Provided is a modular precharge circuit capable of rapidly recharging an equipment circuit path prior to insertion of a modular fuse or modular circuit breaker. The precharge circuit includes a switch to begin the operation of precharging, and a charge indicator to indicate appropriate charging has occurred. Charging occurs through use of a resistive network which receives an inrush current due to capacitance in the equipment circuit path. Once an equipment circuit path has been precharged to a desired level, a charge indicator signifies such charging is complete and the precharged unit is removed whereafter an appropriate fuse module and/or circuit breaker module is inserted. The precharge circuit further includes a fusing element and an alarm indicator wherein when the circuit enters a fault state such that the fuse is open, the alarm indicator signifies such a situation. Additionally, when the charging indicator verifies the charging element is not precharging the circuit to a desired level, an indication of a short exists.

The present invention is directed to a precharge circuit for use in conjunction with modular distribution units constructed to hold fuse and circuit breaker modules. Modular distribution units and cabinets with which the subject precharge circuit can be implemented are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,726,852, entitled Modular DC Distribution Unit and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/854,894, entitled Multisided Communication Distribution Cabinet, both hereby incorporated by reference, and commonly assigned to the owner of the present application.
When a fuse or circuit breaker is inserted into a distribution unit supplying circuits that have equipment containing capacitance, a high inrush is generated. In such situations, the fuse will open or the circuit breaker will trip. As a distribution system will carry large numbers of such fuses and/or circuit breakers, failure of even a small percentage is undesirable. It has therefore been considered useful to provide a device and manner for quickly precharging the circuits associated with the fuse and/or circuit breaker modules.


A structural turbine exhaust case of a gas turbine engine, comprises inner and outer case portions; a bearing housing connected to the inner case portion for supporting a main spool of the gas turbine engine; and a plurality of airfoils extending between the inner and outer case portions, airfoils structurally connecting the inner case portion to the outer case portion.

A "non-structural" turbine exhaust case typically used for gas turbines and is basically little more than an aerodynamic fairing, and carries no additional load other than its own weight and any aerodynamic loading effecting thereon. A "structural" turbine exhaust case on the other hand not only supports its own weight and any aerodynamic loading, but also supports a bearing housing and bearing for a main spool of the engine, typically, the low pressure spool. Present state of the art structural turbine exhaust cases, and in particular the bearing housing and the airfoils components, are made of cast components. However, cast components used in smaller airborne gas turbine engines (e.g. about 2000 lbs thrust and under) will increase the weight and thereby cost of manufacturing. Thus it would be desirable to provide a configuration with the strength-to-weight ratio.

Turbine exhaust case and method of making


A method for improving the appearance, texture and/or moisture of skin comprising administering a composition comprising Chia Seed oil, Opuntia ficus Indica extract, or both to stimulate collagen or hyaluronic acid synthesis, or decrease Interleukin-1b synthesis, in the skin.

The field of the invention relates to the use of plant and seed extracts for the treatment of skin. In particular, the present invention involves the use of plant and seed extracts, for example, Chia Seed oil and extracts of Opuntia Ficus Indica, to increase the synthesis of cell proteins and macromolecules.
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body and is the main component of connective tissue. Collagen is found in cartilage, bone, ligaments, tendon, teeth, and skin. Pro-collagen, the pre-processed form of collagen, is assembled in cells, and consists of three polypeptide chains that form a triple helix stabilized by intramolecular bonding. The triple helical pro-collagen molecule is then modified in the cell and is secreted into the extracellular matrix, where it is further processed to a mature form (tropocollagen). Mature collagen molecules then come together to form collagen fibrils, and collagen fibrils come together to form collagen fibers. The resulting collagen fibers have great tensile strength.
Collagen is a critical component of skin, and, as a result of its structure, contributes to the strength, structure and firmness of skin. Loss of collagen in the skin, typically via enzymatic degradation, is a major factor in the causation of skin wrinkling and the aged appearance of the skin.
Hyaluronic acid is a non-sulfated glycosaminoglycan found in connective, epithelial and neural tissue, and is a major component of the cutaneous extracellular matrix. Hyaluronic acid is synthesized by a class of integral membrane proteins and is secreted into the extracellular matrix. Hyaluronic acid is a polymer of repeated disaccharides of D-glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine; this high carbohydrate content makes it a 'sticky molecule', and as a result, it attracts water, therefore contributing to tissue hydration, lubrication, resistance to compression, and cellular function. Hyaluronic acid can be approximately 25,000 disaccharide repeats in length. Hyaluronic acid's hydrating properties result in increased smoothness, softening and decreased lines and wrinkles in the skin. Hyaluronic acid levels decrease due to aging and exposure to ultraviolet radiation, and reduction of hyaluronic acid levels results in the wrinkling of skin.
Interleukin-1b is a cell signaling molecule that is a member of the interleukin 1 cytokine family. It is produced by activated macrophages as a proprotein, and is proteolytically cleaved, resulting in its active form. This cytokine is an important mediator of the inflammatory response. Increased inflammation of the skin causes redness and swelling.
Therefore, skin treatments that act to increase the synthesis of collagen and of hyaluronic acid would be useful for improving the appearance, texture, and moisture of the skin and for maintaining general skin health. Furthermore, reduction of interleukin-1b synthesis in the skin would be desirable in order to improve the appearance of the skin.

Compositions and methods for stimulating synthesis of pro-collagen or collagen and hyaluronic acid


A method and system for analyzing a queue comprising: obtaining a first image acquired at a first time of a first position within a queue; obtaining a second image acquired at a second time of a second position within the queue; detecting a queue member within the first image; detecting a queue member with the second image; determining that the queue member detected within the second image is the same as the queue member detected within the first image; and determining a trajectory of the queue member within the queue based on a difference between the first time and the second time.

Many organisations dealing with the public are required to manage the length of time people are required to queue for services, for example customers in a bank or passengers going through security checks at an airport. In order to conduct such queue management more effectively, they require statistical estimates of queuing times experienced by people within different time slots throughout the day, so as to optimise their operations and minimise queuing times accordingly.
Currently, techniques employed for monitoring queue lengths and estimating queuing times in airports involve a combination of laser-based passenger counting systems (which cannot track specific individuals) and Bluetooth signal-tracking (which requires passengers to have an active Bluetooth device about their person). Such systems cannot be installed in all areas and are highly inaccurate. Most visual sensor based systems require the ability to accurately track all individuals in a queue in order to derive useful statistics, an unreasonable and unworkable assumption in even modest real-world scenarios where imaging conditions and crowd behaviour is relatively unrestricted.
Therefore, there is required a system and method that overcomes these problems.


Disclosed is an axial and rotational stopping device for use when creating threads in a predrilled pilot hole or inserting an allograft bony void filler or synthetic implant into a threaded hole. The device can also provide consistent depth control for drilling a pilot hole, tapping the hole to create threads, and implanting an allograft bony void filler or synthetic implant while preventing damage to the threads in the tapped hole that would be caused by continuing to rotate a tap once the depth stop has been reached and the tap can no longer advance in the axial direction, as well as preventing damage to the threads in the tapped hole, the threads on the mating allograft bony void filler or synthetic implant, and the drive features on either the driver instrument or the allograft bony void filler or synthetic implant.

Vertebral fixation (a.k.a. spinal fixation) is a neurosurgical procedure in which two or more vertebrae are anchored to each other through a synthetic vertebral fixation device. The purpose of the vertebral fixation device is to reduce vertebral mobility in order to mitigate the risk of damage to the spinal cord or spinal roots. A vertebral fixation procedure may provide relief from vertebral deformity, degenerative vertebral disorders (such as spondylolisthesis), or vertebral fractures.
Vertebral disorders are being treated more and more often using minimally invasive posterior transpedicular or extrapedicular approaches to emplace spinal implant devices. The most common vertebral fixation devices use some form of threaded shaft (i.e., a screw) to achieve stable fixation. For spinal fusions, on the other hand, the implantation of an allograft bony void filler (or "allograft dowel") has proven to be effective. However, the use of threaded allograft bony void fillers or synthetic implants, as well as the implantation of allograft bony void fillers or synthetic implants into threaded holes created in bony structures, present several challenges with regard to controlling the rotational forces concurrent with controlling the axial forces applied during such procedures.

Driver device with anti-rotation feature


A sportsman sink having foldable legs is arranged to include a pump member to receive water from available water supplies and direct such water through a faucet to an underlying sink. The table is arranged for interfolding of the legs and a wing plate for ease of positioning the table relative to an underlying support surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to table apparatus, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved sportsman sink apparatus wherein the same is arranged for ease of storage, as well as for positioning relative to various support surfaces.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Sink structure of various types have been utilized throughout the prior art for portable positioning in a manner as indicated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,621; U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,169; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,594,830.
The instant invention attempts to overcome deficiencies of the prior art by providing for a sink structure including a portable battery supply to permit ease of pumping of water through an associated faucet structure and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


Compositions including a quinolone component in an amount effective as an antibiotic when the composition is placed in a mammalian eye, and a carrier component in an amount effective to act as a carrier for the quinolone component are provided. The present compositions are substantially free of other components effective as preservatives. Preferably the quinolone component has fungistatic activity. In one very useful embodiment, the compositions include a NSAID component in an amount effective to reduce inflammation or pain when the composition is placed in a mammalian eye. Methods of using the present compositions, for example, to resolve microbial infections and/or to reduce inflammation and/or pain in a mammalian eye are included within the scope of the present invention.

The present invention relates to antibiotic compositions and to methods for using such compositions. More particularly, the invention relates to antibiotic compositions which are effective in use and reduce the risks of harmful side effects, such as, irritation, on the body part, for example, the eye, being treated.
Various antibiotic components have been used in ocular applications, for example, to control or manage or prevent ocular infections and the like. Moreover, antibiotic components, such as tobramycin have been suggested for use in combination with other materials, such as ophthalmically acceptable non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs. See, for example, Fu et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,011, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. Quinolones, such as ofloxacin, have been used in compositions for treating ocular infections. These antibiotic compositions include one or more additional components which act as preservatives, for example, benzalkonium chloride (BAK) or organomercurials.
However, the use of BAK, organomercurials or other preservative components may be problematic. For example, BAK may be incompatible with certain active components and organomercurials pose difficulties due to potential mercury toxicity, as well as poor chemical stability. Although these problems may be significant, a more pervasive and common concern caused by preservatives components is the tendency of such components to cause irritation, allergic reactions, and/or other detrimental side effects when the preserved composition is administered to a patient.
It would be advantageous to provide stable, effective antibiotic compositions, and methods for using such compositions, that provide reduced risks of irritation and/or other harmful side effects caused by preservatives typically present in such compositions.
New antibiotic compositions, for example, for use in mammalian eyes, preferably human eyes, and methods for using such compositions have been discovered. By administering present compositions to humans or animals, for example, to the eyes of humans or animals, desired therapeutic effects are provided, such as the prevention, control or management of ocular microbial infections, reductions in inflammation and/or pain and the like. Importantly, the present compositions are substantially is free of added or separate preservatives. This feature provides substantial benefits, for example, substantial elimination of irritation and/or other detrimental effects which may be caused by the presence of such added preservative components. The present compositions can be easily produced, for example, using conventional techniques and can be conveniently used, for example, employing conventional methods of administration.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the compositions comprise a quinolone component and a carrier component. The compositions are substantially free of other components effective as preservatives. The quinolone component is present in an amount effective as a antibiotic when the composition is placed in a mammalian eye. In one useful embodiment, the quinolone component in the composition has fungistatic activity. That is, the quinolone components in the present compositions may have sufficient anti-fungal properties or activity to substantially prevent increases in populations of fungi in such compositions. In effect, the present quinolone components may act as effective preservatives against fungal growth in the present compositions. The carrier component is present in an amount effective to act as a carrier for the quinolone component, and other active component or components, if present, in the composition, and preferably is ophthalmically acceptable.
In one very useful embodiment, the present compositions comprise a quinolone component, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) component, and a carrier component effective to act as a carrier for the quinolone and NSAID components. The quinolone component is effective as an antibiotic, as described elsewhere herein. The NSAID component is present in an amount effective to reduce at least one of inflammation and pain when the is composition is placed in a mammalian eye.
The present compositions preferably include a quinolone component which is halogenated, more preferably fluorinated. Very useful compositions and results are obtained when the quinolone component is an ofloxacin component.
Although any NSAID component may be used, the NSAID components included in the present compositions preferably are carboxylic (xe2x80x94COOH) group-containing NSAID components. More preferably, the NSAID component is a pyrrolo pyrrole component, still more preferably a ketorolac component.
The present carrier components may contain one or more pharmaceutically or ophthalmically acceptable ingredients, for example, tonicity adjuster components, buffer components, viscosity components, lubricity components, surfactant components and the like, conventionally used, for example, in ophthalmic formulations. Preferably, the compositions have pH""s in the physiological range of human beings, for example, in the range of about 4 to about 8.5.
The present compositions may be in any form suitable for effective administration to the human or animal to be treated. Preferably, the compositions are present in a form selected from solutions, suspensions, gels, ointments solids and the like which are very effective for ocular administration. The carrier component may conveniently be selected and/or compounded to provide the composition in the form desired.
Methods of using these compositions are included in the scope of the present invention. Such methods comprise administering to a human or animal, preferably to a mammalian eye, a therapeutically effective amounts of the compositions as described herein. Such methods provide one or more benefits to the human or animal treated in accordance with the present methods. For example, such benefits include prevention, control or management of microbial infections, and reduction in inflammation and/or pain. Because the present compositions include no additional preservatives, the human or animal being treated is subjected to reduced risks of irritation and/or other detrimental or unpleasant side effects caused by the presence of such preservatives.
Any and all features described herein and combinations of such features are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features of any such combination are not mutually inconsistent.
These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention are in the following detailed description and Examples and claims.
The present compositions comprise quinolone components and carrier components. Importantly, the present compositions are substantially free of other components effective as preservatives. Such substantially preservative-free compositions remain effective to provide the desired antibiotic effectiveness of the present compositions, while at the same time reducing the risk of irritation and/or other uncomfortable side effects caused by the presence of one or more added preservatives. Even though the present compositions are substantially preservative-free, it has been found that the present compositions have sufficient preservative efficacy to meet or exceed the standards of the United States Preservative Efficacy Test (USPET).
The present compositions include quinolone components. A number of such quinolone components are known and have been used for many years in antibiotic applications. For example, nalidixic acid has been available for the treatment of urinary tract infections. The useful quinolone components preferably are four-quinolones that contain a carboxylic moiety in the three position of the basic structure shown below:
Preferably, the present quinolone components exhibit fungistatic properties in the present compositions. That is, the quinolone components in the present compositions preferably are effective to preserve the present composition against population growth of fungi, such as C. Albicans and A. niger.
The present quinolone components preferably are halogenated. For example, a chlorinated quinolone component, such as 9-chloro-3-methyl-10-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-7-oxo-2,3-dihydro-7H-pyridol[1,2,3-de][1,4]benzozaxine-6 carboxylic acid may be used.
More preferably, the present quinolone components are fluorinated. Examples of such fluorinated quinolones include norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin. Such fluorinated quinolone components are highly effective against a range of bacteria and are useful in treating various microbial infections in the mammalian eye. Prior of loxacin-containing compositions including such quinolone used for this purpose include additional preservatives, for example, BAK. Thus, while the quinolone is effective against the ocular infection, the preservatives present in such compositions may cause undesirable irritation and/or other disadvantageous side effects.
It has been found that the present quinolone components, such as ofloxacin, are very effective when is present in compositions including substantially no additional components which are effective as preservatives. Moreover, quinolones, such as ofloxacin, have been found to have sufficient fungistatic activity to be useful in the present compositions to act as a preservative against fungal contamination. As noted previously, the present compositions including such quinolone components with no additional preservative components is sufficiently preserved so as to pass the USPET.
The present compositions include an antibiotically effective amount of the quinolone component. Such amounts may vary over a relatively broad range depending, for example, on the specific form of the composition being used, the specific quinolone component being used, the specific application for the composition, the frequency of use of the composition and the like factors. In many situations, the present compositions may include a quinolone component in an amount in a range of about 0.03% (w/v) or less to about 3% (w/v) or more. Preferably, the present compositions include the quinolone component in an amount in the range of about 0.15% (w/v) to about 0.5% (w/v) or about 1.1% (w/v).
The quinolone component may be any quinolone derivative which is acceptable or suitable for administration to the eye and has at least a portion, preferably a major portion or at least about 50% of the antibiotic effectiveness of the basic quinolone in the present composition in the mammalian eye. The present quinolone component may be selected from the quinolone itself or quinolone hydrates or ophthalmically acceptable salts of such quinolones, for example, including acid addition salts such as hydrochlorides, maleates, pambates and the like, and alkali metal salts such as sodium and potassium salts, and mixtures thereof and the like.
The present carrier components may be selected from pharmaceutically acceptable organic and/or inorganic components which, preferably, in the present compositions are ophthalmically acceptable. As used herein, the term. xe2x80x9cophthalmically acceptablexe2x80x9d refers to a material which, at the concentration or amount in question, is compatible with ocular tissue, that is the material does not cause significant or undue detrimental effects when brought into contact with ocular tissue. The carrier component preferably is ophthalmically acceptable. Preferably, each component of the present compositions is also compatible with the other components of the compositions.
Examples of suitable materials useful in the present carrier components include water, mixtures of water and water-miscible solvents such as lower alkanols or aralkanols, vegetable oils, polyalkylene glycols, petroleum-based jelly, ethyl cellulose, ethyl oleate, carboxymethyl cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, isopropyl mirstate, other conventionally employed pharmaceutically acceptable materials and the like.
The carrier component may also include auxiliary substances such as emulsifiers, wetting agents, bodying agents, buffer components, acids and/or bases, tonicity adjuster components, surfactant components, viscosity agents, lubricity components, other materials useful in ophthalmic formulations and the like.
Examples of optionally useful bodying agents include, but are not limited to, various polyethylene glycols, carbowaxes, petroleum jelly and the like.
Suitable buffers include, but are not limited to, inorganic buffers such as phosphate buffers, borate buffers and the like, and organic buffers, such as acetate buffers, citrate buffers, tromethamine and the like.
Tonicity adjusters optionally useful in the present compositions include, but are not limited to, dextrose, potassium chloride and/or sodium chloride and the like, preferably sodium chloride.
Acids optionally useful in the present compositions include boric acid, hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, other acids which are ophthalmically acceptable in the concentrations used, and the like.
Bases which may be included in the present compositions include, but are not limited to, sodium and/or potassium hydroxides, other alkali and/or alkaline earth metal hydroxides, organic bases, other bases which are ophthalmically acceptable in the concentrations used, and the like.
The acid/bases/buffers preferably are included, if at all, to provide and/or maintain the present compositions at a pH in the physiologically acceptable range, more preferably in a range of about 4 to about 8.5, still more preferably about 6 to about 8, and especially about 6.8 to about 8.
Surfactant components optionally useful in the compositions of the present invention include, but are not limited to, lipoprotein detergents that when present in the compositions reduce the surface tension between the compositions and the eye (lacrimal) fluid. Preferably, nonionic surfactants are used.
Viscosity agents optionally useful in the compositions of the present invention include, but are not limited to, carbopol, cellulose derivatives such as hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, other viscosity inducing materials useful in ophthalmic formulations and the like.
Lubricity components optionally useful in the compositions of the present invention include, but are not limited to, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, carbopol and the like.
The present compositions may include effective amounts of chelating or sequestering components, such as ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), citric acid, tartaric acid and the like. In one useful embodiment, the present compositions are substantially free of EDTA.
Other optional excipients useful in the present compositions include stabilizing agents such as antioxidants, for example, alkali metal metabisulfates, ascorbic acid and the like.
The carrier component may be in various forms. In one embodiment, the carrier component comprises a liquid, and the composition may be a solution or a suspension. In either situation, the carrier may simply contain water and one or more auxiliary components noted elsewhere herein.
The present compositions may be in any suitable form effective to be administered to the eye. Such forms include solutions, suspensions, ointments, gels, solids and the like. An ointment may be considered as a form intermediate between a suspension and a gel. Each of these forms of the present compositions can be prepared using techniques and processing which are conventional and well known in the art.
In another embodiment, the carrier component maybe in the form of a clear material which forms a semi-solid xe2x80x9cgelxe2x80x9d at human body temperatures various polymers, many of which are conventional and well known in the art, can be included in the carrier components to provide the present compositions in the form of gels. For example, a polymer system including alkylene diamine tetra substituted with about 40% to about 80% poly(oxyethelene) units and about 20% to about 60% poly(oxypropylene) units may be employed. The molecular weight of the polymer used preferably is at least about 7,000 and can be as high as about 50,000, more preferably in the range of about 7,000 to about 30,000. The gel forming component, if any is present in an amount effective to provide the composition in the form of a gel. For example, such gel forming component may be present in is an amount in a range of about 10% or less to about 50% or more by weight of the total carrier component.
The compositions may also be in the form of solid inserts, for example a solid dosage form that is suitable for insertion into the cul-de-sac of a mammalian eye. To this end, the composition components can be included with a non-bioerodible insert, for example, one which after dispensing the active component or components remains essentially intact, or a bio-erodible insert, for example, one that either is soluble in lacrimal fluids, or otherwise disintegrates.
A solid water soluble polymer may be employed in the carrier component. Such polymers include, for example, cellulose derivatives such as methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, or a hydroxy lower alkyl cellulose such as hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose and the like; acrylates such as polyacrylic acid salts, ethyl acrylates, polyacrylamides, natural products such as gelatin, alginates, pectins, tragacanth, daraya, chondrus, agar, acacia; the starch derivatives such as starch acetate, hydroxyethyl starch ethers, hydroxypropy starch, as well as other synthetic derivatives such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl methyl ether, polyethylene oxide, neutralized carbopol and xanthan gum, mixtures thereof and the like.
In another useful embodiment, the present compositions further include a NSAID component, in addition to the quinolone component and the carrier component, in an amount effective to reduce inflammation and/or pain when the compositions are administered to a mammalian eye, for example, to prevent or treat diseases which are either caused by, associated with or accompanied by inflammatory processes and/or pain, including, among others, glaucoma, cystoid macular edema, uveitis, diabetic retinopathy and conjunctivitis, or any trauma caused by eye surgery or eye injury.
The NSAID component may or may not include a carboxylic (xe2x80x94COOH) group or moiety, or a carboxylic derived group or moiety. In one embodiment, the NSAID component inhibits the cyclo-oxygenase enzyme, which has two (2) isoforms, referred to as COX-1 and COX-2. Many of the well known NSAID components are basically non-selective COX inhibitors. NSAID components which are selective COX-2 inhibitors are also known. Both types of NSAID components, that is both non-selective COX inhibitors and selective COX-2 inhibitors are useful in accordance with the present invention. The NSAID component may be selected : from phenylalkanoic acids, such as diclofenac, flurbiprofen, ketorolac, piroxicam and the like; indoles, such as indomethacin and the like; diarylpyrazoles, such as celecoxib and the like; pyrrolo pyrroles; and other agents that inhibit prostaglandin synthesis. A very useful NSAID component is the pyrrolo pyrrole which has a propionic acid moiety, known as ketorolac and derivatives thereof, such as non-toxic esters and salts thereof. Pyrrolo pyrroles have been suggested for use in the treatment of certain ophthalmic diseases in Waterbury U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,15.1, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.
The NSAID component may be present in the present compositions in any suitable concentration effective to reduce inflammation or pain when the composition is :laced in a mammalian eye. For example, the NSAID component, if present at all, preferably is present in an amount in a range of about 0.001% (w/v) or less to about 10% (w/v) or more, and more preferably in a range of about 0.02% (w/v) to about 0.5% (w/v) or about 1% (w/v).
The present compositions may be prepared using conventional techniques, for example, by formation of solutions, gels, suspensions, etc., using well known and conventional techniques. For a more detailed discussion of the preparation and administration of ophthalmic formulations see Remingtons Pharmaceutical Sciences, 15 Ed., Pgs. 1489 to 1504 (1975) which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.
In general, the present methods for treating mammalian eyes comprise administering to the mammalian eye a therapeutically effective amount of the present composition thereby providing an effective antibiotic in the mammalian eye, and, if NSAID component is present in the composition, thereby reducing inflammation or pain in the mammalian eye. The present methods of use may involve any suitable administration step or steps to provide an effective amount of the composition to the mammalian eye. Such administering may include, but is not limited to, topical application to the eye, installation into the eye, placing an insert into the cul-de-sac (space) between the eyeball and the eyelid and the like. Other conventional methods of administering compositions to the eye may be employed provided that the present compositions are administered so as to provide the benefits desired.
The present use methods may be considered to be curative and/or preventative when applied, presurgically or immediately post traumatically, that is before a microbial infection develops, or before inflammation and/or pain is apparent. The present use methods are effective to reduce the risk of the formation of such infections and to reduce the severity of any inflammation or pain which may develop.
The dosage level of the present composition depends, of course, on many factors, for example, the particular application involved, the particular active component or components employed, the concentration of the active component or components in the composition, the severity of the infection/inflammation/pain and the individual""s response to the treatment. Such dosage can be easily determined by routine and well known techniques to achieve the desired results in the individual patient being treated.

Antibiotic compositions and methods for using same


A drum including a cylindrical shell having an upper edge defining an open top end, and a lower edge defining an open bottom end; a drum skin disposed over the top end; a plurality of lugs mounted on an outer surface of the shell in positions annularly spaced adjacent to the bottom end; and a cover movable between a closed position closing the bottom end and an open position providing access into the shell through the bottom end. Also included is a latch mechanism retained by one or more of the lugs and operable to either retain the cover in the closed position or allow movement of the cover into the open position.

The invention relates generally to a drum and, more particularly, to a drum functioning as both a musical instrument and a container.
Drums are widely used to provide music either individually or in conjunction with other musical instruments. Typical drums consist of a hollow cylindrical shell covered by a skin which is beaten with drum sticks to produce music. However, when not in use the substantial volume within the shell is wasted.
The object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a drum which can function as both a musical instrument and a container.


A scanning optical monitoring system and method are appropriate for high speed scanning of a WDM signal band. The system and method are able to identify dropped channels or, more generally, discrepancies between the determined or detected channel inventory and a perpetual inventory for the WDM signal, which perpetual inventory specifies the channels that should be present in the WDM signal assuming proper operation of the network. The system includes a tunable optical filter that scans a pass band across a signal band of a WDM signal to generate a filtered signal. A photodetector then generates an electrical signal in response to this filtered signal. A decision circuit compares the electrical signal to a threshold and a controller, which is responsive to the decision circuit, inventories the channels in the WDM signal.

Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) systems typically comprise multiple separately modulated laser diodes at the transmitter. These laser diodes are tuned to operate at different wavelengths. When combined in an optical fiber, the WDM optical signal comprises a corresponding number of spectrally separated channels. Along the transmission link, the channels are typically collectively amplified in gain fiber, such as erbium-doped fiber and/or regular fiber, in a Raman pumping scheme. At the receiving end, the channels are usually separated from each other using thin film filter systems, to thereby enable detection by separate photodiodes.
The advantage of WDM systems is that the transmission capacity of a single fiber can be increased. Historically, only a single channel was transmitted in each optical fiber. In contrast, modern WDM systems contemplate hundreds or thousands of spectrally separated channels per fiber. Such configurations yield concomitant increases in the data rate capabilities of each fiber. Moreover, the cost per bit of data for WDM systems is typically less than comparative non-multiplexed systems. This is because any amplification system required along the link can essentially be shared by all of the separate channels transmitted in a single fiber link. With non-multiplexed systems, each channel/fiber would require its own amplification system.
The economics pulling for WDM in the context of long-haul optical links is only one factor suggesting the long-term applicability of the technology. Another application concerns the dynamic routing of individual wavelength slots or channels in optical WDM networks with multiple network access nodes. Such network functionality requires devices that can add and drop specific channels in an optical link.

Optical band scanning monitor system and method


The invention pertains to a layered ammonia oxidation catalyst. The layered catalyst causes ammonia to be selectively oxidized in the presence of an oxidant such as air, while minimizing the formation of nitrogen oxides (NOx). The layered catalyst comprises a refractory oxide support such as gamma alumina upon which a platinum component is deposited and a vanadia component is deposited on the platinum. The catalyst is preferably disposed on a substrate such as a metal foil whose surface contains a “herringbone” pattern.

Stationary sources of air pollution, e.g., electric power generating plants, produce exhaust gas streams that contain levels of NOx in excess of those permitted under Federal and State air quality regulations, even where the power plants utilize natural gas as the fuel (thereby avoiding emitting unburned hydrocarbons that would otherwise occur when the fuel consists of oil or coal). Typically, such plants reduce the NOx in the exhaust gas streams to N2 by injecting ammonia into the exhaust gas stream in the presence of a selective catalytic reduction ("SCR") catalyst typically consisting of vanadia disposed on titania. Although the resultant gas stream contains levels of NOx below the maximum permitted under such regulations, the reaction that utilizes ammonia as the reducing agent also results in emissions of ammonia above that permitted under such regulations. Therefore, a further catalytic reaction is required wherein NH3 in the exhaust gas stream is selectively oxidized to N2 without the formation of amounts of NOx that would otherwise raise the level of NOx above that permitted by such regulations.
Typically, prior art ammonia oxidation catalysts not only cause the oxidation of NH3 to N2, but they also catalyze the oxidation of NH3 to NOx. Indeed, most prior art ammonia oxidation catalysts are designed to oxidize ammonia to nitrites and nitrates in order to produce useful quantities of nitric acid (HNO3). Typical prior art ammonia oxidation catalysts are described in the following exemplary U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,122,497; 5,336,656; 5,690,900; 6,165,435; 6,380,128; 6,489,264; and published U.S. patent application Ser. No. US2003/0124046.


This invention relates to improved imaging systems based on the formation of green-yellow colored coordination compounds of transition metals with certain ligands. The formation of colored coordination compounds can be employed to generate images and is important in the manufacture and use of pressure sensitive transfer papers for preparing carbonless copies. In particular, this invention relates to certain 2,5-bis(substituted aryl)thiazolo[5,4-d]thiazole compounds, and particularly to certain 2,5-bis(o-hydroxyaryl)thiazolo[5,4-d]thiazole compounds, to their coordination compounds with certain transition metals, and to their use in pressure sensitive carbonless copy paper systems. These compounds have been found to provide excellent green-yellow colors when used in pressure sensitive carbonless copy-papers wherein the image is formed by the reaction of a color-forming compound with transition metal salts such as those of nickel, cobalt, iron, copper, and similar materials. These green-yellow color-formers have the advantage of greater solubility in encapsulation solvents and lower volatility than previously used yellow color-formers.. The invention also concerns the admixture of these certain color-formers with N-(monosubstituted)dithiooxamides and/or N,N'-(disubstituted)dithiooxamides to form images of various colors and preferably black images during the application of appropriate pressure to pressure sensitive imaging constructions such as carbonless paper constructions.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to 2,5-bis(substituted aryl)thiazolo[5,4-d]thiazole compounds, and particularly to 2,5-bis(o-hydroxyaryl)thiazolo[5,4-d]thiazole color-formers, to their reactions with metal salts to form colored coordination compounds, and to imaging systems based thereon. The formation of colored coordination compounds can be employed to generate images and is important in the manufacture and use of pressure-sensitive transfer papers for preparing carbonless copies.
The invention also concerns the admixture of these color-formers with N-(monosubstituted)dithiooxamides and/or N,N'-(disubstituted)dithiooxamides to form images of various colors and preferably black images during the application of appropriate pressure to pressure-sensitive imaging constructions such as carbonless paper constructions.

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


A semiconductor device includes an insulation film formed on a metal substrate, wiring patterns formed on the insulation film, and electrodes of a semiconductor chip connected to one ends of the wiring patterns, wherein a plurality of resistors are formed on at least one of surfaces of a front and a back of the insulation film and one ends of the resistors are connected to the electrodes of semiconductor chip through the wiring patterns.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same, more particularly to a semiconductor device having a semiconductor chip in a package with wiring patterns of microstrip structure and terminators, and a method of manufacturing such device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In case of a high speed LSIs (Large Scale Integrated Circuit), a signal line requires to be connected to a terminator since signal reflection should be restrained to prevent operation from malfunction caused by a waveform distortion. Because of this, there have proposed terminators incorporated in a package which houses an LSI chip to make it possible in high density mounting, instead of externally mounting those on the package.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Hei5-206202 has proposed such a semiconductor device. FIG. 8(a) is a plan view showing the semiconductor device proposed in the application, and FIG. 8(b) is a sectional view indicative of the arrows C-C' shown in FIG. 8 (a) Referring to FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b), a metal lead 64 is formed on a lower surface of an insulation film 61 made up of polyimide resin having an opening portion 61a so that the end portion of metal lead 64 is extruded to the opening portion 61a. A resistor 66 used for a terminator comprised of either a thin-film or thick-film is formed on the upper surface of insulation film 61. One end of the resistor 66 is connected to the metal lead 64 via a through hole 67 formed on the insulation film 61. In addition, a bump 62a formed on a semiconductor chip 62 is connected to the end portion of metal lead 64, mounting the semiconductor chip 62 on the opening portion 61a.
It is noted that the value of resistor 66 is a value to be matched with the characteristic impedance of metal lead 64 which becomes a transmission path. The through hole 67 is formed extremely close to the opening portion 61a to desirably restrain reflection in the transmission path.
Accordingly, with the terminator mounted on the package, a simple and high density mounting can be achieved, and with use of a micro process for forming either thin or thick film to be readily made the terminator, resistance accuracy can be enhanced.
In such case of the semiconductor device described above, the reflection restraint effected by the terminator may be small since the metal lead 64 as a transmission path of the package is not a structure so that a characteristic impedance variation such as a microstrip path becomes small.
The external connection also has limitation around the peripheral portion package. Besides, the end portion of terminator has open, therefore, electrical connections for such grounding potential and source potential of the terminator should be placed around the peripheral portion of package when mounting the semiconductor device on a printed circuit board. Thus, reductions of mounting area and mounting man-hour cannot be made sufficiently. Particularly, in case of increasing the number of connecting pins, there arises difficulty of mounting the device on a printed circuit board due to the connecting congestion around the peripheral portion of package.
In addition, with necessity for forming the terminator on the insulation film 61, use of a thin-film causes high cost since its manufacturing method is limited to the vapor deposition. In case of using a thick-film method (or printing method), there arises drawback that variation of resistance value becomes large. In also case of using the thin-film method and electrodeposition method (or plating method), the yield is generally as much as -10 to +10% per a desirable resistance value, while in case of using the printing method, the yield is over -20 to +20%.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same


A method of electrical discharge machining a workpiece, while maintaining the desired size, shape and surface finish of the cut. After an initial machining operation at an initial power setting forms a cut of the desired size and finish in the workpiece to some initial depth, a multi-phase machining cycle is established to carry the cut deeper. Machining is carried out for most of this multi-phase cycle at a reduced power setting, which results in the reduction of at least the rate of particulate debris production. If reduced on-time power settings are employed, the average particle size of the debris is also reduced. At the very end of the multi-phase machining cycle, the power setting is abruptly increased to a level which is sufficient to cause substantial agitation of the dielectric fluid in the spark gap. If the on-time power level has been reduced, the cut is enlarged to the desired size by the terminal power pulse. Hydraulic flushing by physically stroking the electrode in and out of the spark gap may also be employed, if desired.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to electrical discharge machining (EDM) and, in particular, to a method for controlling the precision forming of deep cuts such as, for example, blind holes, and other openings using EDM equipment.
2. Description of the Prior Art
EDM techniques had been used extensively for forming, among other things, precise cuts such as, for example, holes or openings, particularly blind holes, in extremely hard, electrically conductive materials, with the limitation that the maximum possible depth of such blind holes generally was believed to be less than approximately 0.060 inches. This limitation occurred because, as the machining surface of the bottom of the hole was machined by the cutting pulse spark of the EDM electrode, debris accumulated in the spark gap, induced arcing, and prevented further significant machining of the machining surface Various expedients, including hydraulic flushing of the spark gap, had been proposed. Vigorous hydraulic flushing can deflect small electrodes so as to impair the accuracy of the operation. The problem of machining small, deep, blind holes, while maintaining a desired size, shape and finish for the hole, had generally proven to be unsolvable.
The debris which is inevitably formed by EDM operations is generally composed largely of very small particles of the material which is machined from the workpiece, and carbon formed by thermal degradation of the cutting fluid. The debris can, and often does, build up in the spark gap, and may even bridge between the electrode and the workpiece so as to cause arcing. This causes at least the working gap voltage, and the characteristics of the radio frequency emitted by the machining process to change. It also prevents any further significant machining of the workpiece, because all or most of the energy is going into reworking debris. Unless it is removed the debris will eventually make further machining impossible. Previous expedients have employed adaptive controls in an attempt to overcome the problem of energy loss or arching in the debris. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,357,516, 3,056,065, and 3,943,321 generally disclose the application of a succession of individually discrete pulse trains to the spark gap separated by a long off-time in response to an excessive accumulation of debris in the spark gap. U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,504 discloses monitoring radio frequency emissions of the cutting pulse spark, and in response to a change in radio frequency emissions, the cutting pulse spark is interrupted. The radio frequency emissions change is an indication of excessive accumulation of debris in the spark gap, particularly carbonaceous debris. Hydraulic flushing of the spark gap by the dielectric fluid was previously induced by physically moving or pulsing the electrode in and out of the spark gap as a way of dealing with debris accumulation. Such attempts to overcome the problem of arcing and energy loss in the debris had generally become completely ineffective in, for example, deep, small, blind holes at depths of somewhere between about 0.030 and 0.060 inches, and with large electrodes. The present invention is particularly applicable to accurately machining small, deep, blind holes where the ratio of the depth of the hole to the smallest lateral dimension of the hole is greater than approximately 1:1.
The limitation on the depth at which previous EDM processes could machine small blind holes severely restricted the utility of such EDM operations. It should be noted that all fully surrounded holes are blind holes while they are being formed, unless an opening has been previously made in the workpiece. Likewise, all through holes are blind holes while they are being formed, until they break through the workpiece. Thus, the previous inability to form small, deep, blind holes had limited the depth of all small diameter holes. Problems had also been encountered with large holes particularly where there is a considerable distance between the center and the edges of the electrode. The concentration of debris is apparently greater at the approximate center of a large electrode than around its edges. Physically, such debris has further to travel to escape from the spark gap than that which is generated near the edges of the electrode.
These and other difficulties of the prior art have been overcome according to the present invention. Those concerned with these problems recognize the need for an effective and reliable way to accurately machine small, deep, blind holes of nearly unlimited depth by the EDN process.

EDM control by adjusting the on-time power level


Disclosed are various embodiments for a mobile crossdock system comprising one or more containers aligned in a configuration to form a mobile crossdock for mobile crossdock operations. The one or more containers are detachably attached to a platform such as a vehicle trailer. Further, the one or more containers may comprise a first side having a first plurality of openings and a second side having a second plurality of openings. A plurality of doors are aligned with the first plurality of openings and the second plurality of openings and are configured to move between a closed position and an open position. A plurality of ramps are configured to lift or raise a rear end of a vehicle to a position where a cargo area of the vehicle is substantially aligned with a floor of the mobile crossdock.

Items being shipped from a source to a destination may be transferred from one vehicle to another during a shipment of the items. For example, items on a large tractor trailer inbound to a large metropolis may be separated and moved into smaller delivery vehicles for delivery to smaller cities. Separating and moving the items on the tractor trailer requires a facility. Given a need for productivity and speed in a supply chain, the movement of items from one vehicle to another remains problematic in shipping logistics.


A method and apparatus for providing low-cost, realistic force feedback including an improved actuator. Force sensations are provided to a user and an interface device coupled to a host computer allows a user to interact with a host application program. A user object, such as a joystick, is moveable by a user in at least one rotary degree of freedom. A sensor reports a locative signal to the host computer to indicate a position of the user object. An actuator outputs forces on the user object in response to signals from the host computer and program. The actuator includes a housing, a set of grounded magnets provided on opposing surfaces of the housing and creating a magnetic field, and a rotor coupled to the user object positioned between the magnets. The rotor rotates about an axis of rotation and includes a shaft and teeth spaced around the shaft. An electric current flows through one or more coils on the teeth to cause the rotor to rotate. The teeth and the magnets are provided in a skewed, helical arrangement relative to each other so that, as the rotor rotates, a first tooth gradually exits the magnetic field as the next consecutive tooth gradually enters the magnetic field, thereby significantly reducing a cogging effect of the rotor when the user object is moved by the user and increasing the fidelity of forces experienced by the user.

The present invention relates generally to interface devices between humans and computers, and more particularly to computer interface devices that provide force feedback to the user.
Computer systems are used extensively in many different industries to implement computer controlled simulations, games, and other application programs. More particularly, these types of games and simulations are very popular with the mass market of home consumers. A computer system typically displays a visual environment to a user on a display screen or other visual output device. Users can interact with the displayed environment to play a game, experience a simulation or "virtual reality" environment, or otherwise influence events or images depicted on the screen or in an application program or operating system. Such user interaction can be implemented through a human-computer interface device, such as a joystick, "joypad" button controller, mouse, trackball, stylus and tablet, foot or hand pedals, or the like, that is connected to the computer system controlling the displayed environment. The computer updates the game or simulation in response to the user's manipulation of a moved object such as a joystick handle or mouse, and provides feedback to the user utilizing the display screen and, typically, audio speakers.
Force feedback interface systems, also known as haptic systems, additionally provide force feedback to a user of the system. In a typical configuration, a host computer implements software such as an application program, simulation, or game and communicates with a connected force feedback interface device. The user grasps a user object of the interface device, such as a joystick, mouse, steering wheel, stylus, etc., and moves the object in provided degrees of freedom. The movement of the user manipulatable object is sensed by the host computer using sensors, and force sensations controlled by the host computer are provided to the user object using actuators of the force feedback interface device. Force feedback can be effectively used to simulate a variety of experiences, from a crash in a vehicle, a gun firing, a bumpy road, etc., and can thus supply the mass market of computer users an entirely new dimension in human-computer interaction.
Force sensations are created for the user of force feedback interface systems often by using actuators such as active motors that generate a torque on a rotating shaft. Nearly all common types of motors create torque through the interaction of a static magnetic field created by permanent magnets and a variable magnetic field created by electric current flowing through metallic (e.g., copper) windings. These magnetic fields are commonly directed through the stationary part of the motor (stator) and the rotating part of the motor (rotor) through ferrous structures. Brush-commutated (or "brush-type") DC motors, stepper motors, and brushless DC motors are common examples of this type of permanent magnet/iron arrangement.
One problem presented by prior art force feedback and haptic systems is the "cogging" effect occurring with the use of these types of motors. Cogging is the term used to describe the tendency of a motor rotor to align itself preferentially with the stator. In a typical brush-type DC motor, there may be multiple positions per shaft revolution where the motor rotor prefers to rest. This effect is sometimes described as "detenting" or "ratcheting" and can result in substantial variation in the output torque of the motor, both when powered and unpowered. Cogging is fundamentally caused by the change in reluctance of the magnetic flux path: the preferential positions are essentially "reluctance minimization points" where the energy stored in the magnetic circuit is at a minimum.
Cogging can be particularly problematic in force feedback devices because the motor rotational speed is so slow that the user is often able to feel each individual torque disturbance as the user manipulatable object is moved and/or as forces are output on the user object. This effect is often perceived by users as "roughness" or "pulsations" and is usually equated with poorly-performing force feedback or haptic systems. The cogging effect problem becomes even more acute in force feedback systems in which forces must be amplified by a mechanical transmission system, such as a capstan drive system, to provide users with realistic force environments, since the cogging effect is amplified as well as the forces. If low friction, high stiffness transmission systems are used, the cogging effect also is quite noticeable to the user, unlike in high friction systems such as gear systems which produce enough noise themselves to mask the cogging effect. Thus, the cogging effect reduces the realism and fidelity of forces in high bandwidth force feedback systems which are used to accurately transmit forces to the user object.
Some prior art solutions to the cogging effect have been devised. In some applications, brushless types of DC motors are used, in which the cogging effect is not as severe as in brush-type DC motors. However, brushless motors are far more expensive and complex than brush-type motors and require more sophisticated control circuitry, and thus are not as viable an option in the low-cost, mass-consumer force feedback market. Cogging can be minimized in brush-type motors by altering the magnetic design of the motor. For example, in a brush-type DC motor, a common way to minimize cogging is to simply increase the number of slots or teeth on the rotor. This approach usually reduces the amplitude of the cogging while increasing the frequency of the "pulsations." This method is expensive since more coils and teeth must be provided. Reduction of the cogging effect can also be accomplished by carefully designing the shape and size of the tips of the rotor teeth and the magnets. Through detailed analysis and design, this approach can yield some improvement, through it is usually rather small. However, neither of these techniques reduces the cogging effect to desirable levels to allow satisfactory use of low-cost motors in high bandwidth force feedback interface devices.
Another important concern for a force feedback interface device is communication bandwidth between the controlling computer and the interface device. To provide realistic force feedback, the complex devices of the prior art typically use high speed communication electronics that allow the controlling computer to quickly send and update force feedback signals to the interface device. The more quickly the controlling computer can send and receive signals to and from the interface device, the more accurately and realistically the desired forces can be applied on the interface object. However, a problem is evident when prior art force feedback interface devices are provided to the mass consumer market. The standard serial communication interfaces on personal computers and video game consoles are typically quite slow (i.e., have low bandwidth) compared to other communication interfaces. Realistic and accurate force feedback thus becomes difficult to provide by a controlling computer system to a prior art interface device connected through such a serial interface.
Finally, mass market force feedback interface devices must necessarily be low cost devices that are simple to manufacture so that the device is competitively priced in the high volume, aggressive home computer and home video game markets.

Method and apparatus for providing high bandwidth force feedback with improved actuator feel


A method of forming a fluid ejection device is disclosed. The steps of forming the fluid ejection device may include forming a heating element on a substrate. The steps for forming the fluid ejection device may further include depositing a buffer layer over the heating element, and depositing a layer of compressive alpha-tantalum on the buffer layer with lattice matching between the layer of compressive alpha-tantalum and the buffer layer.

Tantalum (Ta) thin films are widely used in manufacturing of semiconductor and micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS). For example, in semiconductor integrated circuit manufacturing, tantalum may be used as a diffusion barrier between copper and silicon. Tantalum may also be used as a gate electrode in metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) devices. Tantalum may also be used to absorb X-rays in X-ray masks. In thermal inkjet MEMS such as a printhead, tantalum is used as a protective overcoat on the resistor and other substrate layers to protect the underlying layers from damage caused by cavitation from the collapsing ink bubbles. The tantalum layer also protects the underlying layers of a printhead from chemical reactions with the ink.
The metastable tetragonal phase of tantalum, known as the beta-phase or "beta-tantalum" is typically used in the manufacture of thermal inkjet devices. This beta-tantalum layer is brittle and becomes unstable as temperatures increase. Above 300° C., beta-tantalum converts to the body-centered-cubic (bcc) alpha-phase or "alpha-tantalum." Alpha-tantalum is the bulk equilibrium or stable-phase of tantalum. It is desired to form stable, compressive alpha-tantalum films on fluid ejection devices. Such compressive alpha-tantalum films may increase the useful life of such devices by resistance to peeling, blistering or delamination from the substrate.

Method of forming a fluid ejection device with a compressive alpha-tantalum layer

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


There is provided a cover-material fastening end member including a band-shaped member and a locking member. The locking member is formed such that a width thereof in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the band-shaped member is wider than a width of the band-shaped member. The locking member includes: a center plate-shaped portion, a flange portion, and a plurality of rib portions. The flange portion has a surface extending along a longitudinal direction of the end edge portion of the band-shaped member and perpendicular to a surface of the center plate-shaped portion. The rib portions each has a surface intersecting with the center plate-shaped portion and the flange portion. The rib portions are provided on the center plate-shaped portion along the longitudinal direction of the center plate-shaped portion at predetermined intervals.

Conventionally, in chairs used indoors, vehicle seats or the like, ones are often used, in which a cushion material or flexible pad is installed on a part thereof to be touched by a human body, such as a seat surface or a back rest, and then a surface thereof is covered with a cover material. Various structures are employed for covering and fixing such a cover material. In order to neatly fix a cover material while externally concealing an end edge portion thereof, a structure is known, in which a wire is arranged in a groove of a cushion material, a cover-material fastening end member is sewn along an end edge portion of a cover material, clips are engaged with the cover-material fastening end member at predetermined intervals, and then the clips are engaged with the wire in the cushion material, which is provided on a chair or the like, thereby fastening the cover material on the chair or the like while tensioning the cover material.
For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the cover-material fastening end member is constituted of a tape member, which is a band-shaped member allowing a sheet material to be sewn thereon, and a clip locking member provided by integrally molding resin on one end edge portion of the tape member parallel to a longitudinal direction thereof and opposite to the sheet material. Accordingly, the cover-material fastening end member is formed in an elongated shape to have the same length as that of the tape member. The clip locking member has a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the longitudinal direction formed in an arrow shape and is provided with joint portions provided at predetermined short intervals along the longitudinal direction and having a shape of a groove cut in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Thus, by engaging a pair of leg portions of a clip to the cover-material fastening end member, the clip can be attached thereon without moving the clip in the longitudinal direction. Also, the clip can be attached at any positions along the longitudinal direction by changing a locking position thereof on the joint portions of the cover-material fastening end member. Then, a hook of the clip is engaged with a wire in a cushion material, thereby fastening a cover material on a surface of the cushion material.
In addition, a cover-material fastening end member as disclosed in Patent Document 2 has a configuration, in which a clip locking member provided on an end edge of a tape member is formed in a shape of an elongated column having an elliptical cross section, and attachment portions for a clip are formed on the clip locking member at predetermined intervals.
Also, a cover-material fastening end member as disclosed in Patent Document 3 has a configuration, in which instead of the wire as described above, an elongated holding member having a C-shaped cross section is attached in a chair cushion and the cover-material fastening end member is fixed to the holding member. On a clip locking member of the cover-material fastening end member, a flange portion is provided to be parallel to a longitudinal direction thereof and perpendicular to a width direction thereof, and also a plurality of engaging protrusions, which are configured to be fitted and engaged in the holding member, are provided at predetermined intervals on a side of the flange portion opposite to a sheet material.


A state space feedback controller operates in the digital domain for the regulation of the current supply to MRI gradient coils from a multiple-bridge PWM power amplifier. The P1-controller includes an integration part (for the integration of the difference between the demand current and the measured gradient coil current) and a subsequent P-controlled system which in turn includes a delay compensator/stabilizer and a plant. The delay compensator/stabilizer includes a multi-path feedback loop by means of which its digital output signal is fed back through delay blocks, on the one hand, and through filter units, on the other hand. The filter units model the transfer functions of a gradient coil output filter for the gradient coil voltage and the output current of the amplifier inverter units, respectively. In the plant, a filter unit, which models the gradient coil transfer function, is connected in series to a delay chain for the delay of the measurement value of the gradient coil current.

In an MRI system or MR scanner, an examination object, usually a patient, is exposed to a uniform main magnetic field (B0 field) so that the magnetic moments of the nuclei within the examination object tend to rotate around the axis of the applied B0 field (Larmor precession) with a certain net magnetization of all nuclei parallel to the B0 field. The rate of precession is called Larmor frequency which is dependent on the specific physical characteristics of the involved nuclei, namely their gyromagnetic ratio, and the strength of the applied B0 field. The gyromagnetic ratio is the ratio between the magnetic moment and the spin of a nucleus.
By transmitting an RF excitation pulse (B1 field) which is orthogonal to the B0 field, generated by means of an RF transmit antenna, and matching the Larmor frequency of the nuclei of interest, the spins of the nuclei are excited and brought into phase, and a deflection of their net magnetization from the direction of the B0 field is obtained, so that a transversal component in relation to the longitudinal component of the net magnetization is generated.
After termination of the RF excitation pulse, the relaxation processes of the longitudinal and transversal components of the net magnetization begin, until the net magnetization has returned to its equilibrium state. MR relaxation signals which are emitted by the transversal relaxation process, are detected by means of an MR/RF receive antenna.
The received MR relaxation signals which are time-based amplitude signals, are Fourier transformed to frequency-based MR spectrum signals and processed for generating an MR image of the nuclei of interest within an examination object. In order to obtain a spatial selection of a slice or volume within the examination object and a spatial encoding of the received MR relaxation signals emanating from a slice or volume of interest, gradient magnetic fields are superimposed on the B0 field, having the same direction as the B0 field, but having gradients in the orthogonal x-, y- and z-directions. Due to the fact that the Larmor frequency is dependent on the strength of the magnetic field which is imposed on the nuclei, the Larmor frequency of the nuclei accordingly decreases along and with the decreasing gradient (and vice versa) of the total, superimposed B0 field, so that by appropriately tuning the frequency of the transmitted RF excitation pulse (and by accordingly tuning the resonance frequency of the MR/RF receive antenna), and by accordingly controlling the gradient magnetic fields, a selection of nuclei within a slice at a certain location along each gradient in the x-, y- and z-direction, and by this, in total, within a certain voxel of the object can be obtained.
For generating the gradient magnetic fields, a gradient magnet system comprising a number of gradient magnets in the form of coils (gradient coils) is provided which is typically operated by means of a gradient amplifier system for generating electrical currents for supplying the gradient coils. Usually, such gradient coil currents have a certain waveform which has to be produced by the gradient amplifier system very precisely. The waveform is for example a trapezoid pulse with a pulse time of for example about 40 ms, a rise and fall time of the pulses of for example each about 0.2 ms, and having an amplitude in the order of several hundreds and up to about 1000 A. These current pulses have to be accurately controlled with a deviation of only several mA or less in order to ensure a generation of the MRI images at a high quality and high spatial resolution and precision.
WO 2010/004492 discloses a digital amplifier with feedforward and feedback control for generating and controlling the electrical output power for operating such a gradient magnet system. Basically, such a digital amplifier comprises an input for receiving a digital input signal representing the desired shape of a current curve of an analog output signal of the amplifier by which analog output signal the gradient magnet system is driven. The amplifier comprises a feedforward and a feedback controller in order to determine and compensate an error signal between the input signal and the output signal. The feedforward controller reads the input signal and predicts the output signal as accurate as possible based on a model of the system. Then the predicted output signal is subtracted in the analog domain from the measured analog output signal, and the resulting analog power differential current is converted into the digital domain for providing a feedback signal which is then combined with the feedforward signal. This results in a digital representation of the determined output signal which is now subtracted from the desired digital input signal so that an error signal results which is fed to a digital controller for providing an appropriate control signal to a modulator to counter the error signal. The modulator converts the control signal into a PWM signal which is provided to a power converter which generates the analog output signal for driving the gradient magnet system.

State space feedback controller in the digital domain for an MRI gradient coil power supply


A lead-free, self-corrosion-free electrochemical galvanic oxygen sensor is provided. The preferred sensor includes a container, the container including a lead-free anode, an alkali electrolyte, a carbon platinized with platinum cathode and a nickel wire current collector, wherein the container further includes a diffusion barrier that causes the sensor to operate in the limiting current region.

Galvanic oxygen sensors are generally known. Such devices are typically constructed with a lead anode because of its reliability, stability and ease of manufacture.
However, lead is a known toxic material that should be eliminated from electronic packaging, chemical sensing and other commercial applications, due to its demonstrated deleterious effect on people's health. In recent years, there has been intensive research directed to developing lead-free oxygen galvanic sensors, as a drop-in replacement for existing portable gas detection instruments.
In general, low power/no power consumption oxygen sensors are the most attractive technical solution for portable applications because they offer the maximum operating time between re-charging periods. The major advantage of oxygen galvanic sensors for portable instruments is the fact that they are self-powered, and they have a simple signal conditioning circuit for sensor read-out, consisting of a load resistor connected between the consumable anode and the cathode and/or a current follower circuit.
Recently developments have proposed the use of different base metals like zinc, aluminum and tin (EP 1 593 962 A1, and EP 2 219 024 A1) as a possible replacement for the lead anode in electrochemical galvanic oxygen sensors with consumable anodes. However, it is difficult to control the rate of consumption of the anode using such metals working in a capillary limited mode.
In general, a projected lifetime of at least two years is necessary for possible substitutes for lead anodes in electrochemical galvanic oxygen sensors. However, it does not appear that such lifetimes can be achieved using metals such as zinc, aluminum or tin. Accordingly, a need exists for other alternatives in the construction of electrochemical galvanic oxygen sensors.

Lead-free electrochemical galvanic oxygen sensor


Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, creating a message associated with a 5th Generation (5G) wireless service, the message containing: a first indication whether the 5G wireless service is restricted or permitted in a first frequency range of a 5G frequency spectrum; and a second indication whether the 5G wireless service is restricted or permitted in a second frequency range of the 5G frequency spectrum, the second frequency range being a frequency range that is different from the first frequency range; and facilitating transmission of the message that is created to first user equipment, to a radio access network, or to a combination thereof. Other embodiments are disclosed.

5G wireless services can be supported on New Radio FR1 (Frequency Range 1) spectrum or on New Radio FR2 (Frequency Range 2) spectrum or on both FR1 and FR2. 5G FR1 service usually provides better 5G coverage but relatively lower 5G throughput, while 5G FR2 service could provide much higher throughput with relatively much smaller 5G cell coverage. According to 3GPP TS24.301, during the Attach procedure or the Tracking Area Update procedure, Core Networks can use an Information Element (IE called "EPS Network Feature Support") to communicate with UE (User Equipment) and RAN (Radio Access Network). Via use of this conventional EPS Network Feature Support Information Element, the Core Network can indicate to the mobile User Equipment and to the RAN whether use of dual connectivity with 5G New Radio is restricted or not (see, e.g., the "Restrict DCNR" flags in Tables 1 and 2 below).

Flexible 5G services control through an enhanced network feature support


A method and system for retrieving data from devices in a way that seeks to preserve privacy and ensure the integrity of the retrieved data is provided. A retrieval system is implemented on a network of devices that communicate with each other via a secure communications link. Each device is directly connected to one or more “friend” devices that it trusts. The retrieval system operates by forwarding a request for data from one friend device to another friend device. Each friend device may optionally add data to the request until all the requested data is added. The request with the retrieved data is returned to the device that initiated the request.

An ever-increasing number of applications (i.e., computer software) with various features are available to users of personal computers. Users can tailor the operation of these applications to suit their needs by specifying various configuration parameters. For example, a browser application may have a configuration parameter that provides a URL of a web page that is displayed initially whenever the browser application starts (i.e., a "home page"). The browser application may also have configuration parameters that identify programs to be invoked to process certain types of content (e.g., a "jpeg" file) and that specify passwords to be used when the application connects to various servers. The values of the configuration parameters can be stored in application-specific configuration files such as UNIX resource files, or they can be stored in a central registry such as the Windows® registry file. The applications access these configuration files to retrieve the values of their configuration parameters.
If certain configuration parameters have incorrect values, then the applications may exhibit an undesired behavior. For example, if the value of a home page configuration parameter is not set correctly, then when the browser application starts, it will exhibit an undesired behavior by not displaying a home page or displaying the wrong home page. If a configuration parameter incorrectly indicates a certain text editor should be invoked to process a graphics file, then the undesired behavior will be the incorrect display of the graphics content. Similarly, if a password configuration parameter has the wrong password, then failure to connect to the server will be the undesired behavior.
Because of the complexity of applications and their large number of configuration parameters, it can be very time-consuming to troubleshoot a problem and determine which configuration parameters are at fault for causing an application to exhibit undesired behavior. Most users of personal computers have difficulty performing this troubleshooting. As a result, users typically rely on technical support personnel to assist in troubleshooting. This technician-assisted troubleshooting not only can be expensive, but users may also experience a significant productivity loss as a result of their inability to effectively use an application that is exhibiting an undesired behavior.
Typically, technical support personnel use an ad-hoc approach to troubleshooting configuration problems. Such personnel generally use knowledge gained from experiencing similar problems and will try to narrow in on the at-fault configuration parameter through a process of elimination. This ad-hoc approach can take a considerable amount of time and can take even longer if the problem is the result of a combination of configuration parameters whose values are incorrect. In some cases, the technical support personnel may compare the values of the configuration parameters to "ideal" values for that application. Because of the large number of configuration parameters available and the large number of possible values for each configuration parameter, many of the configuration parameters will have no "ideal" value. Thus, technical support personnel still need to review those values of the application that are different from the ideal values.
A troubleshooting system for automatically identifying a configuration parameter that is at fault for causing an application to exhibit an undesired behavior is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/918,786, entitled "METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TROUBLESHOOTING A MISCONFIGURATION OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM BASED ON CONFIGURATIONS OF OTHER COMPUTER SYSTEMS," filed on Aug. 13, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference. That troubleshooting system collects configuration information (e.g., configuration parameter names and their values) from computer systems that may have the same application installed. The troubleshooting system then analyzes the configuration parameters of the application that is exhibiting the undesired behavior and the configuration parameters collected from the other computer systems. Based on this analysis, the troubleshooting system identifies which configuration parameter is likely to be at fault for causing the undesired behavior.
The retrieving of configuration information from other computer systems may raise privacy and integrity issues. The privacy issues may relate to configuration information such as listings of web sites visited, passwords, and so on that a user may not want to divulge. The integrity issues arise when a computer system lies about its configuration information. The lie may be promulgated because the user of the computer system is malicious or because the integrity of the computer system has been compromised, for example, by a virus or worm.
It would be desirable to have a system that would allow for the retrieval of information, such as configuration information, from other computer systems in a way that would preserve the privacy of the information and help ensure the integrity of the retrieved information.

Method and system for collecting information from computer systems based on a trusted relationship


A fuse and a method of using the fuse to removably couple a structure to an anchor preferably partially embedded in concrete. The fuse is configured to be removably coupled to the anchor so that the fuse is positioned in a load path between the anchor and the structure. The fuse is configured to deform in a ductile manner when the structure exerts a force on the fuse that causes a stress in the fuse which exceeds an elastic limit of the fuse. The fuse may be decoupled from the anchor without altering the concrete, the anchor, and the structure. If the structure exerts a force on the fuse that causes the fuse to deform in a ductile manner, the fuse may be decoupled from the anchor and replaced with another fuse.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a replaceable ductile fuse, and in particular, to a replaceable ductile fuse configured to be positioned in the load path between an anchor preferably partially embedded in concrete and a structure.
2. Description of Related Art
Structural elements, such as a building column, are commonly joined to a supporting concrete foundation with an anchor that is partially embedded in the concrete and coupled to the structural element. In the case of a building column, the column may have a baseplate with an opening that receives a portion of the anchor. A nut may be threaded on the anchor to clamp the baseplate between the nut and concrete foundation.
The American Concrete Institute's Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (ACI 318) specifies certain requirements for the connection between a structural element and a concrete anchor, including seismic design requirements that are applicable when the structure is located in an area that may be subject to seismic loads. Designing the connection so that it deforms in a ductile manner is in part at least one way to satisfy the seismic design requirements.
One current technique for designing such a connection so that it satisfies the seismic design requirements of ACI 318 includes designing the anchor rod so that it fails in a ductile manner before failure of the concrete within which the rod is embedded. After the anchor rod fails, however, it is costly and time-consuming to replace the anchor rod. Other techniques include adding concrete reinforcing steel which is developed on both sides of the concrete breakout cone thereby making the tensile failure model no longer dependent upon concrete failure modes, or overdesigning the connection by a certain percentage. These techniques, however, may be costly and time-consuming to implement.

BURNS & MCDONNELL ENGINEERING COMPANY, INC.


A method for molding a ceramic material includes: mixing a ceramic powder, a resin, a curing agent and a solvent to obtain a raw material slurry for a ceramic material; injecting the raw material slurry into an elastic container; curing the resin in the raw material slurry injected into the elastic container to form a molded body having a desired shape; and demolding the molded body from the elastic container.

Molding of ceramic parts uses a ceramic powder as the raw material and therefore, various molding methods such as injection molding, slip casting and extrusion molding can be employed to manufacture ceramic products having various shapes. In addition, various efforts have also been made so as to obtain ceramic parts having better properties. For example, there is known a method for producing a ceramic molded body, including heat-treating a ceramic molded body between demolding and drying of a ceramic molded body containing a solvent, in which little occurrence of cracking, etc., high shape retention, excellent dimensional accuracy, and excellent physical properties of a sintered body formed are achieved (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
On the other hand, a very high sphericity is required for a ceramic ball used for a rolling bearing (i.e., ball bearing). For producing such a ceramic ball, typically, a ceramic unfinished ball is manufactured through a molding process of press-hardening a ceramic raw material powder, a primary firing process of firing the hardened one at high temperature, and a secondary firing process of firing it at high temperature and high pressure, such as HIP (hot isostatic press) and gas pressure firing, furthermore, the obtained ceramic unfinished ball is polished and finished by mechanical polishing, etc. to have a high sphericity, and the ceramic ball is thereby produced.
In the molding process of the ceramic unfinished ball, first, a spherical molded body is formed by filling a cavity of a metal mold press, a rubber press, etc. with a ceramic raw material powder, and usually, a mold divided into two or more pieces is used as the metal mold or rubber mold. Consequently, a raw material powder inevitably enters a gap appearing in a portion where molds of the metal mold press or the rubber press are joined, and is press-hardened. As a result, an unnecessary portion, typically called a burr, protruding outward from the surface of the molded body (for example, a belt-shaped portion protruding outward throughout the circumferential direction) is inevitably formed.

Method for molding ceramic material, method for producing ceramic article, and ceramic article


A new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plant named ‘HJ-117’, characterized by its upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit when pinched; relatively large leaves; large yellow-colored flowers with white-colored centers; and long flower longevity.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus, botanically known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, and hereinafter referred to by the name 'HJ-117'.
The new Hibiscus is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Seaforth, Ontario, Canada. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Hibiscus cultivars that flower early and have long flower longevity.
The new Hibiscus originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Seaforth, Ontario, Canada in November, 2002, of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Byron Metts, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Hibiscus rosa-sinensis selection, designated as code number HJ-136, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar HJ-117 was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Seaforth, Ontario, Canada in October, 2003.
Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Seaforth, Ontario, Canada since January, 2004, has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscus are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


One embodiment of the present invention provides a multilateral production system. The production system has one or more flow control valves for controlling flow from the one or more lateral bores, and has a main flow control valve for controlling flow from the main bore. All flow control valves are in communication with the main wellbore.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to subsurface well completion equipment and, more particularly, to methods and related apparatus for remotely controlling fluid recovery from multiple laterally drilled wellbores.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hydrocarbon recovery volume from a vertically drilled well can be increased by drilling additional wellbores from that same well. For example, the fluid recovery rate and the well""s economic life can be increased by drilling a horizontal or highly deviated interval from a main wellbore radially outward into one or more formations. Still further increases in recovery and well life can be attained by drilling multiple deviated intervals into multiple formations. Once the multilateral wellbores have been drilled and completed there is a need for the recovery of fluids from each wellbore to be individually controlled. Currently, the control of the fluid recovery from these multilateral wellbores has been limited in that once a lateral wellbore has been opened it is not possible to selectively close off and/or reopen the lateral wellbores without the need for the use of additional equipment, such as wireline units, coiled tubing units and workover rigs.
The need for selective fluid recovery is important in that individual producing intervals usually contain hydrocarbons that have different physical and chemical properties and as such may have different unit values. Co-mingling a valuable and desirable crude with one that has, for instance, a high sulfur content would not be commercially expedient, and in some cases is prohibited by governmental regulatory authorities. Also, because different intervals inherently contain differing volumes of hydrocarbons, it is highly probable that one interval will deplete before the others, and will need to be easily and inexpensively closed off from the vertical wellbore before the other intervals.
The use of workover rigs, coiled tubing units and wireline units are relatively inexpensive if used onshore and in typical oilfield locations; however, mobilizing these resources for a remote offshore well can be very expensive in terms of actual dollars spent, and in terms of lost production while the resources are being moved on site. In the case of subsea wells (where no surface platform is present), a drill ship or workover vessel mobilization would be required to merely open/close a downhole wellbore valve.
The following patents disclose the current multilateral drilling and completion techniques. U.S. Pat. No. 4,402,551 details a simple completion method when a lateral wellbore is drilled and completed through a bottom of an existing traditional, vertical wellbore. Control of production fluids from a well completed in this manner is by traditional surface wellhead valving methods, since improved methods of recovery from only one lateral and one interval is disclosed. The importance of this patent is the recognition of the role of orienting and casing the lateral wellbore, and the care taken in sealing the juncture where the vertical borehole interfaces with the lateral wellbore.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,648 discloses a method and apparatus for sealing the juncture between one or more horizontal wells using deformable sealing means. This completion method deals primarily with completion techniques prior to insertion of production tubing in the well. While it does address the penetration of multiple intervals at different depths in the well, it does not offer solutions as to how these different intervals may be selectively produced.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,808 discloses a technique and apparatus for selective multi-zone vertical and/or horizontal completions. This patent illustrates the need to selectively open and close individual intervals in wells where multiple intervals exist, and discloses devices that isolate these individual zones through the use of workover rigs.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,201 discloses a well completion system with selective remote surface control of individual producing zones to solve some of the above described problems. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,085, commonly assigned hereto, discloses a production completion system which can be remotely manipulated by a controlling means extending between downhole components and a panel located at the surface. Each of these patents, while able to solve recovery problems without a workover rig, fails to address the unique problems associated with multilateral wells, and teaches only recovery methods from multiple interval wells. A multilateral well that requires reentry remediation which was completed with either of these techniques has the same problems as before: the production tubing would have to be removed, at great expense, to re-enter the lateral for remediation, and reinserted in the well to resume production.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,131 discloses a method for completing multi-lateral wells and maintaining selective re-entry into the lateral wellbores. This method allows for re-entry remediation into deviated laterals, but does not address the need to remotely manipulate downhole completion accessories from the surface without some intervention technique. In this patent, a special shifting tool is required to be inserted in the well on coiled tubing to engage a set of ears to shift a flapper valve to enable selective entry to either a main wellbore or a lateral. To accomplish this, the well production must be halted, a coiled tubing company called to the job site, a surface valving system attached to the wellhead must be removed, a blow out preventer must be attached to the wellhead, a coiled tubing injector head must be attached to the blow out preventer, and the special shifting tool must be attached to the coiled tubing; all before the coiled tubing can be inserted to the well.
There is a need for a system to allow an operator standing at a remote control panel to selectively permit and prohibit flow from multiple lateral well branches drilled from a common central wellbore without having to resort to common intervention techniques. Alternately, there is a need for an operator to selectively open and close a valve to implement re-entry into a lateral branch drilled from the common wellbore. There is a need for redundant power sources to assure operation of these automated downhole devices, should one or more power sources fail. Finally, there is a need for the fail safe mechanical recovery tools, should these automated systems become inoperative.