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying) used for GSM will be replaced by an eight-value PSK Modulation (PSK:Phase Shift Keying). This type of modulation is in general more sensitive than GMSK modulation to selective receive band filters. To achieve the required receive sensitivities for EDGE in accordance with the GSM specifications currently envisaged, the predominantly fixed selective receive band filtering used thus far is to be replaced by an adaptive filtering. For GMSK this is also a possible option or, the system being described in the previously mentioned WO 00/72454 A1. Also described in this document is a possible methodology for adaptive receive band filtering.
A receiver is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,178,211 B1 in which a carrier frequency signal is received and converted into a digital intermediate frequency signal. The carrier frequency signal is fed, either before or after digitization, to an "Automatic Gain Control, AGC". With the aid of an adaptive control system a signal level after channel filtering is detected in the intermediate frequency range and compared with a specified threshold. The threshold is selected to depend on the bandwidth of the intermediate frequency range in order to implement as fast switchover or a fast adaptation of the bandwidth with minimal transient effects.
A receiver with two intermediate frequency filters is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,171. In this case one intermediate frequency filter exhibits a narrower bandwidth than the other intermediate frequency filter. A changeover switch is used to switch between the two intermediate frequency filters.
A method of filtering in a receiver is known from EP 0 722 226 A1. In this case an absolute signal strength is determined and on the basis of this the frequency response of a filter is compared in the receiver.

Adaptive filtering method and filter for filtering a radio signal in a mobile radio-communication system


An apparatus for homogeneously distributing lights includes a light guide plate, an incidence microstructure and an emergence microstructure. The incidence microstructure is arranged on a surface of the light guide plate and opposite to a light source. The emergence microstructure is arranged on a surface of the light guide plate opposite to the incidence microstructure. The lights emitted by the light source pass through said apparatus thereby being homogenously distributed. Thus the manufacture costs are lowered, and the light source utilization ratio is increased.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for homogeneously distributing lights, and more particularly, to an apparatus for homogeneously distributing lights applied to a direct type backlight module.
2. Description of the Related Art
Large-scale liquid crystal display (LCD) is mainly applied to a notebook computer or an LCD monitor. Liquid crystal material does not emit light itself. Therefore an external light source is needed for displaying images. Because of a trend of light, thin, short and small styles of a light source of a backlight module, and a requirement for being applied to a large-scale panel, such as an LCD television (TV), the backlight module is not only supposed to have the above-mentioned advantages, but also have other advantages, such as high display luminance, broad visual angle, distinct image contrast and long life. Therefore, direct type backlight module, which is designed for solving the limitations of low luminance in lateral sides thereof and unhomogeneously distribution of the lights, when used in large-scale panels, takes full advantage of its high display luminance to apply direct type linear light source for homogeneously distributing the lights; converts the homogeneous lights into area lights; and imports the area lights to the illumination area.
General light source of direct type backlight module is cold cathode fluorescernt lamp (CCFL) or light emitting diode (LED). The CCFL has properties like high brightness, high efficiency and long life, and has a cylinder-shaped configuration which is easily coupled with light reflection components to form laminal lighting device. Therefore the CCFL has become the mainstream light emergence component. However, CCFLs are often arranged in a row and disposed at a bottom of an LCD panel, thereby the images displayed on the LCD are asymmetric in light intensity distribution because the diffusion angles of the scattered lights are usually too large, and the light emergence directions are usually disordered. Thus obvious profiles of the CCFLs are shown on the screen, which damage the quality of the images. Therefore, under the circumstance of direct type backlight module being applied, the larger of the dimension of the LCD panel and the greater of the number of the CCFLs are used, the more serious of the deficiency of black and white stripes shown on the screen occurs. The above mentioned problem is a main bottle-neck in the way of the development of the LCD display quality.
To solve the above mentioned problem, diffusion components and prisms are disposed between the CCFLs and the LCD panel to diffuse and then converge the lights. Therefore the lights emitted by the CCFLs are diffused, and then the diffusion angle is reduced for being efficiently coupled with the LCD panel, thereby homogeneously distributing the lights. However, the above design applies so many optical components as to not easy to be manufactured, and sharply increase the costs. Furthermore, the effect of homogeneously distributing the lights of the design is finite, and not the best solution to solve the problem.
Referring to FIG. 6, U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,063 discloses a multi-layer brightness enhancement article 60 for enhancing the on-axis luminance of a diffuse lighting device. The brightness enhancement article 60 comprises a base layer 61, a separate layer 62 plated on the a bottom of the base layer 61, and a microstructure layer 63 arranged on a side of the base layer 61 opposite to the separate layer 62. The separate layer 62 is used for diffusing the lights. The microstructure layer 63 is used for converging the diffused lights. By using the separate layer 62 and the microstructure layer 63, the lights are homogeneously distributing. However, different processes are required in this invention for respectively forming the separate layer 62 and the microstructure layer 63, thereby increasing the manufacture costs. Furthermore, the processes are complicated and not suitable for mass production, and the effect of homogeneously distributing the lights can not satisfy the images quality requirements of consumers.
Referring to FIG. 7, US Pub. No. 20020001055 discloses a backlight module structure 70, which applies resin particles to form a light diffusion layer 71. The light diffusion layer 71 diffuses the lights emitted by a backlight source 72 with wide-angle. A prism sheet 73 then converges the lights to achieve an effect of homogeneous diffusion. However, the backlight module structure 70 comprises so many components that leads to a complicated manufacture process and increases the manufacture costs. Furthermore, the homogeneous diffusion effect and the efficiency of the light utilization can not satisfy the market demands.
Additionally, conventional method also increases the number and the arrangement density of the CCFLs to solve the problems of unhomogeneously distributing the lights and of the profiles of the CCFLs being shown on the screen. However, the method greatly increases the manufacture costs. Furthermore, because of the configure limitation, if any one of the CCFLs failures, the whole row of CCFLs will be replaced with a new one. Under the circumstance of the number of the CCFLs being increased, the chance and frequency of CCFL failure and replace are correspondingly increased. Thus the service life of the whole LCD panel is shortened.
Thus an improved apparatus applied in the direct type backlight module for homogeneously distributing the lights, efficiently utilizing the light source, greatly lowering the manufacture costs and meeting the demands of the market is desired.

Apparatus for homogeneously distributing lights

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A computer housing, removable light pipe device, and method for assembling a computer are disclosed. The computer housing has a drive door assembly and a light pipe. The light pipe is removably coupleable with the drive door assembly.

Computers such as a personal computer (PC), workstation computers, etc. and similar electronic apparatus, instruments, etc. are typically housed in a protective structure. Such computer housings function to protect and support components of the computer within their enclosure. Protection is provided against moisture, dirt, dust, and other environmental contaminants, and potentially disturbing mechanical and electrical contact with outside objects.
For instance, modern computer components such as processors, memory, etc. typically comprise field effect transistors and other devices that tend to be very sensitive to damage with spurious electrostatic discharges. Thus, computer housings are typically electrically grounded, and may also so function as a convenient chassis based ground reference for some electrical components of the computer housed therein. Further, in as much as some electrical components of the computer housed within can operate at hazardous voltage levels, in ensconcing the components, computer housings provide the added beneficial function of isolating them from outside, thus protecting humans from dangerous accidental contact therewith.
Computer housings typically have a case for enclosing the computer and a sturdy frame which supports the case and components of the computer. The case can have a number of panels, such as a front and a back, a top and a bottom, and a left and a right side, etc. On some computer housings, one or more of the panels, e.g., the front panel, can provide access, indication, and/or interfacing with computer components internal to the computer housing, e.g., supported by its frame.
Common computer components include drives for accessing removable media, such as to store and/or retrieve data and/or programs, etc. thereon. Such drives can include magnetic drives and optical drives. Optical drives allow the computer to function with optical media such as a compact disk (CD), a digital versatile disk (DVD), etc. Typical optical drives are accessed by mechanically, electromechanically, etc. operating an eject button, which allows the optical medium to be installed and/or removed from the drive and provide indication relating to an operation of the drive with a light emitting diode (LED).
Computer housings, e.g., a front panel thereof, allow the eject button to be operated by a user, e.g., by actuating an externally accessible eject button actuator, which can mechanically actuate the internally housed drive component's eject button. A drive door component of the computer housing opens with responsive action of the internal drive, such as to eject and/or accept a CD, DVD, etc.
Computer housings allow external display to the user of indication relating to an operation of the internal drive, such as by coupling light emitted by the LED thereof to the outside of the housing, e.g., a front panel thereof. For any of various component configuration, aesthetic, and operational related reasons, the external display may be displaced in one or more spatial aspects (e.g., configuration, position, etc.) from the LED. For instance, the LED may be in a corner of the drive proximate to a front inside corner of the computer housing, and the indication provided in the middle of the front panel, or closer to the side of the front panel opposite from the side proximate to the inside front corner of the LED. A light pipe can be used to couple the light emitted by the drive's LED to a position on the front or other panel of the computer housing at which the user's indication is to be provided.
Conventional light pipes, used in conventional computer housings, are securely installed during the manufacturing, fabrication, assembly, etc. of the computer. In this conventional arrangement however, it can be difficult to remove an installed light pipe without damaging the light pipe, the computer housing component to which it is attached, or both.
A variety of conventional light pipes may be installable with a particular conventional computer housing. Not all of the various light pipes will function properly in a particular installation. However, conventional light pipes are not labeled for a designated installation. This can cause confusion, mis-selection, and mis-installation (e.g., choosing the incorrect light pipe for a particular installation and installing the incorrect light pipe in that installation).
Once installed, replacing the mis-selected/mis-installed light pipe with the correct light pipe for that installation requires removal of the mis-selected/mis-installed light pipe. As discussed above, this can cause damage to the light pipe, to another computer housing component, or both.
Conventional light pipes can be installed with conventional computer housings in several possible configurations. However, not all of the possible configurations will allow the conventional light pipe to function properly in a particular installation. Once installed, reconfiguring the mis-configured light pipe into the correct configuration for that light pipe in that installation requires removal of the mis-configured, thus mis-installed light pipe. As discussed above, this can cause damage to the light pipe, to another computer housing component, or both.

Computer housing with removable light pipe

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


The invention comprises cyanine dyes, in particular chemically reactive dyes, conjugates of reactive cyanine dyes, the non-covalent complexes of nucleic acids with the dyes and dye-conjugates of the invention, and a method of forming a nucleic acid complex with the dyes and dye-conjugates of the present invention. The dyes of the invention are useful for the preparation of dye-conjugates. The presence of a reactive group on the unsymmetrical cyanine dyes of the invention facilitates their covalent conjugation to a variety of substances, both biological and synthetic.

A variety of unsymmetrical cyanine dyes and derivatives thereof have been shown to be effective fluorescent stains for nucleic acids. Selected properties of such dyes, such as the brightness, spectral properties, detectability, photostability, affinity for nucleic acids, or selectivity for ss DNA, ds DNA or RNA vary with type and location of dye substituents. Some cyanine dyes are effective stains for reticulocyte analysis (U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,867 to Lee, et al. (1989)) and for bloodborne parasites (U.S. Pat. No.4,937,198 to Lee, et al. (1990)). Other substituted cyanine dyes are typically more fluorescent than the cyanine dyes of Lee et al., and are capable of permeating a variety of cells and electrophoretic gels (U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,134 to Haugland, et al. (1995); U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,535 to Roth et al. (1996); U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,416 to Millard, et al. (1996); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,946 to Roth et al. (1995), all incorporated by reference).
Substitution of a cationic side chain makes selected cyanine dyes relatively impermeant to cell membranes (U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,130 to Yue et al. (1994), incorporated by reference), while the substitution of heteroatom-containing side chains also substantially modifies the permeability, selectivity and affinity of the dye for nucleic acids (SUBSTITUTED UNSYMMETRICAL CYANINE DYES WITH SELECTED PERMEABILITY, Ser. No. 08/331,031 by Yue et al., filed Oct. 27, 1994, incorporated by reference).
Chemically reactive compounds have typically been utilized to impart the physical or spectral properties of the compound onto a selected substrate, as in the fluorescent labeling of proteins. Nucleic acid capture reagents comprising methidium have been covalently attached to solid supports, producing materials that bind and subsequently release nucleic acids (U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,805 to Gebeyehu et al. (1990)). Similarly, the attachment of a reactive ester of a carboxylic acid to selected cyanine dyes allows them to be tethered to oligonucleotides, and thereby detect the binding of a target oligonucleotide (U.S. Pat. No. 5,597,696 to Linn et al. (1997)).
The present invention describes chemically reactive versions of cyanine dyes. The invention also describes conjugates of the cyanine dyes prepared using the chemically reactive dyes, and the complex of the dyes of the invention with nucleic acids. Cyanine dyes that are photoreactive possess substantial utility for controlled labeling of biological materials, including nucleic acids. The dye-conjugates of the invention possess utility for the analysis of interactions between proteins and other substrates with nucleic acids, or for immobilizing nucleic acids.

Chemically reactive unsymmetrical cyanine dyes and their conjugates


A development system providing methodology for improving system performance by decreasing recompilation of dependent source modules is described. During operation, the system keeps track of several pieces of information. From the outset, the system has kept track of the timestamps of sources (e.g., A.java file in a Java system) and compiled files thereof (e.g., A.class class file in a Java system). Examination of the timestamps leads to detection of those files which have been modified. The system will recompile A.java in the following circumstances: (1) A.class is not found, (2) A.java has a different timestamp, or (3) A.class has a different timestamp. Otherwise, the system does not invoke a recompile. If a recompilation in not required, the system then looks to the imports for determining whether the imports are consistent. Here, the system checks the timestamps of imports, possibly recompiling one or more of the modules providing the imports. If the imports have been recompiled, then the system must check the root module for determining whether it remains consistent with the imports--that is, whether A is still consistent with its imports. If not, the system recompiles the source file (e.g., A.java).

The present invention relates generally to a system providing methods for facilitating development of software programs, with particular emphasis on decreasing the time such a system spends on recompiling source modules during program development.
Before a digital computer may accomplish a desired task, it must receive an appropriate set of instructions. Executed by the computer's microprocessor, these instructions, collectively referred to as a "computer program," direct the operation of the computer. Expectedly, the computer must understand the instructions which it receives before it may undertake the specified activity.
Owing to their digital nature, computers essentially only understand "machine code," that is, the low-level, minute instructions for performing specific tasks--the sequence of ones and zeros that are interpreted as specific instructions by the computer's microprocessor. Since machine language or machine code is the only language computers actually understand, all other programming languages represent ways of structuring "human" language so that humans can get computers to perform specific tasks.
While it is possible for humans to compose meaningful programs in machine code, practically all software development today employs one or more of the available programming languages. The most widely-used programming languages are the "high-level" languages, such as C or Pascal, or more recently Java. These languages allow data structures and algorithms to be expressed in a style of writing which is easily read and understood by fellow programmers.
A program called a "compiler" translates these instructions into the requisite machine language. In the context of this translation, the program written in the high-level language is called the "source code" or source program. The ultimate output of the compiler is a compiled module such as a compiled C "object module," which includes instructions for execution ultimately by a target processor, or a compiled Java class, which includes opcode instructions for execution ultimately by a Java virtual machine. Although a compiled module includes code for instructing the operation of a computer, such a module itself is typically not in a form which may be directly executed by a computer. In other words, it does not form the final program which is executable on a computer. Instead, it must undergo a "linking" operation before the final executable program is created.
Linking may be thought of as the general process of combining or linking together one or more compiled object modules to create an executable program. This task usually falls to a program called a "linker." In typical operation, a linker receives, either from the user or from an integrated compiler, a list of object modules desired to be included in the link operation. The linker scans the object modules from the object and library files specified. After resolving interconnecting references as needed, the linker constructs an executable image by organizing the object code from the modules of the program in a format understood by the operating system program loader. The end result of linking is executable code (such as an .exe file) which, after testing and quality assurance, is passed to the user with appropriate installation and usage instructions.
Conventionally, creation of a software program includes creation of individual source code modules. This approach allows the developer to simplify program development by dividing functionality available in the program into separate source modules. When multiple source modules are employed for creating a program, interdependencies between the individual modules often exist. Program logic in one module can, for instance, reference variables (i.e., symbols) imported from another module. By the very same token, that module can also export its own symbols, making them available for use by other modules.
Because of potential interdependencies between modules, an issue arises when a particular source module is modified (e.g., edited by a user). In particular, regardless of which language or development tool is employed, a problem exists as to how one recompiles source modules which might have changed (e.g., as a result of a programmer editing a particular source module). When building C/C++ applications, for instance, the current technique is to employ a "make" tool for instructing the compiler to recompile every source that depends on a modified and recompiled source, regardless of the type of dependency between both sources. This is a suboptimal approach, however. Consider, for instance, the act of modifying a comment in source code--that is, a modification which does not impact the final compiled program. Using existing approaches, the act of modifying a comment in a source results in a recompilation of any dependent source modules (i.e., the clients of the source). In turn, the clients of the latter source will also be recompiled. Specifically, the system must ensure that such a change is compatible with the other modules of the program. A particular concern is, therefore, that a given change might "break" the program, because the change is incompatible with other, dependent modules.
The present day approach to the problem is unsophisticated. When faced with a modification to a given source module, development systems today simply recompile all dependent modules, for ensuring that the dependent modules remain compatible with the new modification. Such an approach is suboptimal, however. Consider, for instance, a simple modification to a source module, such as the abovementioned editing a single source code comment. Since source code comments do not lead to the generation of program code or provide any symbol information, such a change will have no impact on modules which are otherwise dependent on the just-changed module. Nonetheless, the current approach is to still simply recompile all dependent modules. Such an approach is clearly suboptimal as none of the dependent modules in the example actually require compilation.
The problem is more general in nature, however. For a given change to a source module, the need to actually recompile dependent modules may include none, some, or all of the dependent modules. Stated generally, therefore, the system needs to discern at some level the nature of the modification to the given source module so that it can proceed to only recompile those modules (if any) affected by the change. By reducing the number of recompiles, the system can speed up the edit/compile cycle which serves as the cornerstone of modern day software development.
What is needed is a system with methods for recompiling only those source modules which really need to be recompiled after a modification. Minimizing the number of recompilations can greatly speed up the process of software development. The present invention fulfills this and other needs.

Development system with improved methods for recompiling dependent code modules


A disk drive apparatus for recording and reproducing signals movement-positions a head, mounted on a carriage, in a disk radial direction with the aid of a pinion provided on an output shaft of a step motor and a rack provided on the carriage The rack is attached to the carriage through parallel leaf springs, and press-engages with the pinion by providing a pre-load to the rack via an elastic restoring force caused by flexure of the parallel leaf springs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to disk drive apparatus for recording and reproducing information on or from a floppy disk or the like, and more particularly, to improvements of heads and head seeking mechanisms used in disk drive apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
The above-mentioned disk drive apparatus typically includes a magnetic head for recording and reproducing information, and a head seeking mechanism (carriage driving mechanism) for moving the head in the radial direction with respect to the disk. A known head seeking mechanism uses a rack and a pinion to move a carriage upon which a head is mounted. See, e.g., Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 276473/1989.
FIG. 24 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the carriage driving mechanism in this conventional disk drive apparatus. FIG. 25 is a vertical sectional view of FIG. 24.
As depicted in FIGS. 24 and 25, the conventional structure uses a pinion 502 provided on an output shaft of a step motor 501 to engage with a rack 504 provided on a carriage 503. The rack 504 is biased by a pre-load spring 505 in the direction of arrow u (toward pinion 502) of the figure, thereby giving a pre-load between the rack 504 and the pinion 502. Backlash which may occur between pinion 502 and rack 504 is thereby prevented. The carriage 503, upon which a head 506 is mounted, is accurately movement-positioned by rotation of the step motor 501.
Reaction against the pre-load applied between the rack 504 and the pinion 502 is received by a pulley 508 provided on the output shaft of the step motor 501. The carriage 503 is constructed so as to be slidable along a guide shaft 507.
As explained above, in the conventional device, if backlash is caused in the engagement of the rack 504 with the pinion 502, the rotation of the pinion 502 is not precisely transferred to the rack 504. Hence, the rack 504 is positively held against pinion 502 by the pre-load spring 505 so as not to cause backlash by giving the preload between the rack 504 and the pinion 502. The reaction thereof is received by the pulley 508. That is, pulley 508 prevents an excessive force from being applied by spring 505 to the drive shaft of motor 501 so that the drive shaft is not damaged.
Accordingly, the conventional carriage drive mechanism requires multiple members such as the pulley 508 and the spring 505 for providing a pre-load to the rack 504 and the pinion 502. This is a limiting factor in terms of miniaturizing and thinning of the disk drive apparatus. Further, the rack 504 and the carriage 503 can not be fixedly attached to each other in the above arrangement in order to apply the above-mentioned preload. It is required that the rack 504 be so constructed as to be movable relative to the carriage 503 (in the vertical direction in FIG. 1). However, the carriage 503 and rack 504 often become fixed to each other, leading to backlash, and therefore if employed for a long period of time, the positioning accuracy of the carriage 503 is deteriorated.

Disk drive apparatus having carriage driving mechanism


A deterioration diagnosis apparatus is for a mechanical apparatus including a power transmission mechanism that transmits power via a gear. The deterioration diagnosis apparatus includes: a storing unit that stores, in advance, a trend of change along with the operation of the mechanical apparatus, in consumption rate of an additive contained in lubricant used for the gear; and a determination unit that determines the period to be taken for the consumption rate of the additive to reach a predetermined value, based on the trend of change in the consumption rate of the additive.

The disclosure relates to a deterioration diagnosis apparatus for a mechanical apparatus, a deterioration diagnosis method for a mechanical apparatus performed in a deterioration diagnosis apparatus, and a deterioration diagnosis method for a mechanical apparatus performed by an operator.
For example, a large number of robots are used in production lines of line methods in the automobile industry or the like. Such a robot includes a large number of rolling-element bearings and speed reducers, and hence if these parts fail, the operation of the robot stops, causing a great impact on the production line. To prevent such serious damage, it is desired to perform preventive maintenance for finding parts likely to fail and repairing them before they fail. Abnormal conditions of the bearings and the speed reducers can be detected via online from the vibrations of these parts and abnormalities in the electric currents of the motors connected to these parts. However, when an abnormal condition occurs in the vibration or the electric current, the speed reducers or the like are often already in a condition just before a failure. Hence, the vibration and the electric current are not good enough for indicators used for preventive maintenance.
For rolling-element bearings and speed reducers, rotation parts or the like wear as the operation time increases, and the wear powder is mixed into lubricating grease. Since these parts often fail due to abnormal wear, and when abnormal wear occurs, a large amount of iron powder is mixed into the grease, methods have been developed for predicting the occurrence of a failure by measuring the amount of iron powder in the grease. For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-249549 (patent literature 1) discloses a failure prediction apparatus for online use that predicts the occurrence of a failure by detecting the iron powder content of the grease with a sensor integrated in a rolling-element bearing or a speed reducer.

Deterioration diagnosis apparatus for diagnosing deterioration in a mechanical apparatus, deterioration diagnosis method for diagnosing deterioration in a mechanical apparatus performed in a deterioration diagnosis apparatus, and deterioration diagnosis method for diagnosing deterioration in a mechanical apparatus


A game system provides a virtual game space in which plural players play a game. In the virtual game space, if a player object performs a first action on an item appearance area, the game system determines whether a right state of the player object is a first state or a second state, and whether an area state of the item appearance area is a first area state or a second area state. If the right state of the player object is the first state and the area state is the first area state, the game system determines that an item appearance condition is satisfied. If the right state of the player object is the second state or the area state is the second area state, the game system determines that the item appearance condition is not satisfied. If it is determined that the item appearance condition is satisfied, the game system causes a game item to appear in the virtual game space, and changes the right state of the player object to the second state. The area state changes to the first area state if the game item becomes unattainable by player objects.

There is known in the art a game in which a player can create and play a game course.
An embodiment of the present invention provides a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored therein an information processing program to be executable by one or more computer processors of an information processing apparatus, wherein the information processing program cases the one or more computer processors to execute: running a game played by players; arranging an item appearance area in a virtual game space of the game; upon detecting that a first player object performs a first action on the item appearance area, determining whether a right state of the first player object concerning appearance of a game item in the item appearance area is a first state or a second state, and whether an area state of the item appearance area is a first area state or a second area state; upon determining that the right state is the first state and the area state is the first area state, determining that an item appearance condition is satisfied; upon determining that the right state is the second state or the area state is the second area state, determining that an item appearance condition is not satisfied; upon determining that the item appearance condition is satisfied, causing the game item to appear in the virtual game space; upon detecting the first action performed by the first player object on the item appearance area or a second action performed by the first player object on the game item, changing the right state of the first player object for the item appearance area to the second state; and upon detecting that the game item becomes unattainable by player objects in an appearance determination area within the virtual game space, changing the area state to the first area state.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Storage medium, information-processing device, information-processing system, and information processing method


Electrical fuse blocks (100) of a plurality of stages are provided each of which includes a plurality of electrical fuse cores (101). The electrical fuse block (100) includes a program shift register block (103) made up of shift registers (107) which are disposed for the respective electrical fuse cores (101), sequentially transmit program enable signal FPGI, and output the program enable signal FPGI to the NMOS transistors (105) of the electrical fuse cores (101). When performing programming according to programming decision signal PBn, the program shift register block (103) transmits the program enable signal FPGI. When not performing programming, the program shift register block (103) skips the program enable signal FPGI.

Conventionally, electrical fuse modules (electrical fuse devices) are configured using electrical fuse elements made of polysilicon or the like and have been widely used for semiconductor integrated circuits (LSI) for trimming program devices or the like of high-frequency semiconductor devices. In semiconductor integrated circuits including such electrical fuse devices, electrical fuse elements are programmed by passing a large current of about 1 A to melt the fuse elements by means of bipolar transistors.
In recent years, for example, as disclosed in National Publication of International Patent Application No. 11-512879, the following process has been developed for semiconductor integrated circuits: a metallic material is formed as a gate material on polysilicon by silicification to reduce the resistance of the gate material. Accordingly, a technique for electrical fuse elements has become available which uses a mechanism for cutting a silicide layer on a top surface and increasing a resistance by passing current through the a gate material. In the case of 130-nm and 90-nm process generations, when melting electrical fuse elements by passage of current, such melting requires an instantaneous carrying current of 10 to 30 mA for each electrical fuse element.
When such an electrical fuse device is used for a trimming device or the like of a high-frequency device, the number of mounted electrical fuse elements is not more than four to eight for each chip of a system LSI. Thus the electrical fuse elements can be melted at a time using a tester.
Further, instead of conventionally used metal fuses, the electrical fuse elements for cutting silicide on polysilicon have been used to repair defective memory of RAM such as DRAM and SRAM.
However, the number of mounted electrical fuse elements for redundancy repair of RAM incorporated in a system LSI is 500 to 1000 for each chip. Thus when using the electrical fuse device for redundancy repair of RAM, an instantaneous carrying current of about 10 A (10 to 30 mA for each electrical fuse element) is necessary to program 1000 electrical fuse elements at a time. However, it is difficult for an existing general-purpose tester to supply a current of 10 A according to such programming and pass a current of 10 A concentratedly to an electrical fuse device in an LSI chip, so that a special tester is necessary.
Also in the case where 1000 electrical fuse circuit blocks are separately provided as electrical fuse devices and electrical fuse elements are melted one by one, a number of control terminals are necessary (an electrical fuse circuit block with four control terminals requires 4000 control terminals). Thus such electrical fuse devices cannot be mounted in a system LSI.

Semiconductor storage device including electrical fuse module

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An exemplary embodiment can be a process for sweetening natural gas to liquefied natural gas specifications. The process can include providing a membrane contactor having a lumen side and a shell side. A feed natural gas is introduced to the lumen side of the membrane contactor. An absorption solvent is introduced to the shell side of the membrane contactor. CO2 and H2S are removed with the absorption solvent from the feed natural gas resulting in a sweetened natural gas containing less than 50 ppmv CO2 and less than 4 ppmv H2S. Corresponding or associated systems for such sweetening of natural gas are also provided.

This invention relates generally to the purification, e.g., sweetening, of natural gas.
Stringent specifications are typically applied to LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) processing. For example, carbon dioxide and often hydrogen sulfide are typically present in field gases and have to be removed to specific levels, e.g., less than 50 ppmv CO2 and less than 4 ppmv H2S) such as due to concerns related to processability, toxicity and corrosion, for example. More particularly, LNG processing typically requires cooling of natural gas to −160° C. This in turn requires that the CO2 concentration in the natural gas be less than 50 ppmv to avoid icing within the system.
Current state of the art processing to achieve such CO2 concentration levels in natural gas is by physical or chemical absorption in a column based process. Alkanolamine absorption process is a current state of art technology for this purpose. These amines are used as aqueous solvents to selectively absorb H2S and CO2 from sour natural gas streams. The sour gas is introduced at the bottom of an absorber and flows up the tower countercurrent to an aqueous amine stream. Within the tower, the acid gases are absorbed by the amine. The amine is described as being lean in acid gas as it enters the top of the absorber, and rich as it exits the bottom, loaded with acid gas. From the absorber, the rich amine is directed to the top of a stripping tower where a drop in pressure and application of heat enables the solvent to be stripped of the acid gases. The amine, again lean, is circulated back to the absorber for sweetening.
Offshore gas is often dehydrated on the offshore platform. Onshore gas is typically dehydrated a number of times between the well head and the consumer. Triethylene glycol (TEG) dehydrators are commonly the workhorse of the dehydration industry with only sporadic use of molecular sieves or calcium chloride. TEG systems typically circulate water-lean TEG counter-currently to the wet gas to absorb water vapor from the gas. The rich solvent is then heated in a regeneration unit to boil away the water. The lean solvent is returned to the absorber to complete the cycle. The absorber vessels are large towers or columns, 3-5 m in diameter, 10-30 m in height and weighing 50-100 tonnes, depending on throughput. The vessels also have special internals, including trays, random packing, and structured packing, to provide intimate contact between the gas and the liquid.
Conventional absorption towers in both amine sweetening systems and TEG dehydration systems are typically large in size, such as to require a large processing footprint, and heavy in weight. Further, they generally pose operational challenges such as liquid channeling, flooding, entrainment, and foaming.
These and other challenges are often accentuated in a floating LNG application such as may arise in offshore processing such on a ship, barge or platform, and such as may introduce motion parameters to the processing scheme. For example, such applications may suffer from motion-induced inefficiencies and process instability due to maldistribution of solvent in the column.
Thus there is a need and a demand for a processing technique and arrangement that minimizes or overcomes one or more of the process limitations typically associated with the sweetening of natural gas, particularly in the context of offshore applications.


The present invention relates to novel peptides and methods for treatment, diagnosis and prognosis of virus infections including infections with HCV, HIV, CMV and Influenza. The invention further relates to methods for identifying and providing peptides useful for the treatment and diagnosis.X1-X2-X3-X4-X5  (I)

Conventional approaches to vaccine development have implemented either whole replication competent virus which has been attenuated (e.g. Sabin polio vaccine, measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)) or inactivated virions that are not replication competent. On occasions, the inactivated virus vaccines may include split vaccines where the virus particles have been disrupted. Molecular techniques have also been used to develop the subunit vaccine (e.g. hepatitis B vaccine) that consists only of the surface glycoproteins of hepatitis B virus. The inactivated virus vaccines tend to induce primarily antibody responses to the viruses in question, whereas the live attenuated vaccines induce both cell-mediated immunity as well as an antibody response since the vaccine induces a transient infection.
The only disease which has been eliminated by virtue of a successful vaccination campaign is smallpox. A campaign is currently in progress to eradicate polio. Features of virus infections that can be eliminated by vaccination are infections caused by viruses with stable virus antigens (i.e. very low mutation frequency, few subtypes), that lack a reservoir in other animal species, viruses that do not persist in the body once the infection is over and where vaccination leads to long lasting immunity. Viruses such as polio and measles fulfill these criteria whereas viruses such as influenza virus (Flu), HCV, and HIV that vary their protein sequences do not. It is for this reason that new and alternate approaches are required to develop vaccines for these diseases.
Vaccination aims to stimulate the immune response to a specific pathogen in advance of infection. When an individual is exposed to that pathogen, a memory response is triggered which prevents the establishment of infection. Vaccines therefore stimulate the adaptive immune response which unlike innate immunity, is long lived and has memory. There are two major arms to the adaptive immune system. Humoral immunity which involves the development of antibodies that can bind virus particles and certain antibodies that can neutralize infection. Cell mediated immunity that leads to the development of cytotoxic T-cells that kill infected cells exposing viral epitopes in the context of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I, in this way eliminating infected cells.
The challenge of providing vaccines suitable for stimulation of the adaptive immune system is that peptide epitopes need to be taken up by the antigen presenting cells.
Several peptides have been demonstrated to translocate across the plasma membrane of eukaryotic cells by a seemingly energy-independent pathway. These peptides are defined as cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs). Cellular delivery using these cell-penetrating peptides offers several advantages over conventional techniques. It is non-invasive, energy-independent, is efficient for a broad range of cell types and can be applied to cells en masse.
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver which can be caused by a variety of factors including toxins, certain drugs, some diseases, heavy alcohol use, and bacterial and viral infections. Hepatitis is also the name of a family of viral infections that affect the liver; the most common types in the developed world are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
Hepatitis C is a liver disease that results from infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness.
Hepatitis C is spread via blood; the most common form of transmission is through sharing needles or other equipment used to inject drugs. The infection can be either "acute" or "chronic". Acute HCV infection is an asymptomatic, short-term illness that occurs within the first 6 months after someone is exposed to the hepatitis C virus. For most people, acute infection leads to chronic infection, which can result in long-term complications and even death.
HCV is an enveloped positive stranded ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus with a diameter of about 50 nm, belonging to the genus Hepacivirus in the family Flaviviridae that replicate in the cytoplasm of infected cells. The only known reservoir for HCV is humans, although the virus has experimentally been transmitted to chimpanzees. The natural targets of HCV are hepatocytes and possibly B-lymphocytes. As of 2008, six different genotypes and more than 100 subtypes of the virus are known. Replication occurs through an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase that lacks a proofreading function, which results in a very high rate of mutations. Rapid mutations in a hypervariable region of the HCV genome coding for the envelope proteins enable the virus to escape immune surveillance by the host. As a consequence, most HCV-infected people proceed to chronic infection.
It is estimated that 170 million people are infected with HCV worldwide, equating to approximately 3% of the global population. There are also approximately 3-4 million people who are infected every year; with an estimated 80% of these newly infected patients progressing to chronic infection.
The 6 genotypes of HCV have different geographical spread. The disease in the early stages is generally asymptomatic; the majority of patients with chronic infection eventually progress to complications such as liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, and, in 1-5% of cases, hepatocellular carcinoma.
HCV is the major cause of non-A, non-B hepatitis worldwide. Acute infection with HCV frequently leads to chronic hepatitis and end-stage cirrhosis. It is estimated that up to 20% of HCV chronic carriers may develop cirrhosis over a time period of about 20 years and that of those with cirrhosis between 1 to 4% is at risk to develop liver carcinoma.
The about 9.6 kb single-stranded RNA genome of the HCV virus comprises a 5′- and 3′-noncoding region (NCRs) and, in between these NCRs a single long open reading frame of about 9 kb encoding an HCV polyprotein of about 3000 amino acids.
HCV polypeptides are produced by translation from the open reading frame and cotranslational proteolytic processing. Structural proteins are derived from the amino-terminal one-fourth of the coding region and include the capsid or Core protein (about 21 kDa), the E1 envelope glycoprotein (about 35 kDa) and the E2 envelope glycoprotein (about 70 kDa, previously called NS1), and p7 (about 7 kDa). The E2 protein can occur with or without a C-terminal fusion of the p7 protein (Shimotohno et al. 1995). An alternative open reading frame in the Core-region has been found which is encoding and expressing a protein of about 17 kDa called F (Frameshift) protein (Xu et al. 2001; Ou & Xu in US Patent Application Publication No. US2002/0076415). In the same region, ORFs for other 14-17 kDa ARFPs (Alternative Reading Frame Proteins), A1 to A4, were discovered and antibodies to at least A1, A2 and A3 were detected in sera of chronically infected patients (Walewski et al. 2001). From the remainder of the HCV coding region, the non-structural HCV proteins are derived which include NS2 (about 23 kDa), NS3 (about 70 kDa), NS4A (about 8 kDa), NS4B (about 27 kDa), NS5A (about 58 kDa) and NS5B (about 68 kDa) (Grakoui et al. 1993).
Influenza remains a significant cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that seasonal epidemics affect 3-5 million people with severe illness annually and result in 250,000-500,000 mortalities. Influenza is caused by viruses in the family Orthomyxoviridae which are negative stranded RNA viruses. The influenza virus exists as three types, A, B and C of which only A is associated with pandemics. Types A viruses are found in both humans and animals, particularly birds but also other mammals such as pigs. Type A viruses are further typed into subtypes according to different kinds and combinations of virus surface proteins. Among many subtypes in 2009 influenza A (H1N1) and A (H3N2) subtypes were circulating among humans. Influenza A and B are included in the seasonal vaccine, whereas influenza C occurs only rarely, and so it is not included in the seasonal vaccine. Type B viruses are human specific and Type C viruses cause a very mild disease. The genomes of Orthomyxoviruses are segmented. Influenza viruses Types A and B have 8 segments whereas type C has seven. Pandemics may arise as a result of re-assortment of gene segments when two different type A viruses infect the same cell. There is no immunity in the population to this novel re-assorted virus. Three pandemics occurred in the twentieth century: "Spanish influenza" in 1918, "Asian influenza" in 1957, and "Hong Kong influenza" in 1968. The 1918 pandemic killed an estimated 40-50 million people worldwide. Subsequent pandemics were much milder, with an estimated 2 million deaths in 1957 and 1 million deaths in 1968. In June 2009 the WHO declared a pandemic from influenza virus H1N1 (swine Influenza) which was declared over in August 2010.
Human papillomaviruses are made up of a group of DNA viruses in the family Papillomaviridae which infect the skin and mucous membranes. Two groups which are derived from more than 100 different identified subtypes are the main cause for clinical concern: those causing warts (both benign and genital warts), and a group of 12 "high risk" subtypes that can result in cervical cancer. This latter group has been attributed as a contributory factor in the development of nearly all types of cervical cancer. Worldwide, cervical cancer remains the second most common malignancy in women, and is a leading cause of cancer-related death for females in developing countries. HPV 16 and 18 have been mainly associated with cervical cancer, however, the virus is also a cause of throat cancer in both men and women. HPV is transmitted through contact and enters the skin through abraisions. An abortive infection, where only the early proteins are expressed is associated with cancer development.


A system and method for allowing remote callers to access a secure telephone network maintains a registry (i.e. a database) of all remote callers that have access to the network. The registry contains an electronic serial number (ESN) and a personal identification number (PIN) for each remote caller. The ESN is typically the serial number of the callers cellular telephone. Alternatively, the ESN is a phone number of the remote caller's telephone. To establish a connection, the remote caller calls a private branch exchange (PBX) of the secure network. Upon receiving the call, the PBX compares the ESN and PIN of the remote caller with the ESN and PIN stored in the registry. If a match is found, the PBX authenticates the remote caller and allows the connection. The remote caller may have full access or access limited by a connection policy.

Secure internal telephone networks are commonly used by large corporations, educational institutions and government agencies. Typically, a network user can connect to another user by simply dialing an extension number (e.g., a 4-digit extension). The network typically provides enhanced functionality such as call transfers, local network operator calls, voicemail checking, voicemail forwarding, and built-in conference calling capability.
One disadvantage of secure telephone networks is that many of the useful network functions (e.g. call transfers) can only be accessed from an extension within the network. This typically means that the user must be located within the office or building containing the network in order to use the network functions. There is no way to allow external users to access the network functions.
For example, a remote caller located at home, or calling from a cellular phone may dial an extension number internal to the network, but will be unable to transfer calls, transfer voicemail, or participate in conference calls internal to the phone network.
An additional disadvantage of this lack of access is that connections external to the network (e.g., requiring uses of a telephone company network) are relatively expensive compared to connections internal to the network.
With an increasing number of people working at home and away from the office, the ability to remotely access a secure, internal telephone network is greatly needed.
It would be an advance in the art of telephone networks to allow a remote user to access a secure telephone network, and make use of all the functionality the network offers. Remote access to the network should be guarded with a high level of security. It would be particularly useful for the connection method to be simple and transparent to the external user.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,571,094 and 6,141,545 each teach methods for remote call forwarding to users (e.g. cellular telephone users) outside a secure network. They do not teach how to dial into a secure telephone network.

Method for remotely connecting to a secure telephone network

International Business Machines Corporation


A toy blimp (20) including a gas filled body (22), a plurality of fins (26), a propulsion system (28) attached to a lower surface of the body, and one or more small weight clips (80). A refill valve (30) may be located on the body surface. Various embodiments of the propulsion system are provided, including a rubberband powered system, a small wind-up spring-loaded motor, and a spool-type rubberband motor.

Current toy blimps, and particularly dirigibles, are relatively large and require a sizable investment of time and money to build and operate. A typical arrangement includes a gondola mounted on the underside of the blimp body; a number of propellers mounted on the gondola; a power source to attached to the gondola to rotate the propellers; and a remote control steering system.
Most designers of current toy blimps at tempt to design their crafts to be in constant equilibrium with the atmosphere. This causes significant design problems because it requires that the blimp include a control system, in part in order to bring the craft down to earth after its fuel or battery power is spent. The control system, however, adds weight that must be counterbalanced in order to encourage level flight. The end result is that these toys typically have complex and cumbersome propulsion and steering systems.
These complicated systems necessitate the use of heavier construction materials, heavy batteries or fuel, and additional structural componentry. This adds to the cost and time required to manufacture these blimps and results in most manufacturers offering only kits instead of a more desirable pre-assembled blimp that is instantly ready to be played with. Moreover, these blimps are very large, over 12 feet long. Assembled blimps are expensive.
On the opposite extreme, are floating balloons. These are very simple, but boring as a toy because they do not do anything. They have no moving parts. They are not capable of propelled flight. They simply provide visual amusement through the floating indicia printed on their outer surfaces.
These balloons are further disappointing because they do not last very long since their internal gas tends to leak out after about five days. Some balloon manufacturers claim to have refillable balloons. One method is to provide an extension on the balloon edge comprised of opposed adhesive covered surfaces that may be separated in order to add gas. These types of valves fail after three or more openings and closings, because dust and oil accumulate in the adhesive and reduce the glue's ability to adhere, and therefore retain the gas within the balloon.
Another type of supposedly refillable balloon is the type that includes an elongated extension stemming from an edge of the balloon. When the balloon loses helium, the tip of the extension is cut off, the balloon is refilled with gas, and the new extension end is heat sealed again. Eventually, the extension becomes very short and the user can no longer reseal the balloon. Another type uses the same extension, but instead requires the user to twist the extension and attach a hinged clamp around the twisted portion. The extension is usually formed from a thin material that tears after being subjected to about five openings and closings.
There exists a need for an inexpensive toy blimp capable of being easily and economically manufactured so as to reduce the amount of assembly required by the user. Such an optimal device should be truly refillable in order to extend its life, and should include a simple propulsion mechanism. The toy should be capable of being propelled to follow a general flight path, and configured so as to be stable even with only minimal controls and control surfaces.
The present invention provides such an optimal toy blimp. It is capable of being cheaply, easily, and quickly mass produced. It is believed to be the only known small-scale propelled blimp that actually flies with control lines attached. The present invention further includes a unique refillable valve and a sturdy propulsion system to withstand repeated use.


A two-part fastening device for fastening two panels together is provided with a rotatable drum (16) with at least one camming surface and a pin (10) with a head (14) formed to engage with the camming surface. The pin (10) is secured in one panel to be fastened and the rotatable drum positioned in the other panel. The head (14) of the pin is passed into the drum member which is then rotated so that the camming surface acts to pull the head of the pin inwardly, thus drawing the two panels together. The head (14) of the pin is provided with protrusions (22) which cooperate with the rotatable drum so that locking engagement of the fastening device can be achieved.

Fastening devices of this general type are well-known. They typically comprise a pin which is inserted into a surface of a first panel to a predetermined depth so that its head protrudes from the panel, and a rotatable locking drum positioned in a recess in a second panel and arranged to receive the head of the pin. The panels are fastened together by rotating the locking drum which, by means of internal camming surfaces, pulls the head of the pin inwardly thus drawing the two panels together.
These known devices have disadvantages in that vibration, for example during transport, can cause the rotating drum to rotate out of the locking position, loosening the joint between the panels.
Prior art devices such as these also have the disadvantage that the rotating drum must be fully turned to achieve the "locked" position. This requires accurate positioning of the recess which is to receive the drum in the respective panel. If this recess is positioned too close to the panel edge the panels will butt up against one another before the drum has been turned to the fully locked position and therefore the joint will readily come loose. Alternatively, with the recess too far from the edge of the panel the locked position will be reached before the panels make contact, so that a gap is left between them. The tolerances for positioning the recess are very low; as little as 0.5 mm deviation from the correct position can cause the problems outlined above.
A device intended to overcome these disadvantages is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,127 to Hettich. This fastening device is provided with axially aligned ribs or saw-tooth shaped raised portions on the circumferential surface of the rotating drum, and also has similar raised portions on the inner camming surface of the drum. These formations ensure that unintentional loosening of the fastening device from the locked position is made substantially more difficult, and also provide some facility for locking in positions other than the fully turned position.
The Hettich camming drum does however have some disadvantages, in particular associated with the saw-teeth portions on its outer surface. When the drum is turned more than once or twice in each direction the saw-teeth start to wear away the inner surfaces of the recess in which the drum is placed, and can tend to make the hole oval. The saw-teeth also increases the torque which is required to turn the drum, making it more difficult to turn. The result can be that the drum fells as if it is locked before the joint is secure.
Other problems can arise because of the forces exerted during turning of the rotatable drum. The underside of the head of the pin member and the inner camming surfaces of the drum have been angled, relative to the pin axis, in prior art devices resulting in outwardly directed forces exerted by the pin head on the cam, which can cause bursting of the rotatable drum.
The invention aims to overcome, at least in part, some of the disadvantages of the prior art just described.


An system for imaging an oxygen-containing animal includes an illuminating light source 10, optical filters 12, a microscope and an associated epifluorescence attachment 16, a long pass cutoff filter 8, a camera 20, a frame grabber 22, a counter timer board 24, a computer 26 and an analog monitor 28. The light from the flash lamp 10 is passed through the optical filters to remove an unwanted portion of the spectrum, and focused on a sample object 14 through the epifluorescence attachment and phosphorescence is observed through the long pass cutoff filter. The images are collected with the camera and the frame grabber is used to digitize and average frames while the timing of the flash and gating of the camera intensifier is controlled by the counter timer board. The frames are displayed on the analog monitor.

The present invention is based upon the observation that oxygen can have a quenching effect on the molecular luminescence of various chemical compounds and that this effect may be employed in mapping or imaging oxygen concentrations of body portions of animals. Information about the distribution and concentration of oxygen is extremely useful in that it is indicative of tissue structure, anomalies, defects and diseases. The reader is referred to the above-cited U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,850 for further discussion of the background of the present invention.

Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania


A bulletin board communication resource provides a message to communication units regarding available communication systems in a particular geographic area. The bulletin board resource also supports registration of the communication unit with one or more of these systems as selected by the communication unit.

RF communication systems in many varied forms are well understood in the art. For example, wide area low bandwidth systems (such as paging systems) typically provide one way communications on relatively narrow channels at relatively low bit rates (such as 1200 bps). Medium area systems, such as SMR trunking, provide more functionality over a more limited geographic area and rely in part upon a higher bit rate (such as 3600 bps) to support necessary data communications. Limited coverage high bandwidth systems are also known, and typically require the use of much higher bandwidth channels (such as 200 kHz to 2 MHz) and much higher bit rates (such as 270 kbps to 1.6 mbps). Examples of such systems are digital cellular communications systems as envisioned pursuant to the GSM program, and the digital electronic cordless telephone (DECT) program intended for on-site applications.
As is known in the art, these systems are collectively similar in that each communication supported by these communication systems necessarily includes an RF wireless communication link.
These and other systems are, or will soon be, found in numerous locations throughout the world, and often in overlapping configurations. That is to say, in a given metropolitan area, a particular communication user may have theoretical access to a plurality of communication systems. Since these communication systems tend to have differing operating characteristics, however, such as differing bit rates, bandwidths, signalling protocols, registration requirements and the like, in practice a single user will only be able to access such multiple systems by obtaining multiple communication units that are each compatible with one of the systems. For example, to obtain benefit of only some of the RF services available in his area, a user may equip his automobile with a mobile cellular telephone, one or more land mobile radios (to allow access to one or more trunked or conventional land mobile systems), and a mobile data terminal to allow exchange of data. In addition, the user may himself carry a pager.
The necessity of obtaining, maintaining, and operating all of this equipment to gain access to only a few of the RF communication services offered in a particular area is undesirable. A need exists for a communication unit that can readily access more than one type of communication system, and for an infrastructure that will accommodate such a communication unit to afford access to the differing communication systems.

Bulletin board resource for communication system access


A lighting system comprising light sources for illuminating an area and a control unit adapted to control the light sources. The control unit has a user interface allowing a user to select a light scene. The user interface has a screen for displaying information to the user. The control unit is adapted to control the user interface to display selected content on the screen, which content is selected such that light emitted from the screen during display of the content contributes to the selected light scene. When the screen is used in this way, i.e. as a part of the light scene created by the lighting system, the screen enhances the light scene and the risk of the screen interfering with the light scene is reduced, resulting in an improved user experience.

Lighting systems are used indoors and outdoors, in private as well as public spaces, for a variety of lighting purposes. They may, for example, be installed indoors to provide light in a room. With some such lighting systems it is possible to produce a lighting effect by having light of different colors and intensities emanating from the different light sources of the lighting system. This enables a user to create a certain lighting atmosphere, i.e. a "light scene", in the room; for example, a user may wish the lighting to convey a relaxed feeling.
In advanced lighting systems, simple light switches have often been replaced by more sophisticated user interfaces which frequently involve screens.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,466,234 discloses a lighting system for providing light to one or several spaces, such as rooms in a building. The system includes a user interface having a screen for showing a graphical user interface.
For a lighting system to provide an enjoyable user experience, the physical parts of the system should interfere as little as possible with and/or contribute to the selected light scene. Furthermore, when a lighting system is used in a commercial establishment, such as in hotel rooms, it is also desirable to make use of the lighting system to enhance the overall experience of a customer, in addition to provide light scenes. It is possible to improve existing lighting systems in these respects.

Lighting system having a controller that contributes to a selected light scene, and a method for controlling such a system