A multilayer security element with at least two security features exactly disposed to each other is produced by the security features being present on separate carrier foils (100, 200) and the carrier foils being laminated with each other in such a way that the security features in the layer compound are disposed to each other in register. As to achieve an exact register of the security features, each carrier foil has register marks, with the help of which the foils are controlled relative to each other. The controlling is effected by stretching that carrier foil, the security features of which are running behind relative to the security features of the respective other carrier foil.

Security elements within the terms of the invention are, for example, security threads and security strips for bank notes and for other documents of value, tear threads for packaging, labels and tags, which are suitable for detecting the authenticity of an object connected with them, in particular, document of value. Documents of value within the terms of the invention can be bank notes, identity cards, checks, passports, travel tickets, admission tickets and the like. But the invention is also suitable for the protection of any other objects of value and their packaging, such as e.g. books, CDs and the like.
Multilayer security elements in the form of security threads find a wide range of use in bank notes. They comprise at least one carrier substrate—normally formed as a transparent plastic film—to which the further layers are applied. These further layers mainly are printed on or, in particular in the case of metallic layers, vapor-deposited, but they can also be, for example, sputtered or sprayed.
Not always are all layers applied all-over. They can be disposed side-by-side and/or one above the other. They can form characters or patterns or can have gaps, either from the outset or as a result of a subsequent partial removal of material, so as to form, for example, a negative writing, which when viewed in incident light is hardly visible, but when viewed in transmitted light produces a clearly visible contrast which is due to the transparency of the carrier substrate. Furthermore, the layers can have optically variable effects and for that purpose can have, in particular, diffraction structures in the form of grating patterns or holograms etc. The layers can also have machine readable security features, such as e.g. electrical conductivity in the case of continuous metallic coatings or in the case of printed layers doped with electrically conductive particles. Additionally or alternatively, they can have magnetic properties and/or luminescent properties, in particular in areas not visible luminescent substances are often used. The machine readable security features can also be formed as locally restricted machine readable code, for example bar code.
A basic matter of concern when producing such multilayer security elements is to achieve a side-independent appearance, so that when fitting the security elements to or embedding them in the objects to be such secured no particular measures become necessary for their application with regard to trueness to side. This problem in particular arises when incorporating security threads as so-called window threads into papers of value, in particular bank notes, since these threads and strips tend to twist.
In the case of a simple metalized security thread with hidden magnetic layer a side-independent appearance is easy to achieve, when, for example, at first a carrier substrate is printed with the magnetic layer and subsequently is metalized all-over on both sides. In this connection it is also known, that firstly a foil is metalized, the magnetic layer is applied onto the metal layer, and then the foil is cut, superimposed and adhesively bonded in a roller laminating plant in such a way as to produce a thread-shaped foil compound with two outside foils, two inside metal layers and one central, i.e. located between the metal layers, double magnetic layer (EP 0 374 763 A2). By means of the two outside foils the coatings are protected against outside influences. Furthermore, the absolutely symmetrical layer structure of the foil compound prevents a curling of the produced thread which would lead to the formation of garlands.
This laminating method, however, is not suitable for complex layer structures, wherein different layers are positioned locally restricted at different places which are disposed in an exact relation to each other. Since the cutting and superimposing of the individual compound foils inevitably leads to the fact, that the different, locally restricted layers will not be disposed exactly regular to each other in the final layer compound.
Therefore, complex layer structures are built on one single carrier material. For example, in WO 92/11142 are described several variants of a security thread with hidden magnetic layer or hidden magnetic code and integrated negative writing.
In the simplest case the negative writing is identically produced in the magnetic layer and in two metal layers which cover the magnetic layer. For this purpose at first an activable printing ink is applied in a usual fashion to the area of the future negative writing on a transparent plastic film. Then a first metal layer is vapor-deposited thereon and a magnetic layer is printed all-over on top of it, the latter then is covered with a second vapor-deposited metal layer. The following activation of the printing ink results in congruent gaps in the three layers located on top of the printing ink. The inner metal coating ensures, that the security thread has, due to the transparency of the carrier foil, the same appearance independent of side.
In case of complex layer structures, in which the negative writing is not produced congruent in all layers, however, it is difficult, to achieve an appearance which is exactly the same from both viewing sides.
Therefore, in case of such complex layer structures at least one, optionally also the two metallic layers are printed in register onto the desired areas (WO 92/11142). The problem here is that the metallically appearing printing inks, e.g. supersilver, are less brilliant than vapor-deposited metal layers and that supersilver does not have a good electrical conductivity. In the event that one of the two metallic layers is a printed layer and the other one is a real, e.g. vapor-deposited metal layer, an exactly side-independent appearance will not be achieved. In the other event, that both metallically appearing layers are printed layers, the optical appearance indeed will be identically in a side-independent fashion, but in total will not be as brilliant as one would desire and also not electrically conductive.

Interlaminar structure for security element


A device includes a light source configured to generate an image light. The device also includes a lens assembly coupled with the light source. The lens assembly includes a mirror configured to transmit a first portion of the image light and reflect a second portion of the image light. The lens assembly also includes a reflective polarizer including a birefringent medium with a chirality and configured to substantially reflect the first portion of the image light output from the mirror as a polarized light having a predetermined handedness toward the mirror. The lens assembly further includes a lens disposed between the mirror and the reflective polarizer and configured to provide an optical power to the image light.

Near-eye displays ("NEDs") have been widely used in a large variety of applications, such as aviation, engineering, science, medicine, computer gaming, video, sports, training, simulations and other applications. One application of NEDs is to realize virtual reality ("VR"), augmented reality ("AR") and/or mixed reality ("MR"), or a combination thereof. It is often desirable to have NEDs that are compact and light weight, and have a high resolution, a large field of view ("FOV"), and small form factors. An NED generally includes a light source (e.g., a display element) configured to generate an image light and a lens system configured to direct the image light towards eyes of a user. The lens system includes multiple optical elements, such as lenses, waveplates, reflectors, etc., for focusing the image light to the eyes. To achieve a compact size and light weight while maintaining satisfactory optical characteristics, an NED often adopts a pancake lens in the lens system to fold the optical path, thereby reducing the back focal distance in the NED.

Lens assembly having circular reflective polarizer


A placard or light accessory support (20) is provided for installing in and substantially concealing the opening of a hitch socket (22, 118). The support (20) includes an elongated tongue (28) having an attachment arm (34) and a mounting plate (44), as well as a sleeve (32) which can be used as needed. The support (20) can be adjusted to snugly fit into the opening of 1 1/4" (118) or a 2" (22) hitch socket by way of a sleeve (32) which receives the arm (34) for the larger hitch socket (22); when the smaller socket is employed, the arm (34) is directly telescoped therein without the use of the sleeve (32). The arm (34) is also provided with a specially configured, "FIG. 8" passageway which is oriented so as to receive a locking pin (23a, 119a) in different portions thereof, depending upon whether the support (20) is used with the larger socket (22) or smaller socket (118). The support (20) is moreover adapted to support a variety of accessories, such as a license plate (88), bumper sticker or similar display item (110), or an electrically operated light (132).

1. Field of the Invention.
The present invention is broadly concerned with a decorative vehicle accessory unit that attaches to and substantially conceals the opening of a vehicle's trailer hitch socket. More particularly, the accessory includes supports of various sizes and shapes which can be removably attached to the unit for displaying removable signs, lights, or lighted signs. The accessory can be adapted as needed to fit a 2" as well as a 11/4" hitch socket and has a uniquely configured, irregularly-shaped pin-receiving opening adapted to receive a hitch pin connector used in the 11/4" hitch socket as well as in a 2" hitch socket.
2. Description of the Prior Art.
Cars, trucks, and recreational vehicles are often used to pull trailers containing boats, animals, or some other cargo. The trailer is connected to the motor vehicle by way of a hitch assembly attached underneath and at the rear of the vehicle. One type of hitch commonly used is a rectangular, tubular hitch socket which has an opening for removably receiving a tongue or hitch extension which supports a ball connector. Most vehicle owners do not leave the ball extension in the tubular hitch body between uses. When not in use, the opening of the tubular hitch socket is left exposed and is somewhat unsightly. Furthermore, an open hitch runs the risk of collecting dirt and debris, thus making it difficult to attach or insert the ball socket body adaptor a tongue within the socket.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,178 to Morrison provides a means for concealing the opening of an unused tubular hitch socket with an ornamental cover. This device is lacking in several respects. First, the cover of the '178 patent does not provide means for firmly securing the cover assembly to hitch socket openings of varying sizes. Instead, the '178 patent provides one size insert and one size ear component extending from that insert for securing the cover within the hitch socket opening. Thus, while this insert/ear combination may provide for attachment to one size of hitch socket such as a square 2" hitch, the attachment is not usable with a rectangular 11/4" hitch socket. Second, the '178 patent does not provide selectively removable mounts of assorted sizes and shapes nor does it provide means for selectively replacing the decorative element with the user's personal sign or display. Therefore, no matter how large or how small the desired display may be, the user can only utilize one size mount. Too small of a mount can decrease the stability of the displays attachment to the cover. Too large of a mount can lead to the unattractive sight of the mount protruding beyond the display, thus defeating the purpose of enhancing the attractiveness of the rear of the vehicle. Finally, the '178 patent fails to provide for a support which enables the use of electrically operative accessories. Some users may wish to cover the hitch opening with a lighted display or even a utility light such as a brake light. The '178 patent does not provide such an option.
There is a need in the art for a hitch cover which can be securely and tightly attached to hitches of various socket dimensions and which can support displays of a wide variety of sizes and shapes as personally selected by the user. Furthermore, the cover should be capable of supporting an electrically operative display for attachment to the hitch's standard electrical hook-up.

Placard or brake light accessory unit for vehicle hitch


An arthroscopic bone burr having an articulated sheath tube. The sheath tube may be articulated angularly and transversely relative to the housing by a ball-type joint, a flange-in-socket joint with sufficient play to permit displacement of the sheath tube, or by use of an elastomer. Anti-rotation means are provided to prevent the sheath tube from rotating relative to the housing.

Known arthroscopic bone burr instruments utilize a rotating inner tube/shaft to which the burr (cutting) element is attached and a rigid, stationary, outer tube to cover the rotating inner tube. The distal end of the outer tube has an opening through which the burr element may contact the tissue to be acted upon. When the burr element is pressed against a tissue surface, e.g., to abrade away a portion of the surface of a bone, it typically experiences loading in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation (side loading). Known designs may utilize the outer tube to support the burr element and rotating inner tube against side loading. A bearing formed from a material having a lower coefficient of friction may be incorporated between the inner rotating tube and the stationary, rigid outer tube proximate the burr element to reduce the friction resulting from the rotating inner tube bearing against the stationary outer tube. Notwithstanding a reduction of friction by use of a bearing, side loading experienced during arthroscopic surgery may result in wear of the rotating inner tube and/or the bearing and/or the stationary outer tube. There is a need in this art for novel, improved bone burrs for use in arthroscopic surgical procedures, which overcome the deficiencies of the bone burrs of the prior art.


The present invention relates generally to vitamin B12 nasal spray compositions and methods of using the same in the treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency and various disorders that are related to such deficiency. In particular embodiments, the present invention is directed to treatment methods comprising intranasal administration of a cobalamin composition according to a particular dosing and frequency schedule and to a preservative-free nasal spray composition comprising a cobalamin compound useful in the practice of such treatment methods.

Vitamin B12 is a water soluble vitamin that plays a role in mammalian growth, hematopoiesis, production of epithelial cells, and maintenance of the nervous system. It was first isolated from liver concentrate in 1948 and structurally elucidated in the late 1950's.
Cyanocobalamin is a form of vitamin B12 and is one of the class of B12 vitamins or cobalamin compounds that includes vitamin B12a (hydroxocobalamin), vitamin B12b (aquacobalamin), vitamin B12c (nitrilocobalamin), methyl B12 (methylcobalamin) and coenzyme B12 (5′deoxyadenosine cobalamin). Cyanocobalamin and hydroxocobalamin are the principal members of the class and the most widely employed in compositions used to treat vitamin B12 deficiency and disorders that are related to this deficiency. Such disorders include anemias (most commonly pernicious anemia) and diphyllobothrium latum (fish tapeworm) infestation of the intestine, a disorder with symptomology that mimics pernicious anemia.
Several routes of administration of vitamin B12 are known. Among these are parenterally, including intramuscular and subcutaneous injection, orally as a component of a tablet or solution, and nasally, as a component of a nasal spray or gel. Although the minimum daily dietary requirement of vitamin B12 is approximately 0.1 μg for a healthy human, therapeutic administration of vitamin B12 is typically in significantly larger doses. For example, the prescribed initial therapeutic dose is generally from about 100 μg to about 1000 μg, and is most often administered by intramuscular injection. Subsequent vitamin B12 maintenance therapy may be by injection or by oral administration of a cobalamin composition. Use of vitamin B12 injections for maintenance therapy has obvious disadvantages, including the inconvenience and pain associated with the injection that typically must be administered by medical personnel. Orally administered cobalamin compositions may fail to be adequately absorbed in the patient, particularly in those in which secretion or utilization of intrinsic factor is inadequate.
Intranasal administration of cobalamin compositions for vitamin B12 maintenance therapy offers advantages over these alternative routes of administration. Typically, such therapy includes relatively infrequent, high dose nasal administration of a cobalamin composition. For example, NASCOBAL nasal spray solution containing 0.5% by weight cyanocobalamin is administered in one nostril once weekly in a dose of 500 μg (i.e., 500 μg cyanocobalamin per 0.1 mL actuation of the spray bottle pump).
Although maintenance therapy with vitamin B12 nasal compositions has proven generally effective, those undergoing such therapy may experience some irritation of the nasal mucosa and discomfort due, in part, to the high dosage of the cobalamin compound typically administered as well as preservatives and other additives often present in these compositions. Moreover, effective vitamin B12 maintenance therapy would be enhanced if more stable or even blood serum levels of vitamin B12 could be attained through intranasal administration of a cobalamin composition. Accordingly, a need persists for improvements in vitamin B12 nasal compositions and methods of nasal administration of such compositions in the treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency and various vitamin B12 deficiency-mediated disorders.


For an image display apparatus, cost reduction is enabled to prevent display errors while ensuring operational margin to prevent display errors even when the delay time of gate line driving signals is large. A source driver of a liquid-crystal display apparatus includes a data latch circuit for supplying display data to a decode circuit. A gate line inactivation transition detecting circuit detects inactivation of each of a plurality of gate lines and activates a detect signal for a certain period with that timing. The data latch circuit updates the held display data in response to activation of the detect signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image display apparatuses, and particularly to a technique for enlarging the operational margin of writing of an image display signal.
2. Description of the Background Art
Flat panel displays are widely used in order to display images with reduced space and reduced power consumption. In flat panel displays, pixels are arranged in a matrix on an image display panel. Each pixel includes a display element such as a liquid-crystal element and a select transistor for transmitting an image display signal (hereinafter referred to as "display signal") to the display element.
Gate lines (scanning lines) are arranged in correspondence with the rows of pixels, and data lines for transmitting the display signal are arranged in correspondence with the columns of pixels. To each gate line, the gates of the select transistors of the pixels of the corresponding row are connected. To each data line, one current electrodes of the select transistors of the pixels of the corresponding column are connected.
The select period of a gate line is determined by the horizontal scanning period of the display signal. For example, in the NTSC system in which the number of horizontal scanning lines is 525, one horizontal scanning period is 64 μS. As this period is so short, the active matrix system is usually utilized in which one gate line at a time is brought into a selected state (active state) according to the horizontal scanning period, and all select transistors of that line are made conductive and the display signal is written into the pixels. In this system, the gate lines are kept in a non-selected state (inactive state) during the vertical scanning periods other than their own selected periods, and the corresponding select transistors are kept in a non-conducting state in those periods. Accordingly, the pixels maintain the display signal and drive the display elements for one field period and display the corresponding display signal.
For such image display apparatuses, various schemes are devised to enable stable and correct display of images (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2005-3714, 2008-176269, and 11-265172 (1999), which are hereinafter referred to as Patent Documents 1 to 3, respectively).
In the display apparatus of Patent Document 1, a gate line inactivation detecting circuit (2) is provided at the ends of the gate lines on the side opposite to the connection with the gate line driving circuit (FIG. 19), and a latch instruction signal (LAT) provided as its output is used to operate a second latch circuit (114) for defining the timing of transmission of the display signal to a multiplexer (116). This prevents the overwriting of the previous pixel line with the next pixel line display signal. However, by this method, display errors may occur when the delay time of the gate line driving signal is large.
In the display apparatus of Patent Document 2, a gate clock generating portion (400) for generating clock signals for driving the gate line driving circuit detects the delay time of a gate line driving signal (Von), and narrows the pulse widths of clock signals (CKV, CKVB) according to the delay time (FIG. 2). Then, the pulse width of the gate line driving signal is made approximately equal to one horizontal scanning period (1H), and this prevents the overwriting of the pixels with the next pixel line display signal. However, when the pulse widths of the clock signals are narrowed, their driving abilities are lowered, and the operational margin of the gate line driving circuit is lowered.
In the display apparatus of Patent Document 3, the delay time of the gate line driving signal is detected, and according to the delay time, a timing adjusting circuit (31) delays a control signal (LTHXU) for a latch circuit (13) that defines the timing of sending the display signal to a D/A converter (FIG. 9). This prevents the overwriting of pixels with the next pixel line display signal, but, like Patent Document 1, display errors may occur when the delay time of the gate line driving signal is large. Also, the costs of the display apparatus are increased because the circuit that detects the delay time of the gate line driving signal is provided outside of the display apparatus.
In this way, for conventional display apparatuses, it was difficult to prevent display errors while ensuring operational margin when the delay time of the gate line driving signal is large.


A method for repairing defects in a substrate including the steps of placing a consumable filler slug in contact with the substrate in the vicinity of the defect; placing at least one electrically conductive cover sheet in contact with a portion of the consumable filler slug; bringing a first electrode and a second electrode in contact with the at least one cover sheet and applying a force; and transmitting electrical current between the electrodes, thereby resistively heating the at least one cover sheet and conductively heating the consumable slug and a portion of the substrate resulting in coalescence in a substantially liquid pool that fills the defect. The pool is then cooled to solidification under pressure. Alternative embodiments eliminate the need for the conductive cover sheet(s) by utilizing electrodes having increased electrical and thermal resistance. The consumable slug may be formed as a single unit or multiple sections, and may incorporate sacrificial retainers.

Repairing defects in manufactured assemblies costs industries hundreds of millions of dollars each year. In fact, many industries view repairing defects in assemblies constructed of relatively thin metallic sheet materials, and the very high cost of these repairs, as a necessary evil and have invested heavily in preventing such defects rather than identifying more cost effective ways to repair such defects. The aircraft industry is just one of many industries plagued by this problem.
In the aircraft industry, parts are often manufactured to very exacting tolerances. As such, penetrations in aircraft parts are generally not made until after the part is manufactured and meets the predetermined tolerances. Such penetrations may be required for the insertion of bolts, or rivets, or as a means for cooling the part. One can easily appreciate that many of the hundreds of thousands of such penetrations in an aircraft are misplaced during assembly despite even the most exacting quality control measures. Such undesired holes, or material defects, then need to be repaired, while minimizing negative effects to the part. Additionally, the need frequently arises to repair damaged, corroded, or worn holes in parts that have already been in service for a period of time.
The aircraft industry, as well as virtually all industries that experience similar problems, currently relies upon arc welding and friction plug welding to repair such defects. Arc welding repair of relatively thin sheet metallic substrates requires a very skilled welder. Additionally, no matter how skilled the welder, the very nature of arc welding results in a large amount of heat input that is applied asymmetrically over the defect to repair the defect. As such, arc welding repairs have large heat affected zones that can influence mechanical and corrosion performance in the repair area. The large heat affected zone often results in local distortion of the repaired substrate that then requires post-weld treatment to return the substrate to the desired tolerances. A further limitation to arc welding repairs is the significant amount of pre and post-weld preparation of the defect area required to produce a quality weld and ensure the desired part geometry is produced.
An even greater limitation introduced when using arc welding to repair defects is that the repair weld is often of less than optimal quality and that filler materials must often be used that reduce performance of the component to improve the weldability of the surrounding substrate. This can result in repairs of significantly less strength than the surrounding substrate. For instance, filler metals having very high ductility, but less than desired strength and corrosion properties, are often required to minimize solidification cracking when using arc welding to repair defects in materials that have been in use for a period of time and suffer from reduced ductility. This is particularly true in the aircraft industry where holes often require repair after the aircraft has been in service for several years. In such repairs it is not uncommon that filler metals having strengths of 60% of the strength of the adjoining parent material are required so as to avoid solidification cracking of the weld repair.
As previously mentioned, friction plug welding has also been used to repair defects and holes in manufactured assemblies. Friction plug welding offers some advantages over the previously mentioned arc welding method in that it is a solid state process and produces a narrower heat affected zone. This minimizes the influence on mechanical and corrosion properties of the finished product.
The friction plug welding process has some definite limitations, which are primarily associated with the need to apply and react the mechanical loads associated with this process. Friction welding uses a consumable plug that must be rotated at high rpm and then pressed into a tapered hole to produce the repair. As such, the consumable plug is generally much larger than needed to produce the repair so that the plug can be rigidly gripped to allow the transfer of high speed and large loads. The reaction of the loads induced into the component by the plug typically requires specialized rigid tooling. The friction welding equipment used to produce the weld is typically very large due to the rotational energy that must be applied to the plug and the axial load necessary to force the plug into the tapered hole. An additional limitation of friction plug welding is that it requires line of sight access to the repair area, thereby limiting it to only the most simple repairs. Further, friction plug welding equipment is expensive and less readily available than arc welding or resistance welding equipment.
The parent application of this application, namely Ser. No. 10/772,701; filed on Feb. 5, 2004; titled "Method for Repairing Defects in a Metallic Substrate using Welding;" advances the state of the art by introducing a new resistance welding technique that incorporates a consumable filler slug, and in some embodiments, a sacrificial retainer. The method outlined in the Ser. No. 10/772,701 application dramatically changed how defects are repaired, however some highly conductive materials require additional consideration to coalesce the consumable filler slug and adjacent metallic substrate into a liquid pool via transmission of a reasonable amount of electrical current. The present invention solves the problems encountered in repairing conductive substrates.
Additionally, several of the present inventors invented the conductive heat seam welding method described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,545,244. While conductive heat seam welding has solved countless welding problems, only recently has the present invention solved many issues surrounding the repair of defects in highly conductive substrates.
The instant invention addresses many of the shortcomings of the prior art and allows for previously unavailable benefits. A method of repairing defects in a substrate that overcomes many of the limitations of the prior art has long been needed. The method of the present invention is designed to reduce the need for a skilled welder to effect repairs, and to result in a repaired substrate having greatly improved material properties, while negating many of the limitations of prior repair techniques. The method accomplishes such improvements by utilizing a relatively low heat input applied over a very short period of time and cooling of the repaired substrate. Additional benefits of the present method arise from the substantially uniform application of heat to the repair region and the fact that it typically requires no special preparation of defects prior to repair. Further, the equipment used to produce the repair is common in many manufacturing facilities and is relatively inexpensive to procure and maintain.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for repairing defects in a conductive substrate using welding


The disclosed structures and methods are directed to antenna systems configured to transmit and receive a wireless signal in and from different directions. An antenna for transmission of electromagnetic (EM) waves comprises a phased array and a metastructure. The phased array has radiated elements configured to radiate the EM waves. The metastructure is located at a phased array distance from the phased array to receive the EM waves at the first angle and to transmit the EM waves at a second angle, the second angle being larger than the first angle. The metastructure comprises three impedance layers arranged in parallel to each other and each impedance layer comprising a plurality of metallization elements. Each metallization element has a first dipole and a pair of first capacitance arms located on each end of the first dipole approximately perpendicular to the first dipole.

To support a wide bandwidth and high throughput data rates, 5G telecommunication systems use a millimeter-wave spectrum with frequencies higher than 30 gigahertz (GHz). At such frequencies, a line-of-sight propagation prevails which demands development of point-to-point data links.
In order to improve propagation of a wireless signal in point-to-point data links, scannable phased arrays may be used in base stations (BS) and user equipment (UE). Transceivers with scannable phased arrays may have many elements, such as scannable phased arrays with 16×16 elements, and may be capable of providing a wide beam-scanning functionality, high gains and narrow beamwidths needed to maintain robust data links with moving UE. However, the scannable phased arrays with so many elements are not only costly, but are also known to increase the power dissipation.
Extending the scan range of phased arrays may be possible with relatively thick dielectric lenses which may be shaped in the form of a hemispherical dome. Such dielectric domes are bulky, relatively thick, and have a complex three-dimensional shape. Furthermore, the enhancement in the scan range obtained with the dielectric domes is accompanied by a degradation in directivity, some of which is attributed to reflections at the dielectric/air interfaces.

Phased array antenna with metastructure for increased angular coverage


A strainer gripping and lifting assembly includes a generally horizontally orientated elongated member that has a first end and a second end. A hook member is attached to the second end of the elongated member and hangs downwardly from the elongated member. A stabilizer is attached to and extends downwardly from the elongated member. The stabilizer is positioned for selectively abutting a peripheral wall of a strainer basket when the hook member removably engages a handle of the strainer basket. A handhold is attached to an upper surface of the elongated member. The handhold is positioned generally adjacent to the first end of the elongated member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to strainer gripping devices and more particularly pertains to a new strainer gripping device for engaging and lifting a straining basket from a pot of a hot fluid in such a manner to space a hand using the device from the pot.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of strainer and pot gripping devices is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 864,372 describes an elongated handle that is adapted for engaging a bracket on a particularly designed cooking pot so that a person may use the handle to engage the bracket and lift the pot. Another type of pot gripping device is U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,936 having an elongated rod terminating in a hook which may be used for engaging a pot handle so that the pot may be supported over a fire. A strainer gripping device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,981,044 and includes a particularly designed strainer having a slot therein for receiving engaging member attached to an elongated handle so that user of the device may lift the strainer while remaining distanced from a deep fat fryer.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that can be used with more conventionally designed strainers so that they may be removed from a pot containing a hot fluid in such a manner that the person removing the strainer is able to keep their hands spaced from the hot fluid. The device should be adapted for working with most types of strainers with little or no modification.


A radiation detector has a plurality of semiconductor cells arranged in a matrix. Each of the plurality of semiconductor cells detects radiation separately, and outputs a signal representing the energy of radiation separately. A selection circuit selects, among events wherein radiation is detected, specific events wherein radiation derived from radio-isotope injected to a subject is detected. In the first case wherein either one semiconductor cell outputs a signal, the energy of the signal is compared with a predetermined energy window. In the second case wherein two or more semiconductor cells output two or more signals substantially simultaneously, the total energy of the two or more signals is compared with the predetermined energy window. A position calculation circuit calculates, in the first case the incidence position of the radiation based on the positions of the semiconductor cells that output signals.

The present invention relates to a nuclear medical diagnostic apparatus for externally detecting gamma rays emitted from RI (Radio-Isotope) injected to a subject and generating an RI distribution in the subject on the basis of the detection data.
Nuclear medical diagnostic apparatuses are classified into planar image-type apparatuses which obtain an RI distribution on a projection plane and ECT-type (Emission Computed Tomography-type) apparatuses which obtain an RI distribution on a slice. The ECT type nuclear medical diagnostic apparatuses include a SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) apparatus using single photon RI such as 99mTc or 111In, and a PET (Positron Emission computed Tomography) apparatus using positron RI such as 11C or 13N. Recently, apparatuses serving as both SPECT apparatuses and PET apparatuses have appeared. These apparatuses in general will be called nuclear medical diagnostic apparatuses hereinafter.
A conventional nuclear medical diagnostic apparatus has an Anger type radiation detector. As shown in FIG. 1, the Anger type radiation detector is comprised of a collimator 10, scintillator 11, lightguide 12, and plurality of PMTs (PhotoMultiplier Tubes) 13. When gamma rays come incident on the scintillator 11, fluorescence is generated at the incidence position. The fluorescence is detected by the plurality of PMTs 13. The sum of output signals from the plurality of PMTs 13 reflects the gamma ray energy. Among events wherein radiation is detected, an event derived from radio-isotope injected to the subject is selected on the basis of the total energy. The selected event is counted in association with the incidence position of the gamma rays. The incidence position of the gamma rays is calculated as, e.g., the barycentric position of energy.
Gamma rays having a high energy of 511 keV, which is derived from positron, often cause the Compton scattering in the scintillator 11. Because of the Compton scattering, energies E1 and E2 (incidence energy E0=E1+E2) are absorbed at two positions P1 and P2 almost simultaneously. One of the two positions P1 and P2 is the true incidence position.
Conventionally, however, the incidence position of the gamma rays is calculated as the barycentric position of an energy which does not coincide either of the two positions P1 and P2 or naturally the true incidence position. In other words, all the events wherein scattering occurs in the scintillator are counted as having occurred at erroneous positions. In addition, conventionally, whether scattering occurs in the scintillator cannot be determined.
In a PET-exclusive apparatus having a BGO (bismuth germanium oxide) detector for performing block detection as well, when gamma rays are scattered among blocks of the BGO detector, the PET-exclusive apparatus cannot separate events that occur simultaneously to obtain the accurate positions of the events by calculation. Accordingly, a decrease in counting precision cannot be avoided.


A bag loader for loading and unloading at least one satellite bag into and from the central compartment of a rotor of an apparatus for separating a composite liquid into at least two components comprises an upper part for removably securing an upper portion of at least one satellite bag; a lower part comprising a receptacle; and an intermediate part connecting the upper part to the lower part and exposing an intermediate portion of a satellite bag.

The apparatus and method of the invention are particularly appropriate for the separation of biological fluids comprising an aqueous component and one or more cellular components. For example, potential uses of the invention include: extracting a plasma component, a first cellular component including platelets and mononuclear cells, and a second cellular component including red blood cells and granulocytes from a volume of whole blood; washing thawed glycerolized red blood cells in order to extract therefrom red blood cells ready for use.
International patent application WO 2004/018021 describes a method and an apparatus for separating a volume of whole blood into either a plasma component and a red blood cell component or a plasma component, a red blood cell component and a platelet component. The apparatus comprises a centrifuge adapted to cooperate with an annular separation bag for whole blood, which is connected to either a plasma component bag and a red blood cell component bag or a plasma component bag, a red blood cell component bag and a platelet component bag. The centrifuge includes a rotor for spinning the separation bag and centrifuging the whole blood contained therein, the rotor having a turntable for supporting the separation bag and a central compartment for containing the component bags connected to the separation bag; and a squeezing system for squeezing the separation bag and causing the transfer of the plasma component from the separation bag into the plasma component bag, of the red blood cell component into the red blood cell component bag and, as the case may be, of the platelet component into the platelet component bag.

Apparatus and method for separating a composite liquid into at least two components


A method, apparatus and computer-usable medium for the graphical presentation of the contextual relationship between a reported exception and its related resources and/or contributing factors. An exception view is presented to display an abnormally operating resource and the operational state of its related resources and/or contributing factors. Contextually related processes and resources are graphically depicted in one or more hierarchy trees, topologically-oriented views, or other depictions, with the operational health or condition of each resource indicated. Fault determination and resolution of the reported exception and its related processes and resources can then be facilitated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to the field of computers and similar technologies, and in particular to software utilized in this field. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to the graphical presentation of system exceptions.
2. Description of the Related Art
The growing demand for information automation continues to drive the development of progressively more sophisticated information processing environments. The management of the hardware systems and software applications that comprise these environments has become increasingly complex due to the quantity and diversity of the resources that offer the capabilities they provide. In response, known system management approaches have been implemented to monitor system availability and performance, track events as they occur, and report exceptions to normal operation. However, these approaches typically produce large amounts of system operating detail, much of which may not be immediately relevant to exception handling, often requiring the use of information filters, graphical views and facilitated navigation to allow system administrators to reduce information overload.
For example, in some known approaches, events can be filtered to display only if a resource's status reaches a predetermined threshold level (e.g., display if operating health is less than 80%). In others, configuration parameters can be set to indicate a resource's operating state within a topology-oriented view if the resource's condition becomes abnormal (e.g., red for critical, amber for marginal, etc.). While these approaches limit the display to only those resources or events that fall within predetermined alert parameters, related resources or events contributing to the alert are often not visible without accessing additional levels of detail. Identifying the location of this additional information can prove challenging, possibly requiring the opening and closing of additional graphical windows, drilling down multiple levels of a hierarchy tree, or other time consuming and tedious efforts.
Even when the relevant information is found, additional delays can be encountered, as it is often difficult to see the contextual relationship between contributing factors and the reported exception. As the number of resources being managed grows in number and heterogeneity, the presentation of these relationships becomes more difficult. Showing too much information can be confusing and mask a problem. Showing too little information can provide insufficient means to resolve a problem. Showing adequate information but not its contextual relationship can delay resolution of a problem. In view of the foregoing, there is a need for an improved method of presenting the contextual relationship between a reported exception and its contributing factors.

International Business Machines Corporation


A refrigerant distributor includes a body portion defining a swirl space, a refrigerant inflow port, and first and second refrigerant outflow ports which causes refrigerant in the swirl space to flow out and distributes the refrigerant to components of a refrigeration cycle device. When a line connecting swirl centers of refrigerant swirling in the swirl space is taken as a swirl center line, the refrigerant swirls in the swirl space such at a velocity of a swirl flow that more vapor-phase refrigerant exists on an inner radius side than on an outer radius side and the velocity of swirl flow at the swirl center line on both end sides are different from each other. The first refrigerant outflow port is arranged at the one end side, and the second refrigerant outflow port is arranged at the other end side, on an extended line of the swirl center line.

Vapor compression refrigeration cycle devices including at least the following as constituent elements are conventionally known: a compressor that compresses and discharges refrigerant; a radiator that radiates heat from refrigerant discharged from the compressor; a pressure reducing device that reduces the pressure of refrigerant flowing out of the radiator; and an evaporator that evaporates refrigerant depressurized at the pressure reducing device. Refrigeration cycle devices with various types of cycle configuration have been proposed as this type of refrigeration cycle device to enhance cycle efficiency (COP).
For example, Patent Document 1 (JP 2001-235245A) discloses regarding a so-called economizer refrigeration cycle device. The economizer refrigeration cycle device is provided with two compression mechanisms, a lower stage compression mechanism and a higher stage compression mechanism, as a compressor to compress refrigerant in multiple stages. In this type of economizer refrigeration cycle device, the intermediate-pressure refrigerant of the cycle is joined with refrigerant discharged from the lower stage compression mechanism and the merged refrigerant is drawn into the higher stage compression mechanism.
As a result, the pressure difference between drawn refrigerant pressure and discharged refrigerant pressure, in both the lower stage compression mechanism and the higher stage compression mechanism, is reduced. The compression efficiencies of both the compression mechanisms are thereby enhanced to enhance the cycle efficiency.
Patent Document 2 (2008-107054A) discloses a so-called ejector refrigeration cycle device adopting an ejector that functions as a refrigerant circulating portion. In this type of ejector refrigeration cycle device, refrigerant is isentropically depressurized at a nozzle portion for driving of the ejector to convert pressure energy into kinetic energy.
Refrigerant flowing out of an evaporator is drawn by the suction action of high-speed sprayed refrigerant sprayed from the nozzle portion. Then the velocity energy of the sprayed refrigerant is converted into the pressure energy of drawn refrigerant at the diffuser portion of the ejector. The pressure of compressor drawn refrigerant is thereby increased to reduce the driving power of the compressor and enhance cycle efficiency.
Patent Document 3 (JP 2010-133606A) proposes an economizer refrigeration cycle device (two-stage pressure-increasing ejector refrigeration cycle device) provided with an ejector. With the economizer refrigeration cycle device, it is possible to obtain both the cycle efficiency enhancement effect from the economizer refrigeration cycle device and the cycle efficiency enhancement effect from the ejector refrigeration cycle device.
The cycle efficiency (COP) is defined as the ratio (ΔH/L) obtained by dividing the refrigeration capacity ΔH delivered by the cycle by the consumed energy L consumed by the compressor. Therefore, with the cycle configurations in Patent Documents 1 and 2, it can be expressed that the cycle efficiency is enhanced by reducing consumed energy L as compared with ordinary refrigeration cycle devices.
According to the above definition of cycle efficiency, the further enhancement of cycle efficiency can be expected by taking the following measure with the cycle configurations in Patent Documents 1 and 2: the refrigeration capacity ΔH delivered by the cycle, that is, the enthalpy difference (ΔH=Hout−Hih) between the enthalpy Hin of evaporator inlet-side refrigerant and the enthalpy Hout of evaporator outlet-side refrigerant is increased.
For example, in the economizer refrigeration cycle device disclosed in Patent Document 1, vapor-liquid two-phase refrigerant whose pressure is reduced to intermediate pressure is let to flow into a vapor liquid separator. The separated saturated vapor-phase refrigerant is drawn to the higher stage compression mechanism, and the separated saturated liquid-phase refrigerant is let to flow into the evaporator by way of a pressure reducing device. Therefore, the further enhancement of cycle efficiency may be expected by reducing the enthalpy of the saturated liquid-phase refrigerant flowing out from the vapor liquid separator toward the evaporator.
To reduce the enthalpy of saturated liquid-phase refrigerant, a configuration for reducing the pressure of refrigerant may be used. However, if the pressure of refrigerant in the vapor liquid separator is reduced, the pressure of saturated vapor-phase refrigerant flowing out from the vapor liquid separator toward the higher stage compression mechanism is also reduced. Therefore, the pressure difference between drawn refrigerant pressure and discharged refrigerant pressure in the higher stage compression mechanism is enlarged, and there is a possibility that the cycle efficiency is degraded on the contrary.
More specific description will be given. The vapor liquid separator of the economizer refrigeration cycle device in Patent Document 1 just separates refrigerant flowing thereinto into saturated vapor-phase refrigerant and saturated liquid-phase refrigerant and lets the separated refrigerants flow to the downstream side. Therefore, the enthalpy of refrigerant flowing into the evaporator can be reduced but the pressure of refrigerant simultaneously flowing into the higher stage compression mechanism cannot be appropriately adjusted.
In the ejector refrigeration cycle device disclosed in Patent Document 2, the flow of refrigerant is bifurcated at a bifurcating portion placed upstream of the ejector. One flow of refrigerant is let to flow into the nozzle portion of the ejector; and the other flow of refrigerant is let to flow into the evaporator by way of the pressure reducing device. Therefore, the further enhancement of cycle efficiency may be expected by reducing the enthalpy of refrigerant flowing out from the bifurcating portion toward the evaporator.
Boiling of refrigerant can be accelerated to enhance nozzle efficiency by letting vapor-liquid two-phase refrigerant or liquid-phase refrigerant with air bubbles mixed therein flow into the nozzle portion. Therefore, the enhancement of nozzle efficiency may be expected by letting vapor-liquid two-phase refrigerant higher in enthalpy than liquid-phase refrigerant flowing out from the bifurcating portion toward the nozzle portion. The nozzle efficiency refers to energy conversion efficiency obtained when the pressure energy of refrigerant is converted into kinetic energy at the nozzle portion.
However, the bifurcating portion of the ejector refrigeration cycle device in Patent Document 1 just has a function of producing a swirl flow in refrigerant flowing into the nozzle portion, in order to enhance nozzle efficiency. Therefore, refrigerant let to flow into the nozzle portion of the ejector may be brought into a vapor-liquid two-phase state but the enthalpy of refrigerant let to flow into the evaporator cannot be reduced.

Refrigerant distributor and refrigeration cycle device


A local coil for a magnetic resonance tomography device includes a plurality of antenna elements. Each antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements has two conductor tracks. The conductor tracks are disposed on opposite sides of an insulator and are connected electrically conductively to one another by plated through-holes through the insulator. In areas, in which conductor tracks of at least two antenna elements of the plurality of antenna elements cross, at least one antenna element of the at least two antenna elements only has a conductor track on one side of the insulator.

The present embodiments relate to a local coil for a magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) system.
Magnetic resonance tomography devices for examination of objects or patients by magnetic resonance tomography (MRT, MRI) are described, for example, in DE10314215B4.
In magnetic resonance tomography, RF coils (e.g., local coils) are used for receiving magnetic alternating fields. In order to obtain a good signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), the geometry and receive profile of the RF coils are adapted for the different areas of the body, and the coils are positioned as close as possible to the body of the patient. For fast, parallel imaging (SENSE, GRAPPA), high-channel array coils including a number of individual coils (e.g., antennas) are used. With the increase in the number of individual coils, the size of the individual coils becomes ever smaller for a pre-specified geometry. With a reduction in the size of the coils, the connection to the patient becomes less, so that the unloaded values of the coils become more important. The connection is defined via the ratio of the unloaded values to the load values. The higher the ratio is, the higher is the SNR of the coil. To improve the SNR, the unloaded value of the coil may have a value that is as high as possible, and/or the mutual influencing of the coils may be minimized. An increase in the height (h) of the copper layer of a coil does not guarantee any further improvement as from a height of approximately five times the thickness of the skin. Likewise, widening the copper layer from a width of w=pi*D does not guarantee any further appreciable value of the unloaded values. Electrical losses, which depend on the distances of the coils from one another, arise at the crossing points of adjacent coils.
Coils with very high quality are constructed from silvered, round copper wires with a diameter of approximately 1 mm. The coils have been inductively decoupled by geometrical overlapping. At the crossing points of the individual coils, the distance has been increased with a wire bridge. For coils with a normal requirement with respect to electrical quality, the antenna elements have been implemented for circuit boards (e.g., plastic carriers) copper-clad on one side. The crossing points may thus be embodied by changing the board sides. The distance may be increased by interspersion of plastic parts.


In an apparatus for controlling the bit amount of each video object plane (VOP) of a moving picture, the quantization step size for each VOP is determined based on significance, complexity and color sensitivity of each VOP, so that human visual sensitivity is taken into consideration. Picture quality of a specific VOP is input via an input unit. Visual sensitivity class is classified based on the complexity and color sensitivity of the VOP. Histogram is calculated based on the variance of video signal of the VOP and visual sensitivity values for each VOP. Then, the quantization step size for the VOP is adjusted based on the histogram and a bit model while total bit amount of a frame is maintained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a video coding, and more particularly, to an apparatus for controlling a compression rate in a video coding, and a method therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, since video data having multi-dimensional characteristics has an information quantity larger than that of other data, the data quantity becomes huge when the multi-dimensional video data is processed digitally. Thus, in order to transmit and store the digitally processed video data, it is necessary to compress the data in consideration of the bandwidths of a communication channel required for transmission and the capacity of a storage medium required for storing information.
Standardization for moving picture video compression has been carried out by the Moving Picture Expert Group (MPEG) of JTC1/SC.29 which is a sub-committee of the International Organization for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO-IEC). Particularly, standardization of MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 had been already completed and they are currently in use. Meanwhile, the International Telecommunications Union--Terminal Section (ITU-T) has made efforts to prepare video coding standards based on an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) protocol for video transmission in future broadband integrated services digital networks (B-ISDN) and has recently recommended several H.26x standards.
In a conventional coding scheme such as the MPEG-2, Differential Pulse Code Modulation (DPCM) or Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) for reducing signal redundancy is used as a preliminary step for an effective coding. However, since a substantial compression of a signal actually occurs in the final quantization stage, the coding compression efficiency considerably depends upon the determination of a quantization step size rather than the DPCM or DCT.
To control a compression rate, the quantization step size in MPEG-2 is determined by activity calculation and buffer control. However, according to this method, picture quality may change depending on the position on a screen when a picture has both a complexity portion and an even portion in a frame. Also, since determination of the quantization step size by activities is processed based upon the luminance block having the minimum activity among four luminance blocks in a macroblock, the quantization step size suitable for human visual sensitivity is not determined due to incorrect discrimination of the even portion, edge portion and complex portion. Further, each of video objects constituting a picture is not taken into consideration individually, since the image signal is processed in the unit of frames.
In H.263, the same quantization step size is applied to whole frame, and the quantization step of the next frame is determined depending on the bit amounts of the previous frame. This method can be implemented in a simpler structure than MPEG-2. However, visual sensitivity is not still taken into consideration.
If the quantization step is determined without consideration of the visual sensitivity, the same quantization step size is applied to both more significant video objects such as human figure in a transmitted picture and less significant video objects such as background. Thus, signal compression effect may be outstanding, which greatly lowers picture quality. This is a severe problem in a low bit rate coding, particularly in the H.263 standard concerning video coding for low bit rate communications or MPEG-4 standards concerning very low bit rate video coding for mobile communications.
Therefore, to maximize the signal compression effect while minimizing deterioration in picture quality, it is necessary to determine the quantization step size depending on significance of several video objects constituting a frame in consideration of human visual characteristics and allocate appropriate bit amount to each video object.

Video signal bit amount control using adaptive quantization


A feeder for a pick and place machine used in connection with the mounting of small discrete parts such as electrical and mechanical components comprises a frame and mechanisms connected to the frame for advancing a carrier tape product from a supply reel. The carrier tape product preferably includes a pair of spaced apart continuous parallel carrier tapes having a series of longitudinally spaced parts with opposite sides molded over adjacent inner side edges of corresponding ones of the carrier tapes so that each part bridges the two carrier tapes. The feeder further comprises a separation station mounted to the frame for receiving the carrier tape from the supply reel. Mechanisms in the separation station are provided for exerting a sufficient force between a part in the separation station and the carrier tape to physically separate the part from the carrier tape without substantially displacing the part from a predetermined location on the separation station so as to impair the ability of the head of a pick and place machine to pick up the part. Preferably the force is exerted by preventing the inner side edges of the tapes from moving upwardly, by restraining the outer side edges of the tapes from inward movement toward the part, and by deflecting the intermediate portions of the tapes upwardly, causing the inner side edges of the tapes to break away from the part.

The present invention relates to methods and equipment for automated handling of small parts such as electrical and mechanical components, and more particularly, to a feeder designed to separate parts molded to a continuous carrier tape unwound from a supply reel.
Tape and reel supply of small discrete parts such as electrical and mechanical components for automatic pick and place on into a printed circuit board (PCB) or other substrate is widely used in the electronics industry. Examples of pick and place machines are those commercially available from Universal, Panasonic, Fuji and others. Typically the pick and place machines have multiple removable parallel feeders which each support a tape reel carrying a different component. An example of such a feeder is the MPF856 commercially available from Hover-Davis, Inc. In one carrier tape system commercialized by Advantek and 3M a plastic carrier tape with sprocket holes along one or both side edges is embossed to form a series of pockets which each carry a separate component covered by a continuous strip. The carrier tape is unreeled, its cover strip is peeled back, and a pick and place head removes a component adapted for surface mount or through hole from each pocket. The component is placed under precise computer control onto a given location on a PCB. The PCB usually has solder paste applied at precise locations which temporarily holds the component in place until solder reflow.
The aforementioned technique for tape and reel supply of small discrete parts has proven to be widely successful. However, it is costly, inconvenient, and does not provide accurate part location. The U.S. patent of Giuseppe Bianca et al. identified above describes a continuous carrier tape product preferably formed by overmolding one or both sides of a series of longitudinally spaced discrete small parts to one or a spaced pair of continuous flexible film strips. The film strip or strips may be provided with sprocket holes and wound on reels for use with a feeder and a pick and place machine. The parts are individually separated before placement onto a PCB. No embossing step of a plastic carrier is required, no assembly of parts into respective pockets is needed and no cover strip is needed to keep the parts from falling out of their respective pockets More parts can be carried per linear loot of tape. The result is that the cost of the tape and supply reel to the PCB assembler is reduced. In addition, the parts can be removed by either the suction head of a pneumatic pick and place machine or a gripper of a mechanical pick and place machine. The film strips are preferably made of a material capable of withstanding the elevated temperatures required to overmold the plastic parts. Preferably the molding overlap is selected to require the finished tape to be pulled with about three to five pounds of force to separate the part therefrom.
In order to advantageously utilize the new overmolded tape and reel product described in the aforementioned U.S. patent of Giuseppe Bianca et al., it would be desirable to provide a novel feeder capable of utilizing the product with conventional pick and place machines. Such a feeder would have to rapidly and reliably separate an individual part from the carrier tape without damaging the part and without displacing the part such that the head of the pick and place machine would be unable to pick up the same.

Feeder for separating parts molded to a continuous carrier tape


The present invention provides assays for the study of the interaction of EPF and its EPF-related peptides with a hDRR receptor. The assays are useful to identify whether a test compound can bind to the hDRR receptor under conditions in which EPF or related peptide can bind to the receptor. The assays are also useful to determine whether the test compound is an agonist or antagonist of hDRRs. The above assays can be performed in a variety of formats including competitive, non-competitive and comparative assays in which the interaction of EPF or EPF-related peptides with hDRRs is assessed as a positive or negative control or compared to the results obtained with the test compound.

EPF and the mitochondrial chaperonin 10 have identical amino acid sequences (SEQ ID NO:4) although they may be encoded by different genes (Summers et al., 1998) and have very different physiological functions. Moreover, EPF is a secreted peptide, whereas chaperonin 10 is found in the intracellular vesicles along the secretory pathway.
Chaperonin 10 belongs to the family of heat shock proteins. In the mitochondria it forms a chaperonin complex with heat shock protein 60 which is important for mitochondrial protein folding and function. Upon ischemia, upregulation of these two proteins is able to protect brain tissue as well as cardiac myocytes (Lau et al., 1997) against ischemia/reperfusion injury (Hickey et al., 2000).
Up until now, EPF is mainly known as an important factor in embryonic development, in the pre-implementation stage as well as in the peri-implantation stage (Athanasas-Platsis et al., 2000). Its importance in these two phases is based on its growth regulatory and immunomodulatory properties. These actions of EPF are also apparent as it is produced by proliferating primary and neoplastic cells, where it functions as an autocrine growth factor both in vitro and in vivo (Morton, 1998).
The presence of EPF has been repeatedly confirmed as indispensable to successful pregnancy. Recently, Cheng S J et al. (Am. J. Reprod. Immunol. 2000 October; 44(4):211-3) demonstrated that the EPF level declined rapidly after surgical abortion and as such suggests that monitoring the EPF activity is a useful index for embryonic care and development of normal pregnancy. Accordingly suppression of EPF activity could have a contraceptive purpose, whilst enhancing EPF activity may prevent foetal loss.
EPF is already secreted into maternal serum within 6-12 hours after fertilisation, and EPF or EPF-derived or -related peptides could therefore be a useful early marker for diagnosing pregnancy. Such diagnostic would be useful in human medicine but also for veterinary applications. Currently used EPF assays (e.g. rosette test) are cumbersome and unreliable. Moreover, they do not distinguish between various forms of EPF. Tests based on antibodies specific for (poly)peptides with EPF activity or assays that distinguish the various forms of bioactive EPF (e.g. based on chromatography and/or mass spectroscopy) may therefore offer significant advantages. EPF activity has been repeatedly confirmed as indispensable to successful pregnancy. Recently, Cheng S J et al. (Am. J. Reprod. Immunol. 2000 October; 44(4):211-3) demonstrated that the EPF level declined rapidly after surgical abortion and as such suggests that monitoring the EPF activity is a useful index for embryonic well-being and development of normal pregnancy. Accordingly, suppression of EPF activity could have a contraceptive purpose, whilst enhancing physiological or correcting abnormal EPF activity may prevent foetal loss.
It has been observed that pregnancy has a positive influence on the development of multiple sclerosis by decreasing the rate of relapses during pregnancy (Confavreux et al., 1998). As pointed out by Morton (1998), EPF is 'considered to be one of the major factors involved in the modification of multiple sclerosis observed during pregnancy'. The positive effect of the immunosuppressive action of EPF during pregnancy could also be observed for another auto-immune disease, rheumatoid arthritis (Davis and Maslow, 1992).
The potential activities of EPF and chaperonin 10 in human systems make the peptides a target for studies aimed at identifying compounds that enhance or diminish the biological effects of the peptides. However, while binding sites for EPF and chaperonin 10 were shown to exist, no receptor for these peptides was identified. The lack of a known receptor has hampered the design of assays and impeded efforts to discover and study compounds that mimic or alter the biological effects of EPF or chaperonin 10.
The present invention solves this problem in the art as reverse pharmacology has led to the identification of the human Dorsal Root Receptors (hDRRs) as receptor proteins for EPF or chaperonin 10. With this finding the present inventors further substantiate the immunomodulatory properties of EPF as hDRR receptors are shown to be expressed in lymph nodes and chromosomal mapping of the hDRRs to chromosome 11p15 linked them to a number of lymphoblastic leukemias. It further provides assays to identify compounds that mimic or alter the biological effects of EPF or chaperonin 10, as well as the pharmacological use thereof.
hDRRs belongs to the family of G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) which share a common structural organization characterized by an extracellular N-terminal end, seven hydrophobic alpha helices putatively constituting transmembrane domains and an intracellular C-terminal domain. GPCRs bind a variety of ligands that trigger intracellular signals through the activation of transducing G proteins (Caron et al., Rec. Prog. Horm. Res. 48:277-290 (1993); Freedman et al., Rec. Prog. Horm. Res. 51:319-353 (1996)).
Recent reviews (Stadel et al., 1997; Wilson et al., 1998) count the number of GPCRs being used as a target for commercially useful drugs to 25, this constitutes 18% of the 140 characterized cloned human GPCRs. Extrapolation from fully sequenced genomes (yeast, C. elegans) to the expected 30.000 human genes leads to the expectation that 5000 human GPCRs will be found in the course of the next 3 years. In analogy to the current numbers, 150 of these novel orphan GPCRs should develop into a target of a commercially interesting drug during the next decade. This calculation does not take into account that additional characterized GPCRs are currently the basis of compounds in development.
In general, it is fair to say that reverse pharmacology on orphan GPCRs will deliver novel approaches for the treatment of various diseases, which will outcompete current strategies or enable treatment of conditions that cannot be treated by current means. This has been recognized by the pharmaceutical industry as is documented by recent publications on orphan GPCR ligand identification (orphanin FQ (Reinscheid et al, 1995.), orexin (Sakurai et al, 1998), prolactin-releasing peptide (Hinuma et al.), apelin (Tatemoto et al., 1998).
The nucleic acid and polypeptide sequences of the human Dorsal Root Receptors 1-6 were described in PCT application WO 99/32519 A1 published Jul. 1, 1999. Based on their homology to the rat Dorsal Root Receptor, this document describes the hDRR receptors as being involved in transmission, modulation and sensation of pain, including the use thereof in assays for the identification of new agents for anesthesia and analgesia. In this PCT application the Dorsal Root Ganglia localization has been confirmed for hDRR5 in fetal dorsal root ganglia. However, for none of the human adult tissues examined thus far, including dorsal root ganglia, a hDRR specific hybridization signal could be detected. In addition for none of the disclosed hDRR receptors in this application (WO 99/32519 A1) a natural ligand could be identified. The characterization of hDRR4 as an angiotensin receptor in aforesaid application (WO 99/32519-A1), based upon the stimulation of this receptor with angiotensin II and III, could not be confirmed by the present inventors.
For another human Dorsal Root Receptor, hDRR7, the nucleic acid and polypeptide sequences were described in PCT applications WO 01/16159-A1 published Mar. 8, 2001 and in WO 01/19983-A1 published Mar. 22, 2001. In neither of these documents a ligand for the hDRR7 receptor has been identified. In PCT application WO 01/16159-A1 the hDRR7 receptor is referred to as TheAnt disclosing a large number of conditions associated with said polypeptide. However, no substantive evidence is provided to link this receptor to any of the enlisted disease states. In PCT application WO 01/19983 the hDRR7 receptor is generally described as a GPCR with low sequence similarity to the somatostatin 3 receptor.
Therefore, no assay employing competition with a natural ligand for hDRRs, or employing a comparison to the interaction of the hDRRs with a natural ligand has been described. The latter is essential to use the hDRRs as pharmacological tools to explore receptor function and relationship to disease states. The present invention solves this problem in the art and provides assays that employ the interaction of hDRRs and EPF or EPF-related peptides, to determine whether a candidate compound is a ligand, agonist or antagonist of hDRRs.
Only recently, Lembo et al. (Nature Neuroscience 5, 201-209 (2002)) demonstrated that the hDRR 4 receptor, also known as Sensory Neuron—Specific G protein coupled—Receptor 4 (SNSR4) or Mas Related Gene Receptor 1 (hMrgX1), are potently activated by gene products of the opioid peptide precursor proenkephalin A. In particular BAM22 and BAM22 fragments, known to be involved in the control of nociception, were shown to activate the hDRR in a FLIPR based calcium assay.
In the present invention EPF and EPF-related peptides were shown to activate both the hDRR4 and hDRR7 receptors. Further, hDRR4 was shown to be predominantly expressed in dorsal root and trigeminal ganglia (Lembo et al., Nature Neuroscience 5, 201-209 (2002)), whilst for hDRR7 it has now been demonstrated that this receptor is predominantly expressed in lymph nodes. This receptor specific expression pattern suggests a different functionality in response to ligand activation.
It would accordingly be beneficial if one could design receptor-specific compounds useful in treating receptor related disorders. The identification of EPF and EPF-related peptides as ligands for hDRR4 and hDRR7, now provides a basis for the development of in vitro screening methods to identify compounds capable of modulating a hDRR involvement in the transmission, modulation and sensation of pain. Furthermore, they are useful as anticonceptives, in anesthesia and analgesia and in identifying compounds capable of modulating hDRR mediated disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis or other conditions where immunosuppressive actions are desired like Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) or to prevent transplant rejection.
These and other aspects of the invention are described herein in more detail.

EPF derived peptides and therapeutic compositions


The hydraulic regenerative drive system for a vehicle includes an electronic controller, a hydraulic control circuit that receives control signals from the electronic controller, a reservoir in fluid communication with the hydraulic control circuit, a pump/motor unit having a controlled-angle swash plate element providing variable displacement, an accumulator in fluid communication with the hydraulic control circuit and a pump/motor unit speed sensor and pump/motor unit pressure sensor providing measured speed and measured pressure signals to the electronic controller. The electronic controller generates a torque signal and a modified engine throttle signal on the basis of a mathematical model, converts the torque signal to a swash plate angle, and controls a controlled-torque retard mode of operation and a controlled torque propulsion mode of operation. The electronic controller also performs a conversion between the torque signal and swash plate angle on the basis of searching predetermined characteristics of torque versus pressure versus speed.

Regenerative drive systems act in a first manner to retard a vehicle such that motive energy is extracted from the vehicle's drive train and provides rotary (kinetic) energy to a pump/motor unit, which pumps a fluid from a reservoir to a higher pressure accumulator. Such drive systems also act to propel a vehicle by the reverse process, in which the stored (potential) energy of the fluid is released from the accumulator and drives the pump/motor unit to impart energy to the drive train. Two examples of such a system are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,383 to Evans, issued on Jan. 22, 1991, and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,489 to Tanaka et al, issued on Jun. 18, 1991.
Regenerative drive systems have demonstrated the ability to cut fuel consumption in vehicles by 10-25%, although this is strongly dependent upon drive cycle and vehicle type (especially weight). There remains considerable interest in further improving such performance, either in the mechanical and hydraulic components themselves, or in control systems for the circuits constituted by these components.

Hydraulic regenerative drive system and controls

Permo-Drive Research & Development Pty. Ltd.


The invention is a process for spinning solutions of cellulose carbamate by extruding the solution through a spinneret into a precipitation bath, coagulating the cellulose carbamate fibers thus formed and drawing off the fibers by mechanical means, where the fibers are enveloped from the outlet from the spinneret to the outlet from the precipitation bath in a stream of precipitating medium flowing in the same direction, where the velocity of flow of the precipitation medium where the fibers exit the spinneret (plane X1) amounts to 0.1 to 0.8 times the draw-off speed of the fibers, and the velocity of flow of the precipitation medium where the fibers exit the precipitation bath (plane X3) amounts to 0.96 to 1.1 times the draw-off speed of the fibers.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a process and a device for spinning cellulose carbamate solutions by extruding the solution through a spinneret into a precipitation bath, coagulating the cellulose carbamate fibers thus formed by bringing them in contact with the precipitation medium, and drawing off the fibers by mechanical means after discharge from the precipitation bath.
2. Summary of the Related Art
It is known that aqueous alkaline solutions of cellulose carbamate can be spun in acidic, alkaline, or alcoholic precipitation baths in accordance with the techniques used with viscose fibers (European Patents Nos. 97,685 and 103,618; British Patents Nos. 2,164,941, 2,164,942 and 2,164,943; O. T. Turunen, Leonine Berichte [August 1985] no. 59, pages 111-115). However, these publications are concerned with the composition of the precipitation baths and do not give details on the spinning apparatus.
Various techniques are known for spinning viscose fibers, including tube spinning where the fibers are guided through a horizontal cylindrical tube within the precipitation bath after leaving the spinneret (Z. A. Rogowin, Cheiniefasern [Manmade Fibers], Thieme-Verlag [1982], page 134), and funnel spinning, where the fibers, after leaving the spinneret, arc sent together with the precipitation medium through a vertical funnel that is conical over the entire length (K. Gotze, Chemiefasern nach dem Viskoseverfahren [Manmade Fibers by the Viscose Method], Springer-Verlag, 3.sub.rd edition, volume 2, pages 602-607). Similarly designed spinning funnels have also been described for dry-wet spinning of cellulose solutions in aqueous N-methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO) (German Patents Nos 4,219,658 C and 19,515,136 A).
An important disadvantage of the tube spinning method is the lack of exchange of the precipitation medium between the inside and outside of the tube and the resulting accumulation within the tube of solvent and possible cleavage products from the spinning solution. The German Patent No. 39 04 541 A1 therefore proposes to circulate the precipitation medium through a spinning tube, preferably from bottom to top for a vertical tube, wherein the velocity of flow of the precipitation medium at the exit of the spinning tube is set to a value lower than the draw-off speed of the fibers, and corresponding to a velocity to speed ratio of 0.15 to 0.95. This helps the exchange of the precipitation medium within the tube, but causes on the fibers a force opposed to the draw-off direction, which influences the morphology of the fiber.
In the spinning funnel method, however, the flow velocity of the precipitation medium within the funnel is so high as to cause the fibers to stretch due to the fiber/fluid friction. In both cases, the freshly extruded fibers are exposed to turbulence occurring mainly at the nozzle surface immediately after leaving the spinneret and before entering the spinning tube or the spinning funnel, which in turn has a negative effect on fiber uniformity.
Whereas simultaneous coagulation and saponification of the cellulose xanthogenate to regenerated cellulose fibers with a much greater strength and coherence occurs on entering the precipitation bath, cellulose carbamate undergoes only coagulation. The freshly spun cellulose carbamate fibers are consequently much more susceptible to turbulence or other disturbances and stretching forces within the precipitation bath than are regenerated cellulose fibers. Therefore, direct transfer of the spinning techniques used with viscose or cellulose-NMMO solutions to spinning solutions of cellulose carbamate is either impossible or leads to poor quality fibers.
In view of the foregoing, therefore, improved techniques applicable to spinning solutions of cellulose carbamate are desired.

Process for spinning of solutions of cellulose carbamate


A polyisocyanate prepolymer composition is comprised of the reaction product of (a) a polyisocyanate having an average functionality of at least 2 and containing at least about 20 percent by weight of a diisocyanate monomer, (b) a monohydric alcohol and (c) a polyol having an average hydroxyl functionality of at least about 1.8 to at most about 3.2, wherein the prepolymer composition has (i) an amount of isocyanate groups by weight sufficient to react with water in the absence of a supplemental blowing agent to make a foam, (ii) at most about 10.0 percent by weight of the diisocyanate monomer and (iii) an amount of the polyisocyanate that is capped by the monohydric alcohol sufficient to prevent gelling of the prepolymer composition. The prepolymer composition may be formed by contacting (i) an organic polyisocyanate having an average isocyanate functionality of at least about 2.0 and an amount of diisocyanate monomer of at least 20 percent by weight, (ii) a monohydric alcohol and (iii) a polyol having an average hydroxyl functionality of at least about 1.8 to at most about 3.2 for a time and temperature sufficient to form the prepolymer composition, wherein the organic polyisocyanate, monohydric alcohol and polyol are contacted at a ratio of NCO to hydroxyl of at least about 2, to at most about 5, and the monohydric alcohol and polyol are provided in a ratio of monohydric alcohol to polyol of at least about 0.1, to at most about 2, based upon the hydroxyl equivalence of the monohydric alcohol and polyol. The prepolymer composition may be reacted with water to form a polyurethane foam.

Polyurethanes are formed by the reaction of a polyisocyanate compound, such as toluene diisocyanate (TDI) or diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) with a polyhydroxyl compound, such as a polyol. Generally, streams of approximately equal volume of the polyol and polyisocyanate are intermixed in a mixing head and then dispensed into a cavity or mold. In the mold or cavity, the hydroxyls of the polyol and isocyanates of the polyisocyanate react to form the polyurethane, while simultaneously water added to the polyol reacts with the isocyanates to provide CO.sub.2 in situ that causes the polyurethane to foam. Since isocyanates readily react with water, they are generally known to be an irritant and can be toxic when inhaled.
Prepolymers have been used in place of polyisocyanates to decrease the amount of vaporous isocyanate when making polyurethane foams. Prepolymers generally are made by reacting a diol with a diisocyanate monomer (e.g., MDI or TDI) at a great excess of NCO (i.e., isocyanate) to OH (i.e., hydroxyl). Commonly, the NCO to OH equivalence ratio is well in excess of 5. The ratio is large to keep the prepolymer from gelling while still providing enough NCO to produce a foam. As a consequence of the large NCO to OH ratio, a significant amount of diisocyanate monomer (e.g., MDI), typically, is still present in the prepolymer.
Generally, when making foams from these prepolymers, a gas blowing agent, such as a chlorofluorocarbon, is used to froth the prepolymer and ambient moisture reacts with the prepolymer to form polyurethane. Since ambient moisture causes the urethane reaction to proceed (i.e., formation of urea linkages and amines), foams of this sort suffer from inconsistencies depending on ambient humidity. Thick foams made by this method also tend to collapse as they cure. The foam collapses because an insufficient amount of water penetrates through the outer portion of the foam into the interior of the mass to adequately cure (i.e., cross-link) the interior of the foam.
More recently, International Patent Application No. 96/06124 has described prepolymers that have attempted to decrease the amount of diisocyanate monomer when making a foam. The 96/06124 application describes forming a prepolymer by reacting a polyisocyanate having an isocyanate functionality of 2.3 to 3.7 and having a diisocyanate monomer content of less than 20 percent by weight of the polyisocyanate with a polyol at high NCO to OH ratios (e.g., 4.6). The 96/06124 application also describes, when making a foam from these prepolymers, a blowing agent, such as a dimethylether, is used. Thus, this reference describes a technique of making a prepolymer with a low diisocyanate monomer concentration by starting with a polyisocyanate having a low concentration of diisocyanate monomer initially. This technique suffers from the need to use a polyisocyanate that must have a low diisocyanate monomer content initially, which may require, for example, expensive distillation or reaction processes to form said polyisocyanate. These prepolymers also require a gaseous blowing agent (e.g., CFCs) when making a foam.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide a prepolymer composition, method to form the prepolymer composition, foam made from the prepolymer composition and method to make the foam that avoids one or more of deficiencies of the prior art, such as one of those described above.

Polyurethane prepolymer compositions, foams made therefrom and methods of making each thereof


A slip-on, slip-off stabilizing support accessory for a stiletto heel. The device is a unitary molding of semi-rigid, resilient plastic material formed with a generally hourglass configuration, with outwardly concave, resiliently flexible side walls for frictionally engaging opposite sides of a stiletto heel. An outwardly flared top opening facilitates application of the device to the heel, while an outwardly flaring bottom configuration provides a greatly enlarged ground contact area. Front and back edges of the side walls are of outwardly concave shape. Front and back wall structures, formed by relatively narrow, spaced-apart elements, enable the side walls to be flexed for easy application to heels of various sizes, while firmly gripping heels of the smallest size.

Fashionable shoes for women frequently are provided with tall, very narrow heels, sometimes referred to as "spiked" or "stiletto" heels. These heels are very narrow and provide a minimal support surface at the bottom, which can make the shoes difficult to walk in on uneven or soft surfaces. For example, on uneven surfaces, such as cobblestone sidewalks and pavements, cracked and uneven sidewalks, ventilation and drainage grates, etc., stiletto heels can easily tip or snag, potentially causing injury to the wearer of the shoes and/or damage to the heels. Likewise, walking on soft surfaces, such as wet ground, can be very difficult when wearing stiletto-heeled shoes.
As will be readily understood, the bottom surface area of a stiletto heel is quite small, such that the pressure loading on the heel surface is very high. The heels thus can easily penetrate and sink down into soft ground or other soft surfaces, making normal walking very difficult. This problem has been well recognized, and some attempts have been made to provide accessory devices, for temporary attachment to stiletto heels, in an effort to provide greater support and stability. Such prior attempts, insofar as we are aware, have been unsuccessful for a variety of reasons. Prior proposals of the Givens U.S. Pat. No. 1,875,806 and Topel U.S. Pat. No. 5,311,675, are rather large and unwieldy. While providing a large bottom surface area, these designs are otherwise quite impractical.
Other proposals, such as the Grossman U.S. Pat. No. 2,875,534 and the Tilden U.S. Pat. No. 3,150,453 while avoiding the overly large and cumbersome characteristics of the before mentioned patents, are flawed in other ways. The device of the Grossman patent is secured to the heel by folded-over flaps of resilient material, which would provide a tenuous attachment, given the forces acting at the bottom of a stiletto heel during normal walking. The device of the Tilden '453 patent, on the other hand, incorporates an unnecessarily complicated hinged clip arrangement and has other faults. The Fredon patent 3,39,435 utilizes magnetic and/or ring clamp arrangements for holding the device to a heel.

Stabilizing and support accessory for stiletto heels


Apparatus for automatically switching transmissions of data from a source of between a coaxial network and a twisted pair network depending on the state of the twisted pair network including apparatus for monitoring the condition of the twisted pair network to determine whether an operating network is connected, apparatus for normally connecting the output of the source of data to the twisted pair network, and apparatus for switching the output of the source of data to the coaxial network when a fault occurs in the operation of the twisted pair network.

1. Field Of The Invention
This invention relates to computer systems and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for automatically connecting computers to one of two available local area networks (LANs).
2. History Of The Prior Art
One of the significant movements in the computer industry has been toward interconnectivity of individual computers by local area networks. Initially, the desire was to allow the sharing of underused assets such as printers. More recently, the impetus has been the desire to share application programs and data and to enhance communication.
Whatever the reasons for their existence, LANs are proliferating. Typically, a LAN will be installed initially to provide connection between a small group of local computer users. The first LANs which were installed utilized coaxial cable as the physical wiring for the transmission of signals. Coaxial cable was necessary in order to reduce the noise and allow operation in the face of signal attenuation. As technology advanced and standards changed, it became possible to utilize twisted pair wiring as the physical connection to join the computers of a LAN together. Twisted pair wiring is preferred because it is less expensive and less expensive to install.
Often it is desirable to change computers from a coaxial network to a twisted pair network. During some interim period, it may be desirable to connect the computers to both networks. In a similar manner, it may become desirable to connect computers already joined in a local twisted pair network to another network in which the computers are joined by coaxial cable. In either case, it is possible that a number of individual computers will be physically connected simultaneously to two separate networks, a twisted pair network and a coaxial cable network. It is desirable that these computers be able to utilize either one of the two networks which is available and functioning so that if one network is not functioning communications will automatically be established on the other network.

Apparatus for accomplishing autoport selection