An inverter having a plurality of inverter bridges which operate in parallel and whose output voltage is summed by way of a transformer. The transformer has a number of primary windings and associated secondary windings which correspond to the number of inverter bridges. Each inverter bridge is connected on the output side to a primary winding. The secondary windings are connected in series to sum the output voltages. The transformer has a center tap which is grounded by a ground connection. The suppression of in-phase or common-mode interference currents flowing by the ground connection and the interference voltages associated therewith is achieved by dividing the secondary windings into a first and second identical partial secondary winding. The partial secondary windings are connected to one another in the center tap in such a way that the common-mode currents and voltages induced in the partial secondary windings mutually cancel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is concerned with the field of power electronics. It relates to an invertor comprising a plurality of invertor bridges, which operate in parallel from the same DC voltage source and whose output voltages are summed via a transformer, which transformer has a number of primary windings and associated secondary windings which corresponds to the number of invertor bridges, each invertor bridge being respectively connected on the output side to a primary winding, and the secondary windings being connected in series for the purpose of summing the output voltages, and the invertor bridges each being driven with pulse duration modulation according to an auxiliary control voltage, and the auxiliary control voltages of the individual invertor bridges having a constant phase difference between one another, and the transformer having a center tap, which is grounded via a ground connection.
2. Discussion of Background
In order to connect electricity supply systems having a different number of phases and/or AC voltage frequency, such as e.g. between a 50 Hz three-phase power supply system and a single-phase 162/3 Hz railway grid, use is increasingly being made of solid-state couplings and railway power converters which are equipped with power semiconductors and are often designed as converters having a DC voltage intermediate circuit. In accordance with FIG. 1, such a railway power converter 10 comprises, for example, a (thyristor-equipped) converter 13 which draws the three-phase current from the three-phase power supply system 11 via a transformer 12 and converts it into a direct current, a DC voltage intermediate circuit 14 for smoothing and/or buffer-storage, and an invertor 15 which converts the direct current back into an alternating current at the desired frequency and feeds it into the railway grid 16.
In the invertor 15, use is usually made of one or more invertor bridges, operating in parallel, with switchable valves (e.g. GTOs), which are driven with pulse duration modulation and approximate the desired sinusoidal output voltage by a sequence of duration-modulated square-wave pulses of alternating polarity. A triangular-waveform auxiliary control voltage is usually used in this case for the pulse duration modulation. Details about the driving can be found for example in an offprint (No. 9608-1000-0) from the applicant "Vollstatische 100-MW-Frequenzkupplung Bremen" [Solid-state 100 MW frequency coupling Bremen]. If a plurality of invertor bridges are operated in parallel, the output voltages are summed. A reduction in the harmonic content is achieved by driving the individual invertor bridges via the auxiliary control voltages in a phase-shifted manner.
An example of the structure of an invertor 15 is represented in FIG. 2. The invertor 15 of this example comprises 8 invertor bridges B1, . . . , B8 which operate in parallel and, with a respective capacitor C1, . . . , C8 in parallel at the input, are connected to the input lines 17, 18 coming from the DC voltage intermediate circuit 14. A transformer 19 is provided for the purpose of summing the output voltages of the invertor bridges B1, . . . , B8, which transformer contains a winding pair comprising a primary winding P1, . . . , P8 and a secondary winding S1, . . . , S8 for each of the invertor bridges B1, . . . , B8. The outputs of the invertor bridges B1, . . . , B8 are respectively connected to the corresponding primary windings P1, . . . , P8; the secondary windings S1, . . . , S8 are connected in series. The summed output signal is available on the output lines 20, 21. In order to suppress harmonics, the transformer 19 may additionally be equipped with tertiary windings T1, . . . , T8, which are connected in series and are damped by a corresponding filter circuit 25 (in this respect see, for example, EP-B1-0 149 169). Examples of duration-modulated and phase-shifted pulse trains for the invertor bridges B1, . . . , B8 are represented in FIG. 3. Summation of the individual pulse trains in the transformer 19 produces therefrom the resultant summation voltage u.sub.Bi in FIG. 4.
Problems with the type of invertor illustrated in FIG. 2 arise if--as is necessary in the case of some railway grids--the transformer 19 of the invertor 15 is grounded at a center tap 23 by a ground connection 24 via a resistor 22 (or else without a resistor, that is to say in "hard" fashion) (see FIG. 2). These problems may be illustrated with reference to the equivalent circuit diagrams represented in FIGS. 5 to 8: The invertor, which operates as a voltage source converter (Voltage Source Converter, VSC), can be described in principle (FIG. 5) by a voltage source 26 having the voltage u.sub.Bi which drives a corresponding current i.sub.Bi through a circuit formed by the impedances 27, 28 and 29. The impedances 27 and 28 with the values z.sub.1 and z.sub.2, respectively, represent the transformer 19, and the impedance 29 with the value z.sub.3 represents the filter circuit 25. The railway grid 16 can be described in the equivalent circuit diagram by the impedance 30 (z.sub.4) and the voltage source 31.
As a result of the grounding (via the resistor 22) at the center tap 23 of the transformer 19, the equivalent circuit diagram of the VSC from FIG. 5 can be converted into an equivalent circuit diagram in accordance with FIG. 6. The voltage source 26 is in this case divided into two voltage sources 32 and 33 having the partial voltages u.sub.Bi,a and u.sub.Bi,b, where: EQU u.sub.Bi =u.sub.Bi,a -u.sub.Bi,b (1)
The impedances 27 and 28 of the transformer 19 are now divided in FIG. 6 into impedances 34 and 39 and, respectively, 35 and 40, in each case having half the original impedance value, namely z.sub.1 /2 and z.sub.2 /2. The impedance 29 with the value z.sub.3 is preserved while the impedance 30 and the voltage source 31 of the railway grid 16 are likewise divided into the impedances 36 and 41 (in each case having the value z.sub.4 /2) and, respectively, voltages sources 42 and 43. The grounding via the center tap 23 of the transformer 19 is represented by the resistor 37 having the value R.sub.E in FIG. 6. A corresponding resistor 38 having the value R.sub.E,r describes the total remote grounding resistance of the railway grid 16.
According to the concept of modal decomposition, the equivalent circuit diagram of FIG. 6 can be decomposed into two superposed subsystems, namely into the common-mode system and the differential-mode system. The two superposed systems can then be treated separately from one another and the resultant currents and voltages simply added at the end of the analysis in order to obtain the real physical quantities. The equivalent circuit diagram in the common-mode system for the upper half of the VSC is represented in FIG. 7. In addition to the already known impedances 34, 35 and 36, the circuit contains the resistors 45 and 46, which each amount to twice the grounding resistors 37 and 38, respectively. The voltage source 44 outputs a voltage u.sub.Bi,CM which drives a current i.sub.Bi,CM through the circuit. The equivalent circuit diagram in the differential-mode system for the upper half of the VSC is illustrated in FIG. 8. In addition to the already known impedances 34, 35 and 36, the impedance 48 is present here as well, which impedance corresponds to half the impedance 29 and is characteristic of the filter circuit 25. The voltage source 47 outputs a voltage u.sub.Bi,D which drives a current i.sub.Bi,D through the circuit.
The following relationship emerges for the voltages and currents: EQU u.sub.Bi,a =u.sub.Bi,CM +u.sub.Bi,D (2) EQU u.sub.Bi,b =u.sub.Bi,CM -u.sub.Bi,D, (3)
and also EQU i.sub.Bi =i.sub.Bi,CM +i.sub.Bi,D (4)
and EQU i.sub.E =2*i.sub.Bi,CM (5).
It is immediately evident from FIGS. 5 to 8 and equations (1) to (5) that the common-mode voltage u.sub.Bi,CM is undesirable because it drives a common-mode current i.sub.Bi,CM which can flow back only through the grounding resistors 37 and 38. The level of the common-mode current i.sub.Bi,CM is primarily limited by the impedances z.sub.1 and z.sub.2 of the transformer 19. The common-mode current i.sub.Bi,CM has two disadvantageous effects:
It causes considerable losses both in the local grounding resistor 22 or 37 and in the remote grounding resistor 38. As shown by simulations of a real plant (power approximately 50 MW), the losses in the grounding resistor 22 (at a nominal resistance of R.sub.E =334 W) can be approximately 50 kW and are therefore of an unacceptable order of magnitude. PA1 In the railway grid (for example a 138 kV grid), it can cause interference in adjacent communications equipment.

Invertor with reduced common mode voltage


The present invention relates to an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase CDK9, having a structure of formula (I). The present invention also provides a method of treating a cancer or a precancerous condition related to CDK9 activity with the inhibitor and a use of the same.

Proliferation and division of eukaryotic cells is an accurate and complex regulatory process. The process of proliferation is accomplished through cell cycle, and the orderly progression of the cell cycle is through its strict molecular regulatory mechanisms. It has been found that there are three major classes of molecules involved in cell cycle regulation: cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK), cyclins, and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors. CKI), among them, CDK is at the center. 13 members (CDK1-CDK13) of CDK family have been found, which are classified into two categories according to their intracellular functions: CDK that controls the cell cycle and CDK that controls cell transcription. CDK9 belongs to serine kinase, and its complex formed with the corresponding cyclin is called positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb). The complex can phosphorylate RNA polymerase II and some negative transcription elongation factors (NELF and N-TEF) allowing transcription to be extended from the initiation site and is core molecule for transcriptional elongation (Sims R J 3rd et al., Genes Dev, 2004, 18: 2437-68; Yamaguchi Y et al., Mol Cell Biol, 2002, 22: 2918-27). Studies have found that abnormal expression levels of CDK9 or (and) abnormal kinase activity will cause abnormal expression of various proteins or (and) its abnormal mRNA levels in the cell. Among them, anti-apoptotic proteins, such as Bcl-2, cell cycle-associated regulatory proteins, such as cyclin D1, p53 pathway-related proteins, certain proteins of the NF-κB pathway, and proteins related to the tumor microenvironment, such as VEGF and the like have been confirmed to be closely related to tumors. It can be said that CDK9 is one of the most critical molecules in the development of tumors (Shapiro GI. J Clin Oncol, 2006, 24: 1770-83).

Inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase CDK9


In the method of the present invention for producing fatty acid alkyl ester and/or glycerin, as a heat source for an alcohol refining step of refining alcohol from unreacted alcohol that remains without reacting in a first reaction step, at least a part of heat of the unreacted alcohol is used. This allows reducing costs in production of fatty acid alkyl ester and/or glycerin over a solid catalyst.

Fatty acid alkyl ester is widely used in the fields of cosmetics and medicines, as well as fatty acid alkyl ester derived from animal fats and vegetable oils is used in foods. Further, attention is paid to fatty acid alkyl ester serving as a fuel to be added to gas oil. In other words, this is a biodiesel fuel derived from animal fats and vegetable oils, which has been developed in order to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide to be exhausted. Fatty acid alkyl ester is directly used as a substitute for gas oil etc., or used as a fuel to be added to gas oil etc. with a certain ratio. The biodiesel fuel has various advantages such that it gives less damage to environment compared with a conventional diesel fuel derived from petroleum.
Further, glycerin is used mainly as a raw material for nitroglycerin, and also used in various fields such as a raw material for alkyd resin, medicines, foods, printing ink, cosmetics etc.
An example of a method for producing such fatty acid alkyl ester and glycerin is a method in which triglyceride that is a main component of fat and oil is subjected to ester exchange with alcohol.

where R represents an alkyl group having 6-22 carbon atoms or an alkenyl group having 6-22 carbon atoms with one or more unsaturated bonding.
In general, as the method with use of a transesterification between fats and oils and alcohols, a method using a homogeneous alkaline catalyst is industrially used.
However, usage of a homogeneous alkaline catalyst makes a step of separating and removing a catalyst complicated. Further, free fatty acid included in fat and oil is saponified by the alkaline catalyst and consequently a soap is produced as a by-product. This requires a step of cleaning the soap with a large amount of water and decreases the yield of fatty acid alkyl ester due to emulsification of the soap. Further, a step of refining glycerin is complicated.
In order to solve the problem, there have been developed methods for producing fatty acid alkyl ester and/or glycerin over a solid catalyst instead of a homogeneous alkaline catalyst (see Patent Documents 1-5 for example). The method using the solid catalyst has a less complicated process, and has a less amount of wastes such as waste water and waste salts produced in the reaction, compared with the method using the homogeneous alkaline catalyst. Further, Patent Document 6 discloses a method for producing fatty acid alkyl ester and/or glycerin over a solid catalyst.
Production of fatty acid alkyl ester and glycerin over the solid catalyst does not require a complicated operation in its production process, and has a less amount of wastes such as waste water and waste salts produced in the reaction, compared with the method using the homogeneous alkaline catalyst.
However, in general, a transesterification is an equilibrium reaction. Therefore, both in a case of the homogeneous alkaline catalyst and a case of the solid catalyst, it is necessary to use an excessive amount of a raw material (alcohol in general) in order to obtain a high yield of a product.
Recently, in view of consideration on environment and reduction of costs for production, it is requested that a material that can be reused by reproduction is reused as far as possible. Therefore, in producing fatty acid alkyl ester and glycerin, it is requested that out of an excessive amount of alcohol used in the transesterification, unreacted alcohol that remains without being used in the reaction is separated and refined from a reaction liquid so as to be reused as a raw material. For example, Patent Document 7 discloses a method in which unreacted alcohol that remains without being used in a reaction is evaporated from a reaction liquid by a pressure flash and then refined as alcohol through evaporation and reused as a raw material for a transesterification.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Tokukai 2005-200398 (published on Jul. 28, 2005)    Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Tokukai 2006-225352 (published on Aug. 31, 2006)    Patent Document 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Tokukai 2005-177722 (published on Jul. 7, 2005)    Patent Document 4: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Tokukaihei 7-173103 (published on Jul. 11, 1995)    Patent Document 5: French Patent Publication No. 2752242, specification    Patent Document 6: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Tokukai 2005-206575 (published on Aug. 4, 2005)    Patent Document 7: U.S. Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004/0034244, specification    Patent Document 8: U.S. Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005/0113588, specification

Method for producing fatty acid alkyl ester and/or glycerin


A gas discharge display device for displaying a color image by means of red, green and blue fluorescent substances, wherein a color to be reproduced by light-emission of the red, green and blue fluorescent substances for displaying a white pixel is set to be different from a white color intended for display, and a filter is disposed on a front side of the red, green and blue fluorescent substances for approximating a display color of the white pixel to the white color intended for display.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gas discharge display device, and more particularly to a gas discharge display device as represented by a plasma display device incorporating a PDP (Plasma Display Panel).
PDPs are becoming more and more popular as a means for television display on a large screen since their practical application to color display started. One of the problems related to image quality of PDPs is an enlargement of a reproducible color range.
2. Description of the Related Art
AC-type PDPs with a three-electrode surface-discharge structure have become commercialized as color display devices. The three-electrode AC surface-discharge PDPs have pairs of main electrodes arranged parallel to each other on individual lines (rows) of matrix display for sustaining light-emission, and address electrodes arranged one by one on individual columns. Ribs for preventing discharge interference among discharge cells are provided in a stripe pattern.
In the surface-discharge structure, fluorescent layers for color display can be provided on a substrate opposed to the substrate on which the main electrode pairs are placed, and thereby it is possible to prevent the fluorescent layers from being deteriorated by ion impact at electric discharges and to increase the life of the devices. A PDP having the fluorescent layers on a rear substrate is called a "reflection type", and the one having the fluorescent layers on a front substrate is called a "projection type". The reflection-type PDP is superior to the projection-type PDP in light-emission efficiency.
Usually, a Penning gas containing neon (Ne) mixed with a little amount (4 to 5%) of xenon (Xe) is used as a discharge gas. When electric discharge occurs among the main electrodes, the discharge gas emits an ultraviolet light, which in turn excites a fluorescent substance to emit light. Each pixel corresponds to three cells, and a display color is determined and set by controlling the amounts of light-emission of the fluorescent substances of three colors of R (red), G (green), and B (blue). Heretofore, compositions of the fluorescent substances and a ratio of light-emission intensities of the three colors have been selected so that a white display color may be obtained when the amount of light-emission of each of R, G, and B is given the same signal strength.
Here, a lot of research has been made on the composition of the discharge gas. Examples of known discharge gases include a three-component gas containing the above-mentioned Penning gas mixed with helium (He) or argon (Ar) (Ne+Xe+He, Ne+Xe+Ar), a two-component gas containing helium and xenon (He+Xe), and a three-component gas containing helium, argon, and xenon (He+Ar+Xe).
As described above, since the fluorescent substance is allowed to emit light by gas discharge in PDPs, a problem arises such that the color emitted from the discharge gas is mingled with the color emitted from the discharge gas.
FIG. 12 is a view showing an emission spectrum of a two-component gas containing neon and xenon. In FIG. 12, examples of emission peaks of R, G, and B fluorescent substances are shown by broken lines. As will be understood from FIG. 12, the emission peak of the discharge gas is located near the maximum emission peak (590 nm) of the R fluorescent substance. Therefore, the red color generated by light-emission of the discharge gas is added irrespective of the color reproduced by the fluorescent substances, whereby a reddish display will appear on the entire screen. In other words, the capability of displaying the blue and green colors will decrease. The display color of a white pixel will be a color having a lower color temperature than the color reproduced by the fluorescent substances of the three colors.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Gas discharge display device with particular filter characteristics


According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive effect element includes a first magnetic film having magnetic anisotropy and an invariable magnetization direction in a direction perpendicular to a film plane, a second magnetic film having magnetic anisotropy and a variable magnetization direction in the direction perpendicular to the film plane, and a nonmagnetic film between the first magnetic film and the second magnetic film. At least one of the first and second magnetic films includes a first magnetic layer. The first magnetic layer includes a rare earth metal, a transition metal, and boron.

Memory devices that use magnetism, such as a hard disk drive (HDD) and a magnetoresistive random access memory, have been developed. In order to increase the storage density of the memory, magnetic bodies used in the memory devices have been miniaturized. Due to the miniaturization of the magnetic bodies, a magnetic field used for the operation of the memory needs to be applied to the micro magnetic body. However, as the magnetic field has the property of spreading in space, it is difficult to locally generate the magnetic field. If a magnetic field generating source is reduced in size to form a local magnetic field, it may be impossible to form a sufficient size of a magnetic field to control the magnetization direction of the magnetic body.
One technique is known to solve this problem in the MRAM. "Spin transfer switching" that passes a current through a magnetic body to switch the magnetization direction of the magnetic body is studied as one method of writing data in the MRAM. According to this spin transfer switching, a write current is passed through a magnetoresistive effect element, and spin-polarized electrons generated therein are used to switch the magnetization direction of a magnetic body (magnetic layer) in the magnetoresistive effect element.
The use of this spin transfer switching allows a magnetization condition in a nano-scale magnetic body to be easily controlled by the local magnetic field and also allows the value of the current for switching the magnetization to be reduced in accordance with the magnetization of the magnetic bodies.
Recently, studies have been carried out to use, for a reference layer and a storage layer of the magnetoresistive effect element of the MRAM, a perpendicular magnetization film having its magnetization direction in a direction perpendicular to a film plane.

Magnetoresistive effect element, magnetic memory, and magnetoresistive effect element manufacturing method


In one example monitoring connection quality, data transceiving at a socket may be monitored by frequent pinging. Any error codes identified by the socket may be assigned a corresponding error description, which may then be transmitted to a proper entity for correction.

Mobile service providers provide not only voice and data services but also next-generation mobile application services that are provided by third-party application providers. Such third-party applications are increasing in popularity, based on desire and necessity, and therefore may cause stress on network connectivity and bandwidth availability. Thus, mobile service providers, as well as users of the mobile devices, are left with the challenge of assuring that network connectivity, and sufficient bandwidth, are always provided or, at the very least, that any interruptions are brief.


A clamping tool holder includes a tool holder body and a clamp for clamping a cutting insert. The clamp causes the cutting insert to press against the bottom and the side walls of an insert-receiving pocket of the tool holder body. The tool holder body has an inclined surface sloping inward in a direction away from the insert-receiving pocket. The clamp has an inclined surface that acts as a ramp with the inclined surface of the tool holder body. When a clamp screw is tightened, a nub of the clamp engages only an inside rearward surface of a mounting bore of the insert along a line of contact and exerts a force downward and rearward on the insert. In addition, only a forward lower face of a head portion the clamp screw engages a top surface of the clamp.

Typically, tool holder mechanisms utilize a conical bore whose axis is offset from the threaded section of the locking pin receiving hole to tilt the locking pin into abutment with the cutting insert. These designs are difficult to machine because the location of the conical bore must be maintained within a relatively tight tolerance if it is to achieve the desired tilting of the locking pin. Therefore, there is a need to provide a tool holder for clamping an insert that is simple to manufacture and has improved manufacturing tolerances while requiring fewer components.


A drilling aid system which comprises a body with a first cavity, a shaft mounted to be able to rotate within the first cavity, a slider which has a proximal end mounted to be able to move in translation within the first cavity, where the slider has a second cavity which extends the first cavity, a collar that is able to move in translation on the shaft, a first compression spring having a first stiffness and pressing against the collar and against the proximal end of the slider, and a second compression spring having a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness, and pressing against the collar and against the proximal end of the body. A system of this kind makes it possible to make the user perceive that the end of the drilling operation is nigh and that therefore the force applied to the drill should be reduced.

It is frequently the case that a person wishes to drill through two plates laid one on the other using a drill equipped with a drill bit. In this case, the person will place the drill bit against a plate and press on the drill. It is known that the force exerted by the person must be steady and not too great so as to limit the risk of chipping of the material.
As the drill bit progresses through the first plate, the force exerted by the user and when the first plate is drilled through, the force is then transmitted to the second plate which experiences a large force which can chip its surface.
In the same way, in the case of drilling a single plate, it is desirable to avoid the force being too great when the drill bit arrives at the end of the drilling operation in order to avoid tearing the material.
It is therefore desirable to find a drilling aid system which limits the force when the plate is almost drilled through.


One or more computing devices, systems, and/or methods for generating and providing recommendations of products are provided. For example, content is extracted from a message sent to a user. The content is evaluated to identify a product identifier corresponding to a product title of a product. If the product identifier is a truncated version of the product title, then a database of product titles and frequencies of occurrence of the product titles is used to complete the product title. A model is used to infer a product category for the product title. Matching scores are assigned to products within a product category based upon weighted attributes. A recommendation is provided to the user for a product having a matching score greater than a matching threshold.

Many users purchase products from product providers, such as items or services through websites, computer applications, retail stores, etc. Once a user has purchased a product from a product provider, the product provider may generate an electronic message, such as an email, comprise information relating to the purchase by the user of the product. The product provider may transmit the electronic message to an account of the user, such as to an email account of the user. In an example, the product provider may include recommendations of other products within the electronic message. The recommendations may be generated based upon what products the user viewed through a website of the product provider.

Systems and methods for recommendation generation


The present disclosure provides methods, recombinant DNA molecules, recombinant host cells containing the DNA molecules, and transgenic plant cells, plant tissue and plants which contain and express at least one antisense or interference RNA specific for a thiamine biosynthetic coding sequence or a thiamine binding protein or a thiamine-degrading protein, wherein the RNA or thiamine binding protein is expressed under the regulatory control of a transcription regulatory sequence which directs expression in male and/or female reproductive tissue. These transgenic plants are conditionally sterile; i.e., they are fertile only in the presence of exogenous thiamine. Such plants are especially appropriate for use in the seed industry or in the environment, for example, for use in revegetation of contaminated soils or phytoremediation, especially when those transgenic plants also contain and express one or more chimeric genes which confer resistance to contaminants.

The field of the present invention is plant molecular biology, especially as related to genetically modified plants with conditional male sterility. Specifically, the present invention relates to conditionally male and/or female sterile plants in which sterility is achieved by disrupting the availability of thiamine by high affinity binding proteins expressed in pollen and/or in the developing ovule, by inhibiting functional expression of one or more thiamine biosynthetic proteins or by destroying thiamine in those plant tissues.
Systems of plant sterility are essential tools in the hybrid seed industry, forestry, conservation biology, and phytoremediation. The hybrid seed industry plants millions of acres of in which one of the two elite parent plants in a genetic cross is male sterile as a result of physical or genetic emasculation. Male sterility is the basis for this 400 million dollar per year industry. Foresters are interested in plant sterility, because wood production is dramatically reduced when nitrogen and phosphorus are drained into pollen and megagametophyte production. In addition, genetically engineered trees, shrubs, and grasses are being developed that extract, detoxify, and/or sequester toxic pollutants and for phytomining of precious elements. Conditional male sterility adds value to and limits unauthorized propagation of valuable plants for any purpose. Plant sterility systems are needed if genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are to be released into the natural environment with no release of their germplasm. In this case, complete male-female sterility is desirable so that the organisms cannot reproduce seed by any means.
Numerous strategies have been used to generate male sterility for the hybrid seed industry ranging from manually emasculating plants, altering the levels of essential metabolites in pollen, and generating toxins in developing pollen with two component systems (Perez-Prat and van Lookeren Campagne, 2002). Another approach has been to make the essential vitamin cofactor biotin unavailable in reproductive tissues to render a plant sterile. Applying this harmless vitamin to the plants then restores fertility (Albertsen and Howard, 1999).
There is a need in the art for economical and safe compositions and methods for rendering plants male and/or female sterile, especially where the sterility can be controlled so as to allow the production of viable seeds under controlled conditions.

University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.


An antenna which operates in a plurality of frequency bands includes a feeding point, a first conductor which is connected to the feeding point, and at least two second conductors which are branched from the first conductor, have a linear shape, and include open ends as ends on a side opposite to the first conductor. The open ends of the two second conductors face in almost the same direction substantially parallel to a side closest to the feeding point out of the sides of an antenna region. The two second conductors include a part at which the distance between the two conductors at a portion parallel to the side is a first distance, and another part at which the distance is a second distance shorter than the first distance, and are electromagnetically coupled at, at least the other part.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-band antenna.
Description of the Related Art
Recently, a wireless communication function is mounted in various electronic devices. Also, there are proposed an increasing number of devices in which one electronic device complies with a plurality of wireless communication standards. These devices need to implement an antenna which operates in a plurality of frequency bands corresponding to the respective standards. Along with downsizing of devices, the antenna which operates in a plurality of frequency bands needs to be arranged in a space as small as possible. To achieve this, one antenna needs to have a plurality of operating bands and have a desired antenna operating bandwidth.
For example, Japanese Patent No. 4710457 proposes a method of configuring a dual-band antenna which operates in two frequency bands by adding a parasitic element. Also, for example, Japanese Patent No. 4457850 or Rod Waterhouse, "Printed Antennas for Wireless Communications", WILEY, 2007, ISBN 978-0-470-51069-8, pp. 257-279 proposes the arrangement of an antenna having a wideband antenna characteristic as a dual-band antenna or multi-band antenna.
In general, an electronic device needs to be small, so an antenna serving as a component of the electronic device also needs to be small. Since laws concerning wireless communication differ between countries, frequencies used in the respective countries are different even for the same wireless communication standard. On the assumption that electronic devices sell in all the world's countries, an antenna which achieves a very wide operating bandwidth of about 5 GHz to 6 GHz in, for example, the 5-GHz band in a wireless LAN is requested to cope with major countries. However, a conventional antenna does not fully satisfy requirements that it is compact, operates in a plurality of frequency bands, and operates in a wide band depending on the wireless standard.
The present invention provides a compact multi-band antenna capable of easily satisfying the operating frequency requirement.


A cryotherapy method for reducing tissue injury after balloon angioplasty or stent implantation contemplates use of a well insulated, low profile catheter designed to transport a low temperature medium such as gas, fluid or a mixture thereof at a particular temperature over a guide wire to the site of a lesion. The lesion may or may not have undergone previous procedure for balloon angioplasty or stent implantation. The cryo-medium is introduced from a well insulated storage chamber having a small nozzle to which a conduit may be attached to allow conveyance of the fluid to a point of use. A handheld valve is incorporated into the conduit to allow the surgeon to closely control the flow of the cryo-medium to the point of use. The conduit extends downstream of the valve and is fluidly connected to the catheter that is positioned at the point of the lesion in the body. If desired, antibiotics, anticoagulants, antiproliferative agents, gene materials, etc. may also be dispersed along with the cryo-medium intraluminally. Such additional substances may be mixed with the cryo-medium in the storage chamber before introduction into the catheter or concurrently with introduction into the catheter. Several alternative catheter structures are contemplated in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a cryotherapy method for reducing tissue injury after balloon angioplasty or stent implantation. One of the well known and well documented causes of failure of angioplasty (use of a balloon inflated within an artery to compress occluding materials against the inner arterial wall) or stent implantation is the mechanism of restenosis. Restenosis is evidenced when the artery re-occludes due to tissue ingrowth and/or elastic recoil of the arterial wall at the site of the prior occlusion.
After a balloon angioplasty procedure or stent implantation procedure has been completed, the arterial wall often exhibits damage or inflammation due to the required use of force from inflation of a balloon catheter against the cellular layers of the arterial wall. This ingrowth phenomenon, namely, restenosis, affects the long term success of balloon angioplasties and stent implantations. In the prior art, cryotherapy is a known technique for preserving tissues at reduced temperatures for short periods of time. Cryotherapy has been decisively shown to be effective in tissue preservations maintenance of tissue function and facilitation of tissue healing processes. Some of the well-defined applications of cryotherapy include the following:
(1) Tissues collected from bovine, pigs and sheep are preserved at reduced temperature so that the elastic membranes or elastin present in the tissues is protected for subsequent applications. Without the use of such temperature reduction, the tissues dry out and lose their original mechanicals, physical and chemical properties.
(2) During open heart surgery, when the heart is opened to either replace a valve or an underlying diseased coronary artery, the myocardium or the tissues surrounding the heart are exposed to reduced temperature by dipping them in ice or sub-cooled water while the surgery is underway to preserve them.
(3) During open heart surgery, when the aorta is cross-clamped and blood from the heart is directed into a heart-lung machine, the blood is mixed with cold cardioplegia solution to preserve the cells and other essential components in the blood, an especially critical procedure where surgery is lengthy.
(4) Bovine and other homograft valves that have been preserved in cryo-based solutions and reduced temperature environment have been shown to have superior performance during long term follow-up studies when compared with mechanical bileaflet or single leaflet valves.
(5) In many pain management therapeutic situations, the area or region of acute pain is exposed to reduced temperature fluids or "cold packs" to reduce nerve damage and relieve pain.
The prior art teaches several techniques designed to reduce or eliminate the onset of restenosis. However, Applicant is unaware of any such technique that involves the use of application of reduced temperature within an artery.
One of the most common causes of recurrence of luminal narrowing after balloon angioplasty or stent implantation is the ingrowth of tissue at the site of the previous blockage. When a balloon is inflated at the site of a lesion where the artery is occluded, the lesion is mechanically pushed up by force acting thereon due to inflation of the balloon. Pathology of experiments in pigs and sheep reveals that the balloon inflation causes endothelial injury as well as tissue dislodgement at the site of the lesion. Such an injury is characterized by inner lumen wall cracks that are filled up with blood and some thrombis (clotting material). These cracks may infiltrate into the second and third layers of the vessel wall that are termed adventitia and media primarily composed of collagen, smooth muscle cells and elastic cells that contribute to the compliance of the artery.
When these layers are disrupted due to balloon inflation or stent implantation, compliance response is lost. This results in proliferation of cells as a function of time. Although the proliferation starts immediately after the injury to the arterial wall, maximum proliferation may be observed 6 to 18 months after the initial injury.
Applicant is aware of the following prior art:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,166 to Fischell et al. discloses a technique for reducing the onset of intimal hyperplasia which technique involves the use of irradiation from a radioisotope.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,561 to Weinstein et al. also discloses the use of radioactive material to reduce the incidence of restenosis.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,841 to Spears discloses the bonding of a bioprotective material to the arterial wall where angioplasty has been conducted.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,140,012 to McGovern et al. discloses a method for preventing onset of restenosis after angioplasty which involves administration of pravastatin in combination with an ACE inhibitor.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,397 to Barath et al. discloses prevention or reduction of the incidence of late restenosis through the administration of protein kinase C and tyrosine protein kinase inhibitors.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,869 to Bisaccia et al. discloses a method for preventing restenosis following angioplasty that includes the use of a photophoresis treatment method.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,298,018 to Narciso, Jr. discloses administration of a photosensitizer prior to surgical or interventional procedure which is then re-administered after the procedure to maintain the photosensitizer concentration level in the atheromatous plaque and smooth muscle cells in the vicinity of the lesion for a period of about 5-18 days.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,362 to Vincent et al. discloses administration of a green porphyrin to the location of vascular intervention to inhibit the onset of restenosis.
None of the patents discussed above teaches, discloses or suggests the use of a cryo-technique to reduce the onset of restenosis after a balloon angioplasty or stent implantation.
Further, Applicant is aware of an article titled "THE ROLE OF CRYOTHERAPY FOR AIRWAY COMPLICATIONS AFTER LUNG AND HEART-LUNG TRANSPLANTATION" by Maiwand et al. The article discusses the use of cryotherapy in causing cell lysis of granulation tissue and speculates that such a technique may therefore be effective after lung transplantation for difficult airway problems. This article fails to teach or suggest the use of cryotherapy techniques for reduction of the onset of restenosis within the arterial wall of a patient on whom balloon angioplasty or stent implantation has been completed.

Cryotherapy method for reducing tissue injury after balloon angioplasty or stent implantation


Signal processing techniques utilize operations performed in linear transform domains to perform operations including noise reduction, noise shaping, and gradient integration. The standard wavelet shrinkage method may be altered to constrain the modification of wavelet coefficients towards an initial estimate of the adjusted coefficients. The initial estimates can be computed by applying an edge detection filter to an input image. The wavelet shrinkage method may additionally be altered to include a noise preservation factor that enables an amount of noise to be preserved to avoid the production of artifacts. Integration of modified multi-dimensional gradients may also be performed in the wavelet (or other linear transform) domain by performing simple integration of the gradient (summing) separately in each dimension, obtaining a linear transform representation of the resulting signals, and combining the linear transforms.

This disclosure relates generally to signal processing using linear transforms. More particularly, the disclosure relates to techniques for noise reduction, noise shaping, and gradient-based image processing in the linear transform domain.
Wavelet transforms provide a useful tool for various forms of signal processing. For example, wavelet transforms can be used for digital file compression and to perform correction operations such as noise reduction. Referring to FIG. 1, application of the Haar wavelet transform to a simple eight point signal 105 demonstrates the basic concepts of wavelet transforms. At each stage, the Haar transform converts an input signal into two sets of signals by applying a low-pass filter and a high-pass filter. For the Haar transform illustrated in FIG. 1, application of the low-pass filter results in an output signal that includes the averages of adjacent signal pairs
  (            e      .      g      .        ,                            f                                (            0            )                          +                  f                                (            1            )                              2        ,                            f                                (            2            )                          +                  f                                (            3            )                              2        ,    …              )and application of the high-pass filter results in an output signal that includes the differences between adjacent signal pairs
      (                  e        .        g        .            ,                                    f                                      (              0              )                                -                      f                                      (              1              )                                      2            ,                                    f                                      (              2              )                                -                      f                                      (              3              )                                      2            ,      …                          )    .By feeding the low-pass filter output signal through consecutive stages of the transform, a hierarchical representation (i.e., a wavelet pyramid representation) of the initial input signal can be obtained. The wavelet pyramid has N+1 scales where N is equal to the number of stages of the transform. Processing eight point signal 105 through three stages of the Haar transform results in a four scale pyramid having signals of lengths 4, 2, 1, and 1 (i.e., H1=−1, −0.5, −0.5, 0.5, H2=−0.25, 1, H3==1.125, L3=4.375). The output of the low-pass filter at the coarsest scale is the low-pass residual and represents its own scale of the wavelet pyramid. It will be understood that this wavelet representation is invertible in that it can be used to recover input signal 105. That is, performance of an inverse wavelet transform re-creates an input signal from its wavelet representation. Although FIG. 1 has been described with reference to the Haar wavelet transform, the techniques disclosed in this specification are applicable to any invertible linear transform such as other types of wavelet transforms, curvelet transforms, dual tree complex wavelet transforms, ridgelet transforms, etc.
FIG. 2 illustrates a popular approach to signal noise reduction. Application of a multi-stage wavelet transform to input signal 205 may generate a four-scale wavelet representation of signal 205 where the magnitude of the wavelet coefficients at each of scales 215A/B/C/D is illustrated by vertical bars. It should be noted that the illustrated wavelet representation is intended to demonstrate a common noise reduction technique and not to depict an accurate wavelet representation of input signal 205 using any particular wavelet transform. The multi-stage wavelet transform applied to input signal 205 results in a "clean" wavelet representation of the input signal. That is, for portions of input signal 205 that are substantially constant, the wavelet transform results in wavelet coefficients that are near zero in value. This is precisely the property that makes wavelet transforms valuable for data compression. However, application of the same multi-scale transform to input signal 210 (a noisy version of input signal 205), results in a "noisy" wavelet representation. A comparison of corresponding portions 225 and 230 of the wavelet representations of signals 205 and 210 illustrates that the noise in signal 210 results in small magnitude wavelet coefficients that substantially represent noise in addition to large magnitude wavelet coefficients that substantially represent signal. The wavelet shrinkage operation reduces the magnitude of or eliminates wavelet coefficients within a particular range (e.g., within range 235) and leaves unmodified wavelet coefficients outside of the range such that, upon performance of an inverse wavelet transform, a cleaner version of the input signal is generated. For example, application of the wavelet shrinkage operation on the wavelet representation of signal 210 would result in a wavelet representation that more closely approximates the wavelet representation of signal 205, and, thus, a signal that more closely approximates signal 205 upon performance of an inverse wavelet transform.
Although the wavelet shrinkage operation effectively reduces signal noise, it also alters the magnitude relation between wavelet coefficients at different scales and the same spatial location, which results in the production of undesirable artifacts around strong edges. Various solutions exist to reduce the prominence of these undesirable artifacts. For example, bivariate wavelet shrinkage limits the amount of modification applied to wavelet coefficients around strong edges by reducing the amount of modification applied to a wavelet coefficient if a corresponding parent coefficient from one scale up the wavelet pyramid has a large magnitude (which implies the presence of a strong edge). An improvement over the bivariate wavelet shrinkage operation is to use Hidden Markov Models to explicitly model the probability of having an edge at a current spatial location (big magnitudes of wavelet coefficients) versus no edge (small magnitudes of wavelet coefficients). Both operations successfully reduce the magnitude of artifacts around strong edges, but because they limit the amount of modification applied to the wavelet coefficients around edges, the noise reduction is limited in these areas, which results in noticeable noise around edges in the output signal when there is heavier noise in the input signal. Moreover, in the presence of heavy noise, fine noise-like texture (such as skin pores, grass, and foliage) can be completely masked. In such cases, noise reduction also removes the desirable fine texture and results in an output image that looks flat and unnatural. A common solution is to reduce the strength of the noise reductions such that the fine texture is maintained, but this too has its drawbacks. It would therefore be desirable to perform noise reduction and shaping operations in the wavelet domain that reduce or eliminate these issues.

Linear transform-based image processing techniques


A 3D imaging device determines, during imaging, whether the captured images will be perceived three-dimensionally without causing fatigue while simulating actual human perception. In a 3D imaging device, a display information setting unit obtains a display parameter associated with an environment in which a 3D video is viewed, and a control unit determines during 3D imaging whether a scene to be imaged three-dimensionally will be perceived three-dimensionally based on the viewing environment.

Three-dimensional (3D) imaging devices known in the art capture images forming a 3D image (a left eye image and a right eye image) with binocular disparity. The captured images are then reproduced as a 3D image when displayed by a display device that can project images forming a 3D image (a left eye image and a right eye image) separately for the left eye and for the right eye (hereafter such a display device is referred to as a "3D display device").
The 3D imaging devices can vary in the number of their optical systems and the number of their image sensors. The 3D imaging devices can also use various imaging techniques including the parallel viewing method and the time-sequential (frame-sequential) method. Typical 3D imaging devices can be twin-lens imaging devices, which use two optical systems (an optical system for the right eye and an optical system for the left eye). Some of the twin-lens 3D imaging devices may be designed to change their 3D imaging parameters including the angle formed by the intersection of the optical axes of the two optical systems (the angle of convergence).
Other 3D imaging devices can be single-lens imaging devices that can capture a right image and a left image having a disparity between them (a right eye image and a left eye image) without using two optical systems but by only using a single optical system (refer to, for example, Patent Literature 3). Such single-lens 3D imaging devices perform imaging equivalent to the imaging performed using two cameras that have a small disparity between them, while being based on the same principle as the imaging performed using two cameras (imaging performed using two optical systems).
Still other 3D imaging devices capture two images forming a 3D image (a left eye image and a right eye image) using a single camera (an imaging device) through individual two shots performed at different lateral (horizontal) positions (this technique is hereafter referred to as "two-shot imaging"). The two-shot imaging can be used only for stationary subjects. Also, this technique requires an experienced user who can correctly take two shots while laterally (horizontally) moving the camera. The two-shot imaging is effective because it is simple and allows imaging to be performed with a large binocular distance (hereafter the binocular distance used in imaging is referred to as the imaging SB, the imaging stereo base, the stereo base, or the interaxial). To enable appropriate 3D imaging using this technique, such imaging devices can have an assist function for assisting the image shooting performed manually without using tools including special rigs. The assist function includes displaying of guide information on a liquid crystal display of the camera.
Parallel Viewing Method and Cross-eyed Viewing Method
The imaging devices for capturing and displaying 3D images described above may use the parallel viewing method or the cross-eyed viewing method known in the art.
With the parallel viewing method, two cameras are arranged respectively on the left and on the right. The two cameras are arranged to have their optical axes being parallel to each other. In this state, the cameras capture images forming a 3D image (a 3D video). The imaging SB, or the distance between the two cameras, is set to the interval between the two eyes of a human (about 6.5 cm). The captured images (the left eye image and the right eye image) forming a 3D image are displayed on a screen (a display screen of a display device) at positions electrically distant from each other by the distance equal to the imaging SB. With this parallel viewing method, the images displayed on the screen (on the display screen of the display device) are identical to the images actually viewed at the positions of the cameras when they are captured. Also, the distance to the subject, the size of the subject, and other information captured in the images are reproduced without any changes in the images displayed by the display device. In other words, the parallel viewing method enables "distortionless 3D imaging".
With the cross-eyed viewing method, two cameras (included in an imaging device) are arranged in a manner that their optical axes form an angle of convergence. With the cross-eyed viewing method, a subject at the point of intersection (the point of convergence) between the optical axes of the two cameras (included in the imaging device) is typically placed on the screen. The subject can also be placed more frontward or more backward by changing the angle of convergence. With this cross-eyed viewing method, a selected subject can be easily placed at a predetermined position. The cross-eyed viewing method can thus be useful in enabling, for example, effective positioning used in movie films, and is widely used in the film industry and other related industries.
However, the 3D imaging and displaying techniques described above can have problems that occur depending on the geometric conditions.
Under certain geometric conditions, a 3D image (video) captured with the above 3D imaging techniques can fail to reproduce natural depth when the image is displayed with the above 3D displaying techniques. More specifically, the depth of the displayed image (specifically a range behind the virtual screen (the display screen)) can have imaging failures under certain geometric conditions. For example, the displayed image may be compressed excessively (unnaturally) or expanded excessively (unnaturally) in the depth direction, or may diverge backward and cannot be fused.
The geometric conditions refer to conditions determined geometrically by the alignments of components responsible for capturing and displaying 3D images during imaging and/or displaying. The geometric conditions can be determined by, for example, the parameters described below:
(A) Parameters during Imaging
(A1) the convergence angle, (A2) the angle of view of the lens(es) or zooming, (A3) the imaging SB, (A4) the focal length, and other imaging parameters
(B) Parameters during Displaying
(B1) the size of the display device (the size of the display screen) and (B2) the viewing distance
Under certain geometric conditions, the images having a disparity between them (the images forming a 3D image) may be captured and displayed inappropriately with the 3D imaging and displaying techniques.
The conditions associated with human vision can also affect the imaging and display performance achieved by the above 3D imaging and displaying techniques. When, for example, an extremely near scene or an extremely far scene is imaged three-dimensionally, the captured images (the images forming a 3D image) will have a disparity between them having a large absolute value. When these captured images (the images forming a 3D image) are displayed by a display device, many viewers would not be able to fuse the images into a 3D image and would perceive them only as a double image (an image that cannot be viewed three-dimensionally). Although such images (the images forming a 3D image) may be viewed three-dimensionally, the resulting 3D image would cause extreme fatigue of the viewers. Due to human vision, such images (images forming a 3D image) may be captured and displayed inappropriately with the above 3D imaging and displaying techniques.
With other techniques proposed to solve the problems, the disparity is detected from the left and right images (the left eye image and the right eye image), and the disparity adjustment is performed based on the detected disparity. This would enable the images to be displayed as a 3D image easy to view by humans (refer to, for example, Patent Literatures 1 and 2).

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A power sucker includes a sucker member having a bore formed in the upper portion and having a valve seat. A handle is secured to the upper portion of the sucker member. A tube has a lower piston slidably received in the bore of the sucker member, and biased to engage with the valve seat. A hand grip is secured to the upper portion of the tube for pulling and disengaging the piston away from the valve seat. The tube includes an orifice and one or more openings and one or more air passages for releasing air when the piston is disengaged from the valve seat.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sucker, and more particularly to a power sucker device having a releasing or an air releasing structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical suckers comprise a sucker body for attaching onto smooth surfaces. The suckers each includes a protrusion or a rod extended outward from the peripheral skirt thereof. The users may pull the rod to disengage the peripheral skirt of the sucker body from the smooth surface in order to release the suckers. When the suckers are made to a great volume or are formed as the power suckers, it will be difficult to release the suckers with the rod.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional suckers.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a power sucker including a releasing or an air releasing structure for easily and quickly releasing the power sucker.
The other objective of the present invention is to provide a power sucker including a hand grip, particularly a peripheral hand grip provided in a peripheral handle for easily releasing the air of the power sucker.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a power sucker comprising a sucker body including a conduit formed therein, and including an upper portion having a bore formed therein and communicating with the conduit, and including a valve seat provided in the upper portion and in the bore thereof, a handle secured to the upper portion of the sucker body, a tube including a lower portion having a piston slidably received in the bore of the sucker body, for engaging with the valve seat and for blocking the bore of the sucker body, the tube including an upper portion extended upward into the handle, means for biasing the piston of the tube to engage with the valve seat, a hand grip secured to the upper portion of the tube for pulling the tube away from the valve seat against the biasing means, and means for releasing air in the conduit of the sucker body when the piston is disengaged from the valve seat.
The sucker body includes a cavity formed in the upper portion thereof, and includes a block secured in the cavity thereof, the block includes the bore formed therein and includes the valve seat provided therein.
The block includes an outer peripheral portion having at least one recess formed therein, the sucker body includes at least one rib extended inward of the cavity thereof and engaged into the recess of the block for securing the block in the sucker body.
The sucker body includes a cylindrical swelling provided on the upper portion thereof; the handle includes a lower portion having a chamber formed therein for receiving the cylindrical swelling of the sucker body.
The air releasing means includes an orifice formed in the tube, at least one passage formed in the piston for communicating with the orifice of the tube, and at least one opening formed in the upper portion of the tube and communicating with the orifice of the tube and the environment.
The piston includes an outer peripheral recess formed therein and communicating with the passage of the piston.
The piston includes a peripheral bulge extended downward therefrom for engaging with the valve seat.
Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of a detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to accompanying drawings.

Power sucker device having a releasing structure

No. 108-24, Chong Chin Road, Bei Tun Chu


A web browser setting value that decides a display specification of a web browser screen is set, and that display specification of the web browser screen is held. An instruction for displaying a web browser screen is transmitted to a web server, and in the case where the response to the instruction includes information indicating whether the display specification of the browser screen is to be taken over, the web browser screen is displayed based on screen information from the web server in accordance with the held display specification of the browser screen.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a control method therefor, a storage medium, an information processing system, and an information processing method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a screen for displaying a web browser for handling web applications is provided with display areas such as a title bar, a status bar, and a tool bar. Also, the display or non-display of these display areas can be set not only from the web browser options, but also by being described in a scripting language called JavaScript (registered trademark) in content on the web application side.
Here, in the case where such a scripting language description is provided on the web application side, there is normally envisioned to be a desire to include such a description on only the first page of the web application, and have the following pages use the information set in the first page. However, depending on the type of web browser that is used, there are cases where according to the specifications, a web browser setting value is not maintained unless the same script description is included in not only the first page, but also all of the following pages.
On the other hand, there has been a proposal for a technique according to which, with web applications running in a web browser, even in the case of moving to a web application at a completely different domain, session information necessary for application processing and other necessary information is taken over (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-271477).
However, with the taking over of information according to the technique proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-271477, consideration is merely given to the taking over of only web application information, and no consideration is given to the taking over of a setting value of the web browser that is running a web application. For example, assume the case where there is a web application A and a web application B that is at a different domain but positioned as a subsystem. Assume also that regardless of the fact that there is a web browser setting for displaying the title bar in the first page of the web application A, there is a setting for non-display of the title bar in the first page of the web application B to which the screen transitions. In such a case, regardless of the fact that the user thinks the web application B is part of the web application A, the operation of the web browser changes when the web application switch is made, thus resulting in a decline in operability.
Also, compared to the title bar area of a web browser handled by a PC, the proportion of the title bar area to the screen is higher with a web browser running on an image forming apparatus, and therefore the user will feel a greater sense of unpleasantness. Moreover, although it is conceivable for a web application developer to use a method of including the same script description on all pages so as to not be dependent on web browser specifications, constantly maintaining the same description involves very burdensome maintenance. As described above, there is the problem that in the case of operating web applications on the same domain or web applications that cross different domains, web browser setting values, that is to say, web browser operation specifications cannot be easily taken over according to the objective.

Information processing apparatus for receiving screen information from a web server and displaying a web browser screen, and control method therefor, storage medium, and information processing system and information processing method


A collapsible table includes a tabletop having a center leaf, intermediate first and second end leaves. First and second pairs of support arms and support legs are pivotally mounted about an axle depending from the center leaf. The arms and legs of each pair are pivotal about the axle in opposed directions between a first collapsed position and a second functional position. The support arms at the second position position the leaves attached thereto in a coplanar relationship with the center leaf. At their functional position the support legs provide underlying support to the center leaf. Slots in the arms and legs engage a key depending from the center leaf so as to maintain the arms and legs at their functional positions. A spring bias on the axle further urges the slots against the key with the weight of the center leaf urging the key into the slots. Upon lifting the center leaf the keys disengage the slots which allows the arms and legs to pivot to their collapsed positions. Guide posts on the arms and legs engage guide channels on adjacent leg surfaces so as to direct the movement of the arms and the legs between their collapsed and functional positions as well as define the limits of arm and leg pivotal movement.

This invention relates to a folding table and, more particularly, to a table having a three-piece collapsible tabletop with support pedestal, the tabletop and pedestal being easily transformed between collapsible and functional positions.
Various forms of collapsible/folding furniture are known in the art. Although assumably effective in operation such furniture may be difficult to transform between the storage and use positions. In some cases tools may be needed to provide such a transformation. Also, prior folding tables have been directed to card tables having one-piece tabletops which were not aesthetically pleasing. Although a dining room table may have a centerpiece intermediate two leaf pieces which are pivotal between functional and collapsed positions, such a table is supported by a fixed pedestal. Accordingly, the ability to store the table in small areas was limited.


A magnetically coupled, implantable pump system comprises an external controller and an implantable device. A non-implantable magnet in an external controller produces a magnetic field that couples the non-implantable magnet to a magnet in the implantable device. A non-implantable motor moves the non-implantable magnet in a rotational direction. When the non-implantable magnet moves in the rotational direction, a piston coupled to the magnet moves within the implantable device. As the piston moves, an amount of fluid from a reservoir in the implantable device moves out of the reservoir and into an inflatable portion of a gastric band. The implantable device may also move fluid out of the inflatable portion of the gastric band.

Adjustable gastric banding apparatus have provided an effective and substantially less invasive alternative to gastric bypass surgery and other conventional surgical weight loss procedures. Despite the positive outcomes of invasive weight loss procedures, such as gastric bypass surgery, it has been recognized that sustained weight loss can be achieved through a laparoscopically-placed gastric band, for example, the LAP-BAND® (Allergan, Inc., Irvine, Calif.) gastric band or the LAP-BAND AP® (Allergan, Inc., Irvine, Calif.) gastric band. Generally, gastric bands are placed about the cardia, or upper portion, of a patient's stomach forming a stoma that restricts the passage of food into a lower portion of the stomach. When the stoma is of an appropriate size that is restricted by a gastric band, food held in the upper portion of the stomach provides a feeling of satiety or fullness that discourages overeating. Unlike gastric bypass procedures, the gastric band apparatus are reversible and require no permanent modification to the gastrointestinal tract.
Over time, a stoma created by a gastric band may need adjustment in order to maintain an appropriate size, which is neither too restrictive nor too passive. Accordingly, prior art gastric band systems provide a subcutaneous fluid access port connected to an expandable or inflatable portion of the gastric band. By adding fluid to or removing fluid from the inflatable portion by means of a hypodermic needle inserted into the access port, the effective size of the gastric band can be adjusted to provide a tighter or looser constriction.
Some non-invasive procedures for adjustment of gastric bands without the use of a hypodermic needle have been proposed. For example, a remotely adjustable gastric band is a medical device which allows a healthcare worker to adjust a gastric band without requiring hypodermic needles to connect to an implanted, subcutaneous access port. A handheld controller can be used to send radio frequency waves for powering and communicating with the implanted device. The implanted device can fill or drain the gastric band as requested by the healthcare worker via the handheld controller.
Such remotely adjustable gastric band systems have some challenges. For example, the implantable pump system has certain design parameters relating to size, power dissipation, flow rate, back pressure, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) considerations. These different parameters result in sometimes conflicting constraints for the pump implementation.
Some remotely adjustable pump motors may be powered by a piezo element in a peristaltic pump. In certain circumstances, actuation of the piezo element (or combination of piezo elements) may result in heating of the patient's tissue.
Some other implantable devices have also been disclosed, but these devices suffer from certain disadvantages. For example, Sohn, U.S. Pat. No. 6,417,750, generally discloses magnetically-coupled implantable medical devices, but Sohn does not disclose implantable pumps for use with gastric banding systems.
Hassler, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,390,294, discloses a bellows accumulator driven by a piezoelectric system. The system collapses or extends to displace accumulated fluid. The system serves as both a reversible pump and reservoir. However, Hassler utilizes internal electrical power to drive the pump, which may lead to heating of a patient's tissue.
Lorenzen, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,396,353, discloses an infusion device and a driving mechanism for delivery of an infusion medium. A coil capable of being electrically activated to provide an electromagnetic field surrounds a piston channel. The piston channel provides a passage for communication of the infusion medium to an outlet chamber located at one end of the piston channel. Because the coil utilizes energy local to the drive mechanism in order to deliver the infusion medium, Lorenzen's device may also lead to heating of a patient's tissue.
Gillies, U.S. Pat. No. 6,834,201, discloses catheter navigation using an MRI device. The internal device utilizes coils that are responsive to an external magnetic field. The current induced in the internal coils generates heat that is then dissipated, so Gillies requires additional components in order to attempt to dissipate the generated heat.
Nelson, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,367,340, discloses systems and methods for moving and/or restraining tissue in the upper respiratory system of a patient. But Nelson does not disclose driving an internal magnet with an external magnet. In fact, all of Nelson's magnets are internal. Further, Nelson does not disclose driving a pump to fill or drain an inflatable portion of a gastric band.
Some remotely adjustable gastric banding systems that have been proposed utilize external power and/or transmit telemetric signals through the skin in order to power and/or actuate pumps associated with the remotely adjustable systems. Thus, remotely adjustable gastric banding systems that receive less or no power from an external transmitter are disclosed herein. Further, remotely adjustable gastric banding systems that reduce tissue heating are disclosed herein.

Magnetically coupled implantable pump system and method


Food formulations suitable for preparation by young children, requiring only the addition of water, that produce simulated foods that exhibit substantially appropriate textures and flavors.

Young children particularly enjoy play that models adult activity. Such play behavior may include driving toy vehicles, using toy tools, and cooking activity. Such play behavior must generally be carefully monitored to prevent injury and render the play relatively uncomplicated, particularly for younger children. For example, although power tools used in such play may be designed to resemble a drill, a saw, etc., they are carefully designed to have no sharp edges, and no moving parts that can pinch skin, pull hair, or otherwise injure a child.
Cooking toys for older children may include actual food, and may even include cooking with heat. Toys for younger children, on the other hand, are typically limited to simulating food preparation or kitchen activities with artificial (and inedible) foods in order to minimize the potential for injury and mess. However, even the youngest child understands that pretending to prepare plastic food leaves something to be desired, when compared to preparing something that may be eaten. It would be desirable to have formulations that permit even young children to prepare edible foodstuffs, quickly and easily, and that require minimal equipment and cooking skills.


A mechanical face seal assembly for sealing a rotating member with respect to a stationary member comprises at least a pair of cooperating annular sealing elements, of which one is mountable in a non-rotating manner with respect to the stationary member and the other for common rotation with the rotating member. Between the rotating member and the non-rotating sealing element an annular space is defined, the radial dimension of which varies between a region of minimum radial dimension and a region of maximum radial dimension, which are offset circumferentially to each other. Inlet means for introducing a buffer liquid into the annular space at or near to the region having a maximum radial dimension and outlet means for discharging said buffer liquid from said annular space at or near to the region having a minimum radial dimension are provided. At least one delivery-promoting recess is formed in a portion of the rotating member oriented axially to said annular space for promoting a flow of the buffer liquid along the annular space from the inlet to the outlet means and for receiving gas bubbles released from the buffer liquid when pressurized in the annular space.

In a known face seal assembly according to GB-A 2 286 020 of a type having a pair of annular sealing elements and a eccentric annular space or clearance between a shaft and the non-rotating annular sealing element the eccentric space in which a buffer liquid can be introduced has an axial dimension which differs only insignificantly from the cross-sectional area of inlet and outlet ports through which the buffer liquid is introduced into or discharged from the annular space, respectively. Accordingly the cooling and lubricating effect of the buffer liquid on the annular sealing elements is relatively low. In the U.S. Pat. No. 3,746,349 although the eccentric annular space is elongated, tests carried out within the scope of the present invention have shown that there is still need of a substantial improvement in the cooling and lubricating capacity, since due to prevailing centripetal forces gases contained in and released from the buffer liquid when pressurized in the eccentric annular space may collect in the narrow portions of the annular space, resulting in a corresponding constriction of the cross-sectional flow area so that a flow of the buffer liquid along the annular space will be affected or even totally prevented. From E. Meyer "Axiale Gleitring-dichtungen", published by VDI-Verlag, Dusseldorf/Germany, 1966, it is further known to provide in a stationary member an eccentric pressure chamber for pumping a buffer liquid. The chamber is part of a pumping device which functions as a centrifugal pump in that the eccentric chamber cooperates with a pumping ring concentrically disposed on the rotating sealing element and having a number of vane-type pumping elements. The pumping ring can affect the performance of rotating sealing element and, furthermore, unwanted turbulences of the buffer liquid may occur in portions of the mechanical face seal assembly which necessitate good cooling and lubrication.

Feodor Burgmann Dichtungswerke GmbH & Co.


An improved, lightweight, portable, and self-contained concrete form for fabricating tilt-up concrete walls is provided. The form includes a frame made from metal frame members jointed at their ends with the frame members forming the sides of the frame. Optional structural anchors may be attached inside the frame members. The frame members may be channel shaped with their channels facing inwardly. The reinforcing mat comprising a array of crisscrossed rebars is disposed within the frame and is held in place with a plurality of brackets on the ends of at least some of the rebars and welded to respective frame members. The rebar mat is sized to be positioned in the mid portion of the frame and the brackets on the ends of the rebars are slid outwardly into and attached to the frame members by spot welding. The brackets are then spot welded to the ends of their rebars to form a rigid, lightweight concrete frame. The frame may be shipped to a job site, laid on a casting surface, a pocket form placed inside the optional anchor, and filled with concrete. When the concrete cures, the resulting concrete wall, form and all, is tilted-up into place with a crane and may be attached with the anchor to form a section of a concrete wall.

Tilt-up concrete wall panel construction has been used for years to construct commercial buildings such as warehouses, factories, and the like. In general, such construction entails building a rectangular concrete form, usually on site, placing steel reinforcing bars (rebar) or other reinforcement in the form, filling the form with concrete, and, after the concrete cures, tilting the resulting concrete panel into place to form a wall section. Numerous wall sections generally are fabricated and attached together and to framing members of the building to form complete walls. Utility conduits may be embedded within the wall sections as needed to provide for electricity and plumbing. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,394,523 of Sackett, 4,104,356 of Deutsch et al., 3,604,174 of Nelson, and 4,856,244 of Clapp disclose various examples of tilt-up concrete wall panel construction techniques.
While traditional concrete wall panel construction techniques have been somewhat successful in construction commercial buildings, they nevertheless have been fraught with a variety of inherent problems and shortcomings. Among these are the fact that, in most cases, the forms into which the concrete is poured usually are fabricated from wood or metal on site at a worksite such as, for example, on the ground adjacent to where they are to be tilted up to form a wall. The on-site building of such forms is a tedious and time consuming process and further requires a high level of skill on behalf of workers to assure that the panels are all the correct size and configuration. In additional, where wooden forms are used, the process of disassembling the framing members and discarding them after the concrete cures can be time consuming and wasteful. In most cases, reinforcing stakes, spacers, or blocks must be used to reinforce the sides of the concrete forms so that they do not bow outwardly or otherwise deform under the substantial pressures created by the wet concrete poured into the forms. Installing theses reinforcing members is yet another time consuming step in the process.
Another problem with prior art techniques relates to the installation within the concrete forms of the rebar, wire mesh, or other reinforcing members that are to be embedded within the finished wall sections. More particularly, the construction of a matrix of reinforcing members is a time consuming and tedious process. This is particularly true in systems where the walls of the form are made from inwardly open channel shaped steel or formed sheet metal. The reason is that the reinforcing members must be installed in the mid-portion of the form between the inwardly projecting lips of the walls. In order the accomplish this, the framing members must be cut to be longer than the distance between the facing edges of opposed lips and jockeyed into place in the middle of the form before being secured in place within the form.
Typical of the current art form, concrete wall panels are anchored by the use of threaded dowel rods and/or steel weld plates which are positioned in the wall panel prior to placing concrete and then after concrete placement a portion of the anchor is left exposed from the concrete to allow for the alignment with an adjoining anchor to connect the panel in place. Anchor dowels and/or plates are applied to the panel at the job site, frequently at the time of concrete placement. This results in the negative occurrences of inaccurate anchor placement, the need for extremely accurate anchor positioning for alignment, omission of anchors, anchors covered by or lost within concrete, and the need for special welding equipment with specially skilled field welding techniques.
There exists a need for an improved tilt-up concrete wall form and a method of fabricating concrete wall sections using the form that addresses and solves the above mentioned and other problems of the prior art. The form should be lightweight, strong, and portable so that they can be manufactured to exacting tolerances at a remote location and delivered to a job site on a truck for immediate use. The form assembly should also increase efficiency and accuracy of wall panel installation while minimizing construction mistakes and waste. Further, the form should be usable without the need for any on-site form construction and without the need to reinforce the walls of the form against bowing under pressure when concrete is poured into the form. No deconstruction of the form should be required after the concrete cures and no wasted that requires disposal should be generated during use of the form. At a remote form fabrication facility, fabrication should be quick and efficient and the installation of a matrix of reinforcing rebar in the mid-portion of the form should be accurate, quick, and efficient while also providing exacting and labor-saving structural anchor points. An improved method of fabricating the tilt-up concrete wall sections using such an enhanced form also should be included. It is to the provision of such a form and method of construction that the present invention is primarily directed.


A discharge assembly used with a fire suppression delivery system comprises a nozzle having an outer nozzle surface and inlet and discharge ends. The inlet end receives fire suppression agent and the discharge end dispenses fire suppression agent through an orifice. A blow-off cap has an open-ended cavity shaped to receive the discharge end of the nozzle and cover the orifice. The cavity includes an interior cap surface located in close proximity to the outer nozzle surface of the nozzle when the blow-off cap is mounted on the discharge end of the nozzle. A receptacle is formed in at least one of the outer nozzle surface of the nozzle and the interior cap surface of the blow-off cap. A retention element fits within the receptacle and engages the outer nozzle surface and interior cap surface, providing a predetermined amount of retention resistance to retain the blow-off cap on the nozzle.

This invention relates generally to fire suppression systems used in buildings, restaurants and other commercial kitchens, and more particularly, to blow-off caps used on nozzles within the fire suppression systems.
Fire suppression systems provide an integral service to commercial kitchens, which use multiple cooking appliances (e.g. chain broilers, deep fryers, broilers, cook tops, and the like) to cook large quantities of food. The cooking appliances are often operated at high temperatures for extended periods of time, creating a large amount of grease and other effluent.
Fire suppression components are located over the top of the cooking appliances, aimed inside partially enclosed cooking appliances, and are within hoods and ducts associated with the exhaust system. When a hazardous condition is detected, a fire suppression agent is discharged through a nozzle to eliminate the hazardous condition. The fire suppression agent may be, for example, a chemical agent, water, or a combination of the two.
Due to the large amount of effluent present in the location of the nozzles, clogging of the orifice or orifices through which the fire suppression agent is discharged needs to be prevented so that the system activates correctly when needed. A cap is therefore affixed to the nozzle. The cap is to be blown or pushed off the nozzle, or broken or burst, by the pressure created when fire suppression agent is discharged.
A silicone rubber cap has been used to cover the end of the nozzle. However, the rubber cap deteriorates due to effluent build up and the high temperature experienced in the exhaust area over broilers and other cooking units. A brass cap held onto the nozzle with a retaining clip has also been used. The retaining clip weakens over time due to, for example, the extreme temperature gradients, allowing the cap to fall off the nozzle. Also, grease accumulates inside the cap and nozzle, effectively freezing the cap onto the nozzle and/or clogging the orifice.
Therefore, a need exists for a blow-off cap and nozzle assembly capable of withstanding the extreme conditions experienced in commercial kitchen applications, while still allowing the blow-off cap to be pushed off the nozzle during a fire discharge situation. Certain embodiments of the present invention are intended to meet these needs and other objectives that will become apparent from the description and drawings set forth_below.

Nozzle assembly with blow-off cap for use in fire suppression system