The invention generally relates to polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) polyketide synthase (PKS) systems, to homologues thereof, to isolated nucleic acid molecules and recombinant nucleic acid molecules encoding biologically active domains of such a PUFA PKS system, to genetically modified organisms comprising PUFA PKS systems, to methods of making and using such systems for the production of bioactive molecules of interest, and to novel methods for identifying new bacterial and non-bacterial microorganisms having such a PUFA PKS system.

Polyketide synthase (PKS) systems are generally known in the art as enzyme complexes derived from fatty acid synthase (FAS) systems, but which are often highly modified to produce specialized products that typically show little resemblance to fatty acids. It has now been shown, however, that polyketide synthase systems exist in marine bacteria and certain microalgae that are capable of synthesizing PUFAs from malonyl-CoA. The PKS pathways for PUFA synthesis in Shewanella and another marine bacteria, Vibrio marinus, are described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,140,486. The PKS pathways for PUFA synthesis in the eukaryotic Thraustochytrid, Schizochytrium is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,566,583. Finally, the PKS pathways for PUFA synthesis in eukaryotes such as members of Thraustochytriales, including the complete structural description of the PUFA PKS pathway in Schizochytrium and the identification of the PUFA PKS pathway in Thraustochytrium, including details regarding uses of these pathways, are described in detail in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20020194641, published Dec. 19, 2002 (corresponding to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/124,800, filed Apr. 16, 2002).
Researchers have attempted to exploit polyketide synthase (PKS) systems that have been described in the literature as falling into one of three basic types, typically referred to as: Type II, Type I and modular. The Type II system is characterized by separable proteins, each of which carries out a distinct enzymatic reaction. The enzymes work in concert to produce the end product and each individual enzyme of the system typically participates several times in the production of the end product. This type of system operates in a manner analogous to the fatty acid synthase (FAS) systems found in plants and bacteria. Type I PKS systems are similar to the Type II system in that the enzymes are used in an iterative fashion to produce the end product. The Type I differs from Type II in that enzymatic activities, instead of being associated with separable proteins, occur as domains of larger proteins. This system is analogous to the Type I FAS systems found in animals and fungi.
In contrast to the Type I and II systems, in modular PKS systems, each enzyme domain is used only once in the production of the end product. The domains are found in very large proteins and the product of each reaction is passed on to another domain in the PKS protein. Additionally, in all of the PKS systems described above, if a carbon-carbon double bond is incorporated into the end product, it is always in the trans configuration.
In the Type I and Type II PKS systems described above, the same set of reactions is carried out in each cycle until the end product is obtained. There is no allowance for the introduction of unique reactions during the biosynthetic procedure. The modular PKS systems require huge proteins that do not utilize the economy of iterative reactions (i.e., a distinct domain is required for each reaction). Additionally, as stated above, carbon-carbon double bonds are introduced in the trans configuration in all of the previously described PKS systems.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are critical components of membrane lipids in most eukaryotes (Lauritzen et al., Prog. Lipid Res. 40 1 (2001); McConn et al., Plant J. 15, 521 (1998)) and are precursors of certain hormones and signaling molecules (Heller et al., Drugs 55, 487 (1998); Creelman et al., Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol. 48, 355 (1997)). Known pathways of PUFA synthesis involve the processing of saturated 16:0 or 18:0 fatty acids (the abbreviation X:Y indicates an acyl group containing X carbon atoms and Y double bonds (usually cis in PUFAs); double-bond positions of PUFAs are indicated relative to the methyl carbon of the fatty acid chain (ω3 or ω6) with systematic methylene interruption of the double bonds) derived from fatty acid synthase (FAS) by elongation and aerobic desaturation reactions (Sprecher, Curr. Opin. Clin. Nutr. Metab. Care 2, 135 (1999); Parker-Barnes et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97, 8284 (2000); Shanklin et al., Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Nol. Biol. 49, 611 (1998)). Starting from acetyl-CoA, the synthesis of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) requires approximately 30 distinct enzyme activities and nearly 70 reactions including the four repetitive steps of the fatty acid synthesis cycle. Polyketide synthases (PKSs) carry out some of the same reactions as FAS (Hopwood et al., Annu. Rev. Genet. 24, 37 (1990); Bentley et al., Annu. Rev. Microbiol. 53, 411 (1999)) and use the same small protein (or domain), acyl carrier protein (ACP), as a covalent attachment site for the growing carbon chain. However, in these enzyme systems, the complete cycle of reduction, dehydration and reduction seen in FAS is often abbreviated so that a highly derivatized carbon chain is produced, typically containing many keto- and hydroxy-groups as well as carbon-carbon double bonds in the trans configuration. The linear products of PKSs are often cyclized to form complex biochemicals that include antibiotics and many other secondary products (Hopwood et al., (1990) supra; Bentley et al., (1999), supra; Keating et al., Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol. 3, 598 (1999)).
Very long chain PUFAs such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6ω3) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5ω3) have been reported from several species of marine bacteria, including Shewanella sp (Nichols et al., Curr. Op. Biotechnol. 10, 240 (1999); Yazawa, Lipids 31, S (1996); DeLong et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 51, 730 (1986)). Analysis of a genomic fragment (cloned as plasmid pEPA) from Shewanella sp. strain SCRC2738 led to the identification of five open reading frames (Orfs), totaling 20 Kb, that are necessary and sufficient for EPA production in E. coli (Yazawa, (1996), supra). Several of the predicted protein domains were homologues of FAS enzymes, while other regions showed no homology to proteins of known function. At least 11 regions within the five Orfs were identifiable as putative enzyme domains (See Metz et al., Science 293:290-293 (2001)). When compared with sequences in the gene databases, seven of these were more strongly related to PKS proteins than to FAS proteins. Included in this group were domains putatively encoding malonyl-CoA:ACP acyltransferase (MAT), β-ketoacyl-ACP synthase (KS), β-ketoacyl-ACP reductase (KR), acyltransferase (AT), phosphopantetheine transferase, chain length (or chain initiation) factor (CLF) and a highly unusual cluster of six ACP domains (i.e., the presence of more than two clustered ACP domains had not previously been reported in PKS or FAS sequences). It is likely that the PKS pathway for PUFA synthesis that has been identified in Shewanella is widespread in marine bacteria. Genes with high homology to the Shewanella gene cluster have been identified in Photobacterium profundum (Allen et al., Appli. Environ. Microbiol. 65:1710 (1999)) and in Moritella marina (Vibrio marinus) (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,140,486, ibid., and Tanaka et al., Biotechnol. Lett. 21:939 (1999)).
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are considered to be useful for nutritional, pharmaceutical, industrial, and other purposes. An expansive supply of PUFAs from natural sources and from chemical synthesis are not sufficient for commercial needs. A major current source for PUFAs is from marine fish; however, fish stocks are declining, and this may not be a sustainable resource. Additionally, contamination, both heavy metal and toxic organic molecules, is a serious issue with oil derived from marine fish. Vegetable oils derived from oil seed crops are relatively inexpensive and do not have the contamination issues associated with fish oils. However, the PUFAs found in commercially developed plant oils are typically limited to linoleic acid (eighteen carbons with 2 double bonds, in the delta 9 and 12 positions—18:2 delta 9, 12) and linolenic acid (18:3 delta 9, 12, 15). In the conventional pathway for PUFA synthesis, medium chain-length saturated fatty acids (products of a fatty acid synthase (FAS) system) are modified by a series of elongation and desaturation reactions. Because a number of separate desaturase and elongase enzymes are required for fatty acid synthesis from linoleic and linolenic acids to produce the more saturated and longer chain PUFAs, engineering plant host cells for the expression of PUFAs such as EPA and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may require expression of several separate enzymes to achieve synthesis. Additionally, for production of useable quantities of such PUFAs, additional engineering efforts may be required, for example, engineering the down regulation of enzymes that compete for substrate, engineering of higher enzyme activities such as by mutagenesis or targeting of enzymes to plastid organelles. Therefore it is of interest to obtain genetic material involved in PUFA biosynthesis from species that naturally produce these fatty acids and to express the isolated material alone or in combination in a heterologous system which can be manipulated to allow production of commercial quantities of PUFAs.
The discovery of a PUFA PKS system in marine bacteria such as Shewanella and Vibrio marinus (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,140,486, ibid.) provides a resource for new methods of commercial PUFA production. However, these marine bacteria have limitations which may ultimately restrict their usefulness on a commercial level. First, although U.S. Pat. No. 6,140,486 discloses that these marine bacteria PUFA PKS systems can be used to genetically modify plants, the marine bacteria naturally live and grow in cold marine environments and the enzyme systems of these bacteria do not function well above 22° C. In contrast, many crop plants, which are attractive targets for genetic manipulation using the PUFA PKS system, have normal growth conditions at temperatures above 22° C. and ranging to higher than 40° C. Therefore, the PUFA PKS systems from these marine bacteria are not predicted to be readily adaptable to plant expression under normal growth conditions. Additionally, the known marine bacteria PUFA PKS systems do not directly produce triacylglyerols (TAG), whereas direct production of TAG would be desirable because TAG are a lipid storage product, and as a result, can be accumulated at very high levels in cells, as opposed to a "structural" lipid product (e.g. phospholipids), which can generally only accumulate at low levels.
With regard to the production of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in particular, researchers have tried to produce EPA with microbes by growing them in both photosynthetic and heterotrophic cultures. They have also used both classical and directed genetic approaches in attempts to increase the productively of the organisms under culture conditions. Other researchers have attempted to produce EPA in oil-seed crop plants by introduction of genes encoding various desaturase and elongase enzymes.
Researchers have attempted to use cultures of red microalgae (Monodus), diatoms (e.g. Phaeodactylum), other microalgae and fungi (e.g. Mortierella cultivated at low temperatures). However, in all cases, productivity was low compared to existing commercial microbial production systems for other long chain PUFAs such as DHA. In many cases, the EPA occurred primarily in the phospholipids (PL) rather than the triacylglycerols (TAG). Since productivity of microalgae under heterotrophic growth conditions can be much higher than under phototrophic conditions, researchers have attempted, and achieved, trophic conversion by introduction of genes encoding specific sugar transporters. However, even with the newly acquired heterotrophic capability, productivity in terms of oil remained relatively low.
Efforts to produce EPA in oil-seed crop plants by modification of the endogenous fatty acid biosynthesis pathway have only yielded plants with very low levels of the PUFA in their oils. As discussed above, several marine bacteria have been shown to produce PUFAs (EPA as well as DHA). However, these bacteria do not produce TAG and the EPA is found primarily in the PL membranes. The levels of EPA produced as well as the growth characteristics of these particular marine bacteria (discussed above) limit their utility for commercial production of EPA.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for other PUFA PKS systems having greater flexibility for commercial use, and for a biological system that efficiently produces quantities of lipids (PL and TAG) enriched in desired PUFAs, such as EPA, in a commercially useful production process.

PUFA polyketide synthase systems and uses thereof


The present disclosure relates to a system for forming a cartridge case, the system including a series of stages, each stage comprising a sequential location in the system, and each stage comprising a process step, wherein each process step is synchronized to occur within a substantially simultaneous stage interval, the stages including: an annealing stage, a head forming stage, and a taper stage. The present disclosure also relates to a method for manufacturing a cartridge case, the method including: receiving a single cartridge case at a time in a first direction into an annealing chamber through a first opening, passing an alternating current through an inductive coil for a certain time period to heat the cartridge case, releasing the cartridge case from the annealing chamber in the first direction through a second opening, and performing a forming step on the cartridge case.

Many types of small arms ammunition include a cartridge that includes a cartridge case that houses a primer, powder, and a projectile often called a bullet. Various dimensions and aspects of a cartridge case can affect how a bullet behaves when it comes out of a gun. Thus, for consistency for accurately hitting a target as well as safety for a shooter it can be quite important that the dimensions and other aspects of a cartridge case be substantially uniform and/or meet precise cartridge case requirements.
Traditional cartridge case manufacturing methods include putting a plurality of cartridge cases through a cartridge processing step at the same time. For example, two or more cartridges may be pressed and/or heated at the same time. This may lead to difficult control of the specific treatment of a specific cartridge. For example, variables in a single cartridge may affect how another cartridge is processed. One cartridge case may be harder, softer, warmer, cooler, or have different dimensions than another cartridge case. By processing them at the same time the variations between the cartridge cases may not be accounted for and one or both of the cartridge cases may be improperly treated and may result in errors that require a rejection of the cartridge cases. Additionally, mechanisms that heat or press two different parts at the same time often do not treat the parts exactly the same. For example, the temperature of an oven may not be completely uniform and may result in one cartridge case being heated to a different temperature than another cartridge case.
Other variations in the ambient environment and/or in a press or machine may also cause variations with how cartridge cases are processed. For example, warmer temperatures may result in a press or other device to slightly change dimensions and thus create a cartridge case having different dimensions. Thus, a cartridge case processed by a machine (e.g. stamper, press, device) that has not yet achieved a desired operating temperature may not meet desired cartridge case specifications. In some instances, large numbers of cases may be processed with the expectation of treating them as scrap until a machine, press, or device has reached a desired operating condition (i.e. a device has achieved the proper temperature).
Additionally, traditional cartridge case manufacturing methods often include processing a cartridge case in a press which then ejects the cartridge case into a bin. The cartridge cases in the bin may then be placed on a conveyor to a next press or may be carted by a worker off to another press or process step. Thus, at the next press the cartridge case orientation must be adjusted or oriented according to the requirements for the next process. This can add unwanted time, expense, and/or complexity to the process because a cartridge case must be repeatedly reoriented. Additionally, spitting cartridges out into bins may result in damage to cartridge casings which may result in the creation of more scrap materials and monetary loses.
Further, traditional cartridge case forming methods often include unpredictable time periods between method or process steps. For example, a certain step in a conventional process may create a bottleneck in the system, thus cartridge cases may have to sit in waiting for minutes, hours, days, or even weeks before moving to the next process step. These variations can lead to wide ranges of different operating temperatures and or other aspects. In one embodiment, lube that is placed on a cartridge case for a process step may, over time, attract dirt, loose viscosity, lose lube properties, and/or harden. These variations can significantly affect how a cartridge case responds to forming steps such as press, stamp, punch, or taper forming steps.

Apparatus, system, and method for manufacturing ammunition cartridge cases


A photothermal-tackifiable composition, useful as a coating on a substrate, consisting of an optically clear blend of two or more polymers, one or more of which is capable of undergoing a thermochemical reaction, and a photothermosensitive compound, an infrared absorbing dye that generates locally high heat on exposure to infrared or near-infrared radiation, is disclosed. Also disclosed is a process for coating such a composition on a support, exposing the composition to infrared radiation and toning the imagewise exposed composition A "peel-apart" embodiment is also disclosed.

There are three types of offpress color proofing systems in use. These are overlay, integral (or single sheet) and electronic (or digital) These proofing systems are described in "Principles of Color Proofing", M. H. Bruno, Gama Communications, Salem, N.H. 1986. In digital proofing systems, the individual color separation images are digitalized and either combined to produce a composite three-color soft proof on a color monitor, cathode ray tube, or video display terminal, or, as in the present invention, converted to a hard proof on a color proofing medium. In order to form a colored image on the medium, toner is added that adheres to the medium in defined areas One way of causing toner to adhere to the medium is to form a "tacky" image that will adhere to toner.
The use of light to cause "imagewise" formation of tackiness in a film is known as photo-tackification. Similarily, the use of infrared or near-infrared radiation to cause "imagewise" formation of tackiness is known as photothermal-tackification. The tacky image that is produced in the area exposed to infrared or near-infrared radiation can be made readily visible and read out by applying toner particles to the tacky surface. Toning of the tacky surface is possible using dry powders, for instance the Cromalin.RTM. toning agents, available from E. I. duPont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Delaware. The toner particles selectively adhere to tacky regions on a surface, thus providing negative-working materials. Such coatings can also be used on a substrate that is peelably attached, for example by lamination, to a toner-transfer foil, using such foils as Eurosprint.RTM. (registered in the United States as ColorTrax.RTM.) which are available from E. I DuPont de Nemours and Company. In these peel-apart elements, upon exposure of the element to infrared radiation, tackiness results on the substrate. Toner particles from the toner-transfer foil selectively adhere to the tacky regions generated on the substrate. When the substrate is separated from the foil, toner particles remain on the tacky regions of the substrate, thus providing the basis for negative-working color materials.
Examples of materials that directly result in tackiness upon irradiation with light or with infrared or near-infrared radiation are rare. Most negative working systems require a separate wet development step. The present composition achieves its tackiness because of the ability of a selected miscible polymer blend to undergo a photothermochemical change that results in a microphase separation of a tacky polymer from a non-tacky polymer, thereby eliminating the need for a separate wet development step.
R. E. Kellogg, H. Zwicker and J. Wall, "CREO/Crosfield Interface for IR Diode Thermal Imaging," IS&T Second Symposium on Electronic Prepress Technology and Color Proofing, Sep. 11-14, 1991 (Chicago, Ill.) disclose apparatus for thermal imaging using diode lasers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,986 discloses a dye containing layer of a film-forming polymeric binder useful as optical filters and optical information recording elements.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,508,811 discloses a recording element having a pyrylium or thiopyrylium-squarylium dye layer and new pyrylium or thiopyrylium-squarylium dye compounds.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,563,738 discloses a reproduction material which combines a first tacky component and a light sensitive component which upon exposure to actinic radiation, changes the heat-activatability and thermal properties of the first component.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,252 teaches a photosensitive element useful for making color proofs comprising a support bearing a layer of negative-working tonable photoimaging composition comprising at least one organic polymeric binder, a photosensitizer which forms an acid upon exposure to actinic radiation, and at least one acetal compound wherein the polymeric binder is plasticized. U.S. Pat. No. 4,294,909 teaches a process for preparing negative tonable images comprising exposing imagewise a photosensitive element bearing a layer of negative-working tonable image composition as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,252. The principle involved in U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,252 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,294,909 is that a photogenerated acid decomposes a (solid) nonpolymeric acetal compound(s) and the resulting liquid products plasticize the binder so that T.sub.g is lowered and the binder becomes tacky enough to be toned. These patents differ from the present invention which is imagewise exposed by infrared or near infrared radiation and which achieves its tackiness as the result of the unmasking of a tacky polymer present in the composition, which has been previously masked by the presence of a nontacky polymer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,346,162 discloses a nonsilver reproduction element for preparing negative tonable images which comprises a support bearing a layer of photosensitive composition comprising at least one thermoplastic binder and at least one thio compound
U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,549 uses "SQS" as an infrared absorber in a colorant transfer system.

Single layer dry processible photothermal-sensitive element


The present invention intends to provide a zipper pull of a slider for slide fastener formed of- resilient body on which no unreasonable force is applied when the fastener is opened or closed and which is always kept in a stabilized condition that it is urged to be fallen onto a slider body without swinging freely. A yoke which is a zipper pull mounting portion is mounted on a top face of a slider body. A half-annular shaped zipper pull formed of resilient body is fixed to lateral bars at front and rear ends of a rectangular connecting body longer than the slide body. A lateral bar is provided in the center of the connecting body and inserted through an automatic locking pawl lever incorporated in the yoke. Neck portions are provided in the vicinity of a fixing portion at the front and rear ends so that the zipper pull is elastically deformable easily. A grip portion is provided at a position apart from the fixing portion so that the zipper pull is easy to grip. Further, a feature of the zipper pull of this invention is that a central portion to be disposed on the slider body of the connecting body is low while the sides of the fixing portions on both ends are located higher and extended horizontally with a step. Consequently, when the zipper pull is brought up slightly, the locking pawl lever can be raised so that the slider can be slid. The zipper pull is always kept in such a stabilized condition that it is fallen to the slider body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a zipper pull of a slider for slide fastener for use behind a fly of mainly a front-open cloth such as a training wear and jacket, and more particularly to a zipper pull of a slider for slide fastener, the zipper pull being formed of resilient body and urged so as to be fallen onto a slider body, thereby maintaining a stabilized state in which the zipper pull does not swing freely when the cloth is worn.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in FIG. 16, a conventional slider zipper pull 2xe2x80x2 is formed of resilient member 37xe2x80x2 fixed to a connecting body 3xe2x80x2 supported pivotally in the same direction as a sliding direction of the slider body 1xe2x80x2. The resilient member 37xe2x80x2 is capable of moving and holding the resilient member 37xe2x80x2 itself and the connecting body 3xe2x80x2 elastically in the longitudinal direction relative to substantially the same plane as the slider at their locking position. The connecting body 3xe2x80x2 comprises a first end portion 3xe2x80x2-1 which is supported pivotally on the slider and a second end portion 3xe2x80x2-2 fixed to the resilient member 37xe2x80x2. The resilient member 37xe2x80x2 has a free end portion 27xe2x80x2 which is disposed at a position apart from the second end portion 3xe2x80x2-2. The free end portion 27xe2x80x2 of the resilient member 37xe2x80x2 and the second end portion 3xe2x80x2-2 of the connecting body 3xe2x80x2 are located oppositely each other at both ends of the slider at a locking position of the slider. Further, the first end portion 3xe2x80x2-1 of the connecting body 3xe2x80x2 is disposed between the second end portion 3xe2x80x2-2 and the free end portion 27xe2x80x2 of the resilient member 37xe2x80x2. Such a slider for slid fastener has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,538.
According to a slider for slide fastener disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,263,393, as shown in FIG. 17, a pin 18xe2x80x3 is attached in a longitudinal direction in the center of a top face of a slider body 1xe2x80x3 of the slider so that two sheet-like zipper pulls 2xe2x80x3 are supported pivotally by this pin 18xe2x80x3 so as to be capable of rotating to the left and right. The sheet-like zipper pulls 2xe2x80x3 are formed so as to be always fallen onto the slider body 1xe2x80x3 by a coil spring 19xe2x80x3 inserted through the pin 18xe2x80x3. A locking pawl 11xe2x80x3 is provided on a proximal portion of the sheet-like zipper pull 2xe2x80x3 and when the slider is not moved, the locking pawl 11xe2x80x3 is fitted in between fastener elements to prevent the slider from sliding. When it is intended to move the slider, the right and left zipper pulls 2xe2x80x3 are raised so as to escape the locking pawl 11xe2x80x3 from between the fastener elements. Consequently this slider can be slid.
In case of the zipper pull 2xe2x80x2 of a slider for slide fastener shown in FIG. 16, when the slider is slid in the longitudinal direction to close the slide fastener, the ring-like zipper pull 2xe2x80x2 of resilient member 37xe2x80x2 has to be pulled forward. At that time, the resilient member 37xe2x80x2 must be turned substantially at 180xc2x0 between a free end portion 27xe2x80x2 and a second end portion 3xe2x80x2-2 fixed to the connecting body 3xe2x80x2 and then pulled forward. On the other hand, to separate and open the slide fastener, the resilient member 37xe2x80x2 has to be also turned substantially at 180xc2x0 between the free end portion 27xe2x80x2 and the second end portion 3xe2x80x2-2 fixed to the connecting body 3xe2x80x2 and then pulled backward. Therefore, the ring-like resilient member 37xe2x80x2 may be damaged because a turning load is applied to the second end portion 3xe2x80x2-2 fixed to the connecting body 3xe2x80x2, so that this zipper pull 2xe2x80x2 cannot bear a long term use.
In case of the zipper pull 2xe2x80x3 of the slider for slide fastener shown in FIG. 17, the zipper pull 2xe2x80x3 is metallic, so it is hard and not flexible. Because of it, there is a feeling of discomfort when it is used in a training wear, jacket and the like. Particularly, this zipper pull 2xe2x80x3 is not suitable for an opening of cloth which is kept in contact with the skin. Further, because the right and left zipper pulls 2xe2x80x3 have to be always raised so as to slide the slider, there is such a problem that an opening/closing operation for this slide fastener is troublesome.
The present invention has been achieved in views of the above described problems. An object of the invention is to provide a zipper pull of a slider for slide fastener capable of opening or closing the slide fastener when the zipper pull of resilient body mounted to a slider body with a connecting body is rotated with a slight rotation and then pulled in a direction perpendicular to a sliding direction of the slider or in a forward direction. More specifically, the main object is to provide such a zipper pull of a slider for slide fastener, wherein, when the slider is opened or closed, the resilient body does not have to be twisted so much, so that the zipper pull is protected from a damage and capable of bearing a long term use and also kept pressured in a contact with the slider body in a stabilized condition without swinging, thereby providing a user with no discomfort.
Another object of the invention is to provide a zipper pull of resilient body suitable for various types of the sliders by specifying a configuration of the zipper pull formed of resilient body to be mounted on the slider body, for example, to a shape of half-annulus, annulus, strip, sheet or the like.
And another object of the invention is to provide various kinds of zipper pulls of resilient body formed on the slider body easy to grip and handle when the slider is slid.
Also another object of the invention is to provide a connecting body for the zipper pull capable of holding the zipper pull of resilient body on the slider body in a stabilized condition with a good appearance by specifying the shape of the connecting body used for mounting the zipper pull onto the slider body and forming the shape of the connecting body to a shape which facilitates the handling thereof and further is capable of fixing the zipper pull of resilient body firmly.
And a further object of the invention is to provide a slider with an automatic locking mechanism having the zipper pull of resilient body and being produced easily by specifying the shape of the connecting body to adapt the zipper pull of resilient body to a slider having various types of the automatic locking mechanisms.
It is also another object of the invention to provide a zipper pull of resilient body which can be produced easily by specifying material of various types of zipper pulls of resilient body.
To achieve the above object, according to the main aspect of the invention, there is provided a zipper pull of a slider for slide fastener, wherein an mounting portion for mounting a zipper pull is provided on a top face of a slider body of a slider; an annular connecting body having an appropriate shape is disposed to the mounting portion; a lateral bar is provided in the center of the connecting body; the lateral bar is mounted on the mounting portion such that it is inserted therethrough; the zipper pull formed of resilient body is fixed to front and rear ends or only a front end of the connecting body so as to form fixing portions; and the zipper pull formed of resilient body is always urged to be fallen on a surface of the slider body, that is, a top face or side face of the slider body. Particularly if the connecting body is used in a slider with an automatic locking mechanism, the locking mechanism can be operated by tilting the connecting body slightly in the longitudinal direction or in the width direction. The condition mentioned here that the zipper pull is fallen onto the surface of the slider body means that the zipper pull is disposed substantially parallel to a top face or side face of the slider body.
Preferably, the zipper pull formed of resilient body is formed entirely in a substantially half-annular shape while end portions thereof are fixed horizontally to the lateral bars provided at front and rear ends of the connecting body attached to the mounting portion on the slider body so as to form fixing portions. The half annular zipper pull mentioned here includes not only a semi-circular ring shape but also a C letter shape, an ear shape and the like.
Alternatively, the zipper pull formed of resilient body is formed entirely in a substantially annular shape; mounting tongues for mounting the connecting body are provided at portions opposing each other of the annular zipper pull so that it protrudes in an inner edge of the zipper pull; and the mounting tongues are fixed horizontally to the lateral bars provided at the front and rear ends of the connecting body mounted to the mounting portion on the slider body so as to form the fixing portions. The substantially annular zipper pull mentioned here includes not only the annular shape but also heart shape and the like.
Alternatively, the zipper pull formed of resilient body is formed entirely in a strip shape; a transparent hole, that is, a through hole is formed by cutting out a central portion of the strip shaped zipper pull so that the mounting portion provided on the slider body appears; and an end of the zipper pull is fixed to the lateral bar provided at the front end of the connecting body mounted to the mounting portion on the slider body so as to form the fixing portion while the other end of the zipper pull is kept free.
Still alternatively, the zipper pull formed of resilient body is formed entirely in a sheet-like shape; an end of the sheet-like zipper pull is fixed to the lateral bar provided at the front end of the connecting body mounted to the mounting portion on the slider body so as to form the fixing portion; and the zipper pull is extended so as to cover a top face of the mounting portion on the slider body from a top end of the fixing portion.
Preferably, a constricted or concave neck portion is formed in the vicinity of the fixing portion in which the zipper pull formed of resilient body is fixed to the connecting body mounted to the mounting portion on the slider body so as to provide flexibility to the zipper pull.
And preferably, the zipper pull formed of resilient body includes a grip portion such that a space is expanded obliquely forward with respect to the fixing portion in which the zipper pull is fixed to the connecting body mounted to the mounting portion on the slider body so as to be gripped easily.
Also preferably, the zipper pull formed of resilient body includes a grip portion having an expanded diameter or a large thickness provided at a portion apart from the fixing portion in which the zipper pull is fixed to the connecting body mounted to the mounting portion on the slider body so as to be gripped easily.
Further preferably, the connecting body for fixing the zipper pull formed of resilient body is formed in a rectangular or elongated circle annular frame body longer than the mounting portion and the connecting body is disposed in a longitudinal direction, that is, in a sliding direction with respect to the mounting portion formed on a top face of the slider body.
Preferably, the connecting body for fixing the zipper pull formed of resilient body includes the lateral bars on the edge portions thereof such that a central portion of the frame body disposed in a longitudinal direction, that is, in a sliding direction on a top face of the slider body, is low while the front and rear ends thereof are located higher and extend horizontally with a step.
Also preferably, a flat mounting piece extended inward or outward is provided on each of the lateral bars of the connecting body of the fixing portions for fixing the zipper pull formed of resilient body such that it protrudes from the lateral bar and the mounting piece is buried in the zipper pull of resilient body.
Preferably, the lateral bar disposed laterally in the center of the connecting body, to which the zipper pull formed of resilient body is fixed, is inserted through an automatic locking pawl lever incorporated in a yoke for mounting the zipper pull mounted on a top face of the slider body such that the automatic locking pawl lever is capable of being raised by lifting up or pulling up the zipper pull.
And also preferably, two lateral bars are disposed with an interval in the center of the connecting body to which the zipper pull formed of resilient body is fixed and one of the lateral bars is inserted through the automatic locking pawl lever incorporated in the yoke for mounting the zipper pull mounted on a top face of the slider body while the other one is inserted through a sliding body capable of sliding within the yoke for mounting the zipper pull such that the automatic locking pawl lever is capable of being raised by lifting up or pulling up the zipper pull.
Preferably, the connecting body to which the zipper pull of resilient body is fixed includes a lateral bar provided laterally in the center thereof; the lateral bar is fitted freely and movably with a sliding groove for guiding provided laterally on a bottom end of each of both side walls of the yoke mounted on a top face of the slider body; the yoke incorporates an automatic locking pawl lever having a sheet-like spring piece protruded on a top portion thereof, a locking pawl provided on a bottom end, a protruded portion capable of being fitted freely detachably with a cut-out portion in the slider body on the other bottom end and a cam face provided between the locking pawl and the protruded portion; and the lateral bar is kept in contact with the cam face so that the automatic locking pawl lever is capable of being raised by lifting up or pulling up the zipper pull.
And preferably, the zipper pull formed of resilient body is molded integrally by using natural rubber, synthetic rubber or thermoplastic elastomer so as to provide flexibility to the zipper pull.


Methods for accessing the common and internal iliac arteries and delivering and deploying an endovascular graft therein utilizing an ipsilateral approach are disclosed. A system including a pre-loaded delivery and deployment device to enable such a method to be practiced is also disclosed.

This invention relates generally to medical devices and methods of using the same, and more particularly, to an endovascular stent graft and methods for placement and deployment of the graft in the lumen of a branched vessel.
Stent grafts may be inserted into an anatomical vessel or duct for various purposes. For example, stent grafts are used for treatment of vasculature in the human or animal body to bypass a repair or defect in the vasculature or to maintain or restore patency in a formerly blocked or constricted passageway, such as following a balloon angioplasty procedure. For example, a stent graft may extend proximally and/or distally away from a vascular defect, including a diseased portion of an aneurysm, and engage a healthy portion of a vessel wall. In many cases, however, such a damaged or defective portion of the vasculature may include a branch or side vessel such as an internal iliac artery extending from the common iliac artery. Thus, it has been proposed to provide a stent graft having a side branch which, when deployed, is positioned over the opening to the internal iliac artery and then, if desired, another stent graft can be deployed through the side branch into the internal iliac artery to bypass a diseased portion thereof and restore the blood flow path to the internal iliac artery.
Generally, when deploying an endovascular stent graft into a vessel lumen, it is possible to obtain access to such a lumen from one or both ends of the vessel where necessary, thereby facilitating placement of a graft in the desired portion of the lumen. However, the internal iliac artery, which extends from the common iliac artery below the aortic bifurcation, is a blind vessel because there is no practical way of performing a minimally invasive endovascular procedure into that vessel other than by entry from the common iliac artery.
Access to and introduction of a stent graft into the common and/or internal iliac arteries and successful deployment of a stent graft in such vessels may often depend upon a favorable layout of the arteries and, in many cases, access is difficult. One known approach that has been used includes accessing the target location(s) within the vessels by a contralateral or crossover approach. In other words, a guide wire and/or sheath may be first introduced into a common iliac artery and then snared or pulled from the contralateral side so that the wire and/or sheath extends across the aortic bifurcation where it can be positioned proximal to the opening of the internal iliac artery in which treatment or repair is desired. In this way, a pathway is created to facilitate the introduction and deployment of a stent graft to the target location in the contralateral internal iliac artery.
As endovascular techniques become more refined, physicians continue to seek novel alternative approaches to treating diseased vessels, including blind vessels that are difficult to access and traverse. For example, accessing the target location(s) within the internal iliac artery using an ipsilateral approach (as opposed to the contralateral approach) and therefore avoiding the above-described "crossover" manipulation of a guide wire or sheath over the aortic bifurcation is desirable. Accordingly, a method for accessing the internal iliac arteries utilizing an ipsilateral approach and a pre-loaded deployment system to enable such a method to be practiced is described herein.
While this invention will be generally discussed in relation to a stent graft and method of deployment thereof into a common iliac artery where it is necessary to extend a side branch from a main portion or body of the graft into an internal iliac artery, it is also contemplated that the invention is not so limited and may relate to any body or vessel lumen in which such a deployment is necessary or desired.

Pre-loaded iliac branch device and methods of deployment


A method for transmitting a control signal for multimedia service data of UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) includes MBMS service data that can be transmitted in a wireless system providing various types of MBMS service. An MBMS scheduling block including an MBMS service identifier list and scheduling information of MBMS RB set information and an MBMS service information block including one MBMS service identifier and MBMS RB set information for a corresponding service are transmitted to a terminal group.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) and, more particularly, to a method for transmitting a control signal for transmission of MBMS data in a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS).
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) is a third generation mobile communication system that has evolved from a standard known as Global System for Mobile communications (GSM). This standard is a European standard which aims to provide an improved mobile communication service based on a GSM core network and wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA) technology.
FIG. 1 shows a network structure of a general UMTS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the UMTS is roughly divided into a terminal, a UTRAN and a core network.
The UTRAN includes one or more radio network sub-systems (RNS). Each RNS includes an RNC and one or more Node Bs managed by the RNCs.
Node Bs are managed by the RNCs, receive information sent by the physical layer of a terminal (e.g., mobile station, user equipment and/or subscriber unit) through an uplink, and transmit data to a terminal through a downlink. Node Bs, thus, operate as access points of the UTRAN for terminal.
The RNCs perform functions which include assigning and managing radio resources, and operate as an access point with respect to the core network.
A primary function of UTRAN is constructing and maintaining a radio access bearer (RAB) for a call connection between the terminal and the core network. The core network applies quality of service (QoS) requirements of end-to-end to the RAB, and accordingly, UTRAN can satisfy the QoS requirements of the end-to-end by constructing and maintaining the RAB.
The RAB service is divided into an Iu bearer service and a radio bearer service of a lower concept. The Iu bearer service handles reliable user data transmission between boundary nodes of UTRAN and the core network, while the radio bearer service handles reliable user data transmission between the terminal and UTRAN.
FIG. 2 illustrates a radio protocol between the terminal and UTRAN on the basis of the 3GPP wireless access network standards.
With reference to FIG. 2, the radio protocol is vertically formed of a physical layer, a data link layer and a network layer, and is horizontally divided into a user plane for transmitting data information and a control plane for transmitting a control signal.
The user plane is a region to which traffic information of a user such as voice or an IP packet is transmitted. The control plane is a region to which control information such as an interface of a network or maintenance and management of a call is transmitted.
In FIG. 2, protocol layers can be divided into a first layer (L1), a second layer (L2) and a third layer (L3) based on three lower layers of an open system interconnection (OSI) standard model well known in a communication system.
The first layer (PHY) provides an information transfer service to the upper layer by using various radio transfer techniques.
The first layer is connected to the MAC layer through a transport channel, and data is transferred between the MAC layer and the PHY layer through the transport channel.
Data is transmitted according to transmission time interval (TTI) through the transport channel. The physical channel transfers data by dividing it by the unit of certain time called a frame. In order to synchronize the transport channel between the UE and UTRAN, a connection frame number (CFN) is used. The CFN value has the range of 0˜255 in case of transport channels except for a paging channel (PCH). That is, CFN is repeatedly circulated by the period of 256 frames.
Besides the CFN, a system frame number (SFN) is also used to synchronize the physical channel. The SFN value has the range of 0˜4095 and repeated by the period of 4096 frames.
The MAC layer provides a re-allocation service of the MAC parameter for allocation and re-allocation of radio resources.
The MAC layer is connected to the radio link control (RLC) layer through a logical channel, and various logical channels are provided according to the kind of transmitted information. In general, when information of the control plane is transmitted, a control channel is used. When information of the user plane is transmitted, a traffic channel is used.
The MAC is classified into an MAC-b sublayer, an MAC-d sublayer and an MAC-c/sh sublayer according to types of managed transport channels. The MAC-b sublayer manages a BCH (Broadcast Channel) handling broadcast of system information, while the MAC-c/sh sublayer manages shared transport channel such as FACH (Forward Access Channel), DSCH (Downlink Shared Channel), or the like, shared with other terminals.
In UTRAN, the MAC-c/sh sublayer is positioned at a control RNC (CRNC) and manages channels shared by every terminal in a cell, so that one MAC-c/sh sublayer exists in each cell.
The MAC-d sublayer manages a DCH (Dedicated Channel), a dedicated transport channel for a specific terminal. Accordingly, the MAC-d sublayer is positioned at a serving RNC (SRNC) managing a corresponding terminal, and one MAC-d sublayer exists also at each terminal.
A radio link control (RLC) layer supports a reliable data transmission and may perform a function of segmentation and concatenation of an RLC service data unit (SDU) coming from a higher layer. The RLC SDU transferred from the higher layer is adjusted in its size according to a throughput capacity at the RLC layer, to which header information is added, and then transferred in a form of a PDU (Protocol Data Unit) to the MAC layer. The RLC layer includes an RLC buffer for storing the RLC SDU or the RLC PDU coming from the higher layer.
A broadcast/multicast control (BMC) layer performs functions of scheduling a cell broadcast message (CB) transferred from the core network and broadcasting the CB to UEs positioned in a specific cell(s). At the side of UTRAN, the CB message transferred from the upper layer is combined with information, such as a message ID, a serial number or a coding scheme, and transferred in a form of BMC message to the RLC layer and to the MAC layer through a CTCH (Common Traffic Channel), a logical channel. In this case, the logical channel CTCH is mapped to a FACH (Forward Access Channel), a transport channel, and an S-CCPCH (Secondary Common Control Physical Channel), a physical channel.
A packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer is an upper layer of the RLC layer, allowing data to be transmitted effectively on a radio interface with a relatively small bandwidth through a network protocol such as the IPv4 or the IPv6. For this purpose, the PDCP layer performs a function of reducing unnecessary control information, which is called a header compression, and in this respect, RFC2507 and RFC3095 (robust header compression: ROHC), a header compression technique defined by an Internet standardization group called an IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force), can be used. In these methods, because the only information requisite for the header part of a data is transmitted, control information is transmitted, so that an amount of data transmission can be reduced.
The RRC layer positioned in the lowest portion of the third layer (L3) is defined only in the control plane and controls the logical channels, the transport channels, and the physical channels in relation to the setup, the reconfiguration, and the release of the RBs. The RB signifies a service provided by the second layer for data transmission between the terminal and UTRAN, and setting up the RB means processes of stipulating the characteristics of a protocol layer and a channel, which are required for providing a specific service, and setting the respective detailed parameters and operation methods.
A broadcast of the system information will now be described.
The broadcast of the system information is one of major function of the RRC layer. The system information includes various information such as system information with which the terminal connects to a network or terminal's mobility support information and measuring information. The system information is transferred through a broadcast control channel (BCCH), a logical channel, and can use the BCH or the FACH as a transport channel.
In order to systematically transmit the system information, the RRC layer constructs a system information block (SIB) by grouping system information with similar characteristics. System information belonging to a different SIB have different characteristics in their transmission repetition period as well as in their content. Substantial system information is included in the SIB, while scheduling information for transmission of the SIB is called on a master information block (MIB) or on a scheduling block (SB).
The MIB, including reference information or scheduling information of SIBs broadcast in a cell, is transmitted regularly through the BCH so that the terminal can easily receive the system information.
Because the MIB includes reference information or scheduling information on one or two SBs and the SB includes additional scheduling information of SIBs, transmission scheduling information of each SIB can be obtained through the MIB and the SB.
The multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) will now be described.
The MBMS is a service for transmitting multimedia data such as audio, video or image data to plural terminals by using a uni-directional point-to-multipoint bearer service. The MBMS is divided into a broadcast mode and a multicast mode. That is, the MBMS is divided into an MBMS broadcast service and an MBMS multicast service.
The MBMS broadcast mode is a service for transmitting multimedia data to every user in a broadcast area. The broadcast area means a broadcast service available area. One or more broadcast areas may exist in one PLMN, one or more broadcast services can be provided in one broadcast area, and one broadcast service can be provided to several broadcast areas.
The MBMS multicast mode is a service for transmitting multimedia data only to a specific user group existing in a multicast area. The multicast area means a multicast service available area. One or more multicast areas can exist in one PLMN, one or more multicast services can be provided in one multicast area, and one multicast service can be provided to several multicast areas.
In the multicast mode, a user is requested to join a multicast group to receive a specific multicast service. At this time, the multicast group refers to a user group that receives the specific multicast service, and joining refers to a behavior of being admitted to the multicast group intending for receiving the specific multicast service.
An MBMS RB, a radio bearer (RB) for the MBMS, serves to transmit user data of one specific MBMS service transferred from the core network to UTRAN to a specific terminal group. The MBMS RB is divided into a point-to-multipoint RB and a point-to-point RB. In order to provide the MBMS service, UTRAN selects one of the two types of MBMS RBs. In order to select the MBMS RB, UTRAN recognizes the number of users of the specific MBMS service existing in one cell. UTRAN internally sets a threshold value, and if the number of users existing in a cell is smaller than the threshold value, UTRAN sets the point-to-point MBMS RB, whereas if the number of users existing in a cell is greater than the threshold value, UTRAN sets the point-to-multipoint MBMS RB.
FIG. 3 shows one example of a process that UTRAN determines a type of the MBMS RB.
In order to transmit specific MBMS service data, UTRAN should set an MBMS RB for a specific MBMS service. For this purpose, UTRAN transmits a group paging signal to terminals which desire to receive the specific MBMS service (step S1) and initiates a paging timer from a transmission time point. The paging timer is expired when it goes beyond a specific value designated by UTRAN.
When a terminal, which has received the group paging signal, desires to receive the MBMS service, the corresponding terminal transmits a paging response signal to UTRAN (step S2). A RRC Connection Setup Request message services as the paging response signal. UTRAN can receive paging response signals from one or more terminals, and receives the paging response signal from terminals until the paging timer is expired.
When the paging timer is expired, UTRAN counts paging response signals received until then, and calculates the number of terminals that desire to receive the MBMS service in the corresponding cell (step S3). UTRAN compares the threshold value and the calculated number of terminals and sets a point-to-multipoint MBMS RB or a point-to-multipoint MBMS RB.
For transmission of the MBMS, UTRAN may operate two types of logical channels for MBMS in each cell: an MBMS control channel (MCCH) and an MBMS traffic channel (MTCH). One MCCH is used to send MBMS-related control information to one or more terminal groups. One MTCH is used to send user data of a specific MBMS service to a terminal group. There is one-to-one correspondence between an MTCH and an MBMS service. The point-to-multipoint MBMS RB for a specific MBMS service consists of the MTCH as well as a corresponding transport channel and a corresponding physical channel.
In the conventional art, common channel configuration information for broadcast or multicast are all transferred to the BCCH. That is, UTRAN transmits the system information block (SIB) including common channel configuration information through the BCCH regardless of a common traffic channel (CTCH) and a common control channel (CCCH). Therefore, if this method is applied to the MBMS, the MTCH and the MCCH configuration information are all to be transmitted through the BCCH.
In this respect, however, in the case of the MBMS service, various services are broadcast or multicast, so that the BCCH has to provide various configurations of MTCH channels. Thus, transmission of all the MTCH and MCCH data through the BCCH causes the current construction of system information transmitted through the BCCH to be changed. In the conventional art, in general, the RB is set up by using a radio bearer setup procedure of the RRC or system information of the RRC.
In the method of using the radio bearer configuration (setup) procedure, UTRAN transmits a radio bearer setup message for transferring RB setup information to one specific terminal, and then the corresponding terminal sets up an RB and transmits a radio bearer setup completion message to UTRAN.
Meanwhile, in the method of using system information, a terminal obtains setup information of a specific RB from system information broadcast by UTRAN and sets up a corresponding RB.
The former method is used when one terminal sets up a specific RB, while the latter method is used when one or more terminals sets up a specific RB. A difference between the two methods is that the former method requires a response message of the terminal while the latter method does not require a response message of the terminal.
Accordingly, in case of setting up the MBMS RB by using the former method is disadvantageous in that radio bearer setup messages in proportion to the number of terminals belong to a terminal group should be transmitted and received, a radio capacity is much taken.
Thus, setup of the MBMS RB in a method similar to the RB setup through the system information is advantageous in terms of the radio capacity, but no process has been substantially defined for setting up the MBMS RB.
The above references are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternative details, features and/or technical background.

Method for increasing system capacity by transmitting control Signal for MBMS data by combining RLC and PDCP messages


Systems and methods of processing branch instructions provide for a bimodal predictor and a plurality of global predictors. The bimodal predictor is coupled to a prediction selector, where the bimodal predictor generates a bimodal prediction for branch instructions. The plurality of global predictors is coupled to the prediction selector, where each global predictor generates a corresponding global prediction for a branch instruction using different history or stew lengths. The prediction selector selects branch predictions from the bimodal prediction and the global predictions in order to arbitrate between predictors. The arbitration, update, and allocation schemes are designed to choose the most accurate predictor for each branch. Lower level predictors are used as filters to increase effective predictor capacity. Allocate and update schemes minimize aliasing between predictors. Branch predictors incorporating a plurality of global predictors in this fashion are more adaptive than conventional predictors with fixed branch history lengths and are able to achieve superior accuracy.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to computers. More particularly, embodiments relate to branch prediction in computer processing architectures.
2. Discussion
In the computer industry, the demand for higher processing speeds is well documented. While such a trend is highly desirable to consumers, it presents a number of challenges to industry participants. A particular area of concern is branch prediction.
Modem day computer processors are organized into one or more "pipelines," where a pipeline is a sequence of functional units (or "stages") that processes instructions in several steps. Each functional unit takes inputs and produces outputs, which are stored in an output buffer associated with the stage. One stage's output buffer is typically the next stage's input buffer. Such an arrangement allows all of the stages to work in parallel and therefore yields greater throughput than if each instruction had to pass through the entire pipeline before the next instruction could enter the pipeline. Unfortunately, it is not always apparent which instruction should be fed into the pipeline next, because many instructions have conditional branches.
When a computer processor encounters instructions that have conditional branches, branch prediction is used to eliminate the need to wait for the outcome of the conditional branch instruction and therefore keep the processor pipeline as full as possible. Thus, a branch prediction architecture predicts whether the branch will be taken and retrieves the predicted instruction rather than waiting for the current instruction to be executed. Indeed, it has been determined that branch prediction is one of the most important contributors to processor performance.
One approach to branch prediction involves a bimodal predictor, which generates a local prediction for a branch instruction, and a global predictor, which generates a global prediction for the branch instruction. The bimodal predictor predicts whether the branch will be taken based on the instruction address of the branch instruction and the state of an n-bit counter assigned to the branch instruction. The global predictor predicts whether the branch will be taken according to an index or "stew", which is based on the instruction address and information from a global branch history, where the global predictor is used because branch instructions sometimes have the tendency to correlate to other nearby instructions. The length of the global branch history determines how much correlation can be captured by the global predictor.
While the bimodal/global (BG) approach provides substantial improvement over strict bimodal prediction, there remains considerable room for improvement. For example, the extent to which global prediction is helpful in accounting for correlation depends upon the type of application being run. For example, certain applications have code in which branch instructions correlate to instructions that are in relatively close proximity, whereas other applications have code in which branch instructions correlate to instructions that are farther away. As a result, certain types of code benefit from a shorter global branch history, while other types of code benefit from a longer global branch history. There is therefore a need for a branch prediction approach that provides for more flexible global branch prediction.

Predicting instruction branches with a plurality of global predictors using varying amounts of history instruction


A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for optimizing a Partitioned Data Set Extended (PDSE) directory. In various embodiments, b-tree directory structure entries associated with members of the PDSE are reordered to place members with the highest access counts within the same leaf nodes. This allows these members to share a directory path, which in turn increases the chance that the most frequently accessed member's directory path is in cache while minimizing storage footprint.

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, it relates to a method, system and computer-usable medium for optimizing a Partitioned Data Set Extended (PDSE) directory.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a data set is allocated, a certain amount of space is reserved in units of blocks, tracks, cylinders, etc., on a storage disk or a storage device. A Partitioned Data Set Extended (PDSE) adds a layer of organization to the data set and includes a directory and one or more members. The directory uses a b-tree structure to reduce member search times. However, the b-tree directory structure does not take into account the realities of I/O operations and caching as implemented by a PDSE. As a result, all initial member opens have an equal chance of either having needed directory pages in cache or having to perform I/O operations to read the pages from a Direct Access Storage Device (DASD). In addition, the b-tree directory structure does not account for member usage, treating all members equally whether they have one access a month or one million.

PDSE dynamic directory optimization for caching

International Business Machines Corporation


An object is to provide a device for analyzing occlusion pressure with which it is possible to measure occlusion pressure with a high positional accuracy by using data obtained by versatile methods, including an operation device, wherein the operation device calculates a formula of a first dental arch based on an occlusion pressure data, calculates a formula of a second dental arch based on an occlusal contact positional data, calculates a transformation matrix that approximates the formula of the first dental arch to the formula of the second dental arch, carries out an operation to transform positional information included in the occlusion pressure data to a new positional information with the transformation matrix, and outputs an occlusion pressure data including the new positional information.

As a means for measuring occlusion pressure, pressure sensitive papers (pressure sensitive sheets) are known. A subject bites a pressure sensitive paper, then the paper is strongly pressed at occlusal contacting points of upper and lower rows of teeth, which brings visual changes of the paper. Depending on the kind of the pressure sensitive paper, the changes in size of occlusion pressure (contact pressure) may appear as gradation or variation of color. In this way, occlusion pressure at upper and lower rows of teeth may be found out by means of a pressure sensitive paper.
With a pressure sensitive paper, the changes appear at the points where occlusal contact is made according to occlusion pressure, which makes it possible to identify the locations of occlusal contact to some extent. However, since the surfaces of teeth are three-dimensional having complex concavity and convexity, the pressure sensitive paper changes its shape three-dimensionally along the concavity and convexity of the teeth when bitten. After that, the pressure sensitive paper is taken out from the mouth, and when occlusion pressure is analyzed, the paper whose shape is modified is smoothed out to have planar shape (two-dimensional shape) as much as possible. Accordingly, the pressure sensitive paper in analysis has a different shape from the shape in occlusion. Thus, the actual position of row of teeth and the biting points on the pressure sensitive paper are different, and there is a problem with pressure sensitive papers that the information of the locations of occlusal contact does not correspond to the actual positions.
Conventional analysis and measurement of occlusion pressure include a lot of experimental factors of dentist, or use techniques such as Patent Literatures 1 to 3 in view of reducing such experimental factors.
The technique described in Patent Literature 1 utilizes a special equipment using a pressure sensitive sheet and a wax in combination.
In the technique described in Patent Literature 2, occlusion pressure is shown to a figure made with modification of a normal row shape of teeth depending on patient.
The technique described in Patent Literature 3 uses a sensor to detect the row shape of teeth and a sensor to detect occlusion pressure.

Device for analyzing occlusion pressure, program for analyzing occlusion pressure, and method for analyzing occlusion pressure


An electrical connector defining a mating direction, includes an insulative housing a plurality of contacts retained in the insulative housing. The insulative housing includes several side walls and a bottom wall connecting the side walls and a mating space surrounded by the side walls and bottom wall. Each contact comprises a contacting portion received in the mating space and a mounting portion protruding perpendicularly from to run through the bottom wall. One of the side walls defines at least an opening and the opening extends along a direction parallel to the contacts and runs through the bottom wall. The opening defines a retaining surface facing to the bottom wall.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electrical connector.
2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
Electrical connector is widely used in the electrical field. Chinese Utility Publication No. 102832500A discloses an electrical connector, including an insulative housing and several contact received in the insulative housing. The insulative housing defines several side walls. One of the side walls defines a recess while a corresponding side wall includes a pair of protrusions. The recess and protrusions are used to mechanically connect to a butting connector. However, the electrical connector fails to mate with different mating connectors having different shapes or outlines.
Hence, an improved electrical connector is desired.

Electrical connector confronting with different mating electrical connectors


The disclosed embodiments may relate to a method and apparatus for performing a correlation with respect to a received signal. A first correlator may correlate for a real part of a first characteristic of the received signal to produce a first real correlated signal. A second correlator may correlate for an imaginary part of the first characteristic of the received signal to produce a first imaginary correlated signal. A third correlator may correlate for a real part of a second characteristic of the received signal to produce a second real correlated signal. A fourth correlator may correlate for an imaginary part of the second characteristic of the received signal to produce a second imaginary correlated signal. Logic may combine a signal that corresponds to the first real correlated signal, a signal that corresponds to the first imaginary correlated signal, the second real correlated signal and the second imaginary correlated signal to produce a real part of a frequency adjusted signal and an imaginary part of the frequency adjusted signal.

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art which may be related to various aspects of the present invention which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Manufacturers of wireless communication devices have a wide range of transmission technologies to choose from when designing wireless systems. Some exemplary technologies include time division multiple access ("TDMA"), code division multiple access and the like. CDMA, which is typically implemented using direct sequence spread spectrum technology, is very popular in communications systems, including cellular telephones and the like.
In a CDMA system, a code or symbol is assigned to all speech bits in a voice signal. The symbols are encoded across a frequency spectrum and transmitted to a receiver. When the encoded CDMA symbols are received, they are decoded and reassembled into a signal representative of the original voice signal.
In processing received CDMA signals, it may be difficult to detect long symbols in the presence of a frequency offset. Because the chips (each chip is equal to one bit in a spreading code) that make up a symbol may tend to rotate in the presence of a frequency offset, it is possible for the chips to rotate completely around the complex plane during the integration period of one symbol. When this happens, the chips may destructively combine to produce a very small correlation peak. One method may be to solve this problem may be to implement a frequency synchronization block in hardware, but such solutions may be undesirably expensive in order to be able to tolerate higher frequency offsets. Absent more expensive hardware solutions, a receiver may only be able to detect long symbols in the presence of relatively low frequency offsets. An improved method and apparatus for the detection of long symbols in the presence of a relatively high frequency offset is desirable.

Method and apparatus for frequency-robust detection of a wideband code division multiple access secondary synchronization channel


An image processing system for preparing a document for printing, receives document images containing pictures and text at a first resolution which cannot be rendered by a selected printer. In such a system, there is provided an arrangement for determining the presence or absence of a constant gray level over a small area of the document in each separation, and among the separations. Subsequent to such determination, a control signal representing the determination is produced that provides a selection of resolution conversion functions, one of which preserves gray density, and the other of which does not.

Document image information, be it color or black and white, is commonly generated in a bitmap format at a particular scale, orientation .THETA. and resolution K.times.L.times.b, corresponding to a desired printer capability, where K is a number of spots printable per unit of length in one dimension, L is a number of spots printable per unit length in the other dimension, and b is the depth of each pixel, in number of possible levels. This bitmap is present for every color separation printed at the output device, i.e., 4 bitmaps for a 4-color output device, 3 for a 3-color, 2 for a 2-color and 1 for a black and white output device. In a common example of a black and white print output, document image data comprising a bitmap to be printed is provided to a printer suitable for printing at 300 spots per inch (spi) in both dimensions, at a one bit depth giving 2 levels. Many considerations drive this single selection of resolution, including the desirability of providing only a limited number of fonts (alphanumeric bitmaps) so as to use only a limited amount of storage space. Common software packages available on personal computers or for operation of input scanners for document creation, also usually provide only a single resolution output.
Increasingly, the resolution available from printers varies over a wider range of choices. Printer resolutions are available over a range, for example, from less than 200 spi to more than 600 spi. Resolutions vary for a number of reasons, generally related to the quality of the output image. Simply printing a 300 spi bitmap at 400 spi or 600 spi is undesirable however, since the image will be reduced substantially in size on the output page or display. It would be highly desirable to provide the capability of printing color documents at any resolution.
Most documents can be classified as having pictures and text or line art. Pictures or pictorial images, are represented in such systems with varying levels of gray to capture detailed content. If the image has been scanned at an image input terminal, the gray levels will be voltage gradations varying between a minimum and a maximum. If the image is further halftoned, the pictorial image will be represented through the use of dithering or halftoning processes. In such arrangements, over a given area having a number of gray pixels therein, each pixel value of an array of gray pixels within the area is compared to one of a set of preselected thresholds (the thresholds are stored as a dither matrix and the repetitive pattern generated by this matrix is considered a halftone cell) as taught, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,149,194 to Holladay. The effect of such an arrangement is that, for an area where the image is gray, some of the thresholds within the dither matrix will be exceeded, i.e. the image value at that specific location is larger than the value stored in the dither matrix for that same location, while others are not. In the binary case, the pixels or cell elements for which the thresholds are exceeded might be printed as black, while the remaining elements are allowed to remain white, dependent on the actual physical quantity described by the data.
Text or line art is represented in color systems as areas where all the pixels are at a minimum or maximum. In a black and white, 256 level graphics system, text and line art would be represented typically by either a 0 or 255, where each level represents a distinct gray between black and white. In color systems, black may be alternatively represented as either black or white, or as equal amounts of cyan, magenta and yellow colorants, which together form gray. If the text is colored, colors will usually be uniform throughout the text area.
It is highly desirable to use a halftoning process that preserves gray density in rendering pictorial images. Algorithms that convert gray images to binary or other number of level images for printing and which attempt to preserve the local density exist, and include among them error diffusion, as taught, for example, in "An Adaptive Algorithm for Spatial Greyscale" by Floyd and Steinberg, Proceedings of the SID 17/2, 75-77 (1976) (hereinafter, "Floyd and Steinberg"). Another, more elaborate method would be the error diffusion techniques of U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,952, entitled "Method for Edge Enhanced Error Diffusion Algorithm" by R. Eschbach, which serves to provide image dependent edge enhancement, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. Error diffusion attempts to maintain gray by making the conversion from gray pixels to binary or other level pixels on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The procedure examines each pixel with respect to a threshold, and the difference between the gray level pixel value and the output value is forwarded to a selected group or set of neighboring pixels, in accordance with a weighting scheme. Such forwarding of error is undesirable in the case of text, which requires sharp contrast at edges of legibility. Generally speaking, preservation of accurate gray density is not an important factor in rendering text. Other error diffusion methods include, "On the Error Diffusion Technique for Electronic Halftoning" by Billotet-Hoffmann and Bryngdahl, Proceedings of the SID, Vol. 24/3, (1983), pp. 253-258; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/821,125 entitled " Method for Image Conversions With Error Diffusion", by R. Eschbach, (EPC 0 481 812 A2). A technique related to error diffusion is taught in the MAE (Minimum Average Error) method of error diffusion described in "Images from Computers", by M. Schroeder, IEEE Spectrum, March 1969, pp. 66-78, in which an error correction is performed that only affects a local neighborhood. This method does not preserve the gray density.
Segmentation of images based on image content as a means to determine optimal image processing is known, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,115 to Lin et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,194,221 to Stoffel and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/722,568 to Shiau et al., assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. However, all of these methods use variations of the auto correlation function to determine whether certain frequencies of halftones are present. GB 2,153,619A provides a similar determination of the type of image data. However in that case, a threshold is applied to the image data at a certain level, and subsequent to thresholding the number of transitions from light to dark within a small area is counted. The system operates on the presumption that data with a low number of transitions after thresholding is probably a high frequency halftone or continuous tone image. The thresholding step in this method has the same undesirable effect as described for Stoffel.
Of background interest in this area are U.S. Pat. No. 4,556,918 to Yamazaki et al. showing an arrangement assuming a periodicity of an area of halftone dots which are thresholded against an average value derived from the area to produce a density related video signal; U.S. Pat. No. 4,251,837 to Janeway, Ill., which shows the use of a three decision mode selection for determining threshold selection based on gradient constants for each pixel; U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,714 to Sugiura et al. which shows random data added to the output signal to eliminate pseudo-outlines; U.S. Pat. No. 4,559,563 to Joiner, Jr. suggests an adaptive prediction for compressing data based on a predictor which worked best for a previous pixel block; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,294,896 to Young, Jr. teaches the usefulness of thresholding in producing an image from a binary digital transmission system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,195 to Nadler describes a method for binarization of a pattern wherein two concentric rings around a pixel are evaluated to determine contrast values, and the contrast values are used then to determine whether the pixel and the surrounding areas have a light or dark quality. U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,811 to Ochi et al. teaches a method of processing gray level values, depending on the density level of blocks of pixels, and their difference from a minimum or maximum value. The blocks are then processable by a halftone processing matrix depending on the difference value. U.S. Pat. No. 4,730,221 to Roetling discloses a screening technique where values of gray over an image are evaluated to determine a minimum and maximum level, in order to determine constant levels of gray. U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,253 to Shida discloses a method of producing a halftone dot by selectively comparing image signals with highlight and shadow reference values, for determination of the binarization process.
Study of documents created by users of color printing systems yields certain interesting phenomenon. First, even when color pictures are present in a document, for the most part, black text is used. Further, in the unusual case that black text is not used, the color in which text is rendered does not vary within a given area. Thus, when text is used, an examination of a given area of a color document including text will show either a) high correlation within the area within the separation, and b) high correlation between separations. Pictorial areas do not show such correlations. FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B show examples of small areas of documents, illustrating this observation. Note that the colors are given in terms of an additive system, commonly used in scanners and for displays, but a subtractive system, commonly used in printers, gives the same results.
All of the references cited herein are incorporated by reference for their teachings.

Content-based resolution conversion of color documents


A method for producing a polyolefin composition, which comprises melt-kneading a particulate composition (A) containing a compound represented by formula (1):

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for producing a polyolefin composition containing an additive or additives.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to prevent thermal degradation and oxidation degradation in a polyolefin, additives such as a phenol-based antioxidant and/or calcium stearate are added thereto and then a polyolefin is used in the form of a polyolefin composition.
Generally, when a powdery additive is added to a polyolefin, there are problems with dusting and dust explosibility of the additive. As a method to solve these problems, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 8-333477 (Example 2 in paragraph [0142] and Table 2 in paragraph [0144]) proposes adding a particulate additive composition (granules) to a polyolefin. Specifically, a particulate additive composition having a maximum length of 2 to 4.5 mm formed by heating a mixture of a phenol-based antioxidant and calcium stearate in a twin screw extruder to 205° C. and then extruding the mixture from holes having a diameter of 2 mm is disclosed.
A particulate polyolefin having a size of 250 μm or less before addition of an additive is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 10-53679 (Table 1 in paragraph [0021]). Also, a polyolefin having a weight average particle diameter of 390 to 610 μm before addition of an additive is specifically disclosed in the Examples in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2000-143706 (Examples).
There is nothing specifically disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 8-333477 about adding a particulate composition (A) containing an additive or additives to a particulate polyolefin (B). Hypothetically, when the particle diameter (a) of the particulate composition (A) is 2 mm and the particle diameter (b) of the particulate polyolefin (B) is 250 μm, there is added at a particle diameter ratio (a/b) of about 8, and when the particle diameter (a) of the particulate composition (A) is 2 mm and the particle diameter (b) of the particulate polyolefin (B) is 610 μm, there is added at a particle diameter ratio (a/b) of about 3.1.
The present inventors, upon examination of a polyolefin composition obtained by adding a particulate polyolefin (B) having an average particle diameter so that the particle diameter ratio (a/b) is 5.2 to a particulate composition (A) containing a compound represented by formula (1), which is one type of phenol-based antioxidant, and calcium stearate, found the problems of large variation in MFR and of insufficient dispersion of the additive in the polyolefin.
wherein R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, X represents an n-hydric alcohol residue having 1 to 18 carbon atoms which may include a heteroatom and/or a cyclic group, and n is the integer 2 or 4.

Method for producing polyolefin composition

Abstract: wherein R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, X represents an n-hydric alcohol residue having 1 to 18 carbon atoms which may include a heteroatom and/or a cyclic group, and n is the integer 2 or 4, and a metal soap, and a particulate polyolefin (B), wherein the ratio (a/b) of the average particle diameter (a) of the particulate composition (A) and the an average particle diameter (b) of the particulate polyolefin (B) is adjusted to 3/1 to 1/3, and wherein average particle diameter means the central cumulative value determined from a weight-based particle diameter cumulative distribution for residue on a sieve measured in accordance with JIS K 0069.


A toilet seat is provided for mounting on a toilet bowl (1) and is configured to be placed in communication with a mechanical air extraction system. The toilet seat includes a seat (4) that can be applied in a sealed manner on the toilet bowl. The toilet seat (4) has an air inlet (6) at the front and an air outlet (7) at the rear. The outlet (7) is connected by ducts (8, 9, 10) to the air extraction system (14, 15). A cover (11) is hinged in proximity to the seat (4). The cover (11) is configured to prevent the toilet bowl (1) from being flushed when the cover (11) is in the open position and seals the front air inlet (6) when the cover is in the closed position.

1. The present invention relates to a seat for toilets with air circulation, directly inhaling the odours at the level of the bowl.
2. Description of the Related Art. In fact, in the majority of sanitary ware, the controlled mechanical ventilation system or CMV, situated in general at a height, even on the ceiling of the room, makes the odours from using toilet bowls reach the nose of occupants in an injudicious manner.
Numerous models of toilets with air circulation have already been proposed in the past with the aim of reducing or suppressing the odours which are given off. The extraction of air at the level of the bowl is effected, either by means of the CMV equipping the premises or by means of an electric motor which is specially assigned for this use.
However, none of these proposals is at present entirely satisfactory and, moreover, as far as we know there is no industrial production. Furthermore, in the case of the CMV, the extraction of the air is effected there generally in a permanent manner which can lead to disturbances in the general ventilation system of the room, the house or the communal block of flats.
The main object of the present invention is therefore to remedy this lack and, in order to do this, the subject thereof is a seat which is intended to be mounted over the majority of toilet bowls, the room of which is equipped with an air extraction system, characterised essentially in that it is composed of a seat which comes to be applied in a sealed manner on the bowl, whilst providing a front air inlet and a rear air outlet, said outlet being connected to the air extraction system, and a cover which, when in the closed position, seals the front air inlet.

Toilet seat for sealed engagement with toilet bowl and communication with air extraction system


A feeder is described for the conveyance of material such as overburden or mineral from a working site, the feeder comprising a feed device having a material receiving end having a material receiving apron suitable for receiving material such as overburden or mineral at a working site; a material discharge end distal of the material receiving end; an endless conveyor disposed between the material receiving apron and the discharge end so as in use to cause material received at the material receiving apron to be conveyed to the material discharge end; a chassis supporting the feed device; a transport carriage supporting the chassis and adapted to cause the feeder to be movable across a surface for deployment in use. A system A system and method for the movement of material from a working site for example via transport trucks are also described.

In mineral operations such as open-cast mining of coal, significant volumes of material need to be handled at and removed from the working site. First, a large volume of material, known as overburden, has to be removed and disposed of before access is gained to the minerals of interest. Then, the minerals of interest need to removed.
For large scale overburden/mineral removal operations, use may be made of excavation machinery such as draglines as the primary load-bearing tools to move material. These machines have been developed on a huge scale. The use of shovels to load trucks is another commonplace method. Whilst truck-shovel loading is not necessarily as cost effective as dragline removal per volume of overburden or mineral removed, it offers more flexibility in removal of overburden material or mineral.
Problems associated with truck-shovel loading include those associated with ensuring that an individual truck is loaded fully and efficiently, and those associated with the essentially batch-process nature of filling discrete trucks.
In particular, a process which requires a truck to reverse into position prior to filling, to be filled by a shovel, and then to drive out requires periodic suspension of the shoveling operation when there is no truck in place. A shovel may not be well adapted to distributing the overburden/mineral efficiently in the truck. The relatively large capacity of a shovel, say 100 t, and the consequence that relatively few shovel loads that might therefore be sufficient to fill a truck, tend to make it harder to get anywhere towards 100% fill efficiencies.
Each of these factors may tend to mean that truck-shovel loading is relatively inefficient, both in terms of effectiveness of truck fill, and in terms of volume processing rates.