The present invention provides apparatus and method for automatic number identification (ANI) for a data access arrangement (DAA) of a modem. Modems or telephones equipped with an ANI system use the caller ID (ANI) signals to identify the calling telephone or modem. For automatic number identification, the invention uses a new switch element on the secondary winding side of a transformer and a standard DAA circuit on the primary winding side of the transformer. The invention does not require an additional AC coupling path for the caller ID (ANI) signals. During an ANI operation, the new ANI switch on the secondary winding side is opened so that the impedance looking into the modem from the telephone line side becomes relatively high and the prior art voltage divide effect is eliminated or reduced. Consequently, the caller ID (ANI) signals that appear at the secondary winding of the transformer have virtually the same amplitudes as the caller ID (ANI) signals that appear at the telephone line with little or zero attenuation. During normal modem operations, the new ANI switch remains closed to allow signal transmissions and support impedance matching.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of data communication equipment (DCE), and in particular to automatic number identification system for data access arrangement (DAA).
2. Background Art
Telephone systems were originally designed for voice communication. As new technologies have emerged, methods have been devised to transmit other types of information over telephone lines. These methods typically require the connections of other equipment besides the voice telephone set to the telephone line. Examples of such equipment include computer modems, facsimile ("fax") machines, answering machines, voice mail systems, phone patches, and automatic number identification (ANI) or "Caller ID" systems.
An automatic number identification (ANI) system allows a modem or a telephone to identify the caller ID signals without user intervention. Some telephones and modems are equipped with ANI capability to provide users the convenience of ANI system. However, the prior art telephones and modems with ANI capability suffer significant ANI signal attenuation and have limited system design flexibility.
A modem enables two digital electronic systems to communicate over the telephone network. A typical telephone network comprises a single twisted pair of wires (called the "tip" and "ring" lines). Digital equipment systems, on the other hand, require two separate paths of communication to communicate with each other. Also, the signals present within the above equipment often have different electrical characteristics than the signals that may be transmitted on a telephone line. Thus, an interface is required to connect such equipment to a telephone line.
The modem is placed between the digital computer and the analog telephone system, providing the necessary interface between the telephone network and digital systems over the tip and ring lines. The modem accepts a serial stream of bits as input and produces a modulated carrier as output, thus converting the digital signals of the computer to analog signals for transmission on telephone lines, or vice versa.
To meet regional telephone companies' requirements, a modem typically comprises a DAA (Data Access Arrangement), which is used to connect to a dial-up switched telephone line. Traditionally, especially for computer modems, a DAA is used to connect equipment to a telephone line. A DAA typically provides isolation, impedance matching, hybrid circuit and sometimes amplification, filtering and control functions.
When a modem is equipped with an ANI system, it allows to identify the caller ID and register the caller ID in a memory device. If the modem is connected to a computer, then other options are possible to use the caller ID in more sophisticated ways. For example, the computer can receive the caller ID from the modem, display it on a screen, store it in its memory, or write it in a file.
An ANI system is also useful for such state-of-the-art technology as "recall." When an attempted telephone call goes unanswered, the caller ID is identified by an automatic number identification system on the called telephone and stored in a memory device such as a random access memory (RAM). When a user on the called telephone side wishes to call the last number the user missed, the user can press a special "recall" button or a combination of buttons, such as the "*" key followed by the "9" key, on the user's telephone key panel to initiate an outgoing call to the last number that called. Upon detecting a special key sequence for "recall," the user's telephone makes a "recall" to the telephone number that last called.
In an ANI system, caller ID signals are sent to a called modem or a telephone when a call is made to the called telephone number. The caller ID signals provide the called telephone or modem with identification of the calling telephone. The called telephone uses the caller ID (ANI) signals to identify the calling telephone or modem. Typical caller ID signals include frequency shift keyed (FSK) modem tones transmitted between rings of the ringing signal.
Prior art ANI systems were implemented by adding extra circuit components to DAA circuits to implement a caller ID signal path. These prior art ANI systems often led to a more complex, expensive design architecture, and resulted in significant caller ID (ANI) signal attenuation up to 18 dB or more. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a prior art DAA circuit for a European-compatible modem with ANI capability. The circuit in FIG. 1 has a caller ID signal path that comprises switch SW3, capacitor C2, and resistor R1. Capacitor C2 is used to block DC current from being supplied to transformer T1.
In FIG. 1, transmitted signal TXA is amplified by amplifier A1 and provided to transformer T1 through impedance network Z1. The typical value of Z1 is approximately 300 .OMEGA. for U.S. designs and 300 .OMEGA.+(374 .OMEGA. resistance in parallel with 200 nf capacitance) for international designs. Received signals from the telephone line (represented by the tip and ring lines) are fed to amplifier A2 and to line RXA. Transformer T1 isolates the outgoing signal from the received signal. Transformer T1 has a primary winding and a secondary winding.
The primary winding of transformer T1 is coupled to capacitor C1, which is coupled to the "tip" line through switch SW1. Protection circuit PC1 comprising Zener diode ZD1 and diode bridge DB1 (not shown in detail, well-known in the art) is coupled across the primary winding of transformer T1 via capacitor C1. Protection circuit PC1 is used to protect the modem from voltage spikes and to ensure proper operation of a DAA circuit since the polarity of tip and ring lines are not known in advance. The primary winding of transformer T1 is also coupled to the "ring" line. The tip and ring lines (local loop) are connected to the telephone central office that provides power, switching, and signaling.
On a local loop represented by the tip and ring lines, an idle (on-hook) state is indicated by an open circuit and no current flow. A connect (off-hook) state is signaled by a closed circuit and continuous current flow. In an off-hook state, the telephone line is said to be "seized." Referring to FIG. 1, during the idle state (on-hook) before the modem has seized the line, an incoming ring signal is detected by the ring detector block (not shown, well known in the art) and switch SW3 is closed.
The caller ID signals (ANI information) are transmitted from the telephone system central office to the local DAA, and usually come between the first and second incoming rings in the form of a small AC signal. The modem can detect the caller ID signals at the RXA line if an additional AC coupling path is provided.
The additional AC coupling path for the caller ID (ANI) signals is provided in the prior art example of FIG. 1 along switch SW3, capacitor C2, and resistor R1. The existing path along switch SW1 and capacitor C1 cannot be used as the AC coupling path for the caller ID (ANI) signals since capacitor C1 by itself would exhibit an impedance below the regulated value of two (2) K.OMEGA.. Although a resistor can be used in series with capacitor C1 to increase the impedance, the addition of such series resistor would also increase the DAA's off-hook impedance value to an unacceptable range.
Referring to FIG. 1, switch SW3 is closed for the duration of an automatic number identification process, and an AC current path is formed by components R1 and C2 to allow the caller ID (ANI) signals from the telephone line to reach transformer T1 and RXA. Switches SW1 and SW2 remain open during ANI operations so that no DC current flows between the DAA and the telephone central office, thereby preventing the telephone line seizure. After an automatic number identification process is complete and the caller ID has been detected, switch SW3 is opened. In another prior art embodiment which is compatible with the U.S. and Canadian regulations but incompatible with most European regulations, switch SW3 is not required and can be replaced with a conducting wire.
In FIG. 1, capacitor C2 in the caller ID (ANI) signal path typically has a voltage rating of at least fifty (50) volts to handle the local loop voltage (typically forty eight volts) and thus is limited below a maximum capacitance value. Capacitor C2 has the typical capacitance value between 0.15 .mu.f and 0.47 .mu.f. Resistor R1 is used to ensure that the impedance during an ANI operation is not lower than a regulated value on the order of two (2) K.OMEGA.. Resistor R1 has the typical resistance of 2 K.OMEGA..
A combined effect of C2 being limited in capacity and having resistor R1 is the attenuation of the caller ID (ANI) signals of more than eighteen (18) dB when the caller ID signals reach the RXA line. Consequently, the caller ID (ANI) signals that appear at node N1 are significantly attenuated and become susceptible to noise and error.
In an off-hook (connect) state, the modem closes switches SW1 and SW2, seizing the telephone line (represented by the tip and ring lines) and activating the DC portion of artificial inductor AI1. Transmitted signals that come in from the TXA line are modulated signals, i.e, carrier signals modulated by digital signals that originate from a digital data terminal equipment (DTE) such as a personal computer using a suitable modulation technique. Typical modulation techniques include amplitude, frequency, and phase modulations. Thus, signals received from the tip and ring lines are modulated signals. Transformer T1 couples these modulated carriers in both directions: from the telephone line to received signal (RXA) and from transmitted signal (TXA) to the line in the connect state. This composite AC signal comprising transmitted and received signals flows through coupling capacitor C1. Capacitor C1 has the typical capacitance value of 3 .mu.f-5 .mu.f.
In the off-hook (connect) state, switch SW2 is closed and suitable protections are provided by protection circuit PC1 against voltage spikes and polarity reversal. SW2 is a required component for European-compatible modems for pulse dialing. In an alternate prior art design, SW2 is not required and can be replaced by a wire, for example, for U.S. or Canadian design. During pulse dialing, SW1 is closed and SW2 is pulsed to generate dial pulses consisting of current flow interrupted at a specified rate in the loop current (between a local DAA and the central telephone office). Zener diode ZD1 provides overvoltage protection by absorbing the voltage transients generated during the pulsing.
FIG. 2 shows another prior art DAA system for a European-compatible modem with ANI capability. In FIG. 2, transformer T1 is coupled to the DC side ("+" and "-" terminals) of diode bridge DB1 via capacitor C1. This embodiment allows capacitor C1 to be a smaller polarized capacitor (positive plate denoted by "+" sign) as shown in FIG. 2 rather than a larger unpolarized capacitor of FIG. 1. In an ANI operation, switches SW3 and SW4 are closed to form a circuit path for the caller ID signals. The approach shown in FIG. 2, however, requires an extra switch element SW4 to return the bottom leg of the transformer to the correct node in addition to the caller ID signal path comprising resistor R1, capacitor C2, and switch SW3.
FIG. 3 shows a plot of input impedance versus ANI signal frequency for DAA circuits shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 3, input impedance Zin (assumed to be resistive) looking into the modem from the telephone line varies from about 2.3 K.OMEGA. to 3.9 K.OMEGA. depending on the signal frequency.
FIG. 4 shows the frequency response of ANI signal gain for DAA circuits shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 4, the vertical axis shows ANI signal gain in dB at RXA line (pin). As shown, in the prior DAA circuits, the caller ID (ANI) signals arriving at node N1 are significantly attenuated due to a voltage divider effect with Z1 on the bottom of the divider and C2+R1 (plus transformer T1's winding resistance) on the top, with node V1 at the midpoint. Typically, ANI signal attenuation in the prior art DAA circuits ranges from 18 dB to 31 dB, significantly weakening the caller ID (ANI) signals.
Thus there is a need in the art to provide a DAA with ANI capability that reduces the caller ID signal attenuation without requiring significant modifications to the existing DAA designs and without greatly increasing design complexity.

Method and apparatus for implementing automatic number identification system for DAA


A method for determining road surface conditions in a system with at least one vehicle and a data processing device. The vehicle exchanges data with the data processing device wirelessly. The vehicle has at least one sensor for determining measured values describing a road surface friction coefficient, and a computing unit. The data processing device includes a database, containing a road map having a plurality of route sections. The method includes determining measured values for a route section by the sensor, determining a first friction coefficient for the route section by the vehicle's computing unit, sending a data record, containing measured values and/or the first determined friction coefficient and a piece of information identifying the route section, to the data processing device, determining an average friction coefficient for the route section, sending the average friction coefficient determined for the route section to the vehicle, and determining the road surface condition.

The safe determination of road surface conditions, in particular with regard to the friction value of the road surface (also denoted by the friction coefficient, friction number, traction coefficient or friction coefficient μ), is one of the essential factors for the safe operation of driver assistance systems such as ABS, traction control and stability programs. The friction coefficient of a road surface defines the maximum transferable force between the tire and the road surface, and therefore the limits of any corresponding control by a driving assistance system, taking into account other vehicle-specific parameters, such as vehicle mass or tire contact area.
From the prior art a large number of methods and systems for the determination of road surface conditions and, in particular, road friction coefficients, are already known.
For example, DE 10 2016 203 545 A1, incorporated herein by reference, held by the applicant describes a method for determining classes of road surface grip from measured values of a circumferential force on at least one vehicle wheel of a vehicle moving on a road surface, and the wheel slip caused by this circumferential force.
Also, DE 10 2012 112 724 A1, incorporated herein by reference, held by the applicant discloses a method in which a road surface condition is determined from environmental sensor data of a vehicle, in particular from camera data.

Method for determining road surface conditions


A mixed metal complex of a compound of Formula I, or a salt thereof, wherein the mixed metals comprise a Group III-XII transition metal and a Group II metal:

Oxidative stress begins with the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) as a part of normal cellular function. There are multiple cellular sources of ROS generation but the most significant ones are the mitochondria electron transport complexes I and III, P450 enzymes within the endoplasmic reticulum, and membrane bound NADPH oxidase. ROS production by each of these sources can be stimulated by cytokines, inflammation, viral proteins, and other mechanisms, like chemotherapy drugs, ischemia-reperfusion, and iron and copper overload. Importantly, these processes initially generate the free-radical superoxide (.O2−) which is sequentially reduced to form hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical and, ultimately, water. Under conditions of high oxidative stress and consequently high production of superoxide, these reactive intermediates, however, readily interact with other molecules to form secondary harmful ROS, such as lipid peroxidation products and peroxynitrite (Singal et al., Liver Int. 2011; 31:1432-1448). This indicates the importance of keeping the cellular amount of superoxide under tight control. Under normal conditions this is achieved by superoxide dismutases (SODs). Although SODs have the fastest reaction rate of known enzymes, under conditions of high oxidative stress, these enzymes may be outcompeted and even irreversible irreversibly inactivated by ROS and RNS. This in turn, opens up for therapeutic use of low molecular drugs that mimic the SOD enzymes, i.e., the so-called SOD mimetics, to combat pathological oxidative stress.
Short-lived but highly reactive oxygen-derived free radicals have long been known to participate in pathological tissue damage, especially during treatment with cytotoxics/cytostatics and radiotherapy in cancer patients (Towart et al., Arch Pharmacol 1998; 358 (Suppl 2):R626, Laurent et al., Cancer Res 2005; 65:948-956, Karlsson et al., Cancer Res 2006; 66:598, Alexandre et al., J Natl Cancer Inst 2006; 98:236-244, Doroshow, J Natl Cancer Inst 2006; 98:223-225, Citrin et al, Oncologist, 2010; 15:360-371, Kurz et al., Transl Oncol 2012; 5:252-259), acetaminophen-induced liver failure (Bedda et al., J Hepatol 2003; 39:765-772; Karlsson, J Hepatol 2004; 40:872-873), in ischemic heart disease (Cuzzocrea et al., Pharmacol Rev 2001; 53:135-159) and in various neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis (Knight, Ann Clin Lab Sci. 1997; 27:11-25). Overproduction of oxygen-derived free radicals is also implicated in pathological conditions of iron overload (Rachmilewitz et al., Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2005; 1054:118-23), for example, in thalassemia, sickle cell anemia and transfusional hemosiderosis. Oxygen-derived free radicals are also implicated in hepatitis-induced liver cirrhosis (Farrell et al., Anat Rec 2008; 291:684-692) and in noise-induced hearing loss (Wong et al., Hear Res 2010; 260:81-88).
The use of dipyridoxyl based chelating agents and their metal chelates and certain manganese-containing compounds, in particular manganese chelates, in medicine is known. See EP 0910360, U.S. Pat. No. 6,147,094, EP 0936915, U.S. Pat. No. 6,258,828, EP 1054670, U.S. Pat. No. 6,310,051, EP 1060174, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,391,895, for example, which disclose that certain chelating agents, in particular dipyridoxyl chelating agents, and their metal chelates, are effective in treating or preventing anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity, radiation-induced toxicity, ischemia-reperfusion-induced injuries, and paracetamol (acetaminophen) induced liver failure, or from a more general point of view, every pathological condition caused by the presence of oxygen-derived free radicals, i.e., oxidative stress, in humans and animals. Furthermore, the dipyridoxyl compound mangafodipir (MnDPDP) has in addition and surprisingly been found to possess cytotoxic effects against cancer cells (EP 16944338). However, as described in WO 2009/078794 A1 and in Kurz et al., 2012, this is an inherent property of fodipir (DPDP) alone or its dephosphorylated counterparts, DPMP and PLED, and not of the metal complex MnDPDP or its dephosphorylated counterparts, MnDPMP and MnPLED.
One of the MnPLED-derivatives, namely manganese N,N′-bis-(pyridoxal-5-phosphate)-ethylenediamine-N,N′-diacetic acid (Manganese DiPyridoxyl DiPhosphate; MnDPDP), also known as mangafodipir, is approved for use as a diagnostic MRI contrast agent in humans. Interestingly, mangafodipir has also been shown to protect mice against serious side effects of several cytotoxic/cytostatic drugs (doxorubicin, oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil and paclitaxel), without interfering negatively with the anticancer effects of these drugs (Towart et al., 1998, Laurent et al., 2005, Karlsson et al., 2006, Alexandre et al., 2006, Doroshow, 2006, Kurz et al., 2012). Mangafodipir has been tested in one colon cancer patient going through palliative treatment with a combination of folinate, 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin (Yri et al., Acta Oncol. 2009; 48:633-635). The preclinical data and the results from this single patient were so promising that clinical testing in cancer patients has started. When it comes to the most troublesome side effect of oxaliplatin, namely oxaliplatin-induced sensory neurotoxicity, no preclinical data exist, to the best of our knowledge, showing protective effects of mangafodipir (Karlsson et al., Transl Oncol. 2012; 5:32-38). Yri et al., 2009, described that the patient received 15 full-doses of "Nordic FLOX". In 14 of the cycles, the patient received pretreatment with mangafodipir. The patient received an accumulated dose of 1275 mg/m2 oxaliplatin, which is a dose likely to give neurotoxic symptoms. No neurotoxic symptoms were detected, except during the fifth cycle when mangafodipir was deliberately left out and the patient experienced peripheral sensory neuropathy. This suggests that mangafodipir may protect against peripheral neurotoxicity. After five cycles, the performance status for the patient was drastically improved, and the demand for analgesics was significantly reduced. Neutropenia did not occur during any of the chemotherapy cycles.
A first feasibility study (MANFOL I) has been completed and positive results, including myeloprotective effects, have been reported to the Swedish Medical Agency and have been published (Karlsson et al., 2012).
Mangafodipir has also been described to protect mice against acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure in mice (ALF) (Bedda et al., 2003; Karlsson, 2004). ALF is characterized by massive hepatocyte cell death, a condition caused by glutathione depletion, oxygen-derived free radicals and mitochondrial damage.
Mangafodipir is a pro-drug in the sense that it probably has to be metabolized into N,N′-dipyridoxyl ethylenediamine-N,N′-diacetic acid (MnPLED) before it can exert cytoprotective effects during in vivo conditions (e.g., see Karlsson et al., Acta Radiol 2001; 42:540-547; Kurz et al., 2012). Manganese is an essential as well as potentially neurotoxic metal. It has been known for many years that under conditions of chronic exposure to high levels of manganese, a syndrome of extrapyramidal dysfunction similar to Parkinson's syndrome, although clinically a different disease entity, frequently occurs (see Scheuhammer & Cherian, Arch Environm Contam Toxicol 1982; 11:515-520). When a diagnostic MR imaging dose of mangafodipir is intravenously injected into humans, about 80% of the administered manganese is released (Toft et al., Acta Radiol 1997; 38:677-689). Release of paramagnetic manganese is in fact a prerequisite for the diagnostic MR imaging properties of mangafodipir (Wendland, N M R Biomed 2004; 17:581-594). Elizondo et al., 1991 (Radiology 1991; 178:73-78) stated that the fodipir moiety binds to the pyridoxyl 5′ phosphate receptor on hepatocytes and ensures a high intracellular concentration of mangafodipir in the liver. This hypothesis was recently also suggested in a paper by Coriat et al., (PLoS One 2011; 6:1-6, e27005). This is a nice hypothesis but unfortunately an unproven and a very unlikely one, which fell out of fashion shortly after it had been presented. When mangafodipir is injected intravenously (i.v.) about 80% of the metal complex falls apart (Toft et al., Radiol 1997), and at every equimolar Mn dose, MnCl2 has an equal or better liver MR imaging contrast efficacy than mangafodipir (Southon et al., Acta Radiol 1997). Furthermore, after injection of mangafodipir almost all fodipir is recovered in the urine (the major part of it as PLED), whereas most manganese is recovered in the feces (Hustvedt et al., Acta Radiol 1997; 38:690-699). On the other hand, the therapeutic effects of mangafodipir (MnDPDP) and its dephosphorylated counterparts MnDPMP (N,N′-dipyridoxylethylenediamine-N,N′-diacetate-5-phosphate) and MnPLED depend on the intact metal complex (Brurok et al., Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1999; 254:768-721, Karlsson et al 2001; 42:540-547).
PLED-derivatives mimic the mitochondrial enzyme manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) (Brurok et al., 1999). MnSOD protects the mammalian cell from the superoxide radical, a byproduct from oxygen metabolism, which is produced in fairly high amounts during normal aerobic conditions; no mammalians survive without a functional MnSOD. MnSOD has the fastest turnover number (reaction rate with its substrate) of any known enzyme (>109M−1 s−1) (Fridovich, J Exp Biol. 1998; 201:1203-1209). Low molecular weight MnSOD mimetics may have turnover rates close to that of native MnSOD (Cuzzocrea et al., 2001). Interestingly, physiological buffers containing transition metals like manganese may have similar high turnover numbers (Culotta et al., Biochim Biophys Acta. 2006; 1763:747-758). However, the importance of native SOD enzymes is consistent with a selection process favoring organisms that elaborate a means of localizing transition metal catalyst for superoxide dismutation to parts of the cell where there is a high need for such dismutation, e.g., mitochondria. Furthermore, results from myocardial ischemia-reperfusion in anaesthetized pigs inevitably show that the intact MnPLED, but not manganese per se, protects against oxidative stress, seen as reduction in infarct size (Karlsson et al., 2001). Effective inactivation of superoxide is essential in preventing generation of very devastating hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite (Cuzzocrea et al., 2001). During pathological oxidative stress, the formation of superoxide radicals often exceeds the endogenous capacity for inactivation. Furthermore, superoxide stimulates production of peroxynitrite which nitrates endogenous MnSOD. This protein is nitrated by peroxynitrite in Tyr-34 (Radi, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2004; 101:4003-4008). Once nitrated, MnSOD looses its enzymatic activity, an event favoring the accumulation of superoxide and superoxide-driven damage (Muscoli et al., Br J Pharmacol 2003; 140:445-460).
Recent results indicate that MnSOD inactivation by nitration is an early event in paracetamol-induced hepatic toxicity (Agarwal et al., J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2011; 337:110-116). Old results, in addition, indicate that nitration and inactivation of MnSOD are involved in chronic rejection of transplanted kidneys in humans (MacMillan-Crow et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1996; 93:11853-11858). It may also be relevant to note that actin, which can constitute 5% or more of the cell protein, is heavily nitrated in sickle cell anemia and that the extent of nitration observed is sufficient to induce cytoskeletal polymerization (Radi, 2004). Circulating levels of 3-nitrotyrosine may in addition serve as a biomarker to assess atherosclerosis risks. Furthermore, in addition to atherosclerosis, peroxinitrite and 3-nitrotyrosine are believed to be involved in myocardial ischemia, septic and distressed lung, inflammatory bowel disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Beckman et al., Am J Physiol 1996; 271:C1424-C1437) and diabetes (Fönstermann et al, Br J Pharmacol. 2011; 164:213-223).
Impaired antioxidant defense mechanisms, including reduced SOD activity, and a subsequently increased production of peroxynitrite, may be an important factor in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) (Koruk et al., Ann Clin Lab Sci. 2004; 34:57-62). A major epidemiological and clinical association between either hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus infections and the development of chronic hepatitis and the appearance of hepatocellular carcinoma is evident. Interestingly, peroxynitrite-induced tyrosine-nitration is markedly increased in patients with chronic viral hepatitis (Garcia-Monzon et al., J Hepatol. 2000; 32:331-338). Currently, the generally cited mechanism of pathology development in Wilson's disease involves oxidative damage due to copper overload. Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as lipid oxidation and DNA damage has been detected in the liver, particularly at the advanced stages of this disease (Burkhead et al., Biometals 2011; 24:455-466).
MnPLED-derivatives are not targets for peroxynitrite and addition of exogenous MnPLED-derivatives may in such situations re-establish the protective potential. PLED-derivatives are in addition strong iron binders, as described in EP 1054670, U.S. Pat. No. 6,310,051 and by Rocklage et al., (Inorg Chem 1989; 28:477-485), and some MnPLED-derivatives may have catalase and glutathione reductase activities (Laurent et al., 2005), which may further increase their antioxidant capacity.
For diagnostic imaging use and other sporadic use, dissociation of manganese from mangafodipir presents no major toxicological problem. Due to uptake into CNS, however, for more frequent use, for example in therapeutic methods, accumulated manganese toxicity may represent a serious neurotoxicological problem (Crossgrove et al, NMR Biomed. 2004; 17:544-53). Thus, for more frequent therapeutic use, compounds that readily dissociate manganese should be avoided and there is a need to develop means for obtaining desirable therapeutic effects while reducing the undesirable side effects associated with such therapeutic use.

Calmangafodipir, a new chemical entity, and other mixed metal complexes, methods of preparation, compositions, and methods of treatment

Abstract: wherein X, R1, R2, R3, and R4 are as defined herein, is produced in a one step crystallization from a solution of the Group III-XII transition metal, the Group II metal, and a compound of Formula I. Methods for treatment of a pathological condition in a patient, for example, a pathological condition caused by the presence of oxygen-derived free radicals, comprise administering the mixed metal complex to the patient.


The present disclosure provides methods for treating a human patient diagnosed with a cancer, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a PRMT5 (protein arginine methyltransferase 5) inhibitor, certain methods comprising (i) administering to the patient initial doses of at least about 0.1 mg per day of the PRMT5 inhibitor that is (1S,2R,3S,5R)-3-(2-(2-amino-3-bromoquinolin-7-yl)ethyl)-5-(4-amino-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7-yl)cyclopentane-1,2-diol or a pharmaceutically acceptable addition salt or solvate thereof for an initial dosing period of about 5 to about 21 days; and (ii) administering to the patient subsequent doses of at least about 0.1 mg per day of the PRMT5 inhibitor for one or more subsequent dosing periods of about 5 to about 21 days each. In these methods, a first subsequent dosing period is separated in time from the initial dosing period by at least about 5 days and the subsequent dosing periods are separated in time from each other by at least about 5 days.

Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5), also described as Hs17, Jbp1, Skb1, Capsuleen or Dart5, is one of the major methyltransferases responsible for mono- and symmetric dimethylation of arginines. Post-translational arginine methylation on histones and non-histone proteins seems to be crucial for a variety of biological processes, like genome organisation, transcription, differentiation, spliceosome function, signal transduction and regulation of cell-cycle progression, stem cells and T-cell fate. Metazoan PRMT5 forms a functional complex with the methylosome protein 50 (MEP50) also named as Wdr77, androgen receptor coactivator p44 and Valois. Both elevated PRMT5-MEP50 protein level and cytoplasmic accumulation are implicated in cancer tumorigenesis and have been correlated with poor clinical outcome. Cellular rescue experiments that addressed both the catalytic and scaffold function of the PRMT5-MEP50 complex and beside comprehensive enzymological studies have substantiated the oncogenic link between protein level, localisation and enzymatic function. This correlation turns PRMT5 into an important small molecule drug target against cancer and other diseases.
Although PRMT5 is considered a clinically relevant target, very few selective PRMT5 inhibitors have been developed. There is thus a strong need for novel treatment regimens involving PRMT5 inhibitors for the treatment or prevention of cancer. It is accordingly an object of the present disclosure to provide such methods.

Methods of treating cancer using PRMT5 inhibitors


A sanitary napkin that is provided with large rear flaps to effectively prevent liquid from leaking obliquely rearward. The rear flaps are disposed rearward of fold-back flaps to be wrapped around a crotch part of an undergarment. The rear flap is of a shape spreading rearwardly from a starting point. With a pressure from the thighs acting forward of the starting point, leakage preventing walls forward of the starting point can be maintained in a rising state during wear. On the other hand, the leakage preventing walls rearward of the starting point may possibly fall outward. However, even if the leakage preventing walls fall outward rearward of the starting point, they will never project out of the rear flaps. Accordingly, they hardly leave a stain on an undergarment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sanitary napkin suitable for nighttime use. More particularly, the invention relates to a sanitary napkin provided with rear flaps for widely covering a posterior part of the crotch and the buttocks.
2. Description of the Related Art
For nighttime use, there have been known elongated sanitary napkins with fold-back flaps in its front portion and rear flaps in its rear portion.
FIG. 8 is a top plan view showing a conventional sanitary napkin 101 of this type with its skin-side surface directed upward.
The sanitary napkin 101 has a main body constructed to include: a liquid-permeable topsheet located on the skin-side surface; a liquid-impermeable backsheet located on the garment-side surface; and a liquid absorbent layer disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. The main body has a front portion with fold-back flaps 102, 102 projecting from transversely opposing sides thereof and a rear portion with rear flaps 103, 103 projecting from the transversely opposing sides. The sanitary napkin 101 is intended to be placed on an inner surface of an undergarment from a crotch part to a back body and fixed to the inner surface of the undergarment through a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer disposed on a garment-side surface of the backsheet.
The fold-back flaps 102, 102 may be folded back to cover either side edge of the crotch part of the undergarment and adhered to an outer surface of the crotch part through pressure-sensitive adhesive layers. The rear flaps 103, 103 may be placed on the undergarment in an unfolded state to extend from a rear portion of the crotch part to the back body, wherein the garment-side surfaces of the rear flaps 103, 103 can be fixed to the inner surface of the undergarment through pressure-sensitive adhesive layers.
On the skin-side surface of the main body, leakage preventing walls 104, 104 are provided to extend longitudinally on each side of a longitudinal centerline Oy-Oy. Each leakage preventing wall 104 is provided with longitudinally extending elastic members for exerting an elastic contractive force between front and rear ends 105, 106. With the elastic contractive force, the leakage preventing wall 104 is raised from the skin-side surface between the front and rear ends 105, 106.
In the sanitary napkin 101, a front region 107a between the fold-back flaps 102, 102 is intended to face the vaginal opening, and an intermediate region 107b is intended to face the perineum and the anus. In a rear region 107c, the sanitary napkin is deformed to rise along the longitudinal centerline Oy-Oy for fit in the cleft of the buttocks.
Sanitary napkins of this type are disclosed, for example, in the following Patent Publications 1 and 2. In the sanitary napkin disclosed in the Patent Publication 1, since the rear ends 106, 106 of the leakage preventing walls 104, 104 are located farther rearward than shown in FIG. 8, menstrual blood discharged from the vaginal opening and trying to flow obliquely rearward may be blocked.
[Patent Publication 1]
    Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-95842[Patent Publication 2]    Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H07-33314
When the undergarment is worn with the sanitary napkin 101 of FIG. 8 being adhered and fixed thereto, the inside of the wearer's thigh faces a region extending over a length of 150 to 170 mm with center at a transverse reference line Ox-Ox of the sanitary napkin 101. Since the thighs exert a transverse clamping force on this region, the leakage preventing walls 104, 104 come into contact with the thighs, hardly falling transversely outward.
Rearward of a line Lx-Lx that is spaced 70-80 mm apart rearwardly from the transverse reference line Ox-Ox, however, the leakage preventing walls 104, 104 cannot come into contact with the thighs. Rearward of the line Lx-Lx, moreover, the leakage preventing walls 104, 104 will be subjected to a pressure from the buttocks. Therefore, the leakage preventing walls 104, 104 rearward of the line Lx-Lx tend to fall outward without being constrained by the thighs.
In the conventional sanitary napkin 101 of FIG. 8, the rear flaps 103, 103 have side edges 103a, 103a that are located close to the leakage preventing walls 104, 104 on the line Lx-Lx. When the leakage preventing walls 104, 104 fall transversely outward, therefore, they extend beyond the side edges 103a, 103a, so that menstrual blood applied to the leakage preventing walls 104, 104 may possibly adhere to the undergarment outside the rear flaps 103, 103.
In the conventional sanitary napkin 101 of FIG. 8, furthermore, the side edges 103a, 103a of the rear flaps 103, 103 are gently inclined away from the longitudinal centerline Oy-Oy. Therefore, if menstrual blood flows out of the leakage preventing walls 104, 104 near the line Lx-Lx obliquely rearward as indicated by an arrow 109, the menstrual blood tends to leak out beyond the side edges 103a, 103a of the rear flaps 103, 103. This also results in leaving a stain on the undergarment.


A caster including a device for delivering a gas into a space created by the apparatus that define the mold of the caster and the nozzle of the caster. Introducing a gas into the space resists backflowing and freezing of the molten metal to the nozzle.

This invention relates to a caster including a gas delivery means to resist backflowing and freezing of molten metal to the tip of a nozzle and an associated method.
Casters for casting molten metal, such as molten aluminum, into metal products are known. Molten metal is typically introduced into the caster from a trough that is fed from a furnace. Typically, a nozzle introduces the molten metal into the mold of the caster. In a twin belt caster, the mold is formed by a pair of opposed movable belts and a pair of opposed side dams. A metal product, such as a slab, is formed in the mold by solidifying the molten metal. An example of a twin belt caster is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,456.
A recurring problem with casters utilizing a nozzle is that molten metal can freeze at the nozzle tip. This freezing of molten metal at the nozzle tip causes undesirable surface qualities in the cast slab. In addition, freezing of molten metal at the nozzle tip can cause nozzle damage.
Also, despite the known devices to seal the belt to the nozzle (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,873) a space can form between the nozzle and the belt, and molten metal can enter this space, and thereafter freeze to the nozzle tip.
What is needed, therefore, is a caster that includes means for resisting freezing and backflowing of molten metal to the nozzle tip. By resisting this freezing and backflowing of molten metal to the nozzle tip, a higher quality cast metal product can be produced in the caster.

Caster including a gas delivery means to resist backflowing and freezing of molten metal to the tip of a nozzle


The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for delivering an active agent taxane through transmucosal administration, more particularly through the buccal mucosa or sublingual mucosa. The present invention provides a method for treating cancer by buccal or sublingual administration of the pharmaceutical composition to a subject. The pharmaceutical composition comprises a taxane, a non-ionic surfactant, a viscosity enhancing agent, an adhesive agent, and an alcohol solvent at pH 4-6.

Taxanes are one of the important classes of cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Representatives of taxanes include docetaxel, paclitaxel, cabazitaxel, larotaxel, abraxane, paclitaxel pro-drugs, paclitaxel lipid conjugates, paclitaxel polymer conjugates and the like.
Paclitaxel has been approved for clinical use in the treatment of first line and advanced ovarian cancer in the United States and has been approved for treatment of breast cancer, non small cell lung cancer and AIDS related Kaposi's Sarcoma. Paclitaxel is only slightly soluble in water and this has created significant problems in developing suitable injectable and infusion formulations useful for anticancer chemotherapy. Some formulations of paclitaxel for IV infusion have been developed utilizing CREMOPHOR® EL (polyoxyl castor oil) as the drug carrier because of paclitaxel's aqueous insolubility. However, when administered intravenously, CREMOPHOR® EL is itself toxic and produces vasodilation, labored breathing, lethargy, hypotension and death in dogs. (Rowinsky et al, J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 82:1247-1259 (1990))
Docetaxel (N-debenzoyl-N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-10-deacetyl paclitaxel) is commercially available as TAXOTERE® (Rhone-Poulenc Rorer) in a parenteral form. Docetaxel demonstrates a significant antitumour activity against various human malignancies, and is approved for treating patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, non-small-cell lung cancer, hormone refractory prostate cancer and advanced gastric cancer.
TAXOTERE® contains 40 mg/ml docetaxel and 1040 mg/ml polysorbate 80; it requires a first dilution with 13% ethanol before a further dilution in an intravenous infusion solution. Early in the clinical development of docetaxel, it became clear that docetaxel administration is associated with the occurrence of unpredictable (acute) hypersensitivity reactions. The occurrence of hypersensitivity reactions has, in part, been attributed to intrinsic toxic effects of polysorbate 80, and more specifically to oxidation products and oleic acid present in polysorbate 80, which are known to cause histamine release. (Lorenz et al, Agents Actions, 12: 64-80 (1982); Bergh et al, Contact Dermatitis, 37: 9-18 (1997)) Polysorbate 80 has been reported to increase plasma viscosity and produce changes in erythrocyte morphology; such effects have been suggested to contribute to mechanisms related to docetaxel-mediated cardiovascular side effects. (Mark et al, Br. J. Pharmacol, 134: 1207-1214 (2001))
Cabazitaxel is a taxane compound derived from the renewable needle biomass of yew plants. Cabazitaxel works by disrupting the microtubular network, which is essential for mitotic and interphase cellular functions and causes inhibition of cell division and cell death. Cabazitaxel has been shown to inhibit cell division and tumor cell proliferation by binding to and stabilizing tubulin, a protein in the microtubules of cells which provides a skeleton for maintaining cell shape.
Cabazitaxel is marketed as JEVTANA®, which is indicated in combination with prednisone for treating patients with hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer previously treated with docetaxel. JEVTANA® is supplied as a kit consisting of (a) a JEVTANA® injection, which contains 60 mg cabazitaxel in 1.5 mL polysorbate 80; and (b) a diluent, containing approximately 5.7 mL 13% (w/v) ethanol. Prior to administration, the JEVTANA® injection must first be mixed with the diluent, which dilutes the amount of cabazitaxel to 10 mg/mL, and then further diluted into a 250 mL PVC-free container of either 0.9% sodium chloride solution or 5% dextrose solution for infusion.
Docetaxel and paclitaxel with their broad anticancer activity, have contributed significantly to the improved treatment of a number of neoplastic diseases. Unfortunately, until now, the achievements obtained with these compounds have been mitigated by clinical limitations such as acquired or intrinsic resistance of tumors, poor CNS activity. Larotaxel is a semi-synthetic taxoid derivative, selected for development on the basis of its spectrum of in vitro and in vivo activity against taxane-resistant and multidrug-resistant tumors. Due to its broad spectrum of activity and with the possible advantages of surpassing some mechanisms of resistance and penetrating into the CNS, currently larotaxel is selected to conduct a clinical trial study.
Commercially available paclitaxel, docetaxel, and cabazitaxel drugs are administered via intravenous routes, requiring intervention by a physician or other health care professional, entailing considerable discomfort and potential local trauma to the patient and even requiring administration in a hospital setting. Many researchers are working on oral delivery of taxanes. However, paclitaxel and docetaxel were reported to have a poor or inconsistent oral bioavailability upon oral administration. To increase the bioavailability, some oral bioavailability-enhancing agent such as cyclosporin A, cyclosporin D, cyclosporin F or ketoconazole were co-administered to a mammalian patient. The enhancing agent was administered orally from 0.5-24 hours prior to the oral administration of one or more doses of the target agent, or substantially simultaneously with the target agent, or both prior to and substantially simultaneously with the target agent. However, this co-administration approach is not convenient for patients.
There exists a need for a method for delivering a taxane drug with improved bioavailability and fewer side effects.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The invention provides micro-electromechanical switch (MEM) based designs for reducing the power consumption of logic blocks (e.g., latches) by isolating the logic blocks when they are non-operational. A power reduction circuit in accordance with the present invention comprises a logic block and at least one micro-electromechanical (MEM) switch for selectively disabling the logic block. MEM switches are provided for selectively: disconnecting the logic block from power; disconnecting the logic block from ground; providing a bypass line around the logic block; disconnecting an output of the logic block; and/or disconnecting an input of the logic block.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to integrated circuits and, in particular, to circuit power reduction using micro-electromechanical (MEM) switches.
2. Related Art
As integrated circuit ground rules and manufacturing techniques allow for smaller and smaller device sizes, the power consumption of these circuits climbs rapidly. As a result of shorter transistor channel lengths, thinner gate oxide, and increased numbers of transistors, leakage current is quickly becoming a dominant power consumer in today's integrated circuit designs.
An example of increased power consumption is associated with the use of latches in integrated circuits to improve testability, test coverage, observability, and overall logical data flow control. These types of latches, which are not always used in the functional operation of an integrated circuit, add loading to the functional circuitry of the integrated circuit and also consume power due to high leakage currents and/or power dissipation during operation.
Traditional storage latches, such as a Data latch ("D-latch"), are implemented using various circuit layouts. One such D-latch layout 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1. When the clock input ("CLK") to the D-latch 10 is logic 1, the Q output will always reflect the logic level present at the D-latch input D. When the CLK input falls to logic 0, the last state of the D-latch input D is trapped, or latched, for use by whatever other circuits may be using this signal. Many other types of storage latch designs are well known in the art.
Traditional storage latch designs may be implemented in any common semiconductor chip fabrication process such as Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS), bipolar, bipolar CMOS (BiCMOS), silicon germanium (SiGe), etc. Today's design techniques implement these latch designs using standard transistor-based methods that insure compatibility with today's design techniques. Unfortunately, current latch designs have significant drawbacks: power dissipation when active and leakage currents are not in use, thus driving integrated circuit power requirements higher. Each latch used in an integrated circuit adds to the total dynamic and static power consumption of the integrated circuit. This power consumption becomes non-trivial as transistor sizes continue to decrease, device speeds increase and the number of latches used by integrated circuits increases.
Accordingly, there is a need for a circuit design that isolates logic blocks (e.g., latches) when they are non-operational, thus reducing power consumption and improving performance, while minimally impacting overall size of the design.

Circuit power reduction using micro-electromechanical switches

International Business Machines Corporation


Disclosed is a non-volatile ferroelectric memory device having differential data, the device including: a plurality of cell array block groups having a hierarchy bit line structure and storing differential data; a common data bus being shared by a plurality of the cell array block groups, and transferring sensing voltages induced by the differential data; a column selection control unit selectively applying to the common data bus the induced sensing voltages of two main bit lines of the cell array block group according to the differential data; and a sense amp unit receiving the sensing voltages through the common data bus, comparing two sensing voltages induced by the differential data, and sensing the cell data. Therefore, the non-volatile ferroelectric memory device of the invention is capable of sensing a cell data more stably, independent of external factors and the state of a cell, by simultaneously sensing the stored data (differential data) in two unit cells and detecting the cell data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a non-volatile ferroelectric memory device, and more particularly, to a non-volatile ferroelectric memory device capable of outputting a data more stably, independent of external factors and the state of a cell, by storing differential data in a memory cell array block having sub bit lines and main bit lines in a hierarchy bit line architecture, comparing the stored differential data with each other during a data read operation, and sensing the data.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a non-volatile ferroelectric memory, i.e., a FeRAM (Ferroelectric Random Access Memory), has a data processing speed equal to that of a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and also is capable of preserving stored data even when the power is off.
The FeRAM and DRAM are memory devices with similar structures, but the FeRAM uses a capacitor made of a ferroelectric material to benefit a high residual polarization characteristic of the ferroelectric material. The residual polarization of the ferroelectric capacitor allows data to be maintained in an FeRAM memory cell and not erased even if an electric field applied to the memory cell is removed.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a unit memory cell of a related art 1T1C type non-volatile ferroelectric memory device.
In the memory cell shown in FIG. 1, a bit line BL is formed in one direction and a word line WL is formed in a transversal direction with respect to the bit line BL. And, a plate line PL is formed in the same direction as the word line WL and at a predetermined distance therefrom. An NMOS transistor TR is disposed in such manner that a gate thereof is connected with the word line and a source thereof is connected with the bit line. A ferroelectric capacitor FC is disposed in such a manner that the first and second terminals thereof are respectively connected to the drain of the NMOS transistor TR and the plate line PL.
FIG. 2 is a timing diagram illustrating an operation of the memory cell in FIG. 1.
When a world line WL and a plate line PL in a selected cell are activated, a charge corresponding to a data "1" or "0" stored in the ferroelectric capacitor FC is applied to the bit line BL. In other words, a voltage in different yet designated levels according to the cell data is generated in the bit line BL.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a sense amp array for sensing a cell data in a related art non-volatile ferroelectric memory device.
As shown in FIG. 3, the sense amp array includes a plurality of sense amps S/A in a one-to-one correspondence to data bus lines BUS (0)–BUS (n). Each sense amp S/A compares a sensing voltage applied through the data bus line with a pre-determined reference voltage V_REF, and senses a cell data. The sensing voltage on the respective data bus line is induced by a data stored in a selected unit cell by the activated word and plate lines WL, PL, as illustrated in FIG. 2.
However, in the above-described system where the reference voltage is compared with the sensing voltage induced by a unit cell in order to sense a data in the corresponding cell, noise due to an external impact is often generated in the reference voltage and as a result of this, a precise, accurate data sensing is not obtained. In addition, in the case the ferroelectric capacitor is in abnormal state (WEAK), the sensing voltage is reduced and thus, sensing a data in a corresponding cell cannot be done as accurately as possible. Unfortunately this problem gets worse when the driving voltage of a chip is low.


A snowboard binding assembly comprising a fixed jaw to engage one side of a boot, and a slide jaw assembly to engage an opposite of the boot. An operating lever positions a slide jaw housing in a locking mode where the slide jaw assembly is fixed in locking engagement with the boot, an intermediate step-in position where the slide jaw housing can move laterally to a release position, and a disengaging position where the slide jaw housing is either positively moved to the release position or can readily be moved to the release position in opposition to the spring. In one preferred embodiment, a locking finger is mounted to a rotatable shaft connected to the positioning lever, and a cam finger causing movement of the slide jaw housing is mounted to the cam member.

a. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a binding that secures a person's boot in place, and more particularly to such a binding which is particularly adapted for use in connection with snow boards.
B. Background Art
In recent years, the sport of snow boarding has become increasingly popular, and this activity often takes place on ski slopes. Accordingly, the snow boarder, after completing his run down the snow covered ski slope, then makes his way to the chairlift to be carried to the top of the slope of the next run.
The arrangement of the conventional chairlift is such that the skiers will get in line for the chairlift, and make their way forward in the line as people continue to be carried up by the lift. If the pathway to the boarding location of the chairlift has a moderate uphill slant, then the skier will often use his poles to assist him in moving further along the path.
However, for the snow boarder this presents a somewhat different set of problems. First, the person using a snow board generally does not carry ski poles or the equivalent thereof. Therefore, when the person using the snow board has to make his way up even a moderately inclined pathway to the boarding point of the chairlift, it would be necessary for the person to either take off the snow board and walk up to the boarding point of the chairlift, or to disengage at least one foot from the snow board and use the one foot to push his way up the path while the other foot remains on the snow board. Then when the person moves into place at the boarding position in the path of the moving chair, the person will usually immediately move the free foot into engagement with the binding on the snow board. Then the person simply sits on the chair as the chair moves into a position proximate to the person's legs, and the person is then carried up the hill in the chairlift.
When a person wearing skis is carried upwardly by the chairlift and approaches the unloading location, the person will normally simply stand up from the chair and ski away from the unloading location. On the other hand, if the person has a snow board with one foot disengaged, he will have to reconnect his disengaged boot to the snow board shortly before unloading. Then at the unloading location, the person with the snow board will be able to stand up from the chair and snow board down the incline from the unloading location. More often, the snow boarder will have both feet secured to the snow board when he first sits on the chair at the boarding location. Overall, the snow boarder faces a somewhat different set of problems in utilizing the conventional chairlift at a skiing facility.
Another consideration is that the releasing requirements are somewhat different for snow boarding than for snow skiing. When a person falls on snow skis, one of the snow skis may remain in a normal position aligned in a forward to rear direction, while the other ski may catch and begin turning in a manner to begin twisting the person's foot. Accordingly, the ski binding must release at a predetermined force level that is below that force level which (if exerted in a twisting or other motion on a person's foot) would damage the person's foot, ankle or leg.
On the other hand, since the snow board itself is a single object to which the snow boarder's feet are secured, it is customary to hold the snow boarder's feet to the snow board more securely, the reason being that it would be rather uncommon for a single foot to be subjected to the sort of twisting motion that could occur in snow skiing. However, since the snow boarder must be able to engage or disengage his feet with the snow board, there must be an adequate release mechanism which is convenient to operate. This is particularly true under the circumstances where the snow boarder is using a conventional chairlift, and is (as described above) disengaging and engaging at least one foot with the snow board in getting on to the chair and unloading from the chair.
Another consideration is that sometimes the person with the snow board will take a fall on the slope and end up in a precarious position in deep snow, and this situation could even be life threatening. Then, it becomes necessary for the snow boarder to disengage his boots from the snow board so that he could recover from that position in the deep snow. Accordingly, the disconnecting mechanism in the snow board binding must be such as to provide a quick and convenient release.
A search of the patent literature has disclosed a number of patents relating to snow board bindings particularly (and to some extent snow ski bindings), and these are presented below.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,443 (Kincheloe) shows a ski board binding where there is what is called a socket portion 26 that is attached to the board, and an attachment plate which attaches to the boot and slides into engagement with the socket member 26. (See FIG. 1 and FIG. 3.) To hold the boot in place, the plate 28 that is attached to the boot engages a retaining member 80. As can be seen in FIGS. 5 through 8, the plate 28 is slid laterally into the slideways defined by the retaining members 38 and 40, and as can be seen in FIG. 7, as the plate 28 slides in, it will depress the retaining member 80. When the plate 28 is fully in place, the retaining member 80 springs back up to lock the plate (to which the boot is attached) to the ski board. To release the retaining member there is a tab member 92 provided that is depressed to in turn depress the retaining member 80.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,973,073 (Raines et al) shows a snow board binding where there is a stationary retaining member 60 that is fixedly attached to the ski board and engages one side of a plate attached to the boot. Then there is a second oppositely positioned boot engaging member 70 that has a base portion 74 and a hooking lip 76 which is spring loaded to move toward the boot and engage an opposite side of the plate that is attached to the boot. This hook member 76 is spring loaded to its retaining position, and there is a release member 102 that can be manually grasped to release the boot from the binding.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,652,007 (Dennis) shows a snow board binding where there is a toe piece binding clip assembly 15 mounted to the ski board and a heel engaging safety release clip assembly 16 also attached to the ski board. These are conventional safety binding elements, and it is indicated in the text of the application that these could be of the type manufactured by Salomon (Model S-626). The boot is attached to a member that has what might be called an X shape in that the forwardly and rearwardly extending elements engage the forward and rear binding assemblies 15 and 16, and the laterally slanting portion supports the toe and heel portion of the boot.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,716,248 (Wiley) shows a ski boot binding for a snow ski where there is a toe retaining element and a heel retaining element. There is a spring loaded member 147 that moves in a path parallel to the ski as it moves from its latching to its unlatching position.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,258,274 (Beecher) shows a clipping element in a ski binding that slides along the axis of the ski.


Methods, systems and computer program products for suggesting points of interests on a mapped route using user interests include receiving a request for a mapped route. The request can include off-route information indicating that the user is willing to visit points of interest not directly along the mapped route. That is, points of interests that may not necessarily be close to the user's mapped route but may be of high interest to the user can be presented or suggested to the user to enhance the user's travel experience or trip. The points of interest suggested can be selected based on respective relevancy scores representing a level of relevancy to a user interest. The suggested points of interest can be ranked based on the relevancy factors. The suggested point of interest displayed to the user can also be limited to those having a relevancy factor that meets a predetermined threshold.

Global Positioning System (GPS) devices receive GPS signals for the purpose of determining the device's current location on Earth. GPS devices provide latitude and longitude information that can be used to derive the current location of the GPS device. As the proliferation of GPS devices has increased, GPS devices have been incorporated into handheld or portable electronic devices such as cameras and smartphones. The GPS devices can also include maps which may be displayed on a touch-sensitive display of the GPS devices.
Some GPS devices not only determine the device's location but also provide turn-by-turn directions to direct the user of the GPS device to a desired or identified destination. Such turn-by-turn directions provide the user with directions for a selected route that are continually presented to the user in the form of spoken and visual instructions. The GPS device keeps the user up-to-date about the best route to the destination, as the GPS device takes into account traffic information, road conditions, and road construction. Some GPS devices also provide information on nearby amenities such as restaurants, fueling stations, etc. However, such information is typically categorized by type or distance from the current location of the GPS device. The information is typically user-generic and is sorted, suggested, and categorized based solely on the current location of the GPS device.

Suggesting points of interest on a mapped route using user interests


There is provided an image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus includes: a color reproducing unit for reproducing a luminance of a color phase, which is not set to each pixel of a pair of image data composed of Bayer array, based upon the adjacent pixels; and a matching processing unit for extracting blocks with a predetermined size from the pair of image data whose luminance is reproduced, and executing a matching process so as to specify blocks having high correlation. The color reproducing unit and the matching processing unit respectively execute the luminance reproduction and the matching process with only a color phase with the highest degree of occupation in the Bayer array.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that executes pattern matching based upon a pair of captured image data.
Description of Related Art
There has been known a technique of detecting an object that is an obstacle, such as a vehicle ahead or a traffic light, and making a control for avoiding a collision with the detected object and for keeping a safe distance between a vehicle and the vehicle ahead (for example, Japanese Patent No. 3349060 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. 10-283461)).
The distance between the vehicle and the vehicle ahead can be acquired from parallax of an object in a pair of image data that is captured at a different position. The parallax of the object in the pair of image data is derived based upon pattern matching between images. A general pattern matching is such that blocks with a predetermined size are compared (matched) between the images, and the blocks with the high correlation are specified. There is also a technique of executing the pattern matching by using a density histogram of the image (for example, JP-A No. 5-210737).
There is also a technique of geometrically correcting an optical positional deviation of the captured image before the pattern matching in order to enhance precision of the pattern matching (for example, Japanese Patent No. 3284190).
As a process of acquiring an image, her has been known a so-called Bayer array in which color filters of RGB signals, which are three primary colors, are regularly and exclusively arranged to plural light-receiving sections (photodiodes) corresponding to pixels that are arranged in a matrix, for example. In the Bayer array, at least one color phase of RGB is only acquired for each pixel. In general, a luminance value of unset (missing) color phase is interpolated based upon the adjacent pixels so as to reproduce color in each pixel. The position of each pixel whose color is reproduced is geometrically corrected as described above, and then, the pattern matching is executed.
However, the above-mentioned color reproduction is on the assumption that the original color of the target pixel, and the original color of the adjacent pixels are equal to each other. Therefore, when the colors of the adjacent pixels are different, or the object is different in the first place, the color is reproduced based upon the different color, which might cause false color. When the physical centroid of a pixel and the centroid of the color reproduced based upon this pixel are different from each other, the centroid of the color might be shifted due to the geometrical positional correction based upon the physical centroid of the pixel.
When a vehicle runs at night, an image is captured with an aperture being reduced (with the shutter being opened) in order to effectively acquire poor incident light. However, light of a light source in a detection region is too strong, so that a luminance value of an arbitrary color phase might be saturated.


A fluid breaking composition which includes an effective amount of an alkali chlorite and/or hyperchlorite, where the composition reduces a viscosity of a polymer viscosified fluid to a desired low value at down hole conditions within a time period coincident with a formation stimulation time, generally between about 30 minutes and 195 minutes and to methods for making and using the breaking composition.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a breaker composition adapted to break the viscosity of a viscosified fluid to a desired low value at down hole conditions within a time period coincident with a formation stimulation time and to methods for making and using same.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a breaker composition including an effective amount of an alkali chlorite and/or hyperchlorite to reduce a viscosity of a polymer viscosified fluid to a desired low value at down hole conditions within a time period coincident with a formation stimulation time and to methods for making and using same.
2. Description of the Related Art
One of the key problems in the use of slick water, linear gels and crosslinked fluids for stimulation and fracturing applications is to find a composition and/or method that controllably breaks such polymer viscosified systems at bottom hole conditions. The ideal breakers are those that are in a liquid state and can be delivered under controlled or controllable conditions sufficient to reduce a down hole fluid viscosity to a desired low value during a formation stimulation, i.e., for a time not shorter than and not much longer than a time needed to complete the formation stimulation.
There are many effective oxidative breakers, acid breakers, terpenes breaker and enzymes breaker or combination thereof either in the form of a pure material, a solution, a suspension or an encapsulated form that most of the time break the fluid in shorter or longer periods of time than needed to complete the formation stimulation. These breakers are only effective in narrow ranges of temperatures, which are not necessarily identical to or similar to bottom hole conditions. These systems have been introduced and widely used by services companies including Halliburton, Shlumberger, BJ Services, Weatherford, Mich., Baroid, Baker Hughes, among others.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,178 disclosed a composition and method for breaking polymer viscosified fluids using an alkali metal chlorite or hypochlorite, which releases oxygen chloride in a controllable manner to break down the polymer structure, and, therefore, decrease the viscosity of the polymer viscosified fluids.
Although there are breakers known to decrease the viscosity of down hole fluids during stimulation and/or fracturing operations, there is still a need in the art for breaker systems and methods of use that can effectively lower the viscosity of a down hole fluid to desired low value under down hole conditions.

Oxidative systems for breaking polymer viscosified fluids


A hearing device has a housing with an acoustic input aperture and an acoustic output aperture. A cover element overlays the input aperture. The material of the cover element permits passage of sound received at the input aperture though the material. Two microphones are located in the housing under the cover element. The cover element has an exterior surface that is flush with the exterior surface of the housing.

The present invention relates to a hearing aid defined in the preamble of claim 1.
Hearing aids comprise an acoustic input aperture to receive ambient sounds and an acoustic output aperture to emit the ambient sounds that were processed in the hearing aid. It is of foremost importance that spurious acoustic signals—which subsequently would be processed as being ambient sounds—should not be superposed on these ambient sounds. Spurious acoustic signals may arise from airflows detaching off edges or in the vicinity of the hearing aid (detachment problems) or from airflows of different speeds and/or directions in the immediate of the microphone membrane which would cause this membrane to move (gradient problems). These two sources of spurious acoustic signals also may be encountered in combination.
The U.S. Pat. No. 4,073,366 describes a cover element which is bonded across the acoustic input aperture of a hearing aid. This known cover element of several layers bonded together at their edges consists of a porous material, its purpose being to preclude spurious acoustic signals generated by airflows detaching off the edges of the said input aperture.
It was found however that this known design only little affects the majority of the spurious acoustic signals: even though the cover element across the acoustic input aperture does reduce gradient-induced spurious acoustic signals, it fails to affect detachment noises. The reason is that the cover element mounted across the acoustic input aperture to reduce flow detachment by its own edges gives rise to likely new sources of spurious acoustic signals. In this design the source of interfering spurious acoustic signals only has been shifted.
Reference is made for the sake of completeness to the European patent document 0,310,866 which discloses covering the acoustic output aperture with a preferably microporous cover element to prevent ear wax from penetrating the hearing aid. Said document also discloses covering the acoustic input aperture with a cover element in case an in-ear hearing aid is involved because in such a case ear wax only might penetrate the hearing aid when latter is inside the ear. Steps minimizing noise interference cannot be inferred from this document which merely concerns the prevent of hearing-aid soiling.


A product with an automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) device associated with a physical measurement, authentication code or operating condition of the product is disclosed. A bearing with an embedded transponder is illustratively described. The transponder contains data specific to the manufactured bearing, such as physical measurements or identification numbers.

Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Many manufactured products or components of products are considered to be fungibles, that is to say each product or component is virtually identical with the other. In reality, such manufactured products or components are made within certain tolerances, so that the differences between those products are within an acceptable range of measurable physical properties. In many applications, the consumer of a manufactured product is unconcerned with the specific physical properties of that product, so long as the product falls within the specified tolerance levels presented by the manufacturer.
However, in certain applications, a consumer of a manufactured or OEM part must make accommodations for even miniscule variations within the manufactured part, regardless of whether or not the product falls within the tolerances presented by the manufacturer. Thus, the consumer needs to know the exact measurements of the part, rather than just the nominal measurements of the part. Heretofore, the consumer would resort to physically measuring the manufactured part to determine its true and exact dimensions. For example, the consumer of anti-friction bearings may require the inner diameter of the inner race surface or bore size to be of an exact dimension to fit on a shaft of a particular size to avoid an excessive pre-load on the bearing. The consumer of such an anti-friction bearing traditionally would measure the bearing with a precision device, such as a laser micrometer to determine the actual inner diameter, and then grind the inner diameter of the bearing or apply shims to the bearing, as necessary, to obtain a proper fit of the bearing on the shaft.
The manufacturer of the anti-friction bearing may make physical measurements of each product, for quality control or other purposes. Therefore, the manufacturer of the anti-friction bearing may have the actual physical properties of each manufactured product produced. However, due to traditional arrangements between suppliers and customers in which a customer purchases a component within a guaranteed tolerance range, the supplier does not make use of any measured component data beyond its own internal quality control practices. Thus, the customer knows only the nominal dimensions of the manufactured part, and that the part is within whatever tolerances are specified for the part.
The typical anti-friction bearing has inner and outer races provided with opposed raceways and rolling elements which are located between the races where they roll along the raceways when the bearing is set in operation, thereby reducing friction to a minimum. The bearing often contains a lubricant and its ends are closed by seals to exclude contaminants from the interior of the bearing and of course to retain the lubricant in that interior. A bearing often fails for lack of lubrication or by reason of a defect in one of its raceways or rolling elements. But when assembled, the raceways and rolling elements are totally obscured and cannot be inspected without disassembling the bearing. This, of course, requires removing the bearing from the object upon which it is installed, such as a rail car journal, a vehicle axle, or a mill roll, for example.
Sometimes, a defect in an anti-friction bearing may manifest itself in a condition that is subject to detection on the exterior of the bearing, although not necessarily through a visual inspection. For instance, a rise in temperature can denote a lack of lubrication, or perhaps, even a seizure in which both races turn and the anti-friction bearing in effect becomes an unlubricated sleeve bearing. Also, spalling or other defects in the raceways or rolling elements may produce excessive vibrations in the bearing.
Devices exist for monitoring the operation of bearings. For example, railroads have trackside infrared sensors which monitor the journal bearings of passing trains, but they exist at a relatively few locations often many miles apart and will not detect the onset of a temperature rise occurring between such locations. Some bearings come equipped with their own sensors which are coupled to monitoring devices through wires. As a consequence, the race which carries the sensor for such a bearing must remain fixed, that is to say, prevented from rotating, or the wires will sever. And with a railroad journal bearing, at least, the outer race preferably should remain free enough to,xe2x80x9ccreepxe2x80x9d, that is rotate in small increments, so that wear is distributed evenly over the circumference of the outer raceway. Furthermore, preventing cup creep requires a costly locking mechanism.
Another problem facing the user of an anti-friction bearing is that of verifying the authenticity of those bearings. The user typically expects the bearing to be produced by the manufacturer listed on the packaging of the bearing. However, it is becoming common for unscrupulous manufacturers to produce counterfeit parts, labeling those parts under a respected, recognized name.
There is therefore a need for a bearing that enables the customer or user of the bearings to quickly and :accurately determine the true and exact dimensions of that individual bearing; for a bearing that enables the user to monitor the performance of the bearing under working conditions; and for a bearing that enables the user of the bearing to verify the authenticity of the bearing.
The present invention relates to devices that provide data about manufactured items and field serviceable products, and more particularly to radio frequency emitting devices that transmit or receive physical measurements, statistical, or inventory data that is embedded in a bearing through such devices. Optionally, the radio frequency emitting devices that transmit data include an appropriate sensor that reflects certain operating conditions of the bearing through the radio frequency emitting device. It is further intended that a bearing fitted with a radio frequency emitting device of the present invention may optionally have unique indicia, such as, for example, a serial or other identification number, for verification of the authenticity of the bearing.
An automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) device for acquiring manufacturing data associated with individual bearings are utilized by a consumer of the bearing, preferably based upon a tag that is attached, either permanently or removably, to the bearing. By encoding physical properties of the bearings in a radio frequency (RF) tag for example, a consumer of the bearings may receive physical data specific to the particular bearing by using a receiver or reader. The data is processed by a microprocessor controlled device, such as for example a computer, PDA, or other devices well known in the art. Thus, the consumer is not required to measure the desired physical characteristic of the bearing, but may make modifications to or accommodations for the bearing based upon the data obtained from the manufacturer through the RF tag.


The invention relates to the external sealing and joining of piping. More particularly, the invention provides an improved seal profile which is suitable for use inside pipe couplings. The invention provides a twin-lip seal profile particularly useful in combination with a pipe coupling, the seal comprising: a substantially flat base element, having a first (inner) face and a second (outer) face and two outer edges. Two spaced-apart support blocks projecting upwardly from the first face of the base element, each support block having an outer and an inner face. Two lip members projecting from the outer edges of the base element, the lip members overlapping and resting on the closest support block and leaving a hollow space between the base element, the lip member and the outer face of the support block. The seal profile being characterized in that the plane or line of contact between the lip member and the support block, when extended towards the center of the profile, slopes to more closely approach the substantially flat base element, thus forming a wedge-like effect when pressure is applied to the lip members, the wedge-like effect preventing undesired outward movement of the lip members.

The present invention relates to the external sealing and joining of piping. More particularly, the invention provides an improved seal profile which is suitable for use inside pipe couplings.
A pipe coupling may be sealed by means of a pair of discrete seals proximate to each of the opposed axial faces of the coupling. Improved stability is however obtained when a single twin-lip seal is used. The wider seal costs somewhat more than a pair of short seals, but the added stability outweighs the added cost. Seals of both types are in common use. The profile of a typical prior art, two-lipped coupling seal will be described with reference to FIG. 1.
While the prior-art two-lipped coupling seals as described have served well in many applications, under some conditions, for example when a pipe being clamped moves axially outwards and/or when heavy pressure has been applied to the seal, it has been found that the seal lip moves axially outwards away from the pipe joint. Such undesired movement is encouraged by the slope of the outer face of the support block. This causes loss of sealing pressure and if continued leads to leakage of the fluid being transported in the pipeline.

Eliezer Krausz Industrial Development Ltd.


A hyper-branched polymer, which is a product obtained by performing condensation polymerization reaction of a hyper-branched polymer composition including a diisocyanate-based compound and a dihydroxyamine-based compound, a cross-linked hyper-branched polymer, an electrode and electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell including the hyper-branched polymer or the cross-linked hyper-branched polymer, and a fuel cell including the electrode and the electrolyte membrane.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to hyper-branched polymers, electrodes and electrolyte membranes for fuel cells, each of which includes the hyper-branched polymers, and fuel cells including at least one of the electrodes and the electrolyte membranes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fuel cells that include a polymer electrolyte membrane as an electrolyte operate at relatively low temperatures and may be manufactured in a small size. Thus, such fuel cells are expected to be used as energy sources in electric vehicles and in distributed generation systems. Perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid-based polymer membranes, such as NAFION (registered trademark), are commonly used as polymer electrolyte membranes for fuel cells. However, in order for such polymer electrolyte membranes to efficiently realize proton conductivity, moisture is needed and thus the polymer electrolyte membranes need to be humidified. In addition, in order to enhance cell system efficiencies, polymer electrolyte membranes need to be operated at a high temperature, for example, at least 100° C. However, the moisture in the polymer electrolyte membrane is evaporated and depleted at such a temperature, which reduces the effectiveness thereof.
To address such problems, non-humidified electrolyte membranes, which may operate at temperatures of at least 100° C., without humidification, have been developed. For example, polybenzimidazole doped with a phosphoric acid is disclosed as a material for forming a non-humidified electrolyte membrane.
In low temperature perfluorocarbonsulfonate polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, in order to prevent defective gas diffusion in an electrode, in particular, a cathode, which may be caused by water (product water) generated during electric power production in the electrode, hydrophobic electrodes including polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) have been used.
In addition, phosphoric acid fuel cells, which operate at temperatures of about 150 to about 200° C., include a liquid phosphoric acid as an electrolyte. However, a large amount of the liquid phosphoric acid is included in electrodes and thus interferes with gas diffusion in the electrodes. Therefore, an electrode catalyst layer in which a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) waterproofing agent is added to an electrode catalyst and which prevents fine pores in the electrodes from being clogged by the phosphoric acid, has been used.
In addition, in fuel cells including a polybenzimidazole (PBI) electrolyte membrane, which uses a phosphoric acid as a high-temperature and non-humidified electrolyte, in order to improve surface contact between electrodes and the electrolyte membrane, a method of impregnating the electrodes with a liquid phosphoric acid and a method of increasing a loading amount of metal catalysts have been used. However, such fuel cells do not produce improved properties.
When air is supplied to a cathode, activation takes about a week even if an electrode composition is optimized in a solid polymer electrolyte membrane doped with a phosphoric acid. Although performance of fuel cells may be improved and activation time may be reduced by replacing air with oxygen, use of oxygen is not proper in terms of commercialization. In addition, a homogeneous polymer electrolyte membrane using the PBI is not satisfactory in terms of mechanical characteristics, chemical stability, or capability of retaining a phosphoric acid at high temperature. Thus, there is a demand for further improvement.

Hyper-branched polymer, electrode and electrolyte membrane including the hyper-branched polymer, and fuel cell including at least one of the electrode and the electrolyte membrane


A combined consumer product and discount coupon delivery package, such as an egg carton, having a shallow recess for containing a pack of coupons. The recess is covered by a label cover which has an integral openable access panel to expose the coupons and permit their extraction.

Coupons are a widely used sales building tool for consumer products or services. These coupons generally give a reduction in price, or are redeemable for part of the purchase price and/or offer free samples. In 1990, 276 billion coupons were distributed in the United States. The coupons were redeemed at a value of $3.5 billion but redemptions represented only 21/2% of those issued.
Coupons are distributed through high volume channels by mail, in products, on product packages, on pages in publications and newspapers, and as free-standing inserts (FSI). The most common distribution channel is the Sunday newspaper by FSIs which accounts for over 50% of all coupons issued and 70% of all redemptions. A growing problem is the mis-redemption of coupons. Mis-redemption problems include allowing redemption without purchase (64%) and discount allowed for the wrong product (19%) resulting in an accumulated cost estimated to be $315 million annually because of mis-redemptions.

Combined product package and coupon delivery system